Physicians are tuning to podcasts that combine clinical insight, career development, and storytelling.
From early-morning commutes to post-call decompression, podcasts have become embedded in our daily routines. Based on popularity, peer recommendations, and critical reception, the following selections are among the most frequently cited and respected medical podcasts curated with board-certified physicians in mind—ranging from evidence-based updates to narratives that humanize the practice of medicine.
The Curbsiders: Internal Medicine Insights With Personality
Format: Expert interviews
Frequency: Weekly
Focus: Clinical updates, diagnostic strategies, and practice-changing pearls
Hosted by a panel of academic internists—including Matthew Watto, MD, and Paul Williams, MD—The Curbsiders delivers interviews with thought leaders in internal medicine. Topics range from complex disease management to practical primary care strategies. Each episode features take-home points, literature citations, and downloadable show notes—ideal for busy clinicians, residents, and students seeking efficient, evidence-based learning with a dose of personality.
JAMA Clinical Reviews: Authoritative Evidence at Speed
Format: Research summaries with expert narration and occasional interviews
Frequency: Biweekly
Focus: Practice guidelines, clinical trials, and systematic reviews
Produced by the Journal of the American Medical Association, the podcast delivers concise, peer-reviewed summaries of recent research published in JAMA and its specialty journals. Recent episodes have addressed GLP-1 receptor agonists, telemedicine policy, and perioperative risk calculators.
The show maintains JAMA’s hallmark editorial rigor and evidence-based approach, making it a trusted audio resource for physicians seeking timely, clinically relevant information.
EMCrit: Critical Care Without the Noise
Format: Solo commentary and guest interviews
Frequency: Variable
Focus: Emergency and intensive care medicine
Hosted by Scott D. Weingart, MD, EMCrit delivers a clinically intense, fast-paced perspective on critical care. Dr. Weingart emphasizes evidence-informed decision-making, physiological reasoning, and high-acuity care. Each episode is frequently accompanied by detailed show notes and free open-access medical education (FOAMed) resources.
The Nocturnists: Humanizing the Physician Experience
Format: Storytelling
Frequency: Seasonal
Focus: Physician narratives, burnout, and vulnerability in medicine
Created by Emily Silverman, MD, The Nocturnists explores the emotional dimensions of medicine through first-person stories told by clinicians. Episodes delve into themes such as moral injury, reflections on the COVID-19 pandemic, and moments of clinical uncertainty. Its strength lies in fostering empathy and connection among health care professionals.
