

The Podcast by KevinMD
Kevin Pho, MD
Social media's leading physician voice, Kevin Pho, MD, shares the stories of the many who intersect with our health care system but are rarely heard from. 15 minutes a day. 7 days a week. Welcome to The Podcast by KevinMD.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Mar 30, 2026 • 18min
Finding peace by unhooking from ego and achieving a loving presence in medicine
Pediatric hematology-oncology physician and co-founder of Pink Coat, MD Tammie Chang discusses the article "Unhooking from the ego in medicine." Tammie shares her personal journey through depression and clinical burnout, explaining how these challenges forced her to disconnect from a professional identity rooted in ego and achievement. She describes the neurological shift from a left-brain focus on analysis to a right-brain focus on intuition and interconnectedness. By choosing to show up as a loving presence in the exam room, Tammie found that she could complete her work with more joy and less exhaustion. This transformation allowed her to move away from being an automaton of productivity and toward a state of equanimity. Her experience suggests that physicians can find peace even amidst global uncertainty by reclaiming their true selves. True healing begins when we prioritize human connection over the need to always be right. Partner with me on the KevinMD platform. With over three million monthly readers and half a million social media followers, I give you direct access to the doctors and patients who matter most. Whether you need a sponsored article, email campaign, video interview, or a spot right here on the podcast, I offer the trusted space your brand deserves to be heard. Let's work together to tell your story. PARTNER WITH KEVINMD → https://kevinmd.com/influencer SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

Mar 27, 2026 • 15min
Why physicians must reclaim their right to pause
Integrative pediatrician Mary Wilde discusses the article "The pause medicine never taught us to take." Mary discusses how medical training conditions clinicians to fear rest and prioritize a treadmill of servitude over personal well-being. She shares insights from teaching medical students who found clarity and emotional release only when forced to step away from their studies. Mary describes her experience hosting retreats in southern Utah and how physical distance from the clinical environment provides a necessary vantage point for accurate self-assessment. The conversation explores the physiological benefits of silence, including neurogenesis and cortisol reduction, while highlighting the systemic and personal barriers that prevent doctors from seeking renewal. Discover why creating open space is not a sign of weakness but an essential act of wisdom for every healer. Partner with me on the KevinMD platform. With over three million monthly readers and half a million social media followers, I give you direct access to the doctors and patients who matter most. Whether you need a sponsored article, email campaign, video interview, or a spot right here on the podcast, I offer the trusted space your brand deserves to be heard. Let's work together to tell your story. PARTNER WITH KEVINMD → https://kevinmd.com/influencer SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

Mar 26, 2026 • 17min
Why hormonal shifts make traditional dieting ineffective for midlife women
Marsha Shepherd Whitt, a metabolic health educator and author focused on midlife and menopause, reframes midlife weight gain as physiological, not willpower. She explores estrogen-related shifts, how chronic glucose and cortisol drive conservation, and why calorie-restricting diets backfire. Practical topics include protein-first meals, lowering carbs to reduce insulin, stress and sleep strategies, and strength training to preserve muscle.

Mar 25, 2026 • 18min
Proactive monitoring can prevent emergencies by catching heart signals early
Health care executive Chris Darland discusses their article "Why remote patient monitoring needs a preventive shift." Chris explains that remote patient monitoring is currently too reactive, functioning as a safety net that tracks problems rather than preventing them. He suggests that technology should shift toward a proactive approach where data is collected before routine visits to provide a real life snapshot of heart performance. Chris describes how advanced signal processing tools, similar to those used by NASA, can now capture high-fidelity cardiac signals over several days while patients live their normal lives. By using AI to turn raw data into actionable insights, health care teams can detect subtle trends and make small adjustments before emergencies occur. This new approach moves beyond simply turning homes into hospitals and instead focuses on building a digital model of whole body health. Find out how listening to the heart's hidden clues can help clinicians see ahead to what might become a problem. Partner with me on the KevinMD platform. With over three million monthly readers and half a million social media followers, I give you direct access to the doctors and patients who matter most. Whether you need a sponsored article, email campaign, video interview, or a spot right here on the podcast, I offer the trusted space your brand deserves to be heard. Let's work together to tell your story. PARTNER WITH KEVINMD → https://kevinmd.com/influencer SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

Mar 24, 2026 • 19min
Why measuring muscle mass matters more than tracking your weight
Maureen McBeth, a physical therapist and lymphedema specialist with 25+ years in oncology rehab, champions body composition over the scale. She discusses risks of rapid weight loss from GLP-1s, why losing muscle is dangerous, and the need for muscle, fat, and fluid testing. She also covers practical monitoring, clinical vs. home bioimpedance, and strength-focused exercise to protect muscle.

Mar 23, 2026 • 25min
Insulin resistance is a survival mechanism, not a broken system
Metabolic health educator Kevin Whitt discusses his article "Insulin resistance is not a disease: a metabolic reframe." Kevin argues that the skyrocketing rates of Type 2 diabetes are not the result of defective biology, but rather a predictable response to chronically elevated blood sugar. The conversation challenges the traditional medical view of insulin resistance, reframing it as a protective mechanism where cells limit glucose uptake to prevent damage from substrate oversupply. Kevin highlights how modern medical education structurally privileges pharmacological treatments over nutritional interventions, leaving doctors equipped to manage symptoms rather than address root causes. Discover why addressing the dietary carbohydrate load is the key to resolving this metabolic mismatch. Partner with me on the KevinMD platform. With over three million monthly readers and half a million social media followers, I give you direct access to the doctors and patients who matter most. Whether you need a sponsored article, email campaign, video interview, or a spot right here on the podcast, I offer the trusted space your brand deserves to be heard. Let's work together to tell your story. PARTNER WITH KEVINMD → https://kevinmd.com/influencer SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

Mar 20, 2026 • 17min
Criticism stings because doctors care deeply about their work
Pediatrician and certified coach Jessie Mahoney discusses her article "Dealing with physician negative feedback." Jessie validates the pain that comes with criticism, noting that it hurts not because physicians are weak, but because they are human and deeply invested in their patients. The conversation explores the physiological response to negative reviews, suggesting practical mindfulness techniques like placing a hand on the heart to lower cortisol and signal safety. Jessie advises against the habit of rumination, encouraging doctors to instead create a "generous story" that frames the feedback through a lens of curiosity rather than shame. Discover why prioritizing integrity over being liked is essential for sustainable medical practice. Partner with me on the KevinMD platform. With over three million monthly readers and half a million social media followers, I give you direct access to the doctors and patients who matter most. Whether you need a sponsored article, email campaign, video interview, or a spot right here on the podcast, I offer the trusted space your brand deserves to be heard. Let's work together to tell your story. PARTNER WITH KEVINMD → https://kevinmd.com/influencer SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

Mar 19, 2026 • 20min
Why early detection matters: Transforming lung cancer care
In this special sponsored episode from Eli Lilly and Company, I am joined by Dr. Lee James, senior vice president of oncology medical affairs at Lilly, to discuss the importance of lung cancer screening, early detection, and advances in biomarker testing. We explore how low-dose CT screening can reduce mortality, yet remains underused, and why comprehensive genomic profiling is essential to understanding the molecular drivers of non-small cell lung cancer and guiding targeted treatment decisions. Tune in to learn how expanding access to screening and precision medicine is helping create new hope for people affected by lung cancer. VISIT SPONSOR → https://www.lilly.com/conditions/cancer/lung-cancer SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

Mar 18, 2026 • 25min
Politics and fear have replaced science in U.S. pain management
Patient advocate Richard A. Lawhern, PhD, discusses the article "U.S. opioid policy history: How politics replaced science in pain care." Richard argues that for decades, public policy on pain treatment has been driven by sociopolitical factors rather than medical science. He traces the history from the "business corruption" phase of pill mills to the current "political phase" launched by the 2016 CDC guidelines. The conversation highlights how anti-opioid zealotry and legal fears have forced physicians to abandon effective pain care, leaving patients to suffer or turn to illicit markets. Richard also critiques the rising reliance on buprenorphine, suggesting it is popular not because of superior efficacy for pain, but because it offers a legal "safe harbor" for clinicians. Discover why Richard believes the confusion between physical dependence and addiction is driving a public health failure. Partner with me on the KevinMD platform. With over three million monthly readers and half a million social media followers, I give you direct access to the doctors and patients who matter most. Whether you need a sponsored article, email campaign, video interview, or a spot right here on the podcast, I offer the trusted space your brand deserves to be heard. Let's work together to tell your story. PARTNER WITH KEVINMD → https://kevinmd.com/influencer SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

Mar 17, 2026 • 23min
Shift from universal to optional vaccination risks normalizing preventable disease
Medical student Umayr R. Shaikh discusses his article "The impact of CDC's new childhood immunization guidance." Umayr argues that recent CDC changes, moving vaccines like flu, Hep B, and meningococcal from universal recommendation to shared decision making, risk normalizing preventable illness. He highlights how his medical training now focuses on diagnosing diseases that should be rare footnotes. The conversation explores the danger of treating public health as an individual choice, warning that this shift will disproportionately harm vulnerable populations and widen health inequities. Discover why rebuilding trust in evidence based prevention is critical to avoiding a future of predictable outbreaks. Partner with me on the KevinMD platform. With over three million monthly readers and half a million social media followers, I give you direct access to the doctors and patients who matter most. Whether you need a sponsored article, email campaign, video interview, or a spot right here on the podcast, I offer the trusted space your brand deserves to be heard. Let's work together to tell your story. PARTNER WITH KEVINMD → https://kevinmd.com/influencer SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended


