Be Empowered: The Podcast

This week on Be Empowered, we continue our conversation with Kim Downey in Part 2, focusing on solutions, advocacy, and the growing movement to support physician mental health. Kim shares practical resources available to physicians, discusses how healthcare systems can better support clinicians, and highlights the importance of changing the culture of medicine so that seeking help becomes normaliz...

This week on Be Empowered, we sit down with Kim Downey—founder of Stand Up for Doctors, advocate, educator, and champion for physician mental health—to discuss one of the most important and difficult conversations in medicine today: physician suicide. In Part 1, Kim shares the personal experiences and observations that inspired her to create Stand Up for Doctors, a platform dedicated to raising aw...

In Part 2, Dr. Nikia Smith takes us deeper into the work of transformation—what happens after you recognize misalignment, burnout, or harm, and how you begin to rebuild from a place of truth instead of survival. She speaks openly about power dynamics in medicine, the emotional labor placed on women physicians, and why healing is not a detour from leadership—it’s the foundation of it. We discuss: •...

In this episode of Be Empowered , we sit down with Dr. Nikia Smith —board certified anesthesiologist, speaker, and founder of She Is Fire Forged —for a powerful conversation about identity, healing, and reclaiming your voice in medicine and life. Dr. Smith shares how her personal and professional journey led her to create a platform centered on resilience, self-trust, and transformation—especially...

In Part 2, Dr. Arghavan Salles dives deeper into what it means to speak openly in a profession that often discourages dissent. From social media advocacy to academic spaces, she shares the realities of being vocal about inequity—and the personal and professional risks that come with it. We discuss: • Why silence is often rewarded in medicine • The backlash that can follow advocacy • Using platform...

In this episode of Be Empowered , we sit down with Dr. Arghavan Salles —physician, researcher, and nationally recognized voice on gender equity, bias, and culture in medicine . Dr. Salles joins us for a candid conversation about how medicine rewards conformity, punishes difference, and often asks physicians—especially women and marginalized groups—to shrink themselves to fit outdated systems. We e...

In Part 2, Javi returns to share what happened after he left medical school—and how stepping away opened the door to healing, self-discovery, and new possibilities. This episode is about rebuilding identity, redefining success, and learning that your worth is not defined by a white coat or a title. We discuss: • What recovery looks like after leaving medicine • Letting go of shame and external exp...

In Part 1, we sit down with Javi , a former medical student who made the courageous and deeply personal decision to leave medical school in order to protect his mental health. Javi shares his experience navigating medical training, the mounting pressure to keep going at all costs, and the internal conflict of walking away from a dream he once held tightly. We explore: • The emotional weight of med...

Medicine demands excellence—but often at the cost of mental health. In this episode of Be Empowered , we confront the emotional toll of training and practice, and the silence that surrounds burnout, depression, anxiety, and moral injury in healthcare. We talk honestly about: • Why mental health struggles are so common in medicine • The culture of “push through” and its consequences • The fear of v...

In Part 2, Dr. Tasha Powell dives into how she blends science, lifestyle medicine, cultural context, and personalized care to build long-term brain resilience at Longevity Neurology Center. Her philosophy is simple but powerful: meet every patient where they are. Dr. Powell shares how she tailors care to each individual’s goals, capacity, and lived experience—bringing together prevention, educatio...

In Part 1 of our conversation with Dr. Tasha Powell , founder and CEO of Longevity Neurology Center , we explore the rapidly growing field of Preventive Neurology —a space she has been championing long before it had a formal name. With more than 20 years in medicine, spanning military neurology, traumatic brain injury, and work with diverse communities, Dr. Powell breaks down why so many neurologi...

This week on Be Empowered , we continue our conversation with Gita Pensa, MD—physician, educator, and expert in malpractice litigation stress. In Part 2, Dr. Pensa shares how physicians can move through litigation with strength, clarity, and resilience—and how this experience, while devastating, can also become a catalyst for growth and transformation. In this episode, we explore: • How physicians...

This week on Be Empowered , we sit down with Gita Pensa, MD—emergency physician, educator, and founder of Doctors and Litigation. After enduring a 12-year malpractice lawsuit involving multiple trials, Dr. Pensa transformed her experience into a mission: helping physicians navigate the legal, emotional, and professional impact of litigation. Today, she is a national voice in physician litigation s...

In Part 2 of our interview with Dr. Franklyn Rocha Cabrero , neurologist, entrepreneur, and CEO of IRD Neuroanalysis Inc. , we dive into the business and mission-driven side of locums and telemedicine. Dr. Rocha shares how he’s transforming neurological care through remote diagnostics, tele-epilepsy services, and consulting —and why physicians should think like entrepreneurs to reclaim control ove...

This week on Be Empowered , we sit down with Dr. Franklyn Rocha Cabrero —double board-certified neurologist, CEO of IRD Neuroanalysis Inc. , and passionate advocate for innovation in neurological care. In Part 1 , Dr. Rocha shares his journey into locums work —how it offered him freedom, flexibility, and the ability to serve diverse communities while avoiding the burnout often tied to traditional...

This week on Be Empowered: The Podcast , we continue our conversation with Dr. Genevieve Jacobs in Part 2 , diving deeper into how she built her brand, The Locum Lady , and supports other physicians navigating locum tenens work. We explore: 📲 How she uses social media and digital tools to educate and empower physicians 💼 Tips for balancing locum work with personal life and well-being 🌟 Her visi...

This week on Be Empowered: The Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Genevieve Jacobs—physician, locum tenens expert, and founder of The Locum Lady—to talk about her inspiring journey in medicine and building a flexible, fulfilling career. In Part 1, Dr. Jacobs shares her path through physical medicine and rehabilitation, explaining why she chose the locum tenens lifestyle and how it has allowed her to ta...

n Part 2 of our conversation with Dr. Andrew Wilner, neurologist, author, and Professor of Neurology at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis, TN, we explore the intersection of medicine, meaning, and creativity. Dr. Wilner discusses how writing, podcasting, and locums work have helped him stay inspired while mentoring the next generation of physicians. We discuss:🧠 Lessons...

This week on Be Empowered , we sit down with Dr. Andrew Wilner —neurologist, author, podcaster, and Professor of Neurology at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis, TN . In Part 1 , Dr. Wilner shares his remarkable journey through medicine, writing, and broadcasting—showing how curiosity and creativity can shape a truly dynamic career. We explore: 📚 His books, including The...

In Part 2 , we go deeper—talking about real-life trade-offs between W-2 employment and 1099 contracting. We cover: 📊 Tax strategies and deductions that matter 🕒 How flexibility, burnout, and income stability differ 💡 When it might make sense to switch—and when it might not Whether you’re exploring locums, side gigs, or long-term contracts, this episode will help you make smarter, more empowered...

This week on Be Empowered , we break down one of the biggest topics in modern medicine— W-2 vs. 1099 work. In Part 1 , we explore the basics: 💰 What these employment types actually mean 📋 How they impact your taxes, benefits, and flexibility ⚖️ Why understanding this difference can change your financial future Most physicians never learn this in residency, but it’s key to building freedom, auton...

In Part 2 of our conversation with Dr. Wendell Bobb , we dive deeper into what it truly means to redefine success in medicine . Dr. Bobb shares powerful insights on authenticity, self-worth, and why vulnerability is essential for healing the culture of healthcare. His story is a reminder that you can practice medicine—and live life—on your own terms. 🎧 Streaming now on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube...

This week on Be Empowered , we sit down with Dr. Wendell Bobb —family medicine physician, content creator, and advocate for mental health and physician well-being. In Part 1 , Dr. Bobb shares his journey from burnout to balance, opening up about the realities of modern medicine, the pressures physicians face, and how he found purpose beyond the grind. 🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube...

This week on Be Empowered , we tackle a topic that hits close to home for so many in healthcare— why doctors are often bad with money. Despite years of education and training, most physicians enter the workforce financially unprepared. We’re taught to master complex diseases, not personal finance. From delayed earnings and massive student debt to lifestyle inflation and lack of business training,...

In Part 2 of our conversation with Dr. Leah Houston , founder of Evercred ( https://www.evercred.com/), we explore how she’s building a secure, decentralized credentialing system to empower clinicians and improve healthcare access. Dr. Houston shares how she’s leveraging agentic and AI tools to create a trusted digital identity platform that restores control to clinicians, reduces fraud, and strea...