Substack: The Designation is Not the Destination

The Rub: a podcast about massage therapy

The Rub: a podcast about massage therapy
Substack: The Designation is Not the Destination
Mar 12, 2026
Healwell

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What exactly do we mean when we call ourselves “healthcare providers”?

“Healthcare provider” does not mean the same thing everywhere. Depending on the state, it might mean defined scope and enforceable accountability. It could relate to insurance participation. Maybe it means elevated liability standards.

Worst case, it might mean mostly vibes.

These variations aren’t trivial. Once the label of “healthcare provider” or “healthcare service” enters statute, it stops being branding and starts carrying weight. Or at least, it should. Across the United States, that weight is distributed unevenly.

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Episode Artwork Substack: The Designation is Not the Destination 17:52 Episode Artwork Substack: Why Massage Therapy Needs a Divorce, Not Another Debate 19:48 Episode Artwork Substack: Massage Isn’t Complicated, It's Complex 11:06 Episode Artwork Substack: The Myth of the Gift 5:37 Episode Artwork Substack: Massage Therapy Has a Labor Problem 14:18 Episode Artwork Substack: Why Don't We Just...? 10:29 Episode Artwork Substack: Broadcasting Safety 15:12 Episode Artwork Substack: It's Not Magic, It's Emotional Labor 8:27 Episode Artwork Substack: Research Networks- Not Just for People Who Wear Lab Coats 8:52 Episode Artwork Substack: The Price of Free 9:41 Episode Artwork Going Forward 4:17 Episode Artwork Midsummer News Rubdown 11:01 Episode Artwork Getting Your Elbows Out: Why Licensing Matters to Massage Therapy 20:07 Episode Artwork Rubdown News Alert: California State Licensing 10:46 Episode Artwork 2025 Winter Rubdown 13:51 Episode Artwork A Profession-Wide Mental Health Crisis: Risk Factors 58:27 Episode Artwork A Profession-Wide Mental Health Crisis: The Report 25:44 Episode Artwork Massage Robots 47:20 Episode Artwork Fall Rubdown 17:57 Episode Artwork Editorial: First-Hand Mental Health Crisis 9:22 Episode Artwork August Rubdown 6:02 Episode Artwork A (Brief) Massage Therapist's Guide to AI 17:27 Episode Artwork July Rubdown 12:18 Episode Artwork Massage Tools 22:19 Episode Artwork June Rubdown 11:46