House Calls with Dr. Vivek Murthy
U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy explores the healing power of conversation in this podcast. Inspired by his father's practice of making house calls, he engages guests in unscripted discussions about navigating life's messiness and uncertainties. Each episode focuses on finding meaning and joy through open, heartfelt dialogue. Murthy believes that sharing what's on our minds and hearts can bring strength and healing through connection.
Episodes
Goodbye, House Calls!
As Dr. Murthy's term as the 21st U.S. Surgeon General comes to a close, House Calls is ending, too.
In this final episode, Dr. Murthy and House Calls producer and friend Ann Kim reflect on their journey to creating House Calls and discuss why this podcast has been an important part of the Office of the Surgeon General. Past guests and listeners chime in, too, with good-bye messages of their own.
Looking Back, Moving Forward: A Conversation With My Moai
As Dr. Murthy prepares to conclude his term as Surgeon General, the moment is , the moment is bittersweet: serving as Surgeon General has been the honor of his lifetime, and saying goodbye is hard.
For this second-to-last episode of House Calls, he calls on his my moai – friends and fellow physicians Dave Chokshi and Sunny Kishmore – to reflect on the issues he took and how serving as Surgeon Gen
Aamir & Ira Khan: Healing Together: A Father-Daughter Mental Health Journey
On a recent trip to India, the Surgeon General sat down with the delightful and inspiring father-daughter duo of Aamir and Ira Khan. Aamir is a renowned and beloved actor and producer, appearing in some of India’s biggest films. Ira Khan is founder of the Agatsu Foundation, a peer support and counseling center in Mumbai.
Many people assume Aamir and Ira’s lives are easy and worry-free given thei
Phillip Lim: The Beauty of Becoming Who We Are
“You can re-imagine anything.” This was life advice that fashion designer Phillip Lim was given by his mother. His family escaped the Khmer Rouge and came to America as refugees. They had no resources and had to start over from scratch. Somehow, Phillip rose to become one of the most successful fashion designers in the world. He started his label 3.1 Phillip Lim with his business partner when they
Dr. Francis Collins: How Can We Restore Our Faith in One Another?
Do you feel you can no longer talk with people who hold different opinions? Has anger become the predominant tone? If we want this to change, how can we as individuals, change the way we talk and connect when we differ?
Dr. Francis Collins is a pro at stepping into spaces that many of us are avoiding right now. He’s remarkably good at finding common ground with people who think differently than
BONUS | Sadhguru: How Can We Find Fulfillment in the Modern World?
How do we find that fulfilment in a modern world where so many of us often feel lonely and unsure of our self-worth? For this bonus episode of House Calls, we share excerpts from a conversation between the Surgeon General and yogi & spiritual leader Sadhguru as they discuss what it means to live a fulfilling life.
We’d love to hear from you! Send us a note at housecalls@hhs.gov with your fee
Sarah Harmeyer: Is There Room At Your Table?
Have you ever wanted to gather people, but then something stops you? What if I burn the apps? What if the house is a mess? Will people bring something, or chip in? Or, the biggest fear of all – what if nobody shows up?
Sarah Harmeyer, the founder of Neighbor’s Table, calls herself a “people gatherer,” and is an expert at bringing people together. Sarah offers some practical advice and much comfo
Ada Limón: How Can Poetry Help Us Make Sense Of The World?
For Ada Limón, the 24th U.S. Poet Laureate, poetry is her way of connecting — to others, to ourselves, to our natural world. Ada’s work is deeply personal, inspired by gratitude for loved ones, awe and nature, and her struggles with scoliosis and infertility. In this conversation with the Surgeon General, she reflects on her process for writing, which she says often starts with the simple act of
Best of House Calls: Supporting Parent Mental Health
How does parents’ mental health influence their kids’ mental health?
Why are parents today feeling so overwhelmed?
How can parents let go of trying to be the perfect parent?
As the father of two young kids, parenting is a common theme the Surgeon General explores with guests. Given the resonance of the Surgeon General’s recent advisory on parent mental health & well-being, this episode di
Kayla Barron: An Astronaut's Guide To Living On Earth
What can life in space teach us about living well on earth?
As an astronaut, Kayla Barron she has lived this very question. As a member of the NASA’s mission to the International Space Station, she and her crew spent 177 days in orbit. In that time, she performed two space walks. Before becoming an astronaut, she earned a degree in nuclear engineering and served as one of the first female Submarin
BONUS | Dr. Ruth: How Can We Stand Up to Loneliness?
What does Dr. Ruth have to say about facing loneliness?
Dr. Ruth Westheimer was a legend who broke taboos around talking about sex and relationships. At her core, she cared deeply about human connection. In 2023, she was named the nation’s first honorary Ambassador to Loneliness for the state of New York.
In honor of Dr. Ruth, who passed in July 2024, the Surgeon General offers a remembrance a
Parents Are Under Pressure – And We Can All Help
Parental well-being is linked to the well-being of kids – it affects kids’ health, their learning, and, ultimately, their futures.
But right now, parents and caregivers are incredibly stressed. That stress is harder to manage when you feel you’re on your own, which is why it’s concerning that parents, particularly single parents, report high levels of loneliness.
In this week’s episode of Hous
Chloe Kim: How Do You Separate Success From Self-Worth?
What does it mean to succeed when you’ve reached the Olympic podium? How do you separate that success from your sense of self-worth?
The world knows Chloe Kim as one of the greatest athletes ever. At 17, Chloe was the youngest person to win an Olympic gold medal in snowboarding. She was the first to win two gold medals in the Halfpipe. She was the first female snowboarder to have landed back-to-b
Sebastian Junger: How Can Death Make Us Think About Life?
What does coming close to death teach us about living?
Sebastian Junger is not a stranger to danger and death. As an award-winning journalist and author of “The Perfect Storm,” and “Tribe,” he has spent his career covering humans in harrowing situations, from massive storms at sea to the front lines of wars. In his recent memoir, “In My Time of Dying,” Sebastian considers his near-death experience
Ann Kim: What Does Friendship Mean To Us?
In celebration of World Friendship Day, the Surgeon General invites an old friend and House Calls producer to talk about how their deep connection has seen them through the best of times and the worst of times, sustaining them both personally and professionally.
(00:28) House Calls gets personal as Dr. Murthy introduces an old friend (who is also a House Calls producer)
(01:56) How Dr. Murthy
BONUS | Selena Gomez: Setting the Stage for Mental Health
The Surgeon General and Selena Gomez, singer, actress, and founder and creator of Rare Beauty and the Rare Impact Fund, take the stage at the Rare Beauty Mental Health Summit to talk about loneliness, connection, and the power of talking about our mental health.
(02:42) Why is bringing people together to talk about mental health so important to Selena?
(03:49) Why has loneliness and connectio
Adam Grant: Is A Fulfilling Life Different Than A Successful One?
What makes us successful?
What makes our lives fulfilling?
Are they the same things?
We’re exposed to so many ideas of what is success, it’s not always easy to be clear on what path best serves us. This episode’s guest, Adam Grant, is an organizational psychologist and expert on what motivates us, what gives us meaning, and how we can live more generous and creative lives.
This conversation
Dr. Abraham Verghese (Part 2): On the Healing Power of Writing
In this part 2 of their conversation, the Surgeon General explores Dr. Abraham Verghese's craft as a writer -- what is his creative process? And what is the relationship between his writing and his work in medicine? The episode closes with Dr. Verghese sharing one of his favorite poems.
(02:56) How does Dr. Verghese deal with moments of fear and uncertainty that arise in practicing medicine
Dr. Abraham Verghese (Part 1): When There Is No Cure, How Can We Heal?
For doctors who spend years training to make their patients better, what happens when there is no cure?
This is how Dr. Abraham Verghese came of age as a physician.
At the height of the AIDS epidemic, he treated a rural population of dying young men, men his own age, who had no future and were often shunned by other doctors. Working with his AIDS patients, Dr. Verghese learned that treating the
Sara Bareilles & Celia Keenan-Bolger: How Do Art and Friendship Set the Stage for Our Mental Health?
In this special episode, Dr. Murthy sits down with Sara Bareilles, Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter and actress, and Celia Keenan-Bolger, Tony award-winning singer and actress. You may know more about them as performers than you do about their experiences with mental health, but this conversation will change that.
As two very good friends who are warm, funny, and genuine, this conversation
Dr. Aliza Pressman: Why Parent Mental Health is Essential for Our Kids
As a parent, have you ever worried about whether you’re doing a good enough job? Do you feel the pressure to be perfect? Have you felt drained by the demands of parenting?
In this deeply personal conversation, the Surgeon General (and dad of 2) and psychologist Dr. Aliza Pressman put the spotlight on parent mental health. Dr. Pressman changes the conversation from trying to be the perfect parent t
Shankar Vedantam: How Do Our Minds Help (or Hinder) Finding Connection & Purpose? (Part 2)
What is our purpose, both individually and collectively? What lies in the balance of who we are now and who we will become?
In Part Two of this episode, the Surgeon General and Shankar Vedantam, host of “Hidden Brain,” go deep into conversation about our individual and national quest for meaning and purpose.
This episode becomes deeply personal as both host and guest reveal their family’s hope
Shankar Vedantam: How Do Our Minds Help (or Hinder) Finding Connection & Purpose? (Part 1)
Have you ever had a moment when you’ve wanted to reach out to someone you haven’t seen in awhile, but something stops you, like the worry you’ll say the wrong thing? Or have you had the experience of assuming that someone who disagrees with you must also dislike you?
It turns out, our mind can play tricks on us that make it harder to connect.
Shankar Vedantam, host and creator of the podcast
Rebecca Solnit: Why Is Hope So Powerful?
What is hope and why is it so powerful?
For writer Rebecca Solnit, hope is a commitment to possibility in the face of uncertainty. While many of us react to the unknown with anxiety or worry, Rebecca sees the opposite: that inherent to unpredictable circumstances is the possibility people can take action and to come together to create change.
In this conversation, Rebecca Solnit and the Surgeon
Encore | Kate Bowler: Learning to Live When Life Falls Apart
What lessons does life’s uncertainties offer? Kate Bowler’s stage IV cancer diagnosis ushered her into a world of fear and pain. Living in 60-day increments, her future held no promises. Angry about losing the life she had created, the love of family, friends, and her faith community helped Kate forge a new type of strength—learning to lean on others. This conversation between the nation’s doctor
Dr. Rachel Naomi Remen: Q&A on Becoming a Healer
In this special Q&A episode, the Surgeon General sits down with his long-time medical school mentor, Dr. Rachel Naomi Remen, to talk about their journeys to becoming healers. Dr. Remen is the creator of a medical training course called “The Healer’s Art,” which Dr. Murthy took as a medical student.
As a follow-up to their House Calls episode “Can We All Be Healers?”, the pair decided to reuni
Rabbi Sharon Brous: The Power of Showing Up for Each Other
What does it mean to show up for someone?
What does it mean to sit with another person’s pain?
And if we are hurting, why can it be so difficult to ask for help?
Part of being human is learning how to accompany people through hard times. Yet our culture looks at pain as a sign of imperfection, and vulnerability a sign of weakness. In this conversation, the Surgeon General and Rabbi Brous sh
Meditation for Connecting with Loved Ones
Do you have times when you miss your loved ones and just want to feel more connected?
Maybe a friend or family member is sick and you can’t connect in person. Maybe you’re traveling or are away for school. I know I have these moments. And when I do, I have a meditation I turn to, one that helps me feel loved and more connected. It only takes a few minutes, but it has the power to change my day.
Dr. Lisa Miller: How Does Spirituality Protect Our Mental Health?
Can spirituality enhance our mental health?
That is the question that psychologist and researcher Dr. Lisa Miller has pursued through her career. During her clinical internship after graduate school, she observed how while some of her patients had symptoms of major depression that required medication, other patients carried a sadness that carried life’s big questions: What is the purpose of life?
Jon Batiste: How Do You Build the Confidence to Connect?
Do you wish it felt easier to make connections with others?
In this episode, recorded live from the Barclays Center in NY, the Surgeon General and Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter and composer Jon Batiste share their experiences with reaching out to others. Even with complete strangers or in brand new situations, their approaches have countered loneliness and paved the way for new relations
Matthew McConaughey: What Does Success Really Mean?
Do you know someone who is struggling with loneliness? Do you ever feel the definition of success you’ve been sold your whole life isn’t right?
These are some of the questions the Surgeon General and our guest, actor Matthew McConaughey, posed recently to an auditorium full of students at the University of Texas at Austin. In response, almost every hand in the young audience went up.
In this
How Will You Connect?
Do you want to improve your mental and physical health?
Deepen your friendships?
Help reduce loneliness?
Our relationships are an important part of our health and well-being. In this bonus episode, the Surgeon General announces the 5-for-5 Connection Challenge: to take 5 actions over 5 days to build social connection. Already underway at many college campuses, this challenge is a way for all
Encore (Student Edition) | Laurie Santos: What Makes Us Happy?
In this episode, we re-visit a conversation with Dr. Laurie Santos, professor of Yale University’s famed “happiness” course (which has been adapted into a free online course taken by 4+ million people). As we address a youth mental health crisis, the U.S. Surgeon General and Dr. Santos talk about ways college students can find greater happiness through simple changes in behavior and mindset. In a
Yo-Yo Ma: How Music Heals Us (Part 2)
Yo-Yo Ma and the Surgeon General continue the conversation about the power of music. Yo-Yo reflects on how music was an antidote to his father’s loneliness while trapped in Paris during WWII, and how Yo-Yo shared his music to comfort people during the pandemic.
Continuing with personal stories about connection, the conversation turns to parenting, why it seems harder for men to connect, and what M
Yo-Yo Ma: How Music Heals Us (Part 1)
Healing can come in many forms. For world renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma, he sees his music as a way to create touch between humans. Tirelessly performing around the world, Yo-Yo shares his musical gift generously and collaborates with many musicians, knowing that music brings healing, solace and inspiration. Music is what gives his own life meaning.
In this conversation about the healing power of mus
Baratunde Thurston: What Can Nature Teach Us About Connection?
Nature matters to our ability to connect — with each other and ourselves. In this episode of House Calls, we explore how being in nature – whether it’s your local green space, or a national park, or somewhere in between – can build deep and important connections. Who better to take us on this journey than Baratunde Thurston, host of the PBS series “America Outdoors” and the podcast “How To Citizen
Ashley Judd & Friends: Finding Chosen Family
In this episode of House Calls, the Surgeon General talks with actress and activist Ashley Judd, who brings along three friends she calls sisters in her chosen family. This five-way conversation explores the meaning of friendship, trust, and supporting one another in times of joy and hardship. From experiencing daily life to the devastating death of Ashley’s mother, country singer Naomi Judd, Ashl
Encore | Dr. Tracy Dennis-Tiwary: Can Anxiety Be Good For Us?
The end of summer and the arrival of fall marks a time of transition. Vacation time ends and school begins. No matter your age, for many of us, these kinds of transitions mean change, and change can give rise to anxiety. We all have anxiety. It’s part of being human. The question is whether we can transform that uncomfortable feeling of being anxious into a positive? To help us think through, and
Dr. Rachel Naomi Remen: Can We All Be Healers?
How can we become healers?
In these times of disconnection, we all search for sources of healing. One powerful, often untapped source is the healing we can provide for each other. For this conversation, I turned to my long-time medical school mentor, Dr. Rachel Naomi Remen. Rachel is widely known for launching the course The Healer’s Art, which has been taught to over 30,000 medical students, in
Encore | Susan Cain: How Do We Navigate the Joy and Sorrow of Being Human?
As we enjoy the final swing of summer, we’re sharing one of our most memorable episodes.
What is the feeling you get when a sad, familiar song tugs at you? Or the exquisite pain that comes with the awareness of passing time and loves lost? Best-selling author Susan Cain identifies the simultaneous mixture of joy and sorrow in life as “bittersweetness.” In this conversation with the Surgeon Genera
Encore | José Andrés: Recipe for Connection
As we enjoy the final swing of summer, we’re sharing one of our most memorable episodes on building connection.
Why is food a foundation for human connection? Chef José Andrés has spent a lifetime of cooking for friends & family at home, in his many restaurants, and for people stricken by disaster around the world. For José, sharing and providing food spreads the empathy he believes people
Rainn Wilson: Walking A Spiritual Path In A Lonely World
Note: This episode was recorded in June 2023, prior to the SAG-AFTRA union declaring a strike.
Rainn Wilson describes himself as an actor and an artist, who writes some books about spirituality on the side. As well-known as Rainn is on the screen and stage, particularly for playing Dwight on the TV series “The Office,” we invited him on House Calls to talk about spirituality – specifically how s
Richard Reeves: Why Are Boys And Men Struggling For Connection?
As we face an epidemic of loneliness in our country, how are men and boys struggling for connection? What’s driving the increasing rate of suicide among men? And how does our culture affect the ways in which men and boys form friendships?
The Surgeon General and scholar Richard Reeves explore these questions and more. They discuss the complicated and troubling picture about how men and boys are f
Meet My Moai, A Powerful Friendship Tradition
Friendships don’t just happen; they take nurturing to grow and deepen.
This episode is dedicated to friendships and the meaningful ways friends make our lives better. In this episode, the Surgeon General is joined by his two pals Sunny and Dave. Together, they have what’s called a moai.
Moais are a friendship tradition from Okinawa, Japan – essentially, it is a friend circle that starts in child
Judy Woodruff: What Does It Mean To Really Listen?
Judy Woodruff is not done asking questions. A decorated and respected journalist, she anchored the PBS NewsHour for 15 years until she stepped down in 2022. Now, at age 79, she is traveling the country to answer: what is at the root of the division and disconnection our country faces today? And how do we fix that? To understand across different perspectives requires the ability to listen. At 79, J
Dr. Lisa Damour: How Can We Protect Teen Mental Health?
Whether it’s watching a young person struggle with a social situation, lose sleep to social media, experience loss, feel school stress, consider self-harm, or try to support a friend, so many adults worry about how kids are coping emotionally in an increasingly complex world. How can we adults help?
Dr. Lisa Damour, a psychologist and author, who has spent decades working as a clinician and resea
Eric Nam: Yes, Vulnerability is a Superpower (Even For Pop Stars)
How can vulnerability and openness help us through our darkest times and find our truest selves?
For Eric Nam, a voice loved by millions around the world, this was not an easy question to answer. In his rise to K-pop stardom he wrestled with mental health, experiencing feelings of anxiety, depression and ‘otherness.’ And he’s seen fellow stars succumb to mental health issues. But instead of hid
You’re Not Alone in Feeling Lonely
Loneliness is an experience so many of us have. But what’s surprising is how loneliness impacts both our mental and physical health. To mark this week’s release of a groundbreaking new Surgeon General’s advisory on loneliness & social connection, Dr. Murthy answers the most common questions he’s asked about loneliness. He also shares some of the surprising science around the positive health ef
Dr. Rangan Chatterjee: What's at the Core of Your Happiness? (Part 2)
How well do you balance your ideas of success with your happiness? And do you really understand what makes you happy?
In Part Two of their conversation about stress, the Surgeon General and Dr. Rangan Chatterjee talk about how our culture of striving for more can undermine our happiness. But if we can identify a few simple things that bring us joy, we can develop the skill of happiness. As an e
Dr. Rangan Chatterjee: How Stressed Are We? (And What Can We Do About It?) (Part 1)
How do you experience stress? Does it come from a hard day at work? Or being stretched too thin supporting others? Worrying about food? Living in a difficult environment?
So many factors can contribute to stress, and we’re all feeling it. Dr. Rangan Chatterjee believes our stress levels are higher than ever and that it’s making us sicker. Dr. Chatterjee is a physician who practices lifestyle me
David Brooks: What is a Meaningful Life?
How can we create a meaningful life in a self-centered world? Have our societal notions of success misled us? How does connection underpin our sense of meaning? What practical skills do we need to understand other humans? And what do morals and values have to do with any of this?
A few years ago, David Brooks, columnist & cultural commentator, experienced deep personal loss. He suddenly foun
Catherine Price: Can You Live Without Your Phone?
How do you want to spend your time? Where do you want to focus your attention?
Science journalist and author Catherine Price poses these questions because she believes that, ultimately, our lives are what we pay attention to. If you add up all the time spent on devices, these days the average person is spending upwards of 60 days a year on their smartphone.
Price is the author of “How to Break Up
What Gives You Hope?
We all need to have hope. It’s essential to living a healthy life. So it’s no surprise that “What gives you hope?” is one question Dr. Murthy always asks his guests. In this compilation episode, tune in to hear from Chef José Andrés, Father Greg Boyle, friendship expert Dr. Marisa G. Franco, and others. Even during life’s difficult times, they all have found hope in their own special ways. And as
Bonus: Meditation for Dealing with Negativity in the World
Produced together with Calm, here is one of a 5-part series of Mindfulness Tools to offer support during stressful times. Guided by Dr. Murthy, these meditations are intentionally short, meant to fit into your day whenever feels right. We also encourage you to share these episodes with others.
Also, we’d appreciate it if you took a moment to rate and review our podcast. Email us at housecalls@hhs.
Dr. Marisa G. Franco: Why Do Friendships Matter? (Part 2)
How can we help young people build healthy friendships? How do we balance old friendships with new ones? And why should we be strategic about the energy we put into friendships? The truth is, friendship doesn’t just happen. Great friendships take effort.
In Part 2 of our conversation about friendship with Dr. Marisa G. Franco, psychologist and the New York Times bestselling author of “
Bonus: Meditation for Getting Through a Hectic Day
Produced together with Calm, here is one of a 5-part series of Mindfulness Tools to offer support during stressful times. Guided by Dr. Murthy, these meditations are intentionally short, meant to fit into your day whenever feels right. We also encourage you to share these episodes with others.
Also, we’d appreciate it if you took a moment to rate and review our podcast. Email us at housecalls@hhs.
Dr. Marisa G. Franco: Why Do Friendships Matter? (Part 1)
What’s the single best action a person can take now to live a longer life? How do you take the edge off depression? What can single people do to flourish, and partnered people do to revitalize their romantic relationships? One answer: having good friendships.
Our guest is Dr. Marisa G. Franco psychologist and author of “Platonic: How the Science of Attachment Can Help You Make – and Keep - Friends
Bonus: Meditation for Dealing with Change & Uncertainty
Produced together with Calm, here is one of a 5-part series of Mindfulness Tools to offer support during stressful times. Guided by Dr. Murthy, these meditations are intentionally short, meant to fit into your day whenever feels right. We also encourage you to share these episodes with others.
Also, we’d appreciate it if you took a moment to rate and review our podcast, wherever you get your podca
Maya Shankar: Why is Change So Hard?
We all experience change. Sometimes we plan a change, sometimes we’re thrown a curveball. It’s just part of life. But why do some changes feel harder to manage than others? And why does change seem easier for some people than others? Guest Maya Shankar is a cognitive scientist and host of the podcast “A Slight Change of Plans,” where she weaves people’s personal stories of change with the science
Bonus: Meditation for Combating Loneliness
Produced together with Calm, here is one of a 5-part series of Mindfulness Tools to offer support during stressful times. Guided by Dr. Murthy, these meditations are intentionally short, meant to fit into your day whenever feels right. We also encourage you to share these episodes with others.
Also, we’d appreciate it if you took a moment to rate and review our podcast, wherever you get your
Bonus: Meditation for Easing Holiday Stress
Produced together with Calm, we are sharing a 5-part series of Mindfulness Tools to offer support during stressful times. Guided by Dr. Murthy, these meditations are intentionally short, meant to fit into your day whenever feels right. We also encourage you to share these episodes with others.
Also, we’d appreciate it if you took a moment to rate and review our podcast, wherever you get
Dr. Tracy Dennis-Tiwary: Can Anxiety Be Good For Us?
We all experience anxiety as an emotion. It’s part of being human. But can we transform that uncomfortable emotion into a positive? Doing so might require dispelling some common notions about anxiety and learning to counter our own gut reactions in those moments that induce sweaty palms or stage fright. Dr. Tracy Dennis-Tiwary, author of “Future Tense: Why Anxiety is Good For you (Even Though It F
Fred Dust: Can We Talk?
What makes for a meaningful conversation? In an era where polarization, argument, and competition for attention have taken the place of real conversation, it can be hard to know what to say. Fred Dust, author of "Making Conversation," has spent his life thinking about and designing conversations. These days, he finds that people are struggling to connect, avoiding conversation, or even engaging in
Dr. Rosaura Orengo-Aguayo: What Do Natural Disasters Mean for Our Mental Health?
Hurricanes, droughts, forest fires, and other natural disasters make big news. While cameras show us the wreckage when disaster strikes, for communities on the ground, the story does not end there. The effects of these dramatic and scary events are scarring on our mental and emotional health. What does living in a world of worsening natural disasters mean for our mental health? How can we respond
Dr. Becky Kennedy: How Do We Connect With Our Kids?
Missed school. Kids at home during working hours. Delayed social skills. Too much screen time. Did the pandemic do a number on your parenting? (Not that it was easy to begin with!) Dr. Becky Kennedy, known as the “parent whisperer,” burst onto the scene in the nick of time, with a book-load of theories and advice, as well as some U-turns on recent parenting practices. No more time outs and no more
Susan Cain: How Do We Navigate the Joy and Sorrow of Being Human?
What is the feeling you get when a sad, familiar song tugs at you? Or the exquisite pain that comes with the awareness of passing time and loves lost? Best-selling author Susan Cain identifies the simultaneous mixture of joy and sorrow in life as 'bittersweetness'. In this conversation with the Surgeon General, we learn about harnessing the forces of sadness and grief as ways of connecting. Light
Kal Penn: Taking the Path of Most Resistance
What do you do when who you want to be and who the world tells you to be are different? In a world of stereotypes and expectations, how do we figure out who we really are? Actor Kal Penn and the Surgeon General go deep on these questions as they compare notes on growing up as children of immigrants and discuss Penn’s experiences with discrimination, bullying, self-doubt, and societal pressure whil
Dr. Laurie Santos: What Makes Us Happy?
Do we understand what makes us happy? And if we do, can we make ourselves happier? These are the questions Yale Professor Laurie Santos has been studying for years. As students navigate back to school, Dr. Santos and the U.S. Surgeon General explore how we can help our kids, and ourselves, find greater happiness through changing our behavior and shifting our mindset. In a world in which our happin
Jon Kabat-Zinn: Clarity and the Domain of Stillness (Part 2)
What is the difference between loneliness and being alone? The Surgeon General and mindfulness pioneer Jon Kabat-Zinn delve into the complexities of the modern human experience, including the ways technologies that have the power to both bring us together and drive us apart. Embodied wakefulness, says Kabat-Zinn, is the key to showing up whole for a planet-wide renaissance in which everyone leads
Jon Kabat-Zinn: Peace and the Domain of Being (Part 1)
In 1979, Jon Kabat-Zinn took inspiration from a Surgeon General’s report called “Healthy People” to support his pioneering work in the field of mindfulness. Over the next four decades, America experienced a revolution, as millions embraced Kabat-Zinn’s practices for reducing stress. Coming full circle, Kabat-Zinn and the Nation’s Doctor explore the gift of awareness for healing, strengthening, and
Father Greg Boyle: Finding Strength Through Kindness
How do you get people to the other side of trauma? In the 1980s, Father Greg Boyle served as a pastor in LA’s poorest parish — which also had the city’s highest concentration of gang activity. Thirty-four years later, he is known as the founder of Homeboy Industries, the largest gang rehab and re-entry program in the world. The sense of belonging created there is so strong that former gang rivals
Christian Robinson: Why Feeling Like We Matter Really Matters
Growing up in a small, crowded apartment in Los Angeles, Christian Robinson drew castles, imaginary scenes, and gave himself special powers to create the world he wished to inhabit. Inspired by a grandmother who knew how to make something out of nothing, Robinson nurtured his art into a very real superpower – the ability to help children understand the world and feel they matter. This conversation
Kate Bowler: Learning to Live When Life Falls Apart
Kate Bowler’s stage IV cancer diagnosis ushered her into a world of fear and pain. Living in 60-day increments, her future held no promises. Angry about losing the life she had created, the love of family, friends, and her faith community helped Kate forge a new type of strength— learning to lean on others. This conversation between the nation’s doctor and Kate Bowler illuminates how we find truth
José Andrés: Recipe for Connection
Why is food a foundation for human connection? Chef José Andrés has spent a lifetime cooking for friends & family at home, in his many restaurants, and for people stricken by disaster around the world. For José, sharing and providing food spreads the empathy he believes people naturally possess for one another. This conversation between the nation's doctor and the global chef will make you wan
Welcome to House Calls with Dr. Vivek Murthy
House Calls with Dr. Vivek Murthy is a podcast hosted by the 21st U.S. Surgeon General. In each episode, Dr. Murthy and his guests explore the uncertainties of life and how to find meaning and joy along the way. By sharing openly what’s on our minds and in our hearts, this series brings healing through conversation.
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