Hello! I’m dropping in to say that two episodes of my podcast appeared this morning on Spotify (Apple podcasts is coming soon!), and I hope you’ll take a listen.
The first episode is an introduction to the podcast (including the pivot I made recently which I talked about briefly here.
In the Humans Leading podcast, I’m aiming to bring you more of what I try to bring you here: more fulfillment and joy by way of lessons that I have learned the hard way (read: burnout... twice).
Today's episode is a short taste of what you'll find in the rest of the series and also gives you a practice you can incorporate to start living well now.
Here are the resources referenced in the episode:
Humans Leading Substack: Humans Leading | Jillian Bybee | Substack
Self-Compassion Self-test: Test how self-compassionate you are
The second episode is the project I completed in the Harvard University Medical School Media and Medicine Certificate Course last year. It highlights an under-addressed crisis in healthcare: Respiratory therapist burnout.
Even if you’re not in healthcare, I think you’ll find something to relate to in the episode. And, the mass exodus of healthcare workers from their jobs should be something we are all worried about as it means worse care for us and our loved ones.
Studies show that 75% of respiratory therapists have symptoms of burnout! This is more than nursing burnout or physician burnout, but it hasn’t been covered nearly as much in the media. As a result, respiratory therapists continue to leave their positions across the country.
In this episode, I speak with Andrew Miller, RRT a respiratory therapist at Duke University and first author on a narrative review about enhancing respiratory therapists’ wellbeing which was published in May 2023 in the Journal of Respiratory Care. He provides evidence-backed solutions for getting started.
Andrew shares that beginning to address the problem is simple, but not as easy as one might expect: Be kind. He reminds us that physicians are leaders whether they have a formal title or not and that their behavior sets the tone for the rest of the team.
This lesson is applicable to everyone out there leading formally or informally.
Whether you’re in healthcare or not, please tune in for this important conversation to start making a difference in your own work environment. If you’re not sure where to start, Andrew reminds us “Don’t just talk about it; do something.” As in, do something small like give positive feedback or show your humanity to those you are leading.
With small changes like these, we can take the first steps toward making healthcare more humane for all of us.
Resources:
- Enhancing Respiratory Therapists' Well-Being: Battling Burnout in Respiratory Care - PubMed (nih.gov)
- Get in touch with Andrew: (1) Andrew Miller MSc RRT-ACCS RRT-NPS FAARC FCCM (@AGMRRT) / X (twitter.com)
I’d love to hear who you are, where you’re listening from, and what types of episodes would be helpful for you. Your comments, reviews, and shares are always much appreciated and really do make my day. Happy listening!