Chasing Life

Can years teaching in a classroom make you less likely to get sick? Dr. Sanjay Gupta answers a listener’s question about immunity and shares smart strategies for supporting your immune system as cold and flu season kicks off. Plus, how you can get better sleep – and more of it – this fall.   Our show is produced by Eryn Mathewson, Jennifer Lai, Grace Walker, Lori Galaretta, Jesse Remedios, Sofia Sanchez, Kyra Dahring, and Madeleine Thompson.    Medical Writer: Andrea Kane   Showrunner: Amanda Sealy   Senior Producer: Dan Bloom   Technical Director: Dan Dzula  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1,800 lives lost and hundreds of thousands displaced. But the storm left behind more than physical damage. It exposed the lasting psychological toll disasters can take. Nearly 20 years later, catastrophic weather events have only become more common. Dr. Stefan Schulenberg, a leading expert on disaster mental health, explains how trauma lingers, what resilience really looks like, and what Katrina can teach us about facing the crises ahead.  This episode was produced by Lori Galarreta Showrunner: Amanda Sealy Technical Director: Dan Dzula Executive Producer: Steve Lickteig Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Not all belly fat is created equal. Dr. Sanjay Gupta explains what makes some belly fat “toxic,” how to know if you have it, and what you can do to reduce it. Then, he tackles a follow-up question on the new blood pressure guidelines, including what lifestyle changes really work. Our show is produced by Eryn Mathewson, Jennifer Lai, Grace Walker, Lori Galaretta, Jesse Remedios, Sofia Sanchez, Kyra Dahring, and Madeleine Thompson. Medical Writer: Andrea Kane Showrunner: Amanda Sealy Senior Producer: Dan Bloom Technical Director: Dan Dzula Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

At 10 years old, brainiac Sean the Science Kid already has plenty in common with Dr. Sanjay Gupta: He loves to learn and explain science to his million-plus Instagram followers. He's an advocate for positivity. And when he grows up, he wants to be a ("neuro-cardio") surgeon. So, Dr. Gupta passes the mic and lets Sean interview him about the things on his heart and brain. Our show is produced by Eryn Mathewson, Jennifer Lai, Grace Walker, Lori Galaretta, Jesse Remedios, Sofia Sanchez, Kyra Dahring, and Madeleine Thompson. Medical Writer: Andrea Kane Showrunner: Amanda Sealy Senior Producer: Dan Bloom Technical Director: Dan Dzula Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nearly half of Americans have high blood pressure — and the guidelines for managing it just changed. Dr. Sanjay Gupta explains the new rules, including surprising advice on alcohol. Plus, he answers a listener’s follow-up: does the recommended daily dose of “morning sunlight” change when it’s cloudy, rainy, or even snowing? New blood pressure guidelines recommend an earlier start to treatment and skipping alcohol, CNN, August 14, 2025 Guideline for the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Management of High Blood Pressure in Adults, The American College of Cardiology/ American Heart Association, August 14, 2025 Our show is produced by Eryn Mathewson, Jennifer Lai, Grace Walker, Lori Galaretta, Jesse Remedios, Sofia Sanchez, Kyra Dahring, and Madeleine Thompson. Medical Writer: Andrea Kane Showrunner: Amanda Sealy Senior Producer: Dan Bloom Technical Director: Dan Dzula Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Feeling overwhelmed as a new parent? Sleep-deprived and drowning in advice? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Parenting can have many different approaches and let’s face it, has changed a lot since you were an infant. Dr. David Hill, pediatrician, author, and AAP spokesperson, breaks down the new baby basics on sleep, feeding, car seats—and answers rapid-fire questions about what’s different now.  Our show is produced by Eryn Mathewson, Jennifer Lai, Grace Walker, Lori Galaretta, Jesse Remedios, Sofia Sanchez, Kyra Dahring, and Madeleine Thompson.   Medical Writer: Andrea Kane Showrunner: Amanda Sealy Senior Producer: Dan Bloom Technical Director: Dan Dzula  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There’s an ad going around on social media claiming Dr. Sanjay Gupta has discovered a natural cure for Alzheimer’s. Spoiler: it’s a deepfake. Sanjay breaks down how to tell when AI is faking it and answers a listener’s question about spotting signs prostate cancer has spread.  Paging Dr Gupta is a production of CNN Podcasts. Our podcast is produced by Eryn Mathewson, Jennifer Lai, Grace Walker, Lori Galaretta, Jesse Remedios, Sofia Sanchez, Kyra Dahring, and Madeleine Thompson. Andrea Kane is our medical writer, our senior producer is Dan Bloom, Amanda Sealy is our showrunner, Dan Dzula is our technical director, and the executive producer of CNN Podcasts is Steve Lickteig. With support from Jamus Andrest, Jon Dianora, Haley Thomas, Alex Manasseri, Robert Mathers, Leni Steinhardt, Nichole Pesaru, and Lisa Namerow. Special thanks to Ben Tinker and Nadia Kounang of CNN Health and Wendy Brundige.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

One of the most challenging aspects of treating chronic pain is the fact that there’s no objective way to measure it – no number or test like blood pressure or cholesterol. But soon we might have something more specific than the scale of happy face to sad face. Dr. Sanjay Gupta talks with Dr. Prasad Shirvalkar, a physician and researcher who’s implanting electrodes in patients’ brains to better understand how pain is processed—and how we might one day stop it at the source.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Close to #1 on anyone’s list for healthy aging is avoiding dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. From diabetes to learning a new language, Dr. Sanjay Gupta explains some of the factors that can impact your risk and what you can do about it.    Paging Dr Gupta is a production of CNN Podcasts. Our podcast is produced by Eryn Mathewson, Jennifer Lai, Grace Walker, Lori Galaretta, Jesse Remedios, Sofia Sanchez, Kyra Dahring, and Madeleine Thompson. Andrea Kane is our medical writer, our senior producer is Dan Bloom, Amanda Sealy is our showrunner, Dan Dzula is our technical director, and the executive producer of CNN Podcasts is Steve Lickteig. With support from Jamus Andrest, Jon Dianora, Haley Thomas, Alex Manasseri, Robert Mathers, Leni Steinhardt, Nichole Pesaru, and Lisa Namerow. Special thanks to Ben Tinker and Nadia Kounang of CNN Health and Wendy Brundige.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Three-quarters of U.S. adults are overweight or obese. But Kevin Hall, a former researcher at the National Institutes of Health and one of the world’s top experts in food science, is on a mission to take the shame out of weight gain. He joins Sanjay to talk about his new book, Food Intelligence: The Science of How Food Both Nourishes and Harms Us, and why our many misconceptions about metabolism are distracting us from the real drivers of the obesity crisis.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Are you always the one getting eaten alive while everyone else walks away bite-free? Dr. Sanjay Gupta explains why some people attract more mosquitoes and shares tips on how to avoid getting bitten including which repellents actually work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Man’s deadliest predator takes more than a million lives each year and is no bigger than your fingernail. To mark mosquito season, history professor Dr. Timothy Winegard sits down with Dr. Sanjay Gupta to unpack how we can use lessons from the past to fight mosquitoes in the future. Plus, find out how you can make your blood a little less appetizing.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You’ve likely stood in the grocery aisle wondering—what’s actually healthier: fresh or frozen produce? And when it comes to salt, should you stick with regular or go for pink Himalayan? Dr. Sanjay Gupta breaks it down, so you know exactly what to grab next time you hit the store.    Chasing Life is a production of CNN Podcasts. Our podcast is produced by Eryn Mathewson, Jennifer Lai, Grace Walker, Lori Galaretta, Jesse Remedios, Sofia Sanchez, Kyra Dahring, and Madeleine Thompson. Andrea Kane is our medical writer, our senior producer is Dan Bloom, Amanda Sealy is our showrunner, Dan Dzula is our technical director, and the executive producer of CNN Podcasts is Steve Lickteig. With support from Jamus Andrest, Jon Dianora, Haley Thomas, Alex Manasseri, Robert Mathers, Leni Steinhardt, Nichole Pesaru, and Lisa Namerow. Special thanks to Ben Tinker and Nadia Kounang of CNN Health and Wendy Brundige.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dr. Sanjay Gupta sits down with researcher and clinical therapist Dr. Eric Garland to explore how mindfulness meditation can be as effective as opioids in treating chronic pain – without any of the side effects. They break down the science behind how leaning into pain, rather than avoiding it, can actually rewire the brain and provide lasting relief.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Is it just part of getting older, or something you shouldn’t ignore? From your balance to the ringing in your ears, Dr. Sanjay Gupta explains what’s normal, what’s not, and what to do about it.  Chasing Life is a production of CNN Podcasts. Our podcast is produced by Eryn Mathewson, Jennifer Lai, Grace Walker, Lori Galaretta, Jesse Remedios, Sofia Sanchez, Kyra Dahring, and Madeleine Thompson. Andrea Kane is our medical writer, our senior producer is Dan Bloom, Amanda Sealy is our showrunner, Dan Dzula is our technical director, and the executive producer of CNN Podcasts is Steve Lickteig. With support from Jamus Andrest, Jon Dianora, Haley Thomas, Alex Manasseri, Robert Mathers, Leni Steinhardt, Nichole Pesaru, and Lisa Namerow. Special thanks to Ben Tinker and Nadia Kounang of CNN Health and Wendy Brundige. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Navigating supplement offerings, in a store or online, can be overwhelming. There’s a pill  or a potion for everything, from losing weight to boosting brain power. But how do you know what you need? Join Dr. Sanjay Gupta for a conversation with supplement safety expert Dr. Pieter Cohen to learn how these add-ons are policed and what to look for on the label.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After losing both parents to bone cancer, one listener wants to know what that means for their own risk. Dr. Sanjay Gupta breaks it down—then tackles another question millions wonder about: Is taking a sleep pill every night worse than waking up over and over again? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Every day, in hospitals across the country, surgeons make countless life-or-death decisions. For those who operate on children, those stakes can feel even higher. Dr. David Sandberg, author of “Brain and Heart: The Triumphs and Struggles of a Pediatric Neurosurgeon,” sits down with Sanjay, a fellow neurosurgeon, to swap stories from the operating room and give a glimpse into how surgeons think under pressure.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dr. Sanjay Gupta is here with your summer sunlight guide — exactly when it’s safe to soak up some unfiltered sun, how to truly protect your eyes, and sunscreen mistakes you might be making. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On January 25th, 2025, Tim Andrews became a medical pioneer: He received a kidney transplant from a pig. Dr. Sanjay Gupta follows the incredible journey of this groundbreaking procedure – and the man at the center of it.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices