Dr Amir Khan on kindness, community and caring for mind and body

Growing up, belonging and finding your place

For the first time, Amir speaks openly about his childhood in Bradford, growing up as the only brother in a lively Muslim family of six sisters. He reflects on the strength and humour of his upbringing, shaped by family, faith and the now famous presence of Mama Khan, whose warmth and wisdom continue to ground him.

These early experiences, Amir explains, played a huge role in shaping his values as a doctor. Growing up in a close knit, community focused environment helped him understand the importance of listening, empathy and cultural awareness. Skills that matter just as much in a consulting room as medical knowledge.

While many people know Amir from television, he remains a full time NHS GP. In this episode, he talks candidly about balancing media work with frontline clinical care, and why staying connected to patients is essential to who he is.

He speaks about caring for some of the most vulnerable people in society and the responsibility that comes with that role. About the emotional weight GPs carry. About the small interactions that stay with you long after a clinic ends. Amir’s reflections offer a rare insight into the realities of modern general practice and the quiet resilience required to keep showing up.

There is plenty of laughter throughout the conversation. Amir reveals his mischievous side, including a cheeky white lie told early in his career, and a prank involving a urine sample that still makes him cringe. These moments of humour matter. They remind us that doctors are human too, navigating nerves, embarrassment and learning curves just like everyone else.

By sharing these stories, Amir gently breaks down the invisible barrier that often exists between patients and clinicians. Trust, he believes, grows when people feel safe enough to be themselves.

As the conversation deepens, Amir speaks passionately about health as something broader than diagnosis or medication. He talks about kindness as a health intervention in its own right. About community as a protective factor against loneliness and poor mental health. About compassion as something that benefits both the person receiving care and the person giving it.

He also shares his love of animals and nature, and how spending time outdoors helps him reset and stay grounded. These reflections echo growing evidence that connection with nature, routine and simple pleasures can have a meaningful impact on wellbeing.

Amir also offers practical advice on keeping the brain healthy, drawing on both clinical knowledge and everyday habits. He talks about the importance of sleep, staying curious, social connection and movement. Small, sustainable actions that support cognitive health across the lifespan.

Rather than presenting quick fixes, Amir emphasises consistency and kindness towards yourself. Health, he reminds us, is built gradually through daily choices, not perfection.

What makes this episode so compelling is the balance between warmth and substance. Amir is funny, reflective and deeply sincere. He speaks with clarity about the challenges facing healthcare, but also with hope about what still works. Human connection. Compassion. Community.

This conversation reveals the man behind the TV doctor. A GP who takes his responsibility seriously. A son shaped by family. A clinician who believes that listening is one of the most powerful tools in medicine.