Stimulus - Learn Tools to Crush It in Your Medical Career

In this episode, we explore the 10% rule - the idea that in disagreement, the other person is at least 10% right. This is a tool for conflict abatement and resolution. It’s easy to get caught up in the rightness of our own opinions and ideas – whether it’s in medicine, business, leadership, relationships, or any time we interact with others. However, this can be detrimental to collaboration and creativity.The basics of the 10% rule are simple. When presented with an idea that your gut reaction is to reject, find the 10% value.For example, someone says to you, “I’m thinking of buying one of the decommissioned space shuttles so I can get to work faster.” On the surface, you might think that’s moronic. But what’s the 10% in there? Maybe it’s that they’re thinking of a way to improve the commute to work. So instead of completely rejecting the idea, you could say, “What I like about that idea is less commuting stress and getting to work faster. Let’s build on that and see what other ideas we can come up with.”The 10% rule is different than saying you like the idea itself because that might be a lie. You might not like the idea in total, but there’s almost certainly 10% in there that you do like. By finding that 10%, you can build on it and create a more collaborative interaction.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.The Flameproof CourseThe hidden anti-burnout curriculum we all should have learned in training. Cohort 3 begins Sept 10, 2024. Get the deets For full show notes of this episode and all sorts of other goodies, visit our podcast website We discussThe sublime feeling of basking in our own rightnessHow to operationalize the 10% ruleDon't lie and try to appeaseYes vs No. And vs But.All the buts in your dayThe 10% Rule in real-time

Transitions, by their nature, involve ambiguity and disorientation. It's important to recognize that this zone is a natural part of the process of growth and change. In this episode we break down the nature of the being in a transitional/liminal space, embracing it as an identity, and navigating it through small and tectonic changes. The liminal space is a transitional or in-between state where you’re in a place of vagueness or uncertainty. It’s a place of being ‘in-between’. In architecture, it’s often a passageway. What a perfect metaphor. You’re neither in the room you were before nor arrived at the one where you’re heading. You’re neither here nor there. You are becoming. You have not yet become.”We often don’t like it as it feels unsettling and disorienting because we don’t know what to expect.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.The Flameproof CourseThe hidden anti-burnout curriculum we all should have learned in training. Cohort 3 begins Sept 10, 2024. Get the deets For full show notes of this episode and all sorts of other goodies, visit our podcast websiteWe Discuss:What is a liminal space?Situational awareness and the big pictureEmbracing a transitional identityEssential tools and strategies for navigating uncertainty 

Hidden in plain sight is the most important procedure we do. Listening. And not just listening, but listening to understand. Measurable, improvable, and, when done well, can have an incredibly positive impact. Intention is key with listening: are we doing it to understand or to win? In this episode, we break down specific strategies for quality listening, potential pitfalls, and how to know when you've got it right.Guest bio: Lon Setnik MD is an Emergency Physician and Associate Director of Clinical Programs at the Center for Medical Simulation with expertise in communicationAwake + 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.The Flameproof CourseThe hidden anti-burnout curriculum we all should have learned in training. Cohort 3 begins Sept 10, 2024. Get the deets For full show notes of this episode and all sorts of other goodies, visit our podcast websiteWe discuss: The concept of listening as a procedureTwo modes of listening: listening to understand and listening to win Specific tools for listening to understandSeparating the problem from the personThe external marker of quality listeningFinding the optimized solution in patient interactionsNegotiation strategies for successActive vs empathic listeningHow to stay present during conversation

Have you ever wondered what it takes to reach the highest level of mastery?Are you a medical student looking for ways to achieve excellence in medical school or a physician wanting to become an expert in your field? If so, you’re in luck! Join us as we explore a fascinating conversation with Dr. Jeff Riddell, a leading expert in medical education as he talks about strategies to develop any skill, how medical school curriculum is adapting, the importance of context and relationships for comprehension, and so much more.Guest bio: Dr. Jeff Riddell is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California. His research on digital technology in medical education has made him a sought-after teacher, speaker, and researcher. He has won numerous accolades and awards for his work in both teaching and research, including the 2019 CORD/EMF Emergency Medicine Education Research Grant and the 2019 Academy Scholar Award in the category of Education Research from the CORD Academy for Scholarship in Education in Emergency Medicine.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.The Flameproof CourseThe hidden anti-burnout curriculum we all should have learned in training. Cohort 3 begins Sept 10, 2024. Get the deets For full show notes of this episode and all sorts of other goodies, visit our podcast websiteWe Discuss: Mastering LearningMental Models of ExpertiseEvolving Medical EducationLearning Retention from PodcastsThreaded Cognition - A Theory of Concurrent MultitaskingIs There Gender Bias in Medical Education?Resident Burnout

Have you ever had a day at work that was so difficult and draining, it felt like it took a toll on your entire being? You're not alone. Meet Dr. Sara Gray, an expert in wellness, resilience, and resuscitation team performance. In this episode, Dr. Gray dives deep into her special framework for coping with difficult days and how to recover and even come out of them a little stronger. She has outlined a process to help you identify and acknowledge the struggles, practice self-care, and ultimately, learn from the experience. This framework will provide you with a roadmap for navigating the complex emotions that come with these difficult moments.Guest Bio: Dr. Sara Gray is an Emergency Medicine & Critical Care Physician, Associate Professor at the University of Toronto, and Chief Medical Director with Advisory Services by Cleveland Clinic Canada. Dr. Gray was once named Toronto’s best ER doctor by Toronto Life Magazine. She is also a professional coach and a public speaker.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.The Flameproof CourseThe hidden anti-burnout curriculum we all should have learned in training. Cohort 3 begins Sept 10, 2024. Get the deets For full show notes of this episode and all sorts of other goodies, visit our podcast website We discuss: Why it's important for medical professionals to prepare for a bad shift or traumatic event.The framework steps in coping with bad shifts and difficult cases.What is a failure friend and what are their characteristics?Quote of the pod"We train to manage all sorts of disasters, to manage the worst cases, but nobody teaches you how to recover when it goes badly...If you have a plan, you can make your recovery so much easier." - Dr. Sara Gray

The podcast discusses the challenges of saying 'no' to patients, the concept of the Spock Retreat using logic to solve emotional situations, and the complexities of patient satisfaction in healthcare. It also covers the 'yes, no, yes' framework for communicating difficult decisions.

When you have a patient who requests a Z-pack for what is almost certainly an acute viral respiratory infection, you probably respond internally or externally (possibly both) that antibiotics do not treat viruses. But could there be some effect on their symptoms, or the viral infection itself, that is not part of the common discussion when it comes to such things? We know that azithromycin is an antibiotic, but it turns out that azithromycin actually has some activity in the viral arena. This absolutely shocked me. The question is, does it matter? 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.The Flameproof CourseThe hidden anti-burnout curriculum we all should have learned in training. Cohort 3 begins Sept 10, 2024. Get the deets For full show notes of this episode and all sorts of other goodies, visit our podcast websiteWe Discuss:In vitro studies show azithromycin reduces rhinovirus replication and release.  Another in vitro study on respiratory cells from lung transplant patients found azithromycin reduces rhinovirus-associated cellular inflammation.Kids with coronavirus (the pre-COVID, old-school coronavirus)  had reduced viral load with azithromycin. In enterovirus-infected mice, azithromycin improved survival. Patients infected with influenza a who were given azithromycin had reduced interleukins 6, 8, 17, tumor necrosis factor, and CRP, indicating anti-inflammatory properties in flu patients.This study, however, did not show improved clinical outcomes with azithromycin.Another study using a similar methodology did not see any change in inflammatory markers but had a slight improvement in sore throat and fever resolution in the azithromycin group. A 2009 paper found that azithromycin did not improve disease course in hospitalized infants with a respiratory synovial virus. There has been signal of clarithromycin decreasing hospitalization in patients with severe RSV, but the preponderance of data are fairly consistent that there is no benefit in hospital stay, length of illness, or oxygen utilization. 

Most of us are motivated to have compassion for those in need, but sometimes it can feel like the tank is running on empty. In this episode, wellness expert Kim Bambach, MD gives insight into compassion fatigue and strategies to thwart it. Compassion fatigue is cumulative emotional and physical exhaustion stemming from exposure to the suffering of others. It is the “cost” of caring for others who are suffering. It leads to a diminished ability to manifest empathy compared to your normal baseline (this is important- it does not mean you are no longer a compassionate or empathetic person!)Compassion fatigue is distinct from burnout. Burnout comes from factors in the external environment that are not necessarily related to empathy, such as increased administrative burden or lack of autonomy. CF is unique because it includes secondary trauma. There are many similarities, including depersonalization, a reduced sense of personal accomplishment and meaning, and physical exhaustion.  In a study of PEM docs, burnout score was the most significant determinant of CF. Guest Bio: Kim Bambach, MD  is an Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine at The Ohio State University and Assistant Director of the Kiehl Resident Wellness Endowment.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.The Flameproof CourseThe hidden anti-burnout curriculum we all should have learned in training. Cohort 3 begins Sept 10, 2024. Get the deets For full show notes of this episode and all sorts of other goodies, visit our podcast websiteWe discuss:What is compassion fatigue?The signs and symptoms of compassion fatigue;How compassion fatigue is different from burnout; The “dark side” of empathy;How to combat compassion fatigue.

Learn about the ins and outs of disability insurance for healthcare professionals, including policy pitfalls, challenges in collecting benefits, and the importance of tailored coverage. Hear from Dr. Stephanie Pearson, who shares her personal journey and insights on securing the right policy to safeguard your career and financial well-being.

Financial expert, raconteur, and finance CEO Vitaliy Katsenelson gives his approach to the scarcity mindset, personal finance advice that changed his life, key strategies for making a budget, why people argue about money, geofencing as a diet tool, and a Stoic take on social media. Guest Bio: Vitaliy Katsenelson was born in Murmansk, USSR, and immigrated to the United States with his family in 1991. After joining Denver-based value investment firm IMA in 1997, Vitaliy became Chief Investment Officer in 2007, and CEO in 2012. Vitaliy has written two books on investing and is an award-winning writer. Known for his uncommon common sense, Forbes Magazine called him “The New Benjamin Graham.”He’s written for publications including Financial Times, Barron’s, Institutional Investor and Foreign Policy. His articles are also published on his website, ContrarianEdge, and in audio format on his Intellectual Investor Podcast. Vitaliy lives in Denver with his wife and three kids, where he loves to read, listen to classical music, play chess, and write about life, investing, and music. Soul in the Game is his third book, and first noninvesting book.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.The Flameproof CourseThe hidden anti-burnout curriculum we all should have learned in training. Cohort 3 begins Sept 10, 2024. Get the deets For full show notes of this episode and all sorts of other goodies, visit our podcast websiteWe DiscussThe value of a scarcity mindset;Personal finance advice that changed a financial expert’s life;Loose vs strict budgeting;Finishing books vs stopping early;Why people argue about money;Geofencing as a diet strategy;Habit vs. identity vs. willpower;How a Stoic philosopher might view social media.