#79: The Soul Tickle: When Your Next Chapter Finally Feels Like You. A Ramble with Keith Pochick

The first time Keith Pochick joined this podcast, he had just walked away from medicine and into a classroom full of eighth graders. His story hit home because it was raw; a man in mid-leap, hoping he wasn’t crazy for wanting a simpler, more joyful, more human life.Two years later, Keith sits down with Lon to talk about what life actually feels like on the other side of his trade. And what he describes is something most high achievers haven’t felt in years: ease, presence, and the spark he now calls the soul tickle — that unmistakable, physical sensation of doing work that touches your life at the deepest level.Keith also shares the story behind his new book, Tickled Soul, and why he felt compelled,  almost obligated, to write it. What started as a legacy gift for his children became something much bigger: a declaration of what he believes, who he is, and how he hopes others will rediscover the parts of themselves they’ve forgotten.This episode is an honest look at what it means to start over, stay the course, and finally feel like yourself again.What to Expect-Why Keith walked away from medicine and why he hasn’t looked back-What it really feels like on the other side of a big life trade-How burnout quietly rewrites your identity-What middle school students taught him that medical training never could-The spiritual experience behind Tickled Soul—and the legacy it creates-The unexpected freedom of being fully present againKey Takeaways:-->The Trade only looks reckless to people who’ve ignored their own restlessness.-->Money can’t buy meaning, but presence can.-->You don’t have to be burned out to want something better.-->Legacy is what people will remember when your voice is no longer in the room.-->If you want to live differently, you have to slow down long enough to feel what’s missing.📘 About the Book: Tickled SoulIn his debut book, Keith shares a thoughtful memoir about what happens when the life you built no longer feels like the life you’re meant to keep. What begins as a quiet “what if” becomes a full‑scale reinvention—from seasoned ER physician to middle‑school science teacher.Through stories of faith, purpose, motivation, and meaning, Keith explores the beliefs and inner philosophy that made such a radical midlife transition not only possible, but necessary.It’s a wake‑up call for anyone sitting in the status quo, wondering if there’s more to life than the role they’ve been playing.Order the book directly from the publisher here:Tickled Soul (hardcover)Tickled Soul (softcover)What’s Next?If you’re feeling the restlessness Keith once felt,  that quiet knowing that your current life isn’t your forever life,  this episode is your invitation to stop ignoring it.  If this episode speaks to you, this is an invitation to join the growing Normal 40 community to connect with like-minded individuals. Whether through a free Ramble, Lon's Insider group, or his bestselling book 'The Trade,' this episode is your call to action to start designing your next chapter.Find it all right here: https://linktr.ee/lon.stroscheinLearn more about Keith Pochick here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kpochick/  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit normal40.substack.com

Most people go into medicine to help people.But somewhere along the way, the system swallows that dream.Long hours. Broken processes. Pressure to perform, not to care.But not Chris Cannell.Chris is a PA, endurance athlete, husband, father of three, and president of a national nonprofit in legal medicine. But more than that, he’s a man who kept chasing the spark that started it all: a sister’s cancer diagnosis, a team on the field, and a deep belief that medicine could still feel human.In this episode, Chris joins Lon for a conversation about reinvention, restlessness, and building something better for patients, providers, and the families caught in between.Together, they talk about what happens when you hit the ceiling of your success, when your ambition gets mislabeled as discontent, and how the right partner, the right mission, and the right moment can give you permission to lead from your gift.This isn’t just a conversation about medicine.It’s about meaning.It’s about movement.And it’s about creating the future you’ve been quietly craving.What to Expect:--How a childhood cancer diagnosis shaped Chris’s calling--What football, medicine, and leadership taught him about purpose--The role his wife Stacy played in giving him permission to change--What most high-performers get wrong about reinvention--Why he’s creating a new model for healthcare through community--What it really means to be great at something—and why most people won’t say it out loudKey Takeaways:-> Restlessness isn’t a flaw, it’s a clue.-->Permission doesn’t mean control.-->If you want to build something that lasts, build it with people who care.-->You don’t have to know how it ends. You just have to know what matters now.-->Your best work is still in front of you, if you’re willing to believe it.About Chris CannellDr. Chris Cannell is a doctoral-trained Physician Associate with 22+ years of clinical experience in emergency medicine, orthopedics, critical care, and internal medicine. But what makes Chris stand out isn’t just his credentials, it’s his mission.He’s a nationally recognized voice on healthcare quality, patient safety, and medical risk, and a powerful advocate for restoring purpose and humanity to the people who deliver care.Chris has led clinical teams, shaped national policy conversations, and built bridges between medicine, law, and education. He serves as the President of PAs in Legal Medicine, sits on multiple boards, teaches across leading PA programs, and works as a respected consultant in medical-legal risk, healthcare innovation, and clinician leadership.But beyond the titles, Chris is a builder of people. A connector. A father. A runner. A relentless advocate for the providers who’ve given everything to healthcare and are ready to build something better.Dr. Chris has an upcoming masterclass training as a medical legal, educational, and healthcare consultant. More details here: https://www.theapcconsultant.com/healthcare-disruptors You can connect with Chris here: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-apc-consultant/ What's NextIf you’ve ever wanted to try something different—but talked yourself out of it—this is your sign to explore the path you haven’t yet taken.If this episode speaks to you, this is an invitation to join the growing Normal 40 community to connect with like-minded individuals. Whether through a free Ramble, Lon's Insider group, or his bestselling book 'The Trade,' this episode is your call to action to start designing your next chapter.Find it all right here: https://linktr.ee/lon.stroschein This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit normal40.substack.com

Most people meet their doctor in an exam room. I met mine at the edge of a breaking point she didn’t even know she’d been carrying for years.Dr. Jill Kruse grew up wanting to save lives for one simple reason: she didn’t want to lose her mother. She entered medicine the way so many elite performers do — head down, high achieving, fueled by good intentions and impossible standards. She pushed. She excelled. She endured.And then life stopped asking politely.Call every other night. A newborn and a toddler at home. A tiny rural town held together by two doctors, two PAs, and a pager that never slept.She kept giving.The job kept taking.And one day, her husband said the quiet part out loud:“You’re killing yourself slowly.”That’s the moment every physician fears.That’s the moment every high performer recognizes.And that’s the moment this conversation turns from résumé to truth.This episode is about what happens when the life you fought to build becomes the life that’s quietly breaking you. It’s about the courage to walk away from a calling without abandoning the purpose underneath it. It’s about burnout, identity, the stigma of asking for help, and the freedom that shows up when you finally decide the cost of staying is higher than the cost of change.But more than anything, it’s about this:The heart feeds itself first — and you need to start doing the same.Dr. Kruse’s story isn’t about quitting medicine.It’s about choosing herself.And it’s a roadmap for any elite performer who has forgotten that they’re allowed to do the same.IN THIS EPISODE:--What really pushes a physician to the edge (it’s not what you think)--The truth about burnout inside medicine — the part nobody talks about--Why high achievers wait too long to ask for help--What happens when you realize a career won’t love you back--How to reclaim identity without burning your life down--The power of coaching when counseling feels risky--The heart-first lesson every elite performer needs to hearKEY TAKEAWAYS:->Burnout isn’t failure. It’s the body calling for honesty.->You can love your work and still decide it’s costing you too much.->Courage isn’t leaving. Courage is telling the truth.->The life you want won’t appear while you’re drowning in the life you’ve outgrown.->You deserve the same care you give everyone else.WHAT’S NEXT?If Jill’s story hits close to home (if you’re hiding the same exhaustion behind the same smile), this is your invitation to stop doing this alone.Join the growing Normal 40 community to connect with like-minded individuals. Whether through a free Ramble, Lon's Insider group, or his bestselling book 'The Trade,' this episode is your call to action to start designing your next chapter.Find it all right here: https://linktr.ee/lon.stroscheinLearn more about Dr. Jill Kruse here: http://www.flight-time-medical.com/https://www.prairiedoc.org/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit normal40.substack.com

What if the version of you you're trying to fix… isn’t broken?What if the problem isn’t your motivation, your discipline, or your job…But the story you’ve been telling yourself to survive it?In this episode, Lon sits down with Dr. Fredric Mau, a board-certified hypnotherapist and licensed mental health counselor who left a corporate career and stepped into one of the most unexpected and effective roles in human transformation.Together, they explore the difference between talking about change and actually experiencing it.They talk about emotion vs. cognition, trauma vs. strategy, and what it really means to engage the quiet part of your brain that’s been holding on to the weight, the fear, and the shame for far too long.If you’ve ever said, “I know what to do, I just can’t seem to do it..." this episode is for you.In This Episode:--What hypnotherapy actually is (and isn’t)--Why your problem isn’t laziness but limbic--The emotional truth behind avoidance, drinking, overeating, and stagnation--How trauma and stress get stored in the body--Why most people stay stuck in old roles for too long--What changes when you stop telling the same story and start feeling something newKey Takeaways:->You’re not stuck because you’re weak. You’re stuck because you’re human.->Hypnotherapy isn’t about control. It’s about letting go.->Most people don’t need more insight. They need a new pattern.->Your limbic system has been solving problems long before your resume did.->Change doesn’t feel like a decision. It feels like relief.What’s Next?If you’ve ever wanted to try something different, but talked yourself out of it, this is your sign to explore the path you haven’t yet taken.If this episode speaks to you, this is an invitation to join the growing Normal 40 community to connect with like-minded individuals. Whether through a free Ramble, Lon's Insider group, or his bestselling book 'The Trade,' this episode is your call to action to start designing your next chapter.Find it all right here: https://linktr.ee/lon.stroscheinLearn more about Dr. Frederic Mau here: https://watermarkcolumbia.com/  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit normal40.substack.com

We spend decades chasing success—with our heads down and our priorities out of balance. Until one day… you look in the mirror, or see a photo of yourself, and something doesn’t match. Your body starts telling the truth your mind has been trying to outrun.You’re tired more than you used to be.You sleep but you’re not rested.You’re not proud of how you look, and if you’re honest, you’re not proud of how you feel either.In this episode, Lon sits down with men’s health coach Luke DePron, founder of The Fit Men Project, for a raw conversation about what it looks like to take your power back, physically, mentally, and emotionally.They talk about the high-achieving men who show up late to the game, burned out, bloated, and frustrated, and how simple, sustainable habits (not extremes) are the secret to reclaiming energy, confidence, and control.In This Episode:->What high-performers get wrong about fitness, health, and sustainable change->Why starting slow might be the fastest way to change your life->The real reason men drink after work (and how to break the cycle)->Why success often comes with weight gain and how to reverse it->Why most people overshoot and burn out—and what to do instead->Why walking is the most underrated exercise you’re not doing->How to think about nutrition like a strategy, not a punishment->The truth behind crash diets, keto, and 75 Hard and why most guys quitKey Takeaways:--Health isn’t about perfection. It’s about ownership.--You don’t need a complete overhaul. You need a new rhythm.--Don’t wait for a diagnosis, a photo, or a scare to wake you up.--The most powerful thing you can do today is start.What’s Next?If you’re tired of feeling sluggish, frustrated, or disappointed in the mirror this is your sign to do something about it. If this episode speaks to you, this is an invitation to join the growing Normal 40 community to connect with like-minded individuals. Whether through a free Ramble, Lon's Insider group, or his bestselling book 'The Trade,' this episode is your call to action to start designing your next chapter.Find it all right here: https://linktr.ee/lon.stroscheinFollow Luke DePron here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fitmenproject/  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit normal40.substack.com

Most of us do exactly what we were told to do: we work hard, climb the ladder, check the boxes, and live the life we set out to build. From the outside, it looks like success. But inside, many of us wrestle with the same silent question: “Is this it?”In this conversation with Justin on Grody and Unprofessional, I go back to the beginning of my story—the moment I realized I had everything I thought I wanted, yet felt empty inside. We talk about:Why I call myself a dude from the internet and why people trust me with the things they’ve never said out loud to anyone else.The four-year arc from “Is this it?” to “My work here is done”—and how I finally had the courage to make The Trade.The guilt and shame that comes from “having so much but feeling so little”—and why you’re not broken if you feel this way.The 753 Rambles I’ve had with people at the edge of change, and the patterns that show up in every one of those conversations.What leaders really want: not more money, but freedom, purpose, and a voice that sounds like their own.Why “never lose your art” might be the most important advice you’ll ever hear.This isn’t theory—it’s real life. And if you’ve ever looked around and wondered if you were meant for more, this episode will help you see that you’re not crazy, you’re not alone, and you’re one decision away from a radically different life.Let’s be up to something.🔁 What’s Next?If this episode speaks to you, this is an invitation to join the growing Normal 40 community to connect with like-minded individuals. Whether through a free Ramble, Lon's Insider group, or his bestselling book 'The Trade,' this episode is your call to action to start designing your next chapter.Find it all right here: https://linktr.ee/lon.stroscheinConnect with Justin McMenamy here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcmenamy-59a6087a/Find the Grody & Unprofessional podcast here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/grody-unprofessional/id1761211065 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit normal40.substack.com

At some point, your success starts to feel like a trap.You’ve got the title, the money, the corner office—but something’s off.You’re restless. You’re starting to wonder, is this it?And no one around you seems to get it.This episode is for you.Lon and Adam are back to break down Lon’s next book, The Gap—the emotional, spiritual, and practical space between the life you’ve built and the life you know is still out there.They dive deep into the 12 Ascents; the stages every elite provider must go through to move from the lower curve (the life they’ve outgrown) to the upper line (the life they want to build). These all are born from 1,000+ rambles Lon has had with people just like you.What to Expect:--What “The Gap” actually is and how to know if you’re in it--Why most high performers flatline in their 40s (even while making more money)--The real reason success can start to feel suffocating--The hidden cost of someone else’s scorecard--Why “freedom” is usually a mask for “I don’t want this anymore”--The first 4 ascents: how to start, when to stop tolerating, and why clarity only comes through action--Adam’s own journey and why reinvention doesn’t always mean quittingKey Takeaways:->Awareness → Acknowledgment → Acceptance → Permission → Action->There’s a version of you you haven’t met yet, but you can feel them getting closer->You don’t have to quit to start. But you do have to start if you ever hope to quit.->Burn the scorecard they gave you. Write the one that’s yours.->You’re not alone. But you have to get around people who make you believe it.->The most important chapter of your life won’t be written by your boss.🔁 What’s Next?If this episode speaks to you, this is an invitation to join the growing Normal 40 community to connect with like-minded individuals. Whether through a free Ramble, Lon's Insider group, or his bestselling book 'The Trade,' this episode is your call to action to start designing your next chapter.Find it all right here: https://linktr.ee/lon.stroscheinFollow Adam Eaton here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-eaton-21646a4/  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit normal40.substack.com

What happens when you’ve built a perfect résumé, then lose everything it stood for?Laverne McKinnon was doing everything right.Climbing fast. Getting promoted every 18 months.She was a powerful voice behind some of the biggest shows on television—including CSI and Criminal Minds.And then, one day, it all ended.No warning. No performance plan. Just a quiet conversation behind closed doors… and a single word that changed everything:Liability.What followed was a collapse of identity, a decade of self-loathing, and a grief she didn’t yet have the words to name.She’d lost her job, her father, and her confidence—all at once.But what she found, years later, was something even more powerful:A second résumé.A deeper calling.And a new kind of freedom she never thought she'd earn.This conversation is one of the most human episodes we’ve ever recorded. We talk about ambition, pressure, identity, and the cost of being the one everyone else counts on, until you no longer count yourself.What to Expect:How losing her job during the height of her success became Laverne’s spiritual awakeningThe difference between being “loyal” and being “obedient”Why grief isn’t just about death but  what happens when identity changesHow codependency shows up in high performersThe moment her life changed forever: “You’re a liability”How one rogue coach (with no certifications) saved her lifeWhy your second résumé is more valuable than your firstKey Takeaways:The people who helped you get here may not be the ones who can help you go nextYou can grieve a job, a dream, or an identity and still begin againThe stories we carry about our past often aren’t trueYour second résumé holds the key to your next chapter—but only if you’re brave enough to read itPermission doesn’t come from your boss, your spouse, or your friends. It comes from you.🔁 What’s Next?If this episode speaks to you, this is an invitation to join the growing Normal 40 community to connect with like-minded individuals. Whether through a free Ramble, Lon's Insider group, or his bestselling book 'The Trade,' this episode is your call to action to start designing your next chapter.Find it all right here: https://linktr.ee/lon.stroscheinSubscribe to Laverne’s Substack – Moonshot Mentor: https://moonshotmentor.substack.com/ Connect with her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lavernemckinnon/  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit normal40.substack.com

There’s a moment—quiet, invisible—when you stop asking for someone else’s approval… and start listening for your own.That moment is called permission. And in this episode, Lon and Adam unpack what it actually means to give it to yourself, and why it’s often the hardest, most courageous thing you’ll ever do.Lon reveals the real pattern behind over a thousand coaching conversations, and how nearly everyone who reaches out is stuck in the same swirl: aware something is off, acknowledging the discontent, accepting the truth… but waiting for a green light that never comes.They also go deeper into the conversations that happen after you give yourself permission. With your spouse. With your friends. With the voices in your own head. Because the truth is: most of the people you love won’t understand. And some of the people you trust the most may never give you the validation you’re craving.That’s why this episode is more than just about permission. It’s about power. It’s about identity. And it’s about choosing to trust the one vote that actually counts: your own.What to Expect--Why “permission” is the most misunderstood phase of any transformation--The true cost of waiting too long to trust your gut--How to navigate the spiral of awareness → acknowledgment → acceptance → action--The exact words Lon uses in real-life Rambles that help people start moving--What to do when your spouse, friends, or coworkers don’t get it--Why most people don’t need better advice; they need better questionsKey Takeaways:--No one is coming to give you the life you want. You have to permit yourself to go get it.--Permission without action is just frustration.--You don’t need a perfect plan—you need a clear first step.--Your old friends might not understand who you’re becoming. That’s okay. Find the ones who do.--You can trade what you have for something better… even if you don’t know what “better” is yet.What’s Next?If this episode speaks to you, this is an invitation to join the growing Normal 40 community to connect with like-minded individuals. Whether through a free Ramble, Lon's Insider group, or his bestselling book 'The Trade,' this episode is your call to action to start designing your next chapter.Find it all right here: https://linktr.ee/lon.stroscheinFollow Adam Eaton here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-eaton-21646a4/    This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit normal40.substack.com

Most people open ChatGPT to get answers.Rob Cressy opened it and found a new life.In this episode, Lon sits down with Rob—entrepreneur, creator, and AI enablement coach—to talk about the real power of ChatGPT. Not as a shortcut. Not as a gimmick. But as a tool for clarity, creativity, and reinvention.Rob discovered ChatGPT five days after it launched. And within minutes, he knew: this wasn’t just a tool—it was a turning point.Together, Rob and Lon unpack what it means to “think into the AI,” why curiosity matters more than technical skill, and how your next chapter might start with a single prompt. What to Expect--Rob’s journey from sports media to high-performance coach and to AI enablement leader--Why ChatGPT “felt like using the internet for the first time”--How to move from searching to creating with AI--Practical starting points: how to build a 7-day ChatGPT habit--Why the best use cases start with your own curiosityHow to integrate AI into your life and career without losing your mind (or job)KEY TAKEAWAYS1. You’re not behind, you’re just asking the wrong questions2. AI doesn’t replace creativity but it unlocks it3. “What am I not asking ChatGPT to do?” ← this mindset alone is worth six figures4. Start small, stay curious, and stack your own momentum5. The opportunity isn’t technical. It’s emotional, creative, and exponentialWhat’s Next?You don’t need a tech background to start.  You just need to show up with curiosity.Try Rob’s 7-day Challenge → 3 prompts a day. Any topic. For 7 days.– Confess something you’ve been avoiding.– Confront it in ChatGPT.– Create your way forward.You don’t need permission to start—just a better question.Links & Resources:Follow Lon on Substack: https://normal40.substack.com/ Book a Free Ramble with Lon: normal40.com (Click “Talk to Lon”)Grab Lon’s book—The Trade: AmazonGet the 14 Questions That Changed My Life: normal40.comFollow Lon on LinkedIn: @LonStroschein🔗 Find it all right here: https://linktr.ee/lon.stroschein Connect with Rob Cressy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robcressy Website: https://robcressy.ai/  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit normal40.substack.com