The Student to Therapist Massage Therapy Podcast

The Student to Therapist Massage Therapy Podcast

by David R. Sol & Timur Lokshin
CareersEducation
Season 1
Massage Is For Every Body: Massage Students at OnPoint in Harlem NYC
Pacific College of Health and Science massage therapy students and faculty share their experiences completing externship hours at OnPoint NYC, a harm‑reduction center in Harlem. Through their stories, we explore trauma‑informed care, the Holistic Center’s unique healing environment, and what it means to bring free, dignified massage to people navigating addiction, houselessness, and everyday survival—released in celebration of ABMP’s Massage Is For EveryBody Week.
S1 · E12
Jul 20, 2026
25:06
Curanderismo, Holistic Nursing, and Massage: Dr. Caroline Ortiz on Building Community and Integrative Care
Holistic nurse, educator, and researcher Dr. Caroline Ortiz joins David Sol and Timur Lokshin to explore curanderismo, the Mesoamerican healing traditions she inherited in the Texas Rio Grande Valley, and bridges with her holistic nursing practice in New York City. She shares stories and lessons to show how ritual, community, and the language of “imbalance” rather than “disease” can reshape our understanding of health and wellness care. Designed for massage therapists, nurses, and bodyworkers, this conversation explores traditional medicine from central Mexico, the idea of touch as a gift, and the role of practitioners as facilitators rather than “healers.” Caroline also speaks candidly about burnout and loneliness, and why caregivers must become their own first patient to stay balanced and be “good medicine” for others.
S1 · E11
Jul 13, 2026
29:34
Centering Humanity in Healing Touch: A Conversation with Somaliah Sadiq-Williams
In this episode, David Sol sits down with Somaliah “Soma” Sadiq-Williams—doula, massage therapist, educator, and land steward—to explore how reproductive justice, community care, and elemental bodywork reshape what healing looks like in and beyond the massage classroom. Soma shares her path from home birth to full-spectrum doula work, her sliding-scale accessibility model, and her social justice advocacy with harm reduction centers and incarcerated parents, all while inviting students and therapists to ground their practice in ethics, land, and the simple act of truly seeing and hearing every person on the table.
S1 · E10
Jul 6, 2026
26:53
Quiet Strength, Bold Service: How Massage Student Sharon Feliciano Is Building Community Wellness
In this episode of the Student to Therapist Massage Therapy Podcast, David Sol and Timur Lokshin talk with massage student and community leader Sharon Feliciano about turning passion into service. Sharon shares how she left a 20-year career in real estate to pursue massage therapy, as well as her work in homelessness prevention, seasonal donation drives, and her vision for an affordable community wellness center. She opens up about time management, setting boundaries as a mom and student, and the support she’s found in school. Sharon also reflects on earning a scholarship for her service work and the guiding intention behind her journey: “Do the thing that sets your soul on fire.”
S1 · E9
Jun 29, 2026
16:25
Trauma‑Informed Prenatal & Postpartum Massage: A Conversation with Kiera Nagle of MaMassage Brooklyn
In this episode of the Student to Therapist Massage Therapy podcast, David Sol and Timur Lokshin sit down with longtime educator and perinatal massage specialist Kiera Nagle, LMT, founder of MaMassage Brooklyn, to explore what it really takes to safely and confidently support pregnant and postpartum clients through massage therapy. Kiera shares her journey from a public school teacher and patient to a hospital-based practitioner and clinic owner, and breaks down common myths about first-trimester massage, appropriate perinatal care, and working within medical and interdisciplinary teams. Listeners will learn how trauma‑informed intake, clear communication, and skillful side‑lying and abdominal work can reduce musculoskeletal strain, support lactation, and help clients navigate birth, postpartum recovery, and even obstetric trauma with more agency and ease. Kiera also offers practical advice for massage students and new therapists on building perinatal skills, entering hospital and clinical settings, and creating sustainable, community‑centered practices that prioritize access, equity, and therapist well‑being. To learn more about Kiera’s work, training, and resources, visit www.mamassage.org (MaMassage Brooklyn). You can also connect with her practice directly through the contact information on the MaMassage website for questions about appointments, continuing education, and trauma‑informed perinatal care.
S1 · E8
Jun 22, 2026
36:31
Using Association Memberships and the SUSTAIN Framework to Thrive in Massage School
In the first half of this episode, David and Timur walk you through how to actually use your ABMP and AMTA student memberships right now—from liability insurance and exam prep tools to discounts, mentoring, and career support after graduation. In the second half, they shift into burnout prevention, explaining why massage students are at unique risk and offering the SUSTAIN self‑care framework so you can protect your body, mind, and heart while you move from student clinic to confident professional therapist.
S1 · E7
Jun 15, 2026
29:06
Too Old to Start Over? Why Massage School Might Be Your Next Chapter
If you’ve ever wondered, “Am I too old to go back to school and become a massage therapist?”, this episode is for you. David and Timur talk candidly about career changers in their 30s, 40s, 50s, and even 70s who find new purpose in massage therapy, and how life experience, a clear “why,” and practical planning turn fear into a sustainable second (or third) career.
S1 · E6
Jun 8, 2026
18:48
From Hot Mess to Healing: Rayn’s Journey Into Body, Community, and Safe Space
Massage student and wellness creator Rayn shares her journey from retail burnout to soul-aligned healing work, weaving together massage, somatic practices, and her Afro‑Guyanese holistic roots. She breaks down her Language of the Body workshops, nature and art retreats, and a new safe-space club that helps overwhelmed students and seekers use journaling, movement, and community to turn a “hot mess” world into embodied healing and connection.
S1 · E5
Jun 1, 2026
27:01
Thinking Like a Therapist, Not Just a Technician
Are you following protocols—or truly transforming lives? In this essential conversation, hosts David Sol and Timur Lokshin explore what separates exceptional massage therapists from those who simply go through the motions. Discover why knowing your anatomy, pathology, and assessment skills isn't just academic—it's the difference between becoming a facilitator of real positive change and someone who applies the same techniques to every client, hoping for results. David and Timur break down the critical distinction between diagnosis (outside our scope) and assessment (our superpower), showing you how to identify specific structures, understand tissue-level changes, and create individualized treatment plans that work. What You'll Learn: The intake interview secrets that reveal what's really causing your client's pain—even when “Dr. Google” has already convinced them they have sciatica How to navigate talkative clients while gathering essential information using tools like LOPQRST without losing half your treatment time Why the words your clients choose, “sharp” vs. “sore,” “pinpoint” vs. “diffuse”—reveal which structures are involved and what techniques will help The humility paradox: Why saying “I don't know” builds trust and makes you a better practitioner Real-world examples from hospice care that prove sometimes presence matters more than pressure Whether you're a student overwhelmed by anatomy class or an experienced practitioner ready to elevate your work, this episode will shift how you think about every client arriving at your table. Learn to meet people where they are, communicate with medical professionals using proper terminology, and embrace the reality that you're not a healer, you're a facilitator helping the body's own intelligence do what it does best. Perfect for: Massage therapy students, new graduates, and seasoned practitioners seeking to deepen their therapeutic approach and clinical reasoning skills.
S1 · E4
May 25, 2026
33:40
You Don’t Have To Do School Alone: Student Services, Self‑Care, and Smarter Study Habits with Dr. Ashley Kowal
Stepping into a rigorous, hands-on healthcare program can feel overwhelming, especially when you are juggling work, family, and your own healing journey. In this episode, David Sol and Timur Lokshin sit down with Dr. Ashley Kowal, Vice President of Student Services at Pacific College of Health Science, to reveal how student services, tutoring, and WellConnect can transform that stress into sustainable success. Dr. Kowal shares what the student service department is all about, how accommodations work under the Americans with Disabilities Act (including for neurodivergent students, chronic illness, pregnancy, and temporary injuries), and why there is no shame in asking for support. You will hear concrete examples of exam and classroom accommodations, how confidentiality is protected, and when faculty can (and cannot) challenge an accommodation request. We also dive into the real-life challenges non-traditional students face—time management, burnout, and returning to school after years away—and walk through practical strategies for studying smarter, not harder. You will learn how to build a realistic weekly schedule, use tutoring for both content and study skills, and turn everyday life into a classroom using posture analysis, SOAP notes, and client communication practice. Whether you are just starting at Pacific College of Health and Science or are halfway through your program, this episode will help you reconnect with your “why,” communicate earlier when life gets messy, and use every tool available—student advisors, WellConnect, tutors, and simple planning systems—to stay on track without sacrificing your health. Listen in if you are ready to stop white-knuckling your way through school and start treating it like the professional training and personal transformation it truly is.
S1 · E3
May 18, 2026
24:45
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