5 Best Medical Writing Podcasts to Inspire Your Next Project
Next time you’ve got chores to do or a long drive ahead, queue up one of these recommendations and see where it takes you.
Podcasts have a knack for slipping into even the busiest of schedules. Walking the dog, commuting, chopping vegetables, or taking a breather between projects? I don’t know about you, but you’ll find me putting in my headphones.
As CME writers, we already know their secret superpower: they’re a form of accessible, on-the-go learning. You can tune in to industry experts, hear the unpolished behind-the-scenes stories, and pick up practical strategies that make your work stronger, all without blocking off time on your calendar.
In the list ahead, you’ll find some of the best niche medical writing podcasts alongside broader healthcare communication and clinical education podcasts to add to your playlist. Each one can help you expand your understanding of the medical field, sharpen your writing skills, and spark new ways to approach your work. Ready to continue learning?
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1. Write Medicine
Write Medicine is hosted by ahem, me, Alexandra Howson PhD, and is specifically designed for professionals who are working in CME writing and healthcare education.
If TED Talks and a mastermind group had a podcast baby for CME professionals, it would be the Write Medicine podcast.
Every single episode takes the time to blend practical teaching on adult learning principles with deep insights into creating education that has the power to change clinical practice. I often bring in guest experts from across the CME and broader medical writing space, as well as clinicians and academics who can share relevant experiences, writing strategies, and lessons learned throughout their careers.
At other times, I work solo – like in the bite-sized limited series WriteCME Insider – providing you with direct, actionable guidance that you can apply immediately.
Write Medicine’s impact lies not only in its focus on translating theory into tangible steps for creating impactful CME content, but in its broad appeal to medical writers.
If you tune in, you’ll hear about how to design activities that truly resonate with learners, conduct root cause analysis, create impactful outcomes reports, and stay ahead in a fast-moving medical education environment.
However, you’ll also hear about how to run a freelance medical writing business, niche down as a medical writer, and work with AI rather than running from it. With 10 seasons, that’s just a taste.
For any listener looking to level up their CME writing skills, freelance savvy, or both, this show provides an opportunity to refine your skills and refine your strategy, all while keeping the ultimate goal in sight: creating high-quality education that enhances patient care and running a business that sustains you.
2. Papa PhD
Papa PhD, hosted by David Mendes, is all about helping PhDs find some career clarity and build a professional path that is both meaningful and sustainable for the long run. David has been where many of you might be right now(and where I’ve been, too): unsure of your next move after years in academia.
He brings that level of insight and empathy into every conversation, speaking with graduate researchers, academics, and career coaches who have taken their skills in some surprising and rewarding new directions.
You can listen to my conversation with him here.
If you’re a medical writer (or are maybe thinking about becoming a freelance medical writer) and you’ve come from a research or academic background, you’ll find that this podcast is especially relatable. You’ll hear stories about real career transitions, learn some different strategies that you can apply to your own journey, and get new ideas for expanding your network.
Papa PhD leaves you feeling encouraged and excited about exploring new possibilities, sharpening your personal storytelling skills, and discovering the different ways that your experience can open up doors in the field of medical writing and beyond.
3. Ground Truths
Ground Truths, hosted by Eric Topol, is a podcast that provides thoughtful insights into biomedical and public health, cutting through the noise and misinformation. As a practicing cardiologist, researcher, and leader in genomics and digital health, Topol has a compelling way of addressing our most pressing questions(Why Can’t I Find the Right Doctor?) and the most recent, niche developments in the biomedical field we may have missed.
He isn’t afraid to challenge outdated thinking or highlight when the science is shifting, which is crucial for staying accurate and relevant in a field that is constantly evolving.
For medical writers, this podcast is a goldmine for sharpening your fact-checking skills and building confidence in presenting evolving scientific information. You’ll hear grounded perspectives on topics such as COVID-19, genomics, artificial intelligence in medicine, and broader healthcare issues, all backed by credible research and expert voices.
Listening regularly can help you stay ahead of emerging trends, ensuring that all your work reflects the latest developments in medical research.
Bonus: Ground Truths is both a podcast you can listen to wherever you get your podcasts and a Substack newsletter that covers topics more in-depth and with more immediacy. I highly recommend both.
4. The Clinical Problem Solvers
The Clinical Problem Solvers is a great way to sharpen your clinical reasoning skills through engaging case discussions and practical problem-solving exercises. Each episode walks you through the process of how healthcare providers think through symptoms, test results, and patient history in order to arrive at a diagnosis. You’ll hear from both experienced clinicians and new learners as they work through cases step-by-step, making their thought process more transparent.
For medical writers, this behind-the-scenes look at clinical decision-making is incredibly valuable. It can help you better understand the reasoning that informs real-world patient care, making your CME content more authentic and relevant to specific audiences and allowing you to create more realistic educational materials.
5. The Rounds Table
The Rounds Table takes the latest medical research and translates it into clear, engaging discussions that busy healthcare professionals can understand and apply immediately. Each episode dives into key studies, new guidelines, and emerging developments in patient care, making complex findings easier to digest and apply in your CME writing. If you’re in a clinical role, you can even earn CME credits while you listen.
For medical writers, this podcast is an excellent resource for staying current with what’s happening in evidence-based medicine. It keeps you informed about emerging research, evolving standards of care, and shifts in clinical practice, all of which provide valuable insights that you can use to strengthen both the accuracy and relevance of the content you provide.
By tuning in, you gain the advantage of adding a steady flow of up-to-date clinical knowledge to your toolkit, ensuring that you are always aligned with what healthcare providers need to know right now.
And if podcast scriptwriting is on your radar, you never know when a show like this might be looking for CME writing support. We recently ran a highly effective scriptwriting sprint in WriteCME Pro. If you missed it don’t worry. You can get access to this and our other sprints here.
Listen, Learn, and Launch Your Next Big Move in Medical Writing
Podcasts are one of the smartest ways to keep your skills sharp, spark new ideas, and feel plugged into a professional community that gets what you do. The shows in this roundup bring together the best of medical writing, healthcare communication, and clinical education. Some will help you hone the craft and business of freelance medical writing. Others give you a front-row seat to clinical reasoning, emerging research, and the practice gaps that shape patient care — all insights that help you write with accuracy, confidence, and purpose.
So here’s your next step: subscribe to the Write Medicine Podcast for a smart, engaging take on CME writing. Then, take what you’ve learned even further inside WriteCME Accelerator – an 8-week live learning experience where you’ll build your portfolio, solidify your services, and accelerate your growth with a supportive community. Join the waitlist today and get notified when Earlybird Access opens!
