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Episode 26: Holiday Expectations for Physician Spouses: Ditch the Date, Ditch the Pressure, Keep the Magic

Supporting Physician Spouses

Release Date: 11/25/2025

Episode 26: Holiday Expectations for Physician Spouses: Ditch the Date, Ditch the Pressure, Keep the Magic show art Episode 26: Holiday Expectations for Physician Spouses: Ditch the Date, Ditch the Pressure, Keep the Magic

Supporting Physician Spouses

In this episode, Katie and Kendra talk honestly about navigating holidays in medical families—when schedules rarely match the calendar, traditions shift, and expectations don’t go as planned.  Listen If You’ve Ever Felt… Sad or frustrated celebrating without your spouse Guilty for not doing “traditional” holidays Tired of explaining your family’s reality Worried your kids are missing out Unsure how to create meaning when nothing feels normal What We Cover The mindset shift that removes holiday pressure Creating flexible, meaningful traditions Splitting...

info_outline Episode 25: Are You Using Gratitude to Avoid Hard Emotions Without Realizing It? show art Episode 25: Are You Using Gratitude to Avoid Hard Emotions Without Realizing It?

Supporting Physician Spouses

This week, Kendra and Katie unpack a quiet but common struggle among physician spouses: the belief that gratitude and dissatisfaction can’t coexist. We explore: Why so many physician spouses downplay their hard moments The “gratitude as gaslighting” trap How privilege guilt + comparison silence our real needs A simple AND vs BUT framework to spot healthy vs harmful gratitude How to hold emotional complexity without minimizing yourself Four questions to help you take action instead of staying stuck Why acknowledging what’s hard is not selfish—but essential for thriving ...

info_outline Episode 24: The Predictability Problem Series (Part 4) - How Physician Families Build Systems That Bend, Not Break show art Episode 24: The Predictability Problem Series (Part 4) - How Physician Families Build Systems That Bend, Not Break

Supporting Physician Spouses

When the call schedule explodes, the backup plan fails, and everyone’s unraveling — how do you hold it all together? In the final episode of The Predictability Problem Series, Kendra and Katie unpack what it really means to create flexible family systems that bend but don’t break when medicine runs the clock. You’ll learn: Why rigid plans actually increase stress in high-uncertainty seasons The Plan B Framework — Predict, List, Automate, Name — to restore calm when things go sideways How to build “structured flexibility” that keeps the household steady Why Plan B...

info_outline Episode 23: The Predictability Problem Series - From Parallel Lives to Connection (Part 3) How Physician Spouses Can Rebuild Connection When Medicine Feels Unpredictable show art Episode 23: The Predictability Problem Series - From Parallel Lives to Connection (Part 3) How Physician Spouses Can Rebuild Connection When Medicine Feels Unpredictable

Supporting Physician Spouses

Even the calmest, most grounded person can feel off balance when their relationship starts to feel like two people living parallel lives. In Week 3 of The Predictability Problem Series, Katie explores how physician spouses can rebuild calm through connection, even when medicine keeps changing the plan. You’ll hear: A real-life story of emotional safety in action Research from Dr. Tate Shanafelt and Dr. Wayne Sotile on what predicts thriving in physician families How much “meaningful time” couples actually need—and what to do if you can’t get it Why micro rituals of connection...

info_outline Episode 22: The Predictability Problem Series - From Bracing to Anchoring (Part 2) How Physician Partners Can Reclaim Calm Amid Burnout and Uncertainty show art Episode 22: The Predictability Problem Series - From Bracing to Anchoring (Part 2) How Physician Partners Can Reclaim Calm Amid Burnout and Uncertainty

Supporting Physician Spouses

When the text comes — “Got pulled into a case. Won’t make it for dinner.” — your whole body reacts. The plan falls apart, and suddenly, you’re bracing again. This week, Kendra walks physician spouses through the science of why unpredictability hits so hard — and a powerful, research-backed framework for reclaiming calm in the middle of it. Drawing from cognitive behavioral therapy and resilience training, she shares the ANCHOR Framework — six practical steps to shift from bracing for chaos to anchoring in calm, even when the schedule changes for the hundredth time. You’ll...

info_outline Episode 21: The Predictability Problem Series - Reclaim What's in Your Control (Part 1) Finding Autonomy in Physician Family Life show art Episode 21: The Predictability Problem Series - Reclaim What's in Your Control (Part 1) Finding Autonomy in Physician Family Life

Supporting Physician Spouses

If you’ve ever said, “Our calendar is held hostage by the call schedule,” or, “I can’t plan anything until we know the rotation,” this episode is for you. In Part 1 of The Predictability Problem Series, we’re exploring how to reclaim rhythm and calm in a life that’s constantly being reshaped by medicine. We’ll unpack what happens to our nervous systems when life feels unpredictable, the science behind why autonomy matters (thank you, Self-Determination Theory!), and how even tiny “pockets of control” can help restore your sense of balance and peace. You’ll walk away...

info_outline Episode 20: Loss, Healing and Hope - with Special Guest Amy Watson show art Episode 20: Loss, Healing and Hope - with Special Guest Amy Watson

Supporting Physician Spouses

October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, and in this heartfelt conversation, Kendra and Katie sit down with Amy Watson, a certified life coach who helps women navigate the deep grief that follows miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant loss. Amy shares her personal story — from losing her daughter Lauren and later her baby River, to transforming that pain into purpose by supporting others walking a similar path. This episode is for everyone — whether you’ve personally experienced loss or want to know how to better support a friend, colleague, or loved one who has. Together, we...

info_outline Episode 19: How to Embrace the Hard and the Hope for Physician Spouses show art Episode 19: How to Embrace the Hard and the Hope for Physician Spouses

Supporting Physician Spouses

Life in medicine can feel like one long stretch of “hard.” Between call schedules, solo parenting, and the constant shifting ground of medical life, it’s easy to believe something must be wrong when things feel heavy. But what if “hard” isn’t something to fix—what if it’s something to honor and even grow through? In this heartfelt conversation, Kendra and Katie get real about what it means to embrace both the hard and the hope in the physician spouse journey.  This episode will leave you encouraged, grounded, and equipped with simple steps to hold both gratitude and...

info_outline Episode 18: Finding Peace in Turbulent Times: Grounding, Faith & Community for Physician Families show art Episode 18: Finding Peace in Turbulent Times: Grounding, Faith & Community for Physician Families

Supporting Physician Spouses

In this heartfelt episode of Supporting Physician Spouses, Kendra and Katie pause to acknowledge the heaviness in our world right now. With tragic shootings, heartbreaking losses, and ongoing uncertainty, many of us feel shaken and weary. Together, we explore what it means to steady ourselves when the world feels unsteady—and how to cultivate peace that is both grounding and real. We walk through six steps that help us (and can help you) navigate turbulent times: Return to the Basics — Sleep, water, nourishment, and movement aren’t luxuries; they are anchors for your nervous system. ...

info_outline Episode 17: Residency, Family, and the Power of Language in Relationships - with Dr. Talon Harris show art Episode 17: Residency, Family, and the Power of Language in Relationships - with Dr. Talon Harris

Supporting Physician Spouses

In this heartfelt episode of Supporting Physician Spouses, Katie and Kendra welcome Katie’s husband, Dr. Talon Harris, a 3rd year FM resident, for a candid conversation about the realities of medical training, marriage, and family life. From childhood crushes to the challenges of residency leadership, the Harris family story shines a light on resilience, faith, and partnership in the physician spouse journey. Together, they explore: The Harris family’s love story — from first grade to marriage and medicine. How setbacks, rejections, and divine interventions shaped Talon’s path to...

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More Episodes

In this episode, Katie and Kendra talk honestly about navigating holidays in medical families—when schedules rarely match the calendar, traditions shift, and expectations don’t go as planned. 

Listen If You’ve Ever Felt…

  • Sad or frustrated celebrating without your spouse

  • Guilty for not doing “traditional” holidays

  • Tired of explaining your family’s reality

  • Worried your kids are missing out

  • Unsure how to create meaning when nothing feels normal

What We Cover

  • The mindset shift that removes holiday pressure

  • Creating flexible, meaningful traditions

  • Splitting celebrations without losing connection

  • Quality-over-quantity holiday planning

  • Supporting kids without toxic positivity

  • Avoiding the “woe is me” spiral

  • Why holidays get easier with time and experience

Resources