Road to Resilience

Latest Episodes:

Your Sleep, Your Health Oct 15, 2026

Show notes

Why do we sleep? What happens in the brain and body while we rest? And why does sleep become so elusive during life's most stressful moments?

Drawing on her research into the connections between the brain, body, and behavior, Dr. Allison Waters explains how sleep shapes emotional regulation, mental health, resilience, and overall wellbeing. Together, she and host Stephen Calabria examine the powerful relationship between sleep and stress, what actually happens in the brain while we sleep, and why protecting sleep is crucial for mental health.

The conversation also tackles common questions about sleep deprivation, insomnia, sleep aids, and emerging technologies designed to improve sleep health. Along the way, Dr. Waters offers practical strategies for building healthier sleep habits and reflects on what sleep can teach us about balance, vulnerability, and the human need for restoration.

Whether you're struggling to get a good night's rest or simply curious about the science of sleep, this episode offers valuable insights into one of the foundations of resilience.

Visit https://www.mountsinai.org/clinical-trials to see if you're eligible to enroll in a clinical trial with the Mount Sinai Health System.

Check out more episodes of Road to Resilience —as well as guest pictures, transcripts, and more— on the Mount Sinai website.

If this episode inspired you, please consider supporting the Mount Sinai Health System. As a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, we rely on philanthropy to advance compassionate patient care, groundbreaking research, and medical education. Your generosity helps make conversations like this possible—and fuels the work behind them. To learn more or make a gift, visit give.mountsinai.org.

Visit https://www.mountsinai.org/clinical-trials to see if you're eligible to enroll in a clinical trial with the Mount Sinai Health System. Check out more episodes of Road to Resilience—as well as guest pictures, transcripts, and more—on the Mount Sinai website.

Stronger for Longer Oct 01, 2026

Show notes

What if the goal isn't simply to live longer, but to stay healthier for longer?

In this episode of Road to Resilience, host Stephen Calabria sits down with Daniel Puleston, Assistant Professor of Immunology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, to explore the emerging science of healthspan: the number of years we remain healthy, active, and resilient throughout our lives.

Together, they examine the biological processes that shape aging, including immune function, chronic inflammation, metabolism, and cellular resilience. Dr. Puleston explains why the gap between lifespan and health span has become one of modern medicine's most important challenges, and why habits such as exercise, sleep, nutrition, and stress management remain some of the most powerful tools available for preserving long-term health.

Whether you're thinking about aging for the first time or looking for practical ways to invest in your future health, this episode offers an engaging look at what science is revealing about living not just longer, but better.

Visit https://www.mountsinai.org/clinical-trials to see if you're eligible to enroll in a clinical trial with the Mount Sinai Health System.

Check out more episodes of Road to Resilience —as well as guest pictures, transcripts, and more— on the Mount Sinai website.

The Silent Crisis: Understanding Suicide Risk Sep 18, 2026

Show notes

For this special Suicide Prevention Month episode of Road to Resilience, host Stephen Calabria speaks with Dr. Igor Galynker, psychiatrist, researcher, and director of Mount Sinai’s Suicide Research and Prevention Laboratory, about one of the most urgent and misunderstood public health challenges of our time.

Drawing on decades of clinical experience and research, Dr. Galynker explains why suicide risk is often far more complex than depression alone and discusses the limitations of traditional approaches to identifying people in crisis.

The conversation also examines the impact of major life stressors, shame, substance use, social media, resilience, and emerging approaches to suicide risk assessment. Most importantly, Dr. Galynker emphasizes that suicide risk is not a sign of weakness, but a treatable condition, and that greater awareness can help save lives.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, available 24/7.

Visit https://www.mountsinai.org/clinical-trials to see if you're eligible to enroll in a clinical trial with the Mount Sinai Health System.

Check out more episodes of Road to Resilience —as well as guest pictures, transcripts, and more— on the Mount Sinai website.

Healing After Disaster: The Resilience Legacy of 9/11 Sep 03, 2026

Show notes

As the world approaches the 25th anniversary of September 11th, 2001, our show examines what happened that day, and the psychological impact that followed—along with the lessons we’ve learned about trauma, recovery, and resilience.

We’re joined on this episode by Dr. Craig Katz, a psychiatrist at Mount Sinai whose work has put him on ther front lines of disaster relief. He helped organize New York City’s psychiatric response following 9/11, through an organization he co-founded called Disaster Psychiatry Outreach.

On this episode, Dr. Katz discusses what disasters can do to our mental health, why their effects can last for years, and what 9/11 has taught us about helping individuals and communities recover.

Visit https://www.mountsinai.org/clinical-trials to see if you're eligible to enroll in a clinical trial with the Mount Sinai Health System.

Check out more episodes of Road to Resilience —as well as guest pictures, transcripts, and more— on the Mount Sinai website.

A Day in the Life of an ER Doc Aug 20, 2026

Show notes

Every day, emergency departments see people on some of the hardest days of their lives. In this episode of Road to Resilience, host Stephen Calabria speaks with Dr. Nicholas Gavin, an emergency physician at Mount Sinai, about what it really means to work in the emergency department.

Dr. Gavin offers a simple but powerful perspective on resilience: it is a muscle that can be strengthened. By looking back at how we have navigated adversity before, we can draw on those experiences to face whatever comes next.

To register for our upcoming livestream panel commemorating the 25th anniversary of 9/11 and the transformative work of the World Trade Center Health Program in clinical care and research, visit mount sinai dot org forward-slash wtc event for more info.

Visit https://www.mountsinai.org/clinical-trials to see if you're eligible to enroll in a clinical trial with the Mount Sinai Health System.

Check out more episodes of Road to Resilience —as well as guest pictures, transcripts, and more— on the Mount Sinai website.

Breaking Free From Depression Aug 06, 2026

Show notes

Depression is often mistaken for ordinary sadness, but clinically it is something profoundly different: a medical illness that can alter the way the brain processes emotion, motivation, and even hope itself.

In this episode of Road to Resilience, host Stephen Calabria speaks with James Murrough, MD, PhD, to discuss how groundbreaking neuroimaging research explains why depression may leave the brain "entrapped" in inefficient patterns of activity,

The conversation explores the difference between sadness and clinical depression, why chronic stress can reshape the brain, how behavioral therapy and medication help people break free from depression's grip, and why the brain's extraordinary capacity for change offers genuine reason for hope.

Visit https://www.mountsinai.org/clinical-trials to see if you're eligible to enroll in a clinical trial with the Mount Sinai Health System.

Check out more episodes of Road to Resilience —as well as guest pictures, transcripts, and more— on the Mount Sinai website.

Your Brain is Tough Jul 23, 2026

Show notes

Resilience isn't just a personality trait—it's something the brain actively builds.

In this episode of Road to Resilience, host Stephen Calabria speaks with Eric J. Nestler, MD, PhD, one of the world's foremost neuroscientists, about the remarkable capacity of the brain to adapt in the face of adversity.

Drawing on decades of groundbreaking research into depression, addiction, and stress, Dr. Nestler explains why trauma doesn't affect everyone the same way, how resilience is shaped by both biology and experience, and what science is revealing about the brain's extraordinary ability to recover and change.

The episode explores why supportive relationships matter, how chronic stress alters the brain, whether resilience can be cultivated at any age, and the everyday habits that can help strengthen our minds throughout life.

Visit https://www.mountsinai.org/clinical-trials to see if you're eligible to enroll in a clinical trial with the Mount Sinai Health System.

Check out more episodes of Road to Resilience —as well as guest pictures, transcripts, and more— on the Mount Sinai website.

Is Your Skin Healthy? Jul 09, 2026

Show notes

When Jacqueline Mills noticed a new mole on her face, she trusted her instincts—even after her concerns were initially dismissed. Her persistence led to an early melanoma diagnosis and became a powerful reminder of how speaking up and seeking a second opinion can make all the difference.

In this episode of Road to Resilience, Jacqueline shares her story; she is followed by the Mount Sinai dermatologist who discovered her melanoma, Dr. Jesse Lewin, who expands the conversation to what everyone should know about skin health.

Together, they discuss the warning signs of skin cancer, the ABCDEs of melanoma, smart sun protection, advances in early detection and imaging technology, and why the future of dermatologic care has never been brighter.

Whether you're heading to the beach or simply taking a closer look in the mirror, this conversation will leave you better equipped to protect your skin—and yourself.

Visit https://www.mountsinai.org/clinical-trials to see if you're eligible to enroll in a clinical trial with the Mount Sinai Health System.

Check out more episodes of Road to Resilience —as well as guest pictures, transcripts, and more— on the Mount Sinai website.

What Childhood Trauma Leaves Behind Jun 25, 2026

Show notes

Childhood trauma can leave lasting marks on the brain, body, and sense of safety—but it does not define a person’s future.

In this episode of Road to Resilience, host Stephen Calabria speaks with Frank W. Putnam, MD, one of the country’s leading researchers on childhood trauma and maltreatment. Drawing on decades of clinical work and a landmark longitudinal study that followed abused girls from childhood into adulthood, Dr. Putnam explains how early maltreatment can shape mental health, physical health, development, and even biological aging.

But the conversation is also about what helps people heal. Dr. Putnam discusses why safety is the foundation of recovery, how supportive relationships can change a child’s trajectory, and why resilience often begins with having options, stability, and someone who truly listens.

Visit https://www.mountsinai.org/clinical-trials to see if you're eligible to enroll in a clinical trial with the Mount Sinai Health System.

Check out more episodes of Road to Resilience —as well as guest pictures, transcripts, and more— on the Mount Sinai website.

Women's Health Reimagined Jun 11, 2026

Show notes

Women's health is often associated with pregnancy and reproductive care—but that’s only part of the story.

In this episode of Road to Resilience, host Stephen Calabria sits down with two leaders at the forefront of a new era in women's healthcare: Dr. Joanne Stone, Chair of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Science at Mount Sinai, and Dr. Anna Barbieri, gynecologist, menopause specialist, and clinical strategy leader for the Carolyn Rowan Center for Women’s Health and Wellness.

Together, they explore how women’s health is expanding beyond traditional boundaries to encompass cardiovascular health, mental health, aging, cancer prevention, hormonal health, and overall well-being across the lifespan. They discuss the longstanding disparities that have shaped research, diagnosis, and treatment for women, and how those gaps continue to affect patient care today.

Visit https://www.mountsinai.org/clinical-trials to see if you're eligible to enroll in a clinical trial with the Mount Sinai Health System.

Check out more episodes of Road to Resilience —as well as guest pictures, transcripts, and more— on the Mount Sinai website.

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