Episode 5: Rewriting Your Story — Lessons from “Divorced After 40”

In this episode of Medical Mentor Coaching, Dr. Stacey Ishman sits down with her co-host and coach, Kirsten F. Bombdiggity, to explore the art of reinvention — not just after divorce, but after any major career or life transition. Drawing lessons from Kirsten’s book, Divorced After 40: The F** Yes Guide for Women Rewriting Their Second Act*, the conversation turns raw, honest, and surprisingly applicable for physicians navigating professional crossroads, denied promotions, or leadership shifts.

This episode reminds us that whether it’s your career, your relationships, or your identity — growth often begins where “shoulds” end.

No need to take notes — the highlights are summarized here and expanded in the blog.

If you’re in your first 10 years of practice and want structured guidance for building a career that fits you, not the other way around, DM me on Instagram @sishmancoach or email [email protected]  to learn more about the Academic Accelerator Course.

This course is designed to help you set up your practice, build your research and national reputation, and create a personalized path to promotion — without burning out or losing sight of your life outside medicine.

1. Introduction: Reinvention and Relevance (00:00 – 02:15)

Dr. Stacey Ishman introduces co-host Kirsten Bombdiggity and her book Divorced After 40.

The conversation connects themes of personal reinvention with career transitions common to early-career physicians — denied promotions, role shifts, and the identity loss that can come with them.

2. Getting Out of Your Own Way (03:00 – 05:30)

Kirsten discusses how self-sabotage often comes from fear and familiarity.

“Fun feels dangerous” — even joy can feel unsafe to high achievers used to control and overwork.

Stacey relates this to academic physicians who resist change even when it could bring balance.

3. The Lighthouse vs. the Lifeboat (07:45 – 09:20)

Kirsten’s “lighthouse” tattoo becomes a metaphor for boundaries.

Physicians often act as lifeboats for patients, teams, or institutions — constantly drained.

Becoming a lighthouse means standing firm, guiding others without drowning yourself.

4. The “Should” Trap (12:00 – 13:45)

Stacey challenges the word should — noting that it often signals someone else’s expectations, not your own.

Physicians frequently operate from inherited definitions of success (mentors, institutions, family).

The key: ask “Whose voice is this?” before you commit to another obligation or project.

5. Neuroplasticity and Narrative (10:00 – 15:00)

Kirsten explains how mindset alone doesn’t shift behavior — your nervous system must learn safety in change.

Her “Neuro-Proof Narrative Quest” framework helps people rewrite their internal stories with real evidence.

In medicine, this translates to recognizing that thoughts and feelings aren’t facts — you can challenge both.

6. Rebuilding Community Intentionally (16:45 – 19:00)

Both hosts reflect on the difficulty of rebuilding connection after professional or personal loss.

Stacey admits she still has to coach herself into social events — one real connection at a time.

Kirsten offers a reframe: “Make someone else’s day better.” Helping others helps us reconnect to meaning.

7. Summary and Takeaways (19:00 – End)

Reinvention isn’t just for divorce — it’s for any transition where your old identity no longer fits.

Let go of “shoulds,” redefine success, set boundaries, and give yourself permission to choose joy.

The same tools that rebuild a life can rebuild a career — with compassion, courage, and curiosity.

Reinvention doesn’t require a crisis — it requires honesty.
This episode reframes “failure” as feedback, showing physicians how to reimagine their second act in medicine. Whether you’re recovering from burnout, navigating leadership shifts, or questioning what’s next, the tools of narrative coaching, boundary-setting, and self-compassion can guide your next move.

Please RATE, REVIEW, and FOLLOW the Medical Mentor Coaching Podcast on Apple or Spotify to help other early-career physicians find these resources.

If you’re interested in getting in touch or suggesting a topic, you can:

💬 DM me on Instagram @sishmancoach

💼 Message me on LinkedIn: Medical Mentor Coaching 

📧 Email: [email protected] 

🌐 Visit: www.medicalmentorcoaching.com/welcome

Episode 4: The Gap and The Gain: Celebrating Progress in the First 10 Years of Practice

In this episode of Medical Mentor Coaching, Dr. Stacey Ishman and coach Kirsten Bombdiggity dive into The Gap and The Gain by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy, exploring how early-career physicians can shift from perfectionism and comparison to joy and resilience.

Too often, physicians measure themselves against an impossible standard—the next paper, the next promotion, the next big milestone. This “gap thinking” fuels burnout and imposter syndrome. Instead, The Gap and The Gain offers a mindset shift: measure your progress against where you started, not where you “should” be.

Stacey and Kirsten share practical takeaways on reframing progress, celebrating small wins, and surrounding yourself with people who encourage your growth. They also offer personal stories (yes, including wardrobe hacks and Jenga towers!) to show how this perspective shift makes medicine—and life—more sustainable.

No need to take notes—check out the Blog for a summary of these insights.

If you are interested in my Academic Accelerator Course, designed to chart your personalized path to promotion for physicians in their first 5 years of practice, please DM me on Instagram @sishmancoach or email me at [email protected] .

This course helps you set up your practice, learn finances 101, build a research program, establish a national reputation, and create a personalized plan for promotion. My mission is to help you envision your ideal career and create a path to your version of success.

Join us to celebrate your gains—and build the foundation for a thriving career.

1. Introduction (0:00 – 2:00)
Playful banter on used books and why we love physical copies
Introduction to The Gap and The Gain

2. What the Book is About (2:00 – 3:00)
Perfectionism and the tendency to focus on what’s missing
Reframing success: celebrate the 90 lbs lost, not the 10 left

3. Recognizing When You’re in the Gap (3:00 – 5:00)
The “but” problem—discounting accomplishments with disclaimers
How medicine conditions us to chase goals without grace

4. Celebrating the Gain (5:00 – 7:00)
Examples from academic medicine: papers, talks, patient volume
Comparisons fuel imposter syndrome; reframing builds satisfaction

5. The Jenga Tower Analogy (6:00 – 7:30)
Each block matters—every accomplishment contributes to your foundation
Gratitude strengthens resilience and prevents collapse

6. Practical Coaching Tools (7:30 – 10:30)
Surrounding yourself with people who call out “gap talk”
Reframing language and creating evidence of progress
Using timeframes (1 month, 6 months, 1 year) to highlight growth

7. Avoiding the Comparison Trap (10:30 – 13:30)
“Don’t compare your insides to someone else’s outsides”
Why outsiders only see polished versions—not the struggles behind the scenes

8. Summary and Challenge (15:00 – end)
You’re already further along than you realize
Take 2 minutes: Write down 3 ways you’ve grown in the last 3 months
Living in the gain fuels gratitude, joy, and sustainable success

Please RATE, REVIEW, and FOLLOW the Medical Mentor Coaching Podcast on Apple or Spotify!

If you’d like to connect, provide topic suggestions, or learn more:

DM me on Instagram at @sishmancoach

Message me on LinkedIn: Medical Mentor Coaching 

Email me: [email protected] 

Visit: www.medicalmentorcoaching.com/welcome

Episode 3: Buy Back Your Time — Delegation, Boundaries, and Reclaiming Joy in Medicine

In this episode of Medical Mentor Coaching, Dr. Stacey Ishman and Kirsten dive into Dan Martell’s book Buy Back Your Time and how its lessons apply to physicians in their first 10 years of practice. They explore the power of delegation, the trap of non-promotable tasks, and how to protect your most valuable resource—your time.

You’ll hear practical strategies for aligning your work with your values, setting boundaries with leadership, and making intentional choices that create more space for joy, creativity, and career growth.

No need to take notes—just check out the Blog to get a summary of these insights.

If you’re interested in my Academic Accelerator Course designed for physicians in the first 5 years of practice, DM me on Instagram @sishmancoach  or email me at [email protected] .

This course will help you set up your practice, learn finances 101, build a research program, grow a national reputation, and create your personalized promotion plan. My mission is to help you envision your ideal career and chart your version of success.

Key Points:

Opening Reflections (0:00 – 2:00)

Stacey shares her recent decision to resign from a job that no longer served her.

How shifting focus creates space for growth in coaching and business.

Introducing Buy Back Your Time (2:00 – 3:30)

Overview of Dan Martell’s approach to reclaiming time.

Shifting from a “work leads to life” model to a “life leads to work” model.

If You Don’t Have an Assistant, You Are the Assistant (3:30 – 4:30)

The “aha” moment about the cost of doing tasks outside your zone of genius.

Introduction to Martell’s Productivity Quadrant (enjoyment vs. skill).

Delegation and Joy (4:30 – 6:30)

Why letting go of certain tasks frees you to focus on what matters most.

Giving others the opportunity to thrive in their zone of genius.

The 80% Rule (6:30 – 8:00)

Why work that’s done 80% as well by someone else is still a huge win.

Real-life examples: from cooking shortcuts to research collaborations.

What’s Your Hourly Rate? (8:00 – 9:00)

A framework for deciding which tasks to outsource.

Why paying others can create more time and value than doing it yourself.

Investing in Help Early (9:00 – 11:00)

How hiring support (like a VA) validates your work as a “real business.”

Creative solutions: sharing support staff and scaling with others.

Application for Academic Medicine (11:00 – 12:30)

How residents, faculty, and physicians can delegate academic tasks.

Examples: research assistants, scribes, poster formatting, editing help.

Non-Promotable Tasks (13:00 – 16:00)

The hidden cost of taking on administrative or social tasks.

Why saying “yes” to these can slow career growth.

Framing boundaries in terms of department goals.

Boundaries and Leadership (16:00 – 18:30)

How to communicate priorities with leaders.

The importance of reframing “no” as service to the larger mission.

Takeaways and Action Steps (18:30 – 20:00)

Kirsten: List your top 5 dreaded tasks and explore ways to delegate or automate.

Stacey: Start with one task you can let go of this week.

Summary:
Buy Back Your Time isn’t just for entrepreneurs—it’s a playbook for early-career physicians who want to align their careers with their values. By focusing on your zone of genius, saying no to non-promotable tasks, and delegating strategically, you reclaim time for what matters most—your growth, joy, and impact.

Please RATE, REVIEW, and FOLLOW the Medical Mentor Coaching Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

If you’d like to connect or suggest topics:

DM me on Instagram: @sishmancoach 

Message me on LinkedIn: Medical Mentor Coaching 

Email me: [email protected] 

Visit: www.medicalmentorcoaching.com/welcome

Episode 02: Atomic Habits
Release Date: 09.03.2025
Episode Length: 23:00
Hosts: Dr. Stacey Ishman & Kirsten Bombdiggity

In this episode, Dr. Stacey Ishman and Kirsten Bombdiggity dive deep into James Clear's Atomic Habits, exploring how tiny changes can create remarkable results. They share personal takeaways about habit stacking, identity-based habits, and why 1% better every day compounds into transformational change. Plus, real stories from their coaching practices about clients who've used these principles to revolutionize their careers and lives.

What You'll Learn:

About the Book: Atomic Habits by James Clear is a practical guide to building good habits and breaking bad ones through tiny, consistent changes. Published in 2018, it's been translated into 50+ languages and spent over 200 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, fundamentally changing how people approach personal development. Amazon Link: https://amazon.com/dp/0735211299

Key Points:

Weekly Wins & Celebrations (2:00-3:30)

Book Overview (5:00-6:00)

Deep Dive Summary (6:00-12:00)

Biggest Takeaways (12:00-16:00)

Real-World Applications (16:00-22:00)

Next Episode Preview (22:00-23:00)

Key Quotes: "Perfection is just procrastination in a tuxedo." "If I was a badass with money, what's something that I would be doing that maybe I'm not doing now?" "Just because you stop once or miss one doesn't mean the habit's over."

Connect with Your Hosts:

Dr. Stacey Ishman

Kirsten Bombdiggity

Book Recommendations Mentioned:

Subscribe & Follow: New episodes every other week! Available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Guest Opportunities: Authors interested in being featured on Your New Release can reach out through LinkedIn or email. We welcome discussions about transformative books, especially recent releases or overlooked gems.

Please RATE, REVIEW and FOLLOW Your New Release on your favorite podcast app!

Episode 01: Meet Your Hosts

Release Date: 09.01.2025
Episode Length: 10:26
Hosts: Dr. Stacey Ishman & Kirsten Bombdiggity

What if the right book at the right time could change your entire career? Welcome to the inaugural episode of Your New Release, where Dr. Stacey Ishman, ENT surgeon and founder of Medical Mentor Coaching, and Kirsten Bombdiggity, creator of the Neuro-Proof Narrative Quest, introduce themselves and share the vision behind their transformative new podcast.

In this introductory episode, discover how an unlikely partnership between a data-driven surgeon and a narrative intelligence coach creates the perfect balance for exploring books that shift perspectives and change lives. You'll hear their origin stories, learn what makes them both "book junkies" who get "nerd dopamine hits" from transformative reads, and understand why the same book can hit completely differently depending on where you are in your story.

What You'll Discover:

Meet Your Hosts:

Dr. Stacey Ishman

Kirsten Bombdiggity

Key Highlights:

What's Coming Next: Starting with Episode 2, each episode will feature one transformative book with:

First Book Feature: Episode 2 will dive into James Clear's Atomic Habits

Episode Format: This podcast is for anyone who believes books can be catalysts for change. Whether you're looking to advance your career, transform your identity, or simply do things 1% better, join these two dynamic coaches every other week as they explore the books that shape how we coach, lead, and grow.

Subscribe & Follow: New episodes every other week on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Guest Authors Welcome: Have a book that changed lives? Reach out about being featured on Your New Release.

Please RATE, REVIEW and FOLLOW Your New Release on your favorite podcast app!

Ready for honest, practical, and refreshingly authentic conversations about growth, change, and the power of a good book to help you release old stories and unlock your favorite self? Hit that subscribe button and join us on this journey!