

Grow Your Practice Podcast
Grow Your Practice Podcast
Each week, the Grow Your Practice Podcast with Chad Madden of Breakthrough brings you no-nonsense marketing & business growth strategies that deliver new patients and higher profits.
Co-Founder of Breakthrough, Owner of Madden Physical Therapy and Author of "Killer Marketing Secrets for Private Practice PTs", Chad grew his practice 600% in the last five years using direct response marketing strategies. He sees more than 200 new patients each month in his single location Private Practice. Now he's teaching over 800 Practice Owners to do the same.
Co-Founder of Breakthrough, Owner of Madden Physical Therapy and Author of "Killer Marketing Secrets for Private Practice PTs", Chad grew his practice 600% in the last five years using direct response marketing strategies. He sees more than 200 new patients each month in his single location Private Practice. Now he's teaching over 800 Practice Owners to do the same.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jul 31, 2025 • 55min
How Gait Analysis Boosts PT Clinics & Patient Outcomes With Doug Adams of RunDNA
In this episode of the Grow Your Practice podcast, Chad Madden welcomes back Doug Adams from RunDNA and the Omega Project to discuss how gait and running analysis is revolutionizing physical therapy clinics. Discover how incorporating cutting-edge gait analysis can enhance patient outcomes, differentiate your clinic, and increase revenue through cash-based services. Learn from real-world success stories, marketing strategies, and the mindset shifts clinicians need to embrace value-based care.Learn more: https://www.rundna.comTimestamps:00:00 - Introduction and success story02:11 - What is RunDNA and how it started04:50 - Real-life example of immediate results using gait analysis06:28 - The need for gait analysis in today's PT landscape08:43 - Chili's analogy and value-based services11:27 - First steps for adding cash-based services14:07 - The mindset shift: Want vs Should17:53 - Revenue impact and champion clinicians20:29 - Market alignment and misalignment24:05 - Strategic partnerships with running stores27:19 - Doug's journey from local to national expert33:16 - Lead vs Lag indicators in gait analysis37:07 - Clinician mindset around selling value42:02 - Don't diagnose the wallet: sell based on value47:02 - Time-based vs Value-based thinking49:47 - Discharge is a four-letter word52:52 - Doug's current interests and final thoughts

Jul 24, 2025 • 27min
Fix Your Payer Mix & $60K/Month Without More Patients - The Road to Build a $100M Practice - Ep: 04
Feeling stuck with low margins—even when your clinic is full? You’re not alone. In this video, Chad Madden walks through why most private practice owners feel powerless to improve their payer mix and how small strategic changes can add $60K+ in monthly profit without adding more patients or staff.You’ll learn the Quantity → Quality → Viability framework, real examples from clinics across the country, and five specific ways to start attracting better payers today.00:00 – The most common profitability problem for busy practices01:15 – Why improving your payer mix matters more than you think03:00 – The power of adding just $5 per visit05:00 – Breaking the myth: Higher revenue ≠ higher costs06:45 – National trends: declining reimbursements, rising costs08:00 – The framework: Quantity → Quality → Viability10:00 – How to identify your best payers11:30 – 5 Patient Pathways to influence your payer mix • 11:45 – Reactivations (target your best payers) • 13:10 – Word of mouth & physician referrals • 13:50 – Employer partnerships • 15:00 – Cold traffic marketing & diagnosis targeting17:20 – Case study: Pelvic floor program ad strategy20:00 – What top practices are doing nationwide • Hybrid models • Renegotiating rates • Dropping low payers • Attracting better ones22:45 – The real obstacle: “I can’t do anything” is a myth24:00 – Final thoughts and where to go from here

Jul 19, 2025 • 38min
How Writing a Book Can Explode Your Practice Growth: Ft. Chandler Bolt
In this episode, Chad Madden interviews Chandler Bolt, founder of SelfPublishing.com, on how private practice owners can use a book to grow their business. Chandler shares how he went from failed startup to publishing over 7,000 books and explains why a book is the best marketing asset for attracting leads, building authority, and generating referrals. If you're a practice owner looking to stand out, this episode is your roadmap.

Jul 14, 2025 • 48min
Burnout, Belonging, and Building a Strong Team: Lessons from Lisa Flexner
Chad Madden sits down with Lisa Flexner, founder of Flex Health Consulting, to talk about her surprising journey from tech and executive coaching to becoming a physical therapist—and how a broken shoulder led to a career transformation.Lisa shares her insights on building people-centered practices, preventing burnout, and why culture—not marketing or operations—is the foundation of every successful clinic. She breaks down why Gen Z isn’t the problem, how to attract and retain great clinicians, and what practice owners can do to create lasting impact.

Jun 27, 2025 • 26min
The Graduation Rate Audit: How One Simple Tool Transformed Our $150K Revenue Leak
Want to improve patient outcomes, increase referrals, and make your marketing way more effective without spending a dime?In this episode, we break down the Graduation Rate Audit — a simple but powerful tool every private practice physical therapist should be using. Learn how one clinician went from a 40% to over 80% graduation rate in just 90 days, and why having your clinicians run this themselves creates lasting behavior change.Download the Audit Sheet - https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1VKS4P1uviyUuDi_to6Pk_CWggxX3-mtg🚀 Want to See the System Behind Scaling to $20M — and the Plan to Hit $100M?Book a free demo call and get a behind-the-scenes look at the exact systems, tools, and frameworks Chad used to grow from a solo PT to a $20M practice — and the blueprint he's using to reach $100M. https://getbreakthrough.com/demo/Time Stamps:0:00 – Intro: Why Clinicians Don’t Buy Into Marketing2:00 – The Graduation Rate Audit Explained5:00 – The "Leaky Bucket" Problem in PT Clinics7:45 – Jan’s Story: From 40% to 80% Graduation Rate10:00 – How to Use the Audit Spreadsheet16:00 – Why Clinicians Must Complete the Audit Themselves20:00 – Long-Term Behavior Change & Practice Growth24:30 – Final Thoughts + Free Tool Access

Jun 24, 2025 • 42min
Building Demand With Content Marketing Ft. Dr. Kevin Christie
In this episode, Chad Madden talks with Dr. Kevin Christie about how chiropractors and physical therapists can grow their practices using content marketing that builds trust, not pressure.Whether you're insurance-based or cash-based, this episode covers how to position yourself as a local expert and turn educational content into consistent patient growth.Book mentioned: Epic Content Marketing🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes helping you grow your private practice!⏱️ Timestamps:00:00 - Intro00:26 - Meet Dr. Kevin Christie01:30 - How Kevin Uses His Practice as a Test Lab02:30 - What Content Marketing Really Is05:00 - Why Doctors Have the Advantage in Content07:10 - Trust vs. Tactics: Creating Real Value10:15 - The 85/15 Rule: PBS vs. QVC14:00 - High-Ticket Care vs. Insurance-Based Practices18:00 - Why Great Marketing Reduces Sales Pressure22:00 - Framework for Creating Compelling Content26:00 - Where Should You Start with Content?28:30 - Using AI to Repurpose Videos30:00 - Email List = Your Secret Salesforce32:00 - Retargeting with Facebook Ads34:00 - Trends in Add-On Services (Shockwave, Laser, Gym Hybrids)37:00 - Favorite Marketing Book: Epic Content Marketing40:00 - Final Advice: Be the Buffalo

Jun 5, 2025 • 44min
Am I Really Making Money in My Practice? Ft. Sean Healy of Accounted4 LLC
Do you ever wonder why your profit says one thing—but your bank account says another?In this episode, Chad Madden sits down with Sean Healy, founder of Accounted4 LLC, to break down:-Why profit isn’t the best way to measure your practice's health-How to understand cash flow (without being an accountant)-The top 2 predictive metrics every PT owner should track-Why your balance sheet is more important than your P&L-What to clean up before selling your practice-Smart ways to use AI and automation to protect your bottom line📈 Whether you’re looking to grow, streamline, or sell your practice, this episode is packed with practical advice you can act on today.👉 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share if you found this helpful!#PhysicalTherapy #PrivatePractice #Cashflow #ExitPlanning #SmallBusinessFinance #GrowYourPractice #AIInHealthcareIf you’re ready to simplify your hiring, boost staff retention, and grow your practice—schedule a free demo of Breakthrough today at https://getbreakthrough.com/demo⏱️ Episode Timestamps:00:18 – Meet Sean Healy of Accounted For LLC01:40 – The Question: “Am I Making Money?”03:25 – Profit vs Cashflow05:35 – Step 1 to Understanding Your Finances07:15 – The Power of the Balance Sheet10:10 – 5 Things That Affect Cashflow (Not on P&L)13:15 – Predictive Metrics That Matter18:35 – Why Cashflow Problems Catch Owners Off Guard21:50 – How to Start Saving Strategically24:20 – Using AI, VAs & Automation29:30 – Booking Appointments with AI30:45 – Who Sean Works With & How to Connect32:10 – Preparing for a Practice Exit35:45 – What Buyers Want to See37:50 – EBITDA & Multiples40:20 – Most Influential Books & AI Conversions42:45 – Final Thoughts

May 16, 2025 • 47min
Ben Wobker of Lake Washington PT Shares: Clinician Hiring Draft Board, Building Company Culture, Balancing Burn Out, and How to Utilize AI and Tech in Growing a Practice
In this episode of the Grow Your Practice Podcast, host Chad Madden sits down with physical therapist and Lake Washington PT founder Ben Wobker to talk about one of the hottest issues in private practice: hiring.Ben reveals his data-backed approach to attracting, hiring, and retaining top DPT grads—even during a nationwide staffing shortage. Learn how he uses a “draft board” system to nurture warm leads, mentors PT students years before they graduate, and leverages technology like AI scribes to create a clinic culture that wins the talent war.Whether you’re struggling to recruit your next hire or looking to strengthen retention, this is a must-listen conversation with practical strategies you can implement today.If you’re ready to simplify your hiring, boost staff retention, and grow your practice—schedule a free demo of Breakthrough today at https://getbreakthrough.com/demo⏱️ Episode Timestamps:00:00 – Intro: Wakeboarding and wake-surfing with Ben01:10 – The PT shortage: Why hiring is harder than ever02:00 – How Ben recruits from his own aide pipeline03:45 – Building a “draft board” for DPT students06:30 – Tracking warm leads with a simple Google Sheet07:30 – The warm funnel that led to 14 new PT hires09:15 – The structured (yet casual) interview process10:45 – Building trust with personal emails and CEU invites13:30 – Centralizing hiring to reduce internal competition16:00 – Adapting to Gen Z’s definition of work-life balance20:30 – Leveraging AI scribes to reduce documentation burnout24:00 – Using ChatGPT, Gemini & AI agents in operations32:00 – Creating scroll-stopping social videos with Opus Clip36:45 – How to increase staff retention with autonomy, mastery, and purpose40:00 – Mentorship as a competitive advantage42:00 – Top podcast recommendations outside PT45:00 – Ben’s favorite book: Bo Knows Bo46:30 – Wrap-up and closing thoughts

May 14, 2025 • 30min
Core Values and How to Hire the Best: The Road to Build a $100M Practice - Ep: 02
In this episode of the Grow Your Practice podcast, Chad Madden dives deep into the foundational principles every private practice owner needs to scale sustainably, starting with clearly defined core values. If you’ve struggled with hiring, team alignment, or culture drift, you’ll want to take notes. Chad breaks down the “Planning Pyramid,” showing how to connect your daily accountability to your 10-25 year vision. You’ll learn how to identify and codify core values that attract A-players and repel toxic team members, plus how to build hiring scorecards that get results. Whether you're aiming for your first million or your hundredth, this episode sets the stage for lasting growth.If you're ready to grow your practice with clarity and purpose, schedule a free strategy demo at https://getbreakthrough.com/strategy/ to see how our platform can help you attract new patients, increase profitability, and stay focused on your long-term vision.⏱️ Timestamps00:00 – Intro: Part 2 of the $100 Million Practice Series00:30 – Why Core Values Matter More Than Ever02:00 – The Planning Pyramid Explained (Based on Vern Harnish’s work)04:00 – The Real Reason You’re Struggling to Hire (and What to Do Instead)06:30 – What Goes in a Scorecard: Role, Metrics, Competencies, Core Values08:30 – How Core Values Drive Accountability and Retention10:00 – The Danger of Compromising Core Values When You’re Desperate12:30 – Why Good People Can Still Be a Bad Fit (and How to Tell)14:00 – Real Examples from the Clinic: Rewarding Core Value Behavior17:00 – The 3 Core Values That Drive Madden PT21:30 – How to Spot Grit, Growth-Mindset, and Team Players in Interviews24:00 – The “Ocean Questions” and Red Flags in Hiring26:00 – Stories of Impact: From World War II Veterans to Everyday Miracles28:00 – Recap & Why Core Values Outlast You29:00 – What’s Coming in Part 3: Goal Forecasting & Annual Planning

May 13, 2025 • 36min
The Top 10%: What Thriving PT Clinics Do Differently with Neil Trickett
In this episode of the Grow Your Practice podcast, Chad Madden sits down with Neil Trickett—former private practice owner and founder of Practice Promotions—to uncover what the top 10% of physical therapy clinics are doing to thrive in today’s competitive healthcare market. Neil shares his journey from running a seven-figure clinic to building one of the industry’s leading marketing agencies. Together, they dive deep into the common traps practice owners fall into, how to stabilize patient flow, and why marketing is the engine that drives everything from hiring to profitability. You’ll walk away with actionable strategies from Neil’s “Market to Grow” system, insights into what sets high-performing clinics apart, and a renewed focus on leveraging marketing to take control of your clinic’s future.If you're ready to grow your practice with clarity and purpose, schedule a free strategy demo at https://getbreakthrough.com/strategy/ to see how our platform can help you attract new patients, increase profitability, and stay focused on your long-term vision.⏱️ Timestamps0:01 – Introduction: Meet Neil Trickett and his journey from clinic owner to marketing expert1:09 – From PT owner in Florida to founding Practice Promotions2:47 – The early days: Direct mail inspiration from chiropractors4:05 – The big marketing realization: “Marketing solves all problems”6:00 – How Neil’s newsletters became a recruiting magnet6:26 – The philosophy behind “Market to Grow” and the top 10% of clinics9:03 – The three biggest challenges: New patients, hiring, and reimbursement11:13 – How one practice added $120K in cash services in Q1 alone11:41 – The “New Patient Roller Coaster” and how to get off it13:43 – Breaking down the “Market to Grow” system14:59 – Why website conversion rates are a secret weapon17:01 – Real-world example: 8%+ website conversion rates using heatmaps and AI18:50 – “Market to Hire”: Proactive recruiting and why your careers page matters21:04 – Getting found on Google for jobs (and bypassing Indeed)23:05 – Real story: When your marketing attracts top talent away from competitors24:22 – The “Revenue Ratio”: A new way to assess clinic profitability25:33 – Two tactics for attracting better-paying patients and promoting cash services27:08 – Common marketing mistakes practice owners make28:55 – How much should PT clinics really be investing in marketing?30:55 – If you’re overwhelmed, start with this first step32:03 – Where to get Neil’s book, Market to Grow33:00 – Rapid Fire: Marketing myths, overlooked tactics, case studies, and more35:56 – Final thoughts and takeaway from Neil Trickett