Episode 11: Dr David McGavin - Part 2

The second part of the interview with Dr David McGavin, GP, pain specialist, anthroposophical practitioner and visionary, delivers in no uncertain terms lighting the touch paper once again.  If you found the first episode of interest, then you are in for a white knuckle ride with this second instalment, as David serves up the main course to part one's starter with so many more complexities of being a jobbing  medical man. David goes deep in this second part, and at times I felt like I was losing the trail, almost observing the interview from above, watching David weave the chain of themes and thoughts together, knitted seamlessly and smoothly. 

I felt extremely lucky and privileged to be in the position of interviewing him to capture these through provoking subjects.  I would encourage listeners to stick with the episode to the end, and the last few moments are legendary, and David's wisdom that transgresses the airways shouldn't be lost in time. 

David floats between so many different subjects, again welded together effortlessly, providing a smooth train of conscious musings, almost like a medical bard. We talk about how to apologise well,  and do it sincerely, as well as dealing with one's own negative narrative to conduct one's vocation in an open and selfless way. We talk about lost friends and colleagues, those who have been lifelong mentors and inspiration figures to him as well as the tragedies in medicine that have affected him deeply, and he is so honest and transparent about how his mental health was affected accordingly, as it would for all of us. David caps all of this off on how to talk to strangers, and most importantly the practice of humility which came late but nevertheless a welcomed-surprise, which he credits to simple self-taught  mind exercises.

Ultimately, it was a privilege to  witnessing and be in some way part of a mans lifetime work , and seemingly at the setting sun of his career, to have the opportunity to be involved in some small way with his reflections was a special thing for me.