The Vaughn Kohler Podcast

You built the practice. You earned the credentials. So why do you still feel invisible? Most high-achieving clinicians run the same strategy: do more, be more useful, and someone will finally see you. In this episode, Vaughn Kohler explains why that never works, and what we need to hear instead. Drawing on philosopher Josef Pieper, Genesis, and a scene from Good Will Hunting, this is soul care for...

If you're a clinic owner, med spa owner or nurse practitioner who knows you should charge a premium price but can't bring yourself to do it, this episode is for you. Vaughn Kohler tells the story of a clinician he coaches who agreed with every business reason to launch memberships and raise her prices, and still couldn't do it. The problem wasn't the math. It was an old belief that asking for more...

If you're a healthcare entrepreneur or clinical leader who keeps fixing the same problems, this episode is for you. Many clinicians learned early in life that if things were going to be okay, they'd have to make them okay. That fixer instinct built stable families and successful practices, but eventually it gets in the way of leading. Vaughn explains why heroics don't scale, how core values and SO...

Struggling with healthcare burnout and wondering if it's too late to change course? In this episode of Clinician, Heal Thyself, Vaughn Kohler tells the story of a father who failed his family for twenty-five years. He then gave them two "good years" before cancer took him, and those years are all his son remembers. Drawing on Psalm 90 and the thief on the cross, Vaughn speaks to three people: the...

You spend your days healing other people, so why can't you heal yourself? Maybe you help patients lose weight while fighting the same battle in your own body. Maybe you chart through chronic pain, or carry anxiety that hums under every shift. Maybe it's depression you hide behind a steady bedside manner, a grief that never quite lifts, or a relationship you can't get free of. And underneath it all...

Many caregivers learned love from someone who never slowed down: a grandmother who worked until the day she retired and then went right back to work, or a parent who never took a sick day. It's a beautiful inheritance. It can also quietly convince you that real love means running yourself into the ground. In this episode, Vaughn shares the story of a nurse practitioner he coaches who admitted she...

Many clinicians struggle with perfectionism and quietly carry responsibility for outcomes they were never meant to guarantee. In this episode, Vaughn Kohler shares a childhood story from a piano recital with his father and what it teaches about the difference between owning your work and owning every result. You'll learn how to attack the process, practice good medicine to the best of your ability...

When people push back on my choices, I can feel the tug to second-guess myself or cave to pressure. Maybe you know that feeling too. In this episode, I share why the who has to come before the what —why clarity about identity is the foundation for every calm, confident decision. I'll draw from everyday life, a little Star Wars storytelling, and my own work with clients to show how knowing who you...

You're smart, driven, and successful...but exhausted. Between running a business, raising kids, supporting a spouse, and keeping up with everything else, the pressure never stops. You've tried calendars, systems, diets, self-help books, even vacations. Still, the anxiety lingers. This episode unpacks a counterintuitive truth: the harder you try to control everything, the less peace you'll find. Re...

What really persuades people? We think it's about being louder, sharper, or more forceful—but that only creates division, resentment, and anger. In this episode, I share a moment with my daughter Mariah when my usual approach backfired, and something unexpected broke through her resistance. What happened with her revealed a truth I believe applies everywhere: family life, business, culture, and ev...

A couple weeks ago, I may have experienced one of the greatest days of my life. I drove to Seneca, Kansas, planning to catch up with a former student from my seminary teaching days. What I found was a story of tragedy, faith, and unexpected power. A small town still grieving the murder of their longtime priest showed me what hidden legacy really looks like. And in the middle of it all, I went to c...

Ever feel alone in a crowd? Whether you're a successful entrepreneur or single parent, I get it.  It's not fun. But changing your situation is within your power. In this episode, I take you back to the year 2000, when I traveled through the Middle East as a seminary student. I was surrounded by breathtaking history—walking the  Street Called Straight in Damascus where Paul once stayed, exploring P...

In this episode, I share one idea that's kept me steady: when life feels like it's coming apart, look for the thread. I tell two survival stories—Ronald Reagan and John Paul II—and how their unlikely recoveries set off a chain that eventually touched my own life, right down to a quiet moment in a chapel when I first met my wife. I'm not giving you a system. I'm offering a lens: treat each encounte...

In this episode, I talk about something that's been on my mind a lot lately: place. Maybe we've all lost a sense of identity because we've lost our commitment to geography — to the actual streets, neighborhoods, and communities we live in. I share a story about walking Poyntz Avenue here in Manhattan, Kansas with my daughters, and how that simple walk opened my eyes to history, beauty, and belongi...

Hey, it's Vaughn. In this episode, I want to talk to you about something most of us don't admit out loud—how comfort can quietly become a cage. How we stay in lives that look stable on the outside but feel hollow on the inside… because the idea of stepping into the unknown feels too risky, too disruptive, too selfish. I share the story of a character from a film I love—Daniel Christie in Far and A...

On the morning of my wedding, I got the call—she had cold feet. But instead of panicking, I showed up with something stronger than persuasion: a vision. In this episode, I share the story of how casting a vivid, hope-filled vision saved my wedding day—and why the real secret to overcoming fear isn't willpower, it's storytelling. Whether you're facing a big leap in life, love, or leadership, you'll...

Some decisions don't feel life-changing when you make them. They're quiet. Ordinary. Easily overlooked. But years later, you look back—and realize everything beautiful in your life began with that one small choice. In this episode, I share the story of Jerry and Janice, a couple whose faithful decision in 1996 altered the entire course of my life. I talk about legacy, about the strength it takes t...

In this episode, I sit down with the incredibly vibrant and deeply thoughtful Paloma Pilar for a conversation that spans passion, purpose, and the unexpected twists of life. We explore the power of love—both in relationships and in the way we approach our work—and how true fulfillment comes from embracing who we are, rather than fitting into a mold. Paloma shares her journey from acting in New Yor...

In this episode, I sit down once again with my longtime friend, former college roommate, and now a regular contributor to the show, Erin Ahnfeldt. We explore the power of settings—not just in storytelling, but in real life. Erin shares a powerful reflection on the places that shape us, from his experiences as an English teacher navigating an unexpected school merger to the way landscapes—whether t...

In this episode, a good friend, Alex Spinoso, and I reflect on the trials of scaling a business, from staff issues to the weight of running multiple companies. We talk about how criticism from employees can hurt, especially when you pour your heart into the company. But hey, that's part of leadership. Whether it's realizing that your vendors are actually "partners" in your business or coming to te...

In this deeply personal and reflective episode, I sit down with my good friend, Ron Ratliff, to explore the trials and triumphs of faith, friendship, and forgiveness. From our shared love of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien to navigating profound spiritual crises, Ron and I delve into the complexities of suffering, grace, and redemption. Through poignant stories and powerful insights, Ron shares how...

In this episode, I explore the powerful question: "What if you were the most impactful person anyone ever met?" Drawing from a keynote I delivered at Genesis Lifestyle Medicine corporate event, I dive into practical strategies for maximizing your influence in both personal and professional realms. I'll walk you through mastering the core elements of charisma—power, presence, and warmth—and share h...

In this episode, I "write a letter" to a friend and dive into the anxiety many of us feel about today's political climate. Inspired by a real life conversation with a friend, I share practical advice on how to maintain perspective amidst the chaos. I discuss how our drive to solve every problem can lead to stress and distraction and highlight the importance of focusing on what we can control. I al...

In this episode, Erin Anhfeldt and I delve into symbols and symbolism. As an English teacher, Erin often discusses these concepts in the classroom with his students. And at the mention of symbolism, it might evoke a sense of dread. However, Erin believes that symbols, both in literature and in life, have the power to move us deeply. They are tangible representations of abstract ideas, and I think...

In this candid episode, Erin Ahnfeldt and I dive into a deeply personal story about his dad's incredible act of love and faith. With a history of leukemia, Erin's father recently felt compelled to bless his grandchildren, inspired by the biblical story of Jacob blessing his offspring. Despite the logistical challenges, the family miraculously came together, allowing his dad to impart a touching an...