Stethoscopes and Strollers

Hey Doc,

You’ve made the decision to leave. Now what?

In Part 2 of this powerful two-part series on how to leave your job with an empowered exit, I walk you through what happens after the decision is made:

Giving notice. Navigating conversations. Protecting your reputation. Gathering what’s yours.

We cover:

✔️ How to actually submit your resignation (without drama or delay)

✔️ What to say and what not to say to leadership and colleagues

✔️ What to collect before you lose access (case logs, reviews, profiles & more)

✔️ How to ensure patients are cared for, without taking on guilt that isn’t yours

✔️ Why the emotional aftermath of leaving matters more than you think

✔️ And how to celebrate the transition — even if it still stings a little

Because even when you know you’re doing the right thing, walking away can still be hard. And you deserve support through the entire journey.

Listen in and save this one for whenever you need it.

Get The Empowered Exit Checklist here!
Your clear and practical guide to navigating a smooth job exit. 

What did you think of the episode, doc? Let me know!

Subscribe to ✨Stethoscopes and Strollers✨ on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode.

Apple Podcast | Spotify | YouTube

Connect with me: Website | Instagram | Facebook 

Join my Email list to get tips on navigating motherhood in the medical field.

If you are going through a transition -- becoming a parent, leaving a job, figuring out how manage it all, schedule a strategy coaching session and get clarity and strategic next steps for the life and career you want.

Strategy Coaching Session with Dr. Toya

Hey Doc,

Let’s talk about how to actually leave your job.

If you’re burnt out, disrespected, or just ready for more alignment, you’ve probably heard the fear-driven advice: “Don’t burn bridges.” But let’s be honest, that advice often keeps us stuck in situations that chip away at our confidence and well-being.

In Part 1 of this two-part series, I break down the real reasons why so many physician moms hesitate to leave toxic work environments, and what we’re actually afraid of. I share my own story of walking away and why that decision, though scary, was deeply freeing.

I walk you through the mindset shifts and logistical prep you need before giving notice. We’re talking contracts, conversations, credentialing, money, and most importantly, the self-trust to know you’ll be okay because:

You don’t need another job lined up to walk away from a toxic one. You need a plan. You need self-trust. And you need the courage to honor yourself — even if it shakes your whole identity.

This episode is for you if you’ve ever thought: I want to burn the whole place down... but I’m scared to light the match.

🎧 Tap play and start preparing your empowered exit.

Get The Empowered Exit Checklist here!
Your clear and practical guide to navigating a smooth job exit. 

What did you think of the episode, doc? Let me know!

Subscribe to ✨Stethoscopes and Strollers✨ on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode.

Apple Podcast | Spotify | YouTube

Connect with me: Website | Instagram | Facebook 

Join my Email list to get tips on navigating motherhood in the medical field.

If you are going through a transition -- becoming a parent, leaving a job, figuring out how manage it all, schedule a strategy coaching session and get clarity and strategic next steps for the life and career you want.

Strategy Coaching Session with Dr. Toya

Hey Doc,

We were taught to equate strength with staying, enduring, proving ourselves.

But sometimes the most courageous, grounded, resilient thing you can do… is leave.

Leave the job.

Leave the school.

Leave the situation that is breaking you down in the name of proving your strength.

This episode was inspired by a homeschool thread, but it’s not about curriculum or education. It’s about the lie we’ve been sold, as physician moms and high achievers, that resilience must be earned through trauma. That pushing through toxic environments is some badge of honor. That peace must be postponed until we’ve “made it” or proven we can survive the fire.

I'm here to offer a different truth:

You don’t need to stay and suffer to be strong.

Whether you’re navigating burnout, dealing with a toxic workplace, or watching your child struggle in an unhealthy school system, I want you to know this:

Leaving doesn’t make you weak.

Opting out is not failure.

Walking away is the work.

Inside this episode:

• The myth that trauma builds resilience and why we need to unlearn it
• What homeschooling taught me about agency and peace
• Why toxic work environments aren’t training grounds, they’re danger zones
• A permission slip to choose yourself and never meet the version of you on the other side of unnecessary pain

If you've been waiting for a sign to put down the struggle and reclaim your peace, this is it.

🎧 Tune into this episode of ✨Stethoscopes and Strollers✨ and share it with a fellow doc who needs this reminder: You don’t have to prove anything. Peace is reason enough.

What did you think of the episode, doc? Let me know!

Subscribe to ✨Stethoscopes and Strollers✨ on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode.

Apple Podcast | Spotify | YouTube

Connect with me: Website | Instagram | Facebook 

Join my Email list to get tips on navigating motherhood in the medical field.

If you are going through a transition -- becoming a parent, leaving a job, figuring out how manage it all, schedule a strategy coaching session and get clarity and strategic next steps for the life and career you want.

Strategy Coaching Session with Dr. Toya

Hey Doc,

What would you do if life gave you a second chance?

In this episode, I sit with Dr. Verniese Moore, a board-certified family medicine physician, a wife, a mom of two, and the CEO of the luxury handbag brand Vie Lorie, who shares her life in the most raw and beautiful way.

She takes us back to Gate B3 in LaGuardia Airport, where she fell to the floor as she learned she was cancer-free, surrounded by strangers who celebrated for her. That moment shaped everything she’s built since.

Dr. Verniese open up about:

• The shame she once carried about her diagnosis, and how sharing her story became her greatest source of connection.
• The love story that grew out of her vulnerability and how her husband’s grounded response deepened their bond
• Navigating two C-sections, and the fears that linger when you’ve lived through the unexpected.
• Why she started her luxury handbag line, Vie Lorie, not just for the love of design, but to create something rooted in empowerment and legacy.

This conversation is more than a story of survival. It’s about love, faith, motherhood, and the quiet daily choices to toward the life you actually want.

Listen in, and let this episode spark the courage to take your own next step.

-

Dr. Verniese Lorielle Moore is a board-certified family medicine physician who was born and raised in NY and currently lives in Haymarket, VA with her husband and two children. She is the CEO and Founder of the luxury handbag brand, VIE LORIE that recently launched on February 1st, 2025.

As a physician and visionary designer, Dr. Moore transformed her victory over stage 3 lymphoma into an embodiment of elegance and strength through handbags. Each VIE LORIE creation transcends the conventional bounds of luxury accessories, becoming instead an artful testament to the human spirit and a celebration of life and victory, reflecting an unwavering commitment to quality and purposeful design.

Verniese's mission is to empower women through elegant handbags that blend sophistication, beauty, and meaningful substance. She understands that a handbag is not just an accessory; it's a partner in daily triumphs and a silent confidant in moments of contemplation. Whether it’s through handbags, physical health, or spiritual development, Verniese takes great pleasure in encouraging, motivating, and pushing women to their next level in life.

For more information about Dr. Verniese, you can visit her website and connect with her on Instagram.

What did you think of the episode, doc? Let me know!

Subscribe to ✨Stethoscopes and Strollers✨ on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode.

Apple Podcast | Spotify | YouTube

Connect with me: Website | Instagram | Facebook 

Join my Email list to get tips on navigating motherhood in the medical field.

If you are going through a transition -- becoming a parent, leaving a job, figuring out how manage it all, schedule a strategy coaching session and get clarity and strategic next steps for the life and career you want.

Strategy Coaching Session with Dr. Toya

Hey Doc,

This episode was sparked by a late-night convo with my husband about our current au pair (who’s on her way out) and turned into a full reflection on introversion, identity, and what it means to actually honor who we are, even when the world tells us we’re too much, or not enough.

I’m sharing something personal about how my personality has always been “a lot” for people, especially in medicine, especially in residency, and especially as a Black woman. I talk about what that has looked like with our au pairs over the years and how I’ve been tempted to shapeshift in my own house just to make other people more comfortable. (Spoiler: I won’t be doing that.)

And more importantly, I talk about what it means to raise children who know that their natural way of being is not something that needs to be “fixed.”

If you’ve ever felt like your quiet presence gets misread, or that in a world where extroverts are favored you’re seen as unapproachable or “too serious,” I see you, and this one is for you.

Key Takeaways:

• Introversion isn’t a flaw, even when the world tries to tell us it is
• Residency is not just hard because of the workload, it’s often traumatizing because of the lack of support and understanding
• Our kids deserve to be supported, not pushed to be something they’re not
• The tools we needed then are the tools we can give now: safety, self-trust, and communication

New episode of ✨Stethoscopes and Strollers✨ is out now. Listen on your favorite platform.

What did you think of the episode, doc? Let me know!

Subscribe to ✨Stethoscopes and Strollers✨ on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode.

Apple Podcast | Spotify | YouTube

Connect with me: Website | Instagram | Facebook 

Join my Email list to get tips on navigating motherhood in the medical field.

If you are going through a transition -- becoming a parent, leaving a job, figuring out how manage it all, schedule a strategy coaching session and get clarity and strategic next steps for the life and career you want.

Strategy Coaching Session with Dr. Toya

Hey Doc,

If you're bringing an au pair into your home, congratulations on building your paid village!

But now what?

The first 72 hours are a critical window. Not for work (they can’t technically start yet), but for setting the tone of your entire year together. This episode walks you through exactly what to do and what not to do,  to help your au pair feel welcomed, prepared, and clear on your expectations.

Whether it’s your first au pair or your fifth, this is how we’ve set things up in our home to reduce stress, avoid rematch, and build real connection from day one.

In this episode, I cover:

• The mindset shift that makes the welcome feel warm
• Why you must treat this like onboarding and not a “get-to-know-you” hangout
• How we assess driving safety before Monday morning drop-off
• What goes into our very first family-au pair meeting (yes, there’s a handbook)

Your home. Your babies. Your boundaries. 

Let’s make the most of these three days and set everyone up to succeed.

If you’re thinking about starting your Au Pair journey, grab my Au Pair Checklist to help you get clear on your needs, prepare your home, and avoid common host mom pitfalls before they even happen.

What did you think of the episode, doc? Let me know!

Subscribe to ✨Stethoscopes and Strollers✨ on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode.

Apple Podcast | Spotify | YouTube

Connect with me: Website | Instagram | Facebook 

Join my Email list to get tips on navigating motherhood in the medical field.

If you are going through a transition -- becoming a parent, leaving a job, figuring out how manage it all, schedule a strategy coaching session and get clarity and strategic next steps for the life and career you want.

Strategy Coaching Session with Dr. Toya

Hey Doc,

Hiring a nanny can feel like a lot.

Even after you’ve made the decision, there are still so many questions:
Where do I look?
What do I ask?
How do I know if someone’s the right fit?

In this episode, I walk you through exactly how to find and hire a nanny in five clear steps.
Nothing vague, nothing fluffy,  just what you need to move forward with more confidence and less stress.

I’ll help you:

• Get crystal clear on what you actually need (not just what feels "reasonable")
• Create a job description that attracts the right people
• Ask the right questions before you waste your time
• Interview and vet with confidence (and boundaries)
• Onboard and maintain a relationship that feels good for both of you

I even share the step most agencies skip, and the one that makes the biggest difference in how supported you’ll actually feel.

You don’t have to guess your way through this.
You deserve ease. And this episode is here to give you exactly that.

🎧 Listen now!

And don’t forget to grab the free nanny checklist here.

You got this doc!

What did you think of the episode, doc? Let me know!

Subscribe to ✨Stethoscopes and Strollers✨ on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode.

Apple Podcast | Spotify | YouTube

Connect with me: Website | Instagram | Facebook 

Join my Email list to get tips on navigating motherhood in the medical field.

If you are going through a transition -- becoming a parent, leaving a job, figuring out how manage it all, schedule a strategy coaching session and get clarity and strategic next steps for the life and career you want.

Strategy Coaching Session with Dr. Toya

We’re back with Part 2 of my conversation with Dr. Alexandra Stockwell, and this half of her story is just as rich and revealing as the first.

If Part 1 was about identity and navigating early motherhood in medicine, Part 2 is all about intention in childcare, career, and designing a life that actually supports who you are.

In this episode, we dive into:

• The “internal invisibility” of returning to medicine after baby and why no one seemed to notice she had changed
• Why she chose not to be an intern at the same time as her husband, and how that decision created real alignment for their family
• The unheard-of residency opportunity she received eight weeks postpartum and how she strategically negotiated her non-negotiables
• Her unconventional medical career: part-time, home-based, holistic, and completely values-aligned
• The quiet inner knowing that eventually led her to close her practice and reinvent herself again this time as a coach
  
  

Dr. Stockwell’s journey is a masterclass in courage, clarity, and honoring what matters most, even when the world around you doesn’t understand it.

✨ Press play to hear how she built a career and family life that never asked her to choose between the two.

What did you think of the episode, doc? Let me know!

Subscribe to ✨Stethoscopes and Strollers✨ on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode.

Apple Podcast | Spotify | YouTube

Connect with me: Website | Instagram | Facebook 

Join my Email list to get tips on navigating motherhood in the medical field.

If you are going through a transition -- becoming a parent, leaving a job, figuring out how manage it all, schedule a strategy coaching session and get clarity and strategic next steps for the life and career you want.

Strategy Coaching Session with Dr. Toya

This one’s for the woman navigating the messy middle of ambition and alignment.

In this deeply personal conversation, I sat down with Dr. Alexandra Stockwell, physician, intimacy coach, mother of four, and one of my own mentors, to talk about what happens when your identity evolves in ways you didn’t plan for… but needed.

She shares what it meant to trade hospital hallways for nesting at home, how being visibly pregnant in med school almost made her fear expulsion, and why a vasectomy reversal after training wasn’t just about adding more kids but about honoring the full, wild truth of their family story.

Together we unpack:

• The invisible shifts that happen when you go from doctor to mother—and how to stay rooted in yourself through it
• What it looks like to build a life that’s deeply aligned, even if it doesn’t follow a traditional timeline
• The marriage lessons that unfolded through sleep deprivation, separate bedrooms, and fourth-year rotations with a baby
• Why her childcare choices were more about humanity than perfection and how that changed how she led at home

Dr. Alexandra Stockwell moved through uncertainty with curiosity, not panic - slowing down, shifting gears, and questioning the “shoulds” she once believed.

If you’ve ever felt torn between your professional identity and the softness of early motherhood or wondered how to stay whole while navigating both, this episode is a reminder that it’s okay to rethink your timeline, honor your pace, and trust that an unconventional path can still lead to a deeply meaningful life.

✨ Press play to hear her story.

What did you think of the episode, doc? Let me know!

Subscribe to ✨Stethoscopes and Strollers✨ on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode.

Apple Podcast | Spotify | YouTube

Connect with me: Website | Instagram | Facebook 

Join my Email list to get tips on navigating motherhood in the medical field.

If you are going through a transition -- becoming a parent, leaving a job, figuring out how manage it all, schedule a strategy coaching session and get clarity and strategic next steps for the life and career you want.

Strategy Coaching Session with Dr. Toya

Hey Doc,

In this bonus episode of Stethoscopes and Strollers, Dr. Alexandra Stockwell returns to talk about one of the most vulnerable and underdiscussed parts of motherhood for physicians: inviting someone else into your home to care for your child.

She shares:

• What it was like to welcome a 17-year-old “au pair before its time” into their small apartment
• How she mentored both of her early nannies with warmth, patience, and real expectations
• Why daily appreciation not just correction is a non-negotiable part of how she led at home
• And how those early childcare setups shaped her values around trust, communication, and shared growth

If you’ve ever felt guilty about needing help at home or questioned whether your childcare setup was “good enough”, this conversation will meet you right where you are.

What did you think of the episode, doc? Let me know!

Subscribe to ✨Stethoscopes and Strollers✨ on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode.

Apple Podcast | Spotify | YouTube

Connect with me: Website | Instagram | Facebook 

Join my Email list to get tips on navigating motherhood in the medical field.

If you are going through a transition -- becoming a parent, leaving a job, figuring out how manage it all, schedule a strategy coaching session and get clarity and strategic next steps for the life and career you want.

Strategy Coaching Session with Dr. Toya