The Conn Job

Healing the Healers with Dr. Wendy Lau

Healing the Healers with Dr. Wendy Lau In this deeply reflective and heartfelt episode of The Conn Job, host Dr. Ann Conn sits down with Dr. Wendy Lau to explore the emotional, spiritual, and systemic realities of practicing medicine today. Dr. Lau shares her transformative journey from emergency medicine physician in New York to becoming a Zen priest at Upaya Zen Center, where she now helps clinicians reconnect with compassion, embodiment, and meaning in medicine. Together, Dr. Conn and Dr. Lau discuss physician burnout, moral injury, compassion training, embodiment practices, and the urgent need for healing spaces within healthcare. The conversation weaves personal stories, wisdom from meditation and spiritual practice, reflections on the COVID and HIV pandemics, and practical tools clinicians can use to sustain themselves while working in an increasingly corporate medical system. This episode is an honest and moving exploration of what it means to remain deeply human while caring for others. In This Episode, They Discuss: * Why Dr. Wendy Lau left emergency medicine and found healing through Zen practice * The hidden emotional cost of modern medicine and physician burnout * The concept of “moral injury” in healthcare * How medical training disconnects clinicians from their bodies and humanity * The importance of embodiment, meditation, and introspection for physicians * Compassion vs. empathy — and why compassion is renewable * The GRACE framework for compassionate clinical care * Navigating grief, helplessness, and systemic dysfunction in medicine * Why physicians need community, debriefing, and spaces for honest conversation * The role of retreats and spiritual practice in sustaining healthcare workers * How clinicians can compassionately respect their own limitations About Dr. Wendy Lau Dr. Wendy Lau is an emergency physician, meditation teacher, Zen priest, and author of The Inner Practice of Medicine. Through her work with Upaya Zen Center, she teaches clinicians how to cultivate compassion, resilience, embodiment, and self-stewardship in the face of suffering and systemic challenges in healthcare. Her work focuses on helping healers reconnect with meaning, presence, and humanity in clinical practice. Key Takeaways from the Conversation * Compassion is not performative — it is trainable and restorative. * Physicians are often trained to suppress their humanity rather than work skillfully with it. * Burnout is not simply an individual failure; it is often a response to systemic dysfunction. * Embodiment practices help clinicians reconnect with themselves and their patients. * Healing spaces for physicians and healthcare workers are essential. * Community and honest conversation can transform isolation into connection. Mentioned in This Episode * The Inner Practice of Medicine by Dr. Wendy Lau * The GRACE compassion training model * Being With Dying clinician retreats * Physician moral injury and self-stewardship * Meditation and embodiment practices for healthcare workers “Compassion is not just beneficial to the person receiving it — it also nourishes the person giving it.” If This Episode Resonated With You… Please share it with a physician, nurse, therapist, caregiver, or healthcare worker who may need this conversation right now. Healing the healers matters. Connect further with Dr Ann Conn: Website: https://www.annconnmd.com [https://www.annconnmd.com] Register for my free webinar: Reversing Chronic Migraine: Your Path to Real Recovery Starts Here: https://annconnmd.mykajabi.com/PreventingandReversingChronicMigraine [https://annconnmd.mykajabi.com/PreventingandReversingChronicMigraine] Learn At Pinnacle & Earn CME: https://learnatpinnacle.com/education [https://learnatpinnacle.com/education] Subscribe to newsletter: https://annconnmd.activehosted.com/f/7 [https://annconnmd.activehosted.com/f/7]  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@annconnmd [https://www.youtube.com/@annconnmd] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annconnmd/ [https://www.instagram.com/annconnmd/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574820459419 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574820459419] The Conn Job Podcast:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-conn-job/id1853713314 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-conn-job/id1853713314]

Episode 5: The Future of Bipolar Disorder: How AI and Brain Science Are Revolutionizing Treatment

Welcome back to The Conn Job with Dr. Ann Conn. In this powerful and forward-looking episode, I sit down with Dr. Cara Altimus, Director at the Milken Institute Center for Strategic Philanthropy, along with leaders from the BD² (Breakthrough Discoveries for Bipolar Disorder) Initiative: Dr. Emily Baxi, Integrated Network Program Director, and Dr. Daniel Pham, Director of the BD² Discovery Research Programs. Together, they share a groundbreaking look into the future of bipolar disorder and psychosis research—one driven by brain omics, AI-powered data integration, and the largest coordinated scientific effort in history aimed at finally understanding what happens in the bipolar brain. For me, this episode is profoundly personal. My sons, Austin and Colin, died by suicide during psychotic episodes more than a decade ago. For the first time since their deaths, the BD² initiative has given me something I thought I lost forever: hope. Hope that the next generation won’t face the same suffering. Hope that psychiatry is finally shifting from guesswork to precision. Hope that we are on the verge of breakthrough change. Episode Overview In this episode, you’ll hear: The BD² Integrative Network Understanding “Brain Omics” The role of artificial intelligence The promise of precision psychiatry The critical importance of brain donation Real reasons for optimism Why This Episode Matters For 70 years, psychiatric treatment has relied on the same blunt tools—medications discovered by accident, trial-and-error prescribing, and systems that wait until crisis to intervene. That era is ending. The BD² initiative is bringing together neuroscience, genetics, big data, brain tissue research, and artificial intelligence to finally map the biological mechanisms behind bipolar disorder and psychosis. This is not incremental progress—it is transformational. For families who have carried the unbearable weight of these illnesses, this episode offers something rare: clarity, momentum, and genuine hope for the future. Resources Mentioned * BD²: Breakthrough Discoveries for Bipolar Disorder Initiative * Milken Institute Center for Strategic Philanthropy * BD² Integrative Network * Brain donation programs supporting psychiatric research * Harvard Brain Tissue Resource Center (HBTRC) Connect further with Dr Ann Conn: Website: https://www.annconnmd.com [https://www.annconnmd.com] Register for my free webinar: Reversing Chronic Migraine: Your Path to Real Recovery Starts Here: https://annconnmd.mykajabi.com/PreventingandReversingChronicMigraine [https://annconnmd.mykajabi.com/PreventingandReversingChronicMigraine] Learn At Pinnacle & Earn CME: https://learnatpinnacle.com/education [https://learnatpinnacle.com/education] Subscribe to newsletter: https://annconnmd.activehosted.com/f/7 [https://annconnmd.activehosted.com/f/7]  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@annconnmd [https://www.youtube.com/@annconnmd] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annconnmd/ [https://www.instagram.com/annconnmd/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574820459419 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574820459419]

Episode 4: The Neuroscience of Creativity — From Writer’s Block to Breakthrough

EPISODE 4: The Neuroscience of Creativity — From Writer’s Block to Breakthrough Guest: Alice Flaherty, MD — Neurologist,  Movement Disorder Specialist, Harvard Medical School & Massachusetts General Hospital Where does creativity live in the brain—and what happens when it suddenly disappears or explodes? In this fascinating conversation, Dr. Ann Conn and renowned Harvard neurologist Dr. Alice Flaherty dive into the neuroscience behind creative drive, writer’s block, and the mysterious link between brain illness and artistic expression. Dr. Flaherty is one of the world’s leading experts on hypergraphia (compulsive writing), creativity, and temporal lobe function—knowledge informed not only by decades of research, but by her own lived experience with postpartum mood changes and dramatic shifts in creative output. Together, they explore why some people experience surges of creative energy during manic or neurologically altered states, how mood and psychosis can shape artistic expression. Most importantly, they discuss how to preserve the gifts of creativity while supporting healthy brain function. In this episode, you’ll discover: * The brain circuits that drive creativity—and how illness can modify them * Contagious tics syndrome in teenage girls * Brain illnesses and blame  * Mirror neurons, empathy, and compassion. * Empathy as a necessity and a potential problem * The biological and psychological differences between empathy and compassion * How bipolar disorder and psychotic states can influence creativity Why this episode matters: The myth that great art requires suffering has harmed too many brilliant minds. Dr. Flaherty’s work shows a better truth: creativity can thrive alongside well-being. This conversation is for anyone who has ever felt their mind was both a gift and a burden—and wondered how to nurture creativity without losing themselves. Connect further with Dr Ann Conn: Website: https://www.annconnmd.com [https://www.annconnmd.com] Register for my free webinar: Reversing Chronic Migraine: Your Path to Real Recovery Starts Here: https://annconnmd.mykajabi.com/PreventingandReversingChronicMigraine [https://annconnmd.mykajabi.com/PreventingandReversingChronicMigraine] Learn At Pinnacle & Earn CME: https://learnatpinnacle.com/education [https://learnatpinnacle.com/education] Subscribe to newsletter: https://annconnmd.activehosted.com/f/7 [https://annconnmd.activehosted.com/f/7]  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@annconnmd [https://www.youtube.com/@annconnmd] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annconnmd/ [https://www.instagram.com/annconnmd/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574820459419 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574820459419] The Conn Job Podcast:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-conn-job/id1853713314 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-conn-job/id1853713314]

Episode 3: The Genetics of Psychosis — What Your DNA Can (and Can’t) Tell You

The Genetics of Psychosis — What Your DNA Can (and Can’t) Tell You Guest: Fernando Goes, MD — Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Is psychosis written in your genes? And if so, how much of the story can science actually read? In this powerful episode, Dr. Ann Conn sits down with Dr. Fernando Goes, one of the world’s leading psychiatric geneticists, to explore the cutting-edge science behind the genetics of psychosis, bipolar disorder, and severe mood disorders. Dr. Goes is at the forefront of massive genome-wide association studies (GWAS) that are identifying hundreds of tiny genetic variations—each one nudging risk in subtle ways—that collectively shape vulnerability to these illnesses. This conversation is both technical and deeply human. After the deaths of her sons, Dr. Conn donated their DNA to Dr. Goes’ research team, hoping that their contribution could help prevent other families from suffering similar losses. Years later, she learned that Dr. Goes regularly shares her New England Journal of Medicine essay with first-year psychiatry residents—a gesture honoring the intersection of grief, purpose, and scientific progress. Dr. Goes breaks down what we now understand from studying hundreds of thousands of genomes, why psychiatric illness is genetically complex, what polygenic risk scores can (and can’t) predict, and why your genes are not your destiny. Understanding genetic risk is about empowerment—early detection, tailored intervention, and ultimately, hope. In this episode, you’ll learn: * How GWAS are uncovering genetic risk factors for psychosis and bipolar disorder * Why there is no single “schizophrenia gene” * What polygenic risk scores actually mean—and whether they’re ready for clinical use * How bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and other brain conditions overlap genetically * How environment interacts with inherited vulnerability * Whether genetic insights should influence reproductive decisions (a careful, compassionate discussion) * The importance of genetic research participation and how families can contribute * What the future of precision psychiatry may look like Why this episode matters: The old saying is true: Genetics loads the gun, but the environment pulls the trigger. This episode offers a grounded, science-based answer to the haunting question many families ask: “Will this happen again?” Dedication: This episode is dedicated to Austin and Colin Conn, whose DNA continues to contribute to research that may one day prevent other families from enduring the same loss. Connect further with Dr Ann Conn: Website: https://www.annconnmd.com [https://www.annconnmd.com] Register for my free webinar: Reversing Chronic Migraine: Your Path to Real Recovery Starts Here: https://annconnmd.mykajabi.com/PreventingandReversingChronicMigraine [https://annconnmd.mykajabi.com/PreventingandReversingChronicMigraine] Learn At Pinnacle & Earn CME: https://learnatpinnacle.com/education [https://learnatpinnacle.com/education] Subscribe to newsletter: https://annconnmd.activehosted.com/f/7 [https://annconnmd.activehosted.com/f/7]  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@annconnmd [https://www.youtube.com/@annconnmd] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annconnmd/ [https://www.instagram.com/annconnmd/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574820459419 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574820459419]

Episode 2: Brain Donation-The Most Powerful Gift You'll Never See

A Conversation with Dr. Sabina Berretta In this extraordinary episode of The Conn Job, Dr. Ann Conn sits down with Dr. Sabina Berretta, MD, PhD—Director of the Harvard Brain Tissue Resource Center (HBTRC) at McLean Hospital, part of the NIH Neurobiobank. Dr. Berretta is a globally recognized leader in human brain research whose work has transformed our understanding of psychiatric and neurological illness. This conversation explores one of the most profound contributions any person can make to science: brain donation. It is the cornerstone of progress in Alzheimer’s, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, addiction, PTSD, Parkinson’s disease, and more—yet it remains widely misunderstood. This episode is deeply personal for Dr. Conn, who has pledged to donate her own brain to the HBTRC in honor of her sons, Austin and Colin, whose deaths during psychotic episodes propel her mission forward. Through this act, she hopes their suffering will become part of the knowledge that saves others. Episode Overview Dr. Berretta’s path from Italy to Harvard Why brain donation is essential Why we cannot understand—or treat—mental illness without donated brains Breakthrough research made possible by brain tissue Psychiatric illness is a brain illness What actually happens during brain donation How to register as a brain donor Why we urgently need more brain donors Resources Mentioned Harvard Brain Tissue Resource Center (HBTRC) – McLean Hospital NIH Neurobiobank Registration resources for brain donation Information on brain tissue research for psychiatric illness Connect further with Dr Ann Conn: Website: https://www.annconnmd.com [https://www.annconnmd.com] Register for my free webinar: Reversing Chronic Migraine: Your Path to Real Recovery Starts Here: https://annconnmd.mykajabi.com/PreventingandReversingChronicMigraine [https://annconnmd.mykajabi.com/PreventingandReversingChronicMigraine] Learn At Pinnacle & Earn CME: https://learnatpinnacle.com/education [https://learnatpinnacle.com/education] Subscribe to newsletter: https://annconnmd.activehosted.com/f/7 [https://annconnmd.activehosted.com/f/7]  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@annconnmd [https://www.youtube.com/@annconnmd] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annconnmd/ [https://www.instagram.com/annconnmd/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574820459419 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574820459419]