Walk-Ins Welcome: A Healthcare Marketing Podcast

Nick and Michael are kicking off 2026 with a deep dive into what’s really changing in clinic marketing—and why this year won’t be a repeat of 2025. From rising ad costs to AI overload, this episode unpacks the major shifts already impacting patient acquisition, digital trust, and clinic visibility. It’s a no-fluff look at what clinics need to do now to stay ahead, stay seen, and stay open. Whether...

As we take a short break for the holidays, we’re switching things up with a rewind of one of our most-downloaded, most-talked-about episodes ever. In this replay from the UCA Conference in Dallas, Michael Ray walks through one of the most overlooked, high-impact growth opportunities in urgent care: your front desk. Spoiler alert—this session struck such a chord, it’s now evolving into a full train...

This week, we’re handing the mic to the woman who keeps the PCMP machine moving: Hannah Green. In this behind-the-scenes, end-of-year episode, Michael sits down with Hannah, our Marketing Director and the strategic engine behind Walk-Ins Welcome and Patient Care Marketing Pros, for an off-the-cuff chat about her journey, her passions, and what really goes into building connection in the urgent car...

This week, Nick and Michael are cracking open the stats—and the gratitude—as they reflect on the year you helped build. In this upbeat, data-packed, end-of-year episode, the guys pull back the curtain on what 2025 looked like for the Walk-Ins Welcome podcast, from wild growth metrics to the one episode that absolutely crushed it (hint: it’s all about the front desk). You’ll hear the full behind-th...

This week’s episode features a clip from our recent webinar, "Value vs. Vanity Metrics, "   a candid conversation about which numbers actually matter in urgent care marketing. Too many clinics are still chasing clicks instead of patients, and it’s costing them big. We’re cutting through the noise and focusing on what really drives growth. We cover: 📊 The difference between branding metr...

Nick and Michael are diving into one of the strangest, most unexpected trends affecting urgent care patient volume in 2025. What do Google search trends, flu season, and a total lack of hurricanes have in common? More than you think. In this data-backed (but totally human) episode, the guys break down a theory that’s been stirring in real client conversations, Google Trends graphs, and a surprisin...

When it comes to urgent care, Dr. Josh Russell is the real deal. Chief Medical Officer at UCP Merchant Medicine, editor of UC Max and CorePendium, AI advisor, board-certified medical editor, and now host of the new podcast The Focused Exam —Dr. Russell brings the rare mix of clinical excellence, tech-savvy, and straight-up curiosity that today’s medical landscape desperately needs. In this episode...

This week’s episode features a clip from our recent webinar, The Cost of Digital Marketing — a deep dive into what urgent care owners and operators really need to know about marketing budgets in 2026. We’re breaking down the dollars, data, and decisions that drive real growth — not just clicks. We cover: 💰 Why marketing costs are rising even with AI on the scene 📈 How to budget smarter for aware...

When most people talk about AI in healthcare, the conversation gets crowded fast—hype, fear, jargon, and yet another “innovative solution.” But for Justin Mardjuki, CEO of Sayvant , the focus is simple: help urgent care teams deliver better care, faster, with less stress—and actually connect with patients again. In this episode, Michael and Nick sit down with Justin to explore how Savant is puttin...

When most people talk urgent care, they talk speed, efficiency, and volume. But for Megan Bell—Director of Enterprise Performance Excellence at FastMed—leading 44 clinics across North Carolina means something deeper. In this episode, Michael and Nick sit down with Megan to explore what it really takes to build strong culture, foster true team connection, and lead with intentionality in today’s hig...

Nick and Michael are breaking down one of the most misunderstood dynamics in urgent care growth: the difference between brand-driven growth and service-driven growth — and why playing in the wrong lane can quietly drain your clinic's potential. Whether you're running a multi-location chain or a single-location startup, this episode will help you diagnose what's really driving (or stall...

When most clinics talk growth, they talk volume. But at Denver Health’s Peña Urgent Care, leadership means something deeper. In this episode, Michael and Nick sit down with Dr. Lindsey Fish—Medical Director, educator, researcher, and community leader—to explore what it really means to deliver care where it’s needed most. With over a decade of hands-on experience serving underserved populations, Dr...

This week’s episode features a clip from our recent webinar, From Summer Slump to Seasonal Surge: Marketing Strategies that Drive Patient Volume from Fallto Spring, on navigating urgent care seasonality and paid ad strategy — and it’s all about helping your clinic stay ahead during the busiest months of the year. We break down: 🍂 Why patient volume spikes from fall through early spring 🎣 The “fi...

🎉 200 Episodes of Walk-Ins Welcome: From Startup Struggles to Industry Impact Nick and Michael are in the studio for a special milestone: 200 episodes of Walk-Ins Welcome . What started with a Yeti mic and GarageBand has become a go-to podcast in the urgent care space — and today, they’re reflecting on what’s changed, what’s working, and what’s next. This isn’t just a look back — it’s a mastercla...

When it comes to clinic marketing, most talk digital. But the smart ones don’t forget their roots. In this episode, Michael and Nick welcome back Rachel Davis, the marketing leader behind AFC Urgent Care’s 25 clinics across Tennessee, Georgia, and North Carolina. With over a decade of experience growing urgent care brands from the ground up, Rachel shares what it really takes to build trust, drive...

Nick and Michael are back, and this time, they're pulling no punches. In this candid and timely episode, they tackle one of the most sensitive but critical issues in urgent care marketing: knowing when your internal marketer has become a blocker, not a builder. Whether you’re dealing with a family-hired marketer, an emotionally tied team member, or someone simply out of their depth, this conve...

This episode features a powerful clip from our recent webinar, Becoming the Healthcare Brand: Build Loyalty, Drive Growth, and Own Your Market —and it's packed with practical insights for urgent care leaders looking to stand out. We dive deep into the StoryBrand framework , walking through the 7 core questions that help you clarify your message, position your clinic as the trusted guide, and m...

💥 When Patients Bleed, Do You Send Them Away—or Suture in More Revenue? Every urgent care says they manage lacerations. But if your team isn’t trained—or confident—those walk-ins are walking out. And that’s revenue, reputation, and repeat visits you’re losing every single time. In this episode, Michael and Nick sit down with Dr. Patrick O’Malley, a board-certified emergency physician and creator...

This week’s episode features a special clip from our Clinic Launch: The 90 Day Game Plan webinar we hosted back in March and it’s packed with practical, proven steps to open strong. We break down: 📆 Why your marketing must start before day one💰 How to budget $6K–$10K over your first 90 days🏥 What really matters in your website (hint: it’s not spending $20K)📍 How to verify and set up your Googl...

Nick and Michael crack open one of the most controversial healthcare shifts in years, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OB-BBA), and what it could mean for urgent care clinics across the country. 📅 This episode was recorded on July 24, 2025. As with anything in healthcare policy, things may have shifted since then, but the strategies we cover are designed to hold strong no matter what unfolds. With...

Most urgent care CEOs stay far from the weeds of marketing. But what happens when a leader decides to master it—and uses that knowledge to drive clinic growth, improve patient access, and lower acquisition costs? In this episode, Michael and Nick sit down with Brent Kell, CEO of Valley Immediate Care, a nine-location urgent care group in Southern Oregon. For over two decades, Brent has not only le...

When patients walk in with a toothache, most urgent cares are forced to send them away. But what if you could treat the patient, deliver better care, and add a profitable new revenue stream without hiring more staff? In this episode, Michael and Nick sit down with Dr. Maria Kunstadter and Leah Sigler, the powerhouse mother-daughter duo behind The TeleDentists, the first nationwide teledentistry pl...

This week, we're pulling clips from our most recent webinar: 7 Ways Clinics Fail (and How to Make Sure Yours Doesn’t!) . It’s a straight-shooting look at what keeps great clinics stuck, and exactly what to do instead. If you’re still relying on word-of-mouth for patient growth or haven’t touched your lease since signing it, this one’s a must-listen. This episode is a field guide for clinic own...

Nick and Michael dive headfirst into the urgent care hiring trap that quietly kills growth, reactive hiring, and what to do instead. From frantic last-minute job posts to the slow erosion of culture one bad hire at a time, this episode pulls back the curtain on how most clinics approach hiring the wrong way. But it’s not just a rant, it’s a roadmap. They break down how strategic hiring isn’t about...

Ava Winslow knows exactly where most urgent cares are bleeding revenue, and it starts at the front desk. As the founding account executive on Flip’s healthcare vertical, Ava brings a sharp perspective on how conversational voice AI is transforming phone interactions into a competitive advantage for clinics. With a background that spans hospitality, enterprise SaaS, and now healthcare technology, s...