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Top 100 Medicine Podcasts
Jan 11, 2026
The Best Medicine Podcasts from millions of podcasts available on the Goodpods platform and ranked by listens, ratings, comments, subscriptions and shares.

1087 Episodes
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Avg Length 19mins
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Latest Episode 2 days ago
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Want another life hack? Try Life Kit+. You'll support the show and unlock exclusive curated playlists and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org/lifekit

1416 Episodes
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Avg Length 13mins
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Latest Episode 1 day ago
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If you're hooked, try Short Wave Plus. Your subscription supports the show and unlocks a sponsor-free feed. Learn more at plus.npr.org/ shortwave

1123 Episodes
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Avg Length 53mins
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Latest Episode 3 days ago
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435 Episodes
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Avg Length 95mins
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Latest Episode 6 days ago
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567 Episodes
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Avg Length 39mins
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Latest Episode 4 days ago
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261 Episodes
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Avg Length 32mins
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Latest Episode 6 days ago
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133 Episodes
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Avg Length 15mins
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Latest Episode 5 months ago
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We’re at our most vulnerable when we go to our doctors. But what happens when we can’t trust them? Dr. Death is the award-winning series hosted by Laura Beil, now in its fourth season: Bad Magic.
Need more Dr. Death? With Wondery+, you can listen to all episodes, unlock exclusive content, get early access to upcoming episodes, and enjoy an always ad-free experience. Start your free trial in the Wondery App or visit wondery.com/links/dr-death/ now.
When a charismatic young doctor announces revolutionary treatments for cancer and HIV, patients from around the world turn to him for their last chance. As medical experts praise Serhat Gumrukcu’s genius, the company he co-founded rockets in value to over half a billion dollars. But when a team of researchers makes a startling discovery, they begin to suspect the brilliant doctor is hiding a secret.
Season 3: Paolo is a smart and handsome surgeon, renowned for his ability to perform surgeries that transform his patients’ lives. When television producer Benita covers him for a story, he’ll transform her life too, but not in the ways she expects. As Benita crosses professional lines to be with him, she learns how far Paolo will go to protect his secrets. And halfway around the world, four doctors at a prestigious medical institute make shocking discoveries of their own that call everything into question.
Season 2: If someone you love is diagnosed with cancer you want them to get the best treatment from the best doctors. In 2013, patients in Michigan thought Farid Fata was that doctor. Between his prestigious education, years of experience and pleasant bedside manner, Fata was everything you could want in a doctor. But he was not who he appeared to be. From Wondery, this is the story of hundreds of patients in Michigan, a doctor, and a poisonous secret.
Season 1: We’re at our most vulnerable when we go to our doctors. We trust the person at the other end of that scalpel. We trust the hospital. We trust the system. Christopher Duntsch was a neurosurgeon who radiated confidence. He claimed he was the best in Dallas. If you had back pain, and had tried everything else, Dr. Duntsch could give you the spine surgery that would take your pain away. But soon his patients started to experience complications, and the system failed to protect them. Which begs the question: who - or what - is that system meant to protect? From Wondery, the network behind the hit podcast Dirty John, Dr. Death is a story about a charming surgeon, 33 patients and a spineless system.

286 Episodes
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Avg Length 17mins
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Latest Episode 5 days ago
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What does exercise do to your brain? Can psychedelics treat depression? From smart daily habits to new medical breakthroughs, welcome to TED Health, with host Dr. Shoshana Ungerleider. TED speakers answer questions you never even knew you had, and share ideas you won't hear anywhere else, all around how we can live healthier lives.
Follow Dr. Shoshana Ungerleider on Instagram at @shoshanamd and LinkedIn at @shoshanaungerleidermd
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

209 Episodes
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Avg Length 30mins
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Latest Episode 19 days ago
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160 Episodes
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Avg Length 79mins
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Latest Episode 1 month ago
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398 Episodes
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Avg Length 55mins
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Latest Episode 11 days ago
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1138 Episodes
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Avg Length 8mins
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Latest Episode 5 days ago
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862 Episodes
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Avg Length 61mins
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Latest Episode 5 days ago
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\nSupport the show:
\npatreon.com/curbsiders
\n
\nDownload our Primary Care Starter Guide e-book patreon.com/c/curbsiders/shop
\n
\n\n')])

55 Episodes
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Avg Length 29mins
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Latest Episode 8 months ago
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342 Episodes
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Avg Length 45mins
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Latest Episode 17 days ago
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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

233 Episodes
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Avg Length 38mins
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Latest Episode 2 days ago
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52 Episodes
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Avg Length 54mins
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Latest Episode 2 years ago
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757 Episodes
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Avg Length 77mins
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Latest Episode 3 days ago
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1219 Episodes
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Avg Length 50mins
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Latest Episode 2 days ago
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10 Episodes
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Avg Length 35mins
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Latest Episode 2 years ago
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Before cancer was a hashtag. Before survivorship was a talking point. Before anyone rang a damn bell—there were Mavericks.
They didn’t look like heroes. They weren’t trying to go viral. They were patients, parents, doctors, punks, poets, and misfits who got sick, got angry, and got loud. They questioned authority, rewrote the rules, and turned personal trauma into public transformation. They didn’t wait to be invited into the room—they built new rooms.
The Cancer Mavericks is a documentary podcast series about the people who made survivorship matter—before it had a name. From the National Cancer Act to the birth of the AYA movement, from grassroots organizing to celebrity activism, from chemo brain to the cancer Moonshot—this is the untold history of how patients forced the system to care.
Created and hosted by 30-year brain cancer survivor and healthcare rebel Matthew Zachary, this isn’t a story about cancer. It’s a story about what people do after.
Bold. Human. Unapologetically real.

33 Episodes
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Avg Length 38mins
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Latest Episode 20 hours ago
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20 Episodes
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Avg Length 35mins
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Latest Episode 14 days ago
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205 Episodes
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Avg Length 31mins
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Latest Episode 3 days ago
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Core Internal Medicine via following series: 5 Pearls || Clinically relevant pearls Mind the Gap || Why do we do what we do? Gray Matters || Management Reasoning Hoofbeats || Dissecting clinical reasoning At the Bedside || Explore everyday challenges

726 Episodes
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Avg Length 82mins
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Latest Episode 1 day ago
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978 Episodes
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Avg Length 9mins
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Latest Episode 2 days ago
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Hello and welcome to the Zero to Finals podcast. My name is Dr Thomas Watchman. I am a GP in the UK and I love creating educational material for studying medicine. This podcast is designed to be a time-efficient revision tool to help you study for your medical exams. Each podcast leads on from the next and each season tackles a different area of medicine. The podcast supplements the material available on the www.zerotofinals.com website, in the Zero to Finals books and on the Zero to Finals YouTube channel. Whilst listening to a podcast you can follow along with written information and illustrations on the Zero to Finals website or books. You can also find Zero to Finals on instagram, Facebook and twitter. If you have any comments, suggestions or want to get in touch you can email me at tom@zerotofinals.com. Enjoy the show!

138 Episodes
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Avg Length 56mins
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Latest Episode 2 years ago
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90 Episodes
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Avg Length 8mins
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Latest Episode 5 months ago
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Patients in search of a miracle cure end up in critical condition. The race is on to find out what went wrong before more people get hurt. The trail leads back to a medical company with slick marketing and a charismatic CEO. And to a multibillion dollar stem cell industry where greed and desperation collide. Laura Beil, the award-winning host and reporter of “Dr Death,” returns for this six-part investigative series from Wondery, the makers of “Dirty John” and “The Shrink Next Door.”
Binge all episodes of Bad Batch exclusively and ad-free by joining Wondery+ in Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/bad-batch/ now.

609 Episodes
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Avg Length 26mins
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Latest Episode 15 days ago
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698 Episodes
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Avg Length 34mins
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Latest Episode 2 days ago
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"The Addicted Mind Podcast" offers hope, understanding, and guidance for those dealing with addiction, with real stories and research to inspire and show the journey to recovery is worth it.
We're here to do more than just talk about addiction.
We want to show you how to heal and recover.
Our talks with experts and people who have beaten addiction give you important insights into how addiction affects the mind and how recovery can happen in many ways. Whether we're looking at new treatment ideas or sharing stories that inspire, "The Addicted Mind Podcast" is all about understanding the complex world of addiction recovery and showing that recovery is possible.
If you or someone you care about is dealing with the challenges of addiction, let "The Addicted Mind Podcast" be your friend and guide. We aim to give you the knowledge you need, share stories that inspire you, and show you that the journey to recovery is worth it.
Subscribe now to be part of a community focused on learning, healing, and changing for the better. Your journey to a healthier mind and life begins right here.

22 Episodes
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Avg Length 31mins
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Latest Episode 9 days ago
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40 Episodes
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Avg Length 38mins
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Latest Episode 10 days ago
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"Mayo Clinic on Nutrition" digs into the latest nutrition trends and research to help you understand what’s health, and what’s hype. Together with Mayo Clinic dietitian Tara Schmidt, we’ll unravel the complexities of modern diets, offer evidence-based nutritional advice, and debunk common myths about the things we eat. Whether you want to understand a dietary concern, manage your weight, or simply eat better, we’ll learn how to make nutrition choices to not just eat well, but be well.

138 Episodes
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Avg Length 50mins
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Latest Episode 11 days ago
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Funny Medicine Podcast – The Cure for Boring Medical Talk!
Get your dose of medicine—but funny! 🤣💊
Join Dr. Yvy and medical researcher Julia Brunet, two science-loving besties who break down medical mysteries, health fads, and the weirdest wellness trends with wit and sarcasm. From anti-aging disasters to bizarre medical history and the latest in medicine and health, they serve up expert insights with a side of sarcasm.
Each week, they dissect trending health topics, viral medical news, and those too-weird-to-be-true medical cases—so you learn and laugh along the way. Whether you’re a healthcare pro, a curious hypochondriac, or just here for the comedy, Funny Medicine Podcast is your prescription for hilarious medical banter.
💉 Laugh. Learn. Repeat. 🎧
🎙️ New episodes every Tuesday! Hit Follow for your weekly dose of comedic medicine.
🔎 Search “funny medical podcast” and start streaming now!
#MedicalComedy #FunnyMedicinePodcast #HealthHumor #LaughAndLearn

4270 Episodes
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Avg Length 33mins
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Latest Episode 18 hours ago
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76 Episodes
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Avg Length 30mins
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Latest Episode 1 year ago
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190 Episodes
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Avg Length 36mins
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Latest Episode 1 year ago
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108 Episodes
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Avg Length 45mins
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Latest Episode 1 day ago
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178 Episodes
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Avg Length 8mins
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Latest Episode 2 days ago
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Produced by McGraw Hill, Harrison's Podclass delivers illuminating and engaging discussions led by Drs. Cathy Handy Marshall and Charlie Wiener of The John Hopkins School of Medicine on key topics in medicine, featuring board-style case vignettes from Harrison's Review Questions and chapters from the acclaimed Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine – available on AccessMedicine from McGraw Hill.

86 Episodes
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Avg Length 90mins
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Latest Episode 6 days ago
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77 Episodes
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Avg Length 59mins
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Latest Episode 1 year ago
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Join us as we hubble, bubble, toil, and trouble our way through aspects of midwifery, birth, lactation, and womanhood. We tackle and discuss a variety of topics within the sphere of womanhood, birth, and lactation and what this entails in today's society. We want to be able to share in the strengths of women gathering together and being more informed, for their birth, their feeding experience, and the transition into knowing ourselves better. This is the podcast to connect us as a greater circle of women united.

980 Episodes
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Avg Length 37mins
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Latest Episode 23 hours ago
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\nBehind the Knife is more than a podcast.\xa0 Visit www.behindtheknife.org to learn more. \xa0')])

257 Episodes
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Avg Length 69mins
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Latest Episode 5 days ago
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80 Episodes
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Avg Length 26mins
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Latest Episode 1 year ago
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1041 Episodes
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Avg Length 8mins
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Latest Episode 3 months ago
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205 Episodes
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Avg Length 33mins
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Latest Episode 1 year ago
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763 Episodes
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Avg Length 40mins
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Latest Episode 2 days ago
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101 Episodes
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Avg Length 42mins
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Latest Episode 3 days ago
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Welcome to The Rev Rx Podcast - where we ground faith, family, and health in Biblical truth to help you thrive. I'm your host, Chad Potts - a pastor, pharmacist, husband, dad, and coach. Each week I share real-world tools and strategies to help you turn your God-given potential into reality. If you want to build a more meaningful, impactful life - you're in the right place! Hit play and let's go!

4098 Episodes
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Avg Length 16mins
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Latest Episode 1 month ago
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280 Episodes
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Avg Length 46mins
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Latest Episode 3 days ago
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12 Episodes
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Avg Length 9mins
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Latest Episode 16 hours ago
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Because life doesn’t come with a filter. This is my space to share the unfiltered parts of life, the real, the raw, and everything in between. Think of it as my open life journal where I talk about growth, struggles, mindset, and everyday moments that shape us. If you’ve ever felt like you had to “have it all together,” this is your reminder that you don’t. This is your space for connection, resilience, and real talk. Come hang out, laugh, reflect, and maybe see yourself in my stories.

79 Episodes
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Avg Length 49mins
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Latest Episode 24 days ago
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273 Episodes
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Avg Length 37mins
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Latest Episode 10 days ago
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58 Episodes
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Avg Length 27mins
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Latest Episode 1 month ago
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172 Episodes
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Avg Length 65mins
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Latest Episode 12 years ago
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711 Episodes
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Avg Length 39mins
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Latest Episode 2 days ago
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330 Episodes
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Avg Length 80mins
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Latest Episode 5 months ago
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563 Episodes
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Avg Length 40mins
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Latest Episode 25 days ago
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Med school taught you medicine - not how to crush 6-figure debt, navigate tough conversations, or build the career you actually want.
We're 1st-gen Ghanaian and Haitian Doctors who figured it out without a blueprint, paid off $662K in student loan debt in 3 years, and now we're teaching you the real moves that work.
Subscribe now and master what med school never taught you!

153 Episodes
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Avg Length 34mins
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Latest Episode 5 days ago
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The Matt Walker Podcast is all about sleep, the brain, and the body. Matt is a Professor of Neuroscience at the University of California, Berkeley. He is the author of the book, Why We Sleep and has given a few TED talks. Matt is an awkward British nerd who adores science and the communication of science to the public.

15445 Episodes
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Avg Length 1mins
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Latest Episode 1 day ago
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793 Episodes
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Avg Length 12mins
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Latest Episode 4 days ago
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25 Episodes
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Avg Length 95mins
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Latest Episode 5 years ago
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15 Episodes
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Avg Length 28mins
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Latest Episode 1 year ago
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719 Episodes
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Avg Length 46mins
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Latest Episode 2 days ago
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216 Episodes
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Avg Length 35mins
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Latest Episode 12 days ago
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46 Episodes
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Avg Length 19mins
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Latest Episode 9 months ago
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Get the inside scoop on nursing school from someone who's been through it! Join nursing student Melanie each week for expert tips on studying smarter, passing exams, mastering clinicals, and landing your first nursing job. Whether you're tackling Fundamentals or prepping for the NCLEX, this podcast gives you the strategies and support to succeed.

208 Episodes
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Avg Length 35mins
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Latest Episode 3 days ago
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397 Episodes
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Avg Length 64mins
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Latest Episode 10 months ago
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387 Episodes
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Avg Length 22mins
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Latest Episode 1 day ago
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278 Episodes
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Avg Length 22mins
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Latest Episode 4 days ago
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550 Episodes
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Avg Length 15mins
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Latest Episode 3 days ago
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47 Episodes
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Avg Length 31mins
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Latest Episode 18 days ago
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How terrifying would it be to fight an unknown enemy? One you don’t recognize and didn’t see coming? What if that enemy was coming from within; a disease that even doctors couldn’t identify? Nearly half of all Americans suffer from some chronic illness and many struggle for an accurate diagnosis.
Every other week on Symptomatic, host Lauren Bright Pacheco unravels the medical mystery of a patient’s baffling symptoms and explores how their lives were turned upside down in search of answers.
From the first signs of trouble, through a swirl of misdirection and failed treatment attempts, to the final relief at a confirmed diagnosis - these are their stories. This is Symptomatic.
We want to hear from you! Tell us what you think of the show or share your own medical mystery by emailing us at Symptomatic@iHeartMedia.com.

41 Episodes
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Avg Length 43mins
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Latest Episode 1 month ago
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352 Episodes
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Avg Length 40mins
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Latest Episode 6 days ago
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73 Episodes
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Avg Length 70mins
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Latest Episode 12 days ago
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Critical Care Time is the podcast for everyone who cares for the critically Ill. Whether you work in an ICU, a Med-Surg unit, an ED, a PACU or the back of an ambulance - Dr. Cyrus Askin & Dr. Nick Mark provide practical insights and useful tips to enhance your skillset.
They are triple board-certified intensivists who love patient care and teaching. Journey with them through deep dives into physiology and practical pearls, leaving no stone unturned in the world of critical care medicine.
Through their own insights, expert interviews and targeted reviews of the literature, Nick and Cyrus provide practical, relevant critical care pearls. If you bill for critical care time, you must make time for Critical Care Time!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

39 Episodes
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Avg Length 7mins
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Latest Episode 2 years ago
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350 Episodes
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Avg Length 47mins
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Latest Episode 1 year ago
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\n
\n
\n
\nMental was created by Bobby Temps to break down mental health stigma and discrimination. Joined by special guests, the podcast is a safe space to hear honest and insightful mental health interviews in the hope listeners will feel more empowered to continue the conversation with others.
\n
\n
\n
\nEvery other Thursday we delve into a factor in mental health and how to better manage it. You’ll also better understand different conditions from first-hand experience, with inspiring guests and surprising statistics. Start listening from any episode or topic that interests you.
\n
\n
\n
\nSo whether you have experienced mental illness or not, there’ll be something to relate to in each episode and a reminder that, you are enough!')])

208 Episodes
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Avg Length 11mins
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Latest Episode 27 days ago
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65 Episodes
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Avg Length 50mins
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Latest Episode 15 days ago
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1020 Episodes
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Avg Length 17mins
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Latest Episode 2 days ago
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273 Episodes
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Avg Length 56mins
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Latest Episode 3 months ago
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63 Episodes
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Avg Length 19mins
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Latest Episode 1 month ago
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Dr. JP shares her passion for poisons in this interactive show. Pick Your Poison is a fast-paced, interactive podcast about poisons and toxins, mischief and murder ranging from ancient history to pop culture. Your choices direct the diagnosis and treatment. Make the wrong choice and our patient won’t survive the podcast.

424 Episodes
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Avg Length 12mins
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Latest Episode 4 days ago
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18 Episodes
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Avg Length 14mins
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Latest Episode 6 months ago
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Join "The Private GP" podcast by Walk In Clinic to explore the world of healthcare with a team of experienced doctors, health specialists, and distinguished special guests. From preventative measures to cutting-edge treatments, we cover it all.

2607 Episodes
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Avg Length 34mins
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Latest Episode 1 day ago
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Pharmacy Podcast Network (PPN) is the world’s largest network of podcasts dedicated to the pharmacy professional and industry insiders. Our content is about dynamic people in the pharmacy industry making a difference and delivering the best pharmacy care. We have over 40+ podcasts with thousands of interviews.
Pharmacists are the cornerstone of healthcare, and the PPN reflects that. From Community, LTC, Specialty Pharmacy to Drug Development, Government policy and DigitalHealth, we cover it all. Partner with us to connect with thousands of daily listeners and find the right pharmacist across various specialties and topics, ensuring your products and services resonate where it matters most. We build strong audio brands through Pharmacists who see patients almost 9x more than primary care.
Join the home of the O.G. Pharmacy Podcast & discover our newest development: Evidence-based Podcasting, the first CME supplement in podcast form that's truly peer-reviewed. The future of podcasting education for Providers is "Evidence-based Podcasting" (TM) and we're building a peer-review board, reach out to us: Publisher @ Pharmacy Podcast dot com.
PPN is a division of RxPR, LLC. Copyright 2026

37 Episodes
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Avg Length 1mins
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Latest Episode 2 years ago
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59 Episodes
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Avg Length 30mins
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Latest Episode 3 months ago
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After her mother died, Dr. Tita Gray found a lump and called her doctor at UCLA, but the earliest appointments were two months out. She frantically called around for a doctor who could get her in ASAP for a biopsy. Luckily, St. Mary's in Long Beach got Tita in right away, but the news wasn't good. When Tita later saw her oncologist at UCLA, they found more cancer than expected and recommended immediate aggressive chemo. In season 3 of Breast Cancer Stories, Tita shares her story in real time as she navigates a triple negative breast cancer diagnosis, undergoes aggressive chemo and immunotherapy, and ultimately chooses to go flat following a double mastectomy.
Season 2
The second season follows Natasha Curry, a palliative care nurse practitioner at San Francisco General Hospital. Natasha was in Malawi on a Doctors Without Borders mission in 2021 when her husband of 25 years announced in a text message that he was leaving. A few months later when she discovered an almond-sized lump in her armpit, she did everything she tells her patients not to do and dismissed it, or wrote it off as a “fat lump." One painful biopsy later, Natasha found out she had cancer; in one life-changing moment, the nurse became the patient.
Season 1
The first season of Breast Cancer Stories follows Kristen Vengler, a 56 year old single empty nester in San Diego, from her diagnosis of hormone positive breast cancer through chemotherapy, double mastectomy & breast reconstruction, radiation, and whatever happens after that. In 2020, Kristen moved from Austin to San Diego to start her life over after a life-shattering workplace trauma. A few months later she had that terrifying moment in the shower we all hope we never have.
Connect with us
Breast Cancer Stories is an all-time Top 10 Medicine podcast on Goodpods.
Connect with us and learn more about the show at breastcancerstoriespodcast.com
Follow Breast Cancer Stories on Instagram @breastcancerstoriespodcast
Support the Breast Cancer Stories podcast by subscribing to our Substack or click to donate any amount via PayPal.
Sponsorship opportunities available. For our media kit or to contact us visit breastcancerstoriespodcast.com.

1884 Episodes
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Avg Length 3mins
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Latest Episode 1 day ago
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341 Episodes
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Avg Length 19mins
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Latest Episode 1 day ago
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CareTalk: Healthcare. Unfiltered. is a weekly podcast that provides an incisive, no B.S. view of the US healthcare industry. Join co-hosts John Driscoll (President U.S. Healthcare and EVP, Walgreens Boots Alliance) and David Williams (President, Health Business Group) as they debate the latest in US healthcare news, business and policy. Visit us at www.CareTalkPodcast.com

182 Episodes
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Avg Length 16mins
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Latest Episode 1 year ago
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49 Episodes
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Avg Length 23mins
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Latest Episode 7 months ago
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"Look Again: Mental Illness Re-Examined" is a groundbreaking podcast by the British Columbia Schizophrenia Society (BCSS) and supporting partners. Host Faydra Aldridge, CEO of BCSS, speaks with medical experts, families, and people with lived experience of mental illness to dispel myths and get to the truth. This podcast is for anyone whose life is touched by mental illness.

101 Episodes
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Avg Length 56mins
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Latest Episode 10 months ago
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89 Episodes
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Avg Length 72mins
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Latest Episode 18 days ago
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Podcast with Dr Cheryl Martin exploring health, wellbeing, optimal performance and professional fulfilment with a particular focus on doctors and healthcare.

47 Episodes
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Avg Length 24mins
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Latest Episode 10 months ago
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201 Episodes
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Avg Length 42mins
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Latest Episode 4 days ago
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15 Episodes
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Avg Length 62mins
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Latest Episode 4 days ago
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1 Episodes
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Avg Length 17mins
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Latest Episode 1 year ago
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Cortisol is a steroid hormone that plays a vital role in numerous physiological processes in the human body. As the main glucocorticoid hormone produced by the adrenal glands, cortisol is critical for regulating metabolism, immune function, blood pressure, and the body's response to stressors. Here is an in-depth overview of cortisol - its functions, production, levels, and implications for human health and disease.
What is Cortisol?
Cortisol is classified as a glucocorticoid hormone, meaning it affects glucose metabolism along with the immune system and inflammatory pathways. It is produced naturally in the cortex of the adrenal glands located above the kidneys as part of the body's endocrine system.
Cortisol is derived from cholesterol and is structurally similar to hormones like testosterone, estrogen, and aldosterone. As the main glucocorticoid hormone, cortisol helps regulate the following bodily processes:
- Glucose levels and metabolism - Immune function and inflammatory responses - Blood pressure and heart health - Circadian rhythm and sleep cycles - Stress response - Memory formation and mood
Cortisol has widespread impacts on how the body mobilizes energy stores, defends against threats, and maintains homeostasis. The right levels allow cortisol to help the body adapt and respond to daily events and stressors. However, excessive cortisol can be detrimental over time, contributing to conditions like diabetes, hypertension, insomnia, and depression. finding the right balance is key.
Cortisol and the Hypothalamic Pituitary Adrenal (HPA) Axis
The primary pathway regulating cortisol production is called the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, or HPA axis. This describes the complex interactions between the hypothalamus in the brain, the pituitary gland, and adrenal glands that modulate cortisol release.
When the hypothalamus senses stress signals, it secretes corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH), which stimulates the pituitary gland to release adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). ACTH then acts on the adrenal glands to increase the production and release of cortisol into the bloodstream.
Once circulating at sufficient levels, cortisol sends signals back to the hypothalamus and pituitary gland to reduce CRH and ACTH production via a negative feedback loop, helping return cortisol levels to a normal, healthy range. This system allows precise calibration of cortisol levels to meet the body's needs.
However, chronic stress can dysregulate the HPA axis, leading to overactivation and excess cortisol release. This can result in Cushing's syndrome or other metabolic, immune, and mental health dysfunction. Balanced cortisol production through a normally functioning HPA axis is essential for good health.
Cortisol Production and Secretion Patterns
Cortisol production adheres to daily cyclical rhythms controlled by the body's circadian clock in conjunction with the HPA axis. The amount of cortisol circulating can change rapidly based on environmental demands at any time of day. But certain patterns occur naturally:
- Cortisol levels peak in the early morning around 6-8 AM. Production can increase up to 50% at waking.
- Levels gradually decline over the afternoon, reaching a low point around midnight.
- The amplitude between the morning peak and nighttime trough can differ among individuals. Larger variations are linked to higher stress reactivity.
- Cortisol spikes during the first hour after waking known as the cortisol awakening response (CAR). The CAR is believed to help prime alertness and energy upon waking.
- Production is pulsatile, meaning cortisol is released in intermittent bursts roughly every 60-90 minutes aligned with circadian rhythms. More constant cortisol exposure can have deleterious effects.
- Release increases after eating, exercise, trauma, blood glucose variations, temperature changes and emotions. Cortisol adapts rapidly to changing conditions.
Maintaining appropriate daily cortisol fluctuations is important for health. Loss of rhythmicity such as chronic nighttime elevation can contribute to metabolic and psychiatric problems. Cortisol must remain responsive to changing needs in a sustained circadian alignment.
Effects on Metabolism and Energy Balance
One of cortisol's primary roles is regulating metabolism by controlling energy production and storage. Cortisol performs several important metabolic functions:
- Increases blood sugar via gluconeogenesis - the synthesis of glucose from non-carbohydrate sources such as amino acids. This provides fuel for the brain and muscles.
- Amplifies the actions of insulin to improve glucose uptake in various tissues.
- Stimulates fat and protein breakdown to release substrates usable for gluconeogenesis.
- Mobilizes fatty acids from adipose tissue to provide

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