Public Health Group Chat

In this episode, Ariel breaks down the WIC program (Women, Infants, and Children) as Congress moves to cut its benefits. She covers what WIC provides — cash benefits for healthy foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and referrals to other services — plus eligibility and its history dating back to the early 1970s. She shares the data on WIC's impact, including major health care sa...

In this episode, Mattie walks us through Ebola as it returns to the headlines for the first time in years. She covers what the virus is, its history dating back to the 1976 outbreak near the Ebola River, how it spreads, and the treatments and vaccines in development. Then she gets into the current Bundibugyo outbreak in the DRC's Ituri province (now spilled into Uganda and declared a public h...

In this episode, Ariel walks us through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). She traces its history from the Food Stamp Program of 1939 to its most recent changes under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025 (spoiler alert: changes made due to OBBBA aren’t good). In addition to reviewing major changes to SNAP through the years, she discusses what SNAP is and the eligibility criter...

If the MV Hondius Hantavirus outbreak hit the US tomorrow, would we be ready? In Part II of our Hantavirus/Andes virus coverage, Mattie and Olivia sit down with Dr. Elizabeth Soda, MD, infectious disease physician and former CDC insider who spent nearly a decade at the agency before resigning on principle in September 2025. Drawing on her years working from within, Dr. Soda explains why the system...

In this episode (Part I of II), Olivia breaks down Hantavirus: what it is, how it spreads, and why the outbreak aboard the MV Hondius has the world paying attention. She walks through the science of the Andes Virus (the only known Hantavirus strain capable of human-to-human transmission), the full outbreak timeline as of May 13th, 2026, and what key dates to watch in the coming weeks. Spoiler: thi...

In today’s episode, Ariel walks us through the public health impacts of war. We start by providing a very brief history of human conflict. Next, we talk about technological advances during WWI, WWII, and the Cold War that have made modern warfare extremely deadly. We then discuss the on-going Iran War, and finish out the discussion on why war is terrible for public health. Spoiler alert: it affect...

In this episode, Olivia breaks down measles. She explains what it is, how the US reached measles elimination status in 2000, why it is making a comeback, and whether or not we will keep our measles elimination status. A combination of decreased immunizations during the covid-19 pandemic and the anti-vaxx rhetoric coming from our highest ranking federal officials (and spreading on social media) hav...

Abortion is healthcare...and in this episode, Ariel walks us through the full history of abortion in the US, from pre-colonial practices to Roe v. Wade to where things stand today across all 50 states. She covers why the debate is really a philosophical and moral one rather than a biological one, the very real dangers of restricting access, the US's shameful maternal mortality rate, and why f...

SPECIAL RELEASE EPISODE: We are publishing this episode early to ensure timely release.  Qualifications for the US Surgeon General are outlined in the US Code  ( TITLE 42 / CHAPTER 6A / SUBCHAPTER I / Part A / Section 205). Casey Means, current nominee for US Surgeon General (as of March 2026), does not meet these qualifications. In this episode, Mattie leads us through the history of the US Surge...

The US government has been issuing nutrition guidance for over 100 years — so what's the deal with the new 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines? In this episode, Ariel breaks down the history of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, what's actually in the new 10-page document, and why it looks so different from previous editions. She and Mattie dig into the industry ties behind the people who wr...

If you want to learn about Nipah virus, you’re in the right place. In this episode, Olivia walks us through what Nipah virus is, how it is transmitted, the recent outbreak in India, and how to prevent it. While it may not be front and center of the health news in the US, it is important to pay attention and understand that viruses in one part of the world can make their way to other parts of the w...

In the past year, the CDC really took a beating from the Trump administration. In this episode, we discuss a timeline of some of the most important events, including: Reductions in Force (RIFs) Shooting at the CDC on 8/8/25 Loss of senior leadership Budget changes and reorganization The longest government shutdown in US history Implications for public health And more! THINGS YOU SHOULD WATCH: The...

For more than 60 years, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) quietly did the kind of public health work that actually saves lives. Founded in 1961, USAID supported global programs that reduced maternal and child mortality, prevented infectious diseases, and improved access to clean water and basic care. All of this cost Americans $24 per person per year.  Then, in 2025, i...

  A public health podcast more reliable than your federal government. Get to know your cohosts!  If you are just tuning in, please know that our audio improves tenfold after this episode. We had some fine-tuning to do during this episode, please bear with us. In this episode, Ariel, Olivia & Mattie introduce themselves and discuss: The end of the Affordable Care Act subsidies The change in the...