Mayo Clinic Health Matters

Art feeds the soul — but can it also help the body heal? Mayo Clinic’s Arts at the Bedside program is exploring exactly that. On this episode of Health Matters, we’re joined by artist Robin Anderson, who brings creativity directly to patients’ bedsides, and patient-turned-artist Katie White, who left Mayo Clinic with not just a new heart, but a new creative passion. Together, they share how art can offer comfort, connection and even a sense of control during some of life’s most challenging moments — and why creativity may play a meaningful role in the healing process. Sign up to receive Mayo Clinic Press emails. Find us online at Mayo Clinic Press for more health and wellness articles, podcasts and books. Do you have feedback, questions or topic suggestions? Email us at [email protected].

If the past year has shown us anything, it’s that GLP-1s are here to stay. But as time passes, we’re also learning more about them — from new uses to new side effects to unexpected cultural trends. So have these drugs really lived up to the promise of easy weight loss? On this episode of Health Matters, Mayo Clinic dietitian Tara Schmidt rejoins us — one year after our original GLP-1 episode — to talk about what we’ve learned so far, what’s surprised researchers and patients, and what questions still need answers.

Curing cancer is often talked about as a pie-in-the-sky goal. Given how difficult cancer can be to detect — let alone treat — a cure can sometimes feel out of reach. But what if a real cure for many types of cancer is closer than we think — perhaps just a decade away? On this episode of Health Matters, oncologist Dr. Tanios Bekaii-Saab joins us to explain what makes cancer so challenging to cure, how we are treating it today, and what is giving him real hope for the future.

It’s time to talk about poop. While poop can feel awkward or uncomfortable to talk about, it can offer valuable clues about your health. So what might your poop be telling you? In this episode of Health Matters, gastroenterologist Dr. Xiao Jing Iris Wang shares practical guidance on healthy bowel habits, how to manage constipation and diarrhea, and whether there really are “right” or “wrong” ways to poop. Check out Dr. Wang's children's book, Boo Can't Poo, at mcpress.mayoclinic.org/product/boo-cant-poo. Find us online at Mayo Clinic Press for more health and wellness articles, podcasts and books. Do you have feedback, questions or topic suggestions? Email us at [email protected].