TayTalks

by Taymeyah Al-Toubah

Careers Education

You’re Not Bad at Math, You’re Just Learning

In this episode, Tay sits down with Pouyan — an engineer, PhD researcher, and creator whose journey spans continents, careers, and deep personal loss. From growing up in Iran to building intuitive robotics systems in Montreal, Pouyan shares how immigration reshapes identity, how grief can shadow (and shape) ambition, and why lowering expectations doesn’t mean lowering your standards. They dive into the realities of PhD life, creativity in robotics, how AI is changing everything (and what it can’t replace), and the quiet discipline required to keep going when nothing feels certain. Pouyan opens up about losing his mother and grandmother, why he still dreams of bringing loved ones back for “just one day,” and the unexpected comfort of learning to release control. This conversation blends engineering, culture, nostalgia, humility, and humor — from Linkin Park to lab automation, from Middle Eastern parents to Montreal winters, from perfectionism to finding your own pace. Why listen: • Hear an honest look at robotics, AI, and what the next generation of innovators actually need. • Explore immigration, belonging, and the strange nostalgia for places you’ve never lived. • Learn how lowering expectations (while keeping high standards) becomes a form of freedom. • Reflect on grief, resilience, and redefining yourself beyond your work. • Laugh about childhood science fairs, Persian food, “inshallah timelines,” and Tay’s show recommendations. A grounded, thoughtful episode for anyone navigating ambition, uncertainty, creativity — or simply trying to become someone they’re proud of, one decision at a time. Send this to anyone you think would enjoy. Then tag @taytalks_pod with your takeaway so we can repost it. ✅ Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite app—so you never miss a TayTalks deep-dive on nonlinear paths and full-circle moments. 🎙️ Come for the science and storytelling. Stay for the reminder that purpose often begins where certainty ends. 🤍 If this episode resonated: Share it with one friend who needs to hear it. Tag @taytalks_pod with your takeaway so we can repost you. Leave a quick rating on Apple or Spotify, your words help more ambitious humans find the show.

Grieving the life lost

In this solo episode, Taymeyah unpacks one of the most quietly devastating experiences we go through: grieving the job, career, or path you desperately wanted, and didn’t get. This conversation goes deeper than rejection. It’s about the identity crisis that hits when the thing you believed defined you suddenly disappears. What happens to your confidence? How do you move forward? And who are you when the gold stars, titles, or next steps fall away? Tay shares her own story, from med-school rejections to rock-bottom MCAT cycles, to the pressure of always being “on,” to the free-fall feeling that comes when the plan dissolves and you’re left to rewrite your future in real time. She breaks down: why losing a job or dream can feel like a death how we attach identity to achievement without noticing the role grief plays in growth (and why it isn’t linear) why balance matters more than obsession how to pivot with intention instead of panic what it means to reclaim confidence after a “no” This episode is a reminder that you are more than what you do, more than the plan that didn’t happen, and more than the title you thought would define you. Some paths aren’t lost, they’re just rerouted. For anyone navigating rejection, transitions, identity shifts, or the quiet grief of “this wasn’t supposed to go this way,” this one is for you.

The PA Reality Check

In this episode, Taymeyah sits down with Jennifer Teeters, clinician, educator, former athlete, and the undisputed queen of the physical exam, for a conversation that every aspiring PA, every pre-PA student, and honestly, every future clinician should hear. Jen’s path wasn’t linear: college athlete, athletic trainer, PA, faculty member, and now a leader shaping the next generation at the USF PA program. But the thread that ties it all together? Energy in how she lives. Diversity in who she learns from and serves. Dedication in everything she commits to. Together, they break down what the PA profession really looks like, not the Instagram version, but the day-to-day reality of showing up for patients, for students, and for yourself. Jen shares: The truth about PA training and why time management matters more than GPA. How to survive didactic year without losing your mind (or your weekends). Why physical exams are a dying art, and why she refuses to let them die. How athletic grit shaped her clinical presence, from the court to the clinic. Why burnout is real… but purpose is stronger. She also talks openly about what she wishes applicants would stop saying, what she loves to hear in interviews, and the misconceptions about “lateral mobility” that every young PA needs to unlearn. This conversation is part mentorship, part truth-telling, and part love letter to medicine. A reminder that the clinicians who change lives are the ones who still care enough to look closely. ⭐ Why Hit Play: 🎧 If you’re considering the PA path: This episode might become the one you return to before every application cycle, every interview, and every moment of doubt. 🩺 If you’re in training: Hear what your faculty wish they could tell you in class — about burnout, balance, and becoming the clinician your patients deserve. 🔎 If you’re already practicing: Reignite your commitment to the physical exam, to listening deeply, and to leaving a legacy that matters. 🔄 If you teach or mentor future PAs: Jen’s perspective is a masterclass in shaping clinicians who care with intention, depth, and endurance. Send this to anyone considering the PA path, or really anyone in the clinical realm wanting to hear about another's journey. Then tag @taytalks_pod with your takeaway so we can repost it. ✅ Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite app—so you never miss a TayTalks deep-dive on nonlinear paths and full-circle moments. 🎙️ Come for the science and storytelling. Stay for the reminder that purpose often begins where certainty ends. 🤍 If this episode resonated: Share it with one friend who needs to hear it. Tag @taytalks_pod with your takeaway so we can repost you. Leave a quick rating on Apple or Spotify, your words help more ambitious humans find the show.

Where Pain Meets Purpose

What do you do when life doesn’t go to plan, and the only way forward is through? In this episode, patient advocate and Phase I clinical research expert Peter DeMaria joins Taymeyah Al-Toubah for a candid conversation about loss, legacy, and what it really means to make meaning from pain. Peter shares how losing his mother ignited his purpose: becoming the kind of advocate she would’ve needed. He also breaks down the world of Phase I trials, where science, courage, and uncertainty collide, and why hope isn’t just found in results, but in the people who keep showing up for the next patient. Together, they talk about reframing pain, finding purpose in the unpredictable, and the strange beauty of helping others heal while still healing yourself. (Plus: Tay’s Florida-sun equipment meltdown that proved “weathering the storm” can be literal.) Why hit play: Learn what Phase I clinical trials actually are... and why they represent both risk and resilience for patients. Hear how Peter turned grief into advocacy, and how purpose can emerge from loss. Reframe how you think about pain management and palliative care—beyond the physical. Reflect on the courage it takes to lead with empathy in spaces built on uncertainty. Laugh at Tay’s overheated recording setup; proof that even good conversations can melt under Florida sun. Send this to the clinician, the caregiver, or the friend learning to make meaning from the hard stuff. Then tag @taytalks_pod with your takeaway so we can repost it. ✅ Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite app—so you never miss a TayTalks deep-dive on nonlinear paths and full-circle moments. 🎙️ Come for the science and storytelling. Stay for the reminder that purpose often begins where certainty ends. 🤍 If this episode resonated: Share it with one friend who needs to hear it. Tag @taytalks_pod with your takeaway so we can repost you. Leave a quick rating on Apple or Spotify, your words help more ambitious humans find the show.

When Caregiving Becomes the Calling

Nurse practitioner–turned–NET advocate Lisa Yen sits down with host Taymeyah Al-Toubah to unpack the sprint from ICU clinician to full-time caregiver, how a second opinion changed everything, and why pursuing joy (yes, even a same-day Broadway run) is a serious resilience strategy. Why hit play: Trace Lisa’s nonlinear path: from cardiac ICUs to hospitalist pioneer to patient advocate—without the tidy montage. Hear the diagnosis day that blew up “the plan,” and the expert visit that rebuilt it. Steal Lisa’s wellness playbook: free coaching for NET patients/caregivers, “joy reps,” and putting your oxygen mask on first. Reframe ambition with compassion: the real emotional math of caregiving, partnership, and purpose. Get her book + audio recs (rom-coms with range, Project Hail Mary), and a spicy take on what’s overhyped. Remember that spontaneity counts: the one-day NYC flight for Enemy of the People and why seizing moments matters. Send this to the clinician-caregiver, the advocate in training, or the friend who needs permission to choose joy and still do hard things. Then tag @taytalks_pod with your takeaway so we can repost it. ✅ Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite app—so you never miss a TayTalks deep-dive on nonlinear paths and full-circle moments. 🎙️ Come for the patient-advocacy playbook. Stay for the reminder that resilience is built one joyful decision at a time. 🤍 If this episode resonated: Share it with one friend who needs to hear it. Tag @taytalks_pod with your takeaway so we can repost you. Leave a quick rating on Apple or Spotify—your words help more ambitious humans find the show.

Medicine, Money & Mindset: Can We Heal the System?

What happens when a healer decides healing the system matters just as much as healing the patient? Clinician-scholar Ramy Mitwalli joins host Taymeyah Al-Toubah for a raw, thoughtful conversation about the intersection of medicine, money, and meaning. With multiple master’s degrees across healthcare and business—and medical training in Europe—Ramy brings a rare perspective on how financial literacy, leadership, and empathy can (and must) coexist in modern medicine. Why hit play: Hear how a personal tragedy reshaped Ramy’s faith, outlook, and purpose—and why mindset became his greatest medicine. Learn why he believes financial literacy should be a core clinical skill, not an afterthought. Get his take on the burnout epidemic, and how corporatization and administrative overload are breaking the people medicine needs most. Explore the hidden costs of student debt—and how tuition-free programs are changing the specialties future doctors choose. See how interdisciplinary education could rebuild trust and balance in a system driven by profit instead of purpose. Find out why he thinks universal basic coverage and preventative care—not reactive medicine—should be our next moonshot. Stick around for the fun stuff: his comfort shows (Peaky Blinders, House of Cards, Chicago Med, and the underrated The Pit), his least favorite food, and which “conspiracy theory” he kind of believes in. Take away his parting advice: pair discipline with kindness, lead with respect, and never lose sight of intention. Send this to the friend who’s questioning whether the system can still be saved—and tag @taytalks_pod with your takeaway so we can repost it. ✅ Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite app—so you never miss a TayTalks deep dive on nonlinear paths, big questions, and full-circle moments. 🎙️ Come for the healthcare realities. Stay for the reminder that purpose and perspective still matter. 🤍 If this episode resonated: Share it with one friend who needs to hear it. Tag @taytalks_pod with your takeaway so we can repost you. Leave a quick rating on Apple or Spotify—your words help more ambitious humans find the show.

What’s Worth Fighting For?

GI oncologist and equity advocate Dr. Pam Kunz joins host Taymeyah Al-Toubah to talk about finding purpose in rare cancers, speaking up against inequity, and how a values-first mindset can reshape both medicine and leadership. Why hit play: Hear how a childhood dream, a serendipitous lab job, and one rare disease set Pam on the path to becoming a leading voice in GI oncology and neuroendocrine tumors. Learn how executive coaching and a single “pause” helped her reclaim joy in medicine and reframe her leadership. Get her take on the future of NETs (hint: radioligand therapy is on the rise). Take away her mentorship wisdom: why your “team of mentors” matters more than one superstar guide. See how values-based choices can fuel both advocacy and clinical excellence—without burning out. Send this to the friend balancing ambition with exhaustion, then tag @taytalks_pod with your takeaway so we can repost it. ✅ Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite app—so you never miss a TayTalks deep-dive on nonlinear paths and full-circle moments. 🎙️ Come for the oncology breakthroughs. Stay for the reminder that leadership starts with living your values. 🤍 If this episode resonated: Share it with one friend who needs to hear it. Tag @taytalks_pod with your takeaway so we can repost you. Leave a quick rating on Apple or Spotify. Your words help more ambitious humans find the show.

Why Wisdom Beats Smarts

Richard Reich, Director of Data Science Shared Resources and former psychology professor, joins host Taymeyah Al-Toubah to talk teaching, leadership, and the unexpected ways poetry and data science overlap. Why hit play: Hear how Richard’s path from psychology to data science reflects the beauty of nonlinear journeys — and why he still misses the classroom. Learn the surprising role of poetry in his leadership — and how sharing verses at work changed how people see him. Steal his mindset on hiring and mentoring: why humility and collaboration matter more than credentials or IQ. Discover how wisdom, not just knowledge, shapes the kind of leaders people actually want to follow. Get a glimpse into the rhythms of his daily life — from raising five sons to taking power naps that fuel his leadership. Send this to a friend who’s rethinking how they define “smart” or “successful,” then tag @taytalks_pod with your takeaway so we can repost it. ✅ Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite app — so you never miss a TayTalks deep-dive on nonlinear paths and full-circle moments. 🎙️ Come for the leadership lessons. Stay for the reminder that wisdom lives in both data and poetry. 🤍 If this episode resonated: Share it with one friend who needs to hear it. Tag @taytalks_pod with your takeaway so we can repost you. Leave a quick rating on Apple or Spotify. Your words help more ambitious humans find the show.

Navigating Pivots, Power, and Purpose

Former hospitality pro turned association leader Cassandra Cleare joins host Taymeyah Al-Toubah to talk confidence, career pivots, and why standing in your power is the key to creating opportunity. Why hit play: Hear how Cassandra went from late nights in hospitality to building balance and fulfillment in a whole new field. Learn the turning point when she realized confidence isn’t given — it’s built, protected, and practiced daily. Steal her mindset for hiring and mentoring: why potential matters more than a perfect résumé. See how saying “yes” to pivots can open doors you never imagined (and why walking away isn’t failure). Discover the leadership lessons she wishes she had known earlier — and how she’s rewriting them for others. Send this to the friend questioning their career path, then tag @taytalks_pod with your takeaway so we can repost it. ✅ Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite app — so you never miss a TayTalks deep-dive on nonlinear paths and full-circle moments. 🎙️ Come for the career wisdom. Stay for the reminder that confidence is a choice, not a gift. 🤍 If this episode resonated: Share it with one friend who needs to hear it. Tag @taytalks_pod with your takeaway so we can repost you. Leave a quick rating on Apple or Spotify. Your words help more ambitious humans find the show.

Why an Oncologist Left the Clinic

Former phase 1 oncologist and neuroendocrine tumor specialist turned biotech leader Nanu Das joins host Taymeyah Al-Toubah to talk pivots, patient impact, and why early-stage trials are becoming the “new phase two.” Why hit play: Hear the moment Nanu knew he had to leave clinic life, despite loving patient care. Steal his framework for choosing mentors (and being the kind of mentee they fight to help). Learn why your first job in pharma shapes your influence on study design. See how targeted imaging could replace repeat biopsies in cancer care. Decide if AI in oncology is hype or a quiet revolution in the making. Send this to the friend debating a big career pivot, then tag @taytalks_pod with your takeaway so we can repost it. ✅ Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite app—so you never miss a TayTalks deep-dive on nonlinear paths and full-circle moments. 🎙️ Come for the science. Stay for the reminder that you can change the system without losing yourself in it. 🤍 If this episode resonated: Share it with one friend who needs to hear it. Tag @taytalks_pod with your takeaway so we can repost you. Leave a quick rating on Apple or Spotify. Your words help more ambitious humans find the show.

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