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Top 5% globally ranked podcast for healthcare practice owners. Prevent burnout, grow profitably. 215+ episodes, 51 countries.
Welcome to Thriving Practice - the business podcast that proves independent physicians, dentists, therapists, and healthcare practice owners can build profitable, efficient practices while actually enjoying their lives.
By the Numbers:
- 215+ episodes featuring top-tier practice owners and healthcare business experts
- Global Top 5% ranking on Listen Notes among all podcasts
- 51 countries reached globally
- 9 seasons of proven practice management strategies
- Weekly episodes with actionable insights you can implement immediately
Hosted by Tracy Cherpeski, MBA, MA, CPSC - executive coach, business consultant, and CME-approved educator with 15+ years specializing in healthcare practice consulting. Tracy brings you successful practice owners, industry experts, and medical association leaders, all united in helping private practices stay private and thrive.
Subscribe now and join our community at ThrivingPracticeCommunity.com for ongoing support from practice leaders who've been where you are.
Episodes
Wednesday Sep 17, 2025
Wednesday Sep 17, 2025
Episode Overview: In this powerful solo episode honoring Women in Medicine Month, Tracy Cherpeski exposes a critical flaw in physician burnout research that's been hiding in plain sight. While women now represent the majority of medical students, they face burnout rates nearly 50% higher than men and remain dramatically underrepresented in practice ownership - the very model that offers the autonomy and control that could address their burnout crisis.
Click here for full show notes
Key Highlights:
- Major burnout studies systematically exclude private practice owners who report the highest job satisfaction
- Women physicians experience 47% burnout rates compared to 39% for men, yet only 34% own their practices
- Private practice ownership has declined from 60% to 42% since 2012, eroding the practice model with highest physician satisfaction
- Self-employed physicians earn 11% more and cite autonomy as their top priority
- The research bias creates policies that favor large health systems while undermining diverse practice models
Memorable Quotes: "It's like studying American happiness but only surveying corporate employees while completely ignoring entrepreneurs and small business owners. Then wondering why everyone seems miserable."
"You're not just building a practice - you're modeling a different way to practice medicine. And that matters more than you might know."
"The solution to physician burnout isn't bigger health systems or more employment. It's empowering physicians to create practices that work for their lives, their values, and their wellbeing."
This episode challenges listeners to see practice ownership not just as a business model, but as a powerful wellbeing strategy that's been overlooked by mainstream medical research.
Tracy’s Bio:
Tracy Cherpeski, MBA, MA, CPSC (she/her/hers) is the Founder of Tracy Cherpeski International and Thriving Practice Community. As a Business Consultant and Executive Coach, Tracy helps healthcare practice owners scale their businesses without sacrificing wellbeing. Through strategic planning, leadership development, and mindset mastery, she empowers clients to reclaim their time and reach their potential. Based in Chapel Hill, NC, Tracy serves clients worldwide and is the Executive Producer and Host of the Thriving Practice podcast. Her guiding philosophy: Survival is not enough; life is meant to be celebrated.
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Friday Sep 12, 2025
Friday Sep 12, 2025
In this candid snack episode, Tracy Cherpeski shares insights on developing an entrepreneurial mindset while maintaining clinical excellence. She introduces the concept of "hat switching" between clinical and business roles, explores the gardener's approach to practice growth, and provides practical strategies for expanding revenue without extending work hours.
Key Highlights
- The importance of switching between "clinician" and "CEO/entrepreneur" hats
- How entrepreneurial flexibility complements medical training rigidity
- The gardener's approach: planting seeds and practicing detachment from outcomes
- Practical revenue stream ideas including mid-level providers, supplement lines, and health coaching partnerships
- Why clarity of vision serves as the foundation for sustainable practice growth
Click here for full show notes
Memorable Quotes
"If you're in your clinical mindset and you try to think like an entrepreneur, it crosses some of the lines of duty of care and things like that."
"Sometimes you got to dig through a lot of shit to be able to get to the good stuff."
"Be super, super clear about what it is that you want to achieve... but then we let go of it and we just know that we're likely to get there or maybe better."
Closing
This episode perfectly captures the dynamic between clinical excellence and business savvy that defines thriving practices. Tracy's practical wisdom offers healthcare providers a roadmap for sustainable growth without compromising their core mission of healing.
See Where Your Practice Stands: Take our Practice Growth Readiness Assessment
Miranda’s Bio:
Miranda Dorta, B.F.A. (she/her/hers) is the Manager of Operations and PR at Tracy Cherpeski International. A graduate of Savannah College of Art and Design with expertise in writing and creative storytelling, Miranda brings her skills in operations, public relations, and communication strategies to the Thriving Practice community. Based in the City of Oaks, she joined the team in 2021 and has been instrumental in streamlining operations while managing the company's public presence since 2022.
Tracy’s Bio:
Tracy Cherpeski, MBA, MA, CPSC (she/her/hers) is the Founder of Tracy Cherpeski International and Thriving Practice Community. As a Business Consultant and Executive Coach, Tracy helps healthcare practice owners scale their businesses without sacrificing wellbeing. Through strategic planning, leadership development, and mindset mastery, she empowers clients to reclaim their time and reach their potential. Based in Chapel Hill, NC, Tracy serves clients worldwide and is the Executive Producer and Host of the Thriving Practice podcast. Her guiding philosophy: Survival is not enough; life is meant to be celebrated.
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Wednesday Sep 10, 2025
Wednesday Sep 10, 2025
In this final episode of the mindful leadership series, Tracy Cherpeski explores how internal work creates expanding ripples of success. Following up with Dr. Sarah and Dr. Marcus years after their initial work, we see how their practices have become magnetic centers that naturally attract resources, talent, and opportunities. This episode reveals the five ripple zones that create sustainable competitive advantage and shows how mindful leadership becomes a powerful business strategy.
Key Highlights
- How Dr. Sarah now takes three-week unplugged vacations while her team runs seamlessly
- Marcus's referral systems that are "crushing it" while he focuses on strategic growth
- The five ripple zones that create magnetic pull in healthcare practices
- Why pushing for success creates resistance while magnetic leadership creates flow
- How internal work compounds into external competitive advantages over time
Memorable Quotes
"The most profitable practices aren't just well-run businesses – they're energy centers that attract everything they need to thrive."
"When you're pushing, you're working against resistance. When you're magnetic, resources flow toward you effortlessly."
"Your mindful leadership isn't just personal development; it's business strategy."
"The question isn't whether you're capable of this level of success – the question is whether you're ready to begin."
This episode demonstrates that sustainable practice success flows from the inside out, showing how two different practitioners used the same framework to create practices that continue thriving and expanding their influence years later.
Tracy’s Bio:
Tracy Cherpeski, MBA, MA, CPSC (she/her/hers) is the Founder of Tracy Cherpeski International and Thriving Practice Community. As a Business Consultant and Executive Coach, Tracy helps healthcare practice owners scale their businesses without sacrificing wellbeing. Through strategic planning, leadership development, and mindset mastery, she empowers clients to reclaim their time and reach their potential. Based in Chapel Hill, NC, Tracy serves clients worldwide and is the Executive Producer and Host of the Thriving Practice podcast. Her guiding philosophy: Survival is not enough; life is meant to be celebrated.
See Where Your Practice Stands: Take our Practice Growth Readiness Assessment
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Wednesday Sep 03, 2025
Wednesday Sep 03, 2025
This episode introduces the concept of Success Architecture—the intentional framework that allows healthcare practices to grow predictably and profitably without requiring constant reactive management. Through the compelling case study of Dr. Marcus, Tracy demonstrates how the right foundation can transform a practice from survival mode to sustainable growth, achieving remarkable results in just 90 days.
Key Highlights
- Dr. Marcus increased revenue by 30% while dramatically improving profit margins in 90 days
- Reclaimed 20 hours per week through strategic energy management
- Achieved 10X ROI within 18 months while adding two new providers
- The Four Pillars: Mental Clarity, Energy Management, Systems Thinking, and Abundance Mindset
- 90-day implementation strategy: Foundation Phase, Construction Phase, Integration Phase
- Why most practices fail: building on "sand" instead of solid architecture
- The difference between managing your practice and leading your practice
Memorable Quotes
"The difference isn't talent, market conditions, or luck—it's Success Architecture."
"Success Architecture is the difference between reacting to your practice and creating your practice."
"Clarity equals speed."
"Energy management isn't about time management—it's about impact management."
"The practices that will flourish in the next decade will be led by architects, not firefighters."
This episode provides the roadmap for building the solid foundation every successful practice needs. Whether you're feeling stuck in reactive mode or ready to scale strategically, Success Architecture offers the framework to move from chaos to predictable growth. Don't miss next week's finale where we explore how internal transformation creates powerful external impact.
Tracy’s Bio:
Tracy Cherpeski, MBA, MA, CPSC (she/her/hers) is the Founder of Tracy Cherpeski International and Thriving Practice Community. As a Business Consultant and Executive Coach, Tracy helps healthcare practice owners scale their businesses without sacrificing wellbeing. Through strategic planning, leadership development, and mindset mastery, she empowers clients to reclaim their time and reach their potential. Based in Chapel Hill, NC, Tracy serves clients worldwide and is the Executive Producer and Host of the Thriving Practice podcast. Her guiding philosophy: Survival is not enough; life is meant to be celebrated.
See Where Your Practice Stands: Take our Practice Growth Readiness Assessment
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Wednesday Aug 27, 2025
Wednesday Aug 27, 2025
Healthcare practice owners often unknowingly create internal barriers that directly impact their bottom line – not from lack of clinical skills or business knowledge, but from deeply embedded beliefs that show up as seemingly logical decisions. Through Dr. Sarah's compelling transformation story, this episode reveals how one practice owner went from working 60+ hour weeks while personally taking patient payments to achieving a 40% revenue increase and reclaiming 20 hours per week, all by dismantling a single invisible barrier.
Key Highlights:
- How fear-based overhead decisions actually limit revenue capacity
- The true cost of operating from a scarcity mindset disguised as quality control
- Why equating personal worth with work hours creates success-limiting bottlenecks
- A real case study showing 26x ROI from barrier removal
- Three practical assessment questions to identify your own hidden barriers
Memorable Quotes: "Your barriers aren't protecting you; they're imprisoning you. And every day you don't address them, you're leaving money on the table and freedom off your calendar."
"Sarah thought she couldn't afford a $40,000 administrative salary, but her barrier was costing her $400,000 in lost revenue."
"They're like having a Ferrari with the emergency brake on. You've got the engine, the capability, the vision – but you're burning fuel while barely moving forward."
This episode launches a three-part series on building what Tracy calls "Success Architecture" – the mindset foundation that allows practices to scale without sacrificing sanity. Perfect for practice owners ready to stop being the emergency brake in their own success story.
Tracy’s Bio:
Tracy Cherpeski, MBA, MA, CPSC (she/her/hers) is the Founder of Tracy Cherpeski International and Thriving Practice Community. As a Business Consultant and Executive Coach, Tracy helps healthcare practice owners scale their businesses without sacrificing wellbeing. Through strategic planning, leadership development, and mindset mastery, she empowers clients to reclaim their time and reach their potential. Based in Chapel Hill, NC, Tracy serves clients worldwide and is the Executive Producer and Host of the Thriving Practice podcast. Her guiding philosophy: Survival is not enough; life is meant to be celebrated.
See Where Your Practice Stands: Take our Practice Growth Readiness Assessment
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Wednesday Aug 20, 2025
Wednesday Aug 20, 2025
Beth Lachance has built something remarkable. As the founder and CEO of Global Medical Virtual Assistants, she's scaled her company from around 200 to over 1,350 medical virtual assistants in just three years, all while helping medical practices nationwide solve their biggest challenge: administrative overwhelm.
In this episode, Beth explains how medical virtual assistants work as an "insourcing" solution rather than outsourcing, providing practices with HIPAA-compliant professionals who have medical backgrounds and bachelor's degrees. She breaks down the cost-effectiveness of the model ($525 per week per full-time VA), how it improves patient care and staff morale, and why it's suitable for practices of any size.
Beyond the business model, Beth shares raw insights about scaling a company, including her philosophy of planning for 10x growth instead of 2x to avoid constantly rebuilding infrastructure. She discusses the importance of having the right people in the right seats, embracing mistakes as learning opportunities, and not getting paralyzed by over-analysis.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
- How medical virtual assistants create "sufficient support" rather than just basic help
- The mindset shift from virtual "assistants" to virtual "professionals"
- Why insourcing beats outsourcing for medical practices
- Planning for 10x growth instead of 2x to build scalable infrastructure
- The cost breakdown: $525/week per full-time medical VA vs. traditional hiring
- How proper support systems improve patient reviews and staff retention
- Why Beth moved from 200 to 1,350 team members in three years
- The importance of cultural fit over high performance in hiring
- How administrative burden contributes to physician burnout
MEMORABLE QUOTES
"We are not brought into a medical practice to take jobs that are already in place. We're really brought in as additional support."
"Don't look at what you look like when you double. What do you look like when you 10x? So that you're not reimagining this all over again."
"Don't be afraid to make a mistake. Trial it. If you made a mistake, you just go back to the drawing board and go at it another way."
"They're virtual professionals. They have a bachelor's degree. They are smart. They take initiative. You're minimizing what their level could potentially be when you think 'virtual assistant.'"
"This is insourcing. You are bringing additional staffing into your practice, but remotely."
"If you don't handle even the minutiae, like the little problems, you'll scale them with you."
CLOSING
Whether you're running a solo practice or managing a multi-location operation, Beth's insights remind us that growth doesn't have to come at the expense of quality care or team wellbeing. Sometimes the answer isn't working harder - it's working smarter by building the right support systems from the start.
Bio:
Beth Lachance is the founder and CEO of Global Medical Virtual Assistants, a company that provides HIPAA-compliant virtual staffing solutions to medical practices nationwide. With over 22 years of leadership experience in the surgical device, pharmaceutical, and specialty pharmacy industries, Beth combines deep healthcare knowledge with entrepreneurial expertise to solve administrative overwhelm in medical practices.
A former Division I gymnast at the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences, Beth has scaled GMVA from a small team to over 1,350 skilled medical virtual assistants. Her mission is to free healthcare professionals from administrative burden so they can focus on exceptional patient care while building sustainable, thriving practices.
Beth is passionate about empowering women in leadership and driving innovation in healthcare operations.
Find Beth:
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Friday Aug 15, 2025
Friday Aug 15, 2025
Episode 200 marks a significant milestone for the Thriving Practice Podcast, celebrating not just the achievement but the entire healthcare community that has grown alongside it. Tracy and Miranda offer an intimate look at how the podcast has evolved, what drives their content decisions, and the exciting changes coming in future episodes. This behind-the-scenes conversation reveals the heart behind the podcast and the movement it has become.
Key Highlights:
- The podcast's evolution from experimental project to community movement
- New content formats including association partnerships and episode series
- Introduction of beta sponsorship program to expand reach and production quality
- The importance of balancing 10,000-foot strategic vision with actionable implementation
- How listener feedback, especially love for "snack episodes," shapes content direction
- The democratic nature of the podcast as free, accessible support for all healthcare providers
Memorable Quotes: "Momentum is our friend. We can take our hard earned wisdom and build from that... it feels like a movement."
"From the perspective of above the mountains, nature is doing what it does, and it's handled... nothing can be insurmountable for us."
"This is on demand, it's always going to be free... It's evergreen and it's fully democratic."
Closing: This milestone episode captures the genuine passion driving the Thriving Practice Podcast. As Tracy and Miranda look toward the future, their commitment to serving healthcare providers remains unwavering, with exciting developments that promise to deepen the impact of this thriving community.
Miranda’s Bio:
Miranda Dorta, B.F.A. (she/her/hers) is the Manager of Operations and PR at Tracy Cherpeski International. A graduate of Savannah College of Art and Design with expertise in writing and creative storytelling, Miranda brings her skills in operations, public relations, and communication strategies to the Thriving Practice community. Based in the City of Oaks, she joined the team in 2021 and has been instrumental in streamlining operations while managing the company's public presence since 2022.
Tracy’s Bio:
Tracy Cherpeski, MBA, MA, CPSC (she/her/hers) is the Founder of Tracy Cherpeski International and Thriving Practice Community. As a Business Consultant and Executive Coach, Tracy helps healthcare practice owners scale their businesses without sacrificing wellbeing. Through strategic planning, leadership development, and mindset mastery, she empowers clients to reclaim their time and reach their potential. Based in Chapel Hill, NC, Tracy serves clients worldwide and is the Executive Producer and Host of the Thriving Practice podcast. Her guiding philosophy: Survival is not enough; life is meant to be celebrated.
See Where Your Practice Stands: Take our Practice Growth Readiness Assessment
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Wednesday Aug 13, 2025
Wednesday Aug 13, 2025
In this Season 8 finale, Tracy reflects on eight months of breakthrough conversations and authentic connections while revealing what's been happening behind the scenes. She shares favorite moments including Dr. Ruth Mannschreck's inspiring time freedom story, Jennifer Raams' insights on emotional intelligence, and David Ford's MedWay innovation. Tracy discusses her surprising passion for addressing the clinical-to-CEO skills gap and announces expanding partnerships with medical associations in California, Georgia, and beyond as they build toward the global Thriving Practice Community launch.
Key Highlights:
- The overwhelming success of authentic "snack episodes" with Miranda
- Dr. Ruth Mannschreck's journey from forced practice reduction to time freedom mastery
- Partnership expansion with medical associations across multiple states
- The critical importance of "switching hats" between clinician and CEO roles
- Behind-the-scenes look at building a global practice owner community
- Preview of Season 9's deeper CEO development focus
- Episode 200 milestone celebration announcement
Memorable Quotes: "The moment you open your practice, you become a CEO, but nobody ever tells you that."
"Practice owners are absolutely starving for authentic connection and real, unscripted conversations."
"The gap between clinical excellence and CEO thinking is so much wider than I initially realized."
"You became a CEO the moment you opened your practice - Season 9 is about helping you fully step into that role with confidence, community, and clarity."
"We're not just creating content - we're building a movement."
This season finale captures the momentum building in the practice owner community while setting the stage for even greater impact in Season 9.
Tracy’s Bio:
Tracy Cherpeski, MBA, MA, CPSC (she/her/hers) is the Founder of Tracy Cherpeski International and Thriving Practice Community. As a Business Consultant and Executive Coach, Tracy helps healthcare practice owners scale their businesses without sacrificing wellbeing. Through strategic planning, leadership development, and mindset mastery, she empowers clients to reclaim their time and reach their potential. Based in Chapel Hill, NC, Tracy serves clients worldwide and is the Executive Producer and Host of the Thriving Practice podcast. Her guiding philosophy: Survival is not enough; life is meant to be celebrated.
See Where Your Practice Stands: Take our Practice Growth Readiness Assessment
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Friday Aug 08, 2025
Friday Aug 08, 2025
Tracy Cherpeski shares insights into the Practice Growth Readiness Intensive, a four-week program designed to help healthcare practice owners move from feeling overwhelmed to gaining crystal-clear direction. This snack episode reveals the market gaps driving demand for this intensive format and the measurable outcomes participants can expect.
Key Highlights:
- The number one complaint from practice owners is always time, followed closely by burnout and isolation
- Most clients don't see bottom-line changes for 90 days, but the intensive provides immediate clarity and a strategic roadmap
- Ideal participants have at least one year of practice ownership experience and are financially stable enough to invest in growth
- Physical changes often appear first - better sleep, reduced tension, faster decision-making
- Average client ROI is 10x within 12-18 months, with most recouping their investment within 90 days
- The program bridges the gap between clinical excellence and business leadership confidence
Memorable Quotes: "There's such a difference between clinical excellence and confidence and business excellence and confidence."
"A lot of times once we get to know somebody, they'll confess later: 'Yeah, I feel like I don't really know what I'm doing,' and that's incredibly difficult for any highly trained professional to admit."
"You set the tone for the culture of your practice. And that can have an incredibly positive impact on your entire team, and that goes out to your patients and that ripples out to your community."
This episode offers a rare glimpse into the methodology behind helping healthcare providers reclaim their time while building thriving, sustainable practices. Whether you're feeling stuck or ready to scale, Tracy's insights provide a clear path forward.
Miranda’s Bio:
Miranda Dorta, B.F.A. (she/her/hers) is the Manager of Operations and PR at Tracy Cherpeski International. A graduate of Savannah College of Art and Design with expertise in writing and creative storytelling, Miranda brings her skills in operations, public relations, and communication strategies to the Thriving Practice community. Based in the City of Oaks, she joined the team in 2021 and has been instrumental in streamlining operations while managing the company's public presence since 2022.
Tracy’s Bio:
Tracy Cherpeski, MBA, MA, CPSC (she/her/hers) is the Founder of Tracy Cherpeski International and Thriving Practice Community. As a Business Consultant and Executive Coach, Tracy helps healthcare practice owners scale their businesses without sacrificing wellbeing. Through strategic planning, leadership development, and mindset mastery, she empowers clients to reclaim their time and reach their potential. Based in Chapel Hill, NC, Tracy serves clients worldwide and is the Executive Producer and Host of the Thriving Practice podcast. Her guiding philosophy: Survival is not enough; life is meant to be celebrated.
See Where Your Practice Stands: Take our Practice Growth Readiness Assessment
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Wednesday Aug 06, 2025
Wednesday Aug 06, 2025
Join us for a fascinating conversation with Aspen Noonan, founder of Elevate Holistics, a pioneering telemedicine company connecting healthcare providers with patients seeking medical cannabis recommendations across 18 states. Aspen pulls back the curtain on this highly regulated but often misunderstood industry, sharing insights about entrepreneurship in the cannabis space, the complex patchwork of state laws, and innovative ways healthcare providers can support their patients while creating new revenue streams.
Key Highlights
- The Business Model: How Elevate Holistics streamlines the medical cannabis recommendation process with 2-hour turnaround times and comprehensive support systems
- Regulatory Landscape: Why cannabis laws vary dramatically between states and how entrepreneurs must constantly adapt to survive
- Recommendations vs. Prescriptions: The crucial distinction that affects liability, insurance coverage, and provider participation
- Provider Opportunities: Affiliate programs and educational resources that allow healthcare professionals to help patients without directly handling cannabis recommendations
- Industry Insights: Why Oklahoma has 2,000+ dispensaries and how medical cards create value even in recreational states through tax savings
- Personal Stories: Aspen's journey from 10 years on ADHD medication to cannabis advocacy and the life-changing patient stories that drive her mission
- Future Outlook: Potential for insurance coverage, employee benefits, and the role of states' rights in cannabis policy
Memorable Quotes
"Change is the only constant in my world. The ability to pivot in this industry has been what stands the test of time."
"Cannabis used to be the first thing you tried. You used to try plants first, and then you would go to science. Now it's the opposite."
"I think cannabis can be seen as a crutch. When you break a leg, you need crutches. But when you're introducing alternative medicine, you use it for a little while and see what else can I fix?"
"This industry is highly regulated, but not enforced. The blame goes to a lot of different places."
Closing
Aspen's work at Elevate Holistics demonstrates how entrepreneurs can build meaningful businesses while navigating complex regulatory environments and genuinely helping people access alternative healthcare options. Her insights into the cannabis industry reveal opportunities for healthcare providers to better serve their patients while exploring new revenue streams in this rapidly evolving space.
Bio:
Aspen Noonan is the CEO of Elevate Holistics, a telehealth platform connecting patients with medical cannabis recommendations across 18 states. Since becoming CEO in June 2024, Aspen has been driving the company's ambitious goal of helping one million individuals obtain legal access to medical marijuana. With deep expertise in cannabis industry regulations and a commitment to holistic health, she has positioned Elevate Holistics as a leader in making medical cannabis accessible through streamlined online services and comprehensive patient support.
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