
Sign up to save your podcasts
Or


In this episode, I sit down with Megan Hood, PA-C, founder of Hiking Hound Adventures, to explore how nature, family, and resilience can transform both burnout and business. Megan’s story is one of creating exactly what she most needed: after moving to a new area, switching to a more administrative pediatrics role, and missing hands-on time with kids, she launched Hiking Hound Adventures — an outdoor education and recreation company designed to reconnect families with the outdoors.
With her husband’s help, Megan started the business while working full-time and raising kids. Now, just a year later, Hiking Hound Adventures has become a full-fledged family business, with her husband running it full time. Megan blends her medical expertise with her passion for nature to create hands-on, guided adventures and gear rentals for families seeking connection and adventure.
In this conversation, Megan shares how an overnight winter backpacking trip — complete with unexpected snow and moments of doubt — became a transformative experience. Pushing through the challenge, she discovered her ability to overcome obstacles and uplift her mindset. This trip became a metaphor for her entire journey: from burnout and stagnation to building a business that brings her family and others together outdoors.
If you’ve ever felt stuck, longed for more connection, or wondered if you could step outside your comfort zone, Megan’s story will inspire you to reconnect with what truly matters.CONNECT WITH MEGAN:
Instagram: Hikinghound_Adventures
YouTube: hikinghoundadventures
FB - Hiking Hound Adventures, LLC
HOPE'S BOOK:
Healing Clinician Burnout, How to Revive Your Life and Career (available in ebook and paperback)
CONNECT AND SIGN UP FOR COACHING:
Hope's Website: www.coachhopecook.com
Hope's IG @coachhopecook
Hope's FB @hopeallencook
Hope's LinkedIn: hope-cook-56041283/
Hope's YouTube @coachhopecook
Email: [email protected]
Love y'all, and remember: There's always hope!
There’s a moment in every burnout journey when your body, your mind, or your inner voice finally says no more. Maybe you’ve ignored the signs, pushed through the exhaustion, or told yourself “just a little longer.” But now the whisper has turned into a slap, and you can’t un-feel it.
In this episode, I walk you through what to do when you’ve hit your breaking point. Before you make a big decision—or even think about one—you need to calm your nervous system. I’ll teach you how. Then we’ll talk about short-term and long-term steps to stabilize your life, make a clear plan, and start listening to that wiser, louder inner voice.
This is the episode for anyone who’s said, “This is it. I'm done. I can't keep going like this."
I promise: there is a next step, and you don’t have to do it all at once (nor should you). You just have to start.
HOPE'S BOOK:
Healing Clinician Burnout, How to Revive Your Life and Career (available in ebook and paperback)
CONNECT AND SIGN UP FOR COACHING:
Hope's Website: www.coachhopecook.com
Hope's IG @coachhopecook
Hope's FB @hopeallencook
Hope's LinkedIn: hope-cook-56041283/
Hope's YouTube @coachhopecook
Email: [email protected]
Love y'all, and remember: There's always hope!
In this episode, I sit down with Shay Domangue, PA-C, whose career path took a bold and inspiring turn — from hospitalist PA/ internal medicine to building her own social media business in elder care to transitioning to marketing development in the pharmaceutical device industry. She's now the Gulf Coast Field Market Development Specialist in the Renal Denervation business unit for Medtronic and is also raising two little humans (with her husband's help).
Shay shares what it was like to reach a breaking point in clinical medicine and how listening to that inner voice led her to explore something new. She didn’t just walk away — she walked toward a more aligned, values-based life and career.
We talk about the early days of entrepreneurship, the emotional and logistical challenges of building something from scratch, and the surprising role that networking played in her transition into the pharmaceutical industry.
Shay opens up about redefining success, protecting her energy, and how work-life balance has become a non-negotiable in her new chapter. She also drops some hard-earned wisdom for clinicians who are feeling stuck or wondering what else is out there — especially if you’ve ever thought, “I can’t do this for 20 more years.”
This conversation is for you if you're craving purpose, dreaming of flexibility, or just want to hear from someone who's made a major pivot and lived to tell the tale.
CONNECT WITH SHAY:
Linkedin.com/in/shaydomangue
Shay's polypharmacy info on TikTok: @elder.care.hub
HOPE'S BOOK:
Healing Clinician Burnout, How to Revive Your Life and Career (available in ebook and paperback)
CONNECT AND SIGN UP FOR COACHING:
Hope's Website: www.coachhopecook.com
Hope's IG @coachhopecook
Hope's FB @hopeallencook
Hope's LinkedIn: hope-cook-56041283/
Hope's YouTube @coachhopecook
Email: [email protected]
Love y'all, and remember: There's always hope!
If you’re a clinician who feels burned out, stuck, or like you're living the same career frustration on repeat—this episode will hit home. I explore why so many healthcare professionals end up in the same emotional cycles, no matter the job or setting.
I'll teach you The Reframe Game, a powerful mindset tool to help you shift out of defeat and into possibility, even when change feels hard. You'll learn how to spot the “villains” in your burnout story (hint: sometimes they’re internal), how your Enneagram type might influence your stress responses, and why mindset—not just your workplace—is often the missing piece. This is a must-listen for anyone ready to break free from old patterns and find clarity, joy, and renewed purpose in their work and life.
HOPE'S BOOK:
Healing Clinician Burnout, How to Revive Your Life and Career (available in ebook and paperback)
CONNECT AND SIGN UP FOR COACHING:
Hope's Website: www.coachhopecook.com
Hope's IG @coachhopecook
Hope's FB @hopeallencook
Hope's LinkedIn: hope-cook-56041283/
Hope's YouTube @coachhopecook
Email: [email protected]
Love y'all, and remember: There's always hope!
Hey y'all, this week, I’m so excited to introduce you to someone who’s doing truly innovative work at the intersection of clinical care and coaching.
Laura Kirk is the Assistant Director of Advanced Practice Providers at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas, and she also serves as Vice President of External Education for the Academy of Communication in Healthcare (ACH). She’s a Physician Assistant, a certified life coach, a leader, and a total force for humanistic change in the healthcare space.
In this episode, Laura shares her personal evolution—from practicing PA to coaching advocate to system-level change agent. At UT Southwestern, she’s part of a clinician coaching program designed to support well-being, enhance communication, and ultimately improve patient care.
Laura talks about what it’s like to see coaching integrated into the heart of a massive academic health system, and why it’s worth investing in these skills—not just for personal growth, but for culture change in medicine.
🌟 Key takeaways from our conversation:
Self-reflection helps you recalibrate before you crash.
Identify what you’re tolerating—and what your practice is tolerating.
Coaching transforms not just people, but systems.
You don’t have to wait for permission to want more.
The antidote to burnout is often found in human connection.
“Mentoring up” can reenergize your professional development.
Asking humble, open-ended questions creates partnership, not pressure.
Finding like-minded peers keeps you engaged and growing.
The future of healthcare will require both AI and EQ.
Your needs matter—and honoring them is part of being a good clinician.
Laura brings depth, clarity, and a grounded sense of purpose to everything she does. If you’re a PA, NP, MD, or other healthcare professional who’s curious about coaching, leadership, or navigating burnout in a system that often feels dehumanizing—this episode will hit home.
🎧 Listen now and share with a colleague who could use some encouragement—and a reminder that they’re not alone.
CONNECT WITH LAURA:
IG, FB, LinkedIn
HOPE'S BOOK:
Healing Clinician Burnout, How to Revive Your Life and Career (available in ebook and paperback)
CONNECT AND SIGN UP FOR COACHING:
Hope's Website: www.coachhopecook.com
Hope's IG @coachhopecook
Hope's FB @hopeallencook
Hope's LinkedIn: hope-cook-56041283/
Hope's YouTube @coachhopecook
Email: [email protected]
Love y'all, and remember: There's always hope!
My book, Healing Clinician Burnout, How to Heal Your Life and Career, is now available on Amazon paperback and ebook/Kindle.
In this behind-the-scenes episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on what it really took to write my book, Healing Clinician Burnout: How to Revive Your Life and Career. Spoiler: it wasn’t just coffee shops and channeling my inner Elizabeth Gilbert. This was a messy, soul-revealing, outline-wrangling journey that almost broke me—and then became one of the most healing things I’ve ever done.
I talk about how writing became therapy (but cheaper!), why I felt called to help the younger version of myself, and how my lifelong habit of journaling—starting way back in third grade—helped me find my voice. I’ll share the real numbers of what it cost, the coaching support I leaned on, and why I didn’t want to just say I “wrote a book”—I wanted to put something out into the world that could actually help people.
We’ll also get into the unsexy parts of publishing, like book marketing and launching while also juggling life and a dermatology job, as well as my big dreams for what comes next. If you've ever wondered what it takes to write a book—this one’s for you.
And maybe, just maybe, by the end of this episode, you’ll feel a little more inspired to share your own story... even if you don't think you're a "real" author yet. (Psst—you are.)
COACHING WITH HOPE
My Masterclass Series for Clinicians will happen again soon, so add your name to the waiting list. Click here for more info or shoot me an email if you'd like to be included in the next round, [email protected]
Schedule a complimentary discovery call
Learn more about 1:1 coaching here
CONNECT:
Hope's Website: www.coachhopecook.com
Hope's IG @coachhopecook
Hope's FB @hopeallencook
Hope's Linked In: hope-cook-56041283/
Hope's YouTube @coachhopecook
Email: [email protected]
Love y'all, and remember: There's always hope!
My book is out tomorrow!! Healing Clinician Burnout, How to Heal Your Life and Career, will be available on Amazon 4/18/25. **************************************************
If you’ve ever found yourself charting after hours, eating dinner with one hand while typing with the other, or waking up dreading your inbox full of unsigned notes… this episode is for you.
I’m joined today by Erica D, better known as The Charting NP, a nurse practitioner and charting efficiency coach who helps overwhelmed clinicians take back their time—without cutting corners or compromising care. Erica shares how her own burnout journey led her to completely rethink the way she approached documentation, and why smarter charting was the unexpected key to both better work-life balance and better patient care.
We talk about:
How to set boundaries around your time and energy (and stick to them)
Why charting is often the biggest hidden source of burnout—and how to fix it
Simple documentation habits that can drastically reduce your after-hours work
How using time-saving tools (like Freed AI) can help you feel more present with your patients—and your family
What to do if you want to explore a side hustle or coaching business, but feel overwhelmed by the idea of getting started
Whether you’re a PA, NP, MD, or any other kind of healthcare professional, this conversation is your permission slip to rethink your workflow, protect your peace, and build a career that doesn’t cost you your mental health.ERICA'S LINKS:Website: The Nurse Practitioner Charting School https://npchartingschool.com/
Free Jumpstart List of Smart Phrases: https://smart.npchartingschool.com/
Instagram: @npchartingschool https://www.instagram.com/npchartingschool/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/npchartingschool
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@npchartingschool
Freed AI Medical Scribes: https://getfreed.sjv.io/m5kY2M (affiliate link) Coupon code for $50 off first month: NPCHARTING**********************************************
COACHING WITH HOPE
My Masterclass Series for Clinicians will happen again soon, so add your name to the waiting list. Click here for more info or shoot me an email if you'd like to be included in the next round, [email protected]
Schedule a complimentary discovery call
Learn more about 1:1 coaching here
CONNECT:
Hope's Website: www.coachhopecook.com
Hope's IG @coachhopecook
Hope's FB @hopeallencook
Hope's Linked In: hope-cook-56041283/
Hope's YouTube @coachhopecook
Email: [email protected]
Love y'all, and remember: There's always hope!
Pre-order my book, Healing Clinician Burnout, How to Revive Your Life and Career, Available 4/18/25If you’ve been living in survival mode—numbing out, overworking, and ignoring your own needs—your relationship with money might be a reflection of all that.
In this episode, Hope dives into the hidden connection between burnout, self-worth, and money mindset—especially for healthcare professionals who’ve spent years sacrificing themselves for the job.
You’ll explore how childhood beliefs about money and success can lead to guilt, restriction, and a chronic sense of “I haven’t earned it yet.” Sound familiar? Whether you’re hoarding PTO, hesitating to invest in your own wellness, or judging yourself for wanting a massage or a vacation, this episode will help you see how financial healing is part of burnout recovery.
We'll talk about:🩺 Why clinicians often struggle to receive—rest, money, or pleasure💸 How old money beliefs are fueling your burnout cycle💡 What it means to give yourself permission to want things💖 How reclaiming your self-worth can shift your spending and your energy🌱 Small mindset shifts that lead to greater financial freedom and emotional health
This isn’t about budgeting apps or cutting lattes. It’s about noticing where you’re still operating like a depleted version of yourself—and learning how to step into the version of you that knows:
"I’m worth it, baby."
COACHING WITH HOPE
My Masterclass Series for Clinicians will happen again soon, so add your name to the waiting list. Click here for more info or shoot me an email if you'd like to be included in the next round [email protected]
Schedule a complimentary discovery call
Learn more about 1:1 coaching here
CONNECT:
Hope's Website: www.coachhopecook.com
Hope's IG @coachhopecook
Hope's FB @hopeallencook
Hope's Linked In: hope-cook-56041283/
Hope's YouTube @coachhopecook
Email: [email protected]
Love y'all, and remember: There's always hope!
Pre-order my book, Healing Clinician Burnout, How to Revive Your Life and Career, Available 4/18/25
Today's episode: Burnout isn’t just exhaustion—it’s a crisis of unmet needs. In this episode, Melissa Mol-Pelton, PA-C shares her powerful journey of hitting rock bottom, quitting her job, and rediscovering herself. We dive into the signs of burnout, why working harder won’t fix it, and the small but life-changing shifts that lead to true healing. Whether you’re feeling lost, angry, or just “getting by,” this conversation will inspire you to rethink your path and take back your life. 🎧 Tune in now!
CONNECT WITH MELISSA:
Melissa Mol-Pelton | LinkedIn
Email [email protected] Green-Alaska Adventure coaching mikegreenleadership.com
Tracy Bingaman- The money PA. paforlifecoaching.com
Books: Can't Stop Thinking- Nancy Collier
When to Quit- Annie Duke
Year of Yes- Shonda Rhimes
The Big Leap- Gay Hendricks
COACHING WITH HOPE
My Masterclass Series for Clinicians just started, but add your name to the waiting list. Click here for more info or shoot me an email if you'd like to be included in the next round [email protected]
Schedule a complimentary discovery call
Learn more about 1:1 coaching here
CONNECT:
Hope's Website: www.coachhopecook.com
Hope's IG @coachhopecook
Hope's FB @hopeallencook
Hope's Linked In: hope-cook-56041283/
Hope's YouTube @coachhopecook
Email: [email protected]
Love y'all, and remember: There's always hope!
Ever found yourself in the same frustrating work situation, toxic relationship, or overwhelming career rut and thought, How did I get here… AGAIN? You’re not alone. Repeating patterns—especially in jobs and relationships—isn’t just bad luck. It’s the result of deeply ingrained thought loops that keep driving the same actions, leading to the same outcomes.
In this episode, we’re cracking the code on why you keep ending up in familiar (and frustrating) situations and, more importantly, how to change the pattern. I’ll break down the sneaky ways our thoughts create our reality, why awareness is the first step to change, and how to shift your mindset so you can finally move forward.
If you’re stuck in a work or life situation that feels like déjà vu, this episode is your guide to interrupting the cycle and rerouting your path—once and for all.
MY BOOK: Healing Clinician Burnout, How to Revive Your Life and Career, will be available on Amazon this summer (hopefully by the end of April, wooo hoooo!!!)
COACHING WITH HOPE
My Masterclass Series for Clinicians just started, but add your name to the waiting list. Click here for more info or shoot me an email if you'd like to be included in the next round [email protected]
Schedule a complimentary discovery call
Learn more about 1:1 coaching here
CONNECT:
Hope's Website: www.coachhopecook.com
Hope's IG @coachhopecook
Hope's FB @hopeallencook
Hope's Linked In: hope-cook-56041283/
Hope's YouTube @coachhopecook
Email: [email protected]
Love y'all, and remember: There's always hope!
From the publisher's feed