Health Wanted

It’s been 250 years of being the best! The best national parks, the best novelty food containers at sports arenas, the best fireworks displays! America is the best at everything!...Or are we? This week on Health Wanted, we’re asking the question, when it comes to health, is U.S.A. number one? Plus - Flu shots are back on the menu for basic training. Is fancy genetic testing worth it? H...

While every holiday comes with the risk of dinner devolving into arguments about politics, the fourth of July comes with physical health risks as well. This week on Health Wanted, from hot dogs and heat to fireworks and alcohol: how to safely get the most out of your summer parties. Plus - Can you get ringworm from your pets? What causes the “asian glow” when drinking alcohol? Does vir...

Itchy, itchy, scratchy, scratchy, ooh I got one down my back-y. Nothing takes the fun out of a lovely day outside like being eaten alive. This week on the Health Wanted, we’ve got the buzz on summer’s greatest pest: mosquitos. Plus - A new baby formula recall. Is orofacial myofunctional therapy real? Why don’t we give the shingles vaccine to people under 50? Is the barbell flu re...

We’re off for some much needed vacation, but fear not! We’re bringing you answers to some of our favorite questions you’ve asked and Laurel has answered, including: How scientific are personality tests? How dangerous is raw chicken? Is it safe to pee in an unflushed toilet? Does the Shingrix vaccine protect against cancer? How long can pathogens live on surfaces? Does taking mela...

The smell of salty air, the sun on your skin, the wind in your hair, the…gastrointestinal distress and lax criminal justice system. No, we’re not talking about a pirate’s life. This week on Health Wanted, we’re cruising for a bruising by laying out the potential hazards on one of America's favorite recreational activities: cruises. Plus - Does magnesium cure all? And why a...

Pride month might be the perfect excuse to practice a glitter makeup look or dust off your rainbow colored shorts, but it’s also an important time to remember the trailblazers that contributed to health and science before there was a parade to attend. This week on Health Wanted, we’re checking off the next item on the gay agenda: celebrating the resiliency of the queer community. Plus...

Sometimes it may feel like the world is metaphorically on fire, but it’s important to remember that it’s also often literally on fire. This week on Health Wanted, we’re taking a look at the increasing impact of wildfires on both the environment and your personal health. Plus - Is Parkinson’s more genetic or environmental? How often should you change your car’s HVAC fi...

We had a phenomenal episode prepared for you today but sadly, circumstances beyond our control have had to delay it at the last minute. But don’t worry! There’s a lot of infectious disease business going on right now and you know Laurel would never leave you hanging, so here’s a bit of an update and overview on hantavirus and Ebola. Have a question for Laurel? Send it to healthwa...

Everybody put on your party hats and grab a slice of cake. It’s a birthday party for the births that never were. This week on Health Wanted, we’re celebrating a very merry un-birthday in the truest sense, because May 9 was the 66th anniversary of the FDA approving the first oral birth control pill, a divisive medication people still love to hate. Plus - Is mushroom tea worth the hype?...

Moms! They do so much for their children, but somehow, according to everyone else's opinion, all of it is terrible and wrong. As Mother’s Day approaches, we wanted to say thank you to all our moms for doing their best by presenting data to silence the haters. This week on Health Wanted…we’re defending moms. Plus - Do GLPs have anything to do with why people are drinking less? Wh...

While celebs and their stylists prepare to make an impression at the Met Gala, we’re preparing for what I like to call the “Code Met” Gala. This week on Health Wanted…we have a passion for surgical fashion. Plus - Are roundabouts bad for pedestrian safety? Are “whole grain” foods just as bad as refined flour? Should we be rethinking cremation? For a full rundow...

Hey men! Are you feeling as manly as you could be? Do you have enough man juice flowing through your veins? Did you know hormones aren’t just for girls anymore? They’re manly! This week on Health Wanted…Are you man enough to learn about testosterone therapy?!? Plus - Is ivermectin effective against head lice? What should you look for in electrolytes? Does the phrase “GLP-1...

This week on the show: cannabis! Is it bad for you? Is it good for you? Better than alcohol? And how does it seem to be EVERYWHERE…even in states where you know it’s illegal? Plus - Is red light therapy a scam? Is there any truth to the idea that the FDA doesn’t withhold good products? And what does “holistic health” actually mean? For a full rundown on all the infor...

Private equity is not just taking over companies—it’s increasingly gaining control of health care facilities as well. This week on Health Wanted, host Laurel Bristow and guest Megan Greenwell explain private equity and how it can lead to lower-quality care for patients and financial instability for hospitals. Have a question for Laurel? Send it to healthwanted@wabe.org or leave a voice...

The U.S. has built our transportation infrastructure around vast landscapes of 6-lane highways and parking lots. Heck you’re probably listening to this while driving! And if you happen to be stuck in traffic, perhaps it’s time to question if cars are really solving more problems than they create. This week on Health Wanted we’re putting the pedal to the metal to talk about how yo...

From magical amulets to metal funnels that cost $270, there are wellness scams all around for those who have eyes to see them. This week on Health Wanted, we’re preparing for April Fools’ Day by reviewing some health and wellness products, practices, and claims so ridiculous they make you say, “this is a joke, right?” Plus, a little good news. Why is protein in everything?...

Everyone on the internet claims to have the secret solution to all your health needs, but has the answer been hiding in meemaw’s Metamucil this whole time? This week on Health Wanted: Fiber! How does it do so many wonderful things for health? Plus: How to feel (more) confident in your medical influencers on social media? What risks do hair dye pose? How much attention should you pay to Calif...

OOooh you ever get all hot and sweaty? You get that itch? You know you’re just gonna be up all night? Because you’re going through menopause. This week on Health Wanted we’re talking about the comeback queen known as menopause hormone therapy, and where the science stands on alleged miracle cure. Plus: What’s with all the aspartame hate? Are oral vitamin K drops just as goo...

2025 saw the start of a particular focus on detentions and deportations. This week on the show, we’re taking a look at the way increased immigration enforcement activity impacts public health. Plus: What’s going on with blood screening tests for cancer? How scientific are personality tests? How dangerous is raw chicken? And the Sick of the Week. For a full rundown on all the informatio...

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 ar...

There’s a saying in parenting: “The days are long, but the years are short.” This could also apply to the whirlwind first year of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s tenure as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. This week on Health Wanted, we take a walk down memory lane to review all that RFK Jr. and the MAHA movement have been able to accomplish in their first y...

Valentine’s day is here, and with it, mountains of sweets! Boxes of chocolates! Candy hearts that somehow still have phrases like “fax me!” There’s no limit to confectioneries for your cutie pie, but what does the research say about our sweet tooth’s connection to our overall health? This week on Health Wanted, we’re talking sugar, sugar. Plus: Does measles vacc...

This week’s episode of Health Wanted has it all: Covert influencer sponsored content! Taco Bell! School lunches! The new Dietary Guidelines for Americans! And it all comes back to dairy. Join us as we take a look at the udder-ly fascinating history of how milk became the essential drink for kids…and if it’s really as healthy as advertisers might have you believe. Plus: How to re...

In a post-Roe world, more people are opting for a more permanent form of birth control, but their access might be limited by rules intended to prevent us from repeating violations of the past. This week on Health Wanted, we’re taking a look at the history of sterilization, and how well-intentioned laws can end up hurting people they meant to protect. Plus: Can you get ringworm from your pets...

The internet is a mecca for DIY enthusiasts. You can find out how to remodel your house, fix your car, and even…become your own doctor? This week on Health Wanted: As more Americans become disillusioned with our health care system, more tech companies are providing DIY alternatives to doctor’s offices…but is that a good thing? Plus: Is getting shingles protective against dement...