The Nocturnists
The Nocturnists is an award-winning medical storytelling podcast, hosted by physician Emily Silverman. We feature personal stories from frontline clinicians, conversations with healthcare-related authors and art-makers, and special podcast documentary series such as “Post-Roe America,” “Shame in Medicine,” “Black Voices in Healthcare,” and “Stories from a Pandemic. Our mission is to humanize healthcare and foster joy, wonder, and curiosity among clinicians and patients alike. **Anthem Award winner, two-time Webby Award nominee, and Ambie Award finalist for Best Indie Podcast in 2023.** Learn more at thenocturnists.org.
info_outline
Practice and Reality with Solange Madriz, MA, MS
04/30/2026
Practice and Reality with Solange Madriz, MA, MS
Solange Madriz, a public health professional at UCSF, reflects on her work training birth attendants and clinicians in rural Guatemala to respond to maternal emergencies through low-cost simulation. For years, she helped others prepare for postpartum hemorrhage, preeclampsia, and other life-threatening complications of childbirth. Then, after the birth of her own first child during the pandemic, she developed severe postpartum preeclampsia and found herself on the other side of the hospital bed. In our conversation, Solange talks about public health, maternal health, the limits of knowledge when your own body is in crisis, and how her own medical experience changed the way she thinks about her work. Solange originally performed this story at a live storytelling event produced as a part of our program. Looking for more from The Nocturnists? Explore , our subscriber-only feed featuring The Nocturnists After Hours—a monthly series where host Emily Silverman is joined by executive producer Dr. Ali Block for more informal, open conversations about medicine, culture, and their own lived experiences. Subscriptions start at just $10/mo and include exclusive discounts on our . Learn more or subscribe at .
/episode/index/show/thenocturnists/id/41061005
info_outline
Failure and Grace with mike Reid, MD
04/23/2026
Failure and Grace with mike Reid, MD
In this episode, infectious disease physician and global health leader reflects on a moment early in his career working in Botswana, when a young patient died in front of him despite his efforts to help. The experience brought back a memory from childhood, when he first heard his father quietly describe himself as a failure. In a field where the needs often far exceed the available resources, mike explores how physicians learn to live with doubt, responsibility, and the persistent feeling of not doing enough. Together we talk about the emotional landscape of global health, the role of failure in medicine, and what it means to keep trying anyway. mike originally performed this story at a live storytelling event produced as a part of our program. Looking for more from The Nocturnists? Explore , our subscriber-only feed featuring The Nocturnists After Hours—a monthly series where host Emily Silverman is joined by executive producer Dr. Ali Block for more informal, open conversations about medicine, culture, and their own lived experiences. Subscriptions start at just $10/mo and include exclusive discounts on our . Learn more or subscribe at .
/episode/index/show/thenocturnists/id/40984410
info_outline
Held in Prayer with Nikki Mittal, DO
04/16/2026
Held in Prayer with Nikki Mittal, DO
While navigating a painful period in her personal life, ICU physician Nikki Mittal cares for a patient with severe brain injury whose family is preparing to withdraw life support. After a difficult earlier interaction that leaves her questioning herself, the family gathers on the day of withdrawal and unexpectedly asks to pray for her. In that moment, the usual direction of care shifts—the doctor who came to support the family finds herself receiving comfort and reassurance from them instead. Nikki originally performed this story at a live Satellites Storytelling event produced by Dr. Shayne Poulin and the Riverside-San Bernardino Chapter of CAFP in 2025. This event was generously funded by the , as a part of our . Looking for more from The Nocturnists? Explore , our subscriber-only feed featuring The Nocturnists After Hours—a monthly series where host Emily Silverman is joined by executive producer Dr. Ali Block for more informal, open conversations about medicine, culture, and their own lived experiences. Subscriptions start at just $10/mo and include exclusive discounts on our . Learn more or subscribe at .
/episode/index/show/thenocturnists/id/40893875
info_outline
Introducing: The Nocturnists+
04/15/2026
Introducing: The Nocturnists+
We’re excited to be launching , a subscriber-only feed featuring a special monthly episode called The Nocturnists After Hours, as well as discounted rates on our awesome new merch. The Nocturnists After Hours episodes are more intimate and unstructured—a space where I step away from formal interviews to join executive producer Ali Block for casual, open conversations about medicine, culture, and our personal journeys. For our first episode, Ali and I talk about what it means to be “the doctor” in your family—the one people call when something feels off, when a diagnosis doesn’t sit right, or when things start to fall apart. It’s a role that comes with a strange mix of pride and pressure. There are moments where you can help in meaningful ways. And moments where all that knowledge just makes things harder. We found ourselves circling a question that doesn’t have a clean answer: when do you step in, and when do you let go? We’re really excited about this new corner of our community, and we’d love your input as it takes shape—especially around the kinds of conversations you’d like to hear, whether Q&As, deep dives into philosophical questions related to healthcare, or explorations of trending medical stories. Today, we’re sharing a short teaser of our first After Hours episode. The full episode is out now in our subscriber feed, with new ones dropping the second Tuesday of every month. Subscriptions start at just $10/month, and for the next two weeks, we’re offering 10% off for early subscribers. We invite you to learn more or subscribe at:
/episode/index/show/thenocturnists/id/40877935
info_outline
Choosing Home with Tiffany Chan, OD
01/08/2026
Choosing Home with Tiffany Chan, OD
Tiffany Chan shares how her journey from a small-town family optometry practice to high-intensity academic medicine at Johns Hopkins was transformed when her mother suffered a major brain bleed, drawing her back home to care for her family. Ultimately, her mother’s recovery, later passing, and the deep relationships her parents built with their patients helped Tiffany realize that the meaningful, community-rooted life she truly valued was in Grass Valley, where she now continues the family practice and honors her mother’s legacy. Tiffany originally performed this story at Medicine Story: on the meanings of healing, a live storytelling event produced by Dr. Rebecca George from the Sierra Valley Health Center in Nevada City, CA in 2025. This event was generously funded by the , as a part of our S. The Nocturnists is made possible by the and donations from listeners like you. This episode of Stories from the World of Medicine is sponsored by . and our friends at the podcast .
/episode/index/show/thenocturnists/id/39654990
info_outline
A Soft Place to Land with Frances Southwick, DO
12/18/2025
A Soft Place to Land with Frances Southwick, DO
Physician and writer Frances Southwick tells a deeply personal story about love and illness. Growing up queer in rural Colorado, Frances experiences mysterious episodes of sudden paralysis triggered by intense emotion, beginning in adolescence and persisting for decades without a diagnosis. After years of shame, misattribution, and near-abandonment of dreams, Frances falls in love with Judith, builds a life with her, and finally receives a diagnosis of type 1 narcolepsy with cataplexy—explaining why moments of beauty, joy, and love literally caused collapse. Frances originally performed this story at Medicine Story: on the meanings of healing, a live storytelling event produced by Dr. Rebecca George from the Sierra Valley Health Center in Nevada City, CA in 2025. This event was generously funded by the , as a part of our S. The Nocturnists is made possible by the and donations from listeners like you. This episode of Stories from the World of Medicine is sponsored by . and our friends at the podcast .
/episode/index/show/thenocturnists/id/39453845
info_outline
Medicine Beyond Medicine with Alicia Ashorn & Anthony Thigpen
12/11/2025
Medicine Beyond Medicine with Alicia Ashorn & Anthony Thigpen
Community health workers Alicia Ashorn and Anthony Thigpen share their personal stories—Alicia’s journey through addiction and recovery, and Anthony’s path through grief, transformation, and reentry work—and how these experiences shape their care for people returning from incarceration. In the conversation that follows, they reflect on the power of storytelling, the emotional complexity of supporting clients in crisis, and the wisdom required to balance compassion with boundaries. Through vivid anecdotes from the field, they illuminate the essential yet often unseen role of community health workers as bridges between the clinic and the community, offering trust, dignity, and hope to people navigating systems that routinely fail them. Alicia and Anthony originally told their stories at Journeys of Healing: Stories of Resilience and Transformation, a storytelling event presented by in Los Angeles in 2025. The event was made possible by a generous grant from the in support of our program, . The Nocturnists is made possible by the and donations from listeners like you. This episode of Stories from the World of Medicine is sponsored by . and our friends at the podcast .
/episode/index/show/thenocturnists/id/39367240
info_outline
Stories that Save Us with Sharon Fennix
11/26/2025
Stories that Save Us with Sharon Fennix
spent 38 years incarcerated before becoming the hotline coordinator for the (TCN), where she now supports people returning to the community with empathy, compassion, and lived experience. In this episode, she talks with Emily about reentry, the power of peer support, and the creative life she built inside prison—evolving from seamstress to playwright, director, and storyteller whose productions bridged divides and transformed her own sense of self. Sharon was a producer for Journeys of Healing: Stories of Resilience and Transformation, a storytelling event presented by the Transitions Clinic Network in Los Angeles in 2025. The event was made possible by a generous grant from the in support of our program, . The Nocturnists is made possible by the and donations from listeners like you. This episode of Stories from the World of Medicine is sponsored by .
/episode/index/show/thenocturnists/id/39175470
info_outline
The Nurse and the Nun with Linda Wick, DNP, APRN
11/13/2025
The Nurse and the Nun with Linda Wick, DNP, APRN
Nurse practitioner Linda Wick has spent more than four decades in medicine, beginning her journey as a six-year-old watching nurses care for her injured brother. In today’s story, she recalls the early lessons that shaped her career—from the strict nuns who taught her at the College of St. Scholastica to the life-and-death responsibilities of the ICU and dialysis unit. When a medical emergency reunites her with one of her toughest teachers, Sister Helen, Linda is forced to confront the words that haunted her for years. Linda originally performed this story live on stage at Intersections, a live storytelling event produced by the in Minneapolis in 2024 through our program, . The Nocturnists is made possible by the and donations from listeners like you. This episode of Stories from the World of Medicine is sponsored by .
/episode/index/show/thenocturnists/id/39015085
info_outline
Birth and Poetry with Sarah Auna
11/06/2025
Birth and Poetry with Sarah Auna
Birth doula has attended nearly 500 births. Today, she shares the story of one particularly powerful birth—an experience that unfolded not only in the body, but in the mind and spirit of everyone present. Through vivid storytelling, Sarah reflects on the physiology and psychology of labor, the art of creating safety in moments of intensity, and the lessons birth has taught her about trust, presence, and self-knowledge. Sarah originally performed this story live on stage at Intersections, a live storytelling event produced by the in Minneapolis in 2024 through our program, . Music by (song: "Lioness") The Nocturnists is made possible by the and donations from listeners like you. This episode of Stories from the World of Medicine is sponsored by .
/episode/index/show/thenocturnists/id/38934045
info_outline
In This Body with Meghan Rothenberger, MD
10/30/2025
In This Body with Meghan Rothenberger, MD
Infectious disease Physician Meghan Rothenberger grew up feeling uncertain and disconnected from her body. As a teenager, she struggled with an eating disorder, trying to make sense of the changes of adolescence and the cultural messages around her. Years later, as a medical student studying anatomy, she began to see the body not as something to control, but as something wondrous and worthy of care. In this conversation, Meghan talks with Emily about growing up, navigating an eating disorder, and finding healing through science, pregnancy, and the everyday miracle of being alive. Together, they explore how understanding the body can open the door to compassion, connection, and belonging within oneself. Meghan originally performed this story live on stage at Intersections, a live storytelling event produced by the in Minneapolis in 2024 through our program, . The Nocturnists is made possible by the and donations from listeners like you. This episode of Stories from the World of Medicine is sponsored by .
/episode/index/show/thenocturnists/id/38839390
info_outline
The Chaplain and the Doctor with Chaplain Betty Clark & Jessica Zitter, MD
10/16/2025
The Chaplain and the Doctor with Chaplain Betty Clark & Jessica Zitter, MD
Physician Jessica Zitter and chaplain Betty Clark to explore their partnership and the making of their film . The documentary, set in Oakland’s Highland Hospital, captures the real work of palliative care and spiritual care, alongside a growing friendship between two women who cross lines of race, power, and professional hierarchy. They discuss what it means to listen with compassion, how bias and racism manifest at the bedside, and how storytelling, humility, and friendship can become acts of healing. From funny hospital moments to scenes of deep moral reckoning, this episode shows how two healers learn from each other, and how humanity itself can be the best medicine. Find show notes, transcript, and more on and . The Nocturnists is made possible by the and donations from listeners like you. This episode of Conversations is sponsored by .
/episode/index/show/thenocturnists/id/38604310
info_outline
The 100-Year Turnaround in Child Survival with Perri Klass, MD
10/09/2025
The 100-Year Turnaround in Child Survival with Perri Klass, MD
Pediatrician and author Perri Klass joins us to discuss the dramatic fall in child mortality, drawing from her book The Best Medicine. She traces how clean water, vaccines, antibiotics, and neonatal care transformed family life, revisits once-feared diseases and the breakthroughs that conquered them, and reflects on the cultural shift that made childhood death unacceptable. We also explore the return of measles amid misinformation, the evolution of pediatrics from infection-fighting to child development, and what it means to raise kids in the most medically protected era in history. Find show notes, transcript, and more on and . The Nocturnists is made possible by the and donations from listeners like you. This episode of Conversations is sponsored by .
/episode/index/show/thenocturnists/id/38521045
info_outline
Questions Without Answers with Sarah Manguso
10/02/2025
Questions Without Answers with Sarah Manguso
Writer Sarah Manguso joins us to discuss —a book born from a single tweet that drew thousands of kids’ startling, funny, and profound questions, later shaped with New Yorker cartoonist Liana Finck. Part poetry, part philosophy, part comedy, it’s an anthology of childhood wonder. She also revisits her memoir , which chronicles her diagnosis with CIDP, a rare autoimmune disorder in which the body’s immune system attacks the peripheral nerves, and how it shaped her understanding of illness, vulnerability, and the power of storytelling. Find show notes, transcript, and more on and . The Nocturnists is made possible by the and donations from listeners like you. This episode of Conversations is sponsored by .
/episode/index/show/thenocturnists/id/38434940
info_outline
Reimagining the Medical Drama with Michael Grassi and Daniela Lamas, MD
09/23/2025
Reimagining the Medical Drama with Michael Grassi and Daniela Lamas, MD
Michael Grassi, veteran TV writer, and Daniela Lamas, ICU physician and writer, join us to discuss Brilliant Minds, a medical drama inspired by the cases and philosophy of Oliver Sacks. Together, they reflect on what makes Brilliant Minds different from other medical dramas: a focus not on miracle cures or fast diagnoses, but on adaptation, empathy, and the human condition. Find show notes, transcript, and more on and . The Nocturnists is made possible by the and donations from listeners like you. This episode of Conversations is sponsored by .
/episode/index/show/thenocturnists/id/38319735
info_outline
Creative Care with Dr. Anne Basting (Crossover Episode with Remo Health)
09/11/2025
Creative Care with Dr. Anne Basting (Crossover Episode with Remo Health)
, a scholar, writer, and advocate for creative aging, speaks about her groundbreaking work transforming dementia care through creativity and storytelling. As the founder of and author of "," Basting shares how she discovered the power of improvisation to spark imagination, dignity, and joy in people with dementia. Together, we explore the “beautiful question,” the principles of “yes, and,” and “proof-of-listening” — simple but profound tools for building connection. Anne reflects on her journey from studying senior theater to pioneering a movement that redefines care as a creative, relational process, offering practical insights for caregivers, families, and communities to engage with people living with dementia in more meaningful ways. This episode was originally produced by as a part of their “” podcast. Remo Health is an innovative telehealth company providing whole-person care to people living with dementia and their caregivers. To learn more about Remo, visit . Find show notes, transcript, and more on and . The Nocturnists is made possible by the and the .
/episode/index/show/thenocturnists/id/38174290
info_outline
First Person Medicine with Dr. Susan Nathan and Thor Ringler
09/04/2025
First Person Medicine with Dr. Susan Nathan and Thor Ringler
Dr. Susan Nathan, a palliative care physician at the Boston VA, and Thor Ringler, a therapist and poet at the Madison VA, share the story of — a groundbreaking program that brings veterans’ voices into their medical charts through first-person narratives. Born from a desire to foster empathy and human connection in clinical care, the program has now spread to over 80 VA hospitals nationwide. Susan and Thor reflect on the origins of the initiative, the impact these stories have on patient-clinician relationships, and the profound moments of vulnerability, dignity, and healing that emerge from the storytelling process. We discuss the art of deep listening, the logistics of writing and sharing these narratives, and their vision for expanding this model to institutions beyond the VA. Find show notes, transcript, and more on and . The Nocturnists is made possible by the and donations from listeners like you. This episode of Conversations is sponsored by .
/episode/index/show/thenocturnists/id/38060555
info_outline
Breaking the Mental Health Stigma in Medicine with Corey Feist
08/28/2025
Breaking the Mental Health Stigma in Medicine with Corey Feist
Corey Feist, co-founder of the , shares the story of his sister-in-law, Dr. Lorna Breen, a dedicated New York City emergency physician who died by suicide in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Corey reflects on her passion for medicine, the shock and grief that followed her death, and the flood of messages from healthcare workers that exposed deep stigma and barriers to seeking mental health care. He describes how this outpouring sparked the creation of the foundation and the passing of the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act, driving systemic change to better support clinicians. We also explore ongoing advocacy, progress in reforming licensing and credentialing practices, and the power of community, collaboration, and action in preserving clinician wellbeing. Find show notes, transcript, and more on and . The Nocturnists is made possible by the and donations from listeners like you. This episode of Conversations is sponsored by .
/episode/index/show/thenocturnists/id/37991890
info_outline
Exposing Moral Injury with Wendy Dean, MD
08/21/2025
Exposing Moral Injury with Wendy Dean, MD
, psychiatrist, writer, and co-founder of , reveals how a profit-driven healthcare system is wounding the very clinicians sworn to care for patients. Drawing from her book , Dean explains the concept of moral injury—how systemic betrayal, not personal weakness, often drives physician distress—and shares harrowing true stories of doctors punished, silenced, or even destroyed for putting patient safety first. From corporate consolidation gutting primary care to non-compete clauses that trap physicians, she exposes the forces undermining patient-first medicine and highlights the courageous clinicians fighting back through lawsuits, new care models, and bold advocacy. Find show notes, transcript, and more on and . The Nocturnists is made possible by the and donations from listeners like you. This episode of Conversations is sponsored by .
/episode/index/show/thenocturnists/id/37893225
info_outline
BONUS - Managing Uncertainty: A Path to Better Patient Care
07/03/2025
BONUS - Managing Uncertainty: A Path to Better Patient Care
Today, we're releasing a special bonus episode featuring Emily and our "uncertainty correspondent" Alexa Miller, in conversation with the ABIM Foundation. Together, they reflect on the key insights from creating the Uncertainty in Medicine series. Thank you to the ABIM Foundation for hosting and recording this webinar. To sign up for a webinar in the future, visit . Find show notes, transcripts, and more at , and subscribe to . The "Uncertainty in Medicine" series is generously funded by the , by , and the . The Nocturnists is supported by and donations from listeners like you. Host: Pamela Browner White Uncertainty Correspondent: Series Illustrations by
/episode/index/show/thenocturnists/id/37272350
info_outline
13 - Uncertainty in Medicine: Denial and Acceptance
06/26/2025
13 - Uncertainty in Medicine: Denial and Acceptance
In the series finale, we explore a different type of uncertainty—the uncertainty that arises around the healthcare system itself. This episode follows Ed Stratton, a stage IV cancer patient who beat his cancer, only to be denied a life-saving liver transplant by his insurance provider. His daughter Erin, armed with industry knowledge and unshakable determination, teams up with a healthcare whistleblower and an AI-powered startup to wage an extraordinary battle for his life. We end with a quiet reflection on uncertainty, and what it means to keep going. Find show notes, transcripts, and more at , and subscribe to . The "Uncertainty in Medicine" series is generously funded by the , by , and the . The Nocturnists is supported by and donations from listeners like you. Host: Uncertainty Correspondent: Series Illustrations by
/episode/index/show/thenocturnists/id/37164295
info_outline
12 - Uncertainty in Medicine: The Good Life
06/19/2025
12 - Uncertainty in Medicine: The Good Life
What does it mean to live well in a world where nothing is certain — not in medicine, not in life? In this episode, we follow a high school teacher who asks his students to examine “the good life” through philosophy, Buddhism, and existential inquiry. We meet two women — a Buddhist monk and a disability rights advocate — who bring spiritual wisdom to the messy realities of illness, caregiving, and embodiment. Their stories, woven with reflections on impermanence, suffering, and compassion, offer a new way of thinking about uncertainty: not as something to fix, but as something to live with. Find show notes, transcripts, and more at , and subscribe to . The "Uncertainty in Medicine" series is generously funded by the , by , and the . The Nocturnists is supported by and donations from listeners like you. Host: Emily Silverman, MD Uncertainty Correspondent: Series Illustrations by
/episode/index/show/thenocturnists/id/37067450
info_outline
11 - Uncertainty in Medicine: How We Die
06/12/2025
11 - Uncertainty in Medicine: How We Die
Today, we explore the paradox of mortality: something both certain and utterly unknowable. Through a haunting parable from Ursula K. Le Guin and stories from doctors and loved ones, we hear what happens when people try to plan for death—or avoid it. A daughter processes her mother’s calm decision to pursue assisted dying. A physician grapples with an ambiguous advance directive. A neurointensivist weighs the line between hope and false hope. What do we do when clear answers are impossible? And what happens when our attempts to control death only bring more suffering? And in the midst of all this uncertainty, how do we find peace? Find show notes, transcripts, and more at , and subscribe to . The "Uncertainty in Medicine" series is generously funded by the , by , and the . The Nocturnists is supported by and donations from listeners like you. Host: Emily Silverman, MD Series Illustrations by
/episode/index/show/thenocturnists/id/36966940
info_outline
10 - Uncertainty in Medicine: Trusting the Process with Leila Simon Hayes
06/05/2025
10 - Uncertainty in Medicine: Trusting the Process with Leila Simon Hayes
Today, we step inside the studio of visual artist Leila Simon Hayes, whose bold, shape-driven designs are born from a process rooted in imperfection, intuition, and trust. Through her story, we explore how Leila’s creative practice helped her navigate decades of chronic pain and medical dismissal, eventually leading her to healing not through certainty, but through listening—both to her art and her body. Her journey invites us to reconsider our own relationship with uncertainty, and to ask: what happens when we stop demanding answers and start embracing the unknown? Find show notes, transcripts, and more at , and subscribe to . The "Uncertainty in Medicine" series is generously funded by the , by , and the . The Nocturnists is supported by and donations from listeners like you. Host: Emily Silverman, MD Uncertainty Correspondent: Series Illustrations by
/episode/index/show/thenocturnists/id/36860810
info_outline
9 - Uncertainty in Medicine: Off Script
05/29/2025
9 - Uncertainty in Medicine: Off Script
Today, we explore the hidden layers of communication in medicine—what gets said, what doesn’t, and how uncertainty lives not just in the clinical data, but in the space between people. From a telemedicine encounter with a stubbornly independent patient in the Santa Cruz mountains, to a deeply personal story of navigating breast cancer risk, and finally to the ICU, where one physician is trying to revolutionize how teams talk about the unknown, this episode invites listeners into the gray zones of uncertainty and the doctor-patient relationship. Find show notes, transcripts, and more at , and subscribe to . The "Uncertainty in Medicine" series is generously funded by the , by , and the . The Nocturnists is supported by and donations from listeners like you. Host: Emily Silverman, MD Uncertainty Correspondent: Series Illustrations by
/episode/index/show/thenocturnists/id/36765955
info_outline
8 - Uncertainty in Medicine: Precision in Motion with Chris Aiken
05/22/2025
8 - Uncertainty in Medicine: Precision in Motion with Chris Aiken
Today, we step into the dance studio with improvisational dance artist Chris Aiken, whose work lives at the intersection of uncertainty, movement, and presence. With insights that resonate far beyond the dance studio, Chris explores how attention, poetic instinct, and even failure are essential tools for responding creatively under pressure—much like an ER doctor at a moment of crisis. Find show notes, transcripts, and more at , and subscribe to . The "Uncertainty in Medicine" series is generously funded by the , by , and the . The Nocturnists is supported by and donations from listeners like you. Host: Emily Silverman, MD Uncertainty Correspondent: Series Illustrations by
/episode/index/show/thenocturnists/id/36665360
info_outline
7 - Uncertainty in Medicine: A Matter of Time
05/15/2025
7 - Uncertainty in Medicine: A Matter of Time
This week, we explore how time and uncertainty are intertwined in the practice of medicine. A toxicologist faces a split-second decision in the ER that could mean life or death for a young patient. A woman with chronic ankle pain spends years searching for answers as dozens of doctors offer snap diagnoses and failed treatments. A rheumatologist navigates the slow, murky waters of autoimmune disease, where diagnosis and treatment often unfold over months or years. And a couple reckons with the long-term implications of a rare and unpredictable heart condition. Through these stories, we see how uncertainty can stretch time out endlessly or collapse it into a single moment and how, in medicine, working with time rather than fighting against it is often the only way forward. Find show notes, transcripts, and more at , and subscribe to . The "Uncertainty in Medicine" series is generously funded by the , by , and the . The Nocturnists is supported by and donations from listeners like you. Host: Emily Silverman, MD Uncertainty Correspondent: Series Illustrations by
/episode/index/show/thenocturnists/id/36566780
info_outline
6 - Uncertainty in Medicine: Navigating Uncertainty with Admiral Mike LeFever
05/08/2025
6 - Uncertainty in Medicine: Navigating Uncertainty with Admiral Mike LeFever
When a 7.6 magnitude earthquake leveled entire villages in Pakistan, retired U.S. Navy Admiral Mike LeFever was thrust into the heart of the disaster with no playbook and a simple directive: provide humanitarian aid and strengthen U.S.-Pakistan relations. In this episode, LeFever recounts what it was like to lead a massive relief effort in the chaotic aftermath—coordinating aid, rebuilding schools, and navigating diplomacy in a country where his presence was politically charged. As his mission evolved from emergency response to long-term relationship-building, including during the fallout of the Bin Laden raid, LeFever shares hard-won lessons on leadership, humility, and decision-making in extreme uncertainty. Find show notes, transcripts, and more at , and subscribe to . The "Uncertainty in Medicine" series is generously funded by the , by , and the . The Nocturnists is supported by and donations from listeners like you. Host: Emily Silverman, MD Uncertainty Correspondent: Series Illustrations by
/episode/index/show/thenocturnists/id/36481420
info_outline
5 - Uncertainty in Medicine: Leaps of Faith
05/01/2025
5 - Uncertainty in Medicine: Leaps of Faith
What happens when doctors have to make life-or-death decisions in an evidence-free zone — and patients are left to navigate the unknown? In episode 5 of “Uncertainty in Medicine", we bring you three gripping, real-life stories: a neurosurgeon weighing impossible risks in the operating room, a palliative care doctor facing a young man’s quiet resolve to die, and a patient whose long-awaited kidney transplant vanishes in a single phone call. These are high-stakes moments where instinct takes over, control slips away, and the only way forward is a leap of faith. Find show notes, transcripts, and more at , and subscribe to . The "Uncertainty in Medicine" series is generously funded by the , by , and the . The Nocturnists is supported by and donations from listeners like you. This episode is sponsored by a new podcast that fans of the Nocturnists are sure to love. Unleashed: Redesigning Health Care features clinician-innovators who have changed care on the front lines. Their stories, their voices, their ingenuity. Learn more at . Host: Emily Silverman, MD Uncertainty Correspondent: Series Illustrations by
/episode/index/show/thenocturnists/id/36381010
info_outline
4 - Uncertainty in Medicine: Root Causes with Ronald Wyatt, MD
04/24/2025
4 - Uncertainty in Medicine: Root Causes with Ronald Wyatt, MD
What does uncertainty in medicine have to do with Chernobyl? According to patient safety officer Dr. Ron Wyatt, more than we might think. In the fourth episode of our "Uncertainty in Medicine" series, he draws a chilling connection between one of history’s worst nuclear disasters and the quiet, preventable tragedies that unfold in hospitals every day. In both cases, the warning signs were there. People sensed something was wrong. But no one spoke up—or if they did, no one listened. Through his work at the Joint Commission, Dr. Wyatt has spent decades investigating sentinel events, the most serious and avoidable medical errors. What he’s found is deeply unsettling: the root causes rarely come down to lack of knowledge. They come from cultures where fear, hierarchy, and silence override curiosity and caution. And time and again, he’s seen how racism and bias magnify that silence. Here, Dr. Wyatt reveals what truly makes healthcare safe—and what has to change to protect every patient, equally. Quick note: In this episode, Dr. Wyatt mentions his time at The Joint Commission. The correct length of his tenure is 5 years. Find show notes, transcripts, and more at , and subscribe to . The "Uncertainty in Medicine" series is generously funded by the , by , and the . The Nocturnists is supported by and donations from listeners like you. This episode is sponsored by a new podcast that fans of the Nocturnists are sure to love. Unleashed: Redesigning Health Care features clinician-innovators who have changed care on the front lines. Their stories, their voices, their ingenuity. Learn more at . Host: Emily Silverman, MD Uncertainty Correspondent: Series Illustrations by
/episode/index/show/thenocturnists/id/36286570