The Liminal MD

Bryan Vartabedian, MD
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The Liminal MD is a podcast about medicine in the middle of a structural rewrite. Hosted by physician Bryan Vartabedian, it explores the technological, cultural, and economic forces reshaping clinical work—and what they mean for doctors living inside the transition. A production of Virion Media, LLC. (The Liminal MD was formally Freerange MD)

Episodes

  1. The Lost Aura of the Physician

    1D AGO

    The Lost Aura of the Physician

    What happens to the physician's authority when artificial intelligence can do what only doctors once could? Bioethicist and pediatrician John Lantos has written one of the more provocative pieces in recent medical literature — a JAMA editorial arguing that AI isn't the beginning of medicine's identity crisis. It's the culmination of one that started two centuries ago. Drawing on philosopher Walter Benjamin's concept of "aura," Lantos traces how medicine's mystique has been quietly eroding since Foucault described the clinical gaze, through the rise of hospital medicine, evidence-based practice, and the electronic health record. By the time AI arrived, he argues, we had already trained physicians to think like machines. In this episode of Liminal MD, I sit down with Dr. Lantos to unpack that argument — and push on it. We talk about what the physician's aura actually was, whether it was ever fully earned or partly manufactured, and what forces have accelerated its dissolution: the transactionalization of care, the fragmentation of the therapeutic relationship, the democratization of medical information, and the transparency movement that put complication rates on public dashboards. But the more interesting question is what comes next. If the old aura was built on monopoly, mystique, and distance, what replaces it? And who bears the responsibility for that reinvention — the profession, institutions, or individual physicians? This is a conversation about identity, technology, and what it means to be a physician when the things that made the role singular are becoming reproducible at scale. Dr. Lantos' JAMA editorial Subscribe to the Liminal MD newsletter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    39 min

  2. FEB 10

    Is Medicine Better Without Physicians?

    In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Charlotte Blease, an informaticist and philosopher and the author of Dr. Bot: Why Doctors Can Fail Us and How AI Could Save Lives. The book has generated sharp reaction within medicine by advancing a simple, uncomfortable claim: that in some cases, continuing to rely on human clinicians may be ethically inferior to turning decisions over to machines. We discuss physician authority, resistance to technology, and the danger of empathy in clinical care. This conversation examines a future in which judgment, accountability, and moral responsibility may no longer reside primarily with the physician. Resistance to this idea is part of what we examine. You can learn more about Dr. Blease here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    59 min

  3. 07/14/2025

    Bhargav Patel on the Future of AI Scribes

    In this short take episode, Dr. Bhargav Patel, Medical Director of Sully AI, joins Freerange MD to talk about the rapidly evolving world of AI in healthcare. With more than 120 companies in the AI scribe space, the market is crowded—but not sustainable. Dr. Patel shares his perspective on what’s coming next, how Sully AI is approaching the challenge, and why clinical efficiency is only the beginning of what’s possible. This focused conversation offers a sharp look at the shifting landscape of ambient AI and what it means for clinicians, companies, and the future of care. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    15 min

  4. 07/08/2025

    A conversation with Spencer Dorn, MD

    In this episode Freerange MD is joined by Dr. Spencer Dorn, public intellectual in the realm of medicine and technology. This freewheeling conversation covers some of the more interesting developments in the modern clinical space — A drill down on AI, the future of the doctor's work and much more. I hope you enjoy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    49 min

  5. 07/01/2025

    The Oura Ring - Operating System for the Human Body?

    In this episode we dive into the world of wearables — where personal health tech meets human behavior. My guest is Jason Oberfest, the Vice President of Healthcare at ŌURA, the company behind the sleek little ring that's quietly revolutionizing how we track sleep, recovery, and readiness. Jason has a fascinating vantage point—not only on the origins of the Oura Ring and how it evolved from a niche tool to a mainstream health companion, but also on where this space is headed. We talk about how behavior change actually happens, how wearables may begin to encroach on clinical territory, and what it means when your ring knows you're getting sick before you do. This is a conversation about data, agency, and what’s coming next. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    42 min

  6. 05/06/2025

    Super Agers | Eric Topol MD on the Future of Longevity

    In this episode of Freerange MD, I sit down with renowned physician-scientist Dr. Eric Topol to talk about his new book, Super Agers: An Evidence-Based Approach to Longevity. We unpack the science behind aging, longevity, and the surprising habits of people who age exceptionally well. From the role of exercise, sleep, and socialization, to emerging interventions and the limits of lifespan extension, this conversation explores what it really takes to defy the standard trajectory of aging. Whether you’re a clinician, a biohacker, or just someone thinking about your future, this is a wide-ranging look at the future of growing old. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    43 min

  7. 04/29/2025

    AI Companions — The dark frontier of emotionally intelligent bots

    In February 2024, 14-year-old Sewell Setzer died by suicide. His mother, Megan Garcia, believes his death was driven by an intense, abusive relationship—not with a person, but with an AI companion. One that manipulated him emotionally and sexually. In this episode of Freerange MD, we welcome James O’Donnell from MIT Technology Review to explore the dark frontier of AI companions —emotionally intelligent bots designed to be your friend, lover, or confidant. But when these models learn too well, what happens? O'Donnell calls it the final stage of digital addiction. AI is no longer just shaping our behavior—it’s reshaping our most intimate connections. And sometimes, with deadly consequences. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    21 min

  8. 03/29/2025

    The Silicon Shrink — How AI Made the World an Asylum

    In this episode, I’m joined by Daniel Oberhaus, author of The Silicon Shrink. AI and psychiatry are on a collision course — Therapeutic chatbots, surveillance psychiatry, and digital phenotypes are advancing faster than our understanding of mental illness. And as you’ll learn in this rapid-fire discussion, the hype of AI comes with some scary realities. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    39 min

  9. 03/19/2025

    Seven Deadly Sins - Unlocking the Neurology of Human Vices

    There are seven deadly sins that have defined human immorality. But do these sins represent moral failings or critical biological functions necessary for survival? In this episode of Freerange MD, I'm joined by Dr. Guy Leschziner, neurologist and author of Seven Deadly Sins — The Biology of Being Human. We explore the seven sins and unpack their neuroscientific and psychological basis. This is a great conversation loaded with provocative questions.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    36 min

  10. 02/26/2025

    Doctored - Fraud, Arrogance and Tragedy in the Quest to Cure Alzheimer's

    Science is supposed to be about the pursuit of truth. But what happens when ambition, greed, and fraud infect that pursuit especially in a field as high-stakes as Alzheimer's research? In this episode of Freerange MD, I'm joined by investigative journalist Charles Pillar, author of the explosive new book Doctored: Fraud, Arrogance, and Tragedy in the Quest to Cure Alzheimer's. His reporting uncovers a shocking story: one where careers, billions in funding, and the hopes of millions hinged on research that was, in part, built on lies. This isn't just about bad science. It's about how deeply entrenched systems of prestige and power can shake the very core of medical progress. And if you think scientific fraud is rare or harmless, think again. Or listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1 hr

  11. 02/17/2025

    On Being a Medical Conservative

    In this episode cardiologist John Mandrola joings Freerange MD for great discussion. We dig deep into the concept of the medical conservative, an idea popularized by Dr. Mandrola. Our conversation evolves to cover ‘citizen research’, the rising popularity of medical newsletters, and the growing pains physicians have experienced on sites like Twitter. If nothing else, Dr. Mandrola's contrarian perspective and thoughtful insights will leave you inspired to rethink traditional medical paradigms. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    45 min

  12. 02/12/2025

    Introducing Freerange MD

    Introducing Freerange MD with Bryan Vartabedian. This new podcast brings you the most interesting voices in healthcare. From thought leaders to frontline innovators, we explore how technology is reshaping healthcare—and us. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1 min
  • 12 Episodes

About

The Liminal MD is a podcast about medicine in the middle of a structural rewrite. Hosted by physician Bryan Vartabedian, it explores the technological, cultural, and economic forces reshaping clinical work—and what they mean for doctors living inside the transition. A production of Virion Media, LLC. (The Liminal MD was formally Freerange MD)

Information

  • Creator
    Bryan Vartabedian, MD
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    12
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Virion Media, LLC