Why I Started This Podcast

Why I Began

I'm considering medicine, but I realized I didn't have a clear idea of what the path looked like day to day.

I knew the basic sequence of college, medical school, and residency. I didn't know what those years felt like for the people going through them, what their days looked like, or how they decided medicine was right for them. Those were the questions I cared about most.

What I Found Online

I looked online first. I found videos, articles, forums, and social media posts about medical school and medical careers. Some people made medicine sound perfect. Others focused almost entirely on stress, debt, long hours, and burnout.

Both views may be honest, but the difference between them left me with more questions. A short post usually didn't explain how someone reached that point, whether their experience was typical, or whether their feelings had changed over time.

I decided to ask people directly. I wanted enough time to ask follow-up questions and talk about school, training, daily work, family, money, mistakes, and doubt. I also wanted to know what they liked about medicine and what they would do differently.

Why a Podcast

A podcast gives me room to ask those questions without reducing someone's experience to a short quote. Guests can explain why they made certain choices, what surprised them, and what they might do differently.

These interviews are helping me understand a future I am considering for myself. I hope they also help other students who have some of the same questions. One guest cannot speak for everyone in medicine, so I want to talk with people in different fields and at different stages of training.

What I'll Write Here

I'll use this blog to write about questions that come up in the interviews and things I want to understand better. It will also give me a place to share what I'm learning as the podcast continues.

I don't expect every guest to agree. That is part of the reason I want to keep asking.