From San Francisco to LA, with a Toddler and a Moving Truck — A Physician Spouse's System for Sane Relocations — Ep18

Lisa Alemi is a physician spouse, mother of three, and the creator of Move Mama Move — a relocation planning system born out of one too many moves done the hard way. Married to a general surgeon she met in San Francisco, Lisa has lived through the full physician-family relocation arc: a research-year honeymoon period, the brutal pivot back into clinical training, fellowship in Seattle, four years in Kansas City, and a cross-country move to Los Angeles with a six-month-old in tow. That last move, executed on no sleep and full mom brain, was the one that broke her — and built the planner. Now based in LA, Lisa walks host Zoe Taylor through the mechanics most physician families never get briefed on: how to vet a moving company with the right 30-plus questions, why a binding estimate matters more than people realize, what to put in the "do not move" box, how to color-code a household so movers don't need to ask where anything goes, and why mail forwarding will quietly fail you on the documents that matter most. They cover the nervous, expensive, emotionally taxing parts of relocation — and the simple systems that take the guesswork out. They cover: Why the research years of residency can be a false sense of security — and what changes the moment a clinical rotation starts The first traumatic move (a 26-foot truck, San Francisco, 5 PM rush hour, no plan) that became the catalyst for every checklist after Why long-distance moves often involve two different companies — and what that means for accountability Binding estimates, hourly traps, long-carry fees, stairs, parking permits, and the fine print physician families miss The "do not move" box: passports, jewelry, electronics, and what should never touch a moving truck Why air tags in a couple of boxes are now a non-negotiable for cross-country moves The 60-cents-per-pound reimbursement rule, and why renter's or homeowner's insurance during a move is worth keeping A color-coded labeling system that lets movers place every box and piece of furniture without a single "where does this go?" Why mail forwarding fails for the documents that matter — and which institutions to call directly How a planned move protects the energy of the home you're moving into What Makes This Episode Different A physician spouse who has moved through every training stage — residency, fellowship, first attending, and final relocation — and turned the lessons into a working system Practical, granular logistics most relocation conversations skip: questions to ask movers, contract red flags, two-truck transfers, and the realities of long-distance moving company subcontracting A hosting tip from real life: schedule a birthday party two weeks after move-in and watch every box get unpacked A frank look at how a chaotic move imprints on a home — and why a calm, planned arrival changes the energy of the space you're walking into A sister-podcast collaboration with The Medcommon and Moving Medicine Partners for matching-season residents who need help relocating, finding housing, and rebuilding community About the Guest Lisa Alemi is the founder of Move Mama Move and a physician spouse who has relocated across San Francisco, Seattle, Kansas City, and Los Angeles over the course of her husband’s general surgery training and attending career. Now done with training and settled in LA, Lisa knows firsthand how long it can take to find community after each move — and how much of that depends on creating a home that actually works for the family living in it. After cross-country moving with a six-month-old and finding nothing online comprehensive enough to actually use, she built the planner she had been searching for. Today, Move Mama Move offers three versions of the planner — a Relocation Planner, a Home Search & Relocation Planner, and a premium gift edition — all designed to take the guesswork, anxiety, and emotional cost out of physician-family moves so families can show up to their next home feeling grounded instead of frayed. Connect with Lisa 🛠 Brand: Move Mama Move 🛒 Shop: shop.movemamamove.com 📸 Instagram: @move_mama_move ✉️ Email: [email protected] About the Show The Moving Medicine Podcast is a space for physicians and physician spouses navigating relocation — not as a transaction, but as a life transition. Hosted by Zoe Taylor, founder of Moving Medicine Partners, the show centers the human side of medical moves and offers clarity, grounding, and shared understanding for families at every stage of the journey. Connect & Follow 🌐 Website: movingmedicinepartners.com 📸 Instagram: @movingmedicinepartners 📘 Facebook: Moving Medicine Partners 💼 LinkedIn: Moving Medicine Partners ✉️ Email: [email protected] About the Host Zoe Taylor is the founder of Moving Medicine Partners and a real estate agent based in St. Louis who has sat at that kitchen table herself. Through her work supporting medical families across the country, Zoe has seen the unseen labor of relocation up close — and built this podcast to make sure no one has to navigate it feeling invisible, rushed, or alone.