In this episode of Getting Open, Andrea Miller sits down with Dr. David Fajgenbaum, physician-scientist and Castleman disease survivor, to share his extraordinary journey from critically ill patient to life-saving researcher. David opens up about nearly dying multiple times in his 20s, navigating a rare disease with no clear treatment, and the emotional toll of living with uncertainty. This conversation explores resilience, medical innovation, and how turning personal suffering into purpose can change and save lives.

Chapters:
00:00 David Fajgenbaum’s life-threatening medical crisis
02:18 From medical student to critically ill patient
05:34 What Castleman disease is — and why it’s so dangerous
09:12 Nearly dying multiple times in his 20s
13:45 The emotional toll of chronic, life-threatening illness
18:06 When doctors don’t have answers
26:10 Researching his own rare disease
30:44 Repurposing existing drugs to save lives
35:18 The breakthrough that changed everything
43:36 Finding meaning after medical trauma
48:05 Advice for people facing rare or misunderstood illnesses
51:12 Hope, resilience, and redefining survival

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“Getting Open w/ Andrea Miller” is a podcast aimed at helping people truly open up to one another and themselves by digging into hard truths and varying perspectives. This show offers expert-approved relationship advice through vulnerable stories, dynamic discussions, and inspiring insights.

Subscribe to catch new episodes of Getting Open with Andrea Miller every Tuesday at 3 PM ET.
📚 Read more at: https://www.YourTango.com

📩 Have a relationship issue or topic you'd like to discuss on the show? Email us: gettingopen@yourtango.com

#raredisease #chronicillness #medicalresearch

David Fajgenbaum, Castleman disease, rare disease podcast, doctor becomes patient, medical survivor story, chronic illness journey, rare disease research, turning pain into purpose, life threatening illness recovery, health resilience podcast, medical breakthrough story, science and survival, Getting Open podcast, Dr. David Fajgenbaum, AI healthcare, AI medicine, medical AI

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In this episode of Getting Open, Andrea Miller sits down with Dr. Justin Garcia, evolutionary biologist and Director of the Kinsey Institute, to unpack the science behind modern love, sex, and relationships. Dr. Garcia breaks down monogamy versus fidelity, why infidelity hurts more as a trust violation than a sexual act, and how dating apps, social media, and AI are reshaping desire and intimacy. This conversation explores hookup culture, long-term attraction, cheating myths, and what research actually says about building connection in today’s world.

Chapters:
00:00 Young people are more romantic than we think
02:15 Hookup culture, social media & modern intimacy
05:30 What is monogamy? Social vs sexual monogamy
10:45 Emotional vs sexual infidelity — what hurts more?
15:40 How common is cheating, really? What the data says
20:30 Is there a “cheating gene”?
26:10 Can novelty prevent infidelity in long-term relationships?
30:45 Reconnecting with exes & the danger of romantic nostalgia
35:20 How dating apps & Snapchat changed desire and access
40:15 Are dating apps empowering women — or increasing pressure?
45:55 Loneliness, being single & the changing dating landscape
50:30 Would you have sex with a robot? The shocking statistics
55:40 AI partners, chatbots & the future of intimacy
1:07:00 Hookup culture: what’s healthy, what’s harmful
1:12:45 Do hookups help people learn sexual compatibility?
1:24:10 Why sex often gets better over time in relationships
1:29:45 What truly builds long-term intimacy and trust
1:35:30 Final thoughts on love, fidelity & modern relationships

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“Getting Open w/ Andrea Miller” is a podcast aimed at helping people truly open up to one another and themselves by digging into hard truths and varying perspectives. This show offers expert-approved relationship advice through vulnerable stories, dynamic discussions, and inspiring insights.

Subscribe to catch new episodes of Getting Open with Andrea Miller every Tuesday at 3 PM ET.
📚 Read more at: https://www.YourTango.com

📩 Have a relationship issue or topic you'd like to discuss on the show? Email us: gettingopen@yourtango.com

#evolutionarybiology #monogamy #relationships

Dr Justin Garcia, Getting Open podcast, modern relationships, monogamy vs fidelity, infidelity psychology, cheating and trust, hookup culture explained, dating apps and relationships, evolutionary psychology relationships, sex and relationships podcast, long term relationships science, intimacy and trust, modern dating culture, Kinsey Institute interview, love and attraction science

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In this episode of Getting Open, Andrea Miller sits down with Dr. Maya Shankar, cognitive scientist and host of A Slight Change of Plans, to explore how we rebuild our identities after life-altering events. From losing her dream of becoming a concert violinist to finding a new purpose through neuroscience and behavioral science, Maya shares powerful insights on resilience, emotional flexibility, and embracing change when life doesn’t go as planned.

Chapters:
00:00 – When Your Identity Is Taken Away
01:52 – Meeting Dr. Maya Shankar
04:26 – Getting Into Juilliard at Age 9
08:12 – Growing Up in High-Pressure Environments
10:39 – The Injury That Ended Everything
15:22 – “I Didn’t Know Who I Was Anymore”
21:38 – Why Achievement Can’t Be Your Identity
24:11 – Redefining Self-Worth Without Success
27:54 – What Failure Teaches You
38:02 – The Pressure to Be Exceptional
45:41 – Imposter Syndrome and Perfectionism
48:52 – Choosing Values Over Titles
55:12 – Defining Yourself by Why, Not What
59:33 – Letting Go of External Validation
01:03:06 – Advice for Anyone Feeling Lost
01:06:54 – What Maya Wishes She Knew Earlier
01:10:22 – Building a Life That Feels Meaningful

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FACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/YourTango/

“Getting Open w/ Andrea Miller” is a podcast aimed at helping people truly open up to one another and themselves by digging into hard truths and varying perspectives. This show offers expert-approved relationship advice through vulnerable stories, dynamic discussions, and inspiring insights.

Subscribe to catch new episodes of Getting Open with Andrea Miller every Tuesday at 3 PM ET.
📚 Read more at: https://www.YourTango.com

📩 Have a relationship issue or topic you'd like to discuss on the show? Email us: gettingopen@yourtango.com

#change #personalgrowth #emotionalhealing

Maya Shankar, cognitive science, A Slight Change of Plans, resilience, embracing change, identity loss, how to reinvent yourself, emotional healing, behavioral science, overcoming change, self discovery, growth mindset, letting go, rebuilding identity, how to start over, dealing with uncertainty, finding purpose, life after failure, change psychology, emotional resilience, self acceptance, change expert, personal growth, adaptability, life transitions, Getting Open podcast

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