
EPISODES
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.
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.
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