Boundless Moments

As a medical intern in the intensive care unit, Dr. Nathan Houchens believed his patients needed him to be unshakeable. Fueled by exhaustion, fear, and uncertainty, he constructed a figurative “mask” of confidence and stoicism before the planned removal of life support from a woman with advanced ALS. But in the final moments before her death, she gave him a gift that caused his carefully crafted façade to crumble.

Sacred...

Jinae’s moment begins in one of the heaviest spots in healthcare: sitting alongside a grieving individual in the immediate aftermath of loss. As an administrator in a new role, Jinae was presented with a situation for which no training can prepare. Forms and procedures were set aside to allow for a sacred space of compassion, tears, and prayer. She reflects on the anxiety and emotional weight of accompanying others through gr...

Rev. Mary Myoku Remington, a Buddhist Chaplain and Director of the Buddhist Chaplaincy Training Program at Upaya, takes us back to her very first day in clinical training. What began as a harried and judgment-laden handoff of a “difficult” patient quickly unfolded into a frightening moment. As a novice chaplain, with no script to follow, Mary chose to stay and listen and be interested. What emerges is a story about the ...

In his reflections, Dr. Dale Nikkel traces the origins of a calling that emerged through an interruption—an unexpected pager sounding in the midst of an ordinary evening, opening a pathway to extraordinary purpose. Drawn by a longing he could not yet name, he stepped into the sacred space of spiritual care, where his very first encounter was marked not by expertise, but by humility and missteps. At the bedside of a dying man,...

We as humans don't always appreciate the incredible automatic work our bodies do to keep us alive, like the silent rhythmic symphony of our heartbeat. In this episode, Naomi Zikmund-Fisher shares two deeply personal stories from her pregnancy that reveal what it's like when the body suddenly feels unsafe, when the symphony becomes chaotic. From an abruptly racing heartbeat that left her questioning whether her body could sustain he...

Dr. Brian Zikmund-Fisher opens with a personal story from the bone marrow transplant ward, where he underwent chemotherapy and confronted the daily realities of serious illness. He describes his connection with Steve, another patient who had begun the same treatment path a week earlier, and their silent pledge to each other and to themselves. Following his story, Dr. Zikmund-Fisher reflects on how patients may create a personal spa...

So far in Boundless Moments, we have heard from healthcare and mental healthcare providers who have shared their reflections on what it means to experience sacred moments with patients, clients, colleagues, or even mentees. It's time then to explore how sacred moments may unfold from the patient's perspective. And perhaps there's no more fitting segue than by hearing from a person who has experienced both the physician and the pati...

Dr. Arlene MacDougall shares her profound experience with dreams, healing, and the transforming power of the sweat lodge. She reflects on a terrifying dream from her youth that became a symbol of her journey through pain and hardship. In her work as a psychiatrist, she highlights the importance of mindfulness in learning to sit with suffering and how connecting to something greater than herself led to deep connection with a client ...

In this episode, we hear from a renowned PhD clinical psychologist, adjunct professor in psychiatry and psychology, and research scientist. Our guest begins with a brief guided meditation. Using gentle reflection, she helps us envision a metaphorical treasure chest of our most precious memories. This treasure chest meditation may allow us to revisit and hold close a boundless moment from our lives, a moment that brings comfort, mea...

Dr. Adam Marks shares a profound story from his experience as an early career palliative care physician, focusing on the delicate balance between truth telling and maintaining hope for patients and their families. He discusses the emotional complexities involved in delivering serious news, the importance of fostering vulnerability and connection, and the transformative power of sacred moments. He reminds us that grief and joy can a...

Dr. Heather Gilmartin shares her evolution from nursing to leadership coaching. She talks about how a highly challenging moment in her professional life led to her desire to pursue guidance from a coach, and she describes the transformative moment in which her coach was silent, present, and without judgment. She makes linkages between coaching and the nursing profession, between the state of relational flow and sacred moments. Dr. ...

Dr. Andrew Kim shares a deeply moving story of unspoken reconciliation between a patient and his estranged mother. As they navigate the complexities of family estrangement, Dr. Kim reflects on the powerful moments of connection and forgiveness that transcend words. Join us as we explore the themes of love, acceptance, and the healing power of presence in the face of life's most challenging circumstances. 

Sacred Moments Initiat...

Welcome to Boundless Moments, the storytelling podcast that brings sacred moments to life through the voices of those who lived them.

In this trailer episode, host Nathan Houchens, MD introduces the podcast, its relationship to a greater humanistic initiative, and its mission to explore sacred moments—those profound instances that weave us together and connect us to something greater. Through personal stories of empa...

Dr. Kenneth Pargament shares the story of Alice, a woman who struggled with severe mental health issues and found solace in a sacred moment during therapy. In our conversation, he explores the concept of sacred moments, their characteristics, and their significance in therapeutic settings. Dr. Pargament emphasizes the importance of vulnerability and trust in fostering these moments, which can lead to profound healing and connection...

Dr. Kristin Collier shares a deeply personal story about her friend Jake, a talented physician whose battle with cancer profoundly impacted her understanding of medicine, suffering, and spirituality. Through her reflections, she explores the limits of medicine, the importance of recognizing the humanity in patients, and the need for healthcare professionals to engage with their own emotional and spiritual well-being. Dr. Collier em...