Archive of Individual Stories of State of the Human

Learning Medicine, Story 3: Spiritual Cowgirl

In our next story, State of the Human Producer Aparna Verma visits Dr. Beverly Kane at Webb Ranch to observe Equine-imity. Formally a practicing doctor at Apple, and a family practice physician, Dr. Kane now teaches these courses at the Stanford School of Medicine. She also teaches another class called Medicine & Horsemanship, which trains medical students and practitioners to develop an awareness of the subtleties of communication that are necessary for a provider-patient relationship.
 
Producers: Aparna Verma and Linda LiuMusic: Loco Lobo, Sergey Cheremisinov, Kai Engel

Learning Medicine, Story 2: Warlock Genetics

For many doctors, it takes four years to complete their degree. But physician-scientists — doctors who have an MD and a PhD — have eight additional years of school. These physician-scientists treat patients and conduct cutting-edge medical research. Our producer tries to figure out if learning medicine and learning how to conduct medical research is the path for her. To make things more complicated, Victoria grew up in an Eastern Medicine household, so pursuing an MD in the Western tradition is already lifting a few eyebrows.
 
Producers: Victoria Yuan and Sarah GriffinMusic: Never Forget by Ketsa; Multiverse by Ketsa; Tian Mi Mi by Teresa Teng; Syaba by Aoiroooasamusi; Slow Vibing by Ketsa; Robot Waltz by Ketsa

Learning Medicine, Story 1: The Healing Power of Getting Stoked

Sometimes, a word can help identify exactly what’s missing. Urban dictionary says: to be "stoked" is to be completely and intensely enthusiastic, exhilarated, or excited about something. Those who are stoked all of the time know this; being stoked is the epitome of all being. In our next story, State of the Human Producer JJ Kapur learns the healing power of getting stoked.
 
Producers: JJ Kapur and Esha DhawanMusic: Thunderstorm (Pon VIII) by Kai Engel; Slimheart by Blue Dot Sessions; Ghost Surf Rock by Loyalty Freak Music; The graveyard by Loyalty Freak Music; Blue Highway by Podington Bear; Our Only Lark by Blue Dot Sessions; You Don't Surf So Shut Up by Waylon Thornton and the Heavy Hands

Materializing, Story 4: Becoming British

As a kid, Esther wanted to change something fundamental about herself. Her solution? Put on a fake British accent. A story about what we can learn from a six-year-old pretend Londoner.
 
Featuring: Esther OmoleProducer: Adesuwa Agbonile
Music: Everybody wants Gold and a Mermaid, Tony Higgins

Materializing, Story 3: Uncle Sam Wants YOU To Eat Processed Food

We’re surrounded by processed food. But how did it get here? A story about what we can learn from the food we eat every day.
 
Featuring: Hannah LeBlancProducers: Isabella Tilley, Yue Li, Melina Walling, Christine Delianne
Music: Rhythme Gitan by Latché Swing; BugaBlue by U.S. Army Blues; Jazzy Ashes by The Underskore Orchestra; Patriotic Songs of America by New York Military Band and the American Quartet; 23 Juillet by Johnny Ripper; Bambi by Podington Bear; You Can Calmly Put This Thing Together (Piece by Piece) by junior85; New Rag by Scott Joplin

Materializing, Story 2 - Brains and Bronze: How Octavius Catto Came Back to Life

Octavius Catto, a 19th century activist, stands in bronze as the first statue of a black man on Philadelphia public property. And he’s coming back to life in other ways--on a giant mural, and in the art and social justice scenes of the city. What would this statue of an activist from history say to the activists surrounding it now...why is he back, and what’s he trying to tell us?
 
Featuring: Keir Johnston, Shakirah, Eddy, Kim McClearyProducer: Melina Walling
Music: sonder, johnny_ripper, epilogue; Curious Case, Blue Dot Sessions, The Cabinetmaker; You Can Calmly Put This Thing Together (Piece by Piece), junior85, Upside Down, Left to Right; Flight, Nctrnm, EQUINOX

Materializing, Story 1: Our Immortal Stuff

While moving out of her dorm, faced with putting everything she had in boxes, producer Yue Li began to feel uncomfortable about her own buying habits. So she took a trip to Berkeley to meet some people who think really differently about...stuff.
 
Featuring: Max, Jimmy, Sarah (Urban Ore employees and shoppers)Producer: Yue Li
Music: Tech Toys, Lee Reserve, Sunspots (Tight), Podington Bear carousel, johnny_ripper

Dying, Story 4: Dia De Los Muertos

We go to San Francisco for the annual Day of the Dead parade, a tradition that can be traced back to the Aztecs. It’s a time when families come together to celebrate ancestors and loved ones who have passed away, prompting us to ask what we can learn about life through death.

Dying, Story 3: Claudia Bicen

Claudia Biçen, a San Francisco artist, interviewed nine hospice patients about their experiences of dying. She then created larger than life-size portraits of each patient, and on each person’s clothing, wrote out the text of their interview. At exhibitions, Biçen played audio clips of the interviews, so you can actually hear the voice of person you’re seeing. She called her project “Thoughts in Passing.”
 
Featuring: Claudia BiçenProducer: Aparna Verma
Music:Le Songe d’Hacolhii -- SunhiilowEverybody Wants Gold and A Mermaid -- Tony Higgins

Dying, Story 2: Death Cafe

Michelle Chang drives around the country hosting “death cafes,” gatherings where strangers come together and talk openly about death. At death cafes, people confront the reality of dying and in doing so, make meaning of their lives.