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.
- Update frequency
- every 6 days
- Average duration
- 37 minutes
- Episodes
- 203
- Years Active
- 2017 - 2025
Medicine in Motion with Nina Shevzov-Zebrun, MD
In this episode, Emily speaks with pediatrics resident Nina Shevzov-Zebrun about movement, medicine, and the creation of The Ten Tensions Project, which explores core dilemmas of the physician experi…
Why Doctors Write with Danielle Ofri, MD
In this episode, Emily speaks with physician-author Danielle Ofri about the science of writing, the art of medicine, and the imperative of recognizing stories as a tool for healing.
The Nocturnists i…
The Shame Machine with Cathy O'Neil
In this episode, Emily speaks with data scientist and author Cathy O’Neil about her book The Shame Machine: Who Profits in the New Age of Humiliation, which investigates how society exploits the powe…
Documenting the Race to a Vaccine with David France
In this episode, Emily speaks with documentary filmmaker and journalist David France about his films How to Survive a Pandemic (2022) and How to Survive a Plague (2012), and the role of storytelling …
Post-Roe America: Conversation with Alison Block, MD
In this special episode, Emily speaks with The Nocturnists’ Executive Producer, family medicine physician and abortion provider, Dr. Alison Block, who recently published an Op-Ed in The New York Time…
Deep Medicine with Rupa Marya, MD and Raj Patel
In this episode, Emily speaks with physician Rupa Marya and political economist Raj Patel about their recent book Inflamed: Deep Medicine and the Anatomy of Injustice, which explores the impact of op…
The Science and Art of Dreaming with Sidarta Ribeiro
In this episode, Emily speaks with neuroscientist and author Sidarta Ribeiro about his book The Oracle of Night, which investigates the art and science of dreams and the extraordinary power dreams ha…
Words as Medicine with Laura Kolbe, MD
In this episode, Emily speaks with poet, physician, and medical ethicist Dr. Laura Kolbe about her poetry collection, Little Pharma, the languages of poetry and medicine, and how poetry can help illu…
Revolutionizing Care in the ICU with Wes Ely, MD
In this episode, Emily speaks with Dr. Wesley Ely about the harms of deep sedation and immobilization in the ICU, and how he's transforming critical care, one patient at a time.
The Nocturnists is pa…
Grief, Science, and Poetry with Jenny Qi
In this episode, Emily speaks with cancer biologist and poet Jenny Qi, about her poetry collection "Focal Point," which examines science, disease, love, and family.
The Nocturnists is partnering with…
Dementia from Two Perspectives with Cindy Weinstein and Bruce Miller, MD
In today's episode, Emily speaks with Professor Cindy Weinstein and Dr. Bruce Miller, authors of the book Finding the Right Words, which explores literature, grief, and the brain. It tells the story …
The Uncertain World of Chronic Lyme with Ross Douthat
In today's episode, Emily speaks with New York Times columnist Ross Douthat about his book The Deep Places, which tells the harrowing story of his experience with Lyme disease, and what it's like to …
The Cost of Living with Emily Maloney
The American healthcare system is a tapestry of providers, insurers and chargemasters, and often leaves patients with unexpected and crippling bills. That is, if they show up to the hospital at all.
…
House Call with Tobin Greensweig, MD
Physician Tobin Greensweig makes an unannounced visit to a patient’s house to check on him after he leaves the hospital. Recalling stories from his father's community medical practice, he is struck b…
Bearing Witness with Shaili Jain, MD
Psychiatrist Shaili Jain tells the story of a pivotal experience on a road trip with her father, and how it catalyzed her career as a PTSD specialist.
The Nocturnists is partnering with VCU Health Co…
The Ride with Christina Lee, MD
Pediatrician Christina Lee recounts a memorable ambulance ride from residency, in which she helped transport a child from the hospital to hospice.
The Nocturnists is partnering with VCU Health Contin…
Elective Procedure with Pablo Romano
Medical student Pablo Romano tells the story of losing his mother to complications of surgery, and how he continues her legacy as a medical student.
The Nocturnists is partnering with VCU Health Cont…
Sharing the Air with Natasha Spottiswoode, MD
Internal medicine physician Natasha Spottiswoode reflects on her flying days from Oxford while teaching a green intern how to recognize whether patients are "sick" or "not sick."
The Nocturnists is p…
Authentically Me with Ashley McMullen, MD
Internist Ashley McMullen decides to let her hair go natural for the first time in over a decade — a process which serves as a metaphor for self-acceptance in the rigid world of medicine.
The Nocturn…
See One, Do One, Teach One with Bobby Chiong, MD
Interventional Radiologist Bobby Chiong's patient codes on the table during a procedure, prompting a frantic but successful resuscitation. Afterward, Dr. Chiong reflects on the high-stakes nature of …