In this episode of Leave it Better with Brandon Trammell, Donnie Hill shares his personal journey with mental health and depression, as well as his background as an athlete and aspiring orthopedic surgeon. He talks about the height of his depression, which occurred when he was 19 or 20 years old, and his severe panic attack that landed him in the hospital. After checking himself in for a week, he says that he "got his humanity back." This experience allowed him to let go of his former life plan of becoming an orthopedic surgeon and working with elite athletes. Instead, he found a new path in healthcare, getting certified in cancer coaching, and working with an integrative medicine team. He realized that many of the patients and caregivers he worked with had their energy drained and were not able to monitor, manage, and rejuvenate their energy. This led him to develop a nervous system-led restorative leadership approach, which focuses on helping people replenish their energy and bring their best to personal and professional situations.

Donnie shares how he came to this work and what motivates him. He talks about his experience with cancer coaching and how he was able to apply his skills and have tough conversations with his mom when she was his first patient. He realized that he could have these conversations with anyone and that many people, not just those dealing with cancer, needed help managing their energy.

This episode is ideal for anyone interested in the intersections of mental health, energy management, and leadership. The guest's personal story and his approach to restorative leadership will inspire listeners to take care of their own energy and to lead with empathy and humanity.