What happens when you chase perfection in a world that demands flawlessness, especially as a South Asian woman? In this powerful and heartfelt conversation, host Dr. Amna Shabbir sits down with Nishat Uddin, founder of Brown Girls Health and South Asian Care, to unpack the cultural, personal, and professional layers of perfectionism. Nishat shares her journey of veering off the traditional career path, navigating community pressures, and redefining what success and mental health support mean on ...
Jul 27, 2025•24 min•Ep. 23
What if your greatest impact as a physician isn't inside the exam room but beyond it? In this powerful episode, Dr. Amna Shabbir sits down with Dr. Kevin Pho, the founder of KevinMD.com, one of the most influential healthcare platforms in the world. Together, they explore the hidden cost of perfectionism, the cultural roots of overachievement, and what it means to redefine success as a clinician. Dr. Pho opens up about his immigrant upbringing, the emotional toll of medicine, and how his platfor...
Jul 20, 2025•23 min•Ep. 22
You’ve worked so hard to be successful, but do you actually know how to enjoy it? In this powerful episode, we sit down with Dr. Hala Sabry—ER physician, mother of five, and founder of the Physician Moms Group (PMG) and the National Women Physicians Day—to explore the complex relationship women have with perfectionism, identity, and success. Dr. Sabry opens up about her journey from being a people-pleasing perfectionist to embracing her power and how letting go of societal expectations allowed h...
Jul 13, 2025•47 min•Ep. 21
What if the most powerful thing you could say is simply, “I don’t know”? In this inspiring and deeply honest conversation, Amanda Hill, JD—healthcare attorney and advocate for physicians—joins Dr. Amna Shabbir to share her journey with perfectionism. From striving to be the perfect mom and professional to realizing the price of always needing to “get it right,” Amanda opens up about the toll that perfectionism takes and how humor, self-compassion, and embracing imperfection became her superpower...
Jul 06, 2025•34 min•Ep. 20
What does it take to fail the right way? In this high-energy conversation, Dr. Amna Shabbir sits down with powerhouse motivational speaker and sales coach Larry Long Jr. to unpack what it really means to "Lead Loud." Together, they dive into how leaders can unlock joy even in the middle of burnout, foster deep human connection in high-performing environments, and find personal healing in the act of helping others rise. Together, they explore: ✅Why “Leading Loud” is a way of being, not just a str...
Jun 15, 2025•39 min•Ep. 19
How do you continue to show up in medicine after you've been hit with a $28 million malpractice lawsuit? In this powerful and deeply vulnerable conversation, Dr. Amna Shabbir is joined by Dr. Gita Pensa, an emergency physician, Brown University faculty member, podcast host of Doctors and Litigation: The L Word , and fierce advocate for physician well-being. Dr. Pensa shares the raw truth of what it was like to face litigation, an ordeal that spanned over 12 years, and how that experience reshape...
Jun 08, 2025•38 min•Ep. 18
“I have a license to practice medicine, but I don’t have a degree in martyrdom.” In this honest and heartfelt conversation, Dr. Laura Vater, a gastrointestinal oncologist, TEDx speaker, and creator of the SMILE Scale, joins Dr. Amna Shabbir to unmask the hidden costs of perfectionism in medicine. Together, they navigate the often-unspoken emotional toll of striving, sacrificing, and surviving in a system that rewards overwork and overlooks humanity. This episode challenges the idea that exhausti...
Jun 01, 2025•45 min•Ep. 17
Have you been striving for apathy? In this deeply moving and powerful conversation, Dr. Abby Spencer, Professor of Medicine, Vice Chair for Education, and Director of the Academy of Educators at Washington University, joins Dr. Amna Shabbir to unpack the high cost of perfectionism, the reality of burnout in medicine, and what it means to lead with heart. Together, they explore: ✅Compassionate leadership in medicine ✅ The double standards women in leadership face ✅ A special moment in Dr. Shabbir...
May 25, 2025•43 min•Ep. 16
“The most important thing you can remember is your humble beginnings.” In this powerful conversation, Dr. Amna Shabbir speaks with Geoffrey M. Roche , healthcare workforce expert, Forbes Business Council member, and proud advocate for inclusion, as he opens up about the life-changing moment that forced him to redefine success, step away from perfectionism, and lead with greater authenticity and impact. Together, they explore: ✅Why perfectionism is not a strength in disguise ✅The turning point th...
May 18, 2025•29 min•Ep. 15
What happens when the profession you love ends up taking everything from you? In this deeply moving episode, Dr. Amna Shabbir sits down with Betsy Gall , author of The Illusion of the Perfect Profession , to talk about physician suicide, the hidden cost of perfectionism, and the very real pain that’s often buried beneath a white coat. Following the tragic death by suicide of her husband, Dr. Matthew Gall—a beloved oncologist, husband, and father—Betsy transformed her grief into advocacy. Her boo...
May 11, 2025•35 min•Ep. 14
"You don’t have to apologize for taking up space or for wanting more." In this empowering episode of Success Reimagined, Dr. Amna Shabbir welcomes Dr. Sasha Shillcutt, tenured professor, cardiac anesthesiologist, author, and founder of Brave Enough, for a powerful conversation on boundaries, burnout, and bold leadership. Together, they explore: ✅ The invisible toll of over-functioning in high-stress careers ✅ Why boundaries are not just protective, but restorative ✅ The courage required to disap...
May 04, 2025•43 min•Ep. 13
"Perfectionistic behaviors make life easier for other people— but often harder for ourselves." In this insightful episode of Success Reimagined , Dr. Amna Shabbir sits down with Dr. Clarissa Ong, co-author of The Anxious Perfectionist , to explore the hidden emotional costs of perfectionism, the psychological trap of coherence, and how high achievers can begin to shift from performance to presence. Together, they explore: ✅ The rigidity at the root of perfectionism ✅ How the “coherence trap” kee...
Apr 28, 2025•27 min•Ep. 12
What if we’re telling healthcare workers to be perfect, then punishing them when they break under the pressure? In this powerful episode, Dr. Amna Shabbir sits down with Dr. Stefanie Simmons , Chief Medical Officer of the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes' Foundation , to unpack the cultural, psychological, and policy-level forces that make it nearly impossible for healthcare workers to ask for help. A nationally recognized leader in clinician well-being, Dr. Simmons brings her lived experience as a physic...
Apr 20, 2025•29 min•Ep. 11
What if we’re grooming our future doctors for burnout before they even start training? In this powerful episode, Dr. Amna Shabbir sits down with Dr. Stuart Slavin , Vice President for Well-Being at the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) and a national leader in physician mental health, to explore how maladaptive perfectionism begins long before medical school—and how the culture of high achievement can deeply impact mental health. Together, they explore: ✅ How maladapti...
Apr 13, 2025•38 min•Ep. 10
Your smartphone isn’t just a tool—it’s controlling your attention, your focus, and your success. In today’s hyperconnected world, notifications, alerts, and endless distractions are pulling you away from your biggest goals. But what if one small change to your smartphone habits could make all the difference? In this Solo Episode, Dr. Shabbir Dive's into: ✅ Why your smartphone home screen is “prime real estate” for your success ✅ How unchecked notifications and alerts are hijacking your focus ✅ T...
Apr 06, 2025•10 min•Ep. 9
What if your drive to be perfect is rooted in shame? In this powerful episode, Dr. Amna Shabbir sits down with Dr. Will Bynum , a leading expert on the psychology of shame, to explore how perfectionism and shame are deeply intertwined—especially in high-achieving fields like medicine. Together, they explore: ✅How Perfectionism and Shame are connected ✅Shame vs. Guilt ✅Why shame thrives in high-stakes environments like medicine and parenting ✅How to transform your mindset surrounding shame ✅Actio...
Mar 30, 2025•44 min•Ep. 8
Does perfectionism truly drive success—or is it quietly working against you? In this compelling episode, Dr. Thomas Curran , world-renowned perfectionism researcher and author of The Perfection Trap, joins Amna Shabbir, MD to expose the hidden costs of perfectionism and why it’s time to rethink our relentless pursuit of flawlessness. Together, they break down: ✅ What perfectionism really is (hint: it’s not just “high standards”) ✅ The connection between perfectionism, burnout, and mental health ...
Mar 23, 2025•43 min•Ep. 7
Guest: Jennifer B. Wallace, Journalist & Bestselling Author of Never Enough In this insightful episode I sit down with Jennifer B. Wallace, award-winning journalist and author of the New York Times bestseller, Never Enough: When Achievement Culture Becomes Toxic and What We Can Do About It. Jennifer and I dive deep into the pressures of high-achievement culture, how it affects our mental health, parenting, and personal fulfillment, and, most importantly, what we can do about it. In This Epis...
Mar 16, 2025•38 min•Ep. 6
Dropping this Special Announcement for You. The next episodes for Season 1 of Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir, MD center on one powerful theme: Unmasking Perfectionism. These are not just conversations—they are part of my larger book project on perfectionism , diving deep into what it really is and how it shapes our lives. Join me as global thought leaders, researchers, and high achievers share their unfiltered insights on the hidden costs of perfectionism and the path to breaking free. Tru...
Mar 10, 2025•7 min
"If you’re never fully unplugged, you’re also never fully in the zone." In this episode of Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir, MD, is diving into Psychological Detachment—the essential, research-backed strategy for avoiding burnout, boosting productivity, and sustaining long-term success. We live in a culture where work is always on—where emails, unfinished charts, and notifications follow us home. But if you don’t take time to disconnect, your performance, mental health, and well-being will s...
Mar 09, 2025•8 min•Ep. 5
Do you ever feel like your inner critic is holding you back? I know I’ve been there, and in today’s episode of Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir, MD, I’m sharing why self-compassion is the ultimate strategy for achieving success. We often think being hard on ourselves will push us to do better, but research shows the opposite. Self-criticism leads to procrastination, burnout, and lower confidence. On the other hand, self-compassion rewires your brain, boosts emotional resilience, and helps yo...
Mar 03, 2025•10 min•Ep. 4
Do you ever feel stuck, even though you’re working hard to create something new in your life? Here’s a question to consider: What am I willing to give up to create space for the success I truly desire? In today’s episode of Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir, MD, I’m diving into the power of letting go. Whether it’s breaking old habits, setting boundaries, or even leaving behind a safe but unfulfilling job, redefining success often requires us to give something up to gain something better. You...
Feb 24, 2025•10 min•Ep. 3
I know how scary rejection can feel. That fear of hearing the word "no" has stopped me in my tracks more times than I’d like to admit. In today’s episode of Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir, MD, I’m sharing how I’ve worked through my own fear of rejection—and how you can, too. Rejection can leave us stuck in the worst-case scenario without even trying. Whether it’s asking for a raise, pursuing a dream, or having an honest conversation, the fear of ‘no’ can hold us back from opportunities tha...
Feb 24, 2025•13 min•Ep. 2
Have you ever felt overwhelmed by the clutter in your life? I recently had a moment like that when I realized I was only using 20% of my wardrobe. The other 80%—clothes that didn’t fit, things I was holding onto for “someday”—was just sitting there, causing visual and mental overwhelm. That’s when it hit me: the things we hold onto, especially in our closets, can hold us back from achieving true success. In this episode of Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir, MD, I’m sharing my personal journey...
Feb 24, 2025•17 min•Ep. 1
Hi there, and welcome to the very first episode of Success Reimagined. I’m your host, Dr. Amna Shabbir, and I’m so excited to have you here with me on this journey. This show is for you if you feel stuck in that never-ending cycle of chasing achievement after achievement, only to feel… tired and empty once you get there. It’s also for you if, despite being given the label of being successful, you don’t actually feel that way inside. Maybe, like me, you’ve found yourself wondering: Is this all th...
Feb 07, 2025•7 min
