Best Stefan Lawrence Podcasts (2025)

1
BONUS: Return of the Living Dead 1:44:19

4d ago1:44:19

1:44:19

BRAIIINNNNNNNS! This tongue-in-cheek punk-rock take on zombies from Dan O'Bannon is arguably the first movie to establish that zombies eat brains (and not just flesh). In a stunning turn of events, both Stefan and Jordan have seen this one (so we're breaking the format a bit), but we still can't wait to dig into it.…

1
BONUS: Zombie (aka Zombi 2) 2:13:24

11d ago2:13:24

2:13:24

For the first of our bonus episodes, Jordan and Stefan check out Lucio Fulci's Dawn of the Dead "sequel" Zombie – or Zombi 2, as it was known internationally. As part of Dario Argento's deal with Romero for Dawn of the Dead (known as Zombi in Italy), as well as Italy's lax sequel copyright laws, he was allowed to release a follow-up to that film. K…

1
Survival of the Dead 2:07:54

18d ago2:07:54

2:07:54

Well, maybe we didn't like Diary of the Dead all that much, but maybe we'll like George A. Romero's final zombie film? About feuding families on an island? Maybe? Jordan and Stefan find out if this series goes out with a head-shot bang or a slow, shuffling whimper.By Stefan Lawrence & Jordan White

1
Physicians and Authoritarians: Are We Too Obedient? 47:20

20d ago47:20

47:20

The record of physicians standing up for their values as healers under authoritarian regimes is not good, whether it’s Nazi Germany, the former Soviet Union, or Iraq, with behaviors ranging from assisting in torture, to psychiatric hospitalization for political reasons. And sadly, it’s often without any coercion. More subtly, physicians may go alon…

1
Diary of the Dead 2:25:38

25d ago2:25:38

2:25:38

Romero follows up his return to zombiedom, Land of the Dead, with this found footage experiment. Will this stylistic experiment pay off with fresh new terror and satiric possibilities? Neither Jordan and Stefan have seen this one before – so they're about to find out.By Stefan Lawrence & Jordan White

1
Land of the Dead 2:07:27

1M ago2:07:27

2:07:27

Romero is back, baby! After an extended absence, the zombie maestro returns in the middle of an undead movie renaissance with Land of the Dead, starring John Leguizamo and Dennis Hopper. Does he still have what it takes to compete in an incredibly competitive zombie landscape? Jordan and Stefan find out.…

1
Dawn of the Dead (2004 Zack Snyder Remake) 2:08:56

1M ago2:08:56

2:08:56

In this episode, our format gets irrevocably broken because Stefan actually saw this one in theaters (without ever having seen a single Living Dead film before). How will we ever recover? Well, Jordan and Stefan manage to discuss the film ANYWAY so THERE. This remake takes the mall location from the 1978 original and adds many Zack Snyder flourishe…

1
Caring for Patients or Policing Them? Prescription Drug Monitoring, Doctors and Opioids 1:08:47

1M ago1:08:47

1:08:47

Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMPs) were originally designed for law enforcement to monitor patients and physicians for criminal behavior before it became available to health care professionals. Physicians and pharmacists often find PDMPs helpful because they can verify what a patient tells them and will often decide not to prescribe or d…

1
Night of the Living Dead (1990) 1:50:17

2M ago1:50:17

1:50:17

Ugh, don't you hate it when movies are in black and white? So old and GROSS. Instead, watch this updated version of the classic film, this time by makeup artist-turned-director Tom Savini and produced by Romero. How does it stack up against the original? Jordan and Stefan find out.By Stefan Lawrence & Jordan White

1
Day of the Dead 2:01:18

2M ago2:01:18

2:01:18

Dawn of the Dead was a certified banger that significantly expanded the scope of the original film. Now, eight (!) years later, George A. Romero is back with Day of the Dead in 1985. Stefan and Jordan examine the trajectory of a series that so far has gone from strength to strength.By Stefan Lawrence & Jordan White

1
Dawn of the Dead 2:29:24

2M ago2:29:24

2:29:24

10 years after the ground-breaking Night of the Living Dead, George A. Romero returns with Dawn of the Dead. Jordan and Stefan watch this mall movie classic and see how the scares hold up. Also, Stefan might get fixated on the Brown Derby Steakery & Luv Pub for some reason.By Stefan Lawrence & Jordan White

1
Night of the Living Dead 2:02:38

2M ago2:02:38

2:02:38

It's a brand new season! This time, Jordan and Stefan are watching George A. Romero's Living Dead films, starting with 1968's groundbreaking Night of the Living Dead – the film that invented the zombie movie. Will it hold up, given the flood of zombie content since then? Let's find out.By Stefan Lawrence & Jordan White

1
What can we learn from all those "Why I quit medicine" videos on YouTube? 49:57

2M ago49:57

49:57

There are a lot of videos on YouTube that feature typically young physicians explaining why they decided to leave the profession after years of dedication and hard work. For some it appears that they were so successful at building a social media presence and related businesses, that they quit medicine. Others seem to just want to share their experi…

1
The New Medical School Graduation Competencies and Why One of the Them Stands Out 51:20

3M ago51:20

51:20

In December 2024, the three organizations that oversee medical school (MD and DO) and residency education released a set of “Foundational Competencies for Undergraduate Medical Education,” that represent a consensus on the observable abilities medical students should exhibit as they begin practicing medicine under supervision. Not surprisingly they…

1
A Conversation with Pediatric Surgeon John Lawrence MD, Past Board President of Doctors Without Borders, USA 56:05

4M ago56:05

56:05

At a moment of increasing isolationism and xenophobia and -- for physicians – burnout, in a highly bureaucratic and profit driven health system, service in low resource high needs settings can be an antidote for what ails America and American medicine, at least for the individual clinician. John Lawrence has spent decades serving all over the globe…

1
Addressing Social Drivers of Health: What is the role of the clinician? 52:56

5M ago52:56

52:56

In can be confusing and even demoralizing for a medical student or resident to understand what’s expected of them when caring for patients with social needs. They already feel overwhelmed. Are they supposed to now also screen for housing insecurity? Is it their job to intervene to address social needs? And if someone else is doing the screening, wh…

1
BONUS: Deadtime Stories 2:09:28

6M ago2:09:28

2:09:28

One final episode for our Leprechaun series! When Jordan was a kid, a family friend filmed the fairytale-themed Deadtime Stories in the house that he lived. Stefan visits and Jordan revisits this horror anthology to see what it was all about. Plus, Jordan designed a monster for the film. Apologies for Stefan's garbage audio in the first segment.…

1
“Simonisms”: Revisiting the uncommon wisdom of a physician and educator who shaped us deeply 34:01

7M ago34:01

34:01

To commemorate the start of our fifth season, we revisit a conversation we had almost two years ago about the wisdom of Simon Auster, MD. Simon was a family physician and psychiatrist who inspired the conversations we’ve been having with each other and with guests on every episode. “Simonisms” embody Simon’s insights: pithy observations about the p…

1
BONUS: Rumpelstiltskin 2:33:41

7M ago2:33:41

2:33:41

Mark Jones, director of the first Leprechaun film, turned down directing Leprechaun 2 to make this week's bonus film, Rumpelstiltskin. Notice a theme? Jordan and Stefan check out his magnum opus to see if he made the right decision.By Stefan Lawrence & Jordan White

1
Leprechaun Returns 2:34:01

7M ago2:34:01

2:34:01

The Leprechaun returns? He does? From where? Believe it or not, this is the first ACTUAL sequel in the Leprechaun series, which has heretofore been a series of standalone movies pretending to be a franchise. And Warwick Davis isn't even in it! Man, this series is just weird. Come for South Africa standing in for North Dakota, stay for the Jennifer …

1
Leprechaun Origins 2:20:10

7M ago2:20:10

2:20:10

Let's go back to the origins of...what exactly? Warwick Davis is out, Hornswoggle is in, and apparently a Leprechaun is now some sort of unseen dog monster. Sure.By Stefan Lawrence & Jordan White

1
Leprechaun 6: Back 2 Tha' Hood 2:29:36

7M ago2:29:36

2:29:36

Clearly the hood was a winning setting for a Leprechaun movie, so why not try it again? This despite every single Leprechaun movie has so far taken place in a different environment. Also – oh no! – this is Warwick Davis's final appearance in the series. Jordan and Stefan mourn and despair.By Stefan Lawrence & Jordan White

1
Do the doctors who sold Matthew Perry ketamine indicate something rotten in mainstream medicine? 57:24

7M ago57:24

57:24

The two doctors charged for their roles in the events leading up to actor Matthew Perry’s death were both involved in a “side hustle”: selling ketamine at a big mark-up to make extra money, above what they earned through legitimate practice. One was an internist-pediatrician and the other an emergency medicine physician. Their cynicism was starkly …

1
Leprechaun 5 In The Hood 2:29:03

8M ago2:29:03

2:29:03

From space...to the hood. The series takes a questionable left turn, finding the Leprechaun in Los Angeles, immersed in the most unrealistic depiction of hip hop in cinematic history. But surely this is the good Leprechaun movie, right? RIGHT? I mean, Ice-T wouldn't star in anything less than stellar, right? Jordan knows and Stefan finds out.…

1
Leprechaun 4: In Space 2:19:40

8M ago2:19:40

2:19:40

So...after only three terrestrial installments, the Leprechaun is heading to space – it took Jason nine movies to do the same thing! Will this be a welcome change for the franchise or a turn for the silly? Jordan and Stefan watch this WEIRD-ASS movie to find out.By Stefan Lawrence & Jordan White

1
Leprechaun 3 2:11:05

8M ago2:11:05

2:11:05

Well, the Leprechaun train keeps on rolling. The first two were...not good. Will the third time be the charm? Jordan knows but won't tell. Stefan's about to find out. He may not be pleased with the answer.By Stefan Lawrence & Jordan White

1
Leprechaun 2 2:19:25

8M ago2:19:25

2:19:25

Well, it's another Leprechaun movie, hot n' heavy on the heels of the last one. But didn't the Leprechaun explode...in a...well...or something? Why is he in Hollywood? What's even happening? And wrought iron is now his Achilles heel?By Stefan Lawrence & Jordan White

1
Some Pitfalls of Narrative Medicine and How to Avoid Them 55:52

8M ago55:52

55:52

The term “Narrative Medicine” (NM) refers to a range of activities, including close reading and reflective writing about literature, designed to improve the clinician-patient relationship. What could go wrong? Our returning guest, English professor Laura Greene, lays out the case for narrative medicine, while co-host Saul Weiner highlights his conc…

1
Leprechaun 2:07:11

9M ago2:07:11

2:07:11

Jordan and Stefan kick off the new season with the original Leprechaun from 1993. Stefan knows next to nothing about this series – not even who the big star is in the first movie! Will that make it watchable? Let's find out.By Stefan Lawrence & Jordan White

1
The chasm between how doctors are taught to communicate and what they actually sound like 46:09

9M ago46:09

46:09

There is an idealized version of physician-patient communication that is taught in medical schools, reinforced with acronyms like PEARLS, SPIKES, and LEARN, but what resemblance does it bear to how doctors actually sound in the exam room? Co-host Saul Weiner leads a research team that has audio recorded and analyzed thousands of medical encounters.…

1
What do we lose and what do we gain by calling addiction a disease? 50:10

10M ago50:10

50:10

The National Institute on Drug Abuse defines addiction as a “chronic disease” occurring in the brain – Many believe this definition can help to reduce stigma. But, is it helpful in the care of individual patients? In this episode we discuss what we gain and what we lose when we speak of people with addiction as having “diseased brains.” The view of…

1
BONUS: Hostel 2:09:30

11M ago2:09:30

2:09:30

For our final episode of our Saw season, we visit Eli Roth's notorious Hostel from 2005. Jordan has been ominously warning Stefan about this one – will it live up to its dubious torture porn classification? Find out. Also, Jordan and Stefan reveal next season's horror franchise.By Stefan Lawrence & Jordan White

1
BONUS: Insidious 2:17:43

11M ago2:17:43

2:17:43

So what else have James Wan and Leigh Whannell been up to? Creating an ENTIRELY separate uber-successful horror franchise of course! Jordan and Stefan visit this first entry into the Insidious series to find out what all the fuss is about and see how they've developed their chops since creating the original Saw movie together.…

1
BONUS: Saw: The Musical & Saw: The Ride 1:15:01

11M ago1:15:01

1:15:01

Turns out, Saw is infinitely adaptable into other media! Jordan and Stefan explore the musical and physical possibilities in this first Saw bonus episode.By Stefan Lawrence & Jordan White

1
Can we learn and practice medicine well in a system that is so ill? 51:26

11M ago51:26

51:26

In his book, The Present Illness, American Health Care and Its Afflictions, physician and historian Martin Shapiro, MD, PhD, MPH presents a scathing critique of a profession suffused with status, money, and power. At the same time, he also describes many deeply caring and rewarding patient care experiences, his own and those of colleagues. But thes…

1
“Tough Love” is Not the Answer: A critique of NEJM reporting on student/trainee grievances and educator discontent 59:53

1y ago59:53

59:53

A recent NEJM article and accompanying podcast episode (“Tough Love”) authored and hosted by the Journal’s national correspondent sound the alarm that a culture of grievance among medical students and trainees about the discomforts of medical training is threatening to undermine both their medical education and patient care. She also describes wide…

1
Saw X 2:39:55

1y ago2:39:55

2:39:55

It's all led up to this – the most well-reviewed Saw movie in franchise history. Jigsaw is front and center (no more copycats!) in this back-to-basics trap-a-thon...that's also a suprisingly heartfelt love letter to John Kramer? What is even happening? And where do these movies go from here? Jordan and Stefan wrap up the series in grand style and d…

1
Spiral: From the Book of Saw 2:15:51

1y ago2:15:51

2:15:51

The one with Chris Rock and Samuel Jackson! Jordan and Stefan watch this departure from the usual Sawfare, in which there is 100% less Jigsaw and 100% more police procedural. We might also get some dialogue that seems airlifted in from Chris Rock's standup routines, but you never know.By Stefan Lawrence & Jordan White

1
Jigsaw 2:30:59

1y ago2:30:59

2:30:59

Jigsaw is back! Or is he???? 7 years after the last movie, Jordan and Stefan pick up the story with this much glossier take on Saw. Apparently there are trap murders happening again, and nobody can figure it out because a)Jigsaw is dead and b)we have a whole new cast of police that aren't very good at solving mysteries. But is it any good? Let's fi…

1
What a James Baldwin story can teach doctors and patients about care amidst suffering 1:02:37

1y ago1:02:37

1:02:37

“Sonny’s Blues” is a 1956 story by the author, James Baldwin, about a “sensible” and pragmatic algebra teacher and his younger musically gifted younger brother (“Sonny”), who struggles with heroin addiction. Both of them, raised in Harlem, are deeply affected by anti-Black racism. Although the older brother, who narrates the story, feels responsibl…

1
Saw 3D (aka Saw: The Final Chapter) 2:23:25

1y ago2:23:25

2:23:25

Finally, we've reached the end of the road, the final chapter, the – wait, aren't there 3 more movies after this? Jordan and Stefan watch Saw 3D (or possible Saw: The Final Chapter) and reflect on the long, twisty, flashback- and trap-filled journey to get here. What does it all mean? Have we been rehabilitated yet? Let's find out.…

1
Saw VI 2:13:24

1y ago2:13:24

2:13:24

All roads lead here – to the one that's about health insurance. Suppose it was inevitable that the series that starts with incurable cancer will have to grapple with the intricacies and absurdities of the American healthcare system.By Stefan Lawrence & Jordan White

1
Saw V 1:48:49

1y ago1:48:49

1:48:49

Jigsaw's still dead, right? Nevermind that, let's get to what the people want – a showdown between Hoffman and Strahm! Jordan and Stefan continue down the weird plotty path of the Saw-ga with this fifth installment.By Stefan Lawrence & Jordan White

1
Saw IV 2:14:44

1y ago2:14:44

2:14:44

The Saw train keeps on chugging, even if Jigsaw is dead (????). But you can't keep a good trap down – Stefan & Jordan "enjoy" this fourth helping of "therapy" at the hands of John Kramer despite his apparent demise.By Stefan Lawrence & Jordan White

1
How confronting racist ideas I didn’t realize I had is shaping me as a physician and a person 55:30

1y ago55:30

55:30

In a 2021 episode that we reran last month, “About me being racist: a conversation that follows an apology,” Saul talked with a former Black colleague after apologizing to her for something racist he had done twenty years earlier that hurt her for a long time. Since then, Saul has been thinking about how he got exposed to racist ideas and notions o…

1
Saw III 2:21:09

1y ago2:21:09

2:21:09

We're well and truly on our way into the Saw-ga now! This third installment involves traps, traps, and some first solid indications that the franchise is going to obsessed with its own complicated plot. Also: Stefan has a crisis of fear and Jordan talks him through it.By Stefan Lawrence & Jordan White

1
Saw II 1:57:38

1y ago1:57:38

1:57:38

With the original Saw a runaway success, Saw II was immediately greenlit and put into theaters a year later. Jordan and Stefan watch as Saw attempts to make the leap from scrappy indie hit to new horror franchise. Also, there's a new kid on the block.By Stefan Lawrence & Jordan White

1
Saw (2004) 2:24:15

1y ago2:24:15

2:24:15

Jordan and Stefan kick off a brand-new season of Nature Trail to Hell with 2004's iconic Saw. Stefan has been dreading this series for years – will he hack off his own foot to get out of watching this one or will his fears prove unfounded? Let's find out.By Stefan Lawrence & Jordan White

1
About me being racist: A conversation that follows an apology 42:49

1+ y ago42:49

42:49

We are re-running this episode from 2021 because we’re releasing a sequel next month in which Saul reflects on his journey confronting racist ideas he’d absorbed and that became impossible to ignore after he’d acknowledged his role in the incident described here. We are also re-running the episode because it exemplifies our commitment to facing thi…

1
How effects of racism were mistaken for “race” in clinical algorithms: What clinicians should know 1:03:58

1+ y ago1:03:58

1:03:58

For years, when physicians order tests to assess lung function, or blood work to determine kidney function, or look up guidelines for managing high blood pressure the results have been adjusted for race. This practice has been based on studies that seemed to indicate that the same result means different things if the patient is Black vs white. So, …

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