This One Episode Will Change How You Think About the World & Your Life (From #1 Cancer Surgeon) episode artwork

EPISODE · Mar 19, 2026 · 1H 20M

This One Episode Will Change How You Think About the World & Your Life (From #1 Cancer Surgeon)

from The Mel Robbins Podcast · host SiriusXM Podcasts

Today’s episode will change how you think about your entire life. Because today you’re meeting a top cancer surgeon who’s going to help you think about one of life’s big questions - the kind you don’t usually ask yourself because you’re just too busy: What really matters in life? Maybe you’ve been feeling off. Like you’re doing a lot… but you’re not sure it’s the right stuff.  Maybe you’re craving clarity… what to focus on and what to stop wasting your time on. Well that’s the kind of guidance you’re getting today. In this powerful conversation Mel is sitting down with Dr. Rahul Jandial, MD, PhD - a world-renowned cancer neurosurgeon and neuroscientist - who has treated and operated on more than 15,000 stage 4 cancer patients at the end of their lives. So in this conversation, you’ll hear what becomes clear when time is running out: - What people wish they’d done sooner - What they wish they’d stopped caring about - What matters - and what never mattered at all - And the number one regret he hears from his patients again and again You’ll also learn why so many of us wait until it’s almost too late to start living the life we want… and how to change that - starting today. Dr. Jandial is the Medical Director of Neurosurgical Oncology and Skull Base Surgery at City of Hope in Los Angeles, one of the leading cancer centers in the world. He operates on brain cancers and spinal tumors in both adults and children, and directs a research lab focused on developing cutting-edge neuroscience and cancer treatments. Dr. Jandial has also lived through unbelievable twists and turns - from college dropout, to security guard, to becoming one of the most respected surgeons in the world - and today he shares what reinventing his life taught him about going after more and trusting yourself. In this episode, he will teach you how to find your footing again and build the kind of strength that will get you through any setback. What Dr. Jandial reveals in this episode is something he’s never shared on any podcast. In this episode, you’ll learn: - A simple daily practice that helps you remain steady, no matter what’s happening - How to handle bad news without spiraling or panicking - What to do first when you’re overwhelmed and don’t know what to focus on - How to bet on yourself even when other people don’t understand it - How to stop waiting for “someday” and start showing up more fully right now This conversation will shift your mindset so you stop waiting for ‘someday’ and start showing up more fully right now. Because once you hear it, you’ll see your life and the world differently. For more resources related to today’s episode, click here for the podcast episode page.   If you liked the episode, check out this one next with Dave Evans and Bill Burnett: How to Design Your Life in 1 Hour Connect with Mel:     Order Mel’s new product, Pure Genius Protein Get Mel’s newsletter, packed with tools, coaching, and inspiration. Get Mel’s #1 bestselling book, The Let Them Theory Watch the episodes on YouTube Follow Mel on Instagram  The Mel Robbins Podcast Instagram Mel's TikTok  Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes ad-free Disclaimer Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Today, you’re going to learn the life lessons most people learn too late. This episode will teach you exactly what matters most in life. Because in this powerful conversation, Dr. Rahul Jandial, MD, Ph.D. – a world-renowned cancer neurosurgeon and neuroscientist – shares the #1 regret he’s heard from more than 15,000 patients at the end of their lives. Dr. Rahul Jandial is the Medical Director of Neurosurgical Oncology and Skull Base Surgery at City of Hope in Los Angeles, one of the leading cancer centers in the world. He operates on brain cancers and spinal tumors in both adults and children, and he directs a research lab focused on developing cutting-edge neuroscience and cancer treatments. Today, he is going to share what matters most when time is limited: what people wish they’d done sooner, what they wish they’d stopped caring about, and what becomes crystal clear at the end of life - including why so many of us wait too long to start living the life we truly want, and how to shift that starting now. In this episode, he also shares his own story - from college dropout to security guard to neurosurgeon - and how reinventing his life taught him to go after more and trust himself. This episode is both a wake-up call and a lifeline to hold if you are navigating chaos, facing brutal news, or experiencing a hard time. In this episode you will learn: -How to stop postponing the life you want and start making better decisions -What to do when life hits you hard, including a diagnosis, a layoff, a breakup, or the loss of someone you love -How to get through the first hours after brutal news without spiraling or panicking -What to do if you are overwhelmed and not sure what to focus on -A simple daily practice so you can handle chaos with more control -How to bet on yourself even when other people don’t understand it  After this episode, you're going to know exactly what matters most in life and how to find the mindset you need when life hits you with something you didn’t see coming. For more resources related to today’s episode, click here for the podcast episode page. If you liked the episode, check out this one next with Dave Evans and Bill Burnett: How to Design Your Life in 1 Hour Connect with Mel: Order Mel’s new product, Pure Genius Protein Get Mel’s newsletter, packed with tools, coaching, and inspiration. Get Mel’s #1 bestselling book, The Let Them Theory Watch the episodes on YouTube Follow Mel on Instagram The Mel Robbins Podcast Instagram Mel's TikTok Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes ad-free Disclaimer

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This One Episode Will Change How You Think About the World & Your Life (From #1 Cancer Surgeon)

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This episode was published on March 19, 2026.

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Today’s episode will change how you think about your entire life. Because today you’re meeting a top cancer surgeon who’s going to help you think about one of life’s big questions - the kind you don’t usually ask yourself because you’re just too...

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