Getting REAL About Clinician Identity, Chronic Illness, Toxic Positivity, and Self-Worth with Dr. Susie Squats, DPT

What if doing meaningful work in healthcare meant redefining what “sustainable” actually looks like?

This episode of ChiroShift is one of our most honest conversations yet. Taylor sits down with Dr. Susie "Squats" Spirlock (@dr.susie.squats) a physical therapist, barbell rehab coach, business owner, and human navigating chronic illness in real time.

Susie gets deeply real about the not-so-pretty side of being a clinician and entrepreneur while managing HEDS, long COVID, gut issues, and the constant identity shifts that come with them.

She shares her journey from traditional clinic life to building a values-aligned business that actually supports her health instead of destroying it.

They unpack the identity crisis so many clinicians face, the pressure to perform online while dealing with real limitations, and how chronic illness reshaped the way Susie coaches, leads, and shows up for her clients. This conversation challenges hustle culture, toxic positivity, and the idea that your worth as a clinician is tied to how much you can produce.

If you’ve ever loved this profession but questioned whether it can love you back, this episode will land hard... in the best way.

Connect with the ChiroShift Podcast hosts, David & Taylor;

• Follow David Newton on IG: @dr.david.newton
• Follow Taylor Goldberg on IG:  @thehypermobilechiro
• Learn about PRIMED, their clinical mentorship program inside @thehoneybadgerproject
• Do your views on healthcare align? Sign up for this newsletter for more insights - The Healthcare Rebellion Newsletter