University of California Video Podcasts (Video)

Psychological resilience in later life examines how older adults adapt after adversity and cultivate everyday practices that sustain well-being and purpose. Elizabeth W. Twamley, Ph.D., introduces and guides a discussion on mental health and resilience among older adults. Ellen E. Lee, M.D., characterizes resilience as dynamic learning oriented toward flourishing and urges a low threshold for seeking help when symptoms overwhelm daily routines. Sidney Zisook, M.D., presents grief as adaptation to loss, distinguishes acute from integrated grief, and explains how intense waves of emotion gradually become less frequent and more manageable; he views psychedelic therapies as promising but not ready for routine treatment. Marti E. Kranzberg shares practical approaches that include mindfulness, journaling, gratitude, movement, sleep, pain management, creative arts, time in nature, community, and purpose.

Series: "Stein Institute for Research on Aging" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 40963]

Danielle K. Glorioso, LCSW, explores the complex nature of grief, emphasizing that it is a lifelong, evolving response to loss rather than something to “get over.” She explains the differences between acute grief, integrated grief, and prolonged grief disorder. Drawing on both professional expertise and personal loss, Glorioso offers practical strategies for coping, supporting others, and finding hope while honoring the memory of loved ones. Series: "Stein Institute for Research on Aging" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 41121]

Artist and filmmaker Tom Kalin joins moderator Bhaskar Sarkar (Film and Media Studies, UCSB) for a discussion of his 1992 film Swoon. Kalin discusses the historical background of the film (the famous 1924 Leopold and Loeb murder case), how he reimagined the case through the lens of queer desire, and how he conducted archival research into the central figures of the murder. Kalin also discusses how his background and training as a visual artist fed into his work in feature-length film making. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 40927]

Cognitive resilience grows from small, consistent habits that keep the brain adaptable. Fadel Zeidan, Ph.D., frames mindfulness as mental training that improves attention, processing, and the way people relate to pain. Erin E. Sundermann, Ph.D., underscores modifiable pathways to healthier aging, highlighting movement, social connection, hearing support, and lifelong learning as mutually reinforcing drivers of brain health. Raenne C. Moore, Ph.D., centers practical strategies that translate into daily life, including routines, planned breaks, reducing distractions, and attending to anxiety or depression. Carolyn Dunmore, an older adult community Mmmber, exemplifies resilience through steady activity, purposeful community roles, faith, self-compassion, and the “use it or lose it” mindset. Together, Zeidan, Sundermann, Moore, and Dunmore point to a clear theme: everyday practices accumulate to support memory, attention, and well-being as people age. Series: "Stein Institute for Research on Aging" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 40962]

Marisa Korody, Ph.D., leads groundbreaking work at the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance’s Beckman Center for Conservation Research, where scientists use advanced genetic and stem cell technologies to protect endangered species. Korody highlights efforts to save the critically endangered northern white rhino by developing induced pluripotent stem cells that can be transformed into egg and sperm precursors, offering a potential path to revive the species. This research is part of a broader conservation mission that includes global projects in genetics, reintroduction, and community engagement. By combining cutting-edge science with wildlife management, the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance works to preserve biodiversity and ensure the survival of species threatened by habitat loss, poaching, and climate change, demonstrating the critical role of innovation in conservation. Series: "Stem Cell Channel" [Health and Medicine] [Science] [Show ID: 40451]

Targeting the biology of aging offers a path to stronger resilience and longer health. John C. Newman, M.D., Ph.D., explains that aging arises from measurable cellular processes, often called hallmarks of aging, including changes involving mitochondria, stem cells, cellular senescence, inflammation, and protein quality control. Newman describes how basic science in model organisms reveals mechanisms that can be manipulated to extend healthy lifespan and guide therapies. Emerging approaches aim either to strengthen stress responses that make cells more resilient or to address downstream consequences. Many clinical studies across the country now test interventions that target aging, supported by national efforts to standardize methods and expand training. Newman also investigates ketone bodies as energy sources that influence inflammation, muscle preservation, and other processes relevant to frailty and recovery.

Series: "Stein Institute for Research on Aging" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 40961]

Film producer Liz Yale Marsh and mustang wrangler West Taylor join moderator and co-producer Wendy Eley Jackson to discuss their work on the documentary Facing the Falls, which follows disability rights advocate Cara Elizabeth Yar Khan and her twelve-day expedition through the Grand Canyon. They explore how Yar Khan’s muscle disease provided a unique challenge to navigating the Grand Canyon, as well as how Marsh and Jackson came onto the film in post-production and helped to finish the project. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 40926]

Advances in precision medicine and patient advocacy are transforming the way cancer is understood and treated. Nikoo McGoldrick shares her personal journey with metastatic breast cancer, emphasizing the importance of patients having a voice in their care. Sheldon Morris, M.D., M.P.H., explains how regenerative medicine progresses through stem cell therapies, gene therapies, CAR-T cell treatments, and small molecules, with clinical trials addressing cancer, autoimmune disorders, and neurological diseases. Sandip Patel, M.D., F.A.S.C.O., highlights cancer stem cells as key drivers of relapse and resistance, describing precision medicine approaches, novel CAR-T therapies, and the role of artificial intelligence in cancer detection and treatment. Rebecca Shatsky, M.D., focuses on breast cancer as a systemic disease linked to dormant cancer stem cells, underscoring the need for genomic and immune-based therapies, including innovative antibody treatments and targeted clinical trials. Series: "Stem Cell Channel" [Health and Medicine] [Science] [Show ID: 40910]

Healthy aging starts with physical resilience, the body’s ability to withstand and recover from stress. Maile Young Karris, M.D., defines the concept and sets the stage for practical strategies that match real-world needs. Ryan J. Moran, M.D., M.P.H., recommends simple routines such as wall push ups, posture alignment, and chin tucks, and he links posture and vision to fall prevention; social connection helps people stick with movement. Theodore Chan, M.D., F.A.C.E.P., F.A.A.E.M., explains that age alone is a poor predictor of outcomes in acute care and that functional resilience strongly influences decisions. Gail Levine emphasizes accountability, community, and balanced nutrition. Moran highlights protein needs of about 1 to 1.2 grams per kilogram plus calcium with possible vitamin D, and he favors plant focused eating with limited processed foods.

Series: "Stein Institute for Research on Aging" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 40960]

Dr. Rahul Aggarwal presents emerging treatments for advanced prostate cancer, highlighting rapid advances in drug development. He outlines therapies targeting cancer cell surface proteins beyond PSMA, including CD46, B7-H3, and DLL3, and explains how antibody-drug conjugates deliver potent chemotherapy directly to tumors. He also discusses bispecific T-cell engagers designed to trigger immune attacks on cancer cells, including promising results from agents like Talquetamab. Aggarwal explores new isotopes such as actinium-225 for radioligand therapy, which may offer stronger and more durable responses than current treatments. He emphasizes continued innovation in targeting the androgen receptor, with drugs that degrade the receptor or block androgen production more effectively than existing therapies. Series: "Prostate Cancer Patient Conference" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 40813]