Unbiased Science

On this week's episode of the pod, Jess is joined by Emmy-winning Executive Producer and Journalist, Mosheh Oinounou to talk about communication. The two discuss the ways they are both committed to disseminating non-partisan information to the general public. They discuss balancing the credibility of information, nuance, and context with the clickbait nature of social media and the ways we consume...

On this week's episode of the pod, Jess chats with Meghann Featherstun about the Netflix docuseries, "You Are What You Eat." The pair kick things off with a summary of the premise of the docuseries (which centers around the purported benefits of a vegan diet) and the study upon which it was based, the "Stanford Twin Study". They dig deeper into the specifics of the study design, study findings, st...

On this week’s episode of the pod, Jess is joined by not one but TWO toxicologists to discuss microplastics. The episode kicks off with a recap of some of the claims being made about microplastics that we’ve seen splashed all over the headlines. The team discusses just how prevalent and ubiquitous microplastics really are and some of the main sources of microplastics. Next, they dive into the evid...

On this week’s episode of the pod, Jess is joined by Dr. Karen Tang (OB/Gyn and science communicator) to debunk common women’s health myths and misconceptions. In honor of Endometriosis month, the two docs start there and discuss what endometriosis is and isn’t, how it’s diagnosed, and treated. Next, they chat about PCOS and discuss the lack of evidence supporting special diets purported to cure i...

On this episode of the pod, Jess sits down with Dr. Idz to debunk misinformation about food and nutrition (yep, it's time for school)! The conversation kicks off with a discussion about differences in approaches to food policy and regulation in the US versus the UK and other countries. Next, the two discuss common myths including that seed oils cause inflammation (they don't) and that processed fo...

This week's episode of Unbiased Science tackles a topic that has garnered a lot of attention due to recent headlines: heavy metals-- more specifically, LEAD! Lead made the news as being detected in baby food pouches and the-very-trendy Stanley cups. So what's real and what's not? Jess interviews Dr. Norb Kaminski, a renowned toxicologist, to dig into the risks. The conversation kicks off with a di...

On this week's episode of the pod, we'll walk through a study together! Jess leads a journal club session, diving deep into a study about the potential link between prenatal Tylenol use and signs of Autism Spectrum Disorder (measured using language assessments). She shares her approach to understanding research and breaks down a specific study, highlighting crucial elements like research design, s...

On this week's episode of the pod, we are joined (again!) by the Docs Who Lift -- Drs. Karl and Spencer Nadolsky -- to discuss the 'Glucose Goddess' and her "Anti-Spike" supplement. We dig into the supplement's ingredients and how effective they really are (or aren't). We discuss blood sugar fluctuations and why short-term changes usually don't impact our health. We explore how our bodies use suga...

On this week's episode of the pod, we are revisiting a topic that we had hoped we could leave in the past: MEASLES. We set the stage by discussing the recent outbreaks of measles cropping up across the US, the UK, and Europe. We talk about the epidemiology of measles, its contagiousness, and the implications of outbreaks for public health. We discuss the highly effective MMR vaccine and the popula...

This week, we are joined by Dr. Ashley Lerman, Board-certified Pediatric Dentist, to chat about, you guessed it: oral hygiene. You have a question about your mouth? We've got you covered. We tackle how often you should go to the dentist, best practices for brushing your teeth (do you really need to shell out for the electric toothbrush?), flossing, and more. We discuss the persistent myths about f...

On this week's episode of the pod, we are joined by Drs. Spencer and Karl Nadolsky (Docs Who Lift) to discuss concerns surrounding Dr. Andrew Huberman, a popular science communicator. We set the stage with a conversation about Huberman's background and his growing platform-- and how his content has evolved over time. We highlight the potential harm of misinformation in the wellness industry and th...

This week, we are joined by one of your top requested guests: the amazing Dr. Jen Gunter, OB/GYN and pain medicine physician and world-renowned health communicator, to tackle all things menopause. We start with a broad overview of menopause. We cover diagnosis and symptom management options. We discuss menopause hormone therapy and address commonly asked questions. AND OF COURSE, we debunk potenti...

On this week's episode of the pod, we are joined (again!) by Dr. Craig Chepke, board-certified psychiatrist to talk about attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). We outline prevalence of ADHD among children, and discuss limitations of data based on gaps in clinical criteria for diagnosis, particularly among girls. We discuss causes of ADHD (what is known and unknown) and discuss different...

This week, we dig into another common topic in the wellness world: toxic mold. Like many other pseudoscience concepts, there are tiny nuggets of truth that are misinterpreted and exaggerated to spread misinformation. To help you navigate this, we discuss what's real and what's not when it comes to mold. We cover the basics: what molds are, where they're found, and what symptoms can present with hi...

On this week's episode, we are joined by two experts: Dr. Kevin Folta, a molecular biologist specializing in plant biology, and Dr. Nicole Keller, a general pediatrician and member of AAP, to discuss the recent position paper written by 3 pediatricians about GMO foods which is being adopted as a policy statement by the American Academy of Pediatrics. This paper has countless issues, from omission...

On this week’s episode of the pod, we discuss postpartum depression disorder (PDD) with guest Dr. Craig Chepke, a board-certified psychiatrist. We kick things off with some statistics and demographics of those who are impacted by PPD. We explore the symptoms, diagnosis, and risk factors of PPD —and distinguish it from the less serious “baby blues”. Throughout the episode, we emphasize the importan...

On this week's episode of the pod, we're joined by fellow misinformation debunker Dr. David Robert Grimes to dispel some pesky wellness trends and myths. We kick things off with a discussion of full-body MRIs as a voluntary preventive measure for asymptomatic individuals. We'll discuss the cognitive dissonance between these trends and recommended screenings, highlight the privilege and status symb...

On this week's episode of the pod, we are joined by Dr. Ryan Marino (medical toxicologist, ER doc, and addiction specialist) to discuss the opioid crisis. We kick things off with some statistics on opioid use and overdoses and the array of health and social problems caused by the high prevalence of opioid use disorder. We take a step back to discuss the biochemistry of opioids, starting with the h...

This week on the podcast, we're joined by Dr. Kate Baicker, a leading expert in the economic analysis of healthcare policy, to delve into the intricacies of the U.S. healthcare system. We begin by laying the groundwork with an overview of our current system's key characteristics and a breakdown of healthcare spending in the U.S. We then examine the disparities in health outcomes and life expectanc...

On this week's episode of the pod, we are joined by Dr. Alison Ventura who has expertise in early childhood nutrition and development to talk about infant feeding. We kick things off with some statistics on the ways we feed infants in the US with regard to breastfeeding and formula feeding-- including variations by demographic. We discuss the reasons why an infant may receive breastmilk via bottle...

On this week's episode of the pod, we tackle veterinary health and pet preventive medicine. We were joined by "Veterinary Hero" Dr. Matt McGlasson to dig into several important topics. We start with vet care essentials, including dental care. We address the controversy behind spaying & neutering pets and the importance of doing so. Next, we debunk misinformation surrounding pet vaccines. We chat a...

On this week's podcast episode, Professor Tim Caulfield joins us to discuss the media's impact on health policy and science literacy. We dig into the concept of false balance with recent examples, and the phenomenon where people turn to unproven wellness hacks and advice endorsed by celebrities as opposed to evidence-based expert guidance. We talk about predatory journals and publications that mud...

On this week's podcast episode, we tackle a topic that is splashed across every news outlet - PFAS and, more broadly, endocrine disruptors. To cover this very important issue we are joined by TWO experts: a toxicologist and a clinical endocrinologist. We start with an overview of the endocrine system and endocrine disruptors, both natural and synthetic. We then focus on PFAS specifically-- what th...

On this week's episode of the pod, we are talking about a drug that's been available for decades but is suddenly being pulled from shelves: phenylephrine (something you've probably reached for when you've been congested). We bring on an expert, Dr. Mikkael Sekeres, a Professor of Medicine and Chief of the Division of Hematology at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miam...

On this week's episode of the pod, we are doing a respiratory illness season roundup because it is upon us! We kick things off with a discussion on COVID-19 and the newly updated vaccines (including mRNA vaccines and Novavax). We present some of the latest statistics on disease burden and the increase in cases. Next, we move on to flu and discuss how vaccines are updated annually and address some...