116 episodes

Welcome to The Catalyst, the podcast where we explore creative ideas to spark innovation in an unhealthy healthcare system.

Join your host Dr. Lara Salyer, a physician and mom of three, who suffered burnout, resigned and is re-imagining the way she practices medicine. After training with the Institute for Functional Medicine and Flow Research Collective, Lara now teaches patients and practitioners how to optimize flow to catalyze their own revolution in healing.

Tune in for candid conversations with leading experts in conventional and holistic healthcare, who dare to believe a better future is possible for all of us. We’ll cover topics from organizational efficiency to creative technology to proven methods to think differently about the practice of independent medicine.

Life is made up of tiny, catalytic moments of immense impact. When strung together, the transformation is magical. Join us, and let’s color outside the lines!

The Catalyst: Sparking Creative Transformation in Healthcare Dr. Lara Salyer

    • Health & Fitness
    • 5.0 • 7 Ratings

Welcome to The Catalyst, the podcast where we explore creative ideas to spark innovation in an unhealthy healthcare system.

Join your host Dr. Lara Salyer, a physician and mom of three, who suffered burnout, resigned and is re-imagining the way she practices medicine. After training with the Institute for Functional Medicine and Flow Research Collective, Lara now teaches patients and practitioners how to optimize flow to catalyze their own revolution in healing.

Tune in for candid conversations with leading experts in conventional and holistic healthcare, who dare to believe a better future is possible for all of us. We’ll cover topics from organizational efficiency to creative technology to proven methods to think differently about the practice of independent medicine.

Life is made up of tiny, catalytic moments of immense impact. When strung together, the transformation is magical. Join us, and let’s color outside the lines!

    Social Synergy: Easy Marketing for Your Archetype

    Social Synergy: Easy Marketing for Your Archetype

    “I view social media as a long game,” asserts Dr. Lara Salyer. “When you are opening up an entrepreneurial business, you have to have a footprint online, a website, a social media profile, but it’s up to you to dial up or down your presence,” she says. In this episode, Dr. Salyer explores how to leverage natural personality traits for smarter, more effective social media engagement. She introduces a framework of personality archetypes—Resolute Rock, Fervent Flame, Wise Wind, and Reflective River—each offering unique strengths and challenges in content creation.
     
    Dr. Salyer shares personal anecdotes highlighting her journey with social media, particularly how her perfectionist tendencies as a ‘Resolute Rock’ presented learning opportunities. She invites listeners to identify their own dominant archetype using the Catalyst Archetype quiz, aiding them in crafting social media strategies that play to their strengths and acknowledge their limits to prevent burnout.
     
    Highlighting the importance of authenticity and personal expression in creating content, Dr. Salyer stresses these factors as preventive measures against burnout and keys to professional fulfillment. She encourages listeners to approach their social media activities with confidence and creativity, fostering an environment of success and genuine achievement.
     
    Quotes
    • “I was very structured, very rigid, very solidly into that modality of perfectionism that I needed to do things right. I needed to fit in. I needed to comply with the rules of whatever Instagram was at the time. Algorithms change; social media changes. And now, fast forward, I’m understanding how to leverage my own archetype and the seasonality of how I like to do things in a more efficient and flow-channeled method.” (02:00 | Dr. Lara Salyer)
    • “My goal inside the Catalyst Studio is to work with your skills and your unique self expression. There is no dogma or cookie cutter way to do social media and we try to balance that with how you want to show up and what makes it fun for you.” (03:50 | Dr. Lara Salyer) 
    • “Social media is designed to be adaptable to your style. And as a practitioner, you want to be self-expressive in the healing modalities you use to transform your patients’ lives. We want to do that without burnout and with lots of creativity. So here is your right brain prescription at the end of this podcast episode: I want you to act as if. So this is part acting creatively, but also part manifesting and priming your brain neurologically. I want you to act as if you are already successful, adaptable, and excited about whatever social media you’ve decided to do.” (22:22 | Dr. Lara Salyer) 
     
    Links
    Catalyst Archetype Quiz: https://3nb09zv7070.typeform.com/archetype
     
    Connect with Lara: 
    Website: https://drlarasalyer.com
    The Catalyst Way: https://drlarasalyer.com/catalyst
    Instagram: @drlarasalyer
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drlarasalyer
    Linked-In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drlarasalyer/
    YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/c/DrLaraSalyer
    TikTok: @Creativity.Doctor
     
    Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

    • 25 min
    From Flyers to Followers: Evolution of Marketing

    From Flyers to Followers: Evolution of Marketing

    “You are educating your prospective patients about the transformation you can give,” Dr. Lara Salyer explains as she delves into the evolution of healthcare marketing. She redefines marketing as a form of education rather than mere salesmanship, encouraging healthcare providers to view it as a tool for informing and educating about the care they provide.
     
    Dr. Salyer urges healthcare providers to align their marketing strategies with their personal values and strengths, allowing them to connect genuinely with their audience and avoid the discomfort often associated with traditional marketing tactics.
     
    The episode explores the history of healthcare marketing, from the print-heavy 1970s to the digital-centric present, outlining how each era introduced distinct challenges and opportunities that reshaped how healthcare professionals reach and educate their potential patients.
     
    Dr. Salyer offers practical advice on developing a personalized marketing plan that combines proven strategies from the past with contemporary digital tools. She emphasizes the importance of community engagement, advocating for both in-person and online interactions to build meaningful relationships and effectively engage with potential patients.
     
    Quotes
    • “Next time you think, ‘Oh, I have to worry about marketing or advertising,’ switch that word to education. How can I educate? How can I show up and educate so that these prospective patients can visualize the transformation and see a better future?” (04:17 | Dr. Lara Salyer)
    • “There is no dogmatic way to have your own practice. So meeting people where they’re at, really pushing through those vulnerable bottlenecks that might be sabotaging your progress, helping yourself design your own career according to your values and what you want to express and be passionate about, and showing your patients in their healing path can be very transformative.” (05:07 | Dr. Lara Salyer)
    • “Save your money. Stop running those cold ads if you don’t have a foundation of understanding your values, your mission, your vision, your tagline, your elevator pitch, your ideal patient.” (19:28 | Dr. Lara Salyer)
    • “Today’s right brain prescription is to sit down with yourself and think about those decades of advertising and what internally feels the easiest for you. And then imagine your ideal patient that you love seeing, your ideal patient that you love to serve… Start shaking hands and using other people’s audiences to get a wider reach. You can leverage that, and that’s what community is for.” (19:41 | Dr. Lara Salyer) 
     
    Links
    Catalyst Micropractice Assessment: https://3nb09zv7070.typeform.com/to/P56ItjWi
    IMAGINE Course: https://rightbrainrescue.com/p/imagin
     
    Connect with Lara: 
    Website: https://drlarasalyer.com
    The Catalyst Way: https://drlarasalyer.com/catalyst
    Instagram: @drlarasalyer
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drlarasalyer
    Linked-In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drlarasalyer/
    YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/c/DrLaraSalyer
    TikTok: @Creativity.Doctor
     
    Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

    • 22 min
    Framing Your Work/Life Masterpiece From Inside Out

    Framing Your Work/Life Masterpiece From Inside Out

    “Every practitioner needs to know what is the frame of their work-life masterpiece,” states Dr. Lara Salyer. “And by that, I mean knowing yourself from inside out,” she explains. In this episode, Dr. Salyer redefines work-life integration for healthcare professionals. As an osteopathic physician who has conquered burnout herself, Dr. Salyer offers insights and strategies to help medical practitioners craft a “work-life masterpiece” rather than chase the unattainable ideal of balance. She highlights the importance of self-awareness, knowing one’s optimal working conditions, and aligning one’s practice with personal values and creativity.
     
    Dr. Salyer addresses the challenges healthcare professionals face in the current system, such as high administrative burdens and standardized practices that restrain individuality and creativity. She advocates for a personalized approach to medical practice, enabling healthcare providers to express their unique perspectives and incorporate their interests, like burnout prevention or specialized medical areas, into their practice to improve patient care and compliance.
     
    Quotes
    • “Balance doesn’t exist. You’re constantly in motion. You’re constantly painting this masterpiece. If done right, we can align so that our expressive self is visible in all elements of our work, bringing ourselves into this beautiful healing relationship with our patients.” (01:52 | Dr. Lara Salyer) 
    • “I’m interested in burnout mitigation. I’m interested in the HPA axis system of stress. So I bring a lot of that along with creative flow, the neuroscience of creativity. I bring a lot of this into my exam room. And this is what patients really come alive with. They want to know their practitioner. That builds the trusted relationship. And believe it or not, that improves adherence. So we can design this from the inside out by helping you frame what is in your workplace masterpiece—that work-life masterpiece you are painting. How can we arrange things around you that bring out this inspirational magic waiting to come forth? The environment is important. (03:55 | Dr. Lara Salyer) 
    • “When I work with practitioners and we talk about creating this personalized way of delivering their medical care, we start with values and quickly go into how to assess their personal needs, the user manual, how do they want to be approached? How do they want to be interrupted? Where do they want to receive their messages? All of this is really important in framing yourself, which is why it is in the very first module of my Catalyst roadmap called ‘Imagine.’” (12:21 | Dr. Lara Salyer) 
     
    Links
    Catalyst Micropractice Assessment: https://3nb09zv7070.typeform.com/to/P56ItjWi
    Catalyst Archetype Quiz: https://3nb09zv7070.typeform.com/archetype
     
    Connect with Lara: 
    Website: https://drlarasalyer.com
    The Catalyst Way: https://drlarasalyer.com/catalyst
    Instagram: @drlarasalyer
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drlarasalyer
    Linked-In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drlarasalyer/
    YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/c/DrLaraSalyer
    TikTok: @Creativity.Doctor
     
    Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

    • 20 min
    Using Creativity to Overcome Burnout and Increase Joy

    Using Creativity to Overcome Burnout and Increase Joy

    “How do I let people know that creativity and community bring about a sense of joy that is actually a requirement and is really a life force that we all have access to?” Dr. Talissa Dorsaint, a clinical psychologist who integrates creative practices into therapy, poses this question as she discusses, alongside host Dr. Lara Salyer, the role of creativity in overcoming burnout.
     
    Dr. Dorsaint explains how creativity and community were crucial in reclaiming her joy and well-being. She outlines her method of offering consultations, workshops, and events aimed at sparking creativity in both individuals and organizations, emphasizing the therapeutic benefits of creative activities and the importance of recognizing one’s intrinsic self-worth.
     
    This episode covers the different types of rest needed for personal growth, the role of curiosity in continuous development, and how intrinsic values can maintain motivation and prevent burnout. Dr. Dorsaint and Dr. Salyer consider the potential for evolving medical and psychological training to include more creative practices that will enhance the well-being of future healthcare professionals.
     
    Highlighting the role of intuition in patient care and personal health, both doctors advocate for a shift in healthcare training towards more creative and intuitive practices. 
     
    Quotes
    • “There was something about being creative and having time to do the things you wanted to do that no one could figure out the answer for. And once I finally had the time to say, ‘Okay, I’m not dedicating all of my energy to my clients,’ I said, ‘Well, what have you done for yourself lately? What would you want to do for yourself in the meantime?’” (06:58 | Dr. Talissa Dorsaint)
    • “Maybe people need to know a little bit more about creativity. This is right under the same concept of mental health. It’s the same umbrella. So how do I let people know that creativity and community bring about a sense of joy that is actually a requirement and is really a life force that we all have access to?” (07:44 | Dr. Talissa Dorsaint)
    • “Honestly, take the step to take care of yourself now. I think we get a number of alarms leading up to when burnout is truly present and you really can’t go back. And so if your body and brain are telling you ‘No more, I need to rest.’ You have to find a way to honor that.” (12:10 | Dr. Talissa Dorsaint) 
    • “I was really intentional about how I rested and rest is more than just sleeping, napping, and self-care. Right. Spiritually, how am I taking care of myself? Creatively, how am I taking care of myself?” (15:01 | Dr. Talissa Dorsaint)
    • “I encourage people to access their inner voice right before they access their inner critic because what that gives you is an indicator of what you value. It’s an aspect of your wants and your needs. And what we don’t spend a lot of time doing is accessing that part of ourselves because for whatever reason, we feel like we have to meet all these other responsibilities.” (18:39 | Dr. Talissa Dorsaint) 
     
    Links
    Connect with Dr. Talissa Dorsaint:
    TikTok: @talideephd
    Instagram: @talideephd
    Website: https://beacons.ai/talideephd
     
    Connect with Lara: 
    Website: https://drlarasalyer.com
    The Catalyst Way: https://drlarasalyer.com/catalyst
    Instagram: @drlarasalyer
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drlarasalyer
    Linked-In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drlarasalyer/
    YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/c/DrLaraSalyer
    TikTok: @Creativity.Doctor
     
    Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

    • 36 min
    How to Find Freedom in Your Medical Career

    How to Find Freedom in Your Medical Career

    “If you start to think of freedom as a state of mind, it has a whole different meaning in your body,” says Dr. Lara Salyer as she explores redefining freedom within the medical profession. Recounting her journey from burnout to a revitalized career, Dr. Salyer shares how she reshaped her definition of freedom to extend far beyond financial wealth, emphasizing autonomy, creativity, and personal well-being.
     
    Dr. Salyer recalls the traditional motivations that draw many into medicine—job security and financial stability—and challenges these conventional markers of success. She shares stories from fellow healthcare professionals who found greater freedom through unexpected avenues: one found joy and a renewed sense of self in dance classes; another realized that reducing their workload enhanced their personal freedom; and a third embraced the simple choice of selecting their breakfast as a symbol of autonomy.
     
    By encouraging her listeners to discard limiting beliefs of what freedom must look like, Dr. Salyer promotes a reimagined approach to medical careers that prioritizes personal values and well-being alongside professional achievements. Her message is clear: reevaluating your concept of freedom can lead to more rewarding and sustainable careers in healthcare.
     
    Quotes
    • “Most of our conceptions around freedom, when you boil it down, it does pertain to financial wealth. And that's very narrow when you think about it.” (03:15 | Dr. Lara Salyer)
    • “If we aren’t clear about what freedom means to us personally, we can run the risk of chasing after the wealthy dream of someone else. And that really isn't our unique definition of freedom.” (03:53 | Dr. Lara Salyer)
    • “Freedom has a larger definition when you strip away just the end results of finances. If you start to think of freedom as a state of mind, it has a whole different meaning in your body.” (05:15 | Dr. Lara Salyer)
    • “Freedom doesn’t just land on your lap, just like creativity doesn’t just land on your shoulder and inspire a book or a novel or an art project. You need to practice this muscle every day, the sixth vital sign of creativity. You need to look for opportunities to be playful and creative, just like you need to look for daily affirmations of freedom wherever it shows up in your life. You must initiate them. And the way I like to advise practitioners to look for ways of freedom is being mindful of how their body feels.” (06:18 | Dr. Lara Salyer) 
     
    Links
    Catalyst Archetype Quiz: https://3nb09zv7070.typeform.com/archetype?typeform-source=mail.google.com
    Episode 6: Quick Interactive Core Value Exercise to Unlock Lightning Fast Decision Making: https://drlarasalyer.com/2022/04/01/episode-6-quick-interactive-core-value-exercise-to-unlock-lightning-fast-decision-making/
     
    Connect with Lara: 
    Website: https://drlarasalyer.com
    The Catalyst Way: https://drlarasalyer.com/catalyst
    Instagram: @drlarasalyer
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drlarasalyer
    Linked-In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drlarasalyer/
    YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/c/DrLaraSalyer
    TikTok: @Creativity.Doctor
     
    Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

    • 18 min
    Measuring What Matters: Designing Patient Transformation

    Measuring What Matters: Designing Patient Transformation

    What does “success” look like and who gets to decide? In this episode, Dr. Lara Salyer explores how customized success metrics can revolutionize the patient and physician’s work together.
     
    Dr. Salyer recounts a mentoring session with a healthcare practitioner who is developing a program for patient education but feels it may not be comprehensive enough. This story highlights the practitioner’s hesitation, rooted in a fear of success and the responsibilities and criticisms that come with it. Dr. Salyer reintroduces the “WARM” method—Who, Aim low, Reason, and Messy—as a tool to combat self-sabotage and encourage taking action, even if it's not perfect.
     
    This episode also addresses the challenge of measuring transformation in functional medicine, where data is not always the best indicator of success. Dr. Salyer advocates for self-measured metrics that capture the patient's emotional and holistic health changes. She outlines steps to create these metrics, including formulating questions, establishing a scoring system, and streamlining the process, recommending the use of a simple Google document to keep things straightforward and efficient.
     
    Highlighting her CME course that adopts a similar approach to foster creativity and prevent burnout among healthcare professionals, Dr. Salyer encourages listeners to create their own metrics and to revise them as needed, based on patient feedback and changes in practice focus.
     
    Quotes
    • “The closer we get to success, we self-sabotage. It happens all the time. It still happens to me. Everybody does this. Success brings upon new responsibilities and almost a fear that we become aware of as we get closer to completing something. Once we check that box that it's completed, now we've left ourselves out in the open for criticism. And I think that really sits very difficult with a lot of us.” (03:32 | Dr. Lara Salyer)
    • “We can measure all sorts of data in your body, but in my opinion, that is not a true measure of transformation. What I'm looking for is body transformation—emotional, mind and soul transformation. And we cannot know how a patient feels. Only a patient knows this. So these self-measured metrics are my favorite to use.” (09:00 | Dr. Lara Salyer) 
    • “Make sure as you're designing your metric that you include questions that you will usually strategically teach on.” (16:22  | Dr. Lara Salyer)
    • “When you start sensing that you're getting closer to success and you need just a few more things, ask yourself, 'Do I really?' 'Who's talking to me?' 'Who am I comparing myself to?' 'Do I have enough here to get going?' You probably do. And this is your pep talk to get going. Put it out there. The only way you can adjust is by putting it out there, even if it's imperfect. And then reiterating on that. That is the key. And then secondly, remember, use metrics. Create your own. And that can measure your own transformation in patients. Have fun with it.” (17:21  | Dr. Lara Salyer) 
     
    Links
    Catalyst Archetype Quiz: https://3nb09zv7070.typeform.com/archetype
    CME Course: https://rightbrainrescue.com/p/reclamation
     
    Connect with Lara: 
    Website: https://drlarasalyer.com
    The Catalyst Way: https://drlarasalyer.com/catalyst
    Instagram: @drlarasalyer
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drlarasalyer
    Linked-In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drlarasalyer/
    YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/c/DrLaraSalyer
    TikTok: @Creativity.Doctor
     
    Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

    • 19 min

Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5
7 Ratings

7 Ratings

Lolikins&mama ,

Enjoyable & Informative

I first heard her name in a Functional Med Provider FB group earlier this week. It was something to do with getting flow owning your own practice (I do). So while prepping for work I put on a title that resonated. Fast forward to night, I’m 5 episodes in (on normal speed which speaks to her enjoyable pace & lack of excessive fluff) and have a page of random scribbled notes while putting away laundry. I went to the website to signup for her emails (crossing fingers for the 3 tier membership live to happen again) but ended up finding it easier on instagram. If you’re debating your own practice or in it already you’ll surely find something she can enlighten you about! -Rebecca MK, Med Detective & NP, Seattle WA

Huma 1972 ,

This podcasts rejuvenates your Right brain and heals your soul

Laura Salyer has been an inspiration on my journey. I was surprised and delighted to find she has a podcast. This woman is a magician. She is gifted at so many levels. But mostly she uses the latest Neuro science and creative art skills to heal and transform you. She gives you just the right info at the right time. I am a long time fan and so happy that i can now listen in. When I’m tired of my clinical duties and can’t absorb any more of the latest medical research, this podcast will make my right brain dance.

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