From 2 to 162 Clinics: How Smart Marketing Scales Physical Therapy Practices

How do you build a thriving physical therapy business in the middle of Manhattan while surviving cancer—three times—and undergoing a lung transplant? You lean on grit, community, and the undeniable will to live, love, and lead.Meet Cynthia, a force of nature in the PT world and beyond. In this powerful conversation, Cynthia shares:Her experience as a three-time lymphoma survivorStarting her first PT clinic at age 29 with a platinum Amex and a dreamHow Team in Training and endurance sports became both personal therapy and business rocket fuelThe leadership lessons she learned scaling seven NYC clinic locationsWhy building a practice is a lot like training for a triathlon: painful, joyful, and always worth itYou’ll hear about resilience, self-talk, business mistakes, and the moments that shaped her as a healer and leader. Whether you’re a clinic owner, PT student, or just someone navigating adversity—this one’s for you.⏱️ Chapters / Timestamps:00:00 – Intro: Why PTs Make Great Storytellers00:22 – Cynthia’s Life-Defining Grit02:50 – Starting a Practice After Cancer05:30 – Business Failure, Then Business Boom08:00 – Treating Patients Through Chemo10:30 – A Second Diagnosis and Choosing Fertility13:40 – Endurance Training as Healing17:00 – Building Client Cohorts Through Triathlons19:15 – Coping Mechanisms and Self-Talk23:00 – Leadership Lessons from Scaling in NYC25:10 – Strategic Partnerships: Can’t Do It Alone27:30 – Building a Brand That Heals and Inspires

Physical therapists: tired of relying on referrals that never come? Discover how concierge PT and podcast host Dave Kittle uses high-trust networking events to fuel cash-pay patient growth, referral partnerships, and collaborative opportunities — all without traditional ads.Learn how to structure the perfect dinner event, avoid overdoing your outreach, and build lasting relationships with providers and businesses in your area.Chapters: 00:00 - Intro: Why Relationship-First Marketing Wins 03:12 - Why Guerrilla Marketing is the New Standard 07:45 - Dinner Strategy 101: Who to Invite, What to Ask 15:22 - The “High School You” Question That Stops People Cold 20:40 - How Table Layout Impacts Conversation Dynamics 27:51 - Don’t Overdo It: The Anti-Scavenger Hunt Rant 34:00 - Luxury Personal Training & MSO Partnerships 39:20 - How to Collaborate Without Competing 43:12 - Creating a Rise-Together Provider Network

In this episode, Jimmy McKay sits down with podcasting legend Dave Jackson of School of Podcasting to answer a key question for healthcare providers and clinic owners: Is podcasting worth it if your show is small?Dave shares insights from nearly 20 years of podcasting experience, including:Why 50 downloads could outperform 5,000 YouTube viewsWhat makes a podcast “successful” beyond numbersThe case for audio-first content and short-form videoReal-world examples from niche creators (including chameleon breeders

Heidi Jannenga returns to PT Pintcast to break down the 10th annual State of Rehab Therapy Report. This year’s conversation covers the bright spots—like salary growth and the increased adoption of hybrid care—and the hard truths about burnout, job-hopping, and the pressure on clinic margins. Heidi also shares how AI is already reshaping clinical workflows and why hybrid care will likely become the new standard.We also spotlight the work of the Rising Tide Foundation, which is helping bring more diverse students into the PT profession with scholarships, networking, and mentorship.What You’ll Learn:Key takeaways from the 2024 Rehab Therapy ReportThe current state of PT salaries and student debtWhy burnout and clinician turnover remain big issuesHow AI and hybrid care models are shaping the futureThe impact of the Rising Tide Foundation on the professionLinks & Resources:Rising Tide Foundation: rising-tide.comHeidi Jannenga: WebPTSubscribe to PT Pintcast:Apple PodcastsSpotifyYouTube

In this value-packed episode, host Jimmy McKay sits down with Aaron LeBauer, a leading voice in the cash-based physical therapy world, to bust myths, challenge industry assumptions, and unpack what actually works when building a profitable PT business today. They cover the evolution of PT opportunities post-pandemic, how to position your services in a shifting economy, pricing strategies, the reality of insurance limitations, and why creating genuine value always trumps traditional pathways.Whether you’re a new grad or a seasoned PT, this episode will reshape the way you think about the future of physical therapy and entrepreneurship.

In this episode, Kayla breaks down how JAG Physical Therapy scaled from 2 locations to over 160 — and the marketing strategy behind it.We cover:Why every patient experience is a marketing momentHow to measure ROI without obsessing over itUsing EMR data to improve campaignsPartnering with local communities (not just physicians)Tactical advice for solo PTs to get started

Episode Highlights:Referral Insights: Clinicians share why asking outright—or subtly—for referrals is crucial, and how patient follow-up (calls/emails) prompts results. Role-playing helps staff find comfortable scripts.Therapist Conviction: Healing effectiveness increases when clinicians genuinely believe in interventions—conviction influences patient decisions.GPT‑Generated Scripts: Leverage AI tools (like ChatGPT) using persuasive frameworks (Hormozi, Cialdini) to generate patient-friendly referral prompts.Product Sales & TikTok Shop: Therapists explore new income via affiliate marketing. Understanding affiliate structures (TikTok cut vs direct deals) and how “creator communities” amplify reach.Collective Strategy: Imagine a collaborative PT content network—sharing product/tech videos to grow collective influence and income.Patient-Centric Authenticity: Overcoming ego, prioritizing patient benefit, and celebrating small wins (“peak of happiness”) with reviews and referrals.Challenge from Jimmy: Who’s up for a Bigfoot plantar fasciitis evaluation video?

Aaron Bauer joins the show to unpack the evolution of AI scribes in physical therapy. He explains how ambient AI tools like Athelas AI Scribe are reducing documentation time, increasing note quality, and making patient care more efficient — all while staying HIPAA compliant. Whether you're tech-savvy or hesitant, Aaron breaks down how easy it is to implement AI into your workflow and the surprising benefits you might not expect.Key Topics:The difference between ChatGPT and true ambient AIWhy “scribe” is a misleading term for modern AI toolsHow PTs can save an hour a day using AIVerbal note-taking tips for more accurate documentationImproving coding accuracy and complianceMultilingual support, template flexibility, and patient experience gains

Aaron Bauer joins the show to unpack the evolution of AI scribes in physical therapy. He explains how ambient AI tools like Athelas AI Scribe are reducing documentation time, increasing note quality, and making patient care more efficient — all while staying HIPAA compliant. Whether you're tech-savvy or hesitant, Aaron breaks down how easy it is to implement AI into your workflow and the surprising benefits you might not expect.Key Topics:The difference between ChatGPT and true ambient AIWhy “scribe” is a misleading term for modern AI toolsHow PTs can save an hour a day using AIVerbal note-taking tips for more accurate documentationImproving coding accuracy and complianceMultilingual support, template flexibility, and patient experience gains✅ Subscribe on Apple Podcasts

What if a single Instagram post led to your next top referral partner? In this episode, Jimmy McKay is joined by Dave Kittle and Tony Maritato to break down the power of real patient content, community trust, and creating before you’re “ready.” You’ll hear how a free golden ticket visit turned into a viral story and why content is the gateway to opportunity — even if no one’s watching (yet). Plus, how AI is helping therapists reduce cognitive load and focus more on patient care.Resources & Links: