Why do we believe what we believe? Is what we believe the truth? How can we convince others of our beliefs? If you’ve ever pondered these questions, you know the answers are rarely clear-cut. This week, Adam Kucharski discusses his latest book, Proof. Tune in for a fascinating conversation!
The Tearjerker is this week’s quarantini, but we promise it won’t make you cry.
Did we forget to post the #quarantini last week? Yep sure did. Does that mean you’ll get two for one today? Sure does!
Tear gas is an expected, normalized part of protests today. But its use in war is banned. How can that be? That’s just one of the questions we investigate in this episode. From the history of tear gas to what’s in these chemicals and much more, this is an info-packed episode you won't want to miss.
Oropouche virus may or may not be something you've heard of but it's definitely a headline-generating pathogen worth talking about. This week's episode we dive into what this viral disease is, how it spreads, and the importance of a One Health approach to emerging pathogens like Oropouche. Tune in!
Prevention and screening represent two under-appreciated pillars of cancer care, and we’re using this final ep in our cancer series to show some appreciation. We also consider the global landscape of cancer prevalence and incidence. Tune in for a thought-provoking look at the status of cancer today.
Make yourself a #quarantini before the last episode in our four part cancer series drops tomorrow!
150 years ago, the list of effective cancer treatments was essentially a single entry: surgery. Today, the list is ever-growing. It is nothing short of a revolution. Today, we delve into all facets of cancer treatment. Tune in to learn how far we’ve come and where we might go from here.
For centuries, physicians noticed that cancer sometimes ran in families, but until the 1960s, scientists didn't know why. Journalist Lawrence Ingrassia belongs to one of those families. This week, he joins to discuss his book A Fatal Inheritance. Tune in for a heartbreaking and inspiring journey.
Each of our cells can become cancerous. It’s an uncomfortable, yet unavoidable truth. This week, we consider the qualities that underlie a cancer cell’s success in our body. If you’ve ever wondered why we don't have a cure for all cancer or why some animals get cancer more than others, listen now.
Cancer has touched all of us in some capacity, and learning of a diagnosis raises more questions than it answers. In this 4-part series, we aim to lay a foundation of knowledge to help make sense of this complex disease. We begin by asking a deceptively simple question: what is cancer? Listen now.
Results from John B. Calhoun’s “rat utopia” experiments from the mid-20th century revealed a behavioral dark side as space grew limited, ultimately leading to complete population collapse. In this week’s book club episode, Jon Adams and Edmund Ramsden to discuss their book, Rat City. Don't miss it!
Poop is an incredibly valuable and massively underutilized resource. However, most of us don’t see it that way because of our evolutionarily ingrained disgust towards poop. In this episode, we explore the problems that poop can cause on both the individual and population level. Tune in now!
For many of us, our poop is out of sight, out of mind once we flush it away. But for the next hour and fifteen minutes, we’re bringing it front of mind as we delve into the rich world of poop. This episode, the first of two on poop, is sure to shift your perspective in how you think about poop.
For much of the world, refrigeration is such a common technology that we rarely stop to wonder at the many ways it has transformed our lives. As Nicola Twilley describes in her book, Frostbite, progress often comes at a cost. Listen now - you’ll never look at your fridge the same way again.
One-third to one-half of Americans are not getting enough sleep, according to public health guidelines. Why? Hypotheses abound, but many suggest that sleep in industrialized societies today is not just different but worse than in centuries past. Is that true? Tune in now to find out all we learned!
Sleep is a universal experience. It’s not just the lion that sleeps tonight - it’s also the butterfly,
the chicken, the jellyfish, the dog, and of course the human. What is this widespread physiological process whose spell we are all under? Tune in as we unravel some of the mysteries of sleep!
Since its development in the 1920s, leaded gasoline has been linked to countless health issues in millions around the globe. This week, Erin chats with Daniel Stone about his book American Poison, which tells the story of leaded gasoline - heroes, villains, and lessons we can learn. Don't miss it!
We are putting together a mini-series on cancer, from the history to the biology to the concept of cancer as a disease. We are looking for people willing to share your experience with cancer - whatever that may mean to you. If you've been thinking about sending in your cancer experience, please do!
Went a little too hard over the holidays? Feeling like you need a reset? Wondering which supplement/tea/cleanse will detoxify you to the max? Boy do we have an episode for you! Tune in this week to see what these brands are actually trying to sell you and what detoxification actually is!
We've got another episode from the vault for you all this week - Endometriosis. This episode is our top answer to "what's your favorite episode you've recorded" for so many reasons.
In light of the recent changes by RFK jr’s ACIP to eliminate the universal birth dose of the Hep B vaccine in the US, a decision which will result in preventable infections and deaths in this country, it seems timely to remind everyone of the global consequences of this incredibly prevalent pathogen
While you count down to the new year, check out this special episode of Advances in Care, where Erin Welsh is joined by Health Matters host Courtney Allison to chat about the top health takeaways from their conversations with physicians this year. advances-in-care.simplecast.com/episodes/202...
Did your grandma ever warn you against going out in the cold with wet hair because “you’ll catch your death”? There are countless health myths about how to prevent or treat disease, what food will give you super powers or turn your kid into a whirlwind. But is there any truth to them? Let’s find out
In this week’s TPWKY book club episode, Dr. Homer Venters joins us to discuss his latest work, Outbreak Behind Bars: Spider Bites, Human Rights, and the Unseen Danger to Public Health. Dr. Venters has extensive firsthand knowledge of the barriers in care - and he has evidence-based solutions.
These episodes will be coming out in Spring 2026, and we'll be reaching out to folks who submit a firsthand shortly after the New Year.
This is a huge topic and your firsthand stories mean so much to us so thank you in advance to anyone willing to share their story. You can find the link to our firsthand account form in our bio or on our website under "contact us".
Hi everyone! We are putting together a mini-series on cancer, from the history to the biology to the concept of cancer as a disease. We are looking for people willing to share your experience with cancer - whatever that may mean to you.
Is salt actually bad for us and if so, why is there still a debate? This week we’ll figure out what salt actually does in our bodies and how it might impact our health. If you’ve ever wondered how we’ve arrived at the maximum daily sodium intake and why salt impacts blood pressure, tune in!
Have you ever thrown a pinch of spilled salt over your shoulder? Or said “take this with a grain of salt”? Salt is so deeply embedded in our history as a species that we often take its influence for granted. In the first of a two-parter on everyone’s favorite seasoning, we delve deep into salt lore.