Best Weill Cornell Medicine Neurological Surgery Podcasts (2025)

1
Advancing Cardiology and Heart Surgery Through a History of Collaboration 20:13

10d ago20:13

20:13

On this episode of Advances in Care, host Erin Welsh and Dr. Craig Smith, Chair of the Department of Surgery and Surgeon-in-Chief at NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia discuss the highlights of Dr. Smith’s 40+ year career as a cardiac surgeon and how the culture of Columbia has been a catalyst for innovation in cardiac care. Dr. Smith describes the …

1
Advances in Care is Back 1:35

17d ago1:35

1:35

Join host Erin Welsh as she talks with NewYork-Presbyterian physicians from Columbia & Weill Cornell Medicine about how they are solving some of the most challenging and complex cases in medicine. Together, they discuss groundbreaking discoveries, novel treatments, and the dedication to providing compassionate patient care. This is a show for medic…

1
Join Us For Season Six, Coming Spring 2025 1:13

1M ago1:13

1:13

For five seasons now, I've been delighted to explore the wonders of the brain with my guests as well as with you, my listeners. Podcasting is fun and enlightening, and I've heard from many of you that it's been helpful as well as informative. It's also time-consuming, especially given my busy practice and my administrative duties as department chai…

1
How Love Helps Kids Learn 22:58

2M ago22:58

22:58

Humans are born with billions of neurons that need connecting – and how those synapses develop helps determine how our brains will work. There is ample evidence that a loving, nurturing environment in infancy and early childhood provides the most fertile ground for brain development. Isabelle Hau, executive director of the Stanford Accelerator for …

1
Will Loneliness Be the Death of Us? 22:12

2M ago22:12

22:12

It’s no surprise that feeling lonely is associated with depression, but did you know that loneliness may also lead to chronic inflammation, changes in the brain, and even premature death? Dr. Julianne Holt-Lunstad, professor of psychology at Brigham Young University and an expert on the physiological effects of social connections, explains how our …

1
Calm Yourself! 22:08

3M ago22:08

22:08

Pain and fear are inevitable, especially these days, but we can retrain our brains to reduce suffering. Dr. Sara Lazar, Assistant Professor in Psychology at Harvard Medical School, reveals how just eight weeks of mindful meditation can visibly change parts of the brain to be less reactive to pain. Plus... how meditation apps put the power of mindfu…

1
Demystifying Suicide 29:58

3M ago29:58

29:58

Humans are so powerfully wired for survival that it can be hard to understand suicide - especially in adolescents. What happens in the brain that can override such a profound instinct for self-preservation? Dr. Sakina Rizvi, a researcher and psychotherapist in Toronto, Canada specializing in suicide prevention, reveals the social, biological, and p…

1
Obesity Is Not Your Fault 27:35

4M ago27:35

27:35

The past 30 years have produced an epidemic of obesity -- mostly because evolution did not prepare us for so many calories and so little physical activity. Dr. Louis Aronne, a leading authority on obesity, explains how a period of caloric excess can damage the neural connections that manage your metabolism, throwing your weight regulation out of wh…

1
Immerse Yourself in Happiness 27:11

4M ago27:11

27:11

What makes us happy? The warm feelings of closeness that we have with family and friends are rooted in the neurochemical oxytocin – the love hormone, if you will. Oxytocin facilitates social engagement, encourages bonding, and just makes us feel happier. My guest today, neuroscientist Paul Zak, has done decades of research into the role of oxytocin…

1
Things Don’t Have To Fall Apart 20:08

5M ago20:08

20:08

Daniel Levitin says we can all age successfully if we take our choices more seriously now. The neuroscientist and author reveals the keys to reaching our senior years in the best possible shape, explains what happens to dopamine levels when we stop trying new things, and tells us the three things older adults are better at than younger ones. Plus..…

1
Art Makes Us Human 29:27

5M ago29:27

29:27

We are the only species that creates and experiences art – not just visual art but music, poetry, dance, theater, and even architecture. The impact that art has on us cannot be overstated, as it affects cognition, mental health, and physical wellbeing. My guests today are Susan Magsamen of the International Arts + Mind Lab at Johns Hopkins Universi…

1
Transcendental Meditation 26:41

5M ago26:41

26:41

Dr. Tony Nader, an academic, author, and the leader of the Transcendental Meditation movement, knows how you can find inner peace. TM is like a deep dive to the stillness at the bottom of the ocean, leaving the turbulent waves far above. Learn how the body and mind are inextricably bound, and how meditation can improve mental and physical health. P…

1
Making Sense of Creativity 26:36

6M ago26:36

26:36

Why are some people capable of creating music, art, books, or new technologies, seemingly out of thin air? Where do imagination and creativity live in the brain - and how can we tap them? Neuroscientist and author Anna Abraham reveals the three elements of creativity and explores the myths surrounding it, from its links to mental illness to the eff…

1
Talking With Dolphins 22:11

6M ago22:11

22:11

Dolphins have large, complex brains that are a lot like the human model -- what if we could get inside their heads and communicate with them? Meet cognitive psychologist and marine mammal scientist Diana Reiss, PhD, who has been doing just that. Turns out our underwater friends have a lot going on in their brains, if only we could learn to decode i…

1
The Mercurial Genius of Candace Pert 29:03

7M ago29:03

29:03

Candace Pert discovered the opioid receptor, created a drug to stop AIDS in the brain, and identified stress as a cause of disease. She also inadvertently unleashed the overdose epidemic, got herself kicked out of the NIH, and was denied credit for much of her work. Pert was a trailblazing yet mercurial neuroscientist, a woman who made her male bos…

1
Whispers & Tingles – ASMR with Craig Richard 28:38

7M ago28:38

28:38

ASMR, or the autonomous sensory meridian response, is a state of deep calm accompanied by a sense of “brain tingles.” Not everyone experiences it, but if you do, you know what triggers it: a whisper or other soft sounds, a gentle touch or movement, even watching a Bob Ross video. Physiologist Craig Richard explains the science behind ASMR, and why …

1
Introducing Health Matters: How the Gut is the Connection Between Digestive Health and Mental Health 14:29

7M ago14:29

14:29

On this episode of Health Matters, Faith Salie talks with Dr. Benjamin Lebwohl, a gastroenterologist at NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia. He’s also the Director of Clinical Research at Columbia’s Celiac Disease Center, and an expert on the connections between gastrointestinal health and the other systems in our body that rely on good digestion for…

1
AI: Reverse Engineering the Brain 28:48

8M ago28:48

28:48

We will never create true artificial intelligence (if we really want that) until we know more about how the human brain works. Tech entrepreneur and author Max Bennett explains how AI learns, where it falls short, and how it stacks up against our own intelligence. As it turns out, what's easy for humans is hard for AI, but AI is better at doing som…

1
Getting Ahead of Cancer: The Life-Saving Power of Cascade Genetic Testing 19:14

8M ago19:14

19:14

Dr. Melissa Frey, a gynecologic oncologist at NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine, has a genuine passion for the power of genetic testing because she knows that it can completely change the direction of her patient’s lives for the better. As a leader in the field, she helped launch a unique screening program with multi-disciplinary expe…

1
Decoding Brainwaves Into Language 26:41

8M ago26:41

26:41

Language originates as brain signals -- mysterious lines of squiggles -- that somehow turn into speech. Meet the neuroscientist who is turning those squiggles into conversations, using artificial intelligence to translate brain activity into words and sentences. Dr. Edward Chang of UCSF talks with Dr. Stieg about the painstaking "magic" of decoding…

1
Expert Experience: Achieving Greater Success in Lung Transplantation Through Access & Innovation 19:33

8M ago19:33

19:33

The field of lung transplantation is relatively new with widespread lung transplants beginning in the early 1980s. Throughout the last forty years, it is a field that has rapidly evolved with drastic changes in lung allocation, or deciding who will receive the next available lungs for transplantation. Dr. Selim Arcasoy has led the NewYork-Presbyter…

1
Outsmarting Anxiety 31:14

9M ago31:14

31:14

We are programmed by evolution to be anxious - fear was a lifesaver for early humans! So are why are some 21st-century humans crippled by it? Catherine Pittman, PhD, chair of psychology at Saint Mary’s College in Notre Dame, is an expert on how different parts of the brain create and manage anxiety, and how to overcome it. Learn just how fast your …

1
Cracking the Code: Sequencing the Hodgkin Lymphoma Genome to Uncover New Precision Therapies 20:17

9M ago20:17

20:17

In 2012, Dr. Lisa Roth had just landed her dream job as a research scientist and attending physician at NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine. But her world came to a screeching halt when she discovered a swollen lymph node on her neck, and was soon diagnosed with the exact type of cancer that she had dedicated her career to studying and …

1
Exploring The Magic Mushroom 25:19

9M ago25:19

25:19

It's effective against depression, can help you stop smoking, even ease end-of-life distress. It's non-addictive, naturally occurring, and has been used for thousands of years -- but you can't have it. It's psilocybin, the compound that creates the "magic" in dozens of species of mushrooms. Johns Hopkins researcher Albert Garcia-Romeu, Ph.D. knows …

1
Data Mining: Using Machine Learning for Predictive Neurocritical Care 20:53

9M ago20:53

20:53

Monitoring patients with aneurysmal rupture for delayed cerebral ischemia was historically a numbers game. It was difficult for doctors to predict outcomes in the weeks that followed their rupture, so at-risk patients could find themselves under observation in the ICU anywhere from 7 to 21 days. Dr. Soojin Park, Medical Director of Critical Care Da…

1
A Memory Workout 26:35

10M ago26:35

26:35

Can't remember the fourth item on your grocery list? Nelson Dellis, a professional "memory athlete," can remember 100 things or more (though he still may forget the butter). Hear how Dellis learned to memorize lists so long that he became a five-time USA Memory Champion, and how you can use some of his strategies to improve your own memory. Dellis …

1
Connecting Cardio & Cancer: Mitigating Cardiotoxicity with Optimized Treatment Strategies 18:31

10M ago18:31

18:31

As methods for early cancer detection improve and the number of cancer survivors rises, the innovative field of cardio-oncology has emerged to ensure that patients with chemotherapy or cancer-related cardiac dysfunction can be safely, and swiftly, treated for their cancer. Dr. Stephanie Feldman, a clinical cardiologist with focus on cardio-oncology…

1
Do You Hear What I See? 22:12

10M ago22:12

22:12

Synesthesia is the mysterious mingling of the senses that creates the experience of "seeing" sounds or "hearing" colors. Neurologist Richard E. Cytowic, M.D. has spent his career exploring this remarkable phenomenon, and has some fascinating insight into how these sensations are formed in the brain -- and how we might use it to reunite our fracture…

1
The Surgical Robot: Advancing Medicine with Robot-Assisted Technology 33:35

10M ago33:35

33:35

With perspectives spanning hepatobiliary, gynecologic, and cardiac surgeries, NewYork-Presbyterian’s Dr. Jason Hawksworth (Columbia), Dr. Tamatha Fenster (Weill Cornell Medicine), and Dr. Arnar Geirsson (Columbia) describe how they each came to incorporate robotics into their practices. One of the biggest takeaways: robotic surgeries allow for more…

1
What Are Your Hands Saying? 26:46

11M ago26:46

26:46

Most of us talk with our hands, some more than others, but what are we really saying? Susan Goldin-Meadow, PhD, professor of psychology and comparative human development at the University of Chicago, is an expert on gestures – what they mean, why they don't always agree with what words we are using, and even how they develop in blind children who h…

1
Joint Effort: A Collaborative Surgery Revolutionizing Hip Preservation 19:47

11M ago19:47

19:47

Dr. Christian and Dr. Van de Velde’s backgrounds are a complementary combination. At their clinic, they see, diagnose, and determine treatment for their patients together. Dr. Christian takes on minimally invasive procedures, utilizing arthroscopy to address extra bone growth that can limit range of motion and can lead to labral tears. Dr. Van de V…

1
“The Change Is Gonna Come” - Menopause and the Brain 18:30

11M ago18:30

18:30

Menopause can wreak havoc on mood and body temperature as it signals the end of fertility, but some of the biggest changes it causes are in the brain. Emily Jacobs, assistant professor in the department of psychological and brain sciences at UC Santa Barbara, explains how the precipitous decline in estrogen during the "change of life" disrupts the …

1
Reimagining Research: Enhancing Cardiac Care for Underrepresented Populations 23:54

11M ago23:54

23:54

Dr. Mario Gaudino is a cardiac surgeon at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medicine and the Director of the Joint Clinical Trials Office at Weill Cornell Medicine. There he oversees ongoing improvement and enhancements to existing clinical infrastructure and is currently leading research on the effects of coronary artery bypass surgery on women a…

1
The Incredible Shrinking Attention Span 26:57

12M ago26:57

26:57

Is the deluge of digital media killing our ability to focus? Psychologist Gloria Mark, a professor in the Department of Informatics at University of California, Irvine, explains how we are shaped by what we pay attention to – and why today’s short snippets of everything are reinforcing short attention spans. Learn how playing a few minutes of Solit…

1
Delivering Transformation: Reducing Maternal Mortality through Systemic Change 24:48

12M ago24:48

24:48

It has been widely reported over the past ten to fifteen years that maternal mortality and morbidity in the US is on the rise. Dr. Dena Goffman has made it her personal goal to improve those numbers across the entire NewYork-Presbyterian health system. But how can one begin to tackle such a large and challenging issue? Dr. Goffman focuses on system…

1
Near Death Experiences (reprise) 24:24

12M ago24:24

24:24

Near-death experiences may seem like the stuff of supermarket tabloids, but there are real patterns to what people report after coming close to departing this life. Dr. Bruce Greyson has been studying near-death experiences for decades and has stories to tell about out-of-body phenomena, that light at the end of the tunnel, and a near-universal fin…

1
A Move to Minimal: Improving Recovery with Less Invasive Spine Surgery 27:12

12M ago27:12

27:12

As a doctor trained in both minimally invasive and open approach surgery, Dr. Chan is very familiar with comprehensive spinal care. But there are aspects of minimally invasive surgery that, when possible, position it as preferable for postoperative recovery, namely when it comes to pain. Open surgeries can have patients taking opioids for weeks or …

1
Game Changer - A Concussion Revolution (reprise) 28:36

1y ago28:36

28:36

The impact of mild traumatic brain injury extends far beyond the gridiron – concussions can happen anywhere, including playing fields, bike paths, and war zones. Kenneth Kutner, PhD, who specializes in head injuries and has been the team neuropsychologist for the New York Giants for 30 seasons, joins us to talk about what the latest research has re…

1
The Network Effect: Analyzing Brain Structures to Treat Depression 25:14

1y ago25:14

25:14

For any patient diagnosed with depression for the first time, the recommended course of treatment is the same: a medication like a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), an evidence based psychotherapy, or both. But there is a large group of people for whom these treatments simply won't work. That’s where Dr. Conor Liston and his team focus…

1
Do Our Dogs Really Love Us ? 33:11

1y ago33:11

33:11

Dogs and the humans who cherish them have a unique bond unlike any other. We wonder all too often, do our dogs love us as much as we love them? What are they really thinking? Are we projecting our own feelings onto these treasured family members in trying to understand them? In this "classic" episode first released in 2020, Emory University neuros…

1
Against the Odds: Improving Survival for Children with Pulmonary Vein Stenosis 24:20

1y ago24:20

24:20

Dr. Christopher Petit is the co-director of the Children's Heart Center at NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital and division chief of pediatric cardiology at Columbia University, and… a stubborn optimist. That optimism has made all the difference in his years of treating a rare heart disease in newborns: Pulmonary Vein Stenosis (…

1
Advances in Care 2:20

1y ago2:20

2:20

Listen in as science journalist Catherine Price speaks with physicians from Columbia & Weill Cornell Medicine who are pushing the leading edge of clinical research to find solutions for every medical challenge. Whether using robotics to advance minimally invasive surgeries, or finding effective treatments for previously terminal pediatric diseases,…

1
Music’s Powerful Impact on the Brain 24:49

1y ago24:49

24:49

In this classic episode recorded live at the Juilliard School in the fall of 2019 Dr. Stieg visits with world-renowned soprano Renée Fleming - a leading advocate for research and public education on the therapeutic power of music to heal the mind. Music’s psychological and neurological impact can help people suffering with dementia, Parkinson’s dis…

1
Controlled Hallucination 24:36

1y ago24:36

24:36

What world do you live in? You may think your experience of life comes from the outside, with your brain processing sensory information as it's received. Anil Seth, professor of cognitive and computational neuroscience at the University of Sussex in England, takes a different view. Tune in as Dr. Seth explains how your brain is actually creating yo…

1
Connecting the Heart and Brain 25:55

1y ago25:55

25:55

The brain and the heart are in constant communication, sending signals that control and respond to each other, so it’s no surprise that what’s good for one is what’s good for the other. Dr. Robert Harrington, an esteemed cardiologist and the new Dean of Weill Cornell Medicine, joins us today to explore the fascinating conversations that go on betwe…

1
Using All 5 of Your Minds 23:39

1y ago23:39

23:39

Forget the standard IQ test - that only measures a very narrow definition of intelligence. Meet psychologist Howard Gardner, professor of cognition and education at Harvard and one of the foremost thinkers and writers in the fields of education, cognition, and multiple intelligences. His fascinating research into different kinds of intelligence (th…

1
More Than a Feeling - Your Pain Is Made in Your Brain 25:33

1+ y ago25:33

25:33

Pain can be felt anywhere in the body, but it all originates in the same place: the brain. Lorimer Moseley, a professor of clinical neurosciences at the University of South Australia and a specialist in how the brain produces pain signals, joins us today to talk about how pain is created as a protective strategy. Your brain, which is constantly mon…

1
Is Your Baby Smarter Than a Robot? 27:16

1+ y ago27:16

27:16

Babies and toddlers have truly outstanding brains - they absorb information broadly, quickly, and indiscriminately as they learn about the world, with processing speeds that leave AI-powered robots in the dust. Alison Gopnik, professor of psychology and affiliate professor of Philosophy at U.C. Berkeley, has been studying baby brains for decades, a…

1
Training To Be Yourself 26:45

1+ y ago26:45

26:45

Your early experiences literally change the way you think and feel about the world -- they even shape what you see and hear. Dr. Chantel Prat, a cognitive neuroscientist and professor at the University of Washington, studies how variations in brain wiring make each of us unique individuals and drive our understanding of each other, and of the world…

1
Drowning In Distraction 28:52

1+ y ago28:52

28:52

Our brains evolved for a simpler life, and today they struggle to cope with a deluge of distraction from technology. Dr. Adam Gazzaley, professor of neurology at the University of California San Francisco, reveals why the brain loves multi-tasking even though it's so bad for productivity; why "single-tasking" is so hard to relearn; and why 60-year-…

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Weill Cornell Medicine Neurological Surgery Podcasts

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