Best Henry Bair and Tyler Johnson Podcasts (2024)

1
Living Well Without Free Will | Robert Sapolsky, PhD 53:17

2d ago53:17

53:17

Most of us take free will for granted — from the biggest of life decisions to choosing an ice cream flavor, we are generally capable of freely deciding how to think and how to behave without outside influence. But Robert Sapolsky believes our decisions cannot be disentangled from our genetics, environment, and neurobiology. In other words, to him, …

1
Evolution, Human Nature, and Our Purpose in Life | Samuel Wilkinson, MD 1:06:45

9d ago1:06:45

1:06:45

Conventionally, we are taught that evolution implies there is no ultimate purpose to our existence, that life lacks inherent meaning — we are the product of countless intricate molecular and genetic accidents. And to many, evolution leaves little room for, and perhaps even contradicts, the existence of a deity. However, our guest on this episode, S…

1
Cancer as a Family Affair | Mark Lewis, MD 53:32

16d ago53:32

53:32

For Mark Lewis, MD, cancer has defined his entire life. Growing up, he witnessed his father's valiant struggle with cancer before it eventually ended his life. While still in medical training, he not only developed pancreatic cancer but also discovered the culprit. Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1, an inherited syndrome that drastically increase…

1
A Life in Medical Innovation and Philanthropy | Sue Desmond-Hellmann, MD, MPH 49:27

23d ago49:27

49:27

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, with an endowment of over $50 billion, is one of the largest and most influential philanthropic organizations in the world. With a focus on addressing global health, poverty, and education, its initiatives have led to the reduction of malaria mortality by 60% over the past two decades, the near eradication of po…

1
Fostering Moral Leadership | Ira Bedzow, PhD 49:27

1M ago49:27

49:27

In today's world, the idea of “identifying your values” is so ubiquitous, appearing from corporate mission statements to self-help books, that it can seem trivialized to the point of meaninglessness. But in this episode, Ira Bedzow, PhD reminds us it does not have to be this way—explorations of personal values can be an inspiring, holistic, and tho…

1
Terminal Lucidity at the Edge of Life and Death | Alexander Batthyány, PhD 50:18

1M ago50:18

50:18

Terminal lucidity is a mysterious yet well-documented phenomenon in which someone at the end of life—including those who have suffered strokes or other brain injuries, or those afflicted by dementia—suddenly returns with mental clarity and is able to recognize loved ones and engage in meaningful and emotionally rich conversations. It challenges our…

1
Leading the Leaders of Medical Education | David Skorton, MD 54:03

1M ago54:03

54:03

The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) plays a crucial role in health care. As the organization that oversees medical education and thus the pipeline of future medical professionals in the United States, its critical duties include administering the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), managing the residency application service, draf…

1
The Sky Was Falling — Stories from a COVID Diary | Cornelia Griggs, MD 57:32

2M ago57:32

57:32

In spring of 2020, Cornelia Griggs, MD was finishing her nearly decade-long training to become a pediatric surgeon in New York City, when COVID-19 struck and life fell apart. The hospital was flooded with mysteriously sick patients for whom no known treatments existed, basic supplies disappeared from shelves, and each day at work took on an existen…

1
Rethinking Health in an Aging Society | Linda Fried, MD, MPH 54:25

2M ago54:25

54:25

To many health economists, the growing aging population is the greatest public health challenge facing America. The current fragmented and costly healthcare system is simply incapable of dealing with the complex medical and socioeconomic needs of this population, especially in an equitable way. Our guest on this episode, Linda Fried, MD, MPH, has d…

1
Tales from the Wild West of Cardiac Surgery | Gerald Imber, MD 48:04

2M ago48:04

48:04

The history of cardiac surgery is filled with tales of intrepid surgeons with larger-than-life personalities who pushed the limits of the human body and the bounds of what were then considered acceptable medical practices. The result? Heart transplants, pacemakers, artificial heart valves, heart-lung machines, and other once-unthinkable and experim…

1
To Create a Vaccine | Paul Offit, MD 57:07

2M ago57:07

57:07

Rotavirus, a highly contagious virus that causes severe diarrhea and vomiting, used to kill more than half a million children annually. But the introduction of the rotavirus vaccine has slashed that number dramatically, saving hundreds of thousands of lives each year. Joining us in this episode is Paul Offit, MD, a co-inventor of one of the two mos…

1
A Moral Drive to Heal the World | Jim Yong Kim, MD, PhD 56:10

3M ago56:10

56:10

Soon after finishing his first semester of college, Jim Yong Kim, MD, PhD excitedly told his father that he'd dedicate his life to starting a social justice movement. In response, his father sternly reprimanded him, saying that the only career he'd support was one in medicine. Dr. Kim acquiesced, but over the subsequent decades would hold on to thi…

1
Navigating the Gaps in Patient Stories | Ilana Yurkiewicz, MD 1:02:39

3M ago1:02:39

1:02:39

It's a cliche to say health care is broken. However, the extent to which it is unnecessarily convoluted, inefficient, and fragmented frustrates even the most experienced clinicians each time they are forced to deal with its consequences. Medical records disappear when a patient switches doctors. Critical details of life-saving treatment plans are b…

1
The Beauty in This Life | Nick Riggle, PhD 46:05

3M ago46:05

46:05

We didn’t choose to live this life. In its most difficult moments, it's all too natural to ask the question, “What makes life worth living?” This question, so central to philosophy since ancient times, is what we explore in this episode with Nick Riggle, a professor of philosophy at University of California, San Diego. Riggle is the author of sever…

1
Human Flourishing in the Age of Artificial Intelligence | Eric Horvitz, MD, PhD 55:09

3M ago55:09

55:09

Anyone who has interacted with ChatGPT is likely to agree that it is one of the most powerful and transformative artificial intelligence tools out there. Writes our guest on this episode, Microsoft's Chief Scientific Officer Eric Horvitz, MD, PhD, “ChatGPT left me awestruck. It is a polymath with a remarkable capacity to integrate traditionally dis…

1
The Making of a Heart Surgeon | Craig Smith, MD 50:16

4M ago50:16

50:16

If you were to rank all the medical specialties by the arduousness of the training required, the technical complexity and high stress of the interventions involved, and the harshness of the working hours, cardiothoracic surgery would be near or at the top of anyone's list. In this episode, cardiac surgeon and Chair of the Department of Surgery at C…

1
Taking Control of Your Cancer Journey | Kathy Guisti 1:02:55

4M ago1:02:55

1:02:55

When Kathy Giusti was told she had multiple myeloma one fateful day in 1996, she was 37 and in the midst of a successful rising career. She was the mother of a one-year-old baby with plans to have a second child. The disease had few treatments and she was given three years to live. Instead of sitting back, however, Kathy took action to create her o…

1
One Hundred Voices Later — A Retrospective 1:02:34

4M ago1:02:34

1:02:34

In the 100th episode of The Doctor's Art, we reflect on the lessons and insights we have heard from guests over the past two years. We first share the story of how The Doctor’s Art podcast came to be, then we discuss some of the most meaningful and impactful episodes for us and how the show has changed the way we practice medicine and approach life…

1
Complexity and a Theory of Life | Neil Theise, MD 1:03:09

4M ago1:03:09

1:03:09

At the mention of human consciousness and the supposed interconnectivity of all things, your mind probably conjures up the countless books on meditation, alternative medicine, and mysticism that permeate self-help sections of bookstores. But complexity theory attempts to apply rigorous scientific analyses to universal questions of consciousness and…

1
Your Brain on Art | Susan Magsamen, PhD and Ivy Ross 50:24

5M ago50:24

50:24

There is an increasing body of scientific evidence demonstrating a phenomenon humans across cultures have long known intuitively: we are biologically wired for art. Engaging in the arts transforms our neural circuitry in deep ways that we are only beginning to uncover, and studies are showing how the arts can help us live longer, stave off cognitiv…

1
Reflections on Happiness from 80 Years in Medicine | Gladys McGarey, MD 35:20

5M ago35:20

35:20

Born in India in 1920, Gladys McGarey, MD has a life story marked with various pivotal moments of the 20th century. She witnessed Gandhi's Salt March in her final childhood days in India, arrived in the US amid the Great Depression, began medical school four months before the US joined World War II, and became a physician at a time when few women w…

1
A Doctor for the People | Ricardo Nuila, MD 50:07

5M ago50:07

50:07

Ben Taub Hospital, located in the heart of Houston, Texas, is the city's largest hospital for those who cannot afford medical care. Texas, in turn, is the US state with the country's largest uninsured population. Amid chaotic emergency rooms and busy hospital wards serving the most financially and medically vulnerable people, Ricardo Nuila, MD find…

1
Shaping a Soul, Building a Self | William Deresiewicz 49:38

5M ago49:38

49:38

As an English professor at Yale University, essayist and literary critic William Deresiewicz observed a trend across American higher education that troubled him deeply. Instead of learning to think independently, critically, creatively, and courageously, students were increasingly subscribing to a mode of careerism, credentialism, and conformism th…

1
Random Acts of Medicine | Anupam Jena, MD, PhD 48:36

6M ago48:36

48:36

What happens to the mortality rates of cardiac arrest patients on days when there is a marathon happening in the city? What happens to surgical complication rates when it's the surgeon's birthday? Why do patients of younger doctors seem to have better health outcomes? These and other quirky questions are what preoccupy health economist, Anupam Jena…

1
Being (Im)Mortal | Tony Wyss-Coray, PhD 52:21

6M ago52:21

52:21

From ancient myths to science fiction, humans have long been fascinated by the idea of transcending the limits of our natural lifespan. But what does modern medicine say about the practical, actual possibilities of extending human life? Joining us to explore this tantalizing question is Tony Wyss-Coray, PhD, a neuroscientist and director of the Phi…

1
Caring for a Broken World | Arthur Kleinman, MD 1:00:47

6M ago1:00:47

1:00:47

Medical anthropology provides a lens through which we can view the intricate tapestry of human health, woven with the threads of cultural beliefs, social structures, and biological realities. Few have played a more significant role in creating this discipline than psychiatrist Arthur Kleinman, MD, whose early, extensive field work in Taiwan and Chi…

1
Inside a Suicidal Mind | Clancy Martin, PhD 55:00

7M ago55:00

55:00

Since childhood, Clancy Martin has been preoccupied with, and even addicted to, the idea of suicide. A survivor of more than ten suicide attempts. Clancy has spent his life wrestling with questions like: where do these impulses come from? Why am I haunted by them? Why do I feel so much guilt? Can I be helped? Clancy is a professor of philosophy at …

1
Healing Our Crisis of Disconnection | Jeremy Noble, MD 48:52

7M ago48:52

48:52

In recent years, loneliness has transformed from a private, personal experience into a full blown public health crisis. Studies have repeatedly shown that loneliness and social isolation increase the risk of premature death, dementia, and all sorts of mental illnesses. In this episode, Jeremy Noble, MD shares how he is combating our national crisis…

1
A Seat at the Table — Leading the AMA | Jesse Ehrenfeld, MD 51:35

7M ago51:35

51:35

When Jesse Ehrenfeld, MD attended his first meeting at the American Medical Association (AMA) as a first year medical student, he was struck by the collaborative spirit he witnessed among physicians of all specialties from across the United States. But he was also filled with insecurity over whether he, as a gay man, would ever be truly accepted fo…

1
The Doctor Who Cycled the World | Stephen Fabes, MBChB 41:58

7M ago41:58

41:58

"It's like having a backstage pass to the world." That's how Stephen Fabes, MBChB describes his epic adventure exploring all six inhabited continents on a bicycle. Over the course of 6+ years, he cycled across 75 countries and 53,000 miles, discovering how human stories shape our conceptions of health and illness. Currently an acute medicine specia…

1
The Possibilities and Perils of Digital Health | Jag Singh, MD, PhD 55:49

8M ago55:49

55:49

It's been less than a year since ChatGPT was released in November 2022, but in that time, reports have emerged of ChatGPT outperforming physicians in everything from clinical reasoning to documentation and even to empathetic communication with patients. How are we to make sense of the role of clinicians when artificial intelligence and digital heal…

1
Reflections at the End of Sight | Andrew Leland 51:11

8M ago51:11

51:11

Imagine if, as a teenager, you were told that you would lose your vision over the course of a few decades. How would you approach your life, your world, and the people in it? Joining us to discuss these questions is writer Andrew Leland. Andrew has retinitis pigmentosa, a condition that affects the retina's ability to respond to light, leading to p…

1
The (Small-P) Politics of Medicine | Josh Sharfstein, MD 49:38

8M ago49:38

49:38

For many people, the idea of politics in healthcare conjures up hyperpartisanship, where power and party loyalty trump public interest. But Joshua Sharfstein, MD is passionate about politics and health care because to him, these are opportunities to bring together wide-ranging expertise and navigate seemingly irreconcilable interests to implement c…

1
Addiction as a Chronic Illness | Nzinga Harrison, MD 50:35

8M ago50:35

50:35

Addiction and substance use disorders have long been mired in misconception and stigma, seen as moral failings or a lack of willpower. But the reality is far more complex and nuanced. In this episode, we are joined by Nzinga Harrison, MD, a psychiatrist and addiction medicine specialist who is the co-founder of Eleanor Health, a tech-enabled provid…

1
Moral Imagination in Medicine | Lydia Dugdale, MD 43:32

9M ago43:32

43:32

Moral imagination is the ability to transcend one's own immediate context and experiences to explore diverse moral perspectives and ethical scenarios. In medicine, where decisions can reverberate profoundly through a patient’s life, moral imagination allows us to navigate the ethical complexities of particular situations while honoring the dignity …

1
Zen and the Art of Psychotherapy | Mark Epstein, MD 51:20

9M ago51:20

51:20

What is the intersection between psychotherapy and Buddhism? For decades, Mark Epstein, MD, a practicing Buddhist and psychiatrist, has deeply explored how Buddhist philosophy can be integrated into therapy to help patients heal from trauma. His key insight is that Buddhism grants us the wisdom to reshape our relationships with our personal stories…

1
Mythbusting Medicine | Jen Gunter, MD 47:52

9M ago47:52

47:52

Despite advances in medicine, issues in women's health are still often mired in stigma, shame, misinformation, and disparities in access and societal standards. In this episode, we are joined by Jen Gunter, MD, who is perhaps the most well-known and outspoken gynecologist in the world. She has made it her life's work to dispel potentially dangerous…

1
Finding Hope and Healing in the ER | Michele Harper, MD 49:42

9M ago49:42

49:42

In many ways, emergency rooms are the frontlines of health care, serving as the initial point of contact for people experiencing sudden and severe health problems or accidents. In other ways, emergency rooms are the last line of defense, serving as a critical catch-all for vulnerable populations who have nowhere else to go. How can doctors reconcil…

1
Transcendence in the Age of Science | Alan Lightman, PhD 45:50

9M ago45:50

45:50

When we gaze at the stars and wonder at our place amid the expanse of the universe, or when we witness the birth of a child and marvel at the miracle of existence itself, or when we listen to music that seems to touch our soul — there are moments in life when we feel a transcendent connection to things larger than ourselves. But how are we to make …

1
The Mind in Rebellion — Reflections on a Career in Neurology | Stephen Hauser, MD 42:19

10M ago42:19

42:19

Multiple sclerosis is the most common disabling neurological disease among young adults. It's a disease in which the body's immune system begins attacking the protective covering around nerve cells, leading to a wide variety of symptoms, ranging from vision problems to difficulty walking fatigue to dizziness to speech problems. Our guest on this ep…

1
How Public Health Saved Your Life | Leana Wen, MD 36:26

10M ago36:26

36:26

According to emergency physician Leana Wen, MD, MS, "public health saved your life today, you just don't know it." Having been appointed the Baltimore City Health Commissioner at the age of 31, she certainly has the credentials and stories to illustrate this assertion. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, public health played a frequently misunderstood …

1
Storytelling is the Oldest Medical Technology | Laurel Braitman, PhD 49:38

10M ago49:38

49:38

Storytelling is the oldest medical technology — so claims our guests on this episode, Laurel Braitman, PhD, an acclaimed author and Writer-in-Residence at Stanford School of Medicine. Laurel offers a uniquely qualified perspective on the matter, having grown up in a medical family and now mentoring clinicians everywhere to help them fulfill their w…

1
When a Cancer Nurse Becomes a Cancer Patient | Theresa Brown, PhD, RN 57:45

10M ago57:45

57:45

When professor of English literature Theresa Brown, PhD, BSN, RN decided to become an oncology nurse, she suddenly found herself juggling seemingly-impossible patient expectations. And when she later was diagnosed with breast cancer herself, she was forced to confront the paradoxes of a healthcare system that demands so much of its practitioners ye…

1
The Beauty of Impermanence | Sunita Puri, MD 1:01:31

11M ago1:01:31

1:01:31

Despite the optimism of modern healthcare promising ever more miraculous cures, there are inevitably moments in medicine that compel us to face the fact that not all problems can be fixed. Recognizing the limits of medicine and navigating the space between what can be done and what should be done for a patient requires a fundamental shift in mindse…

1
The Physician Who Cured Himself | David Fajgenbaum, MD 1:05:32

11M ago1:05:32

1:05:32

As a medical student, former college quarterback David Fajgenbaum, MD was at the peak of his health and physique when he suddenly came down with a mysterious disease that, within weeks, led to multiple organ system failure. Dr. Fajgenbaum found himself on the brink of death over and over again in the intensive care unit, at one point receiving his …

1
Resilience Against Burnout | Gail Gazelle, MD 51:11

11M ago51:11

51:11

According to our guest on this episode, Gail Gazelle, MD, there has never been a more difficult time to be a doctor. Whether or not you agree with this statement, it's true that clinicians today are expected to see more patients in less time than ever before, spend hours on the electronic medical record, and manage countless administrative and orga…

1
The Spirit and the Body | Kerry Egan 58:15

11M ago58:15

58:15

"All dying is a spiritual process," says our guest on this episode, hospice chaplain Kerry Egan. By this, she means that each person's death is more than just a biological event; it's an opportunity to reflect on the culmination of our human experiences, the lessons we’ve learned, and the impact we've had on others. The recognition of our impermane…

1
Life and Loss in Transplant | David Weill, MD 57:47

12M ago57:47

57:47

A lung transplant—taking some or all of one person's lungs and putting them into someone else, giving the recipient years of additional life—sounds nothing short of miraculous. Today, over 2500 lung transplants are performed every year in the US. Still, it's among the most medically and ethically complex areas of medicine. Joining us in this episod…

1
Addressing Healthcare Inequities Through Patient Relationships | Lisa Cooper, MD 55:48

12M ago55:48

55:48

It’s no longer a surprise that the race and ethnicity of a patient influence their health outcomes. But back in the 1990s, when Lisa Cooper, MD first documented and published findings that supported the role of patient race on the quality of physician-patient interactions, these were groundbreaking, even radical ideas. Today, Dr. Cooper, a physicia…

1
Healing from Trauma | Bessel van der Kolk, MD 57:30

12M ago57:30

57:30

Though often invisible in our society, studies have shown that more than seven out of ten people experience trauma at some point in their lives, whether it's physical, sexual, or emotional abuse or a life-threatening accident or illness. In this episode, we speak with Bessel van der Kolk, MD, a psychiatrist and pioneering researcher on post-traumat…

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Henry Bair And Tyler Johnson Podcasts

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