What can entrepreneurs learn from a physician-turned-author who practiced medicine in remote Alaska with almost no resources, no backup, and no room for error?
In this episode, Jessica Rhodes sits down with Dr. Tom Sims, author of On Call in the Arctic, a gripping memoir about his time serving as the only doctor for Nome, Alaska, and 15 surrounding Eskimo villages in the 1970s. What starts as a conversation about memoir writing quickly becomes a powerful discussion about trust, storytelling, resilience, instinct, and how to keep going when the pressure is intense and the path forward is unclear.
Jessica shares why Tom’s memoir hit her so deeply as an entrepreneur and why she believes every business owner should read great stories if they want to become more compelling communicators. Together, they explore the lessons Tom learned while delivering babies, improvising life-saving care, and navigating cultural mistrust in one of the most extreme environments imaginable — and how those same lessons apply to business, leadership, and life.
This conversation is full of wisdom for entrepreneurs, authors, and anyone who has ever had to make big decisions without certainty.
In this episode, we talk about:
- Why storytelling is one of the most important skills for podcast guests and entrepreneurs
- The true story behind On Call in the Arctic
- How Tom ended up in Nome, Alaska, as the only doctor for thousands of people
- What it was like to earn trust in a community that had every reason to be skeptical
- The power of leading by example instead of expecting others to do what you won’t do yourself
- The three life principles Tom learned in Alaska: improvise, be flexible, and persevere
- What memoirs can teach us about transformation, identity, and meaningful communication
- How outside pressure, politics, and stress can make you lose sight of why you started
- Why no one else is responsible for your happiness and fulfillment
- What entrepreneurs can learn from authors about crafting stories that truly move people
Memorable moments from the conversation:
- Tom shares how he reconstructed his memoir using old cassette tapes sent to family
- Jessica reflects on how reading fiction and memoir has sharpened her own storytelling
- Tom explains the difference between a memoir, a biography, and an autobiography
- Jessica connects Tom’s experiences in Alaska to the realities of entrepreneurship and business ownership
- Tom shares how one unexpected reunion years later reminded him exactly why he went into medicine
About Dr. Tom Sims
Dr. Thomas J. Sims is a retired family physician and the author of On Call in the Arctic, a memoir based on his experience practicing medicine in Nome, Alaska, and surrounding villages early in his medical career. After years in medicine, he retired to pursue writing full time. His memoir has earned widespread praise for its vivid storytelling, emotional depth, and unforgettable true stories from the Alaskan frontier.
Get the book and connect with Tom
Visit ThomasJSims.com to learn more about Tom, his book On Call in the Arctic, and join his email list.
If you enjoy this episode, grab the book, leave a review for Tom, and share this episode with a fellow entrepreneur or storyteller.
Ready to share your story on podcasts?
Book a discovery call with Jessica at interviewconnections.com/consult/
