Stimulus - Learn Tools to Crush It in Your Medical Career

What if the true test of strength is focusing less on what we feel and more on what we do? In this episode, we explore a practical philosophy of action, presence, and personal agency with Dan Millman, author of Way of the Peaceful Warrior. Finally, we dig into how small mindset shifts can transform both high-stakes moments and the quiet struggles of everyday life.Guest bio: Dan Millman is a world champion athlete turned author, educator, and teacher of practical wisdom. With a background that spans competitive sports, university-level coaching, martial arts, and academic instruction, Dan brings a rare blend of physical discipline and philosophical insight to his work.Following two decades of spiritual exploration, he developed what would become known as the Peaceful Warrior’s Way, an action-based approach to living with purpose. Dan is the author of 18 books, including the international bestseller Way of the Peaceful Warrior, which was adapted into a feature film. His writings have reached millions across 29 languages and continue to influence readers around the world.We Discuss:Peaceful Warrior Philosophy in ActionWhat We Control (And What We Don’t)Action Over EmotionThe Three Rules of Wise LivingThe Power of Present Moment AwarenessMastery Through Deliberate PracticePurpose as a Practical ToolGrowth Without PerfectionWorking Within Broken SystemsPracticing LifeMentioned in this episode:Free Tools To Make Medical Practice EasierNo fluff. Just good stuff.Free Resources LinkOur 2026 Retreat in Scottsdale, ArizonaMarch 1-4. Change how you see yourself, experience your work with joy, and build mental excellence.Learn More HereDoctoring Done Well | Bite-Sized WinsEvery other week, a few minutes of career-elevating insight delivered straight to your inbox. The Doctoring Done Well Newsletter is never lame, never spammy, and always fresh.Sign up for our Newsletter

Your work world is built on endurance, intensity, and mastery. The culture is 'always on,' and you were trained to perform in conditions no one would call normal. The work is supranormal. It sits at the edge of reasonable and regularly exceeds what is sustainable by most standards. High performers like you often find themselves on an above-the-fray pedestal, expected to be tireless and self-sacrificing. Supranormal work can unlock extraordinary performance, but the cost adds up if it goes unchecked. In this episode, we look at where this culture came from, the cortisol spikes that shape your days, the hidden curriculum of self-sacrifice, and the countermeasures that keep you from burning out. It is a straight look at the supranormal experience and what it takes to do this work without losing yourself to it.Awake + Aware | Our 2026 RetreatJoin us at Awake and Aware, our 3-day retreat in Scottsdale, AZ. March 1-4, 2026. Space is limited.Learn More Here🎓 P.S. This is a CME event.We discuss:• Why medical culture expects you to perform inside conditions no one would call normal• What makes supranormal work different from ordinary high-stress work• How the “always on” ethos formed and why it persists• The hidden curriculum of self-sacrifice and the pedestal of being above the fray• Cortisol spikes, sympathetic load, and what chronic activation does to your body• Why self-preservation feels selfish in medicine and why that belief is wrong• The roots of modern training from monastic care to Halsted’s cocaine-fueled stamina• Why emergency medicine is an outlier in burnout, longevity, and physiological strain• The concept of parasympathetic nurturing as a countermeasure• How mindset changes biology and shifts performance• What it takes to last in supranormal work without losing yourself

What if the best decision is to not decide at all? We waste valuable mental energy overthinking simple choices, especially when the outcomes are nearly identical. That kind of cognitive drain reduces our capacity to think clearly when decisions actually matter. In this episode, we explore how to reduce cognitive load, identify low-risk choices that can be automated or ignored, and recognize when deliberation is just noise. Finally, we break down how framing, values, and the right question can make even complex decisions frictionless.Guest bio: Dan Dworkis MD, PhD is an emergency physician who is a clinical professor of emergency medicine at USC Keck School of Medicine. He’s also host of the Emergency Mind podcast that focuses on helping individuals and teams perform better under pressure and the author of The Emergency Mind: Wiring Your Brain for Performance Under Pressure. We Discuss:The Three Types of Cognitive LoadHarvesting Free RollsApplying Dominance and Cutting Through Decisional NoiseHow to Stop Fretting Over Equivalent DecisionsNavigating EquipoiseMaking Big Life DecisionsMentioned in this episode:5 Free Tools To Make Medical Practice EasierScripts for your least favorite conversations. The quick and dirty guide to calling consults. A 10-minute "Driveway Debrief" to switch off from work. My favorite documentation templates. Step-by-step guide for delivering the news of death. Free Resources LinkDoctoring Done Well | Bite-Sized WinsEvery other week, a few minutes of career-elevating insight delivered straight to your inbox. The Doctoring Done Well Newsletter is never lame, never spammy, and always fresh.Sign up for our NewsletterOur 2026 Retreat in Scottsdale, ArizonaMarch 1-4. Change how you see yourself, experience your work with joy, and build mental excellence.Learn More Here

As students navigate an increasingly complex, competitive, and costly path to medical school, parents often find themselves uncertain about how to help without hindering growth. Meanwhile, institutions maintain opaque admissions practices, amplifying anxiety for both students and families. In this episode, we explore what parents need to know to truly support, not sabotage, their aspiring doctors. Finally, we pull back the curtain on everything from shadowing to AI in essays, offering a brutally honest look at what really matters in the application process.Guest bio: Dr. Ryan Gray, a former Flight Surgeon in the United States Air Force, is the founder of Medical School Headquarters and Meded Media, where he has become a leading voice in guiding pre-med and medical students toward careers in medicine. He is the author of The Premed Playbook series, including Guide to the Medical School Application Process, Guide to the Medical School Personal Statement, Guide to the Medical School Interview, and Guide to the MCAT. Dr. Gray also hosts several popular podcasts, including The Premed Years, OldPreMeds Podcast, The MCAT Podcast, and Specialist Stories.We Discuss:Support vs. SabotageThe Myth of the Perfect ApplicantWhy Checklists Aren't Really ChecklistsWhat Shadowing Really Tells YouWhat's the Deal With Volunteering Hours?Service for the Right ReasonsWhy Pre-Med Doesn't Mean Pre-DoctorUsing AI When Writing Med School EssaysCompressing Preclinical EducationThe Price of Applying and the Sneaky SecondariesWhy Don't Schools Post MCAT Cutoffs?How to Write a Good Letter of Recommendation and When to Say NoThank You NotesLetters of IntentShould Premeds Attend Non-Interview Info Sessions?Why Clinical Hours Are Non-Negotiable

A broken system won’t fix itself, and no one is coming to the rescue. Medicine is fraying under the weight of burnout, misaligned incentives, and systemic inertia. Yet, hope isn’t lost. Change is still possible, but it won’t come from the top down. In this episode, we explore how grassroots leadership, inner work, and community involvement can become the antidote to despair in modern medicine. Finally, we dig into the personal cost of service and the tools we need to heal ourselves while fighting for change.Guest bio: Dr. Andrea Austin is the inaugural Emergency Medicine Program Director at Sacred Heart in Pensacola, Florida. As a Navy veteran, her military service taught her how to perform under pressure and lead teams in high-stakes environments. She brings that same focus to her work in medical education, physician well-being, and healthcare systems change. Dr. Austin is the author of Revitalized: A Guidebook to Following Your Healing Heartline and host of the Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare podcast.Books mentioned in this episodeWhat My Bones Know by Stephanie FooWe Discuss:The Case for a New Residency ProgramWhat It Means to Be a Change MakerWorking Within the Domains of ChangeOvercoming Social Loafing in MedicineRethinking Suicide Risk in Emergency MedicineThe Call for Psychiatric Fellowships in EMReclaiming Wellness Through the “Heart Line”The Inner Work is the System WorkBuilding a Portfolio CareerMentioned in this episode:Coming Soon! The Out On Time CourseIf you are on our mailing list, you will have early access and a few other surprises as well.Sign up for our NewsletterOur 2026 Retreat in Scottsdale, ArizonaMarch 1-4. Change how you see yourself, experience your work with joy, and build mental excellence.Learn More HereNever Lame. Never Spammy. Always Fresh.If you’d like a few minutes of career-elevating curated kickassery delivered to your inbox, sign up for our newsletter. Sign up for our Newsletter