Storytelling secrets—fails, lessons, and how to truly connect.

In this powerful episode of Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir, MD, I sit down with Jeff Polish—founder and executive director of The Monti, a live no-notes storytelling series that has lit up stages across North Carolina since 2008.

We explore how storytelling transforms vulnerability into connection, why personal narratives carry the power to heal and unite communities, and what it takes to step on stage with nothing but your truth. Along the way, Jeff shares the tips, the fails, and the lessons learned from curating thousands of stories.

By the end of this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why storytelling is one of the most powerful tools for connection and meaning-making
• How vulnerability on stage can dissolve shame and inspire courage in others
• The evolution of The Monti from a small community event to a statewide movement
• Practical tips for shaping and delivering a powerful story without notes
• The biggest mistakes storytellers make—and how to recover when things go wrong
• How storytelling can reshape identity, belonging, and leadership in every profession

About Today’s Guest

Jeff Polish is the founder and executive director of The Monti, a live, no-notes, true personal storytelling series based in North Carolina. Since 2008, Jeff has built one of the country’s most impactful storytelling movements, where people from all walks of life share stories that are raw, real, and unforgettable. Named a Hero of the New South by Southern Living and recipient of the Indies Arts Award, Jeff is widely known for helping people transform vulnerability into connection. He holds a PhD in molecular cell biology and has devoted his career to teaching, curating, and celebrating the art of live storytelling.

🌐 Learn more about The Monti: https://themonti.org/
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.monti/
💼 Connect with Jeff: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-polish-11902b10/

About the Host

Dr. Amna Shabbir, MD, NBC-HWC, CPC is a Dual Board-Certified Physician, TEDx Speaker, with advanced training in Integrative Well-being, Performance, and Leadership Development. She speaks, coaches, and consults on Perfectionism, Sustainable Success, and the well-being of High Achievers.

Connect with Dr. Shabbir:
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.amnashabbir/

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amna-shabbir-md/

🌍 Book Her to Speak: https://www.dramnashabbir.com/Speaking
🌐 No Cost Application - Join the Perfectionism Project Collective: http://perfectionism-project.com/

❌ Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical or therapeutic advice. The views expressed are personal and do not reflect those of any employer or institution.

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In a world full of distractions and endless demands, how do we decide what truly matters?

In this solo episode of Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir, MD, I explore the concept of Essentialism—a philosophy of living by design, not by default. Essentialism is not about doing more; it’s about doing less but better. It’s about reclaiming your power of choice, recognizing life’s inevitable trade-offs, and focusing on what matters most.

I share how essentialism contrasts with perfectionism, and why perfectionism often keeps us stuck chasing non-essential goals. Along the way, I’ll provide practical steps to help you let go of distractions, say no with confidence, and simplify your decision-making so you can create a life anchored in clarity and purpose.

Episode Takeaways

By the end of this episode, you’ll learn:

• Essentialism is about living by design, not by default
• The power of choice is crucial for personal empowerment
• Information and opinion overload can lead to stress and confusion
• Trade-offs are a natural part of life—focus on what matters most
• How to rediscover true priorities for clarity and focus
• Why perfectionism can distract us from our essential path
• The importance of saying no to non-essential commitments
• How identifying one true priority can simplify decisions
• Why releasing non-essential tasks leads to greater productivity
• How Essentialism is a powerful antidote to perfectionism

Resource Mentioned:
Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown - https://gregmckeown.com/books/essentialism/

About the Host

Dr. Amna Shabbir, MD, NBC-HWC, CPC is a Dual Board-Certified Physician, TEDx Speaker, with advanced training in Integrative Well-being, Performance, and Leadership Development. She speaks, coaches, and consults on Perfectionism, Sustainable Success, and the well-being of High Achievers.

Connect with Dr. Shabbir:

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.amnashabbir/

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amna-shabbir-md/

🌍 Book Her to Speak: https://www.dramnashabbir.com/Speaking

❌ Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical or therapeutic advice. The views expressed are personal and do not reflect those of any employer or institution.

❤️ Enjoyed This Episode?
Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast.
Share it with a colleague, peer, or friend who needs this message.

Finding your voice requires courage, persistence, and a willingness to step into the unknown.

In this powerful episode of Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir, MD, I sit down with Tara LaFon Gooch—international TEDx speaker, bestselling author, confidence expert, and the creator of the GRASP Method—to uncover what it really takes to move from self-doubt to the TEDx red dot.

We dive deep into Tara’s personal journey from being terrified of public speaking to becoming a global thought leader, and how she now empowers others to transform fear into confidence, comparison into courage, and ideas into impact.

By the end of this episode, you’ll learn:

• How to get started on your own TEDx journey with clarity and intention
• The biggest mistakes people make when pursuing a TEDx talk—and how to avoid them
• Why “if nothing changes, nothing changes” became Tara’s guiding mantra
• How to transform your biggest fear into your greatest breakthrough
• Why comparison is the thief of confidence—and how to break free from it
• Dr. Amna Shabbir’s reflections and insights from her own TEDx experience on perfectionism and self-doubt

About Today’s Guest:

Tara LaFon Gooch is an international TEDx speaker, bestselling author of GRASP Confidence, and confidence expert who has coached countless leaders to bring their ideas to life on the TEDx stage. She is the creator of the GRASP Method (Gratitude, Responsibility, Action, Sight, Purpose) and is passionate about helping people transform fear into fuel, amplify their voices, and embrace their unique stories.

Connect with Tara:
🌐 Website: https://taralafongooch.com/
📚 Book: GRASP Confidence https://a.co/d/bkztokw
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tara-lafon-gooch/

About the Host

Dr. Amna Shabbir, MD, NBC-HWC, CPC is a Dual Board-Certified Physician and TEDx Speaker with advanced training in Integrative Well-being, Performance, and Leadership Development. She speaks, coaches, and consults on Perfectionism, Sustainable Success, and the well-being of High Achievers.

Connect with Dr. Shabbir:
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.amnashabbir/

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amna-shabbir-md/

🌍 Book Her to Speak: https://www.dramnashabbir.com/Speaking

❌ Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical or therapeutic advice. The views expressed are personal and do not reflect those of any employer or institution.

❤️ Enjoyed This Episode?

• Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast.
• Share it with a colleague, peer, or friend who needs this message.

A quick update on the upcoming episodes of Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir MD.

Thank you to all our incredible guests for sharing their invaluable insights, research, and very personal stories with us as we unpacked the various facets of perfectionism.

If you have not yet had a chance, please tune in to Episodes 6 - 30 that have explored Perfectionism in great depth.

About the Host

Dr. Amna Shabbir, MD, NBC-HWC, CPC is a Dual Board-Certified Physician, TEDx Speaker, with advanced training in Integrative Well-being, Performance, and Leadership Development. She speaks, coaches, and consults on Perfectionism, Sustainable Success, and the well-being of High Achievers.

Connect with Dr. Shabbir:

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.amnashabbir/

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amna-shabbir-md/

🌍 Book Her to Speak: https://www.dramnashabbir.com/Speaking

❌ Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical or therapeutic advice. The views expressed are personal and do not reflect those of any employer or institution.

❤️ Enjoyed This Episode?
Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast.
Share it with a colleague, peer, or friend who needs this message.

Understanding perfectionism requires examining it in complete cultural context.

In this powerful episode of Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir, MD, I sit down with Sahaj Kohli—author of But What Will People Say? and founder of Brown Girl Therapy—to explore how perfectionism shows up uniquely for children of immigrants and those navigating bicultural identities.

We dive deep into why so many high achievers feel “never enough,” how impression management keeps us in a “glass house,” and what it takes to rewrite the narrative with self-compassion, intergenerational understanding, and permission to rest.

Episode Takeaways

By the end of this episode, you’ll learn:

• The three types of perfectionism—self-oriented, other-oriented, socially prescribed—and how they manifest in immigrant households
• Why perfectionism often feels like survival for South Asian and bicultural communities
• The concept of impression management and the “glass house” metaphor that shapes identity and pressure
• How intergenerational compassion reframes family expectations and cultural survival stories
• Why rest and play are acts of resistance—and ways to reclaim joy for yourself and your ancestors

About The Guest:

Sahaj Kohli is a therapist, writer, and speaker whose work focuses on mental health, identity, and bicultural belonging. She is the founder of Brown Girl Therapy, the first and largest mental health community for children of immigrants, and the host of the podcast So We Have Been Told. Sahaj’s debut book, But What Will People Say?, offers an honest guide for navigating family expectations, bicultural identity, and mental health with compassion and clarity.

Connect with Sahaj:
📖 Sahaj’s book: But What Will People Say? A Guide for Children of Immigrants Navigating Mental Health, Family Expectations, and Bicultural Identity
🌐 Brown Girl Therapy: https://sahajkaurkohli.com/brown-girl-therapy
🎧 Sahaj’s podcast: So We Have Been Told: https://sahajkaurkohli.com/podcast
✉️ Subscribe to Culturally Enough newsletter on Substack: https://sahajkaurkohli.com/newsletter#newsletter

About the Host

Dr. Amna Shabbir, MD, NBC-HWC, CPC is a Dual Board-Certified Physician, TEDx Speaker, with advanced training in Integrative Well-being, Performance, and Leadership Development. She speaks, coaches, and consults on Perfectionism, Sustainable Success, and the well-being of High Achievers.

Connect with Dr. Shabbir:

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.amnashabbir/

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amna-shabbir-md/

🌍 Book Her to Speak: https://www.dramnashabbir.com/Speaking

❌ Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical or therapeutic advice. The views expressed are personal and do not reflect those of any employer or institution.

❤️ Enjoyed This Episode?
Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast.
Share it with a colleague, peer, or friend who needs this message.

Have you ever felt paralyzed by your inner critic?

Trigger Warning: Suicide

In this powerful episode of Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir, MD we sit down with internationally acclaimed speaker, author, and business strategist Tanya Chernova to unpack the harsh realities of perfectionism, self-criticism, and the damaging inner voice known as "the other girl."

Tanya shares her deeply personal journey through burnout, suicidal thoughts, and a perfectionist mindset and how she learned to reframe failure, develop self-compassion, and redefine success on her own terms.

Topics Covered:

• Overcoming negative self-talk and "the other girl"
• The high cost of perfectionism and burnout
• How unprocessed emotions shape our physical health
• Reframing failure and rejection as feedback
• The neuroscience behind inner transformation
• Self-love as the foundation for lasting success

👤 About Tanya:
Tanya Chernova is a globally recognized speaker, bestselling author, business strategist, and mindset expert. She is the co-author of Undermind, a transformational book on the subconscious beliefs that sabotage success, and the voice behind the impactful TEDx talk, Breaking the Cycle of Self-Sabotage. As the co-founder of Courageous Living, Tanya is on a mission to help people rewrite their inner narrative, embrace self-worth, and create meaningful, lasting change—personally and professionally.

🔗Connect with Tanya:
Website: https://tanyachernova.com/
TEDx Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gu0_tIufYDE

🎙About the Host:

Dr. Amna Shabbir, MD, NBC-HWC, CPC, is a Dual Board-Certified Physician,TEDx Speaker, with advanced training in Integrative Well-being, Performance, and Leadership Development. She speaks and consults on Perfectionism, Sustainable Success, and the well-being of High Achievers.

This episode is part of her special book-writing project on unmasking perfectionism.

🔗Connect with Dr. Shabbir:
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.amnashabbir/
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amna-shabbir-md/
🌍 Book Her to Speak: https://www.dramnashabbir.com/Speaking

❌ Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical or therapeutic advice. The views expressed are personal and do not reflect those of any employer or institution.

❤️ Enjoyed This Episode?
Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast.
Share it with a colleague, peer, or friend who needs this message.

What happens when the pressure to be perfect is inherited?

In this episode of Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir, MD, we sit down with Ghalia Aamer to unpack the invisible weight of perfectionism faced by many young adults and especially daughters of immigrants.

At just 23, Ghalia has accomplished what most people only dream of. But behind her accolades lies a deep reckoning with cultural expectations, toxic achievement cycles, and the constant fear of not doing “enough.” This conversation is a must-listen for high-achieving women, first-gen professionals, and anyone navigating self-worth in a hyper-competitive world.

Topics Covered:

• The pressure to be perfect as a daughter of immigrants
• How to balance ambition with wellbeing in high-achieving environments
• The connection between perfectionism and public speaking anxiety
• Reframing failure and letting go of toxic achievement
• Why presence—not productivity—is the real marker of success

👤 About Ghalia:

Ghalia Aamer is a multi-time TEDx speaker, entrepreneur, and youth empowerment advocate. She is the founder of TalkMaze, a global platform that helps students and professionals build confidence through public speaking and debate. Ghalia launched her first business at just 13 years old and has since been recognized as one of Alberta’s Top 30 Under 30 and a Princess Diana Award recipient.

Currently pursuing her J.D. at Columbia Law School, Ghalia’s mission is to amplify underrepresented voices and challenge perfectionism—especially among first-generation women of color. Her story bridges ambition with advocacy, showing that success is not about being flawless, but about being fearlessly yourself.

🔗Connect with Ghalia:
TalkMaze Website: https://talkmaze.com/about-us/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ghaliaaamer/

🎙About the Host:

Dr. Amna Shabbir, MD, NBC-HWC, CPC, is a Dual board-certified physician, TEDx Speaker, with advanced training in integrative well-being, performance, and leadership development. She speaks and consults on perfectionism, sustainable success, and the well-being of high achievers.

This episode is part of her special book-writing project on unmasking perfectionism.

🔗Connect with Dr. Shabbir:
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.amnashabbir/
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amna-shabbir-md/
🌍 Book Her to Speak: https://www.dramnashabbir.com/Speaking

❌ Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical or therapeutic advice. The views expressed are personal and do not reflect those of any employer or institution.

❤️ Enjoyed This Episode?
Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast.
Share it with a colleague, peer, or friend who needs this message.

What if the biggest threat to your child’s self-worth isn’t grades or friends, but the silent pressure to be perfect?

In this episode, we’re joined by Caden Vittorni, a TEDx speaker, bestselling author, and founder of Vitt Factor, as he shares how a wake-up call in his own life led him to become a powerful voice for youth struggling with perfectionism, comparison, and confidence in the digital age. He explains why kids aren't connecting, what social media is really doing to their self-worth, and how adults can help.

Topics Covered:

• How to help youth overcome perfectionism
• What to do when your child compares themselves to others
• Why social media is damaging kids’ mental health
• How to teach kids confidence and communication
• Parenting tips for the anxious generation

This episode is Part 1 of the Perfectionism and Youth Series. Stay tuned for the next!

👤 About Caden:

Caden Vittorini is a TEDx speaker, #1 bestselling author, and the founder of Vitt Factor, an organization dedicated to empowering youth through communication coaching, school assemblies, and mindset development. At just 22 years old, Caden brings a unique blend of relatability and leadership to the students he mentors, offering real solutions to today’s growing challenges of perfectionism, comparison, and digital overwhelm.

He’s been featured on WGN Morning News and is known for his high-energy, deeply impactful programs for kids and teens ages 8–18. His mission is to help the next generation build confidence, connection, and true self-worth—both online and offline.

🔗Connect with Caden:
Website: https://www.vittfactor.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caden-vittorini/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vittfactor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vitt.factor

🎙About the Host:

Dr. Amna Shabbir, MD, NBC-HWC, CPC, is a Dual board-certified physician, TEDx Speaker, with advanced training in integrative well-being, performance, and leadership development. She speaks and consults on perfectionism, sustainable success, and the well-being of high achievers.

This episode is part of her special book-writing project on unmasking perfectionism.

🔗Connect with Dr. Shabbir:
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.amnashabbir/
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amna-shabbir-md/
🌍 Book Her to Speak: https://www.dramnashabbir.com/Speaking

❌ Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical or therapeutic advice. The views expressed are personal and do not reflect those of any employer or institution.

❤️ Enjoyed This Episode?
Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast.
Share it with a colleague, peer, or friend who needs this message.