The Pulse

We like to think that we're in charge of our own bodies — but sometimes our bodies have other ideas. A hiccup interrupts a sentence. A runner's digestive system stages a revolt. And during  a seizure, the brain's electrical activity can take control of movement altogether. On this episode, when the body stops following orders, and what we can do about it.

For most people, hiccups are a minor and passing annoyance — but for Sierra Pisenti, they've been a painful, recurring problem for most of her life. After trying just about every home remedy she could find, she discovered an unusual device that finally brought her some relief: a specially designed straw. Reporter Kristel Tjandra explores the science behind hiccups and talks with neurosurgeon Ali Seifi about how he came up with this surprisingly simple invention.

Author Madeline Dyer grew up on a farm, and spent a lot of time outside, tending to animals. But after a tick bite, she developed Lyme disease, and subsequently, obsessive-compulsive disorder or OCD. Suddenly she found herself obsessing over germs and dirt, and also, unable to write. Nichole Currie reports on Dyer’s journey toward recovery, and how the disorder continues to impact her writing.

Running is supposed to be good for your health. But for some runners, it comes with an unfortunate side effect: runner’s trots, aka sudden diarrhea. Pulse reporter Alan Yu looks into why running can wreak havoc on the digestive system, and whether the same mechanism might actually be useful for people struggling with constipation.

In 2002, neurologist Joseph Sirven got an unexpected phone call — a flight crew was asking for his help because one of his patients was having a seizure aboard a commercial flight. The incident sparked his interest in a little-known area of medicine: aerospace neurology. We talk with Sirven, a neurologist at the Mayo Clinic, about what happens to the brain during a seizure, the challenges of treating someone at 30,000 feet, and why he's pushing the FAA to require airlines to carry medications that can stop them.

We live in an age of self-optimization — a time when seemingly everyone is striving to squeeze more from our already packed days. But what are we sacrificing with all of that productivity? On this episode, we talk with two former overachievers about how the search for perfection impacted their lives, and how they decided to do less and find more joy.

We talk with writer and filmmaker Priyanka Mattoo about learning to embrace inefficiency — and how, after a lifetime of perfectionism, letting go helped her rediscover joy. Her new book is “How to Be Less Useful: The Joy of Inefficiency.”

For years, entrepreneur Pat Croce was best known for his boundless energy, business successes, and a can-do attitude that helped rocket Philadelphia’s 76ers from a losing record to the NBA finals. It wasn’t until more recently, though, that Croce realized that his lifelong pursuit of achievement had left him feeling unfulfilled. He harkens back to the moment that he reached that epiphany and explains how he finally found peace in meditation and spiritual exploration. His new book is "Enjoy Your Self Now!: 66 Sacred Shifts to Instantly Awaken the Peaceful Presence within You."

Sometimes, it can feel like tech has a mind of its own — from the smart speaker that suddenly starts laughing, to the chatbots that say oddly human things. On this episode, stories about “the ghost in the machine.” We investigate why a strange man’s name kept appearing in our show transcripts, learn about the long history of tech in horror, and hear the spooky story of an AI agent that went rogue.

A few months ago, Pulse producer Lindsay Lazarski noticed something strange — a man’s name that kept appearing in our interview transcripts: Aaron Ross Powell. In this homespun mystery, she leads us on an investigation into why this was happening.

We talk with Aviva Briefel, a professor of English and Cinema Studies at Bowdoin College, about why "possessed" technologies have been such a persistent theme in the horror genre, and what it says about our anxieties related to technological change.

We’ve all heard about the threat AI might pose to the future of humanity — but what if it went after you directly? Pulse reporter Liz Tung tells the story of Scott Shambaugh, and the vindictive AI agent that tried to take him down.

Most Americans say that spending time with loved ones is one of the most important things in their lives — and yet, amid the hustle and bustle of our day-to-day, relationships often take a backseat to other commitments. We find ourselves canceling date nights to finish work, rescheduling family calls to catch up on chores — maybe even choosing to scroll on our phones over a night out with friends. It can be hard making time for friends and family — and easy to tell ourselves they’ll still be there tomorrow — but there’s a cost to neglecting our personal connections. New research is revealing just how important those ties are, and why nurturing them is an investment not only in our relationships, but in our own health and well-being. On this encore episode, we explore the science of human connection, from why it matters to how we can make it a priority in our lives.

Peptides are having a moment – but how much do we actually know about them? On this episode, we explore the potential benefits and risks. We investigate the science behind peptides, find out what lagging research and regulation could mean for regular users, and learn about how — and whether – to use peptides in a responsible way.

We talk with Stanford pathology professor Katrin Svensson about what exactly peptides are, what led to their explosion in popularity, and the dangers of unregulated use, both for consumers and for the field of peptide research. 

Reporter Bruce Gil dives into the world of consumer peptides, exploring what's driving their growing popularity, the science behind them, and the thorny regulatory landscape. He also talks with regular users about why they started using peptides, and what effects they’ve had on their health.

Many people are interested in peptides, and want access. A growing fleet of clinics and medical providers provide peptide treatments targeting everything from weight loss to muscle growth to cognitive function and mental health. We talk with Evan Miller, the CEO of a chain of clinics called Gameday Men's Health, about how he got into peptides, and what patients should look out for when they’re seeking out peptide treatments.

Peptides are also a hot commodity in skincare products. Dermatologist Elizabeth Houshmand breaks down the different categories of peptides in creams and serums, and how consumers can tell if a product has actually been studied or not.