Chasing Life

If you’re feeling anxious or overwhelmed, taking out the trash or doing laundry is normally the last thing on your mind. Therapist KC Davis says that’s by design. Sometimes, brains are too focused on survival mode to complete even the simplest of tasks. So how can we beat this mental block? On today’s episode, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN’S Chief Medical Correspondent, sits down with Davis to discuss the link between messiness and mental health. Plus, Davis shares her approach to tackling clutter from her book, “How To Keep House While Drowning.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Online dating has changed the way we approach and pursue relationships. Like so much in modern life, potential partners are at the mercy of an algorithm that decides who we interact with. But has technology actually changed what we’re looking for? Can attraction and desire be predicted? Helen Fisher, a biological anthropologist and Chief Science Advisor at Match.com, has been on the front lines of the clash between a centuries-old phenomenon and relatively new technology. In this episode, she talks to CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta about what has and hasn’t changed about the dating brain. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nearly one in five US adults are diagnosed with depression at some point in their lives. As the use of antidepressants have steadily risen since their introduction in the 1980s, what have we learned about depression? Is depression truly a “chemical imbalance” of the brain? And why do antidepressants work for some people and not others? Sanjay talks to Dr. Charles Raison, a professor of psychiatry at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, about what we now believe causes depression, and most importantly, what this means for how we treat the illness - from SSRIs to psychedelics and other emerging therapies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

More than three years after the outset of the Covid-19 pandemic, many long Covid patients are still experiencing brain fog, extreme fatigue, and myriad other health issues, leaving some unable to complete even the most basic of daily tasks. How should long Covid patients approach treatment, let alone everyday life? In this episode, Sanjay speaks to David Putrino, the director of rehabilitation innovation for the Mount Sinai Health System. He tells us about his latest research into identifying a possible biomarker for the condition and how we can all help those at high risk of developing it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The spooky season can be a divisive one. Some of us love being scared, and others avoid it at all costs. Author Stephen King has been terrifying readers for nearly 50 years, and knows what makes us scream. So how does he do it, and what’s happening in our brains when we’re afraid? Does anything frighten the king of horror? Sanjay talks to King, one of his favorite writers, about his latest book, “Holly,” and the benefits of fear in everyday life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Many of us have been told that foods like blueberries, salmon, and leafy greens are “good for the brain.” But what does that really mean? Can eating certain foods make us smarter? More alert? Less stressed? Sanjay talks to nutritional psychiatrist and personal chef, Dr. Uma Naidoo about what foods improve brain function and influence the way we feel. She’ll also share her secret sauce: a few nutritious and delicious ways to eat carbs, fats and sugar. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the latest news cycle, you’re not alone. That’s why, on today’s podcast, Dr. Sanjay Gupta turns to psychiatrist and author Dr. Gail Saltz from the New York Presbyterian Hospital, Weill-Cornell Medical College, to talk about the toll violent images and videos from Israel and Gaza can have on our mental health – even if you’re watching from afar on the news or social media. They’ll address how to talk to children and teens about the ever-evolving situation and share tips on how to manage stress and anxiety when the news cycle is unrelenting. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From the NFL to youth soccer, sports teams have been forced to reckon with decades of research showing the risks of repeated blows to the head through contact sports. At the same time, participation in organized team sports has been found to be extremely beneficial for the developing brain. So how should parents square those facts and find a safe middle ground for their kids? In this episode, Sanjay speaks to Julie Stamm, a clinical assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Kinesiology and author of the book “The Brain on Youth Sports.” She explains why even those who don’t play sports should be aware of the risks and shares tips on how we all can keep our heads protected. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens in the brain during menopause? As it turns out, the brain gets remodeled, and even rewired, during that very specific time of life. And, while menopause often includes symptoms like hot flashes, brain fog, and mood swings... you may be surprised to learn it’s not all bad! On this episode of Chasing Life, Dr. Sanjay Gupta learns from neuroscientist Dr. Lisa Mosconi that there are upsides to this biological phase natural to half the human population. Plus, ways female-identifying people can prepare for it, and a possible link between menopause and Alzheimer’s. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you someone who needs a cup of coffee or spot of tea to start the day? Would you be surprised to hear that the key ingredient, the thing that gives you that morning boost - caffeine - is also a psychoactive drug? Whether it’s coffee, tea or soda, people around the world consume some form of caffeine every day. Even kids! But what is it actually doing to our brains? What causes that jolt of energy in the morning, and what are the drawbacks? On this episode of Chasing Life, Dr. Sanjay Gupta talks to science writer Michael Pollan about his research, the history of caffeine – and quitting cold turkey. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From work responsibilities to social engagements to family commitments, our days are jam-packed, and it can be tough to give your brain a break. Rest is an important ingredient for good health, but do you really understand why? On this episode of Chasing Life, Professor Victoria Garfield, who studies sleep and how it impacts our brains and our bodies as we get older, explains what it is about rest that is so good for our brains. Why it’s so important to take time to relax and what surprising new research tells us about the simple act of napping. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you have trouble focusing on books, work, or even TV shows, you’re not alone. The fact is our attention spans are getting shorter. And it can feel like our ability to perform and be productive is harder. But is a shorter attention span actually impacting our brain function and overall health? Does it really help to block distractions like social media? In our first episode of an all new season, Sanjay speaks to Gloria Mark, a professor of informatics at the University of California, Irvine, and author of “Attention Span: A Groundbreaking Way to Restore Balance, Happiness and Productivity.” She’ll tell us what’s actually going on in the brain when we’re attentive and why we’re less focused than we used to be. Professor Mark will also share tips for sharpening our attention spans that go beyond “just put down your phone.” To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Over the last year on the podcast Sanjay has been having some very candid conversations with his family. On this special episode of Chasing Life, we revisit conversations with his wife, Rebecca and daughters, Soleil, Sage and Sky about smartphones, social media and their impact on young people. Sanjay also speaks with his brother, Suneel and parents, Damyanti and Subhash, about the myth of the midlife crisis and the ways that we approach life as we age. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Sanjay Gupta examines the potential benefits of medical marijuana. Over the last 10 years, Dr. Gupta's reporting on the topic has produced seven CNN documentaries. In his most recent investigation, he meets scientists and families who found success using marijuana for patients suffering with dementia. This special report originally aired on CNN on August 6, 2023. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chasing Life is taking a short break and will be back with new episodes next month. This week, we are sharing Dr. Gupta’s most recent documentary examining the potential benefits of medical marijuana. His investigation explores the fastest growing group of cannabis users, people who are 65 and older. This special report originally aired on CNN on August 6, 2023. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

All season, we’ve been exploring how we can all make the most of our age, at any age. But can where we live improve our longevity? In this episode, Dr. Sanjay Gupta speaks with National Geographic Fellow and author Dan Buettner. He tells us about the five communities around the world he identified where people live longer and healthier lives than the rest of us, dubbed “Blue Zones.” We’ll explore what they are doing right and how we can apply those findings to our daily lives. And to celebrate the final episode of this season, check out the Chasing Life: Better with Age Playlist assembled by the team. https://qrco.de/beElWD To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cannabis is often thought of as a young person’s drug. But the reality is that more and more people of all ages are asking their doctors about medical marijuana to treat a whole host of issues, from chronic pain, insomnia, and even some of the symptoms associated with dementia. What's behind this trend? To learn about the benefits and risks of this type of treatment, Dr. Gupta turns to Dr. Aaron Greenstein, a geriatric psychiatrist who treats patients over the age of 65 with mental health issues. Dr. Greenstein will share his personal story of using cannabis to help his grandmother in her final days, and what patients of all ages should consider when seeking out this type of treatment. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Caloric restriction. Blood transfusions. Hormetic stress. Off-label meds. As CNN’s Chief Medical Correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta is often asked about the latest “hacks” for longevity that pop up in the news. But do any of these interventions actually work? Can aging actually be stopped, much less reversed? In this episode, Sanjay speaks with Dr. Nir Barzilai, the director of the Institute for Aging Research at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. He believes one of the keys to battling aging lies in our cells and genetic makeup. Plus, we hear from self-professed “biohackers,” who have some tips we can all try to extend our healthy years. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's no secret there’s added pressure on women to appear ‘ageless.’ But is the pressure to appear youthful getting better or worse? On this episode, Sanjay sits down with actress, filmmaker and author Justine Bateman, who recently made headlines when she announced her decision to forgo fillers or plastic surgery and age ‘naturally.’ Why is a choice like this still so controversial? And what does that say about the way we view aging? Plus, University of California at Irvine Sociology Professor Sabrina Strings explains how attitudes about age and beauty impacts women on a whole different level, and what needs to be done to change the cycle. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For years, people have been faced with the possibility of suffering a ‘midlife crisis’ when they near age 40. But is the concept scientifically sound? And now that millennials are entering midlife, is what they’re experiencing different than previous generations? In this episode, Sanjay has a candid conversation with his younger brother Suneel about how he is approaching middle age. Then, University of British Columbia professor Nancy Sin explains why midlife is becoming more stressful, and how we all can better deal with it. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices