Podcast

Health Wanted

Health & Fitness, Science

Health Wanted brings you each week’s need-to-know public health headlines and breaks down the science behind trending topics. Host Laurel Bristow, MSc, draws on her experience as an infectious disease researcher and epidemiologist to cover everything from Ozempic to the ozone, interviewing experts and answering your questions, all in pursuit of better health.

A collaboration between WABE and the Emory Rollins School of Public Health.

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This public health show is intended solely for general information purposes, and is not intended to provide medical advice, to be used in the diagnosis of disease or other conditions, or in the cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease or other conditions. The information in the show should not be relied upon in a manner that would either delay medical treatment or result in unnecessary medical treatment. Always consult a physician or health care provider with your health or treatment concerns.

Episodes
126
Releases
Daily
Typical length
52 min
On air since
2024
Latest episode
4 days ago

Episodes

126 episodes, newest first

  1. Blood

    Episode 104

    Show notes

    Oh, hang on here real quick; my mouth is dry. Let me get a quick sip here…of your blood, ya science-loving virgin! Ha-HA I’m just goofing. This week on Health Wanted, we’re celebrating Halloween by staying young and beautiful forever! Or maybe we’re purging ourselves of evil. Or making an unbreakable pact! Any way you slice it… It's all about bloooooood!

    For a full rundown on all the information shared in today's episode, take a look at the show notes.

    Have a question for Laurel? Click here, email it to HealthWanted@WABE.org, or leave a voicemail at 404-888-3630!

    For more, visithttps://www.wabe.org/healthwanted/http://healthwanted.org

    See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    19 min
  2. Interview: Blood

    Episode 104

    Show notes

    We talk with Dr. Allan Doctor about what happens in our bodies when we lose too much blood and how artificial blood may be a stopgap for people experiencing blood loss who can’t get to a hospital quick enough for a transfusion.

    Have a question for Laurel? Click here, email it to HealthWanted@WABE.org, or leave a voicemail at 404-888-3630!

    For more, visithttps://www.wabe.org/healthwanted/http://healthwanted.org

    See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    19 min
  3. The Q&A: Freight lines, overnight delivery services, and the impact AVs have on public health

    Episode 104

    Show notes

    What is the impact on public health when freight lines and overnight delivery services switch to AVs? How often do you need to clean the water tank of a coffee machine? Should I be bracing for higher premiums and deductibles? And our Sick of the Week.

    For a full rundown on all the information shared in today's episode, take a look at the show notes.

    Have a question for Laurel? Click here, email it to HealthWanted@WABE.org, or leave a voicemail at 404-888-3630!

    For more, visithttps://www.wabe.org/healthwanted/http://healthwanted.org

    See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    14 min
  4. Bottled Water

    Episode 103

    Show notes

    It’s sexy, it’s hip, it’s healthy, it's wreaking havoc on the environment, and it costs way more than just getting it from the sink. This week on Health Wanted, we’re talking about the strange obsession with bottled water.

    For a full rundown on all the information shared in today's episode, take a look at the show notes.

    Have a question for Laurel? Click here, email it to HealthWanted@WABE.org, or leave a voicemail at 404-888-3630!

    For more, visithttps://www.wabe.org/healthwanted/http://healthwanted.org

    See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    18 min
  5. Interview: Bottled Water

    Episode 103

    Show notes

    We talk with water sommelier Martin Riese about what really makes water “good,” debunking water myths, and how some bottled water companies market unproven “benefits” of their product so they can charge you more.

    Have a question for Laurel? Click here, email it to HealthWanted@WABE.org, or leave a voicemail at 404-888-3630!

    For more, visithttps://www.wabe.org/healthwanted/http://healthwanted.org

    See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    16 min
  6. The Q&A: What makes dementia worse and more

    Episode 103

    Show notes

    Can statins make dementia worse? Does rinsing your rice before cooking remove the enrichments? Is it true that PCOS occurs when women start silencing themselves? Are there actual benefits to fire cider? And our Sick of the Week.

    Have a question for Laurel? Click here, email it to HealthWanted@WABE.org, or leave a voicemail at 404-888-3630!

    For more, visithttps://www.wabe.org/healthwanted/http://healthwanted.org

    See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    17 min
  7. The Q&A: Testing Cremains and more

    Episode 102

    Show notes

    Is it possible to do a DNA test on cremains? Do things like drug testing strips from Amazon actually work? Our Sick of the Week on how clean our water is and what measures, if any, should we be taking to make sure the water we drink is safe.

    Have a question for Laurel? Click here, email it to HealthWanted@WABE.org, or leave a voicemail at 404-888-3630!

    For more, visithttps://www.wabe.org/healthwanted/http://healthwanted.org

    See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    12 min
  8. Interview: Stillbirths

    Episode 102

    Show notes

    We talk with Dr. Lauren Christiansen-Lindquist about the data needed to reduce stillbirth rates and maternal health advocate Debbie Haine Vijayvergiya about the experience of losing her daughter Autumn and her work towards changing policy for stillbirth research.

    Have a question for Laurel? Click here, email it to HealthWanted@WABE.org, or leave a voicemail at 404-888-3630!

    For more, visithttps://www.wabe.org/healthwanted/http://healthwanted.org

    See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    26 min
  9. Stillbirths

    Episode 102

    Show notes

    When you’re expecting, you might hear all about the ways your body will change, the size of your baby compared to various fruits, the weird cravings people had, or even the old wives' tales to induce labor. But there’s one topic that’s often hushed until after it's happened. This week on Health Wanted, we’re talking about stillbirth: a pregnancy outcome that’s seldom discussed.

    For a full rundown on all the information shared in today's episode, take a look at the show notes.

    Have a question for Laurel? Click here, email it to HealthWanted@WABE.org, or leave a voicemail at 404-888-3630!

    See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    14 min
  10. Prescription Drug Costs

    Episode 101

    Show notes

    I’m of the opinion that a trip to the pharmacy should be fun. A time to check out the press on nail selection, use the over zealous automated cuff to check your blood pressure, buy discounted halloween candy. NOT a time to go bankrupt while using the insurance you pay hundreds of dollars a month for. This week on Health Wanted, we’re talking about drugs! (not that kind of drugs). Prescription drugs, and how the prices are too dang high!

    We also talk with Professor Courtney Yarbough about how we got to this point, and how complicated it would be to get out of it.

    Plus: Are advanced maternal ages contributing to mental health issues? Does the hygiene hypothesis have anything to do with vaccines? Do you need to be worried about plague in Siberia? And a double dose of TOTAL RECALL including our Sick of the Week.

    For a full rundown on all the information shared in today's episode, take a look at the show notes.

    Have a question for Laurel? Click here, email it to HealthWanted@WABE.org, or leave a voicemail at 404-888-3630!

    For more, visithttps://www.wabe.org/healthwanted/http://healthwanted.org

    See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    52 min
  11. From The Archive: CTE (with update)

    Show notes

    This episode includes an update from Dr. Nowinski sharing new research about the prevalence of CTE published after the episode first went live in February.

    Let’s be honest, Americans love to watch a contact sport. We cheer at hockey fights, make highlight reels of the most brutal football tackles, yell, “kill him!” When our favorite wrestlers get their opponent in a headlock. We know massive hits can take a toll on the old noggin', but as it turns out, it might just be the lesser hits that happen over and over and over again that are causing more damage to the most people.

    This week on the show, we’re talking to former college football player and WWE wrestler, Dr. Chris Nowinski, about chronic traumatic encephalopathy.

    For a full rundown on all the information shared in today's episode, take a look at the show notes.

    Have a question for Laurel? Click here, email it to HealthWanted@WABE.org, or leave a voicemail at 404-888-3630!

    For more, visithttps://www.wabe.org/healthwanted/http://healthwanted.org

    See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    52 min
  12. Sea Ailments

    Episode 100

    Show notes

    Bleeding gums, disability stigma, Polly Lobster, the volleyball scene from Top Gun. What do they all have in common? An inextricable link to the foundation of public health. This week on Health Wanted, we’re setting sail on a course to educate you about the unbreakable bond between public health and those who commit their lives to the high seas.

    We also talk with author Kevin Brown about how the British Royal Navy responded to the particular health needs of sailors.

    Plus: How hard is it to get off psychiatric medications? A clarification about pronunciation. How the CDC is counting (or rather, not counting) measles deaths. And the Sick of the Week.

    For a full rundown on all the information shared in today's episode, take a look at the show notes.

    Have a question for Laurel? Click here, email it to HealthWanted@WABE.org, or leave a voicemail at 404-888-3630!

    For more, visithttps://www.wabe.org/healthwanted/http://healthwanted.org

    See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    53 min
  13. “Gas Station Drugs” One Year Later

    Episode 99

    Show notes

    A lot can happen in a year: new beginnings, sad endings, a patchwork of controlled substance legislation that varies from state to state and may or may not be influenced by underhanded payments to remove competitors from the market, the changing color of the leaves. This week on Health Wanted, we’re doing a one-year check in on the status of 7-hydroxymitragynine, which some claimed could be the next opioid epidemic.

    We also talk with Harvard professor and physician Dr. Pieter Cohen about testing products sold as supplements at gas stations and vape shops to find out if what’s in them matches what’s on the label.

    Plus: Is hyperbaric oxygen therapy real or more wellness nonsense? What to know about the news that xylitol increases the risk of cardiovascular problems. Is Amazon stealing Laurel’s voice? An update on New World screwworm, and the Sick of the Week!

    For a full rundown on all the information shared in today's episode, take a look at the show notes.

    Have a question for Laurel? Click here, email it to HealthWanted@WABE.org, or leave a voicemail at 404-888-3630!

    For more, visithttps://www.wabe.org/healthwanted/http://healthwanted.org

    See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    53 min
  14. Postpartum Psychosis

    Episode 98

    Show notes

    Having a baby is supposed to be a joyous occasion, a time to be surrounded by love and support for your growing family. But for some people, the postpartum period comes with mental health changes that put them in crisis. This week on Health Wanted, we’re talking about what we do, and don’t, know about postpartum psychosis.

    We also talk with Dr. Toby Goldsmith of PEACE for Moms about what is lacking when it comes to postpartum mental health.

    Plus: What’s the difference between Down syndrome and autism spectrum disorder? Can you thaw chicken on your kitchen counter? Is organic really better? And all your flu and COVID vaccine questions answered in the Sick of the Week.

    For a full rundown on all the information shared in today's episode, take a look at the show notes.

    Have a question for Laurel? Click here, email it to HealthWanted@WABE.org, or leave a voicemail at 404-888-3630!

    For more, visithttps://www.wabe.org/healthwanted/http://healthwanted.org

    See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    52 min
  15. AI Bioweapons

    Episode 97

    Show notes

    Pre-World War II, it wasn’t the weapons that were the primary reason soldiers died, it was the infections that came after. But what happens when the infection becomes the weapon? This week on Health Wanted we’re testing the limits of both large language models AND your ability to compartmentalize your existential dread, by talking about the future of bioterrorism.

    We also talk with Microsoft’s Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Eric Horvitz about how AI companies are working to prevent bad actors.

    Plus: Have we found the hangover holy grail? What does Laurel think about direct-to-consumer lab tests? Why don’t Europeans refrigerate their eggs? And the Sick of the Week.

    For a full rundown on all the information shared in today's episode, take a look at the show notes.

    Have a question for Laurel? Send it to healthwanted@wabe.org, click here or leave a voicemail at 404-888-3630!

    For more, visithttps://www.wabe.org/healthwanted/http://healthwanted.org

    See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    52 min
  16. From the Archive: Autism

    Show notes

    Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects how people communicate, learn, and interact. This week on Health Wanted, host Laurel Bristow and guest Daniele Fallin, PhD, talk about ASD and what could be behind its rising prevalence across the world.

    Bristow then covers a range of topics in the Q&A: genetic testing and insurance, vaccines before cruises, and trusted resources for menopause information before addressing two recurring co-stars: bird flu and measles.

    For a full rundown on all the information shared in today's episode, take a look at the Show Notes.

    Have a question for Laurel? Send it to healthwanted@wabe.org or leave a voicemail at 404-888-3630!

    For more, visit https://healthwanted.org

    See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    52 min
  17. Caffeine

    Episode 96

    Show notes

    You say you can’t sleep? Baby I don’t know. Is it that “me espresso?” Or is it something else? This week on Health Wanted, we’re talking about America’s favorite psychoactive substance: caffeine!

    We also talk with UCSF cardiologist Dr. Greg Marcus about the potential cardiovascular benefits and drawbacks to drinking caffeinated coffee.

    Plus: Are cold plunges worth the pain? Are there any benefits to “touching grass?” Debunking recent public health headlines. And some highs and lows for vaccine access.

    For a full rundown on all the information shared in today's episode, take a look at the show notes.

    Have a question for Laurel? Send it to healthwanted@wabe.org or leave a voicemail at 404-888-3630!

    For more, visithttps://www.wabe.org/healthwanted/http://healthwanted.org

    See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    52 min
  18. Autonomous Vehicles

    Episode 95

    Show notes

    When the Beatles said “baby you can drive my car” they may not have realized they’d one day be talking to a robot. This week on Health Wanted…we’re talking about autonomous vehicles impact on health and safety, and looking at the world of tomorrow! Today!

    We also talk to Yonah Freemark of the Urban Institute about what policy should be considered to make the technology a net positive.

    Plus: Is it bad to mix bananas and berries in your smoothie? How to protect yourself from wildfire smoke. What’s going on with the Ebola outbreak? Did the Supreme Court rule that glyphosate doesn’t cause cancer? And the Sick of the Week.

    For a full rundown on all the information shared in today's episode, take a look at the show notes.

    Have a question for Laurel? Send it to healthwanted@wabe.org or leave a voicemail at 404-888-3630!

    For more, visithttps://www.wabe.org/healthwanted/http://healthwanted.org

    See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    53 min
  19. Peptides

    Episode 94

    Show notes

    It’s no longer just for bodybuilders and diabetics—it feels like everyone in America is self-injecting for aesthetics or health. This week on Health Wanted, the (pep)tide is high, but we’re holding on. We’re gonna be your number one…source for getting up to speed on the science behind the newest injectables craze.

    Plus: What’s going on with the low COVID activity? Cyclospora false positives explained. Is canned sparkling water exposing you to microplastics? What’s up with California’s food labels?

    For a full rundown on all the information shared in today's episode, take a look at the show notes.

    Have a question for Laurel? Send it to healthwanted@wabe.org or leave a voicemail at 404-888-3630!

    For more, visithttps://www.wabe.org/healthwanted/http://healthwanted.org

    See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    52 min
  20. Outbreak Response

    Episode 93

    Show notes

    Whether it’s an Ebola outbreak that threatens to cross borders or an explosion of cyclospora cases in our own country, it seems like every tom, dick, and harry has opinions on how outbreaks should be handled. This week on Health Wanted, we’re asking “how DO you to respond to a disease outbreak?”

    Plus, what’s going on with pediatric vaccine coverage? How do you stop “old people smell?” Is there lead in your turmeric? West Nile virus in your mosquitos? And the Sick of the Week.

    For a full rundown on all the information shared in today's episode, take a look at the show notes.

    Have a question for Laurel? Send it to healthwanted@wabe.org or leave a voicemail at 404-888-3630!

    For more, visithttps://www.wabe.org/healthwanted/http://healthwanted.org

    See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    52 min

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