What happens when success isn’t enough?

Dr. Sonya Bhole had the credentials. The career. The drive. She comes from a long line of doctors and entered medical school at 17. The path was clear. The expectations were high. Failure was never an option.

But burnout was.

In this episode of Game Changers with Jess Todtfeld, Dr. Bhole opens up about the moment everything shifted. After years of relentless forward motion through pre-med, medical school, and residency, she was forced to stop. Ten weeks of bed rest during preterm labor with her twins gave her something she had never had before: time to think.

That pause changed everything.

We talk about:
• Fear of failure vs fear of stagnation
• Why high achievers rarely stop to ask what makes them happy
• The hidden burnout cycle in medicine and leadership
• “Optionality is the key to burnout”
• Reinventing yourself at 41
• Launching the podcast You’re a Doctor, Right?
• What she learned interviewing top medical experts

This conversation goes beyond medicine. It’s about identity, ambition, and what drives high performers when the external validation fades.

If you’re ambitious but restless… successful but unsatisfied… this episode will resonate.

00:00 – The fear that drove her from the beginning
01:00 – Growing up in a family of doctors
02:00 – The nonstop pre-med to residency treadmill
03:00 – The 10 weeks that changed everything
04:00 – Fear of failure vs fear of stagnation
05:00 – “Optionality is the key to burnout”
06:00 – Launching a podcast despite tech frustration
07:00 – Lessons from interviewing medical experts
09:00 – Behind-the-scenes insights from the anesthesia episode
10:00 – Why self-deprecation and reinvention matter

Game Changers with Jess Todtfeld spotlights leaders who share the one thing that changed the trajectory of their career, mindset, or mission.

Hosted by Jess Todtfeld — media strategist, bestselling author, and Guinness World Record holder for most media interviews in 24 hours — this show explores the turning points behind success.

New episodes release the first and third Monday of each month.

Follow Dr. Sonya Bhole and check out her podcast You’re a Doctor, Right? for practical medical insights explained in plain language.

Subscribe for more conversations with leaders who are redefining what success looks like.

burnout recovery
doctor burnout
fear of failure
fear of stagnation
high achiever mindset
reinventing yourself at 40
women in medicine
medical leadership
career pivot story
podcast host journey
Game Changers podcast

What if your life shattered overnight… and you rebuilt it by choosing red?
In this heartfelt episode of Game Changers: The One Thing That Made the Difference, host Jess Todtfeld speaks with Rachel Kerr Schneider, author of The Widow Chose Red, about grief, resilience, and how a relationship with faith — not just religion — helped her reclaim purpose after devastating loss.

Rachel’s husband was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease), a terminal illness that slowly paralyzes the body while leaving the mind fully aware. He passed away within three years, leaving Rachel a widowed mom of two young boys — and faced with the most difficult chapter of her life.

Instead of collapsing into despair, Rachel turned inward — and upward. She began talking with Jesus daily. She journaled. She reflected. She chose faith over fear. And when it came time to celebrate her husband’s life, she wore a red dress — a bold symbol of love, passion, and the Holy Spirit.

💬 “There is never the same love twice. Sometimes your heart breaks open so it can actually hold more love.”

This episode will inspire anyone navigating grief, caregiving, loss, or reinvention. Rachel offers not just encouragement, but concrete tools you can use: journaling, voice memos, faith as a conversation, and connecting with like-minded community.

0:00 – Meet Rachel Kerr Schneider
1:45 – Her husband’s ALS diagnosis
3:10 – Understanding the brutal nature of ALS
4:35 – A moment of crisis tests her faith
6:00 – The shift: From religion to relationship
7:10 – Daily conversations with Jesus
9:00 – Power of the Holy Spirit during hard moments
11:20 – Life 14 years later: Unexpected blessings
12:05 – Why she wore red to the funeral
13:10 – The meaning behind The Widow Chose Red
15:00 – Hope, healing, and her message to readers
17:00 – Tools for healing: journaling, voice notes, support
20:45 – The Spirited Salon and building community
22:10 – Why your story could save someone else
24:00 – Final thoughts: You are not alone

• “Faith is a relationship, not a religion” — the mindset shift that changed Rachel’s life

• Journaling and voice memos as powerful outlets for grief

• The symbolic choice of red: love, fire, and transformation

• Community is crucial — no one should walk through grief alone

• Sharing your story can give others the courage to face their own

• How Rachel built Spirited Pros to support women on similar journeys

🎧 Game Changers: The One Thing That Made the Difference is a business and leadership podcast hosted by Jess Todtfeld, media strategist, bestselling author, and Guinness World Record holder for most media interviews in 24 hours. Hear powerful conversations with thought leaders, entrepreneurs, and everyday heroes about the single idea that shifted everything.

🌐 Website: https://MeetTheGameChangers.com

🔔 Subscribe for new episodes on the 1st and 3rd Monday of every month.

📩 Want to suggest a topic or guest? DM us or visit the website.

📌 Also follow:
Instagram: @jesstodtfeld
Facebook: facebook.com/jess.todtfeld.2025
Business site: https://www.mediaambassadors.com

🎤 This podcast is part of the visibility and authority-building network at Media Ambassadors, helping experts turn their message into powerful, lasting content.

⏱️ Timestamps:🧠 Key Takeaways:

Game Changers: The One Thing That Made the Difference | Why Mission-Driven Leadership Changes Everything

What drives transformational leadership? For Dr. Jeffrey Reynolds, CEO of Family & Children’s Association, the answer is simple — mission. In this episode, Jeffrey shares how focusing obsessively on one purpose helped him lead 60+ programs, impact over 35,000 lives each year, and turn personal hardship into fuel for change.

From addiction recovery to human trafficking to hiring people with lived experience, you’ll hear what real impact leadership sounds like.

Timestamps:
00:00 – Intro
01:45 – 140-year FCA legacy
03:10 – Obsessing over mission
05:50 – 35,000 lives a year
07:30 – Measuring change
09:40 – Jeffrey’s personal story
14:15 – Addiction recovery story
18:45 – Human trafficking and healing
24:30 – Lived experience hiring
27:10 – Life after cancer
30:05 – Purpose over paycheck
33:00 – Ripple effects in families
35:50 – Final takeaways

Follow Jess Todtfeld: Instagram @jesstodtfeld | MeetTheGameChangers.com
Follow Dr. Jeffrey Reynolds: Instagram @drjeffreyreynolds
FCA: Instagram @fca_daily | TikTok @wearefca
Visit: MeetTheGameChangers.com | Agency: mediaambassadors.com