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    Science

    Better Off

    The latest from public health experts on how we can all lead healthier lives.

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    Copyright: © The President and Fellows of Harvard College

    • Apple Podcasts
    • Google Play
    • Spotify
    Latest Episodes:
    Is working from home unhealthy? Mar 22, 2023

    Working from home has its perks: Better coffee, easy commute, no fluorescent lighting. But, as any home office worker can tell you, there are also downsides: No more office social hours, no more ergonomic chairs, and no more quiet train rides to catch up on your podcasts. In this episode of the Better Off podcast, we’ll ask: Is working from home good or bad for our health?

    Guests

    Eileen McNeely, Founder and Executive Director of SHINE, the Health & Sustainability Initiative at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

    • Read a study by Eileen McNeely and SHINE researchers, exploring associations between the importance of well-being domains and the subsequent experience of well-being.
    • Read an article by Eileen McNeely discussing business as a platform for human flourishing.

    Bethany Barone Gibbs, Associate Professor of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at West Virginia University

    • Read a study by Bethany Barone Gibbs and other researchers who explored COVID-19's impact on sedentary behaviors.

    Credits

    Host/producer: Anna Fisher-Pinkert

    The Better Off team: Kristen Dweck, Elizabeth Gunner, Pamela Reynoso, Stephanie Simon, and Ben Wallace

    Audio engineering and sound design: Kevin O'Connell

    Additional research: Kate Becker

    How can we protect the health of incarcerated people? Feb 01, 2023

    As COVID-19 swept through American prisons and jails in 2020, wardens scrambled to keep prisoners and corrections officers from getting sick. One strategy was to increase solitary confinement. Health experts warn that solitary confinement increases the risk of mental illness and suicide, but the practice continues. Today, about 2 million people are incarcerated in the U.S. In this episode of the Better Off podcast, we'll ask: Is it possible to build a corrections system that accounts for their health and safety?

    Guests:

    Jasmine D Graves, Ph.D. student, Population Health Sciences program, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

    Monik Jimenez, Assistant Professor in the Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

    Credits:

    Host/producer: Anna Fisher-Pinkert

    The Better Off team: Kristen Dweck, Elizabeth Gunner, Pamela Reynoso, Stephanie Simon, and Ben Wallace

    Audio engineering and sound design: Kevin O'Connell

    Additional research: Kate Becker

    Can we end chronic homelessness? Jan 04, 2023

    It’s estimated that half a million Americans are experiencing homelessness. Even a brief period of housing insecurity can make existing health issues worse, and bring up new physical and mental traumas. Doctors and nurses who help patients navigate these issues have a prescription: More housing, and more services. Is it possible to end chronic homelessness, even as eviction moratoriums end and rents increase? And is a housing-first model the best way to achieve that goal?

    Guests:

    Ana Rausch, Vice President of Program Operations at Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County

    Kimberley Richardson, therapist

    Maggie Sullivan, family nurse practitioner, Boston Health Care for the Homeless and instructor and human rights fellow, FXB Center, Harvard University

    Credits:

    Host/producer: Anna Fisher-Pinkert

    The Better Off team: Kristen Dweck, Elizabeth Gunner, Pamela Reynoso, Stephanie Simon, and Ben Wallace

    Audio engineering and sound design: Kevin O'Connell

    Additional research: Kate Becker

    What makes a meal healthy? Nov 30, 2022

    What does a plate of healthy food look like? Everyone has an opinion – from doctors to dieticians to wellness experts. But advice on what to eat often ignores a big factor in how and why we make meals: Culture. Americans who trace their heritage back to Latin America or Africa often get messages that discourage them from seeing their home foods as healthy. In this episode, we’ll ask: Are we better off when diet and nutrition advice is informed by culture?

    Guests:

    Josiemer Mattei, Donald and Sue Pritzker Associate Professor of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

    Dalina Soto, registered dietician, Your Latina Nutritionist

    Credits:

    Host/producer: Anna Fisher-Pinkert

    The Better Off team: Kristen Dweck, Elizabeth Gunner, Stephanie Simon, and Ben Wallace

    Audio engineering and sound design: Kevin O'Connell

    Additional research: Kate Becker

    Is clean beauty for real? Nov 16, 2022

    Guests:

    Shruthi Mahalingaiah, assistant professor of environmental reproductive and women's health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

    Tamarra James-Todd, Mark and Catherine Winkler associate professor of environmental reproductive epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

    Visit our website to learn more about our guests, and to find a full transcript.

    Credits:

    Host/producer: Anna Fisher-Pinkert

    The Better Off team: Kristen Dweck, Elizabeth Gunner, Stephanie Simon, and Ben Wallace

    Audio engineering and sound design: Kevin O'Connell

    Additional research: Kate Becker

    Is cooking with natural gas unhealthy? Nov 02, 2022

    40 million American homes cook their meals with natural gas. But most people don’t think of the little blue flame on their gas range as the end of a very long natural gas pipeline. New research shows that gas stoves pollute our indoor air, but Americans have yet to embrace alternatives, like induction stoves. In this episode, Better Off asks: When it comes to our health, are we better off giving up on natural gas?

    Guests:

    Drew Michanowicz, senior scientist, PSE Healthy Energy

    Brady Seals, manager, Carbon-free Buildings Program, RMI

    Jon Kung, chef

    Visit our website to learn more about our guests, and to find a full transcript.

    Credits:

    Host/producer: Anna Fisher-Pinkert

    The Better Off team: Kristen Dweck, Elizabeth Gunner, Stephanie Simon, and Ben Wallace

    Audio engineering and sound design: Kevin O'Connell

    Additional research: Kate Becker

    Introducing Better Off Season 2: Home Oct 19, 2022

    What makes a healthy home?

    In 2022, that question feels more important than ever. What are the right foods to eat? The least-toxic shampoos and sunscreens? The best way to prevent loneliness while working from home? On Season 2 of the Better Off podcast, we’ll look at the research behind some of those big questions. We’ll also ask what happens to our health when “home” is a tent encampment, or a 6x9 solitary jail cell.

    Through six new episodes, host Anna Fisher-Pinkert will talk to leading public health experts about the questions she’s had on her mind as a health communicator, a mom, and a person with more than a little skepticism about the things our culture tells us are “healthy.”

    Better Off: Home starts November 2. Subscribe to get episodes as soon as they drop. Visit hsph.me/better-off to learn more about this season.

    Update: We’re better off when we can breathe easy Apr 12, 2022

    This episode was first released in December, 2020.

    Until the COVID-19 pandemic, most of us didn't think about indoor air very much, if at all. But healthy buildings expert Joseph Allen has been studying indoor air for years. He says that since we spend 90% of lives inside, we need to do more to make our offices, homes, and schools places where we can breathe easy.

    Guest: Joseph Allen, Associate Professor of Exposure Assessment Science, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

    For a full transcript of this episode, visit our website. Subscribe to get new episodes of Better Off in your podcast feed every other Wednesday.

    Has your office, school, or apartment building made changes since the pandemic? How have those changes affected your health? Share your thoughts with us on Twitter and Instagram.

    Read more about Joseph Allen’s research along with all the latest news from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health at hsph.harvard.edu/news.

    To read reports from Joseph Allen and his colleagues, visit ForHealth.org.

    Music in this episode:

    Ketsa – Sabre

    Blue Dot Sessions – Milkwood

    Blue Dot Sessions – Calisson

    Ketsa – Onwards Upwards

    We're better off when we unstick the stereotypes around eating disorders Aug 26, 2021

    Eating disorders affect a population the size of the state of Texas, cost the economy tens of billions of dollars, and kill 10,000 Americans per year. If eating disorders are so common, expensive, and deadly, why don't we talk about them more? Bryn Austin, director of the Strategic Training Initiative for the Prevention of Eating Disorders (STRIPED), says we need to start by getting rid of our "sticky" stereotypes about who is affected by eating disorders.

    Guest: S. Bryn Austin, professor in the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences at Harvard Chan School, a faculty member at Boston Children's Hospital, and director of the Strategic Training Initiative for the Prevention of Eating Disorders (STRIPED).

    We’re better off when we age with resilience Aug 02, 2021

    During the earliest days of the pandemic, younger people were told to protect the older adults in their lives from COVID-19 by isolating at home. Concerns about the virus and pandemic restrictions have taken a toll on everyone's mental well-being. But it turns out that when it comes to mental health, older adults might actually be faring better than their children and grandchildren. On this episode of Better Off, aging and mental health expert Oliva Okereke explains why.

    Guest: Olivia Okereke, associate professor in the department of epidemiology at Harvard Chan School, director of geriatric psychiatry in the department of psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital, and associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.

    For a full transcript of this episode, visit our website. Subscribe to get new episodes of Better Off in your podcast feed every other Wednesday.

    Read more about Mary Bassett's work, as well as the latest news from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health at hsph.harvard.edu/news.

    Music in this episode:

    Ketsa – Sabre

    Blue Dot Sessions – Willow Belle

    Blue Dot Sessions – Selena Leica

    Blue Dot Sessions – Trenton Channel

    Ketsa – Onwards Upwards

    We're better off with Juneteenth Jun 24, 2021

    In a special bonus episode, recorded a day before Juneteenth was made a federal holiday, we listen in on a conversation between Opal Lee, an activist and teacher often called the "grandmother of Juneteenth," and Harvard University professors Annette Gordon-Reed and Evelyn Hammonds.

    Guests:

    Opal Lee, Activist

    Annette Gordon-Reed, Carl M. Loeb University Professor, Harvard University; author, On Juneteenth

    Evelynn Hammonds, Barbara Gutmann Rosenkrantz Professor of the History of Science and Professor of African and African-American Studies, Harvard University

    For a full transcript of this episode or to watch the full conversation, visit our website.

    Subscribe via your favorite podcast app.

    Music in this episode:

    Ketsa – Sabre

    Ketsa – Onwards Upwards

    We're better off with health equity May 05, 2021

    This spring, public health officials have been laser-focused on getting more Americans vaccinated against COVID-19. So why do racial disparities persist around vaccination? And once more Americans are vaccinated, how do we ensure that Black and Latino families aren’t left vulnerable to future public health crises? In the latest episode of Better Off, Mary Bassett talks about the historical roots of health inequities, and the big changes needed to close those gaps.

    Guest: Mary T. Bassett, director of the François Xavier Bagnoud Center for Health and Human Rights at Harvard University.

    For a full transcript of this episode, visit our website. Subscribe to get new episodes of Better Off in your podcast feed every other Wednesday.

    Read more about Mary Bassett's work, as well as the latest news from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health at hsph.harvard.edu/news.

    Music in this episode:

    Ketsa – Sabre

    Blue Dot Sessions – Lupi

    Blue Dot Sessions – The Caspian Sea

    Blue Dot Session – An Oddly Formal Dance

    Ketsa – Onwards Upwards

    We’re better off when we stop pandemics before they start Mar 17, 2021

    When Aaron (Ari) Bernstein met his first pediatric patient infected with COVID-19, he realized that this little girl's health was connected to an infected bat on the other side of the world. Climate change and deforestation have made it easier for new pathogens to spread across the globe. On this episode of Better Off, Ari Bernstein explains how protecting the environment could also secure the future of our own species.

    Guest: Aaron (Ari) Bernstein, Interim Director of The Center for Climate, Health and the Global Environment (Harvard Chan C-CHANGE).

    More about climate and health

    • Harvard Chan C-CHANGE
    • Climate Optimist newsletter
    We’re better off when life-altering illnesses can be eradicated Mar 05, 2021

    In the 1980's, there were millions of cases of Guinea worm disease across the globe, mostly in rural Africa. Donald Hopkins, MPH '70, has spent 40 years working to eradicate this painful and debilitating disease – and he's had remarkable success. Last year, there were only 27 cases worldwide. In the latest episode of Better Off, Donald Hopkins talks about eradicating a disease that many people thought wasn't worth fighting.

    Watch the inaugural Donald Hopkins Scholars Lecture.

    Learn more about The Donald Hopkins Predoctoral Scholars Program.

    More about Donald Hopkins:

    Fierce Optimism, Harvard Public Health Magazine, 2018

    The Eradicator: Donald Hopkins

    Guest: Donald Hopkins, MD, MPH '70, former director of all health programs at The Carter Center, currently the special advisor for Guinea worm eradication at The Carter Center.

    For a full transcript of this episode, visit our website. Subscribe to get new episodes of Better Off in your podcast feed.

    Read more about the latest news from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health at hsph.harvard.edu/news.

    We're better off with mRNA vaccines Feb 24, 2021

    The technology that is helping us combat COVID-19 is also poised to help us tackle tough infectious and non-infectious diseases. Immunologist Sarah Fortune explains how these vaccines work, and how the mRNA platform could transform the prevention and treatment of deadly diseases.

    In this episode of "Better Off," Harvard Chan School immunologist Sarah Fortune takes on common misconceptions about COVID-19 vaccines, and discusses the ways that mRNA technology could be used to create vaccines for diseases like TB and cancer.

    Guest: Sarah Fortune, John LaPorte Given Professor of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Chair, Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

    For a full transcript of this episode, visit our website. Subscribe to get new episodes of Better Off in your podcast feed every other Wednesday.

    Read more about Sarah Fortune's work, as well as the latest news from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health at hsph.harvard.edu/news.

    Music in this episode:

    Ketsa – Sabre

    Blue Dot Sessions – St. Augustine Red

    Blue Dot Sessions – Solear Interlude

    Blue Dot Sessions – Ewa Valley

    We're better off when we swipe right on public health Jan 20, 2021

    When Antón Castellanos Usigli was asked to help bring younger LGBTQ people into a Brooklyn clinic for sexual health services, he thought it would be a piece of cake. But after his first attempts failed, Antón turned to the one place where young people talk about sex every day: dating and hookup apps.

    In this episode of "Better Off," DrPH student Antón Castellanos Usigli talks about creating positive conversations about sexual health, and the parallels between sex education and the public health messaging during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Guest: Antón Castellanos Usigli, DrPH student, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

    For a full transcript of this episode, visit our website. Subscribe to get new episodes of Better Off in your podcast feed every other Wednesday.

    Read more about Antón Castellanos Usigli's work, as well as the latest news from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health at hsph.harvard.edu/news.

    Music in this episode:

    Ketsa – Sabre

    Podington Bear – Am-Trans

    Blue Dot Sessions – Sylvestor

    Ketsa – Onwards Upwards

    We're better off when kids are resilient Jan 06, 2021

    We’re better off when kids are resilient

    Are kids going to be okay when the pandemic is over? That’s the question on many parents’ minds as remote learning continues, and friends and family remain six feet apart. Better Off talks with psychologist and researcher Archana Basu about kids’ mental health and the COVID-19 crisis.

    Guest: Archana Basu, Research Scientist, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

    For a full transcript of this episode, visit our website. Subscribe to get new episodes of Better Off in your podcast feed every other Wednesday.

    Read more about Archana Basu’s work on mental health as well as the latest news from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health at hsph.harvard.edu/news.

    Music in this episode:

    Ketsa – Sabre

    Blue Dot Sessions – Taoudella

    Blue Dot Sessions - Topslides

    Ketsa – Onwards Upwards

    We're better off when science leads the way Dec 16, 2020

    Better Off talks with Harvard Chan School's Howard Koh about lessons learned from the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic, also known as swine flu, and how the incoming administration can use those lessons to respond to COVID-19.

    Guest: Howard Koh, Harvey V. Fineberg Professor of the Practice of Public Health Leadership, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

    For a full transcript of this episode, visit our website. Subscribe to get new episodes of Better Off in your podcast feed every other Wednesday.

    What do you think of the incoming Biden administration's plan to respond to COVID-19? Share your thoughts with us on Twitter and Instagram.

    Read more about Howard Koh's work on health policy, along with all the latest news from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health at hsph.harvard.edu/news.

    Music in this episode:

    Ketsa – Sabre

    Blue Dot Sessions – St. Augustine Red

    Blue Dot Sessions – Pxl Eventuat

    Ketsa – Onwards Upwards

    We're better off when we can breathe easy Dec 11, 2020

    Until the COVID-19 pandemic, most of us didn't think about indoor air very much, if at all. But healthy buildings expert Joseph Allen has been studying indoor air for years. He says that since we spend 90% of lives inside, we need to do more to make our offices, homes, and schools places where we can breathe easy.

    Guest: Joseph Allen, Associate Professor of Exposure Assessment Science, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

    For a full transcript of this episode, visit our website. Subscribe to get new episodes of Better Off in your podcast feed every other Wednesday.

    Has your office, school, or apartment building made changes since the pandemic? How have those changes affected your health? Share your thoughts with us on Twitter and Instagram.

    Read more about Joseph Allen’s research along with all the latest news from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health at hsph.harvard.edu/news.

    To read reports from Joseph Allen and his colleagues, visit ForHealth.org.

    Music in this episode:

    Ketsa – Sabre

    Blue Dot Sessions – Milkwood

    Blue Dot Sessions – Calisson

    Ketsa – Onwards Upwards

    Introducing: Better Off Dec 08, 2020

    How can we make our families, communities, and our world a little bit better during the COVID-19 crisis, and beyond? That's the question we're asking on Better Off, a new podcast from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. In each episode of Better Off, host Anna Fisher-Pinkert will introduce you to the people who are hunting down solutions to current public health challenges, and innovating to solve public health problems that we haven’t even imagined yet.

    Subscribe to Better Off wherever you get your podcasts. First episode coming soon!

    Visit our website for a transcript of this trailer.

    Confronting the Climate Crisis: Earth Day at 50 Apr 21, 2020

    What has the environmental movement accomplished since the first Earth Day in 1970? Where is the movement headed? Gina McCarthy, president and CEO of the Natural Resources Defense Council and chair of the Board of Advisors at the Harvard Center for Climate, Health, and the Global Environment (C-CHANGE), reflects on the strides we’ve made and the need to frame climate change as a public health crisis going forward.

    For full transcript, visit: https://hsph.me/earthdayat50

    Gaining insight into women's health Mar 06, 2020

    Could an app help scientists better understand menstruation, fertility, and menopause? On the latest episode of This Week in Health, Shruthi Mahalingaiah and JP Onnela talk about the groundbreaking Apple Women’s Health Study.

    Shruthi Mahalingaiah, an assistant professor of environmental, reproductive, and women’s health, and JP Onnela, an associate professor of biostatistics, are two of the Harvard Chan School researchers involved in a new study seeking to gain more insight into women’s health. Using an app on their Apple devices, women can share information about their monthly cycles, as well as certain behavioral factors such as physical activity and mobility, to help researchers advance understanding of menstrual and gynecological health. To learn more about the study, or to participate, visit www.hsph.harvard.edu/applewomenshealthstudy.

    Full transcript available here: https://hsph.me/womenhealthpod

    Addressing the Opioid Crisis: Lessons Learned from New York City Feb 06, 2020

    Before Mary Bassett was director of Harvard’s FXB Center for Health and Human Rights, she was New York City’s Health Commissioner. Bassett talks about her experience dealing with the growing opioid epidemic in the city—what worked, what didn’t, and what New York can teach other cities coping with the same problem. She sat down with Kimberlyn Leary, an associate professor at Harvard Chan School and a psychologist at Harvard's McLean hospital who specializes in public health policy.

    Full transcript: https://hsph.me/nyc-opioid-pod

    You can subscribe to Harvard Chan: This Week in Health by visiting Apple Podcasts or Google Play and you can listen to it by following us on Soundcloud, and stream it on the Stitcher app or on Spotify.

    Addressing the Opioid Crisis: Unpacking Stigma Jan 30, 2020

    Shelly Greenfield to unpacks the stigma that surrounds addiction. A psychiatrist from Harvard’s McLean hospital, Greenfield specializes in addiction—how patients cope with it, how it factors into treatment, and how it works its way slowly into policy. Greenfield sat down with Mary Bassett, director of Harvard’s FXB Center for Health and Human Rights.

    Full Transcript: https://hsph.me/stigma-pod

    You can subscribe to Harvard Chan: This Week in Health by visiting Apple Podcasts or Google Play and you can listen to it by following us on Soundcloud, and stream it on the Stitcher app or on Spotify.

    Addressing the Opioid Crisis: Ending Over-Prescription Jan 28, 2020

    Physicians’ over-prescription of opioid painkillers opened the door to the current opioid crisis. What can health care providers do to fix it?

    Chad Brummett, a pain management specialist from the University of Michigan, shares a new approach to combat Michigan's opioid crisis that could be a model for the rest of the nation. Brummett sat down with Mary Bassett, director of Harvard’s FXB Center for Health and Human Rights.

    Full Transcript: https://hsph.me/prescription-pod

    You can subscribe to Harvard Chan: This Week in Health by visiting Apple Podcasts or Google Play and you can listen to it by following us on Soundcloud, and stream it on the Stitcher app or on Spotify.

    August 8, 2019: Using music to combat HIV in Zambia Aug 08, 2019

    Each year in Zambia, 60,000 people are infected with HIV, and more than 20,000 die of AIDs. In all, it’s estimated that more than 1.2 million people in the country are living with HIV. Research shows that over 90% of Zambians have heard of HIV but less than 40% have a thorough knowledge of the virus or how to protect themselves. In this week's episode, we're talking to the people behind a collaborative project working to fill that knowledge by harnessing the influence of some of Zambia’s most popular musicians.

    The goal is to produce songs and music videos that can reach youth across Zambia with important messages about HIV prevention. We spoke to three of the people making this possible. Katy Weinberg recently graduated with an MPH from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and works in the Global Health Program at Boston Children’s Hospital. She has partnered on the project with her colleague, David Bickham, a research scientist at the Hospital’s Center on Media and Child Health. And we were also lucky to be joined by one of the musicians collaborating with Katy and David—Ephraim "Son of Africa."

    Full Transcript: https://hsph.me/zambia-pod

    July 25, 2019: Professional sports and health Jul 25, 2019

    In this week’s episode we're talking about new research comparing the health of athletes in the National Football League and Major League Baseball. The study looked at 6,000 athletes between the years of 1979 and 2013. During that period, there were 517 deaths among NFL players and 431 deaths among MLB players, translating into a 26% higher mortality rate among football players compared with baseball players. The findings showed that while NFL players died of neurodegenerative diseases at a higher rate than MLB players, both groups of athletes were more likely to die of cardiovascular disease than brain diseases.

    The study was led by Marc Weisskopf, Cecil K. and Philip Drinker Professor of Environmental Epidemiology and Physiology at the Harvard Chan School. The research comes amid increasing concerns over the effects of repeated head trauma on the health of NFL players. And while the study did show a difference in death rates, it’s still unclear exactly what’s driving that disparity—and how to address it. We sat down with Weisskopf to discuss the research and the unanswered questions he’s hoping to answer in the future.

    Full Transcript: https://hsph.me/sports-pod

    July 11, 2019: Human flourishing and public health Jul 11, 2019

    What does it mean for someone to flourish? Flourishing is more than just being happy—although that’s a part of it. But the idea of flourishing expands beyond happiness to look at a person’s overall well-being, taking into account things like life satisfaction or someone’s sense of purpose. That’s why studying flourishing is an interdisciplinary science drawing on public health, philosophy, psychology, and more.

    In this week’s episode we’re talking to two researchers from Human Flourishing Program at Harvard University who are tackling big questions about flourishing: What does it mean for people to flourish? How do we measure it? And are there things that make people more or less likely to flourish?

    Our guests are Tyler VanderWeele, director of the Human Flourishing Program and John L. Loeb and Frances Lehman Loeb Professor of Epidemiology in the Departments of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the Harvard Chan School, and Matthew Wilson, associate director of the Human Flourishing Program and a research associate at Harvard’s Institute for Quantitative Social Science.

    Full Transcript: https://hsph.me/flourishingpod

    June 19, 2019: Creating an inclusive environment for transgender and gender-nonbinary teens Jun 19, 2019

    A new study shows that transgender and gender-nonbinary teens face a greater risk of sexual assault in schools that prevent them from using bathrooms or locker rooms consistent with their gender identity. In this week's episode we speak with the study's author, Gabe Murchison, a doctoral student at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Murchison explains why restrooms and locker room policies are so critical and outlines steps that schools, parents, and physicians can take to create more inclusive environments for transgender and gender-nonbinary adolescents.

    Full Transcript: hsph.me/gender-pod

    June 6, 2019: Women are America's 'supermajority' Jun 06, 2019

    In this week's podcast we're sharing a special conversation between Cecile Richards, former president of Planned Parenthood and one of the co-founders of Supermajority, and Mary Bassett, director of the FXB Center for Health and Human Rights. Richards spoke about how Supermajority is working to empower women and organize them around key issues related to gender equity, including equal pay and child care. The two also spoke about the recent spate of anti-abortion laws across the United States and the need to protect reproductive rights.

    Full Transcript: hsph.me/richards-pod

    May 31, 2019: A new approach to fighting malaria May 31, 2019

    Each year, more than 200 million people around the world are infected with malaria and more than 400,000 die. For the past two decades, the most successful method of malaria prevention has involved treating bed nets with long-lasting insecticides that kill mosquitoes. But that progress is being threatened as mosquitoes increasingly grow resistant to the most commonly used insecticides.

    Now, new Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health research offers a potential fresh approach to fighting malaria: directly target the parasite responsible for the disease. A recent study showed that mosquitoes that landed on surfaces coated with the antimalarial compound atovaquone were completely blocked from developing Plasmodium falciparum, the parasite that causes malaria. The study was led by Flaminia Catteruccia, professor of immunology and infectious diseases and Doug Paton , a research fellow at the Harvard Chan School. In this week's episode we sit down with Paton to discuss the findings—and how they could be used to make progress in the fight against malaria.

    Full Transcript: hsph.me/malaria-pod

    May 10, 2019: Transforming America's 'sick care' system May 10, 2019

    Rear Admiral Sylvia Trent-Adams has been caring for people since she was just a child. When Trent-Adams was just 12 she volunteered as a candy striper at Lynchburg General Hospital in Virginia. The Rear Admiral later served as a nurse in the U.S. Army before rising up the ranks of the U.S. Public Health Service to become Deputy Surgeon General. In 2017, she was named Acting Surgeon General for six months, becoming just the second nurse, and the first registered nurse to hold that position. Today, Trent-Adams is Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health in the Department of Health.

    Throughout her career, Trent-Adams has focused on improving access to care for under-served and marginalized groups. And during a visit to the Harvard Chan School, we took the opportunity to interview Trent-Adams about her career in public health. She spoke about the need to shift America’s health care system to a prevention model, strategies for addressing complex health challenges, and how being a nurse has shaped her career.

    Full Transcript: hsph.me/trent-adams-pod

    April 25, 2019: There are no 'low-hanging fruits' in science Apr 25, 2019

    Noncommunicable diseases—or NCDs—are the leading cause of death around the world. And of those NCDs, chronic cardiometabolic conditions—such as heart disease and diabetes—are particularly deadly. For more than two decades, Gökhan Hotamışlıgil, James Stevens Simmons Professor of Genetics and Metabolism and and director of the Sabri Ülker Center for Nutrient, Genetic and Metabolic Research, has been working to understand the root causes of these diseases—what goes wrong at the cellular and molecular level to make us sick. In this week’s episode we share a wide-ranging conversation with Hotamışlıgil, focusing on the burden of cardiometabolic diseases, the importance of basic scientific research in treating and preventing these conditions, and the unique challenges of running a lab like the Sabri Ülker Center.

    Full Transcript: hsph.me/ncd-pod

    April 18, 2019: The future of cancer prevention (part 2) Apr 18, 2019

    In 2018, colorectal cancer was the third-most common diagnosed cancer among both men and women in the U.S., and data indicate that younger adults are increasingly being diagnosed with it. A new research initiative will examine how the microbiome—a collection of trillions of microorganisms throughout the body—affects the development of colorectal cancer. Scientists on the team will also seek out ways to manipulate the microbiome to better prevent and treat colorectal cancer.

    In this week's episode, part two of our miniseries on cancer prevention, we're speaking with one of the co-principal investigators of the team, Wendy Garrett, professor of immunology and infectious diseases at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Garrett is also on the steering committee of the Zhu Family Center for Global Cancer Prevention. In part one of our miniseries, we spoke to Timothy Rebbeck, the center's director.

    Full Transcript: https://hsph.me/microbiome-pod

    April 4, 2019: The future of cancer prevention (part 1) Apr 04, 2019

    The statistics on cancer worldwide are staggering: In 2018, more than 18 million people worldwide were diagnosed with the disease, and nearly 10 million died from it. And the burden of cancer is only expected to grow in the coming decades, thanks to a combination of the world’s aging population, the adoption of unhealthy lifestyles, and environmental exposures linked to cancer.

    The challenge of combating cancer may seem daunting, but research has shown that one-half to two-thirds of all cancer cases could be prevented if societies fully implemented currently available cancer-prevention strategies. At the same time, there is also a need to develop new strategies for prevention and screening. That's why we're devoting our next two episodes to the future of cancer prevention and diagnosis. In part one you'll hear from Timothy Rebbeck, director of the recently launched Zhu Family Center for Global Cancer Prevention. During a wide-ranging conversation Rebbeck explained the current landscape of cancer prevention and detection—and outlined his interdisciplinary approach to pushing the field forward.

    Full Transcript: https://hsph.me/cancer-pod

    March 22, 2019: What can design do for public health? Mar 22, 2019

    When many people think of design they’re probably picturing a product, like a new smartphone or car. But the design principles that lead to the creation of those products—such as the focus on human behavior or the use of prototyping—can also be harnessed to tackle complex public health challenges.

    In this week’s episode you’ll learn how one of the world’s top public health researchers, Ashish Jha, dean for global strategy at Harvard T.H Chan School of Public Health and director of the Harvard Global Health Institute, and one of the world’s foremost design experts, Patrick Whitney, professor in residence in the Department of Health Policy and Management, have teamed up to think about how design methods can be used to address issues ranging from the opioid epidemic to the future of hospitals.

    Full Transcript: hsph.me/design-pod

    This episode is a collaboration with Harvard Global Health Institute.

    March 7, 2019: Many U.S. schools aren't testing drinking water for lead Mar 07, 2019

    The traditional public health mantra is that there is no safe level of lead for kids. But a new report from the Harvard Prevention Research Center on Nutrition and Physical Activity finds that many kids in the U.S. could be exposed to lead through the water they drink at school.

    The team from the Harvard Prevention Research Center analyzed data from 24 states that have lead testing programs in schools, plus Washington, D.C. Only 12 of the states had useable results. Among those, 12% of all water samples tested had higher-than-recommended lead levels, and 44% of schools tested had one or more samples with higher-than-recommended levels. In this week’s episode we’re talking about the report and its findings with Angie Cradock, who is the deputy director of the Prevention Research Center.

    Full Transcript: https://hsph.me/lead-pod

    February 21, 2019: The connection between coral reefs and human health Feb 21, 2019

    Coral reefs aren’t just beautiful. They’re the most biologically diverse ecosystems in the oceans, and can provide food, jobs, and protection from storms for coastal communities. But reefs around the world are under threat from a variety of a factors including environmental changes, pollution, and overfishing. And that could have major implications for communities that rely on these reefs for the seafood that sustains their diet.

    A new research project is trying to tackle that problem by taking an in-depth look at the health of coral reefs in the South Pacific island nation of Kiribati. In this week’s episode we’re speaking to Christopher Golden, the scientist leading this four-year project. Golden is an assistant professor of nutrition and planetary health at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and associate director of the Planetary Health Alliance. Golden and other researchers will examine the factors affecting the health of reefs in Kiribati, identify fisheries management strategies that can promote healthier reefs, and gather nutritional data from residents to understand how changes in the health of reefs can affect the health of people living nearby.

    Full Transcript: https://hsph.me/reef-pod

    Feb. 5, 2019: The toll of gun violence in America Feb 05, 2019

    Each year in the U.S. more than 30,000 people are killed by guns—with two-thirds of those deaths being suicide. And there are tens of thousands non-fatal injuries. Yet research into preventing firearm violence remains limited and under-funded. In a special collaborative episode with Review of Systems we’re taking an in-depth look at gun violence in America: why we know so little about the toll of firearm injuries and deaths, what researchers want to know, and how they are engaging gun owners and enthusiasts as key stakeholders in advocating for more research.

    Full Transcript: hsph.me/gun-violence-pod

    You'll hear perspectives on gun violence from the emergency room, with Megan Ranney, and from public health, with David Hemenway. Ranney is an associate professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine at Rhode Island Hospital/Alpert Medical School of Brown University and also chief research officer for the American Foundation for Firearm Injury Reduction in Medicine, a non-partisan philanthropy focused on filling the funding gap for high-quality, medically-focused, firearm injury research. Hemenway is a professor of health policy at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and director of the Harvard Injury Control Research Center. He has written widely on injury prevention, on topics including firearms, violence, suicide, child abuse, motor vehicle crashes, fires, falls, and fractures.

    January 24, 2019: Heat is a 'silent killer' Jan 24, 2019

    Climate change will mean more extreme weather, including heat waves. And it’s not a distant threat—we’re already seeing the effects now in the United States. In this week’s episode, we explore the health threat posed by severe heat and how our society needs to adapt in the decades ahead. You'll hear from Augusta Williams, a doctoral student at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, who studies how extreme heat can affect our bodies and minds. She'll explain why heat is considered a "silent killer" and how we can combat the effects of our warming world.

    Full Transcript: https://hsph.me/heat-pod

    This episode was produced with assistance from Veritalk, a podcast from Harvard University's Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.

    January 10, 2019: A virtual visit with your doctor Jan 10, 2019

    For many Americans, a visit with their doctor no longer requires an actual trip to the doctor’s office. More physicians are offering so-called “telemedicine” services, where they provide care to patients via smart phones, tablets, and computers. And while telemedicine is being more used more frequently across the U.S., it’s still relatively uncommon, according to a new study led by Michael Barnett, assistant professor of health policy and management at Harvard Chan School. In this week's episode we speak to Barnett about the rise of telemedicine, ways to further increase its use, and how this technology could improve health care for patients in the years to come.

    Full Transcript: https://hsph.me/virtual-pod

    December 19, 2018: The simple solution that has saved millions of lives Dec 19, 2018

    Oral rehydration solution (ORS)—a mixture of water, sugar, and salt that is administered as part of oral rehydration therapy (ORT)—is credited with preventing tens of millions of deaths from cholera and other diarrheal diseases. In this week's podcast you'll hear from two scientists who helped bring this simple, low-tech, and cost-effective treatment into worldwide use. Richard Cash, senior lecturer on global health at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and David Nalin, professor emeritus at Albany Medical College, collaborated on groundbreaking clinical studies showing that ORT was remarkably effective in reversing dehydration.

    This episode is a collaboration with Harvard Global Health Institute.

    December 7, 2018: The power of a family meal Dec 07, 2018

    For busy families, gathering together for a meal—whether it’s breakfast or dinner—can be difficult. But a growing body of research shows that these meals together can have an important influence on the quality of food that children and teens eat. However, there’s been less research on effective ways to encourage families to eat together more often. In this week’s episode we’re speaking with Kathryn Walton, research fellow at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto and a PhD student at the University of Guelph in Toronto, about a new study that could help public health professionals target interventions at busy families.

    Walton and a team of researchers, including Bryn Austin, professor in the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, found that when families sit down together for dinner, adolescents and young adults eat more fruits and vegetables and consume fewer fast-food and takeout items. What’s unique about this study is that Walton and her colleagues looked at the families participating in the meal—assessing how they communicated, managed schedules, and even bonded with children, something called family functioning. And they found that the benefits of family meals were seen regardless of how well—or poorly—a family functioned. We spoke with Walton about the findings of her study and how they could inform future initiatives to encourage families to eat together.

    November 21, 2018: A conversation with a public health pioneer Nov 21, 2018

    In this week's episode we bring you an in-depth conversation with a public health pioneer. During her five-decade career, Marie McCormick, Sumner and Esther Feldberg Professor, emerita, at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, has worked on a range of issues: from the health of pre-term babies to vaccines to cannabis. McCormick began her career as a pediatrician and conducted groundbreaking research on the outcomes of high-risk infants, especially preterm infants, and the evaluation of programs to improve their health and development. During our conversation we covered all of that, plus McCormick’s views on the future of child and maternal health, including the need to address poverty’s role in childhood health.

    Nov. 02, 2018: How accurate are health headlines in your social media feed? Nov 02, 2018

    Every day we are bombarded with health news in our social media feeds: from studies touting the benefits—or harms—of a particular food to research on a new treatment for a disease. But how accurate are those headlines? That's the question a multidisciplinary research team led by Noah Haber, ScD '19, tried to answer. And their findings showed that health news shared in social media is likely to be overstated and/or inaccurate. In this week’s episode, we speak with Haber about how that happens—and what can be done to improve health reporting.

    October 18, 2018: Your phone knows how you feel Oct 18, 2018

    Many of us spend hours each day on our smartphones, whether it's texting friends or using our GPS for directions. And each of those actions leaves behind a digital breadcrumb. In this week's episode we're digging into our archives to explain how researchers are mining this data to improve health. JP Onnela, associate professor of biostatistics at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, will explain how harnessing smartphone information can be used to improve everything from our mental health to recovery from surgery.

    Sept. 27, 2018: Can we solve the migration crisis? Sep 27, 2018

    Every minute 24 people around the world are forced to leave their homes—and it’s estimated that more than 65 million people are currently displaced. In this week’s episode, we explore the global refugee and migration crisis with Jacqueline Bhabha, Professor of the Practice of Health and Human Rights at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Director of Research at the FXB Center for Health and Human rights. Bhabha has studied migration extensively, and focuses on potential solutions to the crisis in her new book, “Can We Resolve the Migration Crisis?” In this interview, Bhabha speaks about the myriad factors driving the current refugee and migration crisis, how rising nationalism and xenophobia worldwide is affecting migration, and the policy changes needed to build a better global migration system.

    September 6, 2018: A call for redesigning American streets Sep 06, 2018

    In this week’s podcast we’ll explore how America’s streets can be redesigned to benefit bicyclists and pedestrians—and we’ll explain why doing so may even help mitigate the effects of climate change.

    A new study from Anne Lusk, research scientist in the Department of Nutrition at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, analyzed how bicyclists and pedestrians responded to various placements of trees along cycle tracks—barrier-protected bicycle-exclusive paths between the road and the sidewalk. The research shows that the placement of these trees can play an important role in how people walking and biking perceive traffic, pollution, heat, and even safety.

    But the benefits extend beyond just those using the street—and could even be a factor in mitigating the effects of climate change. These trees may make it more likely that people will bike—helping to reduce pollution. And increased greenery can also help cool cities, which often suffer from a heat island effect, which means they’re significantly warmer than more rural areas. Lusk says all of this highlights the need to re-think how we’re designing streets to encourage more people to walk and bike instead of drive.

    August 10, 2018: Designing for climate change Aug 10, 2018

    A new study from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that students who lived in dormitories without air conditioning during a heat wave performed worse on a series of simple tests compared with students who lived in air-conditioned dorms. The findings show that the effects of extreme heat are not just felt by those typically thought of as vulnerable—such as the elderly. And with global temperatures on the rise, the research underscores the need for sustainable design solutions in mitigating the health impacts of extreme heat.

    In this week's episode, we'll speak with the authors of that study to learn how we can better design our buildings and cities to adapt to our changing climate. You'll hear from Joe Allen, assistant professor of exposure assessment science and director of the Healthy Buildings Program at the Center for Climate, Health, and the Global Environment, and Jose Guillermo (Memo) Cedeño Laurent, associate director of the Healthy Buildings Program.

    July 24, 2018: Food Insecurity as a public health issue Jul 24, 2018

    The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) helps 40 million low-income Americans afford food each month. But the program's future is uncertain as Congress debates the Farm Bill, a multi-year spending bill that will expire on September 30. The Trump administration has proposed significant changes—including cuts in funding—that could shape SNAP in the years ahead.

    In this week's episode we examine how changes in SNAP are likely to affect the health of food insecure Americans. You'll hear from Sara Bleich, professor of public health policy at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and Hilary Seligman, a primary care physician and associate professor of medicine and of epidemiology and biostatistics at University of California, San Francisco.

    This episode is a collaboration with Review of Systems, from the Center for Primary Care at Harvard Medical School.

    July 12, 2018: Every business has an impact on health Jul 12, 2018

    Every company has an impact on health—both positive and negative—whether they realize it or not. And in this episode we're taking an in-depth look at the links between businesses and health. Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health recently partnered with Harvard Business School to launch a new initiative called Culture of Health (COH): A Business Leadership Imperative. The goals: encourage business leaders to prioritize the protection and promotion of health and wellbeing and understand how some companies are already contributing to health—and how to encourage others to do so.

    You'll hear from three researchers spearheading this work: Howard Koh is the Harvey V. Fineberg Professor of the Practice of Public Health Leadership and principal investigator of the Culture of Health program; John McDonough is professor of public health practice and a co-principal investigator; and Eileen McNeely is an instructor in the Department of Environmental Health and director of the Sustainability and Health Initiative for NetPositive Enterprise—or SHINE.

    June 21, 2018: Eliminating trans fats Jun 21, 2018

    In this episode we're marking a major public health milestone. As of Monday, June 18, U.S. food manufacturers are banned from creating products with artificial trans fats—found in partially hydrogenated oils. This ban is the culmination of decades of research and work, and we'll explore how these fats became such a mainstay in American foods, the work to expose their risks, and the public health impact of eliminating them. You'll hear from two experts who were on the front lines of the battle against trans fats: Walter Willett, professor of epidemiology and nutrition at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and Michael Jacobson, senior scientist and former executive director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI).

    June 14, 2018: What's behind a resurgence of mumps in the United States? Jun 14, 2018

    In the early 21st century there was hope that the success of the mumps vaccine in the United States would pave the way for the eventual elimination of the highly contagious disease. But since 2006 there's actually been a resurgence of mumps. In this week's podcast Yonatan Grad, assistant professor of immunology and infectious diseases, explains how the waning effectiveness of the vaccine may be contributing to outbreaks of the virus.

    May 31, 2018: Gina McCarthy's mission to protect public health and defend science May 31, 2018

    This week the Harvard Chan School launched the new School-wide Center for Climate, Health, and the Global Environment (C-CHANGE). Under the leadership of Director Gina McCarthy, C-CHANGE will use science to drive action on climate change and improve public health. It's something McCarthy is familiar with; as former U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator, she led the Obama administration's efforts to combat climate change. In this week's episode we sit down with McCarthy for a passionate conversation about climate change, public health, and science. McCarthy explained why scientists need to change how they communicate about climate change to convey the human health effects, shared how we all can get involved to drive environmental changes at the local level, and weighed in on the Trump Administration’s attacks on science and the mission of the EPA.

    May 22, 2018: Student stories May 24, 2018

    This week more than 650 students from dozens of countries graduated from the Harvard Chan School. Each graduate has their own amazing story—with powerful reasons for pursuing public health. We can’t share them all, but this week we’re sharing three stories. Alice Han, MPH '18, is calling attention to the "pandemic" of violence against women; Garang Dut, MPH '18, was inspired by his experience as a refugee to address health care inequities; and Jon Jay, DrPH '18, is using data science to improve health in cities. You’ll learn why each of these students pursued public health—and how they’re hoping to make an impact after graduation.

    May 10, 2018: What can we learn from a 'null' study result? May 10, 2018

    Between 2014-2016, Researchers from Ariadne Labs ran an ambitious trial to see if a simple checklist could improve childbirth care and prevent deaths in one of India’s poorest states. The randomized study of 300,000 women in Uttar Pradesh was one of the largest maternal health trials ever. Both the stakes and hopes were high; globally, 300,000 women a year die around the time of childbirth and five million newborns die as stillborn or in their first month of life.

    But the results of the study were mixed—what researchers call a "null" result. While the checklist improved the quality of care during labor and delivery, it did not reduce death rates. In this week's episode, we speak to Katherine Semrau, director of the BetterBirth program at Ariadne Labs and the lead author of the study, about why that “null” result can actually teach us a great deal about strategies to improve maternal health—and the way public health research is conducted.

    May 3, 2018: Achieving health equity in the Americas May 03, 2018

    In recent years countries across the Americas have made major improvements in health, but while life expectancy has increased and infant and maternal mortality rates have fallen, significant inequalities remain. A new commission launched by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is now examining ways to close those gaps.

    Members of the commission were recently convened by David Satcher at Morehouse School of Medicine to discuss strategies for achieving health equity. As part of the gathering, Michael Marmot, chair of the commission and one of the world's foremost researchers on health inequality, delivered a keynote address: “How Do You Achieve Change?” In this week's episode, we're sharing that talk, which outlines vast disparities across the Americas—and explains how addressing the social determinants of health can help narrow disparities.

    April 19, 2018: Privacy as a human right Apr 19, 2018

    The recent scandal over Facebook's use of personal information has shone fresh light on one of the most pressing issues of the 21st century: How can we protect our privacy when we are willingly—or unwillingly—giving vast amounts of data to companies like Facebook, Google, or Amazon. But those technology companies aren’t the only ones using personal information. This kind of data is also at the core of the work of international agencies delivering humanitarian aid. In this week's episode we speak with Dan Scarnecchia, a researcher with the Signal Program on Human Security and Technology based at the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative. Scarnecchia and his colleagues recently wrote the Signal Code, which represents a human rights approach to privacy and data during crises. We'll examine how the humanitarian field is now grappling with ever-changing technology and increasing reliance on data and personal information.

    April 12, 2018: Is global health aid distributed fairly? Apr 12, 2018

    Billions of dollars in global health aid are distributed around the world each year. But the process by which that funding is distributed—often by large multilateral agencies— is frequently opaque and difficult to understand. In this week's episode we explore the state of the global health aid landscape—and examine ways to improve transparency and make aid distribution more equitable. You'll hear from Jesse Bump, executive director of the Takemi Program in International Health and lecturer on global health policy. Bump and several co-authors recently wrote about global health aid in a special supplement in the journal Health Policy and Planning. We spoke with him about the aid distribution process, how it can be improved—and importantly—how the countries that receive this aid can have a louder voice in the process.

    March 29, 2018: The plasticity of the aging process Mar 29, 2018

    We often think of aging as an inevitable physical decline; as we get older our bodies break down and diseases begin to multiply. But what if that wasn't the case? What if we could change how we age and make our later years more healthy and fulfilling? That's the question we explore during our in-depth conversation with Will Mair, associate professor of genetics and complex diseases. Mair's Lab explores the basic biology of the aging process—trying to understand why we are more likely to get chronic diseases when we are old than when we are young. They seek to understand what is actually going wrong in our cells and tissues to increase the risk of age-related disease, and then work to find ways to reverse that. It's fascinating research that has the potential to change how we think about aging and age-related diseases.

    March 22, 2018: Living with guns rather than dying with guns Mar 22, 2018

    On February 14, 2018, a gunman opened fire inside Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., killing 17 people and wounding 17 more. That shooting and the students who survived have reignited a national conversation about guns under the banner "Never Again." On March 24, people across the country will gather for the March for Our Lives to protest gun violence—and to call for changes in firearm policy. Ahead of the nationwide marches we spoke to David Hemenway, director of the Harvard Injury Control Research Center, and one of America’s top firearms researchers. Hemenway discussed why these student-led protests may finally be the tipping point for gun legislation in America. Plus—he explained the public health approach to preventing gun violence and shared the changes to firearms policy that could have the biggest impact on saving lives.

    March 8, 2018: India's epidemiological transition Mar 08, 2018

    A large new study of more than 1.3 million people finds high rates of diabetes and hypertension in India. We'll speak to experts about what could be driving this trend—and how health systems in India and around the world must adapt to address the growing threat from non-communicable diseases. You'll hear from Pascal Geldsetzer, a third-year doctoral student in the Department of Global Health and Population, Lindsay Jaacks, assistant professor of global health, and Rifat Atun, professor of global health systems.

    Feb. 22, 2018: Discrimination in America Feb 22, 2018

    A new series of polls from the Harvard Opinion Research Program is shedding light on how Americans experience discrimination on a day-to-day basis. While many surveys have explored Americans’ beliefs about discrimination, this series, "Discrimination in America," asks people about their own personal experiences with discrimination. In this week's episode we speak with the director of the polling series, Robert Blendon, Richard L. Menschel Professor of Public Health, about the key findings of the series and what they mean for a range of pressing issues in America—including the “Me Too” movement, health care, and policing.

    Feb. 15, 2018: Clearing up the confusion over fat (Update) Feb 15, 2018

    February is Heart Month, so in this week's podcast we're revisiting one of our most popular episodes: an in-depth look at dietary fat. We'll share tips for including more beneficial fats in your diet, plus we'll give you the bottom line on butter and health. You'll hear from two experts: Walter Willett, professor of epidemiology and nutrition at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and Dariush Mozaffarian, dean of the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University.

    Feb. 08, 2018: A public health approach to an aging world Feb 08, 2018

    People are living longer than ever before—and that is raising new questions and challenges. In this week's episode, we explore how public health researchers are grappling with issues surrounding aging and longevity. Lisa Berkman, Thomas D. Cabot Professor of Public Policy, Epidemiology, and Global Health and Population and Director of the Harvard Center for Population and Development Studies, will explain how demographic shifts will force us to rethink work and retirement. And Albert Hofman, Chair of the Department of Epidemiology and Stephen B. Kay Family Professor of Public Health and Clinical Epidemiology, explores how improved heart health may be behind an apparent decline in new cases of Alzheimer’s disease.

    Feb. 1, 2018: The Surgeon General's opioid strategy Feb 01, 2018

    In this week's podcast we share an in-depth conversation with Vice Admiral Jerome Adams, the 20th Surgeon General of the United States. During a recent interview with Voices in Leadership, Adams outlined his strategy for addressing America's opioid epidemic and shared how his family's own experiences with addiction have informed his work.

    Jan. 25, 2018: Big data and public health Jan 25, 2018

    Researchers are now harnessing vast amounts of information to assess what works in medicine and public health. In this week's podcast, we explore why this approach holds promise—but why it also comes with potential risks. You'll hear from Miguel Hernan, Kolokotrones Professor of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, who is a leading expert in the field of causal inference, which includes comparative effectiveness research to guide policy and clinical decisions. We discussed how researchers are using big data to answer important questions about health—and the safeguards that need to be in place to avoid misleading results.

    Jan. 18, 2018: Changing the food environment Jan 18, 2018

    In May 2018, the U.S. government will be rolling out broad new menu labeling regulations. As part of the Affordable Care Act, restaurants and other food outlets with more than 20 locations will be required to post calorie counts right on their menus. And new research shows those rules may already be having an impact before they even go into effect. A study led by Sara Bleich, professor of public health policy, shows that many large chain restaurants have started removing higher calorie items from their menus. In this week's episode, we speak with Bleich about what these changes could mean for America's fight against obesity—and how policy changes can be used to alter the country's unhealthy food environment.

    Jan. 11, 2018: Fundamental questions Jan 11, 2018

    Basic science is at the heart of many of our greatest health advances. And in this week's episode we speak with two scientists who are asking fundamental questions about how our bodies work. The answers could help crack the secrets of diseases ranging from diabetes to dementia.

    For the past three-plus years those two scientists, Robert Farese and Tobias Walther, have done something almost unheard of in public health: run a joint lab. Their work largely focuses on understanding how our cells store and then synthesize fat—a process known as lipid metabolism. It's work that has wide-ranging implications for a variety of diseases. During an in-depth conversation Farese and Walther shared insight on their work, the joys and challenges of running a lab together, and the importance of basic scientific research.

    Dec. 14, 2017: Public health and behavioral economics Dec 13, 2017

    Each year in sub-Saharan African more than a million women and newborns die during childbirth—or shortly thereafter. One key to preventing these deaths is making sure women deliver in high-quality health care facilities. But in many areas—such as Nairobi, Kenya—women are faced with an overwhelming number of choices of where to give birth, with few high-quality options.

    In this week's episode, we'll take a look at how researchers are using lessons from behavioral economics to see if they can influence women to give birth at the higher quality facilities—and in turn receive better care. We'll speak with Jessica Cohen, associate professor of global health, about her research, which draws on knowledge about human psychology to better understand how people make decisions. The key question at the center of her new study: Can behavioral "nudges" in the form of cash transfers lead to better maternity care?

    Later in the episode, you'll hear from Roman Pabayo, research fellow in the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, about his review of research on the effects of unconditional cash transfers.

    Dec. 7, 2017: Nuts and heart health Dec 07, 2017

    Eating several small servings of nuts each week may significantly lower your risk of heart attack or stroke, according to a new study from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. In this week's episode we speak with Marta Guasch, a research fellow in the Department of Nutrition, and author of the study—which is one of the largest to date on the health benefits of nuts. We'll discuss what differentiates this study from other research on nuts, how many you should be consuming each week, and simple ways to include more nuts in your diet. Later in the episode, we’ll tell you about research examining the effectiveness of strategies to increase physical activity on a large scale.

    November 30, 2017: The importance of tracking eating disorders Nov 30, 2017

    Around 30 million Americans will be affected by an eating disorder in their lifetime, but these psychiatric disorders are not regularly tracked by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That's why a coalition led by Harvard’s Strategic Training Initiative for the Prevention of Eating Disorders (STRIPED) is asking the CDC to monitor eating disorders as a part of national disease surveillance efforts. In this week's episode, we speak with Bryn Austin, professor in the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences and director of STRIPED, to learn how better data on eating disorders could improve treatment and prevention.

    November 20, 2017: A sustainable Thanksgiving [rebroadcast] Nov 20, 2017

    In this week’s episode: It may be hard to have a truly healthy Thanksgiving, but we have some tips from Gary Adamkiewicz, assistant professor of environmental health and exposure disparities, to make your holiday feast more environmentally friendly.

    November 15, 2017: The science of Thanksgiving [rebroadcast] Nov 15, 2017

    In this week’s episode: The science of Thanksgiving. Guy Crosby, adjunct associate professor in the Department of Nutrition, explains how you can use food science to cook the perfect holiday meal, plus he shares recipes for simple, delicious, and healthy side dishes.

    November 9, 2017: A cellular message in a bottle Nov 09, 2017

    In this week's episode we delve deep into our cells to talk about some exciting new basic science research coming out of the Harvard Chan School. We spoke with Quan Lu, associate professor of environmental genetics and pathophysiology, about a newly discovered cellular messaging mechanism that could have important implications for disease treatment—and may even change how public health researchers can track the impact of harmful environmental exposures, such as air pollution.

    November 2, 2017: An opioid emergency Nov 02, 2017

    According to preliminary estimates from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), an estimated 45,000 Americans died from opioid overdoses in 2016. On October 26, President Trump responded to the crisis by declaring it a public health emergency. In this week's episode we'll examine what that means, how we arrived at this point, and why that presidential election likely won't be enough to stem the tide of opioid addiction and overdoses. You'll hear from Howard Koh, Harvey V. Fineberg Professor of the Practice of Public Health Leadership, and Michael Barnett, assistant professor of health policy and management.

    October 26, 2017: A new era of epidemics Oct 26, 2017

    In this week’s episode we speak with two leading experts on Zika virus—which grabbed international attention when it sickened a million people in dozens of countries more than two years ago. Marcia Castro is associate professor of demography in the Department of Global Health and Population at Harvard Chan School. She has extensively studied the lingering effects of Zika in Brazil—including how the virus has affected physical and mental health—as well as its effect on birth rates in the country. And Celina Turchi Martelli is professor of epidemiology of infectious diseases and a researcher at FIOCRUZ in Brazil. As the Zika outbreak began, Turchi worked closely with other scientists to track what was happening. Her research helped played a critical role in confirming that Zika did indeed cause microcephaly. Both Castro and Turchi participated in a panel discussion as part of Harvard Worldwide Week. The event, The New Era of Epidemics: Surveillance, Response, Impacts, and Challenges focused on lessons learned from past infectious disease outbreaks, and ways to prepare for future public health crises. We spoke with Castro and Turchi about what Zika can teach us about preparing for future epidemics—as well as what Brazil did well in its response to the outbreak.

    October 19, 2017: An attempt to destabilize Obamacare Oct 19, 2017

    In early October, President Trump took aim at the Affordable Care Act (ACA), with two proposed changes that could weaken the law. The President said that the government will stop making cost-sharing reduction payments to health insurance companies. These payments are intended to subsidize plans offered to lower income Americans under the ACA. And in a separate move, President Trump issued an executive order which would ease the rules and regulations for health plans offered under Obamacare and open the door for the creation of association health plans. The moves come just before the next ACA open enrollment period, running from November 1 to December 15. While the changes are not likely to affect plans offered during the upcoming enrollment, Benjamin Sommers, associate professor of health policy and economics, says the changes could lead to higher premiums and co-pays and potentially destabilize insurance markets over the long-term.

    Visit healthcare.gov to sign up for insurance beginning November 1.

    October 12, 2017: Eat, drink, and be healthy Oct 12, 2017

    In this week's episode we discuss two decades of nutrition science with one of the leading experts in the field. Walter Willett, former chair of the Department of Nutrition, recently released an updated version of his book Eat, Drink, and Be Healthy , which compiles decades worth of evidence about the components of a healthy diet. During an in-depth conversation with Willett, we talk about what's changed in nutrition since the book was first released in 2000 and the topics that will dominate the field in the years to come—including obesity—and how climate change will force us to change how we eat.

    October 5, 2017: Guns and public health Oct 05, 2017

    In the wake of a mass shooting on October 1 in Las Vegas that left at least 59 people dead and more than 500 injured, David Hemenway, professor of health policy at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and director of the Harvard Injury Control Research Center, speaks with us about the public health approach to gun control. Hemenway discusses what made the Las Vegas shooting so deadly, how Australia effectively responded to a mass killing in 1996, and why restrictions on federally funded gun research hamper efforts to prevent violence. We also re-play a story on background checks and gun purchases from January, 2017.

    September 28, 2017: A public health disaster in Puerto Rico Sep 28, 2017

    There are widespread power outages and shortages of food and water in Puerto Rico in the wake of Hurricane Maria. The storm is being blamed for at least two dozen deaths. It also devastated the island’s infrastructure, destroying the power grid and leaving millions without electricity. According to estimates from the U.S. military, half of the island does not have access to clean drinking water. To get some perspective on the public health and medical challenges facing the island we spoke with Stephanie Kayden, vice-chair and chief of international emergency medicine and humanitarian programs in the department of emergency medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School. Kayden is also an assistant professor in the Department of Global Health and Population at the Harvard Chan School. Kayden has delivered emergency medical care around the world—including constructing a field hospital for survivors of the 2010 Haiti earthquake.

    September 21, 2017: The epidemic of diabetes in sub-Saharan Africa Sep 21, 2017

    A recent report published in The Lancet finds that health systems in sub-Saharan Africa are largely unprepared to deal with that region’s rapidly expanding epidemic of diabetes. According to the Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology Commission nearly a quarter of adults in some countries now have diabetes, but only half of those with diabetes are diagnosed, and of those, only 1 in 10 are receiving treatment. More than 90% of cases of diabetes in sub-Saharan Africa are type 2 diabetes, suggesting that modifiable risk factors are major contributors to the burden of disease. In this week’s podcast we’ll speak with Rifat Atun, professor of global health systems at Harvard Chan School and one of three lead authors of the report. Atun will explain what’s driving this rapid increase in diabetes and what health systems can do to respond effectively.

    September 14, 2017: Brand marketing gone bad Sep 14, 2017

    More than 90,000 schools in the U.S. have participated in the Box Tops for Education program—one of the largest school-based brand marketing initiatives. The program was launched by General Mills in 1996, and participating schools can earn money by collecting Box Tops from select products. While eligible goods include paperware and office supplies, Box Tops are featured on a wide array of packaged foods and beverages. Because these products are not actually sold in schools, they're not subject to federal nutrition standards. But if they were, how would they stack up nutritionally? New research from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and MassGeneral Hospital for Children finds that less than a third of the products would meet federal "Smart Snacks" standards. In this week's episode we speak with Elsie Taveras, Division Chief of General Academic Pediatrics at MassGeneral Hospital for Children and professor of nutrition at the Harvard Chan School, and Alyssa Moran, a doctoral student at the Harvard Chan School. They'll explain why the Box Tops program may be driving parents and children to make unhealthy food choices—and unwittingly turns kids into brand ambassadors for these products.

    September 7, 2017: Disaster recovery Sep 07, 2017

    In Texas the focus is shifting from saving lives to recovery in the wake of Harvey. The storm is being blamed for at least 64 deaths and the devastating flooding caused billions of dollars worth of damage. The region faces a long and difficult recovery—one that will be complicated by Hurricane Irma. The category 5 storm has already caused widespread devastation across the Caribbean and is bearing down on Florida.

    In this week's podcast we're focusing on disaster recovery from two angles. First, Eric McNulty, director of research and professional programs at the National Preparedness Leadership Initiative at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Harvard Kennedy School, will explain why the recovery from a disaster like Harvey is so difficult. And in the second part of the episode, we'll explore the best ways to help support the recovery effort. Julia Brooks, legal research associate at the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative, will explain why it's almost always better to donate cash, instead of clothes or supplies.

    August 31, 2017: The recovery from Harvey could take years Aug 31, 2017

    August 31, 2017 — Tropical storm Harvey has caused devastating flooding around Houston, Texas since making landfall as a hurricane on August 26. The storm has dumped nearly 50 inches of rain—and is being blamed for more than two dozen deaths—though that number is likely to rise. Houston is now assessing the damage as Harvey moves to Louisiana. In this week's episode we speak with Richard Serino, distinguished visiting fellow at the National Preparedness Leadership Initiative at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Harvard Kennedy School and former deputy administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Serino says that the focus in Texas and Louisiana right now is still on saving lives—then emergency responders can turn their attention to a recovery that is likely to take years.

    August 3, 2017: Balancing economic growth and environmental protection Aug 04, 2017

    More than half of the world's population lives in so-called emerging markets—countries such as China, India, Brazil, and Mexico. These are middle-income countries on the rise, experiencing rapid economic and population growth—and in many cases improvements in health. These nations wield enormous economic power, but experts say that has come with environmental consequences. In this week's podcast, we'll be speaking with two of the authors of a new report warning of the dangers of unchecked economic growth: Ian Scott, executive director of the Emerging Markets Symposium, and Ana Langer, director of the Women and Health Initiative at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Scott and Langer will explain how emerging markets can balance rapid economic growth with the need to protect the environment and natural resources.

    July 27, 2017: The surprising factor behind a spike in C-sections Jul 27, 2017

    esarean delivery of a baby—or C-section—is the world's most commonly performed surgery. Rates have been rising across the globe, but there has been a particularly notable increase in the United States. The C-section rate in the U.S. has jumped 500 percent since the mid-1970s and 1 in 3 babies are now born via C-section. C-section is incredibly common, but the surgery comes with risks for mothers, including hemorrhage and infection. In this week's episode, we'll take a look at efforts to figure out what is driving rising C-section rates, and what can be done to prevent them. Neel Shah, director of the Delivery Decisions Initiative at Ariadne Labs, will explain why the hospital where a woman gives birth may the single most important factor in whether or not she has a C-section.

    July 21, 2017: Changing the language of addiction [Rebroadcast] Jul 21, 2017

    In this week's episode we're revisiting two stories on important mental health issues. First, the importance of changing the language surrounding addiction. Howard Koh, Harvey V. Fineberg Professor of the Practice of Public Health Leadership, and Michael Botticelli, former director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, will explain how the words we use to describe addiction can affect the treatment people receive—and why changing language is critical to reducing the stigma surrounding substance use disorders.

    In the second part of the podcast, we speak with Morgan Shields, SM '16, who recently authored a paper raising concerns about the psychiatric care that veterans receive.

    July 11, 2017: Choose unsaturated fats for heart health Jul 11, 2017

    In a new advisory the American Heart Association (AHA) strongly urges people to swap out saturated fats in favor of healthier unsaturated fats. The AHA says doing so can lower a person’s heart disease risk as much as cholesterol-lowering statin drugs. In this week's episode we speak to one of the authors of the advisory, Frank Sacks, professor of cardiovascular disease prevention. Sacks and other researchers reviewed decades worth of evidence on saturated and unsaturated fats, and we spoke to him about the state of the science on dietary fats—and some simple swaps you can make to include more healthy fats in your diet.

    June 29, 2017: A call for stricter air pollution standards Jun 29, 2017

    A new study of 60 million Americans is strengthening the link between air pollution and premature death. Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health researchers found that long-term exposure to airborne fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and ozone increases the risk of premature death, even when that exposure is at levels below the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) currently established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In this week's episode we speak with two of the study's authors, Francesca Dominici, professor of biostatistics at Harvard Chan School and co-director of the Harvard Data Science Initiative, and doctoral student Qian Di about why the U.S. needs stricter standards to keep the air clean.

    June 22, 2017: Health and safety in the dry cleaning industry Jun 22, 2017

    Dry cleaning is an industry that dates back to the 1600s—when turpentine was used to clean fabrics. But now it's an industry in transition amid growing demand for dry cleaning solvents that are less harmful to humans and the environment. At the center of this is a push to replace perchloroethylene (PERC), which is the most commonly used dry cleaning solvent. A range of new chemicals have come on the market, but there are risks because scientists are rarely able to assess a solvent's long-term health effects before it's used commercially. In this week's episode we speak with Diana Ceballos, research scientist at the Center for Health and the Global Environment at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. We'll discuss why new dry cleaning solvents pose challenges for the industry and regulators, and what the U.S. can learn from Europe when it comes to chemical safety.

    June 15, 2017: A new discovery in the fight against tuberculosis Jun 15, 2017

    In this week's podcast we explore a new discovery in the fight against tuberculosis(TB). It's a disease that infects more than 10 million people a year—killing nearly two million. And while TB is preventable and curable, treatment for the disease can take several months. In this episode we speak with Eric Rubin, Irene Heinz Given Professor of Immunology and Infectious Diseases in the Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, about new research that could one day open the door to much faster treatment of the disease.

    June 8, 2017: Revisiting Zika Jun 08, 2017

    It's now been more than a year since the Zika virus gained global attention, sickening a million people in dozens of countries. The epidemic began in early 2015 and was declared a public health emergency by the World Health Organization (WHO) in February 2016. WHO declared an end to that emergency in November 2016, but concerns over Zika have lingered, even as new cases have waned. In this week's episode, we speak with Marcia Castro, associate professor of demography in the Department of Global Health and Population at Harvard Chan School. With Castro's help, we’ll take a look at the lingering impact of Zika, what we’ve learned about the virus, and the likelihood of new cases as we enter summer in the United States.

    June 1, 2017: The Minnesota measles outbreak Jun 01, 2017

    June 1, 2017 — Health officials in Minnesota are now grappling with that state’s largest measles outbreak in several decades. As of May 31, the Minnesota Department of Health had confirmed 70 cases of the disease. The outbreak is being blamed in part on anti-vaccine groups who targeted Somali-Americans, leading to a sharp drop in the number of children receiving the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. In this week’s podcast, we get perspective on the outbreak from childhood vaccine expert Marie McCormick, Sumner and Esther Feldberg Professor of Maternal and Child Health, at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. We spoke with McCormick about the roots of the anti-vaccine movement, as well as communications strategies to ensure that children receive critical immunizations.

    May 25, 2017: The power of biology May 25, 2017

    Deepali Ravel, PhD '17, studies the malaria parasite and believes biology can be a powerful tool for addressing global health problems. In this week's podcast we speak with Ravel about the challenges scientists face in eradicating malaria—and why she believes that teaching basic biology at an early age is so critical.

    May 18, 2017: Addressing key questions about HIV May 18, 2017

    May 18, 2017 — Pedro Lamothe-Molina, PhD ’17, is an HIV researcher, aspiring physician-scientist, and an accomplished triathlete. He's also one of the hundreds of future public health leaders who will graduate from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health on May 25, 2017. In this week's podcast, we sit down with Lamothe-Molina to discuss his research, which focuses on a lingering question surrounding HIV: Why do some people with the virus never get sick?

    May 11, 2017: Climate change as an opportunity for innovation May 11, 2017

    In this week's podcast we share an in-depth interview with Gina McCarthy, former administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and currently a Menschel Senior Leadership Fellow at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. During her nearly four years at the helm of the EPA McCarthy helped spearhead the Obama Administration’s efforts to address climate change and increase use of renewable sources of energy. McCarthy has become a vocal advocate for the need to address climate change—and has called on scientists to be more outspoken on the issue. We spoke with McCarthy about the EPA’s critical role in protecting the public’s health, the challenges the agency faces in protecting our water and air—especially in the wake of Flint’s water crisis, and why we should view climate change as an opportunity for innovation.

    May 4, 2017: An invisible evil May 04, 2017

    Structural racism is often called an invisible evil because it's so pervasive, but also hidden in some ways. It involves interconnected institutions—housing, education, health care—that foster discrimination against racial groups. And this structural racism can play a role in health disparities across the United States. In this week's podcast we speak about structural racism and its health effects with Zinzi Bailey, ScD, '14, director of research and evaluation in the Center for Health Equity at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Bailey was recently co-author on a paper in the Lancet, that explored the history of structural racism and health inequities in the United States, and also ways to combat this discrimination moving forward.

    April 27, 2017: An emergency within an emergency Apr 27, 2017

    In this week's podcast we bring you two stories of disturbing human rights abuses: one developing in real-time, and another that's been lingering for centuries. In the first half of the episode, we speak with Vasileia Digidiki, research fellow at the FXB Center for Health & Human Rights, and Jacqueline Bhabha, director of research at the center, about a disturbing report showing that refugee and migrant children in Greece are turning to prostitution to escape dangerous conditions. And in the second half of the podcast, Bhabha will tell us about a renewed push to address centuries of racism and discrimination targeting the Roma in Europe.

    April 20, 2017: Harnessing data to improve health Apr 20, 2017

    We're now in the midst of a golden era of data. and scientists are constantly finding news ways to harness this information with applications across health care, the environment, commerce, urban planning, finance, and more. In this week's podcast we speak with Francesca Dominici, professor of biostatistics at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and David C. Parkes, George F. Colony Professor and area dean for computer science at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. Together they will lead Harvard's new Data Science Initiative, applying the theories and practices of statistics and computer science to extract useful knowledge from complex and often messy information sources. Dominici and Parkes will explain how the field of data science has grown, where it’s going, and how it will affect our lives in vast ways over the coming years.

    April 13, 2017: The future of seafood—from aquaculture to sea greens Apr 13, 2017

    In part two of our interview with chef and author Barton Seaver we explore how the oceans can help feed a world feeling the effects of climate change and a rapidly expanding population.

    April 6, 2017: Seafood is an 'irrational' economy Apr 06, 2017

    Eating more seafood can be beneficial to human health, and the health of our environment. But increasing our production and consumption of seafood in a sustainable way poses challenges. In this week's podcast, chef and author Barton Seaver, director of the Sustainable Seafood and Health Initiative at the Center for Health and the Global Environment, explains why we need to change how we think about seafood—and the types of fish we're willing to eat.

    March 23, 2017: The impact of a single opioid prescription Mar 23, 2017

    In this week’s podcast we explore how doctors’ prescribing habits may be fueling the nation’s opioid epidemic—and what can be done to change that.

    March 16, 2017: Nanoparticles in food Mar 16, 2017

    In this week's podcast we explore the growing use of nanotechnology in food. We speak with one scientist who is at the forefront of research on how these microscopic particles may affect our health, both positively and negatively.

    March 9, 2017: Climate change and mental health Mar 09, 2017

    In part four of our series on climate change and health we explore how environmental changes may have wide-ranging effects on mental health around the world.

    March 2, 2017: Climate change and food Mar 02, 2017

    In part three of our series on climate change and health we examine how environmental changes will affect not only the food we can grow, but how they will make what we're already growing less nutritious.

    Feb. 23, 2017: Empathy and the environment Feb 23, 2017

    In part two of our series on climate change and health we explore ways to communicate effectively about the issue. What can be done to convince skeptics? And we'll explain why empathy might be the key to shifting the conversation.

    Feb. 16, 2017: Climate change and health (Part 1) Feb 16, 2017

    In this week’s episode: Part one of our multi-part series looking at the links between climate change and health. In part one, we share an in-depth conversation about the effects of climate change and the steps we can take to reduce the damage.

    Feb. 9, 2017: Boosting childhood development Feb 09, 2017

    In this week's episode: Researchers say they've identified ways to boost the cognitive development of children in low- and middle-income countries, plus the challenge of funding basic science research.

    Feb. 2, 2017: Travel restrictions and refugees Feb 02, 2017

    In this week’s episode: The effects of new restrictions in the United States on refugees and immigrants. We take a closer look at President Donald Trump’s executive order on immigration and the impact it could have on millions of refugees around the world—as well as immigration policy at home and abroad.

    January 26, 2017: Guns and background checks Jan 26, 2017

    In this week’s episode: Public health and President Trump, plus a survey that's shedding new light on gun ownership in America.

    January 19, 2017: The health effects of marijuana Jan 20, 2017

    In this week’s episode: A new report is calling for more research into both the positive and negative health effects of marijuana.

    January 12, 2017: The future of the Affordable Care Act Jan 12, 2017

    In this week’s episode: We examine efforts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, and explore how dismantling the law would affect the health of Americans who rely on it for insurance.

    Dec. 22, 2016: The psychology behind charitable giving Dec 22, 2016

    In this week's episode: The psychology behind charitable giving. We take a look at the mistakes we often make when considering where to donate our money.

    Dec. 15, 2016: The power of positive thinking Dec 15, 2016

    In this week’s episode: The health benefits of optimism, plus strategies to improve your psychological wellbeing.

    Dec. 8, 2016: Genetics and disease risk Dec 08, 2016

    In this week’s episode: The link between our genes and disease risk. A new study is shedding light on how genetic mutations may increase our risk of a range of diseases—from cancer to heart conditions.

    This Week In Health, Dec. 1, 2016: Marijuana and public health Dec 01, 2016

    In this week’s episode: As more states legalize recreational use of marijuana, we examine the potential public health benefits and concerns, plus the growing body of evidence about the negative health effects of synthetic chemicals known as phthalates.

    This Week in Health, Nov. 20, 2016: The science of Thanksgiving Nov 21, 2016

    In this week’s episode: The science of Thanksgiving. Guy Crosby explains how you can use food science to cook the perfect holiday meal, plus he shares recipes for simple, delicious, and healthy side dishes.

    This Week in Health, Nov. 17, 2016: A sustainable Thanksgiving Nov 17, 2016

    In this week's episode: It may be hard to have a truly healthy Thanksgiving, but we have some tips to make your holiday feast more environmentally friendly.

    This Week in Health, Nov. 10, 2016: Your phone knows how you feel Nov 10, 2016

    In this week's episode: How Donald Trump's victory will likely affect health care in America, plus how researchers are mining smartphone data to improve health.

    This Week in Health, Nov. 3, 2016: Coping with election stress Nov 03, 2016

    In this week’s episode: Tips on dealing with stress from the presidential campaign, plus the new study raising questions about the benefits of so-called "good cholesterol."

    This Week in Health, Oct. 27, 2016: A guide to Obamacare Oct 27, 2016

    In this week’s episode: A health care expert offers her advice for people buying insurance through Obamacare.

    This Week in Health, Oct. 20, 2016: Changing the language of addiction Oct 20, 2016

    In this week's episode: How stigmatizing language affects the ability of people wrestling with addiction to receive the treatment they need, and the new push to change that, plus the new concerns about the psychiatric care that veterans may be receiving, and what Twitter can tell us about nutritional health disparities.

    This Week in Health, Oct. 6, 2016: Is any care good care? Oct 05, 2016

    In this week’s episode: Researchers are taking a critical look at some health care practices in low- and middle-income countries.

    This Week in Health, Sept. 29, 2016: Antibiotic resistance, eating disorders, kidney stones Sep 29, 2016

    In this week’s episode: The "fundamental threat" of antibiotic resistance, why anti-obesity efforts may backfire in some cases, and scientists identify a dizzying treatment for kidney stones.

    This Week in Health, Sept. 23, 2016: Refugees, electronic waste, the 'five-second rule' Sep 23, 2016

    In this week’s episode: The United Nations focuses on the plight of 65 million refugees and migrants, plus a closer look at what happens to all the electronics we throw away, and scientists weigh in on the "five-second rule."

    This Week in Health, Sept. 16, 2016: Preserving the power of antibiotics Sep 16, 2016

    In this week's episode: Meet a researcher who's fighting to preserve the life-saving power of antibiotics, plus a disturbing spike in violence linked to police officers and security guards, and the link between C-sections and obesity risk among children.

    This Week in Health, September 9, 2016: Responding to terrorism Sep 09, 2016

    In this special episode we examine how the response to terror attacks has changed since 9/11—and how these attacks—and media coverage of the violence—can affect our health.

    This Week in Health: Inside your microbiome (rebroadcast) Aug 30, 2016

    In this rebroadcast of a story from March, 2016, we explore the human microbiome, one of the fastest growing areas of science and medical research, and explain how it could change the way we treat a range of diseases.

    This Week in Health, August 26, 2016: Racial disparities in genetic testing Aug 25, 2016

    In this week’s episode: Why racial disparities could affect one common genetic test, plus new sugar recommendations for kids and teens, and the link between job satisfaction and health.

    This Week in Health, August 19, 2016: Saving brains Aug 19, 2016

    In this week’s episode: The push to understand the critical early years of a child's life, plus why changes in diet may be to blame for China's epidemic of heart attack and stroke, and as the Rio Olympics come to an end, we see if Zika fears ever materialized.

    This Week in Health, August 12, 2016: How Obamacare is leading to improved health Aug 12, 2016

    In this week's episode: New evidence that Obamacare is leading to improved health for low-income adults, plus harnessing the power of social entrepreneurship.

    This Week In Health, August 5, 2016: Zika and the Rio Olympics Aug 05, 2016

    One expert explains why the threat of Zika at the Rio 2016 Summer Olympics is actually quite low.

    This Week in Health, July 29, 2016: Induced labor and autism risk Jul 28, 2016

    In this week’s episode: A new study finds that induced labor is not linked with autism risk, plus the global rise in the use of air conditioning, and how our jobs impact our health.

    This Week in Health, July 22, 2016: The dangers of excess weight Jul 21, 2016

    In this week's episode: The new study refuting the so-called "obesity paradox," plus the world gathers to formulate a response to the HIV epidemic, and why light pollution could make spring arrive earlier.

    Special episode: Tracking police killings and police deaths Jul 19, 2016

    In a special episode we examine how the state of Tennessee is taking action to more accurately track police deaths and police killings—and explore how that could lead to changes in how police forces operate.

    This Week in Health, July 15, 2016: How can we make biking safer and easier? Jul 14, 2016

    In this week’s podcast we explore what it will take to encourage more people in the U.S. to hit the road on their bikes. Anne Lusk, research scientist in the Department of Nutrition, recently compiled a list of 70 innovations that could transform bikes and the biking environment, and we spoke to her about the state of cycling in the U.S.

    This Week In Health, July 8, 2016: Clearing up the confusion over fat Jul 08, 2016

    In this week’s podcast we attempt to clear up the confusion over fat. We'll ask if butter is really "back" and we'll have some ideas for incorporating healthy fats into your diet.

    This Week In Health, July 1, 2016: A victory for abortion access Jun 30, 2016

    In this week’s podcast: A major Supreme Court ruling on abortion, plus the "bugs" riding the subway with you, and some healthy swaps for your July 4th cookout.

    This Week In Health, June 24, 2016: Healthy eating habits Jun 24, 2016

    In this week’s podcast: The healthy eating habits with significant benefits, plus a new wrinkle in the fight over Obamacare, and the push to improve end-of-life care for those facing serious illnesses.

    This Week in Health, June 17, 2016: Standing in solidarity with Orlando Jun 16, 2016

    In this week’s podcast: The Harvard Chan School community stands in solidarity with the victims of a horrific mass shooting in Orlando, FL.

    This Week In Health, June 10, 2016: Taking aim at salt Jun 09, 2016

    In this week’s podcast: The push to reduce the amount of salt in processed foods, plus new research that could offer a way to prevent Zika virus and a range of other diseases, and why many students don't have easy access to water in school.

    This Week In Health, June 2, 2016: Battling a "superbug" Jun 02, 2016

    In this week’s podcast: The “superbug” that is igniting new concerns over antibiotic resistance, plus the common chemicals linked to health problems in women, and the global toll of slavery.

    This Week In Health, May 27, 2016: Are GMOs harmful? May 27, 2016

    In this week’s podcast: A new report examines whether GMOs are harmful to our health, plus the physical toll of PTSD, and the healthy lifestyle that could prevent half of all cancer deaths in the U.S.

    This Week In Health, May 20, 2016: Religion and health May 20, 2016

    In this week’s podcast: the link between religion and health, plus preventing violence in hospitals, and how the opioid abuse epidemic in the United States is having an unintended ripple effect around the world.

    This Week in Health, May 13, 2016: Preparing for Disaster May 13, 2016

    In this week's podcast we take you inside the intense, three-day simulation that prepares humanitarian workers to respond to disasters around the world.

    This Week In Health, May 6, 2016: Making the modeling industry safer May 06, 2016

    This week’s headlines: One state's push to regulate the modeling industry, plus medical errors are the third leading cause of death in the United States, and the effort to change our perceptions of what healthy food can be.

    This Week In Health, April 29, 2016: How does noise affect us? Apr 29, 2016

    This week's headlines: The effects of "infra-sound," a type of noise you can feel, but can't always hear, plus the new push to eliminate chewing tobacco from Major League Baseball, and new research linking spanking with negative outcomes.

    This Week in Health, April 22, 2016: The health benefits of green space Apr 22, 2016

    This week's headlines: How green space can improve health, plus the new research center expanding our understanding of happiness, and the new concerns surrounding fast food.

    This Week in Health, April 14, 2016: The link between income and life expectancy Apr 14, 2016

    This week’s headlines: The dramatic life expectancy gap between rich and poor Americans, plus how one state plans to battle the mosquitoes that carry Zika virus, and scientists reveal the best way to wash your hands.

    This Week in Health, April 7, 2016: Pollution is making Detroit sick Apr 07, 2016

    This week’s headlines: How pollution is making people sick in Detroit, plus the “most-shopped” for medical procedures, and new research reveals how many people in the world are now obese.

    Read Zoë Schlanger’s Newsweek article on pollution and environmental racism in and around Detroit: http://www.newsweek.com/2016/04/08/michigan-air-pollution-poison-southwest-detroit-441914.html

    This Week in Health, March 31, 2016: Clearing up misperceptions about Zika virus Mar 31, 2016

    This week's headlines: A new poll reveals major misperceptions about Zika virus, plus a closer look at President Obama's "Cancer Moonshot," and we'll tell you about a push to change the way businesses view sustainability and health.

    This Week in Health, March 25, 2016: The dangers of sleep apnea Mar 25, 2016

    This week’s headlines: The dangers of sleep apnea among truck drivers, plus the African nation that's outpacing many Western nations—including the U.S.—when it comes to HIV treatment, and we'll tell you where allergy sufferers will have it the worst this spring.

    This Week in Health: Inside your microbiome Mar 16, 2016

    In this special edition of the podcast we explore what your microbiome is, why it matters, and how it could change how we treat a range of diseases.

    This Week in Health, March 10, 2016: What's your Healthy Heart Score? Mar 10, 2016

    This week's headlines: What's your Healthy Heart Score? Why the answer to that question could make it easier to prevent a range of diseases. Plus, a closer look at Zika's impact on women, and new research on the risks and benefits of alcohol.

    This Week in Health, March 4, 2016: How will Zika impact the United States? Mar 04, 2016

    This week’s headlines: A top Federal official explains how Zika might impact the United States, plus how cutting the price of fruits and vegetables could save hundreds of thousands of lives, and we'll explain why Daylight Saving Time could impact your health.

    This Week in Health, Feb. 26, 2016: Are there parallels between Zika virus and the AIDS epidemic? Feb 26, 2016

    This week’s headlines: One expert sees parallels between Zika virus and the AIDS epidemic, plus the new discovery revealing that our intestines have taste buds, and we'll tell you where the most well-rested people in America live.

    This Week in Health, Feb. 22, 2016: The impact of income disparities Feb 22, 2016

    This week’s headlines: The impact of income disparities, plus a proposal to ban smoking at public housing complexes across the country, and is organic meat and milk healthier for you?

    This Week in Health, Feb. 12, 2016: Why the impact of mental illness is drastically underestimated Feb 12, 2016

    This week’s headlines: New research on the link between Zika virus and microcephaly, plus why experts say the global burden of mental illness is drastically underestimated, and should scientists be able to tinker with the genes of unborn babies?

    This Week in Health, Feb. 5, 2016: Are outbreaks like Zika the "new normal"? Feb 05, 2016

    In this week’s episode: One expert explains why the Zika outbreak may be a sign of the “new normal,” plus President Obama’s billion-dollar initiative to battle opioid addiction, and why young women may want to add more fiber to their diets.

    This Week in Health, January 29, 2016: What’s behind the “explosive” spread of Zika virus? Jan 29, 2016

    This week’s headlines: A look at what could be behind the “explosive” spread of Zika virus, plus the new link between soy and BPA and what it could mean for women who are trying to get pregnant, and even more good news about coffee.

    Take Two: How does air pollution affect health? Jan 25, 2016

    In our new series, “Take Two,” faculty and researchers from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health provide the lowdown on a compelling, engaging question in global health--think of it as Public Health 101.

    Take Two: How do vaccines prevent disease? Jan 25, 2016

    In our new series, “Take Two,” faculty and researchers from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health provide the lowdown on a compelling, engaging question in global health--think of it as Public Health 101.

    This Week in Health, January 22, 2016: Zika virus, Flint’s water crisis, and concussions in the NFL Jan 22, 2016

    This week’s headlines: A new travel warning for pregnant women amid rising concerns over the Zika virus, plus a closer look at the dangers posed by lead pipes across the country, and an interview with an expert studying head injuries in the NFL.

    This Week in Health, January 15, 2016: A new guide to help kids eat healthy Jan 15, 2016

    In this week’s episode: a new death linked to Ebola just hours after health officials declared that the West African epidemic was over, plus a twist in the battle to finally eradicate polio, and a new guide that can help kids eat healthier and stay active.

    Why Public Health: Gaining skills to manage a children's hospital Dec 23, 2015

    In our “Why Public Health?” series, we ask Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health students to talk about why they chose to enter the field. Listen to hear their stories.

    Why Public Health: Reducing administrative burdens for doctors Dec 23, 2015

    In our “Why Public Health?” series, we ask Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health students to talk about why they chose to enter the field. Listen to hear their stories.

    Why Public Health: Women and health Dec 23, 2015

    In our “Why Public Health?” series, we ask Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health students to talk about why they chose to enter the field. Listen to hear their stories.

    Why Public Health: Health policy in developing countries Dec 23, 2015

    In our “Why Public Health?” series, we ask Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health students to talk about why they chose to enter the field. Listen to hear their stories.

    Why Public Health: Maternal and child health Dec 23, 2015

    In our “Why Public Health?” series, we ask Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health students to talk about why they chose to enter the field. Listen to hear their stories.

    Why Public Health: Improving care for vulnerable populations Dec 23, 2015

    In our “Why Public Health?” series, we ask Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health students to talk about why they chose to enter the field. Listen to hear their stories.

    Why Public Health: Drug safety and mental health Dec 23, 2015

    In our “Why Public Health?” series, we ask Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health students to talk about why they chose to enter the field. Listen to hear their stories.

    Why Public Health: Community health Dec 23, 2015

    In our “Why Public Health?” series, we ask Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health students to talk about why they chose to enter the field. Listen to hear their stories.

    Why Public Health: Fighting tuberculosis Dec 23, 2015

    In our “Why Public Health?” series, we ask Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health students to talk about why they chose to enter the field. Listen to hear their stories.

    Why Public Health: Reducing cases of colorectal cancer in vulnerable populations Dec 23, 2015

    In our “Why Public Health?” series, we ask Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health students to talk about why they chose to enter the field. Listen to hear their stories.

    Why Public Health: Fighting obesity at the molecular level Dec 23, 2015

    In our “Why Public Health?” series, we ask Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health students to talk about why they chose to enter the field. Listen to hear their stories.

    Voices in Leadership: Chelsea Clinton Dec 21, 2015

    The Voices in Leadership webcast discussion series at Harvard T. H Chan School of Public Health invites leaders to speak about their experiences making decisions that affect global health. Watch the entire series at www.hsph.me/voices.

    Voices in Leadership: Atul Gawande Dec 21, 2015

    The Voices in Leadership webcast discussion series at Harvard T. H Chan School of Public Health invites leaders to speak about their experiences making decisions that affect global health. Watch the entire series at www.hsph.me/voices.

    Voices in Leadership: Paul Farmer Dec 21, 2015

    The Voices in Leadership webcast discussion series at Harvard T. H Chan School of Public Health invites leaders to speak about their experiences making decisions that affect global health. Watch the entire series at www.hsph.me/voices.

    This Week in Health, Dec. 18, 2015: A disturbing spike in deadly opioid overdoses Dec 18, 2015

    In this week’s episode: a disturbing spike in the number of deadly opioid overdoses in the United States, how big life changes could affect your health insurance, and some simple strategies to battle holiday stress.

    This Week in Health, Dec. 11, 2015: Chemical linked with 'popcorn lung' found in flavored e-cigs Dec 11, 2015

    This week’s headlines: new research is raising concerns about a chemical used in many popular e-cigarette flavors, plus a call to change how law enforcement-related deaths are counted, and why texting and walking could be hazardous.

    This Week in Health, Dec. 4, 2015: Diabetes decline Dec 04, 2015

    In this week’s episode: encouraging news about America’s battle against diabetes, plus why C-sections can tell you a lot about a country’s health care system, and a closer look at the fight to reduce cases of Pediatric HIV/AIDS.

    This Week in Health, Nov. 20, 2015: Tips for a sustainable Thanksgiving meal Nov 20, 2015

    This week’s headlines: How recent terror attacks could affect Syrian refugees, a new study highlighting the health benefits of coffee, and some tips for having a more sustainable Thanksgiving.

    This Week in Health, Nov. 13, 2015: Getting to zero cases of Ebola Nov 13, 2015

    In this week’s episode: A major milestone in the fight against the Ebola outbreak that has ravaged West Africa, former Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick discusses leadership during a crisis, and some extra incentive to cook dinner at home tonight.

    Why Public Health: Preventing injuries Nov 09, 2015

    In our “Why Public Health?” series, we ask Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health students to talk about why they chose to enter the field. Listen to hear their stories.

    Why Public Health: Measuring the impact of air pollution Nov 09, 2015

    In our “Why Public Health?” series, we ask Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health students to talk about why they chose to enter the field. Listen to hear their stories.

    Why Public Health: Helping victims of sexual trafficking Nov 09, 2015

    In our “Why Public Health?” series, we ask Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health students to talk about why they chose to enter the field. Listen to hear their stories.

    Why Public Health: Addressing asthma in the inner city Nov 09, 2015

    In our “Why Public Health?” series, we ask Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health students to talk about why they chose to enter the field. Listen to hear their stories.

    Why Public Health: Unlocking the secrets of malaria Nov 09, 2015

    In our “Why Public Health?” series, we ask Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health students to talk about why they chose to enter the field. Listen to hear their stories.

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