David Linden is a professor of neuroscience in the School of Medicine at Johns Hopkins University. He's written five books and more than 100 peer-reviewed papers on the science of memory, addiction, and brain injury. As a kid growing up in Southern California, he was obsessed with watching Jacque Cousteau on TV. For a while, he thought he'd become a deep-sea explorer or a marine biologist.
At age 59, neuroscientist David Linden received a startling diagnosis of heart cancer. Even in the face of a terminal illness, David is continuing to think like a scientist. He shares what he's learned from watching his mind grapple with his own mortality, and how the diagnosis has changed his experience of time. Maya and David also discuss the power of curiosity and how it can aid us in moments of profound suffering.
If you enjoyed this conversation, check out this episode from the archive: “The Life-Changing Diagnosis.”
For a behind-the-scenes look at the show, follow @DrMayaShankar on Instagram.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.