When Annie Strauch was in high school, her choir teacher forced her to make a choice:

Pursue sports… or pursue music.

She chose sports…. but life had other plans 😃

Today, Annie is one of Australia’s leading vocal physiotherapists and the founder of Performance Medicine—a physical therapy practice that supports some of the biggest theatrical productions in the world: Hamilton, Wicked, Beauty and the Beast, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, and more.

Thanks to Annie’s work, world-class performers are able to take the stage night after night—while protecting their voices and bodies for the long run.

But Annie didn’t find this career path. She pioneered it.

And her journey to get here is nothing short of inspiring.

In this episode, we explore:

• 🎭 How she built a first-of-its-kind business in Australia that combined all her passions—art, science, music, performance, and healing
• 🍼 How Annie built a thriving business while having three kids in 3.5 years—and why that wild constraint became one of the greatest gifts in shaping a sustainable and scalable company
• 💡 Why she invested early in her “home team” just as much as her business team—and how that helped her thrive as both a founder and a mother

If you’ve ever wondered how to design a business that honors your creativity, your calling, and your capacity—this conversation is your permission slip.

Show Notes Generated With The Help of AI!

Show Notes: Beyond Curious with Annie Strauch

00:00 - Introduction to Beyond Curious and today’s guest, Annie Strauch.

Brandon welcomes listeners and introduces Annie Strauch, a pioneering physiotherapist in Australia whose work combines her passions for art, science, music, performance, and healing.

01:12 - Three insights to look out for in Annie’s story.

Brandon highlights Annie’s unique achievements: building a first-of-its-kind business, raising three children in under four years while growing her company, and her philosophy of investing equally in her home and business teams.

03:38 - Annie shares her excitement and appreciation for the podcast.

Annie and Brandon share mutual excitement, setting the stage for a candid, energetic conversation about Annie’s unconventional journey.

04:35 - The unique challenges behind the stage of “Storm Boy”.

Annie vividly describes working with the Melbourne Theatre Company on Storm Boy, tackling the unusual challenge of performers acting on synthetic sand dunes and how her team devised safe, creative movement workshops for the cast.

08:01 - Brandon and Annie discuss the hidden intricacies behind live performances.

They explore the often unseen physical demands on performers, costumes, lighting, and how Annie’s work ensures artists can perform safely night after night.

12:29 - Annie’s high school choir teacher’s ultimatum: music or sports?

Annie shares how her choir teacher forced her to choose between athletics and choir practice, a pivotal moment that foreshadowed her future of blending both worlds into a fulfilling career.

18:29 - How Annie embraced nonlinear thinking to blend her passions.

Brandon and Annie unpack her journey of fusing art and science, from choosing physiotherapy to fuel her love of travel to rediscovering creativity while building her career.

22:17 - Annie’s “spark moment” working in London’s West End.

She recounts how an unexpected opportunity at a prestigious London clinic introduced her to theatre physiotherapy, supporting productions like Billy Elliot and tackling challenges like the physical impact of raked stages.

28:15 - Starting her own business and an unexpected surprise.

Annie details founding her clinic, Performance Medicine, in 2010, and finding out three months in that she was pregnant—turning what could have been an obstacle into the catalyst for building a sustainable, scalable practice.

35:28 - Investing equally in her “home team” and “business team”.

Annie shares practical advice for working parents: setting up childcare early, hiring help at home (cleaners, meal prep), and why she sees these as non-negotiable investments in her family’s and business’s success.

45:58 - Navigating setbacks: losing an employee while on maternity leave.

Annie reflects on a defining challenge—an employee leaving right after her second child was born—and how it forced her to confront hard truths about trust, resilience, and scaling her team.

50:36 - Going “all in” and the leap from small practice to national company.

She explains how this crisis led her to hire more staff, expand her premises sixfold, and eventually build a thriving national business supporting productions across Australia and beyond.

53:21 - Advice for anyone standing at their “go big or go home” moment.

Annie shares concrete advice: have passion, know your numbers, build systems as you go, and surround yourself with aligned, trustworthy people. She emphasizes using your core values as a decision filter for sustainable growth.

Links & Resources

• Performance Medicine — Annie’s physiotherapy company serving Australia’s performing arts industry.
• Annie Strauch Linkedin Profile
• Episode #136 with Jem Fuller — The episode featuring the introduction to Annie.
• Melbourne Theatre Company — Where Annie’s Storm Boy production took place.