304. From Empty Nest to Connection: An Orthopedic Surgeon’s Retreat Story
We can carry so much without naming it. We can be tired for a long time and call it normal. In this episode, Jessie is joined by Jennifer Swearingen, an orthopedic surgeon and yoga teacher, who attended Jessie’s Nicasio retreat twice: once with a friend, and once on her own during an empty-nest transition.
We talk about what changes when we step into a small, safe community of women physicians, how coaching helps us notice the default stories we live inside (resentment, catastrophizing, “I’m only valuable when I’m producing”), and why yoga, breath, stillness, and sound can support the nervous system in a way insight alone sometimes can’t.
This episode is an invitation to remember: connection is not a luxury—and being cared for is a practice.
What you’ll hear in this episode
The “default stories” many high-achieving women physicians carry (and how awareness loosens them)
Why coming to a retreat alone can deepen connection
Coaching vs. yoga: mind work and nervous-system work (and how they complement each other)
How to stay connected after a retreat so it becomes real life
Empty nest as a transition point and a valid reason to seek support
Pearls of Wisdom
When we notice resentment, victimhood, catastrophizing, or “I’m only valuable when I’m producing,” those stories lose some of their power.
Coaching and yoga work differently, and together: sometimes the mind needs insight, and sometimes the nervous system needs movement, breath, stillness, and sound.
Safe community changes what feels possible; when we feel seen without judgment, vulnerability can become natural.
Coming alone is not a disadvantage; the shared language of medicine and the container of the retreat can quickly create real friendship.
Being cared for can be a practice—especially for women physicians who spend their lives caring for everyone else.
Reflection Questions
Where are we telling an old story that keeps us stuck, even if it feels “true”?
What kind of support would we allow ourselves to receive if we stopped needing to earn it?
Where are we craving connection, and what is one small way we could follow through?
What helps our nervous system soften enough to hear what we already know?
Nothing shared in the Healing Medicine Podcast is medical advice. The Healing Medicine Podcast was formerly known as the Mindful Healers Podcast.
FAQ
Is this episode only for physicians with burnout?
No. We talk about burnout patterns, but the core focus is support, nervous-system care, and connection—especially during transitions.
Do I need to be “good at yoga” to benefit from retreats or the yoga library?
No. The conversation emphasizes adaptability and nervous-system support, not performance.
What if I come to a retreat alone?
Jennifer shares why coming alone wasn’t a disadvantage—and how shared language in medicine can create friendship quickly.
How do I make connections last after a retreat or workshop?
We discuss small, consistent follow-through—especially meeting locally when possible and using shared language to go deeper than small talk.
Explore More:
Nothing shared in the Healing Medicine Podcast is medical advice.