エピソード

  • 047 | Finding Purpose and Truthfulness Amid Life's Unexpected Turns
    2025/10/26

    Episode SummaryIn this episode of the Professor's Playbook, Toby Brooks shares his transformative journey from discontentment and frustration to fulfillment and gratitude. Relaying his personal experiences of being passed over for a desired job in Lubbock, Toby opens up about the emotional turmoil and ultimately finding peace in unexpected changes. As time progressed, an opportunity at Baylor University emerged, aligning perfectly with his professional aspirations and family needs. This narrative artfully illustrates the podcast's theme: waiting for "something more" to come, as Toby strategically aligned his career goals with his core values.

    Listeners will gain insight into Toby's perseverance and the role truthfulness played throughout his journey. Through self-reflection and deliberate action, Toby demonstrates the importance of living an 'unconcealed' life—known as 'alethea' in Greek—and how this virtue underpins effective leadership, integrity in data management, and authentic relationships. The discussion further delves into how truthfulness bridges gaps between spoken ideals and practiced realities, ensuring that personal and professional lives are deeply rooted in accuracy and integrity.

    Key Takeaways

    • Embrace Change: Sometimes, life's unforeseen circumstances lead to greater opportunities, as seen in Toby's journey from Lubbock to Baylor.
    • Truthfulness as a Virtue: Living an unconcealed life is vital, aligning words, actions, and intentions with reality.
    • Balance in Leadership: Authenticity, feedback with care, and courageous advocacy define effective leadership and team culture.
    • Integrity in Data Practices: Accurate data collection and reporting build trust and inform sound decision-making in healthcare professions.
    • Personal Growth: Waiting periods often serve as preparation stages for more significant outcomes, emphasizing patience and faith.

    Notable Quotes

    • "I have every confidence that this was the something more that was coming, that all the while I was too impatient to wait for."
    • "Truthfulness isn't about what we say. It's about who we are."
    • "Sometimes we just need to wait. If I'd had my way, I would have rushed to any of a hundred jobs just to make my ego feel better."
    • "In the Greek, the word for truthfulness is alethea, which literally means unconcealed—Not just being honest, but living unhidden."
    • "Truthfulness in our systems equals trustworthiness in our leadership."
    • Connect with Toby Brooks on Linktree
    • Explore more episodes of Professor's Playbook and Becoming Undone on major podcast platforms like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and iHeartRadio.

    Resources

    Tune in to this enlightening episode of the Professor's Playbook to understand the power of truthfulness and patience in personal and professional spheres. Discover more inspiring content and stay ahead in your journey of continuous learning and growth.

    続きを読む 一部表示
    17 分
  • 046 | Navigating Legal Challenges in Athletic Training...and Custom Cars
    2025/09/21

    About the Host

    Dr. Toby Brooks is an academic and automotive enthusiast with numerous achievements in the fields of athletic training, sports medicine, and automotive journalism. He holds a position as a professor where he engages with students and practitioners alike, sharing knowledge from a broad spectrum, including legal aspects of professional practice. Dr. Brooks has a rich history in automotive customization, with two trucks featured in national magazines, and has written over 500 articles for automotive magazines. He also won the Style Award at the Sport Truck Nationals, highlighting his passion for creativity and style in custom vehicles.

    Episode Summary

    In this compelling episode of The Professor's Playbook, Dr. Toby Brooks takes the audience on a multifaceted journey through personal anecdotes and professional insights related to legal liability in athletic training. Dr. Brooks opens up with a personal narrative about being frequently pulled over due to his custom, flashy vehicles, which he uses as a metaphor to explore broader issues of perception and bias. This story serves as a springboard into the main focus of the episode, the critical importance of understanding legal frameworks and obligations in healthcare and athletic training.

    The episode delves deep into the legal concepts that govern the practice of athletic training. Dr. Brooks breaks down complex legal terminology into understandable parts, covering topics like negligence, torts, and the various types of jurisprudence. Keywords such as "natural law," "malfeasance," "ethical codes," and "risk management" are explored to demonstrate how these legal principles apply to everyday professional scenarios. By blending his own experiences with essential legal knowledge, Dr. Brooks provides listeners with a practical guide to navigating the complex legal landscape in the healthcare profession.

    Key Takeaways

    • Dr. Toby Brooks uses personal experiences with car culture to illustrate broader issues of perception and legal scrutiny.
    • The episode underscores the importance of understanding legal liability in athletic training and how it impacts professional practice.
    • Concepts like negligence, malfeasance, misfeasance, and nonfeasance are explained in the context of providing healthcare.
    • Listening to expert advice on compliance and legal checklists is vital for protecting one's career in athletic training.
    • Ethical codes, state practice acts, and institutional policies form the backbone of regulated and safe practice environments.

    Notable Quotes

    • "For my part, I've had two different trucks featured in national magazines. To me, a custom car truck is just an expression of my creativity and my style. To me, it's art."
    • "To prove negligence, the plaintiff has to establish clearly four things: conduct, duty, breach of duty, causation, and damage."
    • "Licensure is the most restrictive and thereby the most protective regulatory measure, making it illegal for an unlicensed person to practice the profession."
    • "Once you start treatment, you can't just walk away unless you've completed care or handed it off to a comparably educated provider."
    • "Good legal habits protect everyone. You have to maintain your records and educate yourself on state-specific laws."

    Resources

    • Connect with Dr. Toby Brooks: linktr.ee/tobybrooks
    • Dr. Brooks’s free growth resource: undonepodcast.kit.com

    Dive into this educational episode of The Professor's Playbook to equip yourself with critical legal knowledge indispensable in athletic training. Stay tuned for more insightful discussions that challenge and inspire learning in professional practice environments.

    続きを読む 一部表示
    14 分
  • 045 | Strategic Thinking: Balancing Liberality and Systematic Success
    2025/09/08

    About the Host

    Toby Brooks is an academic professional specializing in athletic training and sports medicine. Formerly the MAT Program Director at TTUHSC, Toby has a rich background in athletic training, having previously worked as the head football athletic trainer at Liberty University. He is also the host of Becoming UnDone, a podcast where he explores themes of personal and professional growth. With a proven track record in educational settings and significant experience in content creation as a former director for RPM Magazine, Toby brings a wealth of knowledge in sports medicine and strategic planning.

    Episode Summary

    Join Dr. Toby Brooks in this thought-provoking episode of the Professor's Playbook, also streamed as part of his popular podcast, Becoming UnDone. Toby delves into the challenging balance of strategic planning and liberality in the realms of athletic training and sports medicine. With personal anecdotes from his blue-collar upbringing and insights into strategic planning, listeners gain a valuable understanding of the importance of balancing work ethics with smart resource management.

    In this episode, Toby explores the concept of liberality — not to be confused with political connotations — in the context of Aristotelian virtues. The discussion centers around strategic thinking and wise stewardship in high-performance environments, emphasizing the significance of aligning actions with values for long-lasting impact. By integrating SEO keywords such as "strategic planning," "liberality," "athletic training," and "sports performance," listeners get an enticing glimpse into Toby's insights about living responsibly while pursuing high goals.

    Key Takeaways

    • Strategic thinking is vital in athletic training and sports medicine, where aligning everyday actions with long-term goals defines success.
    • Liberality, as an Aristotelian virtue, involves wise stewardship of resources, not limited to just financial wealth.
    • Building and optimizing high-performance units rely heavily on effective people, process, and place synergy.
    • Systems trump goals: Successful outcomes are achieved through well-established habits and processes rather than ambition alone.
    • Regularly auditing and improving systems ensures sustainable and strategic resource use in professional and personal capacities.

    Notable Quotes

    • "You don't rise to the level of your goals; you fall to the level of your systems."
    • "Strategic thinkers don't just do more, they do better."
    • "Liberality isn’t just about money; it's the moral orientation toward wise stewardship of all resources."
    • "What separates good professionals from the great ones is the ability to think strategically over time."
    • "Everybody loves to set goals, but goals are outcomes."

    Resources

    • Toby Brooks' Linktree - Connect with Toby Brooks for more insights and updates.
    • "Becoming Undone" Podcast - Explore more episodes where Toby discusses personal and professional growth strategies.


    Stay tuned for further fascinating discussions in upcoming episodes, where you'll gain deeper insights into strategic thinking and professional development. Don't miss out on unlocking the powerful strategies discussed, and explore more on Becoming UnDone with Toby Brooks.

    続きを読む 一部表示
    15 分
  • 044 | Derrick Rose's Journey: A Lesson in Temperance and Resilience
    2025/09/02

    About the Host

    Dr. Toby Brooks is a seasoned expert in athletic training, sports medicine, and performance science. He is well-respected in his field for his deep understanding of sports injuries, rehabilitation, and the virtues necessary for effective clinical practice. He is the host of "The Professor's Playbook" and the podcast "Becoming Undone," where he synthesizes complex sports and medical topics into actionable advice. His expertise is rooted in a thorough knowledge of biomechanics and a commitment to fostering long-term health in athletes.

    Episode Summary

    In this episode of "The Professor's Playbook," host Brooks takes a deep dive into the concept of temperance within the context of athletic training and sports medicine, using NBA star Derrick Rose's career as a pivotal case study. At the height of his career, Rose faced a life-altering ACL injury that forced him to choose between short-term success and long-term health, a choice emblematic of temperance, which Brooks explores as a critical virtue for healthcare professionals. Through a detailed exploration of Derrick Rose's journey, Dr. Brooks weaves in the broader implications of temperance, both in decision-making processes and professional boundaries within sports medicine.

    Brooks discusses the pressures athletes and clinicians face to fast-track recovery to return to competition, highlighting Derrick Rose's controversial decision to undergo a full meniscus repair instead of quicker-fix surgeries. The episode further delves into the broader relevance of temperance in maintaining ethical standards, navigating professional boundaries, and fostering lasting trust between clinicians and their patients. Filled with insightful commentary, Brooks frames his discussion with philosophical and ethical perspectives, bringing in Greek philosophy and biblical teachings to ground his arguments on temperance as balance and measured action. The episode not only highlights the moral complexity of sports medicine decisions but also offers actionable guidance for restoring balance in clinical practices.

    Key Takeaways

    • Derrick Rose's journey underscores the critical importance of temperance—a virtue reflecting balance and long-term thinking in decision-making.
    • Decision-making in sports medicine should focus on long-term health over short-term gains to ensure the well-being of athletes.
    • Professional boundaries and ethical practices in healthcare are essential, requiring restraint and careful judgment to maintain trust.
    • Clinicians must balance empathy with clear judgment to avoid becoming over-identified with their patients, thereby maintaining professional effectiveness.
    • Temperance is not simply about withholding desires but making the "right" decisions that align with ethical responsibilities and patient care.

    Notable Quotes

    • "They don't come much more idiotic than Skip Bayless or Stephen A. Smith…" — Toby Brooks
    • "Temperance isn't about less; it's about right. The right measure, the right moment, the right motive." — Toby Brooks
    • "That sweet spot. That's compassionate clarity and it's cool-headed confidence." — Toby Brooks
    • "Temperance helps you hold the line…It says I care, but I also have a job to do and I'll do it with integrity." — Toby Brooks
    • "He knew that a short-term return could cost him his entire career…just because you can doesn't always mean you should." — Toby Brooks

    Resources

    • Connect with Dr. Toby Brooks on Linktr.ee for more insights and updates.
    • Subscribe to "The Professor's Playbook" and "Becoming Undone" on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or iHeartRadio for more episodes.

    Engage with the complete episode for a comprehensive exploration of temperance in sports medicine and stay tuned for future enlightening discussions with Dr. Toby Brooks.

    続きを読む 一部表示
    13 分
  • 043 | Courage, Ethics, and AI: Navigating Leadership in Health Professions
    2025/08/21

    About the Host

    Toby Brooks is an engaging speaker and experienced professional in the fields of leadership, education, and athletic training. Known for his thought-provoking insights and storytelling approach, Toby integrates ethics, courage, and professional values into his teachings. As the host of The Professor's Playbook, he is devoted to nurturing professionals worth following, informing audiences about the crossroads of professional ethics, personal integrity, and modern technological advancements in healthcare and education. His expertise empowers budding professionals to find purpose and conviction in their careers.

    Episode Summary

    In this captivating episode of The Professor's Playbook, host Toby Brooks takes listeners through a personal story from his childhood that highlights the importance of ethics and integrity. Reflecting on a lesson learned after stealing a toy car at the age of three, Toby uses this experience to illustrate how early encounters with right and wrong can shape one's understanding and commitment to ethical behavior. His narrative is as heartfelt as it is instructional, examining what it means to stand up for what is right, even when faced with peer pressure or challenging circumstances.

    Toby delves into the foundational role of ethics in the professional journey, particularly within healthcare and leadership. He emphasizes the distinction between merely following rules and embodying values such as autonomy, beneficence, and non-maleficence. With the integration of modern elements like artificial intelligence, Toby provokes thought on maintaining judgment and human-centric care in a technology-driven world. Throughout the episode, listeners learn about courage's role in leadership, described by Toby as "doing the right thing despite fear." This theme is seamlessly woven with an exploration of contemporary challenges, encouraging professionals to approach their roles with thoughtful courage and ethical steadfastness.

    Key Takeaways

    • Early Lessons in Ethics: Toby Brooks shares an impactful childhood story that underscores the formative role of ethics in shaping personal and professional values.
    • Ethical Foundations in Leadership: Ethical conduct is positioned as an integral aspect of professional training and practice, transcending mere rule compliance to embody enduring convictions.
    • Courageous Leadership: The episode explores Aristotle's perspective of courage and its presence between rashness and cowardice, highlighting the virtue's quiet yet potent influence in decision-making.
    • AI in Healthcare: The integration of AI in healthcare is discussed, drawing attention to ethical considerations in its use to support, and not replace, human judgment and patient care.
    • Continuous Growth: Encouragement for listeners to commit to daily ethical practices, fostering growth as professionals who prioritize people and values over rigid processes.

    Notable Quotes

    • "What do you do when you know something's wrong but nobody else is speaking up?"
    • "Ethics isn't just a compliance checkbox. It's a daily commitment."
    • "Courage doesn't mean just being fearless. It means doing the right thing despite fear."
    • "We need to lead technology, putting people before process."
    • "Great administrators live by values, shaping the profession with every choice we make."
    • Follow Toby Brooks on his Linktree.

    Resources

    Listeners are invited to immerse themselves in this episode for a profound exploration of ethics, leadership, and technological advances in professional practice. Stay connected for more episodes of insight and inspiration from The Professor's Playbook.

    続きを読む 一部表示
    10 分
  • 042 | The Science of the Comeback: Rebuild with Purpose and Clarity
    2025/05/22

    Episode Summary

    In this episode, Toby Brooks delves into the profound impact of reaching career milestones and the subsequent existential challenges that can follow. Reflecting on his personal journey, Toby describes the moment when achieving tenure, a lifelong academic goal, ironically ushered in a period of stagnation and introspection, leading to a deep existential crisis. This realization of "now what?" profoundly shaped his understanding of professional achievements and personal identity.

    Key Takeaways

    Throughout the episode, Toby Brooks shares insights on "The Science of the Comeback," a methodology he developed through personal experience and rigorous study. Centered on the "three Rs": Reflect, Realign, and Rebuild, this method helps individuals navigate the unsettling aftermath of professional accomplishments and burnout. The episode emphasizes the importance of reassessing personal values and crafting a resilient identity aligned with one's true purpose. Toby's narrative serves as a motivational guide for listeners seeking to transition through life's pivotal moments with clarity and intention.

    Notable Quotes

    • Achievement and Crisis: Achieving significant professional milestones can sometimes lead to feelings of emptiness and existential crisis.
    • The Three Rs Framework: Toby proposes a strategic approach for personal and professional comebacks: Reflect, Realign, and Rebuild.
    • Identity Beyond Titles: Success isn't just about titles or positions but understanding and letting go of past identities tied to them.
    • Purpose and Clarity: Realigning with core values rather than external validation can reignite passion and purpose.
    • Continuous Growth: The unraveling of one's identity is not an ending but an opportunity for growth and new beginnings.

    Resources

    • "The comeback isn't magic, it's method. There's a science to rebuilding when your world goes silent."
    • "Reflect on what was lost. Not just the job or the title, but the identity behind it."
    • "Stop chasing applause and start asking better questions. Who am I becoming?"
    • "Your comeback isn't a matter of luck or timing. It's a matter of strategy, surrender, and showing up one disciplined step at a time."
    • "Because when you become undone, you realize… you aren't done yet."
    • No specific external resources or URLs were mentioned in the transcript. To learn more about Toby Brooks and his work, listeners may want to explore platforms related to academic careers and personal development coaching.

    Discover more about overcoming professional plateaus and personal growth by tuning into the full episode. Stay tuned for more insightful discussions that promise to inspire and educate on navigating life's pivotal moments.

    続きを読む 一部表示
    5 分
  • 041 | Unlocking Spinal Strength: The Core of Athletic Performance
    2025/04/30

    Episode Summary

    In this captivating episode of "The Professor's Playbook," hosted by Dr. Toby Brooks, we journey back to the summer of 1999 to revisit the story of NBA star Larry Johnson and his career-altering back injury. This episode delves into the devastating impact that five herniated discs had on one of the NBA's brightest stars. Dr. Brooks sets the scene by recounting Johnson's dynamic presence on the court and the subsequent challenges he faced, illustrating the intersection of sports, injuries, and resilience.

    The episode provides a deep dive into the architecture of the trunk and spine, underscoring the criticality of understanding spinal structure and core musculature in athletic performance and injury prevention. Dr. Brooks explores the intricacies of the spine's regions—cervical, thoracic, and lumbar—and the key muscles involved, such as the rectus abdominis, obliques, and erector spinae, to equip listeners with actionable insights for enhancing spinal awareness and core strength. Highlighting real-world applications and practical exercises, he emboldens listeners to engage consciously with their core muscles in daily activities.

    Key Takeaways

    • The spine's complex architecture is essential for high performance and injury prevention, consisting of cervical, thoracic, and lumbar regions.
    • Core muscles like the rectus abdominis, obliques, and transverse abdominis play a pivotal role in stability and movement.
    • Proper spinal alignment and muscular coordination enhance efficiency in athletic and daily activities.
    • Larry Johnson's story illustrates the profound impact of spinal injuries on athletic careers.
    • Engaging core muscles consciously in routine movements can improve overall performance and reduce injury risk.

    Notable Quotes

    • "It all came down to the spine." — Toby Brooks
    • "Your spine is more than just bones stacked neatly." — Toby Brooks
    • "Understanding this region isn't just academic; it's critical to human performance and injury prevention." — Toby Brooks
    • "Weakness or poor coordination can lead to instability or posture, decreased athletic performance, and increased injury risk." — Toby Brooks
    • "Mastering the knowledge and function of your spinal structure and core muscles isn't just beneficial; it's essential." — Toby Brooks

    Resources

    • Connect with Dr. Toby Brooks at LinkTR.EE/TobyJBrooks
    • Platforms to leave reviews: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio

    Discover the remarkable narrative of Larry Johnson, gain a deeper understanding of the vital relationship between spinal health and athletic performance, and embrace the challenge of integrating core strength into your routine. Tune in to this episode of "The Professor's Playbook" and continue this enlightening journey with Dr. Toby Brooks as more engaging episodes are on the horizon.

    続きを読む 一部表示
    9 分
  • 040 | Grant Hill's Ankle Woes and the Anatomy Behind Them
    2025/04/16

    Episode Summary

    In this episode of "Professor's Playbook," Dr. Toby Brooks takes basketball enthusiasts and sports science aficionados on a compelling journey into the world of ankle health through the lens of NBA legend Grant Hill's career. This episode underscores the significance of foot and ankle anatomy, infusing Dr. Brooks' vast knowledge with real-world applications to help listeners understand and appreciate the intricacies of human movement.

    Dr. Brooks dissects the anatomy of the foot and ankle region, revealing the roles of its 26 bones, key ligaments, and critical muscles in maintaining stability and support. The discussion pivots around the importance of understanding the dynamic nature of ankles, especially when dealing with sports injuries. Viewers are guided through the primary structures and functions, emphasizing the region's vulnerability to sprains and the broader implications they hold for athletes and everyday movement.

    Key Takeaways

    • The ankle's role is pivotal in overall movement and stability, impacting both athletes and non-athletes.
    • Understanding the foot and ankle's anatomy can offer insights into preventing and managing common sports injuries.
    • Real-world examples, such as Grant Hill's resilient career, highlight the significance of ankle health in athletic performance.
    • Practical exercises in gait observation and anatomy palpation are valuable for applying theoretical knowledge.
    • Effective sports medicine hinges on grasping complex anatomical relationships and their functional implications.

    Notable Quotes

    • "Even the best ones, that happens to. I mean, this is a shake and this is just a great move, boy. And he dunks it, man."
    • "Injuries in this region, while common, are rarely simple."
    • "You now have the tools to identify major anatomical landmarks, understand motion and stability, and start applying this knowledge in movement analysis and injury eval."
    • "That's the power of the ankle. It's not flashy, it's not a headline grabber like an ACL tear or an Achilles injury, but when it breaks down, everything else does too."


    Resources

    • Connect with Dr. Toby Brooks on his Linktree: LinkTR.EE/TobyJBrooks
    • Listen to more episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, or any preferred podcast platform.

    Immerse yourself in the symphony of sports science by tuning into the full episode. Uncover the layers of understanding that await, and join us in future explorations on the "Professor's Playbook." Stay purposeful, be relentless, and never stop learning!

    続きを読む 一部表示
    9 分