The Nocturnists
The Nocturnists
The Nocturnists podcast offers a unique and poignant exploration of the world of medicine through the eyes of those who live and breathe it every day. This beautifully crafted series shares the personal narratives and intimate experiences of healthcare professionals, revealing the emotional, challenging, and sometimes humorous realities of the medical field. Each episode serves as a portal into the lives of individuals who make life-altering decisions and face complex human emotions with resilience and empathy. Produced by The Nocturnists, a collective passionate about storytelling in medicine, the podcast not only delves into the technical aspects of healthcare but also emphasizes the human connections that underpin the profession. With a wide array of topics, from the impacts of global health crises to the personal toll of caring for the sick, The Nocturnists enriches listeners’ understanding of the depths of medical practice, inviting them to reflect on the personal and profound implications of health and healing.
Episodes
Obituaries From My Father
"Obituaries From My Father" is a deeply emotional and reflective episode of The Nocturnists, featuring a narrative by Auggie Lynn Mark. Auggie shares a perplexing and intimate story set against the backdrop of the early COVID-19 pandemic, where he, a resident doctor, receives mysterious obituaries by mail with no sender information. These obituaries, sent anonymously, bring the omnipresence of death into his home, a place he considers his refuge from the chaos of the hospital. As the story unfolds, Auggie discovers that his father, a retired Lutheran pastor with a penchant for editing local obituaries, is the sender. The episode culminates in a touching conversation between Auggie and his father in Minnesota, discussing their perceptions of death and the personal ways they each keep track of lives lost. This revelation leads to a broader reflection on how Auggie's upbringing in a pastoral family influenced his career and coping mechanisms.