Physician Burnout, Marriage, and the Story Behind The MedLife Support Podcast

Physician Burnout Doesn’t Stay at Work: Why I Created The MedLife Support Podcast

Life in medicine is demanding. The long hours, call schedules, emotional intensity, and constant responsibility don’t simply end when a shift is over. They follow physicians home—into marriages, partnerships, families, and everyday life.

Yet for years, conversations about physician burnout have focused almost exclusively on the individual physician, often overlooking the people standing beside them.

That’s why I created The MedLife Support Podcast.

Life in Medicine Impacts More Than the Physician

As a health psychologist, nationally board-certified health and wellness coach, and physician spouse of over 26 years, I’ve experienced life in medicine from both a professional and deeply personal perspective.

I’ve seen how burnout doesn’t just show up as exhaustion or stress—it quietly reshapes relationships. Communication changes. Emotional distance can grow. One partner may begin carrying more invisible labor, while both try to normalize strain as “just part of medicine.”

For many physician families, this becomes the unspoken reality.

And too often, spouses and partners are left wondering:

• Is this normal?
• Is it okay to want support, too?
• Does this mean our relationship is failing?

The short answer: No.
The longer answer is what led me to my research—and ultimately, this podcast.

What My Research Revealed About Burnout and Marriage

My doctoral research, Physician Burnout and the Marital Relationship: Spouse Perspective, focused on an often-overlooked voice in medicine: the spouse or partner.

What I found was both validating and eye-opening.

Burnout is not just an individual experience—it’s a relational one. Spouses described emotional disconnection, role overload, loneliness, and quiet adaptation in response to the demands of medicine. Many minimized their own needs, believing they should simply “be strong” or “hold things together.”

This research reinforced something I had long suspected: healing from burnout cannot happen in isolation. It must include the relationships and family systems that are impacted every day.

Why I Created The MedLife Support Podcast

The MedLife Support Podcast was created to bring physician families into the burnout conversation—with compassion, clarity, and evidence-based support.

This podcast is for:

• Physicians navigating the relentless demands of medicine
• Spouses and partners supporting life behind the white coat
• Families seeking connection, balance, and sustainability
• Healthcare leaders who care about the people behind the profession

Each episode features candid conversations about life in medicine, relationships, boundaries, communication, identity, and well-being beyond survival mode.

Some episodes are solo conversations grounded in psychology and research. Others feature physicians, spouses, and experts who aren’t afraid to talk honestly about the hard parts—and the hope that’s possible.

Episode 1: Physician Burnout, Marriage, and the Story Behind the Podcast

In the inaugural episode, Physician Burnout, Marriage, and the Story Behind The MedLife Support Podcast, I share:

• Why physician families must be part of the burnout conversation
• How burnout shows up at home, not just at work
• What my research revealed about marriage and connection in medicine
• Why thriving in medicine starts with connection at home

This episode sets the foundation for the conversations to come—and for a community built on support rather than silent endurance.

You’re Not Alone—and You Don’t Have to Do This Without Support

If you’ve ever felt like something has to change…
If medicine feels like the third presence in your relationship…
If you’re tired of running on empty and ready for something sustainable…

You’re in the right place.

🎧 Listen to The MedLife Support Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.
📩 Share it with a physician, spouse, or medical family who could use a little life support.

Because thriving in medicine isn’t just about surviving another shift—it’s about learning how to live, love, and lead with a full heart again. Click HERE if you're interested in reading the full dissertation.