Big Questions with Cal Fussman

Nearly every hour, an infant or young child chokes to death or dies in an unexpected accident. When Mark Wilhelmsson saw his two-year-old gasping for air while eating some fruit slices, it changed his life . . . and the lives of a lot of other parents. Mark’s son survived. And the information Mark accumulated can protect your family. Please pass this episode on to parents who are expecting children and who have little ones.

The approach of Thanksgiving is the perfect time to hear about the 73-day, 4,200mile bike ride Kari Loya took with his 75-year-old father who was at the early stage of Alzheimer’s Disease. They rode along the TransAmerica Bike Trail from Yorktown, Virginia to Astoria, Oregon. Their trip reminds us to get the most out of the time we have with those we love. Enjoy.

Cal speaks with Glenn Livingston, the author of the best-seller about concrete steps to avoid overeating. This episode comes at the perfect time. Cal often finds himself reaching for more and more during the sumptuous holiday season. Glenn’s tactics enabled him to lose 90 pounds and still eat pleasurably. Get more out of your holiday season this year by eating a little less. You’ll also be able to get Glenn’s book free over the internet

Cal looks to discover if there is anything in our ordinary lives that mirrors the fear and purpose Matt Bromley feels when he surfs 50-foot waves. Cal arrives at an unexpected place that shows him how he can have much impact.

Not long ago, Sev MacLaughlin was working as a waiter in a polyester tuxedo. Listen to how the death of his father sent him on a mission to develop artificial intelligence that can predict illness in advance of modern medicine. Kidney disease. Diabetes. Cardiovascular disease. The predictions of DeLorean AI have twice been validated by third-party labs. And now the company is working on early identification and solutions for mental health issues. The story of Sev’s mission will inspire anyone who has a dream to make a difference in the world, and direct everyone to a service that will catch illness early, save lives and hopefully bring us more hugs with those we love.

After losing 30 pounds through a slow and methodical change in diet and portion size, Cal sets off to follow the same strategy with exercise. Basic body movements at the start that don’t call for lifting stacks of weight or exercise to exhaustion. With more than 70 percent of Americans overweight or obese and not moving, this may be the only feasible start toward solving the problem. The movements Michael Ockrim of Mighty Oak Athletic passes on are as easy as lifting a can of beans. But with steady increases they can lead to huge breakthroughs. If you know someone who’s not getting out of a chair or off the couch, please pass this on.

Cal gets some tips from a man whose life is dedicated to helping people get a good night’s sleep. Whatever age or sleeping situation you’re in, Devin has probably studied it. And he has many solutions. After listening to this episode, you’ll definitely sleep better.

Cal talks with the man who evolved from drinking a six-pack of Coca Cola every day as a boy to the author of Superlife: the 5 Simple Fixes that will make you healthy, fit and eternally awesome. Darin is also the co-host of the television show Down to Earth with Zac Efron, where the two go adventuring around the world to find healthy and sustainable ways to live. You may eat a little differently after listening to this conversation.

Listen to some amazing surgery stories this week about what it’s like to operate on a child’s brain from Dr. Jay Wellons, a pediatric neurosurgeon at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt and the Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Jay is a gifted writer as well, as anybody who’s read All That Moves Us can attest. Once the harrowing stories are told, Cal asks the neurosurgeon how he stays healthy amid the persistent tension. It’s a question that probably applies to everybody who’s worked in healthcare during COVID, and it calls for everybody’s attention.

Morphogenesis has an immunotherapy treatment that has worked in five out of five clinical trials on skin cancer and it’s nasty cousin, Merkel Cell cancer. The company’s CEO, Dr. James Bianco, says that the treatment may work against any cancer. But he doesn’t want anyone calling it The Cancer Vaccine. Cal gets some insight into the potential breakthrough, and the leaps we’re making in the fight against cancer. If you know someone who’s been touched by cancer, check this episode out. That means everybody.