Motherhood is supposed to be joyful, but for many women it’s also isolating, exhausting, and overwhelming. In this episode of The Expanded MD: Bridging Science and Spirituality, Sarah sits down with clinical counsellor Autumn Fowler to explore the realities of burnout in motherhood - what it looks like, why it’s so hard to talk about, and how we can start to lighten the load.

Together they unpack:

• The hidden isolation many new mothers face

• How identity shifts and “shouldering” culture fuel shame and guilt

• Why burnout in motherhood mirrors workplace burnout (but is rarely named)

• The role of the nervous system in how we show up for our families

• Practical steps to move from martyrdom to connection and community

They also share their personal experiences of early motherhood, the guilt of not “doing it all,” and why modelling rest and self-care is one of the greatest gifts we can give our children.

✨ Plus: Hear about our upcoming event, Unburdened: The Experience, on September 28th in Victoria, BC—a half-day retreat designed to help mothers step away from the grind, reconnect with themselves, and find support in community. 

In this episode of The Expanded MD Podcast, Dr. Sarah Lea sits down with Kristin Woodford, host of The Routine Queen Podcast, to explore how morning and evening rituals set the tone for the day ahead in more ways that we realize.

Kristin shares her personal journey from feeling lost and exhausted, to achieving vitality through intentional morning rituals. She breaks down how to construct a personalized morning routine, emphasizing the importance of starting with your "why," assessing the time you have, and incorporating activities from physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual "menus."

This conversation is both practical and inspiring - an invitation to rethink how we transition from day to night, and how small, consistent choices ripple into the days and weeks ahead!

🔗 Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode

• The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod
• The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson
• Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself by Dr. Joe Dispenza
• Atomic Habits by James Clear
• The Routine Queen Podcast with Kristen Woodford
• Instagram: @kristenwoodford

✨ Connect with Dr. Sarah Lea

• Instagram: @dr.sarahlea
• Email: hello@drsarahlea.com
• Website: drsarahlea.com

How do you define perfectionism? Is it an inherent trait, or a learned behaviour? Is it something to be fostered, or could it be  fear masquerading as high standards?

Dr. Sarah Lea muses on these thoughts and more, on this episode of The Expanded MD Podcast. She reflects on her own journey, how embracing vulnerability and authenticity has shaped her life, and how redefining her relationship with her own perfectionism has created psychological safety and connection for herself and others. She reflects on the benefits she's experienced with this approach in her parenting, professional life, and friendships - and by the end of this episode you may just also be inspired to do something radical - embrace imperfection.

www.drsarahlea.com

In this third and final installement of the opening series about "Who is Dr. Sarah Lea," we close the loop on what brought Dr. Lea to face away from medicine in order to better see herself. Navigating a demanding panel of positions within family practice, maternity care, addictions medicine, multiple leadership positions, entrepreneurship - and the collective trauma brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic to top it all off - Dr. Lea realized that at this phase in her life, what she cared most about was also the most neglected.

 Too many of us take the best of ourselves to work, and leave the rest at home. Sarah is seeking to end that by exploring multiple paths, both within and without. From the significant decision to close her family practice, to discovering the benefits of physician coaching, exploring alternative healing modalities like meditation and sound healing, and her commitment to a balanced life prioritizing her role as a mother, join Dr. Lea as she seeks to bridge the gap between medical science and spiritual wellness, advocating for integrative approaches to healthcare - for herself, and for you. www.drsarahlea.com

In this second episode of The Expanded MD, Dr. Sarah Lea takes us deeper into both her personal and professional worlds. From the intensity of OB/GYN residency on Vancouver Island (grueling call schedules and all) to the unexpected twists that led her to family medicine, she shares the highs, the lows, and everything in between.

Along the way, she reflects on meeting her husband, juggling mental health while starting a family, and making tough career decisions - because life is never just one straight path. Join us for an honest, behind-the-scenes look at the challenges and rewards of medicine, family, and forging a fulfilling career… or so it seemed.

Until the next and final installement of Dr. Lea's personal journey, learn more about how she can support you today in building a reality where you never have to choose between a successful career & leading a fulfilling life at www.drsarahlea.com.

In this inaugural episode of The Expanded MD, Dr. Sara Lea shares the origins of her unique journey, from  studying economics in her undergraduate years, to finding her calling in medicine, from growing up in Prince Edward Island to settling down in British Columbia!

Never on a traditional path, Dr. Lea reflects on her time in Dalhousie medical school, transformative rotations in Ghana, and landing in an OBG/YN residency placement in Victoria, BC—against her wishes (at the time)! Her diverse experiences shape her path, taking her to some new and uncharted territory, as we'll find out in the next episode!

Learn more about how Dr. Sarah Lea can support you today in building a reality where you never have to choose between a successful career & leading a fulfilling life at www.drsarahlea.com.

A confounding feeling: within the joy and freedom of summer, there’s often an undercurrent of guilt and stress. Maybe when you’re relaxing, you feel you should be tackling your to-do list. Or when you’re working, you feel guilty for not being fully present with your family. Sound familiar?

In this heartfelt episode of The Expanded MD, Dr. Sarah Lea speaks directly to the weight of “Mom Guilt.” She teases out the difference between destructive and productive guilt, shares strategies to manage the demands of summer, and reminds you of the power of self-compassion. You’ll also hear about Unburdened: The Experience - an upcoming day retreat for parents designed to offer community, support, and practical tools to lighten the load of modern parenting.

Join Sarah as she tries to find solace in connection and practice self-compassion, and check out Dr. Kristin Neff's website and resources for a deeper dive!

In this solo episode of The Expanded MD, Dr. Sarah Lea dives into a topic she’s been… well… resisting. Not resistance training (though that’s valuable too) - but the quiet, powerful pull to stay safe, avoid discomfort, and hide from growth.

If you’ve ever delayed a project, avoided putting yourself out there, or filled your days with “productive” busyness instead of doing the work that truly matters, you’ve already met resistance. And you’re not alone. Dr. Lea shares how resistance has been showing up in her own life - particularly while building her coaching business alongside her medical career - and the fears that fuel it: judgment, failure, and worthiness.

She also explores:

• How to recognize resistance when it’s “hiding in plain sight”
• Why growth is always paired with discomfort
• The link between resistance, shadow work, and identity shifts
• Practical first steps to move through resistance with self-awareness and support

This episode is vulnerable and real - a reminder that what’s needed isn’t more time, but more courage (and community) to take the next step.

🔗 Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

📕 On Our Best Behavior by Elise Loehnen
🎙️ Revive Physician Podcast Episode 25 with Dr. Rabia Khan on cultural resilience and identity in medicine

✨ Connect with Dr. Sarah Lea:
📲 Instagram: @dr.sarahlea
💻 Email: hello@drsarahlea.com
🛜 Website: drsarahlea.com

If this episode resonates, reach out via DM or email - she’d love to hear where resistance is showing up for you and how you’re navigating it.

The issues are in the tissues. What do we mean by that?

Today we bring you Part 2 of the Health is Wealth Mini Series, where Dr. Sarah Lea and Rachel Mark dig into what it means to "listen to your body." From becoming more mindful of our basic needs like hunger and sleep - which we're often conditioned to override from a young age - to learning how to respond to signals from our body, from physical sensations to simply mindful listening, it is work a lot of us may feel uncomfortable with - at first.

But it’s essential. Because the goal? To reconnect with ourselves, respond with care, and ultimately feel more in sync with our health.

In this enlightening episode of The Expanded MD Podcast, Dr. Sarah Lea hosts her first guest - Dr. Lawrence Yang, a family physician, quality improvement coach, and fellow expanded MD. Dr. Yang shares his personal journey through burnout, exploring how unconventional, whole-person approaches helped him heal and reconnect with his work and wellbeing. Their conversation delves into the pressures of clinical life, the impact of trauma (especially those from being a child of refugee immigrants), and alternative practices like Reiki, holotropic breathwork, and the significance of self-compassion.

This episode is a must-listen for healthcare practitioners and anyone grappling with burnout, offering a new perspective on resilience, self-care and ultimately - self-acceptance. If you'd like to connect with Dr. Yang or Dr. Sarah Lea directly, you can reach them at:

• Dr. Lawrence Yang on X
• Dr. Lawrence Yang on Instagram
• Dr. Sarah Lea on Instagram
• Dr. Sarah Lea's website

Welcome to The Expanded MD Podcast - where science meets spirituality to transform your thinking and expand your mind. Hosted by Dr. Sara Lea, a family physician, certified executive coach, and keynote speaker, this podcast offers a bi-weekly dose of medical insight infused with spiritual wisdom.

Through storytelling, personal experiences, and expert interviews, we’ll explore the intersection of medical science and spiritual wisdom. Join us as we blend the best of both worlds to elevate your well-being and unlock new possibilities for your health, career, and personal growth.

First episode dropping this Tuesday, April 1st! We would be so greateful for a follow and review.

Check out www.drsarahlea.com to learn more about Dr. Sarah, here to support you in building a reality where you never have to choose between a successful career & leading a fulfilling life!

What does it really mean to be well? Today we're kicking off something a little different, and in our opinion, truly necessary.

In Part I of the Health Is Wealth Mini Series, Dr. Lea introduces Rachel Mark, a registered acupuncturist, integrative health coach, and clinic owner who bridges Eastern and Western approaches to medicine, bringing a truly holistic lens to healing - and a valualbe perspective in the conversation around the interconnectedness of our bodies.

Together, Rachel and Dr. Lea discuss how broad-reaching networks like the nervous system, fascia, hormones, and musculoskeletal structure all work together and therefore must be examined in tandem with any other health concerns. They explore how the interconnectedness of body, mind, and environment empowers healing, and what it means to advocate for your needs in today’s health landscape.

Whether you're navigating your own healing journey or working to support others on theirs, this series is for you.

After working on climbing out of burnout for years, what do we do when we feel it coming on again? We take a moment to reassess, remember what burnout actually looks like, and give ourselves grace as this process is not linear.

In this candid and raw epsiode, Dr. Sarah Lea shares with us that despite searching her way out of burnout for years, she can still find herself looped back in. Burnout has many different looks - depersonalization, cynicism, moral exhaustion - to name a few. Sarah's vulnerability encourages to reflect on your own experiences, while offering resources for managing burnout and underscoring the need for systemic change and self-care in the medical field. Slowing down is not a sabbatical - it's survival.

Additional resources:

• Revive Physicians Podcast | Ep 20: Sharing the Mental Load at Home with Dr. Pip Houghton
• Empowered Time: An Energy Management Guide for Physicians | This workbook is designed to equip you, a physician, with the tools and strategies necessary to reclaim control over your time and feel in control of your life.
• The 2025 Revive Physicians Retreat | Managing The Mental Load Retreat: Reclaim Your Energy at work and at home.
• Physician Health Program in British Columbia
• Ontario Medical Association & Mayo Clinic Burnout Literature

In this episode of The Expanded MD Podcast, Dr. Sarah Lea chats with Jennica Day, a vacation expert, author, and advocate for intentional rest and recovery. After experiencing burnout while living and working in Cancun, she dedicated herself to understanding the science of vacationing and work recovery, developed the "Vacation Hero Method," and authored the book You Need a (Better) Vacation, where she shares evidence-based strategies to help individuals and organizations optimize time off for improved well-being, performance, and happiness.

Jennica shares some of her best tips on today's podcast, and together with Sarah discusses why vacations matter, why you don't need money to take one, and practical tips for how you can maximize your time off today!

The Vacation Nerd Instagram | The Vacation Nerd Website | You Need a (Better) Vacation

You may be asking yourself why we're talking about witches today and if we've finally totally lost the plot somewhere between MDs and witch doctors, but rest assured - there are very real and scientific reasons for how we got here!

Today's guest is Eileen March, a former midwife turned intuitive coach, wild medicine energy healer, podcast host, and "slow living witch" - a title that reclaims the connection to feminine wisdom and creates a culture of care for community, including for ourselves.

Eileen and Sarah discuss how the very definition of a "witch" got skewed through the male-dominated power structures of history, with far-reaching effects that can still be felt today in our inability to slow down and embrace our own worthiness - especially for those of us constantly striving for more. Detaching self-worth from productivity is no easy task, so this episode invites you to start small and begin with awareness - just hit play and join the slow revolution.

To learn more about Eileen, be sure to check-out her website, www.myluminouslife.ca, or her Instagram.

In this episode, Dr. Sarah sits down with community-builder Jess Marley, owner of The Local Inc., to explore the power of connection and why "getting in the room” matters.

Jess shares her journey from corporate litigation to creating markets and events that bring people together, support local business, and remind us of the joy of gathering.

They talk about the risks and rewards of event-building, the science behind why connection is a fundamental human need, and the courage it takes to show up—especially in seasons of life that feel isolating.

Jess also gives us a sneak peek into Unburdened: The Experience happening Sept 28 in Victoria, BC.

Resources & Links Mentioned:

Follow  the Unburdened Co-Hosts on Social Media: Jessica Marley @thelocalinc; Dr. Sarah @dr.sarah.lea and Autumn Fowler @autumn.fowler.relationships

Learn more about Unburdened: The Experience (Sept 28, Victoria BC)

✨ And a gentle reminder: you’re not alone—and connection might be the most radical form of self-care.