
EPISODES
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.
EP. 118: ENCOUNTERING SUFFERING — A LIVE DISCUSSION
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.
EP. 117: LIVING WELL WITHOUT FREE WILL
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.
EP. 116: EVOLUTION, HUMAN NATURE, AND OUR PURPOSE IN LIFE
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.
EP. 115: CANCER AS A FAMILY AFFAIR
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.
EP. 114: A LIFE IN MEDICAL INNOVATION AND PHILANTHROPY
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.
EP. 113: FOSTERING MORAL LEADERSHIP
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.
EP. 112: TERMINAL LUCIDITY AT THE EDGE OF LIFE AND DEATH
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.
EP. 111: LEADING THE LEADERS OF MEDICAL EDUCATION
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.
EP. 110: THE SKY WAS FALLING — STORIES FROM A COVID DIARY
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.
EP. 109: RETHINKING HEALTH IN AN AGING SOCIETY
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.
EP. 108: TALES FROM THE WILD WEST OF CARDIAC SURGERY
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.
SUBSCRIBE
With your favorite podcast app and never
miss an episode!
