Seth Kahan’s Podcast

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Ehsan Samei, a Distinguished Professor of Radiology at Duke University, to explore the deep shifts occurring at the intersection of technology and patient care. We begin by examining the nature of agency and accountability, with Ehsan positing that true agency requires an entity to not only act but to take responsibility for its actions. This opens a vital disc...

Is AI a "bolt-on" tool for your current processes, or is it the engine for your next big innovation? In this episode, Grand Challenge Expert Seth Kahan sits down with Neil Sahota—CEO of ACSI Labs, UN Advisor, and lead architect of the IBM Watson ecosystem. Neil breaks down the core concepts from his latest book, The AI Activation Code, moving past the hype of "giving everyone ChatGP...

What does a steelworker’s son from Northern England know about global business elevation? Quite a lot, as it turns out. My guest today, Chris Cooper , has a story that feels less like a traditional career ladder and more like a masterclass in intentionality. We explore his journey from the gritty reality of the British steel industry to the helm of one of the world’s longest-running business podca...

In this episode, I sit down with my longtime friend and collaborator Andrew Kutt , founder and Board Chair of Oneness-Family Montessori School in Chevy Chase, MD —a school that mattered deeply to my family during my kids’ early years. Andrew shares how his path from world literature and meditation to Montessori training led him to open the school in 1988 with just seven students , and how it’s gro...

In this episode, I sit down with Joe Feldman, founder and CEO of Cover My Mental Health. His website, CoverMyMentalHealth.org, is filled with free resources—including helpful instructions and templates—designed to empower families and clinicians. Joe’s journey began when his child was denied essential mental health care—sparking a federal lawsuit and igniting his passion for advocacy. He shares ho...

In this episode, I talk with filmmaker and mental health advocate Max Blaska, whose short film Last Rung on the Ladder—an adaptation of a Stephen King story—became both a tribute to his late aunt and a lifeline in his own battle with anxiety and depression. Max shares how the project nearly fell apart amid a personal crisis, how seeking inpatient care became a turning point, and how a dedicated te...

In this episode of my podcast, I dive into a question every leader faces sooner or later: What do we do when the world around us is filled with uncertainty, challenge, and disruption? While the circumstances of today may feel unique, we’ve been through turbulent times before. Crises like 9/11, the 2008 mortgage meltdown, and the COVID-19 pandemic shook the foundations of our economy and our daily...

In today’s episode, we meet Joel Corcoran, CEO of Clubhouse International, a groundbreaking global network restoring hope and community for people living with mental illness. Joel shares how a grassroots group in 1940s New York City became a worldwide movement of Clubhouses, inclusive, member-driven spaces where recovery isn’t just possible, it’s thriving. These aren’t clinical programs; they’re d...

In this powerful episode, Seth Kahan sits down with Dale Cyr, CEO of Inteleos, to explore how bold leadership, smart technology, and collaborative ecosystems are reshaping global healthcare—starting with portable ultrasound. Cyr leads Inteleos, a nonprofit certifying over 150,000 healthcare professionals across 100 countries, with a mission rooted in patient safety through clinical proficiency. Bu...

Medical physics plays a vital role in nearly every aspect of modern healthcare. From diagnostic scans like CT imaging to advanced treatments such as radiotherapy, medical physics is behind the technology and precision that drive these procedures. In this video, we explore how medical physicists contribute to ensuring the right dose reaches the right patient—whether through imaging, therapy, or rad...

Chris and I discuss the origins of the Thriving Earth Exchange, a program connecting scientific expertise with local community needs. The initiative began around 2016 with a young scientist's idea to address community challenges through scientific collaboration. The program focuses on participatory, place-based science, where communities and scientists co-create solutions to local problems li...

I'm thrilled to share insights from a recent conversation with Dr. Ehsan Samei, Reed and Martha Rice Distinguished Professor of Radiology at Duke University. We discussed an exciting Grand Challenge I’m leading with the American Association of Physicists in Medicine—focused on identifying bold, breakthrough challenges that could shape the future of medical physics. But what is medical physics...

Welcome to the podcast on grand challenges. Today, I’m diving into Stop Stigma Together , an initiative I lead that aims to eliminate stigma surrounding mental health and substance use disorders on a national scale. This effort was launched through the Huntsman Mental Health Institute, following a transformative $150 million gift from the Huntsman family to the University of Utah. Stigma exists at...

In this interview, I sit down with Glenn Kreiner, the Ellis Skaggs presidential chair in business ethics at the University of Utah, to discuss his involvement with the Stop Stigma Together initiative, a Grand Challenge focused on addressing mental health stigma. Kreiner shares his passion for applying research to real-world problems and highlights the initiative's key achievements, such as bu...

In this podcast, we’ll explore “wicked problems” —complex social issues like poverty or climate change—using a “systems model for change.” This model emphasizes three interconnected levels: personal beliefs, social systems, and structural systems. Grand Challenges, such as “Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation” or improving ultrasound proficiency, demand changes across all three. For instance, healthier...

This conversation explores Dr. Darrell Kirch's personal and professional journey in addressing mental health stigma. It highlights the formation of the "Stop Stigma Together" initiative, the impact of COVID-19, and the challenges and successes in driving cultural change around mental health awareness and acceptance. Read more about my work in Grand Challenges on my website. For all...

In this episode, I talk about the 10 key elements for social change that have inspired my approach, based on the work of Dr Christina Economos and a team she led in 2001.  This rubric is intuitive, easy to understand, and has an enormous impact. Click here to download a high-resolution image of the 10 key elements graphic. For all the podcasts, highlight videos, resources, and everything you want...

Former CEO of the American Nurses Association, Marla Weston led the Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation Grand Challenge to improve nurses' health and impact patient outcomes. The initiative engaged diverse stakeholders and overcame challenges, but Weston emphasizes defining the problem, allowing flexibility, and meeting people where they are. The pandemic amplified the issues, underscoring the Gran...

This episode introduces six grand challenges I've helped design and lead, including two I'm actively working on and four in progress. Here's an overview, followed by details and links to learn more: Thriving Earth Exchange – This initiative, conceived by Chris McEntee during her CEO tenure at the American Geophysical Union, connects communities with scientists to address environment...

In this episode, Seth Kahan sits down with Patrick Kennedy, former U.S. Congressman and renowned mental health advocate, for a candid conversation on the urgent need to address mental health and substance use stigma. Drawing from his personal and professional experiences, Patrick shares the challenges and breakthroughs he's encountered in advocating for mental health reform, as well as insigh...

In this inaugural episode, Seth Kahan introduces listeners to the transformative potential of Grand Challenges as a force for systemic change. He draws on his extensive experience leading initiatives that tackle societal issues, including his work in Earth and space science, nursing, medical ultrasound, mental health and substance use disorders, finance, and physics in medicine. Seth shares the co...