I Miss My 45-Minute Walking Commute

This past week has been a whirlwind — it started with an exam and ended with my official induction into the medical profession at my medical school pinning ceremony. It’s been wonderful to have my whole family in town to celebrate and it’s kept me from staring at a screen all weekend. It has been a very welcome break from technology.

I’ll be back later this week to share about the pinning ceremony, but I wanted to make sure you had some podcast recommendations for your morning and evening commutes this week!

When I was in graduate school, I used to listen to at least two podcasts episodes a day — I walked the nearly 45 minutes from my apartment to work/school each morning and evening to get fresh air, but also it was faster than any public transportation option. Honestly, I actually really miss that walking commute. It was so good for my mental health to be outside each day, rain or shine. To say my podcast habits have shifted would be an understatement; if I get through two podcast episodes in one week, it’s a success. But, I still have some great recommendations for you!

Nutrition Rounds with Dr. Danielle Belardo

Dr. Belardo is a cardiologist passionate about plant-based nutrition through an evidence-based approach. Each episode, she interviews different physicians who are leading experts in nutrition and health. I recently listened to her episode with Dr. Natalie Crawford, a reproductive endocrinology and infertility physician, about the impact of plant-based nutrition on fertility and women’s health and it was enlightening. Dr. Belardo also spoke about how plant based nutrition has reversed diabetes, hypertension, heart failure, and a myriad of other conditions in many of her patients, which is just astonishing. I don’t know that I will ever be fully plant based in my own eating habits, but I am certainly going to make a better efforts to take care of myself though the food I eat.

As a Woman by Natalie Crawford, MD

Speaking of Dr. Crawford, her podcast is another one on my “must-listen” list. Dr. Crawford is a fertility physician and speaks about health, fertility, and how the relate to your true self. Last week, I went for a walk and popped in my headphones to listen to “The Contingent Life” episode. I don’t want to spoil this episode too much, because I think everyone will react to it in a deeply personal way. I’ll leave it at this : if you’ve ever wanted to make a change in your life, big or small, but something has held you back, this is an episode for you.

Specialty Stories

I love following Dr. Renee Paro on Instagram and her “What Does Community Pediatric Cardiology Look Like?” interview was a great widow into her life, her career, and a different side of medicine than many of us see as students. Most medical school rotations occur in an academic setting, especially specialty rotations. Sometimes I forget there is more to medicine than academia — this was a great reminder that you can have a fulfilling, robust, and interested medical career outside of the hospital!

What the Health?

I’ve written about this podcast before, but it is just one of those things that bears mentioning again! Health care policy can be a confusing mess, even to those of us who love it and understand some of the basic policy mechanisms. I just downloaded last week’s episode, “Medicare-For-All Debate: Who’s Going to Pay,” and I’m looking forward to listening while I make dinner tonight.

Freakonomics Radio

I am not even close to being a vegetarian or vegan, but I am trying to be more conscious of my meat intake. During this module in school, we’ve learned about the increased risk of cardiovascular disease conferred by animal products and it’s one easy step I can take to reduce my own risk. Beyond the health benefits of reduced meat consumption, there are also environmental concerns with the global demand for beef, chicken, and pork. I can’t wait to dive into “The Future of Meat” and learn more about this issue.

Stuff You Missed in History Class

I am a huge history buff and I love learning the true story behind people, places, and things. There are hundreds of episodes, so I have no doubt you’ll find a topic you want to learn more about — next on my list is Sushruta, Father of Plastic Surgery and The Allegedly Haunted Island of Poveglia.

I’m always looking for new podcasts — I’d love to know what you’re listening to right now!