HealthierU

In this episode, we delve into how inadequate medical care in correctional facilities exacerbates mental and physical health issues and creates lasting burdens on those inside and outside of the system. How can we call a system “just” when it fails to prioritize health and rehabilitation, forcing incarcerated individuals into a daily struggle for survival that erodes their sense of security and ho...

In this episode, host Tre’ Harp tackles the issue of student mental health after reading a viral article that supposedly ranked the most depressed universities, with Emory coming in at No. 4. To get to the bottom of the question of what is going on with the depression on campus, Tre’ talks with fellow students including Nasneen Abdalim about what it’s like to navigate the university’s mental healt...

How do college students find purpose amidst the hustle and bustle of academic deadlines, internships, and social pressures? In this episode of HealthierU, host Abby Weisenfeld dives into the challenges and joys of discovering meaning in everyday life by drawing on published research and talking with Dr. Christine Whelan , Emory University's “Purpose Professor” and a nationally recognized expe...

More and more, otherwise healthy female athletes are getting diagnosed with something called Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS, for short). Often, the first signs of POTS are feeling faint when standing up, or noticing a rapid heartbeat. POTS is a condition that affects blood flow and can cause symptoms like dizziness, rapid heart rate, and fatigue—challenges that can significantly i...

Burnout, depression, and even suicide rates among physicians have reached alarming levels, raising the critical question: Who heals the healers? In this episode of HealthierU , we dive into the mental health challenges faced by healthcare professionals, starting with pre-med students and continuing through residency and beyond. One-time Emory pre-med student Ruhama Atena shares her story of burnou...

This episode delves into the growing epidemic of "tech neck,” a modern issue arising from our sedentary lifestyles and excessive screen use. We all know neck pain can be uncomfortable, but did you know it can also increase stress, impact your mood, and lead to a sense of overwhelm? We talk with Emory students who’ve experienced neck discomfort, as well as Dr. John Heller , an orthopedic surge...

Sisters Yulan and Joleigh Yim used to love eating Korean food — until they were both diagnosed with food allergies as adults. In this episode, we explore the science behind food allergies with Dr. Dan Benardot , a registered dietitian and Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine, who explains the difference between an allergy, an intolerance and a sensitivity to certain foods.  This episo...

Every sip of water you take might contain chemicals that will outlast your great-grandchildren. In this eye-opening episode, we explore how so-called "forever chemicals” called PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) became embedded in our daily lives, and what innovative solutions might help us clean up this invisible mess. From the devastating effects of DDT in the 1960s to cutting-edge...

As climate change continues to warm our planet, understanding the effects of heat on our health will become even more important. Yet many people aren’t aware of the impact that extreme heat can have on our mental health. On this episode of HealthierU , we dive into the science behind some of these lesser-known impacts with the help of Dr. Robin Cooper, a co-founder of the Climate Psychiatry Allian...

We all know that feeling after a large, delicious meal, where our food baby overtakes our body. You know the one, where you feel extremely bloated, with a swollen gut? If you continuously feel abdominal pain or discomfort, it may be caused by a much deeper gut issue: H. Pylori. H. Pylori is a type of gut bacteria that affects half of the world’s population and can sometimes cause severe health pro...

Microplastics are all around us, from the fabric of our clothes to the Tupperware container we warm our leftovers in—they’ve even been found in the human brain. We rely on plastic for affordability and convenience, but what are the health consequences of this growing dependence? In this episode, Emory students including Stephanie Oehler share their concerns about microplastics, and environmental h...

Between IUDs, pills, hormonal patches, Depo-Provera injections and many other methods, women trying to prevent pregnancies have an array of options—none of them all that appealing. Let’s turn to the contraceptives available to men: only condoms or vasectomy. In this episode, we ask: Why is there still no male equivalent to the female pill? Why has it taken the contraceptive industry so long to mak...

Imagine a diet consisting only of two things: meat and dairy. Welcome to the carnivore diet, the internet's newest diet trend. Carnivores are all over social media raving about how the diet helped them lose weight and cure chronic disease — but is it legit? To find out, we talk to Courtney Luna , a TikTok influencer who has been a devout carnivore for more than two years, as well as Dr. Dan B...

The Healthier U podcast from Emory University’s Center for the Study of Human Health addresses essential health issues in our changing world. This season explores topics like fad diets, birth control, mental health, microplastics, and climate change. Experts, including nutritionists and medical professionals, share insights on the dangers of the carnivore diet, birth control side effects, and the...

Have you ever struggled with your mental health and sought answers for your problems on the internet or social media? If so, this episode is for you, as host Lauryn Palacio dives into the complex practice of self-diagnosis in psychiatry. While controversial, self-diagnosis is an alternative method of seeking mental health treatment used by those who may not have access to professional help. What i...

In this episode of HealthierU, Bobby Mosely Jr. tries to answer the question: how does air pollution affect our health? Bobby speaks with Lauren Cohen, a student at Emory University, and Dr. Jeremy Sarnat, an associate professor at the Rollins School of Public Health.  Featured Guests: Lauren Cohen is a junior at Emory University, studying sociology. She grew up in Singapore, where air pollution m...

When host Kayla Barry was diagnosed with PCOS in high school, she had to give up her beloved Swedish Fish. In this episode, Kayla explores the multifaceted world of sugar, from how it functions in the body to its place in history, with help of registered dietitians and academics.   Featured Guests: Sharon Rhodes is a registered dietician nutritionist (RDN) and nutritional consultant.  Alissa Palla...

Public school sexual education is patchy enough to begin with, but what about students who aren’t in the mainstream classes? For people with intellectual disabilities, sexual education is lacking at best and nonexistent at worst. With a population so susceptible to misunderstanding societal boundaries and sexual violence, it is important to provide adequate sex ed. In this episode, host Adele Fegl...

Nursing shortages are nothing new in the United States—the problem goes back almost a hundred years. And since men make up only 12% of the nursing workforce, the solution appears simple: Get more men to join the ranks. But how? On this week’s episode, host Daniel Sung explores what keeps men from pursuing nursing as a career, and what can be done to help alleviate the shortage. Featured Guests:  J...

In this episode, Alexa Espinosa explores the science of happiness, from ancient Greece to Japan and beyond. A TikTok creator shares his experience using the Japanese concept of Ikigai to enhance life satisfaction; science suggests it might even help people live longer. Later, Emory’s “purpose professor” discusses the importance of aligning one's life with a meaningful mission. Tune in for a t...

Everyone knows an athlete. What is harder to know is why so many of them are at risk for developing an eating disorder: as high as 25%, according to some research. In this episode, host Meg Woodward takes a deep dive into this question with the help of an eating disorders counselor and an athlete in recovery. If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, contact the National As...

Maternal death rates in the Black community are alarming. Some think the solution may lie in empowering Black mothers to give birth at home, with culturally appropriate assistance offered by doulas. In this episode, host Amaris Calhoun draws on evidence-based research and interviews to explore possible solutions to this crisis that could foster a more inclusive and equitable approach to maternity...

With the rise of social media usage, exercise and diet culture have influenced a large number of people, and today’s youth is among them. In this episode, Snehitha Vardhineni speaks to experts in the field as well as today’s youth to explore trends and personal experiences in relation to exercise and nutrition. Featured guests include: Shivy Agadi - student at UT Dallas and president of an exercis...

What is on your mind? Can you handle one more thing? Quarantined Happiness aims to set the stage on the conversation around mental health and the effects of the pandemic on society’s most fragile, yet influential group — the youth. Featured guests include: Emmet Power is a clinical psychology research fellow and PhD student at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. Katelyn Hancock is a care coo...

This NeuroTech Talk episode features four people from different walks of life and different stages in their neurotechnology careers to discuss how COVID-19 has impacted their work as scholars and researchers — as well as the future of the field. Featured guests include: Dr. Cesar Echavarria is a recent Neuroscience PhD graduate from Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Dr. Cesar Echavar...