The Rethinking Rehab Podcast

In this episode, I chat with my friend Cassidy Papa, a performance physical therapist for the Charlotte Hornets.  She shares her career journey and dives into her decision to pursue residency and fellowship. We chat about why she's adopted a minimum effective dose approach in the NBA, and the need for humility, flexibility, and strong interdisciplinary collaboration to prioritize what's truly best for the athlete. Cassidy is good people and I'm pumped to share this conversation with you! Enjoy! Clinical Athlete FB Community: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1F8KuD2sYN/

On this episode, I’m joined by Sawyer Williamson, an athletic trainer in the G League, for an honest conversation about life as an AT in pro sports. We dig into the challenges of having limited autonomy, the tension between prestige and personal fulfillment, and the process of discovering your own voice in a demanding environment. Our conversation dives into finding clarity, aligning with your values, and building a sustainable career in sports medicine that goes beyond the job title.   Clinical Athlete FB Community https://www.facebook.com/share/g/14FmxK2Twdp/

In this episode, I sit down with my friend Tiffani Michel, a physical therapist and entrepreneur in Atlanta.  She shares her journey from college basketball player to starting her own practice, discussing her experiences with injuries, career transitions, and building a business focused on comprehensive care for athletes. She emphasizes the importance of holistic treatment approaches, educating young athletes about pain management, and maintaining work-life balance in her career. We wrap up this conversation touching on the inspiration behind her branding.   Enjoy!   Clinical Athlete FB Community: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CXznoN8FW/

Hey friends! On this episode, I sit down with Anthony Sinacore,  VP & Director of North American Sales for VALD Performance. Anthony shares about how his background as an athletic trainer and physical therapist allowed him to add value on the clinical application side of developing human performance technology with VALD over the last few years.  Additionally, we chat about how his skillset has evolved as his roles and responsibilities have shifted.  If you’re interested in data science and non-traditional roles as a rehab practitioner, don’t skip this episode!   Clinical Athlete Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1LR9ff7Y2o/

On this episode, I sit down with Lisa Pataky, a sports physical therapist whose career has spanned pro tennis, Overtime Elite, and now the NBA with the Minnesota Timberwolves. We dive into what it takes to build trust with athletes, bridge the gap between medical and performance teams, and reconsider long-term rehab as a training macrocycle rather than a checklist. If you’re curious about life as a PT in both the individual and team sport settings, give this a listen. Clinical Athlete FB Community Group https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1AmNkgtLS2/ 

Today is a special episode as I welcome back my very FIRST guest and good mentor, Jarred Boyd!  Jarred is the Director of Rehab for the Memphis Grizzlies and embodies what it means to think deeply and reflectively. In this episode we talk about how he builds trust with athletes through offseason reflection, storytelling, and clear education. Jared also shares the four core values that shape his high-performance team. We wrap up with a thoughtful discussion on false steps, injury risk, and why context—not fear—should drive how we coach and rehab movement. Clinical Athlete Community FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/19DSfdvXLi/

In this episode, I sit down with Trevor Rappa from Resilient Performance PT to talk all things return to sport, especially in the mid to end stages of rehab. We get into the weeds on movement strategies and change of direction.  Trevor breaks down how he builds progressions, why most athletes are underprepared, and how reactive drills may lead to better outcomes than pre-planned ones. We also touch on the realities of the cash-based model, the value of mentorship, and the importance of developing a movement model to guide your coaching eye. If you work with athletes, this one’s packed with gems.   Clinical Athlete Community FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1EhEyjThTU/

Welcome back, friends!   In this episode, I'm joined by Kelsey Fuller and Hannah Dvorak, two PTs that I met as students and walked alongside as they searched for their first job and ultimately walked away from those jobs. They share about their journey, from being diligent in their initial job search to being patient in the middle of their first job when things got hard to finally finding the courage to quit.   Knowing when to walk away is incredibly hard, but I know you’ll be encouraged by both of their stories.     Enjoy!   Clinical Athlete FB Community Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/18P7Rokmmt/

Welcome back, friends! In this episode, I'm joined by Matt McInnes Watson, the founder of PlusPlyos, to dive deep into all things plyometrics.  Matt is a high jumper turned coach and now educator, where he aims to make plyometrics more approachable by providing simple, scalable frameworks for athletes and clinicians.  He shares his ideas behind plyometric progressions, as well as misconceptions he's experienced in the rehab space.  Whether you’re a clinician or coach, this episode will give you something to chew on this week!   Clinical Athlete FB Community: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/16KdKx62Ne/

Welcome back friends! In this episode, I sit down with Erin Kelly-Sullivan, who began her career as a physical therapist and then pivoted into the world of branding and design. Erin shares her journey of realizing early in her PT career that clinical practice wasn’t the right fit and how she navigated the uncertainty of what to do next. We dive into her transition to branding, the struggles of leaving an identity behind, and the lessons she’s learned about building a business that aligns with who she is. Whether you’re feeling stuck in your career or just love hearing stories of reinvention, this episode is full of honest insights and encouragement to rethink traditional career paths. Enjoy!!   Clinical Athlete Community FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/18m1sb85Bd/