EPISODES

Simon Smith: Healthcare in England, Building a 30-Year Practice, and the Power of Doing Hard Things

What does it take to build a 30-year practice in a system that once called you a quack? And what happens when you choose the harder path, every... What does it take to build a 30-year practice in a system that once called you a quack? And what happens when you choose the harder path, every single day, for three decades? In this episode of The Resilience Playbook, Cole Rodgers sits down with Simon Smith, a doctor of chiropractic from England who has spent 31 years caring for patients, challenging conventional medicine, and proving that alternative care isn't alternative at all when it works. Simon shares his journey from losing both parents by age 23, stumbling into chiropractic through a note slipped under his door, and building a thriving private practice in a country dominated by the National Health Service. He opens up about what it means to operate outside the government system, why he chose to take full ownership of his health and his business, and how he has spent three decades learning, evolving, and refusing to practice the same way twice. This conversation goes deep into the differences between socialized medicine in England and the industrialized healthcare system in America. Simon walks through how the NHS works, what it costs, why it is both brilliant and broken, and how private care fits into the equation. He talks about taxation, access to specialists, waiting lists, and why some general practitioners still refuse to take him seriously after 31 years of clinical success. But this episode is about more than healthcare. It is about doing hard things. Simon talks about why he road tests every exercise on his own body before giving it to a patient, why he believes you cannot trust a doctor who does not take care of themselves, and why discipline, accountability, and showing up every single day have kept him in peak condition at 58 years old. Cole and Simon also unpack the comfort crisis creeping into both England and America, the entitlement that comes with easy access to calories, and why people would rather take a pill than do the work. They talk about functional medicine, the role of movement as medicine, and why resilience requires more than grit. It requires grace, proximity, and the willingness to keep getting back up. If you have ever questioned the system, wondered what healthcare looks like in another country, or needed a reminder that your health is your responsibility and no one else's, this conversation will meet you where you are. IN THIS EPISODE • Growing up in England and losing both parents by age 23 • How a note under the door led to a 31-year chiropractic career • What the National Health Service is and how it actually works • Private care versus NHS care in England • Taxation, access to specialists, and waiting lists • Why general practitioners still dismiss chiropractors • Building a private practice outside the government system • The comfort crisis in England and America • Why free access to calories is destroying health • Why Simon road tests every exercise on his own body • The power of doing hard things every single day • What it means to take full ownership of your health • Why mortality is the greatest motivation • The bond forged through adversity and why proximity matters ABOUT SIMON SMITH Simon Smith is a doctor of chiropractic with over 31 years of clinical experience in England. He has built a thriving private practice outside the National Health Service, specializing in functional rehabilitation, movement medicine, and helping patients take full ownership of their health. Known for his commitment to lifelong learning and his refusal to practice the same way twice, Simon has spent his career challenging conventional medicine, educating patients, and proving that alternative care works when it is done with integrity and expertise. At 58, he continues to model the principles he teaches, training hard, moving well, and preparing for the next chapter of his life, which includes coaching, mentoring, and traveling the world with his wife. ABOUT THE RESILIENCE PLAYBOOK The Resilience Playbook is a long-form conversation series hosted by Cole Rodgers, featuring leaders, athletes, entrepreneurs, and high performers who have faced adversity and come out with something meaningful to share. These conversations explore resilience, faith, leadership, family, mental health, and the defining moments that shape who we become. New episodes drop regularly. Subscribe and turn on notifications so you do not miss one. CONNECT WITH THE SHOW Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theresilienceplaybook/ X (Twitter): https://x.com/TheResiliencePB LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-resilience-playbook/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theresilienceplaybook Website: https://theresilienceplaybook.com/ Listen on audio: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ShZgzjhsPCKzCLzfoWApI Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-resilience-playbook/id1861046313 – Simon Smith read more