Sometimes the hardest conversations are the ones we have with ourselves.In this final episode of the Black Doctor Collective Podcast, I get real about my negotiation regrets, the lessons I’ve learned from asking (and not asking) for what I want, and why staying too long in places, whether in business, coaching, or medicine, can become a silent regret.I also share a personal update: after months of quietly stepping back, I’m officially pausing my coaching, closing this chapter of the podcast, and taking a break to focus on the next phase of life and work.We talk about:- Why the biggest regret isn’t hearing “no”—it’s never asking at all- How respectability politics and people-pleasing can hold you back- The spiral staircase of growth: revisiting challenges at a higher level- Learning to advocate for yourself without over-explaining- Why ending chapters is an act of courage, not failureThis episode is for anyone who’s ever hesitated to ask, worried about what people might think, or stayed longer than they should have.🎧 Listen now and reflect with me as we close 2025 and step into 2026 with intention.Follow me on Instagram for more career & negotiation insights: https://www.instagram.com/theblkdoctor/Let’s connect on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sheneka-horneGot questions or comments? Send them here: theblkdoctorcollective@gmail.com #NegotiationLessons #PhysicianWellness #BlackDoctorCollective #blackwomeninmedicine #blackdoctors #theblkdoctor #FinalEpisode #SelfAdvocacy #CareerGrowth #BoundarySetting

Doctors, this episode is for you!

Ever notice a gap in medicine - something patients need, but your training never fully equips you to provide?

That’s exactly what Dr. Obehi saw. She’s a pediatrician, MPH, parent coach, and integrative medicine expert who refused to settle for the status quo.

In this episode, we talk about:

• - How to recognize gaps in patient care that your training doesn’t cover
• - Turning unmet needs into actionable solutions
• - Why leaning into your unique interests and skills can make you a better clinician
• - Practical strategies for creating impact without burning out

This isn’t about parenting advice - it’s about how doctors can innovate, lead, and solve problems that medicine alone can’t.

If you’ve ever thought, “there has to be a better way,” this episode is your blueprint.

About Dr. Obehi Okojie

Obehi Okojie is a pediatrician with a masters in Public Health. Originally a Maryland native, she now works in New Ulm Minnesota where she is a certified Parent Coach and practices integrative medicine. Pursued by her passion to heal the body - in addition to Medical School at Ohio University and Residency in Kansas City - she has travelled the world to learn her craft studying in The Redwood forest, India and Germany among other places. As an Osteopathic Physician trained in Osteopathic manipulative medicine, Acupuncture; Hypnosis; Nutrition and Functional Medicine, her aim is to eliminate disease at the source. When she is not working her favorite thing is go hang out with her 2yo and infant son, dance and learn tricks on aerial silks.Follow her on Instagram on @transformative_pediatricianOn Youtube: @Transformativepediatrician

Hit play and hear how one pediatrician transformed a challenge into a solution that changes lives — for patients and doctors alike.

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#BlackDoctors #WomenInMedicine #PediatricInnovation #MedicalLeadership #IntegrativeMedicine #PhysicianLife #DoctorInnovation #PrimaryCare #PhysicianWellness #Doctorpreneurs

Y’all… this episode right here? Whew.Buckle up.Today I’m sitting down with Dr. Natalie Moulton-Levy - a 20-year board-certified dermatologist who looked medical racism dead in the face during COVID… and decided the ONLY way forward was to go back to school and become an attorney.Yes. You heard that right.Doctor. AND freshly barred lawyer.Because if there's one thing Black women are gonna do… it's whatever it takes to protect our people.In this conversation, we get into:- What she witnessed during COVID that shook her to her core- The moment she realized “helping one patient at a time” wasn’t enough- Why she built the Health Justice Initiative (HJI)- The REAL legal barriers that keep Black and low-income patients from receiving equal care- Imposter syndrome, ageism, and what it’s like to go back to school at mid-career- How she balances medicine, law, motherhood, AND community activism- What it truly takes to do purpose-driven, justice-centered work without burning out If you’ve ever wondered:“Is staying in medicine helping… or am I just upholding the system?”Or if you’ve thought about changing careers, expanding your impact, or doing something “unconventional” in your physician journey…THIS is the episode you need.And listen, Dr. Moulton-Levy didn’t go to law school to flex.She went because Black and brown patients are still being denied care, denied coverage, and denied dignity.And somebody had to step up.This is what it looks like to let purpose be louder than fear.About Dr. Moulton-Levy:Dr. Moulton-Levy is a board-certified physician with almost 20 years of experience and a newly-barred attorney. Throughout her practice, Dr. Moulton-Levy has experienced inequities in medicine first hand, and patients seek her out specifically because they have faced discrimination elsewhere. In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, she volunteered at a hospital caring for COVID patients, which shed new light on the realities of medical inequality and medical racism as low-income Black and Brown patients were denied access to ventilators–their lives valued less than others. While her medical practice has allowed her to engage in problems of inequity on an individual-patient basis, she witnessed how medical and legal barriers intertwine to systemically deny care to certain groups of people. In 2021, she reached a point in her career when she decided to go to law school to address these issues on a more systemic scale. Because of the structural dimension of medical inequity, a law degree enables her to take an intersectional approach to addressing the legal aspects of the healthcare system in the United States to better advocate for those whose voices are not being heard. Creating HJI is her way of fighting for the New York she believes in, where everyone’s life holds equal value and everyone receives the physical, mental, and gender-affirming healthcare they deserve. Follow Dr. Moulton-Levy’s work:Instagram: @integrativedermnycWebsite: www.integrativedermnyc.orgI cannot wait for y’all to hear this one.Let it pour into you. Let it challenge you. Let it MOVE you.#BlackDoctors #TheBlkDoctor #MedicalRacism #DoctorToLawyer #PhysicianStories #DoctorPodcast #HealthcareEquity #BlackWomenInMedicine #COVIDStories #CareerPivot #Dermatology #HealthAdvocacy #DoctorCoach #PhysicianCoach

This episode is personal — in the best way.

I’m pulling you behind the scenes and talking about something we don’t discuss enough:
what you actually win when you negotiate well.
And yes, money matters… but the real payoff is so much deeper.

In this episode, I share how negotiation has shaped my actual life this past year — my schedule, my ability to rest, my patient care, my peace, and honestly… my sanity. You’ll hear why I’m calling this season my “sabbatical from busyness,” what it took to get here, and how protecting my time directly translated into one of the most affirming patient moments I’ve had in months.

If you’ve ever wondered:
✨ “Is negotiating even worth it?”
✨ “What does it change besides salary?”
✨ “How do I build a life that lets me breathe?”
— this episode is for you.

Because here’s the truth:
You don’t need confidence to negotiate. You need clarity.
And once you get clear, the wins show up in places you didn’t even know to expect.

Inside the episode, I break down:
• The power of naming your season (hello, sabbatical!)
• What I negotiated that changed how I practice medicine
• Why aligned values at work matter as much as compensation
• How time, space, and boundaries made me a better doctor
• Why serving yourself first is the key to serving others well

If you're tired, burnt out, underpaid, or just feeling off — listen.
This might be the reminder you needed.

👉 Listen now and start imagining what your dream life could look like — without fear.

And if you enjoy the episode, leave a review or share it with another Black doctor who needs the permission to choose themselves today.

In this episode, I’m talking with Dr. Brittany Anderson, and her story is going to light a fire under you — in the best way.

We talk about how she went from feeling burned out and boxed in by the system, to betting on herself and starting a private practice that grew faster than she expected. We dig into identity, confidence, healing, burnout, choosing ease, and what it really looks like to build a softer career as a Black woman in medicine.

If you’ve been questioning your next step or craving more freedom in your career, this episode will speak directly to you. Dr. Brittany is proof that you can pivot, you can thrive, and you don’t have to earn your rest through suffering.

Grab a drink, press play, and let’s get into it.

Ready to take control of your career? Listen all the way through - Dr. Brittany drops gold for anyone who wants to own their practice, their time, and their future.

If you’ve ever thought, “I don’t know if I can do this…”, this episode is your sign: YOU CAN. And you can do it without losing your mind, your joy, or your purpose.

About Dr. Brittney Anderson:

I’m Dr. Brittney Anderson, a board-certified family medicine physician and the founder and CEO of Anderson Family Care — a thriving private practice I launched in Alabama in 2022. I completed undergraduate studies at Duke University and medical school at UAB (Birmingham) I did my family medicine residency training at The University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa).

I know firsthand how overwhelming (and exhilarating) it can be to step away from traditional models and create something of your own. That’s why I’m passionate about helping other physicians reclaim their freedom and joy in medicine by launching successful private practices of their own.

In addition to my clinical and coaching work, I host the podcast, Physicians Hanging a Shingle, and I’m honored to serve as Chair of the Alabama Chapter of the American Academy of Family Physicians and Vice-Speaker for the Medical Association of the State of Alabama. I also serve on numerous boards throughout my community and state, working to amplify the voice of physicians and improve healthcare access in Alabama.

Connect with Dr. Brittney by visiting her website: https://www.andersonfamcare.com/meet-dr-anderson

Or find her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andersonfamilycare_demop?igsh=MXBnNTlvODl0MWN5dQ==

Link to purchase her new planner: https://healthierplanner.com

This week on The Black Doctor Collective Podcast, Dr. Sheneka is talking about ease - and why so many of us don’t trust it.

We’ve been taught that everything worth having has to be hard. That rest has to be earned. That if something feels easy, we must be doing it wrong.
But what if ease is actually a sign that you’ve arrived?

In this episode, Dr. Sheneka unpacks:

• Why medicine conditions us to overwork and overprove

• How patriarchy and supremacy shaped our relationship with struggle

• The guilt that comes when things finally feel “too easy”

• And how to start embracing ease as a reward - not a red flag.

You already did the hard part. Now it’s okay for life to feel lighter.

#TheBlkDoctorCollective #EaseIsExpertise #BlackWomenInMedicine #SoftLifeForDoctors

Welcome back to Season 5 of The Blk Doctor Podcast — your space for real, unfiltered conversations about medicine, money, and mindset.After a 4-month break, I’m back to talk about something many of us try to avoid: burnout that comes back even after you “fix” it.In this episode, I’m sharing:- What led to my most recent burnout (spoiler: it wasn’t just the job)- Why autonomy and control aren’t always the full cure- How becoming a plant mom and rediscovering community helped me heal- The importance of asking for help, building your support team, and releasing perfectionism- My new priorities for rest, joy, and doing less - without guiltIf you’ve ever felt like you “shouldn’t” be tired because you have a great schedule or control over your work… this one’s for you.

Negotiation isn’t just about salary. It’s about building a life and career that actually work for you. In this special masterclass episode, I’m sharing stories, mindset shifts, and real examples that show how negotiation creates more than just better contracts. It creates more peace, more time, and more possibility.

From the fear of asking to the belief that you need to “earn” the right to want more, I talk through why we hesitate to negotiate and what changes when we finally do.

We’ll cover:

• Why negotiation is the simplest and most powerful way to change your work and your life.

• The internal conversations that stop us from asking for what we want, and how to reframe them.

• Real stories from physicians who used negotiation to create roles, raise their salaries, and reclaim their time.

• The strategies you’ll learn in The Any Day Negotiator Group Program to help you confidently ask for what you need.

  
  

You aren’t being difficult or asking for too much. It’s time to get clear on what you want and be bold enough to ask for it.

Join us in The Any Day Negotiator Group Program. Let’s build the career and life that actually support you.

Schedule your call with me to learn more.

Got questions or comments? Send them here.