TED Health
TED
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.Follow Dr. Shoshana Ungerleider on Instagram at @shoshanamd and LinkedIn at @shoshanaungerleidermd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
Mentioned books
May 12, 2026 • 31min
Silence and stillness, the universal medicine | Pico Iyer, Elise Hu
Pico Iyer, travel writer and essayist who studies stillness and global belonging, shares why silence can be a practical medicine. He recounts personal moments of retreat and loss. He explains how silence disarms argument, awakens the senses, and can be practiced daily without retreats.
5 snips
May 5, 2026 • 31min
What are allergies — and how to get rid of them with Dr. Zachary Rubin
Dr. Zachary Rubin, a double board-certified pediatrician and allergist-immunologist and author of All About Allergies, explains how immune miscommunication causes allergic reactions. He covers how allergies affect daily life, the science behind immunotherapy, the limits of at-home tests and viral health claims, alpha-gal from tick bites, and the role of climate and environment in worsening allergies.
Apr 28, 2026 • 21min
How to raise kids who can handle hard things | Kathryn Hecht
Kathryn Hecht, a pediatric anxiety and OCD expert who practices exposure therapy, explains why letting kids face discomfort builds resilience. She defines exposure therapy as a bravery coach tool. Short, practical strategies include creating safe anxiety moments, encouraging brave actions, and celebrating progress. Stories and actionable steps show how learning to handle hard things fosters confidence for bigger challenges.
12 snips
Apr 21, 2026 • 30min
The psychology of forgiveness with Michael McCullough | from WorkLife with Adam Grant
Michael McCullough, a psychology professor who studies forgiveness, gratitude, and empathy, joins to explore why humans forgive and when they do not. He discusses how grudges harm health. He explains evolved reasons for forgiveness, how past kindness shapes decisions, and when asking for forgiveness helps repair trust.
Apr 14, 2026 • 34min
The secrets to aging well with Zeke Emanuel
Zeke Emanuel, oncologist, bioethicist, and bestselling author, shares his practical take on aging well. He stresses usefulness, function over lifespan, and why social connections are vital. He advises skipping fads, finding pleasure in sustainable habits like "eat your ice cream," and explains why it is never too late to start healthier routines.
Apr 7, 2026 • 32min
What medical dramas get right about dying with Katherine LaNasa, Tembi Locke, and Nikki Boyer
Nikki Boyer, creator of Dying for Sex who turned intimate stories about her friend’s terminal illness into a candid community. Tembi Locke, actress and author who adapted her caregiving and grief into From Scratch to spark healing. Katherine LaNasa, Emmy-nominated performer who brings realistic nursing and caregiving to The Pit. They discuss how TV portrays death, blending humor and grief, authenticity on set, and sparking real-world conversations.
Mar 31, 2026 • 30min
The doctor on a mission to build a healthier South Sudan with Yohanis Riek | from TED Talks Daily
Yohanis Riek, a physician and social entrepreneur from South Sudan who founded YoCare to bring primary care to remote communities. He recounts his journey from nomadic life and wartime conscription to building locally led health services. Conversations cover community ownership, peer training models, surviving sudden donor cuts, and designing resilient, locally driven health partnerships.
18 snips
Mar 24, 2026 • 23min
A future without food poisoning? with Emma Bryce and Nicola Twilley
Nicola Twilley, a food writer exploring refrigeration's global impacts, and Emma Bryce, a microbiology researcher who explains food-safety risks. They dive into Salmonella’s path from farm to fork and whether cookie dough is risky. They also trace the fridge’s role in reshaping diets, the cold chain’s environmental costs, and low-emission alternatives.
Mar 17, 2026 • 20min
How our changing DNA keeps us alive | Linda Chelico
Dr. Linda Chelico, biochemist studying virology and cancer biology, explains how DNA is constantly changing. She explores deliberate bacterial mutations for survival. She introduces APOBEC proteins that mutate DNA to fight viruses and shape antibodies. She discusses how these processes can both drive cancer and be directed to steer tumors toward death.
Mar 10, 2026 • 35min
Interview: The future of gene sequencing with Dr. Eric Green
Dr. Eric Green, genomic researcher and former NHGRI director now at Illumina, shares a fast tour of modern sequencing. He contrasts genomics with genetics. He highlights impacts on prenatal care, cancer treatment, rapid neonatal diagnosis, and pharmacogenomics. He traces why sequencing got so cheap and urges the public to learn genomic basics.
