Today’s episode features two people who are shaking up the U.S. healthcare system in very different but deeply humane ways. Dr. Fumiko Chino knows firsthand how devastating medical debt can be. After losing her husband to cancer and being left with overwhelming bills, she went to medical school to become a radiation oncologist and made it her mission to make care more affordable. Mark Cuban, best known as one of the “sharks” on Shark Tank, is tackling the same problem from another angle. Through...
Nov 11, 2025•42 min
What if ending food insecurity meant ditching charity models that haven’t been updated since the 1960s? Dion Dawson, TED Fellow and founder of Dion’s Chicago Dream, shares how he turned a spontaneous idea for giving back to his community into a thriving social enterprise, delivering top-quality produce to thousands of Chicago households every week and reaching a million dollars in revenue in just 18 months. He’s proving that it’s possible to replace the outdated food pantry model with a data-dri...
Nov 04, 2025•16 min
It’s a common misconception that stomach ulcers are caused by emotional upset, psychological distress, or spicy food. Yet no convincing study has ever demonstrated that these factors directly cause ulcer disease. So what does cause stomach ulcers? Rusha Modi explains how one doctor’s famous (and dangerous) experiment led us to the answer. [Directed by Jonathan Trueblood, narrated by Addison Anderson, music by Weston Fonger, Jarrett Farkas]. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informa...
Oct 28, 2025•7 min
Journalist Vanessa Grigoriadis talks to friends, experts, and celebrities about the chaos of dealing with aging parents. From Medicaid nightmares to emotional meltdowns in storage units, it’s a brutally honest, often hilarious look at one of life’s most disorienting stages. Come for the catharsis, stay for the gallows humor and unfiltered conversations. If you’re currently the parent to your parents, this is your group chat in podcast form. Listen to So Your Parents Are Old on Apple , Spotify , ...
Oct 28, 2025•3 min
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women globally. And yet, many people pass up opportunities to get screened for the disease, often because of the invasive and sometimes painful process of mammograms. Chemist and professor Simona Francese presents a potentially groundbreaking alternative that could transform how and when we identify this deadly disease. After the talk, Shoshana speaks with Dr. Dhivya Srinivasa, founder of the Institute for Advanced Breast Reconstruction in Los Angele...
Oct 21, 2025•32 min
Can cannabis actually treat insomnia? It's complicated, says sleep physiologist Jen Walsh. While the plant has been used across time and cultures, there's been little scientific research on how it impacts sleep disorders like insomnia. That's precisely where she and her team come in. Learn about the world's first study into the potential of medicinal cannabis as a safe, accessible treatment to help us all rest easy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Oct 14, 2025•13 min
This is the surprising story of how Texas – rich in oil and gas – became America's biggest producer of wind energy. For our first episode, Ryan and Anjali talk with Pat Wood, once George W. Bush’s right hand man and head of Texas's Public Utility Commission, to uncover the innovative approach that turned Texas into a renewable energy powerhouse. It’s a story about what could get done before partisan politics got in the way of good climate policy, and it shows that economic incentives for consume...
Oct 10, 2025•27 min
What if we could get a heads-up about serious health issues before they begin, from the moment a baby is born? In this groundbreaking talk, medical geneticist and physician-scientist Robert C. Green shares how his team at the BabySeq Project became the first in the world to comprehensively sequence and analyze the DNA of healthy infants, revealing hidden risks for treatable conditions. The future of medicine isn’t just about curing illness, he says — it's about predicting and preventing it. Afte...
Oct 07, 2025•41 min
From cosmetics to nutrition, collagen is seemingly everywhere — but we don't often discuss its ethically questionable sources, says chemical engineer Fei Luo. She delves into the groundbreaking technology that uses genetically modified yeast to brew animal-free collagen, a process that could pave the way for a functional, tasty and harm-free future for this crucial protein. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Sep 30, 2025•8 min
In 1968, the American Heart Association made an announcement that would influence people’s diets for decades: they recommended that people avoid eating more than three eggs a week. Their reasoning was that the cholesterol packed into egg yolks could increase cardiovascular disease risk. So, what exactly is cholesterol? And is it actually bad for you? Hei Man Chan digs into this complex molecule. [Directed by Igor Ćorić, Artrake Studio, narrated by Addison Anderson, music by Cem Misirlioglu]. Aft...
Sep 23, 2025•30 min
For years, Jean Béliveau walked from country to country, with the goal of circumnavigating the globe on foot. While few people have the time or desire to walk such extreme lengths, research shows that adding even a modest amount of walking to your daily routine can dramatically improve your health. So, what exactly happens to your body when you increase your step count? Shannon Odell investigates. [Directed by Avi Ofer, narrated by Susan Zimmerman, music by Cem Misirlioglu]. Hosted on Acast. See...
Sep 16, 2025•7 min
Andy Laats had the textbook fairytale family setup ... a great job, a happy marriage, three wonderful kids and everything going for them. Until one day, they didn't anymore. In this tender, wise and unexpectedly funny talk, Laats describes the profound lessons he's learned over the years as a father, offering insights that will resonate with anyone who's ever had any kind of family. After the talk, Shoshana interviews Dr. Nadine Burke Harris to discuss how childhood adversity and toxic stress im...
Sep 09, 2025•42 min
While most people think of acne as a skin condition for adolescents, it can also develop in adults. In this bonus episode from CBC’s The Dose, host Dr. Brian Goldman speaks with the head of dermatology at Dalhousie University, Dr. Kerri Purdy. She shares some of the risk factors for acne (genes and hormones, not necessarily diet) as well as the latest treatments. The Dose from CBC Podcasts provides a weekly look at the health news that matters to you. Dr. Brian Goldman brings you the best scienc...
Sep 02, 2025•23 min
Does the type and amount of light you’re exposed to during the day change how well you sleep at night? Diving into the effects of daylight on your internal biological clock, sleep scientist Christine Blume shares practical tips for making natural light part of your daily routine — and shows why stepping outside might be the simplest, most impactful change you can make to get better rest. After the talk, Shoshana interviews Dr. Meredith Broderick, on why people often undervalue sleep and why good...
Aug 26, 2025•31 min
Why does losing weight often feel like an uphill battle? Physician Katherine Saunders unpacks how our bodies are wired to store fat, revealing that obesity isn’t simply a lack of willpower — it’s a complex, chronic disease rooted in evolutionary biology. She shares the science behind the latest breakthroughs in treatment, from lifestyle interventions to powerful new medications. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Aug 19, 2025•13 min
Do you hate the taste of cilantro and chocolate? You might be a super taster! Rachel Herz is a neuroscientist at Brown University who specializes in taste and smell. In this episode, Adam, Rachel, and Adam’s wife Allison Sweet Grant investigate the sources of their different food preferences, uncover the overlooked power of smell, and analyze the effects of the gene that can turn some people into picky eaters. This episode originally aired on ReThinking with Adam Grant July 22, 2025. Hosted on A...
Aug 12, 2025•35 min
You know it's important to take care of your physical and mental health. But what about your social health? Social scientist Kasley Killam shows how feeling a sense of belonging and connection has concrete benefits to your overall health — and explains why it may be the missing key to living a longer and happier life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Aug 05, 2025•11 min
At the plant-based burger chain Slutty Vegan, Pinky Cole is flipping the script on vegan food with bold style. In conversation with host of "TED Radio Hour" Manoush Zomorodi, she shares the highs and lows of her entrepreneurial journey, from her roots in Baltimore to the grease fire that took her first storefront in Harlem. Learn more about the authenticity, resilience and community that went into building a multimillion-dollar vegan food empire. This episode originally aired on TED Talks Daily ...
Jul 29, 2025•20 min
After a mysterious wave of tics and twitches swept through a small-town high school in New York, documentary podcaster Dan Taberski set out to investigate what was really happening. Drawing on extensive research and intimate interviews with the people involved, he explores the roots of mass hysteria — and what it reveals about the line between illness and belonging. What happens when the very thing that makes us sick ... is also what connects us? After the talk, Shoshana interviews Dan on how hi...
Jul 22, 2025•30 min
When anxiety rears its head, we often just want it to go away. Clinical psychologist David H. Rosmarin asks us to consider instead the positive role anxiety can play in our lives, sharing four practical steps to transform it from your enemy into your ally. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jul 15, 2025•16 min
Why is having the sex talk, admitting you passed gas, or being open about your body hair so seemingly uncomfortable for all of us? Journalist and host of the podcast, Embodied, Anita Rao, joins Chris this week to discuss why having open conversations about taboo topics like sex, relationships, and our bodies can help us understand ourselves better and feel less shame. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jul 08, 2025•35 min
There's a reliable indicator of a woman's future likelihood of cardiovascular disease — but it rarely gets asked about, says obstetrician and researcher Meryam Sugulle. She delves into the role of the placenta in pregnancy, how it can predict health outcomes and the single question that should be worked into routine health screenings. After the talk Shoshana speaks with Dr. Sharmila Makhija, the founding Dean and CEO of the Alice L. Walton School of Medicine. They'll discuss the future of reprod...
Jul 01, 2025•35 min
TED Fellow and equity bioengineer Erika Moore investigates how cells controlling inflammation behave differently depending on a patient's background. By focusing on the "who" behind the disease, Moore is uncovering why certain diseases disproportionately affect certain ethnicities, paving the way for more inclusive and effective health care. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jun 24, 2025•6 min
In 1952, polio was everywhere: killing or paralyzing roughly half a million people annually. Yet just 10 years later, paralytic polio cases in the US dropped by 96% and we were on track to get rid of polio for good. But in recent years, the virus started striking back. So, what’s behind these recent spikes? Explore the dangers of poliovirus and the possibility of eradicating this deadly disease. [Directed by Anton Bogaty, narrated by Addison Anderson, music by Stephen LaRosa]. After the talk, Sh...
Jun 17, 2025•35 min
All year long, researchers at hospitals around the world collect samples from flu patients and send them to top virology experts with one goal: to design the vaccine for the next flu season. But why do we need a new one every year? Vaccines for diseases like mumps and rubella offer a lifetime of protection with two shots early in life; what’s so special about the flu? Melvin Sanicas explains. [Directed by Andrew Foerster, narrated by Addison Anderson, music by Devin Polaski]. After the talk, Sho...
Jun 10, 2025•31 min
Ethan Lindenberger never got vaccinated as a kid. So one day, he went on Reddit and asked a simple question: "Where do I go to get vaccinated?" The post went viral, landing Lindenberger in the middle of a heated debate about vaccination and, ultimately, in front of a US Senate committee. Less than a year later, the high school senior reports back on his unexpected time in the spotlight and a new movement he's leading to fight misinformation and advocate for scientific truth. After the talk, Shos...
Jun 03, 2025•44 min
Have we lost the practical wisdom of what happens as people die? With lessons from a career witnessing thousands of people's final breaths, palliative care expert Kathryn Mannix urges us to demystify the experience of death, sharing how a better understanding of what actually happens can reduce fear in the final days, for you and your loved ones. After the talk, Shoshana shares how one patient changed her life forever and led her to found endwellproject.org, a platform dedicated to making end-of...
May 27, 2025•23 min
TED Fellow and chemosensory researcher Paule Joseph unveils the hidden power of a sense that's too often overlooked: smell. She delves into the science behind smell — from how it evokes memory and emotion to its potential for early disease detection — and advocates for the creation of a baseline test for taste and smell that could open the door to more comprehensive health care. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
May 20, 2025•7 min
“My lens around style doesn’t have anything to do with style anymore — it’s about physicality,” says stylist and fashion consultant Stacy London. “What do I want to be able to do? How do I keep myself strong?” Stacy’s message has resonated for many women, and for this episode, she joins Dr. Shoshana Ungerleider, host of TED Health, at TED2025 for a special live conversation about why women are so embarrassed to talk about aging. For Stacy, aging became a chance to reassess her relationship to he...
May 13, 2025•52 min
Are you actually bored, or is something else going on? Educator Kevin H. Gary shares three practical takeaways to deal with the doldrums, so you can take control of your attention, figure out which feelings to trust and name the real problem. After the talk, join Shoshana for a sweeping conversation with Dr. Elizabeth Harstad on the relationship between boredom and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD. This episode originally aired on February 27, 2024. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com...
May 06, 2025•27 min
