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.

The Director of the Johns Hopkins International Arts + Mind Lab and Vice President of Hardware Design at Google discusses “neuroaesthetics” and why creative arts are essential to human health and wellbeing.

A 104-year-old physician and co-founder of the Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine shares how finding love and human connection are key to healing and happiness.

A physician-writer discusses the joys and frustrations of practicing at an urban safety net hospital and how he perseveres to serve patients in a healthcare system that often feels broken.

An essayist and cultural critic discusses the value of a liberal education in shaping courageous, imaginative, and moral identities and how this enables us to create purposeful lives.

A health economist and host of the popular Freakonomics, MD podcast shares the hidden drivers behind healthcare and how random chance affects our health outcomes.

A neuroscientist discusses the possibilities of slowing down and even reversing age-related neurodegeneration and the philosophical and ethical implications of life-extension.

A leading medical anthropologist and psychiatrist shares how moments of crises and suffering sharpen our moral identities and how acts of care define our human capacity for goodness.