You're standing atop a waterfall with someone who's never run one before. Do you give them every single detail about the entire run—every rock, every current, every decision point? Or do you give them three clear steps they can actually hold onto? One approach gets followed. The other leaves people frozen, overwhelmed, staring at you with wide eyes.

In this episode from Kendall's "What the Wellness Center?!" series, she welcomes Paul Kuthe of Tributary Coaching—a former professional kayaker and adventure guide turned business coach—who translates hard-won wilderness lessons into team leadership wisdom. As Paul explains about overwhelming a student with information: "They'd be still sitting right behind that first rock... trying to take in all of the steps and all of the things to accomplish this goal all at once."

The conversation covers uniting teams behind both straightforward and controversial goals, the three most common mistakes leaders make with goal-setting, and Paul's powerful "Goal Story Formula"—an expanded SMARTER framework that makes goals exciting, narrative, and shareable. He also shares a refreshingly simple mission statement formula: "We will accomplish X by [timeframe] because [reason]."

If your team goals tend to get set, forgotten, and quietly abandoned, this episode offers both the diagnosis and the fix.

Get all the links, resources and show notes here: https://wellnesscentercreators.com

And for information regarding our upcoming retreat, go to: https://www.wellnesscentercreators.com/retreats

Sponsored by Jane App, Jane offers online booking, charting, scheduling, secure video and invoicing on one secure, beautifully designed system: https://jane.app/ Use code wellness1mo for a one-month grace period on your new Jane account.

Listen to The Authority Plan Insider (https://theauthorityplan.com), a mini-series that will guide you through a simple system that will help you create a podcast that really delivers, that creates the impact that you want to make and lets you be in the driver's seat.

You walk into your clinic and immediately feel it—that tension in the air, the energy that's just... off. You don't need anyone to say a word. Something's wrong. Your business, it turns out, has its own nervous system. And learning to read it might be one of the most important leadership skills you never knew you needed.

Anna and Kendall explore this powerful metaphor, examining how wellness centers develop their own regulatory patterns separate from their owners. As Kendall reflects: "After a few months of even having my company, it started to take on a life of its own... it has its own nervous system and we have to nurture it."

The conversation dives into what causes dysregulation—usually miscommunication, employees feeling unheard, or unresolved tension that festers. Anna shares a key team agreement: "Give the benefit of the doubt all the time" and "talk to each other, not about each other." Both hosts discuss practical regulation strategies: slowing down, creating systems to prevent recurring issues, and recognizing when you need to speed up or step back.

Perhaps most valuable is the discussion of leadership's role in setting tone. As Kendall notes: "It works so much better to show up and model groundedness and stability... it's my job to be the steady force." This episode offers both framework and permission for leaders navigating the inevitable ebbs and flows of running a wellness business.

Get all the links, resources and show notes here: https://wellnesscentercreators.com

And for information regarding our upcoming retreat, go to: https://www.wellnesscentercreators.com/retreats

Sponsored by Jane App, Jane offers online booking, charting, scheduling, secure video and invoicing on one secure, beautifully designed system: https://jane.app/ Use code wellness1mo for a one-month grace period on your new Jane account.

Listen to The Authority Plan Insider (https://theauthorityplan.com), a mini-series that will guide you through a simple system that will help you create a podcast that really delivers, that creates the impact that you want to make and lets you be in the driver's seat.

You went to Greece for two weeks. And your wellness center didn't burn down. For many practice owners, that sentence feels more like a fantasy than a realistic goal. You're the center of everything, working unsustainable hours, convinced that without you, everything falls apart. What would it take to actually step away?

In this episode from the Thriving Wellness Series, Kendall interviews Shawniel Chamanlal, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, author of "Unapologetic Success," and CEO of Healing Springs Wellness Center—a multidisciplinary practice offering culturally competent, trauma-informed care. Shawniel will be presenting "Dream Beyond Your Limits: Manifest Your Abundant Wellness Center" at the 2026 Wellness Center Creators Retreat.

Her framework starts with identifying where scarcity still lives: "We are sometimes told that as practitioners, we're not going to make a lot... and so clarity comes from knowing what your numbers are." From there, she walks practice owners through connecting vision to values, working backwards from goals, and choosing themselves financially—because wellness center owners are often the last to get paid.

Shawniel also addresses inclusive culture beyond diversity statements: what psychological safety actually looks like inside a team, how to filter for shared values in interviews, and why collective accountability—not just stated values—builds belonging that lasts.

If burnout is your baseline or your vision for your practice has shrunk to just surviving, this episode offers a powerful invitation to dream bigger.

Get all the links, resources and show notes here: https://wellnesscentercreators.com

And for information regarding our upcoming retreat, go to: https://www.wellnesscentercreators.com/retreats

Sponsored by Jane App, Jane offers online booking, charting, scheduling, secure video and invoicing on one secure, beautifully designed system: https://jane.app/ Use code wellness1mo for a one-month grace period on your new Jane account.

Listen to The Authority Plan Insider (https://theauthorityplan.com), a mini-series that will guide you through a simple system that will help you create a podcast that really delivers, that creates the impact that you want to make and lets you be in the driver's seat.

You're treating patients all day, providing excellent care, yet somehow you're still stressed about money. You lie awake worrying about paying the mortgage, covering business expenses, managing that student loan debt. How can you be fully present with clients when financial noise is drowning out everything else?

In this episode from the Thriving Wellness Series, Kendall interviews Robin Valadares, an Accredited Financial Counselor of Canada and former physiotherapist who spent 13 years in clinical practice before dedicating himself to helping healthcare professionals achieve financial wellness. Robin will be presenting "Financial Foundations: Budgeting, Compound Interest, and Investing 101" at the 2026 Wellness Center Creators Retreat, and his insights reveal why financial health matters as much as physical or mental health for career longevity.

As Robin explains: "If I'm worried about paying for the roof over my head or paying for my groceries, I'm less likely to be in tune with my actual client when I'm speaking to them because I'm worrying about the money noise... I'm more apt to make poor decisions, maybe focus more on money because I have to earn it rather than client care."

The conversation covers his "$10 task" framework for increasing income without adding patients, the "investment ladder" for knowing where that extra $500 should go, and why understanding your return on time might reveal surprising truths about your best revenue streams.

If financial stress is compromising your clinical presence or your life quality, this episode provides practical frameworks for building stability.

Get all the links, resources and show notes here: https://wellnesscentercreators.com

And for information regarding our upcoming retreat, go to: https://www.wellnesscentercreators.com/retreats

Sponsored by Jane App, Jane offers online booking, charting, scheduling, secure video and invoicing on one secure, beautifully designed system: https://jane.app/ Use code wellness1mo for a one-month grace period on your new Jane account.

Listen to The Authority Plan Insider (https://theauthorityplan.com), a mini-series that will guide you through a simple system that will help you create a podcast that really delivers, that creates the impact that you want to make and lets you be in the driver's seat.

You're spending thousands on Google Ads. Your budget keeps climbing. Yet somehow, new patient bookings aren't increasing proportionally. Where is all that money going?

In this episode from the Thriving Wellness Series, Kendall interviews Scott Fish, Vancouver Wellness Studio's marketing strategist with over 20 years of digital marketing experience. Scott will be presenting "Booked Solid in 90 Days: A Simple & Empowering Marketing Plan for Wellness Entrepreneurs" at the 2026 Wellness Center Creators Retreat, and his preview reveals uncomfortable truths about marketing waste.

The numbers are stark: "We typically find somewhere between 25 and 50% of ad spend in accounts that exist are actually not driving qualified clicks that really just never had a chance to convert." The culprits? Overly broad matching, missing negative keywords, poor conversion tracking, and unrealistic geographic targeting.

But Google Ads optimization is only part of the story. Scott addresses the bigger shift happening right now: "Zero click behavior is skyrocketing... if you rank number one, you're maybe getting 10 or 15% of clicks today" compared to 45% previously. AI has become "this filtering layer of where people start their search," fundamentally changing how wellness centers must approach visibility.

If your marketing feels like throwing money into a black hole, or if you're wondering how AI changes everything, this episode provides both diagnosis and direction.

Get all the links, resources and show notes here: https://wellnesscentercreators.com

And for information regarding our upcoming retreat, go to: https://www.wellnesscentercreators.com/retreats

Sponsored by Jane App, Jane offers online booking, charting, scheduling, secure video and invoicing on one secure, beautifully designed system: https://jane.app/ Use code wellness1mo for a one-month grace period on your new Jane account.

Listen to The Authority Plan Insider (https://theauthorityplan.com), a mini-series that will guide you through a simple system that will help you create a podcast that really delivers, that creates the impact that you want to make and lets you be in the driver's seat.

Someone asks what you do. You launch into an explanation about your multidisciplinary team, your holistic approach, your unique modalities. Their eyes glaze over. They smile politely and change the subject. You've lost them—and possibly a referral source, a collaborator, or a future client.

In this episode from the Thriving Wellness Series, Kendall interviews Paul Kuthe, a Best Selling Author and Dual Certified StoryBrand Guide who will be presenting "So, What Do You Do? Getting Your Brand Story Straight" at the 2026 Wellness Center Creators Retreat. Paul's insights reveal why most wellness practitioners struggle to communicate what they do clearly.

The problem isn't that your services are too complex—it's that you're telling the wrong story. As Paul explains, most business owners make themselves the hero of their story when they should be positioning the customer as the hero. "The customer is the hero. You are the guide," he emphasizes, introducing the StoryBrand framework that transforms confusing pitches into compelling messages.

Paul brings unique perspective as a former professional kayaker and action sports coach who understands high-stakes communication. His workshop will include a live StoryBrand AI session where attendees walk away with polished soundbites ready to use immediately for marketing, sales, and leadership.

If you've ever struggled to explain what makes your wellness center different, or if potential clients don't seem to "get" what you offer, this episode provides the framework you need.

Get all the links, resources and show notes here: https://wellnesscentercreators.com

And for information regarding our upcoming retreat, go to: https://www.wellnesscentercreators.com/retreats

Sponsored by Jane App, Jane offers online booking, charting, scheduling, secure video and invoicing on one secure, beautifully designed system: https://jane.app/ Use code wellness1mo for a one-month grace period on your new Jane account.

Listen to The Authority Plan Insider (https://theauthorityplan.com), a mini-series that will guide you through a simple system that will help you create a podcast that really delivers, that creates the impact that you want to make and lets you be in the driver's seat.

You've seen it in every wellness center you've visited. Front desk. Waiting chairs. Treatment rooms down a hallway. Maybe some plants if you're lucky. It's functional, sure—but is it memorable? Does it reflect your unique brand? Does it make patients want to return?

In this episode from the Thriving Wellness Series, Kendall interviews Meg McPherson, co-founder of Articulate Design Company and a trained physiotherapist who turned her design passion into a business transforming healthcare spaces. Meg will be presenting "Space Design ROI" at the 2026 Wellness Center Creators Retreat, and her insights challenge the "nice to have, not need to have" mentality around design.

The core principle? Design from intention, not imitation. As Meg explains: "The clinic down the street is sort of set up this way. They have a front desk and some chairs and treatment rooms and we'll do the same thing. And increasingly... in order to really stand out, you want to be creating an experience that is unique and novel and bespoke to your brand."

But this isn't just about aesthetics. Meg emphasizes the financial impact: "The return on investment is so large and so quick... When you optimize a space and when you create a unique brand experience, both of those things have such large stakes in the success of your business."

If you've treated space design as an afterthought or assumed professional design help is an unnecessary expense, this episode reveals why that mindset is costing you revenue, retention, and brand impact.

Get all the links, resources and show notes here: https://wellnesscentercreators.com

And for information regarding our upcoming retreat, go to: https://www.wellnesscentercreators.com/retreats

Sponsored by Jane App, Jane offers online booking, charting, scheduling, secure video and invoicing on one secure, beautifully designed system: https://jane.app/ Use code wellness1mo for a one-month grace period on your new Jane account.

Listen to The Authority Plan Insider (https://theauthorityplan.com), a mini-series that will guide you through a simple system that will help you create a podcast that really delivers, that creates the impact that you want to make and lets you be in the driver's seat.

You have an empty treatment room. Massage seems like an obvious addition—everyone wants massage, right? So you post a job listing, hire the first qualified person who applies, and wonder why three months later they're already looking for the door. What went wrong?

In this episode from the Thriving Wellness Series, Kendall interviews Kirsten Werner, a Registered Massage Therapist with over 15 years of practice and more than a decade running a successful clinic in Canada. Kirsten will be presenting "Hiring & Keeping the Right Massage Therapists for Your Wellness Clinic" at the 2026 Wellness Center Creators Retreat, and she shares crucial insights that most clinic owners miss.

The problem starts with reactive hiring. As Kirsten explains: "Often people hire reactively because they're like, I have this empty room, I'm just going to get a massage therapist in there. But they haven't really thought about what that massage therapist needs in order to be successful at their clinic." From laundry protocols to trauma-informed care alignment, the details matter more than you think.

Kirsten also addresses the hierarchy issue in multidisciplinary practices—when practitioners have different levels of licensure, massage therapists can feel undervalued. One simple solution? "The cost for massage is the same as for acupuncture. That's one of the biggest ways to show that there's no hierarchy."

If you've struggled to find or keep massage therapists, this episode reveals what's actually happening—and how to fix it.

Get all the links, resources and show notes here: https://wellnesscentercreators.com

And for information regarding our upcoming retreat, go to: https://www.wellnesscentercreators.com/retreats

Sponsored by Jane App, Jane offers online booking, charting, scheduling, secure video and invoicing on one secure, beautifully designed system: https://jane.app/ Use code wellness1mo for a one-month grace period on your new Jane account.

Listen to The Authority Plan Insider (https://theauthorityplan.com), a mini-series that will guide you through a simple system that will help you create a podcast that really delivers, that creates the impact that you want to make and lets you be in the driver's seat.