House Calls with Dr. Vivek Murthy

Ada Limón: How Can Poetry Help Us Make Sense Of The World? Oct 29, 2024

For Ada Limón, the 24th U.S. Poet Laureate, poetry is her way of connecting — to others, to ourselves, to our natural world. Ada’s work is deeply personal, inspired by gratitude for loved ones, awe and nature, and her struggles with scoliosis and infertility. In this conversation with the Surgeon General, she reflects on her process for writing, which she says often starts with the simple act of seeing what’s around her. When Ada shares her poems, she finds joy in other people seeing their own feelings and life experiences in her writing.In the course of this conversation she beautifully recites two of her poems. “The Raincoat” was written for her mother. The other, “In Praise of Mystery,” is shooting through outer space right now on a NASA aircraft bound for Jupiter’s moon Europa.

(07:36) Can poetry help keep us grounded?
(10:33) How does poetry help when language fails us?
(12:35) Ada shares her poem "The Raincoat”
(17:50) What are some unexpected ways poetry opens people up?
(22:40) What if we don't "get" poetry?
(26:42) What is it like to live the life of a poet?
(31:38) How Ada gets herself in the mindset to write
(38:08) On staying present
(44:02) How life challenges shaped her creativity
(52:14) How does Ada define success at this point in her life?
(59:36) A reading of her poem "In Praise of Mystery."
(01:03:08) What gives Ada Limón hope?

We’d love to hear from you! Send us a note at housecalls@hhs.gov with your feedback & ideas. For more episodes, visit www.surgeongeneral.gov/housecalls.

Ada Limón, 24th U.S. Poet Laureate

Instagram: @adalimonwriter

Facebook: @poetadalimon

About Ada Limón

Ada Limón is the author of six books of poetry, including “The Carrying,” which won the National Book Critics Circle Award. Her book “Bright Dead Things” was nominated for the National Book Award, the National Book Critics Circle Award, and the Kingsley Tufts Poetry Award. Her most recent book of poetry, “The Hurting Kind,” was shortlisted for the Griffin Poetry Prize. She is also the author of two children’s books: “In Praise of Mystery,” with illustrations by Peter Sís; and “And, Too, The Fox,” which will be released in 2025. In October of 2023 she was awarded a MacArthur "Genius" Fellowship, and she was named a TIME magazine woman of the year in 2024. She is the recipient of a Guggenheim fellowship and wrote a poem that will be engraved on NASA's Europa Clipper Spacecraft that will be launched to the second moon of Jupiter in October 2024. As the 24th Poet Laureate of The United States, her signature project is called “You Are Here” and focuses on how poetry can help connect us to the natural world. She will serve as Poet Laureate until the spring of 2025.

Best of House Calls: Supporting Parent Mental Health Oct 15, 2024

How does parents’ mental health influence their kids’ mental health?

Why are parents today feeling so overwhelmed?

How can parents let go of trying to be the perfect parent?

As the father of two young kids, parenting is a common theme the Surgeon General explores with guests. Given the resonance of the Surgeon General’s recent advisory on parent mental health & well-being, this episode digs into the House Calls archives. We revisit moments with guests including Dr. Lisa Damour and Dr. Aliza Pressman, as they share their expertise—walking through great practical advice about navigating disagreements with children, warning about the impacts of technology, and examining how parents and children share their nervous systems—while also sharing moving personal parenting moments.

(02:47) How are parents feeling these days?

(03:35) Why are parents so often feeling overwhelmed?

(07:00) How does parents’ mental health influence their kids’ mental health?

(09:28) How should parents think about their role in their kids’ mental health?

(12:43) How can men support each other to be more connected fathers?

(18:42) Why should we embrace being an imperfect parent?

(20:58) Why is it helpful to think through goals for parenting?

(22:24) A brief exercise to help us stay focused on what’s most important to us when we’re parenting our children.

We’d love to hear from you! Send us a note at housecalls@hhs.gov with your feedback & ideas. For more episodes, visit www.surgeongeneral.gov/housecalls.

Kayla Barron: An Astronaut's Guide To Living On Earth Oct 01, 2024

What can life in space teach us about living well on earth?

As an astronaut, Kayla Barron she has lived this very question. As a member of the NASA’s mission to the International Space Station, she and her crew spent 177 days in orbit. In that time, she performed two space walks. Before becoming an astronaut, she earned a degree in nuclear engineering and served as one of the first female Submarine Warfare Officers in the US Navy. Turns out life on a submarine has a lot in common with life in space.

In this conversation, Kayla shares what it was like to look back on earth from space and the emotions it sparked. She remembers how she kept alive her connection with her family on earth, while she also formed essential, and meaningful relationships with her fellow astronauts on the space station. She opens up about the struggle that came after completing her mission, and the difficulty of finding her footing literally and emotionally. For Kayla, lving in space was a contemplation on what really matters in life.

This conversation was recorded in front of a live audience. Thank you to our friends at NASA for making this conversation possible.

(03:33) Did Kayla Barron always dream of becoming an astronaut?

(08:51) Becoming an astronaut — by applying online

(13:13) What was going through Kayla Barron’s mind during launch?

(16:19) What are those first few hours being in space really like?

(19:29) What perspective about life on earth did being in space give Kayla Barron?

(21:33) If Kayla Barron had to pick just one profound realization from space, what is it?

(23:09) Teamwork in space

(28:20) Readjustment to life on earth

(32:39) Grieving the end of a mission in which she felt the least lonely she had ever felt in her life

(37:33) Did Kaya Barron’s experience in space change how she engaged with people on earth?

(41:12) How her experience in space influences how she parents her child

(45:34) How does Kayla Barron keep herself grounded?

(48:00) Audience Q&A: What are some practical steps Kayla Barron took to address her emotions about returning to life on earth?

(51:02) Audience Q&A: What surprised you most about being in space?

(54:09) Audience Q&A: How did you keep yourself emotionally open to receiving daily feedback from your team?

(58:24) Audience Q&A: Did you ever feel afraid in space?

Send us a note at housecalls@hhs.gov with your feedback & ideas. www.surgeongeneral.gov/housecalls

Kayla Barron, Astronaut

Instagram: @astro_kayla

Facebook: @astrokayla

About Kayla Barron

Kayla Barron was selected by NASA to join the 2017 Astronaut Candidate Class. She reported for duty in August 2017. The Washington native graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy with a bachelor’s degree in Systems Engineering. A Gates Cambridge Scholar, Barron earned a master’s degree in Nuclear Engineering from the University of Cambridge. As a Submarine Warfare Officer, Barron was a member of the first class of women commissioned into the submarine community. She served as member of the NASA SpaceX Crew-3 mission to the International Space Station, which launched on November 10, 2021. NASA’s SpaceX Crew-3 astronauts safely splashed down on Friday, May 6, 2022 completing the agency’s third long-duration commercial crew mission to the International Space Station. The international crew of four spent 177 days in orbit.

Josh Groban: How Do You Connect With The Essence Of Who You Are? Sep 17, 2024

If we find ourselves off track in life, how can we ground ourselves and find our flow again?

When Josh Groban first stepped on stage as a shy 7th grader assigned a solo by his music teacher, his own mother didn’t know he could sing. Fast-forward three decades, and Josh has sold 35 million records worldwide. Josh’s rise to fame as a singer, songwriter and actor happened relatively quickly, he says, and along the way, he sometimes lost sight of what he cared about, pursued the wrong things, and experienced loneliness and depression. Through those difficult times, Josh sought therapy and built deeper connections with loved ones and learned to turn to them for support.

In this episode, Dr. Murthy and Josh Groban explore the challenges of navigating life when it becomes overwhelming, the power of the arts to heal, the importance the arts for young people, and how music has the power to transport us.

(07:09) Did Josh ever imagine his music could bring healing for people?

(09:30) Why are teachers so important for young artists?

(08:18) How Josh dealt with self-doubt

(23:01) What helped ground Josh as his fame grew?

(27:03) How does Josh know when he’s chasing the right things?

(33:34) How does Josh find the balance between hustle and flow?

(40:32) The isolation of fame

(49:43) The courage to work with a therapist

(55:30) The power behind Josh’s song “River”

(01:04) What do the arts do for our mental health & well-being?

(01:07:36) How is Josh Groban supporting the arts for young people?

(01:10:12) Why does Dr. Murthy feel so connected to Josh Groban?

(01:13:36) Why should we pursue experiencing the arts in our lives?

(01:17:02) Where has Dr. Murthy turned for inspiration or solace in music?

(01:18:47) Can we create more access to the arts for young people and turn STEM to STEAM?

Send us a note at housecalls@hhs.gov with your feedback & ideas. www.surgeongeneral.gov/housecalls

Josh Groban, Singer and Actor

Instagram: @joshgroban

Facebook: @joshgroban

About Josh Groban

Josh Groban possesses one of the most outstanding and instantly recognizable voices in music. A powerhouse vocalist and dynamic renaissance man, he has sold over 35 million albums worldwide. ATony, EMMY, and five-time GRAMMY Award-nominated singer, songwriter, actor, and philanthropist, his catalog spans a series of chart-topping blockbuster albums, including “Josh Groban” (5x-platinum), “Closer” (6x-platinum), “Noël” (6x-platinum), “Awake” (2x-platinum), “Illuminations”, “All That Echoes” (gold), “Stages” (gold), his first UK #1 album, “Bridges”, and his most recent release, “Harmony”. Along the way, he has packed arenas throughout North America, Europe, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and Asia.

Groban made his Broadway debut in 2016 with a starring role in “Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812,” for which he garnered a Tony Award nomination for Best Lead Actor In A Musical. In the spring of 2023, Josh took to Broadway once again, performing in the highly anticipated revival of “Sweeney Todd”, playing the title role which earned him Tony and GRAMMY Nominations along with widespread acclaim.

Groban is also a known presence on television, with appearances on “Glee”, “The Simpsons”, “The Office”, “CSI: NY, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”, and “The Crazy Ones” as well as in the feature films “Coffee Town”, “Muppets Most Wanted”, and “Crazy, Stupid, Love”. In addition, he starred in the NETFLIX series “The Good Cop” in 2018.

In 2022, he returned to the hallowed stage of Radio City Music Hall for his Great Big Radio City Show residency and launched a nation-wide live tour. Also that year, Groban also starred in ABC’s special “Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration” as none other than the Beast.

Groban remains an active arts education philanthropist and advocate, and his Find Your Light Foundation helps enrich the lives of young people through arts, education, and cultural awareness.

BONUS | Dr. Ruth: How Can We Stand Up to Loneliness? Sep 10, 2024

What does Dr. Ruth have to say about facing loneliness?

Dr. Ruth Westheimer was a legend who broke taboos around talking about sex and relationships. At her core, she cared deeply about human connection. In 2023, she was named the nation’s first honorary Ambassador to Loneliness for the state of New York.

In honor of Dr. Ruth, who passed in July 2024, the Surgeon General offers a remembrance and shares a few nuggets of wisdom she recorded while working on her last book, “The Joy of Connections.”

We’d love to hear from you! Send us a note at housecalls@hhs.gov with your feedback & ideas. For more episodes, visit www.surgeongeneral.gov/housecalls.

Dr. Ruth, Sex Therapist & Author

Dr. Ruth K. Westheimer broke stigmas for more than forty years, beginning in the 1980s with her nationally syndicated radio show “Sexually Speaking”. She authored or co-authored forty-six books on many topics and was named New York’s Ambassador to Loneliness, the first such position in the United States. A beloved therapist known to millions as “Dr. Ruth,” she passed away in July 2024.

Parents Are Under Pressure – And We Can All Help Sep 04, 2024

Parental well-being is linked to the well-being of kids – it affects kids’ health, their learning, and, ultimately, their futures.

But right now, parents and caregivers are incredibly stressed. That stress is harder to manage when you feel you’re on your own, which is why it’s concerning that parents, particularly single parents, report high levels of loneliness.

In this week’s episode of House Calls, Dr. Murthy talks about why we need a fundamental shift in how we value and prioritize parents’ well-being. He also reads a preview of his latest advisory, Parents Under Pressure: The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on the Mental Health & Well-Being of Parents.

Learn more at https://surgeongeneral.gov/parents.

(00:02) Why is parent mental health so important?
(00:54) What is The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on Parent Mental Health and Well-Being?
(01:12) Why is parenting one of the hardest jobs?
(02:22) Why is parenting so essential to our society as a whole?
(02:55) What are some modern-day parenting challenges?
(04:39) What has the U.S. Surgeon General learned in his conversations with parents across America?
(05:18) How can parents’ mental health and well-being be better-supported?

We’d love to hear from you! Send us a note at housecalls@hhs.gov with your feedback & ideas. For more episodes, visit www.surgeongeneral.gov/housecalls.

Chloe Kim: How Do You Separate Success From Self-Worth? Aug 21, 2024

What does it mean to succeed when you’ve reached the Olympic podium? How do you separate that success from your sense of self-worth?

The world knows Chloe Kim as one of the greatest athletes ever. At 17, Chloe was the youngest person to win an Olympic gold medal in snowboarding. She was the first to win two gold medals in the Halfpipe. She was the first female snowboarder to have landed back-to-back 1080s. She is the first athlete ever to win all four major snowboarding titles in the Olympics, Worlds, Youth Olympics and X Games.

Under the pressure and expectations of the world, how does Chloe stay true to herself? Now 24, Chloe holds so much wisdom. Grappling with her incredible success, she has sought to understand what truly matters - insights that have come from her moments of pain and struggle. In this conversation, Chloe opens up about how she found her way through her depression and anxiety. And how she finds inner peace. As the children of immigrant parents, Chloe and the Surgeon General talk about family and what the American Dream means to them.

Ultimately, this episode is a meditation on where we find meaning in life.

(00:03:15) Dr. Murthy and Chloe sort out Team Dog vs Team Cat tension.

(00:05:38) Where did Chloe’s love of snowboarding come from?

(00:08:55) What inspired Chloe’s parents to come to America?

(00:12:45) What were the early days of snowboarding like for Chloe?

(00:14:25) How Chloe learned to be fearless on the slopes & off the slopes

(00:17:27) How do people’s expectations of success affect Chloe?

(00:20:50) How did Chloe get through her mental health struggles?

(00:25:05) How did Chloe turn to therapy?

(00:27:45) What brings Chloe (and Dr. Murthy) inner peace?

(00:32:58) How do you live a life that’s grounded in love?

(00:38:20) What gives Chloe a sense of purpose when things get hard?

(00:39:41) Chloe’s evolving definition of success.

(00:44:12) Chloe on her relationship to self-worth and loving herself.

(00:47:04) What is Chloe’s relationship to social media?

(00:52:17) What does Chloe want her parents to know about what they mean to her?

Special thanks to the President's Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition for collaboration on this episode.

We’d love to hear from you! Send us a note at housecalls@hhs.gov with your feedback & ideas. For more episodes, visit www.surgeongeneral.gov/housecalls.

Chloe Kim, Snowboarder

Instagram: @chloekim

About Chloe Kim
The 2022 Winter Olympics cemented Chloe Kim as the female face of both snowboarding and action sports when she became the first female in history to win back-to-back Olympic gold medals in halfpipe snowboarding. After being accepted to Princeton University, Kim took the 2019–20 season off from competing to focus on her education. Returning in January 2021, after a 20-month hiatus from snowboarding competition, Kim continued her dominance of the sport, winning all 4 women’s superpipe events in the 2020–21 season including her seventh X Games gold medal and her second World Championship.

Kim has had just as much success off the mountain as she’s had on it. She’s been featured on Forbes 30 Under 30 list, Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People list, and Time’s 30 Most Influential Teens list (3 years in a row), as well as the cover of Time Magazine, Shape Magazine, Sports Illustrated, Sports Illustrated Kids, and ESPN Magazine. She also had an appearance in a Maroon 5 video and the Charlie’s Angels reboot. Additionally, Kim has taken home 5 ESPY Awards, the 2022 Daring to Disrupt Award at Glamour Women of the Year Awards, 3 Nickelodeon Kids Choice Sports Awards, and 2 Laureus World Sports Awards. Kim was appointed as a member of the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition on March 24, 2023, for a 2-year term. Kim, whose parents emigrated from Korea, now lives in Los Angeles and has been recognized for her positive impact in the Asian American community.

Sebastian Junger: How Can Death Make Us Think About Life? Aug 07, 2024

What does coming close to death teach us about living?

Sebastian Junger is not a stranger to danger and death. As an award-winning journalist and author of “The Perfect Storm,” and “Tribe,” he has spent his career covering humans in harrowing situations, from massive storms at sea to the front lines of wars. In his recent memoir, “In My Time of Dying,” Sebastian considers his near-death experience from a ruptured aneurysm and his unexpected encounter with his deceased father. How did almost dying change his view on the purpose of living?

His words are at once stark and soulful, and they are filled with truths that can help us lead a more meaningful and fulfilling life.

(03:17) Sebastian Junger’s near-death experience

(14:56) How Sebastian came to look at nearly dying as a sacred experience

(21:09) How does Sebastian make sense of the vision he had of his father?

(33:57) Did nearly dying affect how Sebastian is raising his children?

(39:26) Where does Sebastian Junger see love fitting into our lives?

(48:19) How do we build that sense of unity that comes with feeling part of a tribe?

(56:09) How can we set aside differences and find the humanity in one another?

(01:01:08) How does Sebastian Junger think about purpose?

(01:02:23) Why is Sebastian Junger so proud of being able to comfort his daughter?

We’d love to hear from you! Send us a note at housecalls@hhs.gov with your feedback & ideas. For more episodes, visit www.surgeongeneral.gov/housecalls.

Sebastian Junger, Journalist & Filmmaker

Instagram: @sebastianjungerofficial

X: @sebastianjunger

Facebook: @sebastianjunger

About Sebastian Junger

Sebastian Junger is the New York Times bestselling author of Tribe, War, Freedom, A Death in Belmont, Fire, and The Perfect Storm, and codirector of the documentary film Restrepo, which was nominated for an Academy Award. He is also the winner of a Peabody Award and the National Magazine Award for Reporting.

Ann Kim: What Does Friendship Mean To Us? Jul 23, 2024

In celebration of World Friendship Day, the Surgeon General invites an old friend and House Calls producer to talk about how their deep connection has seen them through the best of times and the worst of times, sustaining them both personally and professionally.

(00:28) House Calls gets personal as Dr. Murthy introduces an old friend (who is also a House Calls producer)

(01:56) How Dr. Murthy and his friend Ann Kim met

(03:27) How many marriages have resulted from Dr. Murthy’s personal pastime of matchmaking?

(03:54) How has Dr. Murthy and Ann Kim’s friendship cultivated a focus on social connection?

(04:44) How can we find the light in other people?

(05:28) Why is talking with a friend in challenging times so helpful?

(08:38) How can a friend help us explore our interests and find our focus?

(11:29) How can we help children foster deep friendship with their siblings?

(13:27) Dr. Murthy shares his favorite poem about friendship.

(16:11) How can we inspire more friendship?

We’d love to hear from you! Send us a note at housecalls@hhs.gov with your feedback & ideas. For more episodes, visit www.surgeongeneral.gov/housecalls.

Ann Kim, House Calls Producer and Friend

Instagram: @annkimannkim

About Ann Kim

Ann Kim is Chief Innovation & Design Officer at the Office of the U.S. Surgeon General. In this role, Ann and her team aim to bring creativity and design thinking to government, modernizing and humanizing ways to advance public health. She oversees the surgeon general’s website, first-ever podcast (“House Calls with Dr. Vivek Murthy”), and creative development of new products and initiatives. She served as Chief Design Officer during Dr. Vivek Murthy’s previous tenure from 2016-2017, developing campaigns to address substance use, opioids prescribing, and emotional well-being.

Prior to public service, Ann served as as executive director of health and well-being at global design firm IDEO. During her decade at IDEO, her portfolio included the design of HIV-prevention products, digital mental health tools, and new models of healthcare delivery.

In the first decade of her career, Ann was a producer and filmmaker for public television. Her credits include the award-winning PBS/Frontline series “The Age of AIDS” and “Unnatural Causes: Is Inequality Making Us Sick?” the landmark documentary series on the social determinants of health. She has reported for the public radio from Botswana, India, and North Korea. Her latest documentary, “Lovesick,” is about a physician in India who is also a matchmaker for her HIV-positive single patients.

Ann is a graduate of Harvard College, with a joint degree in Anthropology & the Study of Religion. She is a board member of Noora Health. And, unlike her dear friend the Surgeon General who identifies as a cat person, she considers herself a dog person.

BONUS | Selena Gomez: Setting the Stage for Mental Health Jul 18, 2024

The Surgeon General and Selena Gomez, singer, actress, and founder and creator of Rare Beauty and the Rare Impact Fund, take the stage at the Rare Beauty Mental Health Summit to talk about loneliness, connection, and the power of talking about our mental health.

(02:42) Why is bringing people together to talk about mental health so important to Selena?

(03:49) Why has loneliness and connection become a focus of the Surgeon General’s work?

(07:15) How does Selena manage her relationship with social media?

(08:31) What has Dr. Murthy learned about the impact of social media on young people?

(13:46) Why is Selena personally committed to providing support for mental health?

(15:28) What’s the difference between loneliness and isolation?

(20:34) Does Selena have one thing she does each day to stay connected with friends and family?

(22:27) What makes Selena and the Surgeon General hopeful about the future of mental health?

We’d love to hear from you! Send us a note at housecalls@hhs.gov with your feedback & ideas. For more episodes, visit www.surgeongeneral.gov/housecalls.

Selena Gomez, Singer, Actress & Philanthropist
Instagram: @selenagomez
X: @selenagomez
Facebook: @selena

About Selena Gomez

In addition to being an award winning actress, producer, Grammy nominated recording artist, philanthropist, and mental health advocate, Selena is the Founder & Creator of Rare Beauty and the Rare Impact Fund, which she launched simultaneously in 2020. Selena created Rare Beauty with a mission to break down unrealistic standards of perfection and help people celebrate their individuality by redefining what beautiful means. As part of her commitment to addressing mental health and self-acceptance, one percent of annual Rare Beauty sales go directly to the Rare Impact Fund to expand access to mental health services for young people around the world.

Adam Grant: Is A Fulfilling Life Different Than A Successful One? Jul 09, 2024

What makes us successful?

What makes our lives fulfilling?

Are they the same things?

We’re exposed to so many ideas of what is success, it’s not always easy to be clear on what path best serves us. This episode’s guest, Adam Grant, is an organizational psychologist and expert on what motivates us, what gives us meaning, and how we can live more generous and creative lives.

This conversation takes some personal turns, with Adam and the Surgeon General talking about their friendship, marriage, kids, and recent struggles, including a shared tendency to seek out the approval of others. They open up about failures and how we can learn from them.

Adam also shares an unconventional idea for helping his kids feel valued and loved. Listen as this episode gets real about what’s at the heart of a fulfilling life.

(03:30) How does Adam Grant define success?

(07:44) Are fame, fortune, and power really the values we need for successful lives?

(12:05) Why do character and values matter and how do we cultivate them?

(20:08) How does Adam create boundaries for tech and social media in his own life?

(27:01) How does Adam extend what he studies as an organizational psychologist to his children?

(39:42) Why does Adam find value in being open about his struggles and failures?

(44:39) How can we talk about our current struggles, even when it’s sensitive?

(46:50) Dr. Vivek Murthy shares a personal struggle of his own.

(48:20) How can we address habits and traits that impact our relationships?

(51:48) Should Meeting Night become the new Date Night?

(55:16) How does Adam find time to cultivate and maintain friendships?

(01:01:11) Do we have to learn lessons by making mistakes ourselves? Can’t we learn from the mistakes of others?

(01:07:57) What gives Adam hope?

We’d love to hear from you! Send us a note at housecalls@hhs.gov with your feedback & ideas. For more episodes, visit www.surgeongeneral.gov/housecalls.

Adam Grant, Organizational Psychologist

Instagram: @adamgrant

X: @adammgrant

LinkedIn: @adammgrant

Facebook: @adammgrant

About Adam Grant

Adam Grant has been Wharton’s top-rated professor for 7 straight years. As an organizational psychologist, he is a leading expert on how we can find motivation and meaning, rethink assumptions, and live more generous and creative lives. He has been recognized as the world’s #2 most influential management thinker and one of Fortune’s 40 under 40.

He is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of 6 books that have sold millions of copies and been translated into 45 languages: “Hidden Potential”, “Think Again”, “Give and Take”, “Originals”, “Option B”, and “Power Moves”. His books have been named among the year’s best by Amazon, Apple, the Financial Times, and the Wall Street Journal. His viral piece on languishing was the most-read New York Times article of 2021 and the most-saved article across all platforms.

Adam hosts the TED podcasts “Re:Thinking” and “WorkLife”, which have been downloaded over 70 million times. His TED talks on languishing, original thinkers, and givers and takers have over 35 million views. He has received a standing ovation at TED and was voted the audience’s favorite speaker at The Nantucket Project. His speaking and consulting clients include Google, the NBA, Bridgewater, and the Gates Foundation. He writes on work and psychology for the New York Times, has served on the Defense Innovation Board at the Pentagon, has been honored as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum, and has appeared on Billions. He has more than 8 million followers on social media and features new insights in his free monthly newsletter, GRANTED.

Dr. Abraham Verghese (Part 2): On the Healing Power of Writing Jun 25, 2024

In this part 2 of their conversation, the Surgeon General explores Dr. Abraham Verghese's craft as a writer -- what is his creative process? And what is the relationship between his writing and his work in medicine? The episode closes with Dr. Verghese sharing one of his favorite poems.

(02:56) How does Dr. Verghese deal with moments of fear and uncertainty that arise in practicing medicine?

(04:42) How has Dr. Murthy dealt with uncertainties in practicing medicine?

(08:19) How did Dr. Verghese’s unusual medical training shape who he is as a physician?

(15:18) What gave Dr. Verghese the courage to try writing?

(20:20) What is Dr. Verghese’s creative process for writing?

(22:19) What was it like for Dr. Murthy to write a book?

(26:41) How does Dr. Verghese deal with time pressure and deadlines when writing?

(30:15) Does Dr. Verghese experience writer’s block?

(33:36) A poetic moment with Dr. Verghese

We’d love to hear from you! Send us a note at housecalls@hhs.gov with your feedback & ideas. For more episodes, visit www.surgeongeneral.gov/housecalls.

Dr. Abraham Verghese, Physician and Writer

Instagram: @abraham.verghese.official

X: @abe_verghese

About Dr. Abraham Verghese

Dr. Abraham Verghese is a renowned physician, author, and educator, currently serving as the Linda R. Meier and Joan F. Lane Provostial Professor and Vice Chair in the Department of Medicine at the Stanford School of Medicine. He leads the PRESENCE center at Stanford. Dr. Verghese's work sits at the intersections of medical practice, humanism, and narrative, setting a higher bar for patient-centered care. In addition to two memoirs, he is the author of the two acclaimed and bestselling novels, “Cutting for Stone” and “The Covenant of Water.” In 2016, President Obama awarded him the National Humanities Medal; he is also the recipient of numerous honorary degrees. He is an elected member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy as well as the American Association of Arts & Sciences. His dedication to patient care and his promotion of bedside medicine creates a meaningful dialogue in the medical field.

Dr. Abraham Verghese (Part 1): When There Is No Cure, How Can We Heal? Jun 11, 2024

For doctors who spend years training to make their patients better, what happens when there is no cure?

This is how Dr. Abraham Verghese came of age as a physician.

At the height of the AIDS epidemic, he treated a rural population of dying young men, men his own age, who had no future and were often shunned by other doctors. Working with his AIDS patients, Dr. Verghese learned that treating the spirit can bring patients and their families an invaluable part of what they need when facing the incurable. As Dr. Verghese became renowned both as a doctor and a writer, he carried forward his rituals of personal focus on the patient and their families to keep humanity central to his medical practice.

(02:28) Dr. Murthy and Dr. Verghese recount their first meeting

(06:14) How did Abraham learn the difference between curing and healing?

(09:10) What did Abraham come to understand about doctors while caring for AIDS patients in the 1980s?

(13:08) How Dr. Murthy got his start in public health during the AIDS epidemic

(17:22) How can we build a more humanistic approach back into medicine?

(21:20) Do patients feel invisible these days?

(24:21) With the proliferation of electronic medical records, how can medical students learn to connect with patients?

(29:24) How Dr. Murthy learned the importance of the physical exam with patients.

(36:11) When Dr. Verghese sees patients, what are some of the rituals he practices?

(41:12) Was medicine always Dr. Verghese’s calling?

We’d love to hear from you! Send us a note at housecalls@hhs.gov with your feedback & ideas. For more episodes, visit www.surgeongeneral.gov/housecalls.

Dr. Abraham Verghese, Physician and Writer

Instagram: @abraham.verghese.official

X: @abe_verghese

About Dr. Abraham Verghese

Dr. Abraham Verghese is a renowned physician, author, and educator, currently serving as the Linda R. Meier and Joan F. Lane Provostial Professor and Vice Chair in the Department of Medicine at the Stanford School of Medicine. He leads the PRESENCE center at Stanford. Dr. Verghese's work sits at the intersections of medical practice, humanism, and narrative, setting a higher bar for patient-centered care. In addition to two memoirs, he is the author of the two acclaimed and bestselling novels, “Cutting for Stone” and “The Covenant of Water.” In 2016, President Obama awarded him the National Humanities Medal; he is also the recipient of numerous honorary degrees. He is an elected member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy as well as the American Association of Arts & Sciences. His dedication to patient care and his promotion of bedside medicine creates a meaningful dialogue in the medical field.

Sara Bareilles & Celia Keenan-Bolger: How Do Art and Friendship Set the Stage for Our Mental Health? May 28, 2024

In this special episode, Dr. Murthy sits down with Sara Bareilles, Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter and actress, and Celia Keenan-Bolger, Tony award-winning singer and actress. You may know more about them as performers than you do about their experiences with mental health, but this conversation will change that. 

As two very good friends who are warm, funny, and genuine, this conversation is an intimate portrait of their friendship and its importance to mental health. Their conversation explores questions many of us have on our minds: How do you prioritize friendship when the world demands us to be so productive? What does it mean to show up for one another? And how do you overcome questions of self-worth and find the courage to speak openly about your mental health?

As you listen, we hope you feel their friendship effect, too. Sara Bareilles closes out the episode with a surprise performance.

This episode was recorded LIVE in New York. Special thanks to the 92NY for hosting.

(03:55) How did Sara Bareilles and Celia Keenan-Bolger meet and become good friends?

(08:33) How can we make friends and have healthy social lives as we get older?

(18:03) Is there a difference between the way men and women make friends in middle age?

(25:54) How do Sara Bareilles and Celia Keenan-Bolger create the space for friendship in a world that’s always asking them to be more productive?

(33:24) How do Sara Bareilles and Celia Keenan-Bolger balance online activity with real-world friendships?

(44:02) Where did Sara Bareilles and Celia Keenan-Bolger find the courage and clarity to speak openly about their mental health?

(52:41) How have Sara Bareilles and Celia Keenan-Bolger dealt with feelings about lack of self-worth when they arise?

(01:02:19) What are some of Dr. Murthy’s and his guests’ favorite lyrics?

(01:12:52) A special performance by Sara Bareilles

We’d love to hear from you! Send us a note at ⁠housecalls@hhs.gov⁠ with your feedback & ideas. For more episodes, visit ⁠www.surgeongeneral.gov/housecalls⁠.

Sara Bareilles, Singer-Songwriter & Actress

Instagram: ⁠@sarabareilles⁠

X: ⁠@SaraBareilles⁠

Facebook: ⁠@sarabareilles⁠

Celia Keenan-Bolger, Actress & Singer

Instagram: ⁠@celiakb⁠

About Sara Bareilles and Celia Keenan-Bolger

Sara Bareilles has received three Tony® Award nominations, most recently in 2023 for her performance as ‘The Baker’s Wife’ in Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s Into the Woods – three Primetime Emmy® Award nominations and nine GRAMMY® Award nominations. On Broadway, she composed music and lyrics for Waitress, and stepped into the lead role both on Broadway and in the West End. Most recently, she starred in the filmed live-capture of Waitress: The Musical, which ran for two weeks in theatres nationwide in December 2023. Her other musical theater credits include a song on the Tony Award-nominated score for SpongeBob SquarePants and Emmy Award-nominated appearance as Mary Magdalene in NBC's “Jesus Christ Superstar Live.” Bareilles produced original music and executive-produced the musical drama series “Little Voice,” teaming up with Jessie Nelson, J.J. Abrams and Apple. She also plays Dawn Solano on the Emmy-nominated musical comedy series “Girls5eva”, the third season of which premieres in March 2024 on Netflix.

Celia Keenan-Bolger is an actress and singer. She won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play for portraying Scout Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird (2018). She has also been Tony-nominated for her roles in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (2005), Peter and the Starcatcher (2012), The Glass Menagerie (2014), and her most recent role in Mother Play (2024). Other credits - Broadway: The Cherry Orchard, Les Misérables. Off-Broadway: The Oldest Boy, Merrily We Roll Along, A Small Fire. Select Film/TV: “The Gilded Age,” “Bull,” “Louie,” “The Good Wife,” “Nurse Jackie,” “Good Behavior,” “Elementary". Tony Award, Outer Critics Circle, three Drama Desk Award wins.

Dr. Aliza Pressman: Why Parent Mental Health is Essential for Our Kids May 14, 2024

As a parent, have you ever worried about whether you’re doing a good enough job? Do you feel the pressure to be perfect? Have you felt drained by the demands of parenting?

In this deeply personal conversation, the Surgeon General (and dad of 2) and psychologist Dr. Aliza Pressman put the spotlight on parent mental health. Dr. Pressman changes the conversation from trying to be the perfect parent to growing as a parent. To help our kids’ mental health, we also need to prioritize and care for parent mental health.

Drawing from her research, Dr. Pressman offers reassuring approaches to help parents find self-compassion and stay regulated so kids can better regulate themselves. She also shares how to turn moments when things go wrong into moments for repair and growth in parent-child relationships.

The conversation ends with a parenting Q&A, hosted by Dr. Murthy and surprise Q&A co-host Kate Bowler!

(04:00) What challenges does Aliza Pressman see parents facing today?

(05:00) Why can it feel difficult to talk about the joys of parenting?

(07:55) What’s the upside of being an imperfect parent?

(10:15) How does parent mental health influence kids?

(12:49) What does Dr. Murthy see in his own parents parenting journey?

(18:55) What is self-regulation and how do we cultivate it?

(30:47) Why do parents feel exhausted and drained these days?

(34:21) Can we get clear on the goal of parenting?

(43:44) How does Aliza handle the flow of news and information to herself and her kids?

(50:38) What are 5 ways to help children become resilient people?

(57:30) Parenting Q&A with the Surgeon General & Kate Bowler

We’d love to hear from you! Send us a note at ⁠housecalls@hhs.gov⁠ with your feedback & ideas. For more episodes, visit ⁠www.surgeongeneral.gov/housecalls⁠.

Dr. Aliza Pressman, Psychologist & Author

Instagram: ⁠@raisinggoodhumanspodcast⁠

Facebook: ⁠@raisinggoodhumanspodcast⁠

Substack: ⁠@dralizapressman⁠

About Dr. Aliza Pressman Dr. Aliza Pressman is a developmental psychologist with two decades experience working with families. She is the author of the New York Times bestselling book, “The 5 Principles of Parenting: Your Essential Guide to Raising Good Humans,” and the host of the popular podcast “Raising Good Humans”. Aliza is the co-founding director of The Mount Sinai Parenting Center and is an assistant clinical professor at Mount Sinai Hospital. She holds degrees from Dartmouth College, Teacher's College, and Columbia University. Aliza is the mother of two teenagers.

Shankar Vedantam: How Do Our Minds Help (or Hinder) Finding Connection & Purpose? (Part 2) May 01, 2024

What is our purpose, both individually and collectively? What lies in the balance of who we are now and who we will become?

In Part Two of this episode, the Surgeon General and Shankar Vedantam, host of “Hidden Brain,” go deep into conversation about our individual and national quest for meaning and purpose.

This episode becomes deeply personal as both host and guest reveal their family’s hopes for coming to America, and the unimaginable ways in which those dreams were realized. They find themselves asking where else on earth has what America can offer? And how can we remember and reinforce our ideals at moments the noise becomes too great?

(03:23) How can we encourage young people to dream about the future?

(09:21) How can we bring freshness and curiosity to our daily lives?

(11:57) What does it mean to be a tourist in our own lives?

(15:28) What is the power of having purpose in our lives?

(22:39) What’s the difference between goals and purpose?

(25:39) How would Dr. Murthy bolster America’s sense of purpose?

(28:58) What is the enormous possibility that the United States offers?

(30:16) What story of America did Dr. Murthy see in the crowd at his swearing in ceremony?

(32:51) Who are Shankar Vedantam’s Unsung Heroes?

We’d love to hear from you! Send us a note at housecalls@hhs.gov with your feedback & ideas. For more episodes, visit www.surgeongeneral.gov/housecalls.

Shankar Vedantam, Host, “Hidden Brain” Podcast

Instagram: @hiddenbrain

X: @hiddenbrain

Facebook: @hiddenbrain

About Shankar Vedantam

Shankar Vedantam is the host and executive editor of the Hidden Brain podcast and radio show. Shankar and NPR launched the podcast in 2015, and it now receives millions of downloads per week, and is regularly listed as one of the top 20 podcasts in the world. The radio show, which debuted in 2017, is heard on more than 425 public radio stations across the United States.

Vedantam was NPR’s social science correspondent between 2011 and 2020, and he spent 10 years as a reporter at The Washington Post. From 2007 to 2009, he was also a columnist, and wrote the Department of Human Behavior column for the Post.

Vedantam and Hidden Brain have been recognized with numerous journalism awards, including the Edward R Murrow Award, and honors from the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, the International Society of Political Psychology, the Society of Professional Journalists, the National Association of Black Journalists, the Austen Riggs Center, the American Psychoanalytic Association, the Webby Awards, the Pennsylvania Associated Press Managing Editors, the South Asian Journalists Association, the Asian American Journalists Association, the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association, the American Public Health Association, the Templeton-Cambridge Fellowship on Science and Religion, and the Rosalynn Carter Mental Health Journalism Fellowship.

In 2009-2010, Vedantam served as a fellow at the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University.

Shankar Vedantam speaks internationally about how the “hidden brain” shapes our world and is the author of two non-fiction books: The Hidden Brain: How our Unconscious Minds Elect Presidents, Control Markets, Wage Wars and Save Our Lives, published in 2010, and Useful Delusions: The Power and Paradox of the Self-Deceiving Brain published in 2021, an exploration of deception’s role in human success.

Shankar Vedantam: How Do Our Minds Help (or Hinder) Finding Connection & Purpose? (Part 1) Apr 16, 2024

Have you ever had a moment when you’ve wanted to reach out to someone you haven’t seen in awhile, but something stops you, like the worry you’ll say the wrong thing? Or have you had the experience of assuming that someone who disagrees with you must also dislike you?

It turns out, our mind can play tricks on us that make it harder to connect.

Shankar Vedantam, host and creator of the podcast ”Hidden Brain” joins the Surgeon General for a two-part conversation that travels across science and deeper philosophical questions about life.

In this first conversation, Shankar explains the “hidden brain,” the part of the mind that function outside of our awareness, making unconscious decisions and judgments. They ponder the paradox of how social anxieties keep us from connecting, but how acts of connection and kindness have far greater impact and power than most of us realize.

Offering both science and personal stories, Shankar and Dr. Murthy help us work through our fears of connecting. And help us close the gap between our values, like kindness, and our actions.

(04:04) How does Shankar Vedantam describe the origins of the Hidden Brain podcast?

(06:18) How can we understand if our hidden brain is helping us?

(08:34) How does our hidden brain keep us from connecting with other people?

(14:04) What does it mean to express gratitude to someone else?

(18:39) How has Dr. Murthy cultivated his sense of kind and warmth?

(24:20) How can we tell a better story about the nature of our humanity?

(29:36) How did Shankar Vedantam become a translator of science?

(33:12) How do listeners respond to the Hidden Brain podcast?

(36:12) How are ideas for Hidden Brain podcast episodes developed?

We’d love to hear from you! Send us a note at housecalls@hhs.gov with your feedback & ideas. For more episodes, visit www.surgeongeneral.gov/housecalls.

Shankar Vedantam, Host, “Hidden Brain” Podcast

Instagram: @hiddenbrain

X: @hiddenbrain

Facebook: @hiddenbrain

About Shankar Vedantam

Shankar Vedantam is the host and executive editor of the Hidden Brain podcast and radio show. Shankar and NPR launched the podcast in 2015, and it now receives millions of downloads per week, and is regularly listed as one of the top 20 podcasts in the world. The radio show, which debuted in 2017, is heard on more than 425 public radio stations across the United States.

Vedantam was NPR’s social science correspondent between 2011 and 2020, and he spent 10 years as a reporter at The Washington Post. From 2007 to 2009, he was also a columnist, and wrote the Department of Human Behavior column for the Post.

Vedantam and Hidden Brain have been recognized with numerous journalism awards, including the Edward R Murrow Award, and honors from the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, the International Society of Political Psychology, the Society of Professional Journalists, the National Association of Black Journalists, the Austen Riggs Center, the American Psychoanalytic Association, the Webby Awards, the Pennsylvania Associated Press Managing Editors, the South Asian Journalists Association, the Asian American Journalists Association, the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association, the American Public Health Association, the Templeton-Cambridge Fellowship on Science and Religion, and the Rosalynn Carter Mental Health Journalism Fellowship.

In 2009-2010, Vedantam served as a fellow at the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University.

Shankar Vedantam speaks internationally about how the “hidden brain” shapes our world and is the author of two non-fiction books: The Hidden Brain: How our Unconscious Minds Elect Presidents, Control Markets, Wage Wars and Save Our Lives, published in 2010, and Useful Delusions: The Power and Paradox of the Self-Deceiving Brain published in 2021, an exploration of deception’s role in human success.

Rebecca Solnit: Why Is Hope So Powerful? Apr 02, 2024

What is hope and why is it so powerful?

For writer Rebecca Solnit, hope is a commitment to possibility in the face of uncertainty. While many of us react to the unknown with anxiety or worry, Rebecca sees the opposite: that inherent to unpredictable circumstances is the possibility people can take action and to come together to create change.

In this conversation, Rebecca Solnit and the Surgeon General discuss why hope is necessary. They look back at communities formed in response to disasters, like 9/11 and hurricanes, and how hope and connection are inextricably linked. A historian, Solnit points to milestones like the fall of the Berlin Wall in which people’s actions, sometimes incremental, led to unforeseen outcomes.

In facing the massive uncertainty of climate change, Solnit offers why she is hopeful. Rather than fall to despair, she points that humans, throughout history, have seen the possibility to intervene and take action. And THAT is what Solnit calls hope.

(04:34) Why can disasters be so powerful for uniting communities?

(11:16) Why do some types of disasters bring people more together than others?

(16:55) How do you advise young people who feel despair about climate change?

(27:21) How can the way we remember history’s great social changes contribute to hope or hopelessness?

(31:28) How does social media contribute to loneliness and isolation?

(37:45) Has tech convinced us that living efficiently is more important than living in person?

(47:33) How does Rebecca Solnit make herself feel better when she gets down?

(48:35) What does the Surgeon General do to feel better when he is down?

We’d love to hear from you! Send us a note at housecalls@hhs.gov with your feedback & ideas. For more episodes, visit www.surgeongeneral.gov/housecalls.

Rebecca Solnit, Writer

X: @rebeccasolnit

X: @nottoolate_hope

About Rebecca Solnit

Writer, historian, and activist Rebecca Solnit is the author of twenty-five books on feminism, environmental and urban history, popular power, social change and insurrection, wandering and walking, hope and catastrophe. She co-edited the 2023 anthology “Not Too Late: Changing the Climate Story from Despair to Possibility”. Her other books include “Orwell’s Roses”; “Recollections of My Nonexistence”; “Hope in the Dark”; “Men Explain Things to Me”; “A Paradise Built in Hell: The Extraordinary Communities that Arise in Disaster”; and “A Field Guide to Getting Lost”. A product of the California public education system from kindergarten to graduate school, she writes regularly for the Guardian, serves on the board of the climate group Oil Change International, and in 2022 launched the climate project Not Too Late (nottoolateclimate.com).

Encore | Kate Bowler: Learning to Live When Life Falls Apart Mar 19, 2024

What lessons does life’s uncertainties offer? Kate Bowler’s stage IV cancer diagnosis ushered her into a world of fear and pain. Living in 60-day increments, her future held no promises. Angry about losing the life she had created, the love of family, friends, and her faith community helped Kate forge a new type of strength—learning to lean on others. This conversation between the nation’s doctor and Kate Bowler illuminates how we find truth and beauty within the uncertainties of life.

(05:07) How did Kate Bowler’s cancer diagnosis at age 35 affect her life?

(09:32) Where did Kate Bowler navigate the uncertainty of her illness?

(12:02) How did Kate Bowler re-define strength?

(14:26) How did Kate Bowler’s community support her during her most acute phase of illness?

(17:23) How can other families build a village for their children?

(20:27) How has Kate Bowler’s health precarity changed how she thinks about life?

(25:56) How can we encourage our kids to strive in a healthy way?

(29:38) What is the message of Kate Bowler’s most recent book?

(31:37) When Kate Bowler was ill, how did others seem to expect her to fix her life?

(34:43) How did Kate Bowler’s experience with cancer impact her faith?

(39:15) When is the last time Kate Bowler laughed uncontrollably?

(40:49) Kate Bowler closes with a blessing.

We’d love to hear from you! Send us a note at housecalls@hhs.gov with your feedback & ideas. For more episodes, visit www.surgeongeneral.gov/housecalls.

Kate Bowler, Writer & Professor

Instagram: @katecbowler

X: @katecbowler

Facebook: @katecbowler

About Kate Bowler

Kate Bowler, Ph.D. is a 4x New York Times bestselling author, award-winning podcast host, and professor at Duke University. She studies the cultural stories we tell ourselves about success, suffering, and whether (or not) we’re capable of change. She wrote the first and only history of the American prosperity gospel—the belief that God wants to give you health, wealth, and happiness—before being unexpectedly diagnosed with stage IV cancer at age 35. While she was in treatment and not expected to survive, she wrote two New York Times bestselling memoirs, Everything Happens for a Reason (and Other Lies I’ve Loved) and No Cure For Being Human (and Other Truths I Need to Hear). After years of being told she was incurable, she was declared cancer-free. But she was forever changed by what she discovered: life is so beautiful and life is so hard. For everyone.

Kate is determined to create a gentler world for everyone who wants to admit that they are not “living their best life.” She hosts the Everything Happens podcast where, in warm, insightful, often funny conversations, she talks with people like Malcolm Gladwell, Tig Notaro, and Archbishop Justin Welby about what they’ve learned in difficult times. Author of seven books including Good Enough, The Lives We Actually Have, and her latest, Have a Beautiful, Terrible Day!, she lives in Durham, North Carolina, with her family and continues to teach do-gooders at Duke Divinity School.

Dr. Rachel Naomi Remen: Q&A on Becoming a Healer Mar 06, 2024

In this special Q&A episode, the Surgeon General sits down with his long-time medical school mentor, Dr. Rachel Naomi Remen, to talk about their journeys to becoming healers. Dr. Remen is the creator of a medical training course called “The Healer’s Art,” which Dr. Murthy took as a medical student.

As a follow-up to their House Calls episode “Can We All Be Healers?”, the pair decided to reunite and field questions from medical students and other healthcare trainees, including: How do you stay compassionate in the tough environment of the healthcare system? How do you get through career disappointments? And how can we lean our relationships to help us?

Tune in for wisdom and stories from two of our country’s most compassionate healers.

(04:08) What hardships did Dr. Remen face on her road to becoming a physician healer?

(07:57) On dealing with Dr. Remen’s heartbreak of not matching for a residency

(10:46) How did Dr. Remen stay true to her humanity during the taxing time of medical training?

(14:52) Where does Dr. Remen turn when she feels burned out?

(17:05) How does Dr. Remen cope with the reality that doctors can’t always heal?

(20:04) How can the act of healing heal the healer?

(27:54) How does Dr. Remen find hope in difficult times?

(34:08) How do cats and social connection help Dr. Remen?

(38:32) What advice does Dr. Remen offer doctors?

We’d love to hear from you! Send us a note at housecalls@hhs.gov with your feedback & ideas. For more episodes, visit www.surgeongeneral.gov/housecalls.

Dr. Rachel Naomi Remen, Physician & Teacher

Facebook: @rachelnaomiremen

About Dr. Rachel Naomi Remen

Rachel Naomi Remen, MD is Clinical Professor Emeritus of Family and Community Medicine at the UCSF School of Medicine and Professor of Family Medicine at Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine in Ohio. In 1991, she founded the Remen Institute for the Study of Health and Illness (RISHI) a national training institute for physicians, nurses, medical students, nursing students, veterinarians and other health professionals who wish to practice a health care of compassion, meaning, service and community. She is an internationally recognized medical educator whose innovative discovery model course in professionalism, resiliency and relationship-centered care for medical students, The Healer’s Art, is taught at more than 90 American medical schools and schools in seven countries abroad. Her bestselling books “Kitchen Table Wisdom” and “My Grandfather’s Blessings” have been published in 23 languages and have millions of copies in print.

In recognition of her contribution to medicine and medical education, she has received numerous awards including three honorary degrees, the prestigious Bravewell Award as one of the earliest pioneers of Integrative Medicine and Relationship Centered Care. In 2013, she was voted the Gold-Headed Cane award by UCSF School of Medicine for excellence in embodying and teaching the qualities and values of the true physician. Dr. Remen has a 70-year personal history of chronic illness, and her work is a potent blend of the perspectives and wisdom of physician and patient.

Rabbi Sharon Brous: The Power of Showing Up for Each Other Feb 21, 2024

What does it mean to show up for someone?

What does it mean to sit with another person’s pain?

And if we are hurting, why can it be so difficult to ask for help?

Part of being human is learning how to accompany people through hard times. Yet our culture looks at pain as a sign of imperfection, and vulnerability a sign of weakness. In this conversation, the Surgeon General and Rabbi Brous share in how the opposite is, in fact, true: vulnerability and pain can be extraordinary sources of strength and healing. Drawing from both professional and personal moments, Dr. Murthy and Rabbi Brous delve into why the simple act of showing up for each other — an intrinsic power we all possess — is so powerful and healing. And why it is so needed now, especially in these times when the world can feel despairing and lonely.

(00:03:21) In a challenging world, how can we find moments of light?

(00:06:23) How would Rabbi Sharon Brous describe the state of our spirit?

(00:10:14) What does it mean to show up in one another’s lives?

(00:15:30) How can we help people who are struggling?

(00:27:29) How do we show up for others when we ourselves are in pain?

(00:42:17) How can we get more comfortable asking others for help?

(00:47:31) When did Rabbi Brous know she would walk the life path she’s walking?

(00:53:23) What do you does Rabbi Sharon Brous do in moments of despair?

(01:01:54) Did we used to be better at showing up for one another?

(01:07:22) Rabbi Sharon Brous offers a blessing.

We’d love to hear from you! Send us a note at housecalls@hhs.gov with your feedback & ideas. For more episodes, visit www.surgeongeneral.gov/housecalls.

Sharon Brous, Rabbi & Author

Instagram: @sharonbrous

Twitter: @sharonbrous

Facebook: @rabbisharonbrous

About Rabbi Sharon Brous

Rabbi Sharon Brous is the senior and founding rabbi of IKAR, a Jewish community that launched in 2004 to reinvigorate Jewish practice and inspire people of faith to reclaim a soulful, justice-driven voice. Her 2016 TED talk, “Reclaiming Religion,” has been viewed by more than 1.5 million people. She is the author of the recently published book, “The Amen Effect: Ancient Wisdom to Heal Our Hearts and Mend Our Broken World."

In 2013, Brous blessed President Obama and Vice President Biden at the Inaugural National Prayer Service, and in 2021 returned to bless President Biden and Vice President Harris, and then led the White House Passover Seder with Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff. In 2023, she led a Hanukkah lighting with the Vice President and Second Gentleman. She was named #1 on the Newsweek/The Daily Beast list of most influential Rabbis in America, and has been recognized by The Forward and Jerusalem Post as one of the fifty most influential Jews.

Brous is in the inaugural cohort of Auburn Seminary‘s Senior Fellows program, sits on the faculty of REBOOT, and serves on the International Council of the New Israel Fund and national steering committee for the Poor People’s Campaign.

A graduate of Columbia University, she was ordained by the Jewish Theological Seminary and lives in Los Angeles with her husband and three children.

Meditation for Connecting with Loved Ones Feb 07, 2024

Do you have times when you miss your loved ones and just want to feel more connected?

Maybe a friend or family member is sick and you can’t connect in person. Maybe you’re traveling or are away for school. I know I have these moments. And when I do, I have a meditation I turn to, one that helps me feel loved and more connected. It only takes a few minutes, but it has the power to change my day. In this special episode of House Calls, I share it with you.

Any feedback or ideas? Share them with us at housecalls@hhs.gov.

For more episodes, visit www.surgeongeneral.gov/housecalls.

Dr. Lisa Miller: How Does Spirituality Protect Our Mental Health? Jan 24, 2024

Can spirituality enhance our mental health?

That is the question that psychologist and researcher Dr. Lisa Miller has pursued through her career. During her clinical internship after graduate school, she observed how while some of her patients had symptoms of major depression that required medication, other patients carried a sadness that carried life’s big questions: What is the purpose of life? Is there a larger meaning to existence? Decades later, Lisa has found that each of us has an “awakened brain,” neural circuitry that enables a human’s natural capacity for spiritual awareness.

In this conversation, Lisa and the Surgeon General delve into the science that explains spirituality’s protective effects on mental health. They also discuss the universal human need for an inner life that connects us to something greater than ourselves, and offer a few meditation practices to support the awakened brain.

(02:00) Introductory Guided Meditation

(08:43) What is spiritual health?

(15:04) How does Dr. Lisa Miller define spirituality?

(18:18) Why does spirituality protect our mental health?

(20:55) What are some practices to build spiritual health?

(24:40) What is the awakened brain?

(26:56) Are there particular stages of life when spiritual seeking spikes?

(30:03) What is an Awakened Campus?

(32:44) Why don’t college campuses focus more on spiritual well-being?

(34:26) How Dr. Miller’s spiritual crisis as a young person become her life’s work.

(45:55) What are the core elements of spirituality?

(53:12) Where has Dr. Miller found the support for spiritual exploration?

(59:58) How can parents build a spiritual foundation with their children?

We’d love to hear from you! Send us a note at housecalls@hhs.gov with your feedback & ideas. For more episodes, visit www.surgeongeneral.gov/housecalls.

Dr. Lisa Miller, Psychologist

Instagram: @dr.lisamiller

About Dr. Lisa Miller

Lisa Miller, Ph.D., is the New York Times bestselling author of “The Spiritual Child” and “The Awakened Mind: The New Science of Spirituality and our Quest for the Inspired Life.” She is a professor in the Clinical Psychology Program at Teachers College, Columbia University. She is the Founder and Director of the Spirituality Mind Body Institute, the first Ivy League graduate program and research institute in spirituality and psychology, and has held over a decade of joint appointments in the Department of Psychiatry at Columbia University Medical School. Her innovative research has been published in more than one hundred peer-reviewed articles in leading journals, including Cerebral Cortex, The American Journal of Psychiatry, and the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

Dr. Miller is Editor of the Oxford University Press Handbook of Psychology and Spirituality, Founding Co-Editor-in-Chief of the APA journal Spirituality in Clinical Practice, an elected Fellow of The American Psychological Association (APA) and the two-time President of the APA Society for Psychology and Spirituality. A graduate of Yale University and University of Pennsylvania, where she earned her doctorate under the founder of positive psychology, Martin Seligman, she has served as Principal Investigator on multiple grant funded research studies. Dr. Miller speaks and consults around The Awakened Brain and The Spiritual Child for the US Military, businesses (including tech, finance, HR and sales), personal development, faith based organizations, schools and universities, and for mental health and wellness initiatives.

Jon Batiste: How Do You Build the Confidence to Connect? Jan 10, 2024

Do you wish it felt easier to make connections with others?

In this episode, recorded live from the Barclays Center in NY, the Surgeon General and Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter and composer Jon Batiste share their experiences with reaching out to others. Even with complete strangers or in brand new situations, their approaches have countered loneliness and paved the way for new relationships. Jon opens up about his student days in New York, when he struggled to find his footing in a new place far from home in New Orleans, to how he views and manages the fame that is now part of his life.

As both men share their experiences with loneliness, they focus on the mental health of young people and some of the challenges this generation is experiencing. The conversation also speaks to the unique power of music to inspire and unite people. As Jon notes, just the simple sound of notes being played is an experience we can all share.

Jon Batiste warms up and closes this conversation with beautiful performances that make you want to be along for the ride.

(07:58) Adjusting to life in New York as a student at Julliard

(10:54) Creatively making creating connections in NY

(12:59) How did Jon Batiste develop confidence with strangers he could carry on stage?

(19:24) How has fame impacted his life?

(22:59) How does he stay connected with friends and family?

(29:11) Why does who we spend our time with matter so much?

(30:52) How can music bring people together?

(34:51) Have you ever experienced a musical “love riot?”

(38:56) How does Jon Batiste manage technology in his life?

(43:56) What are some simple ways we can connect with others?

(48:39) What are some steps we can take toward collective reconnection?

(53:15) Jon Batiste’s closing song

We’d love to hear from you! Send us a note at housecalls@hhs.gov with your feedback & ideas. For more episodes, visit www.surgeongeneral.gov/housecalls.

Jon Batiste, Singer & Songwriter

Twitter: @JonBatiste

Instagram: @jonbatiste

Facebook: @JonBatisteMusic

About Jon Batiste

Jon Batiste is a five-time Grammy Award-winning and Academy Award-winning singer, songwriter and composer.

Batiste is the subject of Matthew Heineman’s moving documentary "American Symphony,” which debuted with Barack and Michelle Obama’s Higher Ground in November 2023. The documentary follows Jon in early 2022, when he finds himself celebrated with 11 Grammy nominations, including album of the year. Amid that triumph, Jon is immersed in his most ambitious challenge yet: composing an original symphony for a performance at the storied Carnegie Hall. However, this extraordinary trajectory is upended when Jon’s life partner, NYT bestselling author and Emmy Award-winning journalist Suleika Jaouad, learns that her long-dormant cancer has returned.

Jon’s latest studio album, “World Music Radio” draws inspiration from his mission to create community and expand culture with the power of music. The album received widespread critical acclaim for its universal message and genre-defying sound, hailed by the Associated Press as “a mesmerizing way to dial into Batiste’s eclectic and wide musicality.”

His 2021 studio album, “We Are,” was nominated for 11 Grammy Awards across seven different categories, a first in Grammy history. He went on to win five Grammy Awards that evening, including the coveted “Album of the Year.”

Batiste composed and performed music for the Disney/Pixar film "Soul,” for which he won an Academy Award for Best Original Score alongside Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. He is the second Black composer in history to win an Academy Award for composition. “Soul” also earned Batiste a Golden Globe, a BAFTA, a NAACP Image Award and a Critic’s Choice Award.

From 2015-2022, Batiste served as the bandleader and musical director of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Born and raised in New Orleans, Batiste received both a B.A. and M.F.A. at the world-renowned Juilliard School in NYC.

Matthew McConaughey: What Does Success Really Mean? Dec 13, 2023

Do you know someone who is struggling with loneliness? Do you ever feel the definition of success you’ve been sold your whole life isn’t right?

These are some of the questions the Surgeon General and our guest, actor Matthew McConaughey, posed recently to an auditorium full of students at the University of Texas at Austin. In response, almost every hand in the young audience went up.

In this conversation, Matthew McConaughey also draws from his own life lessons. Especially in high school and college, he lived through periods of deep loneliness and learned how to find connection he needed. As his Hollywood career took off, it was time with his family and kids that put his career – and the primary importance of connection – into perspective. The Surgeon General spotlights the truth of McConaughey’s narrative – that it’s relationships with loved ones that sustain us and make our lives good, not the notions of material success our society so often seems to value.

In this conversation, we explore the power of social connection and what success really means.

We’d love to hear from you! Send us a note at housecalls@hhs.gov with your feedback & ideas. For more episodes, visit www.surgeongeneral.gov/housecalls.

Matthew McConaughey, Actor & Philanthropist

Twitter: @McConaughey

Instagram: @officiallymcconaughey

Facebook: @MatthewMcConaughey

About Matthew McConaughey Texas native Matthew McConaughey is one of Hollywood’s most sought-after leading men. A chance meeting in Austin with casting director and producer Don Phillips led him to director Richard Linklater, who launched the actor’s career in the cult classic “Dazed and Confused.” Since then, he has won an Academy Award for his portrayal of Ron Woodruff in "Dallas Buyers Club", appeared in over 40 feature films that have grossed over $1 billion; and has become an author, producer, and philanthropist with his just keep livin Foundation – all the while sticking to his Texas roots and “jk livin” philosophy. He is co owner of The Austin FC Soccer Club, and a professor at the University of Texas in Austin. In 2020, McConaughey released his first book, Greenlights which became an instant New York Times #1 best seller and has sold over three million copies worldwide. His second book, a children’ book titled Just Because debuted in September 2023 and was an instant NYT #1 best seller. In October 2023, Matthew and his wife Camila launched their own tequila brand, Pantalones, the first joint venture for the couple. He currently resides in Austin, Texas with his wife Camila and their three kids.

How Will You Connect? Dec 06, 2023

Do you want to improve your mental and physical health?

Deepen your friendships?

Help reduce loneliness?

Our relationships are an important part of our health and well-being. In this bonus episode, the Surgeon General announces the 5-for-5 Connection Challenge: to take 5 actions over 5 days to build social connection. Already underway at many college campuses, this challenge is a way for all of us to build our social connection muscles.

For more inspiration, visit SurgeonGeneral.gov/challenge. There you’ll find tools, including a deck of cards with plenty of ideas on how to connect.

TELL US YOUR CONNECTION STORIES

How did you choose to connect? And how did it make you feel? We are also looking for potential stories to be highlighted on a future episode of House Calls. Send us a note at housecalls@hhs.gov.

Encore (Student Edition) | Laurie Santos: What Makes Us Happy? Nov 29, 2023

In this episode, we re-visit a conversation with Dr. Laurie Santos, professor of Yale University’s famed “happiness” course (which has been adapted into a free online course taken by 4+ million people). As we address a youth mental health crisis, the U.S. Surgeon General and Dr. Santos talk about ways college students can find greater happiness through simple changes in behavior and mindset. In a world in which we believe our happiness hinges on material or external things, creating our own happiness is within us, says Dr. Santos. Tune in and see if you can figure out where your happiness lies. The answer might surprise you.

(02:04) How did Laurie Santos begin teaching about happiness?
(04:28) What is Laurie Santos seeing on campuses in terms of mental health?
(06:49) Why have we reached a point of crisis with youth mental health?
(10:27) What do we know about external reward, achievement, and happiness?
(12:14) What’s driving our culture of achievement?
(16:16) Can we actually make ourselves happier?
(22:49) When we make changes, how can we make them last?
(26:55) How can technology impact our happiness?
(29:34) Can we create a culture shift toward happiness for young people?
(32:29) What was Laurie Santos’ “Funtervention?”
(33:32) What can humans learn from monkeys?

For more episodes, visit www.surgeongeneral.gov/housecalls.

We’d love to hear from you! Send us a note at housecalls@hhs.gov with your feedback & ideas.

Dr. Laurie Santos, Professor and Podcast Host

Twitter: @lauriesantos

Instagram: @lauriesantosofficial

Facebook: @DrLaurieSantos

About Dr. Laurie Santos

Dr. Laurie Santos is Professor of Psychology at Yale University and host of the podcast “The Happiness Lab”. Dr. Santos is an expert on human cognition and the cognitive biases that impede better choices. Her course, “Psychology and the Good Life,” teaches students what the science of psychology says about how to make wiser choices and live a life that’s happier and more fulfilling. The class is Yale’s most popular course in over 300 years and has been adapted into a free Coursera program that has been taken by over 3.9 million people to date.

Dr. Santos has been featured in numerous news outlets including the New York Times, NBC Nightly News, The Today Show, CBS This Morning, NPR, GQ Magazine, Slate, CNN and O, The Oprah Magazine. Dr. Santos is a winner of numerous awards both for her science and teaching from institutions such as Yale and the American Psychological Association. She has been featured as one of Popular Science’s “Brilliant 10” young minds and was named TIME's “Leading Campus Celebrity.”

Yo-Yo Ma: How Music Heals Us (Part 2) Nov 15, 2023

Yo-Yo Ma and the Surgeon General continue the conversation about the power of music. Yo-Yo reflects on how music was an antidote to his father’s loneliness while trapped in Paris during WWII, and how Yo-Yo shared his music to comfort people during the pandemic.

Continuing with personal stories about connection, the conversation turns to parenting, why it seems harder for men to connect, and what Mr. Rogers taught both of them. They also talk about why connecting to yourself is so important, and how Yo-Yo does that through practicing what he calls “The Beginner’s Mind.”

If you enjoy the art of conversation, this episode will be music to your ears. It will build up what Yo-Yo Ma refers to as your “emotional bank account” and bring about a sense of hope.

(02:04) How Yo-Yo's father turned to music to address loneliness

(07:14) How Yo-Yo's childhood informs his parenting

(12:15) On men & loneliness

(15:32) Lessons from Mister Rogers

(20:26) How did Yo-Yo Ma use music to help people during the COVID-19 pandemic?

(24:03) The importance of the Beginner’s Mind

(26:55) On burnout

(33:57) What are you grateful for?

(38:38) What are Yo-Yo Ma and the Surgeon General reading these days?

(42:02) What gives Yo-Yo Ma hope?

For more episodes, visit www.surgeongeneral.gov/housecalls.

We’d love to hear from you! Send us a note at housecalls@hhs.gov with your feedback & ideas.

Yo-Yo Ma, Cellist & Humanitarian

Twitter: @YoYo_Ma

Instagram: @YoYoMa

Facebook: @YoYoMa

YouTube: @YoYoMa

About Yo-Yo Ma

Yo-Yo Ma’s multi-faceted career is testament to his belief in culture’s power to generate trust and understanding. Whether performing new or familiar works for cello, bringing communities together to explore culture’s role in society, or engaging unexpected musical forms, Yo-Yo strives to foster connections that stimulate the imagination and reinforce our humanity.

Most recently, Yo-Yo began Our Common Nature, a cultural journey to celebrate the ways that nature can reunite us in pursuit of a shared future. Our Common Nature follows the Bach Project, a 36-community, six-continent tour of J. S. Bach’s cello suites paired with local cultural programming. Both endeavors reflect Yo-Yo’s lifelong commitment to stretching the boundaries of genre and tradition to understand how music helps us to imagine and build a stronger society.

Yo-Yo Ma was born in 1955 to Chinese parents living in Paris, where he began studying the cello with his father at age four. When he was seven, he moved with his family to New York City, where he continued his cello studies before pursuing a liberal arts education.

Yo-Yo has recorded more than 120 albums, is the winner of 19 Grammy Awards, and has performed for nine American presidents, most recently on the occasion of President Biden’s inauguration. He has received numerous awards, including the National Medal of the Arts, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the Birgit Nilsson Prize. He has been a UN Messenger of Peace since 2006, and was recognized as one of TIME magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2020. www.yo-yoma.com.

Yo-Yo Ma: How Music Heals Us (Part 1) Oct 31, 2023

Healing can come in many forms. For world renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma, he sees his music as a way to create touch between humans. Tirelessly performing around the world, Yo-Yo shares his musical gift generously and collaborates with many musicians, knowing that music brings healing, solace and inspiration. Music is what gives his own life meaning.

In this conversation about the healing power of music, Yo-Yo Ma and the Surgeon General contemplate how music can bring meaning that sometimes words alone cannot. How does music transform our minds and our bodies? How does music connect us to ourselves, to our humanity? Speaking from their own personal experiences and stories, this deeply personal and joyous conversation sounds like two old friends catching up.

(00:48) Dr. Murthy sings Happy Birthday for Yo-Yo

(01:42) Intro banter that will make you smile.

(05:39) How does Yo-Yo Ma see his identity?

(08:21) What does Yo-Yo Ma do to feel better when the world gets him down?

(15:15) The story of why Yo-Yo Ma doesn’t play the violin.

(17:15) Did Yo-Yo Ma have moments of doubts on his way to becoming a musician?

(22:07) How did Yo-Yo Ma come to see music as a source of healing?

(31:12) What does it mean to join the head, heart and body?

(34:54) Did salsa dancing change Dr. Murthy’s bedside manner?

(38:25) Why does Yo-Yo Ma treasure his education?

(40:07) Yo-Yo Ma’s lifelong question: What is the purpose of Music?

For more episodes, visit www.surgeongeneral.gov/housecalls.

We’d love to hear from you! Send us a note at housecalls@hhs.gov with your feedback & ideas.

Yo-Yo Ma, Cellist & Humanitarian

Twitter: @YoYo_Ma

Instagram: @YoYoMa

Facebook: @YoYoMa

YouTube: @YoYoMa

About Yo-Yo Ma

Yo-Yo Ma’s multi-faceted career is testament to his belief in culture’s power to generate trust and understanding. Whether performing new or familiar works for cello, bringing communities together to explore culture’s role in society, or engaging unexpected musical forms, Yo-Yo strives to foster connections that stimulate the imagination and reinforce our humanity.

Most recently, Yo-Yo began Our Common Nature, a cultural journey to celebrate the ways that nature can reunite us in pursuit of a shared future. Our Common Nature follows the Bach Project, a 36-community, six-continent tour of J. S. Bach’s cello suites paired with local cultural programming. Both endeavors reflect Yo-Yo’s lifelong commitment to stretching the boundaries of genre and tradition to understand how music helps us to imagine and build a stronger society.

Yo-Yo Ma was born in 1955 to Chinese parents living in Paris, where he began studying the cello with his father at age four. When he was seven, he moved with his family to New York City, where he continued his cello studies before pursuing a liberal arts education.

Yo-Yo has recorded more than 120 albums, is the winner of 19 Grammy Awards, and has performed for nine American presidents, most recently on the occasion of President Biden’s inauguration. He has received numerous awards, including the National Medal of the Arts, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the Birgit Nilsson Prize. He has been a UN Messenger of Peace since 2006, and was recognized as one of TIME magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2020. www.yo-yoma.com.

Baratunde Thurston: What Can Nature Teach Us About Connection? Oct 17, 2023

Nature matters to our ability to connect — with each other and ourselves. In this episode of House Calls, we explore how being in nature – whether it’s your local green space, or a national park, or somewhere in between – can build deep and important connections. Who better to take us on this journey than Baratunde Thurston, host of the PBS series “America Outdoors” and the podcast “How To Citizen.” Baratunde has traveled the United States from the Okefenokee Swamp to Death Valley, meeting people of all types and exploring their habitats with them. Baratunde shares his insights – that we Americans love the world around us and nature makes us feel better, both in body and mind. As we share our natural world with other animals and humans, Baratunde helps us see ourselves as part of something bigger, that we are beings who thrive on relationships, community, and participation with the world.

(02:26) How did Baratunde’s mother introduce him to nature?

(08:04) Why nature was a healing force for young Baratunde

(14:42) What wonders did Baratunde experience creating “America Outdoors?”

(20:41) How can nature help us reconnect with what’s really important?

(23:27) How does sharing the outdoors build connections across differences?

(29:24) How can we get more doses of nature on a daily basis?

(32:43) How can nature help us when we’re struggling?

(37:50) Why does Baratunde consider the word “citizen” a verb?

(44:02) What is the life balance of the individual versus the collective?

(51:46) What does Baratunde’s journey into the science reveal about nature and our mental health?

(54:04) Where’s the nature in the urban spaces?

(55:33) What does really knowing, and loving, other people do for us and for community?

(01:00:21) What gives Baratunde hope?

(01:04:23) What is Baratunde’s favorite food on the road?

For more conversations, visit www.surgeongeneral.gov/housecalls.

We’d love to hear from you! Send us a note at housecalls@hhs.gov with your feedback & ideas.

Baratunde Thurston, Host, Activist & Comedian

Twitter: @baratunde

Instagram: @baratunde

Facebook: @baratunde

About Baratunde Thurston

Baratunde Thurston tells a better story of us, weaving together threads of race, technology, democracy and climate through his work as an Emmy-nominated host, producer, writer, and public speaker. He is the host and executive producer of the PBS television series “America Outdoors with Baratunde Thurston,” creator and host of “How To Citizen” with Baratunde which Apple named one of its favorite podcasts of 2020, and a founding partner of the new media startup Puck. His comedic memoir, “How To Be Black,” is a New York Times best-seller. In 2019, he delivered what MSNBC’s Brian Williams called “one of the greatest TED talks of all time.” Baratunde is unique in his ability to integrate and synthesize different and difficult topics in a style that’s intelligent, compassionate, and humorous. Baratunde serves on the boards of Civics Unplugged and the Brooklyn Public Library and lives in Los Angeles, California.

Ashley Judd & Friends: Finding Chosen Family Oct 03, 2023

In this episode of House Calls, the Surgeon General talks with actress and activist Ashley Judd, who brings along three friends she calls sisters in her chosen family. This five-way conversation explores the meaning of friendship, trust, and supporting one another in times of joy and hardship. From experiencing daily life to the devastating death of Ashley’s mother, country singer Naomi Judd, Ashley and her chosen family have been there for one another in ways that demonstrate the power of intentional connection. Listen as Dr. Murthy asks why this group of women hold their chosen family so dear.

(02:32) Who is Ashley Judd’s chosen family?

(04:09) How Ashley and her chosen family met

(07:29) When Ashley’s mother died, how did her chosen family show up?

(12:28) How Ashley & Friends find safety and support in one another

(18:08) How do Ashley & Friends define chosen family?

(24:33) How often are Ashley & Friends in touch?

(30:10) How have Ashley & Friends navigated conflict?

(34:15) How do Ashley & Friends handle friendship despite differing beliefs?

(41:01) How do Ashley & Friends advise others to create a chosen family?

(46:42) What principles have Ashley & Friends established for their chosen family?

(51:55) What gives Ashley hope for the future?

For more conversations, visit www.surgeongeneral.gov/housecalls. Email us at housecalls@hhs.gov.

Ashley Judd

Twitter: @ashleyjudd

Instagram: @ashley_judd

Facebook: @ashleyjuddofficial

About Ashley Judd & Friends

Ashley Judd is a Golden Globe and Emmy-nominated actress who navigates between indie gems and box office hits. A feminist and social justice humanitarian, she is UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador, advocating for sexual and reproductive rights for girls and women worldwide. She has traveled to 23 countries, visiting brothels, refugee camps, and slums, to learn about male sexual violence and gender inequality. Her New York Times bestselling book, “All That Is Bitter & Sweet”, chronicles these journeys.

Ashley earned an MPA from Harvard's Kennedy School of Government. Ashley was Time Magazine’s 2017 Person of the Year as one of the Silence Breakers. She was the first to go on the record about rapist Harvey Weinstein. In 2019, the United Nations honored her as Global Advocate of the Year. A survivor of multi-generational trauma and child rape, Ashley has been in recovery for 17 years. She is an advocate for survivors and those who live with mental illness in their families. Ashley believes trauma we do not transform is trauma we will transfer, and that a life of service begins with taking responsibility for one’s own healing.

Logan Raines has found that connection with others takes intention, and lasting friendships are essential to emotional health. Logan wears many hats- wife, mother of 3, and part-time photographer. When her father was diagnosed with dementia, Logan stepped into the role of manager for her parent’s estate. Logan holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Belmont University. She lives in Franklin, TN with her husband, Danny, their children, Luke, Lillian, and Drew, and beloved dog Coco.

Heather Raymond is a wife, mother of 3, and a full time Realtor. In her first year of being a Realtor she was named Rookie of the Year by Parks Realty in Middle Tennessee. Heather is an endurance athlete who has completed several Ironmans and ultra marathons. Heather and her husband Marc plan to retire in his home county of France and hope Luc (16) Audrey (13) & William (7) will visit frequently when that becomes a reality.

Samantha Andros is a career educator who recently finished her master’s degree in social work from Indiana University. Sam has worked for over 30 years as a teacher, mentor, and interventionist, supporting the goals of students facing hardship. Sam has been married for over 30 years to her husband Ed, and has 3 young adult daughters. Sam credits her friends' unwavering encouragement for her ability to maintain a meaningful life.

Encore | Dr. Tracy Dennis-Tiwary: Can Anxiety Be Good For Us? Sep 19, 2023

The end of summer and the arrival of fall marks a time of transition. Vacation time ends and school begins. No matter your age, for many of us, these kinds of transitions mean change, and change can give rise to anxiety. We all have anxiety. It’s part of being human. The question is whether we can transform that uncomfortable feeling of being anxious into a positive? To help us think through, and better manage, our anxiety, House Calls is re-sharing a conversation with Dr. Tracey Dennis-Tiwary.

Dr. Tracy Dennis-Tiwary, author of “Future Tense: Why Anxiety is Good For you (Even Though It Feels Bad),” and a professor of psychology and neuroscience at Hunter College, says harnessing our anxiety can help us shape the future, instead of making it something, well…to be anxious about. In this episode of House Calls, the Surgeon General and Dr. Dennis-Tiwary talk about concrete ways many people can get through anxious times with a slower pulse, and calmer mind, and a clearer vision. Dr. Dennis-Tiwary calls it The Three Ls and she says anyone can learn to do it.

(02:50) What is anxiety and why does it exist?

(04:57) Stress, anxiety, or fear: What’s the difference?

(06:13) Anxiety or anxiety disorder?

(07:58) How does anxiety manifest?

(11:19) Is mental health the health crisis of our time?

(14:13) Managing anxiety with the Three L’s.

(18:12) Why should we befriend our anxiety?

(19:13) How can we help children with their anxiety?

(31:27) Can you become an emotional ninja?

(33:13) What drives our anxiety?

(39:11) Where do anxiety and social media intersect?

(45:21) Can we prioritize mental health?

For more conversations, visit www.surgeongeneral.gov/housecalls.

We’d love to hear from you! Send us a note at housecalls@hhs.gov with your feedback & ideas.

Dr. Tracy Dennis-Tiwary, Professor and Founder and CSO of Wise Therapeutics

Twitter: @tracyadennis

Instagram: @dr.tracyphd

LinkedIn: @tracydennistiwary

About Dr. Tracy Dennis-Tiwary

Tracy A. Dennis-Tiwary, Ph.D. is a professor of psychology and neuroscience, Director of the Emotion Regulation Lab, and Co-Executive Director of the Center for Health Technology at Hunter College, The City University of New York. As Founder and CSO of Wise Therapeutics, she translates neuroscience and cognitive therapy techniques into gamified, clinically validated digital therapeutics for mental health. She has published over 100 scientific articles and delivered over 400 presentations at academic conferences and for corporate clients. She has been featured throughout the media, including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, ABC, CBS, CNN, NPR, The Today Show, and Bloomberg Television.

Dr. Rachel Naomi Remen: Can We All Be Healers? Sep 05, 2023

How can we become healers?

In these times of disconnection, we all search for sources of healing. One powerful, often untapped source is the healing we can provide for each other. For this conversation, I turned to my long-time medical school mentor, Dr. Rachel Naomi Remen. Rachel is widely known for launching the course The Healer’s Art, which has been taught to over 30,000 medical students, including me. Now in her 80s, she has been a guiding light for decades.

In this live conversation, we explore deep questions: What is the difference between curing and healing? What is the role of love in doctoring? How is listening a form of healing? Rachel draws from her own life, including the harsh experience of being the only woman in her medical school class and living with chronic illness; while still painful, those experiences helped her understand who she is.

In an increasingly complex world, knowing ourselves and finding ways to express love is what this episode of House Calls is all about.

(03:40) How Dr. Remen and Dr. Murthy connected through the heart and soul of medicine.

(14:01) What is the difference between healing and curing?

(16:10) What is a wounded healer?

(20:51) What is the role of love in healing?

(23:00) How does serving others help the heart and soul?

(24:28) How did Dr. Remen find a place she really belongs, and how can we?

(30:20) What does it mean to be one of a kind?

(34:30) Why love is a blessing for a lifetime.

(46:22) What has Dr. Remen learned from her cancer patients about healing?

(49:25) How can we be source of healing for others?

(54:09) What can help us break away from feelings of despair?

For more conversations, visit www.surgeongeneral.gov/housecalls.

We’d love to hear from you! Send us a note at housecalls@hhs.gov with your feedback & ideas.

Dr. Rachel Naomi Remen, Physician & Teacher

Facebook: @rachelnaomiremen

About Dr. Rachel Naomi Remen

Rachel Naomi Remen, MD is Clinical Professor Emeritus of Family and Community Medicine at the UCSF School of Medicine and Professor of Family Medicine at Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine in Ohio. In 1991, she founded the Remen Institute for the Study of Health and Illness (RISHI) a national training institute for physicians, nurses, medical students, nursing students, veterinarians and other health professionals who wish to practice a health care of compassion, meaning, service and community. She is an internationally recognized medical educator whose innovative discovery model course in professionalism, resiliency and relationship-centered care for medical students, The Healer’s Art, is taught at more than 90 American medical schools and schools in seven countries abroad. Her bestselling books “Kitchen Table Wisdom” and “My Grandfather’s Blessings” have been published in 23 languages and have millions of copies in print.

In recognition of her contribution to medicine and medical education, she has received numerous awards including three honorary degrees, the prestigious Bravewell Award as one of the earliest pioneers of Integrative Medicine and Relationship Centered Care. In 2013, she was voted the Gold-Headed Cane award by UCSF School of Medicine for excellence in embodying and teaching the qualities and values of the true physician. Dr. Remen has a 70-year personal history of chronic illness, and her work is a potent blend of the perspectives and wisdom of physician and patient.

Encore | Susan Cain: How Do We Navigate the Joy and Sorrow of Being Human? Aug 22, 2023

As we enjoy the final swing of summer, we’re sharing one of our most memorable episodes.

What is the feeling you get when a sad, familiar song tugs at you? Or the exquisite pain that comes with the awareness of passing time and loves lost? Best-selling author Susan Cain identifies the simultaneous mixture of joy and sorrow in life as “bittersweetness.” In this conversation with the Surgeon General, we learn about harnessing the forces of sadness and grief as ways of connecting. Light and dark, birth and death, the bitter and sweet are forever paired. Accepting this balance can bring comfort and solace to the experience of loss, which Cain sees as part of life's journey. Join in to understand how we can transform pain into beauty and longing into belonging.

(05:22) Humans don’t like feeling sad. But joy and sorrow are forever paired.

(11:34) Compassion is to suffer with someone

(16:21) How effortless perfection keep us from sharing our struggles

(21:06) Our need for beauty

(25:40) Dr. Murthy’s son joins the conversation!

(26:14) Grief isn’t a detour; it’s part of the main road

(31:56) Moving On vs Moving Forward

(39:45) Helping kids with loss & disappointment (with the help of a couple donkeys)

(46:12) The story of the Shards of Glass

(55:36) Playlist favorites, laughs, and what gives Susan hope

We’d love to hear from you! Send us a note at housecalls@hhs.gov with your feedback & ideas.

Susan Cain, Author and Speaker

Twitter: @susancain

Instagram: @susancainauthor

Facebook: @authorsusancain

About Susan Cain

SUSAN CAIN is the #1 bestselling author of “Bittersweet: How Sorrow and Longing Make Us Whole” and “Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking,” which has been translated into 40 languages, spent eight years on The New York Times best seller list, and was named the #1 best book of the year by Fast Company magazine, which also named Cain one of its Most Creative People in Business.

LinkedIn named her the Top 6th Influencer in the World, just behind Richard Branson and Melinda French Gates. Susan partners with Malcolm Gladwell, Adam Grant and Dan Pink to curate the Next Big Idea Book Club. They donate all their proceeds to children’s literacy programs.

Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, The Economist, The Wall Street Journal, and many other publications. Her TED talks on the power of introverts and the hidden power of sad songs and rainy days have been viewed over 40 million times.

Cain has also spoken at Google, PIXAR, the U.S. Treasury, P&G, Harvard, and West Point. She received Harvard Law School’s Celebration Award for Thought Leadership, the Toastmasters International Golden Gavel Award for Communication and Leadership, and was named one of the world’s top 50 Leadership and Management Experts by Inc. Magazine. She is an honors graduate of Princeton and Harvard Law School. She lives in the Hudson River Valley with her husband, two sons and golden doodle, Sophie. Visit Susan at susancain.net.

Encore | José Andrés: Recipe for Connection Aug 09, 2023

As we enjoy the final swing of summer, we’re sharing one of our most memorable episodes on building connection.

Why is food a foundation for human connection? Chef José Andrés has spent a lifetime of cooking for friends & family at home, in his many restaurants, and for people stricken by disaster around the world. For José, sharing and providing food spreads the empathy he believes people naturally possess for one another. This conversation between the nation's doctor and the global chef will make you want to break bread with those near and far, and it will leave you laughing over the unforgettable story of José's most stunning kitchen catastrophe.

(04:16) How José feels at home anywhere he is
(05:10) Where did José’s sense of self come from?
(12:01) What is at the heart of our relationship to food
(21:05) What inspired José to use food as empathy during disaster
(27:16) How do we have conversations about love & empathy?
(31:48) Where does José turn to when he loses hope?
(37:36) Favorite comfort foods
(38:29) His worst (and most hilarious) tale of kitchen disaster

José Andrés, Chef & Humanitarian

Instagram: @chefjoseandres

Twitter: @chefjoseandres

Facebook: chefjoseandres

About José Andrés

Born in Spain, where he learned the craft of cooking first from his parents and then in the kitchen of Ferran Adrià’s groundbreaking avant-garde restaurant elBulli – José Andrés immigrated to the United States in 1991, first to New York City and later to Washington, D.C., where he and his partners established a group of restaurants that has earned countless fans and won numerous awards over the years.

José holds close both his identity as a Spanish immigrant and an American citizen, placing upon himself the responsibility of both culinary ambassador and immigrant representing the two nations. He is a visionary and a humanitarian, establishing World Central Kitchen in 2010 as a means for feeding the many – using culinary training programs to empower communities and strengthen economies as well as food disaster relief in the wake of emergencies around the globe.

He has been widely recognized for both his culinary and his humanitarian work, including by the James Beard Foundation, which named him Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic in 2003, as well as Humanitarian of the Year in 2018; TIME Magazine, which included him on the list of 100 Most Influential People in 2012 and 2018; and President Obama, who awarded José the National Humanities Medal in 2015. José holds two Michelin stars for his avant-garde tasting counter minibar by José Andrés in Washington, D.C., as well as four Bib Gourmands.

For more conversations, visit www.surgeongeneral.gov/housecalls.

We’d love to hear from you! Send us a note at housecalls@hhs.gov with your feedback & ideas.

Rainn Wilson: Walking A Spiritual Path In A Lonely World Jul 25, 2023

Note: This episode was recorded in June 2023, prior to the SAG-AFTRA union declaring a strike.

Rainn Wilson describes himself as an actor and an artist, who writes some books about spirituality on the side. As well-known as Rainn is on the screen and stage, particularly for playing Dwight on the TV series “The Office,” we invited him on House Calls to talk about spirituality – specifically how spirituality can help us change the world for the better, from addressing global challenges like climate change, to creating more connection and community in our daily lives.

Rainn is looking for what he calls a “spiritual revolution”, in which we all give back to humanity with “loving kindness.” Join us as we talk about what that looks like and how we can all help make our world a more meaningfully connected place.

(02:38) How does Rainn Wilson want to be known?

(06:42) Are we experiencing a spiritual crisis?

(11:13) How can spirituality help fix today’s world?

(15:36) How has Rainn’s personal journey with spirituality evolved?

(20:25) What precipitated Rainn’s experience of loneliness and isolation as a young man?

(24:09) What would Rainn Wilson today tell his 20-year-old self about happiness?

(34:59) How can we connect and lead with love?

(41:00) Love, kindness, and loving kindness.

(55:06) How does Rainn prioritize people and community in his life?

(01:01:11) Which of Rainn Wilson’s many pets is a being most of us have probably never encountered?

We’d love to hear from you! Send us a note at housecalls@hhs.gov with your feedback & ideas.

Rainn Wilson, Actor & Artist

Twitter: @rainnwilson

Instagram: @rainnwilson

Facebook: @rainnwilson

About Rainn Wilson

Rainn Wilson is an Emmy nominated and SAG award-winning actor, writer and producer best known for playing the role of Dwight Schrute on NBC's The Office, which garnered him three Emmy Award nominations.

Wilson’s book, “Soul Boom: Why We Need a Spiritual Revolution” released on April 25th of this year. In this book, he explores the benefits spirituality gives us in creating solutions for an increasingly challenging world.

Wilson can be seen in “Rainn Wilson and The Geography of Bliss,” a six-part travel docuseries in which he travels around the world to discover the happiest places on Earth. The docuseries is based on Eric Weiner’s novel “The Geography of Bliss: One Grump’s Search for the Happiest Places in the World” and debuted on Peacock in May 2023.

Other movie and television credits include “WEIRD: The Al Yankovic Story,” “Jerry & Marge Go Large,” “Dark Winds,” “An Idiot’s Guide to Climate Change,” “Star: Trek Discovery,” “Super,” “The Meg” and “Six Feet Under” among many others.

Wilson co-founded SoulPancake, a digital media company designed to celebrate humanity and champion creativity. He is the author of “The Bassoon King” and the New York Times Bestselling “SoulPancake: Chew on Life’s Big Questions.”

Richard Reeves: Why Are Boys And Men Struggling For Connection? Jul 11, 2023

As we face an epidemic of loneliness in our country, how are men and boys struggling for connection? What’s driving the increasing rate of suicide among men? And how does our culture affect the ways in which men and boys form friendships?

The Surgeon General and scholar Richard Reeves explore these questions and more. They discuss the complicated and troubling picture about how men and boys are faring. Educationally, economically, socially, and in terms of their physical and mental health, men and boys are struggling in profound ways. This conversation also examines male social connection in the context of a changing society in which expectations for men in the family, at work, and socially are shifting.

In this episode of House Calls, the Surgeon General and Richard Reeves discuss how we can help and why understanding this moment in the lives of boys and men is important for all of us.

(05:04) How are men and boys doing in terms of loneliness and isolation?

(08:11) What’s driving the increase in the rate of suicide among men?

(12:36) How does our culture influence how men and boys form friendships?

(20:16) Can we better balance work and parenting?

(28:47) How can we help young people build relational skills?

(31:36) How have Richard Reeve’s personal experiences shaped his work?

(34:32) How did Richard Reeves teach his sons about masculinity?

(39:32) Can we have open conversations about men’s challenges?

(36:57) The balance of success, creating meaning, and parenting.

(47:23) Why do some men and boys experience difficulty expressing their emotions?

(54:51) How can we provide men with more emotional support?

(01:03:08) How has Richard Reeves modeled different ideas of strength for his sons?

We’d love to hear from you! Send us a note at housecalls@hhs.gov with your feedback & ideas.

Richard Reeves, Writer and Researcher

Twitter: @RichardvReeves

Instagram: @richardvreeves

About Richard Reeves

Richard V. Reeves is a nonresident senior fellow in Governance Studies and president of the Boys and Men Project. Formerly, he was a senior fellow in Economic Studies, where he held the John C. and Nancy D. Whitehead Chair. His research focuses on boys and men, inequality, and social mobility.

Richard’s publications for Brookings include his latest book “Of Boys and Men: Why the Modern Male Is Struggling, Why It Matters, and What to Do about It” (2022) and 2017’s “Dream Hoarders: How the American Upper Middle Class Is Leaving Everyone Else in the Dust, Why That Is a Problem, and What to Do about It”. He is a contributor to The Atlantic, National Affairs, Democracy Journal, the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times. Richard is also the author of “John Stuart Mill – Victorian Firebrand”, an intellectual biography of the British liberal philosopher and politician.

Richard sits on the Board of Jobs for the Future, and is an adviser to the American Family Survey, and to the Equity Center at the University of Virginia. He has previously served as a consultant to the Opportunity Insights team led by Prof Raj Chetty at Harvard University (2018), and as a member of the Government of Canada’s Ministerial Advisory Committee on Poverty (2017-2018).

Richard’s previous roles include: director of Demos, the London-based political think-tank; director of futures at the Work Foundation; principal policy advisor to the Minister for Welfare Reform; social affairs editor of the The Observer; research fellow at the Institute for Public Policy Research; economics correspondent for The Guardian; and a researcher at the Institute of Psychiatry, University of London. He is also a former European Business Speaker of the Year.

Richard has a B.A. from Oxford University and a Ph.D. from Warwick University.

Meet My Moai, A Powerful Friendship Tradition Jun 27, 2023

Friendships don’t just happen; they take nurturing to grow and deepen.

This episode is dedicated to friendships and the meaningful ways friends make our lives better. In this episode, the Surgeon General is joined by his two pals Sunny and Dave. Together, they have what’s called a moai.

Moais are a friendship tradition from Okinawa, Japan – essentially, it is a friend circle that starts in childhood. Moais offer emotional and moral support, and the effect on people’s health can be remarkably positive. In Okinawa, an island known for some of the longest life expectancy in the world, some moais have lasted for over 90 years!

This episode is an invitation to a unique and deeply personal space, as Dr. Murthy and his friends talk about the power of being seen and valued for who you are.

We hope this episode inspires you to build and strengthen connections in your life. Please share with others who are seeking the same.

(05:45) What is a Moai?

(10:51) How did their Moai begin?

(17:39) How has the Moai made a difference in their lives?

(32:06) How has being in the Moai impacted their families?

(36:27) The power of an explicit friendship commitment

(45:16) What exactly are we chasing in life?

(48:02) How can you start your own Moai?

Dr. Sandeep (Sunny) Kishore, Physician-Scientist

Twitter: ⁠@sandeep_kishore⁠

Instagram: ⁠@sunnyk5⁠

Dr. Dave Chokshi, Physician & Public Health Leader

Twitter: @davechokshi

About Dr. Sunny Kishore & Dr. Dave Chokshi

Dr. Sandeep (Sunny) Kishore is a physician-scientist at the University of California, San Francisco. He has worked on closing the “know-do” gap and translating scientific insights into real-world applications with focus on chronic disease prevention & control. Currently, he is focused on developing a scalable treatment algorithm for blood pressure control to improve cardiometabolic health for primary care clinics across the University of California. His work has led to the addition of over ten treatments to the Essential Medicines List of the World Health Organization (WHO) for cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes and mental illness. He also has provided technical guidance to Resolve to Save Lives with a focus on fixed dose combinations for blood pressure and led large global networks focused on reducing the toll of chronic illness worldwide.

Dr. Kishore has delivered remarks for United Nations General Assembly health sessions, WHO, TEDMED and his work has been featured in JAMA, The Lancet, Bulletin of WHO and Scientific American. He is a fellow of the New York Academy of Medicine, an Emerging Leader for the National Academy of Medicine and is a recipient of the Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans. He received the Raymond W. Sarber Award for top American graduate student in microbiology for doctoral research on anti-malarial strategies. He completed his medical and graduate training at Weill Cornell/Rockefeller/Sloan-Kettering Institute and Oxford, undertook his clinical training at Yale and Brigham & Women's Hospital/Harvard Medical School and has held fellowships at Harvard, Yale and the Dalai Lama Center at MIT. He currently resides in the Bay Area with his wife.

Dr. Dave A. Chokshi is a practicing physician and public health leader who most recently served as the 43rd Health Commissioner of New York City. From 2020-2022, he led the City’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including its historic campaign to vaccinate over 6 million New Yorkers. Previously, Dr. Chokshi was the inaugural Chief Population Health Officer at the largest public healthcare system in the nation. He has held successive senior leadership roles that span the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. A Rhodes Scholar and White House Fellow, he is nationally recognized as a transformational leader, a clinical innovator, a policy expert, and a fierce advocate for a stronger and more equitable health system.

Judy Woodruff: What Does It Mean To Really Listen? Jun 13, 2023

Judy Woodruff is not done asking questions. A decorated and respected journalist, she anchored the PBS NewsHour for 15 years until she stepped down in 2022. Now, at age 79, she is traveling the country to answer: what is at the root of the division and disconnection our country faces today? And how do we fix that? To understand across different perspectives requires the ability to listen. At 79, Judy has honed this skill. In the decades Judy spent reporting on Americans and our politics (starting when Jimmy Carter declared his run for president) as well as raising her three children, she has seen enormous change in how people relate to one another. In this episode, we hear her views on the value of really listening to others and having respect, even when we might not agree with or understand, someone.

(03:15) Judy Woodruff’s interest in divisiveness in America

(12:05) How have political divisions evolved during Judy’s career?

(17:13) How Judy became a journalist

(22:12) Where did Judy find support in an era when few women were in journalism?

(26:16) The role of her mother

(33:08) How can we keep family and friends centered when work takes us away?

(34:45) How does Judy define success?

(36:57) The balance of success, creating meaning, and parenting

(44:36) Why listening and respect is essential to Judy’s work.

(46:54) How does Judy handle difficult interviews?

(51:58) Where does Judy find respite when she needs a break?

(55:37) Is Judy hopeful about the world?

(57:50) Is there someone Judy hasn’t interviewed whom she’d love to?

(58:08) Judy shares a funny on-set moment

We’d love to hear from you! Send us a note at housecalls@hhs.gov with your feedback & ideas.

Judy Woodruff, Journalist

Twitter: @judywoodruff

Instagram: @judywoodruffpbs

About Judy Woodruff

Broadcast journalist Judy Woodruff is the Senior Correspondent for the PBS NewsHour, after serving for 11 years as its Anchor and Managing Editor. During 2023 and 2024, she is undertaking a reporting project, “America at a Crossroads,” to better understand the country’s political divide. She has covered politics and other news for more than four decades at CNN, NBC, and PBS.

The recipient of numerous awards, including the Peabody Journalistic Integrity Award, the Poynter Medal, an Emmy for Lifetime Achievement, and the Radcliffe Medal, she and the late Gwen Ifill were together awarded Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism after Woodruff and Ifill were named co-anchors of the PBS NewsHour in 2013, marking the first time an American national news broadcast would be co-anchored by two women.

For 12 years, Woodruff served as anchor and senior correspondent for CNN, where her duties included anchoring the weekday program, Inside Politics. At PBS from 1983 to 1993, she was the chief Washington correspondent for The MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour. From 1984-1990, she also anchored PBS' award-winning weekly documentary series, Frontline with Judy Woodruff. In 2011, Woodruff was the principal reporter for the PBS documentary “Nancy Reagan: The Role of a Lifetime”. And in 2007, she completed an extensive project for PBS and other news outlets on the views of young Americans called “Generation Next: Speak Up. Be Heard”.

At NBC News, Woodruff was White House correspondent from 1977 to 1982. For one year after that she served as NBC's Today show chief Washington correspondent. She wrote the book, “This is Judy Woodruff at the White House,” published in 1982 by Addison-Wesley. Woodruff is a founding co-chair of the International Women's Media Foundation, an organization dedicated to promoting and encouraging women in communication industries worldwide.

Woodruff is a graduate of Duke University, where she is a trustee emerita. She lives in Washington, DC, with her husband, journalist Al Hunt, and they are the parents of three children.

Dr. Lisa Damour: How Can We Protect Teen Mental Health? May 30, 2023

Whether it’s watching a young person struggle with a social situation, lose sleep to social media, experience loss, feel school stress, consider self-harm, or try to support a friend, so many adults worry about how kids are coping emotionally in an increasingly complex world. How can we adults help?

Dr. Lisa Damour, a psychologist and author, who has spent decades working as a clinician and researcher. Her three books about young people and their mental health are written to help adults better understand and support kids. In this episode, Dr. Lisa Damour brings us a world of wisdom about the struggles of today’s young people and how adults can respond, both generally and specifically.

This episode was recorded with a live audience at The City Club of Cleveland, and the audience contributed some wonderful questions of their own.

We’d love to hear from you! Send us a note at housecalls@hhs.gov with your feedback & ideas.

(02:46) What is the current state of teen mental health?

(06:10) How should we think about mental health?

(07:38) When should parents intervene in their kids’ mental health?

(09:43) Is adolescence different for the current generation?

(11:05) Why are kids sleeping less?

(13:19) What is the primary job of parents, in terms of mental health for kids?

(17:44) How can parents talk with kids about self-harm?

(20:30) How can we help kids find balance about things that trouble them?

(22:45) When can parents expect the peak of emotional swings in adolescence?

(25:12) Are kids more fragile these days?

(27:49) Are kids experiencing loneliness?

(29:45) Are online friendships as deep as in-person friendships?

(31:14) Do kids of different genders form friendships differently?

(32:58) How can we help boys initiate deeper friendships?

(34:31) Can we get past societal expectations of what boys and girls feel?

(38:19) What role can school play in supporting emotional well-being?

(40:27) How should parents approach technology and social media for kids?

(46:46) What gives Lisa Damour hope?

(48:01) What is the mental health status of college-aged people?

(51:55) How does privacy work for young people seeking mental health support?

(53:54) How can we help young people who are feeling apathetic?

(56:42) How badly do tech devices interfere with sleep and what to do about it?

(58:51) Can we manage kids’ devices while allowing them to feel connected?

Dr. Lisa Damour, Psychologist and Author

Instagram: @lisa.damour

Twitter: @LDamour

Facebook: @lisadamourphd

About Dr. Lisa Damour

Dr. Lisa Damour is the author of three New York Times best sellers: “Untangled,” “Under Pressure,” and “The Emotional Lives of Teenagers.” She co-hosts the "Ask Lisa" podcast, works in collaboration with UNICEF, and is recognized as a thought leader by the American Psychological Association. Dr. Damour is also a regular contributor to The New York Times and CBS News.

Dr. Damour serves as a Senior Advisor to the Schubert Center for Child Studies at Case Western Reserve University and has written numerous academic papers, chapters, and books related to education and child development. She maintains a clinical practice and also speaks to schools, professional organizations, and corporate groups around the world on the topics of child and adolescent development, family mental health, and adult well-being.

Dr. Damour graduated with honors from Yale University and worked for the Yale Child Study Center before earning her doctorate in Clinical Psychology at the University of Michigan. She has been a fellow at Yale’s Edward Zigler Center in Child Development and Social Policy and the University of Michigan’s Power Foundation. She and her husband are the proud parents of two daughters.

Eric Nam: Yes, Vulnerability is a Superpower (Even For Pop Stars) May 16, 2023

How can vulnerability and openness help us through our darkest times and find our truest selves? 

For Eric Nam, a voice loved by millions around the world, this was not an easy question to answer. In his rise to K-pop stardom he wrestled with mental health, experiencing feelings of anxiety, depression and ‘otherness.’ And he’s seen fellow stars succumb to mental health issues. But instead of hiding his difficulties, Eric found a way through them, by finding safe ways to be vulnerable on and off stage and challenging accepted ideas of success and manhood. And he’s gone further by creating platform for other global stars to share their honest stories and help fans with their mental health.

And stay tuned to hear Eric and Dr. Murthy reveal their new boyband name!

We’d love to hear from you! Send us a note at housecalls@hhs.gov with your feedback & ideas.

(05:25) Becoming a K-pop star

(09:51) How did Eric have the courage to ask himself if he was happy?

(12:03) Navigating family expectations around his career

(17:20) How do healing & vulnerability show up in Eric’s music?

(22:18) Is it harder to be vulnerable as a guy?

(27:19) Early career struggles impacting his mental health

(34:26) Handling fame

(36:37) Why making new friends can sometimes be hard?

(38:33) Helping others with mental health challenges

(41:54) What does Eric Nam love most about being Korean American?

(44:50) What are Eric Nam’s go-to tunes for relaxing?

(45:56) If Eric and the Surgeon General had a boy band, what would they call it?

(53:31) What gives Eric hope?

Eric Nam, Singer & Entrepreneur

Instagram: @ericnam

Twitter: @ericnamofficial

Facebook: @ericnamofficial

About Eric Nam

Eric Nam is a multi-faceted singer-songwriter, TV personality, actor, and entrepreneur. Named GQ Korea’s Man of the Year and Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia, Eric is a household name and one of the most extensively touring Asian artists in the world. In 2019, with the help of his brothers, Eric co-founded DIVE Studios, a K-pop-focused media company with multiple award-winning podcasts. In 2021, the Nam brothers leveraged the success of DIVE Studios to create Mindset, a mental health and wellness platform with a library of authentic and intimate video and audio collections from world-renowned celebrities. Eric received a B.A. in International Studies with honors from Boston College.

You’re Not Alone in Feeling Lonely May 02, 2023

Loneliness is an experience so many of us have. But what’s surprising is how loneliness impacts both our mental and physical health. To mark this week’s release of a groundbreaking new Surgeon General’s advisory on loneliness & social connection, Dr. Murthy answers the most common questions he’s asked about loneliness. He also shares some of the surprising science around the positive health effects of social connection. This episode is one worth sharing with a friend.

Learn more at SurgeonGeneral.gov/connection (p.s. it’s a really unexpected website).

(01:49) How do loneliness and isolation affect our health?

(03:35) Are there different types of loneliness?

(06:29) How bad is the loneliness problem in America?

(08:13) How do you know if you’re lonely?

(09:42) Do online friends count?

(12:18) Am I at a disadvantage if I live alone?

(13:48) How do I know if someone else is lonely?

(14:33) What can I do if my partner is feeling lonely?

(15:23) How do I know if someone else is lonely?

(17:06) Can strangers help us feel less lonely?

(18:24) What does Dr. Murthy do when he’s feeling lonely?

(23:13) What can we do to address the loneliness epidemic?

(26:36) How can we manage connection in a remote work environment?

(29:12) Embrace the “Acceptance Prophecy”

(30:04) Just how powerful is social connection?

We’d love to hear from you! Send us a note at housecalls@hhs.gov with your feedback & ideas.

Dr. Rangan Chatterjee: What's at the Core of Your Happiness? (Part 2) Apr 18, 2023

How well do you balance your ideas of success with your happiness? And do you really understand what makes you happy?

In Part Two of their conversation about stress, the Surgeon General and Dr. Rangan Chatterjee talk about how our culture of striving for more can undermine our happiness. But if we can identify a few simple things that bring us joy, we can develop the skill of happiness. As an example, Dr. Chatterjee leads Dr. Murthy through a simple “core happiness” exercise we can all practice.

This episode of House Calls gets deeply personal, as both doctors talk about personal challenges in their lives relating to family, love, and loss. This conversation is a powerful example of how connecting human-to-human can help us through hard moments.

We’d love to hear from you! Send us a note at housecalls@hhs.gov with your feedback & ideas.

(02:05) Why really listening, instead of problem-solving, matters.

(06:10) How can we develop the skill of happiness?

(10:22) Does success equate to happiness?

(12:28) The quest for success: the story of Dr. Chatterjee’s father.

(17:14) Want to try the exercise “Write Your Happy Ending?”

(20:20) Look back…what makes you happy?

(23:41) Dr. Murthy shares an internal struggle.

(27:42) And what Dr. Chatterjee reveals in return.

(30:50) Love, loss, and beauty as emotional companions.

(33:57) As parents age, finding new appreciation for life.

(37:41) Want to alleviate stress? Reach out, connect, and be vulnerable.

Dr. Rangan Chatterjee, Physician & Podcast Host

Twitter: @drchatterjeeuk

Instagram: @drchatterjee

Facebook: @drchatterjee

About Dr. Rangan Chatterjee

Dr. Rangan Chatterjee is regarded as one of the most influential medical doctors in the UK and wants to change how medicine will be practiced for years to come. His mission is to help 100 million people around the globe live better lives.

He hosts the most listened to health podcast in the UK and Europe, "Feel Better, Live More" – which regularly tops the Apple Podcast charts. The podcast has received 125 million audio downloads to date and is listened to and watched by over 8 million people every month. Chris Evans calls “Feel Better Live More” ‘One of the best podcasts on the planet.’

Dr Chatterjee is known for his ability to simplify complex health advice and find the root cause of people's health problems - he highlighted his methods in the ground-breaking BBC One television show, “Doctor in the House,” which has been shown in over 70 countries around the world. He has recently been awarded the title of Professor of Health Communication and Education at The University of Chester.

He is the Number 1 selling health author in the UK; each of his 5 books are Sunday Times Bestsellers in the UK and international bestsellers across the globe. His latest book “Happy Mind, Happy Life” was published on March 31st 2022 and was an instant No.1 Sunday Times Bestseller. Dr. Chatterjee hosts his own Amazon Original daily podcast “Built to Thrive,” regularly appears on BBC Television and has been featured in numerous international publications including The New York Times, Forbes, The Guardian and Vogue. His TED talk, How To Make Disease Disappear, has been viewed more than 5.5 million times.

Dr. Rangan Chatterjee: How Stressed Are We? (And What Can We Do About It?) (Part 1) Apr 04, 2023

How do you experience stress? Does it come from a hard day at work? Or being stretched too thin supporting others? Worrying about food? Living in a difficult environment?

So many factors can contribute to stress, and we’re all feeling it. Dr. Rangan Chatterjee believes our stress levels are higher than ever and that it’s making us sicker. Dr. Chatterjee is a physician who practices lifestyle medicine, meaning he treats his patients with chronic conditions in part through helping them live healthier, happier lives – which includes less stress.

In this episode, the Surgeon General and Dr. Chatterjee explore the impact of stress on the body, the journey of wellness/lifestyle medicine, and what makes them feel passionate about being doctors. As they reach into personal stories to explain how and why they care for people, Dr. Chatterjee reveals his frustration with how the medical establishment has historically treated lower-income people and his firm belief in making great medical information available to all.

We’d love to hear from you! Send us a note at housecalls@hhs.gov with your feedback & ideas.

(03:26) How stressed are we?

(05:55) How does stress influence our behaviors?

(08:57) How have you seen stress manifest in people’s lives?

(11:57) How is stress like being chased by a tiger?

(15:57) Why does stress hit us in the gut (and the libido)?

(20:03) How did you become a doctor?

(26:40) How has doctoring become so much more than seeing a patient in an office?

(31:48) Listening is real medicine.

(35:05) How Dr. Chatterjee’s son’s illness changed everything.

(41:15) What’s Dr. Chatterjee’s approach to treating chronic conditions?

(45:27) How does lifestyle influence our health?

(46:49) Why all patients should get great health information.

Dr. Rangan Chatterjee, Physician & Podcast Host

Twitter: @drchatterjeeuk

Instagram: @drchatterjee

Facebook: @drchatterjee

About Dr. Rangan Chatterjee

Dr. Chatterjee is regarded as one of the most influential medical doctors in the UK and wants to change how medicine will be practiced for years to come. His mission is to help 100 million people around the globe live better lives.

He hosts the most listened to health podcast in the UK and Europe, "Feel Better, Live More" – which regularly tops the Apple Podcast charts. The podcast has received 125 million audio downloads to date and is listened to and watched by over 8 million people every month. Chris Evans calls Feel Better Live More ‘One of the best podcasts on the planet.’

Dr Chatterjee is known for his ability to simplify complex health advice and find the root cause of people's health problems - he highlighted his methods in the ground-breaking BBC One television show, “Doctor in the House,” which has been shown in over 70 countries around the world. He has recently been awarded the title of Professor of Health Communication and Education at The University of Chester.

He is the Number 1 selling health author in the UK; each of his 5 books are Sunday Times Bestsellers in the UK and international bestsellers across the globe. His latest book “Happy Mind, Happy Life” was published on March 31st 2022 and was an instant No.1 Sunday Times Bestseller.

Dr. Chatterjee hosts his own Amazon Original daily podcast “Built to Thrive,” regularly appears on BBC Television and has been featured in numerous international publications including The New York Times, Forbes, The Guardian and Vogue. His TED talk, How To Make Disease Disappear, has been viewed over 5.5 million times.

David Brooks: What is a Meaningful Life? Mar 21, 2023

How can we create a meaningful life in a self-centered world? Have our societal notions of success misled us? How does connection underpin our sense of meaning? What practical skills do we need to understand other humans? And what do morals and values have to do with any of this?

A few years ago, David Brooks, columnist & cultural commentator, experienced deep personal loss. He suddenly found himself emotionally at sea. As he looked for ways to keep his head afloat, he realized he wasn’t alone; that somehow many Americans had become disconnected from their families or beliefs or way of life. Brooks saw an America drifting from its values and morals, to the point that the basics of human relations were out of reach. Instead of moralizing, Brooks set out on a journey to find people who are truly connected and anchored, and to learn what they do and how they do it.

In this episode, the Surgeon General and David Brooks dig into deep questions. In a world that can feel uncertain and pressured, this episode is a pause to ask what stories we tell, about ourselves and the world, and to think about what gives each of us a sense of meaning in our lives.

Email us at ⁠housecalls@hhs.gov⁠ with your feedback & ideas.

(03:33) Why is America in a state of emotional pain?

(00:08) Can we even talk about morals, values, and social skills?

(11:38) People or government: where can we find moral support?

(14:06) Can AI provide emotional sustenance for humans?

(17:56) How can parents help kids build a moral foundation?

(21:16) Is being social a teachable skill?

(25:03) What is the “moral and relational hunger” that fascinates David Brooks?

(27:52) David Brooks’ personal quest to better relate to people.

(29:30) Can the pressure of striving de-humanize us?

(31:25) How can we be authentic in a world of likes and clicks?

(35:06) How do external notions of “success” shape us?

(38:41) What is the story of the Weavers?

(42:38) How can we build up the Weaver movement?

(45:12) How do we expand positive social norms?

(48:45) How's your social life? What keeps you from hosting gatherings?

(55:47) Can we connect across difference?

(01:01:13) Where does David Brooks find hope?

(01:04:12) Is faith a source of inspiration for David Brooks?

David Brooks, Columnist

Twitter: @nytdavidbrooks

Weave: the Social Fabric Project: @weavetheppl

About David Brooks

David Brooks is a columnist for The New York Times and a contributor to The Atlantic. He is a commentator on “The PBS Newshour."

His most recent book, “The Second Mountain,” shows what can happen when we put commitment-making and relationships at the center of our lives. He is also the author of “The Road to Character,” “Bobos In Paradise: The New Upper Class and How They Got There” and “The Social Animal: The Hidden Sources of Love, Character, and Achievement.”

Mr. Brooks is on the faculty of Yale University and is a member of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences.

Catherine Price: Can You Live Without Your Phone? Mar 07, 2023

How do you want to spend your time? Where do you want to focus your attention?

Science journalist and author Catherine Price poses these questions because she believes that, ultimately, our lives are what we pay attention to. If you add up all the time spent on devices, these days the average person is spending upwards of 60 days a year on their smartphone.

Price is the author of “How to Break Up with Your Phone,” a guide to creating screen-life balance. Her ongoing research has revealed just how intertwined our brains and our devices have become. Technology impacts our impacts our health and well-being, from our attention spans to our sleep and our relationships. Tune in for ideas on how to set boundaries with our devices to regain real time and space.

Have questions for Dr. Murthy or ideas for future episodes? Email us at HouseCalls@hhs.gov.

(03:08) Really, how much time do we spend on our phones?
(04:03) How do our phones affect our brains?
(06:12) Can we pay attention anymore?
(09:33) Does anyone really get enough sleep?
(12:28) Are our phones just part of life now?
(04:50) How are apps on your phone like food in your fridge?
(16:29) What is the “attention economy?”
(21:18) Why was Catherine Price inspired to investigate tech?
(27:57) How we know when it’s time to break up with our phone.
(36:34) Are we afraid to be bored?
(39:16) Experiencing The Digital Sabbath.
(45:15) What about work and emergencies? How can I break up?

Catherine Price, Science Journalist and Author

Twitter: @Catherine_Price

Instagram: @_catherineprice

About Catherine Price

Dubbed “The Marie Kondo of Brains” by The New York Times, Catherine Price is an award-winning science journalist and speaker and the author of books including The Power of Fun: How to Feel Alive Again, and How to Break Up with Your Phone. She is also the creator and founder of ScreenLifeBalance.com, which is dedicated to helping people learn how to scroll less and live more. Catherine’s work has appeared in publications including The Best American Science Writing, The New York Times, O: The Oprah Magazine, Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle, The Washington Post Magazine, Slate, Men's Journal, Self, and Outside, among others.

What Gives You Hope? Feb 22, 2023

We all need to have hope. It’s essential to living a healthy life. So it’s no surprise that “What gives you hope?” is one question Dr. Murthy always asks his guests. In this compilation episode, tune in to hear from Chef José Andrés, Father Greg Boyle, friendship expert Dr. Marisa G. Franco, and others. Even during life’s difficult times, they all have found hope in their own special ways. And as you listen, we invite you to think about what brings hope to your life and why, and share with us at HouseCalls@hhs.gov.

Also, please take a moment to rate House Calls! It will help new listeners discover it.

(00:41) Finding hope during illness

(02:37) Finding hope in connection

(05:25) Finding hope in loss and grief

(08:33) Finding hope in friendship

(09:40) Finding hope in times of darkness.

Bonus: Meditation for Dealing with Negativity in the World Feb 15, 2023

Produced together with Calm, here is one of a 5-part series of Mindfulness Tools to offer support during stressful times. Guided by Dr. Murthy, these meditations are intentionally short, meant to fit into your day whenever feels right. We also encourage you to share these episodes with others.

Also, we’d appreciate it if you took a moment to rate and review our podcast. Email us at housecalls@hhs.gov with your feedback and ideas.

Dr. Marisa G. Franco: Why Do Friendships Matter? (Part 2) Feb 07, 2023

How can we help young people build healthy friendships? How do we balance old friendships with new ones? And why should we be strategic about the energy we put into friendships? The truth is, friendship doesn’t just happen. Great friendships take effort.

In Part 2 of our conversation about friendship with Dr. Marisa G. Franco, psychologist and the New York Times bestselling author of “Platonic: How the Science of Attachment Can Help You Make—and Keep—Friends,” House Calls explores some of the underpinnings for strong platonic relationships.

Building on the first part of their conversation, the Surgeon General and Dr. Franco talk about the mental health challenges young people are experiencing and how to help them create the types of connections that lead to meaningful relationships. Later in the conversation, Dr. Franco shares her tips for using the “intimacy skills” we often save for romantic partners to deepen our important friendships.

* Help us get the word out about House Calls by rating and reviewing wherever you get your podcasts.

(02:14) Why “phubbing” isn’t just rude

(05:40) How are young people doing with friendship?

(10:36) How does Dr. Franco support her students’ mental health?

(13:58) What makes someone a social igniter?

(18:04) How do we balance old and new friendships?

(22:30) Why is it important to be strategic about friendships?

(24:27) Can we move away from a friendship?

(26:33) How can we address conflict in a friendship?

(29:59) Has it become harder for us to talk to one another?

(31:35) What are some great friendship songs?

(33:21) What gives Dr. Franco hope for the future?

Dr. Marisa G. Franco, Friendship Expert & Psychologist

Twitter: @DrMarisaGFranco

Instagram: @drmarisagfranco

About Dr. Marisa G. Franco

A psychologist, speaker, andbestselling author, Dr. Marisa G. Franco is known for digesting and communicating science in ways that resonate deeply enough with people to change their lives. She is a professor at The University of Maryland and authored the NYT bestseller Platonic: How The Science of Attachment Can Help You Make—and Keep—Friends.  She writes about friendship for  Psychology Today  and has been a featured in  The New York Times, The Telegraph, and  Vice. She speaks on belonging at corporations, government agencies, non-profits, and universities.

For tips on friendship, you can follow her on Instagram (DrMarisaGFranco), or go to her website, www.DrMarisaGFranco.com, where you can take a quiz to assess your strengths and weaknesses as a friend.

Bonus: Meditation for Getting Through a Hectic Day Jan 31, 2023

Produced together with Calm, here is one of a 5-part series of Mindfulness Tools to offer support during stressful times. Guided by Dr. Murthy, these meditations are intentionally short, meant to fit into your day whenever feels right. We also encourage you to share these episodes with others.

Also, we’d appreciate it if you took a moment to rate and review our podcast. Email us at housecalls@hhs.gov with your feedback and ideas.

Dr. Marisa G. Franco: Why Do Friendships Matter? (Part 1) Jan 24, 2023

What’s the single best action a person can take now to live a longer life? How do you take the edge off depression? What can single people do to flourish, and partnered people do to revitalize their romantic relationships? One answer: having good friendships.

Our guest is Dr. Marisa G. Franco psychologist and author of “Platonic: How the Science of Attachment Can Help You Make – and Keep - Friends.” In this episode (part 1 of 2), they talk about loneliness, how to have high-quality friendships, friendship among men, and the pitfalls of leaning on romantic partnerships for everything.

(03:38) Have we gotten rusty at friendship?

(05:22) Are we in a state of “learned loneliness?”

(07:53) What’s driving the narrowing of friend networks?

(10:54) What makes for a high-quality friendship?

(14:36) Romantic versus platonic love

(17:07) How can same-sex friendships help us understand friendship?

(21:43) How can men have deeper friendships?

(25:05) Dr. Franco’s interest in friendship

(27:48) What is attachment theory and what’s your style?

(30:13) Setting up our kids for healthy friendships

* Help us get the word out about House Calls by rating and reviewing wherever you get your podcasts.

Dr. Marisa G. Franco, Friendship Expert & Psychologist

Twitter: @DrMarisaGFranco

Instagram: @drmarisagfranco

About Dr. Marisa G. Franco

A psychologist, speaker, andbestselling author, Dr. Marisa G. Franco is known for digesting and communicating science in ways that resonate deeply enough with people to change their lives. She is a professor at The University of Maryland and authored the NYT bestseller Platonic: How The Science of Attachment Can Help You Make—and Keep—Friends.  She writes about friendship for  Psychology Today  and has been a featured in  The New York Times, The Telegraph, and  Vice. She speaks on belonging at corporations, government agencies, non-profits, and universities.

For tips on friendship, you can follow her on Instagram (DrMarisaGFranco), or go to her website, www.DrMarisaGFranco.com, where you can take a quiz to assess your strengths and weaknesses as a friend.

Bonus: Meditation for Dealing with Change & Uncertainty Jan 17, 2023

Produced together with Calm, here is one of a 5-part series of Mindfulness Tools to offer support during stressful times. Guided by Dr. Murthy, these meditations are intentionally short, meant to fit into your day whenever feels right. We also encourage you to share these episodes with others.

Also, we’d appreciate it if you took a moment to rate and review our podcast, wherever you get your podcasts. Email us at housecalls@hhs.gov with your feedback and ideas.

Maya Shankar: Why is Change So Hard? Jan 10, 2023

We all experience change. Sometimes we plan a change, sometimes we’re thrown a curveball. It’s just part of life. But why do some changes feel harder to manage than others? And why does change seem easier for some people than others? Guest Maya Shankar is a cognitive scientist and host of the podcast “A Slight Change of Plans,” where she weaves people’s personal stories of change with the science of human behavior. As we kick off a new year, Maya and the Surgeon General talk about the nature of change and how to handle it, with the intention to help all of us navigate life’s curveballs, in whatever form they arrive. And if you’re thinking about making a change, tune into this episode for strategies about how to plan and stick to it.

(04:28) What are the kinds of change that humans experience?
(07:11) How far will a human go to avoid uncertainty?
(09:14) Is this era a time of unprecedented change?
(11:47) The story of Maya’s unexpected life change.
(14:30) How can we manage our identity through change?
(18:57) How can we deal with pain caused by change?
(21:14) How can we help people during change?
(24:57) How can we prevent loneliness during change?
(30:03) How to make the changes we want to make.
(32:46) Tips for setting goals, including managing the “messy middle.”
(37:25) What’s a commitment device and how can we use it?
(42:46) Why does Maya find hope in human connection?

Help us get the word out about House Calls by rating and reviewing wherever you get your podcasts. Email us at housecalls@hhs.gov with your feedback and ideas.Thank you!

Maya Shankar, Cognitive Scientist & Podcast Host

Twitter: @MayaUmaShankar

Instagram: @drmayashankar

Facebook: @drmayashankar

About Maya Shankar

Maya Shankar is a cognitive scientist and the creator, executive producer, and host of the podcast, “A Slight Change of Plans,” which Apple awarded "Best Show of the Year" for 2021. Maya was a Senior Advisor in the Obama White House, where she founded and served as Chair of the White House Behavioral Science Team. She also served as the first Behavioral Science Advisor to the United Nations under Ban Ki-moon, and as a core member of Pete Buttigieg’s debate preparation team during his 2020 presidential run. Maya has a postdoctoral fellowship in cognitive neuroscience from Stanford, a Ph.D. from Oxford on a Rhodes Scholarship, and a B.A. from Yale. She's been profiled by The New Yorker and been the featured guest on NPR's “All Things Considered,” “Freakonomics,” and “Hidden Brain.” Maya's a graduate of the Juilliard School of Music's pre-college program, where she was a private violin student of Itzhak Perlman.

Bonus: Meditation for Combating Loneliness Jan 04, 2023

Produced together with Calm, here is one of a 5-part series of Mindfulness Tools to offer support during stressful times. Guided by Dr. Murthy, these meditations are intentionally short, meant to fit into your day whenever feels right. We also encourage you to share these episodes with others.

Also, we’d appreciate it if you took a moment to rate and review our podcast, wherever you get your podcasts. Email us at housecalls@hhs.gov with your feedback and ideas.

Bonus: Meditation for Easing Holiday Stress Dec 20, 2022

Produced together with Calm, we are sharing a 5-part series of Mindfulness Tools to offer support during stressful times. Guided by Dr. Murthy, these meditations are intentionally short, meant to fit into your day whenever feels right. We also encourage you to share these episodes with others.

Also, we’d appreciate it if you took a moment to rate and review our podcast, wherever you get your podcasts. Email us at housecalls@hhs.gov with your feedback and ideas.

Dr. Tracy Dennis-Tiwary: Can Anxiety Be Good For Us? Dec 13, 2022

We all experience anxiety as an emotion. It’s part of being human. But can we transform that uncomfortable emotion into a positive? Doing so might require dispelling some common notions about anxiety and learning to counter our own gut reactions in those moments that induce sweaty palms or stage fright. Dr. Tracy Dennis-Tiwary, author of “Future Tense: Why Anxiety is Good For you (Even Though It Feels Bad),” and a professor of psychology and neuroscience at Hunter College, says harnessing our anxiety can help us shape the future, instead of making it, well…something to be anxious about. In this episode of House Calls, the Surgeon General and Dr. Dennis-Tiwary talk about concrete ways many people can get through anxious times with a slower pulse, and calmer mind, and a clearer vision. Dr. Dennis-Tiwary calls it “The Three L’s” and she says anyone can learn to do it.

(3:09) Why does anxiety exist?

(5:16) Stress, anxiety, or fear: What’s the difference?

(6:32) Anxiety or anxiety disorder?

(8:17) How does anxiety manifest?

(11:38) Is mental health the health crisis of our time?

(14:32) Managing anxiety with the Three L’s.

(18:31) Why should we befriend our anxiety?

(19:32) How can we help children with their anxiety?

(31:46) Can you become an emotional ninja?

(33:32) What are anxiety’s drivers?

(39:30) Where do anxiety and social media intersect?

(45:40) Can our society prioritize mental health?

Help us get the word out about House Calls by rating and reviewing wherever you get your podcasts. Thank you!

Dr. Tracy Dennis-Tiwary, Professor and Founder and CSO of Wise Therapeutics

Twitter: @tracyadennis

Instagram: @dr.tracyphd

LinkedIn: @tracydennistiwary

About Dr. Tracy Dennis-Tiwary

Tracy A. Dennis-Tiwary, Ph.D. is a professor of psychology and neuroscience, Director of the Emotion Regulation Lab, and Co-Executive Director of the Center for Health Technology at Hunter College, The City University of New York. As Founder and CSO of Wise Therapeutics, she translates neuroscience and cognitive therapy techniques into gamified, clinically validated digital therapeutics for mental health. She has published over 100 scientific articles and delivered over 400 presentations at academic conferences and for corporate clients. She has been featured throughout the media, including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, ABC, CBS, CNN, NPR, The Today Show, and Bloomberg Television.

Fred Dust: Can We Talk? Nov 29, 2022

What makes for a meaningful conversation? In an era where polarization, argument, and competition for attention have taken the place of real conversation, it can be hard to know what to say. Fred Dust, author of "Making Conversation," has spent his life thinking about and designing conversations. These days, he finds that people are struggling to connect, avoiding conversation, or even engaging in what he calls “toxic politeness.” In this episode, the Surgeon General and Fred Dust explore why conversation has become so difficult and how we can change that, in small ways and big ones. This episode also offers practical ways to approach conversations, especially the hard ones.

(3:41) Why is having a conversation so difficult these days?
(6:42) What is “toxic politeness?”
(8:09) From grandma to neuroscience, conversation fascinates Fred.
(11:48) Let’s not label conversations “hard.”
(16:02) Are we actually listening?
(18:07) How to commit to a conversation.
(21:12) Side-by-side: activity as a conversation.
(26:00) The art of intentional interruption.
(32:08) What would a conversational world look like?
(36:36) Music, art, and other non-conversation ways to bond.

Fred Dust, Designer and Author

Twitter: @f_dust

Instagram (Fred Dust): @fdbrave

Instagram (Making Conversation): @makingconversationco

About Fred Dust

Fred Dust is the founder of Dust&Company and works at the intersection of business, society, and creativity. As a designer, author, educator, consultant, trustee, and advisor to social and business leaders, he is one of the world’s most original thinkers, applying the craft and optimism of human-centered design to the intractable challenges we face today. His work uses a combination of catalytic convenings, difficult games and micro curriculum to enable large scale change in institutions and across cultural, governmental, philanthropic, non-profit and for-profit organizations and strives to do so for the world at large.

Using the methodology from his book “Making Conversation,” he also works as the Senior Dialogue Designer with The Rockefeller Foundation to explore the future of pressing global needs; with The School for Advanced Research, The New Museum, The Einhorn Collaborative and other foundations to host constructive dialogue with leaders. He is also proud to be faculty at the Esalen Institute.

Dr. Rosaura Orengo-Aguayo: What Do Natural Disasters Mean for Our Mental Health? Nov 15, 2022

Hurricanes, droughts, forest fires, and other natural disasters make big news. While cameras show us the wreckage when disaster strikes, for communities on the ground, the story does not end there. The effects of these dramatic and scary events are scarring on our mental and emotional health. What does living in a world of worsening natural disasters mean for our mental health? How can we respond to the trauma that natural disasters inflict, especially on children? Psychologist and trauma specialist Dr. Rosaura Orengo-Aguayo is all too familiar with this scenario. Having grown up in Puerto Rico, she has helped train thousands of people on her home island in psychological first aid. In this episode, she and the Surgeon General also talk about why social connection is critical to recovery, especially when everything feels hopeless.

(5:01) What is trauma?

(7:36) Helping children through a climate disaster

(10:03) “Honey, this one’s bad…”

(14:09) How full are our emotional buckets?

(21:14) What is Psychological First Aid?

(25:56) Healing space for disaster victims.

(29:19) What best predicts disaster recovery? (hint: Social connection).

(33:31) How can we really help disaster victims from afar?

(36:20) Building our mental health workforce for the future.

(36:55) Our planet is reeling.

(42:35) Hope for the future.

Dr. Rosaura Orengo-Aguayo, Clinical Psychologist & Trauma Specialist

Twitter: @RosauraOrengo

About Dr. Rosaura Orengo-Aguayo

Rosaura Orengo-Aguayo, PhD, is an Associate Professor and Clinical Psychologist at the National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). She completed her BA in Psychology at the University of Puerto Rico, her MA and PhD at the University of Iowa, and a National Institutes of Mental Health postdoctoral fellowship in traumatic stress research at MUSC. Her research focuses on addressing mental health disparities among underserved populations (specifically Hispanic youth) through innovative implementation and dissemination methods. She has an active program of research on the cultural and linguistic adaptation and international dissemination of trauma-focused assessment and intervention, particularly within post-disaster contexts.

Dr. Orengo-Aguayo directs the Puerto Rican Center for Intervention and Training in Trauma, a SAMHSA-funded program aimed at capacity building, resource sharing, technical support, and training in evidence-based trauma interventions. Her team has published several seminal publications on the impact of disasters on youth mental health (JAMA Network Open), and the implementation and dissemination of in-person and telehealth delivery of Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) in Latin America and US (American Psychologist). She is a co-author in the first telehealth manual available in Spanish published in January of 2022 (Manual de Telesalud Mental). She is the 2022 Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT) Program Chair and serves on the Executive Board of the American Professional Society on the Abuse on Children (APSAC). Dr. Orengo-Aguayo co-directs the World Changers Lab at MUSC & Puerto Rico, with Dr. Regan W. Stewart, whose mission is to “change the world, one child at a time.”

Dr. Becky Kennedy: How Do We Connect With Our Kids? Nov 01, 2022

Missed school. Kids at home during working hours. Delayed social skills. Too much screen time. Did the pandemic do a number on your parenting? (Not that it was easy to begin with!) Dr. Becky Kennedy, known as the “parent whisperer,” burst onto the scene in the nick of time, with a book-load of theories and advice, as well as some U-turns on recent parenting practices. No more time outs and no more sticker charts, says Dr. Becky. Instead, she makes the case for starting by seeing the good inside our children through building connection. On a practical level, that includes looking past kids’ “bad behavior” to understand the struggles that lie behind it. Join Dr. Becky and the Surgeon General (also a parent) as they explore how we can help our children navigate their lives by teaching emotional coping skills and providing understanding, support, boundaries, and clarity. And it’s not just kid stuff. Dr. Becky finds the parents need parenting too. After all, nobody likes a time out, right?

(4:13) Wiring children for adulthood
(8:37) Why ‘Time Outs’ don’t work for anyone
(16:17) How to change cycles of behavior
(22:58) Seeing the kid behind the behavior
(35:50) The downside to keeping the kids happy
(41:06) How to develop coping skills in our kids
(43:16) The key to managing meltdowns
(48:31) Building confidence
(56:29) Talking with kids about hard stuff

Dr. Becky Kennedy, Clinical Psychologist, Author, and Mom

Twitter: @goodinside

Instagram: @drbeckyatgoodinside

Facebook: @drbeckyatgoodinside

About Dr. Becky Kennedy

Dr. Becky Kennedy is a clinical psychologist, bestselling author, and mom of three. Named “The Millennial Parenting Whisperer” by TIME Magazine, she is rethinking the way we raise our children. She specializes in thinking deeply about what’s happening for kids and translating these ideas into simple, actionable strategies for parents. Dr. Becky's goal is to empower parents to feel sturdier and more equipped to manage the challenges of parenting.

Dr. Becky is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of “Good Inside: A Guide to Becoming the Parent You Want to Be.” She continues to share her parenting insights through her weekly podcast “Good Inside with Dr Becky,” social media, and her newsletter, “Good Insider.” In spring 2022, she launched a game-changing, first-of-its-kind platform; Good Inside Membership is a dynamic parenting hub that offers Dr. Becky’s complete parenting content collection, a judgment-free, like-valued community, and access to Good Inside-trained experts––all in one place to learn, grow and connect.

Her weekly podcast, Good Inside with Dr. Becky, immediately went to #1 on the Apple Podcasts “Kids & Family” chart upon launching in April 2021, was placed on the coveted "New and Noteworthy" list, landed the #26 spot on the iTunes “Top Podcasts” chart in June 2021, and made Apple Podcasts “Best Shows of 2021” list.

Dr. Becky received a BA in Psychology and Human Development, Phi Beta Kappa and summa cum laude, from Duke University and a PhD in Clinical Psychology from Columbia University. To learn more, visit: www.goodinside.com.

Susan Cain: How Do We Navigate the Joy and Sorrow of Being Human? Oct 18, 2022

What is the feeling you get when a sad, familiar song tugs at you? Or the exquisite pain that comes with the awareness of passing time and loves lost? Best-selling author Susan Cain identifies the simultaneous mixture of joy and sorrow in life as 'bittersweetness'. In this conversation with the Surgeon General, we learn about harnessing the forces of sadness and grief as ways of connecting. Light and dark, birth and death, the bitter and sweet are forever paired. Accepting this balance can bring comfort and solace to the experience of loss, which Cain sees as part of life's journey. Join in to understand how we can transform pain into beauty and longing into belonging.

(05:22) Humans don’t like feeling sad. But joy and sorrow are forever paired.

(11:34) Compassion is to suffer with someone

(16:21) How effortless perfection keep us from sharing our struggles

(21:06) Our need for beauty

(25:40) Dr. Murthy’s son joins the conversation!

(26:14) Grief isn’t a detour; it’s part of the main road

(31:56) Moving On vs Moving Forward

(39:45) Helping kids with loss & disappointment (with the help of a couple donkeys)

(46:12) The story of the Shards of Glass

(55:36) Playlist favorites, laughs, and what gives Susan hope

Susan Cain, Author and Speaker

Twitter: @susancain

Instagram: @susancainauthor

Facebook: @authorsusancain

About Susan Cain

Susan Cain is the #1 NYT bestselling author of “Bittersweet: How Sorrow and Longing Make Us Whole” and “Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking,” which has been translated into 40 languages, spent eight years on The New York Times best seller list, and was named the #1 best book of the year by Fast Company magazine, which also named Cain one of its Most Creative People in Business.

LinkedIn named her the Top 6th Influencer in the World, just behind Richard Branson and Melinda French Gates. Susan partners with Malcolm Gladwell, Adam Grant and Dan Pink to curate the Next Big Idea Book Club. They donate all their proceeds to children’s literacy programs.

Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, The Economist, The Wall Street Journal, and many other publications. Her TED talks on the power of introverts and the hidden power of sad songs and rainy days have been viewed over 40 million times.

Cain has also spoken at Google, PIXAR, the U.S. Treasury, P&G, Harvard, and West Point. She received Harvard Law School’s Celebration Award for Thought Leadership, the Toastmasters International Golden Gavel Award for Communication and Leadership, and was named one of the world’s top 50 Leadership and Management Experts by Inc. Magazine. She is an honors graduate of Princeton and Harvard Law School. She lives in the Hudson River Valley with her husband, two sons and golden doodle, Sophie. Visit Susan at susancain.net.

Kal Penn: Taking the Path of Most Resistance Oct 04, 2022

What do you do when who you want to be and who the world tells you to be are different? In a world of stereotypes and expectations, how do we figure out who we really are? Actor Kal Penn and the Surgeon General go deep on these questions as they compare notes on growing up as children of immigrants and discuss Penn’s experiences with discrimination, bullying, self-doubt, and societal pressure while launching his career. If you have ever wondered how to navigate being different, or wanting something other than what’s expected of you, tune in – Kal Penn has been there!

Kal Penn, Actor & Author

Twitter: @kalpenn

Instagram: @kalpenn

Facebook: @kalpenn

About Kal Penn

Kal Penn is an actor, writer, producer, and author.

He is known for his starring roles in the “Harold & Kumar” series, “Designated Survivor,” “House,” and the patriotic immigration sit-com “Sunnyside,” which he co-created for NBC.

Kal published his best-selling memoir “You Can’t Be Serious” in 2022. In it, he recounts a series of funny, consequential, awkward, and ridiculous stories from Kal Penn’s idiosyncratic life. His story reaches back to his grandparents who marched with Gandhi and growing up the son of immigrant parents, who came to this country with very little and went very far—and whose vision of the American dream probably never included their son appearing in the Ryan Reynolds movie “Van Wilder”…or getting a phone call from Air Force One as Kal flew with the country’s first Black president.

In addition to acting, Kal has been engaged in the public sector. He served as an Associate Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement, where he served as President Obama’s Liaison to Young Americans, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, and the Arts community. In these roles, he worked on a range of issues, including the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, the Affordable Care Act, Pell Grants, arts and culture programs, the DREAM Act, and rapid response to the BP Oil Spill and earthquake in Haiti. In 2012, he was a national co-chair for the Obama/Biden re-election campaign and served on the President’s Committee for the Arts and Humanities.

Originally from New Jersey, he received his undergraduate degree in sociology, theater, film, and television at the University of California, Los Angeles, and received a graduate certificate in international security from Stanford University. He has been a term member at the Council on Foreign Relations. Penn has taught courses at the University of Pennsylvania and the University of California, Los Angeles.

Penn most recently wrapped production on the CBS Drama, “Clarice” (based on “Silence of the Lambs”), and Freeform’s late night youth election format show “Kal Penn Approves This Message.” He currently stars in the animated Disney Junior series “Mira,” “Royal Detective,” is an Executive Producer on the Viacom/Paramount + comedy, “Surina & Mel,” and can be heard in Nickelodeon’s “It’s Pony.” His culinary competition series “Money Hungry” aired on Food Network this winter.

Dr. Laurie Santos: What Makes Us Happy? Sep 20, 2022

Do we understand what makes us happy? And if we do, can we make ourselves happier? These are the questions Yale Professor Laurie Santos has been studying for years. As students navigate back to school, Dr. Santos and the U.S. Surgeon General explore how we can help our kids, and ourselves, find greater happiness through changing our behavior and shifting our mindset. In a world in which our happiness might feel driven by externalities, creating our own happiness is within our reach, says Dr. Santos. Tune in and see if you can figure out where your happiness lies. The answer might surprise you.

Dr. Laurie Santos, Professor of Psychology at Yale University and Host of the podcast, “The Happiness Lab”

Twitter: @lauriesantos

Instagram: @lauriesantosofficial

Facebook: @DrLaurieSantos

About Dr. Laurie Santos

Dr. Laurie Santos is Professor of Psychology at Yale University and host of the podcast The Happiness Lab. Dr. Santos is an expert on human cognition and the cognitive biases that impede better choices. Her course, “Psychology and the Good Life,” teaches students what the science of psychology says about how to make wiser choices and live a life that’s happier and more fulfilling. The class is Yale’s most popular course in over 300 years and has been adapted into a free Coursera program that has been taken by over 3.9 million people to date.

Dr. Santos has been featured in numerous news outlets including the New York Times, NBC Nightly News, The Today Show, CBS This Morning, NPR, GQ Magazine, Slate, CNN and O, The Oprah Magazine. Dr. Santos is a winner of numerous awards both for her science and teaching from institutions such as Yale and the American Psychological Association. She has been featured as one of Popular Science’s “Brilliant 10” young minds and was named TIME's “Leading Campus Celebrity.”

Jon Kabat-Zinn: Clarity and the Domain of Stillness (Part 2) Sep 06, 2022

What is the difference between loneliness and being alone? The Surgeon General and mindfulness pioneer Jon Kabat-Zinn delve into the complexities of the modern human experience, including the ways technologies that have the power to both bring us together and drive us apart. Embodied wakefulness, says Kabat-Zinn, is the key to showing up whole for a planet-wide renaissance in which everyone leads a life of dignity and authenticity together.

Jon Kabat-Zinn, Author, Professor, Mindfulness Pioneer

Twitter: @jonkabatzinn

About Jon Kabat-Zinn

Jon Kabat-Zinn, Ph.D. did his doctoral work in molecular biology at MIT, in the laboratory of the Nobel Laureate Salvador Luria.

Jon is Professor of Medicine emeritus at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, where he founded its world-renown Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Clinic in 1979, and the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, and Society, in 1995. He is the author of 15 books, currently in print in over 45 languages. His most recent is Mindfulness Meditation for Pain Relief (April 2023).

He is also the author of a series of research papers on MBSR dating back to 1982. In a 2021 study of trends and developments in mindfulness research over 55 years (1966-2021), three of his empirical studies figure among the ten most cited articles on mindfulness (nos. 3, 5, and 9) in the scientific literature; and a review article he authored is number two among citations of the top ten review articles on mindfulness.

His work and that of a global community of colleagues has contributed to a growing movement of mindfulness into mainstream institutions such as medicine, psychology, health care, neuroscience, schools, higher education, business, social justice, criminal justice, prisons, the law, technology, the military, government, and professional sports. Over 700 hospitals and medical centers around the world now offer MBSR. Jon lectures and leads mindfulness retreats around the world and on line.

In early 2020, as the Covid-19 pandemic was growing exponentially, he offered a three month “mitigation retreat” online, consisting of 66 consecutive weekdays of live 90-minute sessions that included guided meditations, talks, and dialogue, with several thousand people joining live each day. Those sessions can be accessed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqkYJfT8gsw.

www.jonkabat-zinn.com

Jon Kabat-Zinn: Peace and the Domain of Being (Part 1) Aug 24, 2022

In 1979, Jon Kabat-Zinn took inspiration from a Surgeon General’s report called “Healthy People” to support his pioneering work in the field of mindfulness. Over the next four decades, America experienced a revolution, as millions embraced Kabat-Zinn’s practices for reducing stress. Coming full circle, Kabat-Zinn and the Nation’s Doctor explore the gift of awareness for healing, strengthening, and tackling some of the big issues we face as humans.

Jon Kabat-Zinn, Author, Professor, Mindfulness Pioneer

Twitter: @jonkabatzinn

About Jon Kabat-Zinn

Jon Kabat-Zinn, Ph.D. did his doctoral work in molecular biology at MIT, in the laboratory of the Nobel Laureate Salvador Luria. Jon is Professor of Medicine emeritus at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, where he founded its world-renown Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Clinic in 1979, and the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, and Society, in 1995. He is the author of 15 books, currently in print in over 45 languages.His most recent is Mindfulness Meditation for Pain Relief (April 2023). He is also the author of a series of research papers on MBSR dating back to 1982. In a 2021 study of trends and developments in mindfulness research over 55 years (1966-2021), three of his empirical studies figure among the ten most cited articles on mindfulness (nos. 3, 5, and 9) in the scientific literature; and a review article he authored is number two among citations of the top ten review articles on mindfulness. His work and that of a global community of colleagues has contributed to a growing movement of mindfulness into mainstream institutions such as medicine, psychology, health care, neuroscience, schools, higher education, business, social justice, criminal justice, prisons, the law, technology, the military, government, and professional sports. Over 700 hospitals and medical centers around the world now offer MBSR. Jon lectures and leads mindfulness retreats around the world and on line. In early 2020, as the Covid-19 pandemic was growing exponentially, he offered a three month “mitigation retreat” online, consisting of 66 consecutive weekdays of live 90-minute sessions that included guided meditations, talks, and dialogue, with several thousand people joining live each day. Those sessions can be accessed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqkYJfT8gsw.

For more information, see www.jonkabat-zinn.com.

Father Greg Boyle: Finding Strength Through Kindness Aug 09, 2022

How do you get people to the other side of trauma? In the 1980s, Father Greg Boyle served as a pastor in LA’s poorest parish — which also had the city’s highest concentration of gang activity. Thirty-four years later, he is known as the founder of Homeboy Industries, the largest gang rehab and re-entry program in the world. The sense of belonging created there is so strong that former gang rivals can work side-by-side in Homeboy’s bakeries, cafes, and shops. In this touching conversation with the Surgeon General, Fr. Boyle offers wisdom for us all on how we can emotionally navigate past anger and bridge divides. And why he believes “kindness is the only non-delusional response to everything.”

Father Greg Boyle, Jesuit Priest & Founder of Homeboy Industries

Instagram: @homeboyindustries

Twitter: @homeboyind

Facebook: @homeboyindustries

About Father Greg Boyle

Father Gregory Boyle is the founder of Homeboy Industries in Los Angeles, the largest gang-intervention, rehabilitation, and re-entry program in the world.

Born and raised in Los Angeles and Jesuit priest, from 1986 to 1992 Fr. Boyle served as pastor of Dolores Mission Church in Boyle Heights. Dolores Mission was the poorest Catholic parish in Los Angeles that also had the highest concentration of gang activity in the city.

Fr. Boyle witnessed the devastating impact of gang violence on his community during the so-called “decade of death” that began in the late 1980s and peaked at 1,000 gang-related killings in 1992. In the face of law enforcement tactics and criminal justice policies of suppression and mass incarceration as the means to end gang violence, he and parish and community members adopted what was a radical approach at the time: treat gang members as human beings.

In 1988 they started what would eventually become Homeboy Industries, which employs and trains former gang members in a range of social enterprises, as well as provides critical services to thousands of individuals who walk through its doors every year seeking a better life.

Fr. Boyle is the author of the 2010 New York Times-bestseller “Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion.” His second book, “Barking to the Choir: The Power of Radical Kinship,” was published in 2017. And his new and third book is “The Whole Language: The Power of Extravagant Tenderness,” which debuted in Fall of 2021.

He has received the California Peace Prize and been inducted into the California Hall of Fame. In 2014, President Obama named Fr. Boyle a Champion of Change. He received the University of Notre Dame’s 2017 Laetare Medal, the oldest honor given to American Catholics. Homeboy Industries was the recipient of the 2020 Hilton Humanitarian Prize validating 32 years of Fr. Greg Boyle’s vision and work by the organization for over three decades.

Christian Robinson: Why Feeling Like We Matter Really Matters Jul 27, 2022

Growing up in a small, crowded apartment in Los Angeles, Christian Robinson drew castles, imaginary scenes, and gave himself special powers to create the world he wished to inhabit. Inspired by a grandmother who knew how to make something out of nothing, Robinson nurtured his art into a very real superpower – the ability to help children understand the world and feel they matter. This conversation between the nation’s doctor and a celebrated author and illustrator is about creativity, honesty, why we all matter, and the kind of feedback you receive when your primary audience is young children.

Christian Robinson, Illustrator and Author

Instagram: @theartoffun

Twitter: @theartoffunnews

Facebook: @TheArtOfFunNews

About Christian Robinson

Christian Robinson is an illustrator, author, animator, and designer based in Oakland, California. He was born in Los Angeles and grew up in a small one-bedroom apartment with his brother, two cousins, aunt, and grandmother. Drawing became a way to make space for himself and to create the kind of world he wanted to see. He studied animation at the California Institute of the Arts and would later work with the Sesame Workshop and Pixar Animation Studios before becoming an illustrator of books for children. The Christian Robinson for Target collection, released in August 2021, includes more than 70 items across home and apparel for kids and baby. His books include the #1 New York Times bestseller Last Stop on Market Street, written by Matt de la Peña, which was awarded a Caldecott Honor, a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor, and the Newbery Medal, and the #1 New York Times bestseller The Bench, written by Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex. His solo projects include Another, which was named a New York Times Best Illustrated Book of 2019, and the New York Times bestseller You Matter. His latest collaboration with Matt de la Peña, Milo Imagines The World, received six starred reviews and was a #1 Indie Bestseller and a New York Times bestseller. He looks forward to one day seeing the aurora borealis.

Kate Bowler: Learning to Live When Life Falls Apart Jul 13, 2022

Kate Bowler’s stage IV cancer diagnosis ushered her into a world of fear and pain. Living in 60-day increments, her future held no promises. Angry about losing the life she had created, the love of family, friends, and her faith community helped Kate forge a new type of strength— learning to lean on others. This conversation between the nation’s doctor and Kate Bowler illuminates how we find truth and beauty within the uncertainties of life.

Kate Bowler, Writer & Professor
Instagram: @katecbowler
Twitter: @KatecBowler
Facebook: katecbowler

About Kate Bowler
Kate Bowler, PhD is a New York Times bestselling author, podcast host, and a professor at Duke University. She studies the cultural stories we tell ourselves about success, suffering, and whether (or not) we’re capable of change. In her twenties, she became obsessed with writing the first history of the movement called the “prosperity gospel”—which promises that God will reward you with health and wealth if you have the right kind of faith. She researched and traveled across Canada and the United States interviewing megachurch leaders and televangelists and everyday believers about how they make spiritual meaning out of the good and bad in their lives. The result was the book, Blessed: A History of the American Prosperity Gospel, which received widespread media attention and a lot of puns about being #blessed.

At age 35, she was unexpectedly diagnosed with Stage IV cancer, causing her to think in different terms about the research and beliefs she had been studying. She penned the New York Times bestselling memoir, Everything Happens for a Reason (and Other Lies I’ve Loved), which tells the story of her struggle to understand the personal and intellectual dimensions of the American belief that all tragedies are tests of character.

José Andrés: Recipe for Connection Jun 29, 2022

Why is food a foundation for human connection? Chef José Andrés has spent a lifetime cooking for friends & family at home, in his many restaurants, and for people stricken by disaster around the world. For José, sharing and providing food spreads the empathy he believes people naturally possess for one another. This conversation between the nation's doctor and the global chef will make you want to break bread with those near and far, and it will leave you laughing over the unforgettable story of José's most stunning kitchen catastrophe.

José Andrés, Chef & Humanitarian
Instagram: @chefjoseandres
Twitter: @chefjoseandres
Facebook: chefjoseandres

About José Andrés
Born in Spain, where he learned the craft of cooking first from his parents and then in the kitchen of Ferran Adrià’s groundbreaking avant-garde restaurant elBulli – José Andrés immigrated to the United States in 1991, first to New York City and later to Washington, D.C., where he and his partners established a group of restaurants that has earned countless fans and won numerous awards over the years.

José holds close both his identity as a Spanish immigrant and an American citizen, placing upon himself the responsibility of both culinary ambassador and immigrant representing the two nations. He is a visionary and a humanitarian, establishing World Central Kitchen in 2010 as a means for feeding the many – using culinary training programs to empower communities and strengthen economies as well as food disaster relief in the wake of emergencies around the globe.

He has been widely recognized for both his culinary and his humanitarian work, including by the James Beard Foundation – which named him Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic in 2003, as well as Humanitarian of the Year in 2018; TIME Magazine, which included him on the list of 100 Most Influential People in 2012 and 2018; and President Obama, who awarded José the National Humanities Medal in 2015. José holds two Michelin stars for his avant-garde tasting counter minibar by José Andrés in Washington, D.C., as well as four Bib Gourmands.

Welcome to House Calls with Dr. Vivek Murthy Jun 21, 2022

House Calls with Dr. Vivek Murthy is a podcast hosted by the 21st U.S. Surgeon General. In each episode, Dr. Murthy and his guests explore the uncertainties of life and how to find meaning and joy along the way. By sharing openly what’s on our minds and in our hearts, this series brings healing through conversation.

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