logo
episode-header-image
Dec 2024
31m 12s

A special episode from Before We Go

TED
About this episode
TED Health's very own Dr. Shoshana Ungerleider has a new podcast Before We Go. You heard the first episode earlier this year so we wanted to share the second episode in the series -- if you'd like more from Before We Go, check it out wherever you are listening to this.

Before We Go follows Shoshana's personal and emotionally charged journey after her father was diagnosed with terminal cancer in the summer of 2022. His doctors were encouraged when testing showed that the cancer was related to a BRCA genetic mutation, which meant that it might respond to new, targeted therapies. But that also meant that Shoshana and her sister were also at risk for developing life-threatening cancers. With the help of renowned experts and some of the professionals who helped her along the way, Shoshana tells her story of love, loss, family, mortality, and the unexpected paths we take to find meaning and purpose in the face of life's greatest challenges.

In this episode, Shoshana reflects on the death of her paternal grandmother, Joy Ungerleider, who died of the same cancer Steven now faces. The family learns that Steven's cancer is BRCA-related, and hope rises with the possibility that targeted therapy may offer him many months, if not years, of quality life. But he would first need to endure several months of harsh chemotherapy. See behind the scenes and join the conversation on Instagram @beforewegopodcast.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
Aug 19
Why your body fights weight loss | Katherine Saunders
Why does losing weight often feel like an uphill battle? Physician Katherine Saunders unpacks how our bodies are wired to store fat, revealing that obesity isn’t simply a lack of willpower — it’s a complex, chronic disease rooted in evolutionary biology. She shares the science be ... Show More
13m 20s
Aug 12
The science of taste and smell with Rachel Herz | from ReThinking with Adam Grant
Do you hate the taste of cilantro and chocolate? You might be a super taster! Rachel Herz is a neuroscientist at Brown University who specializes in taste and smell. In this episode, Adam, Rachel, and Adam’s wife Allison Sweet Grant investigate the sources of their different food ... Show More
35m 18s
Aug 5
Why social health is key to happiness and longevity | Kasley Killam
You know it's important to take care of your physical and mental health. But what about your social health? Social scientist Kasley Killam shows how feeling a sense of belonging and connection has concrete benefits to your overall health — and explains why it may be the missing k ... Show More
11m 27s
Recommended Episodes
Jul 2024
Let's Talk: My mothers cancer journey, and spreading positivity your way!
This is a let's talk episode. Which means you can listen while you drive or workout ect. My mother wants to share her cancer journey with you, to spread positivity and awareness.If you are diagnosed with cancer, she would like me to tell her story so you can get inspiration t ... Show More
42m 28s
May 2021
Cancer, body image, and wearing that swimsuit
One in every two of us will be affected by cancer at some point in our lives. Today Dr. Philippa Kaye, GP and author, comes on the show to talk about cancer and body image.  When Dr. Philippa was 39, she was told she had bowel cancer. It changed everything. “I spent my whole life ... Show More
22m 29s
Nov 2024
What Every Cancer Patient Should Know: Lessons from a Survivor | Jace Yawnick
When Jace Yawnick was diagnosed with cancer at 25, he could’ve given up. Instead, he built a platform that’s helping thousands of cancer patients. In this inspiring episode of “The Dr. Hyman Show,” Jace opens up to me about his fight and why early detection matters. We also explo ... Show More
1h 4m
Jul 28
344: Overcoming Addiction: Richard Taite's Journey to Recovery and the Power of Personalized Treatment
Join us for an inspiring conversation with Richard Taite, a leading figure in addiction treatment who has transformed his own life and countless others. Richard takes us through his 25-year battle with addiction, highlighting moments of despair like homelessness, and his eventual ... Show More
1h 2m
Oct 2024
Fatal to Fearless: The Inspiring Kathy Giusti Story
Kathy Giusti, founder of the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) and a two-time cancer survivor, opens up about her first diagnosis and the life-changing conversation with her primary care doctor. She reflects on the overwhelming "age of information," which often leads pa ... Show More
1h 4m
Dec 2024
What Near Death Experiences Can Teach Us About Living a Life of Meaning and Purpose: An Incredible Life Story with Anita Moorjani #504
What happens when we face death - and return to tell the tale? Today’s guest takes us on an extraordinary journey from advanced cancer to complete recovery, challenging our understanding of both healing and human consciousness. Anita Moorjani is the New York Times best-selling au ... Show More
2h 1m
Jun 2024
Episode 106: Colorectal Cancer Series, Pt. 8 - Early Onset Colorectal Cancer
In a recent American Cancer Society publication, there are increasing data that rates of colorectal cancer are rising rapidly among people in their 20s, 30s and 40s. This has certainly caught the attention of the lay press, most recently in a widely circulated New York Times arti ... Show More
30m 34s
Apr 2024
IMPERFIX: Jamila Rizvi on Living with a Brain Tumour
In 2018, writer, author & change advocate Jamila Rizvi was met with horrible news. She was diagnosed with a rare brain tumour and needed surgery. In this episode of The Imperfix we revisit Jamila’s story; the tumour and its varied complications, the surgeries and how Jamila and h ... Show More
23m 10s
Sep 2024
An Analyst's Journey with Cancer with Jhuma Basak, PhD (Calcutta)
“There was a lot of dilemma, and I wasn't able to definitely deal with the sudden knowledge of my cancer and to be able to impart that information in a more containing and structured manner so that my patients can be held even in that situation. But the consciousness was there ab ... Show More
58m 1s
Nov 2024
ECAN with Mindy Mintz Mordecai
In today's episode of the Innovation series, Dr. Parikh sits down with Mindy Mintz Mordecai, president and CEO of the Esophageal Cancer Action Network (ECAN). They discuss Mindy's journey, the origins of ECAN, and how it continues to support current and future patients ... Show More
33m 23s