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The Nocturnists

The Nocturnists
Uncertainty In Medicine
Mental Health
Healthcare System
Healthcare
Emergency Medicine
Nursing
Storytelling
Patient Care
Chronic Illness
Transitions Clinic Network
Sedation
ICU Patients
Death
Uncertainty
Medical Education
Caregiving
Malpractice Litigation
Patient Mobility
Chronic Lyme Disease
Diagnostic Uncertainty

The Nocturnists is an award-winning medical storytelling podcast, hosted by physician Emily Silverman. We feature personal stories from frontline clinicians, conversations with healthcare-related authors and art-makers, and special podcast documentary series such as "Post-Roe America," "Shame in Medicine," "Black Voices in Healthcare," and "Stories from a Pandemic. Our mission is to humanize healt... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes226Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
MedicineHealth & FitnessPersonal JournalsSociety & Culture

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Latest Episodes

As a college student seeking an abortion, Alejandra was unknowingly referred to a crisis pregnancy center instead of an abortion provider. In this conversation, she reflects on how that experience fractured her trust in healthcare, the years it took ... more

YouTube

Drawing on a lifetime in medicine and the stories behind his new book Failure to Treat, cardiologist Dr. Peter Kowey explores how profit, bureaucracy, and the corporatization of healthcare have transformed the practice of medicine. We discuss what ha... more

YouTube

Dr. Giulia Enders—physician, gastroenterologist, and bestselling author of Gut—joins us to discuss her new book, Organ Speak. She invites us to see the body not as a machine in need of repair, but as a living source of intelligence, metaphor, and m... more

YouTube

Cardiologist Dr. Lisa Rosenbaum tells the story of how her grandfather—a physician-writer whose experience as a patient transformed his view of medicine—influenced her sense of purpose, storytelling, and care. As she navigated her own path through me... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
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Number of Listeners
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Recent Guests

Peter Kowey
Cardiologist, author of Failure to Treat
Cardiology (focus on electrophysiology)
Episode: Failure to Treat with Peter Kowey, MD
Giulia Enders
Physician, gastroenterologist, bestselling author of Gut
Organs and Gut Research; author of Organ Speak
Episode: The Body as Teacher with Giulia Enders, MD
Kaylee Glenn
Founder and president of The Day By Day Project
The Day By Day Project
Episode: The Memory Disco with Kaylee Glenn (Crossover Episode with Remo Health)
Susan Wise Bauer
Historian, writer, and educator; author of The Great Shadow
Author/Academic
Episode: The History of Being Sick with Susan Wise Bauer, M.DIV, PhD
Dr. Erika MacIntyre
Pulmonary and critical care physician
Episode: Beyond the Shore with Erika MacIntyre, MD
Chris Carroll
Pediatric intensivist who treated a gorilla during a zoo outbreak
Jacksonville Zoo case (Jacksonville, FL)
Episode: Rounds at the Zoo with Chris Carroll, MD
Solange Madriz
Public health professional focused on maternal health and global health
Public health (Guatemala project)
Episode: Practice and Reality with Solange Madriz, MA, MS
Dr. Mike Reid
Infectious disease physician and global health leader
PEPFAR; UCSF connection mentioned
Episode: Failure and Grace with mike Reid, MD
Nikki Mittal
Pulmonary and Critical Care Physician
USC Medical Center, Los Angeles
Episode: Held in Prayer with Nikki Mittal, DO

Host

Emily Silverman
Host of the show, physician, and storyteller guiding interviews and narrative-driven conversations.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 761 ratings
  • Brought me to tears

    The episode with Tiffany Chan was so heart wrenching, but beautiful. It was so interesting to hear how she managed her academic journey during such a difficult time in her life. I also enjoyed listening to her speak on helping the veteran population. I am a veteran and I am aware that we are a unique population that physicians in all fields can often find challenging to help. Thank you, Tiffany, for being one of those who stepped up for the challenge.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Dali21001
    United States8 months ago
  • Uncertainty

    I have savored the Uncertainty in Medicine set.

    As a family doc and an old philosophy major, this area of life is central to my mind.

    Thank you for making this.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    FMSS, DO
    United Statesa year ago
  • Fantastic in all ways

    So great! The stories and the storytelling! I’m a ‘lay person’ but/and the stories are relatable, interesting and oh so authentic!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Gr2323
    United Statesa year ago
  • Loved it from the beginning

    As a PA, this podcast makes me feel less alone. The stories are so relatable and remind me why I got into medicine in the first place. Thank you for creating it.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    PA-JBS
    United Statesa year ago
  • Brilliant

    A cinematic, penetrating, relevant, unexpected, human show. World-class storytelling, interviews, and audio documentaries that will rivet listeners far beyond the healthcare profession.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bzbm1875
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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

Audience notes the show's role in reducing clinician burnout by fostering community and reflection.
Some critics highlight the podcast's thoughtful treatment of sensitive topics and its impact on patient-clinician relationships.
Listeners praise intimate storytelling, strong interviews, and the show's ability to humanize medicine.
Episodes are described as thoughtful, authentic, and emotionally resonant.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Misdirected
Q: What was it like when you found out you were pregnant during that visit to the primary care clinic?
She describes a routine test that quickly shifted to shock when the clinician congratulated her and announced the pregnancy, triggering a dissociative response and a realization that she needed to discuss and pursue abortion options.
Misdirected
Q: So you were a college student when you got pregnant, is that right?
Yes, Alejandra was a fourth-year biology major who discovered she was pregnant and initially sought care, only to encounter a setting that confused and pressured her, which contrasted with her later experiences at Planned Parenthood.
Failure to Treat with Peter Kowey, MD
Q: When did you first feel medicine was changing in a way that worried you, and what did you think was driving that shift?
He notes the mid-1990s to early 2000s as a turning point when regulatory requirements, documentation, and business pressures caused doctors to retreat from the business of medicine, ceding control to insurers and large healthcare systems, and shifting incentives toward profit rather than patient care.
Failure to Treat with Peter Kowey, MD
Q: So talk to us about that era, the world you came up in, and what it was like growing up and deciding to pursue medicine.
The guest describes a humble upbringing, a strong influence from a community physician who did house calls, and an early realization that medicine required human connection and hands-on care; this shaped his view of why bedside presence matters and how early experiences informed his career trajectory in cardiology and electrophysiology.
The Memory Disco with Kaylee Glenn (Crossover Episode with Remo Health)
Q: How did you get the idea of practicing in a low-stakes setting to bring joy to people?
Starting with her mother inviting Kaylee to play at a memory care center, she saw a direct, meaningful impact as a non-threatening environment allowed genuine connection and reduced stage fright, which revealed music as a powerful tool for engagement and healing.

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 The Nocturnists

What is The Nocturnists about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This series centers on intimate, narrative-driven conversations with frontline clinicians, healthcare workers, and health scholars who share personal stories that illuminate the human side of medicine. Episodes often blend memoir and expertise—covering burnout, ethics, caregiving, public health, and the social dimensions of care—while inviting listeners into the emotional and professional complexities of medical work. The format tends to be highly storytelling-focused, with guests ranging from physicians and nurses to public health leaders, educators, and patients, sometimes weaving in live-performance or documentary elements. Notable strengths include a consistent emphasis on empathy, access to diverse viewpoints, and powerful, character-d... more

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How many listeners does The Nocturnists get?

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Which podcasts are similar to The Nocturnists?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Nocturnists:

1. The Curbsiders Internal Medicine Podcast
2. GeriPal - A Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Podcast
3. The Moth
4. The Pulse
5. Tradeoffs

How many episodes of The Nocturnists are there?

The Nocturnists launched 9 years ago and published 226 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Nocturnists?

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What guests have appeared on The Nocturnists?

Recent guests on The Nocturnists include:

1. Peter Kowey
2. Giulia Enders
3. Kaylee Glenn
4. Susan Wise Bauer
5. Dr. Erika MacIntyre
6. Chris Carroll
7. Solange Madriz
8. Dr. Mike Reid

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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