Opening a clinic takes courage. It also takes patience, vision, and a willingness to move forward even when the path isn’t perfectly clear.

In this episode of The Radical Massage Therapist Podcast, I sit down with Nancy Kahl, RMT, owner of Align Massage Therapy Kanata, to talk about what it really looks like to step into clinic ownership.

Nancy’s path to this chapter was anything but linear. After graduating as a massage therapist in 2002, she stepped away from the profession and spent eight years working in mental health and recreational therapy, supporting individuals living with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders, anxiety, and depression.

Eventually, she returned to massage therapy with a deeper understanding of the nervous system, emotional labour, and the realities of caring professions.

Six months into opening her clinic, Nancy shares what she has learned about leadership, building a supportive workplace, navigating uncertainty, and creating a practice that feels meaningful for both clients and practitioners.

We also talk about something that many therapists experience but rarely name clearly: the mental load of practice and how it differs from physical fatigue.

This episode is an honest conversation about growth, resilience, and building something steady over time.

If you’ve ever thought about opening a clinic, returning to massage after time away, or designing a career that supports your life outside the treatment room, this episode will resonate deeply.

🩵 This Episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jane.app⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 💻 My favourite software for online booking and charting is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jane.app⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and now, the radical massage therapist community can try ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jane.app⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for 1 Month using Code: RADICALRMT1MO

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Contact Nancy Kahl, RMT

Instagram @liftxbadgerxcycle

Contact The Radical Massage Therapist Podcast

Krista Dicks, RMT

📧 [email protected]

🌐 www.theradicalrmt.com

📱 Instagram: @theradicalmassagetherapist

Mentioned

• Align Massage Therapy Kanata

• Recreational Therapy in mental health

• Mohawk College (guest lecturing experience)

• Sanford Fleming College (Massage Therapy program)

• “The Man in the Arena” poem by Theodore Roosevelt

Massage therapy can give you incredible freedom — freedom of schedule, freedom of lifestyle, and the ability to build a career that actually supports your life. But that doesn’t happen automatically.

In this solo episode, I am sharing a behind-the-scenes look at how I organizes my week first for me and then as a massage therapist and clinic owner to protect my energy, stay motivated in the profession, and continue enjoying the career I have built.

These are not complicated productivity hacks.
They are realistic routines that help create a sustainable massage career that supports life outside the clinic.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• Why protecting your energy is one of the most important parts of a long massage career
• How simplifying everyday decisions can reduce stress
• Why designing your schedule before clients fill it can change your entire career
• The routines that help Krista stay healthy, organized, and happy as a massage therapist

If you’ve ever wondered how to create more freedom, flexibility, and longevity in your massage career, this episode offers a simple place to start.

🩵 This Episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠Jane.app⁠⁠⁠⁠ 💻 My favourite software for online booking and charting is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jane.app⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and now, the radical massage therapist community can try ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jane.app⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for 1 Month using Code: RADICALRMT1MO

Mentioned

Mackenzie Chilton: @loveyourmondays

Goodfood Try today with 70% Off

LesMills On Demand

Pilates on Beechwood

Mentorship

My Free 15-Minute To Clarity Chat: ⁠Book here

Gentle note about about medical and surgical references in this episode

In this episode of The Radical Massage Therapist, I sit down with Bobbi-Jo Corbett, RMT, to talk about something that deserves way more attention in our profession: scar tissue and hypermobility.

Bobbi-Jo treats what she calls “like a weirdo” — meaning she questions the default, follows the research, and approaches scar tissue gently, strategically, and systemically. We talk about why scar care isn’t an add-on… it’s healthcare. We explore the snowball effect of poorly treated scars, the ripple effects on our healthcare system, and how massage therapists can step into a bigger role.

Bobbi-Jo has taken the leap to share her experience and unique approach to treatment and educate practitioners on scar tissue treatments with online and in person workshops. 

We also dive into hypermobility — what it actually looks like in real bodies, how it changes assessment and treatment, and why some of our go-to techniques might not be as supportive as we think.

This conversation is about curiosity. It’s about evolving your lens. And it’s about building a career that keeps you mentally engaged, professionally growing, and excited to show up.

🩵 This Episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠Jane.app⁠⁠⁠ 💻 My favourite software for online booking and charting is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jane.app⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and now, the radical massage therapist community can try ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jane.app⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for 1 Month using Code: RADICALRMT1MO

Contact Bobbi-Jo

Instagram: @rmtbobbijo.c

Krista Dicks, RMT

📧 [email protected]

🌐 www.theradicalrmt.com

📲 @theradicalmassagetherapist

Topic Warning: Mental Health. Death and End of Life Care. Menstrual Cycles. Harry Potter. Sex and The City.

I am sharing some of the most impactful advice I've implemented in my own massage career — insights that didn’t require another certification, workshop, or degree, but did require some Radical Massage Therapists sharing their journey on the podcast.

Drawing from conversations with past podcast guests, I'm exploring how the treatment environment influences client outcomes, how massage therapists can create their own paid time off, why syncing your schedule with your menstrual cycle matters, how clear cancellation policies protect your nervous system, and what it looks like to hold compassionate boundaries in emotionally heavy work like palliative care.

This episode is an invitation to stop waiting for permission and start shaping a massage career that supports your health, finances, and life outside the treatment room.

🩵 This Episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠Jane.app⁠⁠ 💻 My favourite software for online booking and charting is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jane.app⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and now, the radical massage therapist community can try ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jane.app⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for 1 Month using Code: RADICALRMT1MO

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Explore The Episodes Mentioned:

#146 Jamie Smith: Massage Therapy Deserves Better Treatment Rooms

#069 Emilie McKay: How To Give Yourself Vacation Pay As a Self-Employed Massage Therapist

#063 Samantha Storozuk: Go With The Flow And Sync Your Schedule

#115 Christine Anderson: Breaking Free From Cancellation Burnout

#128 Olivia Sadler: Compassionate Touch. Massage Therapy For The End of Life

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Contact The Radical Massage Therapist Podcast

📧 Email: [email protected]
🌐 Website: www.theradicalrmt.com
📲 Instagram: @theradicalmassagetherapist

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What if building a sustainable massage career didn’t require more hustle, more techniques, or more sacrifice?

In this episode, I chat with Michelle Ratz-McGuire, RMT and hypnotherapist from Waterloo, Ontario, for a grounded, honest conversation about designing a massage career that supports your life—not the other way around.

Michelle shares her journey from social work to massage therapy, why she transitioned to a mat-based, Thai-inspired approach, and how addressing money mindset, boundaries, and nervous system regulation changed everything. This episode explores what it really takes to earn well, protect your energy, and enjoy your work long-term—without abandoning hands-on care.

If you’ve ever thought “must be nice” while scrolling social media, struggled with over giving, or wondered how to make this career feel better day-to-day—this conversation is for you.

🩵 This Episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠Jane.app⁠⁠ 💻 My favourite software for online booking and charting is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jane.app⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and now, the radical massage therapist community can try ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jane.app⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for 1 Month using Code: RADICALRMT1MO

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Contact Michelle

Socials @rmt.michelle

Website: RMTMichelle.com

Freebie: reverse engineering your income goals https://rmtmichelle.com/incomegoals

Mentioned in This Episode

For the full list check out The Radical Massage Therapist

Contact The Radical Massage Therapist Podcast

Email: ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠www.theradicalrmt.com⁠⁠

Instagram:⁠⁠ @theradicalmassagetherapist⁠⁠

Let's Chat- 30 Minutes to Clarity (On Me): ⁠Book Here

In this solo episode, I'm sharing the six questions that come up again and again in mentorship calls with massage therapists. These questions span pricing, scheduling, clinic loyalty, mobile massage, clinic ownership, and the desire to grow without doing more hands-on work. Through real mentoring stories and practical frameworks, this episode offers clarity, permission, and actionable steps for building a sustainable massage career.

Topics Covered

• Raising rates without guilt

• Creating balance without abandoning clients

• Leaving a clinic while honoring yourself

• Building a mobile massage practice with structure

• Clinic ownership clarity and lease red flags
• Expanding your career without adding massage hours




🩵 This Episode is brought to you by ⁠Jane.app⁠ 💻 My favourite software for online booking and charting is ⁠⁠⁠⁠Jane.app⁠⁠⁠⁠ and now, the radical massage therapist community can try ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jane.app⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for 1 Month using Code: RADICALRMT1MO

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Contact The Radical Massage Therapist Podcast

Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠

Website: ⁠www.theradicalrmt.com⁠

Instagram:⁠ @theradicalmassagetherapist⁠

Let's Chat- 30 Minutes to Clarity (On Me): Book Here

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Mentioned in this episode;

Fear Setting- Why you should define your fears instead of your goals | Tim Ferriss | TED

#075 How to Use Ghost Appointments in Your Massage Practice

What if your treatment room was doing half the work for you?

In this episode of The Radical Massage Therapist Podcast, I’m joined by Jamie Smith — a former massage therapist of nearly 20 years turned interior designer and founder of Happy Haüs Studios. Jamie specializes in designing restorative spaces for healthcare providers and wellness practitioners, and she brings a rare perspective that bridges hands-on care with science-backed design.

We explore why the divide between “clinical” and “relaxation” spaces doesn’t actually serve clients or therapists, how nervous system safety affects treatment outcomes, and why design choices like lighting, sound, storage, and visual clutter matter more than we’ve been taught.

This conversation is practical, thoughtful, and deeply validating for massage therapists who want their work environment to support their body, their clients, and their long-term career.

This Episode is brought to you by Jane.app 💻 My favourite software for online booking and charting is ⁠⁠⁠Jane.app⁠⁠⁠ and now, the radical massage therapist community can try ⁠⁠⁠⁠Jane.app⁠⁠⁠⁠ for 1 Month using Code: RADICALRMT1MO

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Contact Jamie Smith

Happy Haüs Studios

Free DIY Treatment Room Design Guide (instant download)

Online CEU Course: Treatment Room Design for Practitioners

Blog: https://happyhausstudios.com/blog

Contact The Radical Massage Therapist Podcast

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.theradicalrmt.com

Instagram: @theradicalmassagetherapist

This solo episode is a candid reflection sparked by my chat with Amy Bradley Radford on her podcast Massage. Business. Success.
The thoughtful questions Amy prepared created space for real reflection — the kind we rarely slow down enough to do.

I wanted to share more in this episode about what it means when your business quietly becomes the boss, how defining success as a full schedule can limit freedom, and why ownership (even as an independent contractor) changes everything. I also share a behind-the-scenes update on her upcoming meeting with an Ontario MPP regarding OCF-18 forms, how I prepared, and what advocating for our profession actually looks like in real life working alongside the RMTAO.

This episode is about leadership, responsibility, mentorship, and building a massage career that supports time freedom, financial security, flexibility, and joy outside the treatment room — not one that quietly drains it.

This Episode is brought to you by Jane.app 💻 My favourite software for online booking and charting is ⁠⁠Jane.app⁠⁠ and now, the radical massage therapist community can try ⁠⁠⁠Jane.app⁠⁠⁠ for 1 Month using Code: RADICALRMT1MO

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Mentioned in This Episode:

Contact The Radical Massage Therapist Podcast

📧 [email protected]

🌐 www.theradicalrmt.com

📸 Instagram: @theradicalmassagetherapist

What if the aches and pains you’ve been told are “part of the job” actually aren’t?

In this episode, I sit down with Lauriann Greene, one of the most respected voices in injury prevention and ergonomics for massage therapists. She’s been researching, writing, and teaching on this topic for nearly 30 years and is the author of Save Your Hands!: The Complete Guide to Injury Prevention and Ergonomics for Manual Therapists—a book many massage schools still recommend or require.

We unpack some of the most common myths in massage education, including the idea that pain is normal, that good body mechanics alone will keep you safe, and that therapists simply need to push through discomfort. Lauriann shares the research behind injury rates in our profession, explains why injuries are multifactorial, and outlines what actually supports long-term career longevity for hands-on practitioners.

We also talk about treatment room ergonomics, gradual workload increases, and how listening to your body is a professional skill—not a weakness. This conversation is grounded in evidence, experience, and deep care for the people doing the work.

✨ At the end of the episode, we dive into a special listener Q&A with Lauriann, where she answers real questions from massage therapists about hands-on workload, tools, ergonomics, and practical ways to protect their bodies across a long career.

If you want to keep practicing on your terms—and enjoy a full life outside the treatment room—this episode is a must listen.

OFFER: Get 20% off the regular price of Save Your Hands! 3rd Edition with THIS LINK

CONTACT LAURIANN:

EMAIL: [email protected]

WEBSITE: https://saveyourhands.com

💻 My favourite software for online booking and charting is ⁠Jane.app⁠ and now, the radical massage therapist community can try ⁠⁠Jane.app⁠⁠ for 1 Month using Code: RADICALRMT1MO

CONNECT WITH THE RADICAL MASSAGE THERAPIST PODCAST

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.theradicalrmt.com

Instagram: @theradicalmassagetherapist

Impostor syndrome has a way of sneaking in at every stage of a massage career—new grad, seasoned therapist, clinic owner, educator, or mentor. In this solo episode of The Radical Massage Therapist Podcast, I gett honest about what impostor syndrome has looked like across my own career, from hands-on clinical work to clinic ownership, podcasting, and leadership.

This episode is a grounded conversation about confidence, self-trust, and learning how to keep moving forward even when doubt shows up. If you’ve ever questioned whether you’re “good enough,” wondered if you’re actually helping your clients, or felt like you’re somehow winging it—this episode is for you.

As mentioned, this episode is inspired by this Ted Talk "How you can use impostor syndrome to your benefit | Mike Cannon-Brookes"

💻 My favourite software for online booking and charting is Jane.app and now, the radical massage therapist community can try ⁠Jane.app⁠ for 1 Month using Code: RADICALRMT1MO

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Connect With The Radical Massage Therapist Podcast:

📧 [email protected]🌐 www.theradicalrmt.com📱 Instagram: @theradicalmassagetherapist

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