Ep 17: The NP Who Turned a PE Shakeup Into a Thriving Aesthetics Practice – Peggy Zapantis, APRN, MSN, FNP-BC

Episode 24: How He Built a Thriving Practice in a Community That Needed One w/ Casey Lulay, MSN, FNP-C

From pre-dental school dropout to primary care practice owner, Casey Lulay's path was anything but straight. In this episode, he takes us through his journey from mobile visits in foster homes and nursing facilities to owning a building in Oregon and becoming the first clinic in the state to earn a health equity designation. In this episode, we discuss: * How he started by moonlighting on the side before taking the full leap. * Going from one shared exam room to owning his own building in just 4 years. * Why his wife Sarah leaving her dental hygiene career was the game changer. * How earning Oregon's highest Tier 5 patient-centered primary care designation changed everything. Sometimes the community just needs someone willing to show up. He did.

Ep 23: How She Claimed Her Place in One of the Toughest Markets in the Country w/ Dr. Sophie Brown

Most people would think twice before opening an independent practice in New York City. Dr. Sophie Brown didn't. In this episode, she takes us through her journey from bedside nurse to founder of Family NP Healthcare Services in Flushing, and what it really takes to build something sustainable in one of the most competitive healthcare markets in the country. In this episode, we discuss: * How a retiring physician's exit became her opening. * Why setting limits with patients was the thing that changed everything. * What she learned about building a team that patients actually want to come back to. * Her vision for expanding the practice beyond primary care.

Ep 22: Finding the path from the OR to Independence w/ Tamara Washington

We've all had those "if only" thoughts, but Duet partner Tamara Washington realized you don't need a winning ticket to pivot your career. In this episode, Tamara takes us through her transition from the monotony of the OR to launching her own independent practice in Texas. In this episode, we discuss: * The Leap of Faith: Why Tamara decided to leave the comfort of a structured clinical environment to build something of her own. * Shifting Perspectives: Moving from the "acute care" mindset of the Minute Clinic to the "chronic care" depth of internal medicine. * Overcoming Noise: How to ignore the people who say "now isn't the time" and trust your own professional vision. * The Seven-Year Milestone: What it looks like to sustain a practice that prioritizes both the patient experience and the provider's life. Tamara is living proof that you do not have to wait for the perfect moment to start. You just need to trust your path and build the systems to support it.

Ep 19: The NP Who Built a Clinician First Practice That Prioritizes Community and Autonomy – Nicole Bennett, DNP, PMHNP, MN

On The Duet Podcast, Nicole Bennett, DNP, PMHNP, MN, shares how a "happy accident" career path led her into psych NP work and eventually practice ownership. She talks about why she refused the 15-minute, prescription-only model, how isolation shows up for owners (even inside organizations), and the mindset shift from "clinician who runs a practice" to true business leader. You'll also hear how she built a clinician-centered group practice designed for autonomy, mentorship, and long-term growth, plus the leadership lesson she wishes she'd learned sooner: the hard moments are what shape you.

Ep 18: The NP Who Built a Thriving Practice by Trusting the Long Game – April Odom, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. April Odom, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC to talk about resilience, purpose, and building a practice on your own terms. From becoming a teen mom and first-generation college graduate to launching and growing an independent NP practice, April shares her honest journey, the pivots that shaped her path, and why patient-centered, preventive care remains at the heart of everything she does. A powerful conversation about starting small, trusting the process, and redefining success in nurse-led healthcare.