In this powerful episode of ItsBrainSurgery, ENT surgeon and mindset coach Mel Thacker opens up about hitting rock bottom after the pandemic stripped away her identity as a surgeon — and how that led to an awakening.

She talks about the emotional cost of perfectionism, the unspoken shame in medicine, and why surgeons (and all high-performers) need mindset work just as much as technical training.

If you've ever struggled with burnout, identity loss, or the feeling of "is this all there is?", this is the conversation you need to hear.

🎙️ Topics We Cover:

The addiction to external validation in medicine

Burnout, shame, and trauma in surgical culture

Why mindset training should be mandatory for surgeons

How to deal with complications without losing yourself

Her "growth cycle" model for personal reinvention

👤 Guest: Mel Thacker

IG: @thesurgeoncoach

Website: MelThackerCoaching.com

Podcast: Surgeons With Purpose

📌 Subscribe for more real conversations that cut deeper than the scalpel.

In this mind-expanding episode of ItsBrainSurgery, we sit down with acclaimed stoic philosopher and bestselling author William B. Irvine to explore how ancient wisdom can transform modern lives. Irvine shares actionable insights from Stoicism — not as cold indifference, but as a powerful toolkit to reduce anxiety, master desire, and reclaim inner peace in a chaotic world.

🎙️ Topics Covered:
How to become emotionally bulletproof
The real reason modern life makes us miserable
Why Stoicism isn’t about suppressing emotions “Negative visualization” and other powerful tools How to train your brain for resilience

👤 Guest: William B. Irvine

Author of A Guide to the Good Life and The Stoic Challenge
Professor of Philosophy at Wright State University

This conversation is for anyone who wants to suffer less, focus more, and live with greater purpose.

What do you do when everything goes wrong, in life, in surgery, in the chaos of your own mind?

In this raw and powerful solo episode of ItsBrainSurgery, a neurosurgeon shares the 8 Stoic tools that helped him navigate grief, burnout, failure, pressure, and everyday life. These aren’t just quotes for Instagram, they’re practical mental frameworks forged in the OR, in marriage, in injury, and in dark moments we all face.

🎙️ What You’ll Learn:

Memento Mori: How death awareness brings life into focus

The View from Above: Gaining perspective in high-pressure moments

Prospective Retrospection: Making decisions your future self would be proud of

Negative Visualization: Training your brain for disaster — and gratitude

Embracing the Last Time: How to make everyday moments sacred

The Obstacle is the Way: Transforming setbacks into strength

Voluntary Discomfort: Cold plunges and the power of choosing hard things

Focus on Process: Letting go of outcomes and owning your effort

🧠 If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, numb, or like you’re just surviving life — this episode might change how you live it.