393 - The Global Rise of the Foot Ankle Show and What to Expect in 2026
Podiatry Legends Podcast
In this episode, I catch up with Tony Gavin, founder of the Foot & Ankle Show, a conference that has rapidly become one of the most dynamic podiatry events in the world. We talk about: How the show pivoted during COVID and what we learned. Why the “one big room” format works so well and why everyone loves it. The rapid growth leading into 2026. The numbers keep getting bigger. We know have an international audience flying in. Why continuous improvement is the show’s driving force. 2026 is going to be the best show ever. The...
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392 - The 25-Hour Work Week Creates Healthy Podiatrists with Daniel Monteleone
Podiatry Legends Podcast
Healthy Practitioner, Healthy Business: The Future of Podiatry Practice Running a podiatry clinic shouldn’t come at the expense of your health, happiness, or home life. Yet far too many practitioners are running on empty, juggling long hours, heavy patient loads, and the constant pressure to keep their businesses afloat. In this week’s episode of the Podiatry Legends Podcast, I spoke with Daniel Monteleone, the owner of in Geelong, Victoria. Daniel’s outlook is refreshing: he’s built a business model that values wellbeing just as much as revenue, proving that a healthy...
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391 - How to Protect Your Reputation and Business During A Crisis with Tad Nelson
Podiatry Legends Podcast
This week, we explore how divorce, drink-driving offences, and defamation can cripple a career or clinic if not handled properly, and why most people react far too late. My guest, Tad Nelson, a criminal defence lawyer and “Super Lawyer” from Galveston County, Texas, who brings more than three decades of courtroom experience, plus a master’s degree in forensic toxicology, to our conversation. Tad has seen the best and worst of human behaviour, and his insights apply directly to business owners navigating legal, personal, or reputation challenges. Tad explains the importance of acting...
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390 - Expanding and Employing the Right Podiatrists with Dr Patrick McEneaney
Podiatry Legends Podcast
This week, I’m joined again by Dr Patrick McEneaney, DPM from . Patrick shares how he’s grown to 16 clinics by hiring intentionally, tracking the right metrics, and knowing when to consolidate. We talk about the lessons of leadership, the art of delegation, and why cultural alignment is the real key to long-term success. Five Big Takeaways Numbers tell the truth. Always track performance and retention. Hire for attitude, not just skill. You can train techniques, not culture. Growth requires letting go of ego. Make decisions based on data. Consolidation isn’t failure;...
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389 - Lessons and AI Insights from Using the Red Blue and Purple Team Strategy with Dave Frees
Podiatry Legends Podcast
What happens when you take the Red, Blue, and Purple Team Strategy and apply it inside a podiatry clinic? In this episode, I share what I learned firsthand while running this creative exercise with a clinic team, and how it revealed new insights into teamwork, reputation, and readiness. Joined by Dave Frees, we also unpack how AI can help clinics think smarter, act faster, and build lasting resilience. If you want a deeper understanding of this concept, please go back and listen to Learn more about Dave’s training at . If you found this episode helpful, share it with another...
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388 - Risk and Reward: What Every Young Podiatrist Can Learn from Ben Wilkinsons Career
Podiatry Legends Podcast
If you're a younger podiatrist considering business ownership at some stage in the future, see what happens when you trust your gut and take a calculated leap. That’s exactly what Ontario Chiropodist (Podiatrist) and owner of , Ben Wilkinson, did, moving from employee to clinic owner in just a few short years. In this episode, Ben shares how he rebranded his business twice in less than a year, embraced innovation with 3D printing, and grew a thriving clinic culture built on positivity and professionalism. “The business name is such a big part of the business, but people shouldn’t...
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387 - How Poor Communication Destroys Trust (Part 2) with Dr Fern Kazlow
Podiatry Legends Podcast
This is Part Two of my conversation with Dr Fern Kazlow, clinical psychotherapist, business strategist, and mentor to high achievers, based in New York, USA. In this episode, we explore her Resistance Paradox™, how to understand your own patterns, and why changing your mindset starts with compassion. We go beyond communication and dive deep into resistance, beliefs, and the psychology of change. We discuss how high achievers get stuck, why old patterns hold us back, and how to lead and live with more clarity and connection. If you haven’t heard Part One yet, go back and check it out; it...
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386 - How Poor Communication Destroys Trust (Part 1) with Dr. Fern Kazlow
Podiatry Legends Podcast
returns to the podcast, and we dive into the critical role communication plays in building trust with our patients. This is Part One of our conversation, where we focus on how poor communication can damage connections with patients, staff, colleagues, and also family and friends. We also examine the dangers of outsourcing, particularly when it comes to compromising your authenticity, and why connection-powered business is the future. PLEASE, take a look at my . Eight Key Takeaways from (Part One) Poor communication directly decreases trust and weakens patient loyalty. Human...
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385 - THE ENERGY AUDIT: How to Reclaim Time, Focus and Motivation in Your Work Week
Podiatry Legends Podcast
In this solo episode, I introduce the concept of The Energy Audit, a simple weekly reflection that helps podiatrists identify what fuels them, what drains them, and how to realign their schedule for better focus and motivation. Ending the week mentally flat and emotionally drained is not uncommon, and more often than not, the problem isn’t time management. It’s energy management. In this episode, you'll discover: The 4 energy zones that shape your week: recharge activities high-energy work low-level essentials, and energy vampires (the blood suckers) The most...
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384 - Nothing But the Tooth: Lessons Podiatry Can Learn from Dentistry
Podiatry Legends Podcast
My guest today is Jonathan Small, and this is his 14th appearance on the Podiatry Legends Podcast, and probably most controvesial. This time, we dive into a bold comparison: podiatry versus dentistry. We discuss why podiatry must stop underselling itself, the dangers of low-cost clinic setups, and how adopting a dental-style model could elevate the profession. From training standards and fees to public perception and professional respect, this episode is a call-to-arms for podiatrists everywhere. If you’ve ever wondered why dentistry commands higher fees and greater status, tune in as...
info_outlineThis episode is not about increasing fees; it's about understanding the value we put on feet. Jonathan Small is a UK podiatrist, and we discuss why the podiatry profession needs to start thinking differently about the value of feet.
If we think differently, so to will our patients.
Thinking differently is not about charging more, it's about valuing what we do, the service we provide, the lives we change, and the long-term benefits to the patient.
What we do as podiatrists and what the patient gains from seeing us holds tremendous value, more than just pain relief. We can give patients their lives back by allowing them to be active and mobile.
Level of Care & Fee Structures
Podiatrists need to value the solutions we have at our disposal. We can provide services far better than any other health profession, and when we provide this service, we need to value it and charge accordingly.
Respect from our patients only comes once we respect ourselves.
Funding Your Fees
You get what you put out. If you do not value what you do, your patients won’t value it either. Undercutting another podiatrists fees is not good for you, your business or the profession.
You may think patients cannot afford what you're really worth, but is that true?
How are they funding and prioritising other aspects of their life? Haircuts, beauty treatments, teeth whitening, eating out all costs money, and people budget for this, so it's important to remember they also budget for healthcare.
Listen to Patients
Podiatry brings value to patients lives. When someone is in pain, they will probably have a money figure in their head on how much they are prepared to pay to have it fixed.
Therefore when we’re setting our fees, how can we determine what is value for the patient?
What's more important to the patient is not the fee you're charging; it's the cost of it not being fixed properly. This is where the patient really suffers.
If you cut your fees too low, you may unknowingly cut time with the patient or short-cut a service.
Clinic Registration Fee
Jonathan introduced a clinic registration fee for all new patients because a lot of work goes into their first visit before they arrived.
If an insurance company can charge an admin fee, why can't a podiatry business do the same? I think it's brilliant!
You Can't Do That
Some podiatrists will say, 'you can't do that', but Jonathan Small has proven you can. And his business is in a small town with a competitor only 50 meters away.
It's simply a change in mindset.
Defining Our Fees
We shouldn’t define our fees based on what we think is valuable to the patient. We think their health is the most important aspect, but time is more important or convenient for some patients.
Can you have an on-time guarantee or more convenient hours and be prepared to charge a premium for this service?
VIP Experience
Can you create a VIP Experience? That's a game-changer. Are you able to give your patients a choice or different service levels?
Car companies do this all the time. They have the basic model, and then there are added extras. They offer extra because they know a percentage will say YES.
It’s then up to the consumer to decide...not you.
Value Perception
It’s all about each visit's perceived value, but not just from the patient; it's also the perceived value from the podiatrist.
What else can and will you do at each consultation to justify the fee you charge. How else can you increase the value of each visit?
"You’re not going to rush through an appointment if you know you're charging more than your competitors".
While your competitors are bulk billing, cutting fees and rushing patients through their clinic in an attempt to make more money, you can take your time with each patient, add value to each consultation, work fewer hours and in the end make more money and have a better reputation.
Respect
If you want more respect from your patients, you need to be charging what you’re worth.
Stop being told by GP's that you should be bulk-billing certain patients. They have no right to tell us (the podiatry profession) what to do.
Reinvest and CPD
When you're making good profits from your business, it's not about taking more holidays; it's about reinvesting back into your business, buying new equipment and providing more services. This helps your patients and your community.
Don't be 'that podiatrist' that's too busy and flat out with patients, who don’t value their feet, which prevents you from attending CPD events and upskilling.
It's All About the Experience
When patients go to a restaurant and eat a high-quality meal, they’re happy to pay $150-$200, and if the service were good, they'd drop an additional $20 tip without giving it a second thought.
We need to be delivering a nice meal experience.
Final Tip
Step away from you being the only opinion on the value of feet and the value of the services you provide for those feet.
Listen to the A-type patients that happily pay your fees and respect the value you provide. Never listen to C's and D's that do not value their feet, do not listen and want the cheapest treatment possible.
If you have any questions about this episode, please send me an email at , or you can connect with Jonathan at Health First Foot & Gait Clinic.
If you want to learn more about Jonathan's short 2-hour course, follow this link to FOOT VALUE.
Jonathan's previous episodes:
Ep 006: Work Smart, Not Harder
Ep 044: Podiatry Success Is A Mindset
Ep 081: Don't Live In The Land of Low Fees
This episode was sponsored by PODIUM and to learn more CLICK HERE.
My Next Event - Podiatry Marketing: Success Leave Clues
This marketing workshop is like no other, and when you complete this 4-hour workshop you will have a definite competitive advantage over other podiatrists in your area because you will know what makes a podiatry business successful.
Every successful podiatry business leaves clues, and for the past thirty-plus years, I have been paying close attention and taking note of what successful podiatrists have been doing, and it has nothing to do with your podiatry knowledge.
For more detail, please visit my EVENTS PAGE.
If you want to learn more about my next 12-Week Podiatry Business Reboot or join the Podiatry Business Owners Club on Facebook, please follow the links.
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