Episode Summary:In this profoundly moving episode, Mary Coughlin sits down with Dr. Emma Jones — palliative care physician, mother, teacher, and author of The Phoenix Blueprint — to explore the raw truths behind burnout, healing, and reclaiming wholeness. Together, they unpack what it means to hit bottom not in a single moment, but over years of self-sacrifice, disintegration, and depletion. Emma shares her personal journey from collapse to renewal, her reflections on the myths of “self-care” and “compassion fatigue,” and the radical reimagining required to transform both healthcare systems and ourselves.

This episode is a heart-centered call to stop hiding behind perfection, to embrace the messy fullness of our humanity, and to care out loud — in public, in connection, and in sacred witness to ourselves and each other.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode:

• Emma’s unflinching account of crashing under the weight of burnout
• The false promises of surface-level “self-care” and why true care begins with receiving
• How high-achieving healthcare workers mask their wounds until collapse
• A reframing of compassion, empathy, and the language we use to describe exhaustion
• Insights on why trauma-informed care must start with self-integration
• A candid look at writing The Phoenix Blueprint as part of the healing journey
• Why thriving healthcare systems require thriving healthcare humans
• Gentle wisdom for anyone who feels they are burning and sees no way out

Emma’s Whisper to Every Listener:“You are whole — and wholeness isn’t the absence of suffering. It’s being seen, heard, and honored as a whole person, not a problem to be solved.”

Resources Mentioned:– Dr. Emma Jones’ book The Phoenix Blueprint– Website: emmajonesmd.com– Find her book wherever books are sold

Work With Emma:Emma is currently offering flexible 1:1 sessions through summer and fall — an open invitation for anyone ready to explore their own path toward renewal.

Connect + Reflect:
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