When medicine starts to feel like a factory line—and your smile no longer feels like your own—what then?
I’m joined by integrative pediatric dermatologist, children’s book author, and founder of The Joyful Path, Dr. Meena Julapalli, for a conversation that sings with story, presence, and the reminder that joy is not a reward, but a practice.
Meena shares her journey from academic burnout and 50-patient clinic days to creating Bluebird Dermatology, a direct care practice where connection—not the clock—guides healing. We talk about her moment of awe on the shores of Antarctica, the post-traumatic growth that reshaped her purpose, and why joy, curiosity, and play are not luxuries but essential medicines. Together, we explore mindset coaching for kids, storytelling as a healing tool, and the simple practices that return us to safety, laughter, and wonder.
We also talk about the deeper integration of medicine and meaning: how nutrition, Reiki, hypnotherapy, laughter yoga, and forest walks find their place alongside dermatology, and how these practices help children (and adults) not just survive, but truly thrive.
In this episode, you’ll learn
• Why joy is an inherent radiance—not something you earn after the hard parts are over
• How awe, nature, and presence (even penguins!) can reset your nervous system and restore connection
• A practical framework for educating, empowering, and advocating—so kids and families leave with tools, not just prescriptions
• How storytelling and mindset coaching help children build resilience, curiosity, and self-trust
• Why laughter, play, and micro-moments of safety are signals that unlock deeper healing
• What it means to practice medicine as a “joyologist”—and how curiosity keeps joy alive across a lifetime
• The power of community healing: when “I” becomes “we,” illness becomes wellness
If you’re a parent, clinician, or seeker ready to rediscover what makes your heart sing, this conversation is a guide back to joy—for you and the children you love.
Subscribe for real talk, relational tools, and the spark to reconnect with your joy—new episodes every Tuesday.
A gentle note: I’m a doctor, but I’m not your doctor. This podcast is for education and connection only and isn’t medical advice. Please talk with your own clinician about your specific situation.
More from Dr. Meena Julapalli:
Website: https://www.thejoyfulpath.org
Bluebird Dermatology: https://www.bluebirddermatology.com
Books: Listen to the Song in My Heart and Bluebird, Oh Bluebird, What Makes Your Heart Sing?
Stay connected with me:
Dr. Chrissie Ott (IG): https://www.instagram.com/chrissieottmd
Dr. Chrissie Ott (website): https://www.chrissieottmd.com
Joy Point Solutions (IG): https://www.instagram.com/joypointsolutions
Solving for Joy Podcast (IG): https://www.instagram.com/solvingforjoypodcast
Full transcript and more: https://www.solvingforjoy.com
Physician Coaches:
Physician Coaching Summit: https://www.thephysiciancoachingsummit.com
Next week on Solving for Joy: Dr. Kemia Sarraf—internist, trauma-informed coach, and CEO of Lodestar Coaching. We’ll talk about chronic toxic stress, how to find safety inside your own nervous system, and why connection is not just nice, but literally keeps us human.
Music by Denys Kyshchuk (AudioCoffee): https://www.audiocoffee.net
