The Last Zebra

Ugo Ezema, MD

“The Last Zebra” draws its essence from the timeless medical adage: “When you hear hoofbeats, think of horses, not zebras.” Coined by Dr. Theodore Woodward in the 1940s, this maxim reminds us to prioritize common diagnoses over rare and improbable ones. In a medical world often defined by seeking the most likely causes, “The Last Zebra” podcast takes a different approach. Here we are looking for the common in all of us. The common focuses on the unique, diverse, and individual experiences of medical professionals. We hope to showcase the stories of these individuals, highlighting how they infuse their backgrounds, beliefs, and characteristics into their medical practice. By doing so, they add an artistic and personal touch that goes beyond the clinical norms and transforms their work into a deeply profound and meaningful endeavor. Through these stories, “The Last Zebra” aims to reveal the extraordinary side of medicine— "heavy on the ordinary". The stories that deviate from dogma and delve into the exceptional. It seeks to capture the essence of these medical professionals’ journeys, shedding light on their challenges, triumphs, and the remarkable ways they shape the landscape of healthcare. In each episode, we delve into the non-clinical nuances that define the day-to-day lives of medical professionals from diverse backgrounds and specialties. This podcast will start and go beyond the clinical, shedding light on the intricate artistry, mosaicism, and diversity in medicine. We explore how every guest crafts their unique personality and characteristics into the very fabric of their practice. These stories not only celebrate individuality but also embody the soul of healthcare. In a world where uniformity is prioritized, “The Last Zebra” podcast honors the rare and unique elements that medical professionals bring to their work. Together, we’ll discover how these exceptional individuals are shaping the future of healthcare, one personalized interaction at a time. So, come along as we embrace the zebras — the extraordinary stories that make medicine a true art.

  1. Jul 14

    Cancer Surgeon: He Cures Lung Cancer With a Robot. Here's How.

    When most people think of heart surgery, they think of dramatic operations and life-or-death moments. Dr. Brian Pettiford sees something different. He sees an opportunity to diagnose cancer earlier, treat it with less pain, and give patients a chance to go home just days later with their disease already behind them. As one of the Gulf South's leading cardiothoracic surgeons, Dr. Pettiford has spent decades at the forefront of lung cancer surgery, helping transform procedures that once required massive incisions into robotic operations that patients often recover from in just a few days. But this conversation goes far beyond the operating room. Dr. Pettiford shares the deeply personal story that first inspired him to become a surgeon after losing his grandmother to heart disease, growing up in segregated South Georgia, and attending Morehouse College before completing medical school, general surgery, and cardiothoracic surgery training at the University of Pittsburgh. He reflects on mentorship, purpose, leadership, and the responsibility of opening doors for the next generation of physicians. We also explore: – How robotic surgery is changing the future of lung cancer treatment – Why early detection is still the biggest challenge in thoracic oncology – The promise of single-anesthesia diagnosis and treatment – What multidisciplinary cancer care means for patients – Why technology should only be adopted if it genuinely improves outcomes – Lessons learned from decades in surgery and leadership – Why mentorship is one of the greatest responsibilities in medicine One of my favorite moments came when Dr. Pettiford reflected on his family and said that no matter what he accomplishes, it will never compare to the sacrifices made by the generations before him. That perspective shaped not only the surgeon he became, but the mentor he continues to be. Whether you're interested in medicine, surgery, leadership, innovation, or simply hearing the story of someone who has dedicated his life to helping others, this is a conversation worth your time. 💬 Comment "ZEBRA" if you want more conversations like this. 💾 Save this to revisit Dr. Brian Pettiford's lessons on mentorship, innovation, and the future of lung cancer surgery. 🎧 Watch or listen to the FULL conversation with Dr. Brian Pettiford on The Last Zebra Podcast: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/13QjxW49xOkSqkP9zQKyRS Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-last-zebra/id1715958112 Captivate: https://feeds.captivate.fm/the-last-zebra/ ▶️ Subscribe for more conversations that explore the human side of medicine: https://www.youtube.com/@UgoEzemaMD?sub_confirmation=1 🔗 Follow the Conversation: Dr. Ugo Ezema — https://instagram.com/ugoezemamd The Last Zebra Pod — https://instagram.com/thelastzebrapod 📧 Join the community newsletter: https://linktr.ee/ugoezemamd Hosted by Dr. Ugo Ezema, The Last Zebra explores where precision, prevention, and humanity intersect in modern medicine. #TheLastZebraPodcast, #DrBrianPettiford, #CardiothoracicSurgery, #ThoracicSurgery, #LungCancer, #RoboticSurgery, #CancerCare, #MorehouseCollege, #Mentorship, #Medicine, #Healthcare, #DoctorStories, #MedicalInnovation, #MedicalPodcast, #Leadership

  2. Jun 30

    Marketing Expert Reveals What Agencies Don't Want You To Know

    Calvin Carr thought success looked like wearing a suit and working on Wall Street. Instead, he ended up building a marketing agency called Trash Marketing. In this conversation, we trace Calvin’s journey from growing up in Portland, Maine, to studying economics and finance at Tulane, working at some of the largest advertising agencies in the world, helping scale venture-backed startups, and ultimately walking away to build something of his own. What stood out most to me wasn’t the marketing tactics. It was the way Calvin thinks about human behavior. Long before AI, growth hacks, and viral content became buzzwords, he was fascinated by behavioral economics — the idea that people don’t always make rational decisions. That curiosity eventually led him into advertising, where he learned that great marketing isn’t about manipulating people. It’s about understanding them. We talked about why most businesses waste time trying to be everywhere at once, why the best marketing often looks boring from the outside, and why many agencies create unnecessary complexity to justify their fees. Calvin also shares some brutally honest insights into how marketing actually works behind the scenes and what business owners should know before hiring an agency. We also got into: – Why he grew to hate traditional ad agencies – The hidden incentives that make marketing less effective – What most small businesses get wrong about growth – Why “doing things that don’t scale” is often the smartest move early on – Lessons learned from living across South America during the pandemic – The difference between ambition and fulfillment – And why life is about the journey, not the destination One of my favorite parts of this conversation was hearing Calvin talk about chasing success for years only to realize that what matters most isn’t a title, a city, or a salary. It’s spending time doing meaningful work with people you care about. Whether you're building a business, growing a brand, or simply trying to figure out what success looks like for you, there’s a lot to take away from this one. 💬 Comment “ZEBRA” if you want more conversations like this. 💾 Save this to revisit Calvin’s lessons on entrepreneurship, marketing, and building a business that actually matters. 🎧 Watch or listen to the FULL conversation with Calvin Carr on The Last Zebra Podcast: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/13QjxW49xOkSqkP9zQKyRS Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-last-zebra/id1715958112 Captivate: https://feeds.captivate.fm/the-last-zebra/ ▶️ Subscribe for more conversations that explore the human side of business, entrepreneurship, and personal growth: https://www.youtube.com/@UgoEzemaMD?sub_confirmation=1 🔗 Follow the Conversation: Dr. Ugo Ezema — https://instagram.com/ugoezemamd The Last Zebra Pod — https://instagram.com/thelastzebrapod 📧 Join the community newsletter: https://linktr.ee/ugoezemamd Hosted by Dr. Ugo Ezema, The Last Zebra explores where ambition, purpose, and humanity intersect. #TheLastZebraPodcast, #CalvinCarr, #TrashMarketing, #MarketingStrategy, #Entrepreneurship, #SmallBusiness, #StartupLife, #Advertising, #BehavioralEconomics, #BusinessGrowth, #MarketingAgency, #Leadership, #BusinessPodcast, #FounderStory #PersonalGrowth #NewOrleans

  3. Jun 16

    Heart Specialist: The Reality Of Healthcare That Nobody Talks About | Murray Morella

    Murray Morella didn’t start out as an elite endurance athlete. In fact, there was a point in his life when he was overweight, unhealthy, struggling with bad habits, and questioning the direction of his career. One day, after walking up a flight of stairs and feeling unexpectedly short of breath, he realized something had to change. That moment set him on a path that would transform every area of his life. Today, Murray is a nurse practitioner specializing in electrophysiology cardiology, helping patients navigate some of the most complex heart rhythm disorders. But what stood out most in our conversation wasn’t the medicine. It was his perspective on growth, resilience, and the connection between physical health, mental health, and purpose. We talked about the mindset shift that took him from burnout and uncertainty to completing Ironman triathlons, why movement is one of the most powerful forms of medicine available to us, and how improving his physical health unexpectedly gave him the clarity and confidence to find his way back to his professional goals. We also explored the realities of modern healthcare, what it means to care for patients during some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives, and why being a good provider requires far more than simply knowing the medicine. One of my favorite moments from this conversation was Murray’s reminder that patients remember these moments forever. What feels routine to us as healthcare providers can be a life-defining event for the person sitting across from us. This episode is about much more than cardiology. It’s about discipline, purpose, family, service, and the idea that sometimes the fastest way to move forward is to step back and take care of yourself first. 💬 Comment “ZEBRA” if you want more conversations like this. 💾 Save this to revisit Murray’s lessons on resilience, movement, mindset, and long-term health. 🎧 Watch or listen to the FULL conversation with Murray Morella on The Last Zebra Podcast: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/13QjxW49xOkSqkP9zQKyRS Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-last-zebra/id1715958112 Captivate: https://feeds.captivate.fm/the-last-zebra/ ▶️ Subscribe for more conversations that explore the human side of medicine: https://www.youtube.com/@UgoEzemaMD?sub_confirmation=1 🔗 Follow the Conversation: Dr. Ugo Ezema — https://instagram.com/ugoezemamd The Last Zebra Pod — https://instagram.com/thelastzebrapod 📧 Join the community newsletter: https://linktr.ee/ugoezemamd Hosted by Dr. Ugo Ezema, The Last Zebra explores where precision, prevention, and humanity intersect in modern medicine. #TheLastZebraPodcast, #MurrayMorella, #NursePractitioner, #Cardiology, #Electrophysiology, #HeartHealth, #Ironman, #Triathlon, #EnduranceAthlete, #Healthcare, #Medicine, #MedicalPodcast, #Wellness, #Mindset, #Resilience, #LifestyleMedicine, #HealthcareProvider

  4. Jun 2

    Every Diet Coke Is One Hour of Stress, and Other Things Your Kidney Doctor Won't Tell You | Dr. Oksana Nimkevych

    Dr. Oksana Nimkevych came to the United States with a six-month-old baby, spent 18 months studying for Step 1 in a library after Katrina, and built a life in medicine from the ground up. Now she’s a nephrologist, practice owner, mountain climber, and one of the most honest voices we’ve had on the podcast about burnout, wellness, and what modern medicine is getting wrong. In this conversation, we talk about why kidney disease is often silent until it’s too late, why dialysis changes every part of a person’s life, and how simple habits like sleep, movement, sunlight, hydration, and meaningful relationships matter far more than most people realize. Dr. Oksana also opens up about hitting a wall in medicine, going through burnout so severe she considered leaving the profession entirely, and how she rebuilt her relationship with medicine by shifting from seeing herself as a “healer” to becoming a teacher. We also got into: – Why she bans soft drinks in her clinic – The hidden cognitive effects of kidney disease – The problem with “quick fix” wellness culture – Why trust in medicine is collapsing – The mental resilience she found climbing mountains – And how wellness is not a destination… it’s a daily practice This episode felt less like a medical interview and more like a conversation about how to live well in a world constantly pulling us away from ourselves. 💬 Comment “ZEBRA” if you want more conversations like this. 💾 Save this to revisit Dr. Oksana’s wellness principles and mindset around health, burnout, and resilience. 🎧 Watch or listen to the FULL conversation with Dr. Oksana Nimkevych on The Last Zebra Podcast: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/13QjxW49xOkSqkP9zQKyRS Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-last-zebra/id1715958112 Captivate: https://feeds.captivate.fm/the-last-zebra/ ▶️ Subscribe for more conversations that explore the human side of medicine: https://www.youtube.com/@UgoEzemaMD?sub_confirmation=1 🔗 Follow the Conversation: Dr. Ugo Ezema — https://instagram.com/ugoezemamd The Last Zebra Pod — https://instagram.com/thelastzebrapod 📧 Join the community newsletter: https://linktr.ee/ugoezemamd Hosted by Dr. Ugo Ezema, The Last Zebra explores where precision, prevention, and humanity intersect in modern medicine. #TheLastZebraPodcast, #DrOksanaNimkevych, #Nephrology, #KidneyDisease, #Dialysis, #Wellness, #PreventiveMedicine, #Burnout, #Medicine, #Healthcare, #DoctorStories, #MedicalPodcast, #Longevity, #MentalHealth, #PhysicianLife, #NewOrleans

  5. May 19

    A Surgeon Walks Into a Room, Changes a Life, and Goes to Get Coffee. | Dr. Barton Wax

    What does it really take to become a surgeon… and stay one? In this episode of *The Last Zebra*, I sit down with Dr. Barton Wax, a hand surgeon whose journey didn’t follow a straight line. It took him three attempts to get into medical school. Years of grueling training. Moments of doubt, failure, and questioning whether it was all worth it. And yet—he stayed the course. This conversation goes deeper than surgery. It’s about perseverance when the path isn’t guaranteed. About what happens when perfection isn’t possible, even when lives and livelihoods are in your hands. And about the reality that medicine isn’t just science—it’s art, judgment, and humanity all at once. Dr. Wax opens up about the pressure of operating on something as essential as the human hand, the humility that comes with complications, and the evolution from thinking you have all the answers… to realizing you never will. We also get into the parts of medicine that aren’t talked about enough—the hazing culture in training, the emotional toll, and the quiet lessons that shape who you become over decades in practice. But what stands out most is this: the moments that matter aren’t always the ones you expect. Sometimes it’s not the perfect surgery—but the patient who reminds you why you do this in the first place. If you’ve ever questioned your path, struggled through setbacks, or wondered whether the grind is worth it… this one will resonate. --- 💬 Comment “ZEBRA” if you want more conversations like this. 💾 Save this to revisit the lessons on perseverance, mastery, and the reality of becoming a surgeon. 🎧 Watch or listen to the FULL conversation with Dr. Barton Wax on The Last Zebra Podcast: Spotify: [https://open.spotify.com/show/13QjxW49xOkSqkP9zQKyRS](https://open.spotify.com/show/13QjxW49xOkSqkP9zQKyRS) Apple: [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-last-zebra/id1715958112](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-last-zebra/id1715958112) Captivate: [https://feeds.captivate.fm/the-last-zebra/](https://feeds.captivate.fm/the-last-zebra/) ▶️ Subscribe for more conversations that explore the human side of medicine: [https://www.youtube.com/@UgoEzemaMD?sub_confirmation=1](https://www.youtube.com/@UgoEzemaMD?sub_confirmation=1) 🔗 Follow the Conversation: Dr. Ugo Ezema — [https://instagram.com/ugoezemamd](https://instagram.com/ugoezemamd) The Last Zebra Pod — [https://instagram.com/thelastzebrapod](https://instagram.com/thelastzebrapod) 📧 Join the community newsletter: [https://linktr.ee/ugoezemamd](https://linktr.ee/ugoezemamd) Hosted by Dr. Ugo Ezema, The Last Zebra explores where precision, prevention, and humanity intersect in modern medicine. #TheLastZebraPodcast #DrBartonWax #HandSurgery #OrthopedicSurgery #Medicine #DoctorStories #Healthcare #SurgeonLife #MedicalPodcast #Resilience #Perseverance #PhysicianLife #Louisiana #NewOrleans

  6. May 5

    She Risked Everything to Start Over… Was It Worth It? #TheLastZebraPodcast

    What happens when you spend years building a career that looks perfect on paper… but doesn’t feel right anymore? In this episode of The Last Zebra, Dr. Effie Richardson shares a journey that doesn’t follow the script. Board-certified anesthesiologist. Managing Director and co-owner of Dakar NOLA. A woman who has lived at the intersection of medicine, identity, and reinvention. We talk about what it really means to pursue a “dream” career—and what happens when you get there and realize it might not be yours. This conversation goes beyond titles and resumes. It’s about the tension between stability and fulfillment. The quiet moments where you question everything. The courage it takes to pivot when there’s no guarantee on the other side. Dr. Richardson opens up about navigating medicine as a woman, balancing motherhood and ambition, and redefining success on her own terms. There’s honesty here about the sacrifices, the uncertainty, and the unexpected clarity that comes when you finally listen to yourself. If you’ve ever felt stuck between who you are and who you’re expected to be… this one will hit. 💬 Comment “ZEBRA” if you want more conversations like this. 💾 Save this to revisit the career pivots, identity shifts, and hard decisions from Dr. Effie Richardson’s journey. 🎧 Watch or listen to the FULL conversation with Dr. Effie Richardson on The Last Zebra Podcast: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/13QjxW49xOkSqkP9zQKyRS Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-last-zebra/id1715958112 Captivate: https://feeds.captivate.fm/the-last-zebra/ ▶️ Subscribe for more conversations that explore the human side of medicine: https://www.youtube.com/@UgoEzemaMD?sub_confirmation=1 🔗 Follow the Conversation: Dr. Ugo Ezema — https://instagram.com/ugoezemamd The Last Zebra Pod — https://instagram.com/thelastzebrapod 📧 Join the community newsletter: https://linktr.ee/ugoezemamd Hosted by Dr. Ugo Ezema, The Last Zebra explores where precision, prevention, and humanity intersect in modern medicine. #TheLastZebraPodcast #DrEffieRichardson #Anesthesiology #WomenInMedicine #Healthcare #DoctorStories #Medicine #MedicalPodcast #CareerJourney #Resilience #Motherhood #PhysicianLife #NewOrleans #DakarNOLA

  7. Apr 21

    The Pediatric Anesthesiologist Who Coded a Baby While Having One at Home | #TheLastZebraPodcast

    What does it really mean to “put someone to sleep”? For Dr. Omotore Eruvwetere, it’s not just a procedure—it’s a moment of trust, fear, and responsibility… all happening in minutes. From getting rejected from medical school—more than once—to becoming a board-certified pediatric anesthesiologist, her journey wasn’t linear. And when she finally got there, she realized something most people never see: This job isn’t just about medicine. It’s about people. It’s about parents. And sometimes… it’s about carrying the weight of a child’s life home with you. In this conversation, Dr. Eruvwetere opens up about: why pediatric anesthesia is far more emotional than people realize the moment she coded her first baby—and how it changed her career why she chose not to work in a high-volume children’s hospital the hidden psychology behind medicine (it’s more “human” than technical) and how the right people at the right time changed her entire path She also shares a truth many doctors don’t say out loud: “I love my job… but I don’t want to need my job.” This episode isn’t just about healthcare. It’s about identity, resilience, and building a life beyond your title. If you’ve ever questioned your path—or wondered what medicine really looks like behind the scenes—this one will stay with you. 💬 Comment “ZEBRA” if you want more conversations like this. 💾 Save this to revisit the mindset and career lessons from Dr. Eruvwetere’s journey. 🎧 Watch or listen to the FULL conversation with Dr. Omotore Eruvwetere on The Last Zebra Podcast: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/13QjxW49xOkSqkP9zQKyRS Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-last-zebra/id1715958112 Captivate: https://feeds.captivate.fm/the-last-zebra/ ▶️ Subscribe for more conversations that explore the human side of medicine: https://www.youtube.com/@UgoEzemaMD?sub_confirmation=1 🔗 Follow the Conversation: Dr. Ugo Ezema — https://instagram.com/ugoezemamd The Last Zebra Pod — https://instagram.com/thelastzebrapod 📧 Join the community newsletter: https://linktr.ee/ugoezemamd Hosted by Dr. Ugo Ezema, The Last Zebra explores where precision, prevention, and humanity intersect in modern medicine. #TheLastZebraPodcast #DrOmotoreEruvwetere #Anesthesiology #PediatricAnesthesia #WomenInMedicine #Healthcare #DoctorStories #Medicine #MedicalPodcast #CareerJourney #Resilience #Motherhood #PhysicianLife #PodcastEpisode

  8. Apr 7

    What It’s REALLY Like to Be Stuck in a War Zone | #TheLastZebraPodcast

    There are some stories that sound too surreal to be real — until you hear them from someone who lived every second of it. In this episode of The Last Zebra Podcast, Dr. Jay Miller shares the unbelievable story of getting stranded in Doha after missile attacks disrupted airspace in the Middle East, turning what should have been a routine trip home into a fight to get back to New Orleans. From a plane making a sudden U-turn, to nights spent hearing explosions outside his hotel, to a desperate desert run through Saudi Arabia, Dr. Miller takes us inside an experience that was terrifying, isolating, and deeply human. But this conversation goes far beyond travel chaos. Dr. Miller is a pulmonary and critical care physician, and his reflections on crisis, medicine, fatherhood, COVID, duty, fear, and survival make this one of the most powerful conversations we’ve had on the show. He talks about what it means to remain calm when your world is falling apart, how medical training shaped the way he made decisions under pressure, and how becoming a father changed the way he sees risk, purpose, and home. We also talk about his journey into medicine, the emotional toll of working through the pandemic, the reality of critical care when the public has no idea what is happening behind hospital walls, and why coming back to ordinary New Orleans problems somehow felt like the greatest gift in the world. This episode is about resilience, love, perspective, and the strange ways crisis reveals what matters most. 💬 Comment “ZEBRA” if you want more episodes like this. 💾 Save this to revisit the prevention section. 🎧 Watch or listen to the FULL conversation with Dr. Jay Miller on The Last Zebra Podcast: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/13QjxW49xOkSqkP9zQKyRS Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-last-zebra/id1715958112 Captivate: https://feeds.captivate.fm/the-last-zebra/ ▶️ Subscribe for more conversations that explore the human side of medicine: https://www.youtube.com/@UgoEzemaMD?sub_confirmation=1 🔗 Follow the Conversation: Dr. Ugo Ezema — https://instagram.com/ugoezemamd The Last Zebra Pod — https://instagram.com/thelastzebrapod 📧 Join the community newsletter: https://linktr.ee/ugoezemamd Hosted by Dr. Ugo Ezema, The Last Zebra explores where precision, prevention, and humanity intersect in modern medicine. #TheLastZebraPodcast #DrJayMiller #CriticalCare #PulmonaryMedicine #ICUDoctor #NewOrleans #Medicine #Healthcare #DoctorStories #COVID19 #Fatherhood #Resilience #Survival #PodcastEpisode #MedicalPodcast

5
out of 5
13 Ratings

About

“The Last Zebra” draws its essence from the timeless medical adage: “When you hear hoofbeats, think of horses, not zebras.” Coined by Dr. Theodore Woodward in the 1940s, this maxim reminds us to prioritize common diagnoses over rare and improbable ones. In a medical world often defined by seeking the most likely causes, “The Last Zebra” podcast takes a different approach. Here we are looking for the common in all of us. The common focuses on the unique, diverse, and individual experiences of medical professionals. We hope to showcase the stories of these individuals, highlighting how they infuse their backgrounds, beliefs, and characteristics into their medical practice. By doing so, they add an artistic and personal touch that goes beyond the clinical norms and transforms their work into a deeply profound and meaningful endeavor. Through these stories, “The Last Zebra” aims to reveal the extraordinary side of medicine— "heavy on the ordinary". The stories that deviate from dogma and delve into the exceptional. It seeks to capture the essence of these medical professionals’ journeys, shedding light on their challenges, triumphs, and the remarkable ways they shape the landscape of healthcare. In each episode, we delve into the non-clinical nuances that define the day-to-day lives of medical professionals from diverse backgrounds and specialties. This podcast will start and go beyond the clinical, shedding light on the intricate artistry, mosaicism, and diversity in medicine. We explore how every guest crafts their unique personality and characteristics into the very fabric of their practice. These stories not only celebrate individuality but also embody the soul of healthcare. In a world where uniformity is prioritized, “The Last Zebra” podcast honors the rare and unique elements that medical professionals bring to their work. Together, we’ll discover how these exceptional individuals are shaping the future of healthcare, one personalized interaction at a time. So, come along as we embrace the zebras — the extraordinary stories that make medicine a true art.

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