The Thinking Practitioner Podcast
w/ Til Luchau & Whitney Lowe
Join two of the leading educators in manual therapy, bodywork, and massage therapy, as they delve into the most intriguing issues, questions, research, and client conditions that hands-on practitioners face. Stimulate your thinking with imaginative conversations, tips, and interviews related to the somatic arts and sciences.
Thinking Practitioner Podcast, Ep 84: Working with Veterans (with Nicole Miller)
Ep 84: Essential skills in working with veterans: In this episode, Whitney talks with Nicole Miller about her extensive work with the veterans population.
Thinking Practitioner Podcast, Ep 83: Business, Success, and Change (with Allissa Haines)
Ep 83: How do we think about our business? In this episode Whitney talks with Allissa Haines of Massage Business Blueprint about pertinent business topics such as: What’s coming up for the new year? How to get more massage and bodywork clients? How to communicate with your client’s healthcare practitioners? And much more.
Thinking Practitioner Podcast, Ep 82: Season 3 Highlights – Best of the Thinking Practitioner
Ep 82: With a quarter-million downloads to date, Whitney and Til share their top 5 episode highlights and notable ideas from their third season of interviews, conversations, and inquiries into the thinking behind effective hands-on work.
Thinking Practitioner Podcast, Ep 81: Fascia, Length-Change, and Language (with John Sharkey)
Ep 81: Is language important? Do muscles actually change length? Does posture matter? Is “fascia” a reductionist idea? Whitney and Til head straight down these rabbit holes (and more) in conversation with clinical anatomist John Sharkey.
Thinking Practitioner Podcast, Ep 80: What We Might Learn From Sex (with Betty Martin)
Ep 80: What can we as bodyworkers can learn about intimacy, ethics, consent, touch, and boundaries, from people working on the other side of the no-sex “firewall” that (appropriately) separates our profession from erotic and sex work? Betty Martin is a leading author, thinker, and trainer in the field of consent and touch; listen in as she and Til talk it through.
Thinking Practitioner Podcast, Ep 79: Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos, Fascia, and Pain (with Tina Wang)
Ep 79: Does stiff fascia hurt because it’s stiff? Why then is there pain with the softer-tissue patterns of hypermobility and Ehlers-Danlos syndromes? Dr. Tina Wang’s fascinating research (as well as her own story) helps shed some light on this paradox.
Thinking Practitioner Podcast, Ep 78: More Carrots, or More Sticks? The Continuing Education Conundrum
Ep 78: Most everyone agrees that the current system of continuing professional education (CE or CPD) for massage and manual therapy has problems. Should CE requirements simply be abolished? Or is even more regulation needed? Whitney and Til think these things through and come up with individual and system-wide options.
Thinking Practitioner Podcast, Ep 77: The Future of the Profession (with Sandy Fritz)
Ep 77: Whitney has a conversation with Sandy Fritz on her vision of the current and future state of the profession.
Thinking Practitioner Podcast, Ep 76: Fascia Research Congress Highlights (with Whitney Lowe & Til Luchau)
Ep 76: Til & Whitney share their takeaways, impressions, and highlights from the recent 6th International Fascia Research Congress in Montreal.
Thinking Practitioner Podcast, Ep 75: Secret Shopper CE Review (bonus episode, with Hands at the Table podcast)
Ep 75: Unbeknownst to us, the hosts of the ‘Hands at the Table’ podcast recorded and aired a “secret shopper” episode about one of Til Luchau’s most popular online CE classes.
Thinking Practitioner Podcast, Ep 74: Sacroiliac Joints: The Next Level (with Til Luchau & Whitney Lowe)
Ep 74: Whitney and Til dive deep into their differing (and shared) approaches to sacroiliac joint pain, pelvic anatomy, biomechanics, and much more, all in celebration of Whitney’s recent SIJ article and Til’s upcoming live-online hands-on training.
Thinking Practitioner Podcast, Ep 73: Long Term Lyme Disease: What Helps? (with Ruth Werner)
Ep 73: Can massage and bodywork help with long-term Lyme Disease? The answer has implications for working with similar conditions such as long COVID, post-viral syndromes, and more. Til Luchau talks it through with pathology writer Ruth Werner.
Thinking Practitioner Podcast, Ep 72: Intimacy, Sex, & Massage: Strange Bedfellows? (with Cal Cates)
Ep 72: Til talks with Cal Cates about “massage therapy’s sex problem:” how the profession’s “touchiness” about the intimacy-sensuality-sexuality continuum, however well-founded, might not be serving either our clients, nor ourselves.
Thinking Practitioner Podcast, Ep 71: Fascia & Pain: What We Know (with Helene Langevin)
Ep 71: Fascial researcher Helene Langevin MD talks with Til and Whitney about what we know (and _don’t_ know) about the role of tissue stiffness in pain; the effects of stretching on cell function and on inflammation resolution; contextual effects and placebos; and much more.
Thinking Practitioner Podcast, Ep 70: Stretching: Would Everyone Just Relax? (with Jules Mitchell)
Ep 70: Whitney and Til have an in-depth conversation with Jules Mitchell (author of Yoga Biomechanics: Stretching Redefined) about topics like tissue change, flexibility, hyper-mobility as they relate to yoga and manual therapy.
Thinking Practitioner Podcast, Ep 69: Back Pain, Stiffness & Fascia (with Stuart McGill)
Ep 69: Legendary back pain researcher Stuart McGill (author of Back Mechanic and others) talk with Whitney and Til talk with about spinal pain, fascia, biomechanics, and more.
Thinking Practitioner Podcast, Ep 68: Working With Sciatic Pain (with Whitney Lowe and Til Luchau)
Ep 68: Til and Whitney compare notes about their tests and techniques for recognizing, understanding, and working with sciatica, sciatic pain, and similar conditions.
Thinking Practitioner Podcast, Ep 67: Aging Gracefully, Breathing Well, and Long COVID Recovery (with Jan Sultan)
Ep 67: Til talks with Jan Sultan (one of first Rolfers trained by Ida Rolf to teach her work), about his life and work; about aging well; and about his take-aways from his ongoing COVID recovery process.
Thinking Practitioner Podcast, Ep 66: Beyond “It Depends:” Oncology Massage (with Janet Penny, Rebecca Sturgeon, and Loretta Luchau)
Ep 66: Til gets personal as he discusses bodywork with people living with cancer, with Janet Penny and Rebecca Sturgeon, the authors of “Oncology Massage: An Integrative Approach to Cancer Care.” They’re joined by Til’s wife Loretta Carridan Luchau, a bodyworker and therapist who has herself been living with cancer for many years.
Thinking Practitioner Podcast, Ep 65: Women Leaders in Massage Therapy (with CG Funk, Ruth Werner, and Irene Diamond)
Ep 65: Women account for about 85 percent of Massage Therapists in the US. However, there isn’t always a corresponding representation of women as CE providers, conference headliners, or in other roles of visible leadership. Whitney and Til explore this phenomenon in discussions with three women leaders.
Thinking Practitioner Podcast, Ep 64: The Handspring Story (with Andrew Stevenson and Mary Law)
Ep 64: It’s no exaggeration to say that in its ten years of existence, Handspring Publishing has had a profound impact on the bodywork and movement therapy fields. Til and Whitney talk with two of Handspring’s founders about some very big recent news.
Thinking Practitioner Podcast, Ep 63: Turnabout is Fair Play: Our Favorite Perspectives Reversals
Ep 63: What makes changing our views such a challenge? Whitney and Til compare notes about how their perspectives have taken a 180° from how they used to think, and, about how that’s played out.
Thinking Practitioner Podcast, Ep 62: Educational Innovations (with Anne Williams and Eric Brown)
Ep 62: Whitney talks with Anne Williams and Eric Brown about innovations in education.
Thinking Practitioner Podcast, Ep 61: Massage Therapy Research (with Niki Munk)
Ep 61: Whitney talks with Niki Munk about massage therapy research.
Thinking Practitioner Podcast, Ep 60: Physical Therapy Assisting and Massage (with Matt Gavzy)
Ep 60: Whitney talks with massage therapist and physical therapy assistant Matt Gavzy about working with other professionals in a team practice, and about integrating massage therapy with physical therapy approaches.
Thinking Practitioner Podcast, Ep 59: What Influenced You?
Ep 59: Whitney and Til compare notes about some of the major influences on their own careers.
Thinking Practitioner Podcast, Ep 58: Outside the Box (with Judith Aston)
Ep 58: Til Luchau asks pioneering movement and bodywork teacher Judith Aston “Do you think being a woman ever held you back?”
Then, they talk about what she thought of that question.
Thinking Practitioner Podcast, Ep 57: A Fine Irish Visit (with Aubrey Gowing)
Ep 57: Whitney Lowe and Til Luchau catch up with Aubrey Gowing about the practice of massage and bodywork in Ireland. Aubrey is Senior Instructor at the Holistic College Dublin and past President of the Irish Massage Therapists Association.
Thinking Practitioner Podcast, Ep 56: Working with Rib Issues
56. Til Luchau and Whitney Lowe talk through their hands-on approaches to rib pain, ribcage restrictions, and related breathing issues. Includes a technique handout.
Thinking Practitioner Podcast, Ep 55: What is Success? (with Diane Matkowski)
55: Til Luchau and Whitney Lowe get personal with Diane Matkowski (The Massage Mentor) about what “success” means to each of them.
Thinking Practitioner Podcast, Ep 54: Season Two Highlights – Best of The Thinking Practitioner Podcast
54: Whitney Lowe and Til Luchau review highlights and key take-aways from their busy second season of interviews, conversations, and inquiries into the thinking behind effective hands-on work.
Thinking Practitioner Podcast, Ep 53: Fascia: A Deep Dive (with Dr. Antonio Stecco)
53: Til and Whitney speak with fascial researcher, anatomist, and manual therapy teacher Antonio Stecco MD PhD about his research in to fascial properties, pain, and the effects of hands-on work.
Thinking Practitioner Podcast, Ep 52: Orthopedic Special Tests (with Whitney Lowe)
52: Til interviews Whitney about his use of Orthopedic Special Tests.
Thinking Practitioner Podcast, Ep 51: Neuroinflammation (with Todd Hargrove)
51: Til & Whitney talk with Todd Hargrove of the Better Movement blog and podcast about neuroinflammation and its role in pain and health.
Thinking Practitioner Podcast, Ep 50: A View Across The Border (with Jamie Johnston & Eric Purves)
50: Whitney interviews Jamie Johnston and Eric Purves about how massage education differs in the U.S. and Canada; and more.
Thinking Practitioner Podcast, Ep 49: Interoception is the Key, Like It Or Not
49: Whitney interviews Til about his upcoming “Three Questions About Interoception” article in Massage & Bodywork magazine.
Thinking Practitioner Podcast, Ep 47: Getting Over Over-Pronation (Ankle & Foot Function)
47: Til and Whitney geek-out on conditions, anatomy, function, and biomechanics of the ankle and foot.
Thinking Practitioner Podcast, Ep 48: Psoas Work: Is it Safe? Is it Necessary? (Rebroadcast)
48: In this “Greatest Hits” rebroadcast of episode 25, Whitney and Til discuss the controversies, disagreements, considerations, and their own views on the infamous psoas muscle in manual therapy and massage. Download the handout with detailed episode notes, techniques and tests, and a special chapter from Til’s book from http://a-t.tv/ttp-psoas/
Thinking Practitioner Podcast, Ep 46: To ITB, or Not To ITB? (Iliotibial Band Controversies, Conditions, and Approaches)
46: Whitney and Til unfold the controversies, compare thoughts, and share approaches for working with the iliotibial band.
Thinking Practitioner Podcast, Ep 45: Fascia in Sport & Movement (with Robert Schleip)
45: Til Luchau & Whitney Lowe talk with researcher and Robert Schleip about fascia, movement, and research updates in the newly released second edition of Fascia in Sport and Movement, co-edited by Jan Wilke.
Thinking Practitioner Podcast, Ep 44: Table Lessons (with Doug Nelson)
44: Whitney talks to Doug Nelson about the challenges and learning experiences of a great massage career spanning over four decades.
Thinking Practitioner Podcast, Ep 43: Trauma, MDMA Psychotherapy, and the Body (with Marcela Ot’alora G.)
43: Til Luchau talks about trauma, psychedelic psychotherapy, and the body, with Marcela Ot’alora G., the principal investigator in a very promising FDA-approved study into MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD.
Thinking Practitioner Podcast, Ep 42: Scars and Scar Tissue (with Cathy Ryan)
42: Til and Whitney talk to Cathy Ryan RMT about her book ‘Traumatic Scar Tissue Management: Massage Therapy Principles, Practice and Protocols,’ co-authored with Nancy Keenan Smith.
Thinking Practitioner Podcast, Ep 41: Going For It: The Massage Mentor (with Diane Matkowski)
41: Going For It: The Massage Mentor (with Diane Matkowski). Whitney and Til talk to Diane Matkowski (a.k.a. the Massage Mentor) to find out what gave her the chutzpah to ask 10 of her favorite massage and bodywork teachers to teach in her first online event, and then, what it was like when 600 people showed up.
Thinking Practitioner Podcast, Ep 40: How to (Not) Fix It (with Cal Cates)
40. How to (Not) Fix It (with Cal Cates): Til and Whitney talk to Healwell’s Cal Cates about how their work with death and dying brought perspective and presence to their work as a massage therapist; and to living itself.
Thinking Practitioner Podcast, Ep 39: Ruth Werner: Are You Thinking Critically?
39: How often do we think about the assumptions that inform our decisions? Til Luchau talks to writer Ruth Werner about her recent work on critical thinking skills, steps, and stages.
Thinking Practitioner Podcast, Ep 38: Frozen Shoulder & Adhesive Capsulitis: Updating our Approach
38: Whitney Lowe & Til Luchau give a crash course on frozen shoulder/adhesive capsulitis, discussing recent research findings and comparing their respective views and strategies. Download the free handout with detailed episode notes, techniques and tests, and join them at the upcoming Shoulder Jam event via Whitney or Til’s sign-up link.
Thinking Practitioner Podcast, Ep 37: Shoulder Pain, Impingement, & Rotator Cuff Issues: The Most Common of Problems
37: Til Luchau and Whitney Lowe share their ideas, strategies, techniques, and tests for better results with the most common type of shoulder condition, subacromial pain syndrome (SAPS) and its myriad presentations, including rotator cuff pain, etc. Download the handout with detailed episode notes, techniques and tests from http://a-t.tv/ttp-saps/
Thinking Practitioner Podcast, Ep 36: Research and Education with Robin Anderson
36: Whitney Lowe talks with Robin Anderson about her new role as president of the Massage Therapy Foundation and how research plays an important role in our field. They also dive deep into some issues around curriculum design and the crucial importance of developing solid educational programs to ensure the future success of our field.
Thinking Practitioner Podcast, Ep 35: Resources that Inspire Our Learning
35: Til Luchau and Whitney Lowe share their top resources for information and inspiration, both professionally and personally, letting us in on everything from their favorite podcasts, playlists, books, and apps, to how they recharge and find meaning in their work and in their lives.
