Dr. Uché Blackstock on Burnout, Purpose & Walking Away

Dr. Uché Blackstock on Burnout, Purpose & Walking Away

From Brown Ambition by iHeartPodcasts

May 13, 2026 · 48 min

About this episode

Dr. Uché Blackstock discusses burnout, purpose, and the courage to leave unfulfilling spaces.

This week on Brown Ambition , Mandi Money sits down with physician, author, entrepreneur, and health equity advocate Dr. Uché Blackstock for a deeply honest conversation about burnout, identity, purpose, and the courage it takes to leave spaces that no longer serve you. Dr. Blackstock opens up about her journey from Harvard Medical School to becoming one of the most trusted public voices on racism in medicine and public health. She shares the pivotal moment she realized that prestige and titles weren’t enough and why leaving a secure academic career during one of the most uncertain times in recent history ultimately changed her life.   Together, Mandi and Uché talk about: The emotional cost of staying in environments where you feel unseen Why Black women are often taught to tolerate misalignment for too long Navigating the backlash against DEI work in corporate America and healthcare The pressure of caregiving, entrepreneurship, and “holding it all together” Learning to listen to your body before burnout forces you to stop Motherhood, ambition, grief, and redefining success on your own terms AI in healthcare and what patients should know…

People in this episode

Host: Mandi Money

Guest: Dr. Uché Blackstock

Topics covered

  • burnout
  • identity
  • purpose
  • health equity
  • motherhood
  • wellness

Keywords

  • burnout
  • health equity
  • identity
  • motherhood
  • wellness
  • entrepreneurship
  • DEI work

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Harvard Medical School

More episodes of Brown Ambition

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Brown Ambition podcast page.