"Write Your Best Chapter"

There are no trophies for working ourselves to death. Yet, we keep showing up, working harder than the day before as opposed to pausing and pivoting to focus on our own well being and mental health. My guest today is a poster child of someone who turned his life around after not one by 2 near death experiences. Host of the podcast "Burnout to Leadership", Dex Randall is a brilliant and compassionate human that will tell you his life story to be inspired. Reach out to him at www.dexrandall.com

Welcome to a Masterclass in parenting. More importantly, welcome to an episode to answer all of your questions around adoption: what to say, what not to say, who should adopt, who shoudn't, and if you are considering adoption what are some advanced planning you should consider before getting started. Join my truly dear friend and an execptional psychotherapist Kristine Altwies, who is a mother of 5 children and the CEO of A Family Tree, for a one of a kind discussion. Learn more at www.afamilytree.org

In a special episode, I share my message of hope about what you CAN do in times of war and disaster. I reach out to my regular listeners in Ukraine, Russia and Poland to extend my love. I also reach out to the audience about what you can do at this moment to take some actions so that you are able to take away some level of human suffering, the best way you know how. Please email the support person at St. Jude's hospital if you are able to help [email protected]

Sexual health is a very important part of our overall health. What happens when we are struck by an illness? Does sex have to take the back seat or do we get a chance to enjoy a meaningful pleasure filled sexual existence no matter how old or how ill? You may already know the answer to this, but listen to this week's episode to learn more about this topic based on my discussion with a dear colleague and sex educator Dr. Kelly Casperson the creator of the wildly popular podcast "You are not broken".

You don't have to do anything you don't want to be doing. Financial independence that comes from a place of intentional relationship with how we save and spend money allows us a freedom unlike any other. If you have this one life, how would you spend it? What is a purpose driven life look like? Would you stay in a job if it was not aligned with your values and goals? What would you do instead? How would you pick your next job?

One of my favorite artists is a Rwandan/Belgian singer named Stromae. He has a song called "Quand c'est?" In French it means when is it, but it pronounced as: Cancer. I have clients who are cancer survivors who keep thinking that they are about to have cancer again. I have patients who have cancer who are in denial that they are dying from it. In this episode, on the World Cancer Day, I am taking my voice to empower you to ask for Palliative Care as being part of your cancer treatment. To work with me as a patient or a client please go to www.drfaryal.com

Not only did Deborah decide to honor her son's life by donating his organs while he was alive. But she was able to have the clarity of mind to write a letter to his organ donor recepients letting them know they should not feel guilty. This type of love and generosity is almost unheard of. Listen to her story as she shares more details about what she went through. To learn more about her check her podcast here To donate to Mile's Memorial for his school's robotic program, go here.

In this very special episode, I invite back my dear friend and previous guest on this show, Dr. Deborah Butzbach, a radiation oncologist and a grieving mother who lost her 13 year old son due to an accident. Her decision to donate Miles's organs as he was in the ICU touched me deeply and I believe it is a story worth telling. I hope you enjoy this two part series.

Have you had any close calls? Car crash, massive heart attack, near drowning, the list can go on an on? What about an urgent text that you were going to get hit by a missile? What would you do? What goes through your mind? Then, right after that... Do you shift gears and decide to live your life with a bit more purpose? I wonder if this makes you hold onto or let go of life easier. I hope this week's podcast can create some good food for thoughts for you. Learn more on www.drfaryal.com

The truth is we don't want anything to change. We don't want to be getting older. We don't want to lose the ones we love. We certainly don't want to be grieving the loss of those we love. Unfortunately, life has other plans in store for us. In the beginning of a year that follows a very difficult year for us all, it's my pleasure to share with a resource and a vision about growth through loss and grief. AmarAtma Khalsa is a board certified Chaplain and a Grief Coach. You will love listening to him and his sense of ease and acceptance. Learn more http://amaratmakhalsa.com

It's the New Year's Eve in the US. Some people are anxious. They had set some goals and aspirations for themselves and here's one more year that nothing panned out, truly. So where do we go from here? If you think about it, end of the year is actually an arbitrary assignment. In my part of the world, the year ends the day before the spring solstice. So, if it helps you, you have until March 20th of next year to get anything done. Jokes aside, I will share with you my reflection that it's better to look at your life in terms of if you accomplished anything that adds value to your life instead? If our reflections were different, our appreciation would change, too. Join me in my program to learn more. Http://www.drfaryal.com/2022

It's Christmas Eve. Where do you live? Do you have a white Christmas? If you don't, does it even matter to you? We all have ideas about what life should and should not be like. It turns out, we think the same thoughts about end of life. When we should and should not be dying. It has been my experience that if people had a say in their last days, no one wants to die this time of the year. They don't want to leave bad memories for their loved ones around this time of the year. What if we have no control? What if we told our dying loved ones that it's ok to let go. They can leave knowing we loved them, no matter when their lives ended. Join me on my webinar to talk about when and how to walk away. http://www.drfaryal.com/Goodbye

When it's your birthday, do you get a cake with a candle on top to make a wish? If you don't, what happened? How is that no longer a special day for you? I have learned that as we get older, we start taking our days and even amazing celebrations for granted. When the end of the year comes around, we start looking at how the year didn't go so well. How we fell short and didn't accomplish so much. How we, once again, did not stick to our plan and failed to lose the weight. In this episode, I am trying to encourage you to live your life fully. When you put up the Christmas tree, stay up a bit, pour yourself something to drink and enjoy it. Be a kid again.

This holiday season, people are going to drive you mad. They will say the wrong thing, do the wrong thing, behave in a way that you want to come undone. In this episode I will teach you how to feel instant love NO MATTER how people behave. If you make your experience of feeling love "conditional" on how others behave, you are the one who will suffer. In this special episode, I will share one of my lessons that I had put together for my group coaching. I hope it helps you, too. Share this with others you think may benefit from listening to this message. sign up to learn more www.drfaryal.com

Stranger than science fiction: In 1951 a new cell line were discovered that seemed to be immortal. These cells became the mainstay of scientific research, leading to more than 110,000 published studies as well as 3 Nobel Prizes. They were simply known as HeLa Cells. Her name was Henrietta Lacks; a 31 year old mother of 5 from Baltimore, Maryland who later died of an aggressive form of cervical cancer. In today's episode, we will talk about how while she had contributed so much to science and technology, her descendants struggle with educational debts attending same Universities that have used her cell lines for years. Listen to the backstory to this grassroot movement initiated by 3 women physicians to eradicate this debt. Please consider donating.

I call him LOML: Love of My Life. Others know him as my husband, Anthony Michaud MD, PhD. He's a Radiation Oncologist, but I think he's mostly a Windsurfer. You have heard me talk about him on and off on this podcast. On Thanksgiving Day, I decided to interview him for this special episode. Right after he beat me in a game of Scrabble by 20 points or so. He's an amazing human being. I love that he is so clear about what he does and does not want out of this life. He knows his priorities and tries to incorporate them into his life. I think you'd love his story. Go to my website to get my free guide to having better conversations. www.drfaryal.com

Eckhart Tolle once said: "Tell me what is the problem in your life this very moment?". My podcast was created for you to ponder that very question. Whether you are struck by an illness or you are just overwhelmed with the weight of the world at this very second, ask yourself: "How is my life perfect this very moment?". I had set out to create that sense of awareness and peace when I started this podcast. Today, I will share with you a feedback that touched me very deeply. I hope you enjoy this episode. You can always learn more about ways to reach me www.drfaryal.com

Ready for the most amazing story? When a 35 year old professional woman, who is not in a relationship, decides to adopt her own children, she makes a plan. She will contact men on a dating service every single day, and go on 3 dates a week to meet the potential father of her children. Can you imagine it? You have to hear my friend's story. If you are stuck or are wondering if there is anyone out there for you, this podcast is for you. In coaching, I teach my clients that whatever results you want to create, you simply put that in your plan. Then you decide to take the steps to get to that goal. Amy Rose's story will blow your mind. Visit my webpage for more on this story. www.drfaryal.com

Everytime someone young dies, we wonder how life could be so unfair. For every child who dies of terrible cancer, there are people who question their faith or meaning of life altogether. The truth is, life does not owe us anything. It does not owe us a happy ending. It does not owe us a long and healthy stretch. In this very special episode, as I actively mourn the loss of a very dear friend who was murdered last week, I will share with you that at the end of the day: this is life. No guarantees. No promises. We get to experience loss from that place of acceptance. The acceptance that suffering is part of living. Additional suffering, however, is merely optional.

Do you feel like you're about to snap? Leave your relationship, leave your job, or leave your profession altogether? You are not alone. Many people are walking in your shoes at this very moment. In this week's episode, I want to teach a lesson that will provide you peace of mind whether you decide to stay or leave. On my 16th Anniversary, let me give you the gift of perspective so you live your life from a place of love no matter what decision you make. For more go to www.drfaryal.com

My favorite episode is right here. My own sister is my best friend. In December of 2020, Dr. Kim Kaffenbarger decided to sign up for my program. She asked her sister, who happens to be her best friend, to follow along with her. 9 months later, they remain the best of friends and share their journey of self transformation with us all. You do not want to miss this episode. For more information about the program go to http://www.drfaryal.com

We all need help. No matter what your mission in life is, we can all get better at things we don't know much about. Even the best of the best athletes have their own coaches. Creating a vision and then learning how to make it a reality requires some outside help. In this week's special BONUS episode, meet my outside help. Bobby Klinck is a breath of fresh air: A Harvard Lawyer turned into a coach for online business, you would love his story. He has been my personal Marketing and Business Coach and he has a heart of gold. He is going to have a special event in early December and his early bird to sign up ends on October 21st. You may still sign up but to get the special bonuses, the time to sign up is now. Here's the link to sign up https://members.bobbyklinck.com/~access/a46c10731f

One of my favorite learnings I have picked up by having Jewish friends is the concept of Tikkun Olam. I am sure many other religions and belief systems have a similar teaching. It is the idea that we were born to not simply go through life. We were born with an intention to "Repair This World". If you were to look at your life like that, what would be your purpose? How would YOU repair this world? We often refer to this as our "WHY". There is so much confusion about what our why needs to be. I am offering this podcast as an extension of what I teach to my clients when we discuss how we go about finding a deeper meaning and purpose for our lives. Feel free to reach out to me at www.drfaryal.com with any questions you may have.

If you could only focus on what matters, what would that be? Do you even know? Sometimes we don't know because the outside noise is too loud. Remember getting interrupted in the middle of dinner by a telemarketer when we had landlines? Now that we don't have landlines, what interrupts your peace of mind? Could it be the constant uninvited but ever present social media? For the month of October, I have given up social media for a Digital Detox. I think that I may stick with it long term. Tune in to learn more. Reach out to me at Http://www.drfaryal.com

This week's episode is a very special one. When you think about grief and loss, are you thinking human loss? Have you ever lost a pet? Do you know someone who has lost a pet? How did it feel? We are just as speechless when a loved pet dies, but I think it's even harder to find the words. Sometimes, what we say is wrong. Join my dear guest Dr. Pegah Mehdizadeh as she mourns the loss of her precious Pashmak and Bijou. To learn more about resources to help with the loss of a pet, please visit: www.rainbrowbridge.com

We all have a story. How we get to tell those stories matter. Shara Turner is a tremendous human being who has set herself up to make impactful changes in lives of those touched by Trauma. How we see addiction will in turn lead to how we interact with those who suffer with addiction. Join me in this in depth discussion about how addiction is surviving in its most primitive way. Shara's interview will touch you deeply and I hope you will share it with those who could use this message.

In the year 2020, 42% of physicians reported feeling burnt out. Roughly one physician dies every day by suicide which is double the rate of general population. There is help. Sometimes we need to reach out, sometimes we need to reflect, be mindful, and help ourselves become more resilient. Sometimes we need to live a more aligned life with our values and purpose. Sometimes we need to focus on a greater good which helps us get a different perspective on life altogether. My "Living Intentionally" Coaching and mindfulness program sets the stage to help you get there. Learn more at www.drfaryal.com. In this week's podcast, I'll talk about what it means to move from one stage of life to another and focus on living a purpose driven life to help us bend and not break. What does it mean to focus less on success and more on living a valued aligned life? If you are having suicidal thoughts: Ask for help. 1.800.273.8255.

We all know what we have to do to get to what we want in life. The question is: Why don't we? As a palliative care physician I see quite a bit of regret at the end of life. I am here as a quick warning shot for you. There is still time. You get to show up in your life the way you have always wanted to... If, you agree to be ready to fail. If, you can manage your mind around being ok for things not to turn out the way you were planning. Can you do it? Join me for my free webinar www.drfaryal.com/intentions

Where do we get our compassion from? Where does it come from? This week I have a great friend and a wonderful nurse to tell us just that. Cheryl Nicponski is a Doctor's Nurse. That's a term I coined everytime I worked with a nurse who could have just as well been a doctor. She is bright, compassionate and a fierce advocate for all sorts of equality. It is my pleasure to have you listen to her story and learn how she gets be who she is and she keeps going. You will really enjoy listening to her.

How do you live your life? Did you know that no matter what kind of hand life deals you, you get to decide? You can be travelling to a tropical island to go diving and be caught in torrential rain. You get to love it. My guest this week is a Radiation Oncologist and a cancer survivor life coach. Not only does she live her life intentionally every single day, she also gets to hold space for all who struggle to live a full life after being diagnosed with cancer. It may not be easy, but she is equipped to make that happen. She is also mother to 4 boys. Tragically since this episode was recorded, she lost her youngest boy to an accident. Her 13 year old son Miles, had a chance to continue living by being an organ donor to very special patients. If you like to contribute to Mile's memory, you may do so at http://princetonfriendsschool.org/support-pfs/miles-brackin-memorial-fund

Compassion Fatigue. It means we are tired of caring. We can no longer give since we have been giving so long. The hospitals are full. There are no more ICU beds. Some hospitals are even turning away unvaccinated people. In this episode, I share some of my ways to manage our mind in these trying times. We can continue to love and care for unvaccinated people. They have done nothing wrong. Please take a listen.

Have you heard of a Birth Doula? Doulas have been around for thousands of years. They were essentially female companion for supportive purposes. It seems to me, there is no better time to take advantage of this support than when faced with end of life. Join me as I interview Janie Rakow who tells me about this amazing profession. You will find her at www.FareWellDoula.com for any question or interest you may have. I hope you enjoy this episode.

In financial world, we talk about "Cost of Living" quite a bit. When deciding to move somewhere, we often mention how it's not a good idea to go somewhere because the cost of living is higher. How about life? When deciding to go one way or another at a crossroad, try thinking of "Cost of NOT Living". On this anniversary episode, I will share how we decided to adopt a dog even though everyone was trying to talk us out of it. Attending to the need of our new family member took priority over timeliness of this podcast release. When you decide what matters to you, your decisions are always aligned with your values. Be intentional and be mindful in what brings you true meaning and joy. You will never be wrong.

Would you have dinner with someone you thought was racist? Is there any opportunity for a meaningful dialogue with those we disagree with. I worry that social media, or any media for that matter, is making us antisocial. We have become so quick to judge, unfollow, unfriend and categorize people in buckets we can understand. No matter what your political belief is, I invite you to listen to how we can reach out to one another and find love and common ground. I truly hope this episode helps you to close the gap.

We live in a world that creates expectations in our heads as what it means to be happy: We should get married and have children to know the true meaning of happiness. What if we can't? If we are unable for whatever reason, what does that mean about our chance of happiness the way society makes us feel? It is my pleasure to introduce Jenn, my mindfulness and yoga instructor, to you this week. Learn how a successful Marine Ecologist used mindfulness and yoga to tap into what it means to be whole- just as you are.

Do you work for a living? Are there people who go out of their way to make your life a little better? They try to literally add love and cheer to the lives of all who come in contact with them. If you have been lucky enough to have met them, I hope that you have the presence of mind to thank them and let them know how very special they are. This week, I am dedicating this episode to someone very special who died two years ago without my knowledge. Someone who tried to reach out to me without success. I love her. I miss her and I hope she's surrounded by squirrels.

If you only listen to one episode, make it this one. It is my absolute honor to interview my guest Dr. Katherine Shear. She is the expert on studying and treating complicated grief which is now known as Prolonged Grief Disorder. In this in depth and intimate interview, she not only asks about my own grief regarding loss of my father, but she tells us the how and why we experience grief the way we do. please check out the website http://complicatedgrief.columbia.edu for more resources.

As physicians, we have only learned to keep going. When we get into school, it feels like we are on a conveyor belt that we cannot get off of no matter what. Some people bend, but most people break. Not because they do not have what it takes, but because medicine takes so much from you. It is my absolute pleasure to share the story of Air Force Captain Jillian Rigert, DMD, MD with you. She went through so many ups and downs of self doubt, anxiety, anorexia, depression and suicidal ideation, but had the courage to come through creating a life on purpose.

"Why me?" This can be the first thought that comes to our mind when things go wrong. This can be with a new cancer diagnosis or when what you were setting out to do falls apart. Why not you? Can you rethink what is happening in your life so that you can change the "It's not fair" drama into "Nothing has gone wrong". The simplest way I can think about it is this: why not you? The universe does not owe us anything. Once we embrace this thought, navigating the full human experience becomes so much intentionally meaningful. Join me as I dive in deep.

We move through our lives getting irritated by how people treat and disappoint us. We live our lives having mediocre relationships with the people we think should love and adore us. We want people behave in such a way that they can be worthy of our love. What if we already loved them? Just the way they are with all their shortcomings. Are you perfect? Do you think others don't secretly wish you were different so THEY could love you, too? I ask deep questions for you to get the love you want.

We are often hardwired to go to the worst case scenario when faced with challenges. We try to put our better days conditionally on what could happen in another day. What if that day never came? Would you put your happiness on pause? What if you had stage IV metastatic cancer with 2% chance of survival? Would you audition for a popular TV show? Come to think of it, if not now, then when? Join me as I share one of my favorite coaching tools to help you get unstuck from your negative thinking loops.

What is the meaning of life? Often times, when faced with end of life and terminal cancer, patients are faced with a sense of doom. This sense can feel anything from isolation to depression, anxiety and absolute helplessness. There have been randomized controlled trial studies for the past 40 years or so regarding the value of using psychedelic mushrooms such as Psilocybin to combat these feelings. In this episode I will talk about how this line of treatment maybe what we all need as our preparation for our very last trip.

Smartphone and internet addiction is a real life sucker. It increases loneliness and depression. It fuels anxiety. It increases stress. It can exacerbate attention deficit disorder. It can diminish our ability to concentrate and think creatively. It can disturb your sleep and encourages self absorption. In today's podcast, inspired by a coaching client, I talk about how to set better example for our kids managing this dependence.

Telling stories is what connects us all as humans. Using narrative medicine to humanize the experiences we have around illness and disease is the highest form of self reflection and therapy. Join me as I interview Ms. Wendy Hind, PhD, JD, who tells us the story of her son William. By using poetry, she creatively celebrates her life experience as a mother of a child born with a cardiac congenital defect. This episode will motivate you to tap into your creative senses. Follow her at tinypoetryproject.com

You may have never thought about this, but a disease is not the same thing as an illness. To best tend to our own and our patient's disease, we must first think about what they think of their illness. In this episode, I will teach you the tools to ask the right questions in life to get the answers that give you a better result. This is regardless of whether you have an illness or are just overwhelmed in life. Our thoughts lead to all of our results in our lives including how we experience a disease.

When faced with the reality of a child's rare and serious illness, we often wonder: What Do We Do? Well, I am so happy to share Dallas Graham's story with you. He single handedly decided to create children's books authored by those very extraordinary children facing unimaginable obstacles. Red Fred Project is an organization that has put its heart and soul into creating legacy of the lives of those special children. Learn more at www.redfredproject.com

Imagine being an executive leadership educator guiding major healthcare organizations through significant changes, only to be faced with the most unimaginable personal crisis of your own. Dr. Anne Harbison shares her story of unbearable loss and her intentional road to personal growth and learning to reach a higher ground and purpose. Learn how she managed to put her story within the context of a book that was on her Bucket List. To purchase her autographed book try www.anneharbison.com

If our time is truly short, what are some of the things that you would love to accomplish? I mean if anything would be possible for you, what would manifest in your life? In this episode, I will talk to you about the impact that this podcast has had on the life of so many people both near and far. If one person can make this much impact, I invite you to wonder, what could be possible for you?

When you finish medical school and end up with a quarter of a million dollars worth of student loan debt, you may think you have no way out of this hole you have created for yourself. Allow me to introduce you to an amazing example of what is possible for all of us who want to practice joy and live a more intentional life. From playing cello, creating painting, and starting her own bakery, learn this amazing story of Dr. Jessie Benson chasing pure joy as a profession.

When we are faced with the end of our lives, we start fighting for more time. Ideally, this time would be spent doing the things we love to do, or doing the things that we wanted to do. The reality is, at that moment, we are in no shape to do what we have wanted to do. I am giving you the gift of time NOW. In this episode, I will teach you ways to find pockets of time to do what matters most to you most, today. Let's do this. You will love this episode.