Know Your Regulator: The Podcast that Inspires You to Engage

Team Bertolino
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Welcome to Know Your Regulator, the premier podcast dedicated to keeping professional license holders up-to-date on the dynamic landscape of laws, regulations, and legal interpretations that directly affect their careers and businesses. This free, educational series is designed to empower professionals by providing critical insights into the regulatory environment that governs their practices.Our mission is to offer valuable, accessible information that helps license holders stay informed about their regulators, ensuring they are well-versed in the legal matters that influence their professional reputation and livelihood. Each episode features in-depth interviews with a diverse array of guests, including current and former regulators, esteemed members of the Bertolino Law Firm, and other experts who bring essential knowledge and perspectives to the table.Join us as we explore the intricacies of professional regulation, offering practical advice, timely updates, and expert commentary to help you navigate the complexities of your profession with confidence and clarity. Tune in to "Know Your Regulator" and stay ahead in your field by understanding the regulatory landscape that shapes your professional life.Know Your Regulator: The Podcast that Inspires You to Engage is presented by Bertolino LLP.  Visit us at https://www.belolaw.com/know-your-regulator/#knowyourregulator  #bertolinollp #podcast

  1. 3D AGO

    Navigating Physician Advocacy in the Hospital: A Conversation with Dr. Monique Nugent

    Hospitals don't have golden tickets; they’re high-stakes systems where good outcomes depend on smart planning, relentless communication, and honest constraints. We sit down with Dr. Monique Nugent, a hospitalist and physician leader, to unpack what real advocacy looks like when insurance rules, limited coverage, and human needs collide. From the first hour of admission to the last mile of discharge, we explore how teams align care with what patients can actually access at home financially, logistically, and emotionally. We walk through the essential partnership with case management, those nurses and social workers who turn plans into action by navigating benefits, rehab options, durable medical equipment, and community resources like Meals on Wheels. Dr. Nugent shares a candid end-of-life case that shows the tightrope physicians walk: proving the need to stay inpatient while arranging home hospice, all while documenting clearly enough to persuade insurers without over-treating. We also cover a less visible risk—failed discharges caused not by untreated illness but by unsafe homes, exhausted caregivers, and missing supporters. If you’re a clinician, you’ll get practical tactics for better documentation, stronger peer-to-peer calls, and productive pushback when coverage decisions miss the clinical picture. If you’re a patient or caregiver, you’ll learn why discharge planning starts at admission, why to bring a “care partner” to key conversations, and which constraints to share early so care teams and physicians can solve key issues. Legal barriers like guardianship and conservatorship, transportation and cost hurdles, and the burnout that shadows advocacy all take center stage, with grounded advice on boundaries and resilience. Ready to turn hospital stays into safer outcomes and fewer setbacks at home? Listen, share this with a colleague or caregiver, and subscribe for more conversations that protect your practice and your livelihood. If it resonated, leave a review and tell us what topic you'd like to hear us cover next! ______________________________ Learn more about Dr. Monique Nugent and Prescription for Admission -  Dr. Monique Nugent: https://drmoniquenugent.com/ Listen to the Prescription for Admission Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/prescription-for-admission/id1801986213 Read Prescription for Admission:  https://www.amazon.com/Prescription-Admission-Navigating-Advocating-Hospitalization/dp/B0BNK78MJ3 ______________________________ Get more information, details and resources on Know Your Regulator - https://www.belolaw.com/know-your-regulator

    29 min

  2. DEC 17

    Expunged Vs Sealed: What Professionals Need To Know

    Think a dismissal wiped your slate clean? For licensed professionals, the difference between an expunged record and a sealed one can make or break a career move. We sit down with Houston criminal defense attorney Justin Keiter to break down what employers, licensing boards, and federal programs still see—and how to keep a background check from derailing years of hard work. We begin by clarifying the core terms: dismissal, expungement, and sealing. Justin explains how arrest data flows from local agencies to state repositories and national databases like TCIC and NCIC, often mirrored with the FBI. A dismissed case usually updates to “dismissed,” but the arrest remains visible to many checks. Expungement removes the entry from your criminal history and generally lets you lawfully deny the arrest. Sealing hides it from the public while keeping it viewable to hospital districts, school districts, government agencies, licensing bodies, and law enforcement, especially in fingerprint-based reviews. From there, we dive into high-stakes scenarios. Applying for a master electrician or plumber license, hospital credentialing, can trigger deeper screenings that still surface sealed or dismissed cases. Justin outlines the biggest mistakes he sees: applying before expungement, assuming a sealed case is invisible, and relying on DIY packets that fail to properly notify agencies and boards. Once you apply, the data is captured and you cannot unwind it, which can lead to denials, delays, and awkward explanations that undermine credibility. You’ll hear a practical roadmap to regain control: run your own state criminal history, check your driving record, use reputable consumer background tools, then engage an attorney who understands expunctions and licensing rules. Get the timing right—clear the record before you submit applications—and keep a clean paper trail of orders and agency confirmations. The payoff is clarity, accuracy, and confidence that your past won’t overshadow your skills and integrity. If this guidance helps you breathe easier about your next credential or clearance, share it with an individual who needs it. Subscribe for more conversations that protect your license and livelihood, and leave a review to tell us what topic we should tackle next! Get more information, details and resources on Know Your Regulator - https://www.belolaw.com/know-your-regulator

    14 min

  3. DEC 10

    Texas Peer Assistance Program for Nurses (TPAPN) Explained: Support, Recovery & Your Nursing License

    Burnout, moral distress, and shifting post‑pandemic realities have changed what it means to practice nursing in Texas. We take a clear, compassionate look at the Texas Peer Assistance Program for Nurses (TPAPN) with Program Director Brittney Majefski, exploring how confidential, evidence‑based monitoring helps nurses recover, return to safe practice, and keep their careers on track—without defaulting to punishment. Brittney breaks down exactly who TPAPN serves and why it’s more than a substance use program, with dedicated tracks for mental health. We unpack how referrals work—self‑referral, employer or peer referral, and board routes—what stays confidential, and when the Board of Nursing becomes involved. You’ll hear how individualized plans begin with baseline assessments, then blend toxicology testing, therapy or treatment, medication management, and employer collaboration to create a practical, person‑centered path forward. We also dig into supportive worksite restrictions, why “a monitored nurse is a safe nurse,” and how TPAPN’s earned advocacy model lifts restrictions as stability returns. A highlight of this conversation is peer support: trained nurse volunteers who provide trust, empathy, and lived experience rather than surveillance. We confront the stigma that too often blocks recovery and retention, and we offer actionable guidance for leaders who want to support staff without compromising patient safety. Not sure TPAPN is right for you? We share alternatives like EAPs, hospital wellness programs, NAMI, SAMHSA, and state resources for early help before practice is impacted. If you’re a nurse weighing a self‑referral, an employer navigating a return‑to‑work plan, or a colleague trying to be that safe person, this deep dive offers clarity, courage, and next steps. Subscribe, share with a nurse who needs it, and leave a review to help more clinicians find recovery, support, and safe patient care. ______________________________ Visit the resources mentioned in this episode! -  TPAPN (Texas Peer Assistance Program for Nurses):  https://www.texasnurses.org/mpage/TPAPN Mental Health Mixtape Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7hGQvyGKdgjBYHeCMGGNBY?si=6f7e9d4ef65a4f37&nd=1&dlsi=d3d06ee1168c4dbb NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness): https://www.nami.org/ SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration): https://www.samhsa.gov/ HHS (Health and Human Services):  https://www.hhs.texas.gov/services/mental-health-substance-use _______________________________ Get more information, details and resources on Know Your Regulator - https://www.belolaw.com/know-your-regulator

    35 min

  4. NOV 19

    Five Hidden Rules That Could Cost You Your License

    Your license can survive tough days, but it rarely survives silence, shortcuts, or a sloppy paper trail. We dive into the five hidden rules that boards enforce, and how they differ from the fast-and-loose culture that creeps into busy workplaces. From the first moment a board letter lands in your mailbox to the last keystroke you type into an email or DM, we lay out a practical playbook for keeping your professional career intact. We start with the most expensive mistake: ignoring a notice. You’ll hear how default judgments form without your input and why quick, documented responses preserve your voice in the process. Then we unpack why everyday messages, emails, texts, DMs, even “disappearing” chats can become evidence, and how metadata turns a casual forward into a compliance event. We share simple fixes: use approved systems, strip identifiers, and create habits that make the right path the fast path. Culture says “everyone does it.” Regulators don’t. Through a vivid case study, we show how co-signing, templated notes, and presence implied on paper can end a career during a routine audit. We also map the social media minefield: background identifiers in photos, location tags tied to your workplace, jokes without context, and unauthorized testimonials. The golden rule stands: if you wouldn’t want the board to see it, don’t post it. Finally, we tackle self-reporting. Many boards require you to disclose arrests and other triggers quickly, even before outcomes are decided. Non-reporting reads as dishonesty and often draws harsher discipline than the underlying event. Know your timelines, consult counsel before you reply, and own the first draft of your story. If you hold a license—teacher, nurse, dentist, realtor, or any regulated pro—this is your toolkit for turning risk into routine. Subscribe, share this with a colleague, and leave a review telling us which habit you’ll put in place today. Get more information, details and resources on Know Your Regulator - https://www.belolaw.com/know-your-regulator

    16 min

  5. NOV 12

    The Hidden Lawsuit: Real Asset Protection for Licensed Professionals

    A single board complaint can feel small on paper and still wreck your finances in the real world. We sit down with attorney and wealth strategist Matthew Meredith of Meridian Legal Advisors to map the hidden pathways risk takes: how judgments latch onto real estate, how wages and brokerage accounts get targeted, and how public records can block refinancing or delay your credentialing long after the case seems resolved.    Matt breaks down a clear, proactive playbook that separates what you own from what you do. We get specific about designing operating and holding companies, putting real estate in its own LLCs, and routing cash flow so a creditor can’t reach your paycheck in one step. We talk through the limits of insurance, the danger of commingling, and why governance, current operating agreements, clean banking resolutions, filed franchise taxes, makes or breaks the corporate veil when discovery starts. You’ll hear how coordination between legal, tax, and investment advisors closes gaps and prevents the costly whiplash of conflicting advice.    If you’ve ever thought “I have an LLC and an umbrella, I’m fine,” this conversation will change your checklist. You’ll leave with red flags to watch for, no‑go actions once a claim arises, and a maintenance rhythm that keeps protection real, not theoretical. Asset protection is legal when it’s proactive and transparent… and it’s for anyone with something to lose, not just the ultra‑wealthy.   If this helped you see your risk more clearly, follow the show, share it with a colleague, and leave a quick review so more professionals can safeguard their license and livelihood. _____________________ Matt Meredith, Esq., CFP®, is the founder of Meridian Legal Advisors, a next-generation law firm focused on estate planning, tax strategy, and asset protection. With more than 20 years of experience in the financial services industry, he blends legal, tax, and investment expertise to create customized plans that work in practice, not just on paper. Before founding Meridian, Matt led his own practice, guiding clients through estate planning, probate, and trust administration. He previously held leadership roles at J.P. Morgan Securities and Capital One Investing, and today also manages client investments through LPL Financial. Through Meridian, Matt delivers a one-stop shop by uniting legal, tax, and financial disciplines under one roof. He helps families, entrepreneurs, and professionals protect assets, reduce taxes, and preserve wealth for future generations. _____________________ Learn more about Matt and Meridian Legal Advisors! –  https://meridianlg.com/services/ https://meridianlg.com/about/ _____________________ Get more information, details and resources on Know Your Regulator - https://www.belolaw.com/know-your-regulator

    27 min

  6. NOV 5

    HB 3928 & the Dyslexia Handbook: What Texas Teachers Need to Know

    Paperwork doesn’t teach a child to read. We dig into how to turn dyslexia policy into real progress by aligning instruction with brain science and holding ourselves to clear, measurable outcomes. Our guest, Russell Van Brocklen, is a New York State Senate-funded researcher who overcame severe dyslexia. Russell shares a framework that helps districts meet HB 3928 requirements, avoid legal pitfalls, and, most importantly, move students toward grade-level reading and writing. We explore what “evidence-based” really means in practice: documented training, fidelity logs, and interventions designed to leverage the dyslexic brain’s strengths. Russell explains why general-to-specific instruction backfires for neurodiverse learners and how flipping the sequence: specific questions first, then broader synthesis, using writing to organize thought. He shows how to build intensity without breaking budgets by anchoring instruction in each student’s specialty, turning deep interest into daily stamina, vocabulary growth, and rapid skill gains. Data is the heartbeat of this approach. We outline how to monitor progress every four to six weeks with reliable measures, use those checkpoints to adjust instruction, and set a bar that demands gap-closing growth rather than stagnant percentiles. Russell also maps the legal landscape: the cost of delayed screening, the risks that drive private placements, and why “trying something” isn’t enough if impact isn’t documented. Along the way, you’ll hear a parent-led case study of a student jumping from the single digits to the 60th percentiles in months, plus a pragmatic roadmap for training teachers quickly and partnering with families effectively. If you’re a Texas educator, administrator, or advocate looking to meet the letter of HB 3928 while honoring the science of reading and the lived reality of dyslexic students, this conversation offers a practical playbook you can use tomorrow. Subscribe, share with a colleague, and leave a review with the one change you’re committing to implement next week! ________________________________________ Learn more about Russell, his research, and more! -  https://dyslexiaclasses.com/ _________________________________________ Get more information, details and resources on Know Your Regulator - https://www.belolaw.com/know-your-regulator

    29 min

  7. OCT 29

    Scope, Ethics, and Licensing: A Social Worker's Guide to Texas Rules

    When your license is your livelihood, clarity is everything. We sit down with Darrel Spinks, Executive Director of the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council (BHEC), to demystify what social workers in Texas can do at each level and how to avoid the traps that put good practitioners at risk. Instead of a rigid ladder, Darrel shares the “bullseye” view of licensure: LBSWs at the core with focused case management and assessments, LMSWs expanding to higher complexity, and LCSWs adding full clinical services. That shift in mindset helps you explain your role, protect your scope, and deliver care with confidence. We get candid about the most common complaints and why they happen. Independent practice recognition, supervision, and advertising are frequent sources of confusion, especially for LMSWs delivering clinical services under contract. The most preventable violation, practicing without active authority, still leads the pack, ahead of missed renewals and assumptions about pending applications. Darrel explains how these lapses can undermine employers and clients, and he offers practical habits that keep your status clean: verify your license, align your duties with your scope, use precise titles, and document supervision. We also cover familiar hazards like boundary issues, standard-of-care gaps, and shaky ESA letters that skip required assessments. Ethics shape the profession, but Texas rules govern your practice. We contrast the NASW Code of Ethics with state statutes and board rules, highlight key differences that matter for confidentiality and duty limits, and point you to tools that make compliance easier: a searchable rulebook, proposed rule trackers, and BHEC’s Leadership Listening Hour for direct Q&A. We touch on hot-button topics like licensing exams, workforce equity, and criminal history bars under Chapter 108, and explain where boards can act and where change requires lawmakers. The takeaway is practical and empowering: solve the client’s problem in front of you, stay current on the rules, ask questions early, and carry malpractice coverage that includes administrative defense. If this conversation helped sharpen your practice, follow the show, share it with a colleague, and leave a review so more Texas social workers can find it! Got a question you want us to put to BHEC leadership next time? Send it our way. _____________________________ Visit the resources mentioned in this episode!  BHEC PDF Rulebooks:  https://bhec.texas.gov/statues-and-rules/ Proposed Rule Changes open for public comment:  https://bhec.texas.gov/proposed-rule-changes-and-the-rulemaking-process/proposed-rule-changes-open-for-public-comment/ Texas Social Worker FAQ's: https://bhec.texas.gov/texas-state-board-of-social-worker-examiners/sw-faqs/ Leadership Listening Hour with BHEC: https://bhec.texas.gov/agency-news/#:~:text=Upcoming%20Leadership%20Listening%20Hour%20Webinar _____________________________ Get more information, details and resources on Know Your Regulator - https://www.belolaw.com/know-your-regulator

    38 min

  8. OCT 22

    What Types of Crimes Can Endanger My Teaching License?

    You worked for years to earn your Texas teaching certificate, so how can a single mistake put it all at risk? In this quick episode of Know Your Regulator, we unpack how the Texas Education Agency (TEA) evaluates educator conduct, when districts must report arrests, and why the agency can review your behavior even if a criminal case gets dismissed. Using plain language, we map the five categories that drive most license actions: offenses involving children, crimes of moral turpitude, drug-related charges, felonies and violent crimes, and sexual misconduct or boundary violations. Along the way, we highlight what “poor moral character” means in practice and how TEA balances safety, trust, and rehabilitation. We take you inside the process step by step: the district report that triggers a case, the TEA letter requesting your response, and the range of outcomes from probation to suspension to full revocation. You’ll hear why honesty and timely disclosure often matter more than the charge itself, and how documentation of rehabilitation (treatment, training, counseling, or even community involvement) can shift the decision. We also talk about digital boundaries, private messages, and how small misjudgments can escalate when they cross into student interactions. To close, we share three protective moves any educator can make today: be proactive with counsel who understands educator licensing, learn the gray areas so you can anticipate review, and never hide a reportable event. If you care about safeguarding your license, your livelihood, and your peace of mind, this is a must-listen for clarity. Subscribe, share with a colleague who needs this, and leave a review telling us the one takeaway you’ll act on this week! Get more information, details and resources on Know Your Regulator - https://www.belolaw.com/know-your-regulator

    5 min
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About

Welcome to Know Your Regulator, the premier podcast dedicated to keeping professional license holders up-to-date on the dynamic landscape of laws, regulations, and legal interpretations that directly affect their careers and businesses. This free, educational series is designed to empower professionals by providing critical insights into the regulatory environment that governs their practices.Our mission is to offer valuable, accessible information that helps license holders stay informed about their regulators, ensuring they are well-versed in the legal matters that influence their professional reputation and livelihood. Each episode features in-depth interviews with a diverse array of guests, including current and former regulators, esteemed members of the Bertolino Law Firm, and other experts who bring essential knowledge and perspectives to the table.Join us as we explore the intricacies of professional regulation, offering practical advice, timely updates, and expert commentary to help you navigate the complexities of your profession with confidence and clarity. Tune in to "Know Your Regulator" and stay ahead in your field by understanding the regulatory landscape that shapes your professional life.Know Your Regulator: The Podcast that Inspires You to Engage is presented by Bertolino LLP.  Visit us at https://www.belolaw.com/know-your-regulator/#knowyourregulator  #bertolinollp #podcast

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