Create Meaning in Medicine
Are you a woman in medicine looking to rediscover joy and balance in your career and personal life? Welcome to "Create Meaning in Medicine," the podcast where women physicians come to rewrite the rules and reclaim their fulfillment. Hosted by Dr. Joanne Sotelo and Dr. Erin Hurley, this podcast offers a sanctuary for candid discussions on the tough topics no one else is talking about, such as burnout, mental health, and the intricate balance of relationships and professional obligations. Each episode brings insights from expert guests, offering you strategies to overcome the unique challenges faced by women in healthcare. Subscribe to our podcast to navigate the complexities of your career with greater clarity and intention. Join us and explore actionable steps to enhance your well-being and achieve a sustainable, fulfilling lifestyle. Your path to creating meaning in medicine starts here!
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165. Dr. Joanne Sotelo: A Wake-Up Call for Women in Medicine
01/27/2026
165. Dr. Joanne Sotelo: A Wake-Up Call for Women in Medicine
If you’ve been telling yourself you’ll change when life “calms down,” this episode is your sign that the time is now. Dr. Joanne Sotelo and Dr. Erin Hurley offer a compassionate but honest wake-up call for women in medicine, reminding us that high-functioning does not equal healthy. They explore the real cost of burnout, the importance of reclaiming personal agency, and how identity shifts, especially with the rise of AI, are forcing physicians to rethink fulfillment, purpose, and self-leadership. Key Takeaways To Listen For High-functioning is not the same as healthy. Doing all the things doesn’t mean you’re well. Radical honesty matters: where are you living on autopilot, and what is it costing you? Why reclaiming your agency (“I choose. I decide.”) is essential for preventing burnout and disengagement. The rise of AI is reshaping how physicians view relevance, purpose, and identity in medicine. A powerful reflection question: If nothing changes in the next five years, how would you feel about your life? “The first step is that we need to wake up to the truth. We need to have that radical honesty with ourselves and ask good questions.” - Dr. Joanne Sotelo Connect With Us Do you want to hear more from the ladies of the Create Meaning In Medicine podcast? Discover more empowering content when you go to ! ▶️ Watch our videos:
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164. How To Know It’s Time To Transition In Medicine
01/20/2026
164. How To Know It’s Time To Transition In Medicine
Feeling stuck or waiting for certainty before changing course? In this episode, we unpack agency for physicians, how guilt and obligation keep us small, and why shifting your brain’s filter toward options opens new paths. Hear scripts, supports, and next steps to move before burnout. Press play to choose your next move. Key Takeaways To Listen For When the system feels fixed, what does agency look like Can you re-aim your RAS to notice options instead of limits Where do guilt and obligation skew choices, and what reframes help How do you move at 60–70% certainty instead of waiting for perfect Which moments call for borrowing belief before confidence arrives Connect With UsDo you want to hear more from the ladies of the Create Meaning In Medicine podcast? Discover more empowering content when you go to ! ▶️ Watch our videos:
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163. Direct Your Identity, Direct Your Life
01/13/2026
163. Direct Your Identity, Direct Your Life
Feeling like your life is being chosen for you? You’re not alone. In this episode, we explore why identity, not willpower, drives behavior, how to break out of autopilot, and ways to choose who we’re becoming as medicine advances. Press play to build awareness, set values aligned with goals, and make your next step intentional. Key Takeaways To Listen For What changes when you stop living by default and insert a reset How identity outperforms motivation and how to write it into habits Which better questions break autopilot and open real options How to choose who you are before what you do, step by step What simple rules and routines cut chaos without extra effort Connect With UsDo you want to hear more from the ladies of the Create Meaning In Medicine podcast? Discover more empowering content when you go to ! ▶️ Watch our videos:
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162. AI in Medicine Meets Improv with Dr. Susan Shelmerdine
01/06/2026
162. AI in Medicine Meets Improv with Dr. Susan Shelmerdine
Is AI sharpening care or eroding our humanity? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Susan Shelmerdine to unpack responsible AI in medicine, the mental health risks of overreliance, and the skill of discernment. She shares how improv rebuilt confidence and why connection must stay central. Press play to use AI wisely without losing yourself. Key Takeaways To Listen For What to do when AI is banned in a clinic without losing efficiency or safety Why discernment beats raw knowledge in medicine’s AI era How to use AI without frying your focus When loneliness creeps in, what replaces the chatbot habit and restores real connection Why risking rejection may be smarter for your career than playing it safe About Susan Shelmerdine, MBBS, PHD Dr. Susan is a consultant pediatric radiologist at Great Ormond Street Hospital and an honorary associate professor at University College London. A 2025 Roentgen Professor of the Royal College of Radiologists, she leads NIHR-funded AI research in children’s imaging and pioneered the INTACT biopsy technique. Connect with Dr. Susan Website: LinkedIn: Connect With UsDo you want to hear more from the ladies of the Create Meaning In Medicine podcast? Discover more empowering content when you go to ! ▶️ Watch our videos:
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161. Boundaries In Medicine That Protect Time And Energy
12/30/2025
161. Boundaries In Medicine That Protect Time And Energy
Why are women physicians praised for teamwork yet penalized when we say no? In this episode, we unpack the hidden curriculum and redefine boundaries as clear rules that protect time, energy, and patient care. Press play to protect your yeses and set limits without apology. Key Takeaways To Listen For What boundaries look like in medicine, set clear rules for time, energy, and workload Why self-compassion matters, view boundaries as protection, not rejection How to spot overcommitment, pause, reassess roles, and reset before burnout The pause script “My schedule is full. I’ll review and get back to you.” When to end after-hours work, set no-charting zones, and finish notes before leaving Resources Mentioned In This Episode Connect With UsDo you want to hear more from the ladies of the Create Meaning In Medicine podcast? Discover more empowering content when you go to ! ▶️ Watch our videos:
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160. Reclaim Your Energy With Physician Coaching
12/23/2025
160. Reclaim Your Energy With Physician Coaching
Still trying to handle everything alone? This episode explains why “be strong” becomes a cage for women in medicine and how real support and coaching change energy, clarity, and confidence. Erin and Joanne define what coaching is and is not, and share steps to build boundaries and resilience. Press play to learn how support speeds growth. Key Takeaways To Listen For Why “be strong” can trap high achievers in overwork and isolation How real support replaces lone-ranger thinking and restores energy What coaching is (and isn’t) for physicians, plus the therapy boundary How a coach exposes blind spots, resets your nervous system, and drives action Boundaries that protect time and values without guilt Connect With UsDo you want to hear more from the ladies of the Create Meaning In Medicine podcast? Discover more empowering content when you go to ! ▶️ Watch our videos:
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159. Boundaries and Better Habits With Community
12/18/2025
159. Boundaries and Better Habits With Community
Feeling stuck on autopilot, you didn’t choose? In this episode, we reveal how tiny, repeatable habits and the right community can shift energy, protect time, and make medicine feel sustainable again. Learn why your “top five” people shape your routines more than willpower, and how simple boundary scripts and 1% course corrections help you finish notes sooner and breathe easier. Press play to see how awareness plus support turns goals into lived habits. Key Takeaways To Listen For What “good autopilot” looks like and how to build it into your day How 1% change (no-snooze rule, earlier lights-out) cascades into better energy How moods and behaviors “mirror” in groups and why your five people matter Where to find or build communities that celebrate letting go, not just doing more First step: awareness, then a boundary script that replaces the default yes Connect With UsDo you want to hear more from the ladies of the Create Meaning In Medicine podcast? Discover more empowering content when you go to ! ▶️ Watch our videos:
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158. Micro-Joy At Work: Faster Recovery And Better Patient Care
12/16/2025
158. Micro-Joy At Work: Faster Recovery And Better Patient Care
Feeling stretched thin? In this episode, we show how three minutes of play can reset your nervous system and protect against burnout. We unpack the brain science behind joy, then share quick rituals, between patient resets, and simple team games that boost creativity and connection. Press play to learn small moves that restore energy fast. Key Takeaways To Listen For How joy resets your nervous system and sharpens focus Why playful breaks boost energy, teamwork, and creativity What drains play from women physicians, and how to reclaim it Where to anchor micro joy: before charting, between patients, at home The ripple of modeled joy on teams, patient care, and family Resources Mentioned In This Episode Connect With UsDo you want to hear more from the ladies of the Create Meaning In Medicine podcast? Discover more empowering content when you go to ! ▶️ Watch our videos:
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157. Building ADHD-Friendly Routines For Focus And Calm With Dr. Brittany Bell, MD
12/11/2025
157. Building ADHD-Friendly Routines For Focus And Calm With Dr. Brittany Bell, MD
What if your ADHD isn’t a liability at work but your sharpest edge? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Brittney Bell to unpack how women in medicine can turn neurodivergent traits into creative leadership through simple systems, self-kindness rituals, and personalized environments. We also explore psychological safety, reframing productivity, and the courage to pivot when the old rules no longer fit. Press play to learn practical moves you can use this week. Key Takeaways To Listen For Could a 60-second self-kindness ritual reset your nervous system and shape every choice after? Which ADHD friendly system lets your strengths carry progress when willpower runs low? When creativity is the leadership metric, how do outcomes, culture, and courage change? What focus returns when you redesign your physical, digital, and meeting norms for neurodivergent brains? Which single boundary turns constant pings into a deep work window you can keep? About Britney Bell, M.D. Dr. Brittney is a physician, researcher, and creative leadership strategist who helps women with ADHD in leadership unlock suppressed creativity as their most powerful competitive advantage. Diagnosed in her 30s while in academic medicine, she champions systems that fit neurodivergent brains, from self-kindness rituals to personalized physical, digital, and cultural environments that protect focus and wellbeing. Her work centers on psychological safety, practical structures over “work harder,” and using creativity as a leadership edge. Her mantra says it best: “Creativity is the power to imagine a better future and the courage to make it a reality.” Connect with Dr. Britney LinkedIn: Instagram: Book a Call: Connect With Us Do you want to hear more from the ladies of the Create Meaning In Medicine podcast? Discover more empowering content when you go to ! ▶️ Watch our videos:
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156. Practical Ways To Feel Connected This Holiday
12/09/2025
156. Practical Ways To Feel Connected This Holiday
Craving a holiday that feels meaningful, not manic? In this episode, we look at how old patterns, perfection pressure, and comparison steal the season, and how reflection, boundaries, and simple systems bring back connection. Learn to delegate, trim gifts, protect sleep, and choose what matters most. Press play to design a calmer, more connected holiday. Key Takeaways To Listen For Why old holiday patterns persist and how a 50% simplification cuts stress and boosts connection What two-question debrief to run after gatherings to repeat wins and fix friction next time How to set time-boxed visits and exit rules to stay calm with tricky family dynamics When to swap gifts for experiences or donations to match values and ease pressure Start designing for connection first by subtracting tasks that block presence and joy Resources Mentioned In This Episode Connect With UsDo you want to hear more from the ladies of the Create Meaning In Medicine podcast? Discover more empowering content when you go to ! ▶️ Watch our videos:
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155. Women In Medicine Self-Trust And Permission-Free Leadership
12/04/2025
155. Women In Medicine Self-Trust And Permission-Free Leadership
Still waiting for a green light? In this episode, we show how life shifts when we stop seeking approval and start trusting our gut. We name the traps of perfectionism and people pleasing, then share a no permission playbook: claim a new identity, take one small step, set and keep boundaries. Press play to learn how to choose yourself and move before you feel ready. Key Takeaways To Listen For The shift from outsourcing decisions to trusting your gut in motion Why acting before you feel ready unlocks real progress over perfection How to move from a victim mindset to empowered self-advocacy What breaks the “good doctor” programming and reignites courage Why your green light matters more than external validation Connect With UsDo you want to hear more from the ladies of the Create Meaning In Medicine podcast? Discover more empowering content when you go to ! ▶️ Watch our videos:
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154. Grief, Money, and Time Pressures: Holidays for Women in Medicine
12/02/2025
154. Grief, Money, and Time Pressures: Holidays for Women in Medicine
Feeling the holiday load before the season even starts? In this episode, we unpack why many women in medicine shoulder invisible labor at home and extra time burdens at work that spike this season. We name the financial strain, grief, and perfection pressure, then share clear steps to reflect, delegate, protect sleep, and build lighter traditions. Press play to choose a saner pace, protect your energy, and enjoy connection without sacrificing well-being. Key Takeaways To Listen For Why naming invisible labor changes the holiday script at home How money, stress, and quiet grief amplify December burnout What the data says about women’s added EHR time and clinic load Delegate smart: what to outsource, automate, or simply skip Protect sleep first so you can show up calm, present, and resilient Connect With UsDo you want to hear more from the ladies of the Create Meaning In Medicine podcast? Discover more empowering content when you go to ! ▶️ Watch our videos:
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153. How to Build a Sustainable Life in Medicine
11/27/2025
153. How to Build a Sustainable Life in Medicine
Burnout gets all the airtime, but what comes after it rarely does. In this episode, we unpack what a truly sustainable life looks like for women in medicine. We dig into energy alignment, boundaries you actually keep, and simple systems that protect your peace over the long term. Press play to learn practical moves you can start this week to choose a healthier pace and feel like yourself again. Key Takeaways To Listen For What changes when you stop sprinting and choose a sustainable pace How a simple mindset flip can make your physician's life feel burnout-resistant Where your energy is leaking and how to plug the stealth drains fast How to reclaim identity beyond work so you actually feel like yourself What systems buy back hours each week and cut decision fatigue Connect With UsDo you want to hear more from the ladies of the Create Meaning In Medicine podcast? Discover more empowering content when you go to ! ▶️ Watch our videos:
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152. Rapid-Fire Q&A with Dr. Erin Hurley: Life & Lessons
11/25/2025
152. Rapid-Fire Q&A with Dr. Erin Hurley: Life & Lessons
Curious who Dr. Erin Hurley is beyond the white coat? In this rapid-fire episode, Erin shares the small loves and big pivots that shaped her path—from ocean energy and boysenberry pies to black-belt grit, coaching breakthroughs, and finding her voice on major stages. You’ll hear the mindset shifts behind leadership, generosity, and helping people feel seen and understood. Press play to meet the person behind the mic and take a few prompts to spark your own story. Key Takeaways To Listen For Why shifting to early mornings can boost focus, energy, and follow-through across your day How brief ocean time calms the nervous system and restores clarity when you feel overloaded What black-belt discipline reveals about building courage: train small, repeat often, grow stronger How saying yes to a coach can pivot your trajectory by adding clarity, accountability, and momentum How to help people feel seen: listen fully, reflect back the message, and validate the feeling Connect With UsDo you want to hear more from the ladies of the Create Meaning In Medicine podcast? Discover more empowering content when you go to ! ▶️ Watch our videos:
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151. Rapid-Fire Q&A with Dr. Joanne Sotelo: Heart of a Psychiatrist
11/20/2025
151. Rapid-Fire Q&A with Dr. Joanne Sotelo: Heart of a Psychiatrist
Who is Joanne beyond the white coat? In this candid get-to-know-you episode, Erin fires rapid-fire questions that reveal Joanne’s Puerto Rican roots, black belt grit, marathon mindset, and the belief shift that moved her from pure science to honoring intuition. You’ll hear the sliding-door choice that led her to adult psychiatry and the family traditions that shaped her drive to serve. Press play to meet the person behind the mic and leave inspired to trust your own inner compass. Key Takeaways To Listen For Discover the energy mix she lives by: coffee, early mornings, ocean mindset, and dulce de leche Learn how she shifted from only science to trusting intuition and growth work See the sliding-door decision that led her to adult psychiatry over child psychiatry Hear the “did it scare” moment that unlocked a new season of her life Feel her core intention for every room she enters: leave people inspired Connect With UsDo you want to hear more from the ladies of the Create Meaning In Medicine podcast? Discover more empowering content when you go to ! ▶️ Watch our videos:
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150. How Marketers Hack Your Brain: Simple Rules to Buy Less
11/18/2025
150. How Marketers Hack Your Brain: Simple Rules to Buy Less
Holiday shopping can feel like relief, but your brain may be getting played. We unpack how scarcity timers, FOMO, and quick dopamine hits push impulsive buys, then offer simple rules that protect your money, time, and peace. You will learn how to pause, ask better questions, and swap stuff for experiences that actually satisfy. Press play to build an intentional plan before the next “limited-time” offer. Key Takeaways To Listen For How marketers trigger your amygdala with scarcity, timers, and “only 3 left" Why dopamine spikes from “Buy now” and BOGO fade fast, and how to pause Make a rule, then follow it: add a 24–48 hour buffer to curb impulse buys Ask better questions: “Is this good for me now and for future me?” Count the real cost of stuff: money, space, time, clutter, and mental load Connect With UsDo you want to hear more from the ladies of the Create Meaning In Medicine podcast? Discover more empowering content when you go to ! ▶️ Watch our videos:
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149. Holiday Stress And SAD: Sleep Better With Simple Habits
11/13/2025
149. Holiday Stress And SAD: Sleep Better With Simple Habits
Holiday cheer can hide a heavy lift. Nearly half of adults feel more stressed from November to January, and many face the holiday blues or seasonal affective disorder. In this episode, we break down what to watch for, how expectations and routines shape mood, the simple resets that help (morning light, protected sleep, clearer boundaries, saying yes to help), quick planning moves to prevent overload, and when to seek support at 988. Press play to learn the red flags and small changes that can steady your season. Key Takeaways To Listen For What separates Holiday Blues from SAD and how that changes your plan Why low mood, sleep swings, or hopelessness are red flags to act on How morning light boosts mood and resets your body clock Start here: set clear yes/no boundaries and exit plans to protect energy Try small assists: accept help and delegate to cut mental load Resources Mentioned In This Episode If you or someone you know is struggling with overwhelming feelings, you’re not alone. Call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for free, confidential support 24/7. There’s always someone ready to listen and help you through. Connect With UsDo you want to hear more from the ladies of the Create Meaning In Medicine podcast? Discover more empowering content when you go to ! ▶️ Watch our videos:
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148. Asking For Help Made Simple: Small Asks With Big Impact
11/11/2025
148. Asking For Help Made Simple: Small Asks With Big Impact
Asking for help is not a weakness; it is a sign of leadership. In this episode, we’ll explore why it can be challenging in medicine, examining factors such as bias, pride, the lone-ranger habit, and the fear of burdening others. Hear practical shifts like saying yes to offered support, delegating to empower your team, and matching help to your season. Press play to pick one ask you will make today. Key Takeaways To Listen For Why asking for help feels hard and what to notice first What does it mean and how to reframe the story How to delegate to empower and offload for good Why asking boosts connection, trust, and performance How to practice a default yes and when to expand support Resources Mentioned In This Episode Connect With UsDo you want to hear more from the ladies of the Create Meaning In Medicine podcast? Discover more empowering content when you go to ! ▶️ Watch our videos:
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147. Grow Your Confidence In Medicine: Simple Steps You Can Start Now
11/06/2025
147. Grow Your Confidence In Medicine: Simple Steps You Can Start Now
Confidence is a skill, not a personality type. In this episode, we unpack why self-doubt lingers for women in medicine even when performance is strong. We show how the confidence and competence loop with staged learning can shift that story. Press play to pick one move you will try this week. Key Takeaways To Listen For What confidence really is and why it’s buildable Why strong outcomes don’t erase self-doubt and how to interrupt it How the confidence and competence loop works and where to start What stage you are in and how to move to the next one How to turn failure into feedback and celebrate facts that boost belief Connect With UsDo you want to hear more from the ladies of the Create Meaning In Medicine podcast? Discover more empowering content when you go to ! ▶️ Watch our videos:
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146. The Beauty Of No Agenda: Reduce Anxiety And Reclaim Focus
11/04/2025
146. The Beauty Of No Agenda: Reduce Anxiety And Reclaim Focus
Our most productive day might be the one with no agenda. In this episode, we unpack how unstructured time lowers the mental load, restores presence, and sharpens decisions. We share simple ways to build short breaks and parasympathetic days into real life without losing momentum. Press play to pick one small shift you will try this week. Key Takeaways To Listen For What a no-agenda day is and why it calms your nervous system Why schedule rigidity blocks presence with the people who matter How decision capacity drops without breaks and the quick fixes that restore it Why awareness comes first and how to block open space on your calendar What to put in unstructured time and how to avoid numbing defaults like TV and scrolling Connect With UsDo you want to hear more from the ladies of the Create Meaning In Medicine podcast? Discover more empowering content when you go to ! ▶️ Watch our videos:
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145. The Truth About FOMO: Fear Pretending To Be Ambition
10/30/2025
145. The Truth About FOMO: Fear Pretending To Be Ambition
FOMO is fear pretending to be ambition. In this episode, we’ll show you how comparison drives overcommitment and anxiety, and how JOMO helps you choose what matters. Learn simple shifts to pause before yes, listen to your body, and back your decision without second-guessing. Press play to pick one choice you will make differently today. Key Takeaways To Listen For What FOMO really is and why it spikes in the era of constant feeds Why comparison to highlight reels fuels anxiety, burnout, and poor sleep How to pause before yes and ask better questions that honor priorities How to listen to your body for decision signals and reduce indecision fatigue Make the decision, back yourself up, and stop the energy drain of second-guessing Connect With UsDo you want to hear more from the ladies of the Create Meaning In Medicine podcast? Discover more empowering content when you go to ! ▶️ Watch our videos:
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144. The Power of Grace: Compassionate Practice for Better Patient Care
10/28/2025
144. The Power of Grace: Compassionate Practice for Better Patient Care
Grace is the quiet power that changes everything in medicine. We’ll show how letting go of perfectionism and choosing realistic optimism restores energy, connection, and real precision. Press play to pick one shift now and share it with a colleague who needs a lighter load. Key Takeaways To Listen For What grace really means in medicine and why it changes everything Precision vs perfectionism: How to aim high without self-punishment The recovery tool you are allowed to use A simple planning check that lightens your load Why women in medicine need grace now more than ever Connect With UsDo you want to hear more from the ladies of the Create Meaning In Medicine podcast? Discover more empowering content when you go to ! ▶️ Watch our videos:
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143. Beyond Resilience: Healing, Growth, And Holding Your Form
10/23/2025
143. Beyond Resilience: Healing, Growth, And Holding Your Form
What if resilience wasn’t about pushing through, but bouncing forward with intention? We will explore what true resilience looks like for women in medicine, beyond burnout and perfectionism. Through real stories and simple strategies, we’ll unpack how to recover, reframe, and reconnect with your well-being. Listen in to redefine strength and take your next step toward healing. Key Takeaways To Listen For Why "bouncing forward" is a more helpful definition of resilience What do you actually need to recover in your well-being? Story reframing: what can this struggle teach you? The power of self-compassion and treating yourself like your best friend Redefining resilience as healing and growth, not just toughness Connect With UsDo you want to hear more from the ladies of the Create Meaning In Medicine podcast? Discover more empowering content when you go to ! ▶️ Watch our videos:
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142. The Power Of One Tiny Move In The Right Direction
10/21/2025
142. The Power Of One Tiny Move In The Right Direction
What if success isn’t about doing more, but about small moves that matter? This episode explores how tiny, intentional actions can create meaningful momentum. With neuroscience and real-life coaching insights, we show how lowering the bar with compassion leads to lasting change. Tune in and take one small step toward a more balanced life. Key Takeaways To Listen For How self-compassion reduces overwhelm and helps sustain momentum A 5-minute break that transformed an entire workday and created a ripple effect The "floor and ceiling" method for flexible and sustainable goal setting Habit stacking, redefining success, and celebrating progress over perfection Why starting small, like flossing one tooth, can be the most powerful move Connect With UsDo you want to hear more from the ladies of the Create Meaning In Medicine podcast? Discover more empowering content when you go to ! ▶️ Watch our videos:
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141. Why Dr. Mary Leung Says “Today Will Be a Great Day”
10/16/2025
141. Why Dr. Mary Leung Says “Today Will Be a Great Day”
Burnout doesn’t have to be the price of practicing medicine. In this episode, Dr. Mary Leung shares how she reclaimed her time, energy, and purpose without walking away from clinical care. Through mindset shifts, gratitude, and coaching tools, she found a more joyful and sustainable way to practice. Tune in to discover how you can do the same. Key Takeaways To Listen For Dr. Mary’s burnout story and how she found coaching From survival mode to sustainability in just 3 months Why practicing presence improves patient care How gratitude rewired her perspective (and joy followed) What to do before you quit your job About Mary Leung, MDDr. Mary is a board-certified hematologist and medical oncologist, as well as a certified life coach for physicians. After experiencing burnout in her own career, she discovered the power of coaching and significantly reduced her charting time, allowing her to reclaim her energy, focus, and connection with her family. She now helps other physicians manage stress, take back their time, and build meaningful, sustainable lives in medicine. Dr. Leung is passionate about showing physicians that it's possible to feel better, work smarter, and enjoy the life they’ve worked so hard to create. Connect with Dr. Mary Website: LinkedIn: Facebook: Email: Connect With UsDo you want to hear more from the ladies of the Create Meaning In Medicine podcast? Discover more empowering content when you go to ! ▶️ Watch our videos:
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140. How To Hold Joy And Sorrow At The Same Time
10/14/2025
140. How To Hold Joy And Sorrow At The Same Time
It’s possible to feel both joy and distress at once, but it takes practice. This episode explores how physicians can hold space for mixed emotions without shutting down. With support and the right tools, we can stay grounded through the messy middle. Tune in to learn how emotional balance builds real strength. Key Takeaways To Listen For How to make space for both anxiety and joy without minimizing either The high pain tolerance of women physicians and why it can be dangerous How the community creates collective healing and problem-solving Mindset shifts and somatic tools for managing distress in real time How to build the skill of emotional balance through practice Resources Mentioned In This Episode Connect With UsDo you want to hear more from the ladies of the Create Meaning In Medicine podcast? Discover more empowering content when you go to ! ▶️ Watch our videos:
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139. From Survival to Celebration: Dr. Buchanan’s Wake-Up Call Part 2
10/09/2025
139. From Survival to Celebration: Dr. Buchanan’s Wake-Up Call Part 2
What if community were the key to healing in medicine? In this follow-up episode, Dr. Pamela Buchanan shares how peer support, coaching, and her Melanated Medicine network help women physicians of color navigate racism, reclaim wellness, and find renewed purpose. Tune in to explore how safe spaces and collective care are changing the culture of medicine. Key Takeaways To Listen For Why Black women in medicine need safe spaces to process trauma, racism, and exhaustion How the Melanated Medicine network provides healing, joy, and sisterhood The importance of decolonizing success and redefining achievement on your own terms Coaching and community as antidotes to isolation and burnout The power of collective healing and rewriting the narrative for women physicians of color Resources Mentioned In This Episode About Dr. Pamela BuchananDr. Pamela is a physician, TEDx speaker, and stress management expert helping high-achieving professionals beat burnout and lead with purpose. She offers coaching, consulting, and workshops on leadership, well-being, and resilience. As founder of Strong Medicine STL, she also provides telemedicine weight loss care, including GLP-1 medication management. Dr. Buchanan empowers individuals and organizations to thrive through mindset shifts, practical tools, and a deep reconnection to what matters most. Connect with Dr. Pamela Website: LinkedIn: Book: White Coat, Black Face | Text STRONG to 55444 to join Dr. Pamela Buchanan’s supportive community for women physicians of color. Connect With UsDo you want to hear more from the ladies of the Create Meaning In Medicine podcast? Discover more empowering content when you go to ! ▶️ Watch our videos:
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138. From Survival to Celebration: Dr. Buchanan’s Wake-Up Call Part 1
10/07/2025
138. From Survival to Celebration: Dr. Buchanan’s Wake-Up Call Part 1
What if joy and purpose could thrive in medicine? In this episode, Dr. Pamela Buchanan shares how reconnecting with gratitude and presence helped her move from burnout to balance. She reflects on systemic challenges, mindset shifts, and the power of community. Tune in to discover how small moments of joy can lead to big change. Key Takeaways To Listen For How gratitude rewired her perspective (and joy followed) Daily huddles, micro-celebrations, and the intentional pursuit of joy Being present and intentional in both work and family life What to do before you walk away from your job Reconnecting with your “why” to create meaning in medicine Resources Mentioned In This Episode About Dr. Pamela BuchananDr. Pamela is a physician, TEDx speaker, and stress management expert helping high-achieving professionals beat burnout and lead with purpose. She offers coaching, consulting, and workshops on leadership, well-being, and resilience. As founder of Strong Medicine STL, she also provides telemedicine weight loss care, including GLP-1 medication management. Dr. Buchanan empowers individuals and organizations to thrive through mindset shifts, practical tools, and a deep reconnection to what matters most. Connect with Dr. Pamela Website: LinkedIn: Book: White Coat, Black Face | Text STRONG to 55444 to join Dr. Pamela Buchanan’s supportive community for women physicians of color. Connect With UsDo you want to hear more from the ladies of the Create Meaning In Medicine podcast? Discover more empowering content when you go to ! ▶️ Watch our videos:
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137. The Truth About Shame And Burnout In Medical Culture
10/02/2025
137. The Truth About Shame And Burnout In Medical Culture
Shame thrives in silence, especially in medicine. In this episode, we’ll explore how perfectionism and secrecy quietly fuel burnout and emotional exhaustion. You'll hear practical tools for self-compassion, courage, and connection. If you've ever felt pressure to hold it all together alone, this episode is for you. Key Takeaways To Listen For How shame shows up in medicine and what makes it so harmful When professionalism becomes perfectionism and leads to hiding The double burden and cultural pressures facing women physicians Five practical ways to recognize and work through shame The antidote to shame: courage and compassion Connect With UsDo you want to hear more from the ladies of the Create Meaning In Medicine podcast? Discover more empowering content when you go to ! ▶️ Watch our videos:
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136. Why Physicians Need Retreats Too With Dr. Chrissie Ott
09/30/2025
136. Why Physicians Need Retreats Too With Dr. Chrissie Ott
Physicians are trained to care for others, but often struggle to care for themselves. In this episode, Dr. Chrissie Ott shares how pursuing joy can help shift the culture of medicine and reduce burnout. Listen in to discover why joy and a little job polyamory might be exactly what you need right now. Key Takeaways To Listen For What “solving for joy” really means for physicians Common blocks to joy in medicine, including cognitive distortions The importance of in-person connection and retreat-style learning The “Four Vs” framework to realign with personal values and mission Coaching as a complement to therapy and psychiatry for total well-being Resources Mentioned In This Episode About Chrissie Ott MD, FAAP, PCCDr. Chrissie is a dual board-certified internist and pediatrician with additional training in integrative medicine. She serves as medical director of a long-term care facility for medically complex children and young adults in Portland, OR. With a background in medicine, wellness, and the arts, she helps physicians and creatives reconnect with joy and purpose. Connect with Dr. Chrissie Website: LinkedIn: Facebook: Instagram: Podcast: Join us November 6- 8 at Civana Wellness Resort & Spa in Carefree, Arizona, for the 2025 Physician Coaching Summit, a powerful gathering focused on connection, growth, and bringing more joy to medicine. Learn more and register at Connect With UsDo you want to hear more from the ladies of the Create Meaning In Medicine podcast? Discover more empowering content when you go to ! ▶️ Watch our videos:
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