Radio Front Desk

<p>Radio Front Desk is a podcast that talks to real people in real clinics about what it takes to build a <b>health and wellness business</b>.<br /><br />Host Denzil Ford, Editor-in-Chief of Front Desk magazine, digs into the inspiring stories of folks building their practices from the ground up — including what works, what hasn’t, and everything in between. <br /><br />Created by the team at Jane App, this podcast is your source for discovering fresh ideas and proven strategies for clinic life. Join us on this journey of building a practice you love.</p>

Do you really need to separate work and life? Why blending your personal story into your clinic might be your biggest strength.

What if the best thing about your work… is you? In this episode, Denzil reflects on how a personal memory (and a conversation with Destin from Jane App) reframed how she thinks about the relationship between who we are and what we do. Destin’s story about how her grandmother’s illness led her into nonprofit work and, eventually, to a career in community building reminded Denzil of something important: The personal parts of us don’t need to be tucked away from our professional lives. In fact, ...

11-21
03:29

How to find your people and grow your clinic through community (with Destin Jones from Jane App)

What if building your clinic’s community could feel natural, and maybe even fun? In this episode of Radio Front Desk, Denzil sits down with Destin Jones, Jane’s Head of Community and Events, to unpack what “community” really means for clinics. Destin has spent her career figuring out what actually makes people come together, and in this episode, she shares how to make authentic connections with your community (and why it matters). Here, we’ll unpack the deeply human side of co...

11-19
30:04

What if there’s no “right” way? 7 marketing stories from clinics doing it their way

What actually works when it comes to marketing? In this episode, Denzil revisits a question that kept surfacing in her early interviews with clinic owners: What actually works when it comes to marketing? After hearing a different answer every time, she did what any curious editor would do: she wrote it all down. Here, she reflects on her takeaways from the article, the advice she took from her guests, and the growing realization that marketing isn’t a plug-and-play formula. You’ll hear about:...

11-07
04:03

How to move through shame and self-doubt as a clinic owner

Every clinic owner faces a season where things don’t feel perfect. But why do so few talk about it? In this episode of Radio Front Desk, Denzil sits down with psychotherapist and clinic owner Roxanne Francis to talk about what it’s really like to run a clinic when things don’t feel as perfect as they look. Roxanne opens up about facing shame, comparison, and the pressure to appear put-together as she navigated growing a business. But she also opens up about how she found her footing aga...

11-05
18:09

Can comfort be care? 5 ways to bring joy into your clinic space

Not every clinic feels like a place to exhale. But what if it could? In this episode, Denzil shares five delightfully intentional choices from Road to Hana Counselling and Wellness that completely reframe what care can feel like. From bold colour palettes to cherry lemonade and therapy dogs, owner Andrea invites patients into an experience that’s warm, sensory, and welcoming… before a single word of therapy is even spoken. Here, Denzil explores how small luxuries and thoughtful details can si...

10-24
06:23

How to make therapy feel like self-care (and why it keeps clients coming back)

What if your clinic felt more like a tea party than a therapy office? That's exactly where Andrea Valliere started with her clinic, Road to Hana. In this episode of Radio Front Desk, Denzil sits down with Andrea to explore how looking beyond healthcare to hospitality, design, and even brands like Disney and Bumble helped her reimagine what a clinic could be. With little luxuries like seasonal drink menus and cozy blankets, Andrea explains how she thinks like a host (not a practitioner),...

10-22
23:01

What’s the point of posting anyway? How to get comfortable with social media (even if it’s not for you)

If no one can find your clinic’s social media account, do you even exist to them? This week, Denzil explores why showing up online (even just a little) matters more than you might think. Inspired by a conversation with Michael Lau of The Prehab Guys, she explores how social can become less of a chore and more of a quiet invitation to be discovered. You’ll hear her touch on: Starting small and adjusting as you goThe myth of “going viral” in clinic marketingWays to stay visible without be...

10-10
05:34

How to know if social media is actually helping your clinic grow (with The PreHab Guys)

Is social media really the key to building a thriving practice? Michael Lau and Adelle Smener of The Prehab Guys say not necessarily, even with 1.3 million followers of their own. In this episode of Radio Front Desk, Denzil sits down with Michael — co-founder of The Prehab Guys — and his wife and clinic director, Adelle, to explore how three PT students turned Instagram exercise clips into a global platform, a direct-to-consumer app, and a brick-and-mortar clinic. Along the way, they ...

10-08
16:08

Are your meetings missing the magic? How to build real connections in your clinic

Pausing can feel counter-intuitive when your clinic’s to-do list is endless. But sometimes the most productive thing is to stop. In this episode, Denzil reflects on why “pause with purpose” has become a quiet superpower in her work at Jane and how clinics of any size can borrow it. Instead of big retreats or complicated plans, she shares simple, human ways to slow down together so your time has direction, not just duration. You’ll hear her touch on: Turning tiny “aha” moments into big time-sa...

09-26
04:58

How to get great clinic photos through authentic healthcare photography

Could your clinic's photos be doing more to help you connect with new clients? In this episode of Radio Front Desk, Denzil is joined by photographer and business owner Ian Harland to explore how authentic photos can make your clinic stand out, build trust with potential clients, and even boost your SEO. Ian has captured many of Jane’s marketing photos, and here, he shares his tips on creating visuals that feel both inviting and reflective of the care you provide. What You’ll Learn Why brand...

09-24
21:14

If your photos could talk, what would they say? How to choose images that tell your clinic’s story

A photo can set the tone for your whole brand, or quietly work against it. In this episode, Denzil reflects on a recent conversation with her colleague ⁠Bianca⁠ about the power of photos in clinic marketing. She shares lessons she’s learned over the years about how to ensure your photos are working for your story, not against it. You’ll hear her touch on: Keeping your photo gallery alive: why clinic photos should be a living, evolving practice (not a one-and-done project)Using ordinary object...

09-12
04:42

How to use branding to grow your clinic (with Bianca from Jane App)

What if your clinic were a person? That’s the question that sparked this episode with Bianca DiPietro, Jane’s marketing design manager and certified branding expert. In this conversation, Bianca and Denzil unpack what branding really means for clinics and how it differs from marketing. They explore the full patient journey, from the first Google search to the smell of your waiting room, and why every one of those touchpoints communicates your brand. What You’ll Learn You’ll hear why thinkin...

09-10
16:24

Are you asking AI the right questions? How to turn it into your most useful brainstorming partner

AI is moving fast — and so is the way we’re using it. But how do you know if you’re using it to its full potential? In this episode, Denzil shares her own evolving relationship with ChatGPT: the surprising ways it’s helped, the limits she’s run into, and what she’s learning about asking better questions. Denzil shares how AI has become surprisingly useful companion in certain areas: Finding clarity in the fuzz when information feels overwhelmingTurning procrastination into progress w...

08-29
06:26

How to prevent burnout in healthcare with boundaries and AI

Burnout isn’t just a buzzword in healthcare. It’s a lived reality that shows up as exhaustion, pressure, and a slow erosion of joy. In this episode, Denzil revisits her conversation with five practitioners from across North America — a chiropractor, a psychotherapist, a trauma psychologist, and two physiotherapists — to discuss their experiences with burnout. Together, they reflect on the emotional and administrative toll of care, and how tools like AI can help bring us back to the work...

08-27
16:48

Is time off really enough? How to recover without burning out again

Burnout isn’t always solved by taking time off — especially if nothing really changes when you come back. In this episode, Denzil shares a powerful question from psychotherapist and clinic owner Roxanne Francis: “What’s going to change this time when you go back?” It’s a simple prompt that opens the door to rethinking how we work, recover, and protect our energy before burnout hits. Denzil speaks openly in this episode, reflecting on her own work life and sharing practical ways to make it mor...

08-15
06:44

How to market your health & wellness practice (and still feel like yourself)

Marketing doesn’t always come naturally — especially in healthcare. It can feel overwhelming, confusing, or like something you’re “supposed” to know how to do. But what if marketing didn’t have to feel like marketing at all? In this episode of Radio Front Desk, host Denzil Ford shares highlights from a live panel recorded at a recent Jane retreat. Five practitioners from across North America — a chiropractor, a psychotherapist, a trauma psychologist, and two physiotherapists — joined ⁠Jane⁠ f...

08-13
09:30

Do you freeze at the front desk? Strategies for front desk staff

What do you reach for when things get tense? In this episode, Denzil opens up about what happens when pressure hits, like a tough phone call or a frustrated patient, and her brain suddenly goes blank. (Been there?) She reflects on a conversation with her colleague ⁠Meghan Menzel⁠, ⁠Jane App’s⁠ Training Lead and a longtime clinic front desk pro, about the high-stress moments that come with the job — and how to find your footing when your nervous system is spinning. Denzil shares some thought...

08-01
04:09

How to bring calm to your clinic’s front desk | Meghan from Jane App

What does it take to create a truly welcoming clinic? In this episode, we’re talking to Meghan Menzel. Before becoming the Training Lead at Jane, she spent nearly a decade working at the front desk — and she’s learned something most of us forget: the front desk isn’t just about scheduling and payments. It’s about presence, emotion, and the moments that set the rhythm for everything else in your clinic. In this episode, Meghan and Denzil dig into what’s behind those moments. They talk about em...

07-30
17:26

Why is money so emotional? How to identify spending patterns as a business owner

If your relationship with money had a theme song, what would it be? In this episode, Denzil reflects on her conversation with financial therapist Aseel El-Baba, who helps health and wellness pactitioners explore the emotional patterns behind their money habits, like avoidance, over-spending, and everything in between. Denzil shares: Why we sometimes confuse spending with investing, like upgrading our clinic space or buying tools we don’t really needHow avoiding money conversations (with clien...

07-18
05:07

How to feel confident about your clinic finances: Money tips for new practitioners

What if your biggest business challenge wasn’t logistical, but emotional? In this episode of Radio Front Desk, ⁠financial therapist Aseel El-Baba⁠ sits down with Denzil to unpack the emotional and psychological roots of our money decisions, especially in the early stages of private practice. She invites new health and wellness practitioners to rethink budgeting, paying themselves, and why money has more meaning than what’s on paper. What You’ll Learn The hidden emotional stories that shape ...

07-16
14:16

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