Remembering Dr. Rachel Remen: What is the Secret to True Healing?

2026-09-15 · 58 min · 47 entities

episode page audio

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Link in episode "Remembering Dr. Rachel Remen: What is the Secret to True Healing?": https://vivekmurthy.com/

Entities found in this episode

concepts 27

mentioned Relationships concept

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mentioned Spirituality concept

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mentioned Health concept

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mentioned Wellness concept

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mentioned well-being concept

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mentioned social connection concept

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evidence rules-v5
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mentioned health & well-being concept

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mentioned emotional well-being concept

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mentioned isolation concept

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mentioned togetherness concept

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mentioned personal growth concept

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mentioned What is the Secret to True Healing concept

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Remembering Dr. Rachel Remen: What is the Secret to True Healing?
discusses Relationships concept

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evidence rules-v5
Feed category: relationships
discusses Spirituality concept

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evidence rules-v5
Feed category: spirituality
discusses Health concept

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evidence rules-v5
Feed category: health
discusses Wellness concept

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evidence rules-v5
Feed category: wellness
discusses well-being concept

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evidence rules-v5
Feed category: well-being
discusses social connection concept

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evidence rules-v5
Feed category: social connection
discusses health & well-being concept

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evidence rules-v5
Feed category: health & well-being
discusses emotional well-being concept

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evidence rules-v5
Feed category: emotional well-being
discusses meaning concept

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evidence rules-v5
Feed category: meaning
discusses public health concept

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evidence rules-v5
Feed category: public health
discusses isolation concept

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Feed category: isolation
discusses togetherness concept

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Feed category: togetherness
discusses personal growth concept

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Feed category: personal growth

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mentioned Medicine website

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mentioned Happiness website

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mentioned Community website

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mentioned Inspiration website

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Feed category: inspiration
mentioned vivekmurthy.com website

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Link in episode "Remembering Dr. Rachel Remen: What is the Secret to True Healing?": https://vivekmurthy.com/
discusses Medicine website

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Feed category: medicine
discusses Happiness website

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discusses Community website

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discusses Inspiration website

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references vivekmurthy.com website

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Link in episode "Remembering Dr. Rachel Remen: What is the Secret to True Healing?": https://vivekmurthy.com/

persons 8

mentioned Vivek Murthy person

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Feed author/publisher: Vivek Murthy
mentioned Staying Human person

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hosted by Vivek Murthy person

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hosted by Staying Human person

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Feed author/publisher: Staying Human
mentioned Mental Health person

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Feed category: mental health
mentioned Purpose person

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discusses Mental Health person

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mentioned Loneliness book

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discusses Loneliness book

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Episode description as stored

What does it really mean to heal? What is the difference between curing and healing? What can we offer one another when something can’t be fixed? Dr. Rachel Naomi Remen spent her life exploring what it means to be human. As Vivek puts it, Rachel was “a doctor’s doctor.” In addition to practicing and teaching at UCSF and writing the bestsellers Kitchen Table Wisdom and My Grandfather’s Blessings , Rachel created The Healer’s Art , a course that helped generations of doctors, including Vivek, find the sacred in medicine. Following her death at age 88, Vivek sits down with fellow physician and his college roommate Dr. Akil Palanisamy to remember their beloved mentor, who profoundly shaped them both as doctors and as human beings. Through intimate stories and archival excerpts of Dr. Remen herself, they explore her enduring wisdom: why our wounds can become sources of connection, why listening can be an act of healing, how to live with uncertainty, and why healing remains possible even when curing is not. Vivek and Akil also share about how they turned to Rachel during some of their most difficult moments. This episode is an invitation to anyone wrestling with loss and uncertainty. Or simply searching for ways we can help one another heal. Special thanks to Commonweal for sharing excerpts of Vivek’s last public conversation with Dr. Rachel Remen. (06:41) Vivek and Akil recount their experiences first meeting Rachel (10:57) On the power of listening (13:51) How Rachel mentored Akil and Vivek through a challenging times (19:30) The Wounded Healer (25:31) Elements of mystery in medicine (27:55) Akil shares a passage of Rachel's writings on mystery (32:53) On grappling with uncertainty, and Rachel's spirituality (35:59) Fixing vs. Serving (41:33) Rachel's focus on those the system can leave out (43:00) What would Rachel have thought about AI in healthcare? (45:42) Vivek and Akil reflect on grieving Rachel's passing and their final visits . . . Dr. Rachel Naomi Remen The Healer’s Art Kitchen Table Wisdom My Grandfather’s Blessings Dr Remen & Vivek’s conversation: Can We All Become Healers? Commonweal Commonweal is hosting a virtual memorial service for Dr. Remen on Oct 3, 2026. Please register here Dr. Akil Palanisamy The TIGER Protocol , by Dr. Akil Palanisamy . . . Every episode offers a reflection question inspired by the conversation. Share your thoughts and ideas with us at hello@stayinghuman.us , on our Substack , or leave us a message at 1-833-74-HUMAN. IG @drvivekmurthy Substack vivekmurthy.substack.com/ About your host, Dr. Vivek Murthy https://www.vivekmurthy.com