Rejection Rehab

He’s a triple board-certified gastroenterologist, Chief Medical Officer for Medtronic Endoscopy, bestselling author, and one of the most influential physician voices on social media today.

But none of that made Dr. Austin Chiang immune to rejection.

In this week’s Rejection Rehab, EMMY winning producer Dr. Tom sits down with Dr. Chiang for a hilarious, eye-opening, and deeply human conversation about rejection, confidence, and taking risks — even when the people you respect most tell you not to.

We talk about everything from coming out and navigating fear of rejection, to being an early pioneer in healthcare social media while mentors warned him against it — and yes, the wildest endoscopy story you’ll ever hear, involving gloves that literally turned into rock-hard objects inside a patient’s stomach.

We also dive deep into weight loss — including GLP-1 inhibitors like Ozempic and Wegovy — what they actually do, what they don’t, and why there is no single magic bullet.

🧠 Coming out — and the fear of rejection that comes with it

📱 Being a healthcare social media pioneer (and facing skepticism from mentors)

🧤 The strangest thing he’s ever removed from a human body (the infamous “glove rocks”)

⚖️ Ozempic & Wegovy explained — GLP-1 inhibitors, risks vs benefits, and common misconceptions

🥗 What actually works for weight loss (and what doesn’t)

🩺 Bariatric endoscopy: a less invasive option most people don’t know exists

🦠 Gut-health misinformation and why probiotics aren’t always the answer

🌾 The one supplement Dr. Chiang actually takes: fiber (psyllium husk)

💪 Confidence vs arrogance — and how to stay humble in elite rooms

🚢 Why taking risks (and facing rejection) is the price of growth

If you’ve ever been afraid to put yourself out there — in your career, relationships, or identity — this episode will change how you think about rejection and confidence.

🎧/ 📺 Listen/watch here: YouTube | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Instagram

🎙️Host: Dr. Tom — Instagram  | LinkedIn  | X 

👤 Guest: Dr. Austin Chiang — Website  | Instagram | Linkedin  | Book

#RejectionRehab #AustinChiang #Ozempic #Wegovy #GLP1 #WeightLoss #GutHealth #Confidence #OvercomeRejection #Resilience #Medicine #MedTech #Podcast

You can’t control rejection — but you can control your mental state afterward.

And science says it only takes two minutes.

In this week’s Rejection Section, EMMY-winning producer Dr. Tom breaks down a study published in PLOS ONE showing that a brief self-affirmation exercise (just 2 minutes of writing about your core values) protects the prefrontal cortex — the exact part of your brain that shuts down after rejection or social stress.

This means sharper thinking, better decisions, and less spiraling… with a technique you can do anywhere.

In this episode:

• 🧠 Why rejection temporarily disrupts the brain’s self-control system

• ✍️ How a 2-minute writing exercise restores cognitive clarity

• 🔄 The science behind values and emotional regulation

• 📉 Why fear-driven reactions after rejection make confidence worse

• 🛠 Three actionable tools you can use immediately after a rejection

👉 If rejection ever sends you into overthinking or self-doubt, this episode gives you a fast, proven, repeatable method to steady your mind and rebuild confidence.

🎙️Host: Dr. Tom — Instagram  | LinkedIn  | X 

🎧 Listen / 📺 Watch on: YouTube | Apple Podcasts | Instagram

#RejectionRehab #Confidence #Mindset #OvercomeRejection #Resilience #PsychologyPodcast #EmotionalHealth #PersonalGrowth #BrainScience

She played for Team GB Volleyball at the London 2012 Olympic Games, competed professionally across Europe, and became the first British woman to play in Italy’s legendary Serie A1.

But none of that made Ciara (“Ci”) Michel immune to rejection.

In this week’s Rejection Rehab, Olympian Ci Michel sits down with EMMY-winning producer Dr. Tom for the most hilarious, raw, and surprisingly relatable conversation about confidence yet — from getting dropped from her team after the Olympics, to navigating dating at 6’4, to why finding pants is sometimes harder than competing at the Games.

She also lifts the curtain on the truth about the Olympic Village, what it’s really like to be an underdog country at the Olympics, and how she transformed rejection into resilience, joy, and a new career she loves.

In this episode:

• 🏐 Life inside the Olympic Village (yes — including the rumours)

• 🙅‍♀️ Getting dropped from her pro team — and rebuilding confidence

• 🧠 Why her worst reaction to rejection changed her entire mindset

• 📈 Reinventing herself after retiring from elite sport

• 👖 The struggle of finding pants (and love) at 6’4

• 🤝 How to be the teammate people want to be around

• 🔁 Using rejection as feedback, not identity

• 😂 Elite athlete stories you won’t hear anywhere else

  
  

If you’ve ever faced rejection — in sports, dating, work, or life — Ci’s story will show you why your reaction matters more than the rejection itself.

🎧/ 📺 Listen/watch here: YouTube | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Instagram

🎙️Host: Dr. Tom — Instagram  | LinkedIn  | X 

👤 Guest: Ciara Michel — Instagram | Website | Wikipedia

#RejectionRehab #CiaraMichel #Olympics #TeamGB #Volleyball #Confidence #OvercomeRejection #Mindset #Resilience #OlympianLife

He showed up at Rockefeller Center asking for help getting his “posh ketchup” on The Dr. Oz Show… and Dr. Tom said no.

That rejected pitch—Scott Norton’s Sir Kensington’s—went on to take on Heinz, redefine condiments, and sell to Unilever for a reported $140 million.

In this week’s Rejection Rehab, Scott opens up to EMMY winning producer Dr. Tom about the rejections behind the headline: investors who passed, retailers who ignored him for years, getting removed from his own role as CMO at the company he founded, and even getting rejected while trying to give people millions of dollars as an investor.

Scott breaks down how he used every “no” to build confidence, resilience, and one of the most iconic challenger food brands of the last decade.

In this episode:

• 🍅 How he took on Heinz—and won

• 🙅‍♂️ The pitch Tom rejected (and why Scott didn’t take it personally)

• 💸 Why “no” is often the first step toward “yes”

• 🧠 Getting removed from his own leadership role—and rebuilding from it

• 🧳 Why naivety is a superpower for entrepreneurs

• 🗣️ Confidence through talking to strangers (including how he met his wife)

• 💼 Getting rejected while trying to invest millions

• 🔥 How to become rejection-proof in business and dating

🎧/ 📺 Listen/watch here: YouTube | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Instagram

🎙️Host: Dr. Tom — Instagram  | LinkedIn  | X 

👤Guest: Scott Norton — Instagram | At Large Podcast | Sir Kensington's 

#RejectionRehab #ScottNorton #SirKensingtons #Entrepreneurship #StartupLife #OvercomeRejection #Confidence #Mindset #Resilience #DavidAndGoliath #FounderLife

What if the fastest way to build real confidence isn’t avoiding rejection — but walking toward it?

In this week’s Rejection Section of Rejection Rehab, EMMY-winner Dr. Tom breaks down a 2024 psychology study showing that the fear of rejection silently destroys both resilience and belongingness — the two emotional foundations of lasting confidence.

Surveying 120 young adults, researchers found that the more afraid you are of being rejected, the harder it becomes to bounce back and the more disconnected you feel from others.

In this episode:

• 🧠 Why fearing rejection weakens resilience

• 🏚 How avoiding “no” quietly erodes belonging

• 🔄 The brain loop that keeps you stuck and isolated

• ✍️ A daily micro-risk challenge that rewires confidence

• 💬 The belief shift that turns rejection into resilience

👉 If you’ve ever avoided taking action because you feared rejection, this episode shows you how confronting that fear is the fastest way to build confidence.

Host: Dr. Tom — @RejectionRehab (IG / TikTok / YouTube) | @TomFlaherty (IG)

🎧 Listen / 📺 Watch on: YouTube | Apple Podcasts | Instagram

#RejectionRehab #Confidence #Mindset #OvercomeRejection #Resilience #PsychologyPodcast #EmotionalHealth #Belonging #PersonalGrowth

He was an ER doctor on NYC’s front lines during the pandemic—then, on shift, he scanned himself and found a tumor. Dr. Calvin Sun—author, world traveler, and NYC candidate for political office—opens up about loss, public service, and what real confidence looks like when rejection (and life) hit hardest. He also shares why he believes that being “always on” and never switching off during COVID contributed to his cancer.

In this episode:

• ⚕️ The self-ultrasound that changed everything

• 🧯 NYC front lines: what “always on” really costs

• 🧠 Why he believes chronic stress and never switching off contributed to his cancer

• 🗳️ Running for political office—and reframing a loss

• 💪 Confidence as a daily practice (“show up, don’t flake”)

Listen/watch here: YouTube | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Instagram

Host: Dr. Tom | @RejectionRehab (IG / TikTok / YouTube) | @TomFlaherty (IG)

Guest: Dr. Calvin Sun | Wikipedia | Website | Instagram | Campaign

#RejectionRehab #CalvinSun #EmergencyMedicine #NYC #COVIDFrontline #CancerSurvivor #OvercomeRejection #Confidence #Mindset #Resilience

Why do some people bounce back from rejection… while others feel haunted by it for years?

In this week’s Rejection Section of Rejection Rehab, EMMY-winner Dr. Tom breaks down a landmark study by Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck and researcher Lauren Howe, revealing why rejection hurts more when you believe it says something permanent about who you are.

Across five studies with nearly 900 participants, Howe & Dweck found that people who see personality as fixed — “this is just who I am” — take rejection as proof that something is wrong with them. Those who see personality as changeable recover faster, feel less shame, and rebuild confidence more easily.

In this episode:

• 🧠 How your mindset controls how long rejection stings

• 💔 Why some people stay stuck replaying the “no”

• 🔄 The brain shift that rewires rejection into resilience

• ✍️ A 10-second mantra that protects your confidence

• 💬 Dr. Tom’s breakdown of identity, mindset, and recovery

👉 If you’ve ever taken rejection personally, this one will teach you how to separate who you are from what happened to you.

Host: Dr. Tom — @RejectionRehab (IG / TikTok / YouTube) | @TomFlaherty (IG)

🎧 Listen / 📺 Watch on: YouTube | Apple Podcasts | Instagram

#RejectionRehab #Confidence #Mindset #OvercomeRejection #Resilience #GrowthMindset #RejectionTherapy #EmotionalHealth #PersonalGrowth

They met at church. Broke up over text. Ten years later, Elon Musk tweeted her.

In this wildly entertaining episode, EMMY-winner Dr. Tom reunites with former flame Aubrey Strobel — entrepreneur, communications strategist, and Bitcoin/AI expert — for a no-filter conversation about dating disasters, confidence, crypto, and the surreal moment her mom slid into Elon Musk’s DMs.

In this episode:

• 💔 The “Church Breakup” story you won’t believe

• 🚀 How a tweet from Elon Musk went viral (and why her mom deserves credit)

• 🧠 From Bitcoin to AI — why Aubrey bet on herself when no one else did

• 😂 Reuniting with your ex on a podcast (what could go wrong?)

• 🤖 AI, loneliness & why bots can’t replace real connection

• 💪 Confidence vs. rejection: how to steer your own ship after a breakup

👉 If you’ve ever laughed through heartbreak or wondered what happens when faith, fate and Elon Musk collide — this episode is your sign to hit play.

Host: Dr. Tom | @RejectionRehab (IG / TikTok / YouTube) | @TomFlaherty (IG)

Guest: Aubrey Strobel | @aubreystrobel | theobservation.co | halcyonpartners.co

Watch here:

YouTube | Instagram

#RejectionRehab #AubreyStrobel #ElonMusk #Bitcoin #Crypto #AI #Confidence #DatingStories #FunnyPodcast #OvercomeRejection #Mindset #Resilience #Faith #Reunited

Updated version re-uploaded without intro/outro music due to rights issue.

What do you do when life says “no” twice—first by birth, then by rulebook?

Born with a double above-knee congenital amputation, Richard Whitehead MBE grew up hearing limits. Later, Paralympic classification blocked him from competing in the marathon—his signature distance. Instead of quitting, he switched to the 200m, won double Paralympic gold (London 2012 & Rio 2016) and silver (Tokyo 2020), and still came back to the roads to break the double-amputee marathon world record—most recently 2:41 at age 49.

In this episode with EMMY-winner Dr. Tom, Richard turns rejection into a playbook for lasting confidence—anchored by his unforgettable idea of “the 27th mile”: the part after the finish line where you turn effort into power, meaning, and momentum.

In this episode:

• ♿️ Disability as resource: shifting from “hindrance” to fuel

• 🛑 Rejection by classification → how he reinvented as a sprinter

• 🥇 Double Paralympic gold & the mindset behind switching from 26.2 to 200m

• 🚆 “The pain train”: what it takes to chase a world record at 49

• 🧠 Confidence that lasts: team, patience, and living in the moment

• 🤝 Volunteering & inclusion: why showing up changes you (and the world)

• 🏁 The 27th mile: how to convert wins & losses into everyday confidence

👉 If you’ve ever felt sidelined by circumstance or told “you can’t,” Richard’s story is your invitation to reframe, retool, and run your 27th mile.

Host: Dr. Tom | @RejectionRehab (IG / TikTok / YouTube) | @TomFlaherty (IG)

Guest: Richard Whitehead MBE | @richard_whitehead_mbe | richardwhiteheadmbe.com 

Watch here:

YouTube | Instagram

#RejectionRehab #RichardWhitehead #Paralympics #Confidence #OvercomeRejection #Resilience #Mindset #Inclusion #AdaptiveAthlete #27thMile #London2012 #Rio2016 #Tokyo2020

What do you do when life says “no” twice—first by birth, then by rulebook?

Born with a double above-knee congenital amputation, Richard Whitehead MBE grew up hearing limits. Later, Paralympic classification blocked him from competing in the marathon—his signature distance. Instead of quitting, he switched to the 200m, won double Paralympic gold (London 2012 & Rio 2016) and silver (Tokyo 2020), and still came back to the roads to break the double-amputee marathon world record—most recently 2:41 at age 49.

In this episode with EMMY-winner Dr. Tom, Richard turns rejection into a playbook for lasting confidence—anchored by his unforgettable idea of “the 27th mile”: the part after the finish line where you turn effort into power, meaning, and momentum.

In this episode:

• ♿️ Disability as resource: shifting from “hindrance” to fuel

• 🛑 Rejection by classification → how he reinvented as a sprinter

• 🥇 Double Paralympic gold & the mindset behind switching from 26.2 to 200m

• 🚆 “The pain train”: what it takes to chase a world record at 49

• 🧠 Confidence that lasts: team, patience, and living in the moment

• 🤝 Volunteering & inclusion: why showing up changes you (and the world)

• 🏁 The 27th mile: how to convert wins & losses into everyday confidence

👉 If you’ve ever felt sidelined by circumstance or told “you can’t,” Richard’s story is your invitation to reframe, retool, and run your 27th mile.

Host: Dr. Tom | @RejectionRehab (IG / TikTok / YouTube) | @TomFlaherty (IG)

Guest: Richard Whitehead MBE | @richard_whitehead_mbe | richardwhiteheadmbe.com 

Watch here:
YouTube | Instagram

#RejectionRehab #RichardWhitehead #Paralympics #Confidence #OvercomeRejection #Resilience #Mindset #Inclusion #AdaptiveAthlete #27thMile #London2012 #Rio2016 #Tokyo2020