Big Questions with Cal Fussman

Cal comes across the mindset of overcoming adversity when he talks with a 19-year-old who has a fatal disease called Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Elijah avoided an operation that would have straightened his curved spine with a metal rod by straightening it himself through exercise and diet. Now, with the possibilities of gene editing, he's got his sights on stopping the disease cold through his non-profit called Destroy Duchenne. Whatever obstacles you're facing, you'll be better able to overcome them after hearing this podcast.

Cal raced home from the hospital for a brief time while he was caring for his 90-year-old dad to have this conversation with the actor and author Matthew McConaughey, and he's sure glad he did. The two talked about their dads, and Matthew passed along a gift that Cal found very helpful after his dad passed away. Cal will always be grateful for this hour. It has something for everyone.

Cal asks the retired general of the U.S. Army why the U.S. can't seem to plan ahead in the aftermath of the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan after 20 years and trillions of dollars of U.S. assistance. This conversation has so many sound bites it would be a treasure trove for any news outlet. But Cal instead finds inspiration and motivation in the general's thoughts as he sets off on a mission to reshape healthcare.

Cal talks with a primary care physician we all wished we could have, a man whose life was changed by a singular moment very early in his career. It's led him on a path to continually think about reinventing himself and his profession. Now, the chairman and founder of Private Medical, he wonders if we should reshape the very foundation of the way healthcare operates.

Cal talks with the author of Preventable: The Inside Story Of How Leadership Failures, Politics, And Selfishness Doomed The U.S. Coronavirus Response. Slavitt was the guy who came to the rescue of the Affordable Care Act when it got off to a rocky start in the Obama administration. Cal asks him to look ahead to show us how we can prevent the wrong things from happening over the next few years as 110,000 doctors retire and America turns into a nation in need of a lot more care as it becomes more older than younger for the first time in its history. This conversation affects everyone.

Cal talks with the former Navy Seal Commander who had a severe case of survivor's guilt in Afghanistan and locked it away until it festered and led him to some dark places. But a simple breathing exercise led him on a path toward meditation and mindfulness and back to good health. It comes in handy for Cal after watching the chaotic evacuation scenes from the airport in Kabul following the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. And it will be of great use for anyone in any kind of stressful situation. Please get the most out of it.

Cal doesn't feel well after watching videos coming from Afghanistan – especially as he hears that America has left roughly 80,000 of its friends in the country behind when the Taliban took over. He offers President Joe Biden a plan on how to stand by those friends.

Ever since he was a kid, Marc Hodosh wondered why people had to get old and die. Now, as he prepares to co-host a healthcare conference called Life Itself with CNN's Sanjay Gupta, he looks into the possibilities we have of living longer and longer and ultimately forever. He cites the Immortal Jellyfish as an example of a creature on earth that can age, and then, when under an imminent threat, revert to infancy and start over again. A fascinating conversation on where we could be headed.

Cal goes into his archives to listen to a conversation he had with Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield about their early years as friends and business partners in Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream. He remembers the conversation being filled with funny stories and the power of ice cream to bring people together, which seems at odds with the recent decision of the company and its parent to boycott the West Bank in protest of Israeli treatment of Palestinians. The friction created by the boycott leaves Cal wondering if there's a wiser way to allow ice cream to work its magic.

Dr. Dre, a legendary music producer and rapper, reflects on his remarkable journey in the hip-hop industry. He shares the story of working 79 hours straight in the studio, showcasing his relentless passion for music. The conversation unfolds topics on defining success outside societal norms and the personal challenges of fame. Dre emphasizes the importance of creativity and purpose in one’s life, urging listeners to seek their own answers regarding passion and fulfillment.