In this live podcast event, the hosts are joined by a palliative care physician and pediatric neurosurgeon to explore the nature of suffering, the role of spiritual faith in medicine, and the balance between personal and professional fulfillment.

A leading neuroscientist shares why he believes free will does not exist, how society would be a more just and humane place without free will, and what human happiness and flourishing would mean in this world.

A psychiatrist shares how he reconciles evolution with his spirituality and what an evolutionary understanding of our human nature can teach us about purpose and meaning in life.

An oncologist shares his perspective on resilience, grace, and hope in the face of suffering — as the son of a cancer patient, as a cancer patient himself, and as a father of a child with an inherited predisposition to cancer.

The former CEO of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation shares her journey from practicing oncology, to developing some of the most important chemotherapies in use today, to leading one of the most influential philanthropic organizations in the world.

An ethicist and Director of the Emory Purpose Project at Emory University shares what moral leadership means to him and how he guides students, clinicians, and scholars in reflecting on their values and purpose.

The Director of the Viktor Frankl Institute discusses the fascinating phenomenon of terminal lucidity — when patients at the end of life experience a brief return of mental clarity and memory — and what this teaches us about dignity, kindness, and compassion.

The President of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) discusses how he went from struggling during his own medical school application process to now leading the organization that represents all medical schools and teaching hospitals in the United States.

A pediatric surgeon and writer shares dramatic stories of struggle and courage that defined the early days of the American epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic, New York City.

The Dean of the Columbia University School of Public Health discusses the immense challenges that face an aging population and shares her vision of longevity that emphasizes healthspan, happiness, and individual purpose.

A plastic surgeon and medical historian shares stories of daring surgeons who pioneered the field of cardiac surgery, as well as insights on the aesthetic component of his own practice.

One of the world’s leading experts on vaccines shares how he created the rotavirus vaccine, which now saves hundreds of lives each day, and how we can rebuild trust in public health by acknowledging the limits and promises of science.

The 12th President of the World Bank shares how he has sustained a sense of moral purpose throughout a career marked with immense contributions to global health, poverty reduction, education, and sustainable development.

An oncologist and journalist discusses how the fragmentation of healthcare systems puts a strain on clinicians, patients, and caregivers, and how she connects with patients despite the inefficiency and uncertainty created by these shortcomings.

A philosopher discusses how engaging with the beauty in everyday life answers the question: “what makes life worth living?”

The Chief Scientific Officer at Microsoft discusses what artificial intelligence teaches us about natural intelligence and why AI technologies will enable human flourishing.

The Chair of Surgery at Columbia University Medical Center shares stories of harrowing heart surgeries and how he maintains a moral drive that anchors the daily miracles that define his challenging profession.

A two-time cancer survivor and Co-Founder of the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation shares her remarkably successful efforts to discover new treatments for her own disease.

Co-hosts Henry Bair and Tyler Johnson reflect on some of the most meaningful lessons and insights they have learned over the course of the first 100 episodes of the podcast.

A complexity theorist and Co-Director of Gastrointestinal and Liver Pathology at NYU Grossman School of Medicine explores how the science of “complexity” explains the emergence of life out of tissues, cells, atoms, and beyond.