Stay ConnectedPT Pintcast is a physical therapy podcast featuring conversations with physical therapists, clinic owners, educators, and leaders shaping the future of physical therapy.
Hosted by Jimmy McKay, PT, DPT, PT Pintcast blends real talk, big ideas, and practical insight on clinical care, business, culture, and where physical therapy is headed next. If a TED Talk and a radio show had a baby and raised it in a physical therapy clinic, this would be it.
Copyright: © PT Pintcast LLC
This episode is a practical clinic-owner conversation about marketing that actually has a job to do.
Jimmy McKay, Dave Kittle, and Tony Maritato talk through content creation, direct mail, therapist branding, anonymous posts, AI comments, and why PT clinic owners need to understand the game they are playing before spending money or time.
Key insights from the discussion:
• Content should attract something specific: patients, referral partners, or staff.
• Local positioning matters more than generic posting.
• Direct mail can work when clinic owners commit to testing over months, not days.
• A new therapist can become a visible local authority if the clinic builds content around them.
• Seasonality affects some PT clinics heavily, especially in markets with snowbirds or summer travel.
• Anonymous posting and AI comments may create noise, but they rarely build trust.
• Showing real clinic interactions can help other PTs learn and give patients a clearer sense of the experience.
Why this matters for busy PTs and clinic owners:
Most clinics do not have a content problem. They have a positioning problem. This episode shows how to connect marketing activity to real business goals: booked evaluations, stronger staff visibility, better local awareness, and more trust before the first patient visit.
GUEST LINKS
Dave Kittle
https://conciergepainrelief.com
YouTube: The Dave Kittle Show
Tony Maritato
YouTube: Total Therapy Solution
Jimmy McKay
YouTube: PT Pintcast
SPONSORS
SaRA Health
https://sarahealth.com
EMPOWER EMR
https://empoweremr.com
U.S. Physical Therapy
https://usph.com
SUBSCRIBE & FOLLOW
Apple Podcasts
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pt-pintcast-physical-therapy/id1000443325
Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/show/3LmMUT64yrUc2iGo9Emafc
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@PTPintcast
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmy-mckay-pt-dpt-a4207659/
https://www.instagram.com/ptpintcast
X / Twitter
https://x.com/PTPintcast
Website
https://www.ptpintcast.com/
Chronic pain patients are some of the toughest cases in physical therapy—not because they’re complicated, but because they’re often misunderstood.
In this episode, we break down why treating chronic pain like an acute injury leads to poor outcomes—and what to do instead. The shift is simple but powerful: stop focusing only on tissue and start understanding the person.
If you run a clinic or treat patients daily, this matters because better conversations lead to better outcomes, stronger patient relationships, and more consistent retention.
What you’ll learn:
• Why chronic pain is different from acute pain
• How to identify non-tissue drivers of pain
• The role of therapeutic alliance in outcomes
• Why listening is a clinical skill—not a soft skill
• How to improve patient retention starting day one
Guest Links:
Website: megansteelept.com
Instagram: @painscienceprof
YouTube: Unpacking Pain Podcast
Sponsors:
SaRA Health — Helping clinics generate revenue between visits with remote monitoring
EMPOWER EMR — Built for PTs who want faster, cleaner documentation
U.S. Physical Therapy — Supporting PT careers and clinic growth nationwide
Most episodes, Jimmy McKay is the one asking the questions. Not this time.
In this episode, Amit Gagliani flips the script and turns the mic on the host himself — using AI-generated questions to dig into the story Jimmy rarely tells. You'll hear how a morning announcement in sixth grade led to running a rock radio station, interning at K-Rock (yes, Howard Stern's station), and eventually walking away from the dream job he'd had since he was 11 years old.
Then: why he almost went to law school, spent a year in business school, and finally found physical therapy through a triathlete friend on a bike ride.
Plus — what radio actually taught Jimmy about healthcare communication, why the PT profession's biggest problem has completely shifted in the last decade, and the one thing he says every clinic owner needs to stop saying on their website.
If you've ever wondered who Jimmy McKay is when he's not the one holding the mic — this is it.
Topics covered:
Most physical therapists don’t have a clinical problem — they have a business model problem.
In this episode, Jimmy sits down with Courtney Morse to unpack what happens when you step away from traditional outpatient care and rethink how a PT clinic should operate. From burnout and stacked schedules to launching a cash-based practice out of a hair salon, this conversation shows what’s possible when PTs stop undervaluing their services.
Courtney shares how mindset, pricing, and business structure play a bigger role in success than most clinicians realize. He also breaks down why so many PTs hesitate to start a practice — and what actually gets them moving.
If you’re a clinic owner or thinking about becoming one, this episode gives you a clearer picture of what’s holding you back — and what to do next.
GUEST LINKS
• Courtney Morse
SPONSORS
SaRA Health — Increase revenue between visits with automated patient engagement
EMPOWER EMR — Documentation built for PTs, not against them
U.S. Physical Therapy — Growth, mentorship, and career pathways for PTs
???? https://usph.com/
Burnout in physical therapy isn’t just about workload—it’s about how clinicians process stress over time.
In this episode, Jimmy talks with Charles Inniss about why optimism is not a personality trait, but a trainable skill. They break down how burnout develops in PT careers, why cynicism follows exhaustion, and what clinicians and clinic owners can actually do about it.
If you run a clinic, this matters because burnout directly impacts retention, patient outcomes, and culture. If you’re a clinician, this gives you a practical framework to regain control of your career experience.
What you’ll learn:
• Why PT burnout happens even in “good” jobs
• The difference between exhaustion and cynicism
• How optimism works like a muscle
• Simple daily habits to improve mental resilience
• How clinic culture contributes to burnout (or prevents it)
Get His Book: https://www.amazon.com/Your-Optimism-Game-Depression-Happiness/dp/1967115281
Sponsors:
SaRA Health – helping clinics increase revenue without adding staff
EMPOWER EMR – faster documentation and better workflows
U.S. Physical Therapy – clinician-led growth and career support
Decision fatigue isn’t just a mindset issue—it’s a business problem.
In this episode, Jimmy, Tony, and Dave break down how hesitation around hiring, outsourcing, and systems decisions slows clinic growth. From front desk staffing to outsourcing intake, they show how trying to make the “perfect” decision often leads to doing nothing—and that’s where clinics lose momentum.
One of the biggest insights: the right person in the right role matters more than the job title. A clinically minded operator at the front desk can outperform cheaper outsourced solutions because they think, solve problems, and prevent issues before they happen.
Key Takeaways:
• Decision fatigue delays growth in PT clinics
• Making a “wrong” decision is often better than no decision
• Front desk roles can drive revenue when staffed strategically
• Outsourcing fails when expectations and execution don’t match
• Clinic owners must prioritize speed and adaptability
Sponsors:
SaRA Health — helping clinics increase revenue between visits
EMPOWER EMR — faster, cleaner documentation workflows
U.S. Physical Therapy — career growth and clinic partnerships
Subscribe & Follow:
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pt-pintcast-physical-therapy/id1000443325
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3LmMUT64yrUc2iGo9Emafc
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PTPintcast
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmy-mckay-pt-dpt-a4207659/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ptpintcast
Twitter/X: https://x.com/PTPintcast
Website: https://www.ptpintcast.com/
This episode challenges one of the biggest assumptions in physical therapy: that offering more services leads to better outcomes and business growth. Instead, the conversation explores how narrowing your focus can improve efficiency, hiring, patient experience, and long-term profitability.
Key Insights:
• Clinics trying to serve everyone end up differentiating to no one
• Simplifying services improves operational efficiency and staff clarity
• Hiring becomes easier when your model is clearly defined
• EMR and technology can create defensible business advantages
• Most PT clinics blend together—clear positioning is rare and valuable
• The biggest missed opportunity in PT is saying “no” to the wrong patients
• Business skills—not clinical skills—often determine clinic success
Why This Matters To PT Owners:
If your clinic feels chaotic, hard to staff, or difficult to grow, the issue may not be effort—it may be lack of focus. A clear model reduces friction across hiring, operations, and marketing.
Guest Links & Resources:
Tony Maritato – Total Therapy Solutions (YouTube)
This episode dives into one of the biggest shifts happening in physical therapy right now: the gap between what patients need and what insurance allows.
Jimmy, Tony, and Dave break down:
• Why most AI solutions in healthcare never make it past pilot phase
• How insurance limitations are shaping care delivery
• The rise of hybrid and post-rehab fitness models
• Why clinical skill is no longer the main differentiator
• How communication, sales, and patient buy-in drive outcomes
Key Insights:
• 95% of AI pilots in healthcare never scale—adoption is the real problem
• Insurance caps are forcing clinics to find new care models
• Neuro and long-term patients are underserved by traditional PT
• Cash-based PT is growing because patients value time and outcomes
• Pre/post testing isn’t just clinical—it’s a sales and trust tool
• PTs are trained to “not lose,” but progress requires risk
Why This Matters:
If you’re a clinic owner, this is about adapting your model before it’s forced on you.
If you’re a staff PT, this is about understanding what actually creates value in today’s market.
Most physical therapy clinics don’t have a marketing problem—they have a measurement problem.
In this episode, Jimmy and Andrea break down why marketing often gets labeled as a cost instead of a growth driver, and what needs to change for clinics to actually see ROI.
If you’re a clinic owner or leader trying to justify marketing spend, this episode gives you a clear framework to connect activity to revenue.
Key Insights:
Why This Matters to PT Owners:
Resources & Links:
Andrea (LinkedIn referenced in episode)
Sponsors:
SaRA Health — Automate patient follow-up and generate revenue between visits
???? sarahealth.com
EMPOWER EMR — Built for PT workflows, faster documentation
???? empoweremr.com
U.S. Physical Therapy — Career growth and clinic support
???? usph.com
Subscribe & Follow:
Apple Podcasts
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pt-pintcast-physical-therapy/id1000443325
Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/show/3LmMUT64yrUc2iGo9Emafc
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@PTPintcast
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmy-mckay-pt-dpt-a4207659/
https://www.instagram.com/ptpintcast
X / Twitter
Website
This episode dives into one of the biggest frustrations in physical therapy: feeling unheard at work. Rebecca Griffith breaks down how to communicate with leadership, advocate for patients, and avoid being labeled “difficult.”
Key Insights:
• Most leadership decisions are system-driven, not personal
• Curiosity beats criticism in tough conversations
• Timing, tone, and delivery matter as much as the message
• Not all feedback moments are created equal
• Small organizations allow more personalized communication
What This Means for PTs & Clinic Owners:
• You can advocate without damaging relationships
• Better communication leads to more influence—not less
• Understanding the system helps you navigate it
• Emotional reactions can sabotage valid concerns
• Leadership communication is a learnable skill
Tactical Takeaways:
• Ask: “Help me understand the goal of this decision”
• Write questions first—don’t react in the moment
• Clarify: is this decision final or open for input?
• Choose the right time and setting for feedback
• Focus on system impact—not just personal impact
Guest
Rebecca Griffith, PT, DPT
Sponsors
SaRA Health – patient engagement solutions
EMPOWER EMR – faster, smarter documentation
U.S. Physical Therapy – clinic growth and career pathways
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