Dr. Vivek Murthy has served twice as Surgeon General of the United States, becoming one of the nation's leading voices on public health, mental well-being, addiction, loneliness, and preventive care. Before serving as "America's Doctor," he co-founded Doctors for America and multiple public health initiatives, earned degrees from Harvard and Yale, and has dedicated his career to making medicine more human. He's also the bestselling author of Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World.
I knew we'd spend some time talking about medicine and public health. What I didn't expect was just how quickly the conversation would turn into something much more personal.
We cover everything from the opioid crisis, health education, and what the Surgeon General actually does day-to-day. We also hit on growing up as the son of Indian immigrants, the values his parents passed down, and what it means to build a life rooted in service. But what stayed with me most wasn't a statistic or a policy discussion. It was hearing Vivek talk about fatherhood, love as a guiding principle, and why understanding yourself may be the most important education you'll ever receive.
There are moments in this conversation that feel surprisingly funny, moments that feel deeply practical, and a few that honestly made me stop and think long after we wrapped. I especially appreciated how thoughtful Vivek is. He has every credential imaginable, yet he approaches even the biggest questions with humility and curiosity rather than certainty.
This is a conversation about health, but not just the kind you measure in a doctor's office. It's about the kind that shapes how we treat ourselves, each other, and the world we want to leave behind.
Read Dr Vivek Murthy's book, Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World.
As his final act as the 21st U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy offers this parting prescription for the well-being of the country: read Dr Vivek Murthy's "My Parting Prescription for America"
Subscribe to Dr Vivek Murthy's Substack
Follow Dr Vivek Murthy:
Website
LinkedIn
Instagram
Facebook
X (Twitter)
TikTok