The Acupuncturists Biz Hub

Mandy Gratzer

Welcome to the Acupuncturists Biz Hub! A place to talk all things in the Business of Practice. We're all trained as excellent practitioners, but we're not necesarily skilled in the ways of business. Join me as we dive into all the facets of running a clinic business together. If you love what you hear, I'd be super grateful if you took the time to leave me a 5star review to help more practitioners find this podcast

  1. Episode 36: Guest Interview: Yanan Kim

    Jun 9

    Episode 36: Guest Interview: Yanan Kim

    In this episode, I sit down with Yanan Kim, one of our upcoming presenters at the Business of Practice Conference, for a conversation that explores a question many practitioners quietly wrestle with: If our medicine is so powerful, why are so many practitioners struggling to thrive? In this episode, we discuss: Why so many practitioners struggle despite having excellent clinical skills The hidden challenges of running a successful clinic Burnout, resentment, and the pressures that clinic owners often carry alone The gap between learning Chinese medicine and learning how to build a business How Taoist philosophy can guide more sustainable decision-making Why reconnecting with your own medicine is essential for long-term success Drawing on her experience as a clinic owner, mentor, and founder of ProjectDAO, Yanan shares her journey from building a successful multi-practitioner clinic to confronting the realities of burnout, blurred boundaries, and the challenges that many clinic owners face behind the scenes. This conversation goes beyond business strategy. It explores the relationship between personal growth, practitioner development, and the ability to create a sustainable practice that allows both the practitioner and the medicine to flourish. Throughout the conversation, Yanan challenges practitioners to look beyond external solutions and ask a deeper question: What is getting in the way of your medicine reaching the people who need it most? This episode is both practical and reflective, offering insights for practitioners at every stage of their journey.    🔑 Key Takeaways Clinical excellence alone does not guarantee a thriving practice Many practitioner struggles stem from unclear structures, boundaries, and expectations Sustainable practices require both business skills and personal development Burnout often begins long before practitioners recognise it Taoist principles can provide valuable guidance for modern practice ownership The answers we seek are often closer than we think 🎤 About the Guest Yanan Kim is a classical acupuncture practitioner and founder of Project DAO in Sydney. She built a thriving clinic, stepped away from it for a year, and rebuilt it — learning that the first person she had to heal was herself. She now mentors practitioners through the inner work that no business course teaches: the beliefs, patterns, and stories that quietly keep a practice small. Her work draws on classical Chinese medicine, Daoist philosophy, and Compassionate Inquiry. She is the creator of The Roadmap to a Thriving Practice and the Business of DAO community. Website: https://projectdao.com.au/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/projectdao/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hello.projectdao/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hello.projectdao🔗 Connect + Conference Yanan Kim will be presenting at the upcoming Business of Practice Conference, where she’ll share practical frameworks and hard-won lessons from building, leading, and ultimately reimagining a successful clinic. Her session will explore how practitioners can create healthier professional relationships, stronger business foundations, and more sustainable careers while staying connected to the heart of Chinese medicine. Want more? Conference tickets: Conference 2026Need support in your clinic business: www.acubizhub.com.auFollow on Instagram: @AcupuncturistsBizHubConnect on Facebook: Acupuncturists Biz HubWanna stay in the loop for all things Biz Hub? Sign up to mailing list here: Acupuncturists Biz Hub

    45 min
  2. Episode 35: Guest Interview: Keri Krieger

    May 19

    Episode 35: Guest Interview: Keri Krieger

    In this episode, I sit down with Keri Krieger, one of our upcoming presenters at the Business of Practice Conference, for a conversation about something many practitioners experience — but often don’t talk about enough. Burnout. The pressure to keep going.The tendency to over-give.And the belief that being busy somehow means you’re doing things right.This conversation explores what happens when practitioners lose sight of their own needs while spending so much time looking after everyone else. Because the reality is, you can’t build a truly sustainable practice if you’re constantly running on empty. In this episode, we discuss: Why so many practitioners push themselves beyond their limits The signs of burnout that often get ignored How boundaries support both practitioner wellbeing and patient outcomes The difference between being busy and being effective Why looking after yourself is not separate from running a successful practice This is a grounded and important conversation for anyone who has ever felt overwhelmed, stretched too thin, or caught in the cycle of constantly doing more. 🎤 About the Guest   Keri is an experienced practitioner, speaker, and educator with a strong focus on practitioner wellbeing, burnout prevention, and creating more sustainable ways of working. Having worked closely with practitioners for many years, she has seen firsthand how easy it is for people in caring professions to overextend themselves — often putting the needs of patients, businesses, and families ahead of their own wellbeing. Her work centres on helping practitioners recognise the signs of overwhelm before they reach breaking point, while building healthier systems, stronger boundaries, and more sustainable practices. Keri brings both professional insight and lived experience to this conversation. She understands the pressure that comes with running a practice, maintaining high standards, and constantly giving to others — while often feeling like there is very little left for yourself. Alongside her clinical and professional work, Keri has become a passionate advocate for helping practitioners redefine success in a way that includes their own health, energy, and quality of life. Rather than promoting hustle, overwork, or the idea that being constantly busy is a sign of success, Keri encourages practitioners to build practices that are supportive, realistic, and sustainable over the long term. Her perspective is an important reminder that practitioner wellbeing is not separate from good business — it is a fundamental part of it. Website: www.kerikrieger.com Instagram: @kerikrieger, @chevronislandhealthstudio, @stab__club 🔗 Connect + Conference Want more? Conference tickets: Conference 2026Need support in your clinic business: www.acubizhub.com.auFollow on Instagram: @AcupuncturistsBizHubConnect on Facebook: Acupuncturists Biz HubWanna stay in the loop for all things Biz Hub? Sign up to mailing list here: Acupuncturists Biz Hub

    40 min
  3. Episode 34: Guest Interview: Peter Scarselletti

    May 5

    Episode 34: Guest Interview: Peter Scarselletti

    In this episode, I sit down with one of our upcoming Business of Practice Conference presenters to explore a deeper, more philosophical layer of practice — one that often gets overlooked in conversations about growth and success We talk about the concept of the Dan Tien — traditionally understood as the centre of energy in the body — and what it means when applied to business, decision-making, and the way we show up in practice This conversation moves beyond systems and strategy. It explores where your practice actually comes from Because underneath the structure of any clinic — the marketing, the operations, the patient numbers — there’s something more fundamental driving it all In this episode we discuss: The concept of the Dan Tien and how it translates into business and practice Why stability and groundedness are essential for long-term success How practitioners can lose their centre — and what that looks like in real terms The relationship between internal state and external outcomes in practice Why growth without grounding often leads to instability This conversation offers a different perspective on what it means to build a sustainable practice — not just from the outside in, but from the inside out 🎤 About the Guest Peter Scarselletti brings a unique and deeply considered perspective to clinical practice, integrating the principles of traditional East Asian medicine with the realities of modern-day practice With extensive experience as a practitioner, educator and mentor, Peter has spent years exploring how foundational concepts — often understood in a purely clinical context — can be applied more broadly to the way practitioners think, make decisions, and build their work His approach goes beyond technique and protocol, focusing on orientation — how practitioners position themselves in their practice, how they respond to pressure and how they maintain clarity in the face of complexity Peter is particularly known for his ability to translate classical ideas, such as the concept of the Dan Tien, into practical insights that directly impact how practitioners operate day to day Through his teaching and clinical work, he challenges practitioners to move beyond reactive, surface-level approaches and instead develop a more grounded, stable, and intentional way of working Websites: https://tonikahealth.com.au/ and https://qiology.com.au/ Instagram: @tonikahealth and @qiology.com.au/Facebook: @tonikahealth🔗 Connect + Conference If you’re ready to think differently about your practice — and what it takes to sustain it long-term — this is a conversation (and an event) you won’t want to miss. Peters valuable talk that will help you reestablish that deep connection of alignment within yourself that truly reflects itself through every facet of your life and business Want more? Conference tickets: Conference 2026Need support in your clinic business: www.acubizhub.com.auFollow on Instagram: @AcupuncturistsBizHubConnect on Facebook: Acupuncturists Biz HubWanna stay in the loop for all things Biz Hub? Sign up to mailing list here: Acupuncturists Biz Hub

    1h 7m
  4. Episode 33: Guest Interview: Naava Carman

    Apr 21

    Episode 33: Guest Interview: Naava Carman

    In this episode, I sit down with Naava Carman, one of our upcoming presenters at the Business of Practice Conference, to explore a fundamental — yet often overlooked — aspect of clinical practice: how we show up with our patients. While much of the focus in practice is placed on technique, diagnosis, and outcomes, this conversation shifts attention to something deeper — presence, communication, and the quality of interaction between practitioner and patient. Because beyond everything we do in clinic… there’s how we are. And that has a profound impact on the results we achieve. In this episode, we discuss: The role of presence in effective clinical practice How deeper listening changes patient outcomes Why slowing down can actually improve results The importance of connection in building trust and retention How practitioners can move beyond protocol-driven care This conversation highlights an essential truth: That great practice isn’t just built on knowledge — it’s built on the quality of attention and presence you bring into the room. 🎤 About the Guest This episode features one of our Business of Practice Conference presenters, Naava Carman, who’s bringing a unique perspective that bridges traditional East Asian medicine philosophy with modern-day practice and business. Naava brings a deeply thoughtful and experience-led approach to clinical practice, with a strong focus on the relational and human aspects of patient care. With years of experience working closely with patients, her work has evolved beyond purely technical treatment into exploring how presence, communication, and genuine connection influence clinical outcomes. She has developed a reputation for helping practitioners refine not just what they do in clinic, but how they do it — guiding them to slow down, listen more effectively, and engage with patients in a way that creates deeper trust and more meaningful results. Her approach bridges the gap between clinical skill and human connection, offering a perspective that is both practical and transformative for practitioners looking to build more sustainable, fulfilling practices. Through her teaching and clinical work, Naava continues to challenge the idea that better outcomes come purely from doing more — instead showing that often, they come from being more present in the work itself. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fertilitysupport/Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/growthpartnership🔗 Connect + Conference If you’re ready to think differently about what your Capacity in practice looks like — and what it takes to sustain it long-term — this is a conversation (and an event) you won’t want to miss. Naava Carman will be presenting at the upcoming Business of Practice Conference, where this conversation will be explored further through practical application and clinical insight. Want more? Conference tickets: Conference 2026Need support in your clinic business: www.acubizhub.com.auFollow on Instagram: @AcupuncturistsBizHubConnect on Facebook: Acupuncturists Biz HubWanna stay in the loop for all things Biz Hub? Sign up to mailing list here: Acupuncturists Biz Hub

    47 min
  5. Episode 32: Guest Interview: Kath Berry

    Apr 7

    Episode 32: Guest Interview: Kath Berry

    In this episode, I sit down with our international keynote speaker for this year’s Business of Practice Conference, Kath Berry. With over 30 years of clinical experience, Kath brings a depth of perspective that goes far beyond technique and treatment. As an acupuncturist, educator, author, and TEDx speaker, she has spent decades helping practitioners not only refine their clinical skills, but rethink their role within a rapidly evolving healthcare landscape. This conversation goes deeper than the surface of practice. We explore the often-unspoken reality that as practitioners, we are our practice — and what that means when it comes to sustainability, identity, and long-term success. In this episode, we discuss: The blurred line between who you are and the work you do Why clinical excellence alone isn’t enough to build a thriving practice The importance of professional citizenship and community in modern practiceHow the healthcare and technology landscape is changing - and what that means for practitioners Why investing in your practice (not just your skills) is essential for long-term growth This conversation is a powerful reminder that building a successful practice isn’t just about what you know - it’s about how you think, how you adapt, and how you show up over time. 🎤 About the Guest Kath Berry is an Australian acupuncturist with over 30 years of clinical experience, currently based in Ibiza, Spain. She specialises in women’s health and is co-author of The Menopause: A Comprehensive Guide for Practitioners - the first evidence-based textbook on traditional Chinese and East Asian medicine for menopause. Kath is also a passionate educator and TEDx speaker, dedicated to helping practitioners navigate the complexities of modern practice while building meaningful, sustainable careers. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KathBerryEducationInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathbberry/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KatherineBerryEducationLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kath-berryTreating Women Academy: TreatingWomen.com🔗 Connect + Conference Kath Berry will be joining us as an international keynote speaker at this year’s Business of Practice Conference. If you’re ready to think differently about your practice - and what it takes to sustain it long-term - this is a conversation (and an event) you won’t want to miss. Sign up to the Acupuncturists Biz Hub mailing list for first drop ticket release on “A Day with Kath Berry”  Want more? Conference tickets: Conference 2026Need support in your clinic business: www.acubizhub.com.auFollow on Instagram: @AcupuncturistsBizHubConnect on Facebook: Acupuncturists Biz HubWanna stay in the loop for all things Biz Hub? Sign up to mailing list here: Acupuncturists Biz Hub

    56 min
  6. Episode 31: The Reset: What a Year Away Taught Me About Sustainable Practice

    Mar 24

    Episode 31: The Reset: What a Year Away Taught Me About Sustainable Practice

    Thanks for your your patience! I’ve been working on something pretty special for you, my Chinese medicine friends and I’m so excited to tell you all about it in this episode!   After more than a year away from the podcast, this episode marks the beginning of a new season - and a very different starting point. Following the last Business of Practice Conference, what was meant to be a family camping trip turned into an unexpected turning point. A serious accident and emergency back surgery forced everything to stop - not just the podcast, but the pace, structure, and identity that came with running a practice and building events. This episode isn’t about catching up. It’s about acknowledging what happens when momentum disappears… and what it really takes to rebuild.  What you can expect in this episode: What the past year of recovery and rehabilitation taught me The difference between returning quickly and returning intentionally Why sustainability in practice means more than growth and systems How setbacks challenge identity - especially for practitioners What this new season of the podcast (and conference) is really aboutThis is a reset. A recalibration. And a more honest look at what it means to build a practice that can support you - even when life doesn’t go to plan. If you’ve ever been forced to step back due to health, burnout, or unexpected life events… this episode is for you. What’s Coming This Season This season of the podcast will feature conversations with presenters for the upcoming Business of Practice Conference being held in Brisbane Sept 5th & 6th 2026 Each episode will explore not just clinical or business expertise, but: How practitioners think under pressure How they’ve adapted to change and challenge What it really takes to build a resilient, sustainable practice 🔗 Connect + Conference If you’re ready to build a practice that’s not just successful - but sustainable - keep an eye out for upcoming conference announcements and speaker releases. Want more? Conference tickets: Conference 2026Need support in your clinic business: www.acubizhub.com.auFollow on Instagram: @AcupuncturistsBizHubConnect on Facebook: Acupuncturists Biz HubWanna stay in the loop for all things Biz Hub? Sign up to mailing list here: Acupuncturists Biz Hub

    7 min
  7. Episode 29: Meet the 2024 Conference Speakers: Paul Carter

    07/23/2024

    Episode 29: Meet the 2024 Conference Speakers: Paul Carter

    Welcome to the Conference Series in 2024 where we get to showcase our fabulous speakers who will be presenting at this years’ Business of Practice Conference. On today’s episode, join me for another inspiring and motivating conversation with Acupuncturist and Herbalist Paul Carter. About Paul Paul is a Registered Acupuncturist and Herbalist practising in Hervey Bay, Queensland. Paul is a self–taught Search Engine Optimisation expert who figured out how to drive the right patients to his practice in the competitive region of Melbourne. He not only used his website to fill his practice but to fill it with the people he wanted via the internet. When he moved to Canada he set up an SEO (search engine optimisation) business to support practitioner websites in Australia and overseas. He has now helped many Chinese medicine websites to get to the top in their region for multiple niches and keywords. He recently moved back to Australia in December 2022 and runs a two–room clinic in Hervey Bay which is constantly booked out. Connect with Paul  Web: https://www.acupunctureaustralia.com.au/Instagram:  @paulcarteracupuncturistFacebook: @acupunctureherveybay What you can expect in this episode Deep dive into SEO fundamentalsStrategy on website discover-abilityWhat your website is really for (bringing patients into your clinic!)Paul's advice on writing pages on keywordsWhat you can do today to strengthen the performance of your websiteWhy working on you Website is the free marketing your business needsHow Paul strikes the clinic life balance that works for his family lifePaul's favourite way to work and how he's planning to evolve.Burnout preventionCheck your website Speed with GT Metrics Make sure your home page keywords includes location Want more? Conference tickets: Conference 2026Need support in your clinic business: www.acubizhub.com.auFollow on Instagram: @AcupuncturistsBizHubConnect on Facebook: Acupuncturists Biz HubWanna stay in the loop for all things Biz Hub? Sign up to mailing list here: Acupuncturists Biz Hub

    39 min

About

Welcome to the Acupuncturists Biz Hub! A place to talk all things in the Business of Practice. We're all trained as excellent practitioners, but we're not necesarily skilled in the ways of business. Join me as we dive into all the facets of running a clinic business together. If you love what you hear, I'd be super grateful if you took the time to leave me a 5star review to help more practitioners find this podcast

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