The Visible Voices

By Resa E LewissSociety & Culture Medicine Health & Fitness

The Visible Voices episodes

May 22, 2025The Legal Lifeline: How Gita Pensa Coaches Physicians Through Malpractice and Litigation Stress
In this minicast (short + focused podcast) episode on coaches, emergency medicine physician and coach Dr. Gita Pensa shares insights from coaching physicians facing malpractice litigation and from her 12-year legal battle. She discusses how fear pervades these experiences and offers practical approaches to managing anxiety while working to change medicine's culture of shame.

Gita is based in Rhode Island. She is the CEO and founder of DoctorsAndLitigation.com, where she coaches clinicians facing litigation stress. Dr. Pensa is also the creator and host of Doctors and Litigation: The L Word podcast and has pioneered work in physician litigation stress.
Key Take-aways
Fear is the dominant emotion among physicians facing litigation
Many malpractice cases are eventually dropped, but the anxiety persists
The culture of shame in medicine surrounding litigation needs transformation
Communication resolution programs can heal patient-doctor relationships after adverse events

Documentary: A World of Hurt
Book a consultation session with Gita
Website: DoctorsAndLitigation.com
YouTube: @DoctorsandLitigation

This episode is part of the VVP Mini-Cast series dedicated to exploring coaching resources and professional development tools .

If you enjoy the show, please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating on Apple or a 👍🏻 on YouTube. Subscribe via the Website. Forward to a friend today!
13 min
May 15, 2025Reversing Chronic Disease: Terry Wahls on her Innovative Food Protocol and Lifestyle Change
In this episode I speak with Dr. Terry Wahls, an internal medicine physician, multiple sclerosis patient, researcher, and advocate. Her TedTalk Minding your Mitochondria has over 4.1 million views.
Terry Wahls MD is a clinical professor of medicine who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2000. After conventional treatments failed to halt her disease progression, leaving her wheelchair-dependent, she developed the The Wahls Protocol, a nutrient-rich dietary approach that helped her regain mobility. She authored a book The Wahls Protocol: A Radical New Way to Treat All Chronic Autoimmune Conditions Using Paleo Principles book.

We cover how nutrition choices can transform health outcomes, the critical role of family support in sustaining health changes, and the emerging science behind using biosensors to identify personal health triggers.
Some takeaways:
Terry Walls developed the Wahls Protocol after personal success reversing her MS symptoms
Dietary changes can lead to significant health improvements beyond medication alone
Family support creates the foundation for sustainable behavior change
The Wahls Protocol emphasizes nutrient-dense, anti-inflammatory foods
Long COVID patients show promising responses to improved nutrition approaches
Food choices can serve as both prevention and treatment for chronic diseases

Website
Instagram

If you enjoy the show, please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating on Apple or a 👍🏻 on YouTube. Subscribe via the Website. Forward to a friend today!
28 min
May 08, 2025The Power of Choice in Financial Health: Paula Pant on Affording Anything not Everything
In this episode I speak with Paula Pant, founder of the Afford Anything media platform. Paula is an expert in personal finance and economics. We discuss the philosophy of intentional living, the importance of resilience in career transitions, and the shift from a financial scarcity mindset to one of abundance.

Paula shares her journey from working for a newspaper to building the successful media platform Afford Anything, emphasizing the significance of personal development and understanding human behavior in financial decision-making.

We explore financial flexibility, particularly for doctors facing burnout and financial challenges. We delve into productivity habits and the significance of having a voice in personal finance discussions, ultimately highlighting how financial health provides choices in life.
A few highlights
Voluntary career transitions can lead to tremendous growth despite initial uncertainty
Taking action is the greatest affirmation of progress and success
Doctors face unique financial challenges due to late starts and high student debt
Aggressive contributions are crucial for late starters in retirement planning
Financial education should be prioritized in schools

Website: https://affordanything.com/
Podcast: Afford Anything on Apple
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@affordanything

If you enjoy the show, please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating on Apple or a 👍🏻 on YouTube. Subscribe via the Website. Forward to a friend today!
24 min
May 01, 2025When We’re In Charge Amanda Litman and the Run for Something Revolution
In this episode of The Visible Voices Podcast, Resa speaks with Amanda Litman, co-founder of Run for Something and author of When We're in Charge: The Next Generation's Guide to Leadership. The dynamic discussion explores how millennials and Gen Z are reshaping American politics through grassroots engagement and local office candidacy.

Amanda shares her journey building a mission-driven organization that empowers young, diverse candidates to run for local offices—from school boards to library committees—where critical community decisions happen. She offers practical insights on effective leadership, including:
Why doctors are well equipped for public office
The benefits of a four-day workweek for organizational productivity
Strategic approaches to email communication and team onboarding

The conversation highlights the unique perspective healthcare professionals bring to public office and why their expertise is desperately needed in local governance. Amanda makes a compelling case for civic engagement as essential infrastructure for a healthy democracy.

Website: Run for Something
Instagram: Amanda Litman

If you enjoy the show, please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating on Apple or a 👍🏻 on YouTube. Subscribe via the Website and forward to a friend today!
29 min
April 24, 2025 The Coaching Cure: Rob Orman on Recalibrating Careers and Confronting Incivility in Healthcare
In this minicast (short + focused podcast) episode on coaches, I speak with Dr. Rob Orman, emergency physician turned physician coach, about the urgent challenges many clinicians face—including burnout, incivility, and a lack of sustainability in traditional healthcare roles.

Rob is the creator and host of The Stimulus Podcast and leads Orman Physician Coaching. He holds extensive expertise as a medical educator, is a multiple award-winning speaker with a deep background in communication. He served as chief editor of EM:RAP, created the Stimulus and ERcast podcasts, and for nearly a decade hosted Essentials of Emergency Medicine, the largest single-track emergency medicine conference in the world.

The discussion touches on the structure of physician jobs, how coaching can shift individual mindsets and institutional culture, and how moving from rumination to action can be transformative. Recommended readings and tangible strategies round out this thoughtful episode for anyone rethinking their path in medicine.

Key takeaways:

—Recalibration is essential for physicians confronting burnout and stress.
—Incivility in healthcare environments undermines physician well-being.
—Coaching offers sustainable solutions for personal and professional growth.
—Coaching can improve not just individual outcomes but also hospital culture.
—The traditional structure of medical roles often overlooks clinician health.
For further reading:
—What Got You Here Won't Get you There Marshall Goldsmith
—A Guide to the Good Life William Irvine
—The Advice Trap Robert Bungay Stanier

Book a Coaching Discovery Session with Rob

This episode is part of the VVP Mini-Cast series dedicated to exploring coaching resources and professional development tools .

If you enjoy the show, please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating on Apple or a 👍🏻 on YouTube. Subscribe via the Website and forward to a friend today!
15 min
April 17, 2025Beyond the Cafeteria: Dr. Jen Cadenhead on Nutrition Security and Public Health
In this episode of the Visible Voices podcast, I speak with nutrition expert Dr. Jen Cadenhead about the critical distinction between food security and nutrition security.

The discussion centers on the transformative approaches New York City has implemented in their school lunch programs and why school meals often provide the healthiest options for many children.

Jen Cadenhead PhD is Research Assistant Professor and Executive Director, Laurie M. Tisch Center for Food, Education & Policy at Columbia University. She is a leading researcher in nutrition science, with particular expertise in how dietary patterns affect health outcomes among cancer survivors. Her advocacy work focuses on improving nutrition education and food quality in public institutions, especially schools.

Jen shares insights from her research on diet's impact on health outcomes, particularly among cancer survivors, and makes a passionate case for policy changes and educational initiatives that can create healthier food environments in schools and communities.
Key takeaways
Nutrition security extends beyond mere access to food, focusing on nutritional quality and health outcomes
New York City's school lunch program stands as a model for innovation, including the elimination of fried foods
For many children, school meals represent the most nutritionally balanced options they receive
The food system heavily influences individual choices, highlighting the need for structural changes
Revival of home economics education could provide essential cooking skills for healthier lifestyles
Research links ultra-processed food consumption to increased mortality risks
Demographic factors significantly impact dietary patterns and related health outcomes
Effective nutrition education serves as a powerful preventive tool against chronic diseases
Systemic policy changes are essential to create environments that support healthier eating habits

If you enjoy the show, please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating on Apple or a 👍🏻 on YouTube. Subscribe via the Website. Forward to a friend today!
30 min
April 10, 2025Liberal Arts Meet Business: Danny Warshay on the Nelson Center’s Innovative Approach to Entrepreneurship
In this episode of the Visible Voices podcast, we speak with Danny Warshay, the executive director of the Nelson Center for Entrepreneurship at Brown University. We explore the intersection of entrepreneurship and communication, emphasizing the importance of a liberal arts education in fostering innovative problem-solving skills.

Danny shares insights on the significance of the Nelson Center, the process of scaling entrepreneurial ventures, and the value of wild card ideas in breaking mental constraints. The discussion also touches on the role of yoga and non-attachment in enhancing creativity, as well as the transformative experience of writing a book and finding one's voice in the entrepreneurial landscape.
Some highlights:
Writing is crucial for effective communication.
Public speaking is a vital skill for everyone.
Teaching entrepreneurship can be viewed as a liberal art.
Scaling requires a structured approach to problem-solving.
Wild card ideas encourage expansive thinking.
Non-attachment fosters creativity and innovation.

If you enjoy the show, please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating on Apple or a 👍🏻 on YouTube. Subscribe via the Website. Forward to a friend today!
24 min
April 03, 2025 Everyday Food and Gut Health: Desiree Nielsen on the Microbiome and Nutrition
In this episode of the Visible Voices Podcast, Desiree Nielsen — author, podcaster, cook, and registered dietitian — shares her journey into the world of gut health and the importance of nutrition. We highlight the roles of fiber, movement, and how to improve the nutrient quality of what you eat.

Desiree advocates for physicians and nutritionists working together and we explore the implications of gut health in the context of long COVID.

Learn all about the health advantages of black coffee, avocado, salmon, plant milks, walnuts, cinnamon and other spices for health.

We delve into the Mediterranean diet, the gut microbiome, and practical tips for incorporating fruits and vegetables into meals.

If you enjoy the show, please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating on Apple or a 👍🏻 on YouTube. Subscribe via the Website. Forward to a friend today!
30 min
March 27, 2025 Stressed for Success: Dr. Sharon Horesh Bergquist on the Science of Good Stress
In this episode I sit down with Dr. Sharon Horesh Bergquist to explore the fantastic concept of hormesis—the science of good stress.

We discuss her book The Stress Paradox and how how certain stressors, when applied in the right way, can build resilience, prevent chronic disease, and even slow aging.

Some episode hightights:—Mild to moderate stressors like fasting, exercise, and thermal exposure can strengthen the body and enhance resilience.

—Recovery is required: Stress without recovery leads to burnout.

—When you eat: Meal timing and decreasing your eating window support metabolic health, giving cells the chance to repair and detoxify.

If you enjoy the show, please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating on Apple or a 👍🏻 on YouTube. Subscribe via the Website. Forward to a friend today!
24 min
March 20, 2025 Sweet Tooth: Nicole Avena On The Brain Chemistry of Sugar and Food Addiction
In this episode of The Visible Voices Podcast, Resa speaks with neuroscientist, author, and researcher Dr. Nicole Avena sugar, the brain pathways with sugar addiction, how to move away from the addiction

Dr. Avena shares insights from her research on sugar addiction, its neurological parallels to drug addiction, and the implications for brain development, particularly in children and adolescents. In this conversation,

We discuss the evolution of our diet, the impact of sugar on health, and the importance of understanding the hidden sugars in processed foods, the effects of various sweeteners on the brain, and the consequences of excessive sugar consumption, including obesity and mental health issues.

Nicole emphasizes the need for scientists and doctors and healthcare researchers to engage with the public to communicate research effectively.

Buy her book now out in Paperback: Sugarless: A 7-Step Plan to Uncover Hidden Sugars, Curb your Cravings, and Conquer Your Addiction.
If you enjoy the show, please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating on Apple or a 👍🏻 on YouTube. Subscribe via the Website. Forward to a friend today!
21 min

About The Visible Voices

From the publisher's feed

The Visible Voices Podcast is a podcast dedicated to the voices of change makers in healthcare. We amplify the people and stories in the healthcare, equity, and innovation spaces. This weekly podcast is hosted by Dr. Resa E Lewiss—emergency physician, lifestyle medicine physician, healthcare designer, and social scientist—amplifying the voices shaping the future of healthcare.