Real Talk Podcast

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Real Talk is a podcast based on an in-person program where doctors, APs, nurses, and other healthcare professionals share stories about their real, human experiences working in medicine. It's vulnerability and joy in medicine at its best.

Alicia Mikolaycik Kurtz


    • Feb 14, 2022 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 15m AVG DURATION
    • 58 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Real Talk Podcast

    Real Talk Unplugged – Coming Out, Inviting In

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 14, 2022 26:07


    This episode was created together with Vituity, a physician partnership that places clinical expertise and patient outcomes at the center of their work. Our speakers are all members of Vituity team: Alexandria is a Billing Supervisor, Crystal is a Hospitalist & Wellness Champion, Mark is the IT Director for Service Delivery, & our host, Jenn, is a Project Manager.Real Talk Unplugged is a series aimed at highlighting the stories of diverse voices in healthcare. Sean's story is brought to us by the VALOR Enterprise Resource Group – the Vituity Alliance for LGBTQ+ Opportunities & Resources.The Vituity Cares Foundation was formed in 2020 in an effort to foster a new, more diverse generation of healthcare leaders, countering underrepresentation in the industry. Vituity Cares is dedicated to healing the most vulnerable, empowering the underrepresented, and ensuring a more equitable future for all. More information is available at https://www.vituitycares.org/.To connect with the Real Talk Podcast or record your story with us, head to https://realtalk.transistor.fm/Intro music: "Honey and Milk" by The 126ersOutro music: "Hulu Ukulele" by Chris Haugen

    Real Talk Unplugged – Mommy & Me(dicine)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 2, 2021 16:44


    This episode features short anecdotes from Dr. Tiffany Hackett; Dr. Nicki Braxley; Carisa Hotari, PA; & Sara Jew – all employees or partners with Vituity, a physician partnership that places clinical expertise and patient outcomes at the center of their work.Real Talk Unplugged is a series aimed at highlighting the stories of diverse voices in healthcare. Today's story is brought to us by the WAVE Enterprise Resource Group – ensuring that Women At Vituity Excel in fulfilling their career and development goals.The Vituity Cares Foundation was formed in 2020 in an effort to foster a new, more diverse generation of healthcare leaders, countering underrepresentation in the industry. Vituity Cares is dedicated to healing the most vulnerable, empowering the underrepresented, and ensuring a more equitable future for all. More information is available at https://www.vituitycares.org/.To connect with the Real Talk Podcast or record your story with us, head to https://realtalk.transistor.fm/Episode hosted by Melissa Nuñez, Manager of Academic & Scribe Recruiting programs & co-lead of WAVE at VituityIntro music: "Honey and Milk" by The 126ersOutro music: "Hulu Ukulele" by Chris Haugen

    Real Talk Unplugged – Sean's Story: "I just didn't fit"

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 29, 2021 18:58


    'Sean' is an Advanced Provider in California. Sean has shown incredible bravery in sharing this story with us, but we're releasing it under a pseudonym as, sadly, our nation has a long way to go before these stories can be safely shared without fear of repercussion against those who have lived these experiences.This episode was created together with Vituity, a physician partnership that places clinical expertise and patient outcomes at the center of their work.Real Talk Unplugged is a series aimed at highlighting the stories of diverse voices in healthcare. Sean's story is brought to us by the VALOR Enterprise Resource Group – the Vituity Alliance for LGBTQ+ Opportunities & Resources.The Vituity Cares Foundation was formed in 2020 in an effort to foster a new, more diverse generation of healthcare leaders, countering underrepresentation in the industry. Vituity Cares is dedicated to healing the most vulnerable, empowering the underrepresented, and ensuring a more equitable future for all. More information is available at https://www.vituitycares.org/.To connect with the Real Talk Podcast or record your story with us, head to https://realtalk.transistor.fm/Episode hosted by Molly Maxwell – Marketing Team Digital Content Manager with Vituity.Intro music: "Honey and Milk" by The 126ersOutro music: "Hulu Ukulele" by Chris Haugen

    Real Talk Unplugged – Sarah's Story: What did you expect?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 20, 2021 16:16


    Sarah Roth is an Emergency Medicine doctor with Vituity, a physician partnership that places clinical expertise and patient outcomes at the center of their work.Real Talk Unplugged is a series aimed at highlighting the stories of diverse voices in healthcare. Sarah's story is brought to us by Vituity's Mental Health Enterprise Resource Group.The Vituity Cares Foundation was formed in 2020 in an effort to foster a new, more diverse generation of healthcare leaders, countering underrepresentation in the industry. Vituity Cares is dedicated to healing the most vulnerable, empowering the underrepresented, and ensuring a more equitable future for all. More information is available at https://www.vituitycares.org/.To connect with the Real Talk Podcast or record your story with us, head to https://realtalk.transistor.fm/Episode hosted by Arati Manjula – Scribe Regional Lead with Vituity.Intro music: "Honey and Milk" by The 126ersOutro music: "Hulu Ukulele" by Chris Haugen

    Real Talk Unplugged – Taofeek's Story: What's in a name?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 29, 2021 11:53


    Taofeek Ibrahim is a Practice Administrator for Psychiatry with Vituity, a physician partnership that places clinical expertise and patient outcomes at the center of their work.Real Talk Unplugged is a series aimed at highlighting the stories of diverse voices in healthcare. Nicolle's story is brought to us by the BAAVC Enterprise Resource Group – comprised of Black/African American Vitans for Change.The Vituity Cares Foundation was formed in 2020 in an effort to foster a new, more diverse generation of healthcare leaders, countering underrepresentation in the industry. Vituity Cares is dedicated to healing the most vulnerable, empowering the underrepresented, and ensuring a more equitable future for all. More information is available at https://www.vituitycares.org/.To connect with the Real Talk Podcast or record your story with us, head to https://realtalk.transistor.fm/Episode hosted by Michael Broome – ITS Senior Manager with Vituity.Intro music: "Honey and Milk" by The 126ersOutro music: "Hulu Ukulele" by Chris Haugen

    Real Talk Unplugged – Kristy's Story: Not a concept, not a punchline, not an object

    Play Episode Listen Later May 27, 2021 16:24


    Kristy Tran is an Administrative Coordinator with Vituity, a physician partnership that places clinical expertise and patient outcomes at the center of their work.Real Talk Unplugged is a series aimed at highlighting the stories of diverse voices in healthcare. Kristy's story is brought to us by the CAPIE Enterprise Resource Group – the Coalition of Asian & Pacific Islander Empowerment. The Vituity Cares Foundation was formed in 2020 in an effort to foster a new, more diverse generation of healthcare leaders, countering underrepresentation in the industry. Vituity Cares is dedicated to healing the most vulnerable, empowering the underrepresented, and ensuring a more equitable future for all. More information is available at https://www.vituitycares.org/.To connect with the Real Talk Podcast or record your story with us, head to https://realtalk.transistor.fm/Episode hosted by Sandy Phan – Growth Team Proposal Developer with Vituity.Intro music: "Honey and Milk" by The 126ersOutro music: "Hulu Ukulele" by Chris Haugen

    Real Talk Unplugged – Daniela’s Story: You are not alone

    Play Episode Listen Later May 13, 2021 11:57


    Daniela Hunter is a Senior Medical Recruiter for Psychiatry with Vituity, a physician partnership that places clinical expertise and patient outcomes at the center of their work.Real Talk Unplugged is a series aimed at highlighting the stories of diverse voices in healthcare. Daniela's story is brought to us by Vituity's Mental Health Enterprise Resource Group.The Vituity Cares Foundation was formed in 2020 in an effort to foster a new, more diverse generation of healthcare leaders, countering underrepresentation in the industry. Vituity Cares is dedicated to healing the most vulnerable, empowering the underrepresented, and ensuring a more equitable future for all. More information is available at https://www.vituitycares.org/.To connect with the Real Talk Podcast or record your story with us, head to https://realtalk.transistor.fm/Episode hosted by Zach Zeller – Senior Recruiter with Vituity.Intro music: "Honey and Milk" by The 126ersOutro music: "Hulu Ukulele" by Chris Haugen

    Real Talk Unplugged – Nicolle's Story: Becoming Harriet

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 27, 2021 14:34


    Nicolle Goolsby recounts her experience entering an 8th grade essay contest about heroes, and the surprise life lesson she learned in the process. With guest host Christopher Smith.

    Jojo's Story: Did we fail Daniel Prude?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 7, 2021 14:23


    Jojo Ho, PA, reacts to the story of Daniel Prude and wonders what, if anything, the house of medicine could have done differently to help him.

    Michael's Story: “A Promise to Carry the Fire” – an essay for Doctor's Day

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 30, 2021 17:25


    In honor of National Doctor’s Day, Dr. Michael Schmitz realizes practicing medicine in recent years has changed significantly; the purpose at our core, however, has *not.*

    Real Talk Unplugged – Bisaan's Story: My ancestors' wildest dreams

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 29, 2021 15:40


    Bisaan Hanouneh balances her Palestinian cultural roots with the dreams she discovered growing up as a first-generation American woman. With guest host Melissa Nuñez.

    Amy's Story: "The patient turned and started hitting me in the head"

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 20, 2021 16:40


    Dr. Amy Zeidan describes being physically assaulted by a patient, and reflects on the unexpected inner conflict that followed.

    Jesse's Story: a Horse, a Hospital, & Hope

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 2, 2021 13:12


    Jesse Stark suffered a deadly brain bleed, fell from a horse, and laid paralyzed in a hospital for days trapped in a body and a life that didn’t feel like hers – a story perfectly mirroring our experience entering 2021.

    Taylor's Story: The story hidden in the footnotes

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 31, 2020 16:38


    Dr. Taylor Nichols reflects on the 'Butterfly Effect' at play in his life and career, and we take a moment to consider what made 2020 so ridiculously challenging.

    Jed's Story: Sleep in Heavenly Peace

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 23, 2020 19:54


    Jed Grant, PA, remembers a Christmas Eve in the ER when a not-so-holy cause for silence scarred his heart forever.

    John's Story: Ditching the blame

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 1, 2020 15:27


    Why are healthcare workers so harsh with each other? Why do we expect perfection in our performance when we know it's not possible? Dr. John Hamilton does some "real talk" about the current culture in medicine that leaves all of us working in fear – and challenges his team to shift away from the knee-jerk reaction of blame to a newer model of group ownership.

    Real Talk BLM – Chris' Story: These things happen

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 10, 2020 15:08


    Dr. Chris Smith has dealt with racial biases his whole life, but isn’t sure the best way to approach being a doctor who’s mistaken for the janitor on a daily basis.

    Real Talk BLM – Bridgette's Story: "Someone like you..."

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 3, 2020 20:19


    When Dr. Bridgette Provost immigrated from Jamaica, she thought racism in the U.S. meant lynching and riots. But pursuing a career in medicine showed her that it’s often more subtle than that.

    Real Talk BLM – Maureen's Story: Fueled by 'No'

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 27, 2020 14:26


    Dr. Maureen Bell remembers a medical school interview that could have discouraged her from seeking a career as a doctor, but instead left her even more determined to succeed.

    Real Talk MS1 Edition – Leyla's Story: Some scripts just need a rewrite

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 13, 2020 18:03


    MS1 Leyla realizes that true patient-centered care will mean writing lines of her own into the existing healthcare script.

    Real Talk MS1 Edition – Brian's Story: The vision planted in my brain, still remains

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 29, 2020 17:41


    Newly minted MS2 Brian reflects back on a few moments that stand out from his first year of medical school, including the realization that doctors and serial killers have something in common.

    Real Talk MS1 Edition – David's Story: Wait, why am I here?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 15, 2020 12:41


    MS1 David compares his expectations for medical school to the reality of his experience last year.

    Real Talk MS1 Edition – Abha's Story: This one's for the "gunners"

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 15, 2020 15:03


    MS1 Abha navigates her way through the sea of competition that is medical school.

    Tuan's Story: Hope in the heartbeats

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 25, 2020 19:38


    Dr. Tuan Nguyen shares the story of four important patients – his first & most recent COVID cases, his wife, & his daughter.

    Real Talk with CA Bridge – Rose's Story: "I'm a grateful, recovering addict."

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 4, 2020 25:13


    In this final episode of our CA Bridge Program series, our patient ‘Rose' shares the raw story of her struggle with drug use, including how the healthcare system let her down… until one day, when it finally didn’t.

    Real Talk with CA Bridge – Andrew’s Story: Just like Coltrane & Marley

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 28, 2020 16:25


    Dr. Andrew Herring, Addiction Medicine Physician & Principal Investigator with the CA Bridge Program (BridgeToTreatment.org), didn’t grow up villainizing people who use drugs. He learned *that* from medicine.

    Real Talk with CA Bridge – Arianna’s Story: That 'meth head' is my sister

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 21, 2020 12:28


    Arianna Sampson, Physician Assistant & Principal Investigator with the CA Bridge Program (BridgeToTreatment.org), shares an experience with stigma and how it changed her own approach to patient care.

    Real Talk with CA Bridge – Hannah’s Story: For the guys at the Recycling Center

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 14, 2020 18:01


    Dr. Hannah Snyder, Family Medicine Physician & Principal Investigator with the CA Bridge Program (BridgeToTreatment.org), reflects on her first coworkers and how a recycling center set the foundation for a career she wouldn’t have anticipated.

    Real Talk LSU New Orleans — Brianna’s Story: The people who matter most

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 30, 2020 17:54


    LSU New Orleans resident Dr. Brianna Wapples realizes that while losing the people she loved the most, she was gaining a new family.

    Hartwell's Story: The apple fell straight down

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 24, 2020 16:00


    Dr. Hartwell Lin explains how, try as he might, he ended up like his father after all.

    Andres’ Story: That foul feeling when prejudice strikes

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 16, 2020 16:05


    Dr. Andres Anaya still feels the rage of injustice remembering discrimination against his deaf father.

    Real Talk LSU New Orleans – Nick's Story: The four-year cryogenic sleep

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 9, 2020 15:05


    LSU New Orleans resident Dr. Nicholas Salerno illustrates how residency is, in some ways, like entering a four-year cryogenic sleep, while the world goes on and on... without you.

    Vanessa's Story - Bonus Material: 4x4 Breathing, a Resiliency Course, & other wellness tips that aren't yoga

    Play Episode Listen Later May 29, 2020 11:10


    In Vanessa's Story, Dr. Calderon shared her personal story of burnout and resiliency. In this bonus feature, Vanessa shares more about the Vituity Resiliency Course, and we discuss other specific resources available for providers to combat burnout and compassion fatigue.

    Vanessa's Story: When it rains, it pours

    Play Episode Listen Later May 27, 2020 19:08


    Dr. Vanessa Calderon remembers when something *other* than COVID19 was testing our personal wellness as providers. But first, we take a beat to challenge the growing population of keyboard warriors.

    Unpacking Omar's Story: This isn't what *any* of us trained for.

    Play Episode Listen Later May 12, 2020 17:39


    Omar’s story of caring for patients during COVID19 “peak week” in NYC leaves other Emergency Medicine Residents' Association (EMRA) leaders reflecting on their own uncertainties during this strange time.

    Omar's Story: This isn't what I trained for

    Play Episode Listen Later May 5, 2020 14:14


    Dr. Omar Maniya unpacks his experience caring for patients during the peak of COVID19 in New York City, and identifies the less obvious things that will stick with him for years to come.

    Mike's Story: Love in the time of COVID

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 21, 2020 22:27


    Dr. Mike Casner contemplates the reality of “bringing work home” while working on the front lines of COVID19

    Real Talk LSU New Orleans – Elise’s Story: You think *you* had a bad day?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 31, 2020 12:31


    LSU New Orleans emergency medicine resident Dr. Elise Milani contrasts the perceptions of her sister and herself on one particularly bad day.

    Real Talk: COVID-19 Edition. What you REALLY need to know (as of 3/24/20!)

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 24, 2020 18:49


    Our host, Alicia Mikolaycik Kurtz MD, breaks through the static out there and shares some practical advice about COVID-19 and what you need to do to keep yourself and your family safe.

    RealTalk LSU New Orleans – Beau's Story: The things we carry

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 10, 2020 12:38


    LSU New Orleans resident Dr. Beau Saccoccia reflects on the dark realities of our work juxtaposed with life at home

    RealTalk LSU New Orleans: We need more than yoga (...but yoga's ok too)

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 3, 2020 13:25


    Dr. Jennifer Oswald, chief resident at LSU New Orleans Emergency Medicine residency program, brings a RealTalk-like program to life in her residency, and confirms that doing yoga is indeed not enough to solve the problem of physician wellness.

    Anna's Story: When it’s not ‘just gas’

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 18, 2020 16:08


    Anna Heilig-Adams, PA reflects on a journey with belly pain that brought her life full circle.

    Lori's Story: In sickness & in health

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 4, 2020 16:42


    Dr. Lori Winston lived her vows after a stroke of bad luck turned her world inside out.

    David's Story: Husband, Father, Doctor… Defendant?!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2020 15:37


    Dr. David Lee survived being sued, and cherishes what got him through it.

    Lisa's Story: The problem with women in medicine

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 7, 2020 15:11


    Dr. Lisa Mills remembers an early, sobering encounter with reality.

    Real Talk with Aunt Mary: Bonus Material

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 24, 2019 22:37


    After retiring from a 44-year career in nursing, Alicia's Aunt Mary Mikolaycik shares some memories, insights, and a few laughs as she looks back on her time working in healthcare.

    Pha's Story: Freeing ‘Ket’

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 17, 2019 20:51


    Dr. Pha Le’s father risked his life to give Pha a gift that would change him forever.

    Karla's Story: She’s got “the look”

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 4, 2019 14:11


    Karla Fleming, RN, reflects on an early lesson from nursing school that had nothing to do with textbooks.

    Hannah's Story: Making the change together

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 19, 2019 17:15


    Dr. Hannah Knox recalls the fear of entering physical transition, and the doctor that was there for her. (And some friends share things they’re thankful for this Thanksgiving!)

    Julie's Story: Mama Bear vs. Doctor Brain

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 5, 2019 16:45


    Dr. Julie Watkins-Torry pits the unwavering love of a mother against sobering scientific reality when the worst thing that can happen, does.

    Steve's Story: Fighting for Kayce

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 22, 2019 20:06


    Bonus release to celebrate the annual ACEP Scientific Assembly, ACEP leader Dr. Steve Anderson shares the raw and moving story of his source of inspiration in working to fight the opioid epidemic.

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