So many of our choices are shaped less by desire and more by expectation. We chase prestige, status, or recognition, only to arrive and realize we were climbing the wrong ladder. Beneath burnout and the friction, there’s often the truth that we were never pursuing what we truly wanted. In this episode, we explore the concept of mimetic desire, how it misguides our ambitions, and how to reclaim our decisions. Finally, we examine how fear of judgment and shame shape our careers more than we think, and what it takes to break free.

Guest bio: Josh Russell, MD, is double board-certified in Emergency Medicine and Palliative Care. He’s held leadership roles as a Chief Medical Officer in telehealth, artificial intelligence, and urgent care systems. He’s an experienced clinician, writer, educator, and medical editor with a passion for making complex topics accessible.

LinkedIn article that spurred this podcast

Josh’s Website

We Discuss:

Mimetic Desire: Chasing What Others Want
The Trap of “Should”: Internalized Shame
The Concentric Circles of Stressors
Finding What You Really Want
The Ladder Against the Wrong Wall
Actionable Reflection Practices

Mentioned in this episode:

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