Behind The White Coat - Real Talk For Physician Spouses
Being married to medicine comes with challenges—long hours, relocations, and feeling like you’re navigating it all alone. That’s where this podcast comes in.
I’m sharing the things I wish someone had told me—how to survive medical training, juggle parenting, manage finances, and actually build a life you love. We’ll cover everything from making friends in a new city to understanding insurance, finding childcare, and staying connected as a couple.
Some episodes will be just me, sharing real stories and lessons learned. Other times, I’ll bring on expert guests—financial advisors, physician spouses, and those who’ve been through it all—to offer practical advice.
Most of all, this is a place for community. A space where you can feel understood, supported, and even laugh along the way. Because being married to medicine doesn’t mean doing it alone.
So grab a coffee (or wine!), and let’s talk about the real side of life Behind The White Coat.
Behind The White Coat - Real Talk For Physician Spouses
#27| What I Wish I Knew Before Moving To Nashville For Residency
We share what we wish we knew before moving to Nashville for residency, from commute traps and childcare waitlists to building a real support system. Practical steps help you choose the right neighborhood, find your people, and design a life that feels like home.
• researching neighborhoods before house hunting
• testing commute times during real shift hours
• preschools, daycare, and nanny waitlists
• virtual tours and parent networks for schools
• using physician-focused realtors as connectors
• building community with spouse groups and classes
• making a Nashville bucket list for joy
• day trips, parks, and food scene ideas
• four-part recap to reduce stress
• sharing resources with new arrivals
If this episode resonated with you, share it with another spouse or partner who's moving here.
If you enjoyed this episode, I would love for you to subscribe, leave a review, or share it with another physician spouse.
DM me on Instagram or email me at amanda@abtnhomes.com with your thoughts, topic ideas, questions, or even guest suggestions.
Hey everyone, and welcome to today's episode. So today I'm just gonna hop right in. It is a topic that is near and dear to my heart, and it's basically what I wish I knew before moving to Nashville for residency. So if you're listening to this, you might be considering Nashville as your next home. But I also want to be realistic with you that I know behind the excitement, there's also stress and unknowns and a whole lot of Google searches if you're anything like me. So let's talk about the things that no one tells you about moving here, especially for residency. So my story when my husband matched, it was 19, almost 20 years ago. I thought I was prepared, but also you don't know what you don't know. I didn't know what to expect. And I remember we had moved here and we didn't have any family. I had one near and dear friend who was a lifeline for me. They did eventually end up moving away, but I had a six-month-old. And I remember kind of looking around, thinking, now what? I knew that my husband was gonna be starting residency right away. I was excited for our next adventure, but I had a lot of questions like, okay, what do I do if there's an emergency? Who's gonna be our next dentist? Where's the closest grocery store? How do I get a new Tennessee license? And so it was a lot of things, mixed emotions and a long to-do list. These would be the big things I wish someone had said to me, pulled me aside, and was like, you need to do this first, write this down, and that is what I'm gonna share with you. And obviously, it doesn't matter if you're moving to Nashville or a different city, it could still totally apply to you. So, first thing, housing in neighborhoods. For me, this was hands down the biggest mistake I did. And it's also a mistake I see a lot of families make when moving to the area. So you're excited, you hop online right away, and you start scrolling Zillow. And I have said Zillow's got a lot of great qualities. I've used it before. And so, so I get it, but it's not the most accurate. Sometimes it'll tell you a house is for sale when it really hasn't been on the market for two years. And so I see a lot of times families get their heart set on a house, but they know nothing about the neighborhood, nothing about the city, nothing about what it has to offer, nothing about the proximity to the hospital and what that would look like for commute times. And so the big thing, got to do your research because I'm sure this is applicable to wherever you may be moving to or located, but Nashville itself is not a one size fits all. Every neighborhood is kind of like its own pocket, a little bit different vibe. You've got one neighborhood that has some cute coffee shops and walkable, another that's a little bit more suburban feel, but has amazing bougie shopping nearby, another neighborhood that's more artsy and eclectic. But the key to it is you need to know what your commute time is going to be first to the hospital. And I say that too because Nashville, it can be a little bit sneaky. You look at Google Maps and it tells you it's 15 minutes, but then you look at it at a different time of day, and that 15 minutes is turned into 45 minutes. I think you need to do a little bit of research on that kind of stuff first. Plug your future address, plug an area into Google Maps, exact times that you or your partner would be commuting during morning rush hour, is it late night shift? You know, not always as close as you think. So that would be number one. The second, if you have kids or you're pregnant, or you think that's something that's gonna be in the near future, we need to talk about schools and childcare. What I didn't know is that the schools can fill up quick, especially some of these preschools, some of these camps, finding a nanny. Like there are wait lists, and it was really eye-opening for me. Some of them are like 18-month plus wait lists. You really, really need to start early. If you can be in person, tour the schools, see what that looks like. But now I think a lot of schools will have virtual tours and some videos online. Even if it's not a hundred percent for sure, I would go ahead and put your kiddo on that wait list before you even arrive. And I know it feels a little bit weird to plan that far ahead, but especially like residency, like it just doesn't allow a lot of margin for error. When your spouse is gone all the time, having your child care secured, knowing what's going to happen for school, it's a sanity saver. And one thing that I will mention is this is why I preach about being with a realtor that specifically works in the physician community, because many times they know a physician family that is moving out of the area that already has an amazing nanny, and that nanny needs to fill a job position. So if this physician family is leaving and you guys are coming in, it may be just a very easy transition for all parties. So something to keep in mind with uh your real estate agent that they may be able to be a great connector and a great resource for that. So that leads me into the next topic, which is your community and your connection. And this one is really big for me. I've said it time and time again, even though I had this sweet friend, she wasn't here long enough, but I adore her and we are still very close friends to this day. She wasn't here very long. And I mean, it's lonely when your spouse or your partner is gone all the time, you're the primary parent, you are working, you are exhausted, they're missing holidays and dinners and birthdays. That community is huge. And residency is demanding. Your spouse or partner is basically living at the hospital, and you're left. You're left to build this life in a new city. You just need your own support system. And for those first few months, it can be isolating and you may love your city, but you still don't have a lot of connections and a lot of support. And so, one thing that I learned is community doesn't just happen. You have to make it happen. You have to be intentional. You need to say yes to the coffee invite. Join the play date. Even if you don't know anyone yet, sign up for workout classes, a church group, a book club, whatever speaks to you, you need to do it and do it quickly. Because the truth is those are going to be the people that become your lifeline. The ones you call when your sink is leaking, your spouse is on a 24-hour shift, the ones that you spend holidays with. And if you're moving here, know that we have a wonderful, wonderful physician spouse group full of people who get it. So we are happy, happy to connect you, happy to be your support. All right. So the next one, I want to lighten things up and talk about some fun stuff. So, you know, residency is stressful, but make your city enjoyable and fun. And I wished I had embraced this sooner. So I'm gonna talk specifically about Nashville, but there's live music, amazing restaurants. I mean, if you are into the food scene or a big foodie, Nashville has some great ones and it's hard to even keep up. But parks and greenways and dog parks and festivals and family events, and I feel like there's truly something for everyone where it could be free or it could cost you a fortune. We've got a lot of waterfalls and hikes, and it's just it's a perfect launch pad also for like day trips. If you just need to get away, we've got places that are amazing that aren't that far, just a few hours away. Chattanooga, Atlanta, the Smoky Mountains. So kind of dive deep into the city you're in and figure out how to incorporate some of that fun into your lifestyle. I encourage those that are moving to Nashville to make a Nashville bucket list when you arrive. And even if you only check one thing off a month, you'll be building memories that are outside of the hospital grind. And those little moments are what make a city feel like home. Once you get to actually explore, learn about your city, and then you can share it with others. If you've got people that come to visit you, if you've got new physician spouses moving to the area, you can be that person for them. So if I could go back and give myself some advice before moving to Nashville for residency, here is what I would say. One, research your neighborhoods and areas before you fall in love with the house. You want to really know what's going to fit your needs, your budget, your lifestyle, your commute time. The next, get ahead of the schools and the child care. Do a virtual tour. See if you can connect on Facebook or if there's other parents that you can maybe talk to, ask specific questions about. The third would be intentional about finding your people. You have to put yourself out there and get comfortable with being uncomfortable. The fourth, don't forget to actually enjoy your city. There is more than just a stop in the middle of your training journey. Make this your home. Immerse yourself in your city. So just to recap, I know moving for residency isn't easy. It is stressful. It is overwhelming. And many, many times it feels very lonely. But it can also be a season of growth, adventure, and building a community in ways that you had never expected. So, as always, I appreciate you being here. And if this episode resonated with you, share it with another spouse or partner who's moving here. Be that lifeline for them. And don't forget to subscribe so you don't miss the next episode. Thanks for joining. And until next time, that's a wrap on this episode of Behind the White Coat. I hope today's conversation left you feeling more understood and supported. And if you enjoyed this episode, I would love for you to subscribe, leave a review, or share it with another physician spouse. Your support helps more of us to connect. Keep in mind this podcast is for you. So let's keep this conversation going. DM me on Instagram at Amanda Barron Realtor with your thoughts, topic ideas, questions, or even guest suggestions. I would really love to hear from you. Thanks for spending part of your day with me, and remember, you are never in this alone. See you next time.