What happens when a high-achieving life starts to feel hollow, heavy, or on autopilot? We sit down with Dr. Nicholas Samstag, a clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst, to explore how long-term depth work helps professionals in high-stress roles move from burnout to clarity. Rather than chasing quick fixes, Nick makes a case for honest self-examination, patient inquiry, and the courage to see how we participate in our own suffering—then use that insight to choose something better.
Nick explains what psychoanalysis looks like in practice, why he reserves part of his caseload for clients who can’t pay full fee, and how careful consultation ensures people land with the right provider—even if it’s not him. We talk about the difference between being busy and being alive, and the subtle ways perfectionism, people-pleasing, and avoidance make us spectators in our own days. If you’ve ever wondered why time keeps slipping by without meaningful change, this conversation offers a sober, hopeful roadmap.
You’ll hear practical ways to audit your week: track the conversations you have, notice where you feel engaged or numb, and ask the hardest question of all—how do you want to live? Nick shows why agency begins with looking directly at the patterns we’d rather not see, and how steady therapeutic work can help reorder priorities around what matters most. Along the way, we highlight resources, his writing, and the simple next steps to get help that fits.
If you’re ready to slow down, look inward, and take ownership of your path, press play and join us. Subscribe for more thoughtful talks with local experts, share this episode with a friend who’s running on fumes, and leave a review to help others find the show.
