How do you transition from a ten-year-old sketching sneakers to becoming one of the leading voices in footwear biomechanics and podiatric research? For Dr. Daniel Bonanno, Associate Professsor and Graduate Research Coordinator at La Trobe University, the evolution was fuelled by an enduring fascination with sports and a profound commitment to human movement.

Our host, Patrick Doan, sits down for a candid conversation with Dan to dismantle the boundaries between academic inquiry and clinical reality. Together, they explore how contemporary podiatry is shifting away from a strictly pathology-focused medical model toward holistic, patient-centered care. Dan opens up about his late-career transition into a PhD, his strategies for managing imposter syndrome, and how clinical reasoning must always outshine the glitz of expensive technology.

In this episode, we dive into:

• The Mindset Shift in Elite Care: Why treating high-performance athletes forced Dan to look beyond tissue injury to prioritise patient psychology, personal beliefs, and performance goals over pure pathology.
• The High-Cut vs. Low-Cut Debate: Early insights from Dan's latest research mapping basketball shoe biomechanics. Discover what an NBA-style draft combine revealed about footwear height and explosive performance.
• De-risking Research for Clinicians: Practical blueprints for busy practitioners who want to dip their toes into original research without burning out, including the power of collaborative mentorship and achievable project scaling.
• Combating the Professional Vacuum: A hard look at Dan's 2024 data on student recruitment barriers. Why every clinician is a "billboard" for podiatry, and how extended scopes—like graduating as a scheduled medicines prescriber—are redefining the field.
• The Low-Hanging Fruit of Tech: Why expensive force plates and 3D scanners are meaningless without clinical reasoning, and why the humblest tool—like a compressed shoe insole—can sometimes tell the most vital story.
• Overrated vs. Underrated: A rapid-fire segment covering everything from gait retraining for shin pain to the modern evolutionary threat of exercise science degrees.

Whether you are a new graduate navigating early-career imposter syndrome, a solo practitioner looking to shield yourself from burnout, or an athlete curious about the true science behind your footwear, this episode serves as an essential masterclass in advancing both your practice and the profession.

Connect with our guest:

• Dr Daniel Bonanno: Connect with Dan on X @DanielRBonanno or via ResearchGate.

Join the SEPA Community

Enjoyed this conversation and want to elevate your career in sports and exercise podiatry? Join SEPA and become a member today. Whether you're a student, a recent graduate, or an established clinician, SEPA offers a world of opportunity—from exclusive access to the latest research and CPD, to mentorship and networking with some of the most respected names in the field.

www.sepa.org.au

How do you bridge the gap between elite performance on the track and precision care in the clinic? For Thomas Do Canto, the 2024 Australian Marathon Champion and Michael Nitschke, a sub-4-minute 1500m runner and veteran sports podiatrist, the answer lies in empathy born from injury and a deep curiosity about human movement.

Recording live from the 2025 ASICS SMA Conference in Hobart, hosts Pat and John sit down with two of the most respected voices in Australian running performance. They explore the evolution of sports podiatry from a "blended" profession to a recognised leader in lower limb biomechanics, emphasising that the best clinical outcomes often come from matching high-tech data with old-school communication.

In this episode, we dive into:

• The Athlete’s Empathy: How personal experience with almost every running injury imaginable helps Thomas and Michael build immediate "buy-in" and trust with patients.
• The "Super Shoe" Spectrum: A deep dive into the shift from motion control to maximalist "super shoes". Michael explains why these shoes are the "e-bikes" of running—reducing the barrier to entry and making the sport more enjoyable for recreational runners.
• Data vs. Nuance: Why Michael uses data to describe habits rather than prescribe them, and how Thomas utilises visual gait analysis to cut through the "noise" of modern technology.
• The Psychology of the Injured Athlete: Strategies for managing competitive kids and parents, focussing on long-term resilience rather than rushing a return to play.
• The Future of the Profession: Reflecting on the significance of a podiatrist delivering the keynote address at the SMA Conference and the importance of nurturing the next generation of passionate clinicians.
• AI in the Clinic: How Thomas uses AI to reduce the administrative burden, allowing for more comprehensive and personalised patient education plans.

Whether you're looking to optimise your own marathon training or looking for a blueprint on how to grow a specialised sports podiatry practice, this episode offers a masterclass in blending the art and science of running.

Connect with our guests:

• Thomas Do Canto: Instagram @thomasdocanto
• Michael Nitschke: SPARC (Sports and Arthritis Clinic), Adelaide Instagram @sparc_sport

Join the SEPA Community

Enjoyed this conversation and want to elevate your career in sports and exercise podiatry? Join SEPA and become a member today. Whether you're a student, a recent graduate, or an established clinician, SEPA offers a world of opportunity—from exclusive access to the latest research and CPD, to mentorship and networking with some of the most respected names in the field.

www.sepa.org.au

What defines excellence in sports podiatry in an era of tech overload? For Dr. Chris Bishop, a world leading expert in biomechanics and footwear, it starts with a return to the basics: a rapid, accurate diagnosis.

In this episode, the hosts dive deep into Chris’s prolific career as the founder of The Biomechanics Lab and his role as a consultant biomechanist for ASICS. Chris shares groundbreaking insights from his research on variable stiffness orthotics, explaining how 3D printing allows clinicians to tune devices for specific physiological gains, such as improving running economy by up to 4%.

We also explore:

• The "Super Shoe" Reality Check: Why foams matter more than plates, and why these high-velocity shoes might actually increase injury risk for novice runners.
• The RUN-CAT Tool: How to objectively assess footwear comfort and why heel cushioning and forefoot flexibility remain the best predictors of patient adherence.
• The Cricket Conundrum: Managing the extreme asymmetric loads of fast bowlers and why training load management often beats "magic" footwear.
• The Tech Stack: Chris’s recommendations for essential clinical tools—from force plates to handheld dynamometry—and his "innovate or die" philosophy.
• Career Blueprint: Advice for the next generation on building a world-class network and staying curious in a rapidly evolving field.

Whether you are a seasoned sports podiatrist or a student just starting out, this episode is a masterclass in blending high-level research with pragmatic clinical excellence.

Connect with Dr. Chris Bishop:

• Instagram/Facebook: @thebiomechanicslab

Join the SEPA Community

Enjoyed this conversation and want to elevate your career in sports and exercise podiatry? Join SEPA and become a member today. Whether you're a student, a recent graduate, or an established clinician, SEPA offers a world of opportunity—from exclusive access to the latest research and CPD, to mentorship and networking with some of the most respected names in the field.

www.sepa.org.au