#100 – Sam Harris, Ph.D.: COVID-19—Comprehending the crisis and managing our emotions

ℹ️ EPISODE INFO

Released

March 24, 2020

Duration

1h 32m

Channel

Peter Attia MD

Watch on YouTube

▶ Open ↗

📝 EPISODE DESCRIPTION

Sign up to receive Peter's email newsletter: https://bit.ly/4c602k2 In this episode, Sam Harris, neuroscientist, author, and host of the Waking Up Podcast, joins Peter to discuss this unprecedented coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis. The discussion includes the important distinction between COVID-19 and influenza, the impact on the economy, the dire situation in New York, and the challenge of creating a safe and effective vaccine. Additionally, Sam brings insights from his extensive meditation practice to help those struggling with stress, anxiety, and fear in this extraordinary situation. We discuss: -A time unlike any other—why many people don’t seem to fully grasp the magnitude of this situation [2:00]; -Why comparing COVID-19 to influenza is a bad analogy [10:45]; -The impact on the economy of measures like shelter-in-place—Is the “cure” worse than the disease? [16:45]; -Why are some places, like New York, getting hit so much worse? [24:45]; -The trickle down effect of an overrun healthcare system on non-COVID related health issues [34:45]; -How to calm our minds and manage our emotions during this craziness [38:00]; -Talking to kids about this situation without burdening them with undue stress [50:15]; -Insights from meditation practice—Recognize and unhook yourself from a heightened emotional state [52:00]; -How to make the most of a situation where you let your emotions get the best of you [59:15]; -What are some potential positive things that Sam hopes could be learned from this crisis and applied to the future? [1:09:30]; -The unfortunate politics being layered on top of this crisis [1:15:30]; -The challenge of creating a safe and effective vaccine for COVID-19 [1:20:00]; and -More. Show notes page: https://peterattiamd.com/samharris2/ -------- About: The Peter Attia Drive is a weekly, ultra-deep-dive podcast focusing on maximizing health, longevity, critical thinking…and a few other things. With over 30 million episodes downloaded, it features topics including fasting, ketosis, Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, mental health, and much more. Peter is a physician focusing on the applied science of longevity. His practice deals extensively with nutritional interventions, exercise physiology, sleep physiology, emotional and mental health, and pharmacology to increase lifespan (delay the onset of chronic disease), while simultaneously improving healthspan (quality of life). Learn more: https://peterattiamd.com Subscribe to receive exclusive subscriber-only content: https://peterattiamd.com/subscribe Sign up to receive Peter's email newsletter: https://peterattiamd.com/newsletter Connect with Peter on: Facebook: http://bit.ly/PeterAttiaMDFB Twitter: http://bit.ly/PeterAttiaMDTW Instagram: http://bit.ly/PeterAttiaMDIG Subscribe to The Drive: Apple Podcast: http://bit.ly/TheDriveApplePodcasts Overcast: http://bit.ly/TheDriveOvercast Spotify: http://bit.ly/TheDriveSpotify Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/TheDriveGoogle

🎤 SPEAKERS

• Peter Attia

  host

  Physician and host of The Drive podcast focused on health, longevity, and medicine.

• Sam Harris

  guest

  Ph.D. philosopher, neuroscientist, and podcast host known for work on meditation and the Waking Up app.

🧾 EPISODE SUMMARY

In this episode of Peter Attia MD, featuring Peter Attia and Sam Harris, #100 – Sam Harris, Ph.D.: COVID-19—Comprehending the crisis and managing our emotions explores sam Harris and Peter Attia on COVID-19 Risk and Calm Attia argues the flu comparison fails because COVID-19 is still in nonlinear, exponential growth, so its ceiling is unknown, and he uses New York ICU capacity math to show hospitals could be overwhelmed even under conservative assumptions.

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