Chasing Life
CNN Podcasts
All over the world, there are people who are living extraordinary lives, full of happiness and health – and with hardly any heart disease, cancer or diabetes. Dr. Sanjay Gupta has been on a decades-long mission to understand how they do it, and how we can all learn from them. Scientists now believe we can even reverse the symptoms of Alzheimer’s dementia, and in fact grow sharper and more resilient as we age. Sanjay is a dad – of three teenage daughters, he is a doctor - who operates on the brain, and he is a reporter with more than two decades of experience - who travels the earth to uncover and bring you the secrets of the happiest and healthiest people on the planet – so that you too, can Chase Life.
Episodes
Mentioned books
17 snips
May 12, 2026 • 19min
What You Need to Know About Hantavirus
A deep dive into a cruise ship outbreak and the timeline of cases and evacuations. Explanations of how hantaviruses spread and why one Andes strain can transmit between people. Discussion of pandemic risk factors and viral stability. Practical advice on rodent-proofing, safe cleanup, and when to seek medical care.
27 snips
May 8, 2026 • 31min
AI Is in Your Healthcare Now. Here’s What to Know
Dr. Bob Wachter, a physician and author who studies digital health, explores how AI is already used in care and where it might go wrong. He discusses AI scribes, clinician tools like Open Evidence, patient-facing apps, privacy tradeoffs, and which tasks should remain human-led. The conversation balances optimism for improved access with caution about safety, trust, and training.
12 snips
May 5, 2026 • 16min
Will Mocktails Help Reduce Your Cancer Risk?
A clear look at how alcohol links to specific cancers and how risk changes after quitting. Practical drinking guidelines and pros and cons of mocktails and nonalcoholic beers are discussed. A comparison of silicone versus plastic covers safety, microplastic shedding, and best-use tips.
21 snips
May 1, 2026 • 31min
Why GLP-1s May or May Not Be for You
Meg Tirrell, veteran health and business reporter who covers diabetes and obesity drugs, breaks down the GLP-1 phenomenon. She discusses why these drugs took off, who is being prescribed them, safety and monitoring concerns, the shift to oral pills, pricing and policy impacts, and where research is headed next.
18 snips
Apr 28, 2026 • 17min
Autism Doesn’t End at Childhood. Here’s the Reality
Dr. Joshua Ambar, an autism researcher and public health professor who draws on his own diagnosis, discusses transitions to adulthood for autistic teens. He talks about centering autistic voices and communication tools. He explains how supports and family roles must shift with age. He addresses misconceptions about independence, work, and the ongoing nature of autism.
34 snips
Apr 24, 2026 • 30min
What You’ve Wanted to Know About Autism but Were Too Afraid to Ask
Dr. Matthew Lerner, leading autism researcher and director of the Social Connections and Treatment Lab, offers clear takes on what being on the spectrum means. He outlines clinical definitions, why diagnoses have risen, and the roles of genetics and environment. He also tackles language choices, nonspeaking versus nonverbal communication, and how to think about causes without jumping to conclusions.
18 snips
Apr 21, 2026 • 19min
What Happens When Mom-To-Be Smokes Weed While Pregnant?
A deep dive into how cannabis affects pregnancy and breastfeeding, including placenta and breast milk exposure. Discussion of short-term pregnancy risks like preterm birth and low birth weight. Exploration of potential long-term developmental concerns from prenatal exposure. Examination of cannabis for perimenopause and endometriosis symptoms, dosing forms, and cardiovascular and dosing risks.
24 snips
Apr 17, 2026 • 28min
How Hypnosis May Be More Real, and Powerful, Than You Think
Dr. David Spiegel, Stanford psychiatrist and clinical hypnosis researcher, explains how hypnosis changes brain networks and can help with pain, anxiety, habits, and performance. He contrasts hypnosis with meditation, describes who is hypnotizable, demonstrates self-hypnosis, and discusses clinical evidence and athletic uses in short, practical conversations.
33 snips
Apr 14, 2026 • 16min
Do Astronauts Float Around While They Sleep?
A deep-space debrief about how traveling beyond low Earth orbit affects the human body. Topics include radiation risks, microgravity impacts on muscles, bones, senses and taste. They explore sleep in zero gravity, confined-cabin team dynamics, exercise and testing countermeasures, water and food systems, and why spicy condiments make the trip.
18 snips
Apr 10, 2026 • 29min
Everybody Poops— So, Why Is It So Hard to Talk About?
Trisha Pasricha, gastroenterologist and director of the Institute for Gut Brain Research, and author of You’ve Been Pooping All Wrong, explores the brain-gut axis and modern bowel myths. She talks about why bowel talk is taboo, how COVID and ultra‑processed foods affect gut health, what IBS really is, what stool patterns reveal, timing and triggers for bowel movements, and simple diet and lifestyle changes.
