DRIVE TIME DEBRIEF: A Physician Wellness Podcast with The Whole Physician

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Why do so many physicians keep pushing through exhaustion—even when they know it's unsustainable? In the final episode of our cognitive dissonance series, we're moving from theory to practical application. Once you recognize the internal conflict between your values, identity, and daily reality, what comes next? This week, we're exploring the common ways physicians cope with cognitive dissonance—f...

This one might sting a little. We're just going to warn you now. In part three of our cognitive dissonance series, we're digging into why incredibly smart, capable people stay stuck in situations that are clearly harming them. Spoiler: it's not weakness. It's psychology. And once you see it, you can't unsee it. We cover: Effort justification: why we need our suffering to mean something Sunk cost f...

You worked hard. You achieved the dream. You became the physician you set out to be. So why does something still feel off? Many physicians reach a point where they begin asking deeper questions: Who am I outside of medicine? Why doesn't success feel the way I thought it would? What happened to the version of me who felt excited, hopeful, and alive? In this episode, Amanda, Laura, and Kendra explor...

What if the very stories helping you cope are also keeping you stuck? In this episode, Amanda, Laura, and Kendra explore cognitive dissonance—the mental tension that occurs when our actions, beliefs, values, or identity no longer align. They discuss why physicians may be especially vulnerable to rationalizing burnout and how greater awareness can create opportunities for meaningful change. This co...

There's a dangerous myth in medicine: that the best physicians are the ones who can do everything themselves. But that model doesn't just create burnout — it breaks people. In this episode, Amanda, Laura, and Kendra dig into why the lone wolf physician approach is unsustainable, and how one simple mind shift can completely change the way you work, lead, and show up for your patients. Inspired by t...

What if the problem isn’t your discipline… but your stage of learning? After years of telling yourself “tomorrow will be different,” it can feel defeating when you keep ending up in the same patterns—behind on charts, emotionally exhausted, or struggling to show up the way you want to at home. In this episode, we unpack the Conscious Competence Learning Model and why sustainable change doesn’t hap...

Guilt is one of the most common emotions women physicians experience—but also one of the least examined. In this episode, psychiatrist, author, and podcast host Jennifer Reid joins us for a powerful conversation about the impossible expectations many women carry in medicine, motherhood, leadership, and everyday life. Together, we explore why guilt feels so constant for high-achieving women and how...

Episode 218 Guest: Daniel S. Eiferman, MD Topic: Recovering from Bad Outcomes, Building Resilience, and Leading with Vulnerability in Medicine In this episode, we talk with Dr. Daniel Eiferman , trauma and acute care surgeon, tenured professor of surgery at The Ohio State University, Castle Connolly Top Doctor, and author of Cut Open: A Surgeon’s Stories of Loss, Resilience, and Growth. Dr. Eiferm...

Uncertainty is part of medicine—but for many physicians, it doesn’t stay at work. It follows you home in the form of second-guessing, rumination, and sleepless nights. In this episode, we explore the psychology behind intolerance of uncertainty and why your brain keeps replaying decisions long after your shift ends. You’ll learn how rumination disguises itself as responsibility, why it actually wo...

Self-doubt is something nearly every physician experiences—but rarely talks about openly. In this episode, Amanda, Laura, and Kendra dive into the kind of self-doubt that doesn’t go away after training… the kind that lingers even when you’re experienced, capable, and doing meaningful work. Why does it feel like confidence sometimes decreases as competence increases? Why does one difficult case out...

  Divorce is something many physicians experience—but few talk about openly. In this deeply honest and compassionate conversation, we’re joined by Dr. Karen Sethi Walker , a pediatric intensivist turned vaccine developer and now certified divorce coach. Drawing from both her personal journey and professional expertise, she helps physicians navigate divorce with less conflict, more clarity, an...

  Have you ever said “yes” when your whole body was screaming “no”? If so… welcome. You’re not alone—and you’re definitely not broken. In this episode, we’re diving into the hidden costs of people pleasing—especially in medicine, where being “the reliable one” often comes at the expense of your own wellbeing. What looks like kindness on the surface is often something deeper: a learned pattern...

In this episode of Drive Time Debrief , we wrap up our Emotional Intelligence series by diving into the fifth and final pillar: social skills —the moment where everything becomes visible. Because emotional intelligence isn’t just what you know internally… it’s how you show up in real conversations. From patient interactions to team dynamics to high-stakes conflict, this episode explores what it re...

What if empathy isn’t about feeling everything —but about understanding clearly and responding wisely? In today’s episode, we continue our Emotional Intelligence series by unpacking one of the most misunderstood skills in medicine (and life): empathy . Many of us were taught that caring means absorbing others’ pain—but that belief can quietly lead to emotional exhaustion, burnout, and even disconn...

What if burnout isn’t just about working too much… but about losing touch with yourself? In this powerful conversation, clinical psychologist Dr. Annia Raja shares what’s really happening beneath burnout—especially for high-achieving professionals and physicians. From emotional suppression to identity loss, we unpack why so many feel disconnected—and how to begin finding your way back. 💡 In this...

What happens when TikTok starts influencing your exam room? In this episode of Drive Time Debrief , we sit down with Dr. Fran—board-certified OB/GYN, residency faculty, hospital medical director, and the voice behind Paging Dr. Fran —to talk about what it really looks like to practice medicine in the age of social media. With over a million followers, Dr. Fran is on the frontlines of combating med...

Drive Time Debrief – Episode 209 Emotional Intelligence Series: Motivation, Burnout, and the Physician Motivation Trap In this episode of Drive Time Debrief , we continue our emotional intelligence series by exploring motivation —and why many high-achieving physicians feel stuck, depleted, or disconnected even after achieving their professional goals. Motivation isn’t just about discipline or will...

Ever caught yourself thinking, “I shouldn’t react like that”… and then reacting exactly like that anyway? You’re not alone. In Part 2 of our emotional intelligence series, we’re diving into self-regulation — the skill that helps you stay grounded when emotions run high and pressure is constant. For physicians trained to push through stress and “keep it together,” learning to regulate instead of su...

🎙️ Emotional Intelligence Series, Part 1 Why High Performers Burn Out — and the Skill That Prevents It In medicine and high-performance environments, we’re trained to push through discomfort, ignore our needs, and stay composed under pressure. Over time, that conditioning can disconnect us from what’s happening inside. This episode introduces the foundation of emotional intelligence: 👉 Self-aware...

🎧 Drive Time Debrief Episode 206 When the Helper Identity Fuels Burnout We’re celebrating AND having a real conversation today. The Drive Time Debrief was honored with the 2026 Doctor Podcast Award for Best Physician Wellness & Burnout Podcast — and we’re incredibly grateful to our listeners and community. But today’s episode tackles something many physicians silently carry: 👉 the helper ide...

  Regret Isn’t the Enemy. Rumination Is. Regret is part of being human. Rumination is optional. In this episode, we’re diving into something physicians (and high-achievers in general) know all too well: replaying mistakes on loop. Whether it’s: A patient outcome you wish had gone differently A diagnosis you missed A moment you snapped at your child after a night shift Or something you said ye...

Drive Time Debrief — Episode 204: Random Internet Advice (Part 3) In this episode of The Drive Time Debrief , Amanda, Laura, and Kendra continue their three-part deep dive into “random internet advice” they found while scrolling TikTok — and how these bite-sized ideas actually play out in real life, relationships, and medicine. The conversation blends humor, psychology, and hard-earned wisdom as t...

Travel Beyond the Hospital: How Adventure & Purpose Restore Burned-Out Medical Professionals | MedTreks International Interview with Ari Rasori In this episode, we sit down with Ari Rasori, NP, founder of MedTreks International, to explore how global adventure, wellness, and community can help healthcare professionals recover from burnout and reconnect with their purpose. Ari shares her j...

Drive Time Debrief – Episode 202 Random Internet Advice, Part 2: Protect Your Peace & Stop Worshiping the Problem In Part Two of our “Random Internet Advice” series, the DTD crew dives into more thought-provoking (and surprisingly wise) wisdom pulled from the endless scroll—this time inspired by @JessKR on TikTok. We unpack powerful ideas like: ✨ Why other people’s opinions of you are truly n...