APTA Podcasts

Physical therapists often enter the profession to help patients — but many also aspire to have greater autonomy, flexibility, and ownership over their careers. In this episode of the APTA Podcast, entrepreneur, business coach, author, and physical therapist Danny Matta, PT, DPT, joins APTA's Alicia Hosmer, CME, AAiP, and Drew Contreras, PT, DPT, to share practical lessons from his journey from U.S. Army physical therapist to successful business owner.

Learn how Matta identified his niche, built a cash-based practice, navigated the challenges of entrepreneurship, and developed a mindset centered on continuous growth. Whether you're considering private practice, looking to expand your impact, or simply exploring new possibilities in your professional journey, this conversation offers actionable insights on creating a career that aligns with your goals.

In this episode of the APTA Podcast, John Gallucci Jr., PT, DPT, ATC, MS, president and CEO of JAG Physical Therapy and associate chief medical officer for Major League Soccer, explores the unique physical demands of soccer for athletes of all levels. With the 2026 men’s World Cup underway, Gallucci draws on his extensive experience with elite athletes, while also offering guidance for physical therapists preparing to support recreational, first-time, and youth athletes. 

Join Editor-in-Chief Steven George, PT, PhD, FAPTA, as he talks with Alyson Cavanaugh, PT, DPT, PhD, MPH, and Micah Wong, PT, DPT, about their recently published scoping review. The review mapped the current literature on the implementation of primary care physical therapy and found that integrating physical therapists in primary care may result in reduced healthcare utilization with similar patient outcomes.  

Cavanaugh and Wong are co-authors of the article “The Value of Integrating Physical Therapists into Primary Care, Including Patient Outcomes and Health Care Costs: A Scoping Review.” Read the article on the PTJ website and follow PTJ on LinkedIn and Bluesky for more research updates.   

Two students. One lobby day. A meaningful impact that reached the state legislature. 

In this episode, discover how DPT students Ally Clark and Brian Pham turned preparation into opportunity — earning an invitation to testify after APTA Virginia’s Lobby Day. Joined by VCU faculty members Alicia Flach, PT, DPT, EdD, and Katie Shaab, PT, DPT, PhD, along with APTA Virginia President Emily Hawkins, PT, DPT, PhD, this episode unpacks how students are trained for advocacy, what makes a lobby day successful, and why your voice matters. 

Tune in to learn practical strategies for organizing and participating in a state lobby day, guidance for getting started in advocacy, and why engaging at every stage of your career is critical. 

Ready to get involved in advocacy? Check out the following APTA resources to get started. 

• Download the APTA Advocacy App. 
• Start a discussion in the APTA Community.  
• Join the APTA Advocacy Network and read all the latest advocacy news. 
• Participate in the APTA Student Advocacy Challenge. 

In this episode of the PTJ Podcast, editorial board member Christopher Bise, PT, DPT, PhD, OCS, talks with Katie O’Bright, PT, DPT, OCS, Evan Kelley, PT, DPT, and Micah Wong, PT, DPT, about the 2025 primary care physical therapy consensus definition from the APTA Federal Primary Care Special Interest Group. The authors discuss primary care physical therapy as an emerging area of practice and explain why the definition will support consistent knowledge translation and address key challenges in the current healthcare landscape.  

For more information on the consensus definition and the 2026 Primary Care Summit and Think Tank, visit the APTA Federal Primary Care SIG resources page.  

O’Bright, Kelley, and Wong are co-authors of the article “Primary Care Physical Therapy: 2025 Consensus Definition.” Read the article on the PTJ website and follow PTJ on LinkedIn and Bluesky for more research updates.   

Kelly Roberts Lane, PT, DPT, APTA Minnesota’s lead representative for the Special Olympics USA Games, and Drew Contreras, PT, DPT, APTA vice president of strategic affairs, dive into APTA’s partnership with the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games in Minnesota. From how the partnership came together and will bring national awareness to the profession, to the many ways you can volunteer and make an impact, learn how APTA members are making a difference.  

Visit the Special Olympics USA Games to learn more about volunteer opportunities available to both clinicians and non-clinicians.  

Ash James, director of practice and development at the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy in the United Kingdom, joins APTA Vice President of Strategic Affairs Drew Contreras, PT, DPT, for a conversation on how artificial intelligence is shaping physical therapist practice — and how it could continue to evolve in the future. James shares lessons learned from the creation of CSP’s AI principles, as well as tips for clinicians trying to navigate AI, whether they are new or experienced users.  

• Read APTA’s practice advisory on ambient scribes: “Emerging Technology: AI-Enabled Ambient Scribe Technology in Physical Therapy Documentation.” 
•  Continue the conversation about AI and emerging technologies by joining the new APTA AI Network on the APTA Community. (Member login is required to access the APTA Community.) 
• Learn more about AI through one of the APTA Learning Center’s many courses, including  “AI in Physical Therapy,” “Implementing Technology in PT Practice,” and “Ethical Considerations and Application of Artificial Intelligence in Physical Therapy: Navigating the Intersection of Technology and Ethics.” 
• Discover APTA Magazine’s coverage on the topic, with “What’s the Impact of AI on Physical Therapy” and “AI as an ‘Intelligent Assistant.’” 

In this episode of the PTJ Podcast, Sandy Willett, PT, PhD, Elena Donoso Brown, OT/L, and Regina Harbourne, PT, PhD, FAPTA, define intervention fidelity, discuss its importance in bridging the gap between research and clinical practice, and highlight what clinicians and researchers can do in the future to make fidelity feel practical.  

Willett, Donoso Brown, and Harbourne are co-authors of the article “Intervention Fidelity: A Common Language for Clinicians and Researchers.” Read the article on the PTJ website and follow PTJ on LinkedIn and Bluesky for more research updates.   

In this episode of the PTJ Podcast, Sandy Willett, PT, PhD, Elena Donoso Brown, OT/L, and Regina Harbourne, PT, PhD, FAPTA, define intervention fidelity, discuss its importance in bridging the gap between research and clinical practice, and highlight what clinicians and researchers can do in the future to make fidelity feel practical.  

Willett, Donoso Brown, and Harbourne are co-authors of the article “Intervention Fidelity: A Common Language for Clinicians and Researchers.” Read the article on the PTJ website and follow PTJ on LinkedIn and Bluesky for more research updates.   

In this episode of the PTJ Podcast, Sandy Willett, PT, PhD, Elena Donoso Brown, OT/L, and Regina Harbourne, PT, PhD, FAPTA, define intervention fidelity, discuss its importance in bridging the gap between research and clinical practice, and highlight what clinicians and researchers can do in the future to make fidelity feel practical.  

Willett, Donoso Brown, and Harbourne are co-authors of the article “Intervention Fidelity: A Common Language for Clinicians and Researchers.” Read the article on the PTJ website and follow PTJ on LinkedIn and Bluesky for more research updates.