Episode 110: Don’t Dance in Danskos
Finding your tribe and embracing change can enrich personal growth and lead to fulfilling life changes. In this “Friends & Family” series opener, Dr. Lara Salyer sits down with her longtime friend Jill Pyrz, mixing humor with raw truths as they look back on the moments that defined their friendship. They reflect on shared challenges in the healthcare industry and personal ventures that tested their resilience and determination.
Jill’s career, spanning diverse roles from the office of a university president to various entrepreneurial endeavors, highlights her passion for people’s stories. Whether involved in a state production called “That’s What She Said” or penning stories as a newspaper journalist for the News-Gazette, Jill’s experiences prove the importance of community and authentic connection at every phase of life.
This episode touches on the challenges and rewards of starting new projects and businesses, with Jill offering advice on recognizing one’s limitations and the crucial role of a supportive team to complement one’s strengths. A humorous anecdote from a night out dancing, where Jill questions Dr. Salyer’s choice of Dansko shoes, reminds us of the importance of having people in our lives who will tell us the hard truths.
Dr. Salyer and Jill explore themes of personal growth, the enduring bond of friendship, and the courage to pursue one’s passions. They encourage listeners to find their tribe, ask for honest feedback, and be willing to take risks in pursuit of a fulfilling and creative life.
About Jill Pyrz, Communication BA from Truman State:
Jill Pyrz is a multi-faceted human and longtime bestie of Lara Salyer. Her experience in healthcare, start-ups, theater production, and journalism makes for an incredibly fascinating conversation. She resides in Urbana, Illinois and writes for the News-Gazette.
In This Episode We're Talking About:
- The challenges and rewards of starting new projects and businesses
- A humorous anecdote from a night out dancing
- The importance of having people in our lives who will tell us the hard truths.
Quotes:
- “I get really passionate about things, and when I learn about something, I go deep. I read every book I can possibly read, and I try to live my life to whatever I’m learning.” (07:58 | Jill Pyrz)
- “For me to do my best work, I have to feel passionate about it.” (15:49 | Jill Pyrz)
- “Now that I yearn for deeper relationships and deeper conversations, it makes it a lot easier to interview someone and get to know them. It provides a structure to the relationship that I’m much more comfortable with. Writing, for me, is actually the same job as being the production person for ‘That’s What She Said,’ because you’re just getting to know people. Instead of providing a stage for their story, I’m just writing it on paper. So it’s the same exact thing. And what it really comes down to is that I’m really fascinated and just in love with people’s stories.” (18:57 | Jill Pyrz)
- “It’s not just finding a match in terms of having a good business partner, because you don’t necessarily have to have a partner, but you have to have a team of people and you have to be able to ask for help and not be afraid to show that you have no idea what you’re doing in a way.” (23:51 | Jill Pyrz)
- “Have people in your life that will tell you things that are hard to hear.” (27:10 | Jill Pyrz)
Links for this Episode:
Connect with Jill Pyrz:
News Gazette: https://www.news-
Archetype Quiz: https://3nb09zv7070.typeform.
Connect with Dr. Lara Salyer:
Website: https://drlarasalyer.com
Catalyst Kit: https://rightbrainrescue.com/p/catalyst_kit
Instagram: @drlarasalyer
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drlarasalyer
Linked-In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drlarasalyer/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DrLaraSalyer
TikTok: @Creativity.Doctor
Thank You For Listening!
If you enjoyed this podcast, please leave a review! Your positive review helps other physicians find this podcast and increase the visibility.
About The Catalyst Host, Dr. Lara Salyer:
I worked as a family physician for 15 years until burnout changed the trajectory of my career. I realized I wanted to start a holistic functional medicine practice in my rural hometown and made it happen. In addition to practicing functional medicine, I now mentor practitioners who are looking to change their paths in healthcare by using what I refer to as the “Catalyst Roadmap”. I share each step of this framework with listeners so that they may apply it to their careers, relationships, personal goals, and projects.
Episode Search
Mark your calendars! The Catalyst launches episodes weekly. You can expect to find a new, insightful conversation with a catalyst every Friday!