Most physicians are trained to stay in control, to know the answers, and to solve problems quickly. But what happens when the real power lies in letting go, asking better questions—and even playing a little?

• Dr. David Wild shares his early roots in a rural community and how family business and medicine shaped his leadership foundation.
• A passion for anesthesia and systems-level change led to roles in performance improvement and health system leadership.
• Coaching became pivotal—not for answers, but for asking the right questions and unlocking inner wisdom.
• He describes the profound difference between “giving advice” and helping someone “find their own path.”
• The conversation explores how play, creativity, and even AI tools became essential practices for restoring energy and insight.
• A powerful story emerges: evacuating a hospital rooftop during a hurricane, revealing the raw humanity and resilience of community care.
• David reflects on how redefining identity, staying open, and questioning deeply held beliefs unlocked new clarity.

This episode explores how releasing control, embracing play, and asking powerful questions can transform not only leadership—but who you are becoming. Dr. Wild currently serves as Chief Medical Officer at Ballad Health and is a board-certified anesthesiologist.

Most physicians rise through their careers believing that self-reliance is the key to success — until the moment it no longer works.

In this candid conversation, Dr. McNamara recounts:

• The rejection that forced her to confront her fear of asking for help.
• How mentorship transformed her belief about what makes a strong leader.
• The emotional cost of compartmentalization — and the freedom she found in integration.
• Why building genuine relationships, not perfection, is what inspires lasting leadership.
• The two tools that reshaped her leadership mindset: “above the line” thinking and “who, not how.”

This episode reveals the hidden truth: real leadership starts when you stop pretending you can do it all alone. Dr. Erin McNamara, a pediatric urologist at Boston Children’s Hospital, shares how early academic success created an identity rooted in self-sufficiency — and how her first major failure shattered that illusion.

Dr. Jeffrey Albert had all the traditional markers of success—multiple leadership roles, decades of experience, and a deep commitment to healthcare. But beneath the surface, he felt stuck, disillusioned, and quietly burned out. In this episode:

• Dr. Albert reflects on how leadership began to feel hollow, even as he rose in influence and responsibility.
• He describes the creeping realization that knowing more wasn’t solving the deeper sense of powerlessness.
• A pivotal moment came when he recognized how often he defaulted to “fixing” others, while avoiding his own internal work.
• Through a powerful coaching engagement, he uncovered how he had been playing out old patterns—chasing external success to avoid inner discomfort.
• He shares how slowing down, getting quiet, and tolerating uncertainty helped him begin leading from a place of presence, not performance.
• The episode dives into how true integration—not information—created a sustainable, fulfilling shift in how he shows up as a leader.

Today, Jeff is an executive leader committed to growing others in deeply authentic ways.