The Pulse Episode Archive

Modern motherhood can feel impossible — from juggling kids and work, to finding a quiet moment for self-care. We look at how to lighten the load of being a mom.

We talk with historians Beth Linker about the “posture panic” that led to a college photo scandal, and Natalia Mehlman Petrzela about the evolution of fitness culture.

When medical mistakes happen, patients often find themselves left in the dark about what went wrong. We explore what’s behind the wall of silence.

In honor of Earth Day, we explore everyday choices that can impact the environment in big ways.

Latinos are America’s biggest minority — and yet many of them feel alienated by our country’s health care system.

Boredom is good for your brain. At least that’s what we’ve been told. But how do we achieve boredom in a world of constant stimulation? And is it as valuable as we think?

We look into the history of eclipses and what scientists are hoping to learn.

How does our past shape who we are? On this episode, we explore stories of long-buried secrets, and how their discovery changed people’s sense of identity.

We look at the pandemic’s continuing fallout and efforts to recover, from rehabbing public health’s reputation to the lonely search for a long COVID treatment.

We explore how the field of mental health is changing, what trained therapists make of mental health advice from influencers, and more!

How did a brilliant teenage physicist working on the Manhattan Project get away with spying for the Soviets? And why did he do it?

We explore bodies donated to science — how they’re used, why they’re so important, and why people make this choice for their remains.

Sometimes, we’re just mad. So mad, that anger becomes like a wrecking ball that can ruin relationships and careers. We’ll find out how to express anger in healthy ways.

Ahead of Valentine’s Day, we explore the mysteries of attraction — what kindles it, what kills it, and why we’re often totally wrong about who we might be attracted to.

Patients now have more access than ever before to their medical records. On this episode, we look at how this can help and hinder care.