Clear+Vivid with Alan Alda

Rachael Ray knows how to relate over food. When she cooks, she's always thinking about her audience and how to communicate a message through the medium of food. Her energy and talent have led her to create a billion dollar lifestyle empire, built around the concept of fun, healthy, and joyous experiences with food. In this episode of Clear+Vivid, Rachael Ray and Alan Alda cook up some pasta together and enjoy a lively conversation around the dinner table! This special holiday episode is sponsored by Calm -- the #1 app for meditation and sleep.Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/clearandvivid

W. Kamau Bell, the host of CNN's "United Shades of America,” describes his show as giving people a “microphone” and “public square to tell their version of the story.” Putting it plainly, he's said his greatest gift as a communicator is in knowing, “... how to shut the f*ck up and let people talk.” Kamau is a gifted stand up comedian who delivers his comedy through a socio-political lens. In this episode of Clear+Vivid, Alan Alda asks W. Kamau Bell about his approach to comedy and how it's possible to talk with someone who you genuinely disagree with, like a member of the KKK — and still find relatable qualities, even humor. Before they finish, Kamau surprises Alan with a guest of his own!Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/clearandvivid

The most important time in your life can be those few minutes when you're in the doctors office - this is a critical time for you to tell your story and for your doctor to listen. 80% of correct diagnoses are made when doctors get the whole history from their patients. And the more empathic the communication, the better the diagnosis. In this last episode of our 3-part series, we speak with Dr. Susmita Pati and Dr. Laura Lindenfeld at the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science at Stony Brook University. Since 2009, the Alda Center has trained more than 12,000 scientists using improv and advanced communication techniques to help them be more empathic and more effective communicators. Dr. Pati has been working with Dr. Lindenfeld and Alan to create a training program for medical communication at the Alda Center. In this episode (part 3 of 3) we further explore the doctor-patient relationship and the efforts doctors are making to be more empathic, both with their patients and with their entire teams. Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/clearandvivid

Dr. Karl VanDevender is one of the most empathic doctors you'll ever meet. In fact, he's one of the most empathic people that Alan Alda has ever met! Dr. VanDevender has been practicing medicine for forty years and in that time he has learned some interesting ways to connect with his patients, resulting in surprisingly positive results. Dr. VanDevender has a lot to teach us about the doctor-patient relationship, and how it can lead to better health. Clear+Vivid with Alan Alda is devoting a special series of three shows to doctor-patient relations and how better understanding can be achieved through empathy and deeper listening. This is part 2 of 3. Part 3 will be available on December 8th. Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/clearandvivid

Relating and communicating in the doctor’s office can sometimes be a matter of life or death. Clear+Vivid with Alan Alda is devoting a special series of three shows to doctor-patient relations and how better understanding can be achieved through empathy and deeper listening. First up is Dr. Helen Riess whose research has shown that not only is empathy important to the doctor-patient relationship, but that, when it’s lacking, empathy can be taught. Join us for this episode with Dr. Riess, followed by Dr. Karl VanDevender (available December 6th) and two experts in communication, Dr. Laura Lindenfeld and Dr. Susmita Pati, from the Alda Center at Stony Brook University (available December 8th). Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/clearandvivid

Marc Maron is a legend in both the stand-up community and also as a podcaster. His WTF Podcast broke new ground in the interview genre when he welcomed President Obama onto his show and helped to truly define the independent podcast movement. But Marc’s rise to the top has been an arduous personal journey. As a comedian and performer he’s dealt with anxiety and other issues that have haunted him over the years. He talks with Alan Alda about his personal life and how podcasting helped him to open up, understand himself, and eventually to relate better to others. Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/clearandvivid

The universe has wonders that can stun us — if only someone could be clear and vivid in explaining them to us. Neil deGrasse Tyson does just that, which has put him among the most recognized science communicators of the 21st Century. He’s not only an astrophysicist, an author, and the head of the world-renowned Hayden Planetarium, he’s also funny. In this episode Alan and Neil explore some surprising techniques for making hard stuff clear, including how a particular football play can explain the weird physics of how things swirl around on earth (like clouds in a hurricane, or water in a toilet bowl).Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/clearandvivid

Michael J. Fox, diagnosed with young on-set Parkinson's Disease in 1991, changed the world's perception of Parkinson's. In this revealing conversation with Alan Alda, they discuss early diagnosis, acceptance, managing their condition through unique exercise regimens, finding strength in the present and loved ones, adapting to physical challenges, expressing oneself differently, early detection and prevention efforts, and their aversion to bullies and delivering bad news.

Go behind the scenes with the Clear+Vivid team! Alan Alda sits down with his friend and long time producer, Graham Chedd, to talk about podcasting, their years together on Scientific American Frontiers, and their enduring friendship. Alan and Graham are joined by Associate Producer, Sarah Chase, who is also the voice of the ads and helps Alan run his company, Alda Communication Training (ACT). Our "Tech Guru," Allison Coston also joins in and tells us about her 6 years in the U.S. Navy. The team has some fun turning the tables on Alan and asking him his own 7 questions. Find out what Alan has to say! Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/clearandvivid

While Alan Alda is on vacation, he's invited his friend Katie Couric to take over the pod with some of her favorite episodes! Alan's producers interviewed Katie about this episode and Katie talks about the shared experience that she and Sheryl Sandberg have in common. After her husband died suddenly from a cardiac arrhythmia, Facebook's COO Sheryl Sandberg (Lean In) thought she would never experience true joy again. Sheryl speaks about her book, Option B, that delves into how she proved herself wrong— and how others can build resilience in the face of trauma, too. Sandberg wrote Option B with her friend Adam Grant, an organizational psychologist and Wharton professor. They both join Katie onstage at 92Y (92Y.org) in Manhattan to discuss insights from the book, including how to support grieving children, dating after loss, and the "three P's" that can hinder recoverySupport the show: https://www.patreon.com/clearandvivid