8 wellness podcasts to add to your queue
One way I bribe myself to get through boring tasks — picking up sticks in my yard, changing the cat litter while my cat irritatingly supervises — is to cue up a podcast. I love a lively, research-based show that teaches me something. And even though I write about health all day, I still crave insights from experts during my off hours. A few years ago, I wrote a column on my favorite health-related podcasts. Since then, I have heard from many of you asking for more recommendations. (You also chided me for leaving out “Maintenance Phase.”) Here are a few more podcasts to check out. 1. ‘Love Factually’Movies often shape the way we feel about romance. In this series, a pair of social psychologists examine popular romantic films through a scientific lens. Eli Finkel, a professor of psychology and management at Northwestern University, and Paul Eastwick, a professor of psychology at the University of California, Davis, delve into movies such as “Love & Basketball,” “When Harry Met Sally …” and “Call Me By Your Name.” They share research on what these films get right, and wrong, about relationships. Starter episode: “My Best Friend’s Wedding” 2. ‘This Podcast Will Kill You’Billed as “your favorite infectious disease podcast,” this entertaining series is hosted by Erin Welsh, a disease ecologist and epidemiologist, and Dr. Erin Allmann Updyke, an epidemiologist and family medicine doctor. Episodes are often centered around the history, research and treatment of a specific disease or condition, such as tuberculosis, Parkinson’s or dysentery. Starter episode: “Alpha-Gal Syndrome: A Tick Bite Gone Bad” 3. ‘On the Mind’This engaging podcast delivers information and advice on mental health in a refreshingly straightforward way. With the help of other experts, Dr. Daniel Knoepflmacher, vice chair of education in the department of psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medicine, has tackled topics like artificial intelligence and psychotherapy, the diagnosis and treatment of delirium, and narcissism. Starter episode: “On Gambling Disorder: A Hidden Crisis in the Age of Online Betting” 4. ‘All There Is With Anderson Cooper’Sometimes I find myself holding my breath when I listen to this spellbinding podcast about grief, hosted by Cooper, the broadcast journalist, who has himself weathered profound personal loss. In intimate and emotional conversations, he and guests talk about the people they have lost and how they navigate the complexities of grief. I recommend this podcast to everyone who has lost a loved one. Starter episode: “Nick Cave: Grief’s Jagged Edges” 5. ‘Medically Speaking With Dr. Eve Glazier’Dr. Eve Glazier, professor of medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, is a skilled host adept at breaking down complicated health topics. She leads lively, candid discussions with experts on a wide range of issues that affect patients, such as what to know about anesthesia and how to deal with chronic pain. Starter episode: “What Men Google at 2 a.m.” 6. ‘So Your Parents Are Old’As a Gen X-er who once invited her elderly parents to an end-of-life planning lunch, I find this podcast immensely useful. It was started by the journalist Vanessa Grigoriadis to offer community and advice for adult children who are caring for aging parents (tagline: “Come for the catharsis, stay for the gallows humor and unfiltered conversations”). Grigoriadis talks to experts, many of whom share their own stories about their parents, about how to avoid scams that target older adults, how to arrange for senior housing and what documents are most important when your parents start to need help. Starter episode: “Your Parents’ Finances With Beth Pinsker” 7. ‘The Second Opinion With Dr. Sharon’In this engaging and accessible podcast, experts and patients discuss all aspects of women’s health: hormone replacement therapy, I.V.F., perimenopause and how to plan a “joyful birth.” It’s hosted by Dr. Sharon Malone, an OB-GYN, a certified menopause practitioner and the author of the best-selling book “Grown Woman Talk,” a guide to aging and health for women. Starter episode: “Cannabinoids and Women’s Health” 8. ‘Maintenance Phase’Hosted by Aubrey Gordon, an activist and author, and the journalist Michael Hobbes, “Maintenance Phase” deftly debunks health, diet and wellness trends. I’ve listened to every episode since the podcast began nearly six years ago; it seems that Gordon and Hobbes may never run out of material. The pair are both hilarious and diligent researchers, diving into the data behind fads such as biohacking, the bulletproof diet and seed oils. Starter episode: “Paul Bragg & the Rise of Apple Cider Vinegar” Happy listening — and drop me a line if there’s anything I should check out next. Like this email?
Which over-the-counter medication should you take for heartburn?Heartburn is common, regularly affecting about 20 percent of people in the United States. Over-the-counter medications reduce symptoms in different ways, so here’s how to find right one for you. Read the article: What’s the Best Way to Treat Heartburn?
This ‘mental load’ coach advises other men on how to take on their share of household labor.In heterosexual relationships, the work of managing a household and family largely falls to women. Zach Watson, a self-professed “recovering man-child,” helps men and couples develop strategies to rebalance the workload. Read the article: Does Your Relationship Need a ‘Mental Load’ Coach? The Week in WellHere are some stories you don’t want to miss:
Let’s keep the conversation going. Follow Well on Instagram, or write to us at well_newsletter@nytimes.com. And check out last week’s newsletter about how to stop procrastinating.
Read past editions of the newsletter here. If you’re enjoying what you’re reading, please consider recommending it to others. They can sign up here. And follow The New York Times on Instagram, |
