Podcasts · Health & Fitness

TED Health

TED

300 episodes

What does exercise do to your brain? Can psychedelics treat depression? From smart daily habits to new medical breakthroughs, welcome to TED Health, with host Dr. Shoshana Ungerleider. TED speakers answer questions you never even knew you had, and share ideas you won't hear anywhere else, all around how we can live healthier lives.

More about the show

Follow Dr. Shoshana Ungerleider on Instagram at @shoshanamd and LinkedIn at @shoshanaungerleidermd

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Episodes page 1 of 6

  1. What is GLP1… and why is it everywhere? with Rekha Kumar and Dhruv Khullar

    · 32 min

    What exactly is a GLP1 medication? In this episode, Shoshana interviews endocrinologist Rekha Kumar about the market for obesity medicine. Rekha explains how medicines like Ozempic and Wegovy work by regulating insulin…

  2. How play boosts your creativity and resilience | Katina Bajaj

    · 21 min

    When was the last time you just ... played? Creative health scientist Katina Bajaj thinks adults are in a "play deprivation crisis," where we've replaced our fun-loving human nature with optimization and efficiency.…

  3. How to trust public media again with Jessica Malaty Rivera

    · 34 min

    In this special episode recorded at Aspen Ideas Health, Shoshana interviews Jessica Malaty Rivera, an epidemiologist and science communicator, on how trust in healthcare systems are cultivated—and easily broken down—in…

  4. All the lonely people | from Corner Piece

    · 33 min

    From group chats to video calls, technology should make social connection easier than ever. So, why is everyone so lonely? In this episode, Sabrina sets out to investigate the "loneliness epidemic" that is sweeping…

  5. What is pain? with Rachel Zoffness

    · 37 min

    Where does pain originate? According to Rachel Zoffness, a scientist and psychologist who studies pain, research shows that pain originates in the brain. In this episode Rachel joins Shoshana to talk about how stress…

  6. The Myth of Normal (1/5): The brain science of obesity | Mads Tang-Christensen

    · 12 min

    Your belly and your brain speak to each other, says obesity researcher Mads Tang-Christensen. Offering scientific proof that obesity is a disease influenced by genetics and the environment, he introduces a molecule…

  7. The Myth of Normal (2/5): Why autism is often missed in women and girls | Kate Kahle

    · 16 min

    Women and girls with autism spectrum disorder often don’t display the behaviors people typically associate with neurodivergence, greatly impacting when, how -- and if -- they are diagnosed. Autism acceptance advocate…

  8. The Myth of Normal (3/5): Blindness isn't a tragic binary -- it's a rich spectrum | Andrew Leland

    · 9:36

    When does vision loss become blindness? Writer, audio producer and editor Andrew Leland explains how his gradual loss of vision revealed a paradoxical truth about blindness -- and shows why it might have implications…

  9. The Myth of Normal (4/5): How to hack your brain when you're in pain | Amy Baxter

    · 19 min

    Have we misunderstood pain? Researcher and physician Amy Baxter unravels the symphony of connections that send pain from your body to your brain, explaining practical neuroscience hacks to quickly block those signals.…

  10. The Myth of Normal (5/5): How to do laundry when you're depressed | KC Davis

    · 16 min

    Ever had a hard time doing daily household tasks -- cooking, cleaning, laundry -- and felt like a terrible person for struggling in the first place? Therapist KC Davis is here to flip that negative internalized script…

  11. The human cell is wildly complex. Can AI decode it? | Silvana Konermann

    · 21 min

    Silvana Konermann and the team at Arc Institute are trying to crack one of science's most difficult problems: why complex diseases like Alzheimer's and cancer remain so stubbornly unsolvable, even as research advances.…

  12. The benefits of nontraditional healthcare with Dr. Charles Moore

    · 28 min

    When Dr. Charles Moore, professor in the Otolaryngology or ENT department (Ear, Nose, and Throat), saw patients coming in with undiagnosed late-stage diseases, he decided to do something about it. Dr. Moore got into…

  13. What listening to live concerts do to your ears with Jim Hudspeth (Senses Miniseries #5)

    · 36 min

    When attending live music events, it’s tempting to want to immerse in the full experience—standing by the stereo, head banging near the stage, singing at the top of your lungs. But in maximizing your concert…

  14. The nurse who can smell Parkinson’s | Joy Milne (Senses Miniseries #4)

    · 21 min

    What does Parkinson's smell like? Ask nurse Joy Milne. Born with a hypersensitive nose, she spent a lifetime learning to recognize diseases through their scents. When she smelled Parkinson's on her husband years before…

  15. Living a Meaningful Life (1/5): Aging, menopause, and rethinking fashion for comfort in midlife with Stacy London

    · 54 min

    “My lens around style doesn’t have anything to do with style anymore — it’s about physicality,” says stylist and fashion consultant Stacy London. “What do I want to be able to do? How do I keep myself strong?” Stacy’s…

  16. Living a Meaningful Life (2/5): Why venting doesn’t help you deal with anger | Jennifer Parlamis

    · 24 min

    Does venting actually help you cool off, or does it just add fuel to the fire? Social psychologist Jennifer Parlamis busts common myths about anger, showing how curiosity — not catharsis — can keep you calm. Discover…

  17. Living a Meaningful Life (3/5): Your guide to finding a workout that works

    · 16 min

    Welcome back to our "A Healthier You" series, where TED Health host Shoshana Ungerleider guides you on a journey to your healthiest self. Join her and healthcare experts as they uncover insights that could…

  18. Living a Meaningful Life (4/5): How to achieve fulfillment -- not just success | Ira Bedzow

    · 27 min

    Join Shoshana in this live taping at TEDNext 2024 for a perspective-shifting conversation on achievement with ethicist, author, and rabbi Ira Bedzow. Shoshana and Ira challenge the way today’s culture and individuals…

  19. Living a Meaningful Life (5/5): What happens as we die? | Kathryn Mannix

    · 25 min

    Have we lost the practical wisdom of what happens as people die? With lessons from a career witnessing thousands of people's final breaths, palliative care expert Kathryn Mannix urges us to demystify the experience of…

  20. How to actually take care of your eye health with Rupa Wong (Senses Miniseries #3)

    · 34 min

    Are screens ruining our eyesight? Will eating carrots fix your vision? And are blue light glasses essential… or a scam?! In this episode in the five-part miniseries on senses, Dr. Rupa Wong joins Shoshana to talk about…

  21. What happens in your brain when you taste food | Camilla Arndal Andersen (Senses Miniseries #2)

    · 18 min

    With fascinating research and hilarious anecdotes, neuroscientist Camilla Arndal Andersen takes us into the lab where she studies people's sense of taste via brain scans. She reveals surprising insights about the way…

  22. Does touch strengthen your brain? with David Eagleman (Senses Miniseries #1)

    · 27 min

    David Eagleman is a neuroscientist who studies brain plasticity and how our senses help us perceive the world. Over the next 5 weeks, Shoshana is diving into ideas about our senses. First up she invites David to talk…

  23. What we're getting wrong about teens and tech | Candice Odgers | Your Body on Tech

    · 54 min

    Trigger warning - this episode contains mention of suicide and severe depression. For years, the warning has been: smartphones are destroying a generation. But developmental psychologist Candice Odgers says that…

  24. Shoshana's Summer Playlist (1/5): How to stop feeling tired all the time with Dr. Alexandra Crosswell

    · 40 min

    Why do we feel exhausted all the time? We’ll get through the workday, collapse on the couch, scroll for a while, and go to bed… but wake up still feeling depleted. In this episode, Shoshana seeks to understand the…

  25. Shoshana's Summer Playlist (2/5): What happens to your brain without any social contact? with Dr. Vivek Murthy

    · 39 min

    In this episode, Shoshana invites Dr. Vivek Murthy, the 19th and 21st Surgeon General of the United States, to discuss the ongoing loneliness epidemic. After the interview, Shoshana shares a TED-Ed talk from Terry…

  26. Shoshana's Summer Playlist (3/5): The secrets to aging well with Zeke Emanuel

    · 35 min

    When has healthcare advice become so complicated? And how should we be thinking about long-term wellness? Zeke Emanuel is an oncologist and bioethnicist whose latest book, Eat Your Ice Cream, might sound paradoxical…

  27. Shoshana's Summer Playlist (4/5): Your gut’s guide to a happier microbiome | Megan Rossi

    · 25 min

    In this episode, Shoshana sits down with Dr. Megan Rossi, aka The Gut Health Doctor. As a leading scientist, registered dietitian, and nutritionist, Dr. Rossi reveals the crucial link between digestion and general…

  28. Shoshana's Summer Playlist (5/5): What happens in your brain when you pay attention? with Dr. Sasha Hamdani

    · 36 min

    Attention isn't just about what we focus on -- it's also about what our brains filter out. By investigating patterns in the brain as people try to focus, computational neuroscientist Mehdi Ordikhani-Seyedlar hopes to…

  29. The women’s health conversation we’re not having with Elizabeth Micks, Chen X. Chen, and Alison Edelman

    · 23 min

    Many women move through major life transitions without getting clear information about what's happening in their own bodies. Whether it’s conversations about painful periods or menopause, fertility or contraceptives,…

  30. The science on improving your brain health with Dr. Ayesha and Dean Sherzai

    · 33 min

    When does normal aging end and something more concerning begins? In this episode Shoshana invites neurologist Drs. Ayesha and Dean Sherzai to discuss their studies on Alzheimer’s and Dementia. They debunk myths around…

  31. The science of gratitude and happiness with Sonja Lyubomirsky

    · 18 min

    What’s something that makes your life immeasurably better? For Shoshana, it’s habits people often overlook, such as a good night's rest or a conversation with a friend. In this episode, Shoshana shares a TED Ed lesson…

  32. How nearly dying helped me discover my own cure (and many more) | David Fajgenbaum

    · 19 min

    Physician-scientist David Fajgenbaum was dying from a rare disease that didn't have a cure — until he discovered a lifesaving drug that wasn't originally intended for his condition. In an astonishing talk, he shares…

  33. How to support parents of children with autism | Quentin Mezetin

    · 24 min

    In this powerful and personal talk, Quentin Mezetin shares his journey raising two sons with autism—and the challenges of parenting in a world that often treats neurological differences as deficits. As he reflects on…

  34. The Data Center Next Door with Dr. Jacoby Wilson | from TED Tech

    · 27 min

    Imagine if one day, your quiet neighborhood came alive with a steady hum… and it never went away? All throughout the United States, data centers are popping up next door and in your backyards. These buildings guzzle…

  35. A medical mythbuster's mission to improve health care | Joel Bervell (re-release)

    · 28 min

    Joel Bervell was one of the only Black students in his medical school program. After noticing how misconceptions about race were embedded in health care, he turned to social media to raise awareness about the harmful…

  36. Athletes fear concussions—why don’t they report them? | Ben Jones

    · 21 min

    In a society that grows ever more risk averse, how do we balance fun and competition with our responsibilities to keep one another safe? In this talk, sport science professor Ben Jones explores our assumptions about…

  37. The future of cancer treatment and immunotherapy with researcher Dr. Alicia Zhou

    · 30 min

    Dr. Alicia Zhou is the Chief Executive Officer of the Cancer Research Institute—the oldest nonprofit in the world devoted exclusively to cancer immunology and immunotherapy. She joins Shoshana to discuss the…

  38. How your brain affects your mind with Alex Rosenthal and Susan G. Wardle

    · 19 min

    Picture this. You're scrolling late at night and a reel pops up advertising a seemingly magical wellness product with some scientific-sounding marketing language. Do you stick around and maybe even believe it? Or do…

  39. How to stop feeling tired all the time with Dr. Alexandra Crosswell

    · 39 min

    Why do we feel exhausted all the time? We’ll get through the workday, collapse on the couch, scroll for a while, and go to bed… but wake up still feeling depleted. In this episode, Shoshana seeks to understand the…

  40. Silence and stillness, the universal medicine | Pico Iyer, Elise Hu

    · 31 min

    In a world growing louder, faster and more fractured, author Pico Iyer makes the case for a radical act of repair. Explore why tapping into silence may be the best medicine you can give yourself, and everyone around…

  41. What are allergies — and how to get rid of them with Dr. Zachary Rubin

    · 31 min

    Does eating local honey help reduce your allergies through microexposure to local pollen? How effective is at-home allergies test? And why do so many Olympic athletes have asthma? These are some of the questions raised…

  42. How to raise kids who can handle hard things | Kathryn Hecht

    · 21 min

    Could exposing kids to their fears help them thrive later on in life? Exploring the science of exposure therapy, pediatric psychologist Kathryn Hecht shows how encouraging children to handle discomfort builds…

  43. The psychology of forgiveness with Michael McCullough | from WorkLife with Adam Grant

    · 30 min

    In this season of WorkLife, we’re pairing each of our regular episodes with a companion interview to do a deeper dive into the topic. This is the companion for our episode on the secrets of a great apology. Michael…

  44. The secrets to aging well with Zeke Emanuel

    · 34 min

    When has healthcare advice become so complicated? And how should we be thinking about long-term wellness? Zeke Emanuel is an oncologist and bioethnicist whose latest book, Eat Your Ice Cream, might sound paradoxical…

  45. What medical dramas get right about dying with Katherine LaNasa, Tembi Locke, and Nikki Boyer

    · 32 min

    From Grey’s Anatomy to The Pitt, medical tv shows depict TV deaths and illnesses all the time, but they’re rarely explored in depth. In this episode from the 2025 End Well Summit, Shoshana is in conversation with Tembi…

  46. The doctor on a mission to build a healthier South Sudan with Yohanis Riek | from TED Talks Daily

    · 30 min

    Yohanis Riek went from herding cattle and fighting as a child soldier to becoming the first doctor in his community in South Sudan. He shares his journey to found a nonprofit bringing health care to remote communities…

  47. A future without food poisoning? with Emma Bryce and Nicola Twilley

    · 23 min

    Food is supposed to nourish us, but what happens when it sends us to the hospital instead? In this episode, Emma Bryce asks whether it is safe to eat cookie dough. Then Nicola Twilley shares how the kitchen…

  48. How our changing DNA keeps us alive | Linda Chelico

    · 20 min

    DNA carries the code for carrying out biological life, yet DNA is an unstable molecule. The reality is that DNA in all organisms is in a dynamic state with its environment, constantly becoming damaged and undergoing…

  49. Interview: The future of gene sequencing with Dr. Eric Green

    · 35 min

    Eric Green is a genomic researcher whose work with the Human Genome Project on mapping and sequencing DNA has revolutionized the medical field. From sampling patients’ DNA through blood tests to screen for diseases to…

  50. How AI can bridge the Deaf and hearing worlds | Adam Munder | from TED Tech

    · 7:06

    Software engineer Adam Munder is on a mission to break down communication barriers between the Deaf and hearing worlds. In a live demo, he introduces OmniBridge — an AI platform that translates American Sign Language…

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