EP 63 | Living Fully and Becoming Whole with Dr. Jennifer Clark
Written by Tracy Spears on September 23, 2025
My guest for this episode of Shift Out Loud has spent much of her career exploring how we can make one of the most profound shifts imaginable: choosing to live a life for the things that matter most, without waiting for a crisis to occur. I’m joined once again by Dr. Jennifer K. Clark, whose book Suffer. is a fascinating reflection of her experiences in Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Dr. Clark challenges society’s definition of health and has shaped a new standard of innovative, community-based end-of-life care.
This episode is a powerful invitation to show up and truly see yourself. Listen in as we discuss the power of transpersonal experiences and the gift of mortality salience, and Dr. Clark shares how to honor the mind-body connection, find peace during times of stress, and recognize the modern markers of adulthood.
Ready to play bigger? Listen now to discover:
- How to reintegrate tough memories and become whole through shard work
- Why we shouldn’t stop assessing developmental milestones after childhood
- How to get out of the anxiety spin cycle when meditation feels impossible
Guest bio: Dr. Jennifer Clark is the author of Suffer., a reflection of her nearly 25-year practice as an allopathic physician trained in Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, and Hospice and Palliative Medicine. From the bedside to the boardroom and beyond, she has served to heal, educate, and innovate toward the relief of suffering and promotion of well-being. She volunteers as a medical liaison at Clarehouse and serves as a board member for the Omega Home Network.
Timestamps:
01:55 Intro
03:37 Meet Dr. Jennifer Clark
06:14 Holding space
10:20 “Suffer well”
13:53 Developmental milestones & shame
15:59 Accepting the invitation
19:26 Taking a pause
23:00 Anxiety & dissociation
28:01 Memory, shard work, and life review
36:33 Self-identity & death experience
40:35 Mortality salience & grief
44:20 Internal voice & sense of self
51:23 Transpersonal experiences
59:12 New website
Links:
Dr. Jennifer Clark
Suffering, Well-Being, and the Redefinition of Health | TEDxUTulsa
