Chasing Life

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...

The Body That Got Me Through

25 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

How should we think about our bodies after this stressful past year? CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta explores the power of ex...

That's What Friends Are For

18 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Did you know that friendship can actually help your brain, heart and immune system? Now that more and more Americans are getting vaccinated, peopl...

The Change We Need

11 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Can all this change we’ve experienced actually be good for the brain? Dr. Sanjay Gupta explores how neuroscience can help us prepare for the “ne...

Introducing Chasing Life

03 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

For the first time in more than a year, many of us are imagining the next chapter of our lives. CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta is on...

It's Not Goodbye

30 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This podcast was born out of a deep need to more fully understand what was happening to our lives, in our country and around the world, during a time ...

Dr. Fauci's Long Year

29 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

When we look back on this pandemic, who and what will we remember? Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Dis...

Vaccines Behind Bars

28 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Covid-19 outbreaks have ripped through America’s correctional facilities, but access to the vaccines inside prisons and jails still varies state by ...

India in Crisis

27 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

India is fighting a devastating second wave of Covid-19 that has ravaged communities and hospitals across the country. In today’s episode, Dr. Sanja...

When Truth is Stranger Than Fiction

26 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Pandemics and apocalyptic diseases have long fascinated both writers and readers, but will we want to read about living through Covid-19? CNN Chief Me...

Tyler Perry’s Pandemic Response

23 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Filmmaker Tyler Perry is receiving an honorary Academy Award this weekend, so for today’s podcast, we revisit a conversation between CNN’s Chief M...

What on Earth Happens Next?

22 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Shifts in our behavior during the pandemic have impacted the planet, but will these changes last? On this Earth Day, CNN climate reporter Drew K...

An Immunologist Challenges the Status Quo

21 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Immunologist Akiko Iwasaki has gained a huge online following during the pandemic for tweeting out explainers of the latest Covid-19 research, as well...

An American Success Story

20 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

At the end of 2020, the vaccine rollout was chaotic: appointments were hard to schedule, vaccine supplies were tight, and the U.S. had administered fe...

I Got Vaccinated, But My Family Can’t

19 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

There are still several countries that have no access to Covid-19 vaccines. CNN reporter Melissa Mahtani shares her opinion about global inequities in...

The Race Between Variants and Vaccines

16 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

How worried should we be about these new virus variants? CNN’s Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta explains how variants arise, why they’...

Brazil's Covid Crisis

15 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Covid-19 is wreaking havoc in Brazil right now, with a record number of daily deaths in recent weeks. CNN International Correspondent Matt Rivers prov...

Hitting Pause on the J&J Vaccine

14 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

CNN’s Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta walks through what we currently know about the CDC and FDA's decision to pause the use of Johnson...

Vaccine Passports

13 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Vaccine passports might help people feel safe returning to normal and may allow the economy to recover faster, but between freedom and privacy concern...

More Than Just a Hospital

12 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

More than a century ago, the people of San Francisco’s Chinatown came together in the face of racism and built their own hospital. Now, Covid-19 ...

What About Vaccinating Kids?

09 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

While three Covid-19 vaccines are now available for adults in the U.S., none have been approved yet for kids under 16. CNN’s Chief Medical...

The Songs of Spring

08 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Spring is here again, and you might be hearing the birds busting out their pipes. In this episode, scientists Elizabeth Derryberry and Jennifer Phil...

What If the Vaccine Came to You?

07 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

President Joe Biden recently announced that all American adults will be eligible for a Covid-19 vaccine by April 19, but expanding eligibility does ...

Old Drugs, New Disease

06 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

As medical professionals search for new treatments to help Covid-19 patients, some researchers are taking a second look at drugs that have already bee...

Most Schools Closed in 1918. What Happened?

05 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Just over 100 years ago, the U.S. was in a similar position as it is today. As more schools across the country reopen, we're revisiting CNN Chief Medi...

Pfizer's Moonshot

02 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The rapid development and rollout of the Covid-19 vaccines has been called a moonshot – an amazing scientific discovery that will change the course ...

Play Ball!

01 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Baseball's Opening Day is finally here, and Major League Baseball has stepped up to the plate with new safety precautions for the pandemic. CNN Chie...

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...