The Physio Diaries

 In episode 111, Mel & Al sit down with Dr. Felice Chan, Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine, to explore acupuncture, gut health, hormones, PMS, cosmetic acupuncture, gua sha, and popular wellness trends like cold plunging. From understanding your menstrual cycle to exploring natural approaches to skin health and everyday wellness, this conversation will have you thinking differently about how you care for your body. It's time for some holistic health girl talk! 

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In this October Break Room Talks (EP 110), Mel & Al catch each other up on everything happening outside the clinic from Al entering her 30s and celebrating in true chaotic fashion to Mel's decision to retire from taking shots.They also get real about adult ADHD diagnoses, masking, task paralysis, and those moments when you finally connect the dots and understand yourself a little better. And because no catch-up is complete without a few wild healthcare stories, they're sharing some on this episode. It's honest, hilarious, occasionally unfiltered, and basically what happens when two healthcare besties finally get a chance...

In episode 109, Get an inside look at what Mel & Al wish they knew before starting travel physical therapy! After three years on the road, they’re sharing their biggest lessons, debunking common travel therapy myths, and breaking down everything from pay packages and contract red flags to taxes and housing. They get real about the highs, the unexpected challenges, and the mistakes they’ve learned from along the way. Whether you’re a new grad or considering your first travel contract, this episode is packed with advice to help you navigate travel therapy with more confidence. Plus, get a sneak...

Dear Diary, in episode 108 we sit down with Joscel James, RN. We get real about deciding to leave healthcare and specifically bedside nursing to pursue a career in comedy and social media. Of course we recap TravCon as Joscel is a seasoned TravCon partier! Let's get into it.

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WELCOME TO THE BREAK ROOM. Where we count venting as nervous system regulation because it is evidence based, and a great excuse to talk our shi*. Mel & Al recap all the new things that happened in September, Mel changing clinics, how Vegas nightlife fueled them, and things weighing on them… like turning 30. If you want to dissociate and brain rot, this episode is for you. Enjoy!

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Dear Diary, in episode 105, Mel & Al recap the whirlwind weekend at TravCon in Las Vegas. From the vibrant atmosphere of the Paris Hotel to the unforgettable connections made, they share their adventures and insights from this unique healthcare conference. We are reminded of the importance of making connections and the joy of being part of such a vibrant community. TravCon not only offered professional development but also the chance to unwind and have fun in the process.  Stay tuned for our Vegas VLOG but enjoy our unfiltered recap this week

Full VLOG on Youtube & Spotify video! Mel & Al take Los Angeles! Get ready for some unfiltered travel adventures. From burlesque dinners, to cosmetic procedures, and psychic tarot readings. Watch to see what Mel & Als fate is... Enjoy!

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Dear diary, in episode 103, Mel & Al have a secret to reveal. They recap their chaotic Labor Day weekend in Los Angeles, from a burlesque show at Scarlet to shopping on Melrose and exploring Greystone Mansion. A rainy-day tarot reading takes an unexpected turn as the psychic makes surprisingly specific predictions about their careers, relationships, and futures. With candid opinions on LA nightlife, beauty treatments, travel, and their new travel therapy ebook.  This episode is the fun, feel good podcast you've been looking for! Enjoy

Dear Diary, in episode 102 Mel and Al debrief on their Alaska and Greece adventures, high school reunion hot takes, and beautymaxxing. Al reveals that she may or may not leave Cali, and Mel enters the woo woo world even more. Remember, this is evidence based girl talk and good for your nervous system. Join them in the break room for more unfiltered talks. Enjoy

Mel and Al discuss the essentials of being a travel healthcare worker, focusing on the differences between internal and external travel jobs, interview tips, patient caseload expectations, salary negotiation, and the importance of asking the right questions during interviews. If you want us to connect you with good and reliable recruiters or just talk to us in more detail fill out the form below and we will reach out to you!! Because everyone deserves the resources and opportunity to travel the right way. Enjoy!

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WE MADE IT TO 100 EPISODES!! We love you all and enjoy an unfiltered 50 questions with us. Don't forget to rate us

Dear Diary, in episode 99, We sit down with neurologist and epileptologist Dr. Jessica Lowe (Dr. Brain Barbie) to unpack one of the most misunderstood conditions in healthcare. What started as a conversation about migraines turned into an eye-opening discussion on brain health, invisible illnesses, migraine myths, and the overwhelming amount of misinformation online. Jessica breaks down the science behind migraines, explains why they're so much more than "just a headache," and shares practical, evidence-based ways to better understand and care for your brain. Enjoy!
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You have entered the break room. In episode 98, Mel & Al are back with July Break Room Talks, catching up on everything from launching a Charlotte walk club and planning solo trips to travel chaos, contemplating nose jobs, and Alaska adventures. Remember these episodes are not just yap sessions, they are science backed nervous system regulation. Just two travel DPTs catching up with their besties about life, travel, and everything in between.

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Dear Diary, In episode 97, We sit down with Dr. Wendy Johnson PT, DPT  to explore one of the most unique and least talked about careers in healthcare. What started as a conversation about working in corrections turned into an eye-opening discussion on prison healthcare, patient safety, common misconceptions, and what it's really like treating patients behind prison walls. Wendy offers a rare behind-the-scenes perspective on correctional healthcare and proves that physical therapy can make an impact in places most people never think about.

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Spend 72 hours in Charlotte, NC with Mel & Al.The real behind-the-scenes: unfiltered. Bar hopping through Uptown & South End, a solidcore sweat sesh in Plaza Midwood, and white water rafting at the U.S. National Whitewater Center. We pull back the curtain on what it actually takes to film a podcast episode. And yes, you'll finally learn the famous "fluff & puff" culinary technique Mel created. Let us know if you try it on your next meal :) Enjoy the VLOG and many more to come!

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Dear Diary, episode 95 is UNHINGED. Mel & Al are finally in the same city again (only for 3 days :( and they're spilling ALL the tea on their chaotic Charlotte weekend. We're talking: a certified Hot Girl Hugo Spritz Summer declaration, a 4th of July outing that flopped, Al's very first Solidcore class, and a white water rafting trip that had them questioning their life choices in real time. Come for the chaos, stay for the friendship, leave with either a new Charlotte itinerary or a list of things NOT to do this summer. Your call. Full VLOG dropping next week

Dear Diary, In Episode 94 of The Physio Diaries podcast, Mel & Al catch up on everything that's happened lately. From wild patient stories and unexpectedly loving vestibular PT to new contracts, getting a Tesla, summer travel plans, and the very real debate about beautymaxxing before turning 30. They also talk life in Charlotte vs. LA, travel therapy updates, getting older (but hopefully hotter), and why these break room chats always end up somewhere completely unexpected. Just two travel DPTs catching up with their besties.

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Dear diary, In episode 93, Mel & Al tackle the question every PT student and clinician has asked at least once: is becoming a physical therapist actually worth it? From student loans and salary expectations to burnout, flexibility, and career satisfaction, they get brutally honest about the realities of the profession. No sugarcoating, no doom and gloom. Just the conversation they wish someone had with them before PT school.

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Dear Diary, in episode 92, we chatted with Dr. Ahmed Al-Khatib, board-certified psychiatrist and founder of Psychiatry in Motion, to unpack adult ADHD, autism, anxiety, and why so many people go undiagnosed for years. From executive dysfunction and late diagnoses in women to medication, lifestyle habits, and social media misconceptions, this conversation challenges what most people think they know about mental health. If you've ever wondered, "Is it anxiety or something else?" this episode is for you.

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Dear Diary, In Episode 91, Mel & Al pick up talking about dating and relationships again.  They get real about their relationships now that they're both in long-term partnerships. From dating app horror stories and red flags to relationship hot takes, couples  therapy, and what actually makes a relationship last. This episode is equal parts girl talk, relationship advice, and lessons learned from their 20s. Enjoy!

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Dear Diary, In Episode 90, we chatted with Amber Morrison: family nurse practitioner, mom, and Love Is Blind Season 10 cast member. What started as reality TV talk and addressing the LIB reunion, turned into an honest conversation about single motherhood, postpartum depression, healthcare burnout, and building a life that doesn’t look perfect but still feels fulfilling. Amber is one of our most transparent & honest guests that call for some of the realest conversations we have had. 

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Dear Diary, In Episode 89 of The Physio Diaries podcast, Mel & Al are fully in their slap-happy break room era. From contract updates and moving fatigue to vertigo patients, Charlotte lore, and questioning where they actually want to settle down one day. This episode is basically one giant life update. They also get into Jamaica chaos, swimming trauma from PE class, travel burnout, and the realization that adult conversations now include comparing taxes. Enjoy!

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Dear Diary, In Episode 88, Mel & Al go fully off-script. They were inspired by Love is blind and decided to reminisce on the past. From long-distance relationships and dating apps to “hoe phases,” party school stories, and the pressure to settle down too fast. This episode turns into one giant girl talk session.They get real about dating before their current relationships, modern dating struggles, relationship timelines, and how everyone probably has at least one chaotic dating era. Funny, unfiltered, and painfully relatable.

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Dear Diary, In Episode 87, we’re joined by Brittany Wicker: registered nurse, advanced esthetician, and Love Is Blind Season 10 cast member. What started as reality TV talk turned into a real conversation about healthcare burnout, dating while working in healthcare, loneliness during travel assignments, and figuring out who you are outside of work. From 3 a.m. labor & delivery shifts to balancing nursing, aesthetics, and life after Love Is Blind, Brittany keeps it honest, funny, and relatable.

If you’ve ever struggled balancing work, relationships, and figuring out who you are outside of your career, this episode will hit...

Dear Diary, In episode 86, Mel & Al break down what 3 years of Travel Physical Therapy has actually looked like from dream locations to contracts they couldn’t wait to leave. They rank their best and worst experiences, from clinic vibes and pay to what really makes a job worth it beyond the surface. They also get into what people don’t talk about: how much your manager, team, and work environment can completely shape your experience. Because it’s not just about where you go. It’s about how it actually feels day to day.

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Dear Diary, In episode 85 of The Physio Diaries podcast, Mel & Al are back in their break room talks era. Chaotic, tired, and unfiltered. From missing alarms before a full patient day to questioning if travel PT is still worth it, they get real about the exhaustion, constant moving, and what this lifestyle actually feels like behind the scenes. They also get into their “icks of the month” such as red eye flights, 40-hour work weeks, and healthcare professionals tearing each other down online. The kind of conversations that feel like decompressing with your best friend after a long shift. If y...

Dear Diary, In Episode 84, we’re joined by Dr. Haramol Gill MD, Emergency Medicine Physician & Love is Blind season 10 cast member. What happens when an ER doctor who saves lives by day ends up on one of Netflix's biggest reality shows? You get one of the most refreshingly honest conversations we've ever had on The Physio Diaries. He cries at work, ignores patient quotas, gets real about  rebelling against the healthcare system. He admits that he left Love Is Blind early because getting on one knee actually means something to him.  Haramol flipped the script and started asking US the...

Dear Diary, In episode 83 of The Physio Diaries podcast, Mel& Al talk about the 10 vital signs that you never think about. We see hundreds of patients walk through our clinic doors and we can tell a lot about someone's health before they even sit down. They are spilling everything: the 10 functional markers they actually use to assess health that go way beyond your standard blood pressure and heart rate check. From grip strength (spoiler: low grip strength is linked to a 67% higher risk of early death) to whether you can get up off the floor without grabbing the furniture...

In Episode 82, we’re joined by coach Reuben Brooks who spills the secret behind testosterone supplementation, timing of alcohol, and weight loss secrets, building a profitable coaching business, and personal training. We talk accountability, online vs in-person coaching, and the habits that actually drive results. Plus, the reality behind marketing, making money, and why so many coaches struggle to scale. If you’ve ever thought about working with a coach or becoming one, this one’s worth a listen!

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This month’s BRT episode, Mel and Al are catching up on travel life from Yosemite hikes and glamping debates to allergies, routines, and trying to stay consistent on the road. They get into sleep tracking, nervous system regulation, and how small lifestyle habits can actually shift how you feel day to day. Of course, we had to bring the unfiltered takes from social media chaos and Love Is Blind drama to expectations placed on healthcare workers. And yes… ICKS OF THE MONTH is back. This time: surgeons clearing patients too early, chiropractic misconceptions, and patients wanting results without doin...

In episode 80, Dr. Antonio Webb MD, orthopedic spine surgeon, shares insights into the biggest factors affecting your spine health, risk of surgery, and post surgical recovery/outcomes. We pick his brain on steroid injections, chiropractic care, physical therapy, and common misconceptions about spine. Webb gives us the hard truth some may not want to hear. Motion is Lotion and enjoy!

If you’ve been told surgery is your only option… you might want a second opinion.

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Mel flies out to Sacramento for a weekend reunion with Al, and the chaos begins immediately. From the first stop at In-N-Out to a full ski day at Heavenly, the girls lean into their ski-era energy, even if dehydration and sore knees start to kick in. They spend the day on the mountain, celebrate with après vibes, and end it with Thai food, jacuzzi hangs, and the kind of late-night catching up you only get when you haven’t seen your best friend in a while. In between it all, they film the...

In episode 78 we bring you our brand new segment called Tipsy Qs, we pour a glass (or two) and answer your most unfiltered questions with a little extra spice. From men’s health habits that seriously need an upgrade to whether getting a CSCS is actually worth it for future PTs, nothing is off limits. We also dive into the realities of travel PT: how to find contracts, picking a specific city, and what we wish we knew before we started. We also get real about surviving grad school, homesickness on the road, and the real reason why we mi...

In episode 77, Mel and Al sit down with Katherine Rohland M.S. L. Ac Chinese Medicine of Manhattan Medicine Woman to unpack Chinese Medicine. From the foundations of Qi and blood to why that “unexplained infertility” label might not tell the whole story, Katherine bridges Eastern wisdom with modern fertility care. We chat about food as medicine, lifestyle shifts that truly to improve your chances of fertility, and how acupuncture can complement conventional treatments in many ways. If you are also on Chinese Baddie TikTok like we are, this episode is for you. It’s empowering, myth-busting, and full of fiv...

This month’s BRT episode, Mel and Al are in their full ski-girl era while unpacking shocking plot twists from His & Hers, acupuncture updates, and the chaos of passport photos and Valentine’s Day ice skating nostalgia. They chat about reconnecting with travel PT friends, soaking up the later sunsets, and prepping for ski days and après vibes. They also yap about nervous system regulation and how apparently gossiping lowers yours cortisol. This is also the debut of their new segment, ICKS OF THE MONTH, where they rant about healthcare hot takes, personal questions, and patients who expect pain...

Episode 75 of the Physio Diaries pod is giving main character energy for your airway. We sat down with airway dentist Dr. Stephanie Sweeney DMD to spill the tea on how your breathing impacts literally everything: from sleep and jaw pain to your vagus nerve and even how your tongue rests in your mouth. We chat about mouth breathing myths, tongue ties, and the small changes that can totally upgrade your health. Basically, if you breathe (so… everyone), this one’s a must-listen.

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In episode 74 we are chatting about all the wellness trends we’re ACTUALLY loving, trying, and realistically sticking to in real life. We’re diving into what’s in our routines right now, from workouts, body care, and supplements to the habits that make us feel good without trying to be perfect because thats not realistic. At the same time, we’re keeping it honest about the not-so-glam side of wellness, because balance also includes takeout nights, missed workouts, and sometimes too much screen time. We talk through current trends we’re curious about, what feels worth the hype, and what w...

We have been getting so many questions about the difference between internal and external travel therapy so we decided to re-release this episode! So here is everything you need to know. We talk about everything job placement, contract negotiation, salaries, insurance, PTO/UTO, continuing ed, and more. Enjoy!

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In  episode 72, Dr. Nicole Cain ND, MA joins us to unravel the complexities of anxiety and its various types! With her expertise as a naturopathic doctor, she shares stories and insights on how anxiety can manifest differently in everyone. We chat about holistic approaches to managing anxiety and about the importance of understanding root causes rather than just treating the symptoms. Dr. Cain also spills some practical techniques and tools to help manage anxiety in your everyday life. This is an episode that everyone can learn from and we hope you guys enjoy!!

This week Al and Mel dive into the spiciest hot takes shaking up the PT and healthcare world and yah, the comment  section did not disappoint. We unpack whether all PT students should be lifting weights, if physical therapists are just “glorified personal trainers,” and why the “DPT” title drama has everyone fired up. We also get real about people taking PT advice from ChatGPT, plus whether healthcare pros can post fun content and still be taken seriously (Mel brings all the receipts 👀). Enjoy!!!

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