Hello! If you happen to see me around town, looking a little wiser than I was just a week ago, there’s a reason… I turned 40! I have officially turned the page into a new decade, one that used to be considered “over the hill.” Do people even still throw those 40th parties with black balloons and grave stone decor?! I sure hope not… because I’ve personally never felt more alive!

For my birthday, I asked for a special gift… words of wisdom. I polled women in their 40s and beyond within my professional circle and among my friends to ask for their best advice in this midlife decade.

I was so encouraged that I wanted to pay it forward with an entire episode of the Top 20 Words of Wisdom I received about turning 40 and beyond…

Enjoy, and let me know which Tip # was your favorite. What else would you add?! Truly, I’d love to know. I’ll be gladly accepting additional words of wisdom as I launch into this new decade with open arms and a full heart. Because 40’s are the new… 30s?!

Cheers to 40 and beyond,

Dr. Peek

Everyone wants to feel seen, known, and understood. It’s at the core of who we are as humans. Our patients, our families, our colleagues, and our neighbors all have that same desire, especially in today’s politically charged and seemingly divided world.

The saying, “it’s a small world,” is so cliche, but also so helpful to consider when we begin to feel divided and disconnected. Today in this short and sweet episode, I’m sharing some small town stories from my past that continue to be woven into the some of the most unexpected situations…reminding us just how small and truly connected this world really is.

How can we honor the people around us, even when (and especially when) we disagree with them? The key is finding the common connections between us, not the differences that divide us.

Forever a small town girl…with a broadened world view,

Dr. Peek

What happens when 3 medical provider moms see a gap in pediatric patient care within their community and decide to do something about it? Healthcare professionals are not entrepreneurs by training, but that didn’t stop this trio of nurse practitioners from jumping headfirst into the world of starting a business. Through grit and determination paired with lots of faith, these women put their passion for patient care into pioneering a free-standing pediatric urgent care.

Today, we are joined by two of the co-founders of Stellar Pediatric Urgent Care. They give us a glimpse into the realities of starting a business while balancing motherhood and their primary care practice, simultaneously. They also share some valuable medical tips for parents when it comes to navigating your child’s illness.

…If you’re a medical provider who has an entrepreneur interest… this episode will encourage you to follow your passion and take the next step!

…If you’re a mom who is trying to find joy in the midst of challenges… this episode will encourage you to lean into your faith and remember your “why.”

…If you’re a parent who has been caught after hours wondering when to take your child to Urgent Care vs. the Emergency Room… this episode has some helpful tips for you.

I hope you find some deep joy today and have a Stellar week….

Dr. Peek

Episode 10 and Happy September! Thank you for being here, truly. I hope this episode inspires you to find joy and purpose in the changing season… and that it reminds you to give yourself permission to do the same.

We so often crave consistency, for good reason. But what happens when that resistance to change holds us back? Consider this short and sweet episode your Fall pep talk as we enter into this new season.

Love,

Dr. Peek

This week I celebrated a decade of motherhood, with the 10th birthday of my oldest daughter. That means I also celebrated my birth day. How often do we celebrate our children without taking a moment to stop and honor our own bodies for the work they did on that day, and have continued to do each day since?

Birth is a highly personal experience, and every story is incredibly unique. In honor of this 10 year celebration, I’m sharing part of mine… though it is a bit unconventional, especially for a pharmacist.

(I acknowledge that some births involve traumatic experiences, and this may be triggering for some. If that is you, I see you and honor your decision to skip this episode.)

On today’s episode I’m sharing:

* Ways to celebrate your birth day, alongside your children’s birthday

* Why I chose to have unmedicated labor during the births of my 3 children

* How my experience as a healthcare professional impacted my role as a patient

Cheers to motherhood and honoring the journey… you’re worthy of celebration!

Listen, share, and subscribe to the Dispensing Joy Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Substack!

Today, we are keeping it real with our guest, Taylor Shipley, RN. She is a mom of 3 young girls (who are 2, 3, & 4 years old!) and a pediatric oncology + cardiac ICU nurse.

Chaos is literally a part of her job description, both at work and at home.

She has navigated the difficult loss of patients as a bedside pediatric nurse and also deep loss in her personal journey to motherhood. She is a voice of authenticity when it comes to sharing both the vulnerable and beautiful parts of motherhood while embracing what it means to thrive in both a meaningful and challenging career.

If you feel like the days are long and the years are short - and if you are also searching for calm in the CHAOS - listen in as Taylor shares about:

C-onnecting your kids and your work role to bridge the gap between your “worlds”

H-aving vulnerability with colleagues in your most difficult seasons

A-llowing your career to evolve as your personal/family needs change

O-wning the realities of motherhood and normalizing the challenges with humor

S-etting personal boundaries for your own mental health

Embracing both the chaos and the calm…and always cheering you on,

Dr. Peek

Are you Olympics obsessed? Today on the podcast, it’s just you and me, talking about the profound lessons we can learn from some inspiring female athletes in this year’s Olympic Games.

Listen in as we apply 3 key Olympic lessons to our careers and motherhood… especially as we launch our kids back to school and find our new normal in this season.

Today, I’m also including a book recommendation and 2 practical back-to-school hacks that have been school morning game changers for this mom of 3 kids. Take what you need, and be inspired to find your joy this week.

Cheering you on as you go for the gold,

Dr. Peek

Remember when you were a person, before you were a mom and a healthcare professional? Have you become so “responsible” in your roles that you’ve lost a bit of the fun side you once had? What happened to those hobbies that were things you enjoyed, and how can you make time to infuse FUN into your daily life?

Healthcare professionals - and moms - are notoriously high-functioning individuals. But today, we are giving ourselves permission to put the FUN back in functionality.

Our guest on today’s episode is Jamie Miller, PharmD, BCPS, BCPPS, FPPA. Not only is she an accomplished pharmacy school professor, researcher, and NICU clinical pharmacist…she is also a mom of teenagers, adventure athlete, and a YouTube content creator. When she’s not presenting her research at national conferences [while wearing a suit made out of her professional posters], she travels the country with her twin sister competing in extreme adventure races under the team name “Overconfident / Undertrained.” They document their hilarious adventures along the way on YouTube at: Over Confident Under Trained.

Today, Dr. Miller shares about her journey of motherhood and career growth, tips on making time for your own hobbies, and ways to curate fun in your daily life at work and at home.

Listen in to my conversation with Dr. Miller as we explore topics that will remind you…

* You’re worth investing in the things that make you laugh, the hobbies that make you fulfilled, and intentionally planning FUN in your daily life

* You don’t have to be good at everything… truly, don’t take yourself so seriously

* You’re a better mom and healthcare provider when you prioritize an outlet for creativity that sparks joy in your own life

Because you can’t spell high functioning without the FUN,

Dr. Peek

This week, I’m deviating from the planned episode and checking in with a very real, unscripted mini episode. How are you doing in the midst of a chaotic week in our country’s political landscape? How are you faring as we near the end of summer break and prepare to launch into a brand new school year?

I offer 2 principles to remember, that you already know from your work in healthcare:

* Do No Harm

* S.O.A.P

Listen in for a real, raw chat about 2 basic rules in medicine that can be applied to your life especially right now, as you navigate the noise of this season.

Take care and dig deep to find your joy,

Dr. Peek

What happens when you land your dream job but eventually feel the urge to make a change? How do you navigate a career shift alongside your life’s biggest priorities?

This week, I’m chatting with my dear friend and colleague, Lauren Acklin, PA-C about listening to your intuition and knowing when it’s time to make a change. Lauren has built a successful and rewarding career in pediatric oncology and stem cell transplant/ cellular therapy. She has a passion for serving the bravest young heroes and their families along their health journey and brings tremendous compassion and value to her teams. She also holds her faith and her family as highest priorities in her life as a wife, mom, and an active member of her faith community. So, when she began to feel a tug on her heart that it was time to make some changes in her career, she leaned into the process alongside her community.

Today, she shares her process of leaving a good position for an even greater purpose…and finding an unexpected and beautiful new opportunity as a result. If you’re in a season of contemplating your next career steps, you’ll want to listen in as Lauren shares authentically with reminders of having grace and gratitude to guide your steps.

A few key takeaways from our conversation:

* Recognize the value that you bring to your team. If you feel that you need to make a change, be open to speaking with those who can help you make those decisions.

* Don’t let fear of change keep you from opening yourself to something new…that may align even better with your life’s priorities.

* Lean on your community to help you make your next move.

* Never burn professional bridges. If you’ve proved your loyalty and value to your team, employers will be more open to working with you to find a creative fit for your next season.

* Keep an attitude of grace and gratitude through the process. You truly have so much to be grateful for!