The Nocturnists

Just four days after giving birth, pediatrician Dr. Gabby Pina returned to the hospital for what she thought would be a routine blood pressure check—and instead found herself readmitted with postpartum preeclampsia. In this deeply personal conversation, she reflects on postpartum depression, the invisible labor of caregiving, and how learning to accept help transformed the way she thinks about medicine and motherhood.

Language doesn't just describe aging—it shapes it. Geriatrician and storyteller Dr. Anna Chodos reflects on the words that dominate conversations about growing older, and why rethinking terms like "burden," "old," and "dignity" could transform the way we care for older adults, support caregivers, and imagine our own lives as we age.

After surviving addiction himself, psychiatrist Dr. Jason Schiffman has devoted his career to understanding why people become addicted—and how they heal. We discuss trauma, shame, attachment, and his belief that lasting recovery begins not with treating addictive behaviors alone, but by healing deeper psychological injuries.

Drawing on philosophy, bioethics, and decades in pediatrics, Dr. John Lantos reflects on how artificial intelligence is reshaping the doctor-patient relationship. We explore what medicine has gained through technology, whether the physician "aura" is disappearing, and why the rise of AI could ultimately renew our understanding of medical humanism.
Looking for more from The Nocturnists? Explore The Nocturnists+, our subscriber-only feed featuring The Nocturnists After Hours—a monthly series where host Emily Silverman is joined by executive producer Dr. Ali Block for more informal, open conversations about medicine, culture, and their own lived experiences. Subscriptions start at just $10/mo and include exclusive discounts on our new merch. Learn more or subscribe at thenocturnists.org/plus.

As a college student seeking an abortion, Alejandra was unknowingly referred to a crisis pregnancy center instead of an abortion provider. In this conversation, she reflects on how that experience fractured her trust in healthcare, the years it took to reclaim her voice, and why she is now committed to providing compassionate, patient-centered reproductive healthcare as a future family physician.