Shows
Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir MDEp 53. Strategic Power of Regret🎉 Celebrating One Year of Success Reimagined 🎉Before diving into this week's episode, Dr. Amna Shabbir takes a moment to celebrate a major milestone: the first anniversary of Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir, MD!Regret is not a flaw. It is data, direction, and wisdom waiting to be unlocked.In this powerful solo episode, Dr. Amna Shabbir explores the strategic power of regret based on Daniel Pink's groundbreaking research from The Power of Regret: How Looking Backward Moves Us Forward. Drawing from the American Regret Project and the World Regret Survey, which surveyed over 2...
2026-02-2325 min
Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir MDEp 51. High-Stakes Biotech Leadership: Innovation, Failure, & Redemption with CEO David EspositoIn this powerful conversation, Dr. Amna Shabbir speaks with David Esposito, healthcare executive, combat veteran and CEO of ONL Therapeutics, about what it truly means to lead with purpose in high growth, mission driven environments. David shares how his definition of leadership has evolved from rallying teams toward big goals to understanding the deeply personal side of helping individuals feel they matter. He opens up about a major failure early in his career when he failed to pivot quickly enough on a disinfectant technology that was not the right fit for the hospital market, and how that taught him...
2026-02-0930 min
Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir MDEp 50. How Microlearning and Connection Transform Adult Learning with Dr. Gina AndersonIn this episode Dr. Amna Shabbir sits down with Dr. Gina Anderson, CEO and co-founder of Luma Brighter Learning, to explore how microlearning, presence, and human connection can fundamentally transform the way we learn, work, and define success.Dr. Anderson shares insights from over 25 years in adult learning, safety culture, and instructional design, including her TEDx talk on microlearning and presence. Together, they unpack why modern education often fails adults, how perfectionism and overwhelm interfere with learning, and why connection, to self and others, is the missing ingredient in both education and leadership.From truck...
2026-02-0224 min
Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir MDEp 49. Mattering and the Science of Feeling Seen, Heard, and Needed with Jennifer WallaceThis episode is a conversation from a live event hosted by Dr. Amna Shabbir and special guest Jennifer Wallace, New York Times bestselling author of Never Enough, to explore the science of Mattering and why it is a fundamental human need. Drawing from her upcoming book, Jennifer explains how mattering goes beyond belonging, shaping our sense of value, purpose, resilience, and mental health, particularly for high-achieving women.The conversation unpacks the hidden cost of “mattering too much,” where over-reliance without reciprocity leads to burnout, and introduces practical frameworks for restoring balance. Through research, real-world stories, and tangible pract...
2026-01-2653 min
Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir MDEp 48. Global Leadership & Soulgery with Ahmet Bozer, Former President Coca Cola InternationalIn this episode, Dr. Amna Shabbir sits down with Mr. Ahmet Bozer, former President of The Coca-Cola Company International, for a grounded conversation on leadership, identity, and redefining success beyond titles and performance. Drawing on more than three decades of global executive experience, Ahmet reflects on cross-cultural leadership, major career transitions, and what it truly means to grow when external validation falls away.The discussion explores perfectionism, resilience, and why meaningful personal and professional growth requires inner work rather than quick fixes. Ahmet also shares insights from his newly published book, Soulgery.Episode Takeaways
2026-01-1940 min
Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir MDEp 47. Intergenerational Communication and Perfectionism with Greg SingletonIn this episode, Dr. Amna Shabbir, MD speaks with Greg Singleton, TEDx speaker, author, coach, and generational strategist, about why communication breaks down across generations, and what leaders can do differently.Greg shares how ego, assumptions, and outdated expectations undermine workplace culture, and why one-size-fits-all leadership no longer works. He also opens up about his personal journey through perfectionism, social comparison, and redefining success, offering insight into how identity and generational conditioning shape how we show up at work and in life.Episode TakeawaysWhy the biggest workplace communication gaps...
2026-01-1231 min
Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir MDEp 46. Workplace Wellness Reimagined with Pantea DouganiWhat does meaningful employee wellness actually look like in today’s busy, high-demand workplaces?In this episode of Amna is joined by Pantea Dugani, co-founder and managing director of Excel Body Fitness, a woman-owned corporate wellness company based in Cary, North Carolina.Pantea shares how her journey began with a traditional fitness studio—and evolved into a mission-driven corporate wellness model that meets employees where they are. Together, Amna and Pantea unpack why many workplace wellness initiatives fail, how “checkbox wellness” can unintentionally harm employees, and what leaders must do to create sustainable, human-centered wellness...
2026-01-0535 min
Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir MDEp 45. Branding Wisdom and Advocacy with Wendy CoulterIn this episode, Dr. Amna Shabbir sits down with branding expert and community leader Wendy Coulter to explore what three decades of entrepreneurship have taught her about authentic branding, culture-driven leadership, and redefining success through every season of life. Wendy shares the biggest branding mistakes she sees, the story behind building a 30-year creative agency, and why championing women in business has become her life’s mission.Episode TakeawaysWhy do most businesses stay stuck in place by doing more marketing instead of better strategy?The one branding mistake Wendy sees al...
2025-12-2930 min
Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir MDEp 44. How MicroSkills Can Transform You with Dr. Resa LewissHow do small, intentional actions transform your leadership, communication, and confidence in medicine and beyond? In this episode, Dr. Resa E. Lewiss, physician, author, TEDMED speaker, and host of The Visible Voices Podcast—breaks down the power of microskills: simple, actionable strategies that help you navigate conflict, set boundaries, build trust, and reclaim your agency at work. Dr. Lewiss shares how to build a personal board of directors, why every high-achiever needs a “failure friend,” and how to confidently move through career transitions with clarity instead of fear. She also opens up about rejection, resilie...
2025-12-2230 min
Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir MDEp 43. Anxiety in High Performers: Dr. Dimitrios Tsatiris on Boundaries, Burnout and Building a Healthier Relationship with SuccessAnxiety is not a flaw in high achievers. It is often a signal that the way we pursue success needs to be reimagined.In this powerful and deeply insightful conversation, psychiatrist and author Dr. Dimitrios Tsatiris joins Dr. Amna Shabbir to break down what anxiety truly is, why it affects high achievers so intensely and how the five habits of ambition silently fuel overwhelm, guilt, comparison and self neglect.From difficulty saying no and toxic self reliance to social comparison, lack of presence and tying self worth to achievement, Dr. Tsatiris explains how these patterns...
2025-12-1533 min
Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir MDEp 41. My 2025 Audit - Ending the Year Strong and Launching 2026 Confidently.If your self-care has felt like an afterthought this year, this episode will show you why, and how, to change that.In this honest solo episode, Dr. Amna Shabbir shares the six self-care decisions that transformed her mental health, physical wellbeing and clarity in 2025. These are not the usual “spa day” strategies. They are the hard, uncomfortable choices high achievers often avoid: saying no to incredible opportunities, stepping away from roles that cause moral injury, investing in real accountability for health, protecting your energy online, creating space for reflection and developing radical clarity about your goals.
2025-12-0129 min
Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir MDEp 38. Power of Service: Richard Averitte on Volunteerism, Community & Healing - American Cancer Society - Power of Giving SeriesRichard Averitte calls himself a “career volunteer.” Today, he leads as Executive Director for the American Cancer Society (ACS) in Central & Eastern North Carolina—bringing decades of hands-on service to research, advocacy, and patient support. In this powerful conversation, Richard shares his personal “why,” the realities of rebuilding post-pandemic volunteer programs, how Hope Lodge changes lives, and why cancer screening must become a habit—especially for men and younger adults.This episode is part of a special November series on the Power of Giving.Episode Takeaways:-Why volunteer roots create resilient nonprofit leaders—and how “time, tal...
2025-11-1029 min
Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir MDEp 36. Pageantry, Purpose & Pain: Akifa Khattak’s FemTech Mission to End Endometriosis SilenceAkifa Khattak was not just one of the Miss Universe Pakistan finalists - she’s also a healthcare attorney, biotech entrepreneur, and women’s health advocate on a mission to change how we diagnose and treat endometriosis.In this powerful conversation, Akifa shares how a rare, life-altering health journey led her to co-found Her Health AI, a FemTech company pioneering non-invasive endometriosis diagnostics and surgical lesion mapping. She opens up about cultural taboos around pelvic health, the unseen financial and family costs of chronic illness, and why pageantry became an unexpected but transformative platform to bridge East and...
2025-10-2724 min
Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir MDTEDx Talk is LIVE - Perfectionism Has A Solution. It's Not What You Think.In this Bonus Solo Episode, Dr. Amna Shabbir has a special announcement! Finally Live - TEDx talk: Perfectionism has a solution. It's not what you think.Please watch the 10:31-minute TEDx talk - intended for everyone, perfectionist or not. It will help you understand so much of what you or your loved ones might be experiencing. Please like the TEDx Talk, and in the comments section, please share what came up for you as you listened. Send this Dr. Shabbir's TEDx talk to your friends, family, peer and beyond. This is intended fo...
2025-10-2305 min
Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir MDEp 35. Friendships as Your Success and Wellness StrategyFriendship Is Medicine In this solo episode of Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir MD, I open up about the friends who carried me through the hardest chapters—burnout, moral injury, postpartum depression, and even the days leading up to my TEDx talk when I felt overwhelmed and full of doubt.We live in what the U.S. Surgeon General has called a loneliness epidemic, and research confirms that loneliness is more than emotional pain—it’s a public health issue. But friendships aren’t just a comfort. They are biological, emotional, and performance enhancers that literally rewire o...
2025-10-2010 min
Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir MDEp 34. Adventure & Awe: Sharks, Wingwalking, and Rewiring Fear with Pilot Shiraz DalalLiving Adventurously: Courage, Awe, and the Pilot Mindset In this powerful episode of Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir MD, I sit down with Shiraz Dalal, a commercial airline pilot, TEDx speaker, and global explorer whose adventures span all seven continents and all 50 U.S. states.From flying Boeing 767s to climbing Kilimanjaro, wing walking, free diving, and even swimming with great white sharks without a cage—Shiraz’s life is more than adrenaline. It’s about choosing courage, embracing the unknown, and finding humility in awe-filled moments.We explore what fear really means, how to...
2025-10-1340 min
Confessions of a Desi Drama QueenEP 51: Scary Tales of: Jinns, Bollywood’s Flop Era, & Boy BdaysIt’s spooky season, which means every brown girl’s #1 admirer is—wait for it—a jinn. Because if you didn’t grow up being warned that one’s going to fall in love with you non-consensually, what was your childhood even? 👀 We spiral from supernatural situationships to Sana’s post-Saiyaara emotional damage, reminiscing on the golden era when Bollywood made us kick our feet, sob dramatically, and practice our “no don’t go” lines in the mirror. Who needs a storyline when you have delusion and desire? 💔 (Spoiler: Amna hated it.)Then we get real messy (because Bol...
2025-10-0757 min
Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir MDEp 33. Storytelling Secrets with Jeff Polish : Tips, Fails, The Monti & Connection - Unmasking Perfectionism SeriesStorytelling secrets—fails, lessons, and how to truly connect. In this powerful episode of Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir, MD, I sit down with Jeff Polish—founder and executive director of The Monti, a live no-notes storytelling series that has lit up stages across North Carolina since 2008.We explore how storytelling transforms vulnerability into connection, why personal narratives carry the power to heal and unite communities, and what it takes to step on stage with nothing but your truth. Along the way, Jeff shares the tips, the fails, and the lessons learned from curating thousands of st...
2025-10-0643 min
Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir MDEp 32. Essentialism : A Path to Clarity with Dr. Amna ShabbirIn a world full of distractions and endless demands, how do we decide what truly matters?In this solo episode of Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir, MD, I explore the concept of Essentialism—a philosophy of living by design, not by default. Essentialism is not about doing more; it’s about doing less but better. It’s about reclaiming your power of choice, recognizing life’s inevitable trade-offs, and focusing on what matters most.I share how essentialism contrasts with perfectionism, and why perfectionism often keeps us stuck chasing non-essential goals. Along the way, I’ll provide...
2025-09-2913 minConfessions of a Desi Drama QueenEP 49: UNHINGED Aunty Comebacks, Periods in Pakistan, Bamboozled by AIWelcomeee BACK to another episode of Confessions! We are back in one of our happy places, the STUDIOOOOO! Come join us for some nonstop giggling and gargling as we talk about a mile a minute about everything this week. We are sharing your unhinged comments to the aunties and uncles that CAN'T SOTP WON'T STOP with the comments, welcoming all of us back to another fall season and all our fall favorites, Amna shares her INSANE story shopping for pads/tampons on her period in Pakistan, we share how we found out at our wee ages what a period...
2025-09-241h 38
Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir MDEp 31. From Fear to TEDx: Tara LaFon Gooch on Confidence, Courage & Finding Your VoiceFinding your voice requires courage, persistence, and a willingness to step into the unknown.In this powerful episode of Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir, MD, I sit down with Tara LaFon Gooch—international TEDx speaker, bestselling author, confidence expert, and the creator of the GRASP Method—to uncover what it really takes to move from self-doubt to the TEDx red dot.We dive deep into Tara’s personal journey from being terrified of public speaking to becoming a global thought leader, and how she now empowers others to transform fear into confidence, comparison into c...
2025-09-2225 min
Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir MDSpecial Announcement: What is ahead for Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir MDA quick update on the upcoming episodes of Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir MD. Thank you to all our incredible guests for sharing their invaluable insights, research, and very personal stories with us as we unpacked the various facets of perfectionism. If you have not yet had a chance, please tune in to Episodes 6 - 30 that have explored Perfectionism in great depth. About the HostDr. Amna Shabbir, MD, NBC-HWC, CPC is a Dual Board-Certified Physician, TEDx Speaker, with advanced training in Integrative Well-being, Performance, and Leadership Development. She speaks, coaches, an...
2025-09-1803 min
Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir MDEp 30. But What Will People Say? Sahaj Kohli on Perfectionism, Belonging & Bicultural Identity - Unmasking Perfectionism SeriesUnderstanding perfectionism requires examining it in complete cultural context.In this powerful episode of Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir, MD, I sit down with Sahaj Kohli—author of But What Will People Say? and founder of Brown Girl Therapy—to explore how perfectionism shows up uniquely for children of immigrants and those navigating bicultural identities.We dive deep into why so many high achievers feel “never enough,” how impression management keeps us in a “glass house,” and what it takes to rewrite the narrative with self-compassion, intergenerational understanding, and permission to rest.Ep...
2025-09-1531 min
Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir MDEp 29. The Other Girl with Tanya Chernova - Unmasking Perfectionism SeriesHave you ever felt paralyzed by your inner critic? Trigger Warning: SuicideIn this powerful episode of Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir, MD we sit down with internationally acclaimed speaker, author, and business strategist Tanya Chernova to unpack the harsh realities of perfectionism, self-criticism, and the damaging inner voice known as "the other girl."Tanya shares her deeply personal journey through burnout, suicidal thoughts, and a perfectionist mindset and how she learned to reframe failure, develop self-compassion, and redefine success on her own terms.Topics Covered:Overcoming negative self-talk and "t...
2025-09-0833 minConfessions of a Desi Drama QueenEP 46: Desi Girl Clothing Saga, Bollywood Love Scenes, House Reno ScariesStrap in Drama Queens, this week's episode is a rollercoaster ride of topics (and not the kid friendly kind - the twisty turny upside down stomach drop kind). This week we're here to remind you that NOTHING MATTERS AND THERE IS NO POINT (kidding, of course, kind of). In all seriousness (or lack there of) we are here to break down some of the most painful bollywood intimacy scenes, updates on Amna's house reno, updates on the family tea and floor&decor floor&decor floor&DECOR. We have a really relatable conversation about growing u...
2025-09-021h 25
Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir MDEp 28. Perfectionism & Youth Series: Part 2 with Ghalia AamerWhat happens when the pressure to be perfect is inherited?In this episode of Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir, MD, we sit down with Ghalia Aamer to unpack the invisible weight of perfectionism faced by many young adults and especially daughters of immigrants.At just 23, Ghalia has accomplished what most people only dream of. But behind her accolades lies a deep reckoning with cultural expectations, toxic achievement cycles, and the constant fear of not doing “enough.” This conversation is a must-listen for high-achieving women, first-gen professionals, and anyone navigating self-worth in a hyper-competitive world.To...
2025-09-0140 min
Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir MDEp 27. Perfectionism & Youth Series: Part 1 with Caden VittoriniWhat if the biggest threat to your child’s self-worth isn’t grades or friends, but the silent pressure to be perfect?In this episode, we’re joined by Caden Vittorni, a TEDx speaker, bestselling author, and founder of Vitt Factor, as he shares how a wake-up call in his own life led him to become a powerful voice for youth struggling with perfectionism, comparison, and confidence in the digital age. He explains why kids aren't connecting, what social media is really doing to their self-worth, and how adults can help.Topics Covered:How to hel...
2025-08-2520 minConfessions of a Desi Drama QueenEP 44: Crashing Out As We Speak, Narcissists 101 & Desperate For Love (Yours)This week on Confessions of a Desi Drama Queen, things get real. Like… breakdown-real. Between emotional spirals, big life changes, and hitting what feels like our 13th reason, we open up in ways we never have before. You’re catching Amna mid-spiral.The chaos starts when we accidentally record on the anniversary of Amna’s mom’s passing, and we unpack the messy layers of grief, vulnerability, and what it’s like to be perceived so openly on a podcast. Like Shrek, she’s an onion—once you peel back the layers, there’s no going back. A...
2025-08-191h 20
Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir MDEp 26. Ballet, Eating Disorders & Perfectionism: Dr. Kara Pepper’s Story - Unmasking Perfectionism SeriesWhat happens when a ballerina becomes a physician and perfectionism fuels both identities?In this deeply moving episode of Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir, MD, we sit down with Dr. Kara Pepper, a primary care internist, executive coach, and former ballet dancer, to talk about perfectionism, burnout, eating disorders, and redefining success.Highlights:Leaving home at age 13 to train at the Bolshoi BalletHer transition into medicine and how perfectionism showed up again in a different formStruggles with burnout, eating disorders, and numbing through work and alcoholHer journey toward self-compassion and how she now...
2025-08-1821 min
Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir MDEp 25. Perfectionism in Organizations: Insights from Dr. Carrie Adair - Unmasking Perfectionism SeriesHow does perfectionism impact organizational well-being?In this powerful conversation, Dr. Amna Shabbir sits down with Dr. Carrie Adair to unpack the toxic link between organizational wellness, perfectionism, burnout, and mental health.Dr. Adair draws on cutting-edge research and real-world experience from healthcare to explain why perfectionism may actually be sabotaging your success, happiness, and well-being. From institutional culture to self-compassion, this episode offers practical tools for breaking free from perfectionistic thinking and creating a healthier, more human-centered work and life experience.Topics Covered:The psychology of perfectionismBurnout in high-stress careers (especially...
2025-08-1127 min
Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir MDEp 24. Busy Brain and Cultural Pressure with Dr. Romie Mushtaq - Unmasking Perfectionism SeriesWhat if perfectionism isn't just a mindset problem but a neurological one?In this transformative episode of Success Reimagined, host Dr. Amna Shabbir sits down with Dr. Romie Mushtaq as they unravel the hidden connection between burnout, anxiety, and perfectionism and how to heal from the inside out.Dr. Romie introduces the concept of "busy brain", a state driven by neuroinflammation and chronic stress, and outlines a science-backed protocol that has helped thousands of high achievers find clarity, focus, and peace. From redefining South Asian cultural expectations to dismantling internalized perfectionism, this conversation is...
2025-08-0434 min
Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir MDEp 23. Performance, Burnout & Being Brown with South Asian Care Founder, Nishat - Unmasking Perfectionism SeriesWhat 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 her own terms.From breaking the silence around therapy to creating culturally compassionate health platforms, Nishat’s story will re...
2025-07-2824 min
Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir MDEp 22. Power of Your Platform with KevinMD Creator Dr. Kevin Pho - Unmasking Perfectionism SeriesWhat 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 platform, which started as a simple blog, became a home for thousands...
2025-07-2123 min
Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir MDEp 21. Legacy and Perfectionism with PMG Founder Dr. Hala Sabry - Unmasking Perfectionism SeriesYou’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 her to build one of the most impactful communities in modern medicine. With r...
2025-07-1447 min
Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir MDEp 20. Humor, Hope & the Practice of Law with Amanda Hill, JD - Unmasking Perfectionism SeriesWhat 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 superpowers.Together, they explore:✅ The hidden fears driving perfectionism✅How perfectionism masks impostor syndrome✅Amand...
2025-07-0734 min
Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir MDEp 19. Facing Failure and Finding Focus with Larry Long Jr - Unmasking Perfectionism SeriesWhat 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 strategy✅How Larry overcame career setbacks and found purpose through...
2025-06-1639 minConfessions of a Desi Drama QueenEP 37: GOAT Eid, Gardening Hoes, Labubus with a sprinkle of Mary Kate & AshleyThis week on Confessions of a Desi Drama Queen, we spiral (shock) — from chaotic GOAT Eid plans and Labubu dolls we swear are ugly 🫣 to Sana’s sudden gardening obsession 🌱, PMS-fueled meltdowns 🍫, and Amna’s husband and brother running a haunted house experience in their own home 👻. Amna had a full-blown travel debacle with American Airlines — not 15 missed calls... but 15 missed FLIGHTS — and got sent home with empty pockets and a prayer to not end up on the no-fly list ✈️😭 (even though NONE OF THIS WAS HER FAULT, OK?). We also dive into a very juicy confession all about in-laws — the quiet expectati...
2025-06-1045 min
Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir MDEp 18. Surviving Litigation and Self-Doubt with Dr. Gita Pensa - Unmasking Perfectionism SeriesHow 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 reshaped her understanding of perfectionism, shame, and identity in medicine.Together, they unpack the...
2025-06-0937 min
Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir MDEp 17. Sleep Deprivation, Empathy Loss & Performance with Dr. Laura Vater - Unmasking Perfectionism Series“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 exhaustion is a badge of honor. Instead, it invites all clinicians and high performers to reconnect with their humanity, share their...
2025-06-0244 min
Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir MDEp 16. The Power of Permission with Dr. Abby Spencer - Unmasking Perfectionism SeriesHave 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’s life when she was a medical trainee, and how Dr. Spencer helped avert he...
2025-05-2643 min
Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir MDEp 15. Redefining Leadership with Geoffrey Roche - Unmasking Perfectionism Series“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 that helped Geoffrey reclaim his autonomy✅How great leaders use vulnerability to empower teams✅The connection between psyc...
2025-05-1829 min
Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir MDEp 14. The Illusion of the Perfect Profession with Betsy Gall - Unmasking Perfectionism SeriesWhat 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 book, grounded in raw journal entries and letters to God, is a person...
2025-05-1235 min
Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir MDEp 13. Brave Boundaries and Women Leaders with Dr. Sasha Shillcutt - Unmasking Perfectionism Series"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 disappoint others to honor yourself✅ How professional women can...
2025-05-0443 min
Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir MDEp 12. Coherence Trap, People Pleasing & More with Dr. Clarissa Ong, Author of The Anxious Perfectionist - Unmasking Perfectionism Series"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” keeps us stuck in self-limiting narratives✅ People-pleasing as a form of self-erasure✅ The problem with replacing...
2025-04-2826 min
Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir MDEp 11. Dr. Stefanie Simmons on Breaking Stigma in Healthcare: Mental Health, Well-being & Credentialing - Unmasking Perfectionism SeriesWhat 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 physician and parent—and her professional expertise in systems-level change—to a conversation about perfectionism, identity, and the human...
2025-04-2129 min
Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir MDEp 10. Dr. Stuart Slavin on Medical Training, Mental Health & Culture Change - Unmasking Perfectionism SeriesWhat 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 maladaptive perfectionism develops early in life ✅ The difference between healthy standards and toxic self-criticism ✅ The emotional cost of “Sta...
2025-04-1438 min
Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir MDEp 8. Shame, Guilt and Perfectionism with Dr. Will Bynum – A Mental Health Conversation for High Achievers - Unmasking Perfectionism SeriesWhat 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✅Actionable strategies to address shameAbout the Guest:
2025-03-3144 minConfessions of a Desi Drama QueenEP 26: Chand Raat, Eid Preps, Giving ARY News SpecialGet ready for chaos, because this episode is serving drama, news anchor realness, and peak Desi girl energy. Amna spills the tea on her insane connection to Millie Bobby Brown’s ex (spoiler: identity theft was involved??), while Sana and Amna channel their inner ARY news hosts to bring you the latest on Eid preps. We’re talking chand raat madness, the tragic rise of men at chai cafes, our ongoing beef with the masjid uncles, and the wild ride of decoding our Desi family trees.
2025-03-251h 14
Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir MDEp 7. Dr. Thomas Curran on the Perfection Trap : Paradox of Perfectionism, Cost of Overachievement and Solutions - Unmasking Perfectionism SeriesDoes 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 struggles✅ The Perfectionism Paradox—why it doesn’t improve performance and may actually harm it✅ How high-achi...
2025-03-2442 minConfessions of a Desi Drama QueenEP 22 l Confession Session: New Co-host Alert - She’s Here to Stay!In this weeks episode Sana officially introduces your new co-host Amna Saleemi! Aaaah! Amna takes the mic and the girls jump straight into Babygirl *in a baby voice*, Kendrick vs Drake & it ends with Candace Owens'?
2025-02-251h 15
Talks to Yao YaoBonus episode: Lady White Permanently Imprisoned Under Leifeng PagodaAs we promised, we translated the version of Snake Lady story published in 1624 into English, and Amna is reading it here to Yao Yao and our audience.
2025-02-181h 56
BanishedSupercharged since October 7Ken Stern (Director of the Bard Center for the Study of Hate) joins Amna and Jeff to discuss these urgent questions: Are campuses hotbeds of antisemitism? How do we define antisemitism in the first place? Is there a difference between antisemitism and anti-Zionism? How have colleges handled the student protests around Gaza? Why are so many higher education institutions facing Title VI lawsuits? What counts as a “hostile” campus environment? How should we educate students about the Israel/Palestine conflict? Show Notes* International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance Working Definition of Antisemitism* Kenneth Marcus, director of t...
2025-02-1722 min
BanishedWho Speaks the Language of Social Justice?Our friend and colleague Stony Brook sociologist Musa al-Gharbi has a new book out. And it’s a tour-de-force. We Have Never Been Woke is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the economic, political and cultural divides between the haves and the have-nots in the United States. We were delighted to host Musa for a book talk on the Carleton campus last month. He spoke with Amna in front a packed house. This is episode 2. Episode 1 is available here. Show Notes* On the limitations of diversity training, see this piece from Musa, “Diversity is I...
2025-02-0817 min
Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir MDTrailerHi 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 there is?Is...
2025-02-0707 min
Talks to Yao YaoThe unexpected experiences of pregnancy, delivery and parenting (5 month update)Amna was interviewed to talk about her unexpected experiences of pregnancy, delivery and parenting Yao Yao.
2025-02-0557 min
Banished"You Can't Be an Egalitarian Social Climber"Our friend and colleague Stony Brook sociologist Musa al-Gharbi has a new book out. And it’s a tour-de-force. We Have Never Been Woke is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the economic, political and cultural divides between the haves and the have-nots in the United States. We were delighted to host Musa for a book talk on the Carleton campus last month. He spoke with Amna in front a packed house. Here are some of the highlights. More to come in our next episode in about a week’s time. Show Notes* Musa...
2025-02-0219 min
Stories of strength "Mbraining Mastery: Unlocking Inner Wisdom" Explore how integrating the head, heart, and gut brains can enhance decision-making with Amna Ali
2024-12-1628 minConfessions of a Desi Drama QueenEP 14 | 2 am Convos in the Girls' BathroomThis week we have on an EXTREMELY special guest and the first person in my family to join us on the pod, AMNA SALEEMI!!! Someone roll out the red carpet because we're talking alllll the things you want to hear from Drake's released video of an *ahem* palm tree, how Amna and I met as pre-teens and thought we were too cool for school (and each other), MEG VS NICKI and so much more! Saving the best for last, we begin our first 'PAKISTANI CONFESSIONS' segment in which talk in depth about a wild, wild story.
2024-02-1355 min
BanishedWill Florida's "Stop WOKE Act" Hold Up in Court?Banished returns with a special episode on the status of a lawsuit challenging Florida’s “Stop WOKE Act.” To understand how this law threatens open inquiry and academic freedom, Amna talked to the two co-plaintiffs, University of South Florida history professor Adriana Novoa and University of South Florida senior Sam Rechek. For help with the legal arguments, Amna spoke with Adam Steinbaugh, attorney with the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit banished.substack.com/subscribe
2022-11-0121 min
BanishedWhose Tacos?Tucker Carlson claimed that tacos are American. Rick Bayless was attacked for appropriating Mexican cuisine. Jamie Oliver hired a team of cultural appropriation specialists to advise him when writing recipes, to make sure he didn’t run afoul of the new culinary orthodoxy.What’s going on in the restaurant world and at our dinner tables? Who exactly owns a cuisine, and why do we get so proprietary when it comes to food? On this week’s Banished, Amna Khalid talks with Constanza Ocampo-Raeder, professor of anthropology at Carleton College, about food, national cuisines and the politics of cul...
2022-06-1233 min
Banished'Shakespeare, Thou Hast Been Cancelled'Amna Khalid talks with Laura Bates, Professor of English at Indiana State University and founder of Shakespeare in Shackles — a prison program for those in solitary confinement — about the Bard’s decline in the modern curriculum. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit banished.substack.com/subscribe
2022-05-2728 min
Banished"Oh Danny, Is This the End?"One of the most popular musicals of all time, Grease seems to have fallen from grace. Most recently, two schools in Australia were planning to stage a joint production of the musical this year, but shelved it when students complained that the content of the musical was “offensive.”Why has the musical come under fire? Is it time to retire it? On this week’s Banished, Amna Khalid speaks with Scott Miller, founder and artistic director of New Line Theater, an alternative musical theater company in St. Louis. This is a public episode. If you'd l...
2022-05-1224 min
BanishedEXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: St. Olaf College Punishes Professor for Inviting Peter Singer to CampusEarlier this year, St. Olaf College’s Institute for Freedom and Community invited controversial bioethicist Peter Singer for a virtual conversation titled “The Point of View of the Universe.” This was an invitation in keeping with the mission of the institute, which is to explore “diverse ideas about politics, markets, and society” and “challenge presuppositions, question easy answers, and foster constructive dialogue.” Shortly after the event was announced, St. Olaf’s disability office sent out a campus-wide email, stating that it: “unequivocally reject[s] Peter Singer’s views on people with disabilities, which are harmful to our values, mission and ongoing efforts...
2022-04-2729 min
BanishedIn the Eye of the StormIn fall 2021, the philosophy department at Rhodes College invited the bioethicist Peter Singer to speak to the school. A controversial and important figure, the New Yorker has called Singer the “world’s most influential living philosopher,” and in 2005, Time Magazine named him one of most influential people alive.But as one of the world’s foremost utilitarian philosophers, some of Singer’s positions have earned him detractors. In the build-up to his talk on “Pandemic Ethics,” several Rhodes students and faculty waged a campaign to have him disinvited on the grounds that “his reprehensible beliefs … deny the very humanity of p...
2022-04-2051 min
BanishedCOVID-19: Lab Leak Or Natural Leap?In February 2020, The Lancet, a leading British medical journal, published a statement by more than two dozen scientists condemning the hypothesis that COVID-19 had leaked from a Chinese lab — effectively halting scientific inquiry along those lines. But a handful of researchers refused to rule out the so-called “lab-leak” theory and soon found themselves shunned and ostracized by their colleagues.Alina Chan, a molecular biologist and then-postdoctoral fellow at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, was one such researcher. This week on Banished, host Amna Khalid talks with Chan about the politicization of science.More from Boo...
2022-04-0730 min
BanishedThe SkepticMichael Shermer, founding publisher of Skeptic magazine and host of the podcast The Michael Shermer Show, was a regular writer for Scientific American for 18 years. With more than 200 monthy columns under his belt, he was hoping to match Stephen Jay Gould’s record run of 300 at Natural History and was due to hit his target within a few years. In December, 2018, however, he was abruptly let go.In this episode of Banished, Amna Khalid talks to Shermer about the souring of his relationship with SciAm, the importance of skepticism and the rise of censoriousness in recent years.
2022-03-1018 min
BanishedThe Cartoon is Mightier Than the SwordBadiucao is a Chinese political dissident and artist who self-exiled to Australia in 2009. In the buildup to the Beijing Olympics, he was catapulted into the limelight for a series of protest posters that at first glance seem like advertisements for the Games. On closer inspection, however, the images are a scathing visual commentary on the Chinese government’s human rights violations and the role of the Olympic Games in legitimizing the regime. In this episode of Banished, Amna Khalid speaks with Badiucao about his work, his activism and his life as a dissident. This is a pu...
2022-02-2429 min
BanishedDoes Free Speech Discriminate?Over the past five years or so, free speech — like so many other topics — has been weaponized for use in the culture wars. Far right media sources have embraced the free speech mantle, arguing that liberals and progressives who dominate higher education are silencing conservative voices. For many Republicans, “free speech” means having the right to express an opinion, regardless of how unfounded and unsubstantiated it may be. As a consequence, many on the left now incorrectly view free speech as a right-wing ideal.In this episode of Banished, Amna Khalid discusses the history and legacy of free speec...
2022-02-1032 min
BanishedCommon Sense, UnmaskedMichael Phillips has taught history at Collin College in Texas for the past 14 years, but after speaking out about the school’s anti-masking policy his contract was not renewed. Which makes him the fourth faculty member to lose his job there since Neil Matkin assumed the role of College President in 2015.Amna Khalid spoke with Phillips about what led to his firing, and about academic freedom more generally in American higher education. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit banished.su...
2022-02-0527 min
BanishedThe Subversiveness of HumorDuring her visit back to Pakistan in December, Banished host Amna Khalid spoke with Salima Hashimi — artist, curator, activist and former principal of the National College of Arts, the premier Art school of Pakistan. They discussed the state of free expression in Pakistan under the 11-year military regime of General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, who was a key ally of the United States in the Cold War; how things are now under a democratically elected government; and how she sees cancellation attempts to constrain free speech in the U.S. This is a public episode. If you'd like to...
2022-01-2836 min
BanishedWhy the Seuss Estate Pulled Six of Its Own BooksIn the age of “cancel culture,” it comes as no surprise that the publishing industry is cowering before demands to remove “problematic” books. Dr. Seuss’s estate recently announced that it will no longer allow the publication and licensing of six of his books because of the racist and stereotypical imagery used for minority groups.Should these books no longer be published? Does a single stereotypical representation justify the pulling of a book? And who gets to decide? On this episode of Banished, Amna Khalid discusses Dr. Seuss’s life and legacy with Brian Jay Jones, author of Becoming D...
2022-01-1335 min
BanishedThe Bother With BabyBroadway-bound songsmith Frank Loesser wrote “Baby It’s Cold Outside” as a call-and-response duet for he and his wife to perform at parties. Several years later, the tune made its way into a movie and soon took the Christmas canon by storm. But is it a “rapey” relic of a bygone era that should be buried permanently in the winter snow? Amna Khalid investigates.Happy New Year! In the warm and generous spirit of the holidays, we’re offering 30% off a subscription to Booksmart Studios until the end of the year. You’ll get extra written content and access to...
2021-12-3020 min
BanishedShould More Colleges Drop the ACT and SAT?Last week, Harvard announced it will extend its test-optional admissions policy for at least another four years. The stated reason is that the pandemic has reduced access to test sites — but this decision has added grist to the test-elimination mill. The movement to do away with standardized testing is predicated on the idea that tests are culturally and racially biased, and that they don’t reflect the true abilities of students. Some even refer to them as proxies for privilege.On this episode of Banished, Amna Khalid discusses testing and meritocracy with Jeff Snyder, associate prof...
2021-12-2228 min
BanishedOut of Darkness, Into the FireAuthor and professor Ashley Hope Pérez gained prominence for her novel Out of Darkness, which explores themes of segregation, love and family against the backdrop of the 1937 New London School explosion. The book won rave reviews from critics and the Américas Award from the Library of Congress, but has recently become embroiled in controversy after calls to ban it from school libraries. Today on Banished, host Amna Khalid speaks with Pérez about the firestorm surrounding her book, and the rise in concerted efforts from a certain part of the political spectrum to censor literature that might hig...
2021-12-0928 min
BanishedFear and Scapegoating in the Time of PandemicsScapegoating particular communities during an epidemic — be it tuberculosis, HIV or COVID-19 — is nothing new. Outbreaks of disease are often accompanied by the demonizing of some portion of humanity that is supposedly the source of the contagion. They are to blame.Must it be this way? Why do we feel the need to point the finger at each other when threatened like this — even when the threat is ultimately not from people but from viruses or bacteria? And what does this sort of blanket indictment during a health crisis have in common with cancel culture? Host Amna Khalid...
2021-11-1833 min
BanishedTemptations of the West ReconsideredIf you’ve been listening to Banished, you’ll recall that in just a few short months we’ve talked about attempts to abolish artwork, to repudiate literature and even to eliminate entire curricula throughout the United States. But you may wonder, as I sometimes still do, why me? Why am I, Amna Khalid, pulled toward these topics, compelled by what we casually call “cancel culture”?And so, dear listeners, it feels like the right time to step back — to give you a sense of who I am and why I am deeply disturbed by the censorship and intolera...
2021-11-0424 min
Paving Your Own PracticeFrom Medicine to Law to Leadership with Dr Adam Harrison. PLUS bullying culture in medicine, career changes & finding happiness in your career.Welcome back all!! In this episode, Dr Amna is joined by Dr Adam Harrison to discuss his career journey from changing medical specialities to changing industries from medicine to law! Adam is a GP, medical educator, qualified barrister, ex-medical director and now certified life, leadership and executive coach who, because of his personal experience, specialises in life, career and leadership coaching and mentoring doctors. We also discuss his experiences of bullying in medicine and how he found strength to overcome this and find happiness in his career. Dr Harrison can be contacted on: dr.adam@coachingmentoringdoctors.com....
2021-10-2436 min
BanishedThe Cancellation of Dorian AbbotDorian Abbot, associate professor of geophysical sciences at University of Chicago, was invited to give the prestigious Carlson Lecture at MIT this month. He was going to speak about the insights gained from studying Earth’s climate and how those insights have been used to predict which planets outside the solar system might be habitable. But, following an outcry about his political views about diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives on college campuses — a topic that had nothing to do with what he was going to talk about — MIT cancelled the lecture. Amna Khalid talks to Professor Abbot about what happen...
2021-10-2136 min
BanishedRethinking the Canon: What Makes a Classic?This is the second in our occasional series on Rethinking the Canon. Is there value in reading the classics at a time when they are increasingly viewed as unrepresentative texts that don’t speak to the diverse experiences of modern students? This week Amna talks with Roosevelt Montás, senior lecturer in American Studies and English at Columbia University. FULL TRANSCRIPTAMNA KHALID: A liberal education is one that takes the complicated condition of human freedom seriously, and addresses itself to its dilemmas and to the urgency of its lived experience. To think and r...
2021-10-1426 min
BanishedThe "Critical Race Theory" Hysteria“Critical Race Theory,” also known as CRT, is a phrase that has become shorthand for just about any classroom instruction on racism, past or present. But what is this fight really about? What are these anti-CRT bills aiming to accomplish, and how will they affect schooling in the US? Amna Khalid discusses the rise of anti-CRT bills with Harvard Law Professor Randall Kennedy; Acadia University Professor Jeffrey Sachs; and former president of the ACLU, Professor Emerita Nadine Strossen of New York Law School.SPEAKER 1: Critical race theory is teaching that white people are bad.SPEAKER 2: We’re...
2021-09-2928 min
BanishedExpanding the Canon: Are 'Great Books' Obsolete?Is there value in reading the classics at a time when they are increasingly viewed as tools of oppression and white supremacy? Do they speak to non-white students? Dr. Anika Prather, founder and principal of the Living Water School in Maryland and lecturer at Howard University in DC talks to Amna Khalid about the deep history of the significance of classics for Black Americans.Click here for the full-length, subscriber-only interview. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit banished.substack...
2021-09-0127 min
BanishedThe Evolution of 'Woke'What does it mean to be woke? Has the word problematic become problematic? Lexicon Valley’s John McWhorter talks to Amna Khalid about the fraught vocabulary of modern censorship. * FULL TRANSCRIPT *AMNA KHALID: From Booksmart Studios, this is Banished. And I’m Amna Khalid.NEWSCASTER: Republicans are always denouncing so-called “cancel culture.”BBC GUEST 1: I think that nobody should lose their job because of what they believe in. I think that’s the issue—BBC GUEST 2: —but that’s what “cancel culture” is!POLITICIAN: “Cancel culture” is eroding the very foundation of who w...
2021-08-1829 min
BanishedAlice Walker Has Been CancelledWe are approaching the 40th anniversary of The Color Purple, a novel that garnered critical acclaim, won Alice Walker the Pulitzer Prize for fiction, and brought her sudden literary scrutiny. Both the book and its subsequent feature film adaptation elicited a flurry of criticism, frequently from within the Black community.Accused of reinforcing stereotypes of Black men as inherently violent, Walker was viewed by some as a race traitor. And for reasons that include depictions of rape, incest, homosexuality, violence and explicit language, The Color Purple has consistently remained on the American Library Association’s list of fr...
2021-08-0423 min
Banished'If It's In The World, It's For Me'In Episode One of Banished, we covered the controversy around Victor Arnautoff's murals, “Life of Washington” — a series of 13 paintings that cover the entrance and the hallway of George Washington High School in San Francisco. One of the voices in the episode was Professor Dewey Crumpler, an artist who was commissioned to paint so-called “response” murals to Arnautoff’s in the late 1960s when “Life of Washington” first became controversial. In this extended interview, Crumpler waxes lyrical not just about the mural controversy, but also about the place of art in society.“The most important place for young pe...
2021-07-3020 min
BanishedWhitewashing History?In the mid-1930s, Russian-born muralist Victor Arnautoff was commissioned by the New Deal’s Public Works of Art Project to paint a series of frescoes at sites around the San Francisco Bay Area. One of his more ambitious undertakings covered 1,600 square feet of wall space inside the lobby and stairwells of George Washington High School, depicting scenes from Washington’s life as a military leader and statesman. Parts of the work portray a slaughtered Native American and enslaved African-Americans, which Arnautoff — a Communist whose art was an outgrowth of his activism — deliberately foregrounded.Whatever his inte...
2021-07-2230 min
BanishedIntroducing Banished with Amna KhalidBanished is about our reassessment of the many people, ideas, objects and even works of art that conflict with modern sensibilities. What can we learn about our present obsession with cancel culture by examining history, and what might it mean for freedom of expression?Amna Khalid is professor of history at Carleton College. Born in Pakistan, Amna earned an M.Phil. in Development Studies and a D.Phil. in History from Oxford University. Growing up under a series of military dictatorships, Amna has a strong interest in issues relating to censorship and free expression. She speaks frequently o...
2021-06-2501 minPaving Your Own Practice"I get knocked down, but I get up again" feat. Dr Ross Mckean on stepping off and climbing the medical career ladderDr Amna is joined by Dr Ross Mckean, creator of Medizom and GP Trainee in Cambridge, as they chat about the twists and turns that he faced in his career which led him to resign (twice!) but ultimately find happiness in the medical path he chose. They discuss how his experiences led him to create his website Medizom, a fantastic resource helping other medics get out of that medical zombie state and find a medical path that brings them career satisfaction and joy! All views expressed in the podcast belong solely to the individuals expressing them.
2021-01-2540 minPaving Your Own PracticeWhere have I been and why I haven't posted in a while...? Covid, lockdown, mental health and more.In this short update, Amna describes what the past couple of months have been like for her during the third wave of the pandemic and being on the frontline, as well as why she hasn't posted an episode in a while. Don't worry though, more great episodes with some great guests are on the way! Stay tuned.
2021-01-1104 minPaving Your Own PracticeCombining a medical career with podcasting!Thinking about starting a podcast? Not sure where to start, how to do it and when? In this episode Dr Amna talks about how she got into podcasting and practical steps to take if you are considering it!Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREEDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
2020-11-2218 minPaving Your Own PracticeToxic work cultures, conflict with senior colleagues and self-care during work related stress with Global Workplace Expert, Speaker and Author Michelle Gibbings, who discusses her new book Bad Boss.Ever been in a work environment where the ethos and culture is really bad or toxic? Ever feel like you are doing everything you can at work, but your best is never good enough? Ever feel like your boss or senior is not fair or doesn’t have respect for you? If so, you cannot miss this episode. Dr Amna Rehan is joined by international workplace speaker and expert, Michelle Gibbings who has worked with many clients across industries and helped organisations create better working environments. Listen in as she gives you great insight into how to navigate a si...
2020-10-2639 minPaving Your Own PracticeTop 5 Tips for Zoom Meetings and Interviews From HomeDr Amna discusses the top 5 things she has learnt when doing meetings or interviews on Zoom (or any digital video software) from home! We have all had to adjust to a new way of life and naturally things can go wrong when using technology. Tune in to hear Dr Amna's top 5 tips on how to ensure your video call can go smoothly! Disclaimer: All views are my own.
2020-10-1205 minPaving Your Own PracticeCombining a medical career with event & expedition work, travel medicine during the COVID-19 pandemic and telemedicine opportunities at The Virtual Doctors Feat. Dr Daniel GraceIn today's episode, Amna is joined by Dr Daniel Grace, host of the popular The Wilderness Medic Podcast. Daniel tells us all about his experience in wilderness, event and expedition medicine as well challenges faced and the impact of Covid on the future of travel medicine. We also talk about the fantastic charitable organisation The Virtual Doctors as well as opportunities for listeners to get involved in this exciting line of work. (Disclaimer: All views expressed belong solely to the individuals expressing them).
2020-09-2636 minPaving Your Own PracticeHow defining your career fears instead of your goals will change your life: The Fear-Setting Exercise ChallengeIn this solo episode, Dr Amna talks about how employing the concept of fear-setting, as described by American Entrepreneur Tim Ferris, truly changed her life when it came to making changes and decisions in her career and life! Of course setting goals is important, but doing this exercise to define your fears will be life-changing! For any questions or comments, contact Dr Amna on Instagram @portfolio.doctor or pavingyourownpractice@hotmail.com (Disclaimer: All views belong solely to the individuals expressing them).
2020-09-2310 minPaving Your Own PracticeCombining a medical career with a successful culinary business, re-building life after divorce and working as a single mum Feat. Dr Rashna LadhaniDr Amna Rehan is joined by Dr Rashna Ladhani who tells us all about her successful culinary and private dining business that she runs whilst maintaining a career as a General Practitioner. They cover a range of topics including how doctors face all the same adversities as everyone else including bereavement, divorce due to infidelity, illness and single parenthood. Dr Rashna tells her inspiring story of how she came through all of these difficult times and how it led her to create her business which she has real passion for. (All views belong solely to the individuals expressing them).
2020-09-1441 minPaving Your Own PracticeCombining a medical career with a professional sport's career, work-life balance and sacrifices in medical school Feat. Arjan JaiyeolaIn the first of the podcast sub-series looking at medics with portfolio careers, Dr Amna Rehan is joined by Arjan Jaiyeola who is a Professional Kickboxer and Professional in Muay Thai. And guess what? He trained up to professional level all whilst studying medicine! He talks about his journey, his sacrifices and his struggles as well as great advice on how to maintain a work-life balance when juggling 2 careers. Ultimately, he encourages medical students, doctors and healthcare professionals that you CAN be more than medicine. (All views in the podcast belong solely to the individuals expressing them).
2020-09-1026 minPaving Your Own PracticePublic school medic - a needle in a haystack?In this brief solo episode, Dr Amna talks about her experience of applying to medical school from a public state school background and how she felt this helped her in her time as a medical student. For any comments or questions, Dr Amna can be contacted on Instagram @portfolio.doctor.
2020-08-2005 minPaving Your Own PracticeLearning how to say 'no' at work without awkwardness, maintaining focus and preventing burnoutSaying 'no' can be hard in general let alone at work when you are asked to take on additional tasks that are above and beyond your duties. This can lead to burnout, loss of work life balance, loss of time to focus on the things important to us and affect our mental well being. In this episode, Dr Amna shares her tips on how to learn to say no without making things awkward!
2020-08-1210 minPaving Your Own PracticeFinding The Right Career Path For You, Why Choosing a Passion With a Purpose is Important and How Understanding Your Personality can Influence Your Career ChoicesIn this episode, Dr Amna talks about how to develop your passions, why passion with purpose is more desirable than passion alone and how other factors such as personality and social impacts can influence career choices. Resource: www.myersbriggs.org. Update: Instagram page has been updated to @portfolio.doctor (not what is mentioned in audio).
2020-08-0517 minPaving Your Own PracticeHow Understanding Your Locus of Control and Developing a Growth Mindset Will Help Overcome Career Setbacks and "Failures"In this episode Dr Amna talks about common career setbacks encountered by those in the medical fields and how to try and overcome them through a change in mindset, specifically through an understanding of the loci of control and growth mindset concepts. Resources: www.brainpickings.org; www.businessinsider.com; Transformation Academy.
2020-08-0118 minPaving Your Own PracticePodcast IntroDr Amna introduces the purpose of the podcast, what led her here and what she hopes to achieve through this platform.
2020-08-0103 min