What The Hellth

After a season away, we're back to talk about the patient experience—and we're not speaking theoretically anymore. When Nessa's father was hospitalized recently, she and Brian both found themselves on the outside of the system they know so well. And what they discovered might change how you think about hospital care, discharge instructions, and the critical hours after you leave the hospital doors...

Episode Summary: In this wide-ranging and deeply human conversation, Dr. Brian Bost and Dr. Nessa Meshkaty reconnect after a busy stretch to unpack what’s really happening in modern medicine — and where they believe healing is headed. From arbitrary insurance downgrades and administrative bloat to direct care models, hospital-at-home programs, and the healing power of food and environment, this ep...

In this field update from sunny Napa, Brian and Nessa reflect on Day One at a groundbreaking food-and-health conference hosted at the Culinary Institute of America. What began as an expectation-free experience quickly turned into something far more affirming: a realization that the work they’ve been intuitively doing around food, medicine, culture, and community is now being formally validated on...

What happens when we pause, gather around food, and ask what actually nourishes us? In this short teaser episode, Brian Bost, MD, MPH and Nessa Meshkaty, MD set the stage for a week-long, food-centered experiment focused on ritual, connection, unlearning, and community. This conversation explores food as more than fuel — as memory, culture, medicine, and grounding in a chaotic world. Together, the...

Episode Summary In this episode of What The Hellth , Brian and Nessa reconnect after a period of relentless schedules to explore what happens—both biologically and socially—when we stop pausing long enough to listen. The conversation begins with the power of silence and intentional retreat, from multi-day silent experiences to smaller, daily practices that reduce cognitive overload and reset the n...

Summary In this episode, Brian and Nessa discuss various aspects of healthcare, including the importance of taking time off, the role of AI in medicine, and the challenges of communication in patient care. They delve into the concept of asymptomatic bacteria and how it can lead to misdiagnosis, as well as the need for better patient-doctor collaboration. The conversation also touches on the signif...

In this episode, Brian and Nessa explore the concept of feel-good medicine, discussing various unconventional prescriptions such as gardening, bird watching, and the practice of forest bathing. They delve into the importance of nature in promoting mental health and well-being, highlighting the Swedish model of prescribed nature and the shift towards social prescribing in healthcare. The conversati...

In this episode, Dr Brian Bost and Dr. Nessa Meshkaty discuss the critical topics of antimicrobial stewardship, the gut microbiome, nutrition, and the importance of creativity for brain health. They explore the complexities of antibiotic use in hospitals, the significance of maintaining a healthy gut, the impact of nutrition on health, especially in schools, and how creative activities can enhance...

Our first viewer question about why we are not using our platform to address controversial topics, especially in pediatrics.

In this podcast episode, Dr. Brian Bost and Dr. Nessa Meshkaty discuss critical health topics, including the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, specifically the NDM-CRE strain, and the implications for healthcare. They delve into the debate surrounding probiotics, examining the scientific evidence versus marketing claims. The conversation highlights the importance of informed decision-mak...

Summary In this inaugural episode of 'What the Health', hosts Brian Bost and Dr. Nessa Meshkadi discuss various health topics, including men's health concerns, the importance of gut health and nutrition, and the benefits of walking and fresh air. They emphasize the need for critical evaluation of health information and share personal anecdotes related to health and wellness. Takeaways Brian Bost a...