In this episode of Break Room Banter, Ali and Beca sit down for wide-open, real-talk about the very human side of massage therapy—the stuff no one prepared us for in school.

Ali kicks things off with a personal story about accidentally letting her short-term rental license lapse on a rental unit she owns. And how this suddenly finds herself tangled in municipal red tape. It sparks a larger conversation about power differentials, the temptation to lean on clients for help, and the importance of knowing where the ethical lines actually sit.

From there, the conversation flows into:

When Clients Tell You Big Things First

Pregnancy. Divorce. Affairs. Life-changing news.
As massage therapists, we’re often the first to hear intimate information—and we don’t always talk about the emotional weight that comes with that role. Ali and Beca unpack the energetics of holding space, grounding rituals, and how to protect your own nervous system.

Beca’s Big Money Epiphany

After running her numbers, Beca had a major lightbulb moment about how to price your services based on the income you actually want to earn. She breaks down the simple equation that changed how she thinks about rate setting—and how you can use it too.

Connection in a Disconnected World

With AI, rushed medical appointments, and less human contact in daily life, massage therapy has become one of the few spaces where people feel truly cared for. The hosts talk about the responsibility and privilege of that closeness.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL HEAR ABOUT:

• When client relationships blur—and how to navigate that with integrity

• How to keep emotional boundaries when clients share deeply personal info

• Reframing your rates based on your actual income goals

• Why the container we create as massage therapists matters more than ever

Have something coming up in your treatment room? A boundary question, ethical tangle, or aha moment? Send us a message! We may feature your topic in a future Break Room Banter episode.