On this week's episode of the pod, Jess is joined by Dr. Sarah Ballantyne for an unfiltered heart-to-heart discussion. You may have heard Sarah's name mentioned on a previous episode of the pod-- being criticized for her association with the autoimmune protocol (AIP) diet. Yes, Sarah was previously known as the Paleo mom but has shed that title and done a complete 180 to right past wrongs and correct previous misinformation that she unknowingly spread. No topic was off limits during this raw conversation. She talks about what prompted the change and how it was received by her audience. She shares about her new approach to nutrition and the two do a deep dive on Nutrivore and how "scoring systems" can be problematic when it comes to diets. Sarah uses the time to clear up misconceptions and share an honest update with listeners. This episode is like none other and is not to be missed!

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 thereof) that vitamin C has role in treating the common cold. Dr. Joe discusses the exploitation of indigenous cures by American settlers and the rise of alternative medicine. The conversation touches on the topic of benzene and its potential toxicity (but that we do not need to throw out our sunscreen). Dr. Joe emphasizes the importance of evidence-based medicine and the need to distinguish between legitimate scientific research and quackery. You do NOT want to miss this!

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 ratings. The hosts discuss the need for nuance and context in nutrition, the role of overall dietary patterns, and the potential for food anxiety and disordered eating caused by black-and-white labeling. They emphasize the importance of individual goals and habits, rather than focusing on good and bad foods. You do not want to miss this!

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 intention spread of false information. Next, they share some media literacy tips and ways to spot red flags of misinformation. They bring tech into the conversation and discuss the role of AI in the future of debunking misinformation. We hope you'll walk away from this episode with some techniques to protect against bad information online!

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 misinformation. This is a very interesting conversation that you do not want to miss!

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 together the impacts of a vegan diet (compared to an omnivorous diet). They more generally discuss ways to improve your health through nutrition and debunk some common myths and misconceptions. You do not want to miss this!

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 current technologies and abilities to detect microplastics, as well as their limitations and implications for future research. Finally, they discuss potential mitigation measures and ways to limit exposure. You won’t want to miss this!

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— are not evidence-based), HPV, birth control, and more. You don’t want to miss this!

This week Jess sits down with Dr. Idz to debunk misinformation about food and nutrition (yep, it's time for school)! They cover differences in approaches to food policy and regulation in the US versus the UK and other countries, common myths including that seed oils cause inflammation and that processed foods are inherently bad for you (which leads into a deeper discussion about processed versus ultraprocessed foods), ways to spot food-related pseudoscience and fearmongering and protect yourself from falling prey to misinformation on social media. This is a great episode that you do not want to miss!

This week we tackle 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. And yes, we talk about Stanley cups and whether you need to be concerned or not! You don't want to miss this!

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. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in research methods or curious about this topic!

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 cover some healthy ways for diabetics to manage their condition and why people without diabetes shouldn't try to control their glucose levels. You do not want to miss this!

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 discuss recent outbreaks across the US, the UK, and Europe. Epidemiology of measles, it's contagiousness, and the implications of outbreaks for public health. We discuss the MMR vaccine and the population thresholds needed (aka herd immunity) to prevent outbreaks and detail potentially serious long-term effects of the virus. For the sake of public health, you don't want to miss this!

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 talk about some health hacks that circulate on TikTok and what IS actually evidence-based to support your smile. We cover a lot of ground, so make sure to tune in!

On this episode we are joined by Drs. Spencer and Karl Nadolsky (Docs Who Lift) to discuss concerns surrounding Dr. Andrew Huberman, a popular science communicator. We discuss his background and how his content has evolved over time. We highlight the potential harm of misinformation in the wellness industry and the ways the Huberman has blurred the line between science and pseudoscience. You don't want to miss this!

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 cover diagnosis and symptom management options, address commonly asked questions. AND OF COURSE, we debunk potentially dangerous "wellness" trends. We hope you enjoy this engaging and evidence-based discussion!