The Dr Rodcast

From Numbers to Humanity: The Actuarial Art of Wellbeing

Meet Jaqueline Oliveira-Cella whose journey spans Brazil to New York and actuarial tables to the wild frontiers of global health strategy. In the latest episode, Jackie shares how a love for numbers and a curiosity about wellbeing led her to reinvent herself more than once—learning that the most valuable patterns extend beyond spreadsheets and into the heart of human connection. She tells stories of navigating unfamiliar cultures, discovering that a Brazilian lunch break isn’t just about food, it’s an exercise in trust—and how those small rituals can transform work relationships. Jackie’s reflections on the workplace wellness industry are as candid as they are urgent. If you’ve ever wondered why so many health solutions fail to deliver, Jackie offers a theory: the best measures aren’t buzzwords or downloads, but whether employees actually feel supported and resilient after all the data is tallied. Resilience, it turns out, starts with conversations, not dashboards. From corporate boardrooms to everyday moments, Jackie reminds us that little bonds and a warm smile can ripple through an entire organization, changing how people show up for one another. She brings the numbers, but more importantly, she brings the narrative. This episode is an invitation to think differently about leadership, the power of volunteering, and why sometimes the best ideas need time to take root. Jackie’s blend of analytic rigor and genuine empathy makes this conversation not just informative, but unexpectedly moving. Listen in—because leadership, as Jackie shows, isn’t about titles, it’s about trust. * S-A-F-E™ Here is the link— https://chatgpt.com/g/g-68c2e478cba88191b31bf8e906de103f-s-a-f-e-leadership-daily-reflections [https://chatgpt.com/g/g-68c2e478cba88191b31bf8e906de103f-s-a-f-e-leadership-daily-reflections]

The Neuroscience of Taste

Did you know about 80% of taste comes from smell, and your eyes can nudge your brain toward “sweet” or “salty” before you even bite? I sit down with Dr. Riccardo Acolla, a world famous neuroscientist who has spent his career decoding how our brains make sense of flavor. From mapping how sweetness lights up the brain to advising companies that shape the taste of everything from chocolate to plant-based burgers, Riccardo’s journey shows how deeply food connects to who we are. Here are some snackable truths woven through the episode: * Chip crunch is engineered to signal “fresh” and “flavor,” so sound literally seasons your food. * Change plate color and you can make dessert taste sweeter without adding sugar. * Hold your nose and apple juice becomes “orange”—your brain fills in flavor from aroma. * Chili heat and mint cool rely heavily on nerve sparks on the trigeminal nerve system that rewrite perception of taste. * Push sodium down in a food recipe, and sweetness or fat often creeps up, nutrients act like a seesaw unless you design around it. * Kids eat more vegetables when they help prep; participation flips curiosity into liking. * In the GLP‑1 Ozempic era, brain reward signals from food dim down, protein and fiber carry the day, and taste has to work smarter, not louder. Listen in, and you may never taste the same way again. http://www.thimus.com/ [http://www.thimus.com/] #FlavorScience #SensoryNeuroscience #FoodDesign #ConsumerBehavior #TasteAndSmell #FoodInnovation #BehaviorChange #GLP1 #PublicHealth #FoodTech #NutritionScience

Designing Health: Innovations that Heal

I am excited to share my latest episode featuring the incredible Louise Agersnap, Head of the World Health Organization{s Innovation Hub. In this episode, we dive deep into the world of social innovation, design thinking, and the future of health. Here are some highlights: 1. Journey of Innovation: Louise talks about her fascinating career path from the Danish government to the UN and now at WHO. Her work focuses on systems change and human behavior, leveraging design thinking to drive impactful solutions. 2. Collaborative Ecosystems: Discover how the WHO Innovation Hub is transforming the landscape by fostering collaborative learning and building a global ecosystem for health innovation. Louise emphasizes the importance of engaging diverse stakeholders to create sustainable and equitable health outcomes. 3. The Power of Design Thinking: Louise shares insights on how design thinking can revolutionize health policies and practices. She discusses practical examples like the WHO's NCD labs, promoting physical activity and health literacy in schools, and innovative approaches like the Human Library. 4. Innovation in Action: From global programs like WHO's internal entrepreneurship challenge to the innovative Eureka space, Louise reveals how WHO is empowering its workforce to think creatively and solve complex health challenges. 5. Creating Impact: The conversation touches on the importance of community engagement, multidisciplinary approaches, and the need for public sector leadership to ensure innovations serve the public good and promote equity. https://www.who.int/teams/digital-health-and-innovation/who-innovation-hub [https://www.who.int/teams/digital-health-and-innovation/who-innovation-hub] https://humanlibrary.org/ [https://humanlibrary.org/] #Innovation #DesignThinking #GlobalHealth #WHO #SocialInnovation #HealthEquity #Collaboration #CommunityEngagement

The Science of Mindfulness: Lessons from Harvard’s Frontlines

In the latest episode of The Rodcast Podcast, I had the privilege of speaking with Carmen Alvarez, a distinguished leader at Mass General Brigham and Harvard Medical School. Carmen has spent her career at the forefront of healthcare innovation, combining mindfulness and integrative medicine to improve lives. Her journey from personal grief to professional purpose is nothing short of inspiring. Here’s what we discussed: 1. Purpose Born from Loss Carmen shared how losing her brother, a heroic first responder, reshaped her outlook on life and sparked her mission to help others navigate challenges like grief and burnout. 2. Breathwork and the Nervous System She explained how something as simple as intentional breathing can activate the parasympathetic nervous system—reducing stress and improving resilience. 3. Reiki in Top-Tier Healthcare At one of the world’s leading hospitals, Carmen integrates Reiki to help patients manage pain, anxiety, and chronic conditions. Her work bridges traditional and holistic medicine. 4. Happiness by Choice Drawing from her chapter in the book Happiness by Choice, Carmen emphasized the power of self-compassion and curiosity in transforming life’s toughest moments. A Thought to Leave You With: "Healing isn’t about pretending you’re okay. It’s about feeling everything and letting it guide your transformation." Carmen’s approach proves that blending science with mindfulness can lead to profound changes—both for individuals and organizations. If you’re curious about practical ways to bring well-being into your life or workplace, this episode is for you. More about Carmen: Contact: X: @CarmenTAlvarez | @CAYAWellness IG: @CarmenAlvarezWellness Fostering a Culture of Well-Being in Healthcare Organizations: https://medium.com/@CarmenAlvarezWellness/fostering-a-culture-of-wellbeing-in-healthcare-organizations-d03ebdd61b7e [https://medium.com/@CarmenAlvarezWellness/fostering-a-culture-of-wellbeing-in-healthcare-organizations-d03ebdd61b7e] The Integration of Wellness Practices in Medicine and Impact on Patient Outcomes: https://medium.com/@CarmenAlvarezWellness/the-integration-of-wellness-practices-in-medicine-impact-on-patient-outcomes-4537b0ab4f72 [https://medium.com/@CarmenAlvarezWellness/the-integration-of-wellness-practices-in-medicine-impact-on-patient-outcomes-4537b0ab4f72]

Calculating Life: From Algorithms to Empanadas

In the latest episode of The Dr. Rodcast Podcast, I had the honor of speaking with Dr. Edward Griffor, a mathematician and visionary whose career spans decades, disciplines, and continents. From Harvard to MIT, from a NATO postdoctoral fellowship in Norway to groundbreaking work in Sweden, Dr. Griffor has dedicated his life to addressing some of the world’s most complex challenges. In this episode, we explored: The evolution of mathematics from philosophy to practical applications .How his work shaped the development of driverless cars and robotic surgery . The intersection of healthcare, AI, and engineering—including efforts to 3D-print human tissue Insights from his time working in Europe, the Soviet Union, South America, and beyond. Dr. Griffor also shared thought-provoking ideas about trust in technology, the role of mental models, and how global collaboration is key to solving problems in healthcare and beyond. This is a conversation for anyone passionate about innovation, the power of interdisciplinary work, and the future of humanity.