Rephonic
Artwork for playing god?
Bioethics
In Vitro Gametogenesis
Dialysis
Seattle Artificial Kidney Center
Kidney Disease
Medical Innovation
Resource Allocation
Socioeconomic Factors
Mitochondrial Disease
Kidney Donation
Deep Brain Stimulation
Mitochondrial Replacement Technology
Liver Transplants
Organ Transplants
Uterus Transplant
Depression
Reproductive Technologies
Medical Aid In Dying (maid)
Glp-1
Alcoholism

Life-and-death decisions. Difficult tradeoffs. playing god? explores ethical dilemmas in health and medicine through the first-person stories of people who have lived them. Recognized with three 2024 Signal Awards. Brought to you by the Dracopoulos-Bloomberg iDeas Lab at the Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes18Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PhilosophyScienceSociety & Culture

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Artwork for playing god?

Latest Episodes

Rebecca Morrison is healthy by many measures. But like millions of people today, she finds herself wondering whether or not she should be taking a GLP-1 drug. What's the right thing to do? This episode explores how this new class of weight loss drugs... more

After losing their son Noahto to mitochondrial disease, Kristelle and Evan Shulman are determined that his death will not be in vain, holding fast to their dream of having healthy, biologically-related children. This search leads them abroad in pursu... more

When Kristelle and Evan Shulman lose their young son Noah to a rare mitochondrial disease, they are told they may never be able to have a healthy biologically related child. Then they discover mitochondrial replacement technology, or MRT, a controver... more

Humanity is actively working towards a mission to Mars. When astronauts like Bernard Harris leave Earth, they accept risk as part of the mission. But a journey to Mars would push that risk into entirely new territory—where help is unreachable, uncert... more

Key Facts

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Podcast Host
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Recent Guests

Rebecca Morrison
Person struggling with decisions about GLP-1s
Episode: A Shot at Weight Loss: Should I Take It?
Mara Gordon
Primary care doctor
Episode: A Shot at Weight Loss: Should I Take It?
Jeffrey Kahn
Bioethicist and director of the Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics
Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics
Episode: A Shot at Weight Loss: Should I Take It?
Alex Brewis
Bio-cultural anthropologist at Arizona State University
Arizona State University
Episode: A Shot at Weight Loss: Should I Take It?
Kristelle Shulman
Parent with mitochondrial disease mutation, MRT/PTG patient
Private individual
Episode: How Far Would You Go to Have a Healthy Baby?
Evan Shulman
Parent with mitochondrial disease mutation, MRT/PTG patient
Private individual
Episode: How Far Would You Go to Have a Healthy Baby?
Bernard Harris
Astronaut, first African American to complete a space walk
NASA
Episode: To Infinity and Beyond—At What Cost?
J. D. Polk
Chief Health and Medical Officer of NASA
NASA
Episode: To Infinity and Beyond—At What Cost?
Ronald David Deprez
Father who chose MAiD path
ALS patient
Episode: I Need You To Help Me Die

Host

Lauren Arora Hutchinson
Director of the iDeas Lab at the Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 173 ratings
  • Good

    Podcast Addict
    5
    kokella
    a year ago
  • For a podcast that covers the most contentious topics in medicine, this is surprisingly dry. Difficult issues are raised and then sort of backed away from. The best part of each episode is the beginning, which features a patient talking about their experience with the issue. Once the episode switches to ethicists and doctors, it gets much less interesting. My conclusion after listening to the first six episodes is that as long as the innovation can help one patient directly, probably nobody is g... more

    Podchaser
    3
    Sarah B
    2 years ago
  • Thought Provoking

    Very thought provoking. Looking forward to season 2. Excellent can’t wait until Season 2!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Hot tub exercise
    Canada2 years ago
  • Fantastic podcast

    Need more like this. As a physician, I find it refreshing to revisit these concepts and give into the ethical aspect of making very difficulty decisions.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Karim Mtl CA
    Canada2 years ago
  • Fantastic

    An informative and mind blowing podcast. I hope for another season soon!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jyyydddd
    Canada2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some users have noted minor inaccuracies in certain episodes but still regard the overall quality as high.
Educators value the series for its usefulness in teaching bioethics and medical ethics across various educational levels.
Listeners appreciate the engaging and informative nature of discussions, often finding them enlightening and accessible. Many highlight the show's ability to blend personal stories with critical ethical dilemmas in healthcare.
The host is praised for their ability to articulate complex issues with clarity and warmth, making heavy topics easier to understand for a wide audience.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#234
United States/Science
Apple Podcasts
#226
Philippines/Science
Apple Podcasts
#229
United Arab Emirates/Science
Apple Podcasts
#231
Saudi Arabia/Science
Apple Podcasts
#238
Singapore/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

How Far Would You Go to Have a Healthy Baby?
Q: What role did medical experts play in guiding your decisions?
We relied on input from mitochondrial disease specialists and bioethicists to understand the risks, benefits, and ethical implications, shaping our choices at every step.
How Far Would You Go to Have a Healthy Baby?
Q: Why did you ultimately choose to engage in MRT and later PGT instead of conventional options?
Because MRT aimed to replace faulty mitochondrial DNA to reduce disease transmission, and PGT offered a way to screen embryos for mitochondrial mutations, providing a path to a healthy child while minimizing risk.
How Far Would You Go to Have a Healthy Baby?
Q: What level of risk were you willing to accept to pursue a biologically related child?
We discussed and defined a personal threshold for risk, acknowledging that there are no guarantees and that some level of risk would remain, but we sought to move forward if there was a reasonable chance of a healthy child.
To Infinity and Beyond—At What Cost?
Q: Who gets to make the final decision when exploring risky frontiers?
The question centers on balancing autonomy for the crew with mission requirements and societal expectations, highlighting the need for clear ethical frameworks and support structures.
I Need You To Help Me Die
Q: When you're terminally ill, should you be able to choose how you die?
The guest and experts discuss autonomy, the safeguards, and the ethical complexities of MAiD, emphasizing that each case depends on medical prognosis, mental capacity, and the availability of a supportive legal framework.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About playing god?

What is playing god? about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Exploring the intersection of medical ethics and emerging technologies, this content presents stories from patients whose lives have been dramatically altered—sometimes saved—by innovative medical treatments. Each episode tackles pressing ethical questions around complicated medical decisions, such as the allocation of limited resources like organ transplants, the introduction of advanced reproductive technologies, and the moral implications of life support systems. The program is distinguished by its focus on personal narratives accompanied by expert insights, making high-stakes topics accessible and engaging for a broad audience interested in the multifaceted impact of healthcare advancements on society.

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These podcasts share a similar audience with playing god?:

1. This American Life
2. Radiolab
3. The Moth
4. Revisionist History
5. Proxy with Yowei Shaw

How many episodes of playing god? are there?

playing god? launched 3 years ago and published 18 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on playing god??

Recent guests on playing god? include:

1. Rebecca Morrison
2. Mara Gordon
3. Jeffrey Kahn
4. Alex Brewis
5. Kristelle Shulman
6. Evan Shulman
7. Bernard Harris
8. J. D. Polk

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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