HLTH Forward Podcast

I had the privilege of hosting Nigam Shah, Professor of Medicine and Biomedical Data Science and Chief Data Scientist for Stanford Healthcare, for a conversation that traced an improbable arc — from an orthopedic surgeon redirected toward doctoral study the very year the Human Genome Project seized the world's attention, through two decades at the frontier of computational medicine. He guided...

In this episode, I sit down with Heather, an artist who has spent over a decade at the intersection of biotechnology, surveillance, and identity. What began as a quiet moment in a therapy session — staring at a strand of hair caught in cracked glass — became a decade-long investigation into what our discarded DNA reveals about us. Heather collects cigarette butts, chewed gum, hair, and nail clippi...

Every time a friend mentions her annual checkup, the conversation sounds less like healthcare and more like a horror story. Stirrups. A speculum. A procedure that hasn't meaningfully changed in 150 years — a tool designed before women could vote, still showing up in exam rooms like it owns the place. So when I sat down with Kara Egan, CEO and co-founder of Teal Health, I came in with real que...

Sitting down with Oliver, the CEO of Oath Surgical, felt less like conducting a typical healthcare interview and more like getting a front-row seat to how the future of surgery might be built. As someone whose career spans clinical surgery, medical technology, venture investing, and surgical innovation, Oliver brings a rare perspective to the conversation. Early in his career he trained as a physi...

In this episode of HLTH Forward , I sit down with Steve Beard for a candid conversation about one of the most urgent issues in healthcare today—the people who deliver care, and the system that is pushing many of them to the brink. Across the United States, the numbers tell a powerful story: about 43% of physicians report experiencing symptoms of burnout, and nearly two-thirds of nurses—around 65%—...

In this HLTH Forward episode, I sit down with Dr. Kenneth Savin, Chief Scientist at Redwire and one of TIME100 Health’s Most Influential People of 2025, to explore how space is transforming the future of medicine. With over two decades in the pharmaceutical industry and a career that spans Eli Lilly, NASA collaborations, and the International Space Station, Dr. Savin is pioneering breakthroughs th...

In my conversation with Joanna Strober, CEO of Midi Health, a recentl Times 100 Health awardee, we explored the current landscape of menopause care — a space where millions of women experience significant symptoms yet remain underserved by traditional healthcare systems.  Despite hormone therapy being one of the most effective treatments for menopause symptoms such as hot flashes, mood swings, sle...

In this HLTH Forward episode, I spoke with Fidel Strub, and I felt the kind of strength and hope that transforms pain into power. He isn’t just a survivor — he is living proof that with knowledge, compassion, and action, tragedy can become a force for change. According to the World Health Organization, Noma — the devastating, gangrenous disease that ravages the mouths and faces of malnourished chi...

In this episode, featuring Dr. Eric Nestler, offers a fascinating glimpse into the intersection of neuroscience, addiction, and depression. Dr. Nestler explains that both conditions share similar brain mechanisms, particularly within the limbic system, which regulates emotion and motivation. His laboratory’s research delves into how chronic stress or drug exposure alters molecular pathways in thes...

In this episode, Mario Schlosser, Founder & Chief Technology Officer at Oscar Health, emphasized his belief that the future of health insurance lies in decentralization, with providers taking on more responsibility for the role that insurers have traditionally played.  He argued that insurance companies, as they currently exist, act as unnecessary middlemen that add limited value to the system...

In this episode, I sit down with Kate Musler, Chief Financial Officer of Highmark Health Plan, to talk about the incredibly complex puzzle of modern healthcare—where affordability, access, and quality must all coexist. Kate walks us through her path into the field and what has kept her here: the challenge of finding real solutions in a system that impacts every one of us.  We dig into the pressure...

In my recent discussion with Christina Lopes, founder of FidoCure and fellow Young Global Leader, we examined a troubling but under-discussed reality: cancer incidence in companion animals is rising sharply . The trend mirrors human oncology—rooted in extended lifespans, environmental exposures, and improved detection—and raises critical questions for both veterinary and human medicine. The epidem...

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Edgar Engleman, a pioneering Pathologist and physician-scientist at Stanford University whose work has shaped the very foundation of cancer immunotherapy. As we face rising global cancer rates, Dr. Engleman shares his insights into the evolving landscape of cancer research and what the numbers really mean—scientifically and socially. We dive deep into his groun...

In this compelling episode, I sit down with Matteo Franceschetti, the Italian-born Co-Founder and CEO of Eight Sleep, to explore how his journey from competitive ski racing to legal practice to clean-tech entrepreneurship led him to revolutionize the $500 million sleep optimization industry. Franceschetti shares his unique perspective on performance optimization, drawing powerful parallels between...

I’ve always been fascinated by the mystery behind our choices — why we hit snooze instead of going for a walk, why we reach for comfort food even when we know better, and why some people seem to have the willpower to make healthier decisions with ease. This week on HLTH Forward , I had the absolute privilege of diving deep into those questions with Dr. Michael Platt , a renowned neuroscientist who...

In this episode I had the opportunity to interview a fascinating behavioral scientist and former CEO of Four Day Week Global about the concept of reduced working hours- Dr. Dale Whelehan. He explained how his interest in this field began when observing surgeons suffering from impaired decision-making and emotional regulation due to excessive working hours. What struck me most was his insight that...

In this episode I am in conversation with Othman Laraki, co-founder and CEO of Color. Othman shared his fascinating journey from tech to healthcare, driven by personal cancer experiences in his family. He and his mother are carriers of the BRCA2 gene mutation, which predisposes them to certain cancers. Color began as a cancer genetics company focused on making testing more affordable and accessibl...

In this episode, I’m sitting down with Jason Carter — grandson of President Jimmy Carter and a force in global health and justice in his own right. As we talk, Jason reflects on the unique balance of carrying a legacy while forging his own path. He shares how his work — from the Georgia Senate to chairing the Carter Center — is rooted in impact, not just identity. He’s thoughtful, grounded, and re...

I'm diving into a fascinating topic this episode: how global tariff increases affect our wallets and social connections. With global tariff rates up 57% since 2021, households are spending 7-11% more on consumer goods, leading to a 14% decrease in social spending for every 5% increase in essential goods pricing. The health implications are significant - reduced social interaction correlates w...

In our candid conversation leveraging Fast Company's September 2024 feature, Dr. Oliver Kharraz reveals the harsh realities of healthcare technology innovation. "When we launched ZocDoc in 2007, I watched wave after wave of self-proclaimed 'disruptors' enter the healthcare arena like lions, only to retreat like lambs," he shares, pointing out that 90% of healthtech startup...

In this episode I am in conversation with Jeff Jacques, CMO of Personify Health, who reveals the harsh realities of our one-size-fits-all healthcare system. We'll explore alarming metrics showing how standardized approaches contribute to the $4.3 trillion annual US healthcare expenditure (nearly 20% of GDP), while 30% of medical spending—approximately $760-$935 billion—is wasted on unnecessar...

In this episode, I am in conversation with with the President and Co-Founder  of Komodo Health to explore how their revolutionary healthcare journey mapping is transforming patient care in ways no other company has achieved. What sets Komodo Health apart is their proprietary Healthcare Map™ – the industry's largest and most comprehensive patient-level database that tracks nearly 330 million A...

In a groundbreaking conversation, Wei Li, President of Omada Health, outlined a transformative vision for healthcare deeply rooted in a profound belief that health is a fundamental human right. Drawing inspiration from a World Health Organization quote that "help is the core of sustainable development," Li has dedicated his entire professional career to addressing the universal health ch...

Medtronic's technological strategy represents a sophisticated convergence of AI, data analytics, and medical innovation, positioned to fundamentally reshape healthcare delivery. Under Chief Technology Officer Ken Washington's leadership, the organization is pioneering a model of technological augmentation that prioritizes human expertise while leveraging advanced computational capabiliti...

95% of rare diseases do not have approved treatments, highlighting the significant unmet need in the rare disease community. The unpredictable symptoms and long diagnostic process for conditions like neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) can lead to debilitating long-term disabilities. There is an urgent need for increased education, resources, and support to address the global diagnostic...