Chasing Life
Episodes
A Little Help From My Friends
11 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
When you’re young, making friends can feel pretty simple, but as you age it can be harder. But it’s important to have friends and there’s scient...
Chasing Life presents The Prince Mixtape
04 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Chasing Life team is off for the holiday, we'll be back next week with another new episode. In the meantime, we are sharing another CNN Audio seri...
Making the Most of the Bodies We Have
27 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It’s no secret that our bodies change as we age. We can see it in decreased flexibility and endurance, and older folks can become more susceptible t...
Is Age Really Just a Number?
20 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Getting older is often seen as a negative, or something to avoid. But the reality is, it’s happening to us every minute of every day. Is there a bet...
Season Seven: Making the Most of Your Age
13 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We're all getting older -- every minute of every day - but the word "aging" often feels like a dirty word. Why is there such stigma attached to gettin...
Inside the Surgeon General’s Dire Social Media Warning
06 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A recent advisory from US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy says there’s not enough evidence to determine whether social media is safe enough for chi...
Sanjay Investigates “The CBD Craze” Pt. 2
30 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Ten years ago, when Dr. Sanjay Gupta began investigating medical marijuana, very few people had ever heard of cannabidiol, or CBD. Six years later, tw...
Sanjay Investigates “The CBD Craze” Pt. 1
23 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Ten years ago, when Dr. Sanjay Gupta began investigating medical marijuana, very few people had ever heard of cannabidiol, or CBD. Six years later, tw...
Sanjay investigates "Weed" Pt. 2
16 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Sanjay Gupta examines the potential benefits of medical marijuana. Over 10 years, Dr. Gupta's reporting on the topic has produced six CNN document...
Sanjay investigates "Weed" Pt. 1
09 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Sanjay Gupta examines the potential benefits of medical marijuana. Over 10 years, Dr. Gupta's reporting on the topic has produced six CNN document...
Chasing Life presents The Assignment with Audie Cornish
02 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Chasing Life is taking a short break and will be back with new episodes next month. In the meantime, we want to highlight some amazing work from CNN. ...
The Guptas on Parenting in the Social Media Era
04 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This season, we’ve heard from experts, parents, and teens about how screen time is shaping our lives. But this has also been a family affair. On tod...
Inside a Lab Studying Toddlers and Touchscreens
28 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Think back to the first time you held a smartphone or tablet in your hands. For most adults, this probably happened later in life. Now, a new generati...
Will Banning TikTok Help Kids?
21 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Gen Z is the first generation to truly grow up online and now they’re joining the fight to log off. In February, college student and founder of the ...
The Selfie Effect on Your Brain
14 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
American teens are experiencing a rise in mental health challenges according to a new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This ...
Hank Green on the Future of the Internet
07 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This season, we’ve been talking about the potential dangers of social media and the amount of time we spend online. But what about the positive, ed...
Breaking Up (and Making Up) with Your Phone
28 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
These days, it’s easy to be glued to your phone and have mixed feelings about it. If you spend too little time, you feel disconnected. But too much ...
How Much Screen Time is Too Much?
21 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Do you ever feel like you or your kids are spending way too much time on your phones? Have you ever caught yourself scrolling for hours on end? When s...
How to Raise Kids in the Digital Age
14 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Technology has advanced at breakneck speed over the past decade. And that’s disrupted our lives — the ways we interact with each other, work, lear...
Season Six: A Personal Journey for Sanjay
07 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
If you’re reading this, you’re probably looking at a phone or a computer screen. These days we spend most of our lives looking at screens – whet...
The Mystery of the Teenage Brain
31 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Remember how awkward and confused you felt as a teen? It's a time of so many big changes – growth spurts, body hair, and acne, just to name a few –...
Sanjay investigates “Havana Syndrome” Pt. 2
24 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Sanjay Gupta travels to Cuba to investigate one of the most complex and controversial brain mysteries in recent years known as "Havana Syndrome." ...
Sanjay investigates “Havana Syndrome” Pt. 1
17 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Sanjay Gupta travels to Cuba to investigate one of the most complex and controversial brain mysteries in recent years known as "Havana Syndrome." ...
What Promise Do Psychedelics Hold As Therapeutics?
10 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
When psychedelics were first studied more than 50 years ago, researchers noticed that they were useful in helping people explore a greater sense of se...
When You Hear Colors and Taste Shapes
20 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
For the past couple of months, we’ve explored the senses and how each one affects our health and well-being. In our last episode of this season, we ...
The Power of Sound
13 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Close your eyes and just listen. Even if you aren’t actively thinking about the noises happening around you, your brain is constantly processing sou...
Smelling Your Way To Love
06 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Do you ever walk past someone who smells absolutely alluring? Maybe you even do a double take? Scent is a major component of our attraction to those...
The Science Behind a Good Night's Sleep
29 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We all know sleep is vital, so why do many of us still find it so difficult to prioritize? CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta speaks wit...
Food for Thought, Literally
15 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Can you picture your favorite comfort food? Whether it’s a steaming bowl of your grandmother’s homemade soup or a chewy chocolate candy bar from y...
What Promise Do Psychedelics Hold As Therapeutics?
08 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
When psychedelics were first studied more than 50 years ago, researchers noticed that they were useful in helping people explore a greater sense of se...
Living a Sensory-Informed Life
01 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever wondered why we get hangry or car sick? It happens when our sensory system gets dysregulated. For some people, this happens all the tim...
Expanding Your Senses
25 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
If you could gain super-human hearing, or even a new sense entirely, would you? Neuroscientist David Eagleman says with the help of technology, this c...
Pain is a Four-Letter Word
18 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
How do you treat a disease where the cause is unknown and each patient’s symptoms are unique? CNN's Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta t...
Finding Your Quiet Space
11 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We’re constantly assaulted by “noise” all around us: crowds, vehicles, social media. As quiet spaces around us dwindle, what is it doing to our ...
How Do You Recognize a Face?
04 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Imagine not being able to recognize the people you see every single day; your coworkers, your friends, your loved ones. “Prosopagnosia,” or “fac...
Sniffing Out the Cause of Smell Loss
27 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Imagine if your morning cup of coffee one day smelled like rotting garbage. Or, if your favorite comfort food had no taste at all. For some COVID long...
Making Sense of Our World
20 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to Season 5 of Chasing Life, where we’ll explore the five traditional senses – sight, hearing, taste, touch and smell -- and beyond. To ki...
Introducing All There Is with Anderson Cooper
14 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Chasing Life is pleased to present the first episode of Anderson Cooper's new podcast: All There Is. Anderson started recording while packing up the ...
Our Top Takeaways: Managing Social Anxiety
06 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Why are social interactions so daunting for some of us and what can we do to make things easier on ourselves? Dr. Sanjay Gupta revisits an interview w...
Chasing Life presents In the Bubble with Andy Slavitt
30 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week the Chasing Life team is sharing one of their favorite podcasts, In the Bubble with Andy Slavitt. Soon after entering the Kansas City mayora...
You’re Never Too Old to Play
16 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It’s easy to understand the importance of play during childhood but research shows that play is important at every age. In this episode, Dr. Sanja...
Climate Anxiety is Real
09 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Climate change has long been an existential threat, but for many young people, government inaction and increasing natural disasters are now taking a m...
Living in a Dream World
02 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Although we don’t remember most of them, we spend about two hours every night dreaming. Some dreams are similar, others are scary, or anxiety induci...
Learning to Live After Loss
26 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Time heals all wounds, so the saying goes. But that’s not always the case. Sometimes, when a loved one dies, it can feel like we’re stuck in an en...
The Video Game Treatment
19 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What if instead of pills to cure what ails you, you were prescribed a video game? Over at Akili Interactive, researchers are trying to do just that. E...
How to Win the Waiting Game
12 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It's time to revisit one of our favorite episodes! We’re always waiting for something, whether it’s in line for your morning coffee, on hold with ...
Living to 100 and Beyond with Norman Lear
05 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What’s the secret to a long, happy life? TV legend Norman Lear may have the answers. It’s hard to believe but the man responsible for shows like “...
What Drives Your Road Rage?
28 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Do you ever feel your blood pressure rise, sitting in a sea of stand-still traffic? It’s not all in your head. All that time spent in the driver's s...
Why Sanjay Almost Changed His Name to Steve
21 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
If you’re a person of color living in the United States, chances are, you’re living with some form of racial trauma. Whether it’s because you’...
Conversation is More Than Nodding Your Head
14 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Is it possible we’ve been going about conversation the wrong way our entire lives? All too often, when we chat with a friend or colleague, we walk a...
Sometimes it's Healthy to Break the Rules
07 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Not following rules and letting go might actually make you feel better. Just ask musicians who improvise and make up music on the fly. Dr. Sanjay Gupt...
Go to the Beach, Doctor’s Orders
31 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
You've likely experienced feelings of calm and happiness while at the beach or a lake, but it turns out there are actually proven psychological and ph...
The Healing Power of Poop
24 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We’re not alone inside our skin. Instead, we’re accompanied by billions of microorganisms. Not only that, when it comes to our health, they’re i...
Practicing Gratitude Pays Off
17 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It turns out a simple “thank you” really can go a long way. In fact, giving thanks doesn’t just make others feel good – it can also boost your...
Bursting the Bath Time Bubble
10 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
There’s been a lot of debate about how often we need to bathe — and the answer might be less than you think. It turns out we have a complicated hi...
Fighting That "Meh" Feeling
03 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week we're sharing an episode of The Happiness Lab from Pushkin Industries. Host Laurie Santos helps listeners understand that listless middle gr...
The Role of Race and Ethnicity in Medicine
26 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
While season 4 of Chasing Life is in production, the team is sharing some of their favorite podcasts. First up, The Pulse from WHYY, a weekly health a...
Why Are Doctors Prescribing Nature?
19 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Most of us love the sensation of the sun on our skin or the sound of the ocean, but nature doesn’t just feel good; it’s also good for us! Nowadays...
How Language Lights Up the Brain
12 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Language allows us to connect with people from around the world. It opens our minds and hearts to new experiences and different ways of life. But lear...
The Power of Music
05 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever gone through a breakup and listened to a sad song on repeat? Why do we have such strong emotional connections to music? Well, the answer...
Escaping the Grip of Social Anxiety
29 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
When you live with social anxiety, even the smallest interactions can feel catastrophic. If human beings are supposed to be social creatures, then why...
It’s Time to Stop Doom Scrolling
22 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok – let’s face it, social media has become a central part of our lives. It’s where we make friends, find comm...
11 Months in Space
15 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
When astronaut Christina Koch embarked on her 11-month spaceflight, she knew it would be a record-breaking mission; what she didn’t know is that s...
Your Work is Not Your Life
08 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It’s been a difficult few years for everyone, and people are feeling more burned out than ever. CNN’s Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta...
The Health Benefits of Pets
01 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
How do pets impact our bodies and brains? Are dogs really “man’s best friend”? And are we being mind-controlled by our cats? CNN’s Chief Medic...
You're Not Alone
22 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Public health experts have been warning for years about a looming “loneliness epidemic” in the United States, with serious potential impacts on ou...
The Mystery of the Teenage Brain
15 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Remember how awkward and confused you felt as a teen? It's a time of so many big changes – growth spurts, body hair, and acne, just to name a few –...
This Is Your Brain on Love
08 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Love is in the air... but today we’re talking neurochemicals, not roses! CNN’s Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta explores the brain sci...
What Memories Are Made Of
01 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Our memories are imperfect treasures – dear to our hearts but not necessarily accurate snapshots of reality. CNN's Chief Medical Correspondent Dr....
In Search of Lost Time
25 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Why do some days fly by, while others never seem to end? Have we been stuck in a time warp since March 2020? CNN’s Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. S...
Resetting Expectations
18 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The twists and turns of this pandemic have left many of us uncertain of what to expect in the year ahead. But did you know that simply changing your e...
Our Top Takeaways: Worth the Wait
11 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Does it feel like you are in an endless holding pattern? We asked a waiting expert for her top tips on how to create control when you don't know what'...
Small Steps. Big Rewards
04 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
As we ring in a New Year, Dr. Sanjay Gupta hears from Chasing Life listeners about the steps they plan to take to live healthier and happier lives in ...
Our Top Takeaways: Managing Anger
28 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Seeing red? Listen to a quick refresher from our episode on anger management. You'll hear the key takeaways from Dr. Sanjay Gupta's conversation with ...
The Science of Grit
21 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We're taking off this week for the holidays, but wanted to share with you another of our favorite podcasts. A Slight Change of Plans is host...
(Don’t) Call Me, Maybe
14 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
While season 3 of Chasing Life is in production, here's an episode of CNN's Margins of Error that you'll love. A surprising percentage of people today...
In the Blink of an Eye
07 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
After a terrible accident, a woman wakes up in the hospital with a traumatic brain injury. She records her experiences with doctors and friends, as sh...
Pain is a Four-Letter Word
30 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
How do you treat a disease where the cause is unknown and each patient’s symptoms are unique? CNN's Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta t...
Recipe for a Happy (and Healthy) Thanksgiving
23 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
For many of us, Thanksgiving means reuniting with friends or family we haven’t seen in a while. But before you gather around the dinner table, ...
Food as Medicine
16 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Is it possible that the right foods could prevent and even treat cancer? Or that a healthy diet could alleviate your depression and anxiety? CNN’s C...
Giving Kids a Shot
09 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
CNN’s Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta talks to U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy about vaccinating younger children. They also get ...
Breaking Up with Your Bad Habits
02 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
From doomscrolling to comfort food, bad habits are hard to break – so where do we begin? CNN’s Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta explor...
Facing Your Fears
26 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Fear brings with it a kind of powerful temptation: people want to know fear, to confront it, and maybe even conquer it. In the lead up to Hallowee...
What Are You Waiting For?
19 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We’re always waiting for something, whether it’s in line for your morning coffee, on hold with customer service, or waiting for life-changing med...
The Power of Nudges
12 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
What if we told you that every time you make a decision, there are subtle factors beyond your control that steer your choice? It turns out, the way th...
Trust Me
05 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Trust is hard to build and all too easily broken. It’s the essential foundation for all our relationships, and the glue that keeps our society toget...
Why Am I So Angry?
28 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
As one of the few female rockstars of the 1970s and ‘80s, Joan Jett was frustrated by the misogyny and disrespect she experienced ... but rather tha...
Preparing for the Next Pandemic
21 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Covid-19 taught the world a tough lesson: if we aren't prepared for a viral threat, the consequences can be catastrophic. But what does it ...
Feeling the Heat
14 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Record-breaking temperatures resulting from climate change are occurring more often, lasting longer, and are more intense than ever before. This ...
Chasing a Cure
07 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Grief is something we all experience at different stages of life, even more so during this pandemic. But what happens when you must mourn the loss of ...
Presenting Hidden Brain: Unlocking Your Purpose
24 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Chasing Life returns on September 7, but until then, here's an episode of Hidden Brain. Having a sense of purpose can be a buffer against the challeng...
Presenting NPR's Life Kit: How To Deal With Burnout
10 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
While season 2 of Chasing Life is in production, here's an episode of NPR's Life Kit you'll love. Burnout is common across the globe, and the pandemic...
Helping Grandma and Grandpa Get Back in the Groove
27 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
For the past year and a half, the pandemic has kept many older adults apart from their loved ones. But now that people are getting vaccinated, many ol...
Olympians Go For Gold — Without Fans
20 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The upcoming Tokyo Olympics will be one of the few Games ever to take place during a global pandemic. That means zero fans in the host city, no family...
Let’s Talk About Making Babies (Or Deciding Not To)
13 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It’s been a challenging time to start a family: some had to halt fertility treatments during lockdown, while others re-evaluated whether to have chi...
Tig Notaro on the Healing Power of Laughter
29 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Scientifically speaking, what is the purpose of laughter? Why is it so important for our brains and well-being? And how might it help us get back to “...
The Science Behind a Good Night's Sleep
22 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We all know sleep is vital, so why do many of us still find it so difficult to prioritize? CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta speaks wit...
Raising Resilient Kids
15 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Remote work, school closures, and no playdates: there’s no question the pandemic upended family life in ways that were simply unimaginable before. C...
Life Is Like a Game of Poker
08 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Covid restrictions are lifting but it’s still unclear what's entirely safe: Should we eat inside a restaurant? Go on that international vacation? O...
Matters of the Heart
01 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Heart disease remains the most common cause of death in the United States, and yet it is largely preventable. CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanj...