The Growth Show with Whitney Bateson

Alissa Rumsey and I went to dietetics school together almost 20 years ago (truly, how), and getting her on the show to talk about client retention was such a full-circle moment. Here's the big idea: when clients stop showing up after a few sessions, we tend to assume it's about motivation, money, or that they weren't "ready," but Alissa argues that most of the time it's actually a systems problem in our practice. The expectations we never set, the friction we didn't realize was there, the onboarding that quietly told them this would be a one-and-done. We get into what to audit in your client journey, why setting expectations on your website (and in your intake forms, and on your discovery call, and at the start of session one) changes everything, and the specific language she uses to build trust and create emotional safety before the work even begins. If you've ever felt like you're working really hard with clients who quietly disappear after session three, this is the conversation.Takeaways:Client drop-off usually isn't about motivation, it's about unclear expectations and friction in your systems. People stop showing up because they feel overwhelmed or ashamed, not because they don't care. Set expectations everywhere: your website, your intake forms, your discovery call, the start of your first session. Tell people explicitly that behavior change takes time, that you typically work with clients for X months, and what to expect at each step. Reduce friction in your booking process. Letting people schedule directly on your website (instead of having to email you first) removes a real barrier and saves your admin time. The first session is not a place to info-dump. A 15-page meal plan and a stack of handouts often makes clients feel overwhelmed, not supported... and they don't come back. Slow down and trust the process. Two small language shifts that build trust fast: opening session one with "how are you feeling showing up today?" and asking permission before giving suggestions ("how does that sound?"). Both give the client autonomy and signal that this is collaborative.Connect with Alissa:Website: https://www.theliberatedclinician.com Instagram: @alissarumseyRD and @theliberatedclinician Free Client Retention Workshop: https://www.theliberatedclinician.com/client-retention-workshop/ Client Retention Toolkit: https://www.theliberatedclinician.com/retention-toolkit/ Book: Unapologetic Eating by Alissa Rumsey - https://www.amazon.com/Unapologetic-Eating-Make-Peace-Transform/dp/1628604255Connect with Whitney:Follow Whitney on Instagram @whitneybatesonSubscribe & Review:If you’re enjoying the podcast, don’t forget to follow and leave a review! Your support helps others discover the show Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. Annie Cole is back on the show and this conversation might just give you permission to stop doing the marketing thing you secretly hate. Her new book lays out 15 different customer attraction strategies, and the central argument is that every business has one that's built for it... most practitioners are exhausting themselves on the wrong one. We talk through which strategies tend to fit health practitioners best (referrals and partnerships, SEO and AI optimization, lead magnet workshops, gig platforms for those side income streams), which ones to maybe leave behind, and how to do an honest audit of what's actually working in your business versus what just feels like it should be. Annie also shares how she's made almost half a million dollars in two years with an Instagram following of 800... a great reminder that audience size isn't the metric that matters. If you've felt stuck doing all the things and seeing none of the results, this one will land.Takeaways:There isn't one universal marketing strategy. There are 15, and the right one depends on how your customer actually finds solutions to their problem (Googling? asking their doctor? scrolling Instagram?).Partnerships and referrals tend to be one of the highest-leverage strategies for health practitioners, especially when you set up casual referral arrangements with complementary providers.Don't sleep on SEO and AI optimization. Getting your website to show up in Google and ChatGPT is a long game that pays off over months, not weeks.Borrow other people's audiences instead of trying to build your own from scratch — podcasts, media features, paid newsletter spots, and gig platforms all put you in front of people without building a following first.When you feel like nothing's working, do a personal audit: are people not seeing you (visibility problem) or are they seeing you and not converting (offer or messaging problem)? Pick two to three strategies and give them 30–60 days before pivoting.Connect with Dr. Annie Cole:Website: https://www.money-essentials.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-annie-cole-edd-16ab59135Book: How Six-Figure Business Owners Attract More Customers — https://www.money-essentials.com/6-figure-customer-attractionFree Quiz: https://www.money-essentials.com/6-figure-customers-quizInstagram: @buildwealthwithannieResources Mentioned:Quoted (PR pitching marketplace) — qwoted.comPaved (newsletter advertising directory) — paved.comGig and freelancer platforms: Upwork, Fiverr, Catalant, Contra, Freelancer.comConnect with Whitney:Follow Whitney on Instagram @whitneybatesonSubscribe & Review:If you're enjoying the podcast, don't forget to follow and leave a review! Your support helps others discover the show. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If the idea of stepping away from your practice for a week makes you cringe a little, this conversation is for you. Whitney is joined by Charlie Golightly, founder of Group Practice Partner, to unpack what real delegation looks like for human-centered practice owners — and why so many of us stay stuck doing everything even when we know it's not sustainable. Charlie shares the "house" metaphor for understanding what room you should actually be working in, the difference between delegating a task versus a full role, and the surprisingly common responsibilities practice owners cling to long past the point it serves them. They also get into trust, neurodivergent-friendly communication, and what to do when your last hire didn't work out and you're nervous to try again. It's a warm, honest conversation for anyone feeling the friction of growth... whether you're a solopreneur making your first hire or a group practice owner managing 20 clinicians solo.Takeaways:Good delegation should feel like an extension of you and your values, not another thing to micromanage. Do a "24-hour recall" of the tasks you've actually done this week, and sort them by category to see where your time is really going. Delegating a task is often a Hail Mary; delegating a role gives someone ownership and gives you lasting relief. If you've got 10+ clinicians and you're still the only manager, you don't need another admin... you need another leader. Trust doesn't have to be fully baked before you hire; setting clear expectations and talking about how you work is often where trust actually gets built.Connect with Charlie:Website: grouppracticepartner.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charliegolightly/ Free resource - Business Vitality Assessment: charlie.myflodesk.com/jivn5czyaResources Mentioned:Business Vitality Assessment (linked above)Connect with Whitney:Follow Whitney on Instagram @whitneybatesonSubscribe & Review:If you’re enjoying the podcast, don’t forget to follow and leave a review! Your support helps others discover the show. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Katie Dodd didn't set out to be an entrepreneur. She was a geriatric dietitian happily working for the VA — with a plan to stay there until she was 68 and a half, as she puts it — until a chance conversation on a plane sparked her first side hustle opportunity. From that one freelance writing gig, she built a thriving multi-stream business that eventually gave her the freedom to leave her full-time job, be present for her kids, and build a life on her own terms. In this episode, Katie shares her full journey and breaks down 34 (yes, 34!) different side hustle opportunities available to dietitians and healthcare professionals. She explains the real difference between active and passive income, why passive income isn't actually "do nothing and get paid," and how to approach building multiple revenue streams without overwhelming yourself. Whether you're curious about starting a side hustle or ready to go all in, this episode is packed with inspiration and a clear-headed framework for getting started.Takeaways:Passive income takes real groundwork. Katie spent 18 months building her blog before it generated meaningful income, but now it earns thousands of dollars per month on autopilot through ads, digital products, affiliates, and courses. Systems and traffic are everything. Start with "now money" before chasing "later money." Active income keeps the lights on while you build passive revenue in the background. Don't try to skip the active income phase, it's a necessary part of the journey. Pick one thing and do it well. Katie started with her blog, then added digital products, then a course, then a food blog... strategically and sequentially. She credits this focused approach with her long-term success. Your expertise is worth more than a salary. Dietitians have a wide range of monetizable skills — writing, speaking, teaching, consulting, culinary work, brand partnerships — that most never consider because they were only taught one path in school. Failure is part of the plan. As Katie says in her book: if you keep going, your dreams are probable. Not everything will work, and that's okay. The entrepreneurs who succeed are the ones who don't take themselves out of the game.Connect with Katie:Website: katiedodd.com Instagram: @thekatieddodd Podcast: Dietitian Side Hustle Book: Dietitian Side Hustle: A Comprehensive Guide for Starting a Side Hustle, Making More Money, and Loving What You Do — available on Amazon in paperback, hardcover, Kindle, and Audible (https://dietitiansidehustlebook.com/)Resources Mentioned:RD to RD / The Well-Resourced Dietitian: platform for selling dietitian-created handouts Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP): Amazon's free self-publishing platform Mediavine: ad revenue platform for bloggers Fullscript: supplement dispensing platformConnect with Whitney:Follow Whitney on Instagram @whitneybatesonSubscribe & Review:If you’re enjoying the podcast, don’t forget to follow and leave a review! Your support helps others discover th Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ads Made Simple: whitneybateson.com/adsmadesimpleIf you listened to the three-part ads series and still had questions, Whitney and Priscilla recorded this bonus FAQ episode just for you. They walk through the most common concerns holding practitioners back from getting started — including budget worries, tech overwhelm, and not being sure if the timing is right — and give clear, honest answers to all of it. They also break down each of the three options inside Ads Made Simple so you know exactly what you'd be signing up for, what's included, and what other costs (if any) to plan for. Whether you're brand new to ads or you've tried them before and had a frustrating experience, this episode will help you figure out your next step.Takeaways:You don't need a big budget. $5/day is enough to get started, and that number is likely already being spent somewhere in your business that isn't generating the same return. Ads Made Simple is focused on one funnel, one campaign, one result. Not everything under the sun. Think of it like learning to make meatballs, not learning all of Italian cooking. Before enrolling, you need three things in place: an email platform, a lead magnet, and a website. If you're missing any of those, Whitney and Priscilla can help with that too. Besides the enrollment fee and ad spend, the only additional tool you'll need to Zapier ($20/month) - and they'll show you how to use it well beyond jsut your ads. All three options inside Ads Made Simple include two weeks of live Slack support from Whitney and Priscilla, plus lifetime access to the course and any future updates.Connect with Priscilla:Website: priscillazaehringer.comConnect with Whitney:Follow Whitney on Instagram @whitneybatesonSubscribe & Review:If you’re enjoying the podcast, don’t forget to follow and leave a review! Your support helps others discover the show. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.