Dr. Joe Schwarcz, a world-renowned chemist and science communicator joins the pod to address some commonly asked questions! They kick-off the conversation by discussing the concept of superfoods and the need for a balanced diet, as well as the role of vitamins and supplements. They also touch on the origins of the belief that vitamin C can cure the common cold, tracing it back to Dr. Linus Pauling (and discuss the impact of eminence versus evidence). They walk through the evidence (or lack...

In this episode, Jess is joined by Dr. Joey Munoz to discuss various topics related to nutrition, including the monetization of expertise, the role of supplements, and the marketing tactics used in the supplement industry. They emphasize the importance of evidence-based claims and the need for individualized approaches to supplementation. The conversation covers the importance of dose and type of supplements, the limitations of marketing claims, and the Yuka app's oversimplification of food...

On this week's episode of the pod, Jess is joined by Dr. Matthew Facciani, social scientist, to talk about media literacy, misinformation, and polarization. The two kick things off with a conversation about mis- and disinformation and why some people are more susceptible to it. They then shift gears slightly to chat about motivations behind the intentional spread of false information. Next, they share some media literacy tips and ways to spot red flags of misinformation. They bring tech into...

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 information online. They share some tips for effective communication as well as red flags of...

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, strengths, and limitations. The two discuss certain clinical markers used in the study to piece...

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 evidence (or lack thereof) that microplastics have an impact on human health. The trio discusses our...

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 it. The conversation shifts to bacterial vaginosis (and BV trends on TikTok that— spoiler alert—...

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 foods are inherently bad for you. This leads into a deeper discussion about processed versus...

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 discussion of heavy metals, what they are, potential sources for human exposure, and signs of lead...

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, sample selection, and how comparison groups are created. Jess analyzes the results, explains the...

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 sugar, bust the myth that "natural" means "safe," and talk about possible risks for disordered eating...

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 population thresholds needed (aka herd immunity) to prevent outbreaks. We explain that measles is far...

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 fluoride, and the importance of it for dental health. We talk about some health hacks that...

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 the ways that Huberman has blurred the line between science and pseudoscience. We discuss the...

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 potentially dangerous "wellness" trends including hormone regulating diets, supplements, "HRT...

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 presentations of ADHD symptoms. We chat about the sudden rise in ADHD diagnoses among millennial...

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 high exposure to certain molds. We dissect the wellness claims: the attribution of a wide array of...

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 of relevant data, cherry-picked studies, and inflammatory statements not supported by evidence,...

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 importance of seeking help and breaking the stigma associated with mental health treatment and support....

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 symbol associated with full-body MRIs, and explore the lack of evidence supporting their use. The...

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 history of the oldest known drug, the opium poppy. We discuss the mechanism of action and some key...

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 expectancy linked to sociodemographic factors. Our discussion takes a candid turn as we explore whether...

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 (versus from the breast) and debunk common myths and misconceptions about bottle feeding. We...

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 about other important preventatives for our fur babies. We recap fad pet diets (and why you...