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Better Physician Life: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career

Better Physician Life: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career

By: Doctor Podcast Network Physician Coach Michael Hersh MD
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 Many physicians feel stuck. But what if mid-career medicine didn’t mean burnout, boredom, or being boxed in? Better Physician Life, hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, is the podcast that helps doctors reclaim clarity, joy, and purpose in their careers—without quitting medicine. Through honest solo episodes and transformative guest interviews, Dr. Hersh explores what it really means to design a life in medicine on your own terms. This is where mindset meets reinvention—and where stuck doctors find the tools to get unstuck.©2025 Better Physician Life Podcast Career Success Economics Hygiene & Healthy Living Personal Development Personal Success Physical Illness & Disease
Episodes
  • Physician Work Dread: Why You Don’t Want to Go to Work (And What Actually Helps) | Ep32

    Physician Work Dread: Why You Don’t Want to Go to Work (And What Actually Helps) | Ep32
    Mar 9 2026
    Do you know that heaviness in your chest on Sunday afternoon, or the moment you sit in the parking lot, unable to get out of the car, even though you're not burned out or ready to quit? What if that 'work dread' isn't telling you to leave medicine, but to look more closely at what's really weighing you down?In this episode of Better Physician Life, host Dr. Michael Hersh dives into "work dread", the chest-tightening resistance, parking-lot hesitation, and mental preoccupation that hits before patients arrive or the week begins. Drawing from his own years of dreading Mondays, sitting in the car scrolling, and fantasizing about retirement as escape, he explains why this feeling is so common for physicians and rarely means you need to blow up your career.Instead of vague dread signaling "something's wrong with me or my job," it's often information about specific frustrations buried under administrative burdens, inefficiencies, and the habit of delaying relief. Dr. Hersh shares how naming the exact triggers (overwhelm, skipped meals, dreaded tasks) shrinks the feeling, opens small solvable shifts, like insisting on a lunch break, and helps separate real annoyances from the story that "life only gets better once this is over." He introduces the free Five Minute Commute Reset, a guided audio and worksheet to interrupt automatic bracing and create space before/after work. This episode is for any physician who's physically present but mentally already dreading the next shift, offering clarity, compassion, and practical steps without forcing positivity or major life changes.Free 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians: betterphysicianlife.com/commuteresetTop 3 TakeawaysName It to Tame It: Vague dread feels overwhelming and final—"I don't want to do this anymore"—but getting specific—"What exactly am I dreading today?"—reveals targeted issues like overwhelm, skipped lunch, or frustrating admin tasks. Naming shrinks the heaviness, turns it into solvable problems, and stops it from collapsing the whole job into "the problem."Stop Arguing with Reality: Physicians are conditioned to delay gratification, "once I get through this phase...", so dread often comes from bracing ahead of time or telling yourself relief is only post-retirement. Reframing work as something to show up for—not just endure—frees mental energy and reduces the weight of unhelpful stories about the day.Small Shifts Create Big Relief: Push for tiny, realistic changes like scheduling a protected lunch on busy days despite pushback, rather than waiting for the perfect job or exit. These build evidence that you can influence your day without dramatic overhauls, while tools like the Five Minute Commute Reset interrupt the pre-work dread cycle.About the Show:Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention.About the Host:Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work.His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love.Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room.🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh:🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching📱TikTok: @betterphysicianlife If you find yourself walking through the door still stuck in work mode, check out the 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians.Work doesn’t end on its own. This is a short, structured reset you can use on the drive home to shut down work-mode, clear your head, and show up more present for whatever comes next.You can download it for free at: https://www.betterphysicianlife.com/commute-reset The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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    15 mins
  • Physicians, Properties, and Entrepreneurship with Dr. Alex Schloe. | Ep31

    Physicians, Properties, and Entrepreneurship with Dr. Alex Schloe. | Ep31
    Mar 2 2026
    What if the thing that's 'missing' in your life as a physician isn't leaving medicine... but building something outside of it that gives you true freedom—at work and at home?In this episode of Better Physician Life, Dr. Michael Hersh interviews Dr. Alex Schloe, a family medicine physician, Air Force veteran, and real estate entrepreneur. Dr. Schloe shares his journey from childhood entrepreneurial roots to building a real estate portfolio focused on assisted living, short-term rentals, and more— all while serving in the military and prioritizing family. He discusses how real estate offers stability and autonomy, and allows practicing medicine part-time in direct primary care, reducing burnout and reclaiming time for what matters most. The conversation covers navigating physician skepticism toward side ventures, the mindset shifts needed for entrepreneurship, the importance of community and vulnerability, and practical steps to start building alternative income streams. This episode is ideal for physicians who feel something is "missing" and are exploring ways to create more freedom, fulfillment, and impact, both in medicine and beyond.Top 3 TakeawaysStart Small and Build Momentum in Real Estate: Begin with accessible opportunities like physician loans for house hacking or primary residences, then expand into rentals, short-term stays, or assisted living. Education through podcasts, books like ‘Rich Dad Poor Dad’, and ‘BiggerPockets’, and self-study during residency drives progress without derailing clinical focus. Passive or semi-passive income creates "mailbox money" that snowballs into greater flexibility, like reducing shifts or practicing part-time.Prioritize Family and Protect Time as Non-Negotiables: True balance means setting boundaries. Finish notes at work, leave the computer behind, and dedicate sacred family time (e.g., evenings with kids unplugged). Entrepreneurship requires sacrifices like late nights, but as income grows, redesign your schedule, for example, part-time clinical work, to be present for family milestones. Financial freedom enhances presence and reduces stress, making you a better doctor and parent.Overcome Skepticism, Fear, and Identity Challenges Through Community: Physicians often face internal doubt, imposter syndrome, or criticism from peers for pursuing non-clinical paths. Surround yourself with supportive rooms—masterminds, podcasts, or like-minded physicians—to accelerate growth and see what's possible. Risks are manageable; invest only what you can afford to lose. Pivots are always available, and alternative income protects against burnout or disability while allowing you to serve patients more joyfully.About the Show:Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention.About the Guest:Dr. Alex Schloe is a family medicine physician, Air Force veteran, husband, father, and real estate investor specializing in residential assisted living, rentals, and entrepreneurship. He hosts the Physicians and Properties Podcast, teaching physicians how real estate can give them the freedom to practice medicine and live life on their terms. He co-hosts The RAL Room Assisted Living Podcast and is involved in the RAL Room Assisted Living Mastermind. His focus is on high-impact, cash-flowing investments that align with family priorities and meaningful service.Website: https://physiciansandproperties.comPodcast: Physicians and Properties PodcastAssisted Living: https://theralroom.com (RAL Room)LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/alexander-schloe-mdAbout the Host:Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work.His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love.Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room.🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh:🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching📱TikTok: @betterphysicianlife If you find yourself walking through the door still stuck in ...
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    36 mins
  • You Get to Be Angry: The Emotion Physicians Aren’t Supposed to Talk About | Ep30

    You Get to Be Angry: The Emotion Physicians Aren’t Supposed to Talk About | Ep30
    Feb 23 2026
    Have you ever felt anger hit you so fast you didn’t even see it coming, and then felt ashamed for feeling it at all?Anger isn’t a character flaw, it’s a normal human emotion, and physicians feel it more than we like to admit. In this episode of Better Physician Life, Dr. Michael Hersh explains why anger often arrives as a secondary emotion covering disappointment, fear, shame, or loss of control, why suppressing it leads to sarcasm, impatience, or snapping, and how it leaks sideways when we refuse to acknowledge it.You’ll learn that anger is a messenger, not the enemy, and that real control comes from slowing down the moment: interrupting the physiological reflex, naming what you feel, asking what’s underneath, choosing when to address it, and repairing when you miss the mark. This isn’t about never feeling angry, it’s about responding with intention instead of reacting on autopilot, both at work and at home.Free 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians: betterphysicianlife.com/commuteresetTop 3 TakeawaysAnger is rarely the first emotion, it’s the cover. It often sits on top of something quieter like disappointment, fear, shame, or feeling out of control. When you only manage the anger, you miss the real message. Ask: “What just happened inside me? What felt threatened?”Suppressing anger doesn’t make you calmer, it makes it leak sideways: It shows up as sarcasm, impatience, rigidity, or snapping at the people you care about most. The goal isn’t to eliminate anger; it’s to slow down enough to choose what happens next.A pause is power, not weakness. Notice your body (tight jaw, clenched hands), take a breath, name what you’re feeling, and decide: address now or later? Delaying with intention “I want to talk about this, but not like this” protects relationships and restores clarity.About the Show:Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention.About the Host:Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work.His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love.Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room.🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh:🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching📱TikTok: @betterphysicianlife If you find yourself walking through the door still stuck in work mode, check out the 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians.Work doesn’t end on its own. This is a short, structured reset you can use on the drive home to shut down work-mode, clear your head, and show up more present for whatever comes next.You can download it for free at: https://www.betterphysicianlife.com/commute-reset The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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    20 mins
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