Top 5 Medical Podcasts to Learn About the Reality of Healthcare

Wider knowledge and a keen interest in the world of medicine is essential for your personal statement, at a medical school interview, and as you begin your studies.

In this article, we explore five podcasts that can keep you tuned, topical and ready to discuss the issues of the day with gusto and authority.

And, you can listen while doing other things. What’s not to like?

1. Royal Society of Medicine (RSM) podcast 

This one is first on our list for good reason. RSM’s content divides the latest medical information into easy-to-navigate topics. Niching down on your research becomes a piece of cake. Topics include digital health, the NHS, and orthopaedics.

The information is designed for doctors and medical practitioners, but it's also useful for aspiring medics. Ultimately, you will get a deeper understanding of the profession. 

Ready to jump in at the deep end?

Listen to RSM'S podcast

2. This Podcast Will Kill You 

A podcast run by Erin and... well, Erin. They're two female graduate students studying disease ecology who became disenchanted with the insular world of academia. 

So what did they do about it? They connected with the outside world to share this information in an accessible way.

In each podcast, they discuss patterns of disease, while maintaining a humorous and lively vibe throughout. Yes, it’s a specialist topic, but learning about the dispersal of different diseases is very interesting and, ahem, topical. It will stand you in good stead at interview.

Listen to This Podcast Will Kill You‍‍

3. NEJM This Week

The NEJM (New England Journal of Medicine) This Week podcast covers multiple topics in one episode, so you can get a run down of the week and the latest medical discoveries. 

It provides audio summaries of the articles included in NEJM's weekly issue. This is a reading of articles rather than a discussion, so if you like audiobooks, this is for you. 

NEJM is a highly impactful publication, read and cited by countless medical professionals, so check the podcast out if you'd like to get up-to-date findings and knowledge being used by doctors all over the world.

Listen to NEJM This Week

4. The Undifferentiated Medical Student

This one has a major advantage: it is actually designed for aspiring and current medical students. The content might well give you the confidence to pursue the right career path by helping you explore different options.

In the podcast, they've interviewed over 120 specialists about their area of expertise, with each interview divided into 3 sections:

​​Part 1: 'Tell us about your specialty.'

Part 2: 'Tell us about how you decided this specialty was right for you.'

Part 3: 'Give us advice for long-term career planning irrespective of your choice of specialty.'

The Undifferentiated Medical Student podcast is in-depth, detailed, and designed to empower you to make your own choices.

Listen to The Undifferentiated Medical Student‍

5. Sharp Scratch (The BMJ)

The BMJ's podcast brings together medical students, junior doctors, and expert guests to discuss everything you need to know to be a good doctor (that medical school doesn't teach you).

You'll learn what it's like to be a medical student, such as all the anecdotal stuff you may pick up from corridor conversations with coursemates.

Topics include what it's really like working as a junior doctor and whether you can learn empathy.

Listen to Sharp Scratch

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Summary

Looking to improve your general knowledge for medical school further? Check out Which 5 books should I read before medical school?

Keep notes of what you learn and once you find an area that piques your curiosity, keep delving deeper – it demonstrates an inquisitive nature and helps you build on your discoveries!

Need more guidance on the admissions process? We answer 17 key questions about how to get into medical school here.