Episode 25: Knot to be missed - The RCOG surgical skills podcast | Sharp minds, not just sharp scalpels

In this reflective and energising episode of Knot to be Missed: the RCOG Surgical Skills Podcast, hosts Hannah Pierce and Naomi Harvey are joined by Dr Simon Frazer, paediatrician and founder of Doctors Training, to explore what makes training meaningful, sustainable and human. Simon shares his journey from clinical paediatrics into medical education, including the importance of finding the 'extra thing' that brings joy and longevity to a medical career. The conversation explores how doctors can move beyond tick-box supervision towards real mentoring, why trainers need time and support to train well, and how simple conversations — often over coffee — can transform feedback, confidence and progression. Together, they discuss the pressures facing trainees and trainers, the need to invest in educators, how to handle difficult conversations constructively, and why professional sustainability starts with boundaries, reflection and self-care.