Chasing Life - podcast cover

Chasing Life

All over the world, there are people who are living extraordinary lives, full of happiness and health – and with hardly any heart disease, cancer or diabetes. Dr. Sanjay Gupta has been on a decades-long mission to understand how they do it, and how we can all learn from them. Scientists now believe we can even reverse the symptoms of Alzheimer’s dementia, and in fact grow sharper and more resilient as we age. Sanjay is a dad – of three teenage daughters, he is a doctor - who operates on the brain, and he is a reporter with more than two decades of experience - who travels the earth to uncover and bring you the secrets of the happiest and healthiest people on the planet – so that you too, can Chase Life.

Episodes

A Breakthrough in Pain Management Without Opioids

Big news in pain management, the FDA has approved a new opioid-free pain medication. So how is it different from what’s already out there? Plus, if you missed your flu shot in the fall, is it still worth getting one now? Dr. Sanjay Gupta answers your questions! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Feb 18, 202513 minEp. 483

Relax, Jealousy is Normal

No, you’re not petty for feeling jealous. Research shows humans experience this emotion even before they can crawl. CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta sits down with psychologist Dr. Joli Hamilton to demystify jealousy and why the complex emotion is not only natural but could actually be beneficial. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Feb 14, 202532 minEp. 482

Fasting and Fighting Cruise Ship Viruses: What You Need to Know

Curious about intermittent fasting? Dr. Sanjay Gupta answers a listener’s question by breaking down the science and shares his own experience. Plus, with cruise season in full swing, he shares essential tips to help you avoid norovirus and stay healthy on your next vacation. For a deeper dive into intermittent fasting, check out our episode, “Do Diets Really Work?” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Feb 11, 202515 minEp. 481

How to Hack Your Brain’s Reward System

What if staying motivated wasn’t about willpower, but strategy? ADHD coach Eric Tivers created the Dopamenu, a personalized menu of small, satisfying activities designed to boost focus, motivation, and well-being. He joins Dr. Sanjay Gupta to explain how this simple strategy helped him manage ADHD and why it might work for anyone. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Feb 07, 202531 minEp. 480

Want a Healthier Mocktail? Here’s How

You can find mocktails on just about any menu these days, but can you enjoy the trend without the sugar overload? Dr. Sanjay Gupta answers a listener’s question and shares tips from a mixologist on crafting healthier zero-proof drinks. Want to learn more about alcohol's health impacts? Check out our episode, 'Your Shame-Free Guide to Cutting Back on Booze.’ Need inspiration? Discover 32 of the best nonalcoholic drinks for Dry January and beyond. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastcho...

Feb 04, 202512 minEp. 479

What If Healing Your Mind Starts in Your Body?

Trauma has become a buzzword in the zeitgeist over the years, but do we really understand what it means and how it impacts the body? Dr. Sanjay Gupta sits down with psychiatrist Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, author of The Body Keeps the Score, to explore what both psychologists and the public often get wrong about trauma—and why he believes our bodies hold the key to healing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jan 31, 202541 minEp. 478

One Doctor's Decision to Stop Showering

Dr. James Hamblin stopped taking regular showers. And no, he didn’t stink. The doctor and journalist joins Dr. Sanjay Gupta to explain why he set out to challenge this social norm and the science behind doing less to stay clean. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jan 24, 202527 minEp. 477

Feeling Bored? That May Actually Motivate You

Boredom – it’s a state many of us try to avoid. But, in a world full of distractions, maybe it’s time to embrace boredom as a way to spark creativity and reclaim our attention. Dr. Sanjay Gupta sits down with cognitive neuroscientist James Danckert to explore how boredom affects our health and why it can actually be the motivational jumpstart you need. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jan 17, 202535 minEp. 476

Letting Go of the Pressure To Be Perfect

It’s the new year, a time when so many of us set out to do more, be better. It can feel overwhelming, and most resolutions end up broken. So what if this year, you tried something different? Dr. Sanjay Gupta sets out to explore surprising ways we can all let go in the new year and still live healthier and happier lives. He kicks this journey off with a conversation about letting go of perfectionism, without lowering your standards. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adcho...

Jan 10, 202532 minEp. 475

Can Weight Loss Drugs Impact Your Joy of Food?

Yes, drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro can help people lose weight, but at what cost? Dr. Sanjay Gupta explores why these drugs may not be the right fit for everyone. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jan 03, 202529 minEp. 474

How Ozempic Transformed the Way We Look at Obesity

Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro, are being called “miracle drugs” with users boasting about their fast results. Dr. Sanjay Gupta takes a deep dive into how they disrupted the entire weight loss industry and changed the conversation about obesity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dec 27, 202426 minEp. 473

Can Science and God Coexist?

Faith and science may often seem at odds with one another, but renowned geneticist and former NIH director, Dr. Francis Collins, says that he sees science as a form of worship. He talks with Dr. Sanjay Gupta about how he’s interrogated his own beliefs around religion and what he says science can’t measure. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dec 20, 202433 minEp. 472

Your Shame-Free Guide to Cutting Back on Booze

Holiday party season is upon us. But before you reach for that second cocktail (or third), let’s take a look at the science behind what alcohol actually does to our bodies with Dr. Jason Kilmer, Associate Professor in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Washington. Plus, we'll unpack the rise of the mocktail movement and whether ‘Dry January’ actually works. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dec 13, 202430 minEp. 471

Can We Protect Ourselves from Microplastics?

Microplastics are everywhere — from the ocean to our bloodstream — raising urgent questions about their impact on human health. How concerned should we really be? Sanjay sits down with Dr. Leonardo Trasande, the Director of Environmental Pediatrics at NYU School of Medicine, to talk about how to realistically reduce our exposure and the future of combating microplastics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dec 06, 202434 minEp. 470

Debunking Conspiracies This Thanksgiving? Let AI Help.

Conspiracy theories can take many forms, from misgivings about the first moon landing to false claims that the 2020 election was stolen. These kinds of beliefs are nothing new, but social media has helped make many of them more mainstream. As anyone who’s tried to reason with a conspiracy theorist knows, it’s hard to debunk such deeply held beliefs – and arguing with a loved one about them can be emotionally taxing. What if an AI chatbot could help? A recent study, published in Science, asked th...

Nov 29, 202430 minEp. 469

Our Food Keeps Getting Recalled. Here’s What to Do.

Food recalls seem to be making headlines more than ever. This summer, a major recall of roughly 7.2 million pounds of Boar's Head deli meats due to listeria raised serious concerns and sent 59 people to the hospital and resulted in 10 deaths. More recently, E. coli outbreaks linked to organic carrots and slivered onions in McDonald's quarter pounders brought the issue back into focus, Sanjay sits down with food safety expert Dr. Don Schaffner to explore why recalls happen and the steps you can t...

Nov 22, 202439 minEp. 468

What it’s Like to Take an Alzheimer’s Test

In this intimate finale of a two-part special, Dr. Sanjay Gupta decides to find out his own risk of Alzheimer’s disease. As he confronts his own genetic markers and lifestyle factors, Sanjay breaks down the science behind Alzheimer’s risk and explores what steps might slow down the disease. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nov 15, 202426 minEp. 467

Why There’s More Hope for Alzheimer’s

For the nearly 7 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s, progress on treatments has felt painfully slow and incremental at best…until now. Dr. Sanjay Gupta traveled the country meeting people who have slowed, prevented, and in some cases even reversed the spread of Alzheimer’s. These are their stories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nov 08, 202432 minEp. 466

How to Have Difficult Conversations in a Polarized World

In a world marked by war and political polarization, it can certainly feel at times like we have all lost touch with the art of compromise – the wisdom to recognize that real progress demands sacrifice. Except, that’s not entirely true. Dr. Sanjay Gupta sits down with social psychologist Peter T. Coleman, author of “The Way Out: How to Overcome Toxic Polarization,” to discuss the fundamentals of navigating difficult conversations, how our brains evolved to handle conflict, and why reaching a com...

Nov 01, 202442 minEp. 465

The Bittersweet Truth About Sugar

Americans are sugar obsessed. Can we cut back without making life feel less sweet? This Halloween, sugar studies expert Laura Schmidt shares tips for taming your sweet tooth. Plus, why she says we need to stop debating if sugar is addictive. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Oct 25, 202436 minEp. 464

Self-Exams Matter: Why These TV Powerhouses Say Don’t Skip Them

Sara Sidner is a hard-hitting CNN journalist. Ananda Lewis is a content creator and former 90s MTV host. Both are living with breast cancer. Both are also the best friends of CNN's Stephanie Elam who asked them to sit down and talk – and get real – about their fears, their determination and their newfound joy after this devastating diagnosis. In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Chasing Life brings you this special conversation between three friends about a journey that is all too familiar...

Oct 18, 202438 minEp. 463

Stressed Parents? Dr. Becky Wants to Help.

Overwhelmed, stressed, constantly anxious – that's life as a parent, right? If you feel this way, the good and bad news is that you’re not alone. CNN’s Chief Medical Dr. Sanjay Gupta, a father of three teenage girls, turns to parenting expert Dr. Becky Kennedy – known online simply as ‘Dr. Becky’ -- for advice. And they get personal. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Oct 11, 202438 minEp. 462

The Secret Lives of Neurosurgeons

The brain is one of the most complex and mysterious organs in our body, and neurosurgeons are at the forefront of unraveling its secrets. But what’s it really like behind the scenes in the operating room, and how do neurosurgeons view the brain’s deepest mysteries? Sanjay sits down with Dr. Theodore Schwartz, a leading neurosurgeon and author of Gray Matters, to delve into the personal experiences that have shaped their careers, explore the impact of AI on brain surgery, and how their work pushe...

Oct 04, 202440 minEp. 461

A New Era for Cannabis and What It Could Mean for You

The U.S. government recently proposed rescheduling cannabis from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug — basically signaling it has some accepted medical use and a moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence. But what does this mean in the real world exactly? Sanjay talks with “The Pot Doc” Dr. Staci Gruber, Director of the Marijuana Investigations for Neuroscientific Discovery (MIND) program in Boston, to explore the possible impacts of this rescheduling on research, healt...

Sep 27, 202438 minEp. 460

Superbugs Could Kill Millions. Here’s How We Stop Them.

Antibiotics have been hailed as a "miracle drug" since the discovery of penicillin in 1928. But now, more bacteria are developing resistance to antibiotics, making them difficult or nearly impossible to treat. One recent study estimated that these so-called “superbugs” could cause nearly 40 million deaths worldwide between now and 2050. Dr. Sanjay Gupta speaks to researchers exploring the use of naturally occurring viruses that destroy bacteria, to see if they can be used as an alternative treat...

Sep 20, 202430 minEp. 459

Can Safety and Excitement Coexist in the NFL?

One of the most dangerous plays in football, the kickoff, is getting a makeover this year. The NFL introduced new rules aimed at reducing injuries while also making the game more exciting. Sanjay talks with Dr. Allen Sills, the NFL’s Chief Medical Officer, about the future of football, how to balance safety with excitement, and what it’s like to be brain doctors who love a dangerous game. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sep 13, 202438 minEp. 458

Is There a College Mental Health Crisis?

Anxiety and depression are surging on college campuses, according to research from the University of Michigan. Two in five teens say they feel persistently sad or lonely, in a recent report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sanjay sits down with psychologist Dr. Nance Roy to unpack why college student mental health was declining long before the pandemic, what’s impacting students’ wellbeing, and some steps to foster a healthy semester. Learn more about your ad choices. Vi...

Sep 06, 202440 minEp. 457

The Wild West of Ketamine Treatment

New developments in actor Matthew Perry’s death are shining a light on the ethics and efficacy of using ketamine as a therapeutic drug. To learn more about the promise and pitfalls of ketamine treatment, CNN’s Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta turns to David Feifel, one of the first clinicians in the country to use ketamine to specifically treat depression. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Aug 27, 202435 minEp. 456

‘A Silent Killer’: Extreme Heat and Your Health

This has been the hottest summer on record for nearly 100 US cities. Extreme heat isn't just uncomfortable, it can also cause a lot of harm -- even death. Dr. Sanjay Gupta talks to Dr. Gaurab Basu, a Harvard assistant professor and climate change expert about the very real effects of extreme temperatures on the human body. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Aug 20, 202434 minEp. 455

What You Need to Know About Sunscreen

We've all heard about the importance of wearing sunscreen, but recent headlines have raised questions about the safety and effectiveness of certain ingredients found in chemical sunscreens. In this special Chasing Life: Spotlight, CNN Medical Correspondent Meg Tirrell investigates some of the questions and concerns surrounding sunscreen. She speaks with skin cancer researcher Dr. Rachel Neale and Dr. Laura Vandenberg, who studies potential effects of certain sunscreen chemicals on hormone functi...

Aug 13, 202436 minEp. 454
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