Feeling Bored? That May Actually Motivate You

AI may be able to see things in your health records that a doctor wouldn’t... but it can also miss medical crises. AI researcher and urologist Dr. Ashwin Ramaswamy talks to Dr. Sanjay Gupta about using a chatbot for health guidance. Study mentioned in this episode: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-026-04297-7 Jennifer Lai, Leying Tang, and Madeleine Thompson produced this episode, with assistance from Sofia Sanchez. Video production by Jilanne Doom, with assistance from Jasmine Brooks. Andrea Kane is the medical writer. Dan Dzula is the technical director, and Dan Bloom is the showrunner. Ben Tinker is vice president of news at CNN, and Zach Goldbaum is senior director of podcasts at CNN. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Parents have spent years worrying about screens. Now the screen talks back. Dr. Sanjay Gupta asks early child development expert Dr. Dana Suskind what AI may be doing to kids’ brains — and why “brain rot” may be the wrong worry.  Resources mentioned in this episode: • Common Sense Media’s AI resources for families • The Anxious Generation movement • Dr. Dana Suskind’s book, Human Raised  Jennifer Lai and Leying Tang produced this episode, with assistance from Madeleine Thompson and Sofia Sanchez. Video production by Jilanne Doom, with assistance from Jasmine Brooks. Andrea Kane is the medical writer. Dan Dzula is the technical director, and Dan Bloom is the showrunner. Ben Tinker is vice president of news at CNN, and Zach Goldbaum is senior director of podcasts at CNN. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

At 10 years old, brainiac ⁠'Sean the Science Kid⁠' Atitsogbe 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. Original Credits: Producer: Sofia Sanchez 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

CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Andy Scholes and Coy Wire -- who played nine seasons in the NFL -- sit down to discuss their love of the game, what's changed, and what all parents and kids need to know. This episode was produced by Dan Bloom and Nadia Kounang. Medical Writer: Andrea Kane Showrunner: Dan Bloom Technical Director: Dan Dzula Sr. Director of Podcats: Zach Goldbaum 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. This episode originally aired in July 2025. This episode was produced by Madeleine Thompson and Leying Tang. Medical Writer: Andrea Kane Senior Producer: Dan Bloom Technical Director: Dan Dzula Sr. Director of Podcasts: Zach Goldbaum Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Chronic disease, anxiety, ADHD, and even the shape of a person's face could be consequences of dysfunctional breathing. And most of us, it turns out, are doing it wrong – but it’s never too late to fix it. Sanjay sits down with journalist James Nestor to discuss the fifth anniversary edition of Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art, and how simple changes to the way we breathe can start improving our health right away. This episode originally aired in January 2025. This episode was produced by Jesse Remedios and Leying Tang.Medical Writer: Andrea KaneSenior Producer: Dan BloomTechnical Director: Dan DzulaSr. Director of Podcasts: Zach Goldbaum Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

No, you’re not petty for feeling jealous. Research shows humans experience this emotion even before they can crawl. CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta sits down with psychologist Dr. Joli Hamilton to demystify jealousy and why the complex emotion is not only natural but could actually be beneficial.   This episode originally aired in February 2025.  This episode was produced by Sofia Sanchez, Jesse Remedios, and Grace Walker. Medical Writer: Andrea Kane Senior Producer: Dan Bloom Technical Director: Dan Dzula Sr. Director of Podcasts: Zach Goldbaum Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

More Americans are traveling abroad for medical care. Sanjay talks with Harvard Law professor Glenn Cohen about vetting providers, understanding risks and asking the right questions, plus a practical checklist for navigating the process. Harvard Law Bulletin, “Patient Without Borders,” July 1, 2013 We're taking a short summer break and will be back in September with plenty of exciting new episodes. This episode was produced by Jennifer Lai and Sofia Sanchez. Video production by Ross Helman, Bob Nebel, Jasmine Brooks Medical Writer: Andrea Kane Showrunner: Dan Bloom Technical Director: Dan Dzula Sr. Director of Podcasts: Zach Goldbaum Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

CNN meteorologist Derek Van Dam has been covering the weather for more than 20 years, and sees the increasing rate of extreme weather events as our new reality. He shares some of his stories and tips for staying safe in dangerous conditions with Dr. Sanjay Gupta. This episode was produced by Madeleine Thompson and Leying Tang  Medical Writer: Andrea Kane  Showrunner: Dan Bloom  Technical Director: Dan Dzula  Sr. Director of Podcasts: Zach Goldbaum  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The diabetes drugs that transformed weight loss may be key to treating addiction, too. Dr. Sanjay Gupta speaks with Dr. Dhruv Khullar about how GLP-1s affect the brain, its reward system, and maybe even addiction. This episode was produced by Jennifer Lai and Sofia Sanchez.  Video production by Ross Helman, Bob Nebel and Jasmine Brooks.  Medical Writer: Andrea Kane  Showrunner: Dan Bloom  Technical Director: Dan Dzula  Sr. Director of Podcasts: Zach Goldbaum  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices