Chasing Life
Episodes
Balancing Faith and Safety
31 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
With Passover upon us, Easter this weekend and Ramadan not far after that, we decided to revisit a story about faith. CNN Senior Writer Thomas Lake sp...
What Went Wrong at the CDC
30 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Robert Redfield, former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention during the Trump administration, opens up to CNN’s Chief Medi...
Inside the White House with Dr. Deborah Birx
29 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Deborah Birx’s tenure as the Trump White House’s Coronavirus Response Coordinator was contentious, with accusations of mismanagement. Now, Dr....
The Debate Over Vaccine Mandates
26 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Suppressing the spread of Covid-19 in the United States is going to require vaccinating 70-85% of the population. But what happens if not enough Am...
Should I Stay or Go?
25 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
As more and more Americans get their COVID-19 vaccinations, some people are making travel plans, and airports are seeing bigger crowds. CNN Chief Medi...
Jumping the Vaccine Line
24 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
If you’re not eligible for the vaccine yet, should you still try to get the shot early anyway? CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Sanjay Gupta speaks ...
How to Vaccinate the Entire World
23 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
As wealthier nations have bought up most of the world’s supply of vaccines, many lower and middle-income countries have been left behind. Today, CNN...
An Update on Airborne Transmission
22 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
How important is airflow to preventing the spread of Covid-19? As schools and other public buildings begin to reopen, Dr. Sanjay Gupta revisits a conv...
Reducing Loneliness by Lending a Hand
19 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
There’s tons of evidence that loneliness can have negative impacts on our mental and even physical health. But when it comes to interventions...
Me, Myself and BMI
18 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Many states are making people with a certain Body Mass Index eligible for vaccines. But because weight carries such a stigma, showing up to an appoi...
The Perfect Storm
17 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
For those struggling with an opioid addiction, COVID-19 has created a perfect storm of stress and isolation. CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanja...
In Sickness and in Health
16 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Last December, the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine became the first covid-19 vaccine to be authorized for use in the world following large-scale clin...
Atlanta Returns to School
15 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Last month, the C.D.C. released new guidelines to help schools stay safe as they reopened, and now educators across the country are beginning the tric...
Saying Goodbye
12 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
With over 2.5 million global coronavirus deaths, millions more have faced the daunting task of saying goodbye to a loved one from a distance. CNN Ch...
One Year Later
11 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
One year ago this week, CNN called the spread of the coronavirus a pandemic. Two days later, the World Health Organization followed. At this offic...
Vaccine Hesitancy in Flint, Michigan
10 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This pandemic has highlighted how essential it is for people to feel like they can trust public health officials. But that’s easier said than done i...
So You’re Vaccinated ... Now What?
09 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The CDC just released new guidelines for fully vaccinated people. CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta explains the latest recommendations...
Instagramming the Pandemic
08 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Infectious disease researcher Laurel Bristow has made a name for herself disseminating helpful, pandemic-related information on Instagram, and that n...
The Art of Caring
05 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Seattle-based artist Jayashree Krishnan has painted more than 150 portraits of first responders from around the world since the start of the Covid-19 ...
The New 9 to 5
04 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Coronavirus has fundamentally changed the American workplace, but which changes can we expect to stick around permanently? Analyst and remote work exp...
Should the Games Go On?
03 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We’re just months away from the start of the rescheduled Tokyo Olympics. The games were supposed to showcase Japan’s recovery from the deadly Fu...
Olympic Dreams Postponed
02 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Almost a year ago, athletes around the world learned that the Olympics would be postponed. For those who hoped to compete in the games, navigating thi...
The Bumpy Road to Herd Immunity
01 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
What will it take to achieve herd immunity? CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta speaks with Dr. Christopher Murray, who directs the Insti...
Good News from Indian Country
26 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Covid-19 has disproportionately impacted Native American communities, but when it comes to vaccine distribution, tribal health providers are actually ...
Not So Sweet Dreams
25 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
CNN’s Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta talks to Harvard dream researcher Deirdre Barrett about her Covid-19 dream survey and why we're h...
The Latest from Wuhan
24 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Zoologist and president of EcoHealth Alliance Peter Daszak has just returned from Wuhan, China. CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta ...
Covid’s Long Haulers
23 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The United States reached an unfathomable milestone: 500,000 deaths from COVID-19. As we honor those lost to the pandemic, there are still many among ...
Honoring a Forgotten Medical Pioneer
22 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Black women have made significant contributions to medicine and public health but all too often, their stories are overlooked and forgotten. Today, w...
Asian Americans are Americans, Too
19 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A disturbing spate of recent attacks on Asian Americans is the latest reminder of the bigotry this community has faced throughout the pandemic. CNN C...
Are We Still Uncomfortably Numb?
18 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In the United States alone, nearly half a million people have now died from the coronavirus. Rationally, we know this is devastating. But emotionally,...
When Will Schools Truly Be Safe?
17 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
What does the latest CDC guidance mean for the safe return to classrooms? Dr. Sanjay Gupta and Evan McMorris-Santoro explain why parents and teachers ...
Vaccine FAQs
16 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta answers listeners’ questions about the vaccine, from new avenues of distribution t...
Death Can Wait
15 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Black faith leaders around the country are working together to combat vaccine hesitancy in their communities. Today, Nicquel Terry Ellis, CNN's seni...
Why I'm Optimistic
12 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
More than 33 million Americans have received at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine from Pfizer/BioNtech or Moderna. Johnson & Johnson’s ...
When Cupid Met Corona
11 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
As Valentine’s Day approaches, we explore how our relationships and dating lives have been impacted by this pandemic. Biological anthropologist and ...
No, You Can’t Buy a Vaccine Online
10 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Be careful as authorities warn of emerging scams related to the Covid-19 vaccine. CNN’s law enforcement and national security correspondent, Josh Ca...
Pregnancy And Vaccines
09 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
With the authorization of two Covid-19 vaccines, pregnant women around the country are wondering if they should get the shot when their time co...
Why Some Black People Aren't Ready to Get the Vaccine
08 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Surveys have shown that Black Americans have been more hesitant than White Americans to get a Covid-19 vaccine. CNN Correspondent Stephanie Elam enrol...
A Pandemic Super Bowl
05 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Super Bowl LV is happening this weekend and it won't be your regular championship game. The CDC and the NFL teamed up to study not only how the leagu...
Predictions for Post-Pandemic Life
04 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The light at the end of the tunnel is in sight, but there are still a lot of unknowns. When will life go back to normal? How do we grieve all the peop...
Redressing Racism in US Health Care
03 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Inequities and racism continue to exist within the U.S. health care system and profoundly impact Black communities. It’s a complex history that’s ...
The Vaccine Hustle
02 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Older adults around the country are struggling to get a vaccine appointment thanks to limited supply, overwhelmed phone lines, dysfunctional websites....
Double Masking, N95s, and the Latest Mask Guidance
01 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Masks are crucial, but not all of them are created equal. The N95 respirator mask has been the gold standard from the beginning, and our need for its...
Presenting Science Vs.: Hunting A Killer Virus
29 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
An adventuring Swedish doctor takes on a decades-long medical mystery: What exactly was the 1918 flu? This week, we’re sharing an episode of Science...
Biden’s New Covid Team
28 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The Biden administration is beginning to put its Covid-19 strategy into action and lay out their plans to bring this pandemic to an end. CNN Chief Med...
A Tale of Two States
27 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The rollout of Covid-19 vaccines has proven to be a logistical challenge unlike anything the United States has faced before, and some states are handl...
Restoring Trust in the CDC
26 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
With a new administration in the White House, and a new director at the CDC, there is a lot of hope that the CDC can now more effectively steer the ...
How Does Johnson & Johnson’s Covid-19 Vaccine Work?
25 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Dan Barouch is the director of the Center for Virology and Vaccine Research at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, and is helping de...
An Update on Isolation and the Brain
22 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
With the release of two COVID-19 vaccines we’re one step closer to pre-pandemic life. However, after months inside, our social skills may be a bit r...
The Year That Changed Everything
21 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It’s hard to believe that it has been a year since Covid-19 made its way into the United States. One year ago, this week, a man walked into a clinic...
Biden’s Pandemic Playbook
20 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
With a new presidential administration comes new opportunities to slow the transmission of Covid-19. CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta ...
Where are the Rapid Tests?
19 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We usually have to wait days to get the results from our nose-swab PCR tests, and meanwhile, we might be spreading the virus without even knowing it. ...
On the Razor's Edge
18 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
One in three LA County residents have tested positive for the virus and hospitals are struggling to treat everyone who needs critical care. CNN Corres...
The Hunt for Disease X
15 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
As human activity ventures further into the wilderness, scientists believe more diseases will emerge. CNN Senior International Correspondent Sam Kile...
What Kids Want and Need Right Now
14 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
For a lot of children, the pandemic has been an unsettling time. Socializing is limited, school is not the same, and parents are often stressed out t...
Covid-19’s Mental Health Toll on Healthcare Workers
13 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Some people call the mental and emotional stress that healthcare workers have faced this past year ‘burnout.’ But burnout existed in the industry ...
This Is Your Brain on Stress
12 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A lot of people have been feeling stressed out by this pandemic, and unfortunately, it’s been that way for a while now, but what is this unrelenting...
Your Vaccine Questions Answered
11 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
What’s the latest news about vaccines, and what are the delays with the rollout? In this episode, CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta a...
The Long Way Home
08 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Imagine a country that is not under a strict lockdown or scrambling to find hospital beds to care for Covid patients; where people regularly dine and ...
When the Virus Mutates
07 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
New variants of the coronavirus are circulating around the globe and causing some concern among experts. One in particular, variant B.1.1.7, ...
Pharmacy Deserts
06 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Vaccine distribution in the U.S. is going to rely on local pharmacies and supermarkets, but what if your neighborhood doesn’t have either? CNN's...
The Covid-19 Eviction Crisis
05 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
By the end of the month, millions of people across the country will be teetering on the brink of eviction. In this episode, CNN Business reporte...
Teen Scientist Discovers Potential Covid-19 Treatment
04 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Fourteen-year-old Anika Chebrolu is the 2020 winner of the 3M Young Scientist Challenge. In this episode, CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay G...
New Year's Hopes and Dreams
29 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
What is the first thing you want to do when it is safe to see your friends and family again? In our last episode of the year, we share your biggest ho...
Sanjay and Anderson Cooper Say Goodbye to 2020
28 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
For nearly a year, Dr. Sanjay Gupta has been a constant presence in our lives, reporting on Covid-19. In this special episode, he opens up to Anderson...
The Power of Touch
22 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Just about everyone in the world right now appears to be experiencing less touch. There’s less hugging, less hand shaking. Even people who are livin...
Covid Christmas Tale
21 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
How are we supposed to gather around the Christmas tree... if we need to stay six feet apart? On today’s episode, CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr...
Dr. Gupta Gets Vaccinated
19 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Did you know that Dr. Sanjay Gupta is a practicing neurosurgeon? As a health care worker, he is at a higher risk for contracting the coronavirus so on...
A Spoonful of Hope
18 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Nearly 60 years ago, Americans witnessed the roll out of a polio vaccine that would change lives and the way we fight disease. Writer and producer Jef...
The NFL's Covid Crisis
17 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The NFL playoffs are just weeks away but the league is still figuring out how to defeat its most formidable opponent to date: Covid-19. A flurry of...
Anti-Vaxxers and Worries About Vaccine Hesitancy
16 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Covid-19 vaccine distribution is finally rolling out, but some Americans are still skeptical. CNN Correspondent Elle Reeve travels to rural Tennessee ...
Delivering the Vaccine
15 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week, nearly three million doses of Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine will be delivered to more than 600 vaccination sites around the country. Today, ...
FDA Authorizes First Covid-19 Vaccine
14 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Food and Drug Administration has authorized a vaccine by Pfizer and BioNTech that will start reaching the most at-risk Americans today. CNN ...
A Sisterhood of Nurses and a Universe of Grief
11 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
With almost 300,000 people lost to Covid-19 in the United States, CNN immigration reporter Catherine Shoichet tells the story of one community’s sta...
Vaccine Warrior Kizzmekia Corbett
10 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Kizzmekia Corbett is a 34-year-old viral immunologist, and she might help save the world. She leads the coronavirus vaccine research at the National I...
A Conversation with FDA Commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn
09 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
With a vaccine rollout underway in the United Kingdom, the Food and Drug Administration could issue emergency use authorization to a Covid-19 vacci...
What it’s like to be part of a Covid-19 Trial
08 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Very soon, the first Covid-19 vaccine could be authorized for public use in the United States. Is it like a flu shot? What are the side effects? Today...
Q&A on Vaccines with Dr. Anthony Fauci
07 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
When and where can you get the vaccine? Can you choose which one you get? Dr. Anthony Fauci answers all your questions about the vaccine at a CNN Town...
Broadway Revival
04 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
New York's theater district has been dark since March. Broadway was one of the first industries shut down by the pandemic and it may be one of the las...
A Weird School Year So Far
03 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In the early months of the pandemic much of the country was in disarray, including schools. Now that the fall semester is almost over, Dr. Sanjay G...
The mRNA Breakthrough
02 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
How do you fight a pandemic? With cutting edge technology. Two of the new Covid-19 vaccines applying for FDA approval rely on a novel approach that us...
Fighting Hunger and Shame in a Pandemic
01 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Millions of families across the country have lost some of their income because of the pandemic and are struggling to put food on the table. In today...
Holiday Shopping is a Mixed Bag
30 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Coronavirus has changed a lot about this holiday season. And the pandemic-induced recession means the way people spend their money is different too. O...
Thanksgiving with the Guptas
24 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Many Thanksgiving gatherings will be a bit smaller this year. CNN’s Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta discusses his own plans for the hol...
Holiday Air Travel
23 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The C.D.C. recommends against traveling for Thanksgiving, as infection rates are on the rise nationwide. But the airline industry is still expecting a...
One Handshake Away From Heaven
20 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
CNN Senior Writer Thomas Lake tells the story of a pastor in small-town South Carolina who’s doing what he can to minister to his flock. Among his ...
Emergency Use Authorization Explained
19 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
There is promising data from two drug companies with vaccines in the works, but what comes next? One way of speeding the process is an Emergency Use A...
Who Gets the Vaccine First?
18 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
With promising data coming out of multiple trials, the country is now looking at how to distribute a potential Covid-19 vaccine to the public. But who...
Mice Lie and Monkeys Exaggerate
17 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Several vaccine companies have announced promising early evidence that their vaccines are effective at preventing symptoms of a coronavirus infection....
Infection Rates and Questions On the Rise
16 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The U.S. is setting devastating new records nine months into this pandemic. CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta answers listener question...
We’re in a Humanitarian Crisis
13 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Almost a quarter of a million people have died of Covid-19 in the United States. The country is now seeing record-breaking case numbers. Dr. Sanjay Gu...
A Surge in South Dakota
12 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
South Dakota has had one of the worst spikes of Covid-19 cases in the country, with the positivity rate now climbing above 50%. And still, the state h...
The Mystery of the Viral Dose
11 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Why does Covid-19 make some people so much sicker than others? Risk factors and pre-existing conditions are part of it, but could there still be anoth...
The President-Elect's Pandemic Plan
10 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Even before the presidential election was called for the former vice president, Joe Biden promised to take the country’s pandemic response in a dram...
Flushing Out the Virus
09 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Universities, nursing homes, and even entire cities are turning to an unlikely tool to monitor the spread of the coronavirus: sewage water. CNN Chi...
Singing in the Silent Spring
06 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
When life as we know it was put on pause by the pandemic, nature flourished. In this episode, scientists Elizabeth Derryberry and Jennifer Phillips ...
The Scalpel and the Sledgehammer
05 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
All over Europe, nationwide lockdowns are being put in place as the continent tries to weather the second wave of coronavirus infections. But before s...
Your Stress is Showing
04 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Chronic stress should not be taken lightly. Doctors and dentists around the country are reporting hair loss, skin rashes and cracked teeth that they b...
Breathe In, Breathe Out
03 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The stress of this the pandemic is getting to us, and today’s election is only heightening the anxiety for some. On today’s podcast, CNN Chief M...
When Will Life Return to Normal?
02 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Will things return to “normal” as soon as there is a vaccine? How can we vote safely? What do we know about the flu shot this year? As we head int...