The Fully Well Doc Pod
Dr Natasha Holmes and Dr Emily Fulleylove have warm and genuine conversations about the universally challenging experience of working, training and living as medics. Their mission is to inspire and empower doctors globally to make changes in their personal and working lives for greater happiness and fulfilment. Because all doctors deserve to be fully well.
Episodes
Monday Nov 27, 2023
Ep. 6 - How to Advocate for Yourself as a Junior Doctor
Monday Nov 27, 2023
Monday Nov 27, 2023
We talk to Dr Teddy about the realities of life as a doctor including her experiences as a black female medic, and the importance of advocating for yourself as a junior doctor.
Topics we discuss:
The highs and lows of being a Foundation Year 1 doctor
How you can put your needs first in order to do your job well
The importance of good peer and colleague friendships for improving your wellbeing
Noticing and acknowledging your growth and progress as a clinician
The importance of speaking up against - and documenting - events and experiences that are unjust and not working. Acknowledging the barriers to doing so.
The unspoken difficulties of junior doctors.
The added pressures and labour that comes from being a black female medic working in the NHS
The misunderstood nature of junior doctors’ pay and privileges.
Resources mentioned in this episode
You can find Teddy at @teddybearmedic on Instagram and TikTok
Wellness wonder:
The Royal Medical Benevolent Fund
Need help?
https://rmbf.org
Want to help?
https://rmbf.org/donate/
Other resources:
Samaritans UK
Samaritans USA
Doctors in Distress
NHS Practitioner Health
See more episodes: thefullywelldocpod.podbean.com
Email us: fullywelldocpod@gmail.com
Find us on social media:
Instagram @fullywelldocpod
Twitter @fullywelldocpod
Looking for coaching? Reach out for a free call with one of us:
Emily - www.fullybecoaching.com or Natasha - www.thewelldoctor.org
You can also connect with Emily or Natasha on social media:
Emily is on Instagram and LinkedIn
Natasha is on Instagram and Twitter
Monday Aug 14, 2023
Ep. 5 - How to Look After Your Wellbeing as a New Doctor
Monday Aug 14, 2023
Monday Aug 14, 2023
We talk to Dr Marianne Gazet about transitioning from medical student to doctor and how you can thrive during your first year as a medic.
Topics we discuss:
Practical tips to protect your wellbeing while doing a good job as a first year doctor
How to cope with the pressure and strain of understaffing in the NHS
The identity of a doctor - the importance of having interests outside of medicine to nurture your whole self
Respecting yourself, owning your individuality as a doctor and putting yourself first.
The value of connection and finding a community at work
Recognising the responsibilities of the individual versus the workplace and the system
The More than medical students podcast and what it’s about
Surprises from the first year working as a doctor
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Marianne’s social media page @MarianneDoesMedicine
Marianne’s podcast @MoreThanMedicalStudents can be found on all major streaming platforms
Wellness wonder:
Frontline19
Need help?
Register online for free support, such as therapy.
Want to help?
You can purchase from the Frontline 19 online shop. If you are a therapist, could you donate some time to support healthcare workers?
Other resources:
Samaritans UK
Samaritans USA
Doctors in Distress
NHS Practitioner Health
You Okay Doc
See more episodes: thefullywelldocpod.podbean.com
Email us: fullywelldocpod@gmail.com
Find us on social media:
Instagram @fullywelldocpod
Twitter @fullywelldocpod
Looking for coaching? Reach out for a free call with one of us:
Emily - www.fullybecoaching.com or Natasha - www.thewelldoctor.org
You can also connect with Emily or Natasha on social media:
Emily is on Instagram and LinkedIn
Natasha is on Instagram and Twitter
Photography by Antony Newman
Intro and Outro Music by Alex_MakeMusic from Pixabay
Sunday Jun 25, 2023
Ep. 4 - Medicine - A Resilient Profession?
Sunday Jun 25, 2023
Sunday Jun 25, 2023
We talk to Coach Andry Anastasis about whether resilience training has a role in the medical profession and how we can improve our resilience both individually and collaboratively.
Topics we discuss:
Defining what resilience truly means today and the different ways people understand it
How working in the wellbeing/mental health industry, or writing a book about resilience, doesn’t always protect you from your own burnout or mental health challenges
The importance of paying attention to your body and how you feel in order to be sustainably resilient
The balance of responsibility between the individual and the organisation when it comes to being resilient at work
Examples of organisational leaders getting it right when it comes to fostering a resilient workplace
Andry shares some practical and actionable tools we can use today, to improve and grow our resilience
How to recognise when it’s time to shift your focus from trying to build resilience and instead step away from a situation
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Andry’s website: www.thelearningmoment.org
The Really Resilient Guide book: in the UK or in the USA
Wellness wonder: You Okay Doc?
Need help?
Check out The Huddle - a free 6 week programme for doctors and medical students
Want to help?
Donate or buy something from the You Okay Doc shop, to help deliver more critical mental health support to frontline staff
Buy ‘Burnt Out’ by The Sounds of Settling on Bandcamp (100% of proceeds go to You Okay Doc)
You can also listen for free on Spotify
Other resources:
Samaritans UK
Samaritans USA
Doctors in Distress
NHS Practitioner Health
See more episodes: thefullywelldocpod.podbean.com
Email us: fullywelldocpod@gmail.com
Find us on social media:
Instagram @fullywelldocpod
Twitter @fullywelldocpod
Looking for coaching? Reach out for a free call with one of us:
Emily - www.fullybecoaching.com or Natasha - www.thewelldoctor.org
You can also connect with Emily or Natasha on social media:
Emily is on Instagram and LinkedIn
Natasha is on Instagram and Twitter
Photography by Antony Newman
Intro and Outro Music by Alex_MakeMusic from Pixabay
Listen to Burnt Out by Sounds of Settling on Spotify
Friday May 12, 2023
Ep. 3 - What to Do if You’re Unhappy in Your Medical Training Programme
Friday May 12, 2023
Friday May 12, 2023
Find out what to do if you’re unhappy in your medical training programme from Dr Ashiq Zaman, who shares his story of pivoting from neurology resident doctor to occupational medicine.
Topics we discuss:
The impact of sleep deprivation and long hours on functioning and how this differs for different people
The stigma of talking about mental health in medicine and what is changing (in the UK and the US)
The lesser spoken expectations of a doctor’s character and how these can be harmful to a doctor’s wellbeing
The impact of feeling shame within medicine
Lessons from leaving a traditional medical pathway
What it’s like working in occupational medicine
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Research shows that being awake for 17 hours is similar to having a BAC of 0.05% and being awake for 24 hours is similar to having a BAC of 0.10%. Source: The Centers for Disease Control and prevention (CDC) website)
Wellness wonder: The Dr Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation
Need help?
Read publications from the Dr Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation and others about the rising support for doctors and their mental health.
Want to help?:
Get recognition for work to protect clinician's wellbeing , check out the All In Wellbeing First for Healthcare Campaign or donate here.
Other resources:
Samaritans UK
Samaritans USA
Doctors in Distress
NHS Practitioner Health
See more episodes: thefullywelldocpod.podbean.com
Email us: fullywelldocpod@gmail.com
Find us on social media:
Instagram @fullywelldocpod
Twitter @fullywelldocpod
Looking for coaching? Reach out for a free call with one of us:
Emily - www.fullybecoaching.com
Natasha - www.thewelldoctor.org
You can also connect with Emily or Natasha on social media:
Emily is on Instagram and LinkedIn
Natasha is on Instagram and Twitter
Photography by Antony Newman
Music by Alex_MakeMusic from Pixabay
Friday May 12, 2023
Ep. 2 - The Myth of What Makes a Good Medic
Friday May 12, 2023
Friday May 12, 2023
Find out how coaching and the power of vulnerability can help you find more joy in your life, with Dr Caroline Walker - the founder of The Joyful Doctor.
*Trigger Warning*
In this episode we discuss suicidal ideation (minute 22.27) and suicide (minute 3.25, 23.29). This could be triggering if you’re actively experiencing similar experiences. Please avoid listening to this if you think you’re likely to be triggered, and always seek professional mental health help (see below for resources).
Topics we discuss:
The importance of looking out for peers and colleagues in medicine
What The Joyful Doctor is and how it came to be
The power of coaching and how coaching can help doctors
How coaching is different to therapy
The benefits of leaders sharing vulnerability and what that looks like
What it means to identify as a doctor and how this can be challenging
How doctors can be and often are patients - and how that is OK
The power of kindness
Resources mentioned in this episode:
The Joyful Doctor - www.joyfuldoctor.com
Wellness wonder: Doctors in Distress
Need help?
Although Doctors in Distress is not a crisis service, you can access their many offerings (including support groups and programmes) on their website here.
Want to help?
You can donate to help more healthcare professionals
Other resources:
Samaritans UK
Samaritans USA
Doctors in Distress
NHS Practitioner Health
See more episodes: thefullywelldocpod.podbean.com
Email us: fullywelldocpod@gmail.com
Find us on social media:
Instagram @fullywelldocpod
Twitter @fullywelldocpod
Looking for coaching? Reach out for a free call with one of us:
Emily - www.fullybecoaching.com
Natasha - www.thewelldoctor.org
You can also connect with Emily or Natasha on social media:
Emily is on Instagram and LinkedIn
Natasha is on Instagram and Twitter
Photography by Antony Newman
Music by Alex_MakeMusic from Pixabay
Friday May 12, 2023
Ep. 1 - It’s Not Just You - Mental Health and Medics
Friday May 12, 2023
Friday May 12, 2023
We are kicking off with a deep dive into our stories of mental health in relation to training and working as a doctor, and how these became an inspiration for our podcast.
*Trigger Warning*
In this episode we discuss the physical symptoms of anxiety (minutes 9:43 and minute 19.03) and we mention an eating disorder (minute 2.54). This could be triggering if you’re actively experiencing similar experiences. Please avoid listening to this if you think you’re likely to be triggered, and always seek professional mental health help (see below for resources).
Topics we discuss:
Get to know a bit about your hosts, Dr Emily Fulleylove and Dr Natasha Holmes, and our hopes for The Fully Well Doc Pod
Recognising anxiety and depression in yourself and how it’s not always obvious
The common experience of mental health difficulties and the stigma and shame around it within the medical environment
What burnout is and how we view it in the context of our past medical experiences
Asking for and receiving the right help when you're suffering with mental health problems as a doctor
The importance of seeking support for mental health struggles and the acknowledgment that this comes with its own barriers
The benefits of coaching for all doctors
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Wellness Wonder: NHS Practitioner Health
Need help?
In the UK, Practitioner Health have teamed up with SHOUT to create a confidential 24/7 text service for PH patients. Text 85258.
Want to help?
You can help shape the service by taking part in patient and volunteer groups
Other resources:
Samaritans UK
Samaritans USA
Doctors in Distress
NHS Practitioner Health
See more episodes: thefullywelldocpod.podbean.com
Email us: fullywelldocpod@gmail.com
Find us on social media:
Instagram @fullywelldocpod
Twitter @fullywelldocpod
Looking for coaching? Reach out for a free call with one of us:
Emily - www.fullybecoaching.com or Natasha - www.thewelldoctor.org
You can also connect with Emily or Natasha on social media:
Emily is on Instagram and LinkedIn
Natasha is on Instagram and Twitter
Photography by Antony Newman
Music by Alex_MakeMusic from Pixabay
Wednesday May 10, 2023
Trailer
Wednesday May 10, 2023
Wednesday May 10, 2023
Coming soon: The Fully Well Doc Pod
Dr Natasha Holmes and Dr Emily Fulleylove have warm and genuine conversations about the universally challenging experience of working, training and living as medics. Their mission is to inspire and empower doctors globally to make changes in their personal and working lives for greater happiness and fulfilment.
See more episodes at: www.thefullywelldocpod.podbean.com
Email us at fullywelldocpod@gmail.com
Find us on social media:
Instagram: @fullywelldocpod
Twitter: @fullywelldocpod
We want to see fully well doctors
Once upon a time there was a 24 year old medical student who had reached the end of her many years studying at medical school. She had finally qualified as a doctor. She was hard working and dedicated. And completely overwhelmed with anxiety.
She quietly persevered through exhaustion, digestive issues and a crushing sense of failure, knowing that she was strong and resilient, and that it was her job to "fix herself". She had been trained to believe that she had to be the best. To be a doctor above all else. To be superhuman.
One day, it all got too much and she had to take a break from her medical career. She felt like she was the only one who had experienced this.
That was Emily in 2009.
And it was Natasha in 2017.
When Natasha and Emily met, in 2020, they compared their stories of medical culture and the challenges on mental wellbeing. They were shocked that the picture of support for the wellbeing of doctors hadn't changed in over 10 years.
So they decided to start recording conversations about physician burnout, career adjustment, mental health and healthcare culture.
They want to see normalised conversations about how doctors can be better cared for by their employers, colleagues and loved ones. And how they can find their own best path to a fulfilling life, whilst working as a doctor.