Patient self-advocacy

2 episodes about this topic

Using Existing Drugs in New Ways to Treat & Cure Diseases of Brain & Body | Dr. David Fajgenbaum

Andrew Huberman interviews physician-scientist Dr. David Fagenbaum about how many existing FDA-approved drugs can be repurposed to effectively treat diseases beyond their original indications. Drawing on his near-fatal battle with Castleman disease and the work of his nonprofit Every Cure, Fagenbaum explains systemic blind spots in medicine, gives concrete examples of successful drug repurposing, and outlines how patients can better advocate for themselves and navigate disease-specific networks. They also discuss the role of AI in mapping drug-disease relationships at scale, the neuroscience of hope and tenacity, and how Fagenbaum's personal story shapes his mission to ensure that no one misses out on a helpful drug that already exists.

Nov 3, 2025 Health & Fitness

Everyone Deserves A Good Death

The hosts explore the concept of a "good death" and how modern hospice care aims to provide comfort, dignity, and holistic support to people who are terminally ill. They trace the history of hospice from its modern origins with Cicely Saunders and Florence Wald through the creation of the Medicare hospice benefit, explain how hospice works today, and discuss its strengths and structural problems, including caregiver burdens and for‑profit abuses. The episode closes with practical end-of-life planning advice and a listener mail segment on Gen Z communication and the "Gen Z stare."