The Health Curve

Can art and creativity actually heal you? In this episode of The Health Curve Podcast, we explore a powerful idea at the intersection of science, culture, and health: that music, art, movement, storytelling, and creative expression don’t just enrich life. They can actively shape our brains, our mental health, and even our physical well-being. Dr. Jason Arora is joined by Susan Magsamen (Johns Hopkins, Your Brain on Art), Ruth Katz (Aspen Institute), and Sarah Lyding (Music Man Foundation) to ...

What does it really mean to live a “good life”? Is it daily happiness? A sense of purpose? Or a life rich with experiences that stretch and change us? In this episode of The Health Curve, I sit down with Prof. Shigehiro Oishi of the University of Chicago—one of the leading researchers on wellbeing and author of Life in Three Dimensions. We explore his three-part lens for thinking about a fulfilling life: happiness, meaning, and psychological richness. We talk about why these dimensions don’t ...

“Food is Medicine” gets talked about a lot these days, but the core idea is straightforward: food can play a direct role in treating and managing chronic disease, not just guiding healthier choices. In practice, that means healthcare systems providing patients with meals and groceries tailored to their medical needs. In this episode of The Health Curve, I sit down with Corby Kummer — Executive Director of Food & Society at the Aspen Institute and longtime food writer at The Atlantic. Cor...

As men age, urinary symptoms and prostate changes become increasingly common — but most people aren’t sure what’s normal, what’s not, or when to seek care. In this episode of The Health Curve, urologist Dr. Wilson Sui (University of Michigan) explains what the prostate actually does, why symptoms like frequent urination or weak stream develop, and how doctors evaluate these issues using simple tools such as symptom scoring and blood testing. We talk about BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia, o...

Premiering October 21 for World Food Day 2025 — just one day before the U.S. Department of Agriculture releases its final annual report on household food insecurity in the United States (Oct 22). In this episode, host Dr. Jason Arora sits down with Professor Hilary Seligman (UCSF) — one of the world’s leading experts on food insecurity, nutrition policy, and health equity — to uncover why 1 in 7 U.S. households (over 44 million people) struggle to access affordable, nutritious food in the wor...

How can we feed a growing world without destroying the planet? In this episode of The Health Curve Podcast, host Dr. Jason Arora speaks with Chef Kelly Whitaker, James Beard Award-winning culinary innovator, about the future of food, farming, and sustainability. Kelly shares his journey from learning traditional food practices in Italy to launching a regenerative grain project spanning 800 acres. He explains how chefs are emerging as key players in transforming food systems—showing that susta...

Compassion is more than kindness—it’s the ability to notice suffering in others and take action to relieve it. Far from being abstract or vague, compassion has measurable effects on our biology, our health, and the well-being of entire communities. Research shows it lowers stress, improves immune function, strengthens social bonds, and even helps societies thrive. However, it is rarely talked about in the context of human and societal health. In this episode of The Health Curve Podcast, host ...

Strokes are one of the leading causes of long-term disability worldwide. Yet most people don’t know the difference between a mini-stroke and a major one—or how to spot the signs in time. In this episode, we explain what a stroke is, why it happens, and how you can act fast to minimize damage and save a life. From clots to bleeds, from BE FAST to full recovery—we’ll cover what you need to know and why your brain can’t afford to wait. -- In this special 4-part series on cardiovascular dis...