Best Fearless Fandom Podcasts (2025)

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Mark Evers talks Cancer Center Leadership, Small town beginnings, mentorship and Rolling Stones fandom! 58:15

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1M ago58:15

58:15

In the latest episode of #Surgeonslives #stuffthatmatters we meet Dr Mark Evers. He is a surgical oncologist and cancer researcher who is the head of the Markey cancer center at the University of Kentucky? In the years he has been at the helm of the cancer center, he has led it to NCI Cancer Center designation in 2013 and ultimately Comprehensive C…

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Ashok Pathak - from India to East Yorkshire and a career in Surgery, Cricket and Giving Back 52:02

2M ago52:02

52:02

Ashok Pathak from Hull in the UK, recently retired after a wonderful career as an Orthopedic Surgeon and leader in the creation of a career pathway for the Associate Specialty grade trainees. Born and educated in India where his father was a chest physician and a man who taught the values of giving back to those in need. The family established a ho…

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Matt Weiss talks career, changing direction and fixing cancer care from within a big system 58:08

3M ago58:08

58:08

Matt Weiss is the deputy physician in Chief and Director of Surgical Oncology at Northwell Health Cancer Institute. He is an internationally recognized surgical oncologist with a special interest in pancreatic cancer and particularly interested in outcomes and matters of quality. His early career followed a very traditional academic pathway culmina…

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Samir Pathak talks about surgery, racism, cricket and charity 55:55

3M ago55:55

55:55

Samir Pathak is an HPB surgeon from Leeds in the UK. The family business has been medicine for several generations, but he has also been brought up immersed in the Indian culture of cricket - and in his family's case charity. n this truly fascinating interview, he discusses his early surgical career and training. This was impacted by having undergo…

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Sherry Wren - Stanford Surgeon talks about Humanitarian Surgery, No longer being the Bridesmaid, Sci-Fi and Diving 58:02

5M ago58:02

58:02

Dr. Sherry Wren is a Professor of of Surgery at Stanford in California but in this interview with Surgeons Lives it's evident that she is a lot more than that. An early career was spent chasing the academic pinnacle of being a Department Chair, but after a number of years of always being the bridesmaid and never the bride, she experienced an epipha…

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Lord Ara Darzi - Part 2. Life after Government, Mistakes made and where to now for the NHS 56:01

5M ago56:01

56:01

Latest episode of #surgeonslives #stuffthatmatters Agree with him or not, it cannot be denied that Lord Ara Darzi has definitely seen under the hood at the inner working of central government when it comes to setting policy and the delivery of healthcare within the UK. In this - the second episode with Ara - he describes how he came to become part …

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Lord Ara Darzi talks about Innovation, learning politics and being fearless. 48:43

6M ago48:43

48:43

This is the first of two episodes during which I have the chance to interview Professor Ara Darzi - or Lord Darzi as he became when he entered the House of Lords in 2007. Ara Darzi was born in Baghdad to Armenian parents and after high school education entered medical school in the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland in Dublin. After graduation an…

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Dr. Gerry Fried on technology, leadership, travel, innovation - and much, much more 55:26

7M ago55:26

55:26

Dr. Gerry Fried is the former Chair of the Department of Surgery at McGill University in Montreal and is now leading the Department's initiatives in the technology and innovation space as well as surgical simulation. In this very wide ranging interview, he touches on a whole gamut of topics ranging from the benefits of travel in terms of surgical e…

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Mark Talamini discusses overseas experiences, changing careers and disruptive technology 57:16

8M ago57:16

57:16

Dr. Mark Talamini leads the physician employment group in the Northwell Health system. He spent many years in Academic Surgery rising through the ranks in Johns Hopkins before serving as Department Chair in the University of California, San Diego and then Stony Brook University before joining Northwell in 2021. In his early career, he spent some cl…

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Steve Schwaitzberg talks being a pilot, academic surgery and SAGES education 1:05:13

9M ago1:05:13

1:05:13

Steve Schwaitzberg is a foregut and endocrine surgeon who is also the Chair of Surgery at the University of Buffalo in upstate New York. However, he originally wanted to be a pilot, but his eyesight wasn't good enough so somebody said you should go to medical school. He only became interested in surgery when his original choice of internal medicine…

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PsychoanalySwift: My Barren Land, I am Ash from Your Fire 16:22

9M ago16:22

16:22

Back in January, while she was still displaced from the LA wildfires, Meredith told us “some things you just can’t speak about.” Two months later, she’s found the words and she’s back with another psychoanalySwift brief. Meredith shares what it’s like living in the skeleton of the place you’ve loved for so long. And she gives a sneak peek at what w…

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Mark Orloff talks transplanted surgery and famous family 1:01:16

9M ago1:01:16

1:01:16

Dr. Mark Orloff is a professor of surgery at the University of Rochester Medical Center in upstate New York. He's been there for 34 years on Faculty and is coming up to retirement. He was born in Germany, where his father was in the military and moved around a bit before landing in San Diego, where he spent most of his early life in a beach style c…

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John Alverdy - from Jazz music to the microbiome 56:11

10M ago56:11

56:11

Dr. John Alverdy is a professor of Surgery at the University Of Chicago who is probably best known in recent years for his extraordinary work on the microbiome and how it may relate to anastomotic leaks. He is a true surgeon scientist, following a path of scientific rigor that most of us could only imagine. He has been NIH funded for a quarter of a…

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Patrick Borgen MD talks Breast Cancer, Royalty, Brooklyn and Dirtbikes 1:00:19

11M ago1:00:19

1:00:19

Patrick Borgen is the Chair of the Dept of Surgery at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn New York. He also heads-up the breast program which he has developed into the only accredited breast center in Brooklyn serving over 3 million people. Although he was born in South Dakota on a military base, he grew up in Louisiana, where he went to medical …

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Neil Smart - Surgeon and Unexpected Patient 1:05:42

11M ago1:05:42

1:05:42

Professor Neil Smart is a consultant colorectal surgeon at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital in the UK. He's best known for his clinical interests in rectal cancer, hernia prevention and treatment as well as abdominal wall reconstruction. He is one of a modern generation of clinical academics despite not working in what was traditionally consider…

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Some Things You Just Can't Speak About (LA's Version) 26:12

12M ago26:12

26:12

Meredith and Lauren process the utter devastation of the LA fires, how the song 'Epiphany' is helping Meredith through her grief, and ways Swifties can support those impacted by the fires. Episode show notes: GoFundMe #1 GoFundMe #2 SoCal Swifties ClubBy theraswiftspod

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Sister Chat: Season 1 Finale, What's Coming Next, and New Year Reflections 24:47

12M ago24:47

24:47

Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye....to season 1 of TheraSwifts! We'll be on a brief hiatus while working on a super exciting new project (we promise to share more details as soon as possible!!). Listen through the episode for an Easter egg from Meredith on what our new project is 🕵️‍♀️ We want to send a GIANT thank you to all 18 of our guests who came on …

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Oscar Traynor Talks Transplant 59:06

12M ago59:06

59:06

Professor Oscar Traynor is currently the Director of International Surgical Training Programs at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. He was born and grew up in Dublin and having originally wanted to be an airline pilot, he found that he was unexpectedly unable to pursue this career and so entered medical school to "see what I was like". He wa…

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Peace (Chelsea's Version) 1:09:30

1y ago1:09:30

1:09:30

Thank you, Chelsea, for sharing your *gorgeous* Swiftie story with us. We loved every minute of it and we cannot wait to read your book. Follow Chelsea on Instagram at @chelseaimklong! If you would like to submit a question for Meredith and Lauren to answer on the podcast, feel free to submit your Dear TheraSwifts question via this anonymous Google…

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Pat Sylla on being better 57:05

1y ago57:05

57:05

Dr. Pat Sylla is the current Division Chief of Colon and rental Surgery in Mount Sinai in New York. She was born in Paris, grew up in the Ivory Coast in West Africa, and went to college and medical school in the US. She also completed her residency and fellowships in colorectal surgery and minimally invasive surgery. She's probably best known as on…

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The End of an Era: Lauren on Grieving The Era's Tour 14:12

1y ago14:12

14:12

Lauren, a therapist who specializes in grief, talks us through her recommendations for grieving the end of The Era's Tour. If you would like to submit a question for Meredith and Lauren to answer on the podcast, feel free to submit your Dear TheraSwifts question via this anonymous Google form. Want to be featured on a future episode of TheraSwifts?…

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The Tortured Poet's Department (Monique's Version) 1:03:01

1y ago1:03:01

1:03:01

If you would like to submit a question for Meredith and Lauren to answer on the podcast, feel free to submit your Dear TheraSwifts question via this anonymous Google form. Want to be featured on a future episode of TheraSwifts? We're accepting submissions for interviews! Swifties of all identities are encouraged to apply. Please complete our Interv…

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Steve Stain - from Pus to President 59:38

1y ago59:38

59:38

In this latest episode of Surgeons Lives, Steve Stain recalls his journey from infancy in San Antonio, Texas, to growing up near Fresno in California and entering College and Medical School. He certainly started with the basics, draining pus for his boss in a drug abuse practice. He describes being supported by some outstanding mentors in his early…

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Fearless (Olivia's Version) 1:08:37

1y ago1:08:37

1:08:37

TW: This episode includes discussions of bullying, child abuse and neglect. Welcome back to another episode, TheraSwifties! We're honored today to share Olivia's version. She is Fearless and fierce and we could not love her more. A quick note from Lauren and Meredith: This episode was recorded before the results of the U.S. election came out. To al…

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David Linehan - From Boston Irish to Dean and CEO 57:26

1y ago57:26

57:26

David Linehan MD is the current Dean and CEO of the University of Rochester School of Medicine and the Medical Center. He grew up in Boston having lost his father as a toddler. Despite living in the tough streets of Dorchester - Whitey Bulger and all that stuff - he learned that education and hard work would lead him to a better life. Academic achi…

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All Too Well (Bailey's Version) 46:51

1y ago46:51

46:51

Trigger warning: This episode includes a discussion about suicidal ideation and depression. Please listen with care. Meet Bailey, a gorgeous Swiftie who shares her mental health journey and how Taylor Swift's music has impacted her life. Bailey discusses her experiences with depression, suicidal ideation, and her journey through therapy and treatme…

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Taylor Swift-Inspired Make-Up (Jessie's Version) 38:51

1y ago38:51

38:51

We're so excited to introduce you all to Jessie, an incredibly talented Swiftie and make-up artist in Miami, Florida (!!!). Jessie shares how The Era's Tour helped get her out of a creative slump. Lauren and Jessie also fangirl out together for about 45 minutes. Enjoy! Show notes: Follow Jessie on Instagram If you would like to submit a question fo…

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Dear TheraSwifts: Making Friends and Setting Boundaries 37:56

1y ago37:56

37:56

In our new Dear TheraSwifts episode, Lauren answers listener questions about making friends in adulthood and setting boundaries with loved ones. If you would like to submit a question for Meredith and Lauren to answer on the podcast, feel free to submit your Dear TheraSwifts question via this anonymous Google form. Want to be featured on a future e…

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Gill Tierney - Surgeon, educator and chatty woman has much to say. 55:44

1y ago55:44

55:44

Latest episode of #Surgeonslives #Stuffthatmatters has landed with an interview with another surgeon from the UK Gill Tierney is a force of nature. A general and colorectal surgeon who works in the midlands of the UK she rose to become the second woman elected President of the Association of Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland. By her own admissi…

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PsychoanalySwift: Old Habits Die Screaming 12:04

1y ago12:04

12:04

In this week's episode, Meredith explores the psychoanalytic concept of repetition compulsion and how it shows up in Taylor's music. Want to be featured on a future episode of TheraSwifts? We're accepting submissions for interviews! Swifties of all identities are encouraged to apply. Please complete our Interview Submission Form to get the process …

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Taylor Swift Studies with Dr. Emily January 1:03:22

1y ago1:03:22

1:03:22

We're going back to school, TheraSwifties!! We are so thrilled to have Dr. Emily January, a professor at Weber State University and creator of Weber's Taylor Swift Studies course, on the pod. Dr. Weber tells us how she developed the course, how students have responded, and her thoughts on Taylor Swift's global impact. Show notes: Academia (Taylor's…

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Dear TheraSwifts: Ending Therapy and 'Care Without Control' 34:08

1+ y ago34:08

34:08

Meredith answers listener questions about how to know when you're ready to end therapy and how to support a loved one who is struggling (without controlling them) in the pod's first Dear TheraSwifts episode. If you would like to submit a question for Meredith and Lauren to answer on the podcast, feel free to submit your Dear TheraSwifts question vi…

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Nat Soper - Surgeon, Innovator and Dinosaur 51:03

1+ y ago51:03

51:03

Nat Soper is one of the best known laparoscopic surgeons worldwide. He was there at the very beginning and was definitely one of the true innovators in laparoscopic, minimally invasive, natural orifice surgery. He is currently the Chair of Surgery at Banner health in Phoenix, but that was never his intention! He describes in this interview, a stell…

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New Year's Day (Jenn's Version) 1:49:02

1+ y ago1:49:02

1:49:02

In today's episode, Lauren recaps all the big recent Swiftie news (Harris endorsement!!!, Trump and Elon tweets, Swifties for Kamala fundraising success). We also interview a truly lovely Swiftie, Jenn, about the role Taylor has played in her parenting two daughters, teaching high school students, and getting through a traumatic family experience. …

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Mine (Nicole's Version) 49:32

1+ y ago49:32

49:32

Trigger warning: This episode includes discussions of sexual assault and generations trauma, so please listen with care if those are sensitive topics for you. Welcome back from our brief hiatus, TheraSwifties! Today's interview with the lovely Nicole kicks off our fall series and we know you will love this episode. Nicole shares so beautifully abou…

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Tom Watson talks about past days training models, malignant culture and stoicism 47:53

1+ y ago47:53

47:53

Tom Watson is a thoracic surgeon of excellence and works at Corewell Health in Michigan. A Midwestern boy by background he became part of the USC esophageal gang under the mentorship of Tom DeMeester. He then spent 20 years at the University of Rochester where he rose through the ranks to become Professor of Surgery and then in 2016 moved to become…

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Phil Schauer - Bariatric Surgery, bigotry, future adventures and making a difference 1:03:18

1+ y ago1:03:18

1:03:18

Phil Schauer is one of the nations best known bariatric surgeons. He spent many years and rose to fame in the world of metabolic surgery when in the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio before recently moving to Louisiana and the Pennington Research Institute where he continues to make a difference to patients with morbid obesity and metabolic syndrome. In thi…

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Taylor Swift as Poet (Summer's Version) 50:03

1+ y ago50:03

50:03

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to take one of those Taylor Swift college classes? Our new friend Summer took "Taylor Swift Studies" at Weber State University last spring and she came on the pod to tell us all about it. Show notes: Academia (Taylor's Version): Understanding Taylor Swift's Many Identities Don't forget about our new segm…

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Stay Beautiful (Jenny's Version) 54:34

1+ y ago54:34

54:34

In this week's episode, Meredith and Lauren process the terrorist threats that forced the cancellation of Taylor's Eras Tour shows in Vienna. We also get to talk to an absolutely delightful mega Swiftie who has had some unbelievably cool Taylor-related experiences over the last year! Don't forget about our new segment: If you are seeking guidance o…

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Tom Varghese - Surgeon, Double Immigrant and serious thinker 1:02:46

1+ y ago1:02:46

1:02:46

Tom Varghese, MD, is the chief of the section of Thoracic Surgery at the Huntsman Cancer Institute in Utah. He's also many other things, including the president of the Society of University Surgeons and one of the founders of the Strong for Surgery program in the American College of Surgeons. He's been NIH funded for quite some time now and is heav…

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PsychoanalySwift: The Power of Clean Pain 12:15

1+ y ago12:15

12:15

In this week's PsychoanalySwift brief, Meredith breaks down the difference between two types of pain — clean pain and dirty pain. Want to be featured on a future episode of TheraSwifts? We're accepting submissions for interviews! Swifties of all identities are encouraged to apply. Please complete our Interview Submission Form to get the process sta…

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Sister Chat: Swifties for Kamala, Saying Goodbye to The Eras Tour, and Pod Updates 30:52

1+ y ago30:52

30:52

In this week's episode, Meredith and Lauren chat 1:1 about how Swifties are galvanizing for Kamala Harris, the sad but important reality that The Eras Tour will be ending, and a sneak peek at what's to come on the pod. We also introduce a brand-new segment of our show called Dear TheraSwifts. If you are seeking guidance or support around a specific…

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Narcissism or Altruisim? Exploring Taylor Swift and Her Fandom with Thais Sky 55:42

1+ y ago55:42

55:42

In this episode of TheraSwifts, we delve into the psychological aspects of the Taylor Swift phenomenon with special guest, Thais Sky. Thais, a psychotherapist, writer, and host of the podcast 'Reclaim,' brings a fresh perspective to the discussion, examining the shadow elements of Taylor Swift's fame, the psychological functions she serves for her …

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Scott Silvestry - heart transplants, Ferraris, Bronx origins, learning life. It's all here! 54:02

1+ y ago54:02

54:02

Scott Silvestry MD is the current Division chief of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery at the University of Arizona, Tucson. But he is so much more than that. He was drawn to Medicine and Surgery by family tragedy, leaving the close community of the Bronx to become a doctor. He spent his formative residence years in Duke, or he had the opportunity to learn mu…

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Evermore (Nicole's Version) 1:00:28

1+ y ago1:00:28

1:00:28

We're so grateful to OG Swiftie Nicole for sharing her beautiful story about how Taylor Swift's "Evermore" and "Bigger Than the Whole Sky" helped her process the death of her son, Miles. Episode resources: Register for Lauren's upcoming workshop for loss parents on 7/31 Lauren's free email series, The First 30 Days Empty Cradle, Broken Heart by Dr.…

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You're On Your Own Kid: Essential Aloneness 11:07

1+ y ago11:07

11:07

Welcome back to Meredith's PsychoanalySwift series. In her newest mini episode, Meredith explores the importance of being alone and how Taylor Swift's song "You're On Your Own Kid" celebrates the beauty of solitude. Want to be featured on a future episode of TheraSwifts? We're accepting submissions for interviews! Swifties of all identities are enc…

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Mary Hawn talks surgery, Stanford, long distance relationships and couples matching. 52:18

1+ y ago52:18

52:18

Mary Hawn is the Chair of Surgery at Stanford and a highly successful academic general surgeon. For her, life started on the shores of Lake Michigan but after medical school she spent time in Oregon doing a fellowship before joining the UAB faculty in Birmingham. She spent 14 years there rising to become Division of General Surgery. Along the way s…

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The Manuscript (Jackie's Version) 1:14:20

1+ y ago1:14:20

1:14:20

TheraSwifties, meet Jackie. She shares her beautiful story of how Taylor’s music has helped her overcome grief, trauma, disordered eating, suicidal ideation and intense cyber bullying. Thank you, Jackie, for sharing your story with such tenderness, courage and honesty. Episode resources: National Eating Disorders Association Fed Up Collective Sexua…

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Nick Stafford OBE - surgeon, charity, classic cars and buying a pub! 56:24

1+ y ago56:24

56:24

Nick Stafford OBE retired a few years ago as Professor of Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Hull in the UK. However, there is way more to Nick that his surgical achievements. As Co-founder of the Daisy Appeal Charity his leadership raised many, many millions and the creation of a unique PET scanning center in Hull - achievements acknowledg…

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Long Live (Cristina's Version) 37:22

1+ y ago37:22

37:22

TheraSwifties, grab your box of tissues, because this episode is going to bring you to tears in the very best way. We're so grateful to Cristina for sharing her story of meeting Taylor through Make-A-Wish when she was going through cancer treatment as a child. Long live Cristina! Episode links: When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill Want to be f…