Solving For Joy

When the world feels divided, dialogue breaks down, and “othering” becomes the language of the day—how do we return to what makes us most human?

This week, I’m joined by internist, public health professional, and trauma-informed coach Dr. Kemia Sarraf, CEO of Lodestar Coaching, for a powerful conversation about choosing humanity, even in dark times. Together, we explore why joy, hope, and courage are muscles to be flexed, how dialogue (not debate) protects our humanity, and why connection literally rewires our nervous systems for safety.

Dr. Sarraf shares her story from public health to medicine to founding a trauma-informed nonprofit and eventually creating her own coaching practice. We talk about the neuroscience of safety and threat, the dangers of othering, and why language matters—because all genocide begins with words. And yet, the shortest distance between two people is story, and dialogue rooted in humanity remains our best bridge.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why “default to your humanity” is a practice that protects connection in times of division
• How joy, hope, and courage are muscles we flex daily—not states we wait to feel
• The neuroscience of safety, threat scanning, and why uncertainty is so exhausting
• How trauma-informed coaching helps physicians and leaders unlearn “shellacked” training and reclaim their humanity
• Why dialogue is different from debate—and how story opens the shortest distance between two people
• How to resist othering and instead show up as a cue of safety for those around you

If you’ve ever wondered how to stay human in the face of trauma, division, or uncertainty, this conversation is a call back to presence, connection, and the courage to choose differently.

Subscribe for real talk, relational tools, and the spark to reconnect with your joy—new episodes every Tuesday.

A gentle note: I’m a doctor, but I’m not your doctor. This podcast is for education and connection only and isn’t medical advice. Please talk with your own clinician about your specific situation.

More from Dr. Kemia Sarraf:

Lodestar Coaching: https://www.lodestarpc.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drkemia/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drkemia/

Stay connected with me:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrissieottmd
Website: https://www.chrissieottmd.com
Solving for Joy Podcast (IG): https://www.instagram.com/solvingforjoypodcast

Full transcript and more: https://www.solvingforjoy.com

Physician Coaches:

Physician Coaching Summit: https://www.thephysiciancoachingsummit.com

Next week on Solving for Joy: Dr. Sarah Seidelman—physician, coach, and author—joins me for a spirited conversation about wild creativity, spirituality, and finding joy in unexpected places.

Music by Denys Kyshchuk (AudioCoffee): https://www.audiocoffee.net