Sara Sidner is a hard-hitting CNN journalist. Ananda Lewis is a content creator and former 90s MTV host. Both are living with breast cancer. Both are also the best friends of CNN's Stephanie Elam who asked them to sit down and talk – and get real – about their fears, their determination and their newfound joy after this devastating diagnosis. In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Chasing Life brings you this special conversation between three friends about a journey that is all too familiar for so many.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Overwhelmed, stressed, constantly anxious – that's life as a parent, right? If you feel this way, the good and bad news is that you’re not alone. CNN’s Chief Medical Dr. Sanjay Gupta, a father of three teenage girls, turns to parenting expert Dr. Becky Kennedy – known online simply as ‘Dr. Becky’ -- for advice. And they get personal. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The brain is one of the most complex and mysterious organs in our body, and neurosurgeons are at the forefront of unraveling its secrets. But what’s it really like behind the scenes in the operating room, and how do neurosurgeons view the brain’s deepest mysteries? Sanjay sits down with Dr. Theodore Schwartz, a leading neurosurgeon and author of Gray Matters, to delve into the personal experiences that have shaped their careers, explore the impact of AI on brain surgery, and how their work pushes the boundaries of what we know about the human mind. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The U.S. government recently proposed rescheduling cannabis from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug — basically signaling it has some accepted medical use and a moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence. But what does this mean in the real world exactly? Sanjay talks with “The Pot Doc” Dr. Staci Gruber, Director of the Marijuana Investigations for Neuroscientific Discovery (MIND) program in Boston, to explore the possible impacts of this rescheduling on research, healthcare, and yes – even you.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Antibiotics have been hailed as a "miracle drug" since the discovery of penicillin in 1928. But now, more bacteria are developing resistance to antibiotics, making them difficult or nearly impossible to treat. One recent study estimated that these so-called “superbugs” could cause nearly 40 million deaths worldwide between now and 2050. Dr. Sanjay Gupta speaks to researchers exploring the use of naturally occurring viruses that destroy bacteria, to see if they can be used as an alternative treatment method when all else fails, and before time runs out. This special report originally aired December 3rd, 2023. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

One of the most dangerous plays in football, the kickoff, is getting a makeover this year. The NFL introduced new rules aimed at reducing injuries while also making the game more exciting. Sanjay talks with Dr. Allen Sills, the NFL’s Chief Medical Officer, about the future of football, how to balance safety with excitement, and what it’s like to be brain doctors who love a dangerous game. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Anxiety and depression are surging on college campuses, according to research from the University of Michigan. Two in five teens say they feel persistently sad or lonely, in a recent report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sanjay sits down with psychologist Dr. Nance Roy to unpack why college student mental health was declining long before the pandemic, what’s impacting students’ wellbeing, and some steps to foster a healthy semester. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

New developments in actor Matthew Perry’s death are shining a light on the ethics and efficacy of using ketamine as a therapeutic drug. To learn more about the promise and pitfalls of ketamine treatment, CNN’s Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta turns to David Feifel, one of the first clinicians in the country to use ketamine to specifically treat depression. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This has been the hottest summer on record for nearly 100 US cities. Extreme heat isn't just uncomfortable, it can also cause a lot of harm -- even death. Dr. Sanjay Gupta talks to Dr. Gaurab Basu, a Harvard assistant professor and climate change expert about the very real effects of extreme temperatures on the human body.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We've all heard about the importance of wearing sunscreen, but recent headlines have raised questions about the safety and effectiveness of certain ingredients found in chemical sunscreens. In this special Chasing Life: Spotlight, CNN Medical Correspondent Meg Tirrell investigates some of the questions and concerns surrounding sunscreen. She speaks with skin cancer researcher Dr. Rachel Neale and Dr. Laura Vandenberg, who studies potential effects of certain sunscreen chemicals on hormone function. Hear about the latest findings on ingredient safety and how they could impact your daily sun protection routine.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We’ve all heard the phrase, “money doesn’t buy happiness.” But, Elizabeth Dunn, a professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of British Columbia, says that isn’t necessarily true. She sits down with Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN’s Chief Medical Correspondent, to talk about her research into getting the “biggest happiness bang for our bucks,” and lessons from her book, “Happy Money: The Science of Happier Spending.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Have you ever wondered why some people seem naturally happier than others? Or if there are any universal keys to happiness? Sanjay sits down with social psychologist and University of California Riverside Professor Sonja Lyubomirsky who has been studying happiness for the last 35 years. The author of The How of Happiness discusses her findings and what she calls “happiness interventions” as well as how we can apply these practices in our own lives to boost our happiness.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Have you ever wondered if stress and trauma from your past could be making you sick? Author and trauma expert Dr. Gabor Maté, says our past experiences may literally be the root cause of “trauma related illness,” something he writes about in his most recent book, “The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness, and Healing in a Toxic Culture.” Drawing on his experience as both a Holocaust survivor, and a physician, Mate sits down with Dr. Sanjay Gupta for an intimate and wide-ranging conversation to share his steps for healing and living happier lives. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dr. Anthony Fauci became a household name during the COVID-19 pandemic as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. But the coronavirus pandemic wasn’t the first public health crisis Dr. Fauci helped Americans navigate, or the first time he’s come under fire. Dr. Fauci sits down for an interview with CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta to discuss his life and new memoir "On Call: A Doctor’s Journey in Public Service." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With the surge in telemedicine, therapy has seen a remarkable rise in popularity. But could therapy hold the key to a happier life? And should everyone go to therapy? Sanjay speaks with psychotherapist Lori Gottlieb, acclaimed author of "Maybe You Should Talk to Someone," and co-host of the Dear Therapists podcast, about how therapy can actually change your brain and get you one step closer to achieving happiness. Plus, Lori sheds light on the surprising ways therapy can reshape your perspective, especially for those who are therapy-curious. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Do you spend time worrying about what could go wrong in the future, or stressing about something you did or said in the past? That nagging feeling has a name: anxiety. But what if worrying about preventing anxiety is actually getting in the way of our happiness? New York University neuroscientist Wendy Suzuki is on a mission to help more people accept, and even embrace, what she calls “the most misunderstood emotion.” In this episode, we’ll explore an unexpected solution to happiness: embracing stress and how accepting “good” anxiety can help us feel happier and more at ease with uncomfortable feelings. Plus, Professor Suzuki explains why our society’s obsession with avoiding anxiety and negative emotions may be doing more harm than good. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Have you ever wondered: What does it mean to be truly happy? Can our brain chemistry, or even our genetics, determine how we feel about our lives? And, most importantly, can we learn to be even happier? Cognitive scientist and Yale University Psychology Professor Laurie Santos has spent her career researching these questions. As the host of The Happiness Lab, Laurie has gone on her own journey to discover what it truly means to be happy. On today’s podcast episode, Professor Santos will share her findings and how she says we can re-train our brains to make better choices, build better habits, and ultimately, be happier.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It turns out a simple “thank you” really can go a long way. In fact, giving thanks doesn’t just make others feel good – it can also boost your own mental and physical well-being. Dr. Sanjay Gupta hears how gratitude helped one woman navigate a life-changing medical diagnosis. Plus, how you can implement a gratitude practice into your daily life. This episode originally aired on May 17, 2022. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We've all heard of processed foods, but what about ultraprocessed foods, which make up more than half of the typical American diet? In this special Chasing Life: Spotlight, CNN Medical Correspondent Meg Tirrell explores how these foods became so widespread and the potential risks they pose to our health. She speaks with Professor Marion Nestle, a leading authority on nutrition and food policy and NIH senior investigator Kevin Hall, who conducted the first and only controlled clinical trial on ultraprocessed foods. Hear about the study's remarkable findings; it may change some of the choices you make in the grocery store.    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The U.S. is grappling with a recently discovered outbreak of avian influenza in dairy cows, driven by the highly pathogenic H5N1 virus. It's the first instance that the bird flu virus has been detected in US cattle. How concerned should we be about drinking milk or even eating chicken? And could this lead to the next pandemic? Sanjay speaks with epidemiologist Prof. Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, about the complexities of the current outbreak and what the public needs to know right now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For many of us, our weight and eating habits feel deeply intertwined. But how do you strike a balance between eating for pleasure and eating for fuel? How can we reframe our relationship with food – so it doesn't revolve around what’s “bad” or “good?” Sanjay speaks with Dr. Linda Shiue, an internal medicine physician, trained chef, and the author of Spicebox Kitchen. Dr. Shiue sheds light on sustainable approaches to healthy eating and we’ll hear from listeners about the foods that bring them joy.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/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

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

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

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

The Chasing Life team is off for the holiday, we'll be back next week with another new episode. In the meantime, we are sharing another CNN Audio series, The Prince Mixtape. A series that takes listeners inside the life of one of the greatest American music icons through the people who knew him, worked with him or simply loved him from afar. Host Nichole Perkins digs deep into key moments of his life like when his sexually liberated lyrics gave birth to the Parental Advisory sticker, when he fought to own his masters, and when he rocked that infamous booty cut-out pantsuit. Just like a treasured mixtape from your favorite crush, this show is a reflection of the moments, the thrill and the passion, that made up Prince’s life.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

A recent advisory from US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy says there’s not enough evidence to determine whether social media is safe enough for children and adolescents when it comes to their mental health. In this special episode of Chasing Life, Dr. Sanjay Gupta goes one-on-one with Dr. Murthy to examine what led him to sound the alarm, and who should be responsible for tackling the issue. Plus, Sanjay will reflect on conversations he’s had with his own family about the topic and ask Dr. Murthy how his family handles screen time and social media.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

Dr. Sanjay Gupta examines the potential benefits of medical marijuana. Over 10 years, Dr. Gupta's reporting on the topic has produced six CNN documentaries and a seventh is in the works. In this episode, the very first of those CNN documentaries. Dr. Gupta travels the world and speaks to experts and patients looking for answers. What does marijuana do to you? What does it do to your kids? In the process of his reporting, Dr. Gupta made some discoveries of his own. This special report originally aired on CNN on August 11, 2013.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

Dr. Sanjay Gupta examines the potential benefits of medical marijuana. Over 10 years, Dr. Gupta's reporting on the topic has produced six CNN documentaries and a seventh is in the works. In this episode, the very first of those CNN documentaries, Dr. Gupta travels the world and speaks to experts and patients looking for answers. What does marijuana do to you? What does it do to your kids? In the process of his reporting, Dr. Gupta made some discoveries of his own. This special report originally aired on CNN on August 11, 2013.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

Remember how awkward and confused you felt as a teen? It's a time of so many big changes – growth spurts, body hair, and acne, just to name a few – but perhaps the most radical transformation is going on inside the adolescent brain. Dr. Sanjay Gupta dives into the neuroscience of the teen brain with psychologist Valerie Reyna to figure out how teens make decisions and weigh risks. Plus, tips for teens (and anyone who’s been a teen) on how we can support one another through this challenging stage of life. This episode was originally released on February 15, 2022.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

Dr. Sanjay Gupta travels to Cuba to investigate one of the most complex and controversial brain mysteries in recent years known as "Havana Syndrome." First reported by two dozen U.S. officials in Havana, Cuba starting in 2016, these unexplained health incidents have since multiplied to include hundreds of reports of concussion-like injuries around the globe. Despite various government investigations, American officials have yet to make clear what is behind these injuries and whether a directed energy weapon may be to blame. Dr. Gupta sets out to explain the truth behind "Havana Syndrome," the extent of its impact on the brain, and the potential continuing threat facing government officials at home and abroad. This special report originally aired on CNN on September 25, 2022.  To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

Dr. Sanjay Gupta travels to Cuba to investigate one of the most complex and controversial brain mysteries in recent years known as "Havana Syndrome." First reported by two dozen U.S. officials in Havana, Cuba starting in 2016, these unexplained health incidents have since multiplied to include hundreds of reports of concussion-like injuries around the globe. Despite various government investigations, American officials have yet to make clear what is behind these injuries and whether a directed energy weapon may be to blame. Dr. Gupta sets out to explain the truth behind "Havana Syndrome," the extent of its impact on the brain, and the potential continuing threat facing government officials at home and abroad. This special report originally aired on CNN on September 25, 2022.   To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy