EPISODE NOTES

• Jamie and Matt open the episode with lighthearted holiday banter and personal Christmas traditions.
• This 99th episode marks a milestone far beyond the average podcast lifespan of seven episodes.
• Jamie introduces the shift from typical healthcare culture/policy topics to a deeply personal conversation about patient experience from Matt’s perspective.
• Matt admits he’s more nervous for this episode than almost any other—because it’s personal.
• The conversation acknowledges the hardship of 2024–2025 for both hosts’ families.
• Matt walks through how a wellness check and PSA screening unexpectedly detected something abnormal.
• An MRI experience becomes meaningful thanks to a tech who sensed his anxiety and used music to calm him—highlighting how small patient-experience moments matter.
• The MRI revealed something suspicious, leading to a biopsy.
• Matt received his cancer diagnosis alone in a conference center during a professional event—an emotionally jarring moment.
• He immediately sought clarity and support from a physician colleague, who helped him interpret the results.
• Matt reflects on the shock of seeing “prostate cancer” in writing and how it triggered grief-like emotions.
• He emphasizes the importance of asking for results early so patients can process before appointments.
• His urologist spent over an hour walking through options—an impactful example of patient-centered communication.

KEY POINTS

• Organizational vs. personal purpose — They don’t have to be identical, but they should coexist well.

• Purpose requires focus — You can’t say yes to everything; not every opportunity is yours.

• Boundaries shape clarity — Emotional, professional, and ethical lines protect your ability to serve.

• Delegation is essential — Tasks don’t define identity; leaders must let go to grow.

• Purpose evolves — Organizations and individuals change; your purpose may shift with seasons.

• Fun ≠ meaningful — Great opportunities still have to align with who you’re becoming.

• Gratitude clarifies calling — Noticing what you’re grateful for can reveal purpose.

• Quitting can be healthy — Letting go of roles, tasks, or beliefs creates space for what matters most.

• Reflection is ongoing — Purpose isn’t found once; it’s revisited repeatedly.

• Purpose is clarified through experience and reflection, not just passion.
• Helping others find purpose requires curiosity, coaching, and equipping them with the tools to succeed.
• Distinguishing passion from purpose involves commitment, impact, and skill alignment.
• Gratitude and intentional reflection help maintain focus on what truly matters.
• Leaders can spot misalignment by observing engagement, mood, and energy, but must approach it with curiosity and connection.

• Humility & grace: distinct muscles that work best together
• The no-call/no-show that wasn’t: correcting assumptions with care
• Disagreeing without demeaning: honesty rooted in respect
• Modeling connection: Scott moving furniture in dress shoes; a father’s everyday compassion
• Integrity = what we do when no one’s watching
• Daily habit: know your “bliss,” reset with people, then re-enter the work

Listener reflection: Where can you swap a snap judgment for a curious check-in today?

• What connection means as a leader, parent, clinician, friend
• Residents and families as the real teachers of patient experience
• The “poinsettias in April” lesson: small signals shape big trust
• Why a health-tech conference led with connection (not features)
• Data & AI: accelerants that free us to be more human, not less
• Productive disagreement and patient advocacy across disciplines
• Trust + respect as the ground rules for hard conversations

Listener reflection: What small signal could you fix today to raise trust immediately?

• Resilience ≠ endless pushing: build comfort with discomfort; use challenge as a team-bonding accelerator when you face it together.
• Spot team drift early: when tension comes from the team, independence erodes the common goal—realign to the patient and the shared mission.
• Deciding in the fog: use process of elimination; discuss “bad options” to strengthen the good one; define success signals before you move.
• Easy path vs. hard path: easy isn’t “wrong.” If you don’t cut a new road today, pre-plan what it would take to cut it tomorrow.
• Experimentation culture: separate the person from the work (DISC lens) to reduce shame, increase learning, and invite bold ideas.
• Effective communication: don’t just send—ensure receipt. Mind timing, channel, and context. Don’t “info-dump” to transfer responsibility.
• A small shift for tomorrow: extend grace to yourself, ask a trusted teammate for perspective, and take one clear next step.
• Mentioned frameworks & phrases: process of elimination, “I’m in charge of me,” next right step, psychological safety, DISC, success signals, team over solo.

• Introduction to the theme: leading through complexity vs. change
• Decision-making under pressure and the challenge of “armchair quarterbacking”
• Why the quality of information matters more than speed of decision-making
• The paradox of slowing down and speeding up in decision-making
• How government policy (like telehealth regulations) creates ripple effects of complexity in healthcare
• The power of teams vs. individual leadership in healthcare decision-making
• Personal insights from Matt’s background in sports and leadership
• Early exploration of resilience: pushing through vs. preventing burnout
• This is Part 1 of 2 — subscribe so you don’t miss Part 2, where we discuss how leaders can foster resilience in themselves and their teams.

Key Takeaways

• Coaching ≠ outperforming. Performance expertise and coaching expertise are different muscles.
• Discomfort is data. If growth feels easy, you’re probably not growing.
• Trust follows vulnerability. Coaching conversations require safety, time, and honesty.
• Aim feedback at the work. Focus on the task/approach, not the person.
• Decide your mode. Coach, teach, or direct based on the question, urgency, and learning goal.
• Beat imposter syndrome with action. If the finish line is fuzzy, take the next step and practice.