S8E16: Making Space for Joy in Medicine

Many medical students enter training with a clear picture of what lies ahead—rigorous studying, long hours, and the expectation that it will be more endurance than enjoyment. Austen sits down with the “Pizza Girls”—Anna Tidwell, Taylor Christensen, Jade Kho, Rachael Thorpe, and Gracie Bradford—to reflect on the assumptions they carried into medical school, which ones proved true, and which ones quietly fell apart along the way. From expecting constant stress to being surprised by moments of joy, the group explores how early perceptions shape the way they experience growth, success, and even their own well-being.