logo
episode-header-image
May 2022
32m 23s

36. Bad News — It’s Your Surgeon’s Birth...

Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher
About this episode
Distractions are everywhere — including in the operating room. So, what happens if a surgeon loses focus? A tap dancer, a health researcher, and a surgeon help Bapu Jena find out. 
Up next
Jul 2023
The Economics of Everyday Things: Animal Urine
In the newest show from the Freakonomics Radio Network, host Zachary Crockett explores the hidden side of the things around us. This week: One creature’s trash is another’s cash. (Or, how one man found profit in pee.) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com ... Show More
12m 57s
Jul 2023
Tom Brady, A.D.H.D., and a Really Bad Headache (Bonus)
A sneak peek at Bapu's new book, Random Acts of Medicine, available now from Doubleday, and an announcement about the show. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. 
37m 40s
Mar 2023
78. Do Kids Cause Divorce?
Couples get divorced for all kinds of reasons. Is having kids one of them? Bapu talks about research that investigates what happens to parents who unexpectedly have twins. Plus, an announcement about the future of the show. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswiz ... Show More
18m 50s
Recommended Episodes
Dec 2022
Barber Surgeon: “Men of the Clot” | 6
A shave, haircut, and an amputation. That’s all in a day’s work if you’re a 1690s Barber Surgeon. Chris struggles not to squirm as today’s guest covers everything from battlefield hack-jobs, whiskey as a painkiller, and of course – the secret to a great haircut.See Privacy Policy ... Show More
33m 20s
Jul 2025
How Surgeons Balance Hope with Honesty
Every day, in hospitals across the country, surgeons make countless life-or-death decisions. For those who operate on children, those stakes can feel even higher. Dr. David Sandberg, author of “Brain and Heart: The Triumphs and Struggles of a Pediatric Neurosurgeon,” sits down wi ... Show More
31m 19s
Apr 2024
#352: The Nurses Watch Him Bleed Out On The Operating Table Because The Doctor Went Home
<p>The first thing they feel is how stiff the table is underneath them… it feels so cold. Then, they open their eyes, and see a masked man staring straight at them holding a scalpel. </p><p><br /></p><p>The first instinct is to scream. To run. </p><p>But that would be silly. They ... Show More
1h 5m
Nov 2019
CATCH UP - Botched Doctors
Dr. Terry Dubrow and Dr. Paul Nassif from Botched Doctors call in to the surgery to chat about plastic surgery trends and common complications. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 
5m 28s
May 2025
Classic #185: Cigarettes vs Soda
<p>Adam and Dr. Drew take some calls from a nursing student with a question about addiction, a father who got some questionable advice from a doctor and someone who wants Drew’s opinion on an elective surgery. Adam also uses a prop from his upcoming movie ‘Road Hard’ to illustrat ... Show More
1 h
Jul 2021
Networking Tips for General Surgery
<p>Everything you always wanted to know, but were afraid to ask about ways to network as a general surgery resident (from the Vice Chair of the American College of Surgeons, Dr. Steven D. Wexner).</p> <p>Acid Trumpet Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons ... Show More
19m 59s
Mar 2025
A Doctor. His Brain Tumor. A New Perspective.
What can a doctor learn from becoming a patient? That’s what Dr. Bobby Mukkamala, a surgeon and president-elect of the American Medical Association, set his mind on when he was diagnosed with a brain tumor last year. Dr. Sanjay Gupta sits down with his old friend, before and afte ... Show More
36m 30s
Nov 2020
Party Crasher
You’ll never guess who crashes the OR and leaves Becca and Tanya shocked... right in the middle of a patient consult! Tanya shares a cute activity to help you live in gratitude this holiday season.  And Becca and Tanya share their reaction to the big election news this weekend! G ... Show More
58m 23s