Shows
Transforming Medical CommunicationsBeyond Impact Factor: How Pfizer Measures Real-World EngagementIn Medical Communications, success isn’t about tracking metrics; it’s about mastering them.In this episode of Transforming Medical Communications, Wesley Portegies is joined by MedComms strategist, J.R. Meloro, to discuss why mastering smarter metrics is no longer optional for Medical Affairs leaders; it’s a necessity.Learn how to move beyond outdated metrics and implement smarter, more meaningful measurement strategies. Metrics should be your roadmap to better decisions, but only if you know how to use them effectively. The future of Medical Affairs depends on how well you track and act on data...2025-07-2936 min
The Burnout CollectiveCrashing out on LinkedInWe decided to practice what we preach last week and take a day off. But we're back! And this week we're talking about the absolute absurdity that is LinkedIn right now: people treating it like Facebook, writing novels about their personal lives, sharing made-up stories about their kids that taught them X Things About B2B Marketing, and don't forget the ol' humble brags. We go over a list of LinkedIn archetypes and come up with examples of each (way too easy, if you ask us). Then, we end with a deep dive into the subreddit r/L...2025-07-291h 03The Burnout CollectiveTaking PTO out of spiteYou can't use your PTO when you're dead. We're sure you know that, but we just wanted to be sure. Cuz hey! Even we still struggle with the guilt (read: trauma) tied to taking time off. In this episode, we discuss everything from unlimited PTO (and how it's not actually unlimited) to the internalized shame that keeps us asking for time off even when we’re burnt out af. We talk about navigating PTO while juggling life, health, and the ever-looming threat of layoffs. We also touch on societal expectations, like the guilt trips women get for lea...2025-07-151h 19
Transforming Medical CommunicationsInsight Drop: Strategic Thinking Over Execution: Redefining Agency Value in MedCommsExecution is everywhere in Medical Communications, but is your agency helping you think?In this solo episode of Transforming Medical Communications, host Wesley Portegies draws from the 2025 State of MedComms survey to explore what pharma teams truly want from their agency partners. And the answer isn’t more slide decks. It’s strategy.Wesley breaks down the five capabilities that Medical Affairs leaders expect from modern agencies, ranging from scientific depth to digital fluency, and explains why empathy, insight, and operational awareness are just as important as technical skill. He also shares a practical exam...2025-07-0812 minThe Burnout CollectiveStop shoulding all over yourselfWe kick off Episode 30 with the winners of our giveaway announced! (Unfortunately, the first two winners didn't respond, so we picked two new winners.) Congrats to @z_mertz and @liz_aday for winning some Burnout Merch! This week has been A WEEK. We wanted to talk about those times when you can't even. When you can't even muster the energy to do basic things—brushing teeth, taking out trash, feeding your children (jk). You know: How to self-care when you just self-can't. We chat about the unfair expectations at work...2025-07-081h 02The Burnout CollectiveThe urge to burn it all downThis week we're joined by Adan Hinojosa (aka @manicsocratic) to talk about the highs and lows of being a live content creator. We cover everything from fitting into the retro gaming scene, managing petty community drama (Rebecca's fav), and the emotional labor that comes with being a Twitch streamer. Sparked by a life reboot that took him from the desert to the Pacific Northwest, Adan rediscovered his love of Nintendo, started buying retro hardware, and began sharing some vintage gaming treasures with his community. We complain about bad movie sequels, chat about Vegas orgies (we me...2025-07-021h 04
Transforming Medical CommunicationsInsight Drop: The 3 Trends Shaping MedComms in 2025MedComms is overdue for a reboot. Static PDFs. Oversized decks. Siloed teams. No feedback loops. These outdated practices are slowing teams down and wasting valuable resources. In this episode of Transforming Medical Communications, Wesley Portegies shares bold insights from the State of Medical Communications 2025 survey and breaks down three urgent trends that pharma leaders can’t afford to ignore. From dismantling silos to killing the static PDF once and for all, this episode offers a practical roadmap to modernize how Medical Affairs teams create, deliver, and measure content. You’ll learn how to:Break down silos and align...2025-06-2416 minThe Burnout CollectiveThe sharpest shit in the fridgeThis week, we got comfy with the talented Liz Aday to discuss her journey as a singer, musician, and producer. She talks about her battle with physical and mental health (including how she lost her voice to vocal cord paralysis) and how she copes with burnout. Liz discusses the devaluation of music, her experience with sexism in the industry over the years, and the importance of hope in her creative practice (which inspires us!).Before the end of the show, we commiserate with Liz over the lack of Mexican food in Oz and Jamie gets p...2025-06-241h 07The Burnout CollectiveNo one cares what the musician likesRebecca couldn't make this week's episode, but will be back next week! We were stoked to welcome Joel Tamas from the band Red Heaven to the show this week to talk about the modern-day musician who must wear too. many. hats. The first thing you need to know is that Joel rocked out with robot cats in Second Life before V-tubers were even cool (and still does live shows in SL today!). He goes on to share some sketchy music biz practices, how AI is affecting the industry, and why chasing the algo just doesn't wo...2025-06-171h 10The Burnout CollectiveReclaiming my time by taking up yours"Hey, do you have a minute to chat?""Hey, how are you? How was your weekend?"If your anxiety just skyrocketed or you feel triggered, we get it. That's why Episode 26 is all about the bane of our corporate existence: meetings. Listen. The chaos and exhaustion of (mostly pointless) meetings can turn even the most on-it Type A into a burnt out mess. How are you supposed to get any work done when you're in meetings all the time?So, come fill your BINGO card over here with us! We've got c...2025-06-121h 07
Transforming Medical CommunicationsMedical Affairs Is Winning on Social—Here’s HowMedical Affairs is evolving, but are we evolving with it?In this episode of Transforming Medical Communications, host Wesley Portegies sits down with Kimberly Eskridge-Rose, a pioneering voice in digital transformation for Medical Affairs. Together, they discuss what it takes to move from cautious experimentation to a scalable and cross-functional social media strategy.You’ll learn why the real risk isn’t being on social media, it’s not being there when misinformation takes the stage. Kimberly shares how her team made the leap from watching stakeholders online to building an integrated presence on platfo...2025-06-1043 minThe Burnout CollectiveThis dumb witch brought jelly shoesSince it's our birthday month and we wanted to do a special stream, we did what anyone else would have done and procrastinated until the last day of the month for our stream (and giveaway announcement!). But first, we decided to take a little journey down memory lane and share stories from when we were kids. We reminisce about hilarious and cringey high school moments, talk about our childhood dreams, and wonder if we would ever actual have been friends in school (Rebecca says absolutely not). Rebecca shares how she was once grounded from the li...2025-06-0352 min
Transforming Medical CommunicationsWhy Great Content Still Falls Flat: The Global-to-Local DisconnectThere’s a silent gap in Medical Communications—and it’s not about effort, it’s about alignment.In this episode of Transforming Medical Communications, host Wesley Portegies is joined by Simon Priou, an experienced global content leader, to unpack the persistent challenges between Global, Regional, and Local teams.This conversation goes beyond content production—it reveals the human dynamics and workflow challenges that often prevent globally developed materials from being adapted, adopted, or impactful at the local level.Whether you’re building affiliate toolkits or bridging silos, this episode offers a strategic lens on what...2025-05-2734 minThe Burnout CollectiveThis one's for all the Star Trek dadsOn this week’s episode, we chat with Dr. Priyanka Rao, a psychologist and executive coach who specializes in neurodivergence. We immediately dive into the world of adult ADHD and autism—why so many get diagnosed later in life, how it shows up, and why it's so fucking difficult to get diagnosed at all.Each of us share our personal struggles with having a late diagnosis (Pri, too!). Jamie tries to get Pri to diagnose her parents, claiming the apple didn't fall far from the tree. And Rebecca shares the time her husband "took the scenic route" on a...2025-05-271h 12The Burnout CollectiveDating when you don't leave the houseIn this episode, we welcome Morgan Smith, who shares with us about working in HR, quitting her job for her mental health—oh, and the state of online dating (we hear it's a bit murdery out there). After shedding a soul-sucking job and an even more soul-sucking relationship, Morgan talks about how she went from feeling the weight of "golden handcuffs" to making the brave leap into the unknown by quitting her job and focusing on herself. We explore the wild world of online dating, the BS of work burnout, and why having a solid supp...2025-05-201h 36
Transforming Medical CommunicationsInsight Drop – AI Fluency: The 2025 Leadership Skill Medical Affairs Can’t IgnoreIn Medical Communications, survival isn’t about using AI; it’s about mastering it. In this episode of Transforming Medical Communications, Wesley Portegies is joined by AI strategist Subir Roy to discuss why mastering AI is no longer optional for leaders in Medical Affairs; it’s a competitive necessity. Learn how to eliminate inefficient processes, spot AI "hallucinations," and leverage human expertise to make smarter, faster decisions. AI can save you hours every day, but only if you know how to use it. The future belongs to those who harness AI as a strategic asset; those who don’t risk bei...2025-05-1323 minThe Burnout CollectiveA free flowing individual with a tank topJamie was sick this week, so sorry for the delayed episode release, Burnouts! We had a an absolute ball talking to one of our favorite writers this week: Taylor Medine. Taylor shares her own journey of overcoming burnout by shedding light on the challenges of freelancing, transitioning to full-time work, and finding balance between career ambitions and personal life. Once Taylor stops bragging about how great living in Hawaii is, she then opens up about the pressures she's felt as a child of immigrant parents, generational trauma and burnout, and how she manages to carve ou...2025-05-0852 min
Transforming Medical CommunicationsInsight Drop: Digital Engagement Is Broken - Here’s How Medical Affairs Can Fix ItDigital engagement in Medical Affairs is broken, and you know it. You’ve got channels that don’t connect, metrics that don’t matter, and “innovations” that die in MLR review. It’s not your fault. But it is fixable. In this episode of Transforming Medical Communications, Wesley Portegies is joined by digital strategist Alessandra Richardson to unpack the broken realities of digital engagement and how to build tools that actually work. This isn’t about adding more platforms. It’s about connecting the right ones, co-creating with the people you serve, and aligning teams from field to MLR to create measurabl...2025-04-2915 minThe Burnout CollectivePrioritizing yourself out of spiteThis week we had an impromptu slumber party that was a little unhinged (but in the best way). Elyssa was visiting Jamie, so we took advantage and brought her on to chat about prioritizing and rehumanizing ourselves. We discuss setting boundaries, being vulnerable, and not being responsible for other people's reactions to you. We also talk about how vital it is to do the things that are important to you and keep the promises we make to ourselves. Rebecca admits her garden is mostly just there to spite the HOA, Jamie thinks more people should cr...2025-04-291h 44The Burnout CollectiveJumping on grenades for everyoneThis week we celebrated our 20th podcast episode! Proof even the most ADHD brains can, in fact, stick with things. Earlier in the week, Jamie had a meltdown over the seemingly impossible job market. So, we wanted to discuss the struggles of finding a job (especially after being laid off). We talk about frustrations with current hiring practices, LinkedIn scammers, and the emotional toll of constant rejection.To lighten the mood, we also share some job-hunting tips, emphasize the significance of negotiating salaries, and remind everyone that we DFWFF (f you know, you k...2025-04-221h 00
Transforming Medical CommunicationsStop Counting HCP Interactions: Start Measuring ImpactMost Medical Affairs leaders know the truth: Counting MSLHCP interactions is easy, but it’s meaningless. Vanity metrics are holding Field Medical back. In this episode of Transforming Medical Communications, Wesley Portegies is joined by Denise Clark, Regional Medical Director of the Rare Disease team at Amgen, to show you what to measure instead and how to finally prove your team's real impact. Denise brings a bold, disruptive perspective: activity is not impact. This conversation gives you the modern Field Medical playbook. It's not about doing more. It's about doing what moves the needle.You’ll learn how to:S...2025-04-1546 minThe Burnout CollectiveListen, I have a lizard and zero boundariesPSA: Rebecca took a Lorazepam before the show. Then, we all found out about frolfing (it doesn't mean what you think it means! we swear!). Here we go.Adult friendships are hard. You know, like how the hell do you even make friends as an adult in the first place? Where do you find these people? And how do you keep up with each other? From awkward social encounters to long-time internet friends, we cover all the different "friend tiers" (spoiler alert: there's a lot). We also share a lot of o...2025-04-151h 01The Burnout CollectiveThe goth girl at Christian school with fishnets on her armsNarrator: And now it's time for Silly Songs with Larry, the part of the show where Larry comes out and sings a silly song.To get hyped for the show this week, we watched everyone's favorite Christian vegetables (Veggie Tales). It turns out Silly Songs With Larry was the only good thing we can recall from our religious upbringings, but let’s get into it anyway.We delve into our personal experiences with religious trauma and how it affected everything from our relationships to our sexual and mental health. We talk about therapy, de...2025-04-081h 15The Burnout CollectiveChik’n soup for the burnt out soulHey, everyone! We’re back. And it’s just the two of us this week which we haven’t done in a while. We decided to talk about all things cozy, comfy, and coping—and we all know Rebecca is all about the warm and fuzzies. Jamie starts by talking about her visit to Super Nintendo World over the weekend and how magical it was to see her childhood come to life. Then, we dive in to our go-to comforts.From our favorite nostalgic TV shows and movies like “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” to our top comfort f...2025-04-0248 minThe Burnout CollectiveThe one where a barn falls on Rachel"Are You Tired of Being Paid Less Than You're Worth?" or How Rachel Ended Up an Electrician ApprenticeThis week, we're joined by Rachel Cannon, Rebecca's sister, who has had one heck of a career journey. She graduated during a recession, worked as a bicycle tour guide, switched majors, and picked up plenty of peculiar internships—like putting snails in jars at the Smithsonian. Rachel eventually found her calling in the trades as an electrician apprentice.We chat about how unpaid internships only benefit the rich, how kids shouldn't be able to take out thousands of...2025-03-2556 min
Transforming Medical CommunicationsModernizing Your MedComms ApproachWelcome to the Transforming Medical Communications podcast brought to you by MedComms Experts. I am your host, Wesley Portegies. This podcast explores the dynamic landscape of Medical Communication strategies, innovations, and challenges. We aim to facilitate insightful conversations that contribute to advancing effective Medical Communication practices.Our special guest today is Matthew Krzywosz, Director of Scientific Communications and Content at Astellas Pharma. Join us as we explore the importance of tailoring Medical Communication content for your audience, why you should develop concise and digestible content in Medical Communications, the importance of harnessing audience insights and feedback, and...2025-03-1332 minThe Burnout CollectiveNever shut your pie holeThis week our guest is Robin Saks Frankel who Jamie worked with at her last job. After Jamie gushes over Robin's no-nonsense communication style and mentorship, we explore the themes of empowerment, especially among women, in the workplace. We talk about the importance of asking questions at work, even when it feels intimidating, and how Robin challenged the norm by always speaking up. Jamie outs herself as the office chatterbox who is always trying to convince others to ask questions, Rebecca reveals her not-so-hidden disdain for forced corporate coffee dates, and Robin shares her journey into creating video content...2025-03-111h 04The Burnout CollectiveThey'd rather stand on a pile of skullsThis week, we welcome guest Madeline Shores. She basically said "eff this" and quit her full-time job of 10 years to focus on herself (because surprise! she was burnt out af). So on her 1-Year Anniversary of Being Jobless, she shares the surprising realities of living without a full-time corporate gig, as well as the financial and emotional aspects of her transition. Madeline also lays out the true cost of having a job to begin with and all the ways corporate life sucks your soul right out. But pay close attention to this episode because this girl has t...2025-03-041h 23The Burnout CollectiveYour job is literally killing youWell, Rebecca took a pain killer right before the show (that's where we're at). But this week, we're talking about dealing with chronic illnesses, both mental and physical, especially in the workplace. We discuss the struggle of working through pain in high-stress job hellscapes because we're sometimes afraid to take time off. We also talk about the invisible illnesses others don't see and how it sucks to feel judged or second-guessed by others in your life when you're ill (managers, parents...even friends).Plus, we've been dissociating with the new Hello Kitty game, and let u...2025-02-2558 minThe Burnout CollectiveDon't ask me WTF is for dinnerTW: Please note that this episode contains some brief talk of eating disorders, as well as mentions of fatphobia and body shaming. If you're sensitive to these topics, we suggest skipping through minutes 14 to 17 and 25 to 38.Get ready to talk food burnout with us in Episode 12. We discuss pandemic grocery woes, meal prep/planning exhaustion, dietary restrictions, and eating on hard mode when our health or the meds we take affect our appetite.Rebecca discusses why Imperfect Foods was a game changer for her. Meanwhile, Jamie defends the virtue of peanut...2025-02-1856 minThe Burnout CollectiveCat butthole in your face kinda weekYou guys. It's been a week. Rebecca is obsessed with Rednote. She'll be speaking fluent Mandarin in about 2 weeks. Jamie tried to watch her first episode of J*e R*gan, but gave up after 15 minutes. It's time to delve into moral injury vs. burnout. We couldn't help but talk about the dumpster fire that is big tech, Meta's racist AI gone rogue, and DEI efforts being dismantled. Plus, we discuss how M*rk Z*ckubus is doing away with factchecking and blocking links from an IG competitor...all while giving Dark Willow from Buffy. "Th...2025-02-1445 min
Transforming Medical CommunicationsFrom Research to Reach: How Sermo, Kudos, and Figshare Expand Your AudienceIn this episode of the Transforming Medical Communications podcast, host Wesley Portegies is joined by Charlie Rapple, Dave Shoup, and Dan Valen. Together, they discuss how Kudos, Sermo, and Figshare contribute to the digital communications ecosystem of Medical Affairs and how you can integrate these platforms into your Medical Communications strategy.Episode Highlights:Maximizing Medical Affairs impact with third-party platformsWhy "build vs. buy" matters in digital communicationsChoosing the right digital communication platformSocial media vs. third-party platformsWhat metrics you should measure in Medical AffairsCut Through the Noise. Elevate Your Strategy.Guiding...2025-02-121h 17The Burnout CollectiveThe millennials who ruined everythingWe made it to Episode 10! Our tiny, black neurodivergent hearts thank all of you for that. Our special episode needed a special guest (and our first!) and we're so happy it was Elyssa. Elyssa is one of our good friends that we both met at work and she hasn't been able to get rid of us since. She is a a creator in so many ways—artist, writer, podcaster, TikTok creator, personal finance expert, and so much more. Elyssa talks about her year-and-a-half struggle with unemployment, discussing the emotional toll, tough job market, and the impo...2025-02-111h 34