Healers with Hustles

Is employment *really* the safe option or just a false sense of security?In this ep, Caitlin chats with Leesa Tuffnell, occupational therapist, coach, and founder of The Mindful OT, about what it takes to build a sustainable business as a health professional. Leesa shares how her own experience of burnout led her to combine OT frameworks, somatic regulation, and business strategy to help health professionals step into their CEO role (without losing themselves in the process). If you’ve felt like your private practice is “just a little thing” or struggled with the leap into doing business differently, this conversation will give you the permission to think bigger.Tune in to learn:The somatic regulation practice that turned her calendar into a magic productivity toolThe two things that helped one OT triple her utilisation after just one sessionThe shift from clinician mindset to CEO mindset (and why so many sole traders resist it)The moment Leesa realised employment isn’t the “safe” option after being made redundant three timesHow she went from resisting Facebook until her 30s to coaching OTs on social mediaThe quote Leesa repeats to herself whenever she avoids posting, filming, or being seen onlineThe nervous system clue that tells you whether you’re moving toward or away from something you wantHow a single decision could have made Leesa an actress instead of an occupational therapistWhat nearly getting trampled in a Gold Coast mosh pit taught her about friendship (and survival)Why clarity of purpose, not more systems, is the foundation of every sustainable OT businessConnect with LeesaThe Mindful OT WebsiteFacebookInstagramConnect with Caitlin:Healers with Hustles websiteInstagramFacebook GroupLinkedIn

“Not now” doesn’t mean “never” but only if you know how to close the awareness gap.In this ep, Caitlin walks you through the 5 stages of awareness and why most health profs unknowingly skip the early ones… leaving potential clients behind. Whether you’re fresh out of private practice or years into your creative side hustle, you’ll learn how to meet people where they’re at and guide them to the point of a sale. Listen if you’re:Tired of repeating your offer without tractionFeeling stuck between educating and sellingReady to make your audience feel seen from the first touchpointLoved this episode?Leave a review or send it to a friend who’s been feeling unsure about their health career lately. Your support means the world to me!Connect with Caitlin:Healers with Hustles websiteInstagramFacebook GroupLinkedIn

When Nadine almost collided head-on with a truck, her body gave her the message her brain kept ignoring: something had to change.This ep, Caitlin chats with Nadine Muller, former emergency nurse and Australian military officer turned life mentor, about what it takes to walk away from the identity and career you’ve always known. Together, they unpack the cost of always keeping it together, the quiet reckoning that follows, and what it takes to choose yourself.If you’re a healthcare professional who’s starting to question the career you’ve built, this one’s for you.Tune in to learn:The one sentence Nadine repeats to every burnt-out healthcare worker who's “great at their job” but dying insideWhat happened the day Nadine almost collided head-on with a truck (and why she says it saved her life)Why she believes your career becomes your identity and the brave decision it takes to let it goHow Nadine hacked the system to earn triple her income while secretly building her businessWhy leaving the military as a woman leader shocked her boss—and how she took her power backWhat she means when she says “healing isn’t in your mindset, it’s in your soulset”The moment that made her realise she was holding her entire family together while slowly losing herselfHer metaphor of the “backpack of bullsh*t” and what happens when you finally put it downWhy she says generational trauma isn’t the whole story and what most people are missing about ancestral wisdomConnect with NadineWebsiteInstagramTiktokConnect with Caitlin:Healers with Hustles websiteInstagramFacebook GroupLinkedIn

Turns out, “qualified” doesn’t always mean “chosen.” So how do you bridge the gap?In this ep, Caitlin unpacks a common struggle for health professionals turned creatives: feeling invisible despite years of training. Drawing from her own early business days, She talks about why leaning too heavily on your title might be creating distance instead of connection and offers three grounded, practical ways to shift how you show up in your marketing so your expertise gets noticed. Listen if you’re:Leaning on your title but still struggling to book clientsNot sure how to explain why your background mattersCraving a way to market that feels specific, grounded, and true to youLoved this episode?Leave a review or send it to a friend who’s been feeling unsure about their health career lately. Your support means the world to me!Connect with Caitlin:Healers with Hustles websiteInstagramFacebook GroupLinkedInHow to ditch the academic speak

Kate O'Connor, a psychodynamic therapist and clinical psychologist from Brisbane, dives deep into the nuanced relationship between supervisors and supervisees. She argues that true healing involves embracing one’s complex humanity rather than conforming to rigid therapeutic norms. Topics include the surprising use of tarot cards in sessions, the potential dangers of overly sanitized therapy, and how authentic connections can transform therapeutic practices. Kate’s insights on the pressures of modern psychology and the evolving role of therapists are both enlightening and refreshingly candid.

What if the thing holding your message back… is how you were trained?In this ep, Caitlin gets real about a sneaky messaging habit that so many clinicians-turned-creatives fall into: staying neutral. She explores how being taught to hold space can lead to watered-down words in your business and why owning your beliefs (even just 1 or 2 steps ahead of your audience) is what actually builds trust. Caitlin walks through real talk, lived experience, and gentle but powerful ways to start showing your point of view—without burning your ethics in the process.Listen if you’re:A health professional or clinician navigating the leap into businessTired of playing it “safe” and getting zero traction in your contentCraving more connection (and conversions) through your wordsLoved this episode?Leave a review or send it to a friend who’s been feeling unsure about their health career lately. Your support means the world to me!Connect with Caitlin:Healers with Hustles websiteInstagramFacebook GroupLinkedIn

What if your difference wasn’t a flaw to hide, but the very reason you’re in this space to lead differently?In this ep, Caitlin chats with Johanna, a neurodivergent psychologist, coach, and founder of ADHD Her Way, about what it means to create a career that reflects who you are—not just what you trained to do.Together, they unpack the not-so-linear path of late diagnosis, the creative hunger that led Johanna beyond the therapy room, and the power of making space for both business and self-compassion.For anyone who’s ever felt like they had to choose between being professional and being themselves, this episode's your permission slip. Tune in to learn:The childhood habit that unknowingly planted the seed for her future podcasting lifeWhy she was handing out Kids Helpline stickers in grade 2How a detour into forensic psych and parole work led her to early intervention and neurodivergent supportWhat finally gave her permission to show up online in bold earrings, shades of pink, and full Gorman energyWhy she used to colour-coordinate her outfits with her therapy roomThe surprising reason neurodivergent folks often use more filler words How a late ADHD diagnosis didn’t just shift her identity—it reshaped her career, motherhood, and creative expressionWhat she hopes future students won’t have to endure in psych trainingThe quiet moment she realised she’d lost herself in her business—and what she’s now doing to get that spark backThe ADHD moment that accidentally landed her better seats at a Robbie Williams concertConnect with JohannaADHD Coach InstagramADHD Her Way InstagramConnect with Caitlin:Healers with Hustles websiteInstagramFacebook GroupLinkedIn

What if the discomfort isn’t a sign you’re on the wrong path but an invitation to rethink your next step?Caitlin opens up about the messy, in-between phase of balancing a healthcare career with a creative side hustle. She reflects on the guilt of wanting out, the pressure to keep going when it looks good on paper, and why small tweaks might make a bigger difference than going all in or walking away. Caitlin challenges the idea that leaving is the only option and encourages you to dig deeper into what your discomfort is really saying.Tune in to learn:Why Caitlin once wished she’d get injured just to skip workHow taking Mondays off saved a draining healthcare jobThe harsh truth about the “fantasy” healthcare careers sold in uniWhy many healthcare pros jump into coaching What makes admitting you want out of healthcare so hardHow sitting with discomfort might reveal a third, unexpected career pathWhy you don’t have to keep pushing if your gut says otherwiseSmall changes that can fix your healthcare job (or show it's time to quit)The confusing mix of pride and disconnect in a healthcare careerHow to hold space for grief and confusion when your career feels stuckListen if you’re:Feeling stuck between your healthcare career and a creative side hustleUnsure if you should stay, pivot, or take a break from health workTrying to make sense of the discomfort that’s been growing in your current roleLoved this episode?Leave a review or send it to a friend who’s been feeling unsure about their health career lately. Your support means the world to me!Connect with Caitlin:Healers with Hustles websiteInstagramFacebook GroupLinkedIn

What if health education didn’t have to come from a clinic? And what happens when we make quiet conversations LOUD?In this episode, Caitlin chats with Dr. Olivia Richman, a board-certified family medicine physician, 2x TEDx speaker, and founder of Docfluencer MDO, about what it really looks like to get creative in healthcare.Olivia shares her unconventional path to educate and advocate, one built on storytelling, social media, and speaking directly to the people who need it most.From rewriting personal narratives to building a platform that helps other healthcare professionals use their voice on social media to change healthcare. Olivia’s journey is a powerful reminder that healing can happen in more ways than one!If you’ve ever wondered what’s possible beyond the “white coat”—this one’s for you.Tune in to learn:The childhood misunderstanding that led Dr. Olivia to chase a career she resented for yearsHow a Youtube channel on sexual health became her middle ground between a career in Hollywood and medicineThe life-changing internship that changed her entire view of health educationThe shocking gaps in physician education that pushed her to launch a hub for doctor-influencersHow Dr. Olivia's superiors reacted to her starting a Youtube channel about sexual healthThe invisible limits we place on ourselves as adultsDr. Olivia's mission to making sexual health conversations less tabooWhy the fear of being judged online is not about the viewersHow creative expression can coexist with professional credibilityThe brutal reality of the American healthcare systemConnect with Dr. OliviaTEDxTalk GlamourPuss, MD InstagramGlamourPuss, MD YoutubeDocfluencer, MDOConnect with Caitlin:Healers with Hustles websiteInstagramFacebook GroupLinkedIn

Could a creative shift be the antidote to feeling stuck in your healthcare career?In this episode, Caitlin gets real about the in-between stage of rethinking what work can look like after years in healthcare. She discusses how to find a nonclinical creative business idea, blending what you love, what you’re good at, and what people need. If you’re feeling stuck or just curious about making a change, this episode might be the nudge you need to start listening to those little daydreams and act on them.Tune in to learn:Why feeling “blahh” at work isn’t always burnoutHow to use the Japanese concept of ikigai to explore new directionsWhat Caitlin’s month off revealed (spoiler: it wasn’t what she expected)The role of low-pressure creative projects in rediscovering joyWhy self-compassion is your best co-pilot when making a shiftListen if you’re:Wondering what’s next after years in healthcareCurious about creative work but unsure where to startCraving purpose and play, without a full-blown career changeLoved this episode? Leave a review or send it to a friend who’s been “career curious” lately. Your support means the world.Connect with Caitlin:Healers with Hustles websiteInstagramFacebook GroupLinkedIn