Welcome to the Sustainable Clinical Medicine Podcast!

In this episode, Dr. Sarah Smith sits down with Dr. Peter Baum, a family medicine physician, medical director, and physician coach with a special focus on negotiation for early career doctors. Dr. Baum opens up about his personal journey through burnout—sharing his struggles with long hours, the pressures of perfectionism, and the impact these challenges had on his well-being and family life. He discusses how coaching helped him reclaim his time, shift his mindset, and develop practical strategies for more sustainable charting and patient care.

Together, Dr. Smith and Dr. Baum also explore the often-overlooked world of physician contract negotiation. Dr. Baum shares his mission to empower doctors—especially new grads—to advocate for both their worth and their time, and provides insight into the evolving landscape of physician employment in the U.S., including pay models, wage gaps, parental leave, and the importance of setting healthy boundaries. Whether you're feeling overwhelmed by your clinical workload, wondering how to approach your next contract negotiation, or simply searching for ways to make your medical career more sustainable, this episode is packed with real-life stories, practical advice, and hope for a better balance inside and outside of medicine.

Here are 3 key takeaways from this episode:

Meet Dr. Peter Baum:

Peter Baum, DO is a physician coach, family medicine physician, and clinic medical director at a rural FQHC. He is passionate about physician wellness, leadership, contract negotiation and easing career transitions. He empowers physicians to create work-life balance and a sustainable career path. Always happy to help!

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Would you like to view a transcript of this episode? Click here

Learn more about Dr. Peter Baum www.sustainablephysicians.com and www.physiciancontractnegotiation.com

**** Charting Champions is a premiere, lifetime access Physician only program that is helping Physicians get home with today's work done. All the proven tools, support and community you need to create time for your life outside of medicine.

Learn more at https://www.chartingcoach.ca

**** Enjoying this podcast? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to hit “follow” so you get all the new episodes as soon as they are released.

**** Come hang out with me on Facebook or Instagram. Follow me @chartingcoach to get more practical tools to help you create sustainable clinical medicine in your life.
 
**** Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Shoot me an email at [email protected]. I would love to hear from you.

Welcome to the Sustainable Clinical Medicine Podcast!

In this special cross-pollinated episode, Dr. Sarah Smith sits down with Dr. Siobhan Key and Dr. Jessie Mahoney—two fellow physician coaches and long-time collaborators—for a candid conversation about reframing life and work in medicine for greater sustainability. As the panel reflects on the past year and looks forward to 2025, they open up about personal growth, big life transitions, and how each of them is intentionally crafting a more fulfilling and balanced life both inside and outside the clinic.

Listen in as Dr. Smith shares her journey of returning to Australia and embracing new adventures, Dr. Mahoney discusses building a retreat center and leaning into new opportunities, and Dr. Key explores the importance of replenishment, self-reflection, and pursuing passions beyond medicine. Together, they offer practical insights on adapting to change—whether it’s integrating new technologies like AI scribing or simply surviving a new EMR rollout—and they speak honestly about the discomfort, excitement, and learning that comes with growth.

This episode is filled with tips for creating sustainable routines, reflections on personal and professional development, and encouragement to embrace both the challenges and rewards of transformation. Whether you're a seasoned physician or just starting your practice, you'll find reassurance and inspiration in the stories, strategies, and camaraderie shared in today’s discussion.

Let’s dive in!

Here are 3 key takeaways from this episode:

Letting Go of Frustration and Embracing Change

Dr. Jessie Mahoney, a mindfulness coach and yoga instructor, shared a powerful analogy from her life. She recently moved to the countryside, where a creek outside her home serves as a daily reminder of how life ebbs and flows. Some days, the creek is calm and quiet; other days, it’s noisy and chaotic. She’s learned to embrace these shifts, recognizing that frustration only makes the hard moments harder.

For physicians, this perspective is invaluable. Whether it’s navigating a new workflow or dealing with workplace changes, letting go of frustration and focusing on what you can control can make all the difference.

Asking for What You Need

Dr. Sarah Smith has been adjusting to life and work in a new country, and she shared a simple but effective strategy: step back and ask yourself, What do I need to make this work for me?

Whether you’re facing a new team dynamic or adapting to technological shifts in your practice, pausing to evaluate your needs—and advocating for them—can help you approach change with confidence instead of overwhelm.

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Would you like to view a transcript of this episode? Click here

**** Charting Champions is a premiere, lifetime access Physician only program that is helping Physicians get home with today's work done. All the proven tools, support and community you need to create time for your life outside of medicine.

Learn more at https://www.chartingcoach.ca

**** If you would like more information on the other two doctors on this podcast episode.

**** Enjoying this podcast? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to hit “follow” so you get all the new episodes as soon as they are released.

**** Come hang out with me on Facebook or Instagram. Follow me @chartingcoach to get more practical tools to help you create sustainable clinical medicine in your life.
 
**** Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Shoot me an email at [email protected].  I would love to hear from you.

Welcome to the Sustainable Clinical Medicine Podcast!

In this episode, Dr. Sarah Smith sits down with Dr. Jessi Gold, psychiatrist, author, and Chief Wellness Officer for the University of Tennessee system. Together, they delve into Dr. Gold’s fascinating journey through medicine—from her early days resisting the pull of psychiatry, despite her father’s influence, to finding her true calling in supporting healthcare workers and college students through mental health challenges.

Dr. Gold shares candid stories about her own mental health struggles, the barriers to seeking help in medicine, and how the COVID-19 pandemic reshaped her clinical focus to frontline healthcare workers. She opens up about recognizing burnout in herself, the subtlety of its symptoms, and the lessons she learned about self-care, connection, and setting boundaries. Along the way, Dr. Gold offers practical strategies for identifying burnout early, building resilience, and creating sustainable ways to care for ourselves and each other in healthcare.

If you’ve ever wondered how to stay well while caring for others—or found yourself feeling isolated in your own struggles—this episode is for you. Join us as Dr. Gold brings wisdom, vulnerability, and humor to the vital conversation about humanity in medicine, and learn simple, actionable steps you can take to support your own mental health.

Let’s dive in!

Here are 3 key takeaways from this episode:

Meet Dr. Jessi Gold:

Jessi Gold, MD, MS is the Chief Wellness Officer of the University of Tennessee System and an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. This inaugural leadership position encompasses all five University of Tennessee campuses, UT Knoxville, UT Chattanooga, UT Southern, UT Martin, and UT Health Science Center, and includes over 62,200 students and 19,0000 faculty and staff.

In her clinical practice, she sees healthcare workers, trainees, and young adults in college. Dr. Gold is also a fierce mental health advocate and highly sought-after expert in the media on everything from burnout to celebrity self-disclosure.

She has written widely for the popular press, including for The New York Times, The Atlantic, InStyle, Slate, and Self. Her first book, HOW DO YOU FEEL? One Doctor's Search for Humanity in Medicine came out in October 2024 from Simon Element and is a national bestseller.

Dr. Gold is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania with a B.A. and M.S in Anthropology, the Yale School of Medicine, and Stanford University Department of Psychiatry, where she served as Chief Resident.

You can find her book at https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/How-Do-You-Feel/Jessi-Gold/9781982199777 

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Would you like to view a transcript of this episode? Click here

**** Charting Champions is a premiere, lifetime access Physician only program that is helping Physicians get home with today's work done. All the proven tools, support and community you need to create time for your life outside of medicine.

Learn more at https://www.chartingcoach.ca

**** Enjoying this podcast? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to hit “follow” so you get all the new episodes as soon as they are released.

**** Come hang out with me on Facebook or Instagram. Follow me @chartingcoach to get more practical tools to help you create sustainable clinical medicine in your life.
 
**** Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Shoot me an email at [email protected]. I would love to hear from you.

Welcome to the Sustainable Clinical Medicine Podcast!

In this episode, Dr. Sarah Smith is joined by Dr. Vanessa Kustec, a family physician from Ontario with a passion for personal development and sustainable practice. Dr. Kustec shares her candid journey through the highs and lows of medicine—from taking on an overwhelming workload and reaching a breaking point during the pandemic, to discovering mindset coaching and reclaiming her time, energy, and joy both inside and outside the clinic.

Tune in as Dr. Kustec opens up about the realities of burnout, the importance of setting boundaries, and the transformative power of reprogramming your mindset. She discusses concrete steps for saying no, prioritizing what truly matters, and reshaping both your professional and personal life—proving you don’t have to abandon your career to find fulfillment. Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed or simply ready to put more life back into your days, this conversation is packed with practical strategies and inspiring stories to help you create a more sustainable, joyful approach to medicine.

Here are 3 key takeaways from this episode:

Meet Dr. Vanessa Kustec:

Originally from Montreal, Dr. Kustec is currently a family physician in Stratford, Ontario where she lives with her husband and baby girl. She also works as a hospitalist and long-term care physician. Over the years, she's also held various administrative positions such as Chief Hospitalist at Stratford General Hospital, HPA Ontario Health Team Implementation Committee Physician Representative and the STAR Family Health Team Lead Physician.

Her areas of interest include primary care, hospital medicine, long-term care, dermatology, and quality improvement, and she also enjoys teaching. Most recently, she pursues all this with a newly created work-life balance. She is now passionate about empowering others to do the same as a physician work-life balance coach. Her vision is for every doctor and healthcare worker to access coaching and acquire these vital skills, as they have the power to revolutionize our entire healthcare system.

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Would you like to view a transcript of this episode? Click here

**** Charting Champions is a premiere, lifetime access Physician only program that is helping Physicians get home with today's work done. All the proven tools, support and community you need to create time for your life outside of medicine.

Learn more at https://www.chartingcoach.ca

**** Enjoying this podcast? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to hit “follow” so you get all the new episodes as soon as they are released.

**** Come hang out with me on Facebook or Instagram. Follow me @chartingcoach to get more practical tools to help you create sustainable clinical medicine in your life.
 
**** Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Shoot me an email at [email protected]. I would love to hear from you.

Welcome to the Sustainable Clinical Medicine Podcast!

In this inspiring episode, Dr. Sarah Smith sits down with Dr. Linde Corrigan, a family physician practicing in Ontario's Ottawa Valley. Dr. Corrigan shares her journey as a rural generalist, juggling family medicine, care of the elderly, and specialized clinic procedures—all while navigating the unique challenges of ADHD within the medical profession.

Listen in as Dr. Corrigan opens up about overcoming imposter syndrome, adapting her workflow to suit her learning style, and the tools and reframing strategies that have helped her create a more sustainable clinical day. She and Dr. Smith discuss practical solutions—from using timers and EMR hacks to embracing positive self-talk and gamifying the most dreaded tasks. Whether you're facing your own clinical challenges or just looking for ways to make your workday more manageable, this conversation is packed with actionable insights and relatable stories.

Tune in for an honest, uplifting, and strategy-filled episode designed to help you reclaim time for your life outside of medicine!

Here are 3 key takeaways from this episode:

Meet Dr. Linde Corrigan:

I am a rural family physician with enhanced certification in care of elderly. Currently, I work part-time in my family medicine practice in Petawawa, as well as part-time at the hospital, as well as in local long-term care homes in the area.

I graduated medical school at University of Ottawa in 2010, Family Medicine residency at U of Ottawa in 2014.

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Would you like to view a transcript of this episode? Click here

****Get in on the Backlog Buddies Sale where All Session in June are only $10 https://www.backlogbuddies.com/

**** Charting Champions is a premiere, lifetime access Physician only program that is helping Physicians get home with today's work done. All the proven tools, support and community you need to create time for your life outside of medicine.

Learn more at https://www.chartingcoach.ca

**** Enjoying this podcast? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to hit “follow” so you get all the new episodes as soon as they are released.

**** Come hang out with me on Facebook or Instagram. Follow me @chartingcoach to get more practical tools to help you create sustainable clinical medicine in your life.
 
**** Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Shoot me an email at [email protected]. I would love to hear from you.

Welcome to the Sustainable Clinical Medicine Podcast!

In today’s episode, Dr. Sarah Smith sits down with Dr. Sarah Lea, a family and addiction medicine physician based in Victoria, BC, to discuss her deeply personal and transformative journey through medicine. Together, they dive into Dr. Lea’s experiences navigating medical training, motherhood, and a rewarding but complex clinical career—including her candid account of facing and working through burnout.

Dr. Lea shares how she balanced demanding clinical roles, built an innovative perinatal addiction medicine program, and ultimately made tough decisions to prioritize her well-being and her family. Listeners will hear about the support systems and strategies she used, like coaching, therapy, and honest conversations at home, as well as her passion for supporting other physicians facing burnout. Plus, Dr. Lea discusses her ongoing work in coaching, retreats, and her own podcast—all aimed at helping clinicians lead more sustainable and fulfilling lives.

If you’re looking for inspiration, practical tools, and validation that you’re not alone in the challenges of practicing medicine, you won’t want to miss this insightful and heartfelt episode.

Here are 3 key takeaways from this episode:

Meet Dr. Sarah Lea:

Dr. Sarah A. Lea is a family and addiction medicine physician, executive coach, and wellness champion based in Victoria, BC. With a background in women's health and over a decade in clinical practice, she blends science, storytelling, and soul in her talks and workshops. Whether she’s coaching burned-out docs, speaking on perinatal addiction, or helping teams build real-deal resilience, Sarah brings both the evidence and the empathy. She’s also a certified meditation instructor and TEDx speaker who believes that well-being is the secret sauce to sustainable healthcare—and she's on a mission to help others lead with energy, authenticity, and heart.

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Would you like to view a transcript of this episode? Click here

****Get in on the Backlog Buddies Sale where All Session in June are only $10
https://www.backlogbuddies.com/

**** Charting Champions is a premiere, lifetime access Physician only program that is helping Physicians get home with today's work done. All the proven tools, support and community you need to create time for your life outside of medicine.

Learn more at https://www.chartingcoach.ca

**** Enjoying this podcast? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to hit “follow” so you get all the new episodes as soon as they are released.

**** Come hang out with me on Facebook or Instagram. Follow me @chartingcoach to get more practical tools to help you create sustainable clinical medicine in your life.
 
**** Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Shoot me an email at [email protected]. I would love to hear from you.

Welcome to the Sustainable Clinical Medicine Podcast!

In this special episode, Dr. Sarah Smith brings together her “brains trust”—the talented team of assistant coaches from Charting Champions and Smarter Charting—for an inspiring and honest roundtable discussion. Join Dr. Jacqueline Holm-Jhass, Dr. Milene Argo, and Dr. Noelle Nelson as they open up about their personal journeys from burnout to rediscovering joy in medicine, and share their passion for helping clinicians create better clinical days.

You’ll hear firsthand stories about the real costs of working after hours, practical strategies for managing the chaos of unpredictable clinic days, and priceless reminders that you are not alone in the struggle. The coaches offer compassionate advice on emotional regulation, self-compassion, and the vital importance of finding celebration and purpose—even on the hardest days.

Whether you’re deep in the trenches of clinical work or just starting to think about how to make medicine more sustainable, this episode is packed with relatable insights, encouragement, and actionable wisdom to help you reclaim time for your life outside of medicine. Get ready to meet the coaches who are changing the way clinicians approach their clinical days and rekindling love for the profession—one conversation at a time.

Here are 3 key takeaways from this episode:

The Charting Champions Coaches

Dr. Sarah Smith and her vibrant Charting Coach team: Dr. Jacqueline Holm-Jhass, Dr. Milene Argo, and Dr. Noelle Nelson. Get ready for an honest, supportive, and practical conversation about what it truly takes to create a sustainable, joyful clinical day as a physician or clinician.

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Would you like to view a transcript of this episode? Click here

****Get in on the Backlog Buddies Sale where All Session in June are only $10
https://www.backlogbuddies.com/

**** Charting Champions is a premiere, lifetime access Physician only program that is helping Physicians get home with today's work done. All the proven tools, support and community you need to create time for your life outside of medicine.

Learn more at https://www.chartingcoach.ca

**** Enjoying this podcast? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to hit “follow” so you get all the new episodes as soon as they are released.

**** Come hang out with me on Facebook or Instagram. Follow me @chartingcoach to get more practical tools to help you create sustainable clinical medicine in your life.
 
**** Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Shoot me an email at [email protected]. I would love to hear from you.

Welcome to the Sustainable Clinical Medicine Podcast!

In this inspiring episode, Dr. Sarah Smith sits down with Ellen Tsai, a pediatric critical care physician educator and coach with a rich and varied career spanning over two decades. Ellen shares her journey from the high-intensity world of pediatric critical care to her work in bioethics, legal medicine, and now physician coaching. They dive deep into strategies for sustaining well-being in demanding medical fields, building strong team dynamics, and the importance of honest, compassionate communication with families facing tough decisions.

Ellen also opens up about her own experience with burnout, the role coaching played in her recovery, and how she continues to support fellow physicians navigating similar challenges today. Whether you’re interested in practical tips for creating a more sustainable clinical day, curious about the intersection of medicine and ethics, or seeking inspiration for your own path in healthcare, this episode is full of insights you won’t want to miss.

Here are 3 key takeaways from this episode:

Ellen Tsai Bio:

I am a Certified Executive Coach and a Master Certified Physician Development Coach. I am a solo entrepreneur coach with a focus on coaching early-career professionals and physicians at all career stages. My goal is to help people achieve their fullest potential, both personally and professionally.

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Would you like to view a transcript of this episode? Click here

**** Charting Champions is a premiere, lifetime access Physician only program that is helping Physicians get home with today's work done. All the proven tools, support and community you need to create time for your life outside of medicine.

Learn more at https://www.chartingcoach.ca

**** Enjoying this podcast? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to hit “follow” so you get all the new episodes as soon as they are released.

**** Come hang out with me on Facebook or Instagram. Follow me @chartingcoach to get more practical tools to help you create sustainable clinical medicine in your life.
 
**** Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Shoot me an email at [email protected]. I would love to hear from you.

Welcome to the Sustainable Clinical Medicine Podcast!

In this episode, Dr. Sarah Smith sits down with Dr. AJ (Amjed) Kadhim-Saleh, a dynamic family physician and entrepreneur from Toronto. Dr. AJ shares his inspiring journey from dreaming about building his own clinic during residency to actually opening the doors of his practice—starting with just a concrete slab and a vision of long-term sustainability in medicine.

The conversation dives into the nuts and bolts of setting up a clinic from scratch, the importance of efficient systems, and the sometimes-overwhelming administrative burden that comes with being both a physician and practice owner. Dr. AJ openly discusses the challenges he faced with paperwork, how it began to impact his family life, and the pivotal moment that led him to co-found Pippin AI, an innovative AI scribe designed to support family doctors.

Along the way, Dr. AJ and Dr. Smith explore the often overlooked business side of medical practice, the need for practical education in practice management, and how embracing change (with a little entrepreneurial grit and a supportive team) can help create a more sustainable clinical day—and a life outside of medicine.

Whether you’re a new resident thinking about your future, a physician looking for inspiration to build a more efficient practice, or just curious about how technology is shaping the future of primary care, this episode is packed with insights, practical tips, and plenty of encouragement to pursue your vision.

Here are 3 key takeaways from this episode:

Meet Dr. AJ (Amjed) Kadhim-Saleh:

Dr. Amjed Kadhim-Saleh (AJ for short) is a community family physician, clinic owner, and health technology entrepreneur in Toronto. AJ graduated medical school from the University of Ottawa, and completed his family medicine residency at the University of Toronto. Serving a diverse population of over 1700 patients, AJ is passionate about comprehensive family medicine and building efficient practice. AJ developed an AI-powered Physician Assistant called Pippen, which aims to alleviate administrative burden among physicians and encourage better doctor-patient interactions. AJ is also a Clinical Lecturer at the University of Toronto.

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Would you like to view a transcript of this episode? Click here

**** Charting Champions is a premiere, lifetime access Physician only program that is helping Physicians get home with today's work done. All the proven tools, support and community you need to create time for your life outside of medicine.

Learn more at https://www.chartingcoach.ca

**** Enjoying this podcast? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to hit “follow” so you get all the new episodes as soon as they are released.

**** Come hang out with me on Facebook or Instagram. Follow me @chartingcoach to get more practical tools to help you create sustainable clinical medicine in your life.
 
**** Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Shoot me an email at [email protected]. I would love to hear from you.

Welcome to the Sustainable Clinical Medicine Podcast!

In this special episode, Dr. Sarah Smith joins forces with Dr. Priyanka Venugopal from the Unstoppable Mom Brain Podcast for a deeply insightful conversation all about reclaiming time and creating more sustainable clinical practices.

Together, they dive into the real-life struggles physicians face when it comes to finishing work at work—and not letting charting and paperwork spill into precious family time. Dr. Smith shares her own journey of burnout, the “aha” moments that changed her approach forever, and the practical strategies that helped her—and now hundreds of other clinicians—conquer endless documentation and interruptions.

This episode is packed with actionable gems, from simple mindset shifts to rethinking workflow, delegation, and team dynamics. Whether you're a physician, a professional working mom, or anyone craving more balance between career and home, this conversation will inspire you to rethink what’s possible. Tune in for tangible tips, relatable stories, and a whole lot of encouragement to create those “bucket loads of time” you’ve been searching for.

Here are 3 key takeaways from this episode:

Episode 102: Burn Stress. Lose Weight. Podcast (Formerly the Unstoppable Mom Brain Podcast)

In this episode of the Unstoppable Mom Brain Podcast, I have Dr. Sarah Smith sharing her journey from being a rural family physician to becoming an expert in optimizing work-life balance for physicians, particularly focusing on completing tasks efficiently during clinical hours. Dr. Smith's transformation from struggling with work-life balance to finding simplicity and joy in her professional and personal life is inspiring. Through her coaching, she helps physicians reclaim their time, reduce stress, and prioritize their well-being while excelling in their careers. Tune in to this episode to unlock valuable insights and actionable strategies that will empower you to achieve greater balance, joy, and success in your professional and personal life.

Sarah Smith is the Charting Coach for Physicians and clinicians and a practicing Rural Family Physician in Alberta. Sarah is the founder of the Charting Champions Program helping more than 150 Physicians in the specific area of getting home with their charting done. 

She has a passion for reducing burnout and overwhelm resulting from the administrative burden of clinical medicine. Using evidence-based coaching to help Physicians find their most simple solutions within the clinical environments that they work in.  

Sarah is married to her husband of 21 years and has two sons and lives on her small farm. Evenings and weekends are for enjoying pursuits such as farming, exploring, reading and coaching.

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Would you like to view a transcript of this episode? Click here

**** Charting Champions is a premiere, lifetime access Physician only program that is helping Physicians get home with today's work done. All the proven tools, support and community you need to create time for your life outside of medicine.

Learn more at https://www.chartingcoach.ca

**** Enjoying this podcast? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to hit “follow” so you get all the new episodes as soon as they are released.

**** Come hang out with me on Facebook or Instagram. Follow me @chartingcoach to get more practical tools to help you create sustainable clinical medicine in your life.
 
**** Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Shoot me an email at [email protected]. I would love to hear from you.