Best Stemcell Podcasts (2025)

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Christmas 2025 - neologisms, longevity and unexpected research 53:51

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33m ago53:51

53:51

It’s time for 2025’s festive fun! Practicing medicine can be a very visceral experience - and the English language can’t always adequately capture the sights, sounds, smells. So Matt Morgan, intensivist and BMJ columnist, is creating medical neologisms, and joins us to share a few. Madhvi Joshi, a GP in London, has written about longevity science, …

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DYEL wrapped: Most beloved and hated books of 2025 1:09:12

3d ago1:09:12

1:09:12

Some festive chit-chat and navel gazing on the year that was. CHAPTERS: (00:00:00) big tiddy goth gfs and rival podcast recs (00:10:09) DYEL wrapped stats analysis (00:19:39) Third best book of the year (00:23:41) Second best book of the year (00:29:01) Best book of the year (00:33:11) Biggest stinker of the year (00:40:13) Best non-book club book …

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The shadow use of Gen AI in the consultation room 37:48

9d ago37:48

37:48

In this episode, we hear how Generative AI is making it into the consultation room - but not through NHS endorsed routes - surveys suggest that ⅔ of doctors are using AI, for backoffice tasks - but also increasingly for information and diagnosis. David Navarro, a research fellow in generative AI at the Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Cha…

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Thomas Pynchon's Gravity's Rainbow: It's not rocket science 44:11

10d ago44:11

44:11

We've been making eyes at the postmodernists for a while, but up until this point have lacked the stones to go take a ride on daddy Pynchon's rocket ship. Now that we have a little experience we thought we were ready for a mature and sophisticated lover like Gravity's Rainbow (1973): 800 pages long, and widely considered to be one of the greatest n…

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ADHD therapies, and the NHS gig economy 40:40

21d ago40:40

40:40

There is an enormous amount of research on treatment for ADHD - pharmaceutical and otherwise. But not all of those trials, or meta-analyses, are of high quality; and not many compare the whole literature. Now a new umbrella review - a review of reviews - tries to give a broad overview of the whole evidence base. Corentin Gosling, associate professo…

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The Covid Inquiry - special episode 31:04

21d ago31:04

31:04

"Damning” and “unforgivable failures” is how some papers headlines reacted to criticism of former UK prime minister Boris Johnson in the second of 10 reports from the UK Covid Inquiry. Under pressure, in 2001 Boris Johnson announced a covid inquiry led by a former judge, Baroness Hallett. Each report is examining a different area of the pandemic's …

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Murakami's Norwegian Wood: the sadboi and his three manic pixie dream girls 1:06:10

24d ago1:06:10

1:06:10

In 1987, Japanese novelist Haruki Murakami set himself a challenge: to set aside his magical realism schtick and try to write one 'straight' novel in the realist tradition. The result was Norwegian Wood, in which the author-insert protagonist is transported back to his college days, breaking free of ennui and depression just long enough to sleep wi…

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Climate, “car spreading”, and conflict 44:12

1M ago44:12

44:12

It’s the BMJ’s annual climate issue - and in this episode, we’ll be hearing about more ways in which climate mitigation is good for health. Firstly, climate change is fuelling conflict, and exacerbating the impact it has on fragile healthcare systems. Andy Haines, from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and Barbora Sedova, from Pot…

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A Portrait of the Artist: James Joyce on the difference between tasteful nudes and porn 1:08:37

1M ago1:08:37

1:08:37

This week we're reading James Joyce's semi-autobiographical novel A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, published in 1916. Moments of adolescent significance: on heated dinner-time conversations, a child's keen sense of injustice, the fear of burning in Hellfire, contemplating eternity, sexual guilt, and teenage rebellion. Which did we relate to…

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Doctors against the far right 31:11

2M ago31:11

31:11

Far right rallies have been held across the UK, culminating in a large parade in London where Elon Musk spoke. At the same time, politicians from across the political spectrum are following the talking points of far right parties - and shifting their policies rightward, even the Labour home secretary has said she wishes to double the period migrant…

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C.P. Snow's The Two Cultures: the original stemcels vs shape rotators beef 56:03

2M ago56:03

56:03

This week we're discussing C.P. Snow's influential 1959 lecture 'The Two Cultures', on the growing division between literary and scientific intellectuals: "So the great edifice of modern physics goes up, and the majority of the cleverest people in the western world have about as much insight into it as their neolithic ancestors would have had." Why…

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The shaky science of the Q-collar, exercise for osteoarthritis, and patient choice. 36:10

2M ago36:10

36:10

This week on the podcast The BMJ investigates Q-COLLAR, an American device that distributors claim can reduce brain injury from contact sports. Investigators James Smoliga and Mu Yang take us through the evidence, and former NFL punter turned US bobsled team member Johnny Townsend explains what this means for sportspeople. Bin Wang from Zhejiang Un…

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The difficulty of delirium diagnosis, the lack of agency in the 10 year plan, and Gaza wounds 44:14

3M ago44:14

44:14

By The BMJ

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Butcher's Crossing: John Williams's rougher cut 1:02:08

3M ago1:02:08

1:02:08

Back to the novels. This week, the DYEL boys decide to try Butcher's Crossing, the first novel from John Williams, the author famous for writing the so-underrated-it-might-be-overrated-but-probably-is-now-just-correctly-rated novel Stoner. As to be expected, it's not on the same level of Stoner but we still enjoy it. Decline of the buffalo: Rich re…

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Doctors still have questions about the UK's assisted dying bill 38:05

3M ago38:05

38:05

In today’s episode: Assisted Dying moves closer to becoming UK law. The proposed legislation to allow people to end their own lives has moved through a second debate in the House of Lords. What do MPs and doctors think of the Bill as it stands? And, new ways to pull research findings from observation alone makes us question whether correlation real…

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Starvation in Gaza is a multi-generational disaster 36:45

4M ago36:45

36:45

In today’s episode: Rethinking how we measure the harm caused by the arms industry The life long, and multigenerational, impact of starvation in Gaza What is the appropriate focus on prevention in general practice? The BMJ's international editor, Jocalyn Clark talks about a new series we've just published - examining the arms industry as a commerci…

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Borges's Library of Babel: Ctrl + F for meaning 1:00:28

4M ago1:00:28

1:00:28

The Do You Even Lit boys put down the heavy tomes and choose a short story. Well, we're not sure if it counts as a story. Maybe a thought experiment? This week we’re talking about one of our favourite authors: Jorge Luis Borges. We read The Library of Babel, Borges’s classic meditation on infinity (well, not infinity exactly — but an almost-might-a…

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CRISPR, stemcell banking, and a football world cup 36:16

4M ago36:16

36:16

CRISPR technology has revolutionised biological research, and for the first time it’s out of the lab and into the NHS, as NICE has approved its use as cost effective. Kenneth Charles, senior lecturer in haematology at the University of the West Indies explains how the treatment works, and what concerns he has about it's implementation. Also this we…

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Anna Karenina FINALE: Revenge of the Reddit Atheists 1:26:35

4M ago1:26:35

1:26:35

What an absolutely dogshit ending to an otherwise incredible book. We made it through 800 pages for this?? I still love you Tolstoy but seriously wtf bro. This discussion covers parts 6, 7, and 8 of Leo Tolstoy's Anna Karenina. Anna's unhappy ending: Look how they massacred my girl. Is this a tale of a wanton harlot who got what was coming to her, …

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Anna Karenina part 2: I am begging you to touch grass 1:09:51

5M ago1:09:51

1:09:51

Levin is a turbo nerd who runs away from social awkwardness to theorise on agrarian economics or whatever. Sound like anyone you know?? Anyway he finally touches grass and gets the girl. Meanwhile we are falling out of love with Anna. It feels like something bad is gonna happen? The foreshadowing is very subtle, only experts in Media Literacy will …

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The pitfalls of home test kits 27:58

5M ago27:58

27:58

If you’ve been in a high street pharmacy or supermarket recently, chances are you’ll have seen home test kits for all sorts of indications; blood sugar level, vitamin deficiencies, thyroid function, and even some forms of cancer. A new series of article in The BMJ revealing serious concerns with the reliability of these home tests, and raises quest…

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The Future for Physician Associates? | Prof. Gillian Leng 52:53

5M ago52:53

52:53

Professor Gillian Leng, President of the Royal Society of Medicine was asked to carry out an independent review into the role of physician and anaesthetic associates. She sits down with Kamran Abbasi, editor in chief of The BMJ, to discuss her findings. In the UK, the rollout of physician associates, NHS staff who took on some of the tasks of docto…

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Tolstoy's Anna Karenina: Real Housewives of Russia 1:16:53

5M ago1:16:53

1:16:53

Benny decided it was time for the boys to read Leo Tolstoy's 800 page whopper Anna Karenina. Today we discuss parts 1 and 2 of the novel. Rich immediately fell in love with all the characters. He wants be Levin, be with Anna, and be... something with that majestic horse Frou Frou. On the famous opening line: Are happy families alike? Are any of Tol…

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NHS 10 year plan dissected 42:26

5M ago42:26

42:26

This week we’re focusing on the NHS. On the 3rd of July the UK’s Prime Minister, Kier Starmer finally announced the NHS’ 10 year plan. His Labour government laid out a vision for where the healthcare service should head over the next decade. The announcement has been met with mixed responses. The plan has some good ideas - but a lack of vision comb…

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One Hundred Years of Solitude: The optimal amount of incest is non-zero 1:31:13

6M ago1:31:13

1:31:13

Everyone loves Gabriel García Márquez' 1967 genre-defining classic One Hundred Years of Solitude. At first we were charmed. But after trying to track a complex web of births and deaths and affairs and inc*stuous unions all taking place in the first 100 pages we found ourselves mired deep in the swamp. When we reached the halfway mark we recorded an…

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What 2025’s market turbulence means for investors 23:00

6M ago23:00

23:00

Investing in today’s climate means navigating constant geopolitical instability and emotions. BlueShore Financial investment advisor and Aviso Wealth portfolio manager Ilana Schonwetter joins the program to discuss prudent portfolio management and knowing when to say no. Whether it’s based on economic forces or personal conviction. This podcast is …

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What are doctors demanding? | New BMA Chair, Tom Dolphin 34:35

6M ago34:35

34:35

Rebecca Coombes interviews Dr. Tom Dolphin, consultant anaesthetist and newly elected chair of the BMA Council. Watch this interview on our YouTube.By The BMJ

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Time to rethink GP's advice on weightloss, and ticagrelor data doubts 33:38

6M ago33:38

33:38

Last December, The BMJ published an investigation into the 2009 PLATO trial - exposing serious problems with that study’s data analysis and reporting. Our follow up investigation has shown that those data problems extend to other key supporting evidence in AstraZeneca’s initial application to regulators. Peter Doshi, senior editor in the BMJ’s Inve…

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The plan for NHS league tables is bad, and will lead to unintended consequences 26:09

6M ago26:09

26:09

In this episode, we hear about ketamine addiction. It's in the news, but the rise in addiction amongst young people in the UK has caused concern for some time. Irene Guerrini and Nicola Kalk, both addiction psychiatrists from the National Addiction Centre, join us to explain why its become a problem. In November 2024 Wes Streeting, the UK’s health …

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Everything is Illuminated: Cultural Learnings of Trachimbrod for Make Benefit Glorious Book Club 1:57:21

7M ago1:57:21

1:57:21

we have very premium episode for you this week. welcoming special guest Nicole (@elocinationn), one of the great up-and-coming poasters of our time. We revisit one of her younger self's favourite books, Jonathan Safran Foer's ambitious 2002 novel Everything is Illuminated. On being disconnected from history: can you be traumatised by losing connect…

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Wellness industry lies, and preventative AI evaluation 38:53

7M ago38:53

38:53

Devi Sridhar's new book “How Not to Die (Too Soon) - The Lies We’ve Been Sold, and the Policies That Could Save Us” is focussing on the way wellness culture ignores the societal context in which health is really created. As a trained personal trainer and professor of global public health, Devi's straddling both of those worlds, and joins us to talk…

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Truth of Fact, Truth of Fiction: Is Ted Chiang a Luddite? 1:14:10

7M ago1:14:10

1:14:10

This week we tackle another short story by Ted Chiang: From his 2019 Exhalation collection Truth of Fact, Truth of Feeling. Luddism and cognitive tool breakthroughs: we go through the pros and cons. Rich wants to go to the moon. We're not sure how much of a luddite, or dare we say relativist, we should make Chiang out to be. Fallible memories: just…

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Conflict in South Asia, and simplifying GRADE. 40:15

7M ago40:15

40:15

Recent escalations in the ever simmering tension between India and Pakistan brought us closer to conflict - conflict between two nuclear powers. For a long time doctors have campaigned for nuclear disarmament, and Chris Zielinski, president of the World Association of Medical Editors, makes the case for returning WHO's mandate to measure the potent…

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The Dispossessed part 2: Why would capitalism make me do this? 35:34

8M ago35:34

35:34

This week we wrap up our discussion of Ursula LeGuin's 1974 classic The Dispossessed. Simultaneity physics: just a mcguffin, or deeper thematic significance? How is it different to a block universe? Does this count as hard sci-fi? on the [redacted] scene: why would LeGuin include this? how are we supposed to feel about our hero Shevek? why would ca…

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Malaria free China, an academic medicine revolution, and retracted data's impact 36:36

8M ago36:36

36:36

China was declared malaria free in 2021 - and we'll hear how persistence was key to their success, and what new technologies are available to help the rest of the world become malaria free, from Regina Rabinovich, director of the Malaria Elimination Initiative at the Barcelona Institute for Global Health. Sonia Saxena, professor of primary care at …

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Ursula Le Guin's The Dispossessed: Real anarchy has never been tried 1:23:10

8M ago1:23:10

1:23:10

A brilliant physicist grows disenchanted with the stifling anarchist society of his home planet, defecting to a capitalist world in the hopes of finding true freedom...but what he finds only horrifies him. Cam says Ursula K. Le Guin's 1974 award-winning piece of sociological fiction is a leftist pamphlet. Benny and Rich call bs. who's right? let us…

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The problem of prognostication in assisted dying. 30:48

8M ago30:48

30:48

The UK government is debating legislation to allow assisted dying in England and Wales, which puts doctors at the forefront of deciding if their patient will be eligible for a medically assisted death - the key criteria being a 6 month prognosis. But is making a 6 month prognosis actually clinically reliable? To discuss we're joined by a panel of e…

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DeLillo's White Noise: psy-opping ourselves on death and po-mo 1:40:00

9M ago1:40:00

1:40:00

“All plots tend to move deathward. This is the nature of plots.” After a break, the boys jump into the 1980s po-mo White Noise by Don DeLillo. We talk about the denial of death, toxic airborne events, and Baudrillardian copies of copies of copies (of copies...) Simulacra: The boys shake off their reddit I Love Science teenage years and start to emb…

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Trump is trying to destroy universities - Ashish Jha, Dean of Public Health at Brown University 50:19

9M ago50:19

50:19

Kamran Abbasi interviews Professor Ashish Jha, Dean of Public Health at Brown University and former COVID-19 pandemic advisor to President Biden. Watch this interview on our YouTube. Trump’s second term has touched everything in the US political sphere - and health is no exception. With research funding for medicine and science weathering under Tru…

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Reducing benefits will not get disabled people back to work, and explaining overdiagnosis 32:35

9M ago32:35

32:35

The UK’s chancellor has announced a £5bn cut to benefits, much of which will be borne by those on long-term disability allowance. Gerry McCartney, professor of wellbeing economy at Glasgow University explains about why these cuts will not only hurt the most vulnerable, but will be counterproductive to the government's wish to get people back to wor…

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What does the death of NHS England, and the western alliance, mean for health? 37:48

9M ago37:48

37:48

In the UK, the prime minister has announced the disbanding of NHS England, Nigel Crisp - former chief executive of the NHS, explains why he thinks that it’s important the health service is closer to the political decision makers, and why this could be the time to really acknowledge the healthcare emergency. On the international stage, the Trump adm…

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The Odyssey, part 2: Failsons and deadbeat dads 1:37:51

10M ago1:37:51

1:37:51

This week we finally shut up about translations and get into some juicy themes and character analysis. Telemachus: why is he such a dweeb compared to his dad? Rich argues that he's doing the best he can growing up with an absent father. The others are less sympathetic. Odysseus: is his paranoid murderous rampage justified? what are his singular her…

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The data on physician associates in the UK, and speaking up in the NHS 47:02

10M ago47:02

47:02

We've just published a new rapid review on the safety and efficacy of physician and anaesthetic associates in the UK, which was commissioned to support the ongoing Leng review of these new roles in the NHS. Trish Greenhalgh, professor of primary care at the University of Oxford, joins us to discuss the data she found. Habib Naqvi is director of the…

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Phil Banfield on the British Medical Association's plan to support doctors 29:23

10M ago29:23

29:23

From pay restoration, to making sure there are enough training posts for resident doctors, the BMA has been busy. In this podcast, Kamran Abbasi, the editor in chief of The BMJ, spoke to Phil Banfield, chair of the BMA’s council. They talk about the ongoing pay discussions, how the BMA is working with the new government - touching on both specialit…

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Combating disinformation, and time to stop spinal injections for chronic pain 31:10

10M ago31:10

31:10

In this episode of the BMJ's Medicine and Science podcast, editor-in-chief Kamran Abbasi discusses the urgent need to tackle disinformation in health, especially in the context of the US, with Heidi Larson and Martin McKee from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. We also hear from Jane Ballentyne, professor of anaesthesia and pain m…

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Emily Wilson's The Odyssey, part 1: Bronze age perversion 1:10:36

10M ago1:10:36

1:10:36

WOKE classics professor DESTROYED by three random guys who've never read homer before!!! just kidding we love it. Wilson translation discourse: is she really importing her feminist beliefs into the text? has she stripped the grandeur out to take 'complicated' Odysseus down a peg? what are the connotations of sluts and slaves? is the fancy language …

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Why compassion isn't just nice, it's essential 24:20

10M ago24:20

24:20

Providing quality healthcare is demanding, often stressful, and requires sustained effort. When resources are stretched and pressure mounts, compassion can slip - but compassion is an essential tool for leaders, who need to support their teams to continue delivering the best possible care. In this final episode of The BMJ’s podcast series on qualit…

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The industry playbook to combat public health, and FUTURE-AI 34:03

11M ago34:03

34:03

This week Rebecca Coombes is back with another big-food investigation, this time about fast-food giant MacDonalds subverting attempts to stop it opening stores near schools. Sticking with industry behaving badly, May van Schalkwyk, from the University of Edinburgh, wonders why we haven't learn lessons from the attempts to control big tobacco compan…

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Nikolai Gogol: Cutting your nose to spite the faceless bureaucracy 38:40

11M ago38:40

38:40

"For how could the nose, which had been on his face but yesterday, and able then neither to drive nor to walk independently, now be going about in uniform?" We take a break from reading novels and take a quick nose dive into Gogol's famous 1830s short story, talking absurdity, bureaucracy, and Russian wives. Status and bureaucracies: The most strai…

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Prehabilitation before surgery, alcohol's impact on clinical care, and life after a cardiac arrest 40:40

11M ago40:40

40:40

Exercise and a better diet, prior to surgery, can improve outcomes. Daniel McIsaac, a professor of anaesthesiology from the University of Ottowa and lead author of that research, joins us to talk about getting those results into practice. Julia Sinclair, professor of addiction psychiatry at the University of Southampton, explains how the NHS has lo…