The Expanded MD

You may be asking yourself why we're talking about witches today and if we've finally totally lost the plot somewhere between MDs and witch doctors, but rest assured - there are very real and scientific reasons for how we got here! Today's guest is Eileen March, a former midwife turned intuitive coach, wild medicine energy healer, podcast host, and " slow living witch " - a title that reclaims the...

In this episode, Dr. Sarah sits down with community-builder Jess Marley, owner of The Local Inc., to explore the power of connection and why "getting in the room” matters. Jess shares her journey from corporate litigation to creating markets and events that bring people together, support local business, and remind us of the joy of gathering. They talk about the risks and rewards of event-building,...

Motherhood is supposed to be joyful, but for many women it’s also isolating, exhausting, and overwhelming. In this episode of The Expanded MD: Bridging Science and Spirituality , Sarah sits down with clinical counsellor Autumn Fowler to explore the realities of burnout in motherhood - what it looks like, why it’s so hard to talk about, and how we can start to lighten the load. Together they u...

In this episode of The Expanded MD Podcast, Dr. Sarah Lea sits down with Kristin Woodford, host of The Routine Queen Podcast , to explore how morning and evening rituals set the tone for the day ahead in more ways that we realize. Kristin shares her personal journey from feeling lost and exhausted, to achieving vitality through intentional morning rituals. She breaks down how to construct a person...

A confounding feeling: within the joy and freedom of summer, there’s often an undercurrent of guilt and stress. Maybe when you’re relaxing, you feel you should be tackling your to-do list. Or when you’re working, you feel guilty for not being fully present with your family. Sound familiar? In this heartfelt episode of The Expanded MD, Dr. Sarah Lea speaks directly to the weight of “Mom Guilt.” She...

In this solo episode of The Expanded MD , Dr. Sarah Lea dives into a topic she’s been… well… resisting. Not resistance training (though that’s valuable too) - but the quiet, powerful pull to stay safe, avoid discomfort, and hide from growth. If you’ve ever delayed a project, avoided putting yourself out there, or filled your days with “productive” busyness instead of doing the work that truly matt...

The issues are in the tissues. What do we mean by that? Today we bring you Part 2 of the Health is Wealth Mini Series , where Dr. Sarah Lea and Rachel Mark dig into what it means to "listen to your body." From becoming more mindful of our basic needs like hunger and sleep - which we're often conditioned to override from a young age - to learning how to respond to signals from our body, from physic...

What does it really mean to be well? Today we're kicking off something a little different, and in our opinion, truly necessary. In Part I of the Health Is Wealth Mini Series , Dr. Lea introduces Rachel Mark, a registered acupuncturist, integrative health coach, and clinic owner who bridges Eastern and Western approaches to medicine, bringing a truly holistic lens to healing - and a valualbe perspe...

After working on climbing out of burnout for years, what do we do when we feel it coming on again? We take a moment to reassess, remember what burnout actually looks like, and give ourselves grace as this process is not linear. In this candid and raw epsiode, Dr. Sarah Lea shares with us that despite searching her way out of burnout for years, she can still find herself looped back in. Burnout has...

In this episode of The Expanded MD Podcast , Dr. Sarah Lea chats with Jennica Day, a vacation expert, author, and advocate for intentional rest and recovery. After experiencing burnout while living and working in Cancun, she dedicated herself to understanding the science of vacationing and work recovery, developed the "Vacation Hero Method," and authored the book  You Need a (Better) Vacation...

In this enlightening episode of The Expanded MD Podcast, Dr. Sarah Lea hosts her first guest - Dr. Lawrence Yang, a family physician, quality improvement coach, and fellow expanded MD. Dr. Yang shares his personal journey through burnout, exploring how unconventional, whole-person approaches helped him heal and reconnect with his work and wellbeing. Their conversation delves into the pressures of...

How do you define perfectionism? Is it an inherent trait, or a learned behaviour? Is it something to be fostered, or could it be  fear masquerading as high standards? Dr. Sarah Lea muses on these thoughts and more, on this episode of The Expanded MD Podcast . She reflects on her own journey, how embracing vulnerability and authenticity has shaped her life, and how redefining her relationship with...

In this third and final installement of the opening series about "Who is Dr. Sarah Lea," we close the loop on what brought Dr. Lea to face away from medicine in order to better see herself. Navigating a demanding panel of positions within family practice, maternity care, addictions medicine, multiple leadership positions, entrepreneurship - and the collective trauma brought on by the COVID-19 pand...

In this second episode of  The Expanded MD , Dr. Sarah Lea takes us deeper into both her personal and professional worlds. From the intensity of OB/GYN residency on Vancouver Island (grueling call schedules and all) to the unexpected twists that led her to family medicine, she shares the highs, the lows, and everything in between. Along the way, she reflects on meeting her husband, juggling m...

In this inaugural episode of The Expanded MD, Dr. Sara Lea shares the origins of her unique journey, from  studying economics in her undergraduate years, to finding her calling in medicine, from growing up in Prince Edward Island to settling down in British Columbia! Never on a traditional path, Dr. Lea reflects on her time in Dalhousie medical school, transformative rotations in Ghana, and landin...

Welcome to The Expanded MD Podcast - where science meets spirituality to transform your thinking and expand your mind. Hosted by Dr. Sara Lea, a family physician, certified executive coach, and keynote speaker, this podcast offers a bi-weekly dose of medical insight infused with spiritual wisdom. Through storytelling, personal experiences, and expert interviews, we’ll explore the intersection of m...