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Through in depth conversations with a wide range of guests, Solving for Joy explores the idea that we are always trying to solve life's equation for maximal joy. We'll discover what constants are actually variables we can change and have a lot of laughs along the way. Dr. Chrissie Ott brings a coaching lens, experience in healthcare, entrepreneurship and creativity to the table. We hope this podcast is a tool for many to reclaim delight in their own personal and professional lives!
[00:00] May No Suffering Go Untransformed
Chrissie Ott, MD:
May no suffering go untransformed. Suffering will occur—I want to transform whatever I go through so that it can be of service to others. That helps me feel like I’ve been emptied out of all the useful stuff before I die.
Sarah Seidelmann:
I’ve noticed this in terrible moments of grief. Someone will start to laugh, then feel guilty. Or they’ll be sad but also have fun and feel confused about it—like, “How can I feel joy when this just happened?” It’s okay. Grab that moment, because you’ll have plenty of crying-in-the-bathtub moments ahead. Let it rip now.
[00:37] Welcome to Solving for Joy
Chrissie Ott, MD:
You’re listening to Solving for Joy. I’m your host, Dr. Chrissie Ott, a multi-boarded integrative physician and professional certified life and career coach.
This podcast is about joy—what it means, how we find it, and the creative ways people are solving for it in their own lives. I’m so glad you’re here.
[01:00] Meet Dr. Sarah Bamford-Seidelmann
Chrissie:
Today we’re playing at the intersection of science, soul, and showing up for your actual life.
Our guest is Dr. Sarah Bamford-Seidelmann—a fourth-generation physician who spent two decades as a self-described “disease hunter,” a pathologist, before becoming deeply curious about what creates health.
That curiosity led to six bestselling books, a playful app called What the Walrus Knows that’s reached over 65 countries, and a body of shamanic work inviting us to learn from the wild world—including guidance from her spirit ally, Alice the Elephant.
Sarah helps helpers and everyday humans connect to spirit, make brave creative choices, and set boundaries that keep our gifts sustainable. Her newest work is a fully illustrated Workbook on Boundaries.
Sarah, welcome.
Sarah:
Thanks so much for having me. I’m so glad to be here.
[02:25] Weird, Wild, and Wonderfully Unique
Chrissie:
It’s not every day that someone gets to share a conversation with a physician who’s also a shamanic artist and author.
Sarah:
Yeah, sometimes I forget how weird I am! Unique paths—we all have them. I love the idea of boundaries that keep creativity sustainable.
[02:45] “How Good Are You Willing to Let It Get?”
Chrissie:
Let’s give some love to one of your books—How Good Are You Willing to Let It Get? It’s a daily centering devotional of sorts, each page beginning with “Dear God…” or however the reader identifies spirit.
It includes wisdom from Alice the Elephant, which feels like channeled guidance. How did that come about?
Sarah:
It started as a 100-Day Project—a creative practice where you do something small every day. For me, it was 100 days of journeying with the drum to visit Alice and ask for a message to share.
When I missed a day, people actually emailed asking, “Where’s Alice’s message?” That’s when I knew it had touched people. Later, I added reflections from my own life to each teaching.
Chrissie:
I love that blend—your human wisdom layered with the sacred. It’s not either/or. It’s both. That’s part of our creative birthright.
[05:24] Laughing in the Face of Grief
Sarah:
Many of Alice’s messages are funny. I wanted to add humility and play because spiritual work can feel pious. One of my teachers said, “We didn’t come here to be saints—ain’t no one got time for that.”
Chrissie:
Right? We didn’t come here to be special. Clear the ego and do it again.
Let’s read one—this was my birthday entry: Say Cheese.
(Chrissie reads Alice’s message about smiling despite the world’s mess and being dogged in our cheerfulness.)
Sarah:
Even when the world’s falling apart—yes! It’s about reclaiming presence. I grew up around depression, and sometimes I’d feel guilty for feeling good. Alice taught me not to hide joy. You don’t have to put whoopee cushions under everyone’s chairs, but don’t dim your light either.
[08:57] Surfing the Paradox
Chrissie:
Exactly. Surf the paradox.
I’d love for you to share what you mean by shamanic work—what is shamanism to you?
[09:50] What Is Shamanism?
Sarah:
Shamanism exists across cultures. It’s the practice of altering consciousness—usually through sound like drumming or rattles—to access the spirit world where compassionate spirits dwell. We bring back wisdom or healing for ourselves and our communities.
Everyone can do this if they’re called. It’s simply connecting to loving guidance.
That’s how I met Alice, my elephant spirit ally. She helped me let go of medicine—gave me courage and permission to follow a new path.
Chrissie:
Beautiful. And like coaching, it’s about apprenticing, learning, and humbly serving. It’s not about titles—it’s about transformation.
[15:35] Owning the Work Without Appropriation
Sarah:
At first I hesitated—wondering if this work belonged to me. But over time, through various initiations, I’ve come to see that spiritual callings are mysterious.
Chrissie:
Yes, and as white women, we must acknowledge and avoid cultural co-opting while still honoring our own deeply felt truths.
Sarah:
Exactly. It’s been a profound journey of growth.
[17:07] From Pathologist to Healer
Chrissie:
How did you move from pathology to this healing, creative work?
Sarah:
I was feeling disconnected in my medical work. I hired a coach and eventually took a sabbatical—downsized, saved, and made space to explore. During that time, I completed coach training and stumbled upon a book suggesting that wild animals have messages for us. That idea cracked me open.
Soon I was seeing animals everywhere, keeping journals, and realizing these encounters carried meaning. I started a call-in podcast where people shared stories of animal signs. Their stories validated what I was experiencing—it wasn’t just me. It was universal.
[23:00] Messages from the Wild
Sarah:
One day I asked for guidance about writing a book. On my walk, I saw ants crossing a sidewalk—no hawk or fox, just ants. But their message was clear: carry one grain at a time and work together. That became my writing mantra.
Another woman found a feather—of her late loved one’s spirit animal—wedged in her door handle. It felt like a miracle.
Chrissie:
That gives me chills.
[27:12] Make a Feasting Table of Your Wounds
Sarah:
In the forest, I once saw squirrels feasting on a stump of a fallen tree. It hit me—make a feasting table of your wounds. Nature is always transforming loss into nourishment.
Chrissie:
That connects perfectly to my mantra—may no suffering go untransformed. Let suffering become of service. It’s generosity made visible.
Sarah:
Exactly. Nature models that every day. Trees fall, animals limp, yet life keeps renewing. They don’t complain—they transform.
[31:03] The Meaning of the White Squirrel
Chrissie:
Speaking of transformation—I once saw a white squirrel in Minnesota and later realized there was a white squirrel charm on my scarf. What’s the meaning of that?
Sarah:
(Laughs) People always ask! But the beauty is in making your own meaning. What’s been weighing on your heart lately? How might the white squirrel speak to that? That’s where the magic lies—personal reflection, not prescription.
[35:09] Boundaries, Burnout & “That Doesn’t Work for Me”
Chrissie:
Let’s talk about your Boundaries Workbook. Physicians often struggle with this, taught to self-sacrifice for ethics’ sake. What inspired the book?
Sarah:
I realized I was violating my own boundaries. So I made it a 100-Day Project—read about boundaries daily, summarized what I learned, and illustrated it. It changed everything.
Now I can easily say, “That doesn’t work for me.” Boundaries protect our time and energy so we can keep giving sustainably.
Chrissie:
Yes! Boundaries are calming when done well. They’re just fences—not angry, just clear.
Sarah:
Exactly. Policies help, too. Like, “I don’t work Thursdays,” or “Here’s how to book my time.” It depersonalizes it and keeps your energy intact.
Chrissie:
I love that—“I have a policy.” It’s neutral and powerful.
[45:42] The Joy of Expression
Chrissie:
As we wrap up, what do you want to leave listeners with?
Sarah:
What I learned leaving medicine is that the missing piece in most wellness plans is self-expression. Singing, dancing, painting, writing—it’s built into our humanity.
There’s a quote from Gabrielle Roth:
“When did you stop dancing? When did you stop singing? When did you stop being enchanted by your own silence? When did you stop telling stories?”
That’s the moment when things start to unravel.
Chrissie:
Yes. I wrote my deepest poetry in med school and during my divorce. Creativity is life-giving.
Sarah:
Exactly. Find a way to express yourself—it will bring joy and life back to your life.
[48:16] Closing Reflections
Chrissie:
Thank you, Sarah, for this whimsical, wise conversation. You can find her work at followyourfeelgood.com
, where you’ll also find a guided meditation to discover your own spirit beastie.
Next week on Solving for Joy: Coach Meg—Margaret Moore—joins us to explore The Science of Leadership, neuroscience, and the nine parts of the mind.
And a reminder: the Physician Coaching Summit happens November 6-8 at Civana Wellness Resort & Spa in Carefree, Arizona, CME-accredited for physicians ready to restore their energy and joy.
As always: I’m a doctor, but not your doctor. Nothing here is medical advice.
Special thanks to producer Kelsey Vaughn and to my wife, Sweet Su.
May we say yes to strange invitations, honor our creative instincts, and trust that joy finds us when we’re brave enough to follow the breadcrumbs.