Podcast
Solving For Joy
Hosted by Chrissie Ott, MD · EN
Through in depth conversations with a wide range of guests, Solving for Joy explores the idea that we are always trying to solve life's equation for maximal joy. We'll discover what constants are actually variables we can change and have a lot of laughs along the way. Dr. Chrissie Ott brings a coaching lens, experience in healthcare, entrepreneurship and creativity to the table. We hope this podcast is a tool for many to reclaim delight in their own personal and professional lives!
18episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Could Running Be a Source of Joy? Menopause, Movement, and Finding Your Way Back to Yourself
2d ago00:28:42Tap to summarizeToday, we're revisiting one of my favorite episodes on Solving for Joy.This episode explores menopause, movement, running, grief, self-trust, and what it means to reconnect with yourself through joyful movement.Physician, running coach, and fellow physician coach Dr. Michelle Quirk shares how running helped her navigate burnout, loss, and major life transitions, and why movement can be an act of care rather than another place to strive for perfection.We talk about:• Why so many women believe they're "not runners" and how those stories shape us• How movement can support grief, emotional well-being, and resilience• Menopause, musculoskeletal pain, and considerations for women in midlife• Why high-achieving women often struggle to approach exercise with self-compassion• How to start small and build a sustainable relationship with movementWhether you're a runner, a walker, or simply curious about moving your body with more kindness and less pressure, this episode offers a refreshing invitation to begin exactly where you are.Connect with Dr. Michelle Quirk:• Website: https://mindful-marathon.com/• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindful.marathon• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellequirkmd/Stay Connected:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrissieottmdPodcast Website: https://www.solvingforjoy.comChrissie’s Website: https://www.chrissieottmd.com🩺 For Physician Coaches & Healthcare LeadersPhysician Coaching Collective:https://www.physiciancoachingcollective.comPhysician Coaching Summit:https://www.thephysiciancoachingsummit.com
Transcribe →Girl Reimagined: Raising Confident Girls and Protecting Joy in a Culture of Burnout and Comparison
2w ago00:27:50Tap to summarizeToday’s conversation is about teenage girls, social media, anxiety, perfectionism, emotional resilience, and protecting joy in a culture of burnout and comparison.What happens when girls begin losing connection to themselves younger and younger while navigating pressure, performance, comparison, and constant digital noise?In this episode, I’m joined by Jamie Shannon, certified life coach and founder of Girl Reimagined, a coaching program supporting teenage girls and families navigating anxiety, self-doubt, perfectionism, and emotional overwhelm.We talk about: • How social media impacts girls’ confidence, identity, and emotional well-being • Why many adult women are still learning the skills girls need most today • How coaching can help girls build resilience, boundaries, and self-trust before crisis • Jamie’s concept of a “happy prescription” and helping girls reconnect with joy • What parents can do to better support girls in a world of comparison and overstimulationThis conversation is about more than raising daughters. It is about helping the next generation stay connected to themselves while many adults are still finding their way back there too.If you’ve been thinking about the girls in your life, navigating burnout or perfectionism yourself, or longing for more connection and joy, this episode is for you.Explore Social Media Mindfulness, the resource Jamie created specifically for the Solving for Joy community to help girls build a healthier relationship with social media:https://girlreimagined.com/ssm_solving_for_joy.htmlLearn more about Girl Reimagined’s coaching program and one-week trial experience for girls and families:https://www.girlreimagined.com/1weektrial.htmlLearn more about Jamie Shannon and Girl Reimagined:https://www.girlreimagined.comFollow Girl Reimagined on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/girlreimaginedStay Connected:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrissieottmdPodcast Website: https://www.solvingforjoy.comChrissie’s Website: https://www.chrissieottmd.com🩺 For Physician Coaches & Healthcare LeadersPhysician Coaching Collective:https://www.physiciancoachingcollective.comPhysician Coaching Summit:https://www.thephysiciancoachingsummit.com
Transcribe →How Physicians Can Feel Human Again Before Burnout Leads to Peer Review
3w ago00:34:42Tap to summarizeToday’s conversation is about physician burnout, survival mode, emotional exhaustion, communication strain, leadership pressure, boundaries, career sustainability, and what it actually takes to stay connected to yourself in medicine.What happens when physicians stay in survival mode for too long and slowly begin losing connection to the parts of themselves that once felt grounded, present, and alive?In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Anne Hirsch, retired internal medicine physician, physician career advisor, coach, and healthcare leadership and clinician communication strategist.We talk about:• The subtle signs of burnout physicians often miss• How stress shows up in communication, relationships, and team dynamics• Why so many physicians quietly withdraw instead of reaching for support• The role of shame, awareness, and boundaries in burnout recovery• How coaching can help physicians identify blind spots, reconnect with their values, and create a more sustainable way of living and practicing medicine• Why community, support, and honest reflection matter so much in physician well-being and leadershipWhether you are personally considering coaching, supporting physicians as a coach, or simply wondering why medicine has started feeling harder to sustain, this conversation offers a deeply human look at what physicians are carrying beneath the surface and what actually helps.If you’ve been feeling disconnected from yourself…If you’ve been operating in survival mode for longer than you want to admit…Or if you’ve simply been longing to feel a little more human again…This conversation is for you.🔗 Resources Mentioned:• Maslach Burnout Inventoryhttps://www.mindgarden.com/117-maslach-burnout-inventory-mbi• Positive Intelligence by Shirzad Chaminehttps://www.positiveintelligence.com• The Business of Friendship by Shasta Nelsonhttps://shastanelson.com/book/• DISC Behavioral Assessmenthttps://www.discprofile.comLearn more about Dr. Anne Hirsch & Connect:https://www.physiciancoachingwithanne.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/anne-m-hirsch-md-facp-4a681790/ Stay Connected:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrissieottmdPodcast Website: https://www.solvingforjoy.comChrissie’s Website: https://www.chrissieottmd.com🩺 For Physician Coaches & Healthcare LeadersPhysician Coaching Collective:https://www.physiciancoachingcollective.comPhysician Coaching Summit:https://www.thephysiciancoachingsummit.com
Transcribe →Why Your Voice as a Doctor Matters Beyond the Exam Room
May 500:29:54Tap to summarizeToday’s conversation is about what happens when something deeply personal changes the way you see everything and quietly reshapes the way you show up in the world.I want to ask you something.Have you ever had an experience that shifted your perspective so much that you couldn’t go back to who you were before?Maybe it changed how you think about your work, your purpose, or the way you care for the people in your life.And maybe, somewhere along the way, you’ve wondered:Why do I hold back from sharing what I know?Why does it sometimes feel easier to stay quiet than risk being seen the wrong way?What might actually change if more of us spoke up?In this episode, I’m sitting down with Bret Gregory, founder of DrTalks, to explore the story behind a platform built to amplify doctors’ voices and the very real, very human experience that led him there.We talk about what it looks like when personal loss becomes a catalyst for purpose.Why access to the right information can completely change someone’s life.And how you can begin sharing what you already know in a way that feels grounded, honest, and true to you.Here’s what I think will really stay with you: Some of the most valuable voices are the ones we are not hearing. Sharing your expertise can deepen connection, not inflate ego. Conversations and podcasts are one of the most powerful ways to reach and help more people. A simple way to start sharing what you already know. What it means to stop waiting to be discovered and instead discover yourself. If you’ve ever questioned whether your voice matters…If you’ve ever held back because you didn’t want to come across the wrong way…Or if you feel that quiet pull to share more but aren’t sure how…This conversation is for you.🔗 Resources & LinksIf you’re curious to explore more about DrTalks and what Bret is building, please visit: www.drtalks.com🌿 Stay ConnectedIf you want to stay in this space with me:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrissieottmdPodcast Website: https://www.solvingforjoy.comMy Website: www.chrissieottmd.com🩺 For Physician CoachesIf this work is part of your world:Physician Coaching Collective: https://www.physiciancoachingcollective.comPhysician Coaching Summit: https://www.thephysiciancoachingsummit.com
Transcribe →Find Your Why: The Thread Between Purpose and Joy
May 100:29:04Tap to summarizeHave you ever been asked, “What’s your why?”… and found yourself unsure how to answer?Maybe you’ve thought about purpose before. Maybe you’ve even done the work.But something about that question still feels a little abstract… or just out of reach.In this episode, I sit down with Kelsey Vaughn for a behind-the-scenes look at the Why Discovery process inspired by Simon Sinek’s Start With Why.Together, we explore what it actually means to uncover your why, not as something you have to create, but as something that has been there all along.This conversation is about recognizing patterns, naming what’s already true, and understanding how your purpose connects to the way you experience joy in your life and work.Because when you are living in alignment with your why, things start to shift.Your work feels more meaningful.Your decisions feel clearer.And your capacity for joy expands in ways that are hard to ignore.In this episode you will learn:• What “finding your why” really means and why it is not about becoming someone new• How early life experiences and stories reveal patterns that shape your purpose• Why your why is more about impact than the roles or titles you hold• How to recognize when you are in or out of alignment with your why• The connection between authenticity, integrity, and joy• How identifying your “hows” can help you set boundaries and make aligned decisions• Why awareness is the first step toward meaningful changeResources & MentionsStart With Why by Simon SinekStay ConnectedInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/chrissieottmdPodcast Website - https://www.solvingforjoy.comWebsite - www.joypointsolutions.comFor Physician CoachesPhysician Coaching Collective - https://www.physiciancoachingcollective.comPhysician Coaching Summit - https://www.thephysiciancoachingsummit.com
Transcribe →What Joy Actually Looks Like: Dance, Pivoting, Entrepreneurship, and Feeling It All
Apr 2300:29:09Tap to summarizeHello, my friend. If you are a physician, coach, or high achiever who has ever wondered whether it is possible to leave a career you worked your whole life for and actually land somewhere better, this episode is for you. In this conversation, I sit down with my dear friend Dr. Manuela Powell, a former cancer surgeon turned entrepreneur and founder of Doctors Pivot, who helps physicians and professionals build online businesses without the overwhelm of figuring out all the tech and systems on their own. Manuela is also a devoted West Coast swing dancer, a mom of two boys, and someone who has built a life that is unapologetically designed around joy.This conversation goes deep. We talk about what it actually means to feel all your emotions, why allowing sadness is the doorway to more intense joy, and how Manuela's experiences with her father's cancer and a dear friend's metastatic breast cancer diagnosis shaped her philosophy around emotional permission. We also talk about the practical side of pivoting: why putting financial pressure on a brand new business is a trap, how to use your current job as a runway, and why knowing what you want your life to look like has to come before you choose what work to do next. And we close with Manuela's most non-negotiable joy practice — partner dance — and why she considers it her antidepressant.In this episode you will learn:Why accepting difficult emotions is the key to feeling more joy, not lessWhat "don't say at least" means and why it matters for anyone supporting someone through hardshipHow Manuela identified four non-negotiables that shaped the business she built after medicineWhy premature financial dependency on a new business creates burnout instead of freedomHow to use your current job as a runway while you build something newWhy dance is one of the most evidence-backed tools for mental health and how to find your own version of itResources & MentionsDoctors Pivot — https://www.doctorspivot.comPhysician Coaching Summit Playback Series — https://www.thephysiciancoachingsummit.com/podcast/Connect with Manuela PowellWebsite — https://www.doctorspivot.comInstagram — https://www.instagram.com/drmanuelapowell/Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/thedoctorspivot/Linkedin— https://www.linkedin.com/in/drmanuelapowell/Stay ConnectedInstagram — https://www.instagram.com/chrissieottmdWebsite — https://www.solvingforjoy.com For Physician CoachesPhysician Coaching Collective — https://www.physiciancoachingcollective.comPhysician Coaching Summit — https://www.thephysiciancoachingsummit.com Music by Denys Kyshchuk (AudioCoffee): https://www.audiocoffee.net
Transcribe →The Gift You're There to Give: Rethinking Credibility for Speakers
Apr 1400:31:07Tap to summarizeHello, my friend.If you are a physician, coach, or high achiever who dreams of giving a TEDx talk or keynote and sometimes wonders whether you are truly credible enough to stand on that stage, this episode is for you.In this conversation, I sit down with speaker coach, TEDx speaker, and author Cesar Cervantes, whose book Great Speech is a must read for anyone ready to give transformative presentations. Cesar shares the mindset shifts and practical tools that help speakers stop proving their credibility and start embodying it, so that the gift they have to give can actually land.Because a great keynote or TEDx talk is not about you. It is about the gift you are there to give.In this episode you will learn:Why trying to prove your credibility on stage actually diminishes itHow storytelling structure creates emotionally resonant, memorable talksWhy making yourself the hero of your own talk works against youWhat your body, voice, and cadence communicate beyond your wordsHow to frame every talk as a gift to your audienceResources & MentionsCesar's book: Great Speech — https://www.amazon.com/Great-Speech-Blueprint-Crafting-Signature/dp/1636804187Physician Coaching Summit Playback Series — https://www.thephysiciancoachingsummit.com/podcast/Connect with Cesar Cervantes Website — https://www.cesarcervantes.tv/ Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/mrcesarcervantes LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrcesarcervantes/Stay Connected Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/chrissieottmd Website — https://www.solvingforjoy.comFor Physician Coaches Physician Coaching Collective — https://www.physiciancoachingcollective.com Physician Coaching Summit — https://www.thephysiciancoachingsummit.comMusic by Denys Kyshchuk (AudioCoffee): https://www.audiocoffee.net
Transcribe →No Script for This: Loving Through Anticipatory Grief and Finding the Capacity for Joy
Apr 700:12:47Tap to summarizeThank you for being here with me.This is a tender season in my life. I am loving my mom while also slowly letting her go. There is no clean way to talk about that. No script for how to do it well.There are moments of sitting at her bedside and feeling everything at once. Love, grief, gratitude, exhaustion. Somehow even laughter still finds its way in.If you have been in a space like this, you know.And if you have not, you probably will someday.I am so grateful to share honestly with you in real time, and even more grateful to be witnessed in it. Your messages, your presence, your quiet listening all matter more than you know.Wherever you are, whatever you are holding, I hope you feel less alone.And somehow, even here, we keep finding our way back to joy.
Transcribe →Unlock Calm and Joy in Autism Parenting for High-Achieving Moms
Mar 1700:35:29Tap to summarizeHello, my friend.If you are a high-achieving mom raising an autistic child and sometimes feel overwhelmed by the constant balancing act of caregiving, work, expectations, and your own nervous system, this episode is for you.Parenting in the context of autism can bring extraordinary love, insight, and connection. It can also bring moments of exhaustion, uncertainty, and the quiet pressure to keep performing at a high level in every area of life.In this conversation, I sit down with physician and neuroscientist Dr. Yolanda Bogaert, who shares the grounded practices and perspective shifts that helped her move from relentless striving toward greater presence, calm, and joy.Yolanda speaks candidly about her own journey through perfectionism, burnout, motherhood, and raising an autistic son. She also offers simple, practical ways to regulate your nervous system, reconnect with what matters most, and find moments of joy even on the hardest days.Because parenting an autistic child does not require perfection.It requires presence, compassion, and small practices that help you come back to yourself again and again.In this episode you will learn: • Why high-achieving moms can feel intense pressure while parenting an autistic child • How perfectionism and constant striving contribute to burnout and emotional exhaustion • Why nervous system regulation is essential for both parents and autistic children • The concept of “detached attachment” and how letting go of outcomes can create more peace • Small grounding practices that help you reset during stressful moments • How simple rituals and moments of “micro-joy” can transform the parenting experience • Why living the questions instead of chasing perfect answers can lead to deeper joyResources & MentionsConnect with Dr. Yolanda BogaertWebsite - https://www.yolandabogaertmd.comHigh Achieving Moms of Autistic Kids CommunityFacebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/highachievingmomsofautistickidsStay ConnectedInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/chrissieottmd Podcast Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/solvingforjoypodcast Website - https://www.solvingforjoy.comFor Physician CoachesPhysician Coaching Collective - https://www.physiciancoachingcollective.com Physician Coaching Summit - https://www.thephysiciancoachingsummit.com
Transcribe →Charting With Ease: The Truth About Charting After Hours (and How to Reclaim Your Life)
Mar 1400:23:52Tap to summarizeHello, my friend.If you are a physician or clinician who finds yourself charting after hours, finishing notes late at night, or catching up on documentation on weekends, this episode is for you.Charting can quietly take over your evenings. It can pull time away from your family, your creativity, and your rest.It does not have to stay that way.In this conversation, you will learn practical ways to reduce charting stress, finish notes faster, and reclaim time for the life you want to live.Because every hour spent charting outside of work is an hour of your life.In this episode you will learn:• Why so many clinicians end up charting after hours • How perfectionism and documentation anxiety slow you down • Why inbox and portal messages increase your cognitive load • Simple workflow shifts that help you finish notes faster • How technology and AI tools can support more efficient charting • How reducing charting burden can reconnect you with the people and activities you loveResources & MentionsCharting With Ease (free download)https://dr-chrissie-ott.myflodesk.com/gq7zurcgdqCharting With Ease: Applied Coaching LabA small group coaching experience designed to help clinicians reduce after hours charting, improve workflow, and reclaim their time.Join the waitlist - https://dr-chrissie-ott.myflodesk.com/chartingwitheaseStay ConnectedInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/chrissieottmdPodcast Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/solvingforjoypodcastWebsite - https://www.solvingforjoy.comFor Physician CoachesPhysician Coaching Collective - https://www.physiciancoachingcollective.comPhysician Coaching Summit - https://www.thephysiciancoachingsummit.com
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