Office Hours with Angelique and Toby

Toby Daly

Office Hours with Angelique and Toby is an invitation to enjoy a cup of tea with two passionate (and occasionally irreverent) practitioners as they dive into the world of Chinese medicine. Join newly minted acupuncturist Angelique and seasoned practitioner Toby as they share clinical experiences, tough cases, and in-depth explorations of classical theory. With a mix of humor, insight, and real-world clinical talk, they aim to have discussions that will help you become a better healer for your patients.

  1. 2D AGO

    Office Hours: Treatment Tiers and Scheduling Strategies

    In this conversation, Angelique and Toby discuss various aspects of running a practice, including the importance of organic interactions, updates on business changes, the introduction of new treatment tiers, scheduling strategies, and a detailed case study of a patient with unique symptoms. They reflect on the challenges and rewards of their work, emphasizing the need for fair compensation and the importance of trusting the process in their professional journey.TakeawaysAllowing conversations to unfold organically can lead to more genuine interactions.Recognizing the amount of unpaid work can help in setting fair compensation.Introducing tiered offerings can simplify pricing and improve patient access.Scheduling flexibility can reduce stress and improve patient care.Having additional treatment space can accommodate more patients and reduce wait times.Compensating staff well is crucial for maintaining a supportive work environment.Trusting the process is essential in building a successful practice.Patient case studies provide valuable insights into treatment strategies.Sound Bites"I was doing a lot of work for free."Chapters00:00 Organic Conversations: Embracing the Flow00:53 Business Updates: Navigating Changes in Practice04:05 Expanding Offerings: New Treatment Tiers08:01 Scheduling Strategies: Balancing Patient Care11:35 Patient Case Study20:32 Reflections and Future Directions: Trusting the ProcessKeywordsacupuncture, herbal medicine, patient care, scheduling, treatment strategies, practitioner insights, case studies

    21 min
  2. JAN 22

    Office Hours: Navigating the Acupocalypse with Ryan Hofer

    Ryan, Angelique and Toby discuss the enormous challenges facing Chinese medicine schools, particularly the financial burdens on students and the sustainability of these educational models. The conversation highlights the need for transparency, potential reforms, and the importance of creating sustainable educational pathways that align with realistic financial outcomes for graduates.Takeaways:The financial burden on students in Chinese medicine and naturopathic schools is unsustainable.Transparency in educational outcomes and financial realities is crucial for prospective students.Reforms are needed to align educational costs with realistic earning potentials.Alternative medicine programs face structural vulnerabilities in the current educational landscape.The importance of creating forums for open discussion about these challenges.Potential for small, nonprofit educational models to provide sustainable pathways.The role of public service loan forgiveness in supporting graduates.The need for collective action and advocacy to drive change.The impact of federal loan caps and earnings tests on educational institutions.The value of alternative medicine remains high, but requires new educational models.Sound Bites:"The financial burden is unsustainable.""Alternative medicine faces structural vulnerabilities.""Nonprofit models offer sustainable pathways.""Loan forgiveness supports graduates.""Collective action drives change.""Loan caps impact educational institutions."Chapters:00:00:00 Introduction to the Challenges00:03:00 Financial Burdens on Students00:06:00 Need for Transparency and Reform00:09:00 Structural Vulnerabilities in Education00:12:00 Creating Sustainable Pathways00:15:00 Role of Loan Forgiveness00:18:00 Collective Action and Advocacy00:21:00 Impact of Loan Caps and Earnings Tests00:24:00 Exploring New Educational ModelsKeywords: Chinese medicine, naturopathic schools, student debt, educational reform, financial sustainability, alternative medicine, acupuncture, naturopathy, higher education, loan forgiveness

    59 min
  3. JAN 8

    Office Hours episode 17: Philip Suger

    In this conversation, Philip Suger discusses his journey as a Saam acupuncture practitioner, sharing insights on the challenges faced by new practitioners, managing needle sensitivity, and the role of intuition in clinical practice. He also delves into the evolution of acupuncture styles, the process of writing a book on Saam acupuncture, and the significance of learning from patient experiences. The discussion highlights the beauty and complexity of acupuncture, emphasizing the need for trust in the system and the importance of accurate diagnosis. Takeaways New practitioners should focus on basic supplement prescriptions initially. Trust in the system is crucial for successful treatments. Needle sensitivity varies among patients, regardless of cultural background. Saam acupuncture is one of the oldest extant styles of acupuncture. The book Philip is writing aims to translate original Saam texts into English. Understanding the origins of Saam acupuncture is still a mystery. Intuition plays a significant role in clinical practice but should be balanced with diagnosis. Sound Bite "Saam is the OG in a sense." Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Philip Suger and His Background 02:35 Navigating Challenges in Acupuncture Practice 05:10 The Role of Needle Sensitivity and Patient Experience 07:57 The Journey of Writing a Book on Saam Acupuncture 10:28 Exploring the Historical Context of Saam Acupuncture 12:54 Understanding the Counterbalance Concept in Acupuncture 15:43 The Evolution of Acupuncture Styles Over Time 18:14 The Importance of Diagnosis in Acupuncture 21:06 Intuition in Clinical Practice 23:37 Patient Relationships and Learning from Mistakes 26:29 The Future of Saam Acupuncture and Its Impact keywords Saam acupuncture, Chinese medicine, needle sensitivity, clinical practice, acupuncture styles, intuition, patient care, acupuncture challenges, acupuncture book, acupuncture history summary

    40 min
  4. Office Hours: Valerie Smith

    12/10/2025

    Office Hours: Valerie Smith

    In this conversation, Angelique, Val, and Toby delve into the intricacies of teaching and practicing Chinese medicine, emphasizing the importance of mindset, communication, and self-care. They discuss the challenges faced by new practitioners, the significance of mentorship, and the evolving landscape of Chinese medicine education. The dialogue highlights personal experiences, teaching philosophies, and the need for a supportive community in the field.TakeawaysTeaching is a synchronistic process where both teacher and student learn.Difficult conversations in practice require curiosity and presence.A healthy body is defined by its silence and balance.Self-care practices are essential for practitioners to maintain their well-being.Mentorship plays a vital role in guiding new practitioners in their careers.Chinese medicine institutions face challenges but can adapt and thrive.The future of Chinese medicine education may involve merging with larger institutions.Cultivating relationships in the field can lead to job opportunities for new graduates.Sound Bites"A healthy body is totally silent."Chapters00:00 Introduction and Professional Background02:24 Navigating Difficult Conversations in Practice05:03 Teaching Chinese Medicine: Insights and Humor07:56 Understanding Chinese Medicine Theory10:35 Defining Health in Chinese Medicine13:11 Self-Cultivation and Mindfulness Practices15:58 Course Development for New Practitioners18:37 Challenges in the Chinese Medicine Profession21:03 Institutional Changes in Chinese Medicine Education29:04 Merging Institutions and Their Impact30:54 The Importance of Resources in Education32:29 The Future of Chinese Medicine Education34:24 Mentorship in the Healing Profession35:22 The Role of Humor in Practice39:15 Reflections on Learning and Growth41:56 The Value of Community in HealingkeywordsChinese medicine, acupuncture, teaching, difficult conversations, health, self-care, mentorship, education, wellness, practitioner

    35 min
  5. Office Hours: Maya Joshua

    11/19/2025

    Office Hours: Maya Joshua

    This conversation between Angelique, Toby, and Maya explores the experiences and insights of practitioners in the field of acupuncture and Chinese medicine. The discussion covers various topics including patient care, treatment outcomes, the challenges faced by new practitioners, and the importance of patient advocacy. Maya shares her personal experiences with licensing, practice, and the medical system, while also reflecting on the nuances of treatment decisions and the impact of self-treatment. The conversation emphasizes the need for practitioners to empower their patients and navigate the complexities of the healthcare system effectively.TakeawaysThe importance of patient advocacy in the healthcare system.Navigating the complexities of treatment decisions as a new practitioner.The role of self-treatment in understanding patient experiences.Empowering patients to advocate for their own health.The significance of building rapport with patients for effective treatment.Understanding the dynamics of patient-provider relationships.The challenges of managing patient expectations and treatment outcomes.The value of sharing experiences among practitioners for growth.Recognizing the impact of external factors on patient health.The necessity of adapting treatment approaches based on patient feedback.Sound Bite"This is my favorite podcast."Chapters00:00 Introduction 08:20 Guest Introduction and Background09:07 Experiences with Licensing and Practice11:21 Discussion on Patient Experiences and Treatment Outcomes15:59 Navigating the Medical System as Practitioners18:53 Patient Advocacy and Empowerment23:18 Challenges of New Practitioners26:45 Case Studies and Treatment Decisions30:44 Exploring External Pathogenic Factors35:16 Self-Treatment Experiences39:40 Reflections on Treatment Outcomes45:59 Final Thoughts and Closing RemarksKeywordsacupuncture, Chinese medicine, patient care, public speaking, treatment outcomes, practitioner experiences, self-treatment, advocacy, medical system, holistic health

    56 min

About

Office Hours with Angelique and Toby is an invitation to enjoy a cup of tea with two passionate (and occasionally irreverent) practitioners as they dive into the world of Chinese medicine. Join newly minted acupuncturist Angelique and seasoned practitioner Toby as they share clinical experiences, tough cases, and in-depth explorations of classical theory. With a mix of humor, insight, and real-world clinical talk, they aim to have discussions that will help you become a better healer for your patients.