Jun 16, 2026 · 42 min · 14 segments
We’re sharing an episode of What It’s Like to Be… from New York Times bestselling business book author Dan Heath. On the podcast, Dan explores the world of work, one profession at a time, and…
Alfredo Quinones-HinojosaGuest
Dan HeathGuest
Glynn WashingtonHostWe already spoke about the dangers of brain surgery, and I like to keep it positive.
I like to make sure that they feel my pulse, the warmth of my hand.
I like to ask them what they had for dinner the day before, and I like to ask them about some stories that I could potentially use in the operating room because the majority of my surgeries are with the patients awake, and I have to monitor their speech and their function, so the more connections I have with them, the easier it is for them to overcome the fears and anxieties they have.
Oh my goodness, and every time I am about to walk into the operating room, I get nervous.
It's that fine line between life and death that gives you the pause, the preoccupation, the adrenaline to make sure that all your senses are hyper, not just acute, but are hyper-acute, so time slows down.
And it's that adrenaline, in my opinion, that allows you to do things that are sometimes considered to be very challenging.
For instance, the moment that something goes wrong, which has happened to me.
After you've done 5,000 surgeries, you know, there's been moments where suddenly something changes quite rapidly.
We already spoke about the dangers of brain surgery, and I like to keep it positive.
I like to make sure that they feel my pulse, the warmth of my hand.
I like to ask them what they had for dinner the day before, and I like to ask them about some stories that I could potentially use in the operating room because the majority of my surgeries are with the patients awake, and I have to monitor their speech and their function, so the more connections I have with them, the easier it is for them to overcome the fears and anxieties they have.
Oh my goodness, and every time I am about to walk into the operating room, I get nervous.
It's that fine line between life and death that gives you the pause, the preoccupation, the adrenaline to make sure that all your senses are hyper, not just acute, but are hyper-acute, so time slows down.
And it's that adrenaline, in my opinion, that allows you to do things that are sometimes considered to be very challenging.
For instance, the moment that something goes wrong, which has happened to me.
After you've done 5,000 surgeries, you know, there's been moments where suddenly something changes quite rapidly.
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3 of 7
I Move Microscope With Teeth
Hear about jaw-controlled microscope during brain surgery
Brain Itself Guides Surgery
Why the patient stays awake during mid-operation
Touching Brain Pauses Time
Dr. Q freezes speech with tiny zap
+4 more clips · 5 min 14 sec of audio in all
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