podcast
Chasing Life
All over the world, there are people who are living extraordinary lives, full of happiness and health – and with hardly any heart disease, cancer or diabetes. Dr. Sanjay Gupta has been on a decades-long mission to understand how they do it, and how we can all learn from them. Scientists now believe we can even reverse the symptoms of Alzheimer’s dementia, and in fact grow sharper and more resilient as we age. Sanjay is a dad – of three teenage daughters, he is a doctor - who operates on the brain, and he is a reporter with more than two decades of experience - who travels the earth to uncover and bring you the secrets of the happiest and healthiest people on the planet – so that you too, can Chase Life.
After a deadly outbreak on an expedition cruise ship, listeners have questions about hantavirus and what it means for them. Sanjay breaks down what we know about how it spreads, and how worried you actually need to be. Plus, what experts are saying about the pandemic potential of the virus.
This episode was produced by Andrea Kane, Jennifer Lai and Kyra Dahring.
Senior Producer: Dan Bloom
Technical Director: Dan Dzula
May 12, 2026
More people are turning to AI for health advice, but how reliable is it? Dr. Sanjay Gupta sits down with Dr. Bob Wachter, author of "A Giant Leap," to unpack how AI is already helping patients and doctors, where it can go wrong, and how to use these tools safely without over relying on them. Dr. Gupta is a practicing neurosurgeon and member of the National Academy of Medicine’s AI Code of Conduct Steering Committee. He has previously provided limited consulting to OpenEvidence as a medical advisor.
Our show was produced by Kyra Dahring with support from Jennifer Lai and Elizabeth Corallo
Medical Writer: Andrea KaneSenior Producer: Dan BloomTechnical Director: Dan Dzula
May 8, 2026
We all know drinking alcohol is bad for our health, but how much can it reduce our risk of cancer if we drink less or even cut it out entirely? This week, Dr. Sanjay Gupta digs into the correlation between consuming alcohol and risk of cancer as well as alternatives to alcohol if you’re feeling pressured to drink. Plus, we explain if silicone is a better alternative to replace plastic and what the differences between these two materials are.
This episode was produced by Leying Tang
Showrunner: Amanda Sealy
Senior Producer: Dan Bloom
Technical Director: Dan Dzula
May 5, 2026
GLP-1s are no longer only for weight loss or diabetes. Dr. Sanjay Gupta invites CNN's Meg Tirrell back to Chasing Life to update on the drug’s benefits and risks. Plus, why they’ve personally considered -- and decided against – taking one.
Our show was produced by Sofia Sanchez
Medical Writer: Andrea Kane
Showrunner: Amanda Sealy
Senior Producer: Dan Bloom
Technical Director: Dan Dzula
May 1, 2026
A listener named Victoria wants to know what comes next for her autistic teenage son. This week on Paging Dr. Gupta, we look at how the needs of autistic kids change as they grow up. Plus, common misconceptions about independence, college, and work for autistic teens and adults, with insight from autism researcher and Arizona State University professor Dr. Joshua Anbar.
If you want to get a glimpse into the lives of Victoria and Mason, see this photo essay.
This episode was produced by Jennifer Lai and Kyra Dahring.
Showrunner: Amanda Sealy
Senior Producer: Dan Bloom
Technical Director: Dan Dzula
Apr 28, 2026
In response to a listener's call about her autistic son, Dr. Sanjay Gupta invited leading autism researcher Dr. Matthew Lerner, Director of the Social Connections and Treatment Lab at the A.J. Drexel Autism Institute, to break down how our understanding of autism has changed, what it means to be “on the spectrum” and why diagnoses are on the rise.
The conversation continues next Tuesday on Paging Dr. Gupta, where Sanjay explores what growing up and transitioning into adulthood really looks like for autistic people.
Our show was produced by Jennifer Lai and Kyra Dahring
Medical Writer: Andrea KaneShowrunner: Amanda Sealy Senior Producer: Dan BloomTechnical Director: Dan Dzula
Apr 24, 2026
Can using cannabis help women manage health issues related to endometriosis and perimenopause? Should women use weed while pregnant or breast feeding? CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr Sanjay Gupta tackles some of your health questions regarding weed and women.
Learn more about the effects of cannabis on women, by watching the latest installment of Dr. Gupta’s documentary series, Weed 8: Weed and Women, available stream now on the CNN app.
This episode was produced by Andrea Kane and Leying Tang
Showrunner: Amanda Sealy
Senior Producer: Dan Bloom
Technical Director: Dan Dzula
Apr 21, 2026
Most people might think hypnosis is just stage tricks. But the science tells a different story. Dr. Sanjay Gupta talks with Stanford’s Dr. David Spiegel about how clinical hypnosis may help with pain, anxiety, and bad habits. He also explains why elite athletes use it to improve focus and performance, and how you might be able to use it yourself.
Producer: Kyra Dahring
Medical Writer: Andrea Kane
Showrunner: Amanda Sealy
Senior Producer: Dan Bloom
Technical Director: Dan Dzula
Apr 17, 2026
Four astronauts returned to Earth recently, after a historic 10-day lunar flyby mission in which they ventured farther into space than any human has before. They were part of Artemis II, NASA’s flight to test how well the agency’s Orion spacecraft, and the astronauts, operate in deep space — all in preparation for longer-term trips to the moon and beyond. CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr Sanjay Gupta answers some of your health-related questions about the mission, including: How do they sleep in zero gravity? What’s up with all those hot sauces?
This episode was produced by Leying Tang and Andrea Kane
Showrunner: Amanda Sealy
Senior Producer: Dan Bloom
Technical Director: Dan Dzula
Apr 14, 2026
Even though everyone poops, most of us don’t really want to be reminded of that fact: we downright avoid discussing bowel habits with anyone — even our own doctor. But what happens in our gut is inextricably linked to our overall health. Dr. Sanjay Gupta sits down with neurogastroenterologist and author of the new book “You’ve Been Pooping All Wrong,” Dr. Trisha Pasricha, to discuss the brain-gut axis, the microbiome and what really is normal.
Producer and Medical Writer: Andrea Kane
Showrunner: Amanda Sealy
Senior Producer: Dan Bloom
Technical Director: Dan Dzula
Apr 10, 2026