MedStory Podcast

Bringing a newborn home should feel like second nature when you’re an OBGYN with years of training—but for Dr. Jennifer Schell and her physician husband, it was anything but. Standing over their baby’s carriage, they looked at each other and whispered the same question countless new parents have silently asked: “Now what?” In this episode of the Med Story Podcast, Dr. Schell opens up about the dis...

What began as a makeshift TV interview in her bedroom — and even one from the driver’s seat with her kids in the back — grew into a national platform that landed Dr. Shikha Jain on evening news segments and even at the Emmy Awards. In this episode, she opens up about why she kept saying yes to unpaid media opportunities, how they sharpened her communication skills, and the unexpected ways they’ve...

In vitro fertilization began as a miracle of modern science — but over the decades, it has become a multi-billion-dollar industry, dominated by private equity and clinics where many patients feel more like numbers than people. In this episode of the MedStory Podcast , fertility specialist Dr. Pietro Baroletto shares why he walked away from the security of a corporate-backed clinic to launch a new...

What would you choose: the career you’ve dreamed of your whole life, or relief from unbearable pain? That was the reality for Dr. Julia Rodes, a third-year medical student whose spinal cord injury left her battling relentless neuropathic pain. The medications meant to help her also sedated her mind, making it nearly impossible to survive the demands of medical school—so she chose untreated pain ov...

Dr. Christie Kimball realized that the real risk wasn’t leaving hospital medicine — it was staying . In this episode, she opens up about the moment she decided to step away from a stable hospital career and build her own aesthetic and weight-loss practice from scratch. What started as small Botox parties in people’s homes has now grown into a thriving clinic with over 800 patients in less than a y...

In this eye-opening conversation, Dr. Kazarian reveals the hidden side of American healthcare that most patients never see. From patients being denied life-saving treatments to the crushing costs of hospital care, she shares real stories from her time in residency and her transition into private practice. We explore how profit-driven systems impact patient care, the toxic traditions in medical tra...

Too many people blame themselves when fertility doesn’t come easy. Dr. Bryn Willson, both physician and patient, debunks that shame—and opens up about her own journey with egg freezing, loss, and healing. This episode is a vulnerable exploration of the science, the stigma, and the soul-searching that often comes with infertility. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, you're not alone—and this is the...

When Dr. Shanda Dorff lost her mother to medical negligence, everything changed. What followed wasn’t just grief — it was a moral reckoning that pushed her to rethink how medicine should be practiced. She shares how that heartbreaking experience led her to walk away from the traditional insurance-based system and launch a fully out-of-network practice, where patients get the time, attention, and c...

This is what happens when a doctor stops playing by broken rules. Dr. Tish Singer walked away from hospital bureaucracy and insurance chaos to launch Shero Imaging—a concierge breast center where women get same-day results and radical transparency. In this episode, she reveals what pushed her to the edge, how she built this innovative new model from scratch, and why the future of women’s health mi...

Endometriosis has long been misunderstood—as just “bad period pain” or a fertility issue. But what if that narrative is completely outdated? In this eye-opening episode, Yale-trained reproductive endocrinologist Dr. Valerie Flores unpacks why endometriosis is actually a chronic, systemic disease that affects far more than just the reproductive system. From the shocking 11-year average delay in dia...

This is a conversation every healthcare provider—and every patient living with pain—needs to hear. Dr. Julia Rhodes is a psychiatry resident, chronic pain researcher, and spinal cord injury survivor who’s challenging everything we think we know about pain in medicine. In this powerful episode, she shares what it’s like to train as a doctor while living with debilitating pain—and how the medical sy...

Dr. Virginia Giugliano is not your typical OB-GYN. After years in a system that rushed patient visits, dismissed symptoms, and pushed her toward burnout, she knew something had to change — so she built her own model of care from the ground up. In this episode, we dive into her journey from traditional medicine to launching a concierge menopause clinic that puts women first. She shares the emotiona...

What if your impact as a doctor extended far beyond the exam room? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Dodell, a board certified endocrinologist and private practice owner in New York City, who has found a way to blend clinical care, content creation, and brand advocacy. From partnering with Dove to support legislation against weight discrimination to sharing relatable stories on social media, D...

What if the pain you're feeling has nothing to do with what shows up on your MRI? In this episode, we're joined by double board-certified interventional pain specialist Dr. Pooja Chopra, who unpacks what most people—and even some doctors—get wrong about chronic pain. She shares why patient trust matters more than fancy terminology, how she breaks down complex diagnoses with empathy, and wh...

You’ve spent years building your medical expertise—but what if your greatest impact could come from sharing it in a book? In this episode, Suzanne Staszak-Silva, Senior Acquisitions Editor at Johns Hopkins University Press, reveals what it really takes for doctors to get published. From crafting a powerful proposal to understanding what publishers look for, you’ll get an inside look at the entire...

What kind of doctor turns down a one-time $1,000 visit? The kind who’s rebuilding healthcare from the ground up. In this episode, Dr. K—better known as Dr. Kainkaryam—shares the story behind why he walked away from the traditional, insurance-driven system and chose to build a direct primary care (DPC) practice rooted in transparency, trust, and human connection. But this isn’t just about refusing...

Dr. Patrick Denard is one of the most accomplished shoulder surgeons in the world. He’s performed over 9,000 procedures, published hundreds of studies, and shaped the way we approach minimally invasive orthopedic care. But despite reaching the peak of surgical mastery, he saw a glaring gap—one that medicine wasn’t addressing. In this episode, Dr. Denard shares why technical excellence alone is no...

Dr. Cindy Van Praag thought she had it all figured out. A successful career in medicine. A family she loved. A business she helped build. But under the surface, something was quietly breaking. In this deeply honest episode, she shares how burnout entered her life in subtle ways and how it eventually led to a complete transformation. What started as exhaustion and disconnection turned into a journe...

Dr. Jocelyn Fitzgerald is a surgeon, researcher, educator—and a rising voice in the medical community who’s using social media to advocate for patients and push the conversation in medicine forward. In this episode, she shares how the COVID-19 pandemic shifted the mindset of doctors, empowering many to speak up, share their experiences, and challenge outdated systems. We dive into how Dr. Fitzgera...

What do you get when a pediatric ICU physician pairs up with a clinical pharmacist she met on Zoom? A thriving online business, a bold brand, and nearly 100,000 Instagram followers—built in under a year. In this episode, Dr. Olive shares how she combined personal experience, clinical insight, and macro coaching to launch a nutrition-focused business for people on GLP-1 medications. She opens up ab...

“I passed out during every presentation in college.” Dr. Jennifer Roelands never imagined she’d become a speaker, a YouTuber, or a digital course creator—let alone someone building a mission-driven brand in women’s health. But after 13 years in traditional OB-GYN practice, she left the safety and success of her career to do what truly lit her up. In this inspiring episode, Dr. Roelands shares her...

What happens when your dream job nearly breaks you? Dr. Danielle Don Diego was a rising family physician on the traditional path—until burnout, disillusionment, and a moment of deep self-reflection changed everything. In this raw and inspiring episode, she shares her powerful story of walking away from the “assembly line” of modern medicine, rediscovering her identity, and building a life on her o...

Dr. Cherilyn Davis is more than a board-certified pediatrician—she’s a media-savvy communicator with a unique path through health communications, brand partnerships, and concierge care. In this episode, she shares how leaving traditional medicine led her to rediscover her passion for writing, what she learned from working in PR, and how those skills now help her connect better with families. We al...

Dr. Olivia Richman isn’t afraid to speak up—even when the system tells her to stay quiet. In this powerful episode, she opens up about the real, often hidden struggles of becoming and being a doctor. From the relentless grind of medical training to the burnout that follows, Dr. Richman shares what it’s like to work in a culture where speaking up can come at a cost—but staying silent costs even mor...

In today’s digital age, having medical expertise isn’t enough—doctors also need to know how to communicate clearly, connect with the public, and build trust at scale. In this episode of the Med Story Podcast, host Spencer Lalk sits down with Dr. Nate Wood—Yale-trained physician, chef, and Director of Culinary Medicine—to explore what most doctors overlook when trying to educate patients or reach b...