The Student to Therapist Massage Therapy Podcast

In this episode, David Sol sits down with Somaliah “Soma” Sadiq-Williams—doula, massage therapist, educator, and land steward—to explore how reproductive justice, community care, and elemental bodywork reshape what healing looks like in and beyond the massage classroom. Soma shares her path from home birth to full-spectrum doula work, her sliding-scale accessibility model, and her social justice a...

In this episode of the Student to Therapist Massage Therapy Podcast , David Sol and Timur Lokshin talk with massage student and community leader Sharon Feliciano about turning passion into service. Sharon shares how she left a 20-year career in real estate to pursue massage therapy, as well as her work in homelessness prevention, seasonal donation drives, and her vision for an affordable community...

In this episode of the Student to Therapist Massage Therapy podcast, David Sol and Timur Lokshin sit down with longtime educator and perinatal massage specialist Kiera Nagle, LMT , founder of MaMassage Brooklyn, to explore what it really takes to safely and confidently support pregnant and postpartum clients through massage therapy. Kiera shares her journey from a public school teacher and patient...

In the first half of this episode, David and Timur walk you through how to actually use your ABMP and AMTA student memberships right now—from liability insurance and exam prep tools to discounts, mentoring, and career support after graduation. In the second half, they shift into burnout prevention, explaining why massage students are at unique risk and offering the SUSTAIN self‑care framework so y...

If you’ve ever wondered, “Am I too old to go back to school and become a massage therapist?”, this episode is for you. David and Timur talk candidly about career changers in their 30s, 40s, 50s, and even 70s who find new purpose in massage therapy, and how life experience, a clear “why,” and practical planning turn fear into a sustainable second (or third) career.

Massage student and wellness creator Rayn shares her journey from retail burnout to soul-aligned healing work, weaving together massage, somatic practices, and her Afro‑Guyanese holistic roots. She breaks down her Language of the Body workshops, nature and art retreats, and a new safe-space club that helps overwhelmed students and seekers use journaling, movement, and community to turn a “hot mess...

Are you following protocols—or truly transforming lives? In this essential conversation, hosts David Sol and Timur Lokshin explore what separates exceptional massage therapists from those who simply go through the motions. Discover why knowing your anatomy, pathology, and assessment skills isn't just academic—it's the difference between becoming a facilitator of real positive change and someone wh...

Stepping into a rigorous, hands-on healthcare program can feel overwhelming, especially when you are juggling work, family, and your own healing journey. In this episode, David Sol and Timur Lokshin sit down with Dr. Ashley Kowal, Vice President of Student Services at Pacific College of Health Science, to reveal how student services, tutoring, and WellConnect can transform that stress into sustain...

Starting massage school can feel exciting, overwhelming, and a little terrifying—so in this episode, David Sol and Timur Lokshin share what they wish they had known in their first term. They talk about the shock of the science load, why “more pressure” isn’t better, the power of slowing down and building rapport, and how struggling students can still become thriving, successful therapists if they...

In this inaugural episode of The Student to Therapist Massage Therapy Podcast , hosts David Sol and Timur Lokshin introduce themselves, share their paths into massage therapy and bodywork, and talk openly about how they found their way into this profession as students and lifelong learners. They reflect on early doubts, influential mentors, and the pivotal experiences that shaped their careers in...