The Prosthetics & Orthotics Podcast

Tracking digital innovation as it evolves our profession and transforms patient care.

The Prosthetics and Orthotics Podcast is a deep dive into what 3D printing, additive manufacturing, software, and connected workflows mean for prosthetics and orthotics. Brent Wright and Joris Peels explore the technologies, people, and practical decisions reshaping the way we care for patients.

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Show snapshot

13

Current season

Digital O&P

Core focus

Brent + Joris

Hosts

Latest episodes

Recent conversations from the TPO archive.

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Brent Wright and Joris Peels

Hosts

Brent Wright and Joris Peels on the forces changing O&P.

Before visitors get into the latest episodes, this panel gives the show a stronger human anchor. It uses the host artwork as a dedicated feature instead of forcing it into one of the episode cards.

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The Embla Report Exposes a Massive Prosthetics Opportunity with Joris and Brent
June 6, 2026Season 13Episode 10

The Embla Report Exposes a Massive Prosthetics Opportunity with Joris and Brent

In this episode, Brent Wright and Joris Peels break down the 2025 Embla Medical Annual Report and explore what it reveals about the future of the prosthetics and orthotics industry. While Embla continues to post steady growth and strong profitability, the discussion centers on larger questions: Is the industry's future in acquiring more clinics or creating new products and markets? The conversation examines Embla's expansion into patient care, neuro-orthotics, and bracing, while highlighting a startling statistic that only 30-40% of new amputees worldwide receive a prosthetic solution. Brent and Joris debate whether the greatest opportunity lies not in serving existing reimbursed markets, but in developing affordable solutions for the millions of underserved patients globally. Along the way, they discuss innovation, 3D printing, AI, reimbursement challenges, acquisitions, and what it will take for the next generation of O&P companies to move beyond simply growing revenue and toward truly transforming patient care  Special thanks to Advanced 3D for sponsoring this episode.

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How Hands-On O&P Education Builds Clinicians with Arlene Gillis
May 13, 2026Season 13Episode 9

How Hands-On O&P Education Builds Clinicians with Arlene Gillis

We talk with Arlene Gillis about how prosthetics and orthotics education is evolving and what it takes to train clinicians who can thrive in modern practice. We dig into hands-on fabrication, residency redesign, and the workforce pipeline that clinics need to keep patient care strong.  • Arlene’s path into prosthetics and orthotics through patient translation and a life-changing fitting  • How becoming an educator requires a new skill set beyond clinical training  • What the move to master’s level O&P education changes for standards, scope, and credibility  • Why hands-on fabrication time still matters even in digital and 3D printing workflows  • Traditional residency versus embedded residency and how mentorship can continue after graduation  • Who today’s O&P students are and how goals shift by background and generation  • Work-life balance, debt pressure, and why some young clinicians leave for higher-paying roles  • Business skills employers want most including coding, front office process, and cost awareness  • Digital workflow training including scanning, CAD, carvers, 3D printers, and EMR exposure  • Care extenders as a clinic model to improve access, speed, and workforce capacity  Special thanks to Advanced 3D for sponsoring this episode.

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Design, Engineering, Clinical Passion, and the Future of Patient Managed Comfort with Alex Dahinten
April 22, 2026Season 13Episode 8

Design, Engineering, Clinical Passion, and the Future of Patient Managed Comfort with Alex Dahinten

We break down what we saw at RAPID, from vapor smoothing and metal printing to reinforcement methods and silicone printing that could reshape interfaces. Then we talk with Alex Dahinten about building better socket comfort through real time adjustability and what it takes to get a new prosthetic solution into clinics through Medicare coding.  • Vapor smoothing as a path to cleaner looking 3D printed parts and the safety tradeoffs behind different chemicals  • What a smaller HP powder bed fusion machine could mean for clinic workflows and cost per part  • Foil based metal manufacturing as an alternative to powder handling for tight tolerance small parts  • Reinforcing thermoplastics by injecting fiber and resin into printed channels and why pricing matters  We then hear: • Alex’s path from biomedical engineering into prosthetics and orthotics  • Upper limb prosthetics as systems integration with higher costs and heavier follow up burden  • Capacity building in global health as the difference between short term missions and sustainable care  • Why the socket interface drives outcomes and how compliance improves comfort without losing energy transfer  • Ethnocare’s Overlay air bladder sleeve for residual limb volume management and the doffing effect problem  • Medicare L5657 and the impact of a fee schedule on clinician and patient access  Special thanks to Advanced 3D for sponsoring this episode.

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The Animal Side of Orthotics and Prosthetics: Innovation in Veterinary Care with Danielle Robins
April 8, 2026Season 13Episode 7

The Animal Side of Orthotics and Prosthetics: Innovation in Veterinary Care with Danielle Robins

We talk with Danielle Robins about building orthoses and prostheses for pets and why veterinary rehab often lacks the training and support needed for consistent outcomes. We dig into what dogs actually need most, how remote consulting works across states and countries, and why better education could change the standard of care. • Danielle's path from PT shadowing to O&P and then into animal orthotics after her own dog’s injury • Why canine stifle bracing for CCL or ACL injuries dominates veterinary orthotics • How animal biomechanics, suspension, and compliance make pet devices a different craft than human O&P • Why cats rarely get devices and why three-legged cats often cope better than dogs • Orthotics as a surgery alternative for ligaments, Achilles rehab, and challenging fusions • Prosthetic candidacy, partial limb planning, and the veterinary tendency toward full amputation • When wheelchairs and carts beat braces and prostheses • The Orthopets shutdown and how it reshaped the veterinary O&P supply landscape • Virtual casting support, fiberglass techniques, and using 3D scans to reduce shipping time • Knowledge hoarding in a tiny market and Danielle's push toward a baseline certification • Where 3D printing may fit  Special thanks to Advanced 3D for sponsoring this episode.

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What the show covers

Where clinical reality, software, materials, and manufacturing meet.

The current TPO site centers the same themes episode after episode: real workflow change, real business pressure, and real patient impact.

Scanning to fit

Digital workflows that hold up in clinic

From phone-based scanning to CAD, automation, and fabrication, the show follows how digital tools actually move from demos into patient care.

Business and policy

Reimbursement, documentation, and operations

Episodes tackle L-codes, payer dynamics, note quality, software adoption, and the economic tradeoffs clinics face every day.

Global perspective

Innovation beyond one market

Guests range from founders and researchers to clinicians and operators working across the US, Europe, the Gulf, Africa, and beyond.

Meet the hosts

Two longtime observers of how additive manufacturing changes care delivery.

The current site frames TPO as a learning journey through digitization. This section turns that into a clearer introduction to the people behind the microphone.

“Brent brings the clinical and practical lens, keeping each conversation grounded in what helps providers and patients in the real world.”

Brent Wright / Co-host, The Prosthetics and Orthotics Podcast

“Joris tracks the manufacturing, software, and materials side, connecting industry shifts to the future of prosthetic and orthotic production.”

Joris Peels / Co-host, The Prosthetics and Orthotics Podcast

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FAQ

Quick answers for listeners and industry readers.

The updated landing page keeps the current show's purpose clear while giving new visitors a faster way into the archive.

What is the show about?

TPO focuses on how digitization is reshaping prosthetics and orthotics, including 3D printing, software, scanning, materials, reimbursement, and clinical workflows.

Where can I listen?

The show is hosted on Buzzsprout and syndicated to major podcast platforms. The landing page also surfaces recent episodes directly from the Buzzsprout API.