The Covid-19 pandemic unleashed a new level of conspiracy theories and medical misinformation that some dubbed an ‘infodemic.’ Science influencer and infectious disease researcher Laurel Bristow made a name online de-bunking false claims. Now, five years after COVID was declared a pandemic, she joins Dr. Sanjay Gupta to talk about her new approach to spotting shoddy science. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...
Mar 14, 2025•30 min•Ep. 490
Pneumonia is a serious threat; what can you do to lower your risk? Plus, for all the night owls out there, Dr. Sanjay Gupta answers a listener’s question: are your late-night habits lazy, or is there actual science behind them? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Mar 11, 2025•14 min•Ep. 489
What can a doctor learn from becoming a patient? That’s what Dr. Bobby Mukkamala, a surgeon and president-elect of the American Medical Association, set his mind on when he was diagnosed with a brain tumor last year. Dr. Sanjay Gupta sits down with his old friend, before and after surgery, to see what Mukkamala’s experience taught him about U.S. healthcare being on the other side of the stethoscope. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...
Mar 07, 2025•37 min•Ep. 488
Have you ever been told to let hot food cool before putting it in the fridge? And what about those "microwave-safe" plastic containers—are they actually safe? Dr. Sanjay Gupta weighs in on these common kitchen debates. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Mar 04, 2025•13 min•Ep. 487
We haven’t talked much about measles since it was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000. But measles is one of the most contagious viruses on the planet, and lower vaccination rates have given it a chance to spread—just like we’re seeing in West Texas. Dr. Sanjay Gupta traveled there to find out how the outbreak started, what’s being done to contain it, and how the community is coping. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...
Feb 28, 2025•19 min•Ep. 486
Measles was considered eliminated in the United States in 2000 — so why is it making a comeback? Dr. Sanjay Gupta reports from West Texas where there’s a growing outbreak to answer your pressing questions on the virus and explain how to protect yourself and your family. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Feb 25, 2025•15 min•Ep. 485
We’ve all heard that so-called “ultraprocessed” foods aren’t great for us—but why? It turns out scientists are still trying to figure that out. Dr. Sanjay Gupta sits down with his friend and colleague, CNN’s Meg Tirrell, to talk about her recent visit to the National Institutes of Health, where researchers are studying the effects of these foods in ways that could shape future food policy and change how we shop. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...
Feb 21, 2025•33 min•Ep. 484
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, 2025•12 min•Ep. 483
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, 2025•30 min•Ep. 482
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, 2025•14 min•Ep. 481
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, 2025•29 min•Ep. 480
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 podcast...
Feb 04, 2025•11 min•Ep. 479
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, 2025•39 min•Ep. 478
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, 2025•25 min•Ep. 477
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, 2025•33 min•Ep. 476
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/adc...
Jan 10, 2025•30 min•Ep. 475
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, 2025•27 min•Ep. 474
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, 2024•24 min•Ep. 473
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, 2024•31 min•Ep. 472
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, 2024•28 min•Ep. 471
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, 2024•33 min•Ep. 470
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 t...
Nov 29, 2024•28 min•Ep. 469
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, 2024•38 min•Ep. 468
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, 2024•25 min•Ep. 467
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, 2024•31 min•Ep. 466
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, 2024•41 min•Ep. 465
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, 2024•35 min•Ep. 464
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, 2024•37 min•Ep. 463
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, 2024•37 min•Ep. 462
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 pus...
Oct 04, 2024•39 min•Ep. 461
