Cardiologist Dr. Lisa Rosenbaum tells the story of how her grandfather—a physician-writer whose experience as a patient transformed his view of medicine—influenced her sense of purpose, storytelling, and care. As she navigated her own path through medicine and writing, she became increasingly interested in the cultural narratives shaping physicians' experiences, particularly during the COVID-19 era. Drawing on a viral "Milk Duds" story and broader shifts in burnout discourse, she explores the tension between systemic failures and individual agency, arguing that meaning in medicine can sometimes come not from stepping back, but from choosing deeper engagement with patients.
Looking for more from The Nocturnists? Explore The Nocturnists+, 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 new merch. Learn more or subscribe at thenocturnists.org/plus.
The Nocturnists podcast highlights transformative stories and provocative discussions about the world of medicine.
Click here to discover another podcast randomly, or here to browse our categories. Lazy? That's okay, we did some research and selected podcasts just for you.
Podmust is a french project aiming to promote the best podcasts. You can help us by sharing this page (this also helps the podcast, by the way). Thank you! 🙏
Podmust curates what you need to listen.
Discover some of our collections:
our best Business podcastsour best News & Politics podcastsour best Music podcasts.
Well, the bad news is: we're French. But the good news is: Podmust curates the world's podcasts so you can focus on staying informed or entertained. And voilà!
© Podmust