Ep. 50: Sustainable Practice - Purpose + Profit with Jason Stein
In this milestone 50th episode of The BRAVE OT Podcast, I sit down with Jason Stein—acupuncturist, executive coach, and the cowboy-hat-wearing wellness practitioner who's mastered the art of building a sustainable occupational therapy practice that honors both purpose and profit. If you're an overwhelmed practice owner wondering how to create more vitality in your work and life, this conversation offers wisdom you can actually use.
Jason shares his journey from hospital-based integrative medicine to building a wellness center in rural Oregon (population: one person per two square miles), and how he helps founders and leaders find balance between making money and staying human. We explore Key Vitality Indicators (KVIs) instead of KPIs, why befriending money doesn't make you less spiritual, and the simple practices that are often the hardest to maintain—but create the most transformation.
In This Episode, We Discuss:
- Why so many therapy practice owners experience burnout and what Key Vitality Indicators can tell you about your business health
- How Jason shifted from perseverating about outcomes to surrendering control—and why ketamine therapy opened a door to deeper presence
- The practical magic of closing your eyes for half a breath during heated conversations
- Why making money and being a heart-centered healer aren't mutually exclusive (and how to befriend money like a best friend)
- Natural rhythms, seasonal cycles, and why we've disrupted our connection to rest through electricity and hustle culture
- The Kawa Model (Japanese river model) for understanding life flow, obstacles, and opportunities in your practice (See Ep. 31 for the Find Your Flow Kawa Workshop)
- How to build a values-based business that doesn't require you to abandon your love of nature, family dinners, or making really good ice cream
- The truth about AI tools: when they help with self-reflection and when you need actual human connection
- Some good health advice, "You can pay now or you can pay later, but you're gonna pay"
- Jane's LIFE CHANGING AI Scribe feature.
About Jason Stein
Jason Stein is an acupuncturist, executive coach, and storyteller who blends ancient wisdom with modern leadership. With more than 25 years of experience helping hundreds of people heal and thrive, he supports leaders, founders, and communities in finding the balance between purpose and profit. Jason co-owns Wallowa Avenue Wellness in Joseph, Oregon, and hosts the Wellness Renegades Podcast. When not working, he's outdoors with his wife and kids exploring the wilderness and living close to nature.
Connect with Jason on LinkedIn
Resources Mentioned:
- Insight Timer app (meditation timer)
- Jon Kabat-Zinn - "Full Catastrophe Living"
- Kawa Model (Japanese river model for occupational therapy)
- Alan Weiss - "Value-Based Consulting"
- Marshall Rosenberg - Nonviolent Communication
- Maisie Hill - "Period: The Real Talk You Need About Periods"
- Claude AI (for business reflection and planning)
Keep the conversation going over in The BRAVE OT Podcast Facebook Group.
Work With Carlyn - Time-Sensitive Opportunity:
As we enter October, I'll be focusing my time less on marketing and more on deepening the work with practitioners in my community. If you've been waiting for the deadline to explore ACTivate Vitality with me, reach out this week while I'm still actively booking new conversations. Book a Clarity Call
The ACTivate Vitality Program is a community of occupational therapy and wellness practitioners who support each other in building sustainable, values-aligned businesses. We have group coaching calls, an online community, an ACT-based framework to build entrepreneurial and psychological flexibility, and 1:1 support.
About The BRAVE OT Podcast:
The BRAVE OT Podcast features occupational therapists and wellness practitioners doing innovative work and navigating the challenges of building sustainable therapy practices. Host Carlyn Neek provides coaching, mentorship, and community support for practice owners who want to thrive without the hustle.
