Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir MD

Storytelling secrets—fails, lessons, and how to truly connect.

 In this powerful episode of Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir, MD, I sit down with Jeff Polish—founder and executive director of The Monti, a live no-notes storytelling series that has lit up stages across North Carolina since 2008.

We explore how storytelling transforms vulnerability into connection, why personal narratives carry the power to heal an...

In a world full of distractions and endless demands, how do we decide what truly matters?

In this solo episode of Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir, MD, I explore the concept of Essentialism—a philosophy of living by design, not by default. Essentialism is not about doing more; it’s about doing less but better. It’s about reclaiming your power of choice, recognizing life’s inevitable trade-offs, and focusing on what matt...

Finding your voice requires courage, persistence, and a willingness to step into the unknown.

In this powerful episode of Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir, MD, I sit down with Tara LaFon Gooch—international TEDx speaker, bestselling author, confidence expert, and the creator of the GRASP Method—to uncover what it really takes to move from self-doubt to the TEDx red dot.

We dive deep into Tara’s personal journey f...

A quick update on the upcoming episodes of Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir MD. 

Thank you to all our incredible guests for sharing their invaluable insights, research, and very personal stories with us as we unpacked the various facets of perfectionism.

If you have not yet had a chance, please tune in to Episodes 6 - 30 that have explored Perfectionism in great depth. 

About the Host

Dr. Amna Shabbir, MD, NBC-HWC, CPC i...

Understanding perfectionism requires examining it in complete cultural context.

In this powerful episode of Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir, MD, I sit down with Sahaj Kohli—author of But What Will People Say? and founder of Brown Girl Therapy—to explore how perfectionism shows up uniquely for children of immigrants and those navigating bicultural identities.

We dive deep into why so many high achievers feel “nev...

Have you ever felt paralyzed by your inner critic? 

Trigger Warning: Suicide

In this powerful episode of Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir, MD we sit down with internationally acclaimed speaker, author, and business strategist Tanya Chernova to unpack the harsh realities of perfectionism, self-criticism, and the damaging inner voice known as "the other girl."

Tanya shares her deeply personal journey through burnout, suicid...

What happens when the pressure to be perfect is inherited?

In this episode of Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir, MD, we sit down with Ghalia Aamer to unpack the invisible weight of perfectionism faced by many young adults and especially daughters of immigrants.

At just 23, Ghalia has accomplished what most people only dream of. But behind her accolades lies a deep reckoning with cultural expectations, toxic achievement cy...

What if the biggest threat to your child’s self-worth isn’t grades or friends, but the silent pressure to be perfect?

In this episode, we’re joined by Caden Vittorni, a TEDx speaker, bestselling author, and founder of Vitt Factor, as he shares how a wake-up call in his own life led him to become a powerful voice for youth struggling with perfectionism, comparison, and confidence in the digital age. He explains why kids aren...

What happens when a ballerina becomes a physician and perfectionism fuels both identities?

In this deeply moving episode of Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir, MD, we sit down with Dr. Kara Pepper, a primary care internist, executive coach, and former ballet dancer, to talk about perfectionism, burnout, eating disorders, and redefining success.

Highlights:

• Leaving home at age 13 to train at the Bolshoi Ballet
• Her tra...

How does perfectionism impact organizational well-being?

In this powerful conversation, Dr. Amna Shabbir sits down with Dr. Carrie Adair to unpack the toxic link between organizational wellness, perfectionism, burnout, and mental health.

Dr. Adair draws on cutting-edge research and real-world experience from healthcare to explain why perfectionism may actually be sabotaging your success, happiness, and well-being. From insti...

What if perfectionism isn't just a mindset problem but a neurological one?

In this transformative episode of Success Reimagined, host Dr. Amna Shabbir sits down with Dr. Romie Mushtaq as they unravel the hidden connection between burnout, anxiety, and perfectionism and how to heal from the inside out.

Dr. Romie introduces the concept of "busy brain", a state driven by neuroinflammation and chronic stress, and outlines a ...

What happens when you chase perfection in a world that demands flawlessness, especially as a South Asian woman?

In this powerful and heartfelt conversation, host Dr. Amna Shabbir sits down with Nishat Uddin, founder of Brown Girls Health and South Asian Care, to unpack the cultural, personal, and professional layers of perfectionism. Nishat shares her journey of veering off the traditional career path, navigating community ...

What if your greatest impact as a physician isn't inside the exam room but beyond it?

In this powerful episode, Dr. Amna Shabbir sits down with Dr. Kevin Pho, the founder of KevinMD.com, one of the most influential healthcare platforms in the world. Together, they explore the hidden cost of perfectionism, the cultural roots of overachievement, and what it means to redefine success as a clinician.

Dr. Pho opens up about his i...

You’ve worked so hard to be successful, but do you actually know how to enjoy it?

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Dr. Hala Sabry—ER physician, mother of five, and founder of the Physician Moms Group (PMG) and the National Women Physicians Day—to explore the complex relationship women have with perfectionism, identity, and success.

Dr. Sabry opens up about her journey from being a people-pleasing perfectionist to e...

What if the most powerful thing you could say is simply, “I don’t know”?

In this inspiring and deeply honest conversation, Amanda Hill, JD—healthcare attorney and advocate for physicians—joins Dr. Amna Shabbir to share her journey with perfectionism. From striving to be the perfect mom and professional to realizing the price of always needing to “get it right,” Amanda opens up about the toll that perfectionism takes and how...

What does it take to fail the right way?

In this high-energy conversation, Dr. Amna Shabbir sits down with powerhouse motivational speaker and sales coach Larry Long Jr. to unpack what it really means to "Lead Loud." Together, they dive into how leaders can unlock joy even in the middle of burnout, foster deep human connection in high-performing environments, and find personal healing in the act of helping others rise.

Toget...

How do you continue to show up in medicine after you've been hit with a $28 million malpractice lawsuit?

In this powerful and deeply vulnerable conversation, Dr. Amna Shabbir is joined by Dr. Gita Pensa, an emergency physician, Brown University faculty member, podcast host of Doctors and Litigation: The L Word, and fierce advocate for physician well-being. Dr. Pensa shares the raw truth of what it was like to face litig...

“I have a license to practice medicine, but I don’t have a degree in martyrdom.”

In this honest and heartfelt conversation, Dr. Laura Vater, a gastrointestinal oncologist, TEDx speaker, and creator of the SMILE Scale, joins Dr. Amna Shabbir to unmask the hidden costs of perfectionism in medicine. Together, they navigate the often-unspoken emotional toll of striving, sacrificing, and surviving in a system that rewards overwo...

Have you been striving for apathy?

In this deeply moving and powerful conversation, Dr. Abby Spencer, Professor of Medicine, Vice Chair for Education, and Director of the Academy of Educators at Washington University, joins Dr. Amna Shabbir to unpack the high cost of perfectionism, the reality of burnout in medicine, and what it means to lead with heart.

Together, they explore:

✅Compassionate leadership in medicine
✅ The ...