Real Talks: PT School and Beyond

In this episode, I get to speak with one of my mentors and former co-worker, Dr. Kevin Truitt. Kevin is one of the most experienced and knowledgable PT's I have ever met, and I was lucky to have the opportunity to hear his journey through Physical Therapy. Kevin has worked many years in a professional baseball organization, where he was able to gain some incredible exposure to a professional organization and be surrounded by some of the top medical providers. This experience carried over when he eventually switched to working with the general public in outpatient orthopedics. Kevin also shares some of the ways his practice has evolved over the years, and some of the changes he has made to his own approach to being a well-rounded healthcare provider. Tons of great stuff in here, be sure to give it a listen!!

Hello everyone! I am so excited to share this awesome conversation with you all.  I had the pleasure of speaking with my former professor and current mentor/inspiration, Dr. Christopher Berger.  I first met Dr. Berger during my time at Arizona State University, and I have maintained a great relationship with him ever since! I was super excited to get him on the show and have him share some stories from his vast experiences as a professor and researcher! In this episode, we talk about his initial journey to obtaining his Doctorate of Exercise Physiology and his time as a professor at various universities.  He gives some fantastic viewpoints on what it takes to be successful in the classroom.  We also spend some time talking about the research process where he finds his true passions!  We talk about the research project we worked on together, what it means to conduct meaningful research, and the importance of quality research in the medical field. This was truly an amazing conversation and Dr. Berger constantly drops some real wisdom throughout, relating many lessons from school and research to life in general.  

Welcome back everyone! Super pumped to share this episode with everyone.  I get the opportunity to speak with one of my professors from my PT school program, Dr. Tawna Wilkinson.  This was a great opportunity to speak with an experienced PT, and she shares some wisdom that only comes from that experience.   Dr. Wilkinson shares with us her journey to getting accepted to PT school where she actually encountered an initial set back!  Afterwards, she talks about the various settings she has worked and some of the unique aspects of each setting.  She also shares how she got involved in the teaching side of Physical Therapy.   Finally, she gives some great perspective on some of the things that makes a great student in PT school, and also what characteristics make a great professional Physical Therapist.  There is so much wisdom in this episode that is definitely worth checking out!

Welcome back to episode 20 (!!) of Real Talks! My guest today is a former coworker and current 1st year PT student at Midwestern University in Glendale, AZ.  She also serves a role on her school's interview committee.  This was a great episode because I got the chance to compare my program with another program.  It's interesting to see the differences between the two! Elena shares her path through undergrad and how she first became interested in PT school.  She ended up getting her Undergrad degree at the University of Hawaii.  She tells her experience of going through the application process, and some of the experiences she had that helped her get accepted.   She is also an extremely organized person, so she shares her tips on staying organized and ahead in PT school.  She is also a small business owner!  Follow her on instagram and hit her up for some fancy charcuterie boards! @boardsbylen

What is up everyone!  Super excited to share this conversation with a good friend of mine, Justin Marini.  Justin has been in the fitness industry for a while now, and has his Masters Degree in Exercise Science and Sports Psychology.  He has a background in mixed martial arts, and is currently working as a trainer in Denver, Colorado. This was a fun episode because Justin talks about all sorts of things related to fitness and exercise.  We talk about Olympic lifting and the technicalities around that field.  He also gives his perspective on training overall, and some common mistakes and misperceptions he comes across while training the general public.  This is a great conversation for anyone that is active or looking for some advice on the proper ways to train.  Make sure to follow Justin on Instagram for some great content! @just_fit_training

Today's episode features an incredible guest, Dr. Justin Lee.  I first discovered Justin on Youtube (liftforchange), and his videos have helped me and countless other students navigate their way through the PT school application process.  Now he is a practicing PT, and he is also a coach for aspiring PT students.  He is filled with wisdom and motivation, and I was honored to have the opportunity to speak with him! He first talks about his initial experiences in PT school and the types of adjustments he had to make.  He talks about elevating his study habits in order to keep up with his elevated educational status.   He also gives some incredible insight on transitioning from a student to a PT.  He talks about how to properly shift your mindset to make this transition smoother. Finally, he speaks on his work experience and some of the interesting aspects of the work environment.  It's a great preview for all the current PT students out there and what we have to look forward to.   Overall this was an incredible conversation and I am honored to share it with you all! Be sure to follow Dr. Justin Lee! Instagram: @liftforchange Youtube: liftforchange

Welcome back everyone! Today I get the opportunity to talk with another classmate and first year Physical Therapy student, Kimberly Dang.  This was a lot of fun because I have not had the opportunity to talk with Kim very much since the start of our program, so hearing her story was a great experience! Kim started off knowing that she wanted to pursue something in the medical field, but originally had plans to become a Physicians Assistant (PA).  She had an interview lined up and everything!  But in a moment of clarity, she decided it wasn't for her.  She realized that her true passion lied in Physical Therapy and she switched her original plans.  It was a major turn of events in her life, but she made some important realizations about herself and gained valuable life experience in the process!  We talk about a lot of different mental challenges that you come across in life.  Similar feelings that a lot of people experience in their own unique story.  Kim shares her perspective on getting accepted, and the initial adjustment to the intensity of a graduate program.  She is also extremely organized and she shares her strategies on how she is able to stay on top of things during the hectic times of PT school!   Recorded: March 6, 2021

Hello beautiful people and welcome back.  In this episode I speak with another classmate of mine that shares his long journey to getting accepted into PT school, and some of the tips he has discovered to help him maintain his sanity throughout.   Frankie applied multiple times in his life, and actually took a break from school and started working at a gym.  He advanced quickly and became a manager, helping him develop valuable leadership and communication skills.  This time allowed him to self-reflect and see the areas where he could improve.  He worked hard and eventually got accepted to PT school. He also shares some of the things that helps with his physical and mental health.  He talks about some of his study strategies that have paid off, and some of the challenges he has faced during PT school.  This was super fun to record and Frankie is an entertaining person to listen to!  Enjoy the episode!! Recorded: Feb. 2021

Student Spotlight!  Another episode where I talk to a fellow SPT, Jared Rummage.  In this episode, Jared aka JT speaks about the variety of experiences he had that lead him to pursuing Physical Therapy.  JT had experience in athletic training, as well as working in the family PT clinic, where he gathered a massive amount of experience.   He also speaks on the rigors of PT school, and shares some of the tips and tricks he uses to make it through the challenges of school.  He even opens up about mental health and advocates how important it is to make sure your mental health is on point.   It's a great episode for anyone interested in PT school, or currently going through PT school.  It's also a great chance to hear some stories and unique perspectives from a great guy!   recorded: Feb 2021

Hello beautiful people, welcome to another great episode of "Real Talks".  In this episode, I get the chance to speak with a classmate and an OG lab group member, Gamal Oakey.  I've had the chance to work with this dude on many occasions and I finally got to hear his full backstory. Gamal and his mom moved here from Mexico when he was two years old, and he has been working hard ever since. He had a very non-traditional path to getting in to PT school, and hopefully his story can be an inspiration to anyone else with a unique journey to Physical Therapy. He shares some of his early experiences with PT, how he first got introduced to the field, and how he successfully navigated the PT application.  He also shares some of the ways he is able to grind through the challenges of PT school, and how he keeps his sanity while doing so.  This was a super fun episode, I hope you all enjoy it!   recorded: Feb 2021

Hello people and welcome to another great episode of "Real Talks".  In this episode I am joined by another one of my classmates, Courtney Boak. Courtney was a swimmer throughout her high school and college career.  Her first experience with Physical Therapy came from an injury she suffered from swimming.  Going in to her undergraduate degree, she had plans of pursuing Physical Therapy from the start, but she quickly learned how difficult it was to get accepted in to a PT program.  Her first time applying led to a few rejections, but luckily she was able to spend some time reflecting and looking at how she could improve her chances of getting in to a PT program. She also shares some stories of her time living in South America, and some of the unique cultural differences she noticed, and how those experiences helped her grow as an individual.  It's a fantastic story that everyone should listen to!   Recorded: Jan. 2021

Hello my people, welcome back to another awesome episode.  Today I get to speak with another classmate of mine, McKenzie Greenhalgh. McKenzie originally had no plans of pursuing Physical Therapy, and had aspirations to become a choir director and music teacher.  She shares the moment she realized that music was not her path, and how she was inspired to pursue Physical Therapy instead. She also shares a powerful story of some of the challenges she faced during her process of applying to PT school.  Her husband experienced a serious brain injury that required McKenzie to fill a much larger role in making sure her husband received the care he needed.   Finally, she shares with us her advice on managing the rigors of PT school, and how she is able to find a balanced life while pushing through the rigors of school.  It's an inspiring story, you definitely want to check this out!

What's up y'all, and welcome to a fresh episode of "Real Talks".  My guest on this episode is another classmate from A.T. Still, Josh Branshaw.  Josh had a very unique pathway to PT school.  His original intention was to become a firefighter, and after he completed his Bachelor's degree in 2013, he went on to work as a wildlife firefighter on the coast of California.  His grueling work as a first responder gave him some valuable experience going in to PT school, and he shares his stories and insights from that time. He goes on to share his application process, and how he has managed through his first semester of PT school.  He shares some retrospective advice for students with aspirations of getting accepted to PT school, and also gives some great advice on how to be successful once you get in.   It's a great episode, go check it out!   Recorded: Jan 2021

Hello beautiful people and welcome to another episode of "Real Talks".  In this episode, I sit down and chat with another classmate of mine, Trevor Nelson.  Trevor has a great story of how he ended up in PT school, a story that I'm sure many people can relate to (myself included).  He shares his experience of going in to college as a young kid, not necessarily taking it as serious as he should, but finishing nonetheless.  He graduates with a bachelor's in business and gets a job out of college, but realizes that he was simply working for a paycheck.  He realizes his true passion lies in Physical Therapy, and he shares his journey and all the lessons that he learned along the way.  His story is an inspiration for anyone that is trying to get in to PT school with less than ideal grades, and he shares the things he did to boost his resume.  Lot's of wisdom and laughs in this one, check it out!   Recorded Jan 2021

Whaddup y'all! My guest today is Beau Duronslet, a classmate of mine at A.T. Still University.  Beau has a great story that includes getting rejected his first time applying to Physical Therapy school, inspiring for anyone that has been in his situation! He also shares how he discovered his passion for PT, and how his experience as a student athlete instilled positive habits in his personal life.  Beau had a lot of experience in health and fitness before he started PT school, and he shares all the lessons he learned from those experiences.  It's a great conversation, definitely check this out out!   Recorded: December 2020

Hello everyone! In this episode, I sit down and speak with one of my classmates from A.T. Still, Shayna Edson.  This was a great conversation, and Shayna shares with us some of the experiences she had in her undergrad experience, and how helpful those experiences were in preparing her for PT school and her future career. She also opens up about some of the struggles she faced as an athlete.  Females in general face a lot of unique issues and problems associated with physical health, especially concerning the number they see on the scale.  Shayna shares her own personal experience with that, and how she was able to overcome and develop a healthy attitude towards dieting and physical fitness.   This was a great episode, please check it out and share with someone you think could benefit from Shayna's story! Instagram: tayler.ahnee.spt Facebook: www.facebook.com/tayler.ahnee Recorded December 2020

In this episode, I talk with another classmate of mine from A.T. Still University, Kayla Koren.  I have had the pleasure of working with Kayla in our short time being in PT school.  She shares with us her experiences as a student athlete, her application experience, and all the lessons she has learned along the way. She talks about her interests in future specializations in the field of Physical Therapy, and how she is able to overcome the stress of life and school during a pandemic.  She is a great example of the good things that happen when you are organized and ahead of the game!

What's up everyone, hope you are having a great start to 2021! In this episode, I sit down with one of my classmates at A.T. Still University, Justin Westbrook.  He shares a super relatable story about starting one education path, and realizing it wasn't what he actually wanted to do.  He then shares his story about going through the process of realizing the amount of work required just to get accepted into PT school, and some of the lessons he learned the hard way. He infuses his story with his great sense of humor, and gives some great advice on the process of getting accepted!  Check this one out!

In today's episode, I sit down with another classmate and friend of mine, Ryan Cruz.  He shares his personal story about the journey he went through to get into Physical Therapy school.  He had quite an eventful ride leading up to starting PT school, filled with a few setbacks and direction changes.  Ryan shares with us all the lessons he learned along his journey, and the importance of living for yourself and working towards your goals.

What's up everyone!  In this episode, I reflect on the year we have had, and there sure was a lot to reflect on.  Even though this year was so unexpected, there was still a lot good that came out of it.  Many opportunities for growth.  So I take some time to reflect and share my thoughts on the past year, and also my gameplan for the new year!  Consistency and Authenticity are my themes for this coming year.  What is the theme for YOUR 2021??  Please feel free to reach out to me and share your thoughts or stories from this past year!

In this episode, I talk with another one of my classmates, Amanda Sharp.  She tells her story about growing up in Prescott, AZ, learning from her dad who is also a Physical Therapist, and some of the lessons she has learned so far.  She gives some great tips on how she has managed the stress of PT school, and her experiences during the application process.  It's a great episode, definitely check it out!

In this episode, I got to talk with one of my classmates, Levi Schmillen.  He gives a ton of great advice on his approach to undergrad, how he got accepted into PT school, and some of the lessons he has learned after finishing his first semester.  Really great stuff!

First episode of the Podcast! On this episode, I share my story and how I got interested in Physical Therapy.  I talk about some of the early experiences I had, and some of the lessons I learned on the way.  I also talk about the reasons why I decided to start this Podcast, and why I am so excited to see where this project goes. I may have left out some details in my story, but this is the first episode, and I will continue to share my story and the stories of others. Grateful to those that listen and share!  Thank you!   Intro song: "Cali" by Wataboi Outro song: "make me chill" by thebasspapa

This is what the show is all about! Real talks about the victories, the struggles, and all the experiences that make up the journey to becoming a Doctor of Physical Therapy.