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Dr. Lucy Kalanithi is a primary care physician and Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at Stanford University. She is the widow of Dr. Paul Kalanithi, who wrote the incredibly gorgeous memoir When Breath Becomes Air, which is now part of our literary canon. If you haven’t read it yet, do it! It’s such a monumental book about what it means to live and die with meaning.

I interviewed Lucy many years ago, which you’ll hear us talking about at the top of today’s conversation, and I was so excited for the chance to speak to her again today. Lucy has a beautiful way of looking at the world, and of capturing it.

Today we talk about why Lucy doesn’t believe there is intrinsic meaning in suffering—but what kind of meaning she has found. We talk about life changes and transformations, and giving yourself permission to be you. We talk about uncovering what we really want in medical care, and why advanced directives are so empowering. We talk about Paul’s legacy, and their young daughter, and the ways that we all may lean on each other, and connect more deeply with one another.

Lucy, as always, instills so much hope in me. And for that, I’m very grateful.

Paul Kalanithi’s book: When Breath Becomes Air

Lucy’s Website

My first conversation with Lucy

LUCY:

I just listened to our chat from eight years ago.