In this episode of Conversations, Ruth Madievsky, clinical pharmacist and author of the national bestseller "All-Night Pharmacy," shares the inspiration behind her darkly poetic novel about sisterhood, addiction, and intergenerational trauma. Ruth reflects on how her Moldovan roots, her healthcare career, and her love of poetry have shaped her writing. We also dive into the mysticism that permeates her work and explore how trauma and healing intersect in her life and fiction. Find show...

In this episode of Conversations, Dr. Gita Pensa opens up about her harrowing experience as a defendant in a 12-year-long malpractice lawsuit and how it spurred her to create Doctors and Litigation: The L Word, a podcast aimed at helping physicians cope with the emotional toll of litigation. Gita also discusses her involvement in the documentary "A World of Hurt: How Medical Malpractice Fails Everyone," which exposes the flaws in the malpractice system. Through her personal story, Gita...

In this episode of Conversations, we sit down with Dr. Sara Walker, an astrobiologist and theoretical physicist who is reshaping the way we think about life. From her work on the origins of life to her innovative assembly theory, Sara takes us on a journey through the possibilities of discovering alien life and challenges some of the core tenets of biology and physics. This conversation will make you rethink not just how life began, but what life is and does. Find show notes, transcript, and...

Family medicine physician Zed Zha persuades her reluctant parents, visiting from China, to indulge in the treat of ice cream. Zed performed this story live at the Leonard Nimoy Thalia Theatre at Symphony Space in New York in November 2023, for an event on the theme of "Taking Care" which The Nocturnists co-produced with the Bellevue Literary Review. Find show notes, transcript and more at thenocturnists.org.

Mother of four, writer, and attorney Ann Schrooten reflects on a pivotal moment from her fifteen year journey caring for her son Jack, who lived with congenital muscular dystrophy. Ann performed this story live at the Leonard Nimoy Thalia Theatre at Symphony Space in New York in November 2023, for an event on the theme of "Taking Care" which The Nocturnists co-produced with the Bellevue Literary Review. Find show notes, transcript and more at thenocturnists.org. The Nocturnists is made...

Shaida Dusenge Kamali, originally from Kigali, Rwanda, reflects on her journey from earning a prestigious scholarship to study in Oklahoma, to raising her younger brother after the sudden passing of their mother. Now a second-year medical student with a passion for geriatrics, Shaida shares the challenges and growth that came with balancing education, caregiving, and cultural transitions. Shaida performed this story live at the Leonard Nimoy Thalia Theatre at Symphony Space in New York in...

Nurse Roshni Shah reflects on how water and ritual bathing brought serenity to a difficult life period, where she was balancing caring for her aging mom with working nights in the ICU.  Roshni performed this story live at the Leonard Nimoy Thalia Theatre at Symphony Space in New York in November 2023, for an event on the theme of "Taking Care" which The Nocturnists co-produced with Bellevue Literary Review. Find show notes, transcript and more at thenocturnists.org. The Nocturnists is made...

Emmy-winning writer and creative director Lu Chekowsky delves into her mother’s powerful lessons on resilience, navigating a high-stakes media career, and facing the biases of healthcare in a larger body. Lu performed this story live at the Leonard Nimoy Thalia Theatre at Symphony Space in New York in November 2023, for an event on the theme of "Taking Care" which The Nocturnists co-produced with the Bellevue Literary Review. Find show notes, transcript and more at thenocturnists.org. The...

In our 50th The Nocturnists: Conversations episode, Emily speaks with Maggie Jackson, award-winning author and journalist, about her book "Uncertain: The Wisdom and Wonder of Being Unsure." Maggie describes the neuroscience of uncertainty, the benefits of curiosity and slowing down, and findings from her interviews with physicians and surgeons about uncertainty in medical practice. Find show notes, transcript, and more at thenocturnists.com. The Nocturnists is made possible by...

Dr. Uché Blackstock, an emergency medicine physician and health equity advocate, discusses her book "Legacy: A Black Physician Reckons with Racism in Medicine." She shares personal stories about her family's journey in medicine, systemic racism and her work to create a more equitable healthcare.  Find show notes, transcript, and more at thenocturnists.com. The Nocturnists is made possible by the California Medical Association and donations from listeners like you.

Documentary filmmaker Luke Lorentzen and hospital chaplain Mati Engel discuss their award-winning film, "A Still Small Voice," which explores the rewards and challenges of providing spiritual care in the hospital setting. Find show notes, transcript, and more at thenocturnists.com. The Nocturnists is made possible by the California Medical Association and donations from listeners like you.  

Pediatric ER physician and author Rachel Kowalsky discusses her short story, "The Delivery Boy," which is set in an ER and follows a young Guatemalan boy, alongside the team of clinicians who treat him. Rachel talks about how her experiences influence her writing and teaching in health humanities. "The Delivery Boy" is available to read online for free. Find show notes, transcript, and more at thenocturnists.com. The Nocturnists is made possible by the California Medical Association and...

  When Dr. Augie Lindmark first started receiving obituaries in the mailbox, he wasn’t sure whether to be amused or afraid. But soon he discovers the identity of the sender, and enters into a rare an unexpected dialogue about aging and mortality.  Augie performed this story live at the Parkway Theater in Minneapolis in April 2023, for an event on the theme of "REBIRTH" which The Nocturnists co-produced with the Center for the Art of Medicine. Find show notes, transcript, and more...

Physician Tiffany Albrecht jumped into “doing” mode when her beloved husband died – she ran a 5K, cleaned out her closet, and went on a hike. But when her son was finally born, she was overcome by a cathartic wave of emotions. Tiffany performed this story live at the Parkway Theater in Minneapolis in April 2023, for an event on the theme of "REBIRTH" which The Nocturnists co-produced with the Center for the Art of Medicine. Find show notes, transcript, and more at thenocturnists.com. This...

Psychiatrist Carson Brown was terrified to tell her mother that she was moving to Minnesota. But with inspiration from Carl Jung, and some of her own psychotherapy patients, she finds the courage to make the announcement, and feels her way into a new chapter of adulthood. Carson performed this story live at the Parkway Theater in Minneapolis in April 2023, for an event on the theme of "REBIRTH" which The Nocturnists co-produced with the Center for the Art of Medicine. Find show notes,...

When medical student Peter Park’s grandfather died, he was unable to fly to Korea for the funeral due to COVID restrictions. But in anatomy lab, the cadaver he was assigned to shared some similarities to his grandfather that were difficult to explain. Spending time with the body of this stranger, he was able to come to terms with his grandfather’s death. Peter performed this story live at the Parkway Theater in Minneapolis in April 2023, for an event on the theme of "REBIRTH" which The...

Pathologist Sue Wheaton tells a story about helping her mom, a surgeon and racecar driver, navigate the challenges of aging. Later, she reflects on their complicated relationship, and how car metaphors helped them move through difficult moments in their lives. Sue performed this story live at the Parkway Theater in Minneapolis in April 2023, for an event on the theme of "REBIRTH" which The Nocturnists co-produced with the Center for the Art of Medicine. Find show notes, transcript, and more...

When Anthony’s wife got sick, he believed the way to best support her was by getting stuff done. Over time though, he discovered that in order to become a better caregiver, he was going to need to unlearn some of the lessons he’d learned growing up about what love looks like in practice. Anthony performed this story live at the Parkway Theater in Minneapolis in April 2023, for an event on the theme of "REBIRTH" which The Nocturnists co-produced with the Center for the Art of Medicine. ...

The Nocturnists is back with Season 6 of its classic storytelling series, "Stories from the World of Medicine." We begin with Dr. Meghan Rothenberger, an infectious disease doctor in Minneapolis who had to lose her dog, her wallet, and her dinner, before she realized she'd also lost something more important: herself. Meghan performed this story live at the Parkway Theater in Minneapolis in April 2023, for an event on the theme of "REBIRTH" which The Nocturnists co-produced with the Center...

The Nocturnists, the award-winning medical storytelling podcast, is thrilled to announce the launch of its sixth season of its series Stories from the World of Medicine, themed "REBIRTH," available starting February 15, 2024.    Hosted by Dr. Emily Silverman, this season features an inspiring lineup of medical professionals and students, including Dr. Meghan Rothenberger, Dr. Anthony Williams, Dr. Sue Wheaton, 4th year medical student Peter Park, Dr. Carson Brown, Dr. Tiffany Albrecht, and...

Oncologist Stuart Bloom speaks about his staged musical, How to Avoid Burnout in 73 Minutes, which tracks his journey from songwriter to oncologist, and the way he copes with burnout and finds meaning in his work. Find show notes, transcript, and more at thenocturnists.com. This episode of The Nocturnists is sponsored by Nabla. 

Author Laurel Braitman speaks about her memoir, What Looks Like Bravery, which explores her relationship to her physician-father, and her professional journey toward a career teaching writing to clinicians. Find show notes, transcript, and more at thenocturnists.com.  

Emergency medicine doctor and author Jay Baruch speaks about his memoir, Tornado of Life: A Doctor's Journey Through Constraints and Creativity in the ER, which explores ethics, stories, and uncertainty in the emergency room. Find show notes, transcript, and more at thenocturnists.com.

Television writer and former ENT surgeon Anthony Chin-Quee speaks about his memoir, I Can't Save You, and his burgeoning career in storytelling for the screen. Find show notes, transcript, and more at thenocturnists.com