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TED Health

TED Health

TED 307 Episodes Aug 18, 2026

TED Health is a podcast that explores health and medicine through TED talks. Hosted by Dr. Shoshana Ungerleider, it covers topics from exercise and brain health to psychedelics and depression. The show features experts answering questions about living healthier lives, with new medical breakthroughs and daily habits discussed.

Episodes

What happens in your brain when you taste food | Camilla Arndal Andersen (Senses Miniseries #2)
What happens in your brain when you taste food | Camilla Arndal Andersen (Senses Miniseries #2) Aug 18, 2026 17:32 With fascinating research and hilarious anecdotes, neuroscientist Camilla Arndal Andersen takes us into the lab where she studies people's sense of taste via brain scans. She reveals surprising insights about the way our brains subconsciously experience food -- and shows how this data could help us eat healthier without sacrificing taste. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information
Does touch strengthen your brain? with David Eagleman (Senses Miniseries #1)
Does touch strengthen your brain? with David Eagleman (Senses Miniseries #1) Aug 11, 2026 26:43 David Eagleman is a neuroscientist who studies brain plasticity and how our senses help us perceive the world. Over the next 5 weeks, Shoshana is diving into ideas about our senses. First up she  invites David to talk about touch and its relationship to brain plasticity. She then asks what role touch plays in a world that is increasingly digital and mediated by screens. Hosted on Acast. See a
What we're getting wrong about teens and tech | Candice Odgers | Your Body on Tech
What we're getting wrong about teens and tech | Candice Odgers | Your Body on Tech Aug 4, 2026 54:24 Trigger warning - this episode contains mention of suicide and severe depression.For years, the warning has been: smartphones are destroying a generation. But developmental psychologist Candice Odgers says that decades of data on teens tells a different story — violence, alcohol use and pregnancy are at historic lows, and research shows social media may not actually be the culprit for mental healt
Shoshana's Summer Playlist (1/5): How to stop feeling tired all the time with Dr. Alexandra Crosswell
Shoshana's Summer Playlist (1/5): How to stop feeling tired all the time with Dr. Alexandra Crosswell Jul 30, 2026 40:11 Why do we feel exhausted all the time? We’ll get through the workday, collapse on the couch, scroll for a while, and go to bed… but wake up still feeling depleted. In this episode, Shoshana seeks to understand the concept of“deep rest.” She speaks to psychologist Dr. Alexandra Crosswell on the role stress plays in our daily lives and what safety has to do with bodily repair and restoration.Talk fe
Shoshana's Summer Playlist (2/5): What happens to your brain without any social contact? with Dr. Vivek Murthy
Shoshana's Summer Playlist (2/5): What happens to your brain without any social contact? with Dr. Vivek Murthy Jul 30, 2026 38:39 In this episode, Shoshana invites Dr. Vivek Murthy, the 19th and 21st Surgeon General of the United States, to discuss the ongoing loneliness epidemic.After the interview, Shoshana shares a TED-Ed talk from Terry Kupers, "What happens to your brain without social contact?" Everyone needs time to themselves, and peaceful solitude has stress-relieving benefits. But when being alone is forced upon yo
Shoshana's Summer Playlist (3/5): The secrets to aging well with Zeke Emanuel
Shoshana's Summer Playlist (3/5): The secrets to aging well with Zeke Emanuel Jul 30, 2026 34:48 When has healthcare advice become so complicated? And how should we be thinking about long-term wellness? Zeke Emanuel is an oncologist and bioethnicist whose latest book, Eat Your Ice Cream, might sound paradoxical against modern health trends and wellness noise. Zeke joins Shoshana to discuss what healthy aging looks like and why it’s never too late to practice health habits.Talk featuredTED-Ed:
Shoshana's Summer Playlist (4/5): Your gut’s guide to a happier microbiome | Megan Rossi
Shoshana's Summer Playlist (4/5): Your gut’s guide to a happier microbiome | Megan Rossi Jul 30, 2026 25:16 In this episode, Shoshana sits down with Dr. Megan Rossi, aka The Gut Health Doctor. As a leading scientist, registered dietitian, and nutritionist, Dr. Rossi reveals the crucial link between digestion and general health. She debunks common myths about the microbes that help (or harm) us, and shares accessible, evidence-based nutrition strategies to help you transform your diet for a happier, bala
Shoshana's Summer Playlist (5/5): What happens in your brain when you pay attention? with Dr. Sasha Hamdani
Shoshana's Summer Playlist (5/5): What happens in your brain when you pay attention? with Dr. Sasha Hamdani Jul 30, 2026 35:51 Attention isn't just about what we focus on -- it's also about what our brains filter out. By investigating patterns in the brain as people try to focus, computational neuroscientist Mehdi Ordikhani-Seyedlar hopes to build computer models that can be used to treat ADHD and help those who have lost the ability to communicate. Hear more about this exciting science in this brief, fascinating talk. Af
The women’s health conversation we’re not having with Elizabeth Micks, Chen X. Chen, and Alison Edelman
The women’s health conversation we’re not having with Elizabeth Micks, Chen X. Chen, and Alison Edelman Jul 28, 2026 23:08 Many women move through major life transitions without getting clear information about what's happening in their own bodies. Whether it’s conversations about painful periods or menopause, fertility or contraceptives, these topics affect millions of people everyday, but they are difficult to talk about openly. In this episode, Shoshana sharesthree TED Ed lessons centered around women’s health help
The science on improving your brain health with Dr. Ayesha and Dean Sherzai
The science on improving your brain health with Dr. Ayesha and Dean Sherzai Jul 21, 2026 33:07 When does normal aging end and something more concerning begins? In this episode Shoshana invites neurologist Drs. Ayesha and Dean Sherzai to discuss their studies on Alzheimer’s and Dementia. They debunk myths around Alzheimer, discuss what a brain-healthy way of eating looks like, and share why good sleep hygiene is more crucial for brain health than you think. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/pri
The science of gratitude and happiness with Sonja Lyubomirsky
The science of gratitude and happiness with Sonja Lyubomirsky Jul 14, 2026 17:43 What’s something that makes your life immeasurably better? For Shoshana, it’s habits people often overlook, such as a good night's rest or a conversation with a friend. In this episode, Shoshana shares a TED Ed lesson on how practicing gratitude makes life more meaningful. Then, psychologist Sonja Lyubormisky talks about the science of happiness and why our relationships with others affect our hea
How nearly dying helped me discover my own cure (and many more) | David Fajgenbaum
How nearly dying helped me discover my own cure (and many more) | David Fajgenbaum Jul 7, 2026 19:05 Physician-scientist David Fajgenbaum was dying from a rare disease that didn't have a cure — until he discovered a lifesaving drug that wasn't originally intended for his condition. In an astonishing talk, he shares how his near-death experience led him to cofound the nonprofit Every Cure, which is using AI to uncover hidden treatments in existing medicines in order to save lives. (This ambitious

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