Épisodes

  • The Case for Physician Coaching: From Anecdotes to Evidence with Dr. Tyra Fainstad and Dr. Adrienne Mann| Ep20

    The Case for Physician Coaching: From Anecdotes to Evidence with Dr. Tyra Fainstad and Dr. Adrienne Mann| Ep20
    Dec 15 2025
    What if coaching isn't just hype, but evidence-backed medicine for your well-being?In this episode of Better Physician Life, Dr. Michael Hersh sits with Dr. Adrienne Mann and Dr. Tyra Fainstad, as they share their skeptical starts with physician coaching and how it evolved into a groundbreaking program. Drawing from personal rock-bottom moments and a large-scale study showing reduced burnout, imposter syndrome, and emotional exhaustion, they discuss practical tools like thought awareness, emotion naming, and the power of group coaching. From transforming residents' lives to fostering self-compassion, this episode reveals how coaching helps physicians thrive without fixing external chaos. Perfect for physician coaching skeptics ready for change.🔗 Better Together Physician Coaching: bettertogetherphysiciancoaching.comTop 3 TakeawaysQuestion Your Thoughts: Coaching teaches you that you don't have to believe every story your brain tells, such as "my life can't get better." Dr. Fainstad shares how naming emotions without judgment creates space for change—try journaling one unhelpful thought daily and questioning its truth to quiet imposter syndrome.Embrace Group Dynamics: Better Together's study proves group coaching builds community and reduces burnout faster than solo efforts. Drs. Mann and Fainstad explain how sharing vulnerabilities in safe spaces fosters growth, normalizes struggles, and amplifies insights.Allow Discomfort for Growth: Physicians frequently resist coaching due to skepticism, but allowing leaning into the discomfort can be transformative. Commit to one small coaching experiment this week to shift from survival mode to thriving. Try, resist, refine, then try again.About the Show:Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention.About the Guests:Dr. Adrienne Mann is a hospitalist at the Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center, focusing on medical education and institutional leadership. A certified coach, she co-directs Better Together Physician Coaching, drawing from her journey through burnout, motherhood, and self-reinvention to help physicians thrive.Dr. Tyra Fainstad is a primary care physician and resident clinic director at the University of Colorado. As co-director of Better Together, she leverages her experiences with career burnout and skepticism toward coaching to research and deliver evidence-based programs that reduce imposter syndrome and emotional exhaustion.Website: https://bettertogetherphysiciancoaching.com/Research page: https://bettertogetherphysiciancoaching.com/research/ Contact information: Dr. Tyra Fainstad: TYRA.FAINSTAD@cuanschutz.eduDr. Adrienne Mann: ADRIENNE.MANN@cuanschutz.eduAbout the Host:Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work.His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love.Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room.🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh:🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching📱TikTok: @betterphysicianlife Feeling stuck and trying to figure out “What’s Next?” I invite you to download my FREE GUIDE: The 5 Essential Steps Every Physician Needs To Figure Out “What’s Next?”This resource offers practical, actionable steps to help you take back control of your career, set clear goals, and make consistent progress toward the life you genuinely want. The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
    Voir plus Voir moins
    41 min
  • Doctor-Patient Communication: What We Didn’t Learn in Medical Training with Dr. Bradley Block | Ep19

    Doctor-Patient Communication: What We Didn’t Learn in Medical Training with Dr. Bradley Block | Ep19
    Dec 8 2025
    What if the key to better patient interactions isn't more time or expertise, but how you show up?In this episode of Better Physician Life, Dr. Michael Hersh sits with Dr. Bradley Block as he shares his journey from communication struggles to mastery. Starting his podcast after a frustrating clinic day that cost him family time, Dr. Block reveals why efficiency serves everyone—from waiting patients to your own well-being. He discusses being methodical in visits, earning trust by appreciating patients as humans, checking in on understanding, and removing distractions for true presence. Plus, insights on his rebranded podcast (over 400 episodes, nearly half a million downloads) and the Doctor Podcast Network, empowering physicians to podcast with ease.This episode is a must for doctors seeking to communicate effectively, enjoy medicine more, and reclaim their lives beyond the white coat.Top 3 TakeawaysBe Methodical for Efficiency and Trust: Communication challenges in medicine are repetitive. Identify them and create plans, just like surgical procedures. Dr. Block emphasizes showing patients you take them seriously, value them as humans, and care about outcomes to build rapport quickly.Prioritize Presence Over Distractions: Look up from screens to catch subtle cues and connect authentically. Dr. Block advises removing phones and other interruptions to give undivided attention, making visits more effective and helping you stay present in family life too.Leverage Podcasting for Growth: Dr. Block's Succeed in Medicine Podcast covers everything from litigation to productivity for physicians. Through the Doctor Podcast Network, busy doctors can easily start podcasts by focusing on interviews and outsourcing the rest, to network, establish expertise, and combat misinformation.About the Show:Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention.About the Guest:Dr. Bradley Block is a general otolaryngologist and partner at ENT and Allergy Associates in Long Island, New York. He's the creator and host of the Succeed in Medicine Podcast (formerly Physician's Guide to Doctoring), with over 400 episodes and nearly half a million downloads, focusing on communication, productivity, and life beyond medicine. As CEO of the Doctor Podcast Network, he supports physician podcasters in starting, growing, producing, and monetizing their shows.🔗 Succeed in Medicine Podcast: succeedinmedicine.com🔗 Doctor Podcast Network: doctorpodcastnetwork.co🔗Email: Brad@succedinmedicine.comAbout the Host:Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work.His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love.Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room.🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh:🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching📱TikTok: @betterphysicianlife Feeling stuck and trying to figure out “What’s Next?” I invite you to download my FREE GUIDE: The 5 Essential Steps Every Physician Needs To Figure Out “What’s Next?”This resource offers practical, actionable steps to help you take back control of your career, set clear goals, and make consistent progress toward the life you genuinely want. The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
    Voir plus Voir moins
    36 min
  • Physician Complacency: The Silent Career Killer (and How to Break Free) | Ep18

    Physician Complacency: The Silent Career Killer (and How to Break Free) | Ep18
    Dec 1 2025

    What if your "good enough" life is quietly eroding your potential?

    In this episode of Better Physician Life, Dr. Michael Hersh explores complacency—the subtle numbness that sneaks in after success, making routines feel stale without crisis. Sharing personal stories, like his own "rinse and repeat" year and a client's guitar breakthrough, he challenges physicians to rate their lives (1-10), question fear of change, and embrace experiments for growth. Dr. Hersh offers tools to swap comfort for courage, pushing past "not that bad" toward a vibrant, intentional life.

    Perfect for mid-career doctors feeling stuck in neutral, this episode inspires curiosity about what's possible—without blowing up your career.

    🔗 Design Your Life: A Goal Setting Guide for Physicians: betterphysicianlife.com/design-your-life

    Top 3 Takeaways

    • Rate Your Life Honestly: Pause to score your life (1-10) across work, family, health, and hobbies. Dr. Hersh warns that a "safe" 7 might be a 2 in disguise. Try journaling three questions: What’s working? What’s not? What have I been avoiding? to uncover hidden stagnation.
    • Embrace Experiments Over Revolution: Complacency thrives on fear of failure, but growth can start small. Dr. Hersh shares how adding a lunch break felt risky but sparked positive change. Commit to one "yes" this week, like a hobby or boundary, to break routines without overwhelm.
    • Choose Courage Over Comfort: Success breeds settling, but true contentment has momentum. Dr. Hersh urges pushing comfort zones. "The hard thing is usually the right thing." Identify one ‘easy’ habit that is costing long-term joy and satisfaction. Try swapping it for something challenging.

    About the Show:

    Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention.

    About the Host:

    Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work.

    His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love.

    Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room.

    🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh:
    🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com
    🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md
    📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife
    📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife
    📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching

    📱TikTok: @betterphysicianlife

    Feeling stuck and trying to figure out “What’s Next?” I invite you to download my FREE GUIDE: The 5 Essential Steps Every Physician Needs To Figure Out “What’s Next?”

    This resource offers practical, actionable steps to help you take back control of your career, set clear goals, and make consistent progress toward the life you genuinely want.

    The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions.


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
    Voir plus Voir moins
    21 min
  • The Scarcity Trap in Medicine: Why More Is Never Enough | Ep17

    The Scarcity Trap in Medicine: Why More Is Never Enough | Ep17
    Nov 24 2025
    What if the constant feeling of "not enough" is the real virus draining your life in medicine?In this reflective episode of Better Physician Life, Dr. Michael Hersh unpacks the scarcity mindset that permeates physicians' lives—from chasing RVUs and promotions to feeling there's never enough time for family or self-care. Drawing from personal stories, like the anxiety of new hires or a canceled Thanksgiving trip, Dr. Hersh reveals how scarcity masquerades as ambition but steals joy and connection. He offers practical shifts, like questioning "Do I have enough for today?" and setting boundaries, to embrace abundance and build a sustainable life.Timed around Thanksgiving, this episode invites physicians to reflect on gratitude, detours, and what truly matters beyond the grind. If you're hustling endlessly yet feeling empty, this is your guide to finding "enough" and thriving.🔗 Design Your Life: A Goal Setting Guide for Physicians: betterphysicianlife.com/design-your-lifeTop 3 TakeawaysQuestion Scarcity's Grip: Recognize how the belief in "not enough" (time, money, recognition) drives burnout and resentment. Dr. Hersh shares how quarterly RVU anxiety fueled his hustle, but pausing to ask, "Do I have enough for today?" shifts focus to intention and presence—try it during your next busy shift.Embrace Growth Through Discomfort: Scarcity rewards endless grinding, but true abundance comes from boundaries and delegation, even if it stings. Dr. Hersh explains how hiring new colleagues initially sparked fear but led to collective thriving—practice by saying no to one extra task this week to protect your health and family time.Find Gifts in Detours: Life's interruptions, like a canceled trip or schedule change, aren't losses but opportunities for gratitude. Dr. Hersh recounts turning a family illness into a meaningful staycation—reframe your next setback by listing three "gifts" it brings, fostering resilience and joy.About the Show:Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention.About the Host:Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work.His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love.Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room.🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh:🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching📱TikTok: @betterphysicianlife Feeling stuck and trying to figure out “What’s Next?” I invite you to download my FREE GUIDE: The 5 Essential Steps Every Physician Needs To Figure Out “What’s Next?”This resource offers practical, actionable steps to help you take back control of your career, set clear goals, and make consistent progress toward the life you genuinely want. The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
    Voir plus Voir moins
    24 min
  • What If You Took the Risk? Physician Entrepreneurship & Change with Dr. Jimmy Turner | Ep16

    What If You Took the Risk? Physician Entrepreneurship & Change with Dr. Jimmy Turner | Ep16
    Nov 17 2025
    What if embracing change could unlock a more fulfilling life in medicine?In this inspiring episode of Better Physician Life, host Dr. Michael Hersh welcomes Dr. Jimmy Turner, an academic anesthesiologist, certified coach, author of Determined: How Burned Out Doctors Can Thrive in a Broken Medical System, and co-host of the Money Meets Medicine podcast. Jimmy shares his journey from skepticism to entrepreneurship, revealing how starting a blog and podcast led to coaching physicians on burnout, mindset, and finance. They discuss the power of a simple question—"If you don't do this, what will change?"—and how it sparked Michael's own transformation.From overcoming dyslexia to building multiple ventures, Jimmy offers practical advice on identifying your strengths, solving real problems, and committing to growth despite discomfort. Whether you're battling burnout or exploring side hustles, this episode equips physicians with tools to pivot, thrive, and redefine success in a broken system.Top 3 Takeaways:Embrace Change Through Entrepreneurship: Change isn't innate. It's learned through trial and error. Jimmy shares how starting a blog evolved into podcasting and coaching, emphasizing the need to identify your strengths (e.g., what people seek your advice on) and solve real problems others will pay for. For physicians, this means exploring passions like personal finance or burnout solutions to create fulfilling side ventures.Commit to the Journey, Not Just the Outcome: Avoid "arrival fallacy" by enjoying the process of growth. Jimmy highlights committing to a venture for 2-3 years, pivoting as needed, and finding passion in discomfort—key for physicians shifting from linear medical training to nonlinear entrepreneurship.Define Your Goals and Strengths First: Before starting a business, clarify if it's a hobby or profit-driven, then assess what you're good at and what the market needs. Jimmy's path from anesthesiology to coaching shows how leveraging natural talents (e.g., teaching finance) can lead to ventures like disability insurance advising or courses.About the Show:Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention.About the Guest: Dr. Jimmy Turner is an academic anesthesiologist at Wake Forest, a certified physician coach, author of Determined: How Burned Out Doctors Can Thrive in a Broken Medical System, and co-host of the Money Meets Medicine podcast. He helps physicians navigate burnout, mindset, and personal finance through coaching, writing, and speaking. As a licensed insurance agent, he specializes in disability insurance for doctors.🔗 Learn more: money meetsmedicine.com🎙️ Podcast: Money Meets Medicine Disability Insurance: https://moneymeetsmedicine.com/disabilityAbout the Host:Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work.His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love.Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room.🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh:🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching📱TikTok: @betterphysicianlife Feeling stuck and trying to figure out “What’s Next?” I invite you to download my FREE GUIDE: The 5 Essential Steps Every Physician Needs To Figure Out “What’s Next?”This resource offers practical, actionable steps to help you take back control of your career, set clear goals, and make consistent progress toward the life you genuinely want. The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
    Voir plus Voir moins
    43 min
  • Medicine, Identity, and Your Future Self: The Physician's Dilemma | Ep15

    Medicine, Identity, and Your Future Self: The Physician's Dilemma | Ep15
    Nov 10 2025
    What if your future self could tell you what matters most right now?In this Insightful episode of Better Physician Life, Dr. Michael Hersh invites you to imagine the older, wiser version of yourself—10, 20, or 30 years from now—and consider what they’d thank you for today. Reflecting on his own journey of neglecting health, missing family moments, and feeling stuck, Dr. Hersh shares how medicine’s relentless demands can disconnect you from what truly matters. He offers actionable tools, like the Design Your Life worksheet, to help physicians prioritize health, relationships, and purpose over endless shifts and EMR clicks.From skipping physicals to zoning out on Netflix, Dr. Hersh unpacks the traps of “grit” and offers a roadmap to make small, deliberate choices that align with your values. If you’re a physician wondering if this is “it,” this episode will inspire you to start building a life your future self will celebrate.Design Your Life: A Goal Setting Guide for Physicians: betterphysicianlife.com/design-your-lifeTop 3 Takeaways:Picture Your Future Self: Imagine the older you looking back—what would they thank you for? Prioritizing health, showing up for family, or saying no to extra shifts can shape a life you’re proud of. Dr. Hersh shares missing his daughter’s band concert as a wake-up call to rethink priorities.Small Choices, Big Impact: No change is too small—leaving work on time, scheduling a doctor’s appointment, or calling a friend can shift your trajectory. Dr. Hersh’s Design Your Life worksheet helps you map out what matters in health, relationships, and career.Being Stuck is Feedback, Not Failure: Feeling trapped in medicine signals a need for change, not a personal flaw. Dr. Hersh’s journey from exhaustion to coaching shows how small yeses—like signing up for a coaching program—can lead to a more intentional life.About the Show:Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention.About the Host:Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work.His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love.Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room.🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh:🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching📱TikTok: @betterphysicianlife Feeling stuck and trying to figure out “What’s Next?” I invite you to download my FREE GUIDE: The 5 Essential Steps Every Physician Needs To Figure Out “What’s Next?”This resource offers practical, actionable steps to help you take back control of your career, set clear goals, and make consistent progress toward the life you genuinely want. The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
    Voir plus Voir moins
    16 min
  • The Problem With Other People: How Unspoken Expectations Keep Physicians Stuck | Ep14

    The Problem With Other People: How Unspoken Expectations Keep Physicians Stuck | Ep14
    Nov 3 2025
    What if the frustration you feel isn’t about others, but the silent rules you expect them to follow?In this insightful episode of Better Physician Life, Dr. Michael Hersh explores the invisible "manuals" physicians carry—unspoken expectations about how colleagues, patients, and even family should act. Drawing from personal stories, like clenching his jaw in traffic or feeling let down by unspoken needs, Dr. Hersh reveals how these manuals fuel resentment and disconnection in medicine and life. He introduces tools like emotional adulthood, boundary-setting, and Dr. Jimmy Turner’s "Hell Yes" policy to help physicians take control of their peace and purpose.From navigating hospital politics to rethinking career demands, this episode offers actionable steps to let go of perfectionism, communicate needs clearly, and choose a life that feels authentic. If you’re a physician feeling stuck or resentful, this episode will inspire you to rewrite your script and reclaim your joy.Top 3 Takeaways: Let Go of the Manual: Unspoken expectations (such as hoping a colleague takes initiative or a patient follows advice) can breed resentment when they are unmet. Recognize these silent rules, question their validity, and communicate needs clearly to foster connection and reduce frustration. For example, Dr. Hersh shares how noticing his irritation in traffic revealed his own expectations, prompting a shift to emotional adulthood.Embrace Emotional Adulthood: Stop handing your peace to others’ actions. Instead of thinking, “If they’d change, I’d feel better,” take responsibility for your emotions by naming them (e.g., “I’m frustrated”) and setting boundaries, like requesting quiet time after work. Dr. Hersh explains how this shift empowered him to feel grounded regardless of external chaos.Say “Hell Yes” or “Hell No”: Inspired by Dr. Jimmy Turner, prioritize choices that align with your values. Saying no to extra shifts or committees creates space for meaningful yeses—like starting a podcast or coaching—that energize rather than exhaust. Dr. Hersh’s leap into coaching transformed his career and life.About the Show:Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention.About the Host:Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work.His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love.Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room.🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh:🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching📱TikTok: @betterphysicianlife Feeling stuck and trying to figure out “What’s Next?” I invite you to download my FREE GUIDE: The 5 Essential Steps Every Physician Needs To Figure Out “What’s Next?”This resource offers practical, actionable steps to help you take back control of your career, set clear goals, and make consistent progress toward the life you genuinely want. The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
    Voir plus Voir moins
    23 min
  • Shame In Medicine: What Every Doctor Feels and Hides with Dr. Will Bynum | Ep13

    Shame In Medicine: What Every Doctor Feels and Hides with Dr. Will Bynum | Ep13
    Oct 27 2025
    What if the shame we bury in medicine is actually a signal for growth?Dr. Michael Hersh sits down with Dr. Will Bynum to explore the role of shame in physicians' lives. Drawing from Dr. Bynum's personal journey, from a residency error and personal struggles to discovering Brené Brown's work, they unpack shame's definition, its ties to vulnerability (especially for men), and its overlaps with fixed mindsets. The conversation offers practical tools like examining assumptions, shifting focus outward, and practicing self-compassion to navigate shame constructively. They also discuss building shame-competent cultures in healthcare. This episode is essential for physicians ready to unhide, connect deeply, and harness shame's transformative potential.Top 3 Takeaways:Define and Examine Shame – Understand shame as a global self-evaluation of being flawed or unworthy, often tied to perceived judgment from others, and challenge assumptions of isolation by recognizing its universality in medicine (90-100% of learners experience it). Dr. Bynum shares how his residency error sparked this realization; use CBT strategies to question thoughts like "I'm alone in this" and reframe fixed mindsets (e.g., "I'm a bad doctor") as growth opportunities.Practice Self-Compassion and Seek Connection – Treat yourself with the kindness you'd offer a loved one, as self-deprecation can fuel shame cycles in high-stakes physician work. Dr. Bynum recommends Kristin Neff's work. Start by naming shame explicitly in trusted conversations (e.g., "I'm struggling with how I feel about myself") to "shine light" on it, reducing its power and deepening relationships, as both hosts experienced through vulnerability.Cultivate Shame-Competent Environments – Create spaces where conversations about shame are possible and safe. This starts with reaffirming values like every person’s inherent worth, and recognizing that different specialties may need different approaches. For example, what works with surgeons may look different than with family physicians. Dr. Bynum’s Shame Lab framework encourages shifting from private rumination toward outward connection (asking for help, or considering how our actions affect others) as a way to build resilience. For those who want to learn more, resources like shamelab.org and The Nocturnists’ “Shame in Medicine” series are excellent places to start.About the Show:Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention.About the Guest:Will Bynum, MD, PhD is an Associate Professor of Family Medicine at Duke University School of Medicine and a Veteran of the United States Air Force. He received his M.D. at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine in 2010, completed his residency in the NCC Family Medicine Residency with the US Air Force, and received his Ph.D. in Health Professions Education at Maastricht University in the Netherlands in 2023, where defended his thesis entitled “Out of the shadows: a qualitative exploration of shame in medical learners”, which was awarded best Doctoral Dissertation by the Association of Medical Educators of Europe. He is Co-Founder and Co-Director of The Shame Lab, which conducts research, develops training, and delivers consultancy to advance constructive engagement with shame in professional practice.Website: www.shamelab.orgwww.theshamespace.comAbout the Host:Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work.His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love.Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room.🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh:🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching📱TikTok: @betterphysicianlife Feeling stuck and trying to figure out “What’s Next?” I invite you to download my FREE GUIDE: The 5 Essential Steps Every Physician Needs To Figure Out “What’s Next?”This resource offers practical, actionable steps to help you take...
    Voir plus Voir moins
    44 min