The Radical Massage Therapist Podcast

Krista Dicks
  • 5.0 (2)
  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT
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Hi, I’m Krista, and I love sharing the stories of massage therapists from around the world. I am constantly fascinated by the way our career allows freedom, flexibility, fun, and financial success. I find massage therapists who are living proof that we have a profession like no other that allows us to live life on our terms. Why me? I'm an RMT since 2006 and a clinic owner but, I started this podcast to share YOUR story. Not mine. YOU are the Radical Massage Therapists who inspire me each day. Thanks for being here to support our goals beyond massage, build up the profession, and enjoy life!

  1. #152 The Massage Therapist in the Arena: Courage and Clinic Ownership with Nancy Kahl, RMT

    4D AGO

    #152 The Massage Therapist in the Arena: Courage and Clinic Ownership with Nancy Kahl, RMT

    Opening a clinic takes courage. It also takes patience, vision, and a willingness to move forward even when the path isn’t perfectly clear. In this episode of The Radical Massage Therapist Podcast, I sit down with Nancy Kahl, RMT, owner of Align Massage Therapy Kanata, to talk about what it really looks like to step into clinic ownership. Nancy’s path to this chapter was anything but linear. After graduating as a massage therapist in 2002, she stepped away from the profession and spent eight years working in mental health and recreational therapy, supporting individuals living with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders, anxiety, and depression. Eventually, she returned to massage therapy with a deeper understanding of the nervous system, emotional labour, and the realities of caring professions. Six months into opening her clinic, Nancy shares what she has learned about leadership, building a supportive workplace, navigating uncertainty, and creating a practice that feels meaningful for both clients and practitioners. We also talk about something that many therapists experience but rarely name clearly: the mental load of practice and how it differs from physical fatigue. This episode is an honest conversation about growth, resilience, and building something steady over time. If you’ve ever thought about opening a clinic, returning to massage after time away, or designing a career that supports your life outside the treatment room, this episode will resonate deeply. 🩵 This Episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jane.app⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 💻 My favourite software for online booking and charting is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jane.app⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and now, the radical massage therapist community can try ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jane.app⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for 1 Month using Code: RADICALRMT1MO - Contact Nancy Kahl, RMT Instagram @liftxbadgerxcycle Contact The Radical Massage Therapist Podcast Krista Dicks, RMT 📧 krista@theradicalrmt.com 🌐 www.theradicalrmt.com 📱 Instagram: @theradicalmassagetherapist Mentioned Align Massage Therapy Kanata Recreational Therapy in mental health Mohawk College (guest lecturing experience) Sanford Fleming College (Massage Therapy program) “The Man in the Arena” poem by Theodore Roosevelt

    1h 28m
  2. #151 How I Run My Week So Massage Doesn’t Run My Life with Krista Dicks, RMT

    6D AGO

    #151 How I Run My Week So Massage Doesn’t Run My Life with Krista Dicks, RMT

    Massage therapy can give you incredible freedom — freedom of schedule, freedom of lifestyle, and the ability to build a career that actually supports your life. But that doesn’t happen automatically. In this solo episode, I am sharing a behind-the-scenes look at how I organizes my week first for me and then as a massage therapist and clinic owner to protect my energy, stay motivated in the profession, and continue enjoying the career I have built. These are not complicated productivity hacks.They are realistic routines that help create a sustainable massage career that supports life outside the clinic. In this episode you’ll learn: • Why protecting your energy is one of the most important parts of a long massage career• How simplifying everyday decisions can reduce stress• Why designing your schedule before clients fill it can change your entire career• The routines that help Krista stay healthy, organized, and happy as a massage therapist If you’ve ever wondered how to create more freedom, flexibility, and longevity in your massage career, this episode offers a simple place to start. 🩵 This Episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠Jane.app⁠⁠⁠⁠ 💻 My favourite software for online booking and charting is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jane.app⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and now, the radical massage therapist community can try ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jane.app⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for 1 Month using Code: RADICALRMT1MO Mentioned Mackenzie Chilton: @loveyourmondays Goodfood Try today with 70% Off LesMills On Demand Pilates on Beechwood Mentorship My Free 15-Minute To Clarity Chat: ⁠Book here

    23 min
  3. #150 Scar Care Is Healthcare: Massage Therapy, Hypermobility & Research-Based Treatment with Bobbi-Jo Corbett, RMT

    FEB 22

    #150 Scar Care Is Healthcare: Massage Therapy, Hypermobility & Research-Based Treatment with Bobbi-Jo Corbett, RMT

    Gentle note about about medical and surgical references in this episode In this episode of The Radical Massage Therapist, I sit down with Bobbi-Jo Corbett, RMT, to talk about something that deserves way more attention in our profession: scar tissue and hypermobility. Bobbi-Jo treats what she calls “like a weirdo” — meaning she questions the default, follows the research, and approaches scar tissue gently, strategically, and systemically. We talk about why scar care isn’t an add-on… it’s healthcare. We explore the snowball effect of poorly treated scars, the ripple effects on our healthcare system, and how massage therapists can step into a bigger role. Bobbi-Jo has taken the leap to share her experience and unique approach to treatment and educate practitioners on scar tissue treatments with online and in person workshops.  We also dive into hypermobility — what it actually looks like in real bodies, how it changes assessment and treatment, and why some of our go-to techniques might not be as supportive as we think. This conversation is about curiosity. It’s about evolving your lens. And it’s about building a career that keeps you mentally engaged, professionally growing, and excited to show up. 🩵 This Episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠Jane.app⁠⁠⁠ 💻 My favourite software for online booking and charting is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jane.app⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and now, the radical massage therapist community can try ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jane.app⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for 1 Month using Code: RADICALRMT1MO Contact Bobbi-Jo Instagram: @rmtbobbijo.c Krista Dicks, RMT 📧 krista@theradicalrmt.com 🌐 www.theradicalrmt.com 📲 @theradicalmassagetherapist

    1h 6m
  4. #149 The Advice I Keep Using: Real Lessons From Podcast Guests

    FEB 16

    #149 The Advice I Keep Using: Real Lessons From Podcast Guests

    Topic Warning: Mental Health. Death and End of Life Care. Menstrual Cycles. Harry Potter. Sex and The City. I am sharing some of the most impactful advice I've implemented in my own massage career — insights that didn’t require another certification, workshop, or degree, but did require some Radical Massage Therapists sharing their journey on the podcast. Drawing from conversations with past podcast guests, I'm exploring how the treatment environment influences client outcomes, how massage therapists can create their own paid time off, why syncing your schedule with your menstrual cycle matters, how clear cancellation policies protect your nervous system, and what it looks like to hold compassionate boundaries in emotionally heavy work like palliative care. This episode is an invitation to stop waiting for permission and start shaping a massage career that supports your health, finances, and life outside the treatment room. 🩵 This Episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠Jane.app⁠⁠ 💻 My favourite software for online booking and charting is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jane.app⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and now, the radical massage therapist community can try ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jane.app⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for 1 Month using Code: RADICALRMT1MO - Explore The Episodes Mentioned: #146 Jamie Smith: Massage Therapy Deserves Better Treatment Rooms #069 Emilie McKay: How To Give Yourself Vacation Pay As a Self-Employed Massage Therapist #063 Samantha Storozuk: Go With The Flow And Sync Your Schedule #115 Christine Anderson: Breaking Free From Cancellation Burnout #128 Olivia Sadler: Compassionate Touch. Massage Therapy For The End of Life -- Contact The Radical Massage Therapist Podcast 📧 Email: krista@theradicalrmt.com🌐 Website: www.theradicalrmt.com📲 Instagram: @theradicalmassagetherapist --

    31 min
  5. #148 Why Not Me? Designing a Sustainable Massage Career with Michelle Ratz-McGuire, RMT

    FEB 8

    #148 Why Not Me? Designing a Sustainable Massage Career with Michelle Ratz-McGuire, RMT

    What if building a sustainable massage career didn’t require more hustle, more techniques, or more sacrifice? In this episode, I chat with Michelle Ratz-McGuire, RMT and hypnotherapist from Waterloo, Ontario, for a grounded, honest conversation about designing a massage career that supports your life—not the other way around. Michelle shares her journey from social work to massage therapy, why she transitioned to a mat-based, Thai-inspired approach, and how addressing money mindset, boundaries, and nervous system regulation changed everything. This episode explores what it really takes to earn well, protect your energy, and enjoy your work long-term—without abandoning hands-on care. If you’ve ever thought “must be nice” while scrolling social media, struggled with over giving, or wondered how to make this career feel better day-to-day—this conversation is for you. 🩵 This Episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠Jane.app⁠⁠ 💻 My favourite software for online booking and charting is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jane.app⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and now, the radical massage therapist community can try ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jane.app⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for 1 Month using Code: RADICALRMT1MO - Contact Michelle Socials @rmt.michelle Website: RMTMichelle.com Freebie: reverse engineering your income goals https://rmtmichelle.com/incomegoals Mentioned in This Episode For the full list check out The Radical Massage Therapist Contact The Radical Massage Therapist Podcast Email: ⁠⁠krista@theradicalrmt.com⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠www.theradicalrmt.com⁠⁠ Instagram:⁠⁠ @theradicalmassagetherapist⁠⁠ Let's Chat- 30 Minutes to Clarity (On Me): ⁠Book Here

    58 min
  6. #147 The Mentorship Call Hotline: Your Biggest Questions, My Honest Answers: Krista Dicks, RMT

    FEB 1

    #147 The Mentorship Call Hotline: Your Biggest Questions, My Honest Answers: Krista Dicks, RMT

    In this solo episode, I'm sharing the six questions that come up again and again in mentorship calls with massage therapists. These questions span pricing, scheduling, clinic loyalty, mobile massage, clinic ownership, and the desire to grow without doing more hands-on work. Through real mentoring stories and practical frameworks, this episode offers clarity, permission, and actionable steps for building a sustainable massage career. Topics Covered Raising rates without guiltCreating balance without abandoning clientsLeaving a clinic while honoring yourselfBuilding a mobile massage practice with structureClinic ownership clarity and lease red flagsExpanding your career without adding massage hours 🩵 This Episode is brought to you by ⁠Jane.app⁠ 💻 My favourite software for online booking and charting is ⁠⁠⁠⁠Jane.app⁠⁠⁠⁠ and now, the radical massage therapist community can try ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jane.app⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for 1 Month using Code: RADICALRMT1MO __ Contact The Radical Massage Therapist Podcast Email: ⁠krista@theradicalrmt.com⁠ Website: ⁠www.theradicalrmt.com⁠ Instagram:⁠ @theradicalmassagetherapist⁠ Let's Chat- 30 Minutes to Clarity (On Me): Book Here __ Mentioned in this episode; Fear Setting- Why you should define your fears instead of your goals | Tim Ferriss | TED #075 How to Use Ghost Appointments in Your Massage Practice

    44 min
  7. #146 Massage Therapy Deserves Better Treatment Rooms with Jamie Smith

    JAN 25

    #146 Massage Therapy Deserves Better Treatment Rooms with Jamie Smith

    What if your treatment room was doing half the work for you? In this episode of The Radical Massage Therapist Podcast, I’m joined by Jamie Smith — a former massage therapist of nearly 20 years turned interior designer and founder of Happy Haüs Studios. Jamie specializes in designing restorative spaces for healthcare providers and wellness practitioners, and she brings a rare perspective that bridges hands-on care with science-backed design. We explore why the divide between “clinical” and “relaxation” spaces doesn’t actually serve clients or therapists, how nervous system safety affects treatment outcomes, and why design choices like lighting, sound, storage, and visual clutter matter more than we’ve been taught. This conversation is practical, thoughtful, and deeply validating for massage therapists who want their work environment to support their body, their clients, and their long-term career. This Episode is brought to you by Jane.app 💻 My favourite software for online booking and charting is ⁠⁠⁠Jane.app⁠⁠⁠ and now, the radical massage therapist community can try ⁠⁠⁠⁠Jane.app⁠⁠⁠⁠ for 1 Month using Code: RADICALRMT1MO - Contact Jamie Smith Happy Haüs Studios Free DIY Treatment Room Design Guide (instant download) Online CEU Course: Treatment Room Design for Practitioners Blog: https://happyhausstudios.com/blog Contact The Radical Massage Therapist Podcast Email: krista@theradicalrmt.com Website: www.theradicalrmt.com Instagram: @theradicalmassagetherapist

    59 min
  8. #145 When Your Massage Business Becomes the Boss: A Reflection on Taking Back Control with Krista Dicks, RMT

    JAN 20

    #145 When Your Massage Business Becomes the Boss: A Reflection on Taking Back Control with Krista Dicks, RMT

    This solo episode is a candid reflection sparked by my chat with Amy Bradley Radford on her podcast Massage. Business. Success.The thoughtful questions Amy prepared created space for real reflection — the kind we rarely slow down enough to do. I wanted to share more in this episode about what it means when your business quietly becomes the boss, how defining success as a full schedule can limit freedom, and why ownership (even as an independent contractor) changes everything. I also share a behind-the-scenes update on her upcoming meeting with an Ontario MPP regarding OCF-18 forms, how I prepared, and what advocating for our profession actually looks like in real life working alongside the RMTAO. This episode is about leadership, responsibility, mentorship, and building a massage career that supports time freedom, financial security, flexibility, and joy outside the treatment room — not one that quietly drains it. This Episode is brought to you by Jane.app 💻 My favourite software for online booking and charting is ⁠⁠Jane.app⁠⁠ and now, the radical massage therapist community can try ⁠⁠⁠Jane.app⁠⁠⁠ for 1 Month using Code: RADICALRMT1MO - Mentioned in This Episode: Amy Bradley Radford – Massage Business Success Podcast Extreme Ownership – Jocko Willink (I liked the audiobook) Registered Massage Therapists' Association of Ontario (RMTAO) Episode #139 – The Voice at the Table with Michael Feraday Episode #140 – Define It to Deliver It: Client Expectations with Amy Bradley Radford No Hurry No Pause: 17 Questions that Changed My Life from with Krista Dicks, RMTTim Ferriss – 17 Questions That Changed My Life - Contact The Radical Massage Therapist Podcast 📧 krista@theradicalrmt.com 🌐 www.theradicalrmt.com 📸 Instagram: @theradicalmassagetherapist

    50 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Hi, I’m Krista, and I love sharing the stories of massage therapists from around the world. I am constantly fascinated by the way our career allows freedom, flexibility, fun, and financial success. I find massage therapists who are living proof that we have a profession like no other that allows us to live life on our terms. Why me? I'm an RMT since 2006 and a clinic owner but, I started this podcast to share YOUR story. Not mine. YOU are the Radical Massage Therapists who inspire me each day. Thanks for being here to support our goals beyond massage, build up the profession, and enjoy life!

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