Solving For Joy

Chrissie Ott, MD
  • 5.0 (30)
  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT
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Through in depth conversations with a wide range of guests, Solving for Joy explores the idea that we are always trying to solve life's equation for maximal joy. We'll discover what constants are actually variables we can change and have a lot of laughs along the way. Dr. Chrissie Ott brings a coaching lens, experience in healthcare, entrepreneurship and creativity to the table. We hope this podcast is a tool for many to reclaim delight in their own personal and professional lives!

  1. 16H AGO

    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 Podcast Website: https://www.solvingforjoy.com My Website: www.chrissieottmd.com 🩺 For Physician Coaches If this work is part of your world: Physician Coaching Collective: https://www.physiciancoachingcollective.com Physician Coaching Summit: https://www.thephysiciancoachingsummit.com

    30 min

  2. 4D AGO

    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 & MentionsStart With Why by Simon Sinek Stay ConnectedInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/chrissieottmdPodcast Website - https://www.solvingforjoy.comWebsite - www.joypointsolutions.com For Physician CoachesPhysician Coaching Collective - https://www.physiciancoachingcollective.comPhysician Coaching Summit - https://www.thephysiciancoachingsummit.com

    29 min

  3. APR 23

    What Joy Actually Looks Like: Dance, Pivoting, Entrepreneurship, and Feeling It All

    Hello, my friend.  If you are a physician, coach, or high achiever who has ever wondered whether it is possible to leave a career you worked your whole life for and actually land somewhere better, this episode is for you. In this conversation, I sit down with my dear friend Dr. Manuela Powell, a former cancer surgeon turned entrepreneur and founder of Doctors Pivot, who helps physicians and professionals build online businesses without the overwhelm of figuring out all the tech and systems on their own. Manuela is also a devoted West Coast swing dancer, a mom of two boys, and someone who has built a life that is unapologetically designed around joy. This conversation goes deep. We talk about what it actually means to feel all your emotions, why allowing sadness is the doorway to more intense joy, and how Manuela's experiences with her father's cancer and a dear friend's metastatic breast cancer diagnosis shaped her philosophy around emotional permission. We also talk about the practical side of pivoting: why putting financial pressure on a brand new business is a trap, how to use your current job as a runway, and why knowing what you want your life to look like has to come before you choose what work to do next. And we close with Manuela's most non-negotiable joy practice — partner dance — and why she considers it her antidepressant. In this episode you will learn: Why accepting difficult emotions is the key to feeling more joy, not lessWhat "don't say at least" means and why it matters for anyone supporting someone through hardshipHow Manuela identified four non-negotiables that shaped the business she built after medicineWhy premature financial dependency on a new business creates burnout instead of freedomHow to use your current job as a runway while you build something newWhy dance is one of the most evidence-backed tools for mental health and how to find your own version of itResources & Mentions Doctors Pivot — https://www.doctorspivot.com Physician Coaching Summit Playback Series — https://www.thephysiciancoachingsummit.com/podcast/ Connect with Manuela Powell Website — https://www.doctorspivot.com Instagram —  https://www.instagram.com/drmanuelapowell/ Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/thedoctorspivot/ Linkedin— https://www.linkedin.com/in/drmanuelapowell/ Stay Connected Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/chrissieottmd Website — https://www.solvingforjoy.com  For Physician Coaches Physician Coaching Collective — https://www.physiciancoachingcollective.com Physician Coaching Summit — https://www.thephysiciancoachingsummit.com  Music by Denys Kyshchuk (AudioCoffee): https://www.audiocoffee.net

    29 min

  4. APR 14

    The Gift You're There to Give: Rethinking Credibility for Speakers

    Hello, my friend. If you are a physician, coach, or high achiever who dreams of giving a TEDx talk or keynote and sometimes wonders whether you are truly credible enough to stand on that stage, this episode is for you. In this conversation, I sit down with speaker coach, TEDx speaker, and author Cesar Cervantes, whose book Great Speech is a must read for anyone ready to give transformative presentations. Cesar shares the mindset shifts and practical tools that help speakers stop proving their credibility and start embodying it, so that the gift they have to give can actually land. Because a great keynote or TEDx talk is not about you. It is about the gift you are there to give. In this episode you will learn: Why trying to prove your credibility on stage actually diminishes itHow storytelling structure creates emotionally resonant, memorable talksWhy making yourself the hero of your own talk works against youWhat your body, voice, and cadence communicate beyond your wordsHow to frame every talk as a gift to your audienceResources & Mentions Cesar's book: Great Speech — https://www.amazon.com/Great-Speech-Blueprint-Crafting-Signature/dp/1636804187Physician Coaching Summit Playback Series — https://www.thephysiciancoachingsummit.com/podcast/ Connect with Cesar Cervantes Website — https://www.cesarcervantes.tv/ Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/mrcesarcervantes LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrcesarcervantes/ Stay Connected Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/chrissieottmd  Website — https://www.solvingforjoy.com For Physician Coaches Physician Coaching Collective — https://www.physiciancoachingcollective.com Physician Coaching Summit — https://www.thephysiciancoachingsummit.com Music by Denys Kyshchuk (AudioCoffee): https://www.audiocoffee.net

    31 min

  5. APR 7

    No Script for This: Loving Through Anticipatory Grief and Finding the Capacity for Joy

    Thank you for being here with me. This is a tender season in my life. I am loving my mom while also slowly letting her go. There is no clean way to talk about that. No script for how to do it well. There are moments of sitting at her bedside and feeling everything at once. Love, grief, gratitude, exhaustion. Somehow even laughter still finds its way in. If you have been in a space like this, you know.And if you have not, you probably will someday. I am so grateful to share honestly with you in real time, and even more grateful to be witnessed in it. Your messages, your presence, your quiet listening all matter more than you know. Wherever you are, whatever you are holding, I hope you feel less alone. And somehow, even here, we keep finding our way back to joy.

    13 min

  6. MAR 17

    Unlock Calm and Joy in Autism Parenting for High-Achieving Moms

    Hello, my friend. If you are a high-achieving mom raising an autistic child and sometimes feel overwhelmed by the constant balancing act of caregiving, work, expectations, and your own nervous system, this episode is for you. Parenting in the context of autism can bring extraordinary love, insight, and connection. It can also bring moments of exhaustion, uncertainty, and the quiet pressure to keep performing at a high level in every area of life. In this conversation, I sit down with physician and neuroscientist Dr. Yolanda Bogaert, who shares the grounded practices and perspective shifts that helped her move from relentless striving toward greater presence, calm, and joy. Yolanda speaks candidly about her own journey through perfectionism, burnout, motherhood, and raising an autistic son. She also offers simple, practical ways to regulate your nervous system, reconnect with what matters most, and find moments of joy even on the hardest days. Because parenting an autistic child does not require perfection. It requires presence, compassion, and small practices that help you come back to yourself again and again. In this episode you will learn:  • Why high-achieving moms can feel intense pressure while parenting an autistic child • How perfectionism and constant striving contribute to burnout and emotional exhaustion • Why nervous system regulation is essential for both parents and autistic children • The concept of “detached attachment” and how letting go of outcomes can create more peace • Small grounding practices that help you reset during stressful moments • How simple rituals and moments of “micro-joy” can transform the parenting experience • Why living the questions instead of chasing perfect answers can lead to deeper joy Resources & Mentions Connect with Dr. Yolanda BogaertWebsite - https://www.yolandabogaertmd.com High Achieving Moms of Autistic Kids CommunityFacebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/highachievingmomsofautistickids Stay Connected Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/chrissieottmd Podcast Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/solvingforjoypodcast Website - https://www.solvingforjoy.com For Physician Coaches Physician Coaching Collective - https://www.physiciancoachingcollective.com Physician Coaching Summit - https://www.thephysiciancoachingsummit.com

    35 min

  7. MAR 14

    Charting With Ease: The Truth About Charting After Hours (and How to Reclaim Your Life)

    Hello, my friend. If you are a physician or clinician who finds yourself charting after hours, finishing notes late at night, or catching up on documentation on weekends, this episode is for you. Charting can quietly take over your evenings. It can pull time away from your family, your creativity, and your rest. It does not have to stay that way. In this conversation, you will learn practical ways to reduce charting stress, finish notes faster, and reclaim time for the life you want to live. Because every hour spent charting outside of work is an hour of your life. In this episode you will learn: • Why so many clinicians end up charting after hours • How perfectionism and documentation anxiety slow you down • Why inbox and portal messages increase your cognitive load • Simple workflow shifts that help you finish notes faster • How technology and AI tools can support more efficient charting • How reducing charting burden can reconnect you with the people and activities you love Resources & Mentions Charting With Ease (free download)https://dr-chrissie-ott.myflodesk.com/gq7zurcgdq Charting With Ease: Applied Coaching Lab A small group coaching experience designed to help clinicians reduce after hours charting, improve workflow, and reclaim their time. Join the waitlist - https://dr-chrissie-ott.myflodesk.com/chartingwithease Stay Connected Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/chrissieottmd Podcast Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/solvingforjoypodcast Website - https://www.solvingforjoy.com For Physician Coaches Physician Coaching Collective - https://www.physiciancoachingcollective.com Physician Coaching Summit - https://www.thephysiciancoachingsummit.com

    24 min

  8. FEB 3

    Who Are You Becoming? Reclaiming Direction and Joy in Academic Medicine with Dr. Stacey Ishman

    Hello, my friend. If you’re in academic medicine and feeling exhausted, unclear, or quietly frustrated despite working hard, this episode is for you. I’m joined by Dr. Stacey Ishman, MD, MPH, a former full professor with more than 20 years in academic medicine who now helps physicians build promotable, meaningful careers without sacrificing their lives. We talk about what happens when effort stops translating into advancement, how invisible work and perfectionism drain energy, and why clarity, values, and intentional choice matter more than simply saying yes. This is a conversation about alignment, identity, and direction — not doing more, but doing what actually moves you forward. In this episode, we explore: Why effort alone doesn’t lead to promotion in academic medicineWhat happens when expectations are unclear and no one teaches you how to vet opportunitiesThe cost of invisible work and perfectionismWhy naming what you want to be known for changes your trajectoryHow values-driven yeses and nos protect both your career and your lifeWhy coaching is support, not remediationA reminder many physicians need: joy is not something to postponeResources & Mentions Charting with Ease (download) https://dr-chrissie-ott.myflodesk.com/gq7zurcgdqThe Art of Saying No guide for clinicians https://dr-chrissie-ott.myflodesk.com/gq7zurcgdqDr. Stacey Ishman: https://medicalmentorcoaching.comStay Connected Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrissieottmd Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/solvingforjoypodcast Website & transcripts: https://www.solvingforjoy.com For Physician Coaches Physician Coaching Collective: https://www.physiciancoachingcollective.com Physician Coaching Summit: https://www.thephysiciancoachingsummit.com

    36 min
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About

Through in depth conversations with a wide range of guests, Solving for Joy explores the idea that we are always trying to solve life's equation for maximal joy. We'll discover what constants are actually variables we can change and have a lot of laughs along the way. Dr. Chrissie Ott brings a coaching lens, experience in healthcare, entrepreneurship and creativity to the table. We hope this podcast is a tool for many to reclaim delight in their own personal and professional lives!

Information

  • Creator
    Chrissie Ott, MD
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    79
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    Solving For Joy

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