Health Beyond the Blog: “What’s Up, Doc?” on The Moth

A Prisoner’s Hospital Visits, A Mother’s Fears of Medical Help, and The Mental Toll of A Doctor’s Life on “What’s Up, Doc?”

by Talia Gordon Wexler

The Moth, a podcast of live storytelling from individuals across the world, celebrates the power of narration, diversity, and togetherness. The hour-long episodes invite the audience to listen in and step into the lives of individuals as they share their personal and vulnerable narratives. The episode “What’s Up, Doc?” focuses on individuals whose stories intertwine with healthcare systems, grief, and acceptance of death. 

The first storyteller, Michael Fischer, explains his desire to escape prison life through medical visits. His cardiovascular complications allows him to take a break from his prison life by going to the doctor. His hospital visits gives him hope that society still views him as a “normal” human being. To continue his escape, he complains of further complications, enabling him to leave prison more often. But Michael realizes after multiple visits that it wasn’t the doctor’s job to make him feel human again, but rather himself. He reflects on an epiphany moment with a nurse where he holds back tears out of embarrassment and fears that she was afraid of him. His story speaks to the idea of belonging and unbelonging and the influence healthcare workers can have on someone’s life.

Another speaker, Elizabeth Gray, tells her experience with being diagnosed and living with postnatal depression. Her story outlines her fears of asking for help and her own battle with avoiding medical advice—describing the internal challenges of motherhood and acceptance. Through her narrative, she uncovers the power of community and the importance of openness to medical help, realizing that she doesn’t need to go through life feeling this way. 

The final storyteller, Dr. Kris Catrine, spoke about dealing with the grief of a patient with whom she forms a connection. A resident in pediatric oncology, she discusses the emotional toll of caring for a patient, only to hear the news that he passed the next day. Her narrative continues to explain the connection she builds with the boy’s family and the ways she deals with the grief. Her story illustrates how doctors and death interact and the mental strain of having to resume your workday. 

“What’s Up, Doc?” emphasizes the lived experiences of people struggling with their own health or others’ health. Grief and medical experiences are often not discussed in public settings. The Moth Podcast shines light on these stories as examples of both debunking the stigma around grief and the reluctance to seek medical care. 

What’s Up, Doc? from the Moth Podcast is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and other streaming services.