Parenting doesn’t end when our children turn 18—it simply changes. Parenting young adult children encompasses a full spectrum of emotions such as joy, pride, longing, and grief. It requires a reevaluation of what it means to be a mother.

In this heartfelt solo episode, I share truths about parenting grown children, a role that is rarely talked about. I share the joys, grief, and surprising lessons of parenting young adult children. I offer what I hope is grounding wisdom for embracing the ongoing transitions.

Whether your kids are in college, starting careers, or building families of their own, this stage is filled with change, growth, and the need for a new kind of connection. It is a tender, bittersweet season of parenting. A phase that requires a reevaluation of what it means to be a mother.

I explore how to stay connected while letting go, how to trust your adult children, and how to show up with curiosity, compassion, and love even as your role shifts from daily involvement to occasional invitations.

Parenting young adults is a long game. Your relationship as adults will last far longer than the childhood years.
Curiosity, compassion, trust, and emotional spaciousness are the keys to connection in this season.
You can let go while still feeling deeply and accepting change doesn’t mean you stop caring.

Reflection Questions:

• How do you want to show up as a parent in this new chapter?

• What would love do in your relationship with your young adult child?

If you are ready to step more fully into this next chapter of life—whether you are redefining your role as a parent, finding your passions, or learning to let go with love—join me at one of my upcoming retreats at www.jessiemahoneymd.com/retreats.

For coaching support as you navigate these transitions, visit www.jessiemahoneymd.com/coaching.

If you would like to hire me or Dr. Liang to speak or lead a workshop for your team, institution, or conference, please reach out at www.jessiemahoneymd.com/speaking or www.awakenbreath.org.

Nothing shared in the Healing Medicine Podcast is medical advice.

What if one introduction could change the entire trajectory of your career or someone else's? This week's episode is an invitation to reflect on the ripple effect of referrals, recommendations, and authentic support, especially among women in medicine.

As women in medicine, we haven't always supported one another well. In honor of Women in Medicine Month, this episode is an encouragement to change that.

I share how one beautiful moment of being recommended felt - a sense of deep gratitude, renewed purpose, and the powerful realization that women have the capacity to lift one another in ways that shift not just careers, but culture.

Building circles of support can bring joy, meaning, and positive change into our personal and professional lives.

Whether you're a natural connector or a quiet introvert, listen for practical ways to build deeper relationships, give generously, and receive with grace.

Pearls of Wisdom:

• Referrals and recommendations aren’t promotion, they’re acts of trust, generosity, and cultural change.

• Supporting another woman in medicine creates ripple effects far beyond what you may see or know.

• Authentic connections are more impactful than loud visibility. One meaningful recommendation is powerful.

• Don’t need to amplify everything. Simply share what you genuinely love and believe in.

• Deep, one-on-one conversations are as powerful and more meaningful than large-scale networking.
  
  

Reflection Questions:

• Who is one woman in medicine you could lift up this week through a referral, recommendation, or kind word?

• How would it feel to give that kind of support freely, with love?

• What ripple effect might you create by sharing authentically the work of someone you admire?
  
  

We close this episode with an invitation to become a connector.

Even if you're an introvert, even if you're just starting out, one referral, one introduction, or one moment of amplifying someone else's light can change everything for that person - and for you!

If this conversation inspires you, consider sharing it with a woman in medicine you admire.

If you’re ready to create deeper, more aligned connections in your own life and career, I’d love to support you with mindful coaching www.jessiemahoneymd.com/coaching.

To retreat with me and step into more aligned leadership and connection, explore upcoming retreats at www.jessiemahoneymd.com/retreats. 2025 retreats are all sold out but I would love to meet you in 2026.

To bring conversations like this to your team or institution, connect with Dr. Jessie Mahoney at www.jessiemahoneymd.com/speaking or connect with Dr. Liang at www.awakenbreath.org.

Nothing shared in the Healing Medicine Podcast is medical advice.

Have you ever stayed in something longer than you knew was right—because it wasn’t terrible, and it seemed like the “responsible” thing to do?

This week, we invite you into a mindful conversation about the powerful concept of graduating and outgrowing roles rather than quitting.

What if moving on didn’t mean giving up—but meant you’ve outgrown, evolved, and are ready for what’s next? Listen to learn how to recognize that moment, navigate it with grace, and honor the growth that brought you to this turning point.

Whether you're feeling restless in a professional role, a volunteer commitment, or a title that no longer fits, this episode is a gentle reminder that permission to move forward comes from within.

Pearls of Wisdom:

• Graduating is a celebration of growth—quitting is not the only story available.

• Feeling uninspired, bored, or disconnected might be your inner wisdom inviting you forward.

• You don’t have to wait until you’re depleted or miserable to make a change.

• Mindfully leaving can create space for the transformation of yours and others’.

• Leadership sometimes means stepping aside, making room for new voices and fresh energy.
  
  

Reflection Questions:

• What in your life feels like a graduation that’s waiting to happen?

• If you trusted your body’s wisdom, what might you step away from?

• What new chapter might be waiting if only you created the space to let it arrive?
  
  

In this episode, I share a powerful tool I learned from Martha Beck- The Body Compass. This tool, when done well,l can help you release fear-based decision-making.

If you're navigating a transition—or even just wondering whether it's time to move on from something that no longer aligns—this episode offers loving guidance and encouragement.

If you’re ready to find what’s next, I invite you to explore a mindful coaching partnership with me at www.jessiemahoneymd.com/coaching.

Joining me for a retreat is also a great option. All fall 2025 retreats are sold out, but I would love to meet you in 2026. Now is the time to plan if you want to carve out a transformative space for reflection, healing, and new beginnings: www.jessiemahoneymd.com/retreats.

To bring this conversation to your team, institution, or conference, learn more about speaking opportunities with me at www.jessiemahoneymd.com/speaking, or connect with Dr. Liang at www.awakenbreath.org.

Nothing shared in the Healing Medicine Podcast is medical advice.

Whether you're a physician, a parent of young athletes, or someone exploring your own healing journey, this episode is a reminder that healing isn’t always found in a prescription pad, it might be found in motion.

Episode Summary:
Have you ever felt there had to be more to practicing medicine? That healing could happen beyond prescriptions and procedures? In this powerful and heartwarming episode, we welcome Dr. Amy Valasek, a Presidential Award winning pediatric sports medicine physician, group fitness instructor, and mom of two athletes, as she shares how she integrated movement and joy into her medical practice.

Reuniting after 20 years since medical school, host Dr. Ni-Cheng Liang and Dr. Valasek dive into the transformative power of physical activity—for themselves, their patients, and their families.

Special Guest:
Dr. Amy Valasek is a physician at Nationwide Children's Sports Medicine and an associate professor at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. A graduate of the University of Maryland School of Medicine (Class of 2005), she is board-certified in sports medicine, a Les Mills certified instructor, and winner of the 2024 President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition Community Leadership Award.

• Dr. Valasek’s journey from traditional sports medicine to incorporating Les Mills group fitness classes into her clinical care

• How she overcame resistance and embraced innovation in healing

• The emotional and psychological benefits of group movement for patients and for Dr. Valasek, herself.

• Insights for parents of youth athletes and her philosophy on multi-sport participation

• The healing power of movement for people of all ages from kids to those with chronic illnesses
  
  

Dr. Valasek’s approach challenges the status quo of medical practice by bringing patients into fitness spaces and out of purely clinical spaces. From youth athletes to entire communities, her work exemplifies how movement can be a healing modality in and of itself.

• Movement is medicine for mind, body, and spirit

• Resistance to change is normal and curiosity can lead the way

• There’s room in medicine for joy, creativity, and connection
  
  

Amy.Valasek@nationwidechildrens.org

• Mindful Healthcare Collective – Join us on Facebook or at mindfulhealthcarecollective.com to explore mindfulness and healing with fellow healthcare professionals
  
  

• Want us to lead or host a healing workshop or retreat? Contact Dr. Ni-Cheng Liang or Dr. Jessie Mahoney to bring wellness to your colleagues.
  
  

Move beyond consuming this amazing podcast. True change happens when you work with us - virtually and/or in-person.

Coach with Jessie - 1:1, in topic-focused small groups, or at a retreat. www.jessiemahoneymd.com

Work with both of us in person at The Mindful Healers Annual Retreat www.jessiemahoneymd.com/retreats

Hire one or both of us to speak or lead a workshop on any topic covered in the Mindful Healers Podcast. We also create team retreats, teach yoga, and offer experiential mindfulness for teams, groups, grand rounds, institutions, and conferences.

www.jessiemahoneymd.com/mindful-healers-podcast

www.awakenbreath.org

www.jessiemahoneymd.com/speaking

*Nothing shared in the Mindful Healers Podcast is medical advice.

What can gardening teach us about life, medicine, and mindful living?

In this conversation, we explore the parallels between tending plants and tending ourselves. From planting seeds to harvesting fruit, every stage in the garden offers lessons about patience, presence, letting go of control, and trusting the natural rhythm of growth. Whether you’re an experienced gardener, a houseplant enthusiast, or simply plant-curious, you’ll hear insights, humor, and inspiration to deepen your connection to nature—and yourself.

Pearls of Wisdom:

• Begin where you are—growth starts with action, not perfection.
  
  

• The best lessons in patience come from nature’s timeline, not our own.
  
  

• Letting go of control allows room for unexpected beauty and resilience.
  
  

• Pruning and “deadheading” aren’t just for plants—they’re a metaphor for focusing energy on what matters most.
  
  

• Gardens thrive in community, just as we do.
  
  

Reflection Questions:

• Where in your life might you create more space and light for growth?
  
  

• What would you prune away to direct energy toward what matters most?
  
  

• How can you honor the seasons and cycles in your own life and work?
  
  

Take a moment to stay mindful at the end of the episode and practice grounding yourself, just as plants root into the earth.

If you’d like to experience mindful presence and community in person, join me for a retreat at www.jessiemahoneymd.com/retreats, explore coaching at https://www.jessiemahoneymd.com/coaching, or learn more about my speaking engagements at www.jessiemahoneymd.com/speaking.

Dr. Liang also offers workshops and speaking for healthcare and wellness communities at www.awakenbreath.org.

We invite you to share this episode with a friend who loves gardening—or who could use a reminder to slow down and savor the process.

Nothing shared in the Healing Medicine Podcast is medical advice.

What if smaller wasn’t a limitation, but a superpower?

We explore the countercultural truth that success doesn’t always mean scaling up—it can mean rooting down. Inspired by Bo Burlingham’s book Small Giants, we reflect on companies and people who intentionally choose depth, intimacy, and meaning over sheer size.

We discuss how “great instead of big” has led us to more fulfillment, deeper connection, and increased joy.

You’ll hear our personal stories and be invited to rethink how you measure success—whether that's in medicine, business, or simply being human.

Pearls of Wisdom:

• Fulfillment can be your ultimate measure of success—quality, mastery, and purpose often matter more than numbers or scale.

• Being “small” can deepen roots, strengthen community, and preserve your values.

• Intimacy—whether with patients, clients, or community—creates an impact that scale can’t always replicate.

• You can intentionally design your “company culture,” whether that’s your workplace, your family, or your ecosystem.

• Choosing less can often give you so much more.
  
  

Reflection Questions:

• What would it look like for you to be a “small giant” in your own life?

• How might you choose quality, intimacy, and depth instead of scale, speed, or more?

• Where could you deepen your roots instead of stretching yourself thinner?
  
  

If you’d like to bring this kind of mindful, intentional leadership into your life and work, I invite you to join me for coaching or a retreat at www.jessiemahoneymd.com or learn more about my speaking offerings at www.jessiemahoneymd.com/speaking.

Dr. Liang also offers workshops and speaking engagements at www.awakenbreath.org.

We are, proudly, a small giant—-rooted in connection, intimacy, and the belief that depth changes lives.

Nothing shared in the Healing Medicine Podcast is medical advice.

What if your relationship with the robots—the algorithms, the bots, and the emerging AI tools—could be approached with softness and intention, just like any other relationship in your life?

A playful yet grounding episode, exploring the rise of artificial intelligence through a lens of mindful curiosity, wonder, and loving amusement.

Rather than catastrophizing or glorifying AI, we explore how it might become a creative collaborator, a mirror for our own biases, and a surprising connector across generations.

As physicians and humans navigating change, our invitation is to approach this new reality with open hearts and hands wide open.

Pearls of Wisdom:

• Mindfulness provides a robust framework for engaging with technology—not out of fear or resistance, but with intentionality, presence, and curiosity.

• AI reflects how we interact with it—when we ask thoughtful questions, we receive thoughtful answers. It's a mirror of our energy, not just our words.

• While AI can save time and support creativity, it cannot replicate the nuance, compassion, and healing presence of human connection.

• Wonder, loving amusement, and discernment are vital tools for navigating rapid technological change.

• Mindfully choosing how we relate to AI—just as we do with any relationship—gives us back our power and deepens our humanity.
  
  

Reflection Questions:

• What emotions come up for you when you hear the word "AI"? Can you allow them all to be present?

• In what ways could AI support your values, creativity, or time?

• How might you bring intentionality and kindness into your relationship with the machines?
  
  

If you're feeling called to explore your relationship with change, creativity, or your work in healthcare, I invite you to consider coaching with me.

Whether you're navigating new technology or seeking more meaningful connections in your life and career, coaching creates space for clarity, intention, and aligned action. Learn more here: https://www.jessiemahoneymd.com/coaching

If you're curious about what’s possible when you step away from the machines and into spaciousness, join me for an upcoming retreat: www.jessiemahoneymd.com/retreats

And if you’d like to bring this mindful approach to your team, institution, or event, I offer workshops and talks that integrate mindfulness, leadership, and well-being: www.jessiemahoneymd.com/speaking.

Dr. Ni-Cheng Liang is also available to speak and lead mindfulness sessions. Learn more at: www.awakenbreath.org

Nothing shared in the Healing Medicine Podcast is medical advice.

Were you the one who always held it together? The responsible one?

The one who made sure everyone else was okay—sometimes at the cost of your own well-being?

In this episode, we explore what it means to grow up as the eldest daughter—and how the roles we took on early in life may have shaped how we show up as women, physicians, caretakers, and leaders.

Whether or not you're technically the eldest daughter, if you're a woman in medicine, you may recognize yourself in this conversation.

Together, we share our personal stories, the burdens we unknowingly took on, and the healing that’s possible through mindfulness, self-compassion, and intention.

Pearls of Wisdom:

• Eldest daughter syndrome often mirrors what is expected in medicine: overresponsibility, emotional caretaking, perfectionism, and silent overwhelm.

• Mindful awareness helps us gently unpack the roots of these tendencies—where they began and why they persist—without blame or shame.

• Healing begins with recognition and continues with rest, boundaries, support, and a willingness to unlearn.

• You are allowed to stop carrying it all. And doing so may be the most loving act for yourself and those around you.

• Therapy, coaching, rest, and mindfulness are all powerful pathways to releasing what was never meant to be yours alone to hold.
  
  

Reflection Questions:

• When did you first feel like it was your job to hold it all together?

• What have you mistaken for compassion that was self-abandonment?

• What might reclaiming your story look like now—with boundaries, rest, and gentleness?

• Are there areas where forgiveness—for yourself or others—might bring relief?
  
  

Stay with us until the end for a grounding mindful moment—a space to breathe, feel, and explore what you’ve been holding... and what you might lovingly choose to lay down.

If you’re ready to stop carrying it all—and begin honoring your own needs with compassion—consider joining me for coaching: https://www.jessiemahoneymd.com/coaching

For deeper integration and connection with others who share your lived experience, I warmly invite you to join a retreat: www.jessiemahoneymd.com/retreats

If your organization or institution is seeking healing, inclusive conversations, and support around leadership, well-being, and identity, I would love to speak or lead a workshop for your group: www.jessiemahoneymd.com/speaking

Dr. Ni-Cheng Liang is also available to bring her expertise and compassionate voice to your team or conference. Learn more at www.awakenbreath.org

Nothing shared in the Healing Medicine Podcast is medical advice.