The Physio Diaries

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...

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 h...

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...

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...

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 learn...

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 tr...

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 rea...

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 strug...

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 balanc...

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 environm...

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...

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 abo...

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...

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 t...

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 dr...

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 bee...

WATCH ON YOUTUBE & SPOTIFY 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...

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...

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...

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 h...

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...

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 well...

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! Book your Tax Home Consultation today! Nermina Culesker CPA who specializes in Travel Hea...

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 als...

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 health...