Supporting Physician Spouses

Physician families do not need a "perfect" division of labor, they need a realistic one. In Part 2 of our Fair Play conversation, we move from concepts into application and talk about how to make the Fair Play framework work when medicine does not cooperate with routines, predictability, or a normal workweek. We name the reality that 60, 70, 80-hour weeks are not "flexible hours," and also the imp...

When one partner is working 60, 70, 80+ hours a week, it is easy to default into, "I'll just handle everything at home." On the surface, it looks supportive. Over time, it often turns into resentment, disconnection, and a physician who feels like a guest in their own home, while the at-home partner feels like they can never step away from being the household CEO. In Part 1 of our Fair Play series,...

If you're married to a physician, the "New Year, new you" pressure can feel extra exhausting, especially when your life is already running on a high-demand schedule. In this episode, Kendra and Katie offer you something better than resolutions: permission to honor your current season and work with your real energy, not an arbitrary calendar date.  In this episode, we cover Why January 1 can be a t...

If you're married to a physician and you've been holding a lot this year, this one is for you. Katie and Kendra share highlights from our first year, read reviews from listeners, and tease what's ahead in 2026, including a Fair Play series and conversations about your family's ecosystem. As we head into a new year, we're looking back on the first year of the Supporting Physician Spouses podcast, h...

The holidays can be joyful—and complicated—when you're married to medicine. Today we're talking about how we actually celebrate the holiday season—as physician spouses juggling unpredictable schedules, limited time off, and shifting expectations. In this episode, we talk about: Why creating "traditional" holiday traditions can feel hard in medical training and early practice How simple, flexible t...

Today we're talking about the kind of rest physician spouses actually need during the holidays—especially when the whole world seems to slow down while your home ramps up. If you're carrying the family load while navigating your spouse's demanding end-of-year schedule, this episode was made for you. Today we're talking about… Rest—not the "add another task to your list" kind, but the biological, n...

In this episode, Katie and Kendra talk honestly about what it's like to attend holiday events solo as a physician spouse. From classroom parties to winter concerts, this season often highlights the unique pressures physician families face. We normalize the mixed emotions, offer simple ways to reduce the pressure to "perform," and share strategies to stay connected with your partner and present wit...

In this honest solo episode, Katie shares what's coming up for her as December begins—resistance, overwhelm, perfectionism, small-space stress, seasonal energy dips, and the pressure to "make magic" during the holidays. Instead of powering through it, she slows down and walks through the SEE–SAY–FEEL–DO framework in real time to bring intention, clarity, and compassion into the season. If you're f...

In this episode, Katie and Kendra talk honestly about navigating holidays in medical families —when schedules rarely match the calendar, traditions shift, and expectations don't go as planned.  Listen If You've Ever Felt… Sad or frustrated celebrating without your spouse Guilty for not doing "traditional" holidays Tired of explaining your family's reality Worried your kids are missing out Unsure h...

This week, Kendra and Katie unpack a quiet but common struggle among physician spouses: the belief that gratitude and dissatisfaction can't coexist. We explore: Why so many physician spouses downplay their hard moments The "gratitude as gaslighting" trap How privilege guilt + comparison silence our real needs A simple AND vs BUT framework to spot healthy vs harmful gratitude How to hold emotional...

When the call schedule explodes, the backup plan fails, and everyone's unraveling — how do you hold it all together? In the final episode of The Predictability Problem Series , Kendra and Katie unpack what it really means to create flexible family systems that bend but don't break when medicine runs the clock. You'll learn: Why rigid plans actually increase stress in high-uncertainty seasons The P...

Even the calmest, most grounded person can feel off balance when their relationship starts to feel like two people living parallel lives. In Week 3 of The Predictability Problem Series , Katie explores how physician spouses can rebuild calm through connection , even when medicine keeps changing the plan. You'll hear: A real-life story of emotional safety in action Research from Dr. Tate Shanafelt...

When the text comes — "Got pulled into a case. Won't make it for dinner." — your whole body reacts. The plan falls apart, and suddenly, you're bracing again. This week, Kendra walks physician spouses through the science of why unpredictability hits so hard — and a powerful, research-backed framework for reclaiming calm in the middle of it. Drawing from cognitive behavioral therapy and resilience t...

If you've ever said, "Our calendar is held hostage by the call schedule," or, "I can't plan anything until we know the rotation," this episode is for you. In Part 1 of The Predictability Problem Series , we're exploring how to reclaim rhythm and calm in a life that's constantly being reshaped by medicine. We'll unpack what happens to our nervous systems when life feels unpredictable, the science b...

October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month , and in this heartfelt conversation, Kendra and Katie sit down with Amy Watson , a certified life coach who helps women navigate the deep grief that follows miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant loss. Amy shares her personal story — from losing her daughter Lauren and later her baby River, to transforming that pain into purpose by supporting othe...

Life in medicine can feel like one long stretch of "hard." Between call schedules, solo parenting, and the constant shifting ground of medical life, it's easy to believe something must be wrong when things feel heavy. But what if "hard" isn't something to fix—what if it's something to honor and even grow through ? In this heartfelt conversation, Kendra and Katie get real about what it means to emb...

In this heartfelt episode of Supporting Physician Spouses, Kendra and Katie pause to acknowledge the heaviness in our world right now. With tragic shootings, heartbreaking losses, and ongoing uncertainty, many of us feel shaken and weary. Together, we explore what it means to steady ourselves when the world feels unsteady—and how to cultivate peace that is both grounding and real. We walk through...

In this heartfelt episode of Supporting Physician Spouses , Katie and Kendra welcome Katie's husband, Dr. Talon Harris , a 3rd year FM resident, for a candid conversation about the realities of medical training, marriage, and family life. From childhood crushes to the challenges of residency leadership, the Harris family story shines a light on resilience, faith, and partnership in the physician s...

Ep 16: Katie in the Hot Seat – Life, Residency, and Resilience In this episode, the tables turn—Katie steps into the hot seat as Kendra interviews her about her journey as a physician spouse. From meeting her husband back in elementary school to navigating medical school, residency, and raising three kids, Katie opens up about the highs, lows, and lessons along the way. She shares her unique match...

In this episode, Kendra welcomes Dr. Sarah Grimmer , a licensed clinical psychologist with a PhD in clinical psychology, to discuss her groundbreaking research on physician spouse burnout, secondary traumatic stress, and the program she has developed to support medical families. Sarah shares her personal journey of balancing PhD studies and family life while her husband pursued a medical career. (...

Today's episode is something special—we asked you, our listeners , to send in the questions you've always wanted answered from the physician's perspective. The result? A candid, insightful conversation with Dr. Adrian Harvey, neurosurgeon, husband to our co-host Kendra for 21 years, and father of five. Adrian opens up about his unexpected path into medicine, meeting Kendra in the middle of medical...

💬 Kendra Harvey's Journey as a Physician Spouse In this special episode of Supporting Physician Spouses, Katie flips the script and interviews her co-host and friend, Kendra Harvey. Normally the one guiding conversations, today, Kendra shares her own story of walking alongside her husband through medical school, residency, fellowship, and beyond. She opens up about the early years of marriage and...

In the chaos of medical life—whether it's long shifts, away rotations, or simply the nonstop pace—connection with your partner can slip to the bottom of the priority list. But it doesn't have to stay there. In this special solo minisode, Katie shares practical, research-backed strategies for quickly and meaningfully reconnecting with your partner—without adding pressure, guilt, or resentment. Draw...

Episode 11 – Tiny Habits for Real Life: Floors, Ceilings, and Finding Stillness in Medical Life Summary: In the last two episodes, we explored how medical life can hijack your identity—and how to reclaim it. Now we're getting practical. In this conversation, Katie and Kendra share real-life tools to help you live into your reclaimed identity even in the middle of chaos, fatigue, and unpredictable...

Have you ever caught yourself saying,  "When residency is over… then I'll finally…" ? You're not alone. For many physician spouses, it feels like our dreams and identity are on pause until "someday." But what if you didn't have to wait? In this episode of Supporting Physician Spouses , we dive into how to start living as the future version of yourself—right now. Inspired by James Clear's Atomic Ha...