Could Running Be a Source of Joy? Menopause, Movement, and Finding Your Way Back to Yourself

Could Running Be a Source of Joy? Menopause, Movement, and Finding Your Way Back to Yourself

Today, 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 movement Whether 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/chrissieottmd Podcast Website: https://www.solvingforjoy.com Chrissie’s Website: https://www.chrissieottmd.com 🩺 For Physician Coaches & Healthcare Leaders Physician Coaching Collective: https://www.physiciancoachingcollective.com Physician Coaching Summit: https://www.thephysiciancoachingsummit.com

Girl Reimagined: Raising Confident Girls and Protecting Joy in a Culture of Burnout and Comparison

Today’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 overstimulation This 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.html [https://girlreimagined.com/ssm_solving_for_joy.html] Learn more about Girl Reimagined’s coaching program and one-week trial experience for girls and families: https://www.girlreimagined.com/1weektrial.html [https://www.girlreimagined.com/1weektrial.html] Learn more about Jamie Shannon and Girl Reimagined: https://www.girlreimagined.com [https://www.girlreimagined.com/] Follow Girl Reimagined on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/girlreimagined [https://www.instagram.com/girlreimagined] Stay Connected: * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrissieottmd [https://www.instagram.com/chrissieottmd] * Podcast Website: https://www.solvingforjoy.com [https://www.solvingforjoy.com/] * Chrissie’s Website: https://www.chrissieottmd.com [https://www.chrissieottmd.com/] * 🩺 For Physician Coaches & Healthcare Leaders * Physician Coaching Collective: * https://www.physiciancoachingcollective.com [https://www.physiciancoachingcollective.com/] * Physician Coaching Summit: * https://www.thephysiciancoachingsummit.com [https://www.thephysiciancoachingsummit.com/]

How Physicians Can Feel Human Again Before Burnout Leads to Peer Review

Today’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 leadership Whether 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 Inventory https://www.mindgarden.com/117-maslach-burnout-inventory-mbi [https://www.mindgarden.com/117-maslach-burnout-inventory-mbi] • Positive Intelligence by Shirzad Chamine https://www.positiveintelligence.com [https://www.positiveintelligence.com/] • The Business of Friendship by Shasta Nelson https://shastanelson.com/book/ [https://shastanelson.com/book/] • DISC Behavioral Assessment https://www.discprofile.com [https://www.discprofile.com/] Learn more about Dr. Anne Hirsch & Connect: * https://www.physiciancoachingwithanne.com [https://www.physiciancoachingwithanne.com/] * https://www.linkedin.com/in/anne-m-hirsch-md-facp-4a681790/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/anne-m-hirsch-md-facp-4a681790/]  Stay Connected: * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrissieottmd [https://www.instagram.com/chrissieottmd] * Podcast Website: https://www.solvingforjoy.com [https://www.solvingforjoy.com/] * Chrissie’s Website: https://www.chrissieottmd.com [https://www.chrissieottmd.com/] * 🩺 For Physician Coaches & Healthcare Leaders * Physician Coaching Collective: * https://www.physiciancoachingcollective.com [https://www.physiciancoachingcollective.com/] * Physician Coaching Summit: * https://www.thephysiciancoachingsummit.com [https://www.thephysiciancoachingsummit.com/]

Why Your Voice as a Doctor Matters Beyond the Exam Room

Today’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 & Links If you’re curious to explore more about DrTalks and what Bret is building, please visit: www.drtalks.com 🌿 Stay Connected If you want to stay in this space with me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrissieottmd [https://www.instagram.com/chrissieottmd] Podcast Website: https://www.solvingforjoy.com [https://www.solvingforjoy.com] My Website: w [http://www.joypointsolutions.com]ww.chrissieottmd.com 🩺 For Physician Coaches If this work is part of your world: Physician Coaching Collective: https://www.physiciancoachingcollective.com [https://www.physiciancoachingcollective.com] Physician Coaching Summit: https://www.thephysiciancoachingsummit.com [https://www.thephysiciancoachingsummit.com]

Find Your Why: The Thread Between Purpose and Joy

Have 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 change Resources & Mentions Start With Why by Simon Sinek Stay Connected Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/chrissieottmd [https://www.instagram.com/chrissieottmd] Podcast Website - https://www.solvingforjoy.com [https://www.solvingforjoy.com] Website - www.joypointsolutions.com For Physician Coaches Physician Coaching Collective - https://www.physiciancoachingcollective.com [https://www.physiciancoachingcollective.com] Physician Coaching Summit - https://www.thephysiciancoachingsummit.com [https://www.thephysiciancoachingsummit.com]