Forward - The Podcast of the Forward Thinking Chiropractic Alliance

Dr. Bobby Maybee reads and reacts to H.L. Mencken’s scathing 1924 essay that brands chiropractic as quackery based on the subluxation idea and crude manual adjustments, contrasting it with osteopathy’s move toward scientific training. He concedes Mencken’s critique fit many early chiropractors and still shapes public perception, while noting Mencken’s use of provocative satire and problematic personal views. Modern research validates some spinal manipulation benefits but not the original subluxation model, so Maybee urges evidence‑informed practice, clinical excellence, restraint on social media, and engagement with professional communities.

Darcy Sullivan is the owner of Propel Marketing & Design and host of The Clinic Marketing Podcast. She and her team help healthcare clinics improve their visibility in Google Search, Google Maps, and AI-powered search, while also providing professional website design and strategic website content that converts visitors into patients.

For more than a decade, Propel has helped chiropractors, physical therapists, acupuncturists, and other clinic owners grow through local SEO, Google Business Profile optimization, and websites built to attract more qualified patients.

Links:

• FREE: SEO Summer School for Clinics - https://propelyourcompany.com/seo-summer-school-2026/ - if before August 28th.

• Website - https://propelyourcompany.com/

• Free SEO Training for Chiropractors - https://propelyourcompany.com/register-clinic-seo-workshop/

• Book a Discovery Call: https://calendly.com/propelyourcompany/discovery-call

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/PropelYourCompany/

In this episode, Dr. Bobby Maybee sits down with marketing consultant, StoryBrand Certified Guide, and fractional CMO Sean Garner to discuss how chiropractors and other healthcare business owners can simplify their marketing and attract the right patients.

Sean outlines a practical three-step framework — Build, Fill, Optimize — that helps business owners focus on the right priorities in the right order. Rather than chasing the latest marketing tactic, Sean argues that most clinics should first establish clear messaging, a conversion-focused website, strong local visibility, and systems for lead nurturing and tracking before investing heavily in advertising.

Whether you're struggling with marketing overwhelm or simply looking for a clearer path forward, Sean offers a refreshingly practical approach to building a sustainable patient acquisition system.

Sean Garner is the Founder and CEO of Sean Garner Consulting, a StoryBrand Certified Guide, and a fractional Chief Marketing Officer who works with healthcare entrepreneurs and service-based businesses. His focus is helping organizations clarify their message, simplify their marketing, and create systems that generate measurable growth.

BE SURE TO JOIN US AT THRIVE 2027!

Let’s take a moment to thank the partners that help make the Forward Thinking Chiropractic podcast possible.

First up is Jane — one of the most user-friendly practice management platforms in healthcare. From scheduling and charting to payments and patient communication, Jane helps clinics run smoothly so you can spend more time focused on patient care and less time fighting your software.

We’re also proud to partner with Altra Running — makers of footwear built around natural foot positioning, with their signature FootShape toe box and zero-drop options that many active patients and movement-focused providers have come to appreciate.

A big thank you to ChiroUp — an evidence-based clinical platform that helps chiropractors improve diagnosis, documentation, exercise prescription, and patient education. It’s built for doctors who want to be both more efficient and better clinicians.

Thanks as well to NCMIC — a company that has supported chiropractors for decades through malpractice insurance, business protection, and resources designed specifically for our profession.

Shoutout to KMC University — helping chiropractors improve communication, documentation, compliance, and patient education systems so practices can operate at a higher level.

And thank you to Portland Health Supply — providing affordable, tested clinical products and supplies for chiropractors who want dependable equipment without unnecessary markup.

And finally, a quick mention of our own company, Chiropractic Success Academy — an online business education platform built specifically for chiropractors who want more clarity, better systems, and sustainable growth without gimmicks, guru nonsense, or high-pressure coaching models.

Dr. Kevin Christie is a chiropractor, speaker, entrepreneur, and educator known for helping evidence-informed chiropractors build stronger businesses without sacrificing clinical integrity. He is the founder of Modern Chiropractic Mastery, a coaching and business development company focused on marketing, systems, leadership, and sustainable practice growth for chiropractors. Through years of owning and scaling practices, leading mastermind groups, and educating chiropractors around the world, Kevin has become a respected voice in ethical business development, patient-centered growth, and operational excellence. His work consistently emphasizes that great clinical outcomes and strong business systems are not opposing ideas—they should work together.

In this episode, Dr. Kevin Christie joins host Dr. Bobby Maybee for a practical conversation on how chiropractic clinics can prepare for what may be a tighter and more competitive business landscape heading into 2026.

Kevin and Bobby discuss why simply being “good” is no longer enough—and why clinics need to become truly remarkable by pairing clinical excellence with a stronger patient experience.

BE SURE TO JOIN US AT THRIVE 2027!

Let’s take a moment to thank the partners that help make the Forward Thinking Chiropractic podcast possible.

First up is Jane — one of the most user-friendly practice management platforms in healthcare. From scheduling and charting to payments and patient communication, Jane helps clinics run smoothly so you can spend more time focused on patient care and less time fighting your software.

We’re also proud to partner with Altra Running — makers of footwear built around natural foot positioning, with their signature FootShape toe box and zero-drop options that many active patients and movement-focused providers have come to appreciate.

A big thank you to ChiroUp — an evidence-based clinical platform that helps chiropractors improve diagnosis, documentation, exercise prescription, and patient education. It’s built for doctors who want to be both more efficient and better clinicians.

Thanks as well to NCMIC — a company that has supported chiropractors for decades through malpractice insurance, business protection, and resources designed specifically for our profession.

Shoutout to KMC University — helping chiropractors improve communication, documentation, compliance, and patient education systems so practices can operate at a higher level.

And thank you to Portland Health Supply — providing affordable, tested clinical products and supplies for chiropractors who want dependable equipment without unnecessary markup.

And finally, a quick mention of our own company, Chiropractic Success Academy — an online business education platform built specifically for chiropractors who want more clarity, better systems, and sustainable growth without gimmicks, guru nonsense, or high-pressure coaching models.

Dr Andrew Bruns of Portland Health Supply outlines the company’s growth from a chiropractor’s garage startup to an FDA‑compliant device supplier and explains shockwave therapy—how radial and focused waves differ, strong evidence for tendinopathies, and the multimodal mechanisms behind pain relief and tissue remodelling.

He offers practical guidance on dosing, hands‑on technique, safety, training, device selection and business integration as a cash service, plus tips on maintenance and minimizing clinic downtime. The interview also covers legal/trademark lessons, sponsorship of the FTCA and how to contact Portland Health Supply for advice and support.

Today’s guest is chiropractor Chris Chippendale — a clinician, educator, and speaker with a strong focus on patient communication, patient experience, and building practices that are both ethical and sustainable. Chris has become known for helping chiropractors bridge the gap between clinical competence and the actual lived experience patients have inside a practice.

Alongside Kevin Christie, Chris is co-hosting the upcoming Patient Experience Masterclass in London on June 20th, 2026 — a one-day event focused on helping chiropractors create patient-centered systems that improve trust, communication, retention, outcomes, and ultimately practice health without relying on fear-based tactics or manipulative sales approaches.

In today’s episode, we take a deep dive into what “patient experience” actually means in a modern chiropractic practice. We discuss reframing sales as patient-centered conversations, creating emotional safety and trust, improving operational ease inside the clinic, tracking measurable progress, and helping patients move toward long-term empowerment and self-management.

We also get practical — talking about retesting, co-management, communication systems, measurable outcomes, and the kinds of small operational details that can dramatically influence referrals, retention, and the overall patient journey.

If you’ve ever wondered why some great clinicians struggle to create consistently great patient experiences—or how to improve the experience inside your own clinic without becoming salesy—this is a really valuable conversation.

Let’s take a moment to thank the partners that help make the Forward Thinking Chiropractic podcast possible.

First up is Jane — one of the most user-friendly practice management platforms in healthcare. From scheduling and charting to payments and patient communication, Jane helps clinics run smoothly so you can spend more time focused on patient care and less time fighting your software.

We’re also proud to partner with Altra Running — makers of footwear built around natural foot positioning, with their signature FootShape toe box and zero-drop options that many active patients and movement-focused providers have come to appreciate.

A big thank you to ChiroUp — an evidence-based clinical platform that helps chiropractors improve diagnosis, documentation, exercise prescription, and patient education. It’s built for doctors who want to be both more efficient and better clinicians.

Thanks as well to NCMIC — a company that has supported chiropractors for decades through malpractice insurance, business protection, and resources designed specifically for our profession.

Shoutout to KMC University — helping chiropractors improve communication, documentation, compliance, and patient education systems so practices can operate at a higher level.

And thank you to Portland Health Supply — providing affordable, tested clinical products and supplies for chiropractors who want dependable equipment without unnecessary markup.

And finally, a quick mention of our own company, Chiropractic Success Academy — an online business education platform built specifically for chiropractors who want more clarity, better systems, and sustainable growth without gimmicks, guru nonsense, or high-pressure coaching models.

A discussion of DD Palmer, the founding of chiropractic, and spiritualism in the late 1800's.

Beth Lachance, CEO of Global Medical Virtual Assistance (GMVA), outlines how HIPAA‑certified medical virtual assistants (MVAs)—mostly nurses or staff with medical/insurance experience—handle front‑office, clinical/back‑office and revenue‑cycle tasks. Recruited mainly from the Philippines and rigorously trained with immediate HIPAA compliance, MVAs integrate in real‑time with practices, reducing clinician burnout and boosting patient satisfaction.

Dr. Bobby Maybee returns to the FTCA podcast to introduce the Chiropractic Success Academy (CSA), aimed at early-career chiropractors seeking clarity in practice management. He announces the upcoming "Thrive" event in January 2027 in Atlanta, focusing on seven key principles of chiropractic success.

Sharing his personal health journey with a germ cell tumor, he emphasizes the importance of trust in healthcare, highlighting that patient confidence is built on visible competence and effective communication.

Dr. Maybee encourages chiropractors to refine their communication skills to enhance patient satisfaction and care experiences.

After experiencing a head-on collision and enduring six months of physical therapy with limited results, a family friend referred him to his first chiropractor. Chiropractic care brought significant relief from his persistent neck and lower back pain and even led to unexpected improvements in his overall health. Inspired by these outcomes, he decided to pursue a career in chiropractic to help others experience similar benefits. During his studies, he met his future wife, who shared his passion for the profession, and they have since built a life and career together.

The couple practiced for 17 years in a multidisciplinary setting, focusing on providing high-quality care to their patients. Early in their career, they surpassed the $1 million mark in practice revenue and later exceeded $3.5 million annually during their final years of practice. They attributed much of their success to their focus on effective patient tracking, systems and automations, which allowed them to improve efficiency and outcomes. This realization inspired them to develop a patient tracking software that streamlined operations and enhanced the patient experience.

As their software business grew, it eventually became their primary focus, and they made the decision to sell their practice to dedicate themselves fully to TrackStat. Their mission is to help chiropractors implement efficient patient tracking processes using technology, enabling them to serve more patients, improve practice outcomes, and achieve greater success. By supporting the growth and efficiency of chiropractic practices, they also hope to contribute to the advancement of the profession and inspire more students to pursue chiropractic careers.