Ep 97. To The Bone Podcast: Under Pressure with Toby Brooks

Ep 97. To The Bone Podcast: Under Pressure with Toby Brooks

In this crossover episode of To the Bone and Becoming Undone, Shelby Daly and Toby Brooks dive into a candid conversation about leadership, burnout, authenticity, and the future of athletic training. What starts as a personal riff quickly opens into a broader discussion about the pressures clinicians face to constantly give, the lack of recognition for advanced skills, and the tension between coverage-based work and true performance-minded care. Together, they explore how the profession can do a better job of valuing expertise, supporting students financially, and creating clearer pathways for growth. They also touch on the importance of networking, mentorship, and building systems that help clinicians and athletes become more self-sufficient. If you work in sports medicine, leadership, or any high-pressure helping profession, this conversation will feel deeply familiar and refreshingly honest.

Ep 96. To The Bone Podcast: ATC Finder Update with Kyle Peckham

Most athletic trainers are flying blind when it comes to pay, job market trends, and what makes a role truly attractive — but not anymore. Kyle Peckham reveals how his innovative platform is empowering trainers and transforming how athletic jobs are filled, bringing data-driven clarity to a profession often in the dark. In this in-depth update, Peckham shares surprising insights from six months of gathering thousands of job postings and salary data, uncovering the hidden truths behind salary disparities across settings and regions. You'll discover how his new platform creates a "matchmaking" experience—similar to Tinder—for athletic trainers, enabling anonymous profiles that empower candidates to explore opportunities safely while giving employers real-time feedback to improve their listings and attract talent more effectively. We break down the key features shaping the future of athletic training recruitment: anonymous profiles for trainers, objective market data for employers, and a smarter, more efficient way to connect. Plus, see how this approach is challenging the old-school power imbalance, giving athletic trainers negotiating leverage like never before. If you’re an athletic trainer tired of feeling undervalued or an employer struggling to fill crucial roles, this episode is your game-changer. It’s time to rethink recruitment, advocate for better conditions, and harness data for a stronger, more transparent profession. Kyle Peckham is the founder of ATC Finder, dedicated to revolutionizing how athletic trainers and employers connect through smarter, fairer technology. His platform aims to put power back into the hands of the professionals it serves, creating more equitable, efficient, and fulfilling career paths.Perfect for athletic trainers seeking new opportunities, recruiters who want a more transparent hiring process, and industry leaders aiming to elevate the profession—this episode offers a blueprint for creating a healthier, more responsive athletic training marketplace. Hit play and see how data and innovation are reshaping your career and your industry.

Ep 95. To The Bone Podcast: Mentor-Mentee in AT with Gavin Marco

Most new athletic trainers feel overwhelmed when stepping into independence—but what if you could get expert guidance from someone who's been there? Gavin Marco, a recent grad turned budding professional, shares his journey through the maze of mentorship, networking, and building meaningful relationships in a demanding field. His story highlights the crucial role mentorship plays, especially when stepping outside familiar support systems like college or institutional settings. From navigating clinical rotations to establishing connections in the wild west of PRN work and rural environments, Gavin reveals how he actively seeks mentorship—often informal, but immensely impactful. He discusses the value of finding mentors outside your immediate circle, the importance of networking at conferences, and how to leverage every relationship for growth. You’ll learn why mentorship isn’t just about formal programs but about fostering genuine relationships that accelerate your development, expand your exposure to diverse environments, and open doors you never knew existed.

Ep 94. To The Bone: CATN Concierge Athletic Training with ⁠Alicia Yamamoto⁠

Most athletic trainers are invisible outside sports and clinics — but what if they could become your go-to health resource, anytime and anywhere? Alicia Yamamoto, founder of Concierge Athletic Training Network (CATN), shares her daring vision to bridge the gap between athletic trainers and the general public through a simple, accessible platform. After experiencing firsthand how difficult it is to find prompt, personalized care while touring and traveling, Alicia created a free-to-use directory that connects clients with licensed athletic trainers in seconds — no referrals, no middlemen, just direct access. In this episode, you'll discover how a mid-back injury on tour revealed a broken healthcare system that leaves many people stranded when they need help most. Alicia shares the surprising response to her platform—30 professionals signed up in just a week—and how it’s already building a new community of experienced trainers eager to serve. She breaks down the core features: a searchable directory focused on client needs, transparency through licensure verification, and simple SEO strategies that attract people searching for pain relief. You’ll learn how this innovative approach not only boosts athletic trainers’ visibility but also powers a wider movement toward accessible, personalized healthcare. We explore the limitations of traditional healthcare models—overloaded ERs, limited urgent care, and professionals confined to niche sports teams—and how concierge athletic training can fill a vital gap. Alicia points out that athletic trainers already possess the skills to serve a broad, underserved audience, and her platform makes it easy to connect, promote, and grow. We discuss critical considerations like setting fair prices, managing legal liabilities, and maintaining professionalism when working in clients’ homes—all vital knowledge for trainers eager to take control of their careers. This episode is a must-listen for athletic trainers, sports medicine pros, and health entrepreneurs ready to redefine what’s possible. If you believe healthcare should be more accessible, proactive, and tailored to real human needs—regardless of location—Alicia’s insights show how technology and passion can turn that vision into reality. Don’t miss her unique perspective on how direct-to-consumer athletic training can transform careers, boost retention, and expand the reach of our profession. Tune in now and get inspired to carve your own path in a rapidly evolving health landscape.

Ep 94. To The Bone: Specialty Certifications with Eva Frank and Mike Hudson

Most athletic trainers have a general practice foundation, but few realize the immense potential of specialized certifications to elevate their careers—and how these credentials could redefine the future of athletic training. Imagine standing out in a crowded job market, validated by an external, industry-recognized accreditation that proves your expertise in a niche area like orthopedics or mental health. This episode reveals the groundbreaking shift toward formalized specialty certifications in athletic training, akin to medical residencies, and explains why they’re crucial for career advancement, compensation, and patient care.Join us as Dr. Eva Frank and Dr. Mike Hudson, two leading experts in athletic training education and credentialing, unpack the evolving landscape of specialization. They share insights from a nearly decade-long research journey, diving deep into how certifications are developed, validated through practice analysis, and ultimately recognized across borders. You'll discover how specialty credentials can expand your scope of practice legally within your state, enhance your value to employers, and even influence healthcare reimbursement. This isn't just about advanced skills—it's about positioning yourself as a trusted expert in your field.In this episode, we break down the core concepts of specialty versus general practice, with frameworks used in medicine and other healthcare disciplines that athletic training now emulates. You’ll explore how the current infrastructure—residencies, graduate programs, CEUs, and board certifications—intersects and how a formal specialty certification can bridge gaps to legitimize expertise. We discuss the impact of state practice acts on scope, the importance of grassroots efforts in developing new specialties, and how valid, externally evaluated credentials could finally unlock competitive compensation and recognition in healthcare.Why should you care? Because the lack of standardization in specialty recognition has limited growth, leaving many athletic trainers undervalued and undercompensated. The potential for these credentials to influence practice acts, reimbursement, and professional identity is enormous. If you're passionate about advancing your career, improving patient outcomes, or shaping the future of athletic training, understanding this credentialing revolution is essential. Whether you’re a recent graduate or a seasoned professional, this episode provides the roadmap to harnessing specialization to your advantage—and positioning athletic training as a truly professional, specialized healthcare discipline.This conversation is perfect for athletic trainers, educators, students, and healthcare administrators eager to stay ahead of the curve. Get ready to rethink what it means to be an expert in athletic training and discover how formal specialties could change the game for your practice, your career, and the profession as a whole.