Transcript

Dr. Terry Dubrow (0:00)

I volunteered at the UCLA emergency room and the minute I walked in there, I was just lit. There was something about the smell. And the residents were all young, good looking, studly, what I call relaxed brilliance. They were just confident and smart.

Ryan (0:17)

What's your advice to everybody else who's afraid to do that? They're not going out. They don't go after what they want.

Dr. Terry Dubrow (0:23)

Be bold. I always say to my kids, it's not so important to be smart, but it's important to be clever and bold. You lean into those two things, you'll get very far, you know. And what do you have to lose?

Ryan (0:34)

Nothing.

Dr. Terry Dubrow (0:34)

Nothing. And everything to gain.

Ryan (0:53)

Welcome to In Search of Excellence. My guest today is my friend Terry Debro. He's is a star plastic surgeon, one of the best plastic surgeons in the world and the star of the Austin TV show Botched, which I watched, I think for the first three years every night after I met my wife Madison. She was absolutely obsessed with the show. Terry, thanks for being here. Welcome to In Search of Excellence.

Dr. Terry Dubrow (1:12)

Thanks for having me. I'm looking forward to this.

Ryan (1:14)

So I always start with our family and I want to start with your mom, Laura, who is a legal secretary. And you grew up with a single mom.

Dr. Terry Dubrow (1:21)

Yes.

Ryan (1:22)

Let's go to the moment when you were 10 years old and there was a stray cat scratching at your door. How did growing up in poverty influence your future?

Dr. Terry Dubrow (1:33)

I can't believe you know this story. We were living on Genesee street near the high school, Fairfax High School. My mom was a secretary. My dad had basically abandoned us. Fortunately, although we became friends later when I was two. I say fortunately because he wasn't very nice, but anyway. And we were living in this apartment with nothing. And there was this cat. I love cats. I don't know what it is about. I love all animals, but I love cats. And there was this cat in the alleyway behind the apartment. And I went to the refrigerator and got some milk and put it out for the cat. And then from there, after, the cat would scratch on our screen door every night at about that time for me to put the milk out. And it dawned on me that this cat had. Has no place to live, has no family, has no, I don't know the right word, job, but no career. And I thought, this could be me. This is no different than the environment I'm growing up in. Even at the age of 10, it dawned on me that I could be that cat. And I need to figure it out and get it together.

Summary

Podcast Summary: In Search of Excellence

Episode: Terry Dubrow – Becoming the World’s Most Famous Plastic Surgeon | E175

Host: Randall Kaplan
Guest: Dr. Terry Dubrow
Date: November 3, 2025

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode features Dr. Terry Dubrow, renowned plastic surgeon and television personality, known for “Botched.” Through personal stories and candid reflections, Terry discusses his journey from a tough childhood to massive professional success, exploring the themes of resilience, perseverance, ambition, mentorship, and the pursuit of excellence. The conversation also touches on the importance of boldness, learning from setbacks, the impact of family, loyalty, and proactive career development.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Early Life and Family Challenges

Single-parent household: Terry grew up with his mother after his father left when he was two. Poverty strongly shaped his outlook on life, driving his later ambition and work ethic.
- Memorable Story: At age 10, Terry compared himself to a stray cat they fed, realizing he needed to “figure it out and get it together.” (02:44)
Shared experience with host: Both Terry and Randall had mothers as legal secretaries who remarried to improve their families’ lives, resulting in complex blended families. Both experienced abrupt moves and toxic environments.
Stepfather conflict: Terry’s stepfather enforced strict rules, leading to tension, especially with Terry’s brother, Kevin (forced to drink milk, fistfights, toxic household). (06:15)

2. Sibling Dynamics & Influence

Kevin Dubrow’s journey: Terry describes sharing a room with his older brother, a high-strung and mean aspiring rock star who would later become the lead singer of Quiet Riot.
- “It was a really toxic environment. I very much hated him. That really informed a lot of who I became.” (08:33)
Kevin’s success: Despite no natural talent for singing, Kevin’s sheer focus and will transformed him into a rock frontman who achieved a number one album, “Metal Health.” (29:19, 41:13)

3. Academic Ambition & Early Lessons

Obnoxious and talented: Terry was a sarcastic, high-achieving student who received his only high school B for writing a humorous, critical essay on history (“high school in many ways is exactly like prison”). (09:02)
Formative influence: Early academic setbacks, like that B, “bummer...because I wanted to graduate with a 4.0,” reinforced his drive towards excellence.

4. Formative Life Experiences

Alcohol aversion: A traumatic whiskey incident at age 12 led Terry to avoid drinking until age 38. (13:42)
Exposure to entertainment: Growing up near CBS Television City, Terry recalls the impact of Hollywood’s proximity and atmosphere. (17:04)

5. Finding a Career Path

No role models: Terry’s family didn’t discuss careers; he was initially steered toward dentistry or optometry by his mother due to their perceived stability. “I had absolutely no clue or concept about what I would do with my life.” (19:08)
Dentistry: hated it. Volunteering bored him, so he dropped pre-dentistry, meandered, then found inspiration in science and medicine.
Turning point: Volunteering at the UCLA ER, inspired by the confident, brilliant residents (“relaxed brilliance”) and the intoxicating smell of the hospital, Terry decided to pursue medicine in earnest. (21:59, repeated at 00:00)
- “The minute I walked in there, I was just lit. There was something about the smell.” (00:00, 21:59)
Proactive career transition: Transferred to Yale to complete prerequisite courses and a master’s degree; thrived there academically, taught MCAT prep.

6. The Power of Mentorship (& Being Bold)

Mentorship pivotal: Terry’s career took off after chasing down charismatic surgeon Dr. Mal Lesavoy after a spellbinding lecture. Mal invited Terry to his lab, sparking prolific research and publication output.
- “Be bold. I always say to my kids, it's not so important to be smart, but it's important to be clever and bold.” (23:00, repeated at 50:44)
First mover advantage: Terry emphasizes proactively seeking opportunities and adding value—whether meeting a billionaire, a future mentor, or applying creative approaches to get noticed. (50:44, 52:47)
- “Take the first step. Be enthusiastic, be humble, be authentic. Everyone loves to be interested in...” (50:44)

7. Loyalty, Opportunity, and the Music Industry

Quiet Riot’s big break and heartbreak: Terry recounts how Ozzy Osbourne poached guitarist Randy Rhoads from Kevin’s band, Quiet Riot, highlighting human nature’s complexity with loyalty and ambition.
- “It taught me about, you know, loyalty...but how can you possibly turn that down?” (31:59)
Fame’s fleeting nature: Reflects on his brother’s meteoric rise and personal struggle, the intoxicating live shows, and the drummers and musicians who partied at their house. (37:28)

8. Mentorship & Networking Advice

Standing out: Both men stress that mentorship must be earned through authentic connection and proactive value-creation, not generic requests. (55:42, 57:19)
- “You've got to earn mentorship. You have to earn your time in the door.” (55:19)
- “If someone puts a cat on there who is in need of help...obviously that's going to pull on my heartstrings a little bit...” (59:07)
Preparation & research: “Do your homework and figure out how you can come resonate with them.” (55:42)

9. Academic & Career Progression

Medical training: Terry describes his traditional, intense path—general surgery residency, then plastic surgery. Key was publishing (the true “currency” in medicine/residency selection).
Practice beginnings: Planned to stay in Beverly Hills but, thanks to a bit of chance and a friend’s encouragement, moved to and established himself in Newport Beach. (61:46, 62:24)

Memorable Quotes & Notable Moments

| Timestamp | Quote | Speaker | |-----------|-------|---------| | 00:00 & 21:59 | “The minute I walked in there, I was just lit. There was something about the smell.” | Dr. Terry Dubrow | | 02:44 | “Even at the age of 10, it dawned on me that I could be that cat. And I need to figure it out and get it together.” | Dr. Terry Dubrow | | 08:33 | “It was a really toxic environment. I very much hated him. That really informed a lot of who I became.” | Dr. Terry Dubrow | | 23:00 / 50:44 | “Be bold. I always say to my kids, it's not so important to be smart, but it's important to be clever and bold..." | Dr. Terry Dubrow | | 29:19 | “He was the first hard rock band to have a number one album. He displaced Thriller on the Billboard charts at number one.” | Dr. Terry Dubrow | | 41:13 | “Metal Health was the first metal, heavy metal album ever on the Billboard to hit number one.” | Ryan | | 46:28 | “Let me tell you about the field of plastic and reconstructive surgery... We do it all.” | Dr. Mal Lesavoy (via Terry Dubrow) | | 52:47 | “If you can publish as a medical student or a resident, that's the ultimate because that's your...pushing your professor's careers forward.” | Dr. Terry Dubrow | | 55:19 | “You have to earn mentorship. You have to earn your time in the door.” | Ryan | | 57:19 | “Do your research, do your homework and figure out how you can come resonate with them.” | Dr. Terry Dubrow |

Noteworthy Segments & Timestamps

Childhood in poverty & stray cat analogy (02:44)
First recognition of being poor (02:51)
Stepfather stories & family toxicity (06:15)
High school academic life and teacher conflict (09:02)
Kevin Dubrow’s personality and musical rise (08:33 – 29:19)
Whiskey incident trauma (13:42)
Dentistry vs. medicine: finding his calling (19:08 – 21:59)
Yale MCAT teaching, academic pivot (24:58)
Mentorship with Dr. Mal Lesavoy; research/publishing (46:28 – 52:47)
Quiet Riot, Ozzy Osbourne, and loyalty (29:19 – 32:38)
Mentoring and advice on networking (55:19 – 59:47)
Establishing Newport Beach practice (61:46 – 66:03)

Tone & Language

Dr. Dubrow is candid, self-deprecating, reflective, and direct; the vibe ranges from humorous anecdotes to earnest discussions of pain, ambition, and values. Randall Kaplan is empathetic, engaged, and shares personal parallels, setting a tone that is conversational, encouraging, and insightful.

Summary Takeaways

Boldness and authenticity win opportunities. Don’t wait to be chosen—take the first step, show real interest, and add value.
Challenges shape resilience. Poverty and dysfunctional family life led Terry to develop grit, independence, and a relentless drive toward improvement.
Mentorship and networking matter, but you have to stand out. Research, authenticity, and value creation are essential to building meaningful professional relationships.
Success requires both reactive and proactive work. Publishing in medicine, or generating your own job opportunities, means never being just an “order taker.”
Loyalty is tested in ambitious careers, and sometimes must be forgone for opportunity.
Preparation and perseverance are non-negotiable for excellence.
Fame and success can be fleeting—remaining grounded and ethical is vital.

End of Part One. The episode promises a continuation next week, delving further into Terry's journey to becoming "the world's most famous plastic surgeon."