Luke Bongiorno, PT: A Pain Science Informed Approach for Healthcare Professionals
Healthy Wealthy & SmartShow Notes
In this episode, Dr. Karen Litzy speaks with Luke Bongiorno, PT, Director of NOIGroup, about what it really looks like to bring pain science into the treatment room. Karen and Luke dig into how he blends manual therapy, breath work, movement, and even music into a pain-science-informed approach and why consent, communication, and simply being human with patients matter as much as any technique. They also talk about leading a global education company, protecting a "care at the forefront" culture as the business scales, and staying grounded as a clinician wearing a dozen different hats. What we cover in this episode: Luke's path from PT school in Australia to 30 years in private practice in New York How manual therapy, breath work, movement, and music combine in a pain-science-informed session DIMs and SIMs: an inside look at the Protectometer (danger-in-me / safety-in-me) Consent, "no-go zones," and reading a patient's comfort in the moment The shift from trigger-point/dry-needling training to a pain-science lens — and how hard that shift was Balancing leading a patient with empowering them The Resolve Trial and how changing beliefs about pain changes outcomes Staying human and vulnerable as a clinician and business owner Protecting a "care at the forefront" culture while leading a global team at Noi Group Luke's HOPE (Hands-on Pain Education) course and upcoming NY and San Francisco dates Timestamps: 00:31 Karen welcomes Luke Bongiorno, recording live from Gotham Production Studios 03:23 Luke's background: PT school in Australia, moving to the US, landing in New York 04:53 Discovering David Butler's work and the path to Noi Group 06:21 Blending manual therapy, breath work, movement, and music in a session 08:37 Bringing awareness back to a body part that's been "ignored" in pain 09:28 Karen's own experience with touch sensitivity and neck pain 10:59 Why communication and consent change everything in manual therapy 11:24 Moving away from trigger-point/dry-needling explanations toward pain science 12:33 How Luke decides which "tool" to use in the moment 13:03 Explaining DIMs and SIMs (the Protectometer) 15:05 Identifying "no-go zones" and respecting patient boundaries 16:36 Consent culture: teaching in Australia vs. the US, then and now 18:31 The tension between leading a patient and empowering them 19:44 Being a person first — an empowerment story from a workers' comp patient 22:14 Why Luke still sees patients after 30 years 22:54 The power of simply listening and validating pain 25:48 The Resolve Trial: how changing beliefs about pain improves outcomes 27:43 Karen's own "carrying a loaf of bread" story from working with David Butler 29:42 Staying human while running a business, teaching, and traveling 31:16 Small grounding practices you can use between patients 32:01 Advice for clinicians who feel too busy to take their own advice 33:34 Vulnerability in practice — and why clinicians aren't trained for it 36:58 Wearing every hat in a small practice, and learning to leave gaps in the schedule 38:09 Leading Noi Group remotely and learning to trust a team 39:12 Protecting a "care at the forefront" culture as a business scales 41:09 Key takeaways: value your human skills, reframe your role, use music when talking isn't working 44:31 Lightning round: book recommendations, favorite tool, best business advice, non-negotiable habits 47:37 Where to find Luke, his HOPE course, and NY/San Francisco course dates More About Luke: Luke Bongiorno is the Owner and Director of the pain education company, The Neuro Orthopaedic Institute, also known as Noigroup. At the heart of Luke's work is a simple belief: good clinical care starts with listening, understanding, and helping people make sense of their pain and injury. Luke's physiotherapy journey began with a degree from the University of Melbourne, Australia, followed by a move into clinical practice in New York. In NYC, Luke co-founded New York Spor
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Beyond the Plan of Care: Building Membership Models in Physical Therapy Dr. Karen Litzy talks with Dr. Dawn Andalon, PT. DPT, MTC, CPI, co-founder of Revive PT and Pilates, about what happens after a patient is discharged and why ongoing support may be a major opportunity for physical therapists and their clients. They discuss how a hybrid model combining physical therapy, Pilates, personal training, and wellness can support patients for the long term. Dr. Andalon also shares practical insights on introducing a transition of care, building staff buy-in, setting membership prices, and creating more sustainable clinic revenue. In this episode · Why patients may lose momentum after discharge—and how ongoing support can help · Dr. Andalon's path from dance and exercise physiology to physical therapy and Pilates · How she and her husband built Revive PT and Pilates · Why physical therapists are well positioned to lead in longevity and wellness · How to make a transition of care feel like a continuation of support, not a sales pitch · The difference between memberships and packages · Ways recurring revenue can support a more sustainable practice · How to think about pricing based on labor and operating costs · How a hybrid model can work in a relatively small space · Advice for physical therapists experiencing burnout or considering a new direction Timestamps 00:00 — Why the post-discharge gap matters 01:01 — Meet Dr. Dawn Andalon and Revive PT and Pilates 02:03 — From dance and exercise physiology to physical therapy 03:14 — Building a business with a spouse 05:20 — Why physical therapists can support patients beyond the plan of care 06:22 — From burnout to a wellness-centered model 07:20 — Why PTs haven't fully embraced the longevity space 09:23 — Drawing the line between physical therapy and fitness 10:42 — Discharge versus transition of care 12:33 — Making the conversation feel like care, not a sales pitch 15:21 — Helping staff embrace a longevity-focused model 17:27 — Memberships and practice sustainability 19:22 — Membership tiers and a year-of-care option 20:54 — Memberships versus packages 22:13 — Pricing around labor and costs 24:52 — The economics that led to a different practice model 27:13 — What may change for traditional PT practices 28:14 — Hybrid models, even in smaller spaces 30:21 — Why PTs should lead the longevity movement 33:54 — Advice for a burned-out physical therapist 35:27 — The key takeaway for practice owners 36:11 — Lightning round: reformer, deadlifts, ice, business resources, and health habits 39:20 — Where to find Dr. Andalon and Revive PT and Pilates Resources from this Episode: Revive PT and Pilates Website Dr. Dawn on Instagram Dr. Dawn on YouTube Masterclass for next Live Training with Dr. Dawn Jane Sponsorship Information: Book a one-on-one demo here Front Desk @ Jane Mention the code LITZY1MO for a free month Follow Dr. Karen Litzy on Social Media: Karen's Twitter Karen's Instagram Karen's LinkedIn Subscribe to Healthy, Wealthy & Smart: YouTube Website Apple Podcast Spotify Stitcher iHeart Radio
Dr. Karen Litzy talks with Reena Goodwin, founder & CEO of FACTEUR PR and host of the Grow Your Wellth podcast, about why brilliant clinicians often stay invisible and how to change that without chasing trends or burning out. They cover the difference between credibility and authority, how earned media compounds into patient trust and speaking opportunities, and why AI tools are reshaping how patients and referral partners find providers. In this episode, Karen and Rena also unpack a practical framework for positioning, proof, press, promotion, and profit, plus specific ways clinicians can adapt their websites and messaging for AI discovery. If you are a healthcare provider trying to grow your practice, this conversation is about building lasting visibility that works beyond social media. Key topics · Why many clinicians have strong expertise but weak visibility—and why the gap is often messaging, not skill · The difference between credibility and authority · Why clinicians should lead with the problem they solve, not just their job title or procedure · Rena's authority map: an inverted triangle that moves from a broad category toward a provider's unique "special sauce" · How to guide patients from educational content to a specific niche and, eventually, booking · Healthcare PR compliance considerations, including HIPAA, testimonial rules, state practice acts, and patient privacy · Why patient stories need careful handling and can be paired with studies, research, or less-specific proof points · Rena's Path to Prominence framework: positioning, proof, press, promotion, and profit · Why national media can build trust for local practices · Ways to repurpose a press feature for waiting room screens, social media, blogs, AI discovery, media kits, ads, books, and speaking opportunities · How AI is changing search and provider discovery · Why FAQs, blogs, and question-based website content can support AI discovery · Rena's CRIT prompt framework for clinicians: Context, Role, Interview, Task · Why sustainable brand building is about durable authority—not being everywhere or chasing virality · How earned media can compound into stronger referrals and credibility over time Timestamps (00:00) Why brilliant clinicians stay invisible (01:59) Credibility versus authority in healthcare (03:17) Why problems sell better than job titles (04:23) Building an authority map for your niche (07:25) Sharing patient stories while navigating compliance (11:40) The Path to Prominence framework (12:08) Positioning: claiming a category of one (14:04) Proof that supports your messaging (14:33) Why national earned media matters (15:51) Turning one press hit into 15 uses (17:41) How authority can lead to profit (18:34) Diversifying beyond your clinical time (20:10) How AI is changing patient and referral discovery (21:05) Why earned media drives AI citations (22:44) FAQs and blogs as AI-friendly content (23:22) The CRIT prompt for building an authority map with AI (25:53) What sustainable brand building looks like (28:06) Why chasing visibility can lead to burnout (29:21) How earned media compounds over time (31:51) Getting started with PR without a big social following (34:26) Dream publications and broadcast targets (35:31) Non-negotiable wellness habits (36:26) Lessons from Columbia Records: be fast and accurate (37:36) Why to stop leading with "technique" (38:27) Healthy, wealthy, and smart in real life (39:28) Where to find Rena Goodwin (40:05) Free webinar and AI discoverability tools More about Reena:
Dr. Karen Litzy is joined by Dr. Natasha Trentacosta, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon, Angel City FC team physician, and director of the Cedars-Sinai Women's Sports Health and Movement Center. Together, they look beyond skincare and explore how movement, strength training, and injury prevention can help preserve mobility and independence as we age. They discuss progressive strength training, bone health across the lifespan, youth sports specialization, ACL injury prevention, and the need for more research focused on female athletes.
The Cortisol Cure with Dr. Erin Kinney Dr. Karen Litzy sits down with Dr. Erin Kinney, naturopathic doctor, stress physiology expert, clinic founder, and author of The Cortisol Cure, to reframe how we think about cortisol. This episode explains why cortisol is not the enemy, how the body uses it as an energy and anti-inflammatory hormone, and why burnout is often more about an overdrawn energy system than a hormone that simply needs to be "lowered."They also explore practical ways to recognize cortisol depletion, the role of hidden stressors such as nutrient deficiencies and stealth infections, and how clinicians and high achievers can make small daily "deposits" to support resilience. Key topics · Why cortisol is better understood as an energy hormone—not just a stress hormone · The "cortisol bank account" framework: sleep and rest are deposits, while daily demands are withdrawals · Why chronic stress may show up as low cortisol rather than high cortisol · How burnout can lead to wired-but-tired energy, fatigue, brain fog, anxiety, and overwhelm · How low cortisol can cause the body to compensate with adrenaline and eventually draw from sex hormones · The connection between cortisol, glucose, insulin resistance, and inflammation · Why perimenopause symptoms can overlap with burnout · Hidden internal stressors, including nutrient deficiencies, food sensitivities, Lyme disease, mold exposure, and suppressed emotions · Practical support strategies for clinicians and busy professionals · Why building a strong "relax muscle" matters just as much as developing the stress response Timestamps 00:00— Why cortisol is not the enemy 01:25— Cortisol as an energy and anti-inflammatory hormone 02:48— The problem with "manage your stress" advice 03:11— Introducing the cortisol bank account framework 04:37— Daily life as energy deposits and withdrawals 05:34— What happens when the cortisol account gets overdrawn 06:02— How low cortisol can draw from sex hormones 07:17— Why cortisol gets blamed for inflammation and glucose spikes 09:02— Why "lower cortisol" is not always the right goal 10:14— Morning cortisol testing and how to prepare 11:41— How to estimate your energy balance before symptoms appear 12:30— The cortisol debt assessment 13:44— Why clinical business owners are vulnerable to burnout 14:41— Dr. Kinney's time-blocking and recharge strategy 15:52— What an overdrawn cortisol account can look like 17:01— How low-cortisol symptoms differ between men and women 18:59— Perimenopause versus burnout 19:53— When hormone therapy helps—and when burnout may be the deeper issue 21:43— Hidden internal stressors that quietly drain energy 22:38— Lyme disease and other stealth pathogens 24:58— The energy cost of suppressed emotions 26:30— Red flags for people who always push through 28:23— Why symptoms may be the body's way of asking for attention 29:47— Practical ways to make cortisol deposits during the day 31:33— Why skipping meals can increase the stress response 32:37— Breath work, reading, and simple recovery rituals 33:37— The nervous system's "stress muscle" and "relax muscle" 35:21— Why relaxation takes practice 36:54— The core takeaway: healing happens when energy exceeds expenditure 37:35— Lightning round: recovery habits and book recommendations 39:07— Meditation, binaural beats, and daily regulation 40:23— Where to find Dr. Kinney and The Cortisol Cure Dr. Kinney's central model treats cortisol like currency: · Sleep and rest are deposits. · Work, caregiving, exercise, driving, and emotional strain are withdrawals. · Symptoms can appear when withdrawals outpace deposits. · Small recovery practices throughout the day can help restore balance. More About Dr. Kinney Dr. Erin Kinney is a naturopathic doctor, author of The Cortisol Cure, and stress physiology expert helping high-functioning men and women overcome fatigue, hormone imbalance, and burnout. She is the creator of the Cortisol Ba