Shows
The Dr Kumar DiscoveryPenicillin: The Accidental Discovery That Changed Medicine and Won a War Penicillin was not supposed to happen. A contaminated petri dish. A curious scientist who chose not to throw it away. And a fragile molecule that kept falling apart every time anyone tried to handle it. What began as a laboratory accident in 1928 became one of the greatest medical breakthroughs in human history, but only after a world war forced science, industry, and government to move at full speed. In this Tribulations episode, Dr. Ravi Kumar tells the true story of penicillin, the accidental discovery that changed medicine and won a war: from...
2025-12-2831 minThe Dr Kumar DiscoveryDepression Recovery Roadmap: A Step-by-Step, Evidence-Based PlanDownload the free guide: https://drkumardiscovery.com/depression-roadmap/Depression is not something you think your way out of. It is a biological state that disrupts motivation, planning, sleep, energy, and the ability to imagine a future that feels worth moving toward. In Part Two of this depression series, Dr. Ravi Kumar shifts from understanding to action. This episode lays out a clear, evidence-based, step-by-step roadmap for healing from depression. IMPORTANT: If you are unable to perform basic self-care, experiencing psychosis, or having thoughts of self-harm (especially with intent or a pl...
2025-12-2239 minThe Dr Kumar DiscoveryDepression Explained: The Biology Behind the Darkness (Not Just Serotonin) | Part 1Depression is one of the most common and most misunderstood medical conditions in the world. It is not just sadness, weakness, or a failure of willpower. It is a whole-body syndrome that alters brain circuits, hormones, inflammation, metabolism, sleep, motivation, and the ability to feel pleasure or connection. In this first episode of a two-part series, Dr. Ravi Kumar breaks down the biology of depression. Drawing from neuroscience, psychiatry, and personal experience, he explains what depression actually is, how it develops, and why the popular “low serotonin” story fails to capture the real complexity of the di...
2025-12-141h 10
THE Podcaster NationTHE Podcaster Nation #164 - "The Dr Kumar Discovery Podcast" with Dr. Ravi Kumar!!!Dr. Ravi Kumar is a board-certified neurosurgeon and assistant professor at UNC Chapel Hill who hosts the Dr. Kumar Discovery podcast. His personal motto is to “Question everything!”. Dr. Kumar is different in that he is not willing to accept conventional doctrine just because a chorus of voices are singing it. He uses critical analysis and common sense to dissect apart complex issues and come away with practical insights and health strategies that we can use.His website: https://drkumardiscovery.com/podcast/Grab a cup of coffee and meet me inside! Let's chat about making our pod...
2025-12-1052 minThe Dr Kumar DiscoveryTMS: A Game Changer for Depression and DementiaTranscranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is one of the most promising, evidence-based, noninvasive treatments in modern neuroscience, yet most people, including many physicians, have never heard of it. In this episode, Dr. Ravi Kumar sits down with neurologist Dr. Ali Elahi, who has spent years treating depression, dementia, OCD, PTSD, ADHD, addiction, neuropathic pain, and post-stroke deficits using advanced, targeted TMS protocols. Unlike medications, TMS requires no anesthesia, no surgery, and no daily pills, and carries an extraordinarily low risk profile. And the clinical results, especially for treatment-resistant depression and early dementia, are often life-changing. As Dr...
2025-12-071h 39The Dr Kumar DiscoveryTurkey, Tryptophan, and the Biochemical Magic of ThanksgivingThanksgiving relaxation isn’t just folklore or “turkey makes you sleepy.” It’s a real collision of biochemistry, nutrition, and human connection that shifts the body into calm, balance, and deep sleep. This episode explains how tryptophan becomes serotonin and melatonin, why carbohydrates amplify the effect, and why feeling safe with people you love may be the most powerful physiology of all.In this episode, you will discover:• What tryptophan is and why the brain depends on it• How tryptophan converts to serotonin and melatonin• Why carbs and...
2025-11-2610 min
Sustainable TransformationAI, Climate Risk and the Future of Energy | IBM’s Ravi Kumar MandalikaWhat if the smartest technologies could also be the most human? In this episode of the Sustainable Transformation Podcast, Kiarne Treacy sits down with Ravi Kumar Mandalika, Utilities Industry Leader for IBM, to explore how digital innovation is reshaping energy, resilience and the way businesses plan for the future. With three decades of experience helping global energy and utilities organisations navigate sustainability, Ravi’s work sits at the intersection of AI, infrastructure and climate adaptation, from grid stability and cyber resilience to AI models that can predict floods and bushfires. Ravi shares how IB...
2025-11-2441 min
Get Lean Eat CleanEpisode 476 - A Brain Surgeon's Guide to Fighting Inflammation Naturally | Dr. Ravi KumarThis week I interviewed Dr. Ravi Kumar! Dr. Kumar is a board-certified neurosurgeon and assistant professor at UNC, and he also hosts a solo podcast called The Dr Kumar Discovery. We discussed the overuse of statins along with:- Problems with PSK9 Inhibitors- Reducing Systemic Inflammation- The Rise of Seed Oilsand his one tip to get your body back to what it once was!Connect with Ravi: https://drkumardiscovery.com/---------FREE Nutrition Cheatsheets:https://brian-getleaneatclean.beehiiv.com/subs...
2025-11-2356 minThe Dr Kumar DiscoveryIron Lungs, Fear, and a Miracle: How We Stopped PolioWhat if summer once meant danger instead of vacations? What if a simple dip in a swimming pool could change a child’s life forever? In this episode, Dr. Ravi Kumar takes you back to the terrifying era of polio in mid-20th century America, a time when hospitals filled with iron lungs, cities closed public spaces, and parents lived in constant fear. You will uncover how a mysterious virus crippled a generation, and how a global race for a vaccine transformed medicine and changed the fate of the world. Travel from t...
2025-11-2321 min
Chapter X with Michael KayA Better Way to Age with Dr. Ravi KumarModern medicine can treat almost anything. Yet it often misses the root of what makes us sick. Dr. Ravi Kumar is a neurosurgeon who trained at the Mayo Clinic and spent years in operating rooms before realizing he needed to step away. He sold everything and moved his family to India, where he worked in mission hospitals under the most basic conditions. Those experiences changed the way he views medicine, aging, and what it really means to heal. In this episode, Dr. Kumar shares what he's learned about the lifestyle choices th...
2025-11-1951 min
Future Back Drinking with Dr. Athina KaniouraFuture Back Drinking • Ravi KumarIn this episode of Future Back Drinking, Dr. Athina Kanioura and co-host Priyanka Aribindi sit down with Ravi Kumar, CEO of Cognizant and one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People in AI, to explore how technology is reshaping the very fabric of work. Ravi shares his vision for a future where AI acts not as a replacement but as an equalizer, a tool that amplifies human potential, sparks innovation, and creates new pathways for lifelong learning. Together, they discuss the rise of “agentic capital,” the growing value of non-STEM and interdisciplinary skills, and why agility, curiosity, and continuous learning will d...
2025-11-1831 minThe Dr Kumar DiscoveryPerimenopause, Menopause, and HRT: What Every Woman Should KnowPerimenopause and menopause affect every woman who lives long enough, yet these transitions remain deeply misunderstood, underdiagnosed, and undertreated. In this episode, Dr. Ravi Kumar sits down with two menopause experts, Dr. Diana Kumar and Dr. Teresa Walsh, to break down what’s actually happening with hormones, why so many women are dismissed by the medical system, and how modern hormone therapy can safely transform a woman’s quality of life. This conversation covers the real symptoms of perimenopause, the difference between perimenopause and menopause, why labs often come back “normal” despite debilitating symptoms, what the Women’...
2025-11-161h 16The Dr Kumar DiscoveryThe Man Who Saved a Billion Lives: Norman Borlaug and the Green Revolution What if one scientist could stop famine, save a billion lives, and change the fate of nations? In this episode of Tribulations, Dr. Ravi Kumar tells the astonishing true story of Norman Borlaug, the quiet American farm boy whose breakthroughs in wheat genetics transformed the global food supply and rescued India and Pakistan from the brink of collapse. You’ll travel from the dusty fields of Iowa to the war-torn farmlands of the Indian subcontinent, tracing how Borlaug’s relentless science sparked the Green Revolution, fed the hungry, and won him the Nobel...
2025-11-0826 min
Power of Man PodcastPower of Man #331 - "The Dr Kumar Discovery Podcast" with Dr. Ravi Kumar!!!Send us a textDr. Ravi Kumar is a board-certified neurosurgeon and assistant professor at UNC Chapel Hill who hosts the Dr. Kumar Discovery podcast. His personal motto is to “Question everything!”. Dr. Kumar is different in that he is not willing to accept conventional doctrine just because a chorus of voices are singing it. He uses critical analysis and common sense to dissect apart complex issues and come away with practical insights and health strategies that we can use.His website: https://drkumardiscovery.com/podcast/Join the current group to stay up to dat...
2025-11-0646 minThe Dr Kumar DiscoveryThe Great GERD Mistake: How Medicine Made Heartburn Worse and How to Fix It Heartburn is not too much acid, it's acid in the wrong place. This episode explains GERD, why PPIs create dependence, and how to fix reflux by restoring physiology, not suppressing it. In this episode, you will discover: • Why GERD is a mechanical problem, not an acid problem • How the lower esophageal sphincter and diaphragm form your anti-reflux barrier • The rebound loop created by chronic acid suppression and hypergastrinemia • The foods, habits, and medications most likely to trigger reflux events • A practical two to four week reset to...
2025-11-0240 min
No Boxes: Just VersesRavi Kumar on Humble Beginnings and the Discipline of Water Polo to Big 4 Journeys at KPMG & EY and Leading at Connor GroupIn this dynamic crossover event on No Boxes: Just Verses, we're joined by finance expert, CPA, and podcast host, Ravi Kumar. Are you a leader trying to pivot your career, find passion outside of public accounting, or build a powerful global network? Ravi's journey is a powerful testament to immigrant grit, relentless perseverance, and why you should "Don't Stop Believin'" in your potential. Tune in for the playbook on transforming the perception of accounting from boring to brilliant.Ravi Kumar is a Partner and National Market Leader at The Connor Group, specializing in transforming financial challenges into...
2025-10-2743 minThe Dr Kumar DiscoveryThe Man Who Gave Away the Cure for $1: The Discovery of InsulinWhat happens when a life-saving cure is discovered, and then given away for a single dollar?In this Tribulations episode, Dr. Ravi Kumar tells the remarkable story of Frederick Banting, the farm boy turned surgeon whose late-night idea led to the discovery of a method for extracting insulin and saved millions of lives. You’ll travel from the starvation wards of the early 1900s to the sweltering attic lab in Toronto where Banting and Charles Best performed the experiments that changed medicine forever. Dr. Kumar also explores the moral and policy issues that continue to shape insulin ac...
2025-10-2625 minThe Dr Kumar DiscoveryHow to Sleep Better: The Science & Daily PlaybookSleep isn’t a luxury; it’s the foundation of every system in your body. In this episode of The Dr Kumar Discovery Podcast, Dr. Ravi Kumar explores the neuroscience, hormones, and daily habits that drive great sleep. You’ll learn how to optimize circadian rhythm, manage sleep pressure, and use proven evidence-based strategies to restore energy, focus, and long-term health. In this episode, you’ll discover: • What really happens in your brain during deep and REM sleep • How your circadian rhythm and adenosine work together to trigger rest • Why poor sl...
2025-10-1947 min
ExecutivelandOn the Right Side of History: Cognizant CEO Ravi Kumar on Democratizing AIJoin host Elizabeth Freedman for a candid conversation with Ravi Kumar, CEO of Cognizant, as he shares a behind-the-scenes view of what it truly takes to lead a global enterprise of over 350,000 employees. Ravi talks about the duality of leading in the present while staying relevant for the future, the concept of "strategic patience," and how influence is what truly drives transformation at scale. Ravi reflects on the underestimated value of roles that build influence, the importance of psychological safety in driving AI adoption, and how today’s leaders must be interdisciplinary, adaptable and ready to unlearn.Yo...
2025-10-1645 minThe Dr Kumar DiscoveryThe Simple Drink That Saved Millions: The Story of Oral Rehydration SolutionWhat if one of the greatest medical breakthroughs of the past century wasn’t a high-tech device or a billion-dollar drug, but a humble mix of salt, sugar, and water? In this Tribulations episode, Dr. Ravi Kumar tells the story of how oral rehydration solution (ORS) emerged from the chaos of cholera epidemics and became one of the simplest and most lifesaving discoveries in medical history. You’ll hear how scientists and doctors across continents, from Robert Crane’s biochemical insight to Dilip Mahalanabis’s daring field implementation, turned a molecular mechanism in...
2025-10-1218 minThe Dr Kumar DiscoveryCaffeine Explained: The Science, Benefits, and Risks of the World’s Favorite Drug Coffee, tea, and energy drinks fuel our mornings, our focus, and sometimes our entire lives. But beneath the daily ritual lies a question few ever ask: is caffeine truly helping us... or just keeping us hooked? In this episode of The Dr. Kumar Discovery Podcast, Dr. Ravi Kumar takes you deep into the biology, history, and modern science of caffeine, the most widely used psychoactive drug on Earth. You’ll learn how it sharpens the brain, enhances performance, and even supports long-term health, but also where it can quietly undermine sleep, anxiety, and blood...
2025-10-0533 minThe Dr Kumar DiscoveryAcetaminophen in Pregnancy: What the Science Really Shows About Autism and ADHD Acetaminophen, better known as Tylenol, has long been considered the safest choice for pain and fever during pregnancy. But a new review from researchers at Mount Sinai and Harvard raised concerns: could prenatal acetaminophen use be linked to higher rates of autism and ADHD in children? The debate exploded when President Trump publicly warned pregnant women to “fight like hell” against taking acetaminophen. His statement left doctors, parents, and the public asking: what does the science really say? In this episode of The Dr. Kumar Discovery Podcast, Dr. Ravi Kumar breaks down the...
2025-09-2826 min
The Elisha ShowDr. Ravi Kumar on Rethinking Health: Vitamin D, Seed Oils, and Preventing Chronic DiseaseIn this powerful episode, board-certified neurosurgeon Dr. Ravi Kumar shares why modern healthcare focuses on treating illness instead of preventing it, and how that needs to change.
Dr. Kumar breaks down complex health topics into simple, actionable insights, from the truth about saturated fats and seed oils to the overlooked signs of vitamin D deficiency.
If you’ve ever wondered why chronic diseases are on the rise despite so much medical advancement, this conversation will open your eyes.
Dr. Kumar’s mission is clear: empower people with knowled...
2025-09-2423 minThe Dr Kumar DiscoverySaccharomyces boulardii Explained: The Probiotic That Protects Your Gut***Correction*** - The CNCM I-745 strain of Saccharomyces boulardii is currently only sold by Florastar. This is the most studied strain of Saccharomyces boulardii. I've also tried brands such as Jarrow and Pure, and they've worked well, but the majority of the research supports the CNCM I-745 strain. In the podcast, I mentioned that most of the strains are this CNCM I-745 strain, but that was factually incorrect. What if a simple yeast, scraped from the peel of tropical fruit during a cholera epidemic, could change the way we protect our microbiome? In the...
2025-09-2119 minThe Dr Kumar DiscoveryTestosterone Replacement Therapy Explained: Should Men Restore Youthful Levels? Testosterone levels decline steadily with age, leaving many men with less energy, lower libido, more body fat, weaker bones, and fading vitality. By age 60, 1 in 5 men is already clinically hypogonadal, and by 80, half are. But should we accept this as inevitable, or use modern medicine to restore hormones to youthful levels? In this episode of The Dr. Kumar Discovery Podcast, Dr. Ravi Kumar unpacks the science of male hormone optimization. You’ll learn what healthy testosterone looks like in younger men, how testosterone really works in the body, and what happens when levels drop...
2025-09-1441 min
Rebellious Wellness LifestyleDr. Ravi Kumar: When Your Brain Surgeon Says "Question Everything"What happens when a practicing neurosurgeon questions the very medical system he works in? Dr. Ravi Kumar reveals how pharmaceutical companies profit from keeping you sick while suppressing common sense approaches to health.From the $15 billion statin industry to the vegetable oil deception that's fueling chronic disease, this conversation exposes how medical "truths" are often based on flawed studies and financial interests rather than what actually keeps you healthy.What You'll DiscoverThe Statin Scandal Exposed- Why these fungal toxins masquerading as medicine may be causing the very problems they...
2025-09-1039 minThe Dr Kumar DiscoveryEpisode 17: Stomach Full of Courage: The Self-Experiment That Proved H. pylori Causes Ulcers Stomach Full of Courage: The Self-Experiment That Proved H. pylori Causes Ulcers What drives a doctor to drink a flask of bacteria, knowing it could make him violently ill? In the early 1980s, Dr. Barry Marshall and Dr. Robin Warren stood against the entire medical establishment to prove that most ulcers were not caused by stress or acid, but by a spiral-shaped bacterium called Helicobacter pylori. This discovery overturned decades of dogma, reshaped ulcer care, and ultimately won them the Nobel Prize. But it came at a cost: ridicule, resistance, and the r...
2025-09-0717 minThe Dr Kumar DiscoveryEpisode 16: Why This Neurosurgeon Will Never Use Nicotine Why This Neurosurgeon Will Never Use Nicotine Nicotine is being rebranded online as a clean, safe, even “smart” compound. Influencers call it a focus booster. Companies market it as harmless when separated from smoke. Millions are being persuaded. But what does the science really say? In this deep dive, Dr. Ravi Kumar breaks down the full story of nicotine, from its plant origins to its powerful grip on the human brain. You’ll learn how it hijacks dopamine, why it damages healing and metabolism, and what the research shows about its supposed benefits for focus, me...
2025-08-3126 minThe Dr Kumar DiscoveryEpisode 15: The Boy, the Virus, and the First VaccineWhat happens when a country doctor risks the life of an eight-year-old boy in the hope of defeating humanity’s deadliest disease? In 1796, Dr. Edward Jenner carried out a bold and deeply controversial experiment: infecting the gardener’s son, James Phipps, with cowpox to see if it would protect him against smallpox. It succeeded—and marked the birth of vaccination. But at the same time, it raised profound ethical questions that still echo today.In this episode of Tribulations, Dr. Ravi Kumar guides us through the tension between discovery and morality. You’ll explore:How sm...
2025-08-2419 minThe Dr Kumar DiscoveryEpisode 14: How to Make Gout Disappear From Your Life How to Make Gout Disappear From Your Life What if one of the most excruciatingly painful diseases in history, once called “the disease of kings”, didn’t have to exist at all? Gout, an inflammatory arthritis caused by uric acid crystals, has plagued everyone from Henry VIII to Benjamin Franklin. Yet today, science shows us it can often be prevented or even eliminated with the right knowledge and choices. In this eye-opening episode, Dr. Ravi Kumar unpacks the history, biology, and modern causes of gout, and reveals why this ancient disease is now a co...
2025-08-1736 minThe Dr Kumar DiscoveryEpisode 13: Roald Dahl and the Valve That Saved Thousands What happens when a children’s book author refuses to accept “good enough” in the face of a life-or-death medical crisis? In 1960, Roald Dahl, famed author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, found himself fighting for his infant son’s life after a devastating accident caused hydrocephalus, a dangerous buildup of fluid in the brain. In an era when shunt valves failed constantly, Dahl brought together an unlikely team: a pioneering pediatric neurosurgeon, a pediatric brain surgeon, and a retired toy maker. Together, they created the WDT valve, a life-saving device that resisted clogging an...
2025-08-1114 min
The LIV LabThe Mind Behind the Scalpel: Dr. Kumar’s Path to Neurosurgery | The LIV Lab Episode 17 fr. Dr. Ravi KumarWhat separates those who dream of becoming doctors from those who actually make it?In this episode of The LIV Lab, host Livia Roder sits down with Dr. Ravi Kumar, a neurosurgeon whose journey combines years of rigorous training, an insatiable curiosity about the human brain, and a deep commitment to healing. Dr. Kumar shares how he went from studying marine biology to discovering his passion for medicine, and ultimately, neurosurgery. He reflects on the highs and lows of medical school and residency, from the grueling hours and life-or-death moments to the joy of saving patients against...
2025-08-0637 minThe Dr Kumar DiscoveryEpisode 12: PANDAS – Could Your Child’s Behavior Changes Be Cured with an Antibiotic?PANDAS – Could Your Child’s Behavior Changes Be Cured with an Antibiotic?Has your child suddenly changed?... Experiencing unexplained anxiety, depression, OCD behaviors, or other alarming shifts? It could be PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections), an often overlooked condition triggered by a common strep infection.In this powerful episode, Dr. Ravi Kumar shares his deeply personal story of discovering PANDAS after his own daughter faced dramatic behavior changes that baffled doctors and devastated his family. Learn why PANDAS is frequently misdiagnosed, leaving families confused and children untreated.In t...
2025-08-0423 minThe Dr Kumar DiscoveryEpisode 10: Two Billion People Are Zinc Deficient - Make Sure You’re Not One of ThemDr. Kumar dives into the hidden global crisis of zinc deficiency: covering its fundamental biology, landmark clinical cases, RDA versus optimal dosing, ancestral insights, and practical tips to ensure you aren’t one of the two billion people missing out on this essential micronutrient. Episode Highlights Why Zinc MattersDiscover how this tiny mineral powers hundreds of enzymes and controls key gene switches that keep you healthy.Life-Saving DiscoveriesHear the true stories of zinc reversing stunted growth in Iran and curing a once-fatal genetic disease.Core Body FunctionsLearn how zinc supports immunity, wound healing, hormone balan...
2025-07-2133 min