House Calls with Dr. Vivek Murthy

For more inspiration, visit SurgeonGeneral.gov/challenge. There you’ll find tools, including a deck of cards with plenty of ideas on how to connect. 

TELL US YOUR CONNECTION STORIES 

How did you choose to connect? And how did it make you feel? We are also looking for potential stories to be highlighted on a future episode of House Calls. Send us a note at housecalls@hhs.gov. 

For more episodes, visit www.surgeongeneral.gov/housecalls.  

We’d love to hear from you! Send us a note at housecalls@hhs.gov with your feedback & ideas. 

Dr. Laurie Santos, Professor and Podcast Host  

Twitter: @lauriesantos 

Instagram: @lauriesantosofficial 

Facebook: @DrLaurieSantos 

About Dr. Laurie Santos 

Dr. Laurie Santos is Professor of Psychology at Yale University and host of the podcast “The Happiness Lab”. Dr. Santos is an expert on human cognition and the cognitive biases that impede better choices. Her course, “Psychology and the Good Life,” teaches students what the science of psychology says about how to make wiser choices and live a life that’s happier and more fulfilling. The class is Yale’s most popular course in over 300 years and has been adapted into a free Coursera program that has been taken by over 3.9 million people to date.  

Dr. Santos has been featured in numerous news outlets including the New York Times, NBC Nightly News, The Today Show, CBS This Morning, NPR, GQ Magazine, Slate, CNN and O, The Oprah Magazine. Dr. Santos is a winner of numerous awards both for her science and teaching from institutions such as Yale and the American Psychological Association. She has been featured as one of Popular Science’s “Brilliant 10” young minds and was named TIME's “Leading Campus Celebrity.”

 For more episodes, visit www.surgeongeneral.gov/housecalls.  

We’d love to hear from you! Send us a note at housecalls@hhs.gov with your feedback & ideas. 

Yo-Yo Ma, Cellist & Humanitarian

Twitter: @YoYo_Ma 

Instagram: @YoYoMa 

Facebook: @YoYoMa 

YouTube: @YoYoMa 

About Yo-Yo Ma 

Yo-Yo Ma’s multi-faceted career is testament to his belief in culture’s power to generate trust and understanding. Whether performing new or familiar works for cello, bringing communities together to explore culture’s role in society, or engaging unexpected musical forms, Yo-Yo strives to foster connections that stimulate the imagination and reinforce our humanity. 

Most recently, Yo-Yo began Our Common Nature, a cultural journey to celebrate the ways that nature can reunite us in pursuit of a shared future. Our Common Nature follows the Bach Project, a 36-community, six-continent tour of J. S. Bach’s cello suites paired with local cultural programming. Both endeavors reflect Yo-Yo’s lifelong commitment to stretching the boundaries of genre and tradition to understand how music helps us to imagine and build a stronger society. 

Yo-Yo Ma was born in 1955 to Chinese parents living in Paris, where he began studying the cello with his father at age four. When he was seven, he moved with his family to New York City, where he continued his cello studies before pursuing a liberal arts education. 

Yo-Yo has recorded more than 120 albums, is the winner of 19 Grammy Awards, and has performed for nine American presidents, most recently on the occasion of President Biden’s inauguration. He has received numerous awards, including the National Medal of the Arts, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the Birgit Nilsson Prize. He has been a UN Messenger of Peace since 2006, and was recognized as one of TIME magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2020.  www.yo-yoma.com. 

For more episodes, visit www.surgeongeneral.gov/housecalls.  

We’d love to hear from you! Send us a note at housecalls@hhs.gov with your feedback & ideas. 

Yo-Yo Ma, Cellist & Humanitarian 

Twitter: @YoYo_Ma 

Instagram: @YoYoMa 

Facebook: @YoYoMa 

YouTube: @YoYoMa 

About Yo-Yo Ma 

Yo-Yo Ma’s multi-faceted career is testament to his belief in culture’s power to generate trust and understanding. Whether performing new or familiar works for cello, bringing communities together to explore culture’s role in society, or engaging unexpected musical forms, Yo-Yo strives to foster connections that stimulate the imagination and reinforce our humanity. 

Most recently, Yo-Yo began Our Common Nature, a cultural journey to celebrate the ways that nature can reunite us in pursuit of a shared future. Our Common Nature follows the Bach Project, a 36-community, six-continent tour of J. S. Bach’s cello suites paired with local cultural programming. Both endeavors reflect Yo-Yo’s lifelong commitment to stretching the boundaries of genre and tradition to understand how music helps us to imagine and build a stronger society. 

Yo-Yo Ma was born in 1955 to Chinese parents living in Paris, where he began studying the cello with his father at age four. When he was seven, he moved with his family to New York City, where he continued his cello studies before pursuing a liberal arts education. 

Yo-Yo has recorded more than 120 albums, is the winner of 19 Grammy Awards, and has performed for nine American presidents, most recently on the occasion of President Biden’s inauguration. He has received numerous awards, including the National Medal of the Arts, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the Birgit Nilsson Prize. He has been a UN Messenger of Peace since 2006, and was recognized as one of TIME magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2020.  www.yo-yoma.com. 

For more conversations, visit www.surgeongeneral.gov/housecalls. 

We’d love to hear from you! Send us a note at housecalls@hhs.gov with your feedback & ideas. 

Baratunde Thurston, Host, Activist & Comedian 

Twitter: @baratunde 

Instagram: @baratunde 

Facebook: @baratunde 

About Baratunde Thurston 

Baratunde Thurston tells a better story of us, weaving together threads of race, technology, democracy and climate through his work as an Emmy-nominated host, producer, writer, and public speaker. He is the host and executive producer of the PBS television series “America Outdoors with Baratunde Thurston,” creator and host of “How To Citizen” with Baratunde which Apple named one of its favorite podcasts of 2020, and a founding partner of the new media startup Puck. His comedic memoir, “How To Be Black,” is a New York Times best-seller. In 2019, he delivered what MSNBC’s Brian Williams called “one of the greatest TED talks of all time.” Baratunde is unique in his ability to integrate and synthesize different and difficult topics in a style that’s intelligent, compassionate, and humorous. Baratunde serves on the boards of Civics Unplugged and the Brooklyn Public Library and lives in Los Angeles, California.

For more conversations, visit www.surgeongeneral.gov/housecalls. Email us at housecalls@hhs.gov. 

Ashley Judd 

Twitter: @ashleyjudd 

Instagram: @ashley_judd 

Facebook: @ashleyjuddofficial

About Ashley Judd & Friends 

Ashley Judd is a Golden Globe and Emmy-nominated actress who navigates between indie gems and box office hits. A feminist and social justice humanitarian, she is UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador, advocating for sexual and reproductive rights for girls and women worldwide. She has traveled to 23 countries, visiting brothels, refugee camps, and slums, to learn about male sexual violence and gender inequality. Her New York Times bestselling book, “All That Is Bitter & Sweet”, chronicles these journeys.

Ashley earned an MPA from Harvard's Kennedy School of Government. Ashley was Time Magazine’s 2017 Person of the Year as one of the Silence Breakers. She was the first to go on the record about rapist Harvey Weinstein. In 2019, the United Nations honored her as Global Advocate of the Year. A survivor of multi-generational trauma and child rape, Ashley has been in recovery for 17 years. She is an advocate for survivors and those who live with mental illness in their families. Ashley believes trauma we do not transform is trauma we will transfer, and that a life of service begins with taking responsibility for one’s own healing.

Logan Raines has found that connection with others takes intention, and lasting friendships are essential to emotional health. Logan wears many hats- wife, mother of 3, and part-time photographer. When her father was diagnosed with dementia, Logan stepped into the role of manager for her parent’s estate. Logan holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Belmont University. She lives in Franklin, TN with her husband, Danny, their children, Luke, Lillian, and Drew, and beloved dog Coco.

Heather Raymond is a wife, mother of 3, and a full time Realtor. In her first year of being a Realtor she was named Rookie of the Year by Parks Realty in Middle Tennessee. Heather is an endurance athlete who has completed several Ironmans and ultra marathons. Heather and her husband Marc plan to retire in his home county of France and hope Luc (16) Audrey (13) & William (7) will visit frequently when that becomes a reality.

Samantha Andros is a career educator who recently finished her master’s degree in social work from Indiana University. Sam has worked for over 30 years as a teacher, mentor, and interventionist, supporting the goals of students facing hardship. Sam has been married for over 30 years to her husband Ed, and has 3 young adult daughters. Sam credits her friends' unwavering encouragement for her ability to maintain a meaningful life.

Dr. Tracy Dennis-Tiwary, author of “Future Tense: Why Anxiety is Good For you (Even Though It Feels Bad),” and a professor of psychology and neuroscience at Hunter College, says harnessing our anxiety can help us shape the future, instead of making it something, well…to be anxious about. In this episode of House Calls, the Surgeon General and Dr. Dennis-Tiwary talk about concrete ways many people can get through anxious times with a slower pulse, and calmer mind, and a clearer vision. Dr. Dennis-Tiwary calls it The Three Ls and she says anyone can learn to do it. 

(02:50)  What is anxiety and why does it exist? 

(04:57)  Stress, anxiety, or fear: What’s the difference? 

(06:13)  Anxiety or anxiety disorder? 

(07:58)  How does anxiety manifest? 

(11:19)  Is mental health the health crisis of our time? 

(14:13)  Managing anxiety with the Three L’s. 

(18:12)  Why should we befriend our anxiety? 

(19:13)  How can we help children with their anxiety? 

(31:27)  Can you become an emotional ninja? 

(33:13)  What drives our anxiety? 

(39:11)  Where do anxiety and social media intersect? 

(45:21)  Can we prioritize mental health? 

For more conversations, visit www.surgeongeneral.gov/housecalls. 

We’d love to hear from you! Send us a note at housecalls@hhs.gov with your feedback & ideas. 

Dr. Tracy Dennis-Tiwary, Professor and Founder and CSO of Wise Therapeutics 

Twitter: @tracyadennis 

Instagram: @dr.tracyphd 

LinkedIn: @tracydennistiwary 

About Dr. Tracy Dennis-Tiwary 

Tracy A. Dennis-Tiwary, Ph.D. is a professor of psychology and neuroscience, Director of the Emotion Regulation Lab, and Co-Executive Director of the Center for Health Technology at Hunter College, The City University of New York. As Founder and CSO of Wise Therapeutics, she translates neuroscience and cognitive therapy techniques into gamified, clinically validated digital therapeutics for mental health. She has published over 100 scientific articles and delivered over 400 presentations at academic conferences and for corporate clients. She has been featured throughout the media, including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, ABC, CBS, CNN, NPR, The Today Show, and Bloomberg Television. 

For more conversations, visit www.surgeongeneral.gov/housecalls. 

We’d love to hear from you! Send us a note at housecalls@hhs.gov with your feedback & ideas. 

Dr. Rachel Naomi Remen, Physician & Teacher 

Facebook: @rachelnaomiremen 

About Dr. Rachel Naomi Remen 

Rachel Naomi Remen, MD is Clinical Professor Emeritus of Family and Community Medicine at the UCSF School of Medicine and Professor of Family Medicine at Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine in Ohio. In 1991, she founded the Remen Institute for the Study of Health and Illness (RISHI) a national training institute for physicians, nurses, medical students, nursing students, veterinarians and other health professionals who wish to practice a health care of compassion, meaning, service and community. She is an internationally recognized medical educator whose innovative discovery model course in professionalism, resiliency and relationship-centered care for medical students, The Healer’s Art, is taught at more than 90 American medical schools and schools in seven countries abroad. Her bestselling books “Kitchen Table Wisdom” and “My Grandfather’s Blessings” have been published in 23 languages and have millions of copies in print. 

In recognition of her contribution to medicine and medical education, she has received numerous awards including three honorary degrees, the prestigious Bravewell Award as one of the earliest pioneers of Integrative Medicine and Relationship Centered Care. In 2013, she was voted the Gold-Headed Cane award by UCSF School of Medicine for excellence in embodying and teaching the qualities and values of the true physician. Dr. Remen has a 70-year personal history of chronic illness, and her work is a potent blend of the perspectives and wisdom of physician and patient. 

We’d love to hear from you! Send us a note at housecalls@hhs.gov with your feedback & ideas. 

Susan Cain, Author and Speaker 

Twitter: @susancain 

Instagram: @susancainauthor 

Facebook: @authorsusancain 

About Susan Cain  

SUSAN CAIN is the #1 bestselling author of “Bittersweet: How Sorrow and Longing Make Us Whole” and “Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking,” which has been translated into 40 languages, spent eight years on The New York Times best seller list, and was named the #1 best book of the year by Fast Company magazine, which also named Cain one of its Most Creative People in Business.  

LinkedIn named her the Top 6th Influencer in the World, just behind Richard Branson and Melinda French Gates. Susan partners with Malcolm Gladwell, Adam Grant and Dan Pink to curate the Next Big Idea Book Club. They donate all their proceeds to children’s literacy programs.  

Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, The Economist, The Wall Street Journal, and many other publications. Her TED talks on the power of introverts and the hidden power of sad songs and rainy days have been viewed over 40 million times.  

Cain has also spoken at Google, PIXAR, the U.S. Treasury, P&G, Harvard, and West Point. She received Harvard Law School’s Celebration Award for Thought Leadership, the Toastmasters International Golden Gavel Award for Communication and Leadership, and was named one of the world’s top 50 Leadership and Management Experts by Inc. Magazine. She is an honors graduate of Princeton and Harvard Law School. She lives in the Hudson River Valley with her husband, two sons and golden doodle, Sophie. Visit Susan at susancain.net. 

Instagram: @chefjoseandres 

Twitter: @chefjoseandres 

Facebook: chefjoseandres 

About José Andrés 

Born in Spain, where he learned the craft of cooking first from his parents and then in the kitchen of Ferran Adrià’s groundbreaking avant-garde restaurant elBulli – José Andrés immigrated to the United States in 1991, first to New York City and later to Washington, D.C., where he and his partners established a group of restaurants that has earned countless fans and won numerous awards over the years. 

José holds close both his identity as a Spanish immigrant and an American citizen, placing upon himself the responsibility of both culinary ambassador and immigrant representing the two nations. He is a visionary and a humanitarian, establishing World Central Kitchen in 2010 as a means for feeding the many – using culinary training programs to empower communities and strengthen economies as well as food disaster relief in the wake of emergencies around the globe. 

He has been widely recognized for both his culinary and his humanitarian work, including by the James Beard Foundation, which named him Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic in 2003, as well as Humanitarian of the Year in 2018; TIME Magazine, which included him on the list of 100 Most Influential People in 2012 and 2018; and President Obama, who awarded José the National Humanities Medal in 2015. José holds two Michelin stars for his avant-garde tasting counter minibar by José Andrés in Washington, D.C., as well as four Bib Gourmands. 

For more conversations, visit www.surgeongeneral.gov/housecalls. 

We’d love to hear from you! Send us a note at housecalls@hhs.gov with your feedback & ideas.

We’d love to hear from you! Send us a note at housecalls@hhs.gov with your feedback & ideas. 

Rainn Wilson, Actor & Artist 

Twitter: @rainnwilson 

Instagram: @rainnwilson 

Facebook: @rainnwilson 

About Rainn Wilson 

Rainn Wilson is an Emmy nominated and SAG award-winning actor, writer and producer best known for playing the role of Dwight Schrute on NBC's The Office, which garnered him three Emmy Award nominations. 

Wilson’s book, “Soul Boom: Why We Need a Spiritual Revolution” released on April 25th of this year. In this book, he explores the benefits spirituality gives us in creating solutions for an increasingly challenging world.

Wilson can be seen in “Rainn Wilson and The Geography of Bliss,” a six-part travel docuseries in which he travels around the world to discover the happiest places on Earth. The docuseries is based on Eric Weiner’s novel “The Geography of Bliss: One Grump’s Search for the Happiest Places in the World” and debuted on Peacock in May 2023.

Other movie and television credits include “WEIRD: The Al Yankovic Story,” “Jerry & Marge Go Large,” “Dark Winds,” “An Idiot’s Guide to Climate Change,” “Star: Trek Discovery,” “Super,” “The Meg” and “Six Feet Under” among many others. 

Wilson co-founded SoulPancake, a digital media company designed to celebrate humanity and champion creativity. He is the author of “The Bassoon King” and the New York Times Bestselling “SoulPancake: Chew on Life’s Big Questions.”

We’d love to hear from you! Send us a note at housecalls@hhs.gov with your feedback & ideas. 

Richard Reeves, Writer and Researcher

Twitter: @RichardvReeves 

Instagram: @richardvreeves 

About Richard Reeves 

Richard V. Reeves is a nonresident senior fellow in Governance Studies and president of the Boys and Men Project. Formerly, he was a senior fellow in Economic Studies, where he held the John C. and Nancy D. Whitehead Chair. His research focuses on boys and men, inequality, and social mobility. 

Richard’s publications for Brookings include his latest book “Of Boys and Men: Why the Modern Male Is Struggling, Why It Matters, and What to Do about It” (2022) and 2017’s “Dream Hoarders: How the American Upper Middle Class Is Leaving Everyone Else in the Dust, Why That Is a Problem, and What to Do about It”. He is a contributor to The Atlantic, National Affairs, Democracy Journal, the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times. Richard is also the author of “John Stuart Mill – Victorian Firebrand”, an intellectual biography of the British liberal philosopher and politician. 

Richard sits on the Board of Jobs for the Future, and is an adviser to the American Family Survey, and to the Equity Center at the University of Virginia. He has previously served as a consultant to the Opportunity Insights team led by Prof Raj Chetty at Harvard University (2018), and as a member of the Government of Canada’s Ministerial Advisory Committee on Poverty (2017-2018). 

Richard’s previous roles include: director of Demos, the London-based political think-tank; director of futures at the Work Foundation; principal policy advisor to the Minister for Welfare Reform; social affairs editor of the The Observer; research fellow at the Institute for Public Policy Research; economics correspondent for The Guardian; and a researcher at the Institute of Psychiatry, University of London. He is also a former European Business Speaker of the Year. 

Richard has a B.A. from Oxford University and a Ph.D. from Warwick University.

Twitter: ⁠@sandeep_kishore⁠ 

Instagram: ⁠@sunnyk5⁠ 

Dr. Dave Chokshi, Physician & Public Health Leader 

Twitter: @davechokshi 

About Dr. Sunny Kishore & Dr. Dave Chokshi

Dr. Sandeep (Sunny) Kishore is a physician-scientist at the University of California, San Francisco. He has worked on closing the “know-do” gap and translating scientific insights into real-world applications with focus on chronic disease prevention & control. Currently, he is focused on developing a scalable treatment algorithm for blood pressure control to improve cardiometabolic health for primary care clinics across the University of California. His work has led to the addition of over ten treatments to the Essential Medicines List of the World Health Organization (WHO) for cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes and mental illness. He also has provided technical guidance to Resolve to Save Lives with a focus on fixed dose combinations for blood pressure and led large global networks focused on reducing the toll of chronic illness worldwide.  

Dr. Kishore has delivered remarks for United Nations General Assembly health sessions, WHO, TEDMED and his work has been featured in JAMA, The Lancet, Bulletin of WHO and Scientific American. He is a fellow of the New York Academy of Medicine, an Emerging Leader for the National Academy of Medicine and is a recipient of the Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans. He received the Raymond W. Sarber Award for top American graduate student in microbiology for doctoral research on anti-malarial strategies. He completed his medical and graduate training at Weill Cornell/Rockefeller/Sloan-Kettering Institute and Oxford, undertook his clinical training at Yale and Brigham & Women's Hospital/Harvard Medical School and has held fellowships at Harvard, Yale and the Dalai Lama Center at MIT. He currently resides in the Bay Area with his wife.

Dr. Dave A. Chokshi is a practicing physician and public health leader who most recently served as the 43rd Health Commissioner of New York City. From 2020-2022, he led the City’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including its historic campaign to vaccinate over 6 million New Yorkers. Previously, Dr. Chokshi was the inaugural Chief Population Health Officer at the largest public healthcare system in the nation. He has held successive senior leadership roles that span the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. A Rhodes Scholar and White House Fellow, he is nationally recognized as a transformational leader, a clinical innovator, a policy expert, and a fierce advocate for a stronger and more equitable health system. 

We’d love to hear from you! Send us a note at housecalls@hhs.gov with your feedback & ideas. 

Judy Woodruff, Journalist

Twitter: @judywoodruff 

Instagram: @judywoodruffpbs 

About Judy Woodruff

Broadcast journalist Judy Woodruff is the Senior Correspondent for the PBS NewsHour, after serving for 11 years as its Anchor and Managing Editor. During 2023 and 2024, she is undertaking a reporting project, “America at a Crossroads,” to better understand the country’s political divide. She has covered politics and other news for more than four decades at CNN, NBC, and PBS. 

The recipient of numerous awards, including the Peabody Journalistic Integrity Award, the Poynter Medal, an Emmy for Lifetime Achievement, and the Radcliffe Medal, she and the late Gwen Ifill were together awarded Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism after Woodruff and Ifill were named co-anchors of the PBS NewsHour in 2013, marking the first time an American national news broadcast would be co-anchored by two women. 

For 12 years, Woodruff served as anchor and senior correspondent for CNN, where her duties included anchoring the weekday program, Inside Politics. At PBS from 1983 to 1993, she was the chief Washington correspondent for The MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour. From 1984-1990, she also anchored PBS' award-winning weekly documentary series, Frontline with Judy Woodruff. In 2011, Woodruff was the principal reporter for the PBS documentary “Nancy Reagan: The Role of a Lifetime”. And in 2007, she completed an extensive project for PBS and other news outlets on the views of young Americans called “Generation Next: Speak Up. Be Heard”.  

At NBC News, Woodruff was White House correspondent from 1977 to 1982. For one year after that she served as NBC's Today show chief Washington correspondent. She wrote the book, “This is Judy Woodruff at the White House,” published in 1982 by Addison-Wesley. Woodruff is a founding co-chair of the International Women's Media Foundation, an organization dedicated to promoting and encouraging women in communication industries worldwide.

Woodruff is a graduate of Duke University, where she is a trustee emerita. She lives in Washington, DC, with her husband, journalist Al Hunt, and they are the parents of three children. 

We’d love to hear from you! Send us a note at housecalls@hhs.gov with your feedback & ideas. 

(02:46)    What is the current state of teen mental health? 

(06:10)    How should we think about mental health? 

(07:38)    When should parents intervene in their kids’ mental health? 

(09:43)    Is adolescence different for the current generation? 

(11:05)    Why are kids sleeping less? 

(13:19)    What is the primary job of parents, in terms of mental health for kids? 

(17:44)    How can parents talk with kids about self-harm? 

(20:30)    How can we help kids find balance about things that trouble them? 

(22:45)    When can parents expect the peak of emotional swings in adolescence? 

(25:12)    Are kids more fragile these days? 

(27:49)    Are kids experiencing loneliness? 

(29:45)    Are online friendships as deep as in-person friendships? 

(31:14)    Do kids of different genders form friendships differently? 

(32:58)    How can we help boys initiate deeper friendships? 

(34:31)    Can we get past societal expectations of what boys and girls feel? 

(38:19)    What role can school play in supporting emotional well-being? 

(40:27)    How should parents approach technology and social media for kids? 

(46:46)    What gives Lisa Damour hope? 

(48:01)    What is the mental health status of college-aged people?  

(51:55)    How does privacy work for young people seeking mental health support? 

(53:54)    How can we help young people who are feeling apathetic? 

(56:42)    How badly do tech devices interfere with sleep and what to do about it? 

(58:51)    Can we manage kids’ devices while allowing them to feel connected? 

Dr. Lisa Damour, Psychologist and Author

Instagram: @lisa.damour 

Twitter: @LDamour 

Facebook: @lisadamourphd 

About Dr. Lisa Damour 

Dr. Lisa Damour is the author of three New York Times best sellers: “Untangled,” “Under Pressure,” and “The Emotional Lives of Teenagers.” She co-hosts the "Ask Lisa" podcast, works in collaboration with UNICEF, and is recognized as a thought leader by the American Psychological Association. Dr. Damour is also a regular contributor to The New York Times and CBS News. 

Dr. Damour serves as a Senior Advisor to the Schubert Center for Child Studies at Case Western Reserve University and has written numerous academic papers, chapters, and books related to education and child development. She maintains a clinical practice and also speaks to schools, professional organizations, and corporate groups around the world on the topics of child and adolescent development, family mental health, and adult well-being. 

Dr. Damour graduated with honors from Yale University and worked for the Yale Child Study Center before earning her doctorate in Clinical Psychology at the University of Michigan. She has been a fellow at Yale’s Edward Zigler Center in Child Development and Social Policy and the University of Michigan’s Power Foundation. She and her husband are the proud parents of two daughters.

We’d love to hear from you! Send us a note at housecalls@hhs.gov with your feedback & ideas. 

(05:25)    Becoming a K-pop star 

(09:51)    How did Eric have the courage to ask himself if he was happy? 

(12:03)    Navigating family expectations around his career 

(17:20)    How do healing & vulnerability show up in Eric’s music? 

(22:18)    Is it harder to be vulnerable as a guy? 

(27:19)    Early career struggles impacting his mental health 

(34:26)    Handling fame 

(36:37)    Why making new friends can sometimes be hard? 

(38:33)    Helping others with mental health challenges 

(41:54)    What does Eric Nam love most about being Korean American? 

(44:50)    What are Eric Nam’s go-to tunes for relaxing? 

(45:56)    If Eric and the Surgeon General had a boy band, what would they call it? 

(53:31)    What gives Eric hope? 

Eric Nam, Singer & Entrepreneur 

Instagram: @ericnam 

Twitter: @ericnamofficial 

Facebook: @ericnamofficial 

About Eric Nam 

Eric Nam is a multi-faceted singer-songwriter, TV personality, actor, and entrepreneur. Named GQ Korea’s Man of the Year and Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia, Eric is a household name and one of the most extensively touring Asian artists in the world. In 2019, with the help of his brothers, Eric co-founded DIVE Studios, a K-pop-focused media company with multiple award-winning podcasts. In 2021, the Nam brothers leveraged the success of DIVE Studios to create Mindset, a mental health and wellness platform with a library of authentic and intimate video and audio collections from world-renowned celebrities. Eric received a B.A. in International Studies with honors from Boston College. 

Learn more at SurgeonGeneral.gov/connection (p.s. it’s a really unexpected website). 

(01:49)    How do loneliness and isolation affect our health? 

(03:35)    Are there different types of loneliness? 

(06:29)    How bad is the loneliness problem in America? 

(08:13)    How do you know if you’re lonely? 

(09:42)    Do online friends count? 

(12:18)    Am I at a disadvantage if I live alone? 

(13:48)    How do I know if someone else is lonely? 

(14:33)    What can I do if my partner is feeling lonely? 

(15:23)    How do I know if someone else is lonely? 

(17:06)    Can strangers help us feel less lonely? 

(18:24)    What does Dr. Murthy do when he’s feeling lonely? 

(23:13)    What can we do to address the loneliness epidemic? 

(26:36)    How can we manage connection in a remote work environment? 

(29:12)   Embrace the “Acceptance Prophecy” 

(30:04)    Just how powerful is social connection? 

We’d love to hear from you! Send us a note at housecalls@hhs.gov with your feedback & ideas.

We’d love to hear from you! Send us a note at housecalls@hhs.gov with your feedback & ideas. 

(02:05)    Why really listening, instead of problem-solving, matters. 

(06:10)    How can we develop the skill of happiness? 

(10:22)    Does success equate to happiness? 

(12:28)    The quest for success: the story of Dr. Chatterjee’s father. 

(17:14)    Want to try the exercise “Write Your Happy Ending?” 

(20:20)    Look back…what makes you happy? 

(23:41)    Dr. Murthy shares an internal struggle. 

(27:42)    And what Dr. Chatterjee reveals in return. 

(30:50)    Love, loss, and beauty as emotional companions. 

(33:57)    As parents age, finding new appreciation for life. 

(37:41)    Want to alleviate stress? Reach out, connect, and be vulnerable. 

Dr. Rangan Chatterjee, Physician & Podcast Host

Twitter: @drchatterjeeuk 

Instagram: @drchatterjee 

Facebook: @drchatterjee 

About Dr. Rangan Chatterjee 

Dr. Rangan Chatterjee is regarded as one of the most influential medical doctors in the UK and wants to change how medicine will be practiced for years to come. His mission is to help 100 million people around the globe live better lives.  

He hosts the most listened to health podcast in the UK and Europe, "Feel Better, Live More" – which regularly tops the Apple Podcast charts. The podcast has received 125 million audio downloads to date and is listened to and watched by over 8 million people every month. Chris Evans calls “Feel Better Live More” ‘One of the best podcasts on the planet.’ 

Dr Chatterjee is known for his ability to simplify complex health advice and find the root cause of people's health problems - he highlighted his methods in the ground-breaking BBC One television show, “Doctor in the House,” which has been shown in over 70 countries around the world. He has recently been awarded the title of Professor of Health Communication and Education at The University of Chester.  

He is the Number 1 selling health author in the UK; each of his 5 books are Sunday Times Bestsellers in the UK and international bestsellers across the globe. His latest book “Happy Mind, Happy Life” was published on March 31st 2022 and was an instant No.1 Sunday Times Bestseller. Dr. Chatterjee hosts his own Amazon Original daily podcast “Built to Thrive,” regularly appears on BBC Television and has been featured in numerous international publications including The New York Times, Forbes, The Guardian and Vogue. His TED talk, How To Make Disease Disappear, has been viewed more than 5.5 million times. 

We’d love to hear from you! Send us a note at housecalls@hhs.gov with your feedback & ideas. 

(03:26)   How stressed are we? 

(05:55)    How does stress influence our behaviors? 

(08:57)    How have you seen stress manifest in people’s lives? 

(11:57)    How is stress like being chased by a tiger? 

(15:57)    Why does stress hit us in the gut (and the libido)? 

(20:03)    How did you become a doctor? 

(26:40)    How has doctoring become so much more than seeing a patient in an office? 

(31:48)    Listening is real medicine. 

(35:05)    How Dr. Chatterjee’s son’s illness changed everything. 

(41:15)    What’s Dr. Chatterjee’s approach to treating chronic conditions? 

(45:27)    How does lifestyle influence our health? 

(46:49)    Why all patients should get great health information. 

Dr. Rangan Chatterjee, Physician & Podcast Host

Twitter: @drchatterjeeuk 

Instagram: @drchatterjee 

Facebook: @drchatterjee 

About Dr. Rangan Chatterjee 

Dr. Chatterjee is regarded as one of the most influential medical doctors in the UK and wants to change how medicine will be practiced for years to come. His mission is to help 100 million people around the globe live better lives.  

He hosts the most listened to health podcast in the UK and Europe, "Feel Better, Live More" – which regularly tops the Apple Podcast charts. The podcast has received 125 million audio downloads to date and is listened to and watched by over 8 million people every month. Chris Evans calls Feel Better Live More ‘One of the best podcasts on the planet.’ 

Dr Chatterjee is known for his ability to simplify complex health advice and find the root cause of people's health problems - he highlighted his methods in the ground-breaking BBC One television show, “Doctor in the House,” which has been shown in over 70 countries around the world. He has recently been awarded the title of Professor of Health Communication and Education at The University of Chester.  

He is the Number 1 selling health author in the UK; each of his 5 books are Sunday Times Bestsellers in the UK and international bestsellers across the globe. His latest book “Happy Mind, Happy Life” was published on March 31st 2022 and was an instant No.1 Sunday Times Bestseller.  

Dr. Chatterjee hosts his own Amazon Original daily podcast “Built to Thrive,” regularly appears on BBC Television and has been featured in numerous international publications including The New York Times, Forbes, The Guardian and Vogue. His TED talk, How To Make Disease Disappear, has been viewed over 5.5 million times. 

Email us at ⁠housecalls@hhs.gov⁠ with your feedback & ideas.  

(03:33)    Why is America in a state of emotional pain? 

(00:08)    Can we even talk about morals, values, and social skills? 

(11:38)    People or government: where can we find moral support? 

(14:06)    Can AI provide emotional sustenance for humans? 

(17:56)    How can parents help kids build a moral foundation? 

(21:16)    Is being social a teachable skill? 

(25:03)    What is the “moral and relational hunger” that fascinates David Brooks? 

(27:52)    David Brooks’ personal quest to better relate to people. 

(29:30)    Can the pressure of striving de-humanize us? 

(31:25)    How can we be authentic in a world of likes and clicks? 

(35:06)    How do external notions of “success” shape us? 

(38:41)    What is the story of the Weavers? 

(42:38)    How can we build up the Weaver movement? 

(45:12)    How do we expand positive social norms? 

(48:45)    How's your social life? What keeps you from hosting gatherings? 

(55:47)    Can we connect across difference? 

(01:01:13)    Where does David Brooks find hope? 

(01:04:12)    Is faith a source of inspiration for David Brooks?  

David Brooks, Columnist

Twitter: @nytdavidbrooks 

Weave: the Social Fabric Project: @weavetheppl 

About David Brooks

David Brooks is a columnist for The New York Times and a contributor to The Atlantic. He is a commentator on “The PBS Newshour."  

His most recent book, “The Second Mountain,” shows what can happen when we put commitment-making and relationships at the center of our lives. He is also the author of “The Road to Character,” “Bobos In Paradise: The New Upper Class and How They Got There” and “The Social Animal: The Hidden Sources of Love, Character, and Achievement.” 

Mr. Brooks is on the faculty of Yale University and is a member of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences.

Have questions for Dr. Murthy or ideas for future episodes? Email us at HouseCalls@hhs.gov.

(03:08)    Really, how much time do we spend on our phones?
(04:03)    How do our phones affect our brains?
(06:12)    Can we pay attention anymore?
(09:33)    Does anyone really get enough sleep?
(12:28)    Are our phones just part of life now?
(04:50)    How are apps on your phone like food in your fridge?
(16:29)    What is the “attention economy?”
(21:18)    Why was Catherine Price inspired to investigate tech?
(27:57)    How we know when it’s time to break up with our phone.
(36:34)    Are we afraid to be bored?
(39:16)    Experiencing The Digital Sabbath.
(45:15)    What about work and emergencies? How can I break up?

Catherine Price, Science Journalist and Author

Twitter: @Catherine_Price

Instagram: @_catherineprice

About Catherine Price

Dubbed “The Marie Kondo of Brains” by The New York Times, Catherine Price is an award-winning science journalist and speaker and the author of books including The Power of Fun: How to Feel Alive Again, and How to Break Up with Your Phone. She is also the creator and founder of ScreenLifeBalance.com, which is dedicated to helping people learn how to scroll less and live more. Catherine’s work has appeared in publications including The Best American Science Writing, The New York Times, O: The Oprah Magazine, Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle, The Washington Post Magazine, Slate, Men's Journal, Self, and Outside, among others.

We all need to have hope. It’s essential to living a healthy life. So it’s no surprise that “What gives you hope?” is one question Dr. Murthy always asks his guests. In this compilation episode, tune in to hear from Chef José Andrés, Father Greg Boyle, friendship expert Dr. Marisa G. Franco, and others. Even during life’s difficult times, they all have found hope in their own special ways. And as you listen, we invite you to think about what brings hope to your life and why, and share with us at HouseCalls@hhs.gov.

Also, please take a moment to rate House Calls! It will help new listeners discover it.

(00:41)    Finding hope during illness

(02:37)    Finding hope in connection

(05:25)    Finding hope in loss and grief

(08:33)    Finding hope in friendship

(09:40)    Finding hope in times of darkness.

Also, we’d appreciate it if you took a moment to rate and review our podcast. Email us at housecalls@hhs.gov with your feedback and ideas.

Twitter: @DrMarisaGFranco

Instagram: @drmarisagfranco

About Dr. Marisa G. Franco

A psychologist, speaker, and bestselling author, Dr. Marisa G. Franco is known for digesting and communicating science in ways that resonate deeply enough with people to change their lives. She is a professor at The University of Maryland and authored the NYT bestseller Platonic: How The Science of Attachment Can Help You Make—and Keep—Friends.  She writes about friendship for  Psychology Today  and has been a featured in  The New York Times, The Telegraph, and  Vice. She speaks on belonging at corporations, government agencies, non-profits, and universities.

For tips on friendship, you can follow her on Instagram (DrMarisaGFranco), or go to her website, www.DrMarisaGFranco.com, where you can take a quiz to assess your strengths and weaknesses as a friend.

Also, we’d appreciate it if you took a moment to rate and review our podcast. Email us at housecalls@hhs.gov with your feedback and ideas.

Twitter: @DrMarisaGFranco

Instagram: @drmarisagfranco

About Dr. Marisa G. Franco

A psychologist, speaker, and bestselling author, Dr. Marisa G. Franco is known for digesting and communicating science in ways that resonate deeply enough with people to change their lives. She is a professor at The University of Maryland and authored the NYT bestseller Platonic: How The Science of Attachment Can Help You Make—and Keep—Friends.  She writes about friendship for  Psychology Today  and has been a featured in  The New York Times, The Telegraph, and  Vice. She speaks on belonging at corporations, government agencies, non-profits, and universities.

For tips on friendship, you can follow her on Instagram (DrMarisaGFranco), or go to her website, www.DrMarisaGFranco.com, where you can take a quiz to assess your strengths and weaknesses as a friend.

Also, we’d appreciate it if you took a moment to rate and review our podcast, wherever you get your podcasts. Email us at housecalls@hhs.gov with your feedback and ideas.

Help us get the word out about House Calls by rating and reviewing wherever you get your podcasts. Email us at housecalls@hhs.gov with your feedback and ideas. Thank you!

Maya Shankar, Cognitive Scientist & Podcast Host

Twitter: @MayaUmaShankar

Instagram: @drmayashankar

Facebook: @drmayashankar

About Maya Shankar

Maya Shankar is a cognitive scientist and the creator, executive producer, and host of the podcast, “A Slight Change of Plans,” which Apple awarded "Best Show of the Year" for 2021. Maya was a Senior Advisor in the Obama White House, where she founded and served as Chair of the White House Behavioral Science Team. She also served as the first Behavioral Science Advisor to the United Nations under Ban Ki-moon, and as a core member of Pete Buttigieg’s debate preparation team during his 2020 presidential run. Maya has a postdoctoral fellowship in cognitive neuroscience from Stanford, a Ph.D. from Oxford on a Rhodes Scholarship, and a B.A. from Yale. She's been profiled by The New Yorker and been the featured guest on NPR's “All Things Considered,” “Freakonomics,” and “Hidden Brain.” Maya's a graduate of the Juilliard School of Music's pre-college program, where she was a private violin student of Itzhak Perlman.

Also, we’d appreciate it if you took a moment to rate and review our podcast, wherever you get your podcasts. Email us at housecalls@hhs.gov with your feedback and ideas.

Also, we’d appreciate it if you took a moment to rate and review our podcast, wherever you get your podcasts. Email us at housecalls@hhs.gov with your feedback and ideas.

Twitter: @tracyadennis

Instagram: @dr.tracyphd

LinkedIn: @tracydennistiwary

About Dr. Tracy Dennis-Tiwary

Tracy A. Dennis-Tiwary, Ph.D. is a professor of psychology and neuroscience, Director of the Emotion Regulation Lab, and Co-Executive Director of the Center for Health Technology at Hunter College, The City University of New York. As Founder and CSO of Wise Therapeutics, she translates neuroscience and cognitive therapy techniques into gamified, clinically validated digital therapeutics for mental health. She has published over 100 scientific articles and delivered over 400 presentations at academic conferences and for corporate clients. She has been featured throughout the media, including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, ABC, CBS, CNN, NPR, The Today Show, and Bloomberg Television.

Twitter: @f_dust

Instagram (Fred Dust): @fdbrave 

Instagram (Making Conversation): @makingconversationco

About Fred Dust

Fred Dust is the founder of Dust&Company and works at the intersection of business, society, and creativity. As a designer, author, educator, consultant, trustee, and advisor to social and business leaders, he is one of the world’s most original thinkers, applying the craft and optimism of human-centered design to the intractable challenges we face today. His work uses a combination of catalytic convenings, difficult games and micro curriculum to enable large scale change in institutions and across cultural, governmental, philanthropic, non-profit and for-profit organizations and strives to do so for the world at large.

Using the methodology from his book “Making Conversation,” he also works as the Senior Dialogue Designer with The Rockefeller Foundation to explore the future of pressing global needs; with The School for Advanced Research, The New Museum, The Einhorn Collaborative and other foundations to host constructive dialogue with leaders. He is also proud to be faculty at the Esalen Institute.

Twitter: @RosauraOrengo

About Dr. Rosaura Orengo-Aguayo

Rosaura Orengo-Aguayo, PhD, is an Associate Professor and Clinical Psychologist at the National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). She completed her BA in Psychology at the University of Puerto Rico, her MA and PhD at the University of Iowa, and a National Institutes of Mental Health postdoctoral fellowship in traumatic stress research at MUSC. Her research focuses on addressing mental health disparities among underserved populations (specifically Hispanic youth) through innovative implementation and dissemination methods. She has an active program of research on the cultural and linguistic adaptation and international dissemination of trauma-focused assessment and intervention, particularly within post-disaster contexts.

Dr. Orengo-Aguayo directs the Puerto Rican Center for Intervention and Training in Trauma, a SAMHSA-funded program aimed at capacity building, resource sharing, technical support, and training in evidence-based trauma interventions. Her team has published several seminal publications on the impact of disasters on youth mental health (JAMA Network Open), and the implementation and dissemination of in-person and telehealth delivery of Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) in Latin America and US (American Psychologist). She is a co-author in the first telehealth manual available in Spanish published in January of 2022 (Manual de Telesalud Mental). She is the 2022 Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT) Program Chair and serves on the Executive Board of the American Professional Society on the Abuse on Children (APSAC). Dr. Orengo-Aguayo co-directs the World Changers Lab at MUSC & Puerto Rico, with Dr. Regan W. Stewart, whose mission is to “change the world, one child at a time.”

Twitter: @goodinside

Instagram: @drbeckyatgoodinside

Facebook: @drbeckyatgoodinside

About Dr. Becky Kennedy

Dr. Becky Kennedy is a clinical psychologist, bestselling author, and mom of three. Named “The Millennial Parenting Whisperer” by TIME Magazine, she is rethinking the way we raise our children. She specializes in thinking deeply about what’s happening for kids and translating these ideas into simple, actionable strategies for parents. Dr. Becky's goal is to empower parents to feel sturdier and more equipped to manage the challenges of parenting.

Dr. Becky is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of “Good Inside: A Guide to Becoming the Parent You Want to Be.” She continues to share her parenting insights through her weekly podcast “Good Inside with Dr Becky,” social media, and her newsletter, “Good Insider.” In spring 2022, she launched a game-changing, first-of-its-kind platform; Good Inside Membership is a dynamic parenting hub that offers Dr. Becky’s complete parenting content collection, a judgment-free, like-valued community, and access to Good Inside-trained experts––all in one place to learn, grow and connect.

Her weekly podcast, Good Inside with Dr. Becky, immediately went to #1 on the Apple Podcasts “Kids & Family” chart upon launching in April 2021, was placed on the coveted "New and Noteworthy" list, landed the #26 spot on the iTunes “Top Podcasts” chart in June 2021, and made Apple Podcasts “Best Shows of 2021” list.

Dr. Becky received a BA in Psychology and Human Development, Phi Beta Kappa and summa cum laude, from Duke University and a PhD in Clinical Psychology from Columbia University. To learn more, visit: www.goodinside.com.

Twitter: @susancain

Instagram: @susancainauthor

Facebook: @authorsusancain

About Susan Cain

Susan Cain is the #1 NYT bestselling author of “Bittersweet: How Sorrow and Longing Make Us Whole” and “Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking,” which has been translated into 40 languages, spent eight years on The New York Times best seller list, and was named the #1 best book of the year by Fast Company magazine, which also named Cain one of its Most Creative People in Business.

LinkedIn named her the Top 6th Influencer in the World, just behind Richard Branson and Melinda French Gates. Susan partners with Malcolm Gladwell, Adam Grant and Dan Pink to curate the Next Big Idea Book Club. They donate all their proceeds to children’s literacy programs.

Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, The Economist, The Wall Street Journal, and many other publications. Her TED talks on the power of introverts and the hidden power of sad songs and rainy days have been viewed over 40 million times.

Cain has also spoken at Google, PIXAR, the U.S. Treasury, P&G, Harvard, and West Point. She received Harvard Law School’s Celebration Award for Thought Leadership, the Toastmasters International Golden Gavel Award for Communication and Leadership, and was named one of the world’s top 50 Leadership and Management Experts by Inc. Magazine. She is an honors graduate of Princeton and Harvard Law School. She lives in the Hudson River Valley with her husband, two sons and golden doodle, Sophie. Visit Susan at susancain.net.

Twitter: @kalpenn

Instagram: @kalpenn

Facebook: @kalpenn

About Kal Penn

Kal Penn is an actor, writer, producer, and author.

He is known for his starring roles in the “Harold & Kumar” series, “Designated Survivor,” “House,” and the patriotic immigration sit-com “Sunnyside,” which he co-created for NBC.

Kal published his best-selling memoir “You Can’t Be Serious” in 2022. In it, he recounts a series of funny, consequential, awkward, and ridiculous stories from Kal Penn’s idiosyncratic life. His story reaches back to his grandparents who marched with Gandhi and growing up the son of immigrant parents, who came to this country with very little and went very far—and whose vision of the American dream probably never included their son appearing in the Ryan Reynolds movie “Van Wilder”…or getting a phone call from Air Force One as Kal flew with the country’s first Black president.

In addition to acting, Kal has been engaged in the public sector. He served as an Associate Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement, where he served as President Obama’s Liaison to Young Americans, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, and the Arts community. In these roles, he worked on a range of issues, including the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, the Affordable Care Act, Pell Grants, arts and culture programs, the DREAM Act, and rapid response to the BP Oil Spill and earthquake in Haiti. In 2012, he was a national co-chair for the Obama/Biden re-election campaign and served on the President’s Committee for the Arts and Humanities.

Originally from New Jersey, he received his undergraduate degree in sociology, theater, film, and television at the University of California, Los Angeles, and received a graduate certificate in international security from Stanford University. He has been a term member at the Council on Foreign Relations. Penn has taught courses at the University of Pennsylvania and the University of California, Los Angeles.

Penn most recently wrapped production on the CBS Drama, “Clarice” (based on “Silence of the Lambs”), and Freeform’s late night youth election format show “Kal Penn Approves This Message.” He currently stars in the animated Disney Junior series “Mira,” “Royal Detective,” is an Executive Producer on the Viacom/Paramount + comedy, “Surina & Mel,” and can be heard in Nickelodeon’s “It’s Pony.” His culinary competition series “Money Hungry” aired on Food Network this winter.

Twitter: @lauriesantos

Instagram: @lauriesantosofficial

Facebook: @DrLaurieSantos

About Dr. Laurie Santos

Dr. Laurie Santos is Professor of Psychology at Yale University and host of the podcast The Happiness Lab. Dr. Santos is an expert on human cognition and the cognitive biases that impede better choices. Her course, “Psychology and the Good Life,” teaches students what the science of psychology says about how to make wiser choices and live a life that’s happier and more fulfilling. The class is Yale’s most popular course in over 300 years and has been adapted into a free Coursera program that has been taken by over 3.9 million people to date.

Dr. Santos has been featured in numerous news outlets including the New York Times, NBC Nightly News, The Today Show, CBS This Morning, NPR, GQ Magazine, Slate, CNN and O, The Oprah Magazine. Dr. Santos is a winner of numerous awards both for her science and teaching from institutions such as Yale and the American Psychological Association. She has been featured as one of Popular Science’s “Brilliant 10” young minds and was named TIME's “Leading Campus Celebrity.”

Twitter: @jonkabatzinn

About Jon Kabat-Zinn

Jon Kabat-Zinn, Ph.D. did his doctoral work in molecular biology at MIT, in the laboratory of the Nobel Laureate Salvador Luria.

Jon is Professor of Medicine emeritus at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, where he founded its world-renown Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Clinic in 1979, and the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, and Society, in 1995.  He is the author of 15 books, currently in print in over 45 languages. His most recent is Mindfulness Meditation for Pain Relief (April 2023).

He is also the author of a series of research papers on MBSR dating back to 1982. In a 2021 study of trends and developments in mindfulness research over 55 years (1966-2021), three of his empirical studies figure among the ten most cited articles on mindfulness (nos. 3, 5, and 9) in the scientific literature; and a review article he authored is number two among citations of the top ten review articles on mindfulness.

His work and that of a global community of colleagues has contributed to a growing movement of mindfulness into mainstream institutions such as medicine, psychology, health care, neuroscience, schools, higher education, business, social justice, criminal justice, prisons, the law, technology, the military, government, and professional sports. Over 700 hospitals and medical centers around the world now offer MBSR. Jon lectures and leads mindfulness retreats around the world and on line.

In early 2020, as the Covid-19 pandemic was growing exponentially, he offered a three month “mitigation retreat” online, consisting of 66 consecutive weekdays of live 90-minute sessions that included guided meditations, talks, and dialogue, with several thousand people joining live each day. Those sessions can be accessed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqkYJfT8gsw.

www.jonkabat-zinn.com

Twitter: @jonkabatzinn

About Jon Kabat-Zinn

Jon Kabat-Zinn, Ph.D. did his doctoral work in molecular biology at MIT, in the laboratory of the Nobel Laureate Salvador Luria.  Jon is Professor of Medicine emeritus at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, where he founded its world-renown Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Clinic in 1979, and the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, and Society, in 1995.  He is the author of 15 books, currently in print in over 45 languages.His most recent is Mindfulness Meditation for Pain Relief (April 2023).  He is also the author of a series of research papers on MBSR dating back to 1982. In a 2021 study of trends and developments in mindfulness research over 55 years (1966-2021), three of his empirical studies figure among the ten most cited articles on mindfulness (nos. 3, 5, and 9) in the scientific literature; and a review article he authored is number two among citations of the top ten review articles on mindfulness. His work and that of a global community of colleagues has contributed to a growing movement of mindfulness into mainstream institutions such as medicine, psychology, health care, neuroscience, schools, higher education, business, social justice, criminal justice, prisons, the law, technology, the military, government, and professional sports. Over 700 hospitals and medical centers around the world now offer MBSR. Jon lectures and leads mindfulness retreats around the world and on line. In early 2020, as the Covid-19 pandemic was growing exponentially, he offered a three month “mitigation retreat” online, consisting of 66 consecutive weekdays of live 90-minute sessions that included guided meditations, talks, and dialogue, with several thousand people joining live each day. Those sessions can be accessed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqkYJfT8gsw.

For more information, see www.jonkabat-zinn.com.

Instagram: @homeboyindustries

Twitter: @homeboyind

Facebook: @homeboyindustries

About Father Greg Boyle

Father Gregory Boyle is the founder of Homeboy Industries in Los Angeles, the largest gang-intervention, rehabilitation, and re-entry program in the world.

Born and raised in Los Angeles and Jesuit priest, from 1986 to 1992 Fr. Boyle served as pastor of Dolores Mission Church in Boyle Heights. Dolores Mission was the poorest Catholic parish in Los Angeles that also had the highest concentration of gang activity in the city.

Fr. Boyle witnessed the devastating impact of gang violence on his community during the so-called “decade of death” that began in the late 1980s and peaked at 1,000 gang-related killings in 1992.  In the face of law enforcement tactics and criminal justice policies of suppression and mass incarceration as the means to end gang violence, he and parish and community members adopted what was a radical approach at the time: treat gang members as human beings.

In 1988 they started what would eventually become Homeboy Industries, which employs and trains former gang members in a range of social enterprises, as well as provides critical services to thousands of individuals who walk through its doors every year seeking a better life.

Fr. Boyle is the author of the 2010 New York Times-bestseller “Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion.” His second book, “Barking to the Choir: The Power of Radical Kinship,” was published in 2017.  And his new and third book is “The Whole Language: The Power of Extravagant Tenderness,” which debuted in Fall of 2021.

He has received the California Peace Prize and been inducted into the California Hall of Fame.  In 2014, President Obama named Fr. Boyle a Champion of Change. He received the University of Notre Dame’s 2017 Laetare Medal, the oldest honor given to American Catholics. Homeboy Industries was the recipient of the 2020 Hilton Humanitarian Prize validating 32 years of Fr. Greg Boyle’s vision and work by the organization for over three decades.

Instagram: @theartoffun

Twitter: @theartoffunnews

Facebook: @TheArtOfFunNews

About Christian Robinson

Christian Robinson is an illustrator, author, animator, and designer based in Oakland, California. He was born in Los Angeles and grew up in a small one-bedroom apartment with his brother, two cousins, aunt, and grandmother. Drawing became a way to make space for himself and to create the kind of world he wanted to see. He studied animation at the California Institute of the Arts and would later work with the Sesame Workshop and Pixar Animation Studios before becoming an illustrator of books for children. The Christian Robinson for Target collection, released in August 2021, includes more than 70 items across home and apparel for kids and baby. His books include the #1 New York Times bestseller Last Stop on Market Street, written by Matt de la Peña, which was awarded a Caldecott Honor, a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor, and the Newbery Medal, and the #1 New York Times bestseller The Bench, written by Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex. His solo projects include Another, which was named a New York Times Best Illustrated Book of 2019, and the New York Times bestseller You Matter. His latest collaboration with Matt de la Peña, Milo Imagines The World, received six starred reviews and was a #1 Indie Bestseller and a New York Times bestseller. He looks forward to one day seeing the aurora borealis.

Kate Bowler, Writer & Professor
Instagram: @katecbowler
Twitter: @KatecBowler
Facebook: katecbowler

About Kate Bowler
Kate Bowler, PhD is a New York Times bestselling author, podcast host, and a professor at Duke University. She studies the cultural stories we tell ourselves about success, suffering, and whether (or not) we’re capable of change. In her twenties, she became obsessed with writing the first history of the movement called the “prosperity gospel”—which promises that God will reward you with health and wealth if you have the right kind of faith. She researched and traveled across Canada and the United States interviewing megachurch leaders and televangelists and everyday believers about how they make spiritual meaning out of the good and bad in their lives. The result was the book, Blessed: A History of the American Prosperity Gospel, which received widespread media attention and a lot of puns about being #blessed.

At age 35, she was unexpectedly diagnosed with Stage IV cancer, causing her to think in different terms about the research and beliefs she had been studying. She penned the New York Times bestselling memoir, Everything Happens for a Reason (and Other Lies I’ve Loved), which tells the story of her struggle to understand the personal and intellectual dimensions of the American belief that all tragedies are tests of character.

José Andrés, Chef & Humanitarian
Instagram: @chefjoseandres
Twitter: @chefjoseandres
Facebook: chefjoseandres

About José Andrés
Born in Spain, where he learned the craft of cooking first from his parents and then in the kitchen of Ferran Adrià’s groundbreaking avant-garde restaurant elBulli – José Andrés immigrated to the United States in 1991, first to New York City and later to Washington, D.C., where he and his partners established a group of restaurants that has earned countless fans and won numerous awards over the years.

José holds close both his identity as a Spanish immigrant and an American citizen, placing upon himself the responsibility of both culinary ambassador and immigrant representing the two nations. He is a visionary and a humanitarian, establishing World Central Kitchen in 2010 as a means for feeding the many – using culinary training programs to empower communities and strengthen economies as well as food disaster relief in the wake of emergencies around the globe.

He has been widely recognized for both his culinary and his humanitarian work, including by the James Beard Foundation – which named him Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic in 2003, as well as Humanitarian of the Year in 2018; TIME Magazine, which included him on the list of 100 Most Influential People in 2012 and 2018; and President Obama, who awarded José the National Humanities Medal in 2015. José holds two Michelin stars for his avant-garde tasting counter minibar by José Andrés in Washington, D.C., as well as four Bib Gourmands.