Healers with Hustles

A career pivot might change more than your work… It might shift your personality too, if you let it. Clinical psychologist and researcher Dr Shannon Sauer Zavala joins Caitlin to share the science behind intentional personality change and how values can guide the traits we grow. We talk burnout, people-pleasing, perfectionism, and how the very traits that once drove our success might now hold us b...

“If your words could belong to anyone, they belong to no one.” In this episode, Caitlin chats about the dreaded, but all too common realisation, that your content feels boring. She validates why it’s easy for health profs with side hustles to slip back into academic speak. From breaking down Apple’s clever headline tricks to giving you playful edits that add personality (think wordplay, asides, an...

Are you basing life decisions on what YOU want or what someone else expects of you? In this ep, Caitlin chats with Trang Nova, a former physio turned speaker and coach, about the messy, emotional, and liberating journey of walking away from a career that no longer fits. Trang shares how one rainy run, and one very unlucky snail, sparked her quarter-life crisis. She opens up about why speaking beca...

Is employment *really* the safe option or just a false sense of security? In this ep, Caitlin chats with Leesa Tuffnell, occupational therapist, coach, and founder of The Mindful OT, about what it takes to build a sustainable business as a health professional. Leesa shares how her own experience of burnout led her to combine OT frameworks, somatic regulation, and business strategy to help health p...

“Not now” doesn’t mean “never” but only if you know how to close the awareness gap. In this ep, Caitlin walks you through the 5 stages of awareness and why most health profs unknowingly skip the early ones… leaving potential clients behind. Whether you’re fresh out of private practice or years into your creative side hustle, you’ll learn how to meet people where they’re at and guide them to the po...

When Nadine almost collided head-on with a truck, her body gave her the message her brain kept ignoring: something had to change. This ep, Caitlin chats with Nadine Muller, former emergency nurse and Australian military officer turned life mentor, about what it takes to walk away from the identity and career you’ve always known. Together, they unpack the cost of always keeping it together, the qui...

Turns out, “qualified” doesn’t always mean “chosen.” So how do you bridge the gap? In this ep, Caitlin unpacks a common struggle for health professionals turned creatives: feeling invisible despite years of training. Drawing from her own early business days, She talks about why leaning too heavily on your title might be creating distance instead of connection and offers three grounded, practical w...

“Isn’t the whole point of therapy to be honest?” In this episode, Caitlin sits down with her clinical supervisor, Kate O'Connor–a psychodynamic therapist and clinical psychologist. Together, they chat unfiltered on the unspoken tension many healthcare professionals feel: the pressure to follow the rules vs. the pull to show up as a full, complex human. Kate explores the danger of over-sanitising t...

What if the thing holding your message back… is how you were trained? In this ep, Caitlin gets real about a sneaky messaging habit that so many clinicians-turned-creatives fall into: staying neutral. She explores how being taught to hold space can lead to watered-down words in your business and why owning your beliefs (even just 1 or 2 steps ahead of your audience) is what actually builds trust.&n...

What if the discomfort isn’t a sign you’re on the wrong path but an invitation to rethink your next step? Caitlin opens up about the messy, in-between phase of balancing a healthcare career with a creative side hustle. She reflects on the guilt of wanting out, the pressure to keep going when it looks good on paper, and why small tweaks might make a bigger difference than going all in or walking aw...

What if health education didn’t have to come from a clinic? And what happens when we make quiet conversations LOUD? In this episode, Caitlin chats with Dr. Olivia Richman, a board-certified family medicine physician, 2x TEDx speaker, and founder of Docfluencer MDO, about what it really looks like to get creative in healthcare. Olivia shares her unconventional path to educate and advocate, one buil...

Could a creative shift be the antidote to feeling stuck in your healthcare career? In this episode, Caitlin gets real about the in-between stage of rethinking what work can look like after years in healthcare. She discusses how to find a nonclinical creative business idea, blending what you love, what you’re good at, and what people need. If you’re feeling stuck or just curious about making a chan...

What happens when your big break never comes? For artist and researcher Lauren Moxey, you redefine success on your own terms.  In this episode, Caitlin chats with Lauren, a PhD candidate, music teacher, and lecturer. Lauren talks about her eye opening research on natio-cultural creativity and human thriving in Australia’s music ecosystem, and why it’s time to radically redefine what it means...

Is your online presence a little too curated? Yet, you worry that sharing your struggles might harm your business? In this episode, Caitlin explores the role of vulnerability in business. After receiving a comment about how “successful” she looks,  realised she rarely shares the behind-the-scenes struggles of entrepreneurship. She opens up about the emotional challenges of running a business,...

Are you struggling to find the perfect fit, whether in your career or your clothing? Krista Fox didn't just adjust, she stitched together her dream job.  In this episode, Caitlin chats with Krista Fox, a former ICU nurse and oral health therapist turned lingerie designer. Krista shares how her own struggle with uncomfy lingerie led her to launch Vlette, her own brand. She shares the highs and...

Some people sign up to your offer in three seconds. Others need 12 emails, a personalised case study, and an interpretive dance explaining the ROI (jk!) before they even consider it. But why is this? It’s not just your messaging, it’s *who* is buying. In this episode, Caitlin breaks down the Big Five (OCEAN) personality types and how they shape buying decisions. From curious explorers to risk-aver...

Can doctors heal without losing themselves in the process? In this episode, Lucy shares her journey from corporate law burnout to social work, community leadership, and ultimately, advocating for culture change in medicine. Caitlin and Lucy chat about her book, Beyond the Stethoscope —a collection of deeply personal stories from doctors exploring what it takes to stay connected to hope, heart, and...

In this flashback episode, psychologist-turned-copywriter Caitlin Bell breaks down brand voice fundamentals, from its difference with brand personality to her very own FAB framework. Learn how identifying your brand voice can cut down your writing and editing time and help your content resonate with the right audience. Tune in to learn: The three essential components of brand voice (no one of them...

What do medieval door hinges have to do with fab copywriting? More than you might think. In this episode, Caitlin chats all things manifestos with brand voice expert Justin Blackman. They get into why getting mad is the secret to powerful messaging, how the tiniest details make the biggest difference in brand voice, and the ultimate tightrope walk for copywriters—mastering other brands’ voices wit...

Your bio might be stacked with credentials, but does it actually make people want to work with you? In this episode, Caitlin is breaking down what makes a bio work . With practical tips and a structure so your bio doesn’t sound like just a brag reel, but grabs the right people and makes them think, "Yep, this is my person." Plus, some quick fixes to make it sound like you (instead of a LinkedIn ro...

Are you an early career health professional who wishes there was a podcast just for you?  Dr Bronwyn once felt the same way, so she started the Mental Work Podcast for early career psychologists, where she combines her love of public speaking AND psychology. How cool is that? Today, Caitlin is joined by Dr. Bronwyn Wilkins, an Australian psychologist and host of the Mental Work Podcast, a sho...

Does your copy need a therapy session? Maybe dealing with attachment issues with its target audience?  In this episode, Caitlin introduces us to a concept based on psychology called empathy mapping. It's a super easy way to help you connect with your audience on a deeper level. From decoding late-night Google searches to capturing those “I’m stuck” feelings, this is your tool to making your a...

Feel like your career’s on mute? Are you ready to turn up the volume on your true creative calling? In this episode, Caitlin chats with Nina Dafe on her incredible journey from helping kids use their voices as a speech therapist to helping women amplify their story as a PR powerhouse. From cultural expectations to an accidentally viral article she wrote about  misconceptions about feminism within...

When people land on your website, do they instantly think, “This is exactly what I’ve been looking for!”—or are they left more confused, wondering what you actually do? In this episode, Caitlin breaks down brand messaging strategy. Including how to whip up messaging that hooks your audience in 10 seconds flat. She shares the biggest mistakes businesses make with their messaging, why trying to spea...

Infections aren't the only thing that can go viral. Health content can too—especially when the messaging is easily digestible, educational, and on-trend. In this episode, Caitlin chats with Caitlin Cash, social and digital media team leader at Queensland Health, to explore her journey from journalism to spearheading viral health campaigns. They unpack the secrets to creating engaging content that...