Explore every episode of the podcast The New Generation Massage Therapist
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Why Therapeutic Movement Matters More Than Your Favourite Modality | 14 Apr 2026 | 00:07:45 | |
"If you move, your disc will bulge." "Your pelvis is out of alignment." As massage therapists, we often use language intended to help, but we might actually be planting seeds of fear. This fear of movement, or kinesophobia, is one of the biggest drivers of long-term disability. If you find yourself constantly adding new manual modalities to your toolkit because your persistent pain patients aren't getting better, it’s time to challenge the idea that another technique is the answer. In this episode, Jamie Johnston explores the shift from passive treatment to active, lasting outcomes through Graded Exposure. Learn how to move beyond "tissue manipulation" and start teaching your patients to trust their bodies again. Inside this episode, we discuss:
This Week’s Challenge: Identify one "seed of fear" you might be accidentally planting during your patient education. Try replacing it with a safety signal this week and notice the difference in your patient's confidence. | |||
| Why You're Confused About Trauma (And What Actually Matters) | 01 Apr 2026 | 00:16:03 | |
"How do I treat PTSD differently than childhood abuse?" If you have ever asked this question in an RMT group, you aren’t alone—but you might be focusing on the wrong thing. In our profession, we’ve been taught to categorize trauma into boxes: combat, medical, sexual, or relational. This categorization often leads to "analysis paralysis," leaving therapists second-guessing every word and touch. In this episode, Jamie Johnston breaks down why the source of the trauma matters much less than the mechanism in the nervous system. Whether a patient is a combat veteran or a trans person who has experienced discrimination, a dysregulated nervous system has the same core needs. Inside this episode, we discuss:
Stop trying to "fix" the story and start regulating the system. Special Training Opportunity: Jamie recently delivered a deep-dive presentation on Stress vs. Traumatic Stress for his membership community. If you want access to the full framework for showing up in a way that is both within your scope and genuinely healing, send a DM or reach out on social media. | |||
| Episode #28 With Great Educational Power, Comes Great Educational Responsibility | 28 Sep 2022 | 00:47:49 | |
Education, education, education. | |||
| Episode #27 Myofascial Release And CLB, What Does The Evidence Say? | 23 Aug 2022 | 00:43:44 | |
As massage therapists, we often rely on learning new modalities or rely on many of the ones we learned in college as a way to help our patients. | |||
| Episode #26 The Biopsychosocial 40 Years Later | 02 Aug 2022 | 00:46:47 | |
In this episode we discuss some of the advances, changes, and recommendations that have taken place since the biopsychosocial framework was introduced 40 years ago. | |||
| Episode #25 Making Sure Your Continuing Education is Evidence Based | 19 Jun 2022 | 00:51:50 | |
In this episode we discuss the buzzwords circling around our continuing education and how you can interpret and decide whether the course you're taking is evidence based. | |||
| Episode #24 Maintaining Professionalism When Given The Benefit Of The Doubt | 31 May 2022 | 00:46:08 | |
In this episode we discuss the updated education requirements from our college in BC. While some take this update to think they don't have to take continuing education anymore, we argue that it is our responsibility as healthcare professionals to do so. | |||
| Episode #23 Challenge Your Bias, But Still Remain Patient Centred | 05 May 2022 | 00:30:29 | |
In this episode we discuss some papers that challenge some of the available pain models of understanding. While there are some good challenges on language, the overall message remains the same; treat the person in front of you. | |||
| Episode #22 Challenging Industry Norms And Incorporating Movement | 17 Apr 2022 | 00:34:52 | |
In this episode we discuss some papers on therapeutic exercise for the neck as well as the low back. | |||
| Episode #21 Allowing Research To Challenge Our Beliefs | 28 Mar 2022 | 00:40:50 | |
You ever have one of those moments where you get faced with a piece of research that challenges, something that you've been saying for a long time? We're going to talk about that today. Because I've been long saying how going for a walk is one of the best things you can do for low back pain. And while it's can still be an effective thing, we've come apart come upon some research that tells us otherwise. So we'll get into that today. But I think before we get into that one, we've got one paper that we're going to look at, it's talking about the superior and middle cluneal nerve entrapment as a cause of low back pain. So we had a quick little discussion about this before we came on. And I think some of the points that you were making right away about the anatomy and things like that are probably a good place to start. | |||
| Episode #20 Confronting The Challenge Of Evidence Based Practice | 07 Jan 2022 | 00:53:59 | |
On this episode we look at a great paper entitled: "Challenges for Evidence-Based Physical Therapy: Accessing and Interpreting High-Quality Evidence on Therapy" | |||
| Episode #19 The Epic Fails Episode | 05 Jan 2022 | 00:50:21 | |
On this episode, we chat about some of the failures we've had in our careers. | |||
| Movement as Education: Stop Treating Symptoms, Start Changing Stories | 17 Mar 2026 | 00:09:19 | |
"I’ve tried every technique and every modality, but they’re still not getting better." If you’ve ever felt this frustration, you aren’t alone. When a patient is stuck in a cycle of persistent pain, our instinct as massage therapists is to chase the next certification or find a "magic" hands-on tool. But what if the problem isn’t your toolkit? What if the problem is the patient's belief that their body is broken—and the solution is showing them otherwise? In this episode, Jamie Johnston breaks down why movement is the most powerful educational tool you have. We aren't talking about just "prescribing exercises." We are talking about using intentional movement to recalibrate a sensitized nervous system and prove to your patients that they are resilient, capable, and safe. Inside the episode, we discuss:
This Week’s Challenge: Look at how you use movement in your sessions. Is it only for orthopedic testing at the start? This week, try using one guided movement during your treatment specifically to show a patient what their body is actually capable of doing safely. | |||
| Episode #18 Manual Therapy: Exploiting The Role Of Human Touch. | 12 Nov 2021 | 00:33:57 | |
On this episode we look at a great paper entitled: "Manual Therapy: Exploiting The Role Of Human Touch." | |||
| Episode #17 Rotator Cuff Disease | 12 Nov 2021 | 00:43:46 | |
On this episode we look at a research paper entitled: Manual therapy and exercise for rotator cuff disease (Review). This paper helps us understand a bit better how we can help people with possible rotator cuff issues and the best approach to use. | |||
| Episode #16 Tone Police and Language | 03 Nov 2021 | 00:29:50 | |
On this episode we look at Tone Police and Language and how this functions within our profession. | |||
| Episode #15 Beliefs Vs. Science | 17 Sep 2021 | 00:46:54 | |
On this episode we look at "Beliefs Vs. Science" and how this functions within our profession. | |||
| Episode #14 Just Ranting About The Profession With Tristen Attenborough | 13 Sep 2021 | 01:56:35 | |
On this episode we just basically rant about several things in our industry with our buddy from the UK Tristen Attenborough | |||
| Episode #13 What You Need To Know About IASTM | 02 Sep 2021 | 00:52:47 | |
On this episode we look at the research around using IASTM in your practice. This is a popular modality but does it actually do what providers say it does? The research tells us otherwise. | |||
| Episode #12 RMT's Learning From RMT's | 19 Aug 2021 | 00:45:40 | |
On this episode we look at why it is important for RMT's to learn from RMT's and why we need more Massage Therapists stepping into the education ring. | |||
| Episode #11 Challenging Our Bias' and Identities In Massage Therapy | 29 Jul 2021 | 01:08:11 | |
On this episode we look at why it is important to challenge our bias' and identities in massage therapy. | |||
| Episode #10 EPB vs EIP | 15 Jul 2021 | 00:40:55 | |
On this episode we look at the difference between "Evidence Based Practice" and "Evidence Informed Practice" and how this relates to Massage Therapists. | |||
| Episode #9: The Overuse of MRI in MSK Care | 30 Jun 2021 | 00:39:56 | |
This week we look at a paper discussing the overuse of MRI in MSK care. | |||
| Confident Conversations: How Massage Therapists Talk About Mental Health and Keep Boundaries | 24 Feb 2026 | 00:17:35 | |
"I'm not a psychologist. I should just stay in my lane, right?" As massage therapists, we are often told to refer out the moment a patient mentions mental health struggles. But what happens when that referral is the very thing that makes a patient feel dismissed? What if "staying in our lane" actually sabotages their physical recovery? In this episode, Jamie draws on his experience as both a massage therapist and a firefighter to explain why you are uniquely positioned to help patients in crisis—not as a psychologist, but as an ally. We dive into the research of Psychologically Informed Practice (PIP) and why recognizing "yellow flags" is a standard of care, not an overstep of your scope. Inside the episode, we discuss:
This Week’s Challenge: Pay close attention to the language your patients use. If you hear "I'm never going to get better" or "I'm broken," don't ignore it. Use Step 1: Listen and Validate. Simply say, "That sounds really hard, I'm glad you told me," and notice how the atmosphere in the room shifts. Resources Mentioned:
References: 1.Wang D, Gupta V. Crisis Intervention. StatPearls Publishing; 2023. 2.Padmanabhanunni A, Pretorius TB. Cognitive adaptation to stress and trauma: the role of self-appraised problem-solving in posttraumatic stress disorder. Chronic Stress. 2023;7:24705470231189980. 3.Wertli MM et al. Influence of catastrophizing on treatment outcome in patients with nonspecific low back pain: a systematic review. Spine. 2014;39(3):263-273. 4.Gunderson TC, Chmielewski TL. The foundations of psychologically informed physical therapy for musculoskeletal disorders. Orthop Phys Ther Pract. 2020. 5.Bany-Mohammed M et al. Trauma, stress, and mental health outcomes. J Psychiatry Psychiatr Disord. 2025;9:276-288. 6.Finkel A et al. An automata-based method to formalize psychological theories: the case study of Lazarus and Folkman's stress theory. arXiv preprint arXiv:2501.05185. 2025. 7.Sim A et al. Impact of healthcare interventions on distress following acute musculoskeletal/orthopaedic injury: a scoping review of systematic reviews. BMJ Open. 2024;14:e085778. 8.Lazarus RS, Folkman S. Stress, Appraisal, and Coping. Springer Publishing Company; 1984. 9.Ehlers A, Clark DM. A cognitive model of posttraumatic stress disorder. Behav Res Ther. 2000;38(4):319-345. | |||
| Episode #8 Modality Empires & CEC's | 20 May 2021 | 00:46:50 | |
This week we look at the contributions to the manual therapy professions from one of our hero's, Louis Gifford. | |||
| Episode #7 Trigger Points With Paul Ingraham | 06 May 2021 | 01:21:10 | |
This week we have our second guest on the podcast the one and only Paul Ingraham. | |||
| Episode #6 Helping Runners With Matt Phillips | 22 Apr 2021 | 00:53:31 | |
This week we have our first guest on the podcast the one and only Matt Phillips. | |||
| Episode #5 What Clinicians Say | 08 Apr 2021 | 00:39:17 | |
This week we look at another paper by Darlow et al on the impact of what clinicians say. . | |||
| Episode #4: The Louis Gifford Episode | 24 Mar 2021 | 00:45:29 | |
This week we look at the contributions to the manual therapy professions from one of our hero's, Louis Gifford. | |||
| Episode #3: Unravelling The Mechanisms Of Manual Therapy | 25 Feb 2021 | 00:48:12 | |
This week we look at a paper from Bialosky et al on the mechanisms of manual therapy. | |||
| Episode #2: Psoas, Pso What!? | 25 Feb 2021 | 00:48:26 | |
In this episode we take a look at the research and how we can change the narrative around the Psoas muscle. | |||
| Client, Community, and Clinician | 05 Feb 2021 | 00:54:39 | |
Jamie Johnston RMT & Eric Purves RMT break down two research papers from Darlow et al on how patients beliefs, the community around them, and the clinician can affect pain. | |||
| The 3 Types of Movement Every Massage Therapist Should Be Using | 04 Feb 2026 | 00:19:07 | |
"But Jamie, I’m not a personal trainer. I don’t even have a gym in my clinic!" If you’ve ever felt like movement-based therapy is "out of scope" or requires fancy equipment, this episode is for you. Many of us were taught that our value lies solely in what we do to a patient on the table. But when we rely only on passive techniques, we miss the most powerful tool for building long-term resilience: Movement. In this episode, we’re debunking the myth that you need a CSCS certification to use exercise in your practice. I’m breaking down three specific types of movement that fit perfectly within a massage therapy scope—tools that don't just provide temporary relief, but actually retrain the nervous system and prove to your patients that they aren't "broken." Inside the episode, we discuss:
This Week’s Challenge: You don't need a gym; you just need a shift in perspective. Pick one of these three movement types—Adapted, Isometric, or Mindful—and incorporate it into a session this week. Notice the shift in your patient's confidence when they realize what they are actually capable of. Instagram: Follow me @themtdc and send me a DM to tell me which movement type you tried this week! | |||
| Teach-Back: the single habit that boosts adherence and reduces burnout | 20 Jan 2026 | 00:20:55 | |
"I did the work, gave them the stretches, and they still came back two weeks later with no improvement." If that sounds familiar, you aren’t alone. Most massage therapists respond to "difficult" cases by chasing more certifications and better manual techniques. But what if the lack of progress has nothing to do with your hands, and everything to do with the gap between what you say and what your patient actually hears? In this episode, we’re breaking down why communication isn't a "soft skill"—it’s the most important hard skill in your toolkit. We dive into the research of the Therapeutic Alliance and why creating a sense of safety is the only way to get a patient's nervous system to allow real change. Inside the episode, we discuss:
This Week’s Challenge: Don't just listen—take action. Pick one patient this week and use the Teach-Back Technique during your home-care wrap-up. Notice the difference in clarity and how it shifts the responsibility from your hands to their health. Resources Mentioned:
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| That "research anxiety" you feel isn't burnout—it's Allostasis in action | 06 Jan 2026 | 00:14:01 | |
Have you ever scrolled through social media, seen a post about "pain science" or "evidence-based practice," and felt an immediate surge of defensiveness? Like everything you spent thousands of dollars and years of school to learn was being called a lie? In this episode, we’re getting vulnerable about the professional "identity crisis" that many therapists face. I share my own journey from being a modality-driven therapist who wanted to "hammer muscles and tear shit up" to someone who felt personally attacked by the shift toward biopsychosocial care. We dive into the science of Allostasis—a concept that explains why your brain treats new research like a threat to your survival—and why your resistance isn't a character flaw, but a biological protection mechanism. In this episode, we discuss:
If you’ve ever felt like the "pain science" world was the "tone police," or if you're struggling to bridge the gap between your manual skills and new research, this episode is for you. You aren't broken, you aren't behind, and your brain is just doing its job. “Your nervous system is protecting you from what it perceives as a threat. Youdon’t have to throw everything away; you just get to add to what you already know.” Connect with the Community: If this episode resonated with you, I’d love to hear your story. Send me a message for a no-pressure chat about your journey, or share this episode with a colleague who might be feeling the "allostatic load" of our changing industry. | |||
| How Massage Therapists achieve better treatment outcomes without worrying about overstepping their scope | 09 Dec 2025 | 00:15:15 | |
Are you a massage therapist who feels in over your head or finds yourself avoiding crucial conversations about mental health with your patients? You don't have to keep feeling that way. In this powerful episode, we tackle the reality that your patients often carry more than just physical pain. We introduce a systematic and compassionate approach to navigating mental health discussions right in your treatment room—a method that is designed to build trust, honour professional boundaries, and significantly improve patient outcomes. This isn't about becoming a counsellor. It's about becoming a better massage therapist—one who is equipped to hold space for the whole person, not just their physical issues. Learn how to:
Ready to level up your practice? Find out more about the Mental Health First Aid course—a training specifically designed to equip you for these crucial conversations. The next live course is happening on December 14th! Join the waitlist now using the link in the show notes for early access before enrollment opens to the public. Because the patients who need you most are the ones carrying the deepest burdens. Equip yourself to meet them where they are. Click HERE to sign up on the waitlist Research paper reference: Taccolini Manzoni, A. C., Bastos de Oliveira, N. T., Nunes Cabral, C. M., & Aquaroni Ricci, N. (2018). The role of the therapeutic alliance on pain relief in musculoskeletal rehabilitation: A systematic review. Physiotherapy Theory and Practice, 34(12), 901–915. https://doi.org/10.1080/09593985.2018.1431343 | |||
| Are You Accidentally Harming Your Clients by "Staying In Scope"? | 02 Dec 2025 | 00:13:24 | |
Have you ever frozen mid-massage because a patient opened up about something heavy—trauma, grief, or deep anxiety—and you had no idea how to respond? In this raw and honest episode,I share the story I rarely like to tell: the day I completely failed a patient after he shared a horrifying moment from his past. I unpack a cringeworthy mistake I made—centering myself in his trauma—and explain why the conventional advice to keep "mental health out of your scope" is actually causing harm to both you and your patients. Inside this episode, you’ll hear:
If you're tired of feeling guilty, unprepared, or burnt out by the emotional weight of your practice, this episode is your wake-up call. Learn More: Join the waitlist for Jamie's Mental Health First Aid for Massage Therapists course to get the framework that trades panic for presence: https://go.themtdc.com/mhfa-waitlist Next Week: Jamie discusses the time a patient had a full-blown panic attack on the table, and how the subsequent mental health conversations transformed their therapeutic relationship. | |||
| Episode #29 Dealing With Burnout | 31 Mar 2023 | 00:39:52 | |
I think we've all seen changes in the past couple of years with the pandemic and other things going on. | |||
| 12 People: One Family's Story and Why Massage Therapists Need to Start Talking About Suicide | 09 Jun 2026 | 00:14:16 | |
We've been told a lot of things by our regulatory bodies about what we should and shouldn't do in our treatment rooms. But there's one area where I think we've been steered in the wrong direction — and that's mental health conversations.
This is the conversation our profession has been avoiding. It's time we stopped. | |||
| Building A Sustainable Practice with - Mike Reoch | 02 Jun 2026 | 01:08:03 | |
We didn't learn this in school — but we probably should have.
Whether you're just starting out or feeling stuck in your current practice, this conversation is full of practical, honest advice that nobody taught us in school. If the New Generation Massage Therapist Podcast has been part of your growth as a therapist, consider supporting the show. For as little as $3/month you help keep this content free and available for massage therapists everywhere who are ready to level up | |||
| The Cost Of Caring | 27 May 2026 | 00:11:10 | |
We've spent three episodes talking about your patients' nervous systems. This one is about yours.
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| Trauma Informed Care In Practice | 19 May 2026 | 00:14:45 | |
"Your patients don’t respond to a technique. They respond to safety." Why do some patients instantly brace when you touch them, while others fail to relax no matter how gentle your manual pressures are? In this episode, Jamie Johnston cuts through the academic fluff surrounding "trauma-informed care" to deliver a highly practical, clinical protocol for the treatment room. When a patient has a history of trauma or persistent neurological pain, your treatment table isn't just a physical space—it can be a sensory minefield. Jamie introduces a concrete framework designed to transition your practice from protocol-based treatment to neurocentric, psychologically sensitive care. Learn how simple structural alterations, language adjustments, and patient autonomy can completely down-regulate a sympathetic nervous system stuck in "survival mode." Inside this episode, we break down:
Go Deeper: Evolve your clinical approach with Jamie’s targeted mini-course, From Fear to Functional. Turn these neurobiological concepts into real-world treatment protocols, master graded exposure frameworks, and learn how to manage complex pain cases with total confidence. Available now for just $37 at the link below! 👉 Enroll in From Fear to Functional ($37): [Click Here] | |||
| Trauma Across The Lifespan | 12 May 2026 | 00:15:11 | |
"It's not a mechanical problem. It's a biological debt." Why do some patients plateau despite perfect manual technique? In this episode, Jamie Johnston dives into the structural and neurological changes that trauma leaves in the body—long after the distressing event has passed. We move past the philosophy of trauma-informed care and get into the hard science: how childhood trauma alters gene expression (Epigenetics), why adulthood stress creates a "physiological overdraft" (Allostatic Load), and why your geriatric patients lack the "biological bounce-back" they once had. This isn't just about being "nice" to your patients; it’s about understanding the specific biological mechanisms that drive persistent pain. Inside this episode, we discuss:
Go Deeper: This episode is a preview of the frameworks found in Jamie’s focused mini-course, "From Fear to Functional." Designed specifically for manual therapists, this course helps you turn these neurobiological insights into concrete clinical decisions. Access the course for just $37 via this sign up LINK | |||
| What Trauma Actually Does To The Nervous System | 28 Apr 2026 | 00:11:21 | |
"It's not an attitude problem. It's a nervous system response." Have you ever had a patient who seems "jumpy," constantly guarded, or simply fails to respond to treatment despite your best manual techniques? In this episode, Jamie Johnston breaks down why these "complex" cases often have nothing to do with physical tissue issues and everything to do with a nervous system stuck in protection mode. We explore the anatomy of the survival brain—the Brain Stem, the Limbic System, and the Prefrontal Cortex—and discuss how trauma "logs" sensory details like smells, sounds, and temperatures, turning your treatment room into a potential trigger. Understanding this neuroscience is the first step in moving from a "fixer" to an ally who builds genuine safety for their patients. Inside this episode, we discuss:
Special Training Announcement: If this episode resonates with you, keep an eye out for Jamie’s upcoming mini-course, "From Fear to Functional." It is designed specifically for massage therapists who want a practical framework for working with persistent pain patients. Subscribe to the show to be the first to know when it drops! | |||