Best Dr Brian Hoeflinger Podcasts (2025)

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#62 Turning Tragedy into Meaning with Dr. Brian Hoeflinger and Kevin Hoeflinger 1:01:58

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21d ago1:01:58

1:01:58

After a tragic car crash in 1983 changed the course of his family forever, Dr. Brian Hoeflinger pursued neurosurgery with a new sense of purpose. Decades later, when his teenage son died suddenly in a car accident, he found himself once again reshaped by grief. In this episode, Dr. Hoeflinger shares how these experiences inform the way he practices…

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#64 Creating Conscious Wealth with Mel Dorman 45:31

7d ago45:31

45:31

Are you a woman surgeon interested in our Cabo retreat? Click here before we fill our cohort! Today I’m talking with financial activist, author, and viral TEDx speaker Mel Dorman about how to create wealth in a way that’s simple, sustainable, and rooted in community. This conversation will stick with you long after you listen. Watch their TEDx talk…

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#41: What Residency Is Really Like | Dr. Kamran Tate 35:36

9d ago35:36

35:36

Residency is one of the most challenging, and defining, stages of becoming a doctor. In this episode, we talk with Dr. Kamran Tate, a second-year internal medicine resident, to hear what life is really like on the frontlines of medicine. From the steep learning curve of day one to balancing 12-hour shifts, navigating the ICU, and relying on the wis…

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#63 Using Intuition as a Guide with Dr. Priya Kothapalli 58:06

14d ago58:06

58:06

Women Surgeons interested in the Self-Concept Weekend in Cabo, click here to schedule a 15 min interview with me. In this episode, my guest, Dr. Priya Kothapalli, and I discuss the beauty and power of intuition, the challenges of corporate medicine, imposter syndrome, don't know mind, and what it's like to have the courage to design a life true to …

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#40: What is Rucking, Why I Started Rucking, & Why You Should Walk More 21:19

18d ago21:19

21:19

Dr. Brian Hoeflinger and Kevin Hoeflinger explore the science and practice of rucking, walking with added weight, as a joint-friendly way to boost cardiovascular health, build strength, and increase resilience. They share how rucking compares to running and walking, practical steps to get started safely, and the surprising benefits for muscle, mood…

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#61 From "Problem Resident" to Associate Professor: Proving Them Wrong with Dr. Karuna Dewan 1:00:20

28d ago1:00:20

1:00:20

Are you a woman surgeon interested in the Cabo retreat Jan 9-11? Click here to learn more about it. Click here if you're serious and get on my calendar for a 15 min interview. Dr. Karuna Dewan was accepted to medical school at just 16 and knew early on she wanted to be a laryngologist. Today she is an Associate Professor of Otolaryngology, the Jona…

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#60 A Peak Inside the Brain of a Creative with Comic Book Artist, Dr. Ryan Montoya 1:04:07

1M ago1:04:07

1:04:07

Women Surgeons, click here if interested in the retreat in Cabo. Have you ever considered the creative process of your favorite artist? I, personally, will never forget the moment I found out that Jerry Seinfeld wrote his jokes on napkins! Comic book artist and family practice physician, Dr. Ryan Montoya, comes on the show to talk about his evoluti…

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#59 The Impossible Oath with Dr. Frances Mei Hardin 53:46

1M ago53:46

53:46

Women Surgeons, click here if interested in the retreat in Cabo. Master storyteller and fellow disrupter, Dr. Frances Mei Hardin comes on the podcast to discuss the article The Impossible Oath. We talk about what the Hippocratic Oath is and, perhaps more importantly, is not. You'll learn how the system grooms us for "betrayal blindness" and why a b…

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#58 Self-Concept Shapes Everything 32:00

2M ago32:00

32:00

Are you a woman surgeon ready for a transformative January (1/9/26-1/11/26) retreat in Cabo? Click here to book your call and see if it’s the perfect fit for you. Your self-concept is the story you tell yourself about who you are. It shapes everything: the decisions you make, the risks you take (or avoid), and the way you show up in the world. But …

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#57 Reinvention of Self with Dr. Stephanie Pearson 1:00:52

2M ago1:00:52

1:00:52

Learn more about Pearson Ravitz here. Learn more about Empowered Surgeons Group here. Learn more about Hippocratic Collective here. What happens when the surgeon becomes the patient? When the body you relied on to do your life’s work… stops cooperating? Today’s guest, Dr. Stephanie Pearson, walks us through her powerful, often painful journey, from…

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#56 Prioritizing Non-negotiables with Dr. Hannah Thompson and Chris Herring 56:44

2M ago56:44

56:44

Medicine often forgets the people who live just beyond the call room: the spouses, the partners, the ones holding it together while the system pulls physicians apart. In this conversation, we meet Hannah and Chris, a couple who turned conflict into clarity. As the husband of a physician, Chris found himself isolated and invisible during Hannah’s re…

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#55 Supercommunication 31:34

2M ago31:34

31:34

If you enjoyed this topic, you're going to want to join Empowered Surgeons. There’s a dedicated classroom to this topic in the “Surgeon Self-Concept” module. Learn more about Empowered Surgeons Group here. Watch Charles Duhigg's TEDx talk here. Get his book, Supercommunicators: how to unlock the secret languange of connection here. To recap Superco…

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#54 When ADHD Hides in Plain Sight with Dr. Femi Oyewole 57:03

3M ago57:03

57:03

*****************SENSITIVE CONTENT WARNING****************** This episode contains discussion of suicidal thoughts. Please listen carefully or, if this topic is especially triggering for you, skip this one entirely. In this episode, Dr. Femi Oyewole shares his deeply personal journey of navigating medical training while living with undiagnosed ADHD…

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#53 Finding Your Inner Wisdom like a Lion Tracker 40:41

3M ago40:41

40:41

Learn more about Empowered Surgeons Group here. Get Boyd Varty's book, The Lion Tracker's Guide to Life, access his courses, or retreat with him here. What if losing your way isn’t a detour, but the only way forward? In surgery—and in life—we’re taught to crave certainty. A clear path. A guaranteed outcome. But what if that very craving is what kee…

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#52 Dr. Blair Peters on Advocating and Innovating with Authenticity 1:10:18

3M ago1:10:18

1:10:18

Learn more about Empowered Surgeons group here. Plastic surgery isn’t just about appearance—it’s about reinvention. For Dr. Blair Peters, that theme runs through every part of his story. After coming out before medical school and finding his place within the queer and trans community, Dr. Peters saw firsthand the inequities in gender-affirming care…

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#39: Dr. Zain Hasan: Balancing Anesthesiology, Family, and Life 50:39

3M ago50:39

50:39

In this episode, we spoke with Dr. Zain Hasan, a board-certified anesthesiologist, husband, father, and rising medical voice on social media, for an honest conversation about what life is really like behind the curtain of modern medicine. Dr. Hasan opens up about the realities of anesthesiology, how he navigates raising a family with a wife who is …

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#51 The Counterintuitive Secret with YA author Dr. Tyler Beauchamp 51:46

3M ago51:46

51:46

Tyler Beauchamp is a pediatrician and children’s/YA author from Georgia whose earliest experiences with medicine came not as a student, but as a patient. As a child, Tyler spent years in and out of research clinics searching for answers. He began writing in waiting rooms as a way to cope, and eventually fell in love with both storytelling and medic…

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#50 Toddlers in Scrubs with Psychologist Barlas Günay 1:04:23

4M ago1:04:23

1:04:23

Psychologist and reparenting expert, Barlas Günay, comes on the show to reveal why the majority of us are really just children in white coats. Toddlers in scrubs. Babies pretending to be adults. And what we can do about it. In this powerful episode, we explore why traditional cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) may fall short for high-functioning pr…

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#49 Sky Diving, Surgery, and the Art of Trusting Yourself with Dr. Alexandra Kharazi 56:14

4M ago56:14

56:14

In this episode, I sit down with cardiac surgeon, Dr. Alexandra Kharazi. Together, we explore what it means to operate—literally and figuratively—from a place of purpose rather than fear. We discuss: The emotional rewards of caring for high-risk cardiac patients who have few options left The "Black Swan" framework for surgical decision-making: a gr…

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#38: How Tiny Experiments Can Change Your Life with Anne Laure Le Cunff 1:00:13

4M ago1:00:13

1:00:13

Check out Anne-Laure's book "Tiny Experiments" 👉 https://nesslabs.com/book When a health scare forced Anne-Laure Le Cunff to confront her overworked life at Google, everything changed. In this episode, she shares the powerful moment that led her to walk away from her “dream job” and begin rethinking success through tiny experiments, intentional imp…

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#48 Mindshifting 36:32

4M ago36:32

36:32

Learn more about Empowered Surgeons Group here. In a profession that demands perfection and endurance, it’s easy to default to survival mode. But what if the real evolution happens when we shift from self-preservation to purpose? In this episode, we unpack the 6 core human needs—belonging, autonomy, mastery, esteem, trust, and purpose—and how under…

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#47 From Institution to Autonomy with Dr. Sharon Stein 51:25

4M ago51:25

51:25

Dr. Sharon Stein is a colorectal surgeon, professor, coach, and creator of The Intentional Surgeon. In this episode, she shares her unconventional path to medicine—from outdoor education and real estate to academic surgery—and how she carved out a career aligned with her values. We explore her rise through academic leadership, the stresses of tryin…

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#46 Don’t Mess with Little Old Ladies with Dr. Colleen Balkam 52:04

4M ago52:04

52:04

In this impactful conversation, we dive deep with orthopedic surgeon Dr. Colleen Balkam into the emotional, physical, and cultural terrain of surgical practice—particularly in orthopedics and geriatric care. What we cover in this episode: Coaching, reframing excitement as anxiety, and the importance of pausing when things get hard. Facing your firs…

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#45 Unintentional Harm 30:44

5M ago30:44

30:44

“First Do No Harm” is an impossible oath—a wonderful intention but an unlikely reality. So how do we create safety for ourselves in this profession, knowing we’ll inevitably cause harm? This episode will teach you actionable steps to go from the “distract and avoid” type of surgeon to the “process and create” type of surgeon. The result for you? Em…

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Webinar: Your Best Career Insurance Policy-Know, Like, and Trust 1:01:03

5M ago1:01:03

1:01:03

The best way to protect yourself in the profession of surgery is to build real connection with your patients. People don’t retaliate against physicians they know, like, and trust. This webinar will teach you how to cultivate know, like, and trust with every human you encounter. You can take this work deeper by joining Empowered Surgeons Group. Lear…

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#37: Andy Nguyen (ND MD) - Navigating Anesthesiology Residency 1:07:15

5M ago1:07:15

1:07:15

In this episode, we’re joined by Andy Nguyen, MD, a PGY1 anesthesiology resident at Yale and YouTube creator (ND MD - Dr. Nguyen's YouTube channel) Dr. Nguyen shares his journey from medical school to residency, offering insights into the structure of his intern year and the emotional and professional challenges that come with it. We also discuss h…

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#44 Sex and Surgery with Master Coach Danielle Savory 50:55

5M ago50:55

50:55

"A pleasured woman is an empowered woman" - Danielle Savory In this rich and layered conversation, we explore how sex coaching becomes a powerful *pleasure* portal to self-compassion, nervous system regulation, and healing from burnout. Danielle shares how experiencing debilitating physical symptoms in her twenties—and recognizing the abusive dynam…

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#43 Finding the Middle Way in Medicine with Dr. Joan Chan 52:18

5M ago52:18

52:18

In today’s episode, we dive deep into how the systems around us—medicine, culture, even religion—can deplete our humanity when we’re not paying attention. I’m joined by Dr. Joan Chan, who brings her unique perspective of growing up in a fundamentalist Christian household, deconstructing black-and-white thinking, and navigating her career as a famil…

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Webinar: The ABCs to Get Back in the Current 1:06:06

5M ago1:06:06

1:06:06

It's normal to fall out of the current in the OR. We know we've fallen out when our brain sends us into anxiety, urgency, and self-doubt. Getting back into the current is as easy as ABC: A: Awareness, Allowance, Acceptance, Aligned Action B: Breathe; Get your Brain Back in your own Business C: Certainty-->Curiosity-->Creativity Now... You learned h…

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#42 Why Your Human Animal Burns Out 26:55

5M ago26:55

26:55

Sign up for Empowered Surgeons Group here. It's not the prior auths, unfinished charts, or patient messages that are burning you out. While those circumstances need reform, they are merely symptoms of a much bigger problem—a problem that has everything to do with you, which is fantastic news because it means you can do something about it. In this e…

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#41 Failure and Surgery 44:40

6M ago44:40

44:40

“...it is unsurprising that we surgeons are reluctant to engage the admission—or even contemplation—of failure with the exuberant rapture described by contemporary self-help print and motivational speakers.” —Dr. Eric Henderson, On Surgical Failures: Onward to Objective Evaluation of Our Less Proud Moments Failure is required for success—but failin…

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#40 Stewarding Change with Dr. Jon Russell 53:02

6M ago53:02

53:02

Get on-demand, lifetime, risk-free access to the Empowered Surgeons Group here. How do we incentivize surgeons to evolve their techniques? Why hasn’t scarless thyroid surgery taken off in the U.S.? In this episode, we dive into: The disconnect between those who stay stuck in their beliefs and those who have incentive to innovate Why we often don’t …

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#39 Giftedness and Neurodivergence with Dr. Colleen Plein 53:12

6M ago53:12

53:12

Get on-demand, lifetime, risk-free access to the Empowered Surgeons Group here. Dr. Colleen Plein, an otolaryngologist and coach for gifted adults, joins the podcast to explore the unique challenges of being a gifted or neurodivergent adult—something many of us in medicine and surgery can relate to. Find her on instagram here or email her cpleincoa…

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#36: A&P Professor - Why Learning Shouldn’t Be Boring 1:03:41

6M ago1:03:41

1:03:41

A&P Professor's Course 👉 https://anpprofessor.com/vip-access Tim Reynolds, known online as A&P Professor, breaks down how he makes complex topics simple, engaging, and fun. From teaching hundreds of students at Ithaca College to building a massive online following with viral quizzes and short-form content, Tim shares the importance of meeting stude…

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#38 Psychological Challenges and Surgery Culture with Dr. Andrew Brunswick 54:42

6M ago54:42

54:42

Get on-demand, lifetime, risk-free access to the Empowered Surgeons Group here. Dr. Andrew Brunswick, a neurosurgeon at Kaiser Permanente in LA, joins us on the podcast to discuss the psychological challenges and culture in surgery. In this episode, we cover: The culture Andrew experienced while working on Wall Street The problem with getting stuck…

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#37 The Surgeon Essentialist 36:58

7M ago36:58

36:58

Get on-demand, lifetime, risk-free access to the Empowered Surgeons Group here. Essentialism is the disciplined pursuit of less, and the profession of surgery could use a hefty dose. Surgeon Essentialists do less, but better. This means we focus on the results we are trying to create, and then we reverse engineer the actions required to get us ther…

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#35: Dr. Drew Ramsey - How to Improve Your Mental Health Through Diet & Lifestyle Changes 1:17:52

7M ago1:17:52

1:17:52

Dr. Ramsey's New Book 👉 Healing the Modern Brain In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Drew Ramsey, a board-certified psychiatrist, psychotherapist, author, and leading voice in nutritional psychiatry, to explore the connection between mental health, food, and lifestyle. Dr. Ramsey shares insights from his upcoming book, Healing the Modern Brain, i…

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#36 Too Much with Dr. Cindy Lee Neighbors 57:14

7M ago57:14

57:14

Get on-demand, lifetime, risk-free access to the Empowered Surgeons Group here. Mental health struggles, self-sabotage, rock bottom, psychiatric admissions, having the "wrong" facial expressions and tone of voice, an intra-op assault accusation, grief, discrimination, bad teachers, big emotions, and creativity. In this episode, Dr. Cindy Lee Neighb…

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#34: Stacey Stewart - The Fight to End Drunk Driving & MADD's Mission 1:01:33

7M ago1:01:33

1:01:33

Visit https://madd.org/ to learn more and get involved. In this episode, we are joined by Stacey Stewart, CEO of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), to discuss the ongoing fight to end impaired driving. With over 13,000 lives lost each year due to drunk driving, this issue remains a national crisis and one that is deeply personal for our family. …

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#35 Trainee to Attending Self-Concept 32:17

7M ago32:17

32:17

Get on-demand, lifetime, risk-free access to the Empowered Surgeons Group here. Going from trainee to attending requires a death and rebirth. One identity dies and another is born. Stepping into the identity of an authority, an expert, an attending IS the first step. If you are studying for oral boards or about to graduate, elevating your self-conc…

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#33: Dr. Z Neurosurgery - What It Really Takes to Become a Neurosurgeon 1:14:27

7M ago1:14:27

1:14:27

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Z, a spine surgery fellow and neurosurgeon in Los Angeles. Dr. Z discusses his journey through neurosurgery, including the grueling demands of residency, the mental and physical resilience required, and the lessons he’s learned along the way. He shares the pivotal moment that inspired him to pursue neurosurgery,…

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#34 Courage to Pivot with Dr. Rashida Vassell 52:42

7M ago52:42

52:42

Get on-demand, lifetime, risk-free access to the Empowered Surgeons Group here. From ambitious and intelligent young woman who fast-tracked through college and medical school to hard-working surgery resident to new mom in her chief year to attending trying to navigate life after training, Dr. Vassell tells us all about how she reinvented herself mu…

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#32: The Future of Healthcare & What It Means for You | Bo & Ford Holland 1:11:58

7M ago1:11:58

1:11:58

Learn more about Health Bank One! ▶ http://www.healthbankone.com/ Download the Health Bank One app from the Apple App Store Use code HOEFLINGER for 20% off your monthly subscription. Download the Health Bank One app from the Android App Store In this episode, Dr. Brian Hoeflinger and Kevin Hoeflinger sit down with Bo and Ford Holland, the father-so…

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#33 Finding Your Attending Identity with Dr. Amina Farooq 1:01:14

7M ago1:01:14

1:01:14

Get on-demand, lifetime, risk-free access to the Empowered Surgeons Group here. We don't typically end up living the life we imagined we were going to live when we applied to our specialties. Dr. Amina Farooq shares her experience working as an academic interventional radiologist within a dehumanizing system. For many of us, this dehumanization ero…

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#32 Blake's Story with Dr. Andrea Palmer 54:48

8M ago54:48

54:48

Surgeons, text topics you want me to cover here. ****SENSITIVE CONTENT WARNING******* ****This episode discusses suicide, which can be distressing for some. If this subject is triggering for you, please consider skipping this one. If you are going to listen, make sure to listen carefully and take good care of yourself. If you are feeling hopeless o…

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#31: Passion, Pressure, & Precision: The Journey of Brain Surgeons 1:04:49

8M ago1:04:49

1:04:49

In this episode, Dr. Brian Hoeflinger and Kevin Hoeflinger talk with three neurosurgery residents (Drs. Catherine Jay, Racquel Whyte, and Karolina Pellot) and one attending neurosurgeon (Dr. Melissa LoPresti) from the University of Rochester to discuss the challenges, rewards, and realities of neurosurgical training. They share firsthand experience…

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#31 Solving for a Broken System with Dr. Wendy Dean and Dr. Matt Ramsey 52:54

8M ago52:54

52:54

Surgeons, text topics you want me to cover here. "I think we need to stay relentlessly curious. And we need to understand what we're working in and recognize there is nobody who comes to work everyday and thinks I'm going to make somebody else miserable." - Dr. Wendy Dean When service members returning from Iraq and Afghanistan were not responding …

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#30 Your Online Presence Doesn’t Have to Suck with Steph Sheldon, M.Arch 1:04:01

8M ago1:04:01

1:04:01

Surgeons, text topics you want me to cover here. Nobody in your audience, including your patients, wants your CV shoved down their throat. They don't care. They want to know if and how you can help them. Steph Sheldon is a website designer, former architect, and master at helping people reconnect with their creative side. Creativity is the emotion …

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#30: The History of Brain Surgery 40:22

8M ago40:22

40:22

In this episode, Dr. Hoeflinger and Kevin discuss the history of brain surgery from 7,000 BCE to present day and what the future of surgery and medicine may bring. Check out My Free Newsletter: pages.doctorhoeflinger.com Each week, I simplify the world of health, medicine, and fitness using my 25 years of experience as a board-certified neurosurgeo…

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#29 Anxiety isn’t Fear 31:16

8M ago31:16

31:16

Surgeons, text topics you want me to cover here. As a society, we are collectively dealing with an epidemic of anxiety. And no, we can’t just calm down. In today’s episode you will learn 3 important characteristics of anxiety 1. Anxiety lives in the left hemisphere, which has been strengthened by cultural messages 2. Anxiety is contagious 3. Anxiet…