Solving For Joy

Chrissie Ott, MD
  • 5.0 (31)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Weekly

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. Jul 21

    How to Stop Living on Autopilot: Choosing a Life on Purpose

    Have you ever looked up at the end of a week, a season, or even a year and wondered where the time went? If you've ever felt like you're moving through life on autopilot, you're not alone. I think many of us spend so much time doing, achieving, and caring for everyone around us that we slowly lose touch with ourselves. In this conversation, I'm joined by psychiatrist, psychotherapist, mindfulness teacher, and author Dr. Nissa Keyashian to explore how the simple practice of stillness can help us become more aware, more present, and ultimately more intentional with our lives. Together, we explore what mindfulness really is, why meditation isn't about stopping your thoughts, what neuroscience teaches us about the Default Mode Network, and how practices like breathwork and spending time in nature can help regulate your nervous system and reconnect you with yourself. Whether you're completely new to meditation or simply longing to feel more present in your everyday life, I hope this conversation reminds you that joy doesn't begin by doing more. It begins by noticing. In this episode: • How to stop living on autopilot and begin living with greater intention • What mindfulness and meditation actually are and why a wandering mind doesn't mean you're doing it wrong • How breathwork, nature, and awareness can support nervous system regulation and emotional well-being • Simple daily practices to cultivate more presence, purpose, and joy Resources Mentioned Books- Practicing Stillness by Dr. Nissa Keyashian https://www.amazon.com/dp/1638077983 The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle Apps- Insight Timer https://insighttimer.com Concepts Discussed  Mindfulness meditation  Breathwork  The Default Mode Network (DMN)  Living with intention instead of autopilot  Nervous system regulation  Awareness and conscious choice Connect with Dr. Nissa Keyashian- Website https://drnissak.com/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/amindfulmd/ Stay Connected with Chrissie- Instagram https://www.instagram.com/chrissieottmd Podcast https://www.solvingforjoy.com Website https://www.chrissieottmd.com For Physician Coaches & Healthcare Leaders- Physician Coaching Collective https://www.physiciancoachingcollective.com Physician Coaching Summit https://www.thephysiciancoachingsummit.com

  2. Jul 1

    The Friendship Prescription for Women in Medicine: Why Belonging Is Essential for Joy.

    If you've ever found yourself surrounded by people all day, yet still feeling lonely, this conversation is for you. As physicians and caregivers, we spend so much of our lives showing up for others that meaningful friendship can quietly slip into the background. But connection isn't a luxury. It's one of the things that helps us stay resilient, grounded, and joyful. In this episode, I'm joined by pediatric critical care physician Dr. Cassie Burton Greenbaum, founder of Off-Service Mom Co. Together, we explore why adult friendship can feel so difficult, especially in medicine, and why belonging is an essential part of solving for joy. We talk about: • Why loneliness is so common among physicians and caregivers • How vulnerability creates deeper, more meaningful friendships • Why friendship is essential for resilience, well-being, and joy • Simple ways to build connection with greater intention Whether you're longing for deeper friendships or simply need the reminder that you don't have to do life alone, I hope this conversation encourages you to take one small step toward connection. Chapters 00:00 The Journey to Connection 04:30 Why Adult Friendship Feels So Hard 09:33 Creating Community on Purpose 14:23 Vulnerability as the Foundation of Friendship 19:15 Finding Joy Through Connection 22:27 The Second Mountain: Living with Meaning Connect with Dr. Cassie Burton Greenbaum: • Website: https://www.offservicemomco.com • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drcassieburton/ Stay Connected: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrissieottmd Podcast Website: https://www.solvingforjoy.com Chrissie's Website: https://www.chrissieottmd.com 🩺 For Physician Coaches & Healthcare Leaders Physician Coaching Collective: https://www.physiciancoachingcollective.com Physician Coaching Summit:https://www.thephysiciancoachingsummit.com

  3. Jun 10

    Your Skin Is Talking. Are You Listening? Stress, Healing, and Joy with Dr. Keira Barr

    This episode explores the powerful connection between stress, the nervous system, trauma, and skin health with board-certified dermatologist and trauma-informed physician Dr. Keira Barr. While many of us think of skin concerns as something happening on the surface, Dr. Barr invites us to consider a different perspective: what if our symptoms are not problems to fight, but messages to understand? Together, we explore how stress and trauma can show up through the skin, why healing often begins beneath the surface, and how learning to listen to our bodies with curiosity rather than criticism can create more ease, well-being, and joy. **A quick note for listeners: this conversation includes a small amount of profanity and a large amount of wisdom. Consider it nervous system regulation through authenticity. We regret neither.** We talk about:• Dr. Barr's personal journey into dermatology and how her own experiences shaped her approach to healing• The connection between the nervous system, stress, inflammation, and skin health• Why symptoms can be valuable sources of information rather than signs that something is wrong• The role of touch, connection, and safety in healing• How building self-trust helps us reconnect with our bodies• Why curiosity may be more helpful than criticism when it comes to our health and well-being Whether you're navigating a skin condition, chronic stress, burnout, or simply looking for a more compassionate relationship with your body, this conversation offers a refreshing invitation to slow down, listen, and trust the wisdom that's already within you. Connect with Dr. Keira Barr:• Website: https://drkeirabarr.com/• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drkeirabarr/• Calm Mind, Calm Skin™: https://drkeirabarr.com/calm-mind-calm-skin/ Stay Connected:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrissieottmdPodcast Website: https://www.solvingforjoy.comChrissie’s Website: https://www.chrissieottmd.com 🩺 For Physician Coaches & Healthcare LeadersPhysician Coaching Collective:https://www.physiciancoachingcollective.comPhysician Coaching Summit:https://www.thephysiciancoachingsummit.com

  4. Jun 3

    Could Running Be a Source of Joy? Menopause, Movement, and Finding Your Way Back to Yourself

    Today, we're revisiting one of my favorite episodes on Solving for Joy. This episode explores menopause, movement, running, grief, self-trust, and what it means to reconnect with yourself through joyful movement. Physician, running coach, and fellow physician coach Dr. Michelle Quirk shares how running helped her navigate burnout, loss, and major life transitions, and why movement can be an act of care rather than another place to strive for perfection.We talk about:• Why so many women believe they're "not runners" and how those stories shape us• How movement can support grief, emotional well-being, and resilience• Menopause, musculoskeletal pain, and considerations for women in midlife• Why high-achieving women often struggle to approach exercise with self-compassion• How to start small and build a sustainable relationship with movement Whether you're a runner, a walker, or simply curious about moving your body with more kindness and less pressure, this episode offers a refreshing invitation to begin exactly where you are. Connect with Dr. Michelle Quirk:• Website: https://mindful-marathon.com/• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindful.marathon• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellequirkmd/ Stay Connected:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrissieottmdPodcast Website: https://www.solvingforjoy.comChrissie’s Website: https://www.chrissieottmd.com 🩺 For Physician Coaches & Healthcare LeadersPhysician Coaching Collective:https://www.physiciancoachingcollective.comPhysician Coaching Summit:https://www.thephysiciancoachingsummit.com

  5. May 19

    Girl Reimagined: Raising Confident Girls and Protecting Joy in a Culture of Burnout and Comparison

    Today’s conversation is about teenage girls, social media, anxiety, perfectionism, emotional resilience, and protecting joy in a culture of burnout and comparison. What happens when girls begin losing connection to themselves younger and younger while navigating pressure, performance, comparison, and constant digital noise? In this episode, I’m joined by Jamie Shannon, certified life coach and founder of Girl Reimagined, a coaching program supporting teenage girls and families navigating anxiety, self-doubt, perfectionism, and emotional overwhelm. We talk about: • How social media impacts girls’ confidence, identity, and emotional well-being • Why many adult women are still learning the skills girls need most today • How coaching can help girls build resilience, boundaries, and self-trust before crisis • Jamie’s concept of a “happy prescription” and helping girls reconnect with joy • What parents can do to better support girls in a world of comparison and overstimulation This conversation is about more than raising daughters. It is about helping the next generation stay connected to themselves while many adults are still finding their way back there too. If you’ve been thinking about the girls in your life, navigating burnout or perfectionism yourself, or longing for more connection and joy, this episode is for you. Explore Social Media Mindfulness, the resource Jamie created specifically for the Solving for Joy community to help girls build a healthier relationship with social media:https://girlreimagined.com/ssm_solving_for_joy.html Learn more about Girl Reimagined’s coaching program and one-week trial experience for girls and families:https://www.girlreimagined.com/1weektrial.html Learn more about Jamie Shannon and Girl Reimagined:https://www.girlreimagined.com Follow Girl Reimagined on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/girlreimagined Stay Connected: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrissieottmdPodcast Website: https://www.solvingforjoy.comChrissie’s Website: https://www.chrissieottmd.com🩺 For Physician Coaches & Healthcare LeadersPhysician Coaching Collective:https://www.physiciancoachingcollective.comPhysician Coaching Summit:https://www.thephysiciancoachingsummit.com

  6. May 12

    How Physicians Can Feel Human Again Before Burnout Leads to Peer Review

    Today’s conversation is about physician burnout, survival mode, emotional exhaustion, communication strain, leadership pressure, boundaries, career sustainability, and what it actually takes to stay connected to yourself in medicine. What happens when physicians stay in survival mode for too long and slowly begin losing connection to the parts of themselves that once felt grounded, present, and alive? In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Anne Hirsch, retired internal medicine physician, physician career advisor, coach, and healthcare leadership and clinician communication strategist. We talk about:• The subtle signs of burnout physicians often miss• How stress shows up in communication, relationships, and team dynamics• Why so many physicians quietly withdraw instead of reaching for support• The role of shame, awareness, and boundaries in burnout recovery• How coaching can help physicians identify blind spots, reconnect with their values, and create a more sustainable way of living and practicing medicine• Why community, support, and honest reflection matter so much in physician well-being and leadership Whether you are personally considering coaching, supporting physicians as a coach, or simply wondering why medicine has started feeling harder to sustain, this conversation offers a deeply human look at what physicians are carrying beneath the surface and what actually helps. If you’ve been feeling disconnected from yourself… If you’ve been operating in survival mode for longer than you want to admit… Or if you’ve simply been longing to feel a little more human again… This conversation is for you. 🔗 Resources Mentioned:• Maslach Burnout Inventoryhttps://www.mindgarden.com/117-maslach-burnout-inventory-mbi • Positive Intelligence by Shirzad Chaminehttps://www.positiveintelligence.com • The Business of Friendship by Shasta Nelsonhttps://shastanelson.com/book/ • DISC Behavioral Assessmenthttps://www.discprofile.com Learn more about Dr. Anne Hirsch & Connect: https://www.physiciancoachingwithanne.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/anne-m-hirsch-md-facp-4a681790/  Stay Connected: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrissieottmdPodcast Website: https://www.solvingforjoy.comChrissie’s Website: https://www.chrissieottmd.com🩺 For Physician Coaches & Healthcare LeadersPhysician Coaching Collective:https://www.physiciancoachingcollective.comPhysician Coaching Summit:https://www.thephysiciancoachingsummit.com

  7. May 5

    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

  8. May 1

    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

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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!

Information

  • Creator
    Chrissie Ott, MD
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    85
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    Solving For Joy