The Podcast by KevinMD

Patient advocate Eric Goldfarb discusses the article "How a pregnancy test on a male patient revealed health care flaws." Eric shares the absurd and heartbreaking story of finding a pregnancy test charge on his 88 year old father's final hospital bill. He explains how this error was merely a symptom of a larger, systemic failure where institutional momentum often overrides common sense and patient safety. Eric details the struggle to stop a dangerous premature discharge after his father's brain surgery and the subsequent bureaucratic fog that prevented the hospital from correcting a biologically impossible billing error. The conversation explores how patients become ticket numbers and how the simple act of noticing can be the difference between a system that heals and one that harms. Discover why advocacy often requires repeating the obvious until the system finally listens. Partner with me on the KevinMD platform. With over three million monthly readers and half a million social media followers, I give you direct access to the doctors and patients who matter most. Whether you need a sponsored article, email campaign, video interview, or a spot right here on the podcast, I offer the trusted space your brand deserves to be heard. Let's work together to tell your story. PARTNER WITH KEVINMD → https://kevinmd.com/influencer SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

Internal medicine and functional medicine physician Shiv K. Goel discusses the article "Why lifestyle matters more than BPC-157 and semaglutide." Shiv explains how the modern longevity boom has trained patients to seek out quick fixes like peptides and weight loss injections while ignoring foundational habits. He shares a compelling patient story to illustrate why optimizing sleep, circadian rhythms, and stress management is far more powerful than any supplement drawer. Shiv argues that tracking endless biomarkers with wearables without understanding a patient's personal story only creates anxiety. By prioritizing deep listening and addressing the root causes of metabolic dysfunction, clinicians can offer real solutions rather than just another health care transaction. Discover how aligning your daily routines with your biology is the ultimate biohack for a longer, healthier life. Partner with me on the KevinMD platform. With over three million monthly readers and half a million social media followers, I give you direct access to the doctors and patients who matter most. Whether you need a sponsored article, email campaign, video interview, or a spot right here on the podcast, I offer the trusted space your brand deserves to be heard. Let's work together to tell your story. PARTNER WITH KEVINMD → https://kevinmd.com/influencer SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

Former Treasurer of the American College of Physicians Janet A. Jokela discusses the article "The service of humanity: Recommitting to physicians' ethical duties." Janet reflects on her visit to the Ronald Reagan Museum where she found profound connections between the former president's views on diversity and the medical profession's ethical oath. Janet explains that the service of humanity is not just a phrase for white coat ceremonies, but a call to treat every patient with benevolence and goodwill regardless of their background or political status. The conversation highlights courageous actions taken by Minnesota physicians to protect vulnerable populations and reaffirms that health is a human right grounded in dignity. By prioritizing empathy over technology, Janet believes clinicians can rediscover their true identities as healers in an increasingly fractured world. Discover how a simple commitment to kindness can transform the entire landscape of modern medicine. Partner with me on the KevinMD platform. With over three million monthly readers and half a million social media followers, I give you direct access to the doctors and patients who matter most. Whether you need a sponsored article, email campaign, video interview, or a spot right here on the podcast, I offer the trusted space your brand deserves to be heard. Let's work together to tell your story. PARTNER WITH KEVINMD → https://kevinmd.com/influencer SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

Family physician, medical device inventor, and health care entrepreneur Tod Stillson discusses the article "AI governance in health care: Why physicians must lead the design." Tod warns that the greatest threat to modern medicine is allowing artificial intelligence to be designed without physician oversight. He reflects on how hospital consolidation and private equity have previously redistributed power away from clinicians, and argues that AI could become the next structural layer that reduces physicians to mere units in a revenue architecture. Tod outlines five non-negotiable characteristics of trustworthy AI, emphasizing that technology must augment clinical judgment rather than impersonate it. He highlights the "accountability test," reminding listeners that the responsibility for clinical decisions remains with the doctor, not the algorithm. Discover why physicians must move from being passive consumers to active architects to ensure that AI creates leverage with integrity. Partner with me on the KevinMD platform. With over three million monthly readers and half a million social media followers, I give you direct access to the doctors and patients who matter most. Whether you need a sponsored article, email campaign, video interview, or a spot right here on the podcast, I offer the trusted space your brand deserves to be heard. Let's work together to tell your story. PARTNER WITH KEVINMD → https://kevinmd.com/influencer SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

Pediatric hematology-oncology physician and co-founder of Pink Coat, MD Tammie Chang discusses the article "Unhooking from the ego in medicine." Tammie shares her personal journey through depression and clinical burnout, explaining how these challenges forced her to disconnect from a professional identity rooted in ego and achievement. She describes the neurological shift from a left-brain focus on analysis to a right-brain focus on intuition and interconnectedness. By choosing to show up as a loving presence in the exam room, Tammie found that she could complete her work with more joy and less exhaustion. This transformation allowed her to move away from being an automaton of productivity and toward a state of equanimity. Her experience suggests that physicians can find peace even amidst global uncertainty by reclaiming their true selves. True healing begins when we prioritize human connection over the need to always be right. Partner with me on the KevinMD platform. With over three million monthly readers and half a million social media followers, I give you direct access to the doctors and patients who matter most. Whether you need a sponsored article, email campaign, video interview, or a spot right here on the podcast, I offer the trusted space your brand deserves to be heard. Let's work together to tell your story. PARTNER WITH KEVINMD → https://kevinmd.com/influencer SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

Integrative pediatrician Mary Wilde discusses the article "The pause medicine never taught us to take." Mary discusses how medical training conditions clinicians to fear rest and prioritize a treadmill of servitude over personal well-being. She shares insights from teaching medical students who found clarity and emotional release only when forced to step away from their studies. Mary describes her experience hosting retreats in southern Utah and how physical distance from the clinical environment provides a necessary vantage point for accurate self-assessment. The conversation explores the physiological benefits of silence, including neurogenesis and cortisol reduction, while highlighting the systemic and personal barriers that prevent doctors from seeking renewal. Discover why creating open space is not a sign of weakness but an essential act of wisdom for every healer. Partner with me on the KevinMD platform. With over three million monthly readers and half a million social media followers, I give you direct access to the doctors and patients who matter most. Whether you need a sponsored article, email campaign, video interview, or a spot right here on the podcast, I offer the trusted space your brand deserves to be heard. Let's work together to tell your story. PARTNER WITH KEVINMD → https://kevinmd.com/influencer SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

Metabolic health educator Marsha Shepherd Whitt discusses the article "Why 'eat less, move more' fails for midlife weight loss." Marsha explains that weight loss struggles in midlife are often driven by physiology rather than a lack of discipline. As women move through perimenopause and menopause, biological changes alter how the body partitions fuel, regulates blood sugar, and responds to insulin. Marsha highlights how frequent glucose exposure and rising cortisol levels can push the body into a defensive conservation mode that protects fat stores at the expense of muscle and bone. Instead of forcing a deficit, she advocates for restoring metabolic stability by lowering chronic glucose exposure and preserving muscle mass. Discover how aligning with your biology can end the cycle of self-blame and finally unlock sustainable fat loss. Partner with me on the KevinMD platform. With over three million monthly readers and half a million social media followers, I give you direct access to the doctors and patients who matter most. Whether you need a sponsored article, email campaign, video interview, or a spot right here on the podcast, I offer the trusted space your brand deserves to be heard. Let's work together to tell your story. PARTNER WITH KEVINMD → https://kevinmd.com/influencer SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

Health care executive Chris Darland discusses their article "Why remote patient monitoring needs a preventive shift." Chris explains that remote patient monitoring is currently too reactive, functioning as a safety net that tracks problems rather than preventing them. He suggests that technology should shift toward a proactive approach where data is collected before routine visits to provide a real life snapshot of heart performance. Chris describes how advanced signal processing tools, similar to those used by NASA, can now capture high-fidelity cardiac signals over several days while patients live their normal lives. By using AI to turn raw data into actionable insights, health care teams can detect subtle trends and make small adjustments before emergencies occur. This new approach moves beyond simply turning homes into hospitals and instead focuses on building a digital model of whole body health. Find out how listening to the heart's hidden clues can help clinicians see ahead to what might become a problem. Partner with me on the KevinMD platform. With over three million monthly readers and half a million social media followers, I give you direct access to the doctors and patients who matter most. Whether you need a sponsored article, email campaign, video interview, or a spot right here on the podcast, I offer the trusted space your brand deserves to be heard. Let's work together to tell your story. PARTNER WITH KEVINMD → https://kevinmd.com/influencer SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

Physical therapist and certified lymphedema specialist Maureen McBeth discusses her article "Beyond BMI: Why weight management must look inside the body." Maureen explains why common tools like the bathroom scale and body mass index can misclassify up to 34 percent of the general population as obese while masking dangerous internal realities. Drawing from over 25 years in oncology rehabilitation and her own personal experience taking a GLP-1 medication after major surgery, Maureen warns that rapid weight loss can lead to severe muscle depletion and malnutrition if not properly monitored. She highlights the critical importance of tracking three core components of health: muscle mass, intracellular water, and balanced extracellular water. By utilizing noninvasive bioimpedance spectroscopy assessments, clinicians can provide actionable insights to protect a patient's structural and metabolic foundation during their weight loss journey. Discover how looking beyond the scale can transform your approach to long-term health and resilience. Partner with me on the KevinMD platform. With over three million monthly readers and half a million social media followers, I give you direct access to the doctors and patients who matter most. Whether you need a sponsored article, email campaign, video interview, or a spot right here on the podcast, I offer the trusted space your brand deserves to be heard. Let's work together to tell your story. PARTNER WITH KEVINMD → https://kevinmd.com/influencer SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

Metabolic health educator Kevin Whitt discusses his article "Insulin resistance is not a disease: a metabolic reframe." Kevin argues that the skyrocketing rates of Type 2 diabetes are not the result of defective biology, but rather a predictable response to chronically elevated blood sugar. The conversation challenges the traditional medical view of insulin resistance, reframing it as a protective mechanism where cells limit glucose uptake to prevent damage from substrate oversupply. Kevin highlights how modern medical education structurally privileges pharmacological treatments over nutritional interventions, leaving doctors equipped to manage symptoms rather than address root causes. Discover why addressing the dietary carbohydrate load is the key to resolving this metabolic mismatch. Partner with me on the KevinMD platform. With over three million monthly readers and half a million social media followers, I give you direct access to the doctors and patients who matter most. Whether you need a sponsored article, email campaign, video interview, or a spot right here on the podcast, I offer the trusted space your brand deserves to be heard. Let's work together to tell your story. PARTNER WITH KEVINMD → https://kevinmd.com/influencer SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

Pediatrician and certified coach Jessie Mahoney discusses her article "Dealing with physician negative feedback." Jessie validates the pain that comes with criticism, noting that it hurts not because physicians are weak, but because they are human and deeply invested in their patients. The conversation explores the physiological response to negative reviews, suggesting practical mindfulness techniques like placing a hand on the heart to lower cortisol and signal safety. Jessie advises against the habit of rumination, encouraging doctors to instead create a "generous story" that frames the feedback through a lens of curiosity rather than shame. Discover why prioritizing integrity over being liked is essential for sustainable medical practice. Partner with me on the KevinMD platform. With over three million monthly readers and half a million social media followers, I give you direct access to the doctors and patients who matter most. Whether you need a sponsored article, email campaign, video interview, or a spot right here on the podcast, I offer the trusted space your brand deserves to be heard. Let's work together to tell your story. PARTNER WITH KEVINMD → https://kevinmd.com/influencer SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

In this special sponsored episode from Eli Lilly and Company, I am joined by Dr. Lee James, senior vice president of oncology medical affairs at Lilly, to discuss the importance of lung cancer screening, early detection, and advances in biomarker testing. We explore how low-dose CT screening can reduce mortality, yet remains underused, and why comprehensive genomic profiling is essential to understanding the molecular drivers of non-small cell lung cancer and guiding targeted treatment decisions. Tune in to learn how expanding access to screening and precision medicine is helping create new hope for people affected by lung cancer. VISIT SPONSOR → https://www.lilly.com/conditions/cancer/lung-cancer SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

Patient advocate Richard A. Lawhern, PhD, discusses the article "U.S. opioid policy history: How politics replaced science in pain care." Richard argues that for decades, public policy on pain treatment has been driven by sociopolitical factors rather than medical science. He traces the history from the "business corruption" phase of pill mills to the current "political phase" launched by the 2016 CDC guidelines. The conversation highlights how anti-opioid zealotry and legal fears have forced physicians to abandon effective pain care, leaving patients to suffer or turn to illicit markets. Richard also critiques the rising reliance on buprenorphine, suggesting it is popular not because of superior efficacy for pain, but because it offers a legal "safe harbor" for clinicians. Discover why Richard believes the confusion between physical dependence and addiction is driving a public health failure. Partner with me on the KevinMD platform. With over three million monthly readers and half a million social media followers, I give you direct access to the doctors and patients who matter most. Whether you need a sponsored article, email campaign, video interview, or a spot right here on the podcast, I offer the trusted space your brand deserves to be heard. Let's work together to tell your story. PARTNER WITH KEVINMD → https://kevinmd.com/influencer SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

Medical student Umayr R. Shaikh discusses his article "The impact of CDC's new childhood immunization guidance." Umayr argues that recent CDC changes, moving vaccines like flu, Hep B, and meningococcal from universal recommendation to shared decision making, risk normalizing preventable illness. He highlights how his medical training now focuses on diagnosing diseases that should be rare footnotes. The conversation explores the danger of treating public health as an individual choice, warning that this shift will disproportionately harm vulnerable populations and widen health inequities. Discover why rebuilding trust in evidence based prevention is critical to avoiding a future of predictable outbreaks. Partner with me on the KevinMD platform. With over three million monthly readers and half a million social media followers, I give you direct access to the doctors and patients who matter most. Whether you need a sponsored article, email campaign, video interview, or a spot right here on the podcast, I offer the trusted space your brand deserves to be heard. Let's work together to tell your story. PARTNER WITH KEVINMD → https://kevinmd.com/influencer SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

Retired emergency department nurse Amy Dinaburg discusses her article "Lowercase PTSD: Why emergency staff are still hypervigilant." Amy reflects on the relentless pressure of the COVID-19 pandemic where nurses were forced to override their nervous systems to keep patients alive. She describes the concept of "Lowercase PTSD" as the result of prolonged exposure to death and uncertainty rather than a single catastrophic event. The conversation highlights how the "hero" narrative often masked a survival mode that many staff are still struggling to turn off years later. Amy explains that healing requires small recalibrations, like consciously softening the body and allowing rest without earning it, to move from unconscious reactivity back to feeling fully alive. Partner with me on the KevinMD platform. With over three million monthly readers and half a million social media followers, I give you direct access to the doctors and patients who matter most. Whether you need a sponsored article, email campaign, video interview, or a spot right here on the podcast, I offer the trusted space your brand deserves to be heard. Let's work together to tell your story. PARTNER WITH KEVINMD → https://kevinmd.com/influencer SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

Internal medicine and functional medicine physician Shiv K. Goel discusses his article "Agentic AI in medicine: the danger of automating the doctor." Shiv analyzes the new ARPA-H "ADVOCATE" program which aims to deploy autonomous AI agents for heart disease care within three years. The conversation highlights the critical difference between processing data and understanding a patient, noting that AI cannot read the fear in a voice or the silence between words. Shiv warns of the "liability black hole" that arises when algorithms make high-stakes decisions and argues that technology must serve the healer rather than replace the human connection. Discover why the next three years will determine whether code redefines the sacred responsibility of medicine. Partner with me on the KevinMD platform. With over three million monthly readers and half a million social media followers, I give you direct access to the doctors and patients who matter most. Whether you need a sponsored article, email campaign, video interview, or a spot right here on the podcast, I offer the trusted space your brand deserves to be heard. Let's work together to tell your story. PARTNER WITH KEVINMD → https://kevinmd.com/influencer SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

Pediatrician and certified coach Jessie Mahoney discusses her article "Why physician wellness programs must evolve beyond institutions." Jessie reflects on her seventeen years leading in-house wellness initiatives and argues that while institutional programs provide legitimacy, they are ultimately insufficient for deep healing. She explains that true recovery requires stepping away from the very environments that cause distress to find spaces free from agendas and evaluation. The conversation highlights the unique power of independent, physician-led programs that prioritize mindfulness, somatic healing, and connection with nature. Jessie contends that physicians cannot transform the health care system if they are barely surviving within it, making external wellness spaces not a luxury, but a foundational necessity for sustaining the profession. Partner with me on the KevinMD platform. With over three million monthly readers and half a million social media followers, I give you direct access to the doctors and patients who matter most. Whether you need a sponsored article, email campaign, video interview, or a spot right here on the podcast, I offer the trusted space your brand deserves to be heard. Let's work together to tell your story. PARTNER WITH KEVINMD → https://kevinmd.com/influencer SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

Occupational medicine physician and life coach Claudine Holt discusses her article "Nervous system dysregulation vs. stress: Why 'just relaxing' doesn't work." Claudine challenges the common advice to treat burnout with self-care like massages or vacations. She explains that for many, stress is not a mindset issue but a physiological state of the nervous system. The conversation highlights how behaviors like perfectionism and people-pleasing are actually adaptive survival strategies, not character flaws. Claudine argues that when the body is stuck in a fight-or-flight state, relaxation actually feels dangerous. She advocates for "bottom-up" somatic approaches rather than willpower or cognitive therapies alone. Discover why healing requires updating the nervous system's safety cues rather than just trying to force calm. Partner with me on the KevinMD platform. With over three million monthly readers and half a million social media followers, I give you direct access to the doctors and patients who matter most. Whether you need a sponsored article, email campaign, video interview, or a spot right here on the podcast, I offer the trusted space your brand deserves to be heard. Let's work together to tell your story. PARTNER WITH KEVINMD → https://kevinmd.com/influencer SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

Hematologist-oncologist Khushali Jhaveri discusses her article "What the research really says about infrared saunas." Khushali shares her personal journey from skepticism to advocacy after experiencing the profound physiological shifts of infrared heat therapy. The conversation dives into the science of heat shock proteins, explaining how thermal stress helps the body repair cellular damage and manage inflammation. She reviews a landmark study from Finland showing massive reductions in cardiovascular mortality among frequent sauna users. Khushali also distinguishes between traditional and infrared saunas, noting that while the latter operate at lower temperatures, they offer similar benefits through passive heat exposure. Discover how this ancient practice might be a key to healthier aging and longevity. Partner with me on the KevinMD platform. With over three million monthly readers and half a million social media followers, I give you direct access to the doctors and patients who matter most. Whether you need a sponsored article, email campaign, video interview, or a spot right here on the podcast, I offer the trusted space your brand deserves to be heard. Let's work together to tell your story. PARTNER WITH KEVINMD → https://kevinmd.com/influencer SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

Intensivist Cristin Mount and business operations lead Steve Lettrich from All Levels Leadership discuss their article "A 6-step framework for new health care leaders." The authors address the common challenge where clinicians step into leadership roles with little formal training. They outline a practical framework designed to help new leaders navigate complex organizational webs. The conversation details six critical steps: understanding organizational priorities, building relationships with stakeholders, defining goals through needs assessment, categorizing challenges by timeline, developing 90-day action plans, and remaining adaptable. Cristin and Steve emphasize that success relies on aligning departmental goals with the broader mission to secure necessary resources and support. Partner with me on the KevinMD platform. With over three million monthly readers and half a million social media followers, I give you direct access to the doctors and patients who matter most. Whether you need a sponsored article, email campaign, video interview, or a spot right here on the podcast, I offer the trusted space your brand deserves to be heard. Let's work together to tell your story. PARTNER WITH KEVINMD → https://kevinmd.com/influencer SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

Double board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist and reproductive endocrinology and infertility specialist Erica Bove discusses her article "A clinician's guide to embryo grading in IVF." Erica breaks down the complex metrics used to evaluate embryo quality, a subject often reserved for subspecialty fellowship training. The conversation guides listeners through the critical developmental milestones from fertilization to the blastocyst stage. Erica demystifies the alphanumeric grading system used by embryologists to assess viability and explains why a "perfect" grade does not always guarantee a healthy pregnancy. The discussion also weighs the nuances of genetic testing (PGT-A), clarifying when it offers a true benefit versus when it might add unnecessary risk to the embryo. Discover how to interpret these technical reports to manage expectations and make informed choices during the IVF process. Partner with me on the KevinMD platform. With over three million monthly readers and half a million social media followers, I give you direct access to the doctors and patients who matter most. Whether you need a sponsored article, email campaign, video interview, or a spot right here on the podcast, I offer the trusted space your brand deserves to be heard. Let's work together to tell your story. PARTNER WITH KEVINMD → https://kevinmd.com/influencer SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended