Life Stories

Andy Thomas
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I have come across many impressive and inspirational people in my time in medical technology education and sales. I have always had the goal to run an interview series with these people, to find out more about them personally and what led them to the career they ended up in. I am genuinely looking forward to each of these! I hope you find it interesting too.

  1. 6H AGO

    Life Stories | Ep.244 | Sarah Jane Mc Donnell

    What does it really take to build a career in elite sport?   In this episode of the Andy Thomas Life Stories Podcast, Isit down with Sarah-Jane McDonnell to talk about her journey through more than two decades working in high-performance sport.   SJ is the Head of Rehabilitation at the Sport IrelandInstitute, supporting Olympic and Paralympic athletes across multiple Games cycles. In our conversation, she shares how her career started almost by chance and the lessons she’s learned along the way.   We talk about the value of broad clinical experience, therealities of working in elite sport, and why leadership, relationships, and mentorship matter just as much as clinical expertise.   If you’re interested in physiotherapy, leadership, or whathappens behind the scenes in high-performance sport, this episode is packed with insight.   🎧 Watch the full conversation now.

    49 min

  2. MAR 11

    Life Stories | Ep.243 | Karen May

    What does it really take to build a lasting career inhealthcare?   In this episode of the Andy Thomas Life Stories Podcast,host Andy Thomas sits down with respected physiotherapist and healthcare leader Karen May for a powerful conversation about leadership, career growth, and the realities of working in healthcare.   Karen shares the experiences that shaped her journey - thechallenges, the turning points, and the lessons that only come from years working at the frontline of patient care and professional leadership.   Together they dive into the topics many clinicians thinkabout but rarely talk about openly.   In this episode you’ll discover: -        The mindset shifts that shape successfulhealthcare careers -        The biggest leadership lessons Karen haslearned along the way -        Why reflection and curiosity are essential forgrowth -        The challenges clinicians face as theyprogress in their careers -        How to create real impact for patients, teams,and the profession   This is an honest and insightful conversation about what ittakes to grow, lead, and stay motivated in a demanding profession.   If you’re a physiotherapist, clinician, or healthcareprofessional thinking about the next stage of your career, this episode is packed with perspective and inspiration.   🎧 Watch the full conversation now.   👇 Let us know your biggest takeaway in the comments 👍 Subscribe for more powerful stories from leaders shaping healthcare   #LifeStoriesPodcast #HealthcareLeadership #Physiotherapy#AndyThomas #KarenMay

    53 min

  3. MAR 4

    Life Stories | Ep.242 | Nell Mead

    This week on the Andy Thomas Life Stories Podcast, AndyThomas sits down with specialist physio Nell Mead for a bold conversation about pricing, value, and confidence in healthcare.   Nell shares why she charges premium rates, how shecommunicates price rises transparently, and why being fully booked isn’t luck - it’s clarity of value. From expectation setting to protecting profit margins, this episode challenges the mindset holding so many clinicians back.   If you’ve ever questioned what you’re worth, this one willshift your thinking.   🎧 Watch now.

    1h 4m

  4. FEB 25

    Life Stories | Ep.241 | Paul Wimpenny

    On this episode of the Andy Thomas Life Stories Podcast,Andy Thomas sits down with Paul Wimpenny for an honest, behind-the-scenes conversation about career pivots, leadership, and staying grounded whileworking at scale.   Paul shares his journey from frontline care into seniorleadership - opening up about the pressure that comes with responsibility, the importance of building strong teams, and why purpose always has to come before position. This isn’t a polished highlight reel… it’s real talk about setbacks,growth, and learning to lead with authenticity.   In this episode, you’ll hear about:   -        Moving from clinical work into leadership -        The mindset shifts required to grow yourinfluence -        Why people matter more than job titles -        Lessons learned the hard way -        Staying human in high-pressure environments   Whether you’re a clinician, healthcare professional, orsomeone navigating your own career path, this conversation will leave you thinking differently about success and impact.   🎧 Watch now -  and get inspired to lead better.   👇 Let us know your biggest takeaway in the comments 👍 Like & subscribe for more real stories from healthcare leaders

    56 min

  5. FEB 18

    Life Stories | Ep.240

    From Failing Exams to Building a National HealthcareBusiness | Andrew Walton on Life Stories   In this episode of the Andy Thomas Life Stories Podcast,Andy sits down with Andrew Walton, founder of Cora Health and First ContactHealth, to explore an incredible journey from struggling at school to becomingone of the UK’s leading MSK healthcare entrepreneurs.   Andrew shares his story growing up in Newcastle, failingexams, finding his way into physiotherapy, and eventually building large-scalecommunity MSK, diagnostics, and surgical services across the UK. Along the way,he opens up about resilience, imposter syndrome, leadership, and why cliniciansmust start valuing themselves properly.   You’ll hear about:   ✅ Turning academic setbacks intofuel ✅ Moving from NHS clinician tobusiness founder ✅ Building teams smarter thanyourself ✅ Lessons from failure, growth,and mergers ✅ Why MSK care is undervalued - andhow that can change ✅ His bold new vision for privateMSK with First Contact Health   This is an honest, inspiring conversation for clinicians,healthcare leaders, and anyone thinking about doing things differently.   🎧 Tune in and getinspired.   👇 Share your thoughts inthe comments 👍 Like & subscribefor more real-life stories from healthcare leaders   #LifeStoriesPodcast #AndyThomas #AndrewWalton #Physiotherapy#HealthcareLeadership #MSK #Entrepreneurship

    54 min

  6. FEB 11

    Life Stories | Andy Barker | Ep.239

    In this episode of the Andy Thomas Life Stories Podcast,Andy is joined by Andy Barker - former Leeds Rhinos Head Physio and founder of TheNew Grad Physio.   Andy shares his journey from struggling to get onto a physiodegree to working in elite sport, stepping into leadership early, and latermoving into business and mentorship.   They discuss the realities of professional sport, whycommunication and people skills matter as much as clinical expertise, and howmentorship can help bridge the gap between university and real-world practice.   A thoughtful conversation on career development, leadership,and supporting the next generation of physios.   🎧 Watch now on the AndyThomas Life Stories Podcast.

    1 hr

  7. FEB 4

    Life Stories | Ep.238 | Alex Manos

    Andy Thomas Life Stories Podcast - Episode with Alex Manos |From Elite Sport to Coaching, Purpose & Personal Growth   In this episode of the Andy Thomas Life Stories Podcast,Andy is joined by Alex Manos, a former Premier League physiotherapist turnedcoach, for one of the most honest and reflective conversations on the show todate.   Alex shares his journey through elite football - fromworking at Crystal Palace, operating under intense pressure at the highestlevel, to realising that success on paper doesn’t always equal fulfilment inlife. He opens up about the realities of working in professional sport, theisolation that can come with senior roles, and the personal challenges thatultimately forced him to reassess who he was and what he wanted.   This conversation explores:   The pressures and expectations of elite sport environments   Why saying “I don’t know” is difficult,  but essential, in high performance   Transitioning from physiotherapy into coaching and personaldevelopment   How personal adversity can become a catalyst for meaningfulchange   Leadership, vulnerability, and creating healthier culturesin sport and business   Why learning to say “no” is one of the most powerful skillswe can develop   Alex explains how coaching transformed not only his career,but how he works with people - helping athletes, leaders, and professionalsfind clarity, balance, and purpose beyond performance alone.   This episode is about far more than sport or healthcare.It’s about identity, growth, and what it really means to succeed over the longterm.

    1h 7m

  8. JAN 28

    Life Stories | Ep.237 | Matt Taylor

    Andy Thomas Life Stories Podcast - Episode with Matt Taylor| Building a Career, a Business & Resilience in Healthcare   In this episode of the Andy Thomas’ Life Stories Podcast,Andy is joined by Matt Taylor, Clinical Director at Response Healthcare Group,for a wide-ranging and honest conversation about careers in healthcare,entrepreneurship, and what it really takes to build something that lasts. Matt shares his journey from growing up in the North West,discovering physiotherapy almost by chance, to running a national healthcareorganisation spanning private clinics, occupational health, and NHS services.Along the way, he reflects on the realities of working in MSK healthcare, thechanging role of physios, and why understanding business is no longer optional. Topics covered include: * Choosing physiotherapy and navigating an evolving jobmarket * The gap between healthcare training and real-worldbusiness skills * Pain, communication, and treating people - not justsymptoms * Starting a clinic from a single room and scalingsustainably * Resilience, mistakes, and why longevity matters more thanperfection * Lessons from elite sport, including working at World’sStrongest Man   This episode goes beyond clinical practice. It’s aboutmindset, adaptability, and learning to balance care, commerce, and long-termthinking - whether you’re a clinician, business owner, or just curious abouthow healthcare is changing.

    52 min
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About

I have come across many impressive and inspirational people in my time in medical technology education and sales. I have always had the goal to run an interview series with these people, to find out more about them personally and what led them to the career they ended up in. I am genuinely looking forward to each of these! I hope you find it interesting too.

Information

  • Creator
    Andy Thomas
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    245
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Andy Thomas
  • Show Website
    Life Stories

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