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Health & Fitness

TED Health

TED

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.

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  • 39 episodes
  • Avg 27 min
  • English

Episodes 39

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  • Today · 33 min

    All the lonely people | from Corner Piece

    From group chats to video calls, technology should make social connection easier than ever. So, why is everyone so lonely? In this episode, Sabrina sets out to investigate the "loneliness epidemic" that is sweeping the globe and impacting her friends and cohosts. She interviews Professor Fay Bound-Alberti, author of "A Biography of Loneliness: The History of an Emotion" to understand what loneliness is, where it comes from, and whether there is a "cure". In the process, Taha and Melissa challenge Sabrina to tackle her own loneliness through a sidequest that reveals just how hard connection can be in modern life. Hear more episodes of Corner Piece on your favorite podcast app or here: https://link.mgln.ai/L3EFz6 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • September 29 · 36 min

    What is pain? with Rachel Zoffness

    Where does pain originate? According to Rachel Zoffness, a scientist and psychologist who studies pain, research shows that pain originates in the brain. In this episode Rachel joins Shoshana to talk about how stress and anxiety can amplify pain. They also discuss the ways medical programs fall short when they don’t teach biopsychosocial pain education and how understanding pain can help you regain power over your body. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • September 24 · 12 min

    The Myth of Normal (1/5): The brain science of obesity | Mads Tang-Christensen

    Your belly and your brain speak to each other, says obesity researcher Mads Tang-Christensen. Offering scientific proof that obesity is a disease influenced by genetics and the environment, he introduces a molecule discovered in both the brain and gut that helps control appetite -- and which could be engineered to promote healthy weight loss for those living with obesity. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • September 24 · 16 min

    The Myth of Normal (2/5): Why autism is often missed in women and girls | Kate Kahle

    Women and girls with autism spectrum disorder often don’t display the behaviors people typically associate with neurodivergence, greatly impacting when, how -- and if -- they are diagnosed. Autism acceptance advocate Kate Kahle makes the case for more research into this gender discrepancy, sharing her personal experience with masking, being diagnosed as a teenager and how it allowed her to better understand herself. “Autism is not a disease, and it doesn’t need to be cured,” she says. “It’s just a different way some brains can work.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • September 24 · 19 min

    The Myth of Normal (4/5): How to hack your brain when you're in pain | Amy Baxter

    Have we misunderstood pain? Researcher and physician Amy Baxter unravels the symphony of connections that send pain from your body to your brain, explaining practical neuroscience hacks to quickly block those signals. Her groundbreaking research offers alternatives for immediate pain relief -- without the need for addictive opioids. (Followed by a Q&A with TED current affairs curator Whitney Pennington Rodgers) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • September 24 · 16 min

    The Myth of Normal (5/5): How to do laundry when you're depressed | KC Davis

    Ever had a hard time doing daily household tasks -- cooking, cleaning, laundry -- and felt like a terrible person for struggling in the first place? Therapist KC Davis is here to flip that negative internalized script with a simple yet perspective-shifting fact that may change your approach to life. Learn a gentler, more practical approach to mental health as Davis shares hard-won wisdom and helpful shortcuts on how to get by when you feel like you've barely got it together. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • September 22 · 20 min

    The human cell is wildly complex. Can AI decode it? | Silvana Konermann

    Silvana Konermann and the team at Arc Institute are trying to crack one of science's most difficult problems: why complex diseases like Alzheimer's and cancer remain so stubbornly unsolvable, even as research advances. Her solution is a universal “virtual cell” — an AI model trained on a billion biological experiments that can read the language of human cells, predict what's going wrong and reveal how to fix it. In conversation with TED’s Chris Anderson, Konermann explores how this work could fundamentally change the way we discover drugs and treat disease. (This ambitious idea is part of The Audacious Project, TED’s initiative to inspire and fund global change.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • September 15 · 27 min

    The benefits of nontraditional healthcare with Dr. Charles Moore

    When Dr. Charles Moore, professor in the Otolaryngology or ENT department (Ear, Nose, and Throat), saw patients coming in with undiagnosed late-stage diseases, he decided to do something about it. Dr. Moore got into his car and drove directly to neighborhoods to administer care. In this episode. Dr. Moore joins Shoshana to talk about the various programs he implemented, including the “Walk With a Doc” program where patients can go on walks with doctors and ask questions outside traditional healthcare locations such as hospitals and clinics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • September 8 · 36 min

    What listening to live concerts do to your ears with Jim Hudspeth (Senses Miniseries #5)

    When attending live music events, it’s tempting to want to immerse in the full experience—standing by the stereo, head banging near the stage, singing at the top of your lungs. But in maximizing your concert experience, are you harming your body? In this final episode of the Senses Miniseries, Shoshana shares talks that touch on the consequences of loud noise exposure and a surprising benefit of ear protection. Talks featured The beautiful, mysterious science of how you hear | Jim Hudspeth What is earwax — and should you get rid of it? | TED Ed Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • September 1 · 20 min

    The nurse who can smell Parkinson’s | Joy Milne (Senses Miniseries #4)

    What does Parkinson's smell like? Ask nurse Joy Milne. Born with a hypersensitive nose, she spent a lifetime learning to recognize diseases through their scents. When she smelled Parkinson's on her husband years before his diagnosis, she decided to put her gift to the test. Today, her extraordinary nose has been translated into a non-invasive test — helping researchers diagnose what was right under their noses all along. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • August 27 · 53 min

    Living a Meaningful Life (1/5): Aging, menopause, and rethinking fashion for comfort in midlife with Stacy London

    “My lens around style doesn’t have anything to do with style anymore — it’s about physicality,” says stylist and fashion consultant Stacy London. “What do I want to be able to do? How do I keep myself strong?” Stacy’s message has resonated for many women, and for this episode, she joins Dr. Shoshana Ungerleider, host of TED Health, at TED2025 for a special live conversation about why women are so embarrassed to talk about aging. For Stacy, aging became a chance to reassess her relationship to her body, and her experience with menopause and spinal surgery shifted her focus to health and wellbeing. Her best advice on what you can do to feel good in your skin? Throw away the most painful pair of shoes you own. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • August 27 · 23 min

    Living a Meaningful Life (2/5): Why venting doesn’t help you deal with anger | Jennifer Parlamis

    Does venting actually help you cool off, or does it just add fuel to the fire? Social psychologist Jennifer Parlamis busts common myths about anger, showing how curiosity — not catharsis — can keep you calm. Discover the surprising science behind anger management and four practical tools for building stronger relationships from a researcher who’s rethinking Freud, one deep breath at a time. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • August 27 · 15 min

    Living a Meaningful Life (3/5): Your guide to finding a workout that works

    Welcome back to our "A Healthier You" series, where TED Health host Shoshana Ungerleider guides you on a journey to your healthiest self. Join her and healthcare experts as they uncover insights that could revolutionize your understanding of health – from your heart to your brain to your gut. Embarking on a fitness journey can be overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be intimidating. In today's episode, Shoshana unveils practical strategies for creating an exercise routine that lasts and explores all kinds of workouts – from weightlifting to walking. She shares motivational fitness tips that will inspire both beginners and experienced athletes to move more, even amid life's busy schedules. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • August 27 · 26 min

    Living a Meaningful Life (4/5): How to achieve fulfillment -- not just success | Ira Bedzow

    Join Shoshana in this live taping at TEDNext 2024 for a perspective-shifting conversation on achievement with ethicist, author, and rabbi Ira Bedzow. Shoshana and Ira challenge the way today’s culture and individuals look at success, exploring life’s deeper meaning and purpose in a time that celebrates "urgency culture." You’ll gain practical strategies for reducing burnout, improving your mental well-being, and aligning your actions with your values. This is the last episode of our series "A Healthier You" -- check out the rest of the episodes and tell us what you think by leaving us a review wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • August 27 · 24 min

    Living a Meaningful Life (5/5): What happens as we die? | Kathryn Mannix

    Have we lost the practical wisdom of what happens as people die? With lessons from a career witnessing thousands of people's final breaths, palliative care expert Kathryn Mannix urges us to demystify the experience of death, sharing how a better understanding of what actually happens can reduce fear in the final days, for you and your loved ones. After the talk, Shoshana shares how one patient changed her life forever and led her to found endwellproject.org, a platform dedicated to making end-of-life PART of life. This episode originally aired on March 26, 2024. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • August 25 · 33 min

    How to actually take care of your eye health with Rupa Wong (Senses Miniseries #3)

    Are screens ruining our eyesight? Will eating carrots fix your vision? And are blue light glasses essential… or a scam?! In this episode in the five-part miniseries on senses, Dr. Rupa Wong joins Shoshana to talk about eye diseases, what technology is doing to our vision, and why spending at least 2 hours a day in the sun can help your eyesight. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • August 18 · 17 min

    What happens in your brain when you taste food | Camilla Arndal Andersen (Senses Miniseries #2)

    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.

  • August 11 · 26 min

    Does touch strengthen your brain? with David Eagleman (Senses Miniseries #1)

    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 acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • August 4 · 54 min

    What we're getting wrong about teens and tech | Candice Odgers | Your Body on Tech

    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 health problems. Hear her analysis of what’s really troubling kids these days, and why banning them from online spaces may make things worse. And stick around after her talk for a deep dive conversation with our guest host for the week, author and podcaster Manoush Zomorodi, into the ideas she shared on stage and beyond. This is episode two of a seven-part series airing this week on TED Talks Daily, where Manoush — and the seven speakers she curated for TED2026 — explore how you can live a healthier life in our high-tech era. To hear more from Manoush, listen to TED Radio Hour wherever you get your podcasts. Check out her new book, Body Electric, to learn more about the hidden health costs of the digital age. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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