Join us as we chat with Dr. Michael Ungar, a world-renowned resilience expert and Canada Research Chair at Dalhousie University. Named the #1 social work scholar globally in 2022, Dr. Ungar shares insights on the science of resilience, the role of community, and how to overcome adversity—even when life feels uncertain or uncomfortable.

In this episode, you’ll discover: 🌱 Resilience isn’t a fixed trait—it’s something we can develop. 💡 How rejection, setbacks, and “failures” can become opportunities for growth and thriving. 🏘️ Why resilience is not just about personal grit—it’s also about the communities and systems that surround us. 🌍 How cultural differences shape the ways we build and define resilience, from academic achievement to family and social connections. 🎭 Why success isn’t just a single job or career—you’re multidimensional, and a satisfying life may include diverse passions and identities (like the entrepreneur who also performs with a theater troupe!). ⚠️ The difference between resilience and toxic positivity—and how to know when it’s better to persevere, change direction, or let go.

📚 If you’re a premed, former premed, or anyone grappling with rejection and wondering “Am I in the right space to succeed?”—this episode is for you.

🎙️ Bonus: Dr. Ungar shares stories, including one about a teacher who saw his potential, and insights from his latest books on resilience.

🔗 Connect with Dr. Michael Ungar

📍 Canada Research Chair in Child, Family and Community Resilience 📍 Director, Resilience Research Centre, Dalhousie University 📬 Email: Michael.Ungar@dal.ca 📞 Phone: (902) 494-3445 (Office) | (902) 229-0434 (Cell) 🌐 Website: www.michaelungar.com 🌐 Resilience Research Centre: www.resilienceresearch.org 📘 Follow on X: @MichaelUngarPhD

📚 Explore Dr. Ungar’s Books & Resources

• 📖 The Limits of Resilience: Knowing When to Persevere, When to Change, and When to Quit
• 📖 Change Your World: The Science of Resilience and the True Path to Success
• 📖 Multisystemic Resilience: Adaptation and Transformation in Contexts of Change (Open Access)
• 📖 Working with Children and Youth with Complex Needs: 20 Skills to Build Resilience (2nd Ed.)
• 📘 What Works: A Manual for Designing Programs that Build Resilience (Free Download)
• 📝 Nurturing Resilience Blog, hosted by Psychology Today

What happens when you do everything right—better grades, stronger application—and still get rejected?

That’s exactly what happened to Dave the second time he applied to Occupational Therapy school. No interview. No offer. Just… “Well, shit.”

But that wasn’t the end of the story.

In this episode, Dave shares how he turned the sting of rejection into fuel for personal growth—and eventually, into a meaningful career as an Occupational Therapist. We dive into how our responses and reactions to our thoughts shape our reality, how the language we use can either reinforce our inner critic or rewire our minds for resilience, and how rejection or something we perceive to be a "setback" can be a redirection toward something even better.

You’ll learn:

• How to use the energy of potential rejection to show up for yourself
• Why redefining “failure” can completely shift your mindset to result in a more fulfilling life
• Tools like the STOP technique to gain control over your responses and become more resilient
• The power of the narrative we create in our heads and how responses and reactions to our thoughts can shape the trajectory of our lives

This episode is packed with insight, inspiration, and gentle mindset shifts to help you turn down the volume on the inner critic—and turn up your self-compassion and resilience so you can make the best of whatever life throws your way.

Dave has a special offer exclusively for the listeners of this podcast, stick around till the end of the episode to find out what it is!

🎙️ Connect with Dave 🌐 Website: daverobens.com 📸 Instagram: @daverobens 📘 Facebook: Dave Robens 🔗 LinkedIn: Dave Robens 📧 Email: dave@daverobens.com

📢 Connect with Us 📸 Instagram: @the_rejectedpremed_podcast 💼 LinkedIn: Valeria Rusnak 📩 Email: valerusu55@gmail.com ☕ Support the show: buymeacoffee.com/valeriarusnak

If you need someone to talk to about rejection or feeling lost, you can book a private meeting with me at calendly.com/valerusu55. Everything we discuss will stay between us.

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational, educational, and entertainment purposes only. It is not intended to provide legal, medical, or professional advice.

Feeling rejected or doubting your worth? In this powerful episode, we chat with Arianna Ramsay, Miss Teenage Canada 2024, as she opens up about overcoming self-doubt and embracing resilience.

From her early steps into the pageant world to becoming an advocate for body positivity and anti-bullying, Arianna shares how rejection became her stepping stone toward success and purpose. As a trailblazer and founder of H.E.R.O Canada, she encourages us to redefine success, embrace our unique beauty, and build a strong support system.

🌟 Key Takeaways: ✔️ Overcoming rejection and self-doubt ✔️ Redefining success on your own terms ✔️ The power of surrounding yourself with a strong support system ✔️ Why stepping away from things that don’t serve you is essential for growth ✔️ Turning rejection into redirection and embracing "your own kind of beautiful"

💬 Arianna's Advice: "You are inherently worthy. Don’t let others define your success. Focus on your journey, not just the outcome."

🎧 Listen now for an empowering conversation that proves how rejection can lead to unexpected opportunities and purpose.

🔗 Follow Arianna & Her Initiatives: 📸 Instagram: @ari.m37 Facebook: Arianna Ramsay H.E.R.O Canada Instagram: @hero.canada Miss Teenage Canada Instagram: @teenagecanada

📢 Connect with Us 📸 Instagram: @the_rejectedpremed_podcast 💼 LinkedIn: Valeria Rusnak 📩 Email: valerusu55@gmail.com ☕ Donate: buymeacoffee.com/valeriarusnak

If you need someone to talk to about rejection or feeling lost, you can book a private meeting with me at calendly.com/valerusu55. Everything we discuss will stay between us.

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational, educational, and entertainment purposes only. It is not intended to provide legal, medical, or professional advice.