open call for stories
open call for stories
Trust in medicine
Trust in medicine
Trust in medicine
The Nocturnists is excited to be launching Trust in Medicine, a new podcast series exploring how trust in medicine is built, broken, questioned, or transformed.
The Nocturnists is excited to be launching Trust in Medicine, a new podcast series exploring how trust in medicine is built, broken, questioned, or transformed.
The Nocturnists is excited to be launching Trust in Medicine, a new podcast series exploring how trust in medicine is built, broken, questioned, or transformed.
This series is made possible with generous support from the ABIM Foundation and the Physician's Foundation.
This series is made possible with generous support from the ABIM Foundation and the Physician's Foundation.
This series is made possible with generous support from the ABIM Foundation and the Physician's Foundation.
Trust in medicine is shifting. The COVID-19 pandemic marked a turning point, accelerating a broader cultural transformation in how people relate to systems of science and expertise. Evolving guidelines, inconsistent communication, and longstanding inequities left many patients and clinicians feeling disoriented or even betrayed. At the same time, new forms of authority — social media voices, algorithm-driven platforms, and AI-generated content — have begun shaping public understanding of health as much, or more, than traditional medical voices.
Trust in medicine is shifting. The COVID-19 pandemic marked a turning point, accelerating a broader cultural transformation in how people relate to systems of science and expertise. Evolving guidelines, inconsistent communication, and longstanding inequities left many patients and clinicians feeling disoriented or even betrayed. At the same time, new forms of authority — social media voices, algorithm-driven platforms, and AI-generated content — have begun shaping public understanding of health as much, or more, than traditional medical voices.
Trust in medicine is shifting. The COVID-19 pandemic marked a turning point, accelerating a broader cultural transformation in how people relate to systems of science and expertise. Evolving guidelines, inconsistent communication, and longstanding inequities left many patients and clinicians feeling disoriented or even betrayed. At the same time, new forms of authority — social media voices, algorithm-driven platforms, and AI-generated content — have begun shaping public understanding of health as much, or more, than traditional medical voices.
For a new podcast series, we’re seeking stories that illuminate the realities of trust and mistrust in medicine, wherever they’ve shown up in your life or practice.
Accepting submissions through October 31, 2025 (11:59pm Pacific)
For a new podcast series, we’re seeking stories that illuminate the realities of trust and mistrust in medicine, wherever they’ve shown up in your life or practice.
Accepting submissions through October 31, 2025 (11:59pm Pacific)
For a new podcast series, we’re seeking stories that illuminate the realities of trust and mistrust in medicine, wherever they’ve shown up in your life or practice.
Accepting submissions through October 31, 2025 (11:59pm Pacific)
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR
We are looking for voices from both patients and clinicians, recognizing that some people inhabit both roles simultaneously.
We are looking for voices from both patients and clinicians, recognizing that some people inhabit both roles simultaneously.
We are looking for voices from both patients and clinicians, recognizing that some people inhabit both roles simultaneously.
Tell Us About How
Tell Us About How
Trust Was Broken
Trust Was Broken
Trust Was Broken
What happened? How did it change you?
What happened? How did it change you?
What happened? How did it change you?
Trust Was Built or Earned
Trust Was Built or Earned
Trust Was Built or Earned
What allowed that trust to grow?
What allowed that trust to grow?
What allowed that trust to grow?
Mistrust or skepticism helped
Mistrust or skepticism helped
Mistrust or skepticism helped
When did doubt or questioning lead to clarity? Safety? Better care?
When did doubt or questioning lead to clarity? Safety? Better care?
When did doubt or questioning lead to clarity? Safety? Better care?
Mistrust or skepticism harmed
Mistrust or skepticism harmed
Mistrust or skepticism harmed
When did it cause confusion? Fear? Loss?
When did it cause confusion? Fear? Loss?
When did it cause confusion? Fear? Loss?
Trust or Allegiances Shifted
Trust or Allegiances Shifted
Trust or Allegiances Shifted
When did your sense of trust become more complicated?
When did your sense of trust become more complicated?
When did your sense of trust become more complicated?
Other Stories
Other Stories
Other Stories
That explore trust, mistrust, faith, and doubt in medicine.
That explore trust, mistrust, faith, and doubt in medicine.
That explore trust, mistrust, faith, and doubt in medicine.
THEMES We're EXPLORING
THEMES We're EXPLORING
Skepticism toward long-standing treatments or medical advice
Skepticism toward long-standing treatments or medical advice
Skepticism toward long-standing treatments or medical advice
Shaped by inequities, personal experiences of harm, or mixed messages from institutions
Shaped by inequities, personal experiences of harm, or mixed messages from institutions
Shaped by inequities, personal experiences of harm, or mixed messages from institutions
Post-Pandemic Disillusionment
When shifting guidelines and public debates made science feel uncertain
“Medical reversals” or moments when previous recommendations changed
“Medical reversals” or moments when previous recommendations changed
“Medical reversals” or moments when previous recommendations changed
When weak evidence, inertia, or corporate influence shape medical guidance
Rise of misinformation among online media ecossystems
Rise of misinformation among online media ecossystems
Rise of misinformation among online media ecossystems
Where official expertise competes with alternative sources
role of “medfluencers"
role of “medfluencers"
role of “medfluencers"
Whose openness and accessibility often inspire more trust than formal credentials
Whose openness and accessibility often inspire more trust than formal credentials
Whose openness and accessibility often inspire more trust than formal credentials
growing presence of AI in health information
growing presence of AI in health information
growing presence of AI in health information
More accessible than doctors, yet riddled with new risks
before recording your story, check out:
before recording your story, check out:
Our Tech FAQ for tips on capturing and sending high quality audio.
Our Tech FAQ for tips on capturing and sending high quality audio.
Our Tech FAQ for tips on capturing and sending high quality audio.
Watch this grounding video by Corinne Conn.
Watch this grounding video by Corinne Conn.
Watch this grounding video by Corinne Conn.
Explore more tips on live storytelling from the New York Times.
Explore more tips on live storytelling from the New York Times.
Explore more tips on live storytelling from the New York Times.
tech faq
tech faq
How Do I Record My Story?
Most people record on their smart phones (e.g., the voice memo app on the iPhone, or the voice recorded app on the Samsung Galaxy).
How Do I Record My Story?
Most people record on their smart phones (e.g., the voice memo app on the iPhone, or the voice recorded app on the Samsung Galaxy).
How Do I Record My Story?
Most people record on their smart phones (e.g., the voice memo app on the iPhone, or the voice recorded app on the Samsung Galaxy).
What Room Should I Record In?
Avoid rooms with hard surfaces and bare walls, which can sound like a “tin can.” Look instead for places with soft surfaces, like a closet full of clothes, the inside of a car, or your bedroom. You can create a sound absorbent environment by stacking pillows in front of you on a desk, or recording underneath a blanket. Be mindful of open windows, cars, fans, dishwashers, and washing machines. If your child or pet interrupts, feel free to bring them into the story!
What Room Should I Record In?
Avoid rooms with hard surfaces and bare walls, which can sound like a “tin can.” Look instead for places with soft surfaces, like a closet full of clothes, the inside of a car, or your bedroom. You can create a sound absorbent environment by stacking pillows in front of you on a desk, or recording underneath a blanket. Be mindful of open windows, cars, fans, dishwashers, and washing machines. If your child or pet interrupts, feel free to bring them into the story!
What Room Should I Record In?
Avoid rooms with hard surfaces and bare walls, which can sound like a “tin can.” Look instead for places with soft surfaces, like a closet full of clothes, the inside of a car, or your bedroom. You can create a sound absorbent environment by stacking pillows in front of you on a desk, or recording underneath a blanket. Be mindful of open windows, cars, fans, dishwashers, and washing machines. If your child or pet interrupts, feel free to bring them into the story!
How Do I Capture Good Sound?
Hold your phone about a foot away, with the microphone (mouthpiece) facing you. Avoid bumping the phone or brushing against the mic as you speak. If you don’t want to hold your phone for the duration of your recording, rest it on a sweater or towel (not a hard surface), or a stack of books with mic side jutting into the air. Point the mic toward your upper chest — if you point it directly at your mouth it will cause “popped Ps” or “plosives” which cannot be fixed in post-production. As you speak, try not to turn your head or the volume will drop out.
Often, an external microphone, like those that come with headsets or headphones, can capture good quality sound. But if they’ve been stepped on or submerged in water they will record poor sound, so do a sound test first before committing to these.
How Do I Capture Good Sound?
Hold your phone about a foot away, with the microphone (mouthpiece) facing you. Avoid bumping the phone or brushing against the mic as you speak. If you don’t want to hold your phone for the duration of your recording, rest it on a sweater or towel (not a hard surface), or a stack of books with mic side jutting into the air. Point the mic toward your upper chest — if you point it directly at your mouth it will cause “popped Ps” or “plosives” which cannot be fixed in post-production. As you speak, try not to turn your head or the volume will drop out.
Often, an external microphone, like those that come with headsets or headphones, can capture good quality sound. But if they’ve been stepped on or submerged in water they will record poor sound, so do a sound test first before committing to these.
How Do I Capture Good Sound?
Hold your phone about a foot away, with the microphone (mouthpiece) facing you. Avoid bumping the phone or brushing against the mic as you speak. If you don’t want to hold your phone for the duration of your recording, rest it on a sweater or towel (not a hard surface), or a stack of books with mic side jutting into the air. Point the mic toward your upper chest — if you point it directly at your mouth it will cause “popped Ps” or “plosives” which cannot be fixed in post-production. As you speak, try not to turn your head or the volume will drop out.
Often, an external microphone, like those that come with headsets or headphones, can capture good quality sound. But if they’ve been stepped on or submerged in water they will record poor sound, so do a sound test first before committing to these.
Where Do I Send My Audio File?
Click here to view our submission form.
Where Do I Send My Audio File?
Click here to view our submission form.
Where Do I Send My Audio File?
Click here to view our submission form.
How Do I Upload Audio From My iPhone?
In the Voice Memos app, record and name your audio file according to this format: FirstL_Uncertainty_yyyymmdd (eg: EmilyS_Uncertinaty_20230201).
Connect to WiFi if available.
Touch the three blue dots in the left corner of your audio file, then touch “Save to Files”.
Touch “On My iPhone”.
Touch “Save” at the top right corner of the screen.
Open this FAQ page on your phone (if you’re not there already) and touch this link.
Select your file.
Once the file appears under the “Browse Files” box, touch “Next”.
Fill out the Participant Release form and touch “Next”.
Fill out the Credit Preferences form and touch “Submit”.
You’re done!
How Do I Upload Audio From My iPhone?
In the Voice Memos app, record and name your audio file according to this format: FirstL_Uncertainty_yyyymmdd (eg: EmilyS_Uncertinaty_20230201).
Connect to WiFi if available.
Touch the three blue dots in the left corner of your audio file, then touch “Save to Files”.
Touch “On My iPhone”.
Touch “Save” at the top right corner of the screen.
Open this FAQ page on your phone (if you’re not there already) and touch this link.
Select your file.
Once the file appears under the “Browse Files” box, touch “Next”.
Fill out the Participant Release form and touch “Next”.
Fill out the Credit Preferences form and touch “Submit”.
You’re done!
How Do I Upload Audio From My iPhone?
In the Voice Memos app, record and name your audio file according to this format: FirstL_Uncertainty_yyyymmdd (eg: EmilyS_Uncertinaty_20230201).
Connect to WiFi if available.
Touch the three blue dots in the left corner of your audio file, then touch “Save to Files”.
Touch “On My iPhone”.
Touch “Save” at the top right corner of the screen.
Open this FAQ page on your phone (if you’re not there already) and touch this link.
Select your file.
Once the file appears under the “Browse Files” box, touch “Next”.
Fill out the Participant Release form and touch “Next”.
Fill out the Credit Preferences form and touch “Submit”.
You’re done!
How Do I Upload Audio From My Android Phone (e.g. Samsung Galaxy S7)?
In the Voice Memos app, record and name your audio file according to this format: FirstL_Uncertainty_yyyymmdd (eg: EmilyS_Uncertinaty_20230201).
Connect to WiFi if available.
Touch the three blue dots in the left corner of your audio file, then touch “Save to Files”.
Touch “On My iPhone”.
Touch “Save” at the top right corner of the screen.
Open this FAQ page on your phone (if you’re not there already) and touch this link.
Select your file.
Once the file appears under the “Browse Files” box, touch “Next”.
Fill out the Participant Release form and touch “Next”.
Fill out the Credit Preferences form and touch “Submit”.
You’re done!
How Do I Upload Audio From My Android Phone (e.g. Samsung Galaxy S7)?
In the Voice Memos app, record and name your audio file according to this format: FirstL_Uncertainty_yyyymmdd (eg: EmilyS_Uncertinaty_20230201).
Connect to WiFi if available.
Touch the three blue dots in the left corner of your audio file, then touch “Save to Files”.
Touch “On My iPhone”.
Touch “Save” at the top right corner of the screen.
Open this FAQ page on your phone (if you’re not there already) and touch this link.
Select your file.
Once the file appears under the “Browse Files” box, touch “Next”.
Fill out the Participant Release form and touch “Next”.
Fill out the Credit Preferences form and touch “Submit”.
You’re done!
How Do I Upload Audio From My Android Phone (e.g. Samsung Galaxy S7)?
In the Voice Memos app, record and name your audio file according to this format: FirstL_Uncertainty_yyyymmdd (eg: EmilyS_Uncertinaty_20230201).
Connect to WiFi if available.
Touch the three blue dots in the left corner of your audio file, then touch “Save to Files”.
Touch “On My iPhone”.
Touch “Save” at the top right corner of the screen.
Open this FAQ page on your phone (if you’re not there already) and touch this link.
Select your file.
Once the file appears under the “Browse Files” box, touch “Next”.
Fill out the Participant Release form and touch “Next”.
Fill out the Credit Preferences form and touch “Submit”.
You’re done!
What if I have additional questions?
You can reach us at hello@thenocturnists.org.
What if I have additional questions?
In the Voice Memos app, record and name your audio file according to this format: FirstL_Uncertainty_yyyymmdd (eg: EmilyS_Uncertinaty_20230201).
Connect to WiFi if available.
Touch the three blue dots in the left corner of your audio file, then touch “Save to Files”.
Touch “On My iPhone”.
Touch “Save” at the top right corner of the screen.
Open this FAQ page on your phone (if you’re not there already) and touch this link.
Select your file.
Once the file appears under the “Browse Files” box, touch “Next”.
Fill out the Participant Release form and touch “Next”.
Fill out the Credit Preferences form and touch “Submit”.
You’re done!
What if I have additional questions?
You can reach us at hello@thenocturnists.org.
Humanizing healthcare through storytelling.
podcast
Humanizing healthcare through storytelling.
podcast