05/04/2026
In medical school, making mixtapes was my way of handing a piece of myself to someone else. I’d spend hours on the sequencing and the handwritten liner notes—a small act of connection in a high-pressure world.
To be moved by music is to be human. Whether it’s a harpist calming a hospital floor or Stevie Wonder breaking the tension of a study session, certain songs act as anchors for our biology and our memories.
In my latest Substack, I’ve put together a “mixtape” for you: Songs for Staying Human (Part 1). It’s a collection of tracks—from Sting to Andrea Bocelli—that have helped me navigate heartbreak, resilience, and joy.
I’d love to hear from you: If you were making a mixtape of songs that help you “stay human,” what’s the first track you’d include?https://open.substack.com/pub/vivekmurthy/p/songs-for-staying-human-and-why-we?utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web