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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Reimagining Mobility. Advancing Research. with Fanny Schultea
July 18, 2026Season 14Episode 1

Reimagining Mobility. Advancing Research. with Fanny Schultea

In this episode, Brent Wright and Joris Peels sit down with Fanny Schultea, Executive Director of Live in Motion Foundation (formerly The Prosthetic and Orthotic Foundation For Education and Research), to explore how O&P can reinvent itself for the future. Fanny shares her journey from textile design and military service in Iraq to clinical practice, education, and national leadership within the profession. The conversation examines the workforce challenges facing O&P, the need for new care-delivery models, and the importance of investing in students, residents, clinicians, technicians, and researchers. Fanny also explains how stronger outcomes research, economic evidence, professional development, and public awareness can help expand access to care and demonstrate the value O&P brings to patients and the broader healthcare system. In this episode: Why O&P must rethink how care is delivered Addressing clinician shortages, burnout, and barriers to entry Building stronger career pathways for the next generation Funding scholarships, professional development, and research Using outcomes data to demonstrate the value of O&P care Preparing the profession for value-based healthcare The role of technology, wearables, and AI in future care Bringing greater public awareness and investment to O&P Special thanks to Advanced 3D for sponsoring this episode.

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Why Some Products Have Soul and Others Don't with Mike Laut
June 9, 2026Season 13Episode 11

Why Some Products Have Soul and Others Don't with Mike Laut

Part 1: Building a Design Firm Around Craftsmanship and Longevity Mike Laut, founder and president of Laut Design in Raleigh, shared how a freelance operation started from his college apartment at NC State grew into one of the region's leading industrial design firms. Throughout the conversation, Mike emphasized the value of craftsmanship, durability, and thoughtful design, drawing parallels between classic machine tools, family-owned manufacturers, and successful modern businesses. He discussed his passion for restoring vintage milling machines and lathes, believing that older equipment often embodies a level of quality, simplicity, and pride that is missing from many modern products. Mike also highlighted the importance of company culture, surrounding himself with talented people, and only working with clients who share similar values. His philosophy centers on creating products that solve real human problems while building a business designed to last for generations.  Part 2: A Potential Industry Disruptor After Mike's interview, Brent and Joris discussed the newly announced Formlabs large-format SLS printer, which dramatically increases build volume while entering the market at a price point far below traditional industrial powder-bed fusion systems. They explored how Formlabs is leveraging years of printing data, thermal monitoring, and software development to address some of the biggest challenges in SLS manufacturing, including print consistency and failure detection. While both hosts expressed excitement about the machine's potential to make industrial additive manufacturing more accessible, they also raised questions about first-generation reliability, material limitations, cooling times, and the long-term economics of Formlabs' powder ecosystem. The consensus was that the release could significantly disrupt established players such as HP, EOS, and Farsoon by lowering barriers to entry and making high-volume powder-bed printing attainable for smaller businesses, service bureaus, and healthcare applications such as prosthetics and orthotics.  Special thanks to Advanced 3D for sponsoring this episode.

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The Truth About Prosthetic Care Nobody Wants to Talk About with Reagan Perry
June 6, 2026Season 13Episode 12

The Truth About Prosthetic Care Nobody Wants to Talk About with Reagan Perry

In this episode of the Prosthetics & Orthotics Podcast, Reagan Perry shares her remarkable journey from years of limb-salvage surgeries to making the life-changing decision to undergo a through-knee amputation at just 23 years old. Reagan opens up about the realities of becoming an amputee, the emotional highs and lows of recovery, and why the process was far more complex than she was led to believe. The conversation explores the often-overlooked gaps in patient education, the importance of finding clinicians who truly listen, and the challenges many amputees face when navigating prosthetic care. Reagan candidly discusses her frustrations with traditional socket prostheses, her decision to pursue osseointegration, and how the technology has transformed her daily life by allowing her to focus less on her prosthesis and more on living. As a future physician and advocate, Reagan also shares her passion for the So Everybody Can Move initiative, which is working to expand insurance coverage for activity-specific prosthetic devices. From the role of peer support to the impact of insurance barriers, this episode offers an honest and powerful look at what life after amputation is really like, and why patients deserve more transparency, more options, and a greater voice in their care. Whether you're a clinician, amputee, caregiver, or simply interested in the future of mobility, this episode provides valuable insights into resilience, innovation, and the realities behind the prosthetic journey. Special thanks to Advanced 3D for sponsoring this episode.

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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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What the show covers

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

Across hundreds of conversations, TPO has consistently returned to the issues that matter most: changing workflows, economic pressures, and better patient care. The podcast examines how clinicians, manufacturers, entrepreneurs, and patients are navigating a rapidly evolving prosthetics and orthotics landscape.

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.

While TPO often explores the industry's shift toward digital workflows, the podcast is ultimately about the people leading that change. Hosts Brent Wright and Joris Peels sit down with innovators, clinicians, business leaders, and patients to share stories, challenge assumptions, and discuss the technologies transforming prosthetics and orthotics.

“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.

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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.