n this episode of Neurosurgery Tales, I sit down with Dr. Z—a board-certified neurosurgeon and one of the most influential medical voices on social media. Dr. Z brings an unfiltered, deeply human perspective to the world of spine surgery, medical training, and what it really means to strive for excellence.We talk about:• The emotional toll and discipline required in neurosurgery• Whether fear of being average is a healthy motivator• How he balances introversion with public visibility• Spine surgery controversies: arthroplasty vs. fusion• Managing patient expectations in the age of zero-pain culture• What it means to lead with both logic and empathy