EPISODES
EP. 138: RACING THE CLOCK TO CURE PRION DISEASE
A biomedical researcher describes what it was like to watch her mother succumb to rapidly progressive dementia due to prion disease, and her race to discover a cure for this mysterious entity — before it begins to afflict herself as well.
EP. 137: A VISION FOR JUSTICE
A noted civil rights lawyer and federal judge discusses how he has navigated both his legal career and personal life as a blind individual, along the way championing voting rights, educational equality, and disability rights.
EP. 136: HARD TRUTHS ABOUT ADDICTION
A psychologist and pioneer in addiction medicine discusses how addiction transforms the mind and the redemptive power of social connection in helping patients recover.
EP. 135: SOCIAL CONTAGION AND THE FOUNDATIONS OF A GOOD SOCIETY
A physician-turned-sociologist and Director of the Human Nature Lab at Yale University discusses how behaviors and health outcomes spread through social networks and why he believes society is wired for goodness.
EP. 134: HOW THE INTERNET “SHALLOWS” OUR MINDS
An acclaimed journalist explores the cognitive, social, ethical, and philosophical implications of our increasing reliance on digital technologies and why limiting their encroachment on our lives may be essential to our wellbeing.
EP. 133: THE CRAFT OF MEDICAL STORYTELLING
The director of the medical humanities program at Yale Medicine shares how creative writing sharpens the minds of clinicians and how she teaches storytelling to capture the most beautiful devastating, and meaningful moments in medicine.
EP. 132: BURNING OUT ON THE COVID-19 FRONT LINES
A hospitalist and author opens up about what it was like to struggle through the COVID-19 pandemic — and find moments of humanity — not only as a frontline clinician and healthcare leader, but also as a father and husband.
EP. 131: AT THE EDGE OF PRECISION MEDICINE
A cardiologist, Chair of Medicine at Stanford University Medical Center, and a pioneer in precision medicine shares his vision for a future of medicine fueled by powerful genomic data and artificial intelligence, while grounded in the human touch.
EP. 130: FROM GUNSHOT SURVIVOR TO TRAUMA SURGEON
A trauma surgeon and gun violence prevention advocate discusses how a harrowing incident when he was shot in the throat as a teenager has subsequently shaped his values on life and his approach to treating victims of firearm injury.
EP. 129: THE LINK BETWEEN LOVE AND LOSS
A journalist-turned-palliative care physician shares how we can make sense of our finite existence, why love and loss are inextricably linked, and how our memories can honor those who pass away.
EP. 128: FOOD FOR THOUGHT
A neurologist and bestselling author discusses the intricate relationship between our diet, lifestyle, and brain health — and how he navigates the often-messy and conflicting findings within nutrition science.
EP. 127: A PHYSICIAN TO THE SOUL
A theologian and Director of the Yale Center for Faith and Culture shares insights from faith traditions around the world on living an intentional, fulfilling, interconnected, and meaningful life.
EP. 126: INSIDE THE WORLD OF OUTBREAK RESPONSE
A pathogen preparedness expert shares what excites her about managing infectious disease outbreaks and what we can learn from the challenges and triumphs of society during the COVID-19 pandemic.
EP. 125: FINDING THE RIGHT WORDS WHEN IT MATTERS MOST
The director of inpatient palliative care at Columbia University Medical Center shares his remarkable journey from training as a general surgeon in Japan to becoming an expert in serious illness conversations in the United States.
EP. 124: IMPOSSIBLE FOODS — FEEDING THE FUTURE
A physician and founder of Impossible Foods — a leading producer of plant-based meats — shares how he hopes to inspire a cultural shift towards more sustainable eating habits and ensure a healthier planet for future generations.
EP. 123: A DUAL STRUGGLE OF DEMENTIA AND DIGNITY
A clinical psychologist discusses the immense — and frequently overlooked — emotional and psychological toll of caring for patients with dementia, and what human dignity means when personal identity is eroded in the face of dementia.
EP. 122: A RESOLVE TO SAVE LIVES
A former Director of the CDC and former Health Commissioner of New York City shares stories of triumphs and challenges from his diverse career, from pioneering the ban on indoor smoking in America to drastically cutting rates of tuberculosis worldwide.
EP. 121: BREAKING THE CYCLE OF INTERGENERATIONAL TRAUMA
A health psychologist shares how she addresses intergenerational trauma in her patients and what all clinicians can learn from integrating trauma-informed care into their practices.
EP. 120: “UBUNTU” AND THE SOUL OF MEDICINE
The founder of the African Center for Research on End-of-Life Care shares how witnessing the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda during his early years drove him into a career in medicine and how the philosophy of “ubuntu” shapes his palliative care work.
EP. 119: A PHILOSOPHY OF GRIEF
A philosopher discusses the nature of grief and mourning and shares how grief helps us better understand our identities, values, relationships, and responsibilities to other people — both living and deceased.
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