How do you know if your team is doing a good job? In this first of a two-part series, we bring together leaders from medicine, neuroscience, and crisis response to explore what team performance really means — and how to measure it beyond outcomes.

What happens when life-and-death decisions must be made by a team rather than an individual? In this episode, Dr. Mark Ramzy — cardiothoracic intensivist, emergency physician, and Co-Editor-in-Chief of REBEL EM — joins us to explore how teams think, decide, and act under pressure inside the ICU

What happens when life depends on perfect coordination between human and machine? In this episode, Thomas Preston — a veteran ECMO expert and executive leader at Integration Health — joins us to explore the high-stakes world of ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) and the complex teamwork it demands.

In this episode, Harry Moffitt shares his insights on human performance and philosophy. Moffitt, a director at Stoughton Group and Mission Critical Teams Institute, and a former SAS member, discusses his new book 'The Fourth Pillar: Modern Stoicism and the Philosophy of High Performance.' He touches on the importance of philosophy alongside physical, psychological, and social aspects of human performance. The conversation also explores the risks of modernity, the importance of maintaining humanity in high-performance environments, and how metaphors influence our understanding of development and growth. Harry challenges listeners to embrace philosophical practices and offers practical steps to maintain a balanced, fulfilling life.

How do complex systems shape the emergencies we face—and how can understanding them help you perform when it matters most?

In this episode, I talk with epidemiologist and emergency responder Geoff Dougherty about how complexity science shows up everywhere from individual patient care to statewide population health. We dig into what makes a system complex, why small changes can have massive effects, and how feedback loops, phase transitions, and path dependence shape what actually happens under pressure.

Coming home to your family after shift is a skill. In this episode, Dr. Art Finch and I talk about re-integration, and coming home as a process not an event. We introduce our new resource, "On Coming Home," a workbook for people operating in crisis and their families -- you can download it free at www.bit.ly/mctioch

Eric Benoit, acute care surgeon at Lahey Hospital, and Andrew Petrosoniak, emergency physician at St. Michael’s Hospital, join me on the podcast to discuss operating with uncertainty in high-stakes medical environments. This episode addresses managing risk, performing under pressure, and the importance of decision-making and reflection. Discover how they balance technical skills and knowledge with handling ambiguity in critical situations. Learn valuable insights on improving clinical decision-making, teaching trainees to cope with uncertainty, and the operating in highly uncertain environments.

Explore the vital role of Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) in critical care with Alex Hodson, a seasoned critical care physician assistant. Learn about the dynamics of high-functioning healthcare teams, the training pipeline for APPs, and the importance of feedback and teamwork. Gain insights into the challenges and rewards of working in high-stress environments and understand how multidisciplinary and multi-professional collaboration shapes effective patient care.

Dr. Sean Griffiths shares his experiences and insights from his training and career in emergency medicine, both within the United States Air Force and civilian practice. We talk through the stark differences between various emergency care environments, the importance of leadership, and the challenges of preparing for high-stakes medical emergencies in diverse settings. Dr. Griffiths emphasizes the significance of character in medical training and offers practical advice on creating a thriving medical team culture. Ideal for anyone passionate about improving emergency care and leadership in healthcare.

Gloria Park, an expert in sport performance and positive psychology, joins the podcast to discuss her journey from competitive figure skating to human performance optimization. She emphasizes the importance of understanding emotions, stress, and social contexts in achieving peak performance. Gloria also explores the challenges and strategies for fostering human performance in high-stakes environments such as the military. This episode offers valuable insights on how to integrate well-being and performance, and how to cultivate a thriving life both professionally and personally.