What lights you up?

In this episode, I’m sharing how my approach to annual visits in functional medicine has changed over the years. Instead of piling on labs and long checklists, I’m leaning into something much more meaningful—creativity and personal values as part of the visit itself.

I walk through the framework I use now, touching on brain health, hormones, metabolism, detox support, structural health, and something we don’t talk about enough: personal fulfillment. My goal is to help practitioners rethink the “annual exam” and turn it into a moment that actually matters for both you and your patient, not just another box to check.

It’s a gentler, more intentional way to practice. Honestly, it feels a lot more human. 

How can you rethink traditional approaches and incorporate meaningful, patient-centered strategies into your practice?

Catalyst Studio Mentorship: https://drlarasalyer.com/catalyst/#studio

Brainstorming session: https://drlarasalyer.as.me/discovery (Use code PODCAST to waive the fee!)

Website: https://drlarasalyer.com

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YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/c/DrLaraSalyer

TikTok: @Creativity.Doctor

Podcast production and show notes provided by The Catalyst Way

The first 100 feet of your patient’s journey can determine whether they feel safe enough to heal or guarded enough to hold back.

In this episode, I’m wrapping up my four-part miniseries on how to create a trauma-informed and neurodivergent-inclusive onboarding experience. I’ve learned that the way we welcome patients says as much about our care as the medicine we practice. Every detail - the tone of our emails, the questions we ask, the space we create - either builds trust or adds stress. What if every first interaction helped someone exhale and feel seen? What would change in your work if your process reflected safety, autonomy, and genuine connection? I’ll share insights from my Catalyst Studio community and ways to make those first 100 feet of your patient’s journey feel like the start of true healing.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 True Healing Begins When Patients Say Yes

04:25 Why Trauma and Neurodivergence Matter in Onboarding

07:10 Building Trust in the First 100 Feet of the Patient Journey

09:12 Creating a Trauma-Informed Intake and Welcome Experience

16:13 Using Personal Connection to Ease Anxiety and Build Safety

23:23 Giving Patients Choice and Control in Their Care

28:15 How to Prevent Ghosting and Maintain Long-Term Engagement

Links

Learn more about the Catalyst Studio Mentorship  

PODCAST coupon code for a free Brainstorming session

Connect with Dr. Lara Salyer: 

Visit Dr. Lara’s Website

Explore The Catalyst Way

Subscribe to Dr. Lara’s YouTube Channel

Connect with Dr. Lara on LinkedIn

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Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

What happens right after someone says “yes” to working with me? That moment always feels small, but it’s where trust starts to deepen and patients begin to understand what it means to be cared for in my practice.

In this episode, I’m talking about the post-discovery-call window - the time after that initial “yes” when alignment, clarity, and values really matter. I’ve learned that how we follow up says as much about our care as the medicine we deliver. So I want you to ask yourself: How do you show patients what it feels like to be part of your world? What does your tone, timing, and communication say about who you are as a clinician?

I’ll share how a few intentional touches - like a short video message, a useful resource, or a thoughtfully written email - can transform the onboarding experience. I’ll also talk about how gathering feedback, even anonymously, helps refine your process and keep it true to your values.

To me, onboarding isn’t a transaction. It’s a continuation of care - a chance to connect, reassure, and show up fully as the kind of practitioner you want to be.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Turning “Yes” Into Connection

03:33 Drive-Thru Analogy: What Your Follow-Up Says About You

05:08 Why the Post-Call Window Matters

06:22 Behavioral Science and Commitment Bias

07:05 Reflecting Your Practice Values

12:22 Creating Ethical Urgency

14:54 Automate or Personalize? Finding the Right Balance

18:20 The Power of Feedback

25:49 Catalyst Reflection Questions

Links

Learn more about the Catalyst Studio Mentorship

Book a Brainstorm Session

Take the Micropractice Assessment

Connect with Dr. Lara Salyer: 

Visit Dr. Lara’s Website

Explore The Catalyst Way

Subscribe to Dr. Lara’s YouTube Channel

Connect with Dr. Lara on LinkedIn

Follow Dr. Lara on Instagram 

Follow Dr. Lara on Facebook

Follow Dr. Lara on TikTok

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Discovery calls don’t have to feel awkward or forced. They can actually be some of the most energizing conversations you have in your practice. In this second part of my Transformational Onboarding Mini-Series, I share my five-step framework for turning those calls into genuine moments of connection and clarity. I call it connect, clarify, align, invite, and detach - a simple flow that helps you stay grounded while confidently guiding patients toward the next step that feels right for them.

If you’ve ever found yourself overexplaining when it’s time to talk about pricing or hesitating to extend an invitation to work together, you’re not alone. I’ve been there too, and I know how uncomfortable it can feel. I’ll walk you through ways to bring more ease and authenticity into these calls so they reflect your values instead of feeling scripted.

I also share why I’ve abandoned high-pressure sales tactics in favor of what I call a “slow cook medicine approach” - a model that builds trust, respects boundaries, and supports patient readiness. By the end of this episode, you’ll see discovery calls as conversations that deepen relationships and remind you why this work still lights you up.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 The Art of Authentic Discovery Calls

02:52 Why Practitioners Overexplain and How to Stop

04:49 The Five-Step Discovery Call Framework

05:32 Step 1: How to Build Safety and Trust

07:08 Step 2: Clarify the Patient’s Story

10:20 Step 3: Align Your Services with Their Needs

13:30 Step 4: Invite Without Feeling “Salesy”

17:49 Step 5: Detach with Confidence

20:19 What to Avoid in Discovery Calls

23:31 Why Pressure Kills Trust

24:45 Recap: The Flow of a Confident Discovery Call

25:49 Catalyst Question: Strengthening Your Boundaries

Links

Book a Brainstorm Session

Shop at Dr. Lara’s Website

Connect with Dr. Lara Salyer: 

Visit Dr. Lara’s Website

Explore The Catalyst Way

Subscribe to Dr. Lara’s YouTube Channel

Connect with Dr. Lara on LinkedIn

Follow Dr. Lara on Instagram 

Follow Dr. Lara on Facebook

Follow Dr. Lara on TikTok

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Discovery calls can feel uncomfortable, like you’re supposed to sell yourself or convince someone you’re worth the investment. I used to dread them too. Over time, I realized they’re not about persuasion at all. They’re about alignment. These first conversations give both of us a chance to decide if working together feels right.

This is Part 1 of my four-part series on Transformational Onboarding, where I’ll walk you through the red, yellow, and green flags I use when screening new patients. Green flags tell me someone is open, hopeful, and ready to do the work. Red flags show up as rigid expectations, resistance to change, or energy that feels misaligned. Yellow flags live in the middle—hesitancy or nervousness that might clear with more clarity.

I’ll share how I set the stage long before the call with application forms that help patients reflect on their readiness. Often, that simple step sparks their transformation before we’ve even spoken.

My hope is that you walk away seeing onboarding not as something to endure, but as the first step toward building a practice that sustains you and serves the right patients, without guilt.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Transformational Onboarding Series Introduction

03:03 Why Discovery Calls Feel Uncomfortable

08:01 Prescreening Patients with Application Forms

12:22 Green Flags: Signs of an Ideal Patient

18:28 Red Flags: Signs of Misalignment

36:14 Yellow Flags: When to Pause and Reflect

39:38 Catalyst Question and Next Steps

Links

Shop

Free gifts for listeners

Brainstorming Session

Connect with Lara: 

Website

The Catalyst Way

Instagram: @drlarasalyer

Facebook

LinkedIn

YouTube

TikTok: @Creativity.Doctor

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Most clinicians update their medical knowledge regularly, but when was the last time you updated the way you introduce yourself to the world? 

We often think of self-introductions as something we did once - on a website, a business card, or at the start of our practice - and then moved on. But what happens when your services shift, your voice matures, or your life evolves, and the story you’re telling no longer fits?

In this episode, I share why reintroducing yourself is less about ego and more about alignment. I’ll talk about the subtle ways outdated messaging holds you back, how to approach your public presence with curiosity instead of perfectionism, and a simple 90-second Mad Libs bio that makes the process feel approachable. The real question to keep asking: if someone met you online today, would they meet the version of you that actually exists right now?

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Why Reintroducing Yourself Matters

02:12 A Personal Story of Change and Growth

07:18 Signs It’s Time to Reintroduce Yourself

08:44 Simple Steps to Refresh Your Online Presence

11:56 Key Website Updates Every Clinician Needs

17:17 How Collective Energy Strengthens Masterminds

18:09 When to Reintroduce Yourself to Your Audience

22:03 How to Craft a 90-Second Bio

24:10 Does Your Online Presence Reflect Who You Are Today?

Links

Catalyst Studio

Brainstorming Session

Streamlining your social media (purchase the resources mentioned in this article)

Connect with Lara: 

Website

The Catalyst Way

YouTube

Instagram 

Facebook

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Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

So many of us assume we can’t focus because we don’t have enough discipline, but I’ve found that the real issue is often depleted capacity. Discipline works like a muscle we can strengthen, but capacity depends on the deeper reserves of our nervous system - things like sleep, nutrition, emotions, and recovery. I like to ask myself: which one am I low on right now? And what happens if I try to push through without the fuel to back it up?

In this episode, I share how flow neuroscience and my own journey through burnout have shaped the way I think about discipline and capacity. I’ll walk you through simple strategies for both - steps that build momentum and restorative practices that bring your energy back - so you can pause and ask the right question before you push: is this a discipline problem, or a capacity problem?

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Why Focus Feels Harder Than Ever

02:19 Discipline vs. Capacity Explained  

03:55 Burnout as a Capacity Problem  

06:22 What Capacity Really Means  

07:25 Flow Cycle and Recovery  

07:58 How to Balance Discipline and Capacity  

10:07 Practical Strategies to Improve Discipline  

15:52 Practical Strategies to Improve Capacity  

24:43 The Balance That Prevents Burnout

Links

Shop

More about Dr. Raquel Martin, PhD

Purchase the infographic mentioned in this episode

Brainstorming Session

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The Catalyst Way

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Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Burnout can sneak into every corner of life - your work, your relationships, even the way you show up as a parent! I call it “grief in the brain,” because it quietly drains energy and joy while convincing you that you’re not doing enough. The real shift comes when you stop chasing discipline and start building a framework that helps you feel steady and whole again.

In this episode, I share the idea of a flow menu, a tool I use with my mentees and in my own life. It’s a way to organize activities that restore balance into categories like movement, nourishment, play, thought, and peace. Having those choices ready gives you a lifeline when your mind feels cluttered or your body feels tense.

I’ll show you how to create your own flow menu and why it works as both a preventative and healing practice. My hope is that you walk away with a clear reminder that flourishing happens when you honor your energy and make small, intentional choices that support the life you want to live.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Introduction and Human Nature

02:40 Understanding Burnout

05:52 Signs You Need a Flow Menu

08:53 What Is a Flow Menu

10:18 Flow Menu Categories

22:43 Importance of Self-Regulation

24:25 Questioning Urgency

25:01 Catalyst Question

Links

My insight timer profile

Catalyst Studio

Connect with Lara: 

Website

The Catalyst Way

YouTube

Instagram 

Facebook

LinkedIn

TikTok

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

I’ve come to believe that play and creativity can completely change the way we move through our days. For me, it started when I decided to bring Halloween back into my life and create a whimsical “crow lady” character, and that one spark of joy gave me more energy, focus, and flow than I’d felt in years. 

In this episode, I share how that experience opened my eyes to the bigger question of why joy matters so much in medicine and in life, and why so many of us, especially women in medicine and working moms, tend to abandon it. What would happen if you treated joy as a vital sign, right alongside sleep or nutrition? How might your days look if your calendar held space for wonder and curiosity, not just obligations? I’ll walk you through simple flow enhancers like gratitude, novelty, and embodiment, as well as the disruptors that scatter our attention. My hope is that this conversation encourages you to see play as a prescription for resilience and growth, and maybe even helps you reclaim your own sparks of joy.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Introduction and Halloween Confession

03:34 Becoming the Crow Lady and Finding Flow

05:09 Glee and Creativity Boost Productivity

07:42 Self-Abandonment and the Need for Play

10:37 Play and Creativity as the Sixth Vital Sign

13:08 Flow Enhancers vs. Flow Disruptors

16:40 Practical Tools to Protect Your Flow

18:05 Catalyst Question on Gamifying Your Day

Links

Catalyst Archetype

Catalyst Advantage

Connect with Lara: 

Website

The Catalyst Way

YouTube

Instagram 

Facebook

LinkedIn

TikTok

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Burnout began to lose its hold on me when I realized my practice should support my life instead of forcing my life to fit around my practice.

In this episode, I share a personal moment when the signs of burnout resurfaced as I was driving to care for my parents. That experience pushed me to look at how I had been structuring my days and reminded me that clear boundaries and intentional choices bring ease and clarity. You’ll also hear from my Catalyst community, clinicians who are designing careers that give them freedom, like taking summers off, choosing the patients they want to serve, and being present for family milestones. We also explore the doubts that so many of us face. Will others judge me for working less? Will my patients stay with me if I change how I practice? How do I know when I’ve done enough?

As you listen, I encourage you to reflect on your own answers. If your schedule reflected your values, what would look different? And what possibilities might open once you decide what “enough” means for you?

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Redefining Medical Careers

02:33 Experiencing Burnout Again

05:28 Catalyst Success Stories

06:10 Benefits of the Membership Model

07:36 Epiphany on I-95

09:33 Common Barriers in Medical Practice

10:48 Redefining “Enough”

12:53 Protecting Your Yes

14:18 Catalyst Question: Designing Your Ideal Practice

15:52 The Real Reason We Are Here

Links

Midnight Library by Matt Haig

Catalyst Advantage Sessions

Archetype Quiz

Connect with Lara: 

Website

The Catalyst Way

YouTube

Instagram 

Facebook

LinkedIn

TikTok

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm