When Lucy Foote suffered her first seizure during a stressful work presentation in 2020, she had no idea it would begin a six-year battle with epilepsy that would eventually lead to brain surgery. In this deeply personal episode of Road to Resilience, Lucy shares what it was like to navigate fear, uncertainty, and the invisible emotional burden of chronic illness while trying to maintain her independence in New York City. She discusses the role of family support, faith, and radical lifes...

Why do some people feel trapped in sadness, while others lose their sense of motivation and purpose? In this episode of Road to Resilience, host Stephen Calabria speaks with Dr. Martijn Figee about the brain science behind depression, resilience, and emotional recovery. A leader in the study of deep brain stimulation and psychiatric neuromodulation, Dr. Figee explains how different brain circuits govern mood, reward, stress, and motivation—and how understanding those systems may reshape...

Jeremy Boal, MD, spent years caring for patients with late-stage ALS—known as Lou Gehrig's disease, it's a neurological disease that typically comes with a life expectancy of 2-5 years from diagnosis. Then he was diagnosed with that very condition. In this podcast, Dr. Boal reflects on his medical and personal trajectory with new insights. He discusses the importance of addressing anger and dread, the role of family and friends, and the need for both medical and psychological help and f...

You may think that resilience is a quality that people are born with, but that's often untrue—resilience can be cultivated and honed. In this podcast, Dr. Jon Depierro, Professor of Psychiatry at Mount Sinai and Associate Director of Mount Sinai's Center for Stress, Resilience, and Personal Growth, talks to Dr. Sherry Hamby, Distinguished Research Professor of Psychology at the University of the South, and author of Stronger Than You Think: Building Lifelong Resilience. The pair discuss...

When Susan Baum was diagnosed with Age-Related Macular Degeneration, the news landed with unusual force: She had already watched the disease reshape the lives of close family members, narrowing mobility, independence, and daily confidence. Instead of accepting her relatives’ fate, Baum pushed deeper into research until she found a promising path forward: red light treatment newly introduced through New York Eye and Ear Infirmary. In this conversation, Susan shares how measurable ...

Heart failure and heart transplant patients face change and uncertainty. Cardiologist Dr. Anu Lala emphasizes the value of gratitude, mindful language, and affirmations to help. She invites patients to meet life as it is, rather than ruminate on what they wish it was. Visit https://www.mountsinai.org/clinical-trials to see if you're eligible to enroll in a clinical trial with the Mount Sinai Health System. Check out more episodes of Road to Resilience —as well as guest pictures, transcr...

Caregiving can carry a heavy emotional, physical, and financial toll. Dr. Allison Applebaum, director of the Steven S. Elbaum Family Center for Caregiving, discusses the importance of supporting those who care for others. Visit https://www.mountsinai.org/clinical-trials to see if you're eligible to enroll in a clinical trial with the Mount Sinai Health System. Check out more episodes of Road to Resilience —as well as guest pictures, transcripts, and more— on the Mount Sinai website. Road to ...

Diagnosed with severe and debilitating Crohn’s disease, Catherine Rodgers, a child life specialist at Kravis Children’s Hospital, drew inspiration from her patients—and entered the NYC Marathon to support them. Visit https://www.mountsinai.org/clinical-trials to see if you're eligible to enroll in a clinical trial with the Mount Sinai Health System. Check out more episodes of Road to Resilience —as well as guest pictures, transcripts, and more— on the Mount Sinai website. Road to Resil...

One of the challenges of social anxiety is that it feels like you’re the only one experiencing it. But that’s not true. In fact, rates of social anxiety are high and growing in the United States. But Dr. Charissa Chamorro, clinical psychologist and Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, explains that there are things you can do to feel better. Visit https://www.mountsinai.org/clinical-trials to see if you're eligible to enroll in a clinical ...

Daniel Nicastri, MD, a former Navy doctor and current Mount Sinai thoracic surgeon, interviews Lou Guerra, former Green Beret and current student at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Guerra shares his journey from running a successful pizza restaurant to the battlefield to the classroom, and how the lessons he learned in Afghanistan and Ukraine helped him meet the academic challenges on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. This episode of Road to Resilience is published in observance ...