The Dr. Raj Podcast

Today's Episode Dr. Raj talks with Dr. Mike Shoemaker about their shared history in medical research, his background in physical therapy, and how he became a pilot amongst an arduous medical career.  Today’s Guest Dr. Shoemaker received a B.S. in Physical Education with an Exercise Science Specialization from Calvin College in 1996. In 1999 he earned his Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Slip...

Today's Episode Dr. Raj talks with Valerie Hernandez about her journey into the world of interior design, sourcing vintage home pieces for her company, and how her background as a nurse highlighted how much living spaces impact our well-being.  Today’s Guest Valerie Hernandez is a registered nurse, wife and mom of two toddler boys. She started her career in the healthcare field as that was your dr...

Today's Episode Dr. Raj talks with Ashley Penner and Robyn Towt about Breast Implant Illness (BII), shedding light on the overlooked challenges faced by those affected. They share their journeys with BII, discussing the motivation behind their advocacy work and the mission driving the No Double Bogies Foundation.  Today’s Guests Ashley Penner is the founder of the No Double Bogies Foundation and R...

Today's Episode Dr. Raj talks with his mother, Tita Dasgupta, about their experiences with having a loved one suffer from Alzheimer's Disease. They discuss her background as a midwife and nurse, how she met her husband and started a family, and the importance of reaching out for support when dealing with an Alzheimer's diagnosis. About Dr. Raj Dr Raj is a quadruple board certified physician and as...

Today's Episode Dr. Raj talks with Todd Keitz, the creator of My Care Friends, a community of advocates for patients and caregivers. Together, they delve into their own caregiving journeys, shedding light on the significance of advocacy in fostering empathy and enhancing mutual understanding within the healthcare sphere.  Today’s Guest  Todd has been a lifelong social good evangelist! His personal...

Today's Episode Dr. Raj talks with Kamlesh D. Patel (Daaji), delving into his journey from a pharmacist to an advocate of heartfulness meditation. They explore how he incorporated this practice into his daily routine and went on to initiate a global movement, empowering individuals worldwide to embrace heartfulness. Today’s Guest  Born in Gujarat in 1956, Kamlesh D. Patel (Daaji) displayed an earl...

Today's Episode Dr. Raj talks to Dr. Anastasia Martynova about the importance of breast cancer awareness and annual breast exams. They discuss who needs these screenings, why they are essential, and who is at higher risk.  Today’s Guest  Anastasia Martynova, MD, specializes in breast cancer and medical oncology at USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of Keck Medicine of USC. She is committ...

Today's Episode Dr. Raj talks to Marlena Diedrich about her journey after a traumatic birth experience and how this served as the catalyst for her founding of Acts of Grace, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing personal care items and organizing events that foster connections among expectant mothers on bed rest. Today’s Guest  Marlena Diedrich earned her Bachelor’s degree from Colorado...

Today's Episode Dr. Raj talks with Candace Yoder of the Matthew Silverman Memorial Foundation about the importance of destigmatizing the conversation about suicide and how we can talk with our loved ones about suicide prevention.  Today’s Guest  Candace Yoder is the Executive Director of the Matthew Silverman Memorial Foundation, which is dedicated to raising awareness with the goals of preventing...

Today's Episode Dr. Raj talks with Dr. Khankhanian about how Chiropractic and Neurology have intertwined in his medical practice, the unique challenges that come up with each phenotype of concussion, and how holistic and Western medicine coexist in his own practice to find non-traditional ways of treating Post-Concussion Syndrome.  Today’s Guest  Dr. Joseph Khankhanian was born and raised in the s...

Today's Episode Dr. Raj talks with Dr. Shosh about her personal journey that led her to specialize in postpartum depression. She dispels common misconceptions surrounding the condition, shedding light on its diverse impact and those who are susceptible.  Today’s Guest  Internationally recognized as a leading maternal mental health expert, clinical psychologist Dr. Shoshana Bennett has inspired and...

Today's Episode Dr. Raj talks with Dr. Shelby Harris about psychology, sleep, and effective non-drug therapies for sleep disorders. She also shares observations from her social media following, including disputed sleep trends that have emerged. Today’s Guest  Dr. Shelby Harris is a clinical psychologist and sleep specialist in private practice in New York. She is board certified in behavioral slee...

Today's Episode Dr. Raj speaks with Brian Loew about his patient engagement platform, Inspire. They discuss the origins and inspiration behind Inspire, exploring how it fosters a sense of community among its members, as well as the impact it aims to make in the years to come. Today’s Guest  Brian Loew created Inspire in 2005 with the goal of accelerating medical progress by engaging patients and c...

Today's Episode This is part 2 of a 2-part series featuring Dr. Raj discussing the nuts and bolts of drug allergies with Dr. Asal Naderi.  Today’s Guest  Dr. Naderi attended UCLA for her undergraduate education and attended medical school at St. Louis University. She completed her residency in Internal Medicine and completed her fellowship in Allergy and Immunology at the University of California...

Today's Episode This is part 1 of a 2-part series featuring Dr. Raj discussing the nuts and bolts of drug allergies with Dr. Asal Naderi.  Today’s Guest  Dr. Naderi attended UCLA for her undergraduate education and attended medical school at St. Louis University. She completed her residency in Internal Medicine and completed her fellowship in Allergy and Immunology at the University of California...

Today's Episode Dr. Raj talks with meteorologist  Dallas Raines about his personal meteorological journey, thrilling storm-chasing adventures, and exciting new work in the realm of children's books.  Today’s Guest  Dallas Raines is a chief meteorologist who has been forecasting the Southland’s weather for ABC7 since July of 1984. Dallas has The Seal of Approval from the American Meteorological Soc...

Today's Episode Dr. Raj and Dr. Karla O'Dell have a discussion about Dysphonia; discussing Dr. Raj's personal journey with the condition, clarifying misconceptions, and exploring effective treatment methods.  Today’s Guest  Dr. Karla O’Dell is an associate professor at the USC Voice Center in the Caruso Department of Otolaryngology of Head & Neck Surgery. She is the co-director of the Center for A...

Today's Episode Dr Raj talks with Olympic Gold Medalist Lindsey Vonn about her skiing career, what kept her motivated amongst her many injuries and surgeries, and how she overcame her struggles with insomnia.  Today’s Guest  Lindsey Vonn is one of the most decorated American ski racers in history and is widely regarded as one of the greatest of all time. Lindsey burst onto the international skiing...

Today's Episode Dr. Raj talks with Karen “Duff'' Duffy about her experiences living with neurosarcoidosis. She discusses her creative achievements in writing, producing, and immersing into stoic philosophy all while navigating life with this rare nervous system disease. Today’s Guest  Karen "Duff'' Duffy is a New York Times best-selling author, producer, former MTV VJ, and a former Coney Island Me...

Today's Episode Dr. Raj talks with Mary McGowan about the pressing issue of the lack of awareness of sarcoidosis, its impact on minority groups, and the strides she is making to increase education and support for those affected by this autoimmune disease. Today’s Guest  Mary McGowan is the CEO of The Foundation of Sarcoidosis Research (FSR), a leading international organization dedicated to findin...

Today's Episode Dr. Raj talks with Dr. Braden Barnett about the 10 osteoporosis questions to ask your doctor. This is part two of a two part series.  Today’s Guest  Dr. Barnett graduated with a degree in medicine from the University of Southern California. He then went on to pursue an internship and a residency in internal medicine from the Los Angeles County+University of Southern California Medi...

Today's Episode Dr. Raj talks with Dr. Braden Barnett about the 10 osteoporosis questions to ask your doctor. This is part one of a two part series.  Today’s Guest  Dr. Barnett graduated with a degree in medicine from the University of Southern California. He then went on to pursue an internship and a residency in internal medicine from the Los Angeles County+University of Southern California Medi...

Today's Episode Dr. Raj talks with Steven Kotler about his new book Gnar Country: Growing Old, Staying Rad which is available now! Today’s Guest  Steven Kotler is a New York Times bestselling author, an award-winning journalist, and the Executive Director of the Flow Research Collective. He is one of the world’s leading experts on human performance. He is the author of 11 bestsellers (out of fourt...

Today's Episode Dr. Raj talks with Dr. Rand McClain about his athletic background and many different career paths and how they led to his interest in Anti-Aging medicine and how to improve longevity and performance in our lives.  Today’s Guest  Though nutrition and wellness have been ingrained in Dr. Rand McClain since childhood, his journey to becoming a leader in alternative and progressive medi...

Today's Episode This episode was taken from the audio of Dr. Raj’s Sleep Lecture for The American Physician Institute. Here he reviews the concepts: sleep hygiene, sleep disorders, pharmacotherapy, how culture affects sleep, and more!  About Dr. Raj Dr Raj is a quadruple board certified physician and associate professor at the University of Southern California. He was a co-host on the TNT series C...