In this conversation, Lan Li, a historian and filmmaker at the intersection of medicine and imagination, invites us to rethink the body as an improvisational landscape rather than a fixed map. She sheds light on how anatomy is deeply influenced by culture and our personal narratives. Topics include the dynamic interplay between nerves and meridians, the importance of creativity in clinical practice, and how ancient wisdom in Chinese medicine continues to inform modern healing approaches. Li’s insights inspire a fresh understanding of connection, inquiry, and the art of listening.
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insights INSIGHT
Balancing Professionalization and Creativity
Professionalizing narrows experience but shapes skill and identity.
Balancing inner openness and discipline is key to sustaining creativity in a profession.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Childhood Qigong and Grad School Fear
Lan recalls childhood Qigong practice to reconnect with openness.
She found grad school fear persisted from doubting adequacy among peers.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Embrace Uncertainty and Doubt
Embrace uncertainty as openness rather than anxiety.
Cultivate a relationship with doubt that fuels curiosity and humility.
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In "Expressive Body: Western Anatomy, and the Quest for Sensible Knowledge", Shigehisa Kuriyama explores the intertwined histories of anatomy, perception, and knowledge in the Western tradition. He investigates how anatomists' understanding and representation of the body have been shaped by their sensory experiences, aesthetic values, and cultural assumptions. Kuriyama examines the ways in which anatomical illustrations, dissections, and medical practices have both reflected and influenced the prevailing notions of what it means to see, feel, and know the human body. By tracing the evolution of anatomical knowledge from ancient Greece to the Enlightenment, this book provides insights into the complex relationship between the body, the senses, and the pursuit of scientific understanding.
Aesthetic Science
Aesthetic Science
Alex Ragmorly
In "Aesthetic Science," Alex Regier explores the intricate relationship between aesthetics and scientific inquiry in the early modern period. The book examines how aesthetic values and practices influenced the development of scientific theories and experiments. Regier delves into the ways in which beauty, harmony, and sensory experience shaped the pursuit of knowledge and the understanding of the natural world. By analyzing the works of key figures in the history of science, he reveals the cultural and intellectual context that underpinned the emergence of modern scientific thought. This interdisciplinary study offers a fresh perspective on the history of science, highlighting the role of aesthetics in shaping our understanding of the universe.
The big leap
Conquer Your Hidden Fear and Take Life to the Next Level
Gay Hendricks
In 'The Big Leap,' Gay Hendricks addresses the concept of the Upper Limit Problem, where individuals subconsciously sabotage their own success and happiness due to deep-seated fears and limiting beliefs. The book introduces four zones of activity: the Zone of Incompetence, Zone of Competence, Zone of Excellence, and Zone of Genius. Hendricks emphasizes the importance of identifying and operating in the Zone of Genius, where one combines what they love doing with what they are exceptionally good at. He also outlines four common hidden barriers to success: feeling fundamentally flawed, fear of disloyalty and abandonment, believing more success brings a bigger burden, and the fear of outshining others. The book provides practical advice on overcoming these barriers, embracing continuous growth, and achieving a balance between professional success and personal fulfillment.
Metaphors We Live By
Mark Johnson
George Lakoff
In 'Metaphors We Live By,' George Lakoff and Mark Johnson argue that metaphor is not just a figure of speech but a fundamental mechanism of the mind that allows us to use our physical and social experiences to understand more abstract concepts. The book introduces the concept of 'conceptual metaphors' and demonstrates how these metaphors structure our perceptions, thoughts, and actions. It challenges traditional views in Western philosophy and linguistics by showing that metaphor is pervasive in everyday language and thought, influencing how we think about concepts like love, arguments, and truth.
Part Two
What if the body wasn’t a fixed map, but a living, improvisational landscape?
In this conversation with Lan Li, a historian, filmmaker, and rhythm-savvy thinker at the crossroads of medicine and imagination, we explore how anatomy is more than skin and sinew—it’s a set of metaphors, shaped as much by culture as by scalpels. Lan brings insight from her work in neuroscience, film, and Chinese medicine to help us consider how maps of the body aren’t just drawn—they’re felt, narrated, and revised in real time.
Listen into this discussion as we explore the improvisational nature of clinical work, the metaphoric structure of anatomy, the interplay between nerves and meridians, the persistence of imagination in medical history, and why ancient images might still be some of our most useful tools.
This episode invites a reimagining of what it means to know, feel, and practice medicine. Especially when inquiry is more like music than math.
Qiological Podcast 
