FHC #198: The surprising science of gratitude & the cost of conformity

After the Thanksgiving holiday, Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr sit down for an “Unfiltered” discussion about gratitude with cardiologist and burnout expert Dr. Jonathan Fisher. While the discussion begins with an exploration of the science and value of gratitude, the episode then expands into an analysis of cultural trends in medicine, mental health, and the tension between individual autonomy and collective belonging. With insights drawn from emotion research, Jonathan’s own experience, and even sci-fi television, this episode touches on everything from evolutionary psychology to electronic health records — and from Lord of the Rings to generative AI. Some of the key ideas discussed: Gratitude is a mindset, a personality trait and, most importantly, a practice. Drawiong on research from Dr. Barbara Fredrickson and others to explain how gratitude triggers upward emotional spirals, helping people tap into optimism, empathy and self-trust. When life is falling apart, gratitude alone isn’t the answer. In moments of crisis, trying to force a feeling of gratitude can backfire. Instead, we should begin by choosing where to place our attention, cultivating stillness and gradually train our minds to experience positive emotions again. The real enemy of gratitude might be distraction. With much of our attention hijacked by devices, media and negativity bias, Americans today often lack the sustained focus required to feel or express authentic gratitude. There’s wisdom (and warning) in a ‘hive mind.’ The group discusses the Apple TV series Pluribus, in which a virus links humans into a hive mind of total empathy and consensus. While peaceful, the world loses all individuality, sparking a conversation about the tension between belonging and autonomy in medicine, society and self. A lesson from Samwise Gamgee: In a heartfelt final segment, Jeremy draws on Lord of the Rings to reflect on the importance of standing by loved ones in dark times. Jonathan responds with insight into isolation, empathy and the power of human connection — even when people seem lost. For more unfiltered conversation, listen to the full episode and explore these related resources: ‘Just One Heart’ (Jonathan Fisher’s newest book) ‘ChatGPT, MD’ (Robert Pearl’s newest book) Monthly Musings on American Healthcare (Robert Pearl’s newsletter) * * * Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple Podcasts or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn. The post FHC #198: The surprising science of gratitude & the cost of conformity appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

In this week’s episode of Medicine: The Truth, hosts Jeremy Corr and Dr. Robert Pearl examine a wide range of stories shaping American health. From new research on the lifesaving effects of health insurance to troubling vaccine policy changes in Washington, this episode offers an objective and insightful look at what’s working, what’s failing and what lies ahead. The show opens with a study that functions as a natural experiment on health coverage. When the IRS sent letters warning uninsured Americans about Affordable Care Act penalties, researchers found a striking result: those who signed up for insurance had significantly lower mortality over the next two years. For Dr. Pearl, the takeaway is clear. As political battles over insurance subsidies begin, the stakes are measured in lives saved and lives lost. From there, the hosts turn to the second round of Medicare drug price negotiations under the Inflation Reduction Act. Cuts as large as 85% will save billions of dollars, but Pearl warns that negotiating prices alone cannot fix America’s drug-pricing problem. The root issue, he notes, is the ability of manufacturers to extend monopolies for years through patent thickets, evergreening and litigation strategies that delay competition. Until those practices change, the United States will continue paying far more than any other nation. Here are more pressing stories from this month’s episode of Medicine: The Truth: Expiring ACA subsidies: Enhanced marketplace subsidies for 24 million Americans are scheduled to sunset, threatening large premium hikes. Private insurance costs: Covering a family of four now averages $27,000 per year. Employers may shift even more of the burden onto employees. U.S. health spending vs peer nations: America spends nearly $14,000 per person on healthcare, far above any comparable nation, yet underinvests in preventing and managing chronic disease complications. Measles resurgence: Falling vaccination rates and permissive school exemptions have made measles endemic again, with outbreaks in multiple states. Biosimilars and insulin pricing: The FDA plans to streamline biosimilar approvals by focusing on molecular similarity rather than repeated clinical trials. COVID infections during pregnancy: A Massachusetts study of nearly 18,000 births found higher rates of neurodevelopmental diagnoses in children whose mothers had COVID while pregnant. Social media and mental health: In a small study, young adults who reduced daily social media use from two hours to 30 minutes saw sharp drops in anxiety and depression. Obesity trends and GLP-1s: New Gallup data show adult obesity declining slightly from 40% to 37% since 2022, with the largest gains among women ages 40 to 64 (a popular demographic for drugs like Ozempic). Estrogen therapy reconsidered: The FDA has removed its black box warning from estrogen-containing products after new evidence showed substantial cardiovascular, bone and cognitive benefits when started near menopause. As the episode continues, Dr. Pearl highlights fascinating findings on peanut allergies and preterm birth disparities, looks at the likelihood of a severe flu season with the new H3N2 strain and a stern warning about the politicization of vaccine decisions. * * * Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of the new book “ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine” about the impact of AI on the future of medicine. All profits from the book go to Doctors Without Borders. Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn The post MTT #101: From measles outbreaks to GLP-1 hype, the data every patient should know appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

The Draper name is synonymous with Silicon Valley risk-taking. For decades, venture capitalist Tim Draper made bold bets on breakthrough technologies long before they went mainstream (see: Bitcoin). Today, two members of the next generation — siblings Jesse and Adam Draper — are directing that same appetite for innovation toward one of America’s most troubled industries: healthcare. Jesse, founding partner at Halogen Ventures, focuses on the “future of family,” backing companies that support women, parents and caregivers (nurses, in particular). Adam, founder of Boost VC, invests in frontier breakthroughs and “sovereign health” technologies with outsized potential. Together, they spend their days reviewing hundreds of pitches from entrepreneurs trying to solve real-world problems. And in this episode, they share what they believe patients and consumers are seeking most. This is Season 11 of Fixing Healthcare, which is dedicated to elevating voices with large public followings: people who, through their work, hear directly from communities, consumers and healthcare professionals. Neither Draper sibling is a healthcare insider. But both bring a candid, outside-in perspective shaped by global innovation, millennial tech culture and thousands of conversations with founders. Across the interview, the siblings highlight what they believe entrepreneurs are betting on: globalized innovation, new regulatory models and technologies that bypass traditional bottlenecks. Adam points to places like Prospera, a special economic zone in Honduras where companies develop treatments they can’t test in the U.S., while Jesse cites early-stage breakthroughs like Kangaroo’s artificial womb and tools that help families piece together trustworthy scientific evidence. Both describe a rising pattern of medical tourism driven by patients who feel the U.S. system is too slow, too fragmented and too expensive. Jesse also delivers the episode’s most memorable moment, describing ChatGPT as a “best friend” she consults for everything from parenting decisions to symptom interpretation. Her approach — asking AI to cite real studies and synthesize global data — reflects a generational shift in how people gather information long before seeing a doctor. In his closing remarks, Dr. Robert Pearl praises their patient-centered instincts while adding the guardrails often missing from Silicon Valley conversations. Innovation can save lives, he notes, but only when safety and cost stay in balance. Excess regulation slows progress, yet unchecked enthusiasm fuels hype and high-priced products that add little value. The central challenge, he argues, is building a healthcare system bold enough to welcome breakthrough ideas and disciplined enough to ensure they improve outcomes and lower costs, not just generate revenue. Helpful links “Japan has created the first artificial womb” (Engineerine) Prospera, Roatán ZEDE (background and news) “Healthcare Regulators’ Outdated Thinking Will Cost American Lives” (Forbes) “ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Doctors and Patients Can Take Back Control of American Medicine” (Pearl’s newest book) * * * Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn. The post FHC #197: Artificial wombs & medical tourism – Draper siblings on healthcare’s next wave appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

For this Thanksgiving week, we’re revisiting an important and emotionally charged episode from the first season of “Medicine: The Truth.” = When this episode debuted in 2020, the podcast was called “Coronavirus: The Truth,” which began when readers of Dr. Robert Pearl’s newsletter, “Monthly Musings on American Healthcare,” started asking for much-needed facts and context surrounding the pandemic. It was a moment hard to fathom now. Covid cases were climbing fast, the nation was exhausted and vaccines weren’t yet available. Fear and frustration were everywhere. Five years later, with vaccines protecting all but the most vulnerable, it’s worth remembering just how uncertain and divisive the world felt heading into those holidays. A big question people wanted answered was whether they should change their Thanksgiving plans. Dr. Anthony Fauci had urged Americans to avoid big gatherings. The reaction was immediate and intense. Polls showed three in four people were less excited about the holidays than the year before. Families were fighting over safety. Many felt hopeless and isolated. Against that backdrop, listeners asked the question weighing on millions: Should we gather at all? In this rerun, Dr. Robert Pearl revisits the facts that mattered most at the time: why drug makers were pausing some vaccine and treatment trials, what was happening on college campuses and why premature births had unexpectedly declined during lockdowns. He explains why he expected 500,000 Covid deaths, a number that shocked listeners in 2020 but ultimately proved accurate (by half). The episode also dives into deeper issues that shaped the national mood. Most of all, it captures the anger and divisiveness that blanketed the country. A tension that continues today. There is much our nation can learn today from the experiences of five years ago. This Thanksgiving rerun offers a powerful reminder of where we were and how far we’ve come. * * * Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of the new book “ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine” about the impact of AI on the future of medicine. All profits from the book go to Doctors Without Borders. Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn The post FHC #196: Revisiting Thanksgiving 2020 at Covid’s peak appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

This special episode of Unfiltered departs from its usual cadence and lineup as cardiologist Jonathan Fisher is joined this week by his wife, oncologist Dr. Julie Fisher. Together with hosts Jeremy Corr and Dr. Robert Pearl, the group embarks on a candid, unscripted conversation that begins with a literal and metaphorical climb. Julie and Jonathan recount their joint ascent of Mount Everest (Julie’s idea, not Jonathan’s) and then quickly moves into deeper terrain: the persistence of sexism in medicine. In this important conversation, Julie opens up about her experiences as a woman in a field where hierarchy and status remain firmly entrenched. She offers a nuanced yet unflinching account of the barriers she’s faced, from inappropriate comments and dismissiveness to more insidious forms of bias in academic and clinical settings. She describes the pressure to be more nurturing, friendly, likeable and even more accessible to patients than male colleagues. And yet, when it came time to seek a promotion, Julie was told these skills – which were both encouraged and expected – weren’t valued as much as significantly as other skills (namely, getting published in academic medical journals). To this day, these unequal pressures undermine a woman’s ability to lead with authority, to express frustration or to achieve equal footing in the medical profession. Though born from a partnership between husband and wife, this Unfiltered episode invites a broader reckoning in medicine. It is a chance to look closely and honestly at questions of power, perception and equality in American healthcare. For more unfiltered conversation, listen to the full episode and explore these related resources: Breast cancer diagnoses rising fastest among young women (Charlotte Talks interview with Julie Fisher) ‘Just One Heart’ (Jonathan Fisher’s newest book) ‘ChatGPT, MD’ (Robert Pearl’s newest book) Monthly Musings on American Healthcare (Robert Pearl’s newsletter) * * * Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple Podcasts or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn. The post FHC #195: Dr. Julie Fisher on medicine, marriage & misogyny appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

Before TikTok myth-busting and Instagram reels took over the health education space, Dr. Jen Gunter dominated Twitter (now “X”) as medicine’s fiercest advocate for women’s health. Dr. Gunter built a massive following by calling out dangerous pseudoscience, exposing sexism in medicine and championing evidence‑based care. In this flashback episode of Fixing Healthcare, we revisit a standout conversation from Season 5 (air date: March 15, 2021). This one feels especially relevant during the show’s current Season 11, which highlights medical influencers who hear directly from millions of patients and can reflect those concerns and conversations back to us. With more Americans relying on influencers for answers about their bodies, brains and overall health, this rerun brings back the voice of an original myth‑buster: a physician who helped build the very space that others now occupy. Dr. Gunter, a board‑certified OB‑GYN and bestselling author of The Vagina Bible and The Menopause Manifesto, continues to use her platforms to challenge misleading products, expose medical gaslighting and normalize conversations surrounding women’s bodies. Her newest book, Blood: The Science, Medicine, and Mythology of Menstruation, takes aim at decades of cultural myth and medical misinformation about periods with the aim of replacing shame with science. In this episode, she speaks with Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr about: the harm caused by pseudoscience and wellness influencers. the ways sexism shapes the medical system and patient care. why clinicians must fight misinformation as fiercely as disease itself. This timely flashback pairs perfectly with recent Season 11 conversations featuring Dr. Danielle Jones and Dr. Joel Bervell, two leaders in the next generation of medical myth‑busting. Listen to this episode and ask yourself: What has changed in the 4.5 years since Gunter’s original interview? What hasn’t? * * * Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of “ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine.” All profits from the book go to Doctors Without Borders. Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on X and LinkedIn. The post FHC #194: A flashback to Dr. Jen Gunter’s fearless fight for truth in women’s health appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

When this podcast launched in March 2020 as Coronavirus: The Truth, hosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr set out to give listeners clear science and accurate analysis during a moment of chaos. Now, 100 episodes later, as Medicine: The Truth, the duo sit down and revisit the most important medical stories of the past five years, explaining what the nation learned, what it didn’t and what urgent questions remain. The episode opens where the show began: the early days of COVID-19, when exponential spread of the virus threatened to overwhelm U.S. hospitals. Pearl walks through the original goals of public-health measures like masking and social distancing. He reflects on what the country got right, what it got wrong, and why communication failures around testing and vaccines deepened distrust that still affects medicine today. But as the crisis evolved, so did the podcast. What began as a weekly pandemic explainer shifted into a broader analysis of why the United States spends more on healthcare than any other wealthy nation, yet it delivers worse outcomes. In this episode, the conversation moves from reflections on the pandemic to a look at some of the show’s longest-running themes: clinician burnout, workforce shortages and a healthcare system struggling to meet rising demand. Alongside the difficult news that lingers in American healthcare, episode 100 also highlights genuine progress: breakthroughs against Alzheimer’s and colon cancer, advances in prevention and diagnosis, and a growing role for generative AI. Pearl explains how GenAI could save hundreds of thousands of lives, reduce medical errors, increase healthcare affordability and alleviate clinician burnout. But, none of this will happen unless the financial incentives shift away from fee-for-service and toward value. Pearl closes with a simple message: crises will return, and science can save lives. However, success will require Americans to follow the research rather than be distracted by politics. To prepare for the next pandemic, he argues that the nation must better control chronic disease, rely on scientifically validated clinical evidence, and reward superior clinical outcomes, rather than simply the volume of care provided. The first 100 episodes of what is now Medicine: The Truth serve as clear and powerful reminders of the dedication and courage of doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals. But they also warn of how easy it can be for the American healthcare system to lose its way. * * * Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of the new book “ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine” about the impact of AI on the future of medicine. All profits from the book go to Doctors Without Borders. Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn The post MTT #100: From COVID-19 to ChatGPT, a close look at the last 5 years    appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

In this Diving Deep episode of Fixing Healthcare, cohosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr examine two pressing topics: the hidden causes of patient mistrust in doctors and the top reasons healthcare startups fall short. The episode begins with a striking question: Why don’t Americans trust their doctors anymore? For most of the past century, physicians were among the most trusted professionals in America. But recent Gallup data reveals that just 44% of Americans now rate their care as “good” or “excellent,” and trust in physicians’ honesty and ethics has fallen to its lowest level in over 20 years. While COVID-19 and political division may seem like obvious culprits, Pearl traces the real cause to an inflection point back more than two decades ago. That’s when medicine’s greatest challenge shifted from treating short-term illnesses to managing chronic diseases, conditions that require time, coordination and repeated follow-up. Instead of adapting, the system stagnated. Doctors remained siloed in fee-for-service models that reward volume over outcomes. Insurers rationed access. Appointments became harder to get. Visits were rushed. Misdiagnoses rose. And patients began to feel abandoned. In the second half of the episode, the hosts turn to the topic of healthcare innovation and why so many startups fail to live up to their promise. Despite record funding, the graveyard of failed startups keeps growing. Pearl outlines the five most common pitfalls but also offers hope. Startups that understand patient needs, partner with clinicians and understand the system’s reimbursement models can still succeed. HELPFUL LINKS The Hidden Reason For Americans’ Declining Trust In Their Doctors (Forbes) How To Avoid 5 Common Mistakes Healthcare Startups Make (Forbes) Monthly Musings on American Healthcare (Robert Pearl’s newsletter) * * * Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of “ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine.” All profits from the book go to Doctors Without Borders. Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn. The post FHC #193: What’s fueling medical mistrust & why startups fail appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

With Dr. Jonathan Fisher’s upcoming Ending Clinician Burnout Global Summit (Nov. 6–7) just around the corner, hosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr revisit one of the trio’s most powerful Unfiltered conversations ever. When this episode first aired a year ago, burnout among doctors was at crisis levels, fueled by long hours, bureaucratic burdens and a culture that rewarded perfectionism over self‑care. Dr. Fisher, a cardiologist, mindfulness expert and organizational well‑being leader, brought both science and empathy to the discussion. The group explored how systemic challenges — such as burnout, the loss of physician autonomy and the growing influence of private equity — are reshaping the trajectory of medical careers. Listeners concerned about clinician wellness will gain fresh perspective ahead of this year’s summit, where Dr. Pearl’s bestselling book ChatGPT, MD will be featured as a guide to how AI‑empowered physicians can reclaim time, reduce burnout and refocus their energy on what matters most: caring for patients. Topics from this episode included: The burnout epidemic. Dr. Fisher reflects on how increasing administrative burdens, declining autonomy and career dissatisfaction have led many physicians to leave the field or seek non-clinical roles. Restoring meaning and fulfillment. Drs. Pearl and Fisher discuss the importance of restoring meaning to physicians’ work by offering leadership opportunities and emphasizing the creative, humanistic aspects of medicine. The role of leadership in medicine. Drawing from his experience as CEO at Kaiser Permanente for 18 years, Dr. Pearl highlights how leadership training can empower doctors to take control of their practice. Balancing career and personal life. Both Fisher and Pearl emphasize the difficulty of balancing the demands of a medical career with personal fulfillment. For more unfiltered conversation, listen to the full episode and explore these related resources: ‘Just One Heart’ (Jonathan Fisher’s newest book) ‘ChatGPT, MD’ (Robert Pearl’s newest book) Monthly Musings on American Healthcare (Robert Pearl’s newsletter) * * * Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple Podcasts or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn. The post FHC #192: Flashback to ‘burnout and the physician career arc’ appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

Season 11 of Fixing Healthcare continues its exploration of medicine’s rising influencers with a conversation that reveals how patients can advocate for themselves, how doctors can confront bias they don’t even realize they have, and how storytelling on TikTok is changing medical education. Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr welcome Joel Bervell, a Ghanaian-American physician, resident in training, Peabody award winner and social media star. Known to millions on TikTok and Instagram as the “Medical Mythbuster,” Bervell shares how he uses short-form video content to expose racial and cultural bias in medicine, challenge misinformation and make complex science more engaging for the next generation of healthcare professionals and patients alike. Bervell kicks off the conversation by identifying three of the most common and compelling questions he hears from his followers: What should I ask my doctor to make sure I feel heard? Bervell explains that many patients, especially those from marginalized communities, worry about being dismissed or misunderstood during doctor visits. What physicians may view as “basic” questions often reflect deeper fears about not being taken seriously. He reminds listeners that the “curse of knowledge” in medicine can cause clinicians to forget what it feels like to lack expertise and power in the exam room. How can I best advocate for a loved one receiving care? From hospitalizations to end-of-life decisions, Bervell says he frequently receives messages from people unsure how to support a friend or family member facing a serious health challenge. These questions reveal the deep emotional labor patients and families take on, as well as the need for better health literacy tools and guidance from clinicians. How do race and background affect the care I receive? Every day, Bervell is inundated with personal stories from people of color who feel ignored, disbelieved or mistreated in medical settings. His content sheds light on how bias, systemic inequality and flawed clinical guidelines contribute to these experiences. He also highlights the lack of formal education around these topics in many medical schools (a gap he’s working to fill with his mythbusting videos). Throughout the episode, Bervell and the hosts explore the tension between clinical intent and patient perception, the power of storytelling in medical education, and the critical role of representation both in medical school and in the media. Dr. Pearl closes the conversation by telling Bervell, “We’ve had clinical experts, leaders of national societies and presidential candidates on our Fixing Health Care podcast, and I can tell you I’ve learned more from you today than from any guest that I can think of in the past … I’m sure our listeners have enjoyed the show, and they too are much smarter when it comes to healthcare now than they were before you began.” * * * Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn. The post FHC #191: Dr. Joel Bervell on medical bias & the power of storytelling appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.