Explore every episode of the podcast The Successful Practitioner

Is your booking calendar looking empty and lonely? Has it been a few hours, a few days or even a few weeks since you had a good run of clients? You're probably wondering why clients aren't booking with you.

I come across health practitioners that struggle with this all the time. In 95% of cases, the problem lies in one (or more) of these four areas. But the good news? They are all fixable! So let's dive into the reasons why you're not seeing clients.
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If you're a student practitioner, you're probably counting down the weeks, days and hours until you graduate and get to apply your skills in the real world! But many student pracs also face a lot of worry and uncertainty about what's to come. I'm here to reassure you - you can do this, and in fact, you can start working towards success right now! Let's dive into my top tips for student pracs to set up for success from the very beginning.
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When you discover just how many people can benefit from your skills, it's tempting to help everyone and anyone that comes along. But is that the best option for you - or should you narrow it down and choose a niche? There's no one right answer for everybody - but if you are considering choosing a niche, I've got some handy tips for you.

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Many of us face challenges when it comes to building a biz as a health practitioner - from financial difficulties to relationships ending. And if you ask my latest guest, Brooke Klower, she would tell you the most important factor is your grit & determination to become successful.

Brooke is the owner of Balanced Beings, the epicentre of treatment for children's & mothers’ health. She is a naturopath, but first and foremost a mother. Through her own health journey and her children's, she realised more holistic options need to be available to mothers. From there, she built a successful business offering consultations, workshops and a product line.

In this episode, Brooke shares: 

• Graduating and launching a business with a newborn

• The importance of working in a niche

• Expanding her business and employing other practitioners

• Why it is essential to make sure your legals are in place

• Investing in outsourcing to ultimately make more profits

• What success feels like for her and her business

• And so much more!

For the shownotes and relevant links, check out:

www.samanthagemmell.com/podcast/s2-episode-9-brooke-klower

Curious about working as a health VA? Download my FREE Ultimate Guide To Becoming A Rockstar Health VA here.

Find yourself bogged down with clients who self-sabotage or just don’t seem to get the results you hope for? Or maybe you’re noticing your business isn’t thriving like you dreamed of? Whether it’s one, the other or both - Karlie McKeand has the tool you need to know about.

Karlie is a naturopath, mum, and the creator of Naturopathic Emotional Release (NER). Unlike many new practitioners, Karlie went straight out into the world and created an incredibly successful naturopathic practice from day 1. And believe it or not - she did it without needing to rely on marketing herself using common techniques such as social media, blogs or videos!

In this episode, Karlie shares:

• How her mindset & self-belief lead to early business success

• What Naturopathic Emotional Release involves

• The freedom to choose what you discuss in NER

• People and behaviours that NER can benefit

• All about shifting belief systems within practitioners

• Removing the mental blocks around success

• Changing your attitudes towards money and income

• And so much more!

For the shownotes and relevant links, check out:

www.samanthagemmell.com/podcast/s2-episode-8-karlie-mckeand

Curious about working as a health VA? Download my FREE Ultimate Guide To Becoming A Rockstar Health VA here.

Did you find physical examination intimidating during your studies, and avoid it at all costs? If so, it’s time to tune in to learn why physical exams are a) not as scary as you think and b) incredibly valuable for you as a practitioner! That’s where my guest Katie Barron is here to help.

Katie is a naturopath and former college lecturer, wife, mum, lover of her 50kg bull mastiff who recently returned from travelling around Australia in a van with said dog and her family.

She noticed that qualified practitioners were completely freaked out by including physical examination in their consultations, and set about creating a system to make it easy for them. Katie ran workshops all over Australia and NZ in 2019, and ran online programs teaching this topic in 2020 and 2021.

In this episode, Katie shares:

• Her background and journey into natural health

• How she first became involved in teaching physical examinations

• Overcoming the nerves of performing physical exams

• Cringe-worthy (and rather funny) stories from early in her career

• The pivotal point when she designed the career that she wanted

• Why building trust with clients is critical

• And so much more!

For the shownotes and relevant links, check out:

www.samanthagemmell.com/podcast/s2-episode-7-katie-barron

Curious about working as a health VA? Download my FREE Ultimate Guide To Becoming A Rockstar Health VA here.

Are you an allied health or manual therapist finding yourself on the brink of burning out? If so, it’s time to tune in with my latest guest, Tessa Verrier.

Tessa is passionate about business, Myotherapy and education. She works to combine all of these in order to successfully run scalable & profitable allied health businesses.  She comes from a background of teaching but discovered the incredibly valuable modality of Myotherapy. Tessa now manages clinics, while also practising as a clinical Myotherapist, educator and advocate and being co-CEO of Myotherapy Association Australia.

In this episode, Tessa shares:

• How she pivoted from being a high school teacher to becoming a myotherapist

• The importance of managing your business tasks correctly from the very beginning of your business venture

• Some great tips and tricks to avoid burnout while working in manual therapy

• Setting boundaries to benefit you AND your client’s needs

• The power that word-of-mouth, honesty and personal connection can have for your business

• Supporting your staff to achieve their goals and full potential

• And so much more!

For the shownotes and relevant links, check out:

https://www.samanthagemmell.com/podcast/s2-episode-6-tessa-verrier

Curious about working as a health VA? Download my FREE Ultimate Guide To Becoming A Rockstar Health VA here.

Ever dreamed of chucking in your clinic room and heading out on the road with your loved ones? That's exactly what Karly Raven did, and she's never looked back.

Karly is a naturopath, speaker, writer, mentor and mamma with a passion for all things digestive health. She previously ran a successful naturopathic clinic, until a 2-week trip with her family inspired her to embrace the laptop lifestyle and travel the country. Now she teaches clients and practitioners alike how to manage complex gut conditions including IBS and SIBO.

In this episode, Karly shares:

• Making the decision to travel around Australia full-time
• Her experience creating, growing, and then selling a clinic
• Pros and cons of owning a clinic vs. working online
• The flexibility and time for family that an online business offers
• Listening to your intuition and embracing the ‘woo woo’
• Embracing her expertise in gut health, specifically SIBO and IBS
• And so much more!

For the shownotes and relevant links, check out:

www.samanthagemmell.com/podcast/s2-episode-5-karly-raven

Curious about working as a health VA? Download my FREE Ultimate Guide To Becoming A Rockstar Health VA here.

Have you been eyeing off further studies as a health practitioner, but not sure what you're getting yourself into? Well Megyn Hayes is one you need to hear from - because she dove into not one, but TWO Medicine Master's Degrees!

Megyn is a nutritionist, biochemist and mum of 4. She is a massive advocate for all things women’s health, nutrition and postpartum care.

In this episode, Megyn shares:

• The comparison between studying a dual Master’s Medical degree at UNSW after studying a Bachelor’s degree at Endeavour College
• How she manages the pivotal points in her career
• Finding a work-life balance between her career and motherhood
• Niching into MTHFR gene mutation
• And so much more!

For the shownotes and relevant links, check out:

www.samanthagemmell.com/podcast/s2-episode-4-megyn-hayes

Curious about working as a health VA? Download my FREE Ultimate Guide To Becoming A Rockstar Health VA here.

What would happen if you landed your dream position as a health practitioner and had the opportunity to influence the wellbeing of thousands? That’s exactly what Shahna Sarpi did for years, until she realised it was time to embrace a new dream.

Shahna is a qualified Nutritionist and mindset coach that is on a mission to help more people live a nourished life. Having worked with big wellness brands like 28 by Sam Wood and GoodnessMe, Shahna has helped thousands of people reach their health goals.

Another one of Shahna’s passions is supporting fellow natural health professionals with their businesses and careers. On her podcast Nutrition Grad Guide, she explores the many career pathways available to us as natural health professionals.

In this episode, Shahna shares:

• How she began her incredible journey into the nutrition space
• Her experience working as Head Nutritionist for 28 by Sam Wood
• Working outside of the conventional nutrition pathway
• The benefits of celebrating your business launches and growth
• All about how she turns ‘failures’ into learning curves and pivotal points
• Why embracing your authentic self and sharing your journey can benefit your business
• How standing in your own way is doing others a disservice
• And so much more!

For the shownotes and relevant links, check out:

https://www.samanthagemmell.com/podcast/s2-episode-3-shahna-sarpi

Curious about working as a health VA? Download my FREE Ultimate Guide To Becoming A Rockstar Health VA here.

Do you dream of running a successful clinical practice one day? Or perhaps you find yourself overwhelmed by complex patients? If so, it's time to tune in with the wonderful Carla Wrenn.

Carla is a naturopath with over 20 years of experience in integrative medicine. As a practitioner, she works with patients with complex health complaints. But she has also educated over 1000 practitioners with her unique approach to naturopathic functional medicine known as Vitae Mosaic.

In this episode, Carla shares:

• How she became an Integrative Naturopathic Practitioner
• Behind the scenes of running the Peninsula Herbal Dispensary
• Her experience in offering long COVID support and training
• Managing a clinic and shop front during the pandemic
• The importance of networking with other practitioners
• And so much more!

For the shownotes and relevant links, check out:

www.samanthagemmell.com/podcast/s2-episode-2-carla-wrenn

Curious about working as a health VA? Download my FREE Ultimate Guide To Becoming A Rockstar Health VA here.

Have you been searching for a way to introduce more freedom and flexibility into your career or business as a health prac? If so, Tammy Guest has some tips you need to hear!

Tammy does things differently. As a mentor, multi-passionate entrepreneur, adventurer, and mum of three, she helps empower women go from feeling directionless and overwhelmed to being inspired with a clear plan, to lead a truly unrestricted life.

In this episode, Tammy shares:

• Her exciting journey from a cancer researcher to a natural health practitioner mentor
• Becoming an in-demand practitioner
• Adapting and pivoting her business to overcome roadblocks
• The power she found in manifestation and visualisation
• Benefiting from new business opportunities after the pandemic
• The value and offerings that come from spending time in nature
• Applying the natural seasons to your business structure
• The most valuable lessons learnt in her business
• What it means to live an unrestricted life
• Choosing your life and your freedom
• And so much more!

For the shownotes and relevant links, check out:

www.samanthagemmell.com/podcast/s2-episode-1-tammy-guest

Curious about working as a health VA? Download my FREE Ultimate Guide To Becoming A Rockstar Health VA here.

Many practitioners shy away from working a full-time job in the industry. But you might find it to be incredibly exciting and dynamic - just like Rebecca Edwards has.

Rebecca is a speaker, writer, educator and qualified naturopath, and is currently the Director of Education at Activated Probiotics. She has twenty years of experience educating students and healthcare practitioners alike around the world on all aspects of complementary and integrative health.

For the shownotes and relevant links, check out:

www.samanthagemmell.com/podcast/episode-9-rebecca-edwards

Enter here:

https://activatedprobiotics.com.au/symposium-giveaway-samantha/

Curious about working as a health VA? Download my FREE Ultimate Guide To Becoming A Rockstar Health VA here.

Let’s be honest - do you have all of the legal requirements in place and up to date to protect your business? Or maybe you don’t even know what you need, because it’s too scary and overwhelming?

No need to panic - this week’s guest, Michelle Whitehead, is here to help us! Let’s demystify the legal requirements for health practitioners and embrace contracts and legal documents as tools for holding healthy boundaries and supporting our clients.

Michelle is a lawyer – but don’t hold that against her, she is far from boring! She provides business owners with the tools they need for business self-care. If you’ve been afraid and avoiding even a peek at what you need legally to protect yourself as a health practitioner, Michelle is here to help.

For the shownotes and relevant links, check out:

www.samanthagemmell.com/podcast/episode-8-michelle-whitehead

Curious about working as a health VA? Download my FREE Ultimate Guide To Becoming A Rockstar Health VA here.

Have you ever wanted to become an expert in a particular niche, but have been too afraid of losing potential clients?

Tara Nelson used to worry about this too, until she stepped into the world of thyroid health. Now she not only has clients across the globe queuing up to work with her, but she also teaches other practitioners about the role of the thyroid in holistic health.

For the shownotes and relevant links, check out:

www.samanthagemmell.com/podcast/episode-7-tara-nelson

Curious about working as a health VA? Download my FREE Ultimate Guide To Becoming A Rockstar Health VA here.

Have you ever found yourself divided between the worlds of evidence-based medicine and holistic healing? This is a common situation for practitioners to find themselves in - but Kira Sutherland has combined them to build not one, but two thriving businesses!

Kira is a Naturopath and Sports Nutritionist with more than 25 years in clinical practice. She divides her time between clinical practice, lecturing, and mentoring practitioners of complementary medicine in the application of holistic sports nutrition.

For the shownotes and relevant links, check out:

www.samanthagemmell.com/podcast/episode-6-kira-sutherland

Curious about working as a health VA? Download my FREE Ultimate Guide To Becoming A Rockstar Health VA here.

Worried that you have too many passions and modalities, and couldn't possibly combine them all? This episode with the ultimate multi-passionate nutritionist Rachel Favilla for you! Over the years, Rachel has combined her love of nutrition, yoga, comedy, astrology, writing and teaching into a way of life that keeps her feeling fulfilled every single day. We chat about these different aspects and what she's learned about business and life along the way.

Rachel is a holistic nutritionist, passionate yoga teacher, whimsical author (of 4 incredibly hilarious books), curious astrologer and high-school teacher in training whose mission in life is to marry health with humour and science with soul (and a respectable amount of sass)

For the shownotes and relevant links, check out:

www.samanthagemmell.com/podcast/episode-5-rachel-favilla

Curious about working as a health VA? Download my FREE Ultimate Guide To Becoming A Rockstar Health VA here.

Have you ever dreamed of having an online business with other practitioners working for you and tens of thousands of followers online? That is exactly what this week's guest, Jessica Donovan, has achieved with her business Natural Super Kids. Jess and I catch up to discuss how Natural Super Kids came into existence, the team that she built up to allow herself to stay in her zone of genius, and what she has learned about launching offers successfully.

Jessica Donovan has built and scaled her successful online business Natural Super Kids over the last 5 years and is now sharing her knowledge with other practitioners. Jess is passionate about supporting health and wellbeing practitioners to have more impact with their expertise online.

For the shownotes and relevant links, check out:

www.samanthagemmell.com/podcast/episode-4-jessica-donovan

Curious about working as a health VA? Download my FREE Ultimate Guide To Becoming A Rockstar Health VA here.

So many practitioners throw themselves into clinical practice and end up burning out. But with how the world has been shifting lately, a lot of us are looking at how we can deliver our services through the online space. That's where Hayley Stathis is here to help. We have a chat about how burnout has played a role in her career and business, the importance of seeing your work through the lens of your mission and 'why', plus how you can begin an online business without hustling or working 24/7.

Hayley is a nutritionist, naturopath and health coach who helps health and wellness practitioners to create the online business of their dreams. Her #1 goal is to help you package up your expertise into a brand and business you love, easily attracting an abundance of clients (without burning out!)

For the shownotes and relevant links, check out:

www.samanthagemmell.com/podcast/episode-3-hayley-stathis

Curious about working as a health VA? Download my FREE Ultimate Guide To Becoming A Rockstar Health VA here.

A common pathway for the budding natural health therapist is from nursing into naturopathy. To explore what it's like to straddle the boundary of conventional and holistic therapies, I spoke with Geraldine Headley. We discuss her transitions throughout her career, her failures, and how having a mentor can be a game-changer when you are chasing success.

Geraldine is a naturopath, hypnotherapist, herbalist, nutritionist, coach and ex-NICU nurse. She has dedicated her focus, not just as a clinical practitioner, but as an educator and mentor. As a result, she has quickly become one of Australia's most prolific mentors for new graduates, those returning to work & part-timers, both locally and internationally.

For the shownotes and relevant links, check out:

www.samanthagemmell.com/podcast/episode-2-geraldine-headley 

Curious about working as a health VA? Download my FREE Ultimate Guide To Becoming A Rockstar Health VA here.

To kick off The Successful Practitioner Podcast, I thought I'd start with sharing my own journey - from cancer to studying, and from nutritionist to content creator, writer, health VA coach and more!

I also get honest about my most recent health scare, and how that is helping me to change my business to something even more sustainable and successful for the long term.

For the shownotes and relevant links, check out: 

www.samanthagemmell.com/podcast/episode-1-samantha-gemmell

Curious about working as a health VA? Download my FREE Ultimate Guide To Becoming A Rockstar Health VA here.

Curious to learn what this podcast is all about and what to expect in each episode? This is the starting point for you! 

Welcome to The Successful Practitioner Podcast - where we explore what success as a health professional can look like for you.