a penny for your thoughts

a penny for your thoughts

welcome to "a penny for your thoughts," the podcast that delves deep into the fascinating world of medicine and human behavior. join us as we explore questions like: where did different languages originate? how do i improve my heart health? and why can't i balance my work and life? in each episode, your host medha shanbhag teams up with experts, psychologists, and everyday individuals to unpack these questions. have you ever wondered why cliques form, even in diverse settings? curious about making an impact? struggling with work-life balance? we've got you covered.

Episodes

December 31, 2025 37 mins

hey guys, in this last episode of the year, me and vibha discuss the rise of ai technology in academia, the performative movement that originated from social media, and some of our favorite pieces of media. this year has been so busy and rewarding and i cannot wait to see what this next brings!!


youtube: @medha.shanbhag

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in this episode, i am joined by motivational speaker kate garnes who ultimately discusses important things including surrounding yourself with the right people and acknowledging the double-edged nature of social media. for adolescents in this current time period, it can be extremely hard to stick to your true beliefs and feel noticed, but i hope this episode helps with any doubt you might be feeling as the days until school start t...

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July 8, 2025 34 mins

in this episode, i go through the major areas of my sophomore year as a high school student. i truly believe this platform is a way to immortalize my current self, so if you’re a rising sophomore (or just want to listen for fun) then i think you’ll really enjoy this episode!

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January 5, 2025 30 mins

happy new years guys!! in this episode, i go through a recap of my previous year and include some things that i'm going to incorporate into this year and other things that i would love to leave behind for the better

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December 7, 2024 34 mins

during this episode, me and dr. annekathryn goodman talk all things gynecology. she is a professor at harvard and also a practitioner at the massachusetts general hospital. some things we cover in this episode are the importance of listening, continuing to learn even after school, and how finding the expertise you thrive in is extremely important.  

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September 1, 2024 69 mins

joel salatin is a celebrity in the alternative farming world, and i had the privilege of having him on the show! during this episode, we touched on topics like the importance of shopping local, ways polyface farms has positively affected the environment, and the hidden health benefits that come with local products. he has dedicated his life to speaking and advocating for a better food system, and i truly hope you learn something ne...

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August 25, 2024 33 mins

zenani johnson is an aspiring law student who has lots of experience with rejection and perseverance. during this episode, she shares the journey she had to take to get where she currently is, and perseverance happens to be a very important skill in life. some things we touched on in this episode (besides the importance of perseverance) include planning ahead, knowing your worth, and the value of having connections.

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August 18, 2024 27 mins

this second season kickstarter touches on several different topics including the importance of higher education and the impact a program can have on a community. dr. penny ralston is a professor at fsu, and although she started off as a student of gerontology, she has devoted her life to teaching public health.

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August 11, 2024 20 mins

can you believe we’ve made it to season 2 already? in this premiere episode, medha goes over all things season 2 including an updated posting schedule, future content to look out for, as well as everything you’ve missed during the break! while it is super sad that summer is over, i hope this school year turns out in your favor and next summer arrives just as quickly.

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May 29, 2024 24 mins

this episode is mainly a clip show and an enormous thank you to everyone who has made this season happen. i'm so grateful for all the opportunities this year has given me and season 2 is just going to get better! i also share some statistics and some advice for people interested in starting a podcast as well.

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May 22, 2024 35 mins

with the school year coming to an end and summer rapidly approaching, i’ve created a bucket list of 50+ things i want to this summer! some of the things i talk about include: going to a pilates class, going on hikes, and catching sunrises. 

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May 15, 2024 48 mins

dr. vilma torres is a clinical professor in the field of cardiology at the university of florida. this episode was a really informational one, and i honestly learned so much from dr. torres. some things we discussed in this episode were the importance of regular exercise, how far cardiac technology has come, and the importance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance (especially when it comes to extremely demanding jobs such as t...

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in this episode, i am joined by pratiksha patel! she is a cancer survivor who was diagnosed with hodgekin’s lymphoma in her early 20’s. some of the key concepts we covered in this episode were the importance of family and having a strong support system during this process, relying upon god or a spiritual belief, and the major fomo that happens during this time.

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May 1, 2024 26 mins

for our april reads, me and vibha were a lot more successful in reading books, but there were only two that earned a 5/5. this episode is one of the shorter ones, but some of the books we reviewed include: lessons in chemistry, the seven husbands of evelyn hugo, and the hunger games trilogy!

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April 24, 2024 33 mins

with the school year coming to an end, i felt like we needed one last advice episode. my mom is literally my favorite person in the world, and she has so many fun stories and good advice that might help someday! (this episode was also a very late birthday present for my dad so i hope you love it just as much as we do!)

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April 17, 2024 23 mins

hustle culture is this idea that we as humans are constantly setting high standards for ourselves and spending every waking hour striving for success. while this sounds like a relatively positive concept, there are many harmful results including burnout and future procrastination. in this episode, we dissect hustle culture and its role in today’s society.

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April 10, 2024 41 mins

unpopular opinions, or hot takes, have been conversation starters for a while and me and vibha are dissecting a couple off of reddit. we went through everything ranging from the eiffel tower to picking your nose!


don’t forget to rate the show and follow us @apennyforyourthoughts.show on instagram!

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April 3, 2024 27 mins

with the school year coming to a close, i’ve learned so much about high school and have pieces of valuable advice that might be of use! in this episode i try my best to make sense of the classes, clubs / extracurriculars, and important tests, and provide a new perspective on being a freshman. 


don’t forget to rate the show and follow us @apennyforyourthoughts.show

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March 27, 2024 23 mins

march was a very interesting month for both me and vibha, and we both plan on reading a lot more next month! this book club episode has lots of thrillers and nonfiction books, and once again, tons of spoilers. although we didn’t read as  many books as previous months, the books we did read were super interesting and we hope you enjoy this episode!


don’t forget to rate the show and follow us on instagram  @apennyforyourthoughts...

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March 13, 2024 32 mins

this episode was mostly focused around my #1 biggest fear: wasting my life scrolling on social media. this spring break me and vibha talk all about spending our time actually doing stuff and ways we can try loosening the grip that our phones have on us :)


don’t forget to rate the show and follow the instagram @apennyforyourthoughts.show


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