Podcast Series: Bundle of Hers

Entering the field of medicine is often filled with excitement and a sense of purpose. The prospect of healing and making a difference in people's lives can be exhilarating. However, as many healthcare professionals can relate, the reality of working in medicine can also lead to burnout and a loss of connection to one's initial motivations. Nearing the end of their third year of residency, in S6E14, Margaux, Leen, and Harjit revisit the complexities of burnout, and talk candidly and honestly about the challenges they have faced—and continue to face—in their medical careers.

Many of us can relate to the feeling that life loses its magic and wonder as we age and mature. We often get bogged down by responsibilities and the stress of adulthood, and it's easy to forget the innocence and carefreeness we once had as children. But it doesn't have to be this way. In S6E13, Mariam, Harjit, and Margaux discuss their childhood dreams and wishes, reflect on how their aspirations as children have shaped the people they are today, and share letters they've dedicated to their younger selves.

As humans, it's important we take the time to listen to and understand the stories of where people come from. We can often forget that each story in history is unique, even within families. The stories and narratives of Indigenous people are very different than those of people who have emigrated to the United States. However, the uplifting of Indigenous voices and stories can be difficult in many spaces. In S6E12, Harjit talks to Annabah and Jean Glasser—sisters and medical students—about finding power in their lived experiences as Navajo women, and about the resistance of identities that are actively being erased or have been erased through history.

Language has a profound impact on our identity and culture. The way we communicate, express ourselves, and share our beliefs and customs is deeply intertwined with language. Language goes beyond spoken words and can include nonverbal cues such as body language and tone of voice. In healthcare, using familiar language can make all the difference in a patient's healing process. In S6E9, Lina, Margaux, and Hạ discuss the importance of language to their identities, and why using trauma-informed language is an integral aspect of healthcare.

Working in medicine demands an enormous amount of dedication and effort, which often results in grueling work schedules that require doctors and other medical professionals to put in upwards of 80 hours of work per week, six days a week. This rigorous schedule leaves little time for rest, recovery, and a healthy work-life balance. Quality patient care is jeopardized when our own mental, emotional, and physical health is at risk. In S6E8, Margaux, Lina, and Mariam candidly discuss the history of the 40-hour workweek, and why, for those working in medicine, that number can double.

Race and ethnicity are important components of our identity—a significant role in shaping our experiences, beliefs, values, and attitudes—and can help define and give us a sense of belonging to a larger community. But as we've grown to appreciate the similarities, we should also learn to recognize and embrace the diversity within each racial and ethnic group. In S6E11, Hạ and Harjit discuss the complexities of defining identity and creating community in a society that can often view their respective race and ethnicity as a monolith.

Revolution refers to radical change in the established order of a society. Revolutions can be sparked by various factors such as economic inequality, political oppression, cultural hegemony, and social injustice. History books often tell us about revolutions led by men. But, so many revolutions have also been women-led. In honor of women in history, women today, and women of the future, in S6E10 of BUNDLE OF HERS, Harjit and Lina discuss the importance of women's role in leading change and shine spotlights on women revolutionaries.

Grief can manifest in different ways for different people, and it is important to acknowledge there is no right or wrong way to feel grief. Beyond understanding the emotional response to loss, we should learn to recognize the physical, cognitive, behavioral, social, cultural, spiritual, and philosophical dimensions of grief. The human side of medicine is creating a safe and supportive space for patients and their families—as well as healthcare providers—as they navigate the difficult journey of loss and grief. In S6E7, Mariam, Harjit, and Lina share their stories of grief and discuss its significance in the field of medicine.

Everyone is shaped by war in one form or another, regardless of background or origin. War not only affects those on the battlefield but also weighs on citizens and communities. As healthcare providers, there is a need to be mindful of the trauma experienced by patients and to approach their care with empathy and understanding. In S6E6, Harjit, Margaux, and Hạ share their narratives of collective identity and how it is shaped by experiences of war, and talk about the complexities of war and its impact on medicine and trauma-informed patient care.

Advocacy work can sometimes be conflated with identity. When you have placed so much time and energy into something, it can be easy for it to consume all of who you are. But you are more than your advocacy work, and your continued drive to create change does not have to be all that you are. In S6E5, Hạ talks to Karishma Shah, MD/PhD candidate at University of Utah School of Medicine, and Victoria Ngo, MS4 at Virginia Commonwealth University, about how their advocacy work within the confines of medical education has both been defined by and impacted their identities.

Shame is an emotional experience when our social bonds are threatened—it is a feeling of distress, even humiliation, and is often caused by the consciousness of wrong. Shame exists in all communities, even medicine, and usually, involves someone else's point of view. In S6E4, Leen, Harjit, and Lina share experiences of shame in their personal and professional lives, and discuss how to process shame in the field of medicine.

Conforming to the system and society's expectations to achieve success and respect is not a new concept. As medical students and residents, there are certain boxes and identities we are expected to fit into. But more often than not, conforming to the status quo further separates us from the communities we hope to take care of. In S6E3, Lina, Hạ, and Leen discuss finding strength and empowerment in their authentic selves, and share stories of restricted identities and how the experiences affect their work in medicine and patient care.

The topic of women's beauty standards has been talked about for centuries. And as women entered the workforce, gendered social control increased regulations on what a woman should wear, how she should do her makeup, and even the hair on her body. For women, hairless and smooth skin has long been a social standard that signifies beauty—more than 99% of US women voluntarily remove some form of body hair. But body hair removal goes much deeper than the surface. In S6E2, Margaux, Leen, and Lina discuss the origins of societal beauty standards, why body hair—or lack of it—has been a symbol of racial progress and superiority, and share their own personal experiences with the expectations of beauty for a woman.

BUNDLE OF HERS returns with conversations and stories of identity. Not what people want you to be, and not what you are supposed to do—what does it mean, and how does it look to be you on your terms and by your identities as you define them? In the season six premiere, we further expand the discussions of what it means to be your true authentic self.

Cold opens are a technique commonly used in television storytelling to grab the audience’s attention and keep them from channel surfing. BUNDLE OF HERS uses cold opens as well—the random bit before the intro music starts. During the early episodes, in an effort to have more comfortable conversations, our producer gave us talking points before each episode. From how our days went, to our worst phobias. Five seasons in, we've gradually gotten accustomed to cold opens and start each episode with the most random discussions that sometimes have absolutely nothing to do with the episodes' topics. Twenty-five episodes in season five mean 25 cold opens—all together in one place—these are the conversations before the conversation.