Free Daily Podcast Summary
HuMed with David Spiro, MD: Daily Summaries Delivered
by David Spiro, MD | Doctor Podcast Network
HuMed goes beyond diagnoses and procedures to explore the profound human experiences of medical professionals. Join Dr. Spiro as he engages in deep, candid conversations with fellow doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers. They share the often-unseen realities of their work in the demanding hospital environment – the challenging cases, the emotional toll, and the ethical dilemmas they navigate daily.
Latest Episodes
The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- 4 days ago42 min
Dr. Peter Crane: Reading His Own Tumor Report Mid-ER Shift - Why He'd Still Choose Family Medicine
What happens when a rural doctor opens a scan report in the middle of his ER shift, and it's his own? Dr. Peter Crane — a board-certified family physician in full-time rural practice in Idaho and host of the podcast Doctors Making a Difference — joins Dr. David Spiro on HuMed to talk about the night he read "26 centimeter, likely sarcoma" with patients still waiting, and the long road from radiation and major surgery back to full-time practice.Dr. Crane took over the practice of the doctor who delivered him, in the town where he grew up, caring for patients "from the cradle to the grave." He describes finding the mass himself at 4 a.m., finishing his shift after reading the report, and feeling almost ashamed to be sick. He talks about the surgeon, his own medical school preceptor, who made him promise six weeks off, the two residency friends who took over his entire practice, and the moment of clarity that convinced him he would choose medicine all over again. It's a candid, hopeful conversation about compartmentalization, burnout, life without anonymity in a small town, and being the kind of doctor you'd want for your own family.In this episode:– Reading his own "likely sarcoma" report mid-shift– Compartmentalization: survival skill or harm?– The surgeon who made him promise six weeks off– Two friends who took over his whole practice– What really matters, and why he'd still choose medicine– No anonymity: doctoring in a small town– How a rural family doctor stays current in everything– Fixing burnout with sleep, staffing, and better schedules– "I don't trust doctors, but I trust you": trust and misinformationChapters00:00 "26 centimeter, likely sarcoma"00:17 Meet Dr. Peter Crane01:54 Taking over for the doctor who delivered him02:50 Jet-lagged at 4 a.m.: a mass in his own abdomen04:09 When your practice partner is your doctor06:41 What a doctor feels when it's his own mass08:20 Reading his own CT report mid-ER shift09:42 Is compartmentalization healthy?11:56 Warning signs he missed, and feeling ashamed to be sick13:07 Biopsy, waiting, and a rare diagnosis14:41 His surgeon: his own medical school preceptor15:43 What really matters in life16:42 "If I got to do it again, I'd be a doctor"18:36 How being a patient changed the way he practices19:17 Nerve damage and the long road back20:49 Doctor and patient in the same small hospital21:55 A rash check on aisle 13: life without anonymity23:29 Why every doctor should practice rural for a while26:16 How a rural family doctor stays current in everything28:02 Six weeks off, and the friends who covered his practice30:36 "I just do everything every day"31:31 When helicopters can't fly: tele-critical care33:45 Burnout before the tumor, and what fixed it36:58 Misinformation and vaccine hesitancy38:19 "I don't trust doctors, but I trust you"39:19 Why we need more doctors making content40:36 Closing reflectionsHuMed unveils the human side of medicine, hosted by Dr. David Spiro, MD.New episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube — please follow and leave a rating, it helps other listeners find the show.
- 1 weeks ago55 min
Chiropractor Dr. Stephen Hussey: "I Had a Widowmaker Heart Attack at 34"
He looked fit, ate well, exercised, and had a calcium score of zero six months earlier. Then, at 34, Dr. Stephen Hussey had a widowmaker heart attack.Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age nine, Dr. Hussey, a doctor of chiropractic with a master's in functional medicine and author of Understanding the Heart, spent his adult life trying to do everything right. In this episode, pediatric ER physician Dr. David Spiro talks with him about the heart attack he suffered alone during COVID, the frustration of feeling unheard in the hospital and being labeled noncompliant, his decision to depart from the standard medication plan, and the stress he believes set the stage for it all. David also presses him on the hard question: how can he know what actually drove his recovery? The episode ends with what nearly dying at 34 changed about his life and purpose.CHAPTERS0:00 "I had a widowmaker heart attack at 34"0:16 Meet Dr. Stephen Hussey1:39 Asthma, allergies and type 1 diabetes at age nine2:53 "I felt like a pincushion" and the nurse with the magic kit4:19 Giving bad news to children and families7:25 From patient to health practitioner9:17 What "avoiding toxins" means to him10:33 Sauna, sweat and microplastics14:13 A heart attack despite a zero calcium score17:53 What a widowmaker heart attack felt like21:28 Alone in the hospital during COVID23:30 Labeled "noncompliant"25:23 Why he declined the standard medications27:00 A new blockage in his leg29:04 Light, sauna and circadian rhythm33:58 Semmelweis and challenging medical dogma35:17 How does he know what worked?37:43 Stress and the nervous system41:38 The 36 hours before the heart attack43:28 Heart attacks without blocked arteries45:44 "Stay in your lane": answering his critics47:55 Heart disease, obesity and insulin resistance51:43 What nearly dying at 34 changed54:44 ClosingWatch the full video on YouTube: HuMed with David Spiro, MDFollow HuMed on Instagram: @humedpodHuMed unveils the human side of medicine through real stories from clinicians. Guests share their personal experiences and views, which are their own. This episode is for storytelling and education, not medical advice. Talk with your own doctor before changing any treatment.
- 1 weeks ago1h 0m
Longevity Physician Dr. Vassily Eliopoulos: "He Looked Exactly Like Me"
After years in emergency medicine, Dr. Vassily Eliopoulos (Dr. Vass) coded a man in a rural Wyoming ER who was his age, had no other risk factors, and looked exactly like him. That night pushed him from the ER toward longevity medicine and cardiovascular prevention.In this episode of HuMed, pediatric ER physician Dr. David Spiro talks with Dr. Vass about why doctors neglect their own health, the "golden handcuffs" that kept him stuck, how therapy and CBT-I helped him heal from years of night shifts, and why he believes disease care and true health care are two different systems. He also walks through his longevity pyramid, built on community, purpose and sleep, not supplements and saunas.CHAPTERS0:00 He coded a man who looked exactly like him0:28 Meet Dr. Vass: ER doctor turned longevity physician2:05 The code in Rock Springs, Wyoming4:48 Why doctors neglect their own health8:13 The lost art of healing11:03 "We're training technicians, not physicians"15:07 Trapped in a broken system18:18 The golden handcuffs20:44 Healing from decades of night shifts28:30 Disease care vs. true health care35:37 Why no one told Dr. James Wittig he was sick39:04 Advice to his younger self: don't let fear decide42:32 Dr. Vass's longevity pyramid44:55 What dying patients talk about47:51 Purpose: the old dog and the rabbit51:21 A quarterly "board meeting" with his kids53:16 Fasting, thermal springs and community57:54 Closing thoughtsWatch the full video on YouTube: HuMed with David Spiro, MDFollow HuMed on Instagram: @humedpodhumedpod.comHuMed unveils the human side of medicine through real stories from physicians. This episode is for education and storytelling, not individual medical advice.
- 2 weeks ago54 min
Lifestyle Medicine Physician Dr. Melissa Mondala: "I Did Healing for Myself First"
"I did healing for myself first, so I could become a better healer."Before Dr. Melissa Mondala treated patients with lifestyle medicine, she needed it herself. She lived with IBS and reflux from her teens, and during her training at Loma Linda she was diagnosed with an atypical breast cancer. Changing how she ate, moved, slept and handled stress changed her health, and her husband's, and it reshaped how she practices medicine.On this episode of HuMed, Dr. David Spiro talks with Dr. Mondala, a double-boarded family and lifestyle medicine physician, fellowship-trained in integrative psychiatry and integrative medicine, about the patients who shaped her: a young single mother of three with pancreatic cancer who kept running for her kids, and a fashion designer with an autoimmune disease who got her life back layer by layer.They also discuss:Lifestyle medicine vs. integrative medicine, and where they overlapWhy ferritin matters even when hemoglobin looks normalHer approach to adult behavior change: one habit, SMART goals and habit stackingWhat medical training leaves out about nutrition and sleepAdvice for frustrated, burned-out physicians who feel stuck practicing reactive medicineDr. Mondala earned her MD at Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University. She is co-founder of the Doctor Lifestyle Clinic, a direct care practice, and author of Embody Lifestyle Medicine: How to Build a Successful Direct Care Startup.HuMed unveils the human side of medicine through honest conversations with physicians. Follow the show so you never miss an episode.Chapters00:00 Cold open00:22 Introducing Dr. Melissa Mondala02:25 Her own health story: IBS, reflux and food as poison04:21 Loma Linda and the Blue Zones05:30 A breast cancer diagnosis during training07:00 The pillars of lifestyle medicine and her husband's autoimmune disease08:49 The young mother with pancreatic cancer13:53 Lifestyle medicine vs. integrative medicine18:50 A patient with autoimmune disease and a difficult cycle27:36 Why ferritin matters31:45 What standard medical training leaves out36:48 Night shifts, sleep and processed food40:09 How to change adult behavior44:12 Accountability, SMART goals and habit stacking47:05 Lifestyle medicine and autism spectrum disorder50:54 Advice for frustrated, burned-out physicians53:31 Closing
- 2 weeks ago50 min
ER Physician Dr. Rick Pescatore: "Nobody Could Solve Her Mystery Illness"
Dr. Rick Pescatore was driving to Pittsburgh with a woman he had met on Hinge, describing a kind of patient he sees every ER shift: pain, nausea, vomiting, and tests that all come back normal. She said the person he was describing "sounds exactly like my mom." A few weeks later her mother was dying in an ICU, and nobody could solve her mystery illness. The missing piece turned out to be vitamin B1 (thiamine). The woman from that drive is now his wife, Katie.Dr. Pescatore is a board-certified emergency physician. He went through the U.S. Naval Academy, studied aerospace engineering, and served in the Navy's submarine force before medical school. He trained at Cooper University Hospital, served as Delaware's chief physician during the COVID-19 pandemic, is editor-in-chief of Emergency Medicine News, still works shifts in a community ER, and co-founded Belly MD.In this conversation with Dr. David Spiro, he talks about helping diagnose his future mother-in-law, why so many ER patients are told they are normal when their lives are not, and how that pattern helped burn him out of full-time emergency medicine. They also get into what night shifts cost physicians, his Navy call sign, his time leading Delaware's pandemic response, and why an ER doctor who used to roll his eyes at supplements now sells them.In this episode:– The drive to Pittsburgh: "sounds exactly like my mom"– An ICU stay nobody could explain, and the vitamin B1 answer– "We tell them that they're normal, but their lives aren't"– Disorders of gut-brain interaction and the ER– Why he calls GLP-1 drugs some of the most revolutionary in history– Burning out of emergency medicine, and the night-shift toll at every age– F-18s, submarines, and the call sign "Aquaman"– Chief physician for Delaware during COVID-19– An ER doctor selling supplements: his answer to the eye-rollsChapters Cold Open: "Met a Girl on Hinge" Welcome & Meet Dr. Rick Pescatore The Drive to Pittsburgh: "Sounds Exactly Like My Mom" Decades of Symptoms, Then the ICU Vitamin B1 and Gastrointestinal Beriberi "We Tell Them That They're Normal" Saving Her Mom's Life With a Vitamin Belly Pain: What the ER Can't Fix Disorders of Gut-Brain Interaction Should Emergency Medicine Change? Diet and the American Food System Sulfite Preservatives and Vitamin B1 GLP-1s, Falls, and the Toenail Question The Naval Academy, F-18s, and the Call Sign "Aquaman" "I Burned Out of Emergency Medicine" The 3 a.m. Problem: Night Shifts and Physician Health Dr. Spiro on Night-Shift Anxiety Chief Physician for Delaware During COVID-19 Building Belly MD Supplements: "I Used to Be That Guy" An ER Doctor Selling Supplements? Testing for Vitamin Deficiencies ClosingLearn more about Dr. Pescatore's work: bellymd.comCheck out the Inside HuMed Newsletter: https://www.humedpod.com/inside-humedThis episode is one physician's personal story and is not medical advice. Dr. Pescatore co-founded Belly MD, which sells supplements, as he discusses in the episode.If this episode meant something to you, follow HuMed on Apple Podcasts and send it to one colleague who needs to hear it.
- 3 weeks ago36 min
Neuro-Ophthalmologist Dr. Kim Blankshain: "What Is Happening?" Her Husband's Brain Surgery
A Monday morning, 6:45. Dr. Kim Blankshain is changing her infant son when she hears a crash in the next room. Her husband is sitting on the edge of the bed, bleeding from a gash in his forehead. She expects a few stitches. Hours later an ER physician says the CT scan came back and he is being sent downtown to see neurosurgery right away. "What is happening?"Dr. Blankshain is a neuro-ophthalmologist in the Chicago suburbs, a specialist in vision problems that begin in the brain and nervous system. She was in fellowship, trained to read MRIs and CTs, when the scan on the screen was her husband's: an epidermoid cyst pressing on his brainstem, and brain surgery set for the next morning. She joins Dr. David Spiro to talk about being the doctor in the waiting room, and how it changed the way she delivers bad news to her own patients.In this episode:- Why knowing the medicine made it harder, and the moment the neurosurgeon asked, "What do you do for a living?"- The waiting-room buzzer three hours into a four-to-six-hour surgery: "That can't be good"- Receiving bad news as a physician: "I wasn't really hearing what he was saying"- How she gives hard news now: slow down, say it more than once, and sit in the silence- Going back to work the day after her husband came home, with her time off for the year already used on six weeks of maternity leave- Parental leave in medical training, and why she calls the culture "cruel"- Working-mom guilt and the "have it all" lie: "Something has to give on any given day"- Marriage after a baby: feeling like roommates, a year of couples therapy, and TV-free Thursdays- What she tells pre-med students: "It's still just a job"Dr. Spiro also shares how he gives bad news to families in the pediatric ER.Chapters00:00:00 "What is happening?"00:00:20 Meet Dr. Kim Blankshain00:01:50 What a neuro-ophthalmologist does00:02:22 A crash in the next room00:04:10 The ER and the CT scan00:06:08 Rush University: the MRI and the neurosurgeon00:07:27 "What do you do for a living?"00:08:14 Brain surgery, tomorrow00:08:53 The waiting room: "That can't be good"00:09:43 Six weeks of recovery00:10:13 How it changed the way she sees patients00:11:45 On the other side of bad news00:13:04 Slow down, repeat it, sit in silence00:14:17 Dr. Spiro: bad news in the pediatric ER00:15:25 "You are so lucky that you came to me"00:16:36 Back to work the next day00:19:41 Parental leave in medical training00:22:43 Balance with a five-year-old00:23:58 The "have it all" lie00:24:39 On call on the Fourth of July00:26:37 "It's still just a job"00:27:50 Marriage after a baby00:29:23 Couples therapy and TV-free Thursdays00:32:33 Why she believes in therapy for physicians00:33:44 "Nobody says that to a mechanic"00:34:08 Why she reached out to HuMed00:35:31 ClosingCheck out the Inside HuMed Newsletter: https://www.humedpod.com/inside-humedThis episode is one physician's personal story and is not medical advice.If this episode meant something to you, follow HuMed on Apple Podcasts and send it to one colleague who needs to hear it.
- 3 weeks ago42 min
Kidney Transplant Physician Dr. Aditya Pawar: "It Started From a Mistake"
A resident on night call writes one word in a chart to describe his patient's husband, a man in his 90s: "senile." He thinks it means "very old." The note gets corrected, but the word stays in the edit trail, and a few days later the record shows the patient has read it. Every instinct tells him to leave it alone. He calls the family to apologize anyway.Dr. Aditya Pawar is a transplant nephrologist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School. That phone call became "Safe Space," his essay in The New England Journal of Medicine. He joins Dr. David Spiro to talk about what the couple said to him on that call, why it took him years to understand it, and who a clinician's "safe space" really protects.In this episode:- The apology he almost didn't make, and why he says it would be just as hard tomorrow- Why "safe space" in medicine often protects the doctor, and what a "brave space" with patients looks like- Telling a patient you don't yet know the best approach- Practicing in India versus the U.S.: five-minute visits that never really end, and seeing your patients at the grocery store- Why he calls paternalism "a protective mechanism"- What he says to kidney patients who won't let their own child donate- What he tells first-year medical students about the 20-minute visit that needs an hour and twenty- His uncle's lesson from Sunday evenings seeing patients in a village in India: "As a physician, we've always lost"- Six hugs from a grieving family after one of his first codesDr. Spiro also shares what it was like to lead his team's debrief after a child died in his pediatric ER.Read the essay: "Safe Space," N Engl J Med 2026;395:840-843. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMp2518528Chapters00:00:00 "As a physician, we've always lost"00:00:20 Meet Dr. Aditya Pawar00:02:03 "It started from a mistake"00:02:33 Night call, a couple in their 90s, and one word00:04:27 The phone call he almost didn't make00:05:11 What the couple meant by "safe space"00:06:37 Parents in the room during a resuscitation00:08:20 Who is the safe space for?00:10:03 From safe spaces to brave spaces00:12:55 Medicine in India versus the U.S.00:15:11 Sharp boundaries, and crossing the line00:17:43 "Every single cell of my body is telling me don't do it"00:21:14 What safe space meant as a child in India00:23:10 Family, elder care, and what gets lost00:28:16 Organ donation: "Do not take away that decision from me"00:30:00 Teaching first-year medical students00:34:26 Dr. Spiro: the debrief after a child dies00:38:06 His uncle, Dr. S.S. Jamwal00:39:49 One of his first codes as a resident00:41:11 "This concept of death, you have to get comfortable with it"00:42:11 Six hugs from a grieving family00:42:44 ClosingIf this episode meant something to you, follow HuMed on Apple Podcasts and send it to one colleague who needs to hear it.
- 4 weeks ago45 min
Cancer Surgeon Dr. James Wittig: "I Was Hanging On by a Thread"
Dr. James Wittig built his career saving children's limbs from cancer. Then a heart scan he asked for himself led to a catheterization that found a 99% blockage in his left anterior descending artery. "I was hanging on by a thread."Dr. Wittig is an orthopedic oncologist and sarcoma surgeon with more than 25 years in limb-sparing surgery for bone and soft tissue tumors in children and adults. In this conversation with Dr. David Spiro, he traces his path from Paterson, New Jersey, where his father was a police officer and his mother a hairdresser, to the mentor who drew him into limb-sparing surgery for childhood bone cancer.He describes chairing a department of 120 orthopedic surgeons while starting a residency program, sleeping about five hours a night for 30 years, and the blood pressure and cholesterol numbers that kept getting explained away. He talks about the stretch of roughly 180 hours of surgery in two weeks that ended in kidney failure, his decision to resign, the chest pain on the treadmill, and the procedure where he went into ventricular tachycardia before three stents opened the artery. He also shares what he would tell his younger self, why doctors treating doctors can be a trap, how he rebuilt his sleep, and why he is now studying hypnosis and mind-body medicine for cancer patients. Cold Open: "Hanging On by a Thread" Welcome & Meet Dr. James Wittig Growing Up in Paterson, New Jersey The Mentor Behind Limb-Sparing Surgery From Amputation to Saving the Limb Why Bone Cancer in Kids Gets Missed The Heart Scan He Asked For 80-Hour Weeks and Five Hours of Sleep A 70% Blockage 180 Hours of Surgery, Then Kidney Failure Chest Pain on the Treadmill 99% Blocked V-Tach on the Table and Three Stents What He'd Tell Himself 20 Years Ago Solo Practice, On Call 24/7 Purpose, Prayer, and Learning to Say No Why Nobody Said "This Is Too Much" The Trap of Doctors Treating Doctors Finding a Mentor Who Advocates for You "It Wasn't Human" Life After the OR: Hypnosis and Mind-Body Medicine How He Rebuilt His Sleep Getting the Phone Out of the Bedroom His Advice for Physicians in Their 50s New York vs. New Jersey & GoodbyeContact Dr. Wittig:JamesCWittigMD.comTumorSurgery.orgMandalaMedicalGroup.comCheck out the Inside HuMed Newsletter: https://www.humedpod.com/inside-humedThis episode is one physician's personal story and is not medical advice.It is also available on video on Apple Podcasts. Follow HuMed so you never miss an episode.
Get HuMed with David Spiro, MD summaries in your inbox
Free AI-powered daily recaps. Key takeaways, quotes, and mentions — in a 5-minute read.
Get Free Summaries →Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.
You Might Also Like
Listeners also like.
The Checkup with Doctor Mike
A doctor interviews public figures about their health and wellness to help listeners improve their physical and mental well-being.
Get Better Faster
Doctors and researchers discuss functional medicine and root-cause approaches to chronic illness and health optimization.
Health Discovered
Doctors explore surprising stories to uncover insights about health and well-being.
Paul Saladino MD podcast
A physician explores the root causes of chronic disease and optimal health through science and personal experimentation.
Made for Health | Peptides | Lyme | Chronic Infections | Long Covid | Insulin Resistance | Hypermobility
A physician explores science-based approaches to treating chronic conditions and restoring health.
Extend Podcast with Darshan Shah, MD
Explores science-backed strategies and expert insights to extend healthspan and optimize longevity through actionable health protocols.
Huberman Lab
Explores neuroscience and science-based tools for understanding and improving brain function, behavior, and health.
Psychiatry & Psychotherapy Podcast
Explores psychiatry and psychotherapy through interviews with experts, trainees, and individuals sharing lived mental health experiences.
Frankly Speaking About Family Medicine
Discusses current topics and developments in primary care and family medicine.
Staying Human with Dr. Vivek Murthy
Dr. Vivek Murthy explores meaningful living through conversations on connection, purpose, and well-being.
Health Matters
NewYork-Presbyterian
The Dr Pompa Podcast
A doctor discusses health, faith, and personal growth through conversations with experts in wellness and spirituality.
About HuMed with David Spiro, MD
HuMed goes beyond diagnoses and procedures to explore the profound human experiences of medical professionals. Join Dr. Spiro as he engages in deep, candid conversations with fellow doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers. They share the often-unseen realities of their work in the demanding hospital environment – the challenging cases, the emotional toll, and the ethical dilemmas they navigate daily.
Customized Recaps
AI-powered recaps with compact key takeaways, quotes, and insights.
Straight to Your Inbox
Get key takeaways from HuMed with David Spiro, MD in a 5-minute read.
Save Hours Every Week
Stay current on your favorite podcasts without falling behind.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Podzilla's HuMed with David Spiro, MD daily summary?
It's a free AI-powered email that summarizes new episodes of HuMed with David Spiro, MD as soon as they're published. You get the key takeaways, notable quotes, and links & mentions — all in a quick read.
How does the HuMed with David Spiro, MD podcast summary work?
When a new episode drops, our AI transcribes and analyzes it, then generates a personalized summary tailored to your interests and profession. It's delivered to your inbox every morning.
Is this an official HuMed with David Spiro, MD product?
No. Podzilla is an independent service that summarizes publicly available podcast content. We're not affiliated with or endorsed by David Spiro, MD | Doctor Podcast Network.
Can I get summaries of other podcasts too?
Absolutely! The free plan covers up to 3 podcasts, any in the catalog. Basic raises that to 15, Pro to 40 and Max to 100. Browse our full catalog at /podcasts.
How often does HuMed with David Spiro, MD release new episodes?
HuMed with David Spiro, MD publishes 2x weekly. Our AI generates a summary within hours of each new episode.
What topics does HuMed with David Spiro, MD cover?
HuMed with David Spiro, MD covers topics including Medicine, Fitness, Health & Fitness. Our AI identifies the specific themes in each episode and highlights what matters most to you.
Start getting HuMed with David Spiro, MD summaries tomorrow morning.
Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.
Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.