Are you tired of the “fixer” trap? Most massage therapists are taught that their value lies solely in their hands—that if they just learn one more modality or take one more certification, they’ll finally have the “magic bullet” for their patients’ pain. But this cycle often leads to two things: patients who remain passive and therapists who end up burnt out.
Welcome to The New Generation Massage Therapist Podcast.
Hosted by Jamie Johnston—massage therapist, firefighter, and educator—this show is dedicated to shifting the industry standard from passive “tissue manipulation” to evidence-informed, biopsychosocial care. We challenge industry norms and dive deep into the topics that many in our profession have long avoided: pain science, mental health, and the therapeutic power of movement.
Each week, we explore how to:
Shift your identity from a “fixer” to a facilitator of change.
Master human skills like mindful communication and crisis intervention to build a stronger therapeutic alliance.
Incorporate movement (without needing a gym) to prove to your patients that they aren’t “broken.”
Retrain the nervous system to help patients with persistent pain find lasting results.
Whether you are a seasoned RMT/LMT or a student just starting out, this podcast provides the practical, research-backed tools you need to build a more effective practice and a more fulfilling, sustainable career.
It’s time to stop chasing certifications and start building resilience.
In this episode we discuss the updated education requirements from our college in BC. While some take this update to think they don’t have to take continuing education anymore, we argue that it is our responsibility as healthcare professionals to do so. And as always, check out our websites.www.themtdc.comwww.ericpurves.com and our emails: jamie@themtdc.comhello@ericpurves.com
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http://themtdc.com/wp-content/uploads/logo.svg00Jamie Johnstonhttp://themtdc.com/wp-content/uploads/logo.svgJamie Johnston2026-05-25 22:11:232026-05-25 22:59:18Episode #24 Maintaining Professionalism When Given The Benefit Of The Doubt
In this episode we discuss some papers that challenge some of the available pain models of understanding. While there are some good challenges on language, the overall message remains the same; treat the person in front of you. And as always, check out our websites.www.themtdc.comwww.ericpurves.com and our emails: jamie@themtdc.comhello@ericpurves.com
https://themtdc.com/wp-content/uploads/The-Massage-Therapist-Development-Initiative.jpg6871037Jamie Johnstonhttp://themtdc.com/wp-content/uploads/logo.svgJamie Johnston2026-05-25 22:11:242026-05-25 22:59:18Episode #23 Challenge Your Bias, But Still Remain Patient Centred
In this episode we discuss some papers on therapeutic exercise for the neck as well as the low back. We also look at challenging industry norms and how others get upset by what you’re saying. And as always, check out our websites.www.themtdc.comwww.ericpurves.com and our emails: jamie@themtdc.comhello@ericpurves.com
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https://themtdc.com/wp-content/uploads/The-Massage-Therapist-Development-Initiative.jpg6871037Jamie Johnstonhttp://themtdc.com/wp-content/uploads/logo.svgJamie Johnston2026-05-25 22:11:242026-05-25 22:59:18Episode #22 Challenging Industry Norms And Incorporating Movement
You ever have one of those moments where you get faced with a piece of research that challenges, something that you’ve been saying for a long time?We’re going to talk about that today. Because I’ve been long saying how going for a walk is one of the best things you can do for low back pain. And while it’s can still be an effective thing, we’ve come apart come upon some research that tells us otherwise. So we’ll get into that today. But I think before we get into that one, we’ve got one paper that we’re going to look […]
“But Jamie, I’m not a personal trainer. I don’t even have a gym in my clinic!”If you’ve ever felt like movement-based therapy is “out of scope” or requires fancy equipment, this episode is for you. Many of us were taught that our value lies solely in what we do to a patient on the table. But when we rely only on passive techniques, we miss the most powerful tool for building long-term resilience: Movement.In this episode, we’re debunking the myth that you need a CSCS certification to use exercise in your practice. I’m breaking down three specific types of movement […]
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http://themtdc.com/wp-content/uploads/logo.svg00Jamie Johnstonhttp://themtdc.com/wp-content/uploads/logo.svgJamie Johnston2026-05-25 22:11:222026-05-25 22:59:18The 3 Types of Movement Every Massage Therapist Should Be Using
“I did the work, gave them the stretches, and they still came back two weeks later with no improvement.”If that sounds familiar, you aren’t alone. Most massage therapists respond to “difficult” cases by chasing more certifications and better manual techniques. But what if the lack of progress has nothing to do with your hands, and everything to do with the gap between what you say and what your patient actually hears?In this episode, we’re breaking down why communication isn’t a “soft skill”—it’s the most important hard skill in your toolkit. We dive into the research of the Therapeutic Alliance and […]
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http://themtdc.com/wp-content/uploads/logo.svg00Jamie Johnstonhttp://themtdc.com/wp-content/uploads/logo.svgJamie Johnston2026-05-25 22:11:222026-05-25 22:59:18Teach-Back: the single habit that boosts adherence and reduces burnout
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