Students are taught to treat injury — but Melanie Llanes built her business on preventing it. From her start as a PTA to becoming a pelvic health powerhouse, Melanie shares how she shaped her career, faced burnout, and built a business that prioritizes people before they break.

Topics Covered:

• What every student misunderstands about prevention in PT
• Melanie’s transition from PTA to PT to entrepreneur
• Why pelvic health deserves a front seat in PT education
• Powerlifting, parenting, and professional resilience
• What nearly made her quit — and why she stayed

Sponsored by:

• EMPOWER EMR — Built by PTs, for PTs. https://empoweremr.com
• Posture Tape That Fixes Everything™ — Fake sponsor, real sarcasm

This episode features one of the most raw, real, and insightful convos we’ve had on the future of physical therapy.

Jimmy sits down with Dave Kittle and Tony Maritato to cover everything clinic owners need to hear right now:

• Why PTs are still trapped in outdated reimbursement models
• How to build a cash-based membership that actually works
• Sliding into DMs to recruit A+ hires
• EMRs that suck (and why they still do)
• The real problem with AI in healthcare
• Why some PT leaders still won’t talk about what matters most

If you’ve ever yelled at your EMR, questioned your payer mix, or thought about quitting insurance cold turkey — this one’s for you.

Why PTs Burn Out: A Raw Look at Rewards, Pressure & the Profession

Episode Summary:

What’s really burning out today’s physical therapists? In this episode, Jimmy chats with Dr. Rebekah Griffith — aka the EDDPT — about why PTs are questioning the reward system, the cost of conferences that don’t deliver, and why "no one wants to work anymore" might not be the real issue. From Graham Sessions to predatory conferences, manual therapy in acute care, and redefining value in the profession — this one hits hard and goes deep.

???? Whether you’re a student, new grad, clinic owner, or educator, this conversation challenges the status quo and leaves you asking: Is the juice worth the squeeze?

00:00 - Cold Open & Welcome

03:12 - The “Elite Secret Job” Recruitment Rant

06:20 - Predatory Journals & Conferences Explained

11:40 - The Hustle Game in Academic Publishing

15:55 - Conference Time Limits vs. Content Quality

22:10 - What Makes Graham Sessions Different?

29:20 - Why "Cool Kid Tables" Need More Chairs

34:00 - Practicing at the Top of Your Scope

37:42 - Tactics vs. Complaints: What PT Needs More Of

43:05 - Shark Tank for PT Ideas?

47:00 - Jimmy’s Radio Wisdom: Tight. Bright. Informative.

49:15 - Rebekah’s Parting Shot: People Want to Work, If It’s Worth It

What’s the fastest way for a PT student to make real change?

In this high-energy live episode from APTA NJ’s Student Conclave, veteran PT and fearless advocate Doula Riley shares the raw truth about regulation, career growth, and why now is the time for students to get involved — especially in election years.

Doula has worked nearly every PT setting… and survived mechanical bulls in multiple states. This convo blends serious insight with student-centered advice, career clarity, and just enough chaos to keep it Pintcast-approved.

???? Guest: Doula Riley, PT, advocate and clinical trailblazer

You’ll learn:

• What most students misunderstand about PT regulation
• Why policy matters more in election years
• The #1 easiest way to advocate today
• Red flags and real talk from someone who's seen it all

Physical therapy is having a moment — and not all of it is comfortable.

In this episode, Jimmy McKay breaks down a growing debate around PT salary, burnout, career growth, and work ethic, sparked by posts from veteran physical therapist Rob Panariello.

Rob argues that success in physical therapy comes from exceptional effort, clinical excellence, and personal responsibility — a framework that built many successful careers.

But newer physical therapists are asking a different question:

Does hard work still reliably convert into opportunity in today’s healthcare system?

This episode explores:

• Why PT salaries feel stagnant
• How student loan debt changes career math
• Where hard work still compounds — and where it doesn’t
• Why this isn’t a generational fight
• And what needs to change to retain great clinicians

This isn’t a rant.

It’s a translation — between effort and incentives, experience and reality.

What does it really mean to advocate as a physical therapist — and where should students start?

In this live episode recorded at APTA New Jersey’s Student Conclave at Kean University, Ben Aguila pulls back the curtain on what actually happens inside the APTA House of Delegates. He shares how clinic owners can stay grassroots while thinking globally, how students can plug into real change, and why the best things in your career might start as accidents.

Topics Covered:

• What happens in the APTA House of Delegates
• Why advocacy matters — and who’s doing it right
• How Ben ended up running a half marathon by accident
• The real entry point for students into leadership
• Policy changes PT education needs now

Sponsored by:

• Brooks IHL — World-class residencies, fellowships, and continuing education: https://brooksihl.org
• Mechanical Bulls R Us™ — Fake sponsor, real core engagement

Clinic owners: your costs are rising, your reimbursements aren’t. So how do you protect your margins? In this episode, Jimmy chats with Joseph Lowe, a former PT turned rehab retail expert. Joseph reveals how clinics can generate $30K–$40K a year in retail revenue — without selling out or adding visit volume.

They cover:

• Why “profit margin” should be your #1 KPI
• The easiest products for PTs to sell
• How your sunk costs can become scalable revenue
• Why retail is the future for sustainable practice growth

???? Joseph’s prediction?

Someone will land a seven-figure product partnership. And it could be you.

Most PTs were taught to treat in 60-minute chunks. But what if the real value isn’t in the time... but the outcome?

In this episode, Jimmy sits down with Tony Maritato and Dave Kittle to unpack how physical therapists can stop marketing “minutes” and start delivering results. They dive into shorter sessions, clinic models, live selling, CEU partnerships, and the massive potential of selling outcomes over time.

Plus: a brainstorm on flipping leftover clinic time into high-converting, half-off offers. Think Groupon, but smarter — and built for PT.

If you’re a clinic owner, cash-based therapist, or entrepreneurial rehab pro… this is your roadmap to thinking like a modern healthcare business.

Why aren’t physical therapists paid like doctors — even though the outcomes prove they should be?

In this episode of PT Pintcast, Jimmy sits down with Josh Bailey, PT, to unpack the uncomfortable truth about reimbursement, CPT codes, employer contracting, and why physical therapy keeps getting boxed into time-based billing instead of value-based care.

Josh shares:

• Why early PT saves 50% of downstream costs — and why payers still ignore it
• How CPT code 97110 commoditized physical therapy
• The biggest diagnostic mistakes around plantar fasciitis
• Why grit, effort, and reps matter more than credentials
• And his mic-drop case for treating PTs like doctors — in pay, productivity, and respect

This episode is a must-listen for clinic owners, healthcare leaders, and PTs who want more than burnout and flat reimbursement.

00:00 – Why PT Isn’t Paid Like Medicine

03:45 – Incentives, Insurance, and Misaligned Value

10:30 – Why CPT Codes Limit PT’s Worth

17:15 – Plantar Fasciitis: What PT School Got Wrong

26:45 – Effort, Grit, and the Path to Mastery

35:30 – Hiring for Character Over Credentials

44:50 – The Amazon Prime Lesson in Value

50:35 – Parting Shot: Treat PTs Like Doctors

• Josh Bailey on LinkedIn: jbaileypt
• Rehab Associates: https://rehabassociatesracva.com
• PT Management Group of Virginia: https://ptmgva.com

Dr. Steve Ryland joins Jimmy to unpack UPTA, how they're taking action to fight Medicare bureaucracy, and why burnout isn’t a personal failure — it’s a design flaw in the system.

In this episode:

• Suing CMS and calling out policy contradictions
• Compliance fatigue and how AI can help PTs reclaim time
• Building a national pilot proposal with real impact
• Responding to APTA critics and unifying PT voices
• Advice to disillusioned new grads: “Don’t wait to be rescued”