I got into radio by serendipity. In 1987, I saw an obituary for an MD host of a radio program on WMCA in New York City called “In the Doctor’s Office,” sponsored by Solgar. I applied for the job, but was told they weren’t ready to put me on for a long-form show. They offered me the opportunity to create and record “60 Seconds on Nutrition” spots. These were well-received, and when a spot opened for a half hour call-in show on WMCA—a station that launched the careers of broadcast luminaries like Gary Null, Joan Hamburg and “Mad Dog” Chris Russo—my radio career began. Eventually they expanded me to a full hour, which lasted until WMCA was bought out and turned into an all-Christian station.

With the help of the widow of recently deceased nutritionist Carlton Fredericks, I secured a spot on the popular New York superstation WOR, taking the opportunity to rebrand the show as “HealthTalk”.  At first a one-hour Sunday show, it expanded to two hours, and then I joined the weekday lineup—meaning I was recording seven hours of weekly content. As political talk became the mainstay of AM radio, they moved me back to weekends. I missed the weekday audience but was able to reclaim some of my time.

In 2000, I redubbed the show “Intelligent Medicine” after a book I’d recently published. When WOR changed hands in the 2000s, I moved over to Radio America for my weekend broadcasts. Because I was in the rhythm of creating lots of daily programming, I transitioned to the burgeoning platform of podcasting for additional shows. The rest is history! As we surpass the milestones of 10 years of the new format, with over 12 million downloads, it’s been a great trip—as host of America’s longest-running physician-hosted radio show.