{"podcast":{"title":"Scars to Stars™ Podcast","slug":"scars-to-stars-podcast-6384270","podcast_index_feed_id":6384270,"rss_url":"https://feeds.captivate.fm/scars-to-stars-podcast/","website_url":"https://scars-to-stars-podcast.captivate.fm","image_url":"https://artwork.captivate.fm/9497f43d-d141-4add-9688-50c83ee3084e/W3d2C8ZV5V5jYW8fN1wDcKnu.jpg","author":"Deana Brown Mitchell","episode_count":131,"summary":"Welcome to the Scars to Stars™ Podcast, where we share stories of resilience and hope. Your host, Deana Brown Mitchell is the founder of the Realize Foundation whose mission is to reduce the number of humans who struggle with suicidal ideation by creating a world where having the conversation becomes commonplace. Like many, she kept silent about her own struggles with mental health for 23 years due to shame and stigma. It wasn't until she lost a friend to suicide that Deana realized the power of sharing our stories. In this podcast, we invite guests who have overcome adversity to share their journey and provide a safe space for vulnerability and openness. Our goal is to let other silent humans know that they are not alone and that there is always hope. Whether you are struggling with your mental health or simply feeling alone, this podcast is for you. Come join our community and let's inspire each other to turn our Scars to Stars.","last_synced_at":"2026-06-25T02:19:49.095846+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/scars-to-stars-podcast-6384270"},"episode":{"title":"Broken Medical System","slug":"broken-medical-system","published_at":"2026-02-04T08:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/scars-to-stars-podcast-6384270/broken-medical-system","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/scars-to-stars-podcast-6384270","url":"https://scars-to-stars-podcast.captivate.fm/episode/rachael-degurse","audio_url":"https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/80062746-ef8e-4c95-b268-cb4509f71ac1.mp3","summary":"In this Scars to Stars episode, Dr. Rachael Degurse opens up about what happens when the career you dreamed of your whole life starts costing you your mental health. Raised in Colorado, Rachael poured everything into becoming a physician—medical school, residency, years of relentless dedication—believing that once she “made it,” life would finally feel steady and fulfilling. But after her physician-owned practice was sold to a corporate entity, medicine became less about patient care and more about productivity, shrinking appointment times, changing pay structures, and constant pressure to do more with less. Rachael shares the reality behind the white coat: skipping meals, not having time to drink water or use the bathroom, carrying emotional exhaustion home, and feeling depression deepen as the joy of connecting with patients was stripped away. At her lowest point, she considered leaving medicine entirely—until she found a different path. Rachael courageously built a med spa while still employed, then took the leap to become her own boss. The result? Less money, but more freedom, more time with patients, and a return to herself. Now she’s expanding again—opening a membership-based primary care practice that gives patients longer visits and gives doctors back autonomy. This episode is a powerful reminder that caregiving shouldn’t require self-destruction—and that there is a way out of broken systems. #scarstostars #suicideprevention #mentalhealthawareness #conversations #community #personalstory #havetheconversation #savealifechallenge #virtualevents #amazonbestseller #suicideawareness #mentalhealthmatters #kindnessmatters #PhysicianBurnoutTruth #CaregiversNeedCareToo #MedicineWithoutTheMachine #AutonomyHeals #DirectPrimaryCareJourney","meta_description":"In this Scars to Stars episode, Dr. Rachael Degurse opens up about what happens when the career you dreamed of your whole life starts costing you your men…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":2281,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/scars-to-stars-podcast-6384270/episodes/broken-medical-system/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/scars-to-stars-podcast-6384270/broken-medical-system.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}