What happens when two orthopedic surgeons hit record with no agenda? You get an episode that bounces from golf swings to conspiracy theories, tech upgrades, work frustrations, and everything in between.

This week, we take a break from the operating room to talk about life outside of medicine. From chasing a better golf game and debating the latest gadgets to discussing travel plans, summer schedules, and the constant challenge of finding balance, it’s a conversation that’s equal parts entertaining and relatable.

Along the way, we dive into some surprisingly passionate discussions about food, nutrition, social media, and whether some of what we’re told about the food industry actually holds up. As always, expect plenty of laughs, a few hot takes, and the kind of off-the-cuff conversations that happen when the microphones stay on.

Whether you’re here for the orthopedic insights, the golf obsession, or just to hear where the conversation goes next, this episode has a little something for everyone.

• Why stepping away from work can be just as productive as grinding through it
• Golf season, improving your game, and the never-ending pursuit of consistency
• New tech, gadgets, and the upgrades worth making
• Travel plans and embracing a more flexible lifestyle
• Food preferences, nutrition, and some controversial opinions on the food industry
• Summer schedules and finding balance outside of medicine
• Spending habits, hobbies, and knowing when experiences are worth the investment
• Lessons learned from social media and content creation
• Why the podcast is taking a short break and what’s coming next

Enjoy the episode, and don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who appreciates great conversations, questionable golf swings, and life beyond the OR.

AI is writing, creating, diagnosing, educating, and showing up in places most of us never expected. The question isn’t whether it’s changing healthcare.

The question is what happens when doctors and algorithms don’t agree.

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Ali Giasi to talk about where AI is headed, what’s exciting, what’s terrifying, and why the future of medicine may look very different than most people realize.

Some of it sounds incredible.

Some of it sounds like a Black Mirror episode.

• Will AI replace physicians or simply make them more effective?
• How avatars and virtual assistants could transform patient education
• The growing role of AI in surgical planning and clinical decision-making
• Why low health literacy may be one of healthcare’s biggest AI opportunities
• The promise and pitfalls of robotic surgery
• Who’s responsible when AI gets it wrong?
• The risks of overreliance on technology and losing critical thinking skills
• AI manipulation, cybersecurity threats, and unintended consequences
• What autonomous vehicles can teach us about trusting machines
• Why physicians should start learning AI now instead of waiting

The conversation covers a range of topics including peer reviews, insurance companies, and the challenges faced by healthcare professionals. It also delves into the impact of insurance denials on patient care and the ethical dilemmas faced by doctors. The discussion highlights the frustration and disillusionment experienced by healthcare professionals due to the complexities of the healthcare system. The conversation covers various aspects of the healthcare system, insurance, medical care, and the challenges faced by healthcare professionals. It also delves into personal experiences and humorous anecdotes related to healthcare and life in general.

This week we're talking ideal Masters victory dinners, Cuff Daddy leans hard into his latino side, and is this happening...are we pitching the Podstars Netflix sitcom???

This week we're talking to the Surgeon Coach, Mel Thacker, about the impact of overworking, setting well-defined goals, understanding the essential self vs. social self, finding happiness in the second curve of life, the importance of creativity in the second half of life, the pressure of external validation and imposter syndrome, navigating midlife crises, the role of vulnerability and relational competence in medicine, and the impact of fail safes and accountability in medicine.

Oh yeah it's a busy one - and a fun one. Come get some insights!

What does it mean to actually level up in medicine?

In this episode of I’m a Podstar, Not a Doctor, The American Pharaoh and Cuff Daddy sit down with Dr. Nick Pappas to break down #OrthoMaxxing — the art of becoming a better surgeon, building a real presence, and navigating the chaos of modern medicine without losing yourself in the process.

Nick shares how he built a following as a hand surgeon without sacrificing credibility, why most doctors are doing social media wrong, and how to balance education, entertainment, and authenticity in a world driven by algorithms.

We're talking to our old friend Mason - PA announcer for the Detroit Pistons this week! He's celebrating 25 years with the team and we're talking sports, AI, career paths, weird surgery shit, and just having a blast doing it all. The energy and laughs are infectous whenever he's around!

We're talking creative surgeries, our beautiful relationships with our dogs, and American Pharaoh goes deep down the rabbit hole in his own conspiracies this week...