Unbiased Science

Latest Episodes:

The United States of Science (with Sharon McMahon) Oct 11, 2023

Show notes

On this weeks episode of the pod, we are talking about the government's role in healthcare and health-related policies. We sat down with America's government teacher, Sharon McMahon, to dig into the United States of Science! We talk about some pivotal cases that came before the Supreme Court and the implications of their rulings. We discuss whether the vaccine mandates are constitutional and the controversy surrounding them. We spend some time discussing legislation that is not science-based and the dangers of science-related policies being passed without credible evidence to support them. This was an extremely important conversation and we hope you'll tune in!

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PLEASE NOTE: The discussion and information provided in this podcast are for general educational, scientific, and informational purposes only and are not intended as, and should not be treated as, medical or other professional advice for any particular individual or individuals. Every person and medical issue is different, and diagnosis and treatment requires consideration of specific facts often unique to the individual. As such, the information contained in this podcast should not be used as a substitute for consultation with and/or treatment by a doctor or other medical professional. If you are experiencing any medical issue or have any medical concern, you should consult with a doctor or other medical professional.

Further, due to the inherent limitations of a podcast such as this as well as ongoing scientific developments, we do not guarantee the completeness or accuracy of the information or analysis provided in this podcast, although, of course we always endeavor to provide comprehensive information and analysis. In no event may Unbiased Science or any of the participants in this podcast be held liable to the listener or anyone else for any decision allegedly made or action allegedly taken or not taken allegedly in reliance on the discussion or information in this podcast or for any damages allegedly resulting from such reliance. The information provided herein do not represent the views of our employers.

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You Can Find Me in the Tub, Body Full of Suds Oct 04, 2023

Show notes

On this week’s episode of the pod, we’re coming to you with a hygiene roundup! That’s right, we address some of the most common questions we get about hygiene, and talk about the science or lack thereof behind them. We talk about frequency of cleaning bedsheets, changing towels after bathing/showering, and how often you should change your toothbrush! We also discuss the dirty truth about kitchen sponges, cleaning water bottles, face washing, and hand washing. We wrap up with a discussion on some of the dos and don’ts of food preparation. You don’t want to miss this very informative and practical episode of the pod!

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Guardian of the Public Health Galaxy: A Chat With Dr. Peter Hotez Sep 27, 2023

Show notes

We are BACK for season 4 of the podcast! We are starting out with a bang by having a candid conversation with a personal hero of ours, Dr. Peter Hotez-- and we do not shy away from controversy. We talk about anti-science aggression generally, as well as his (and our) personal experiences with anti-science vitriol. We talk about his reasoning for not debating RFK Jr. about vaccines, despite much public prodding. We chat about the future of infectious disease and what we can expect to see as a result of climate change and other social and environmental factors that impact our health. And, yes, of course we check in about the current state of COVID and COVID vaccines. Trust us, you do not want to miss this!

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Self-Checks and Mammograms: They're Simply The Breast! Jun 07, 2023

Show notes

On this week's episode of the pod (our last of season 3!) we are joined by Dr. Liz O'Riordan to discuss a topic near and dear to our hearts-- breast cancer screening!

We kick things off with some global breast cancer stats (for both women and men). We discuss different types of breast cancer which vary in terms of aggressiveness and prognoses. We talk about screening guidelines and the reasoning behind newly updated recommendations. We cover the importance and proper way to conduct breast self-checks. We talk about different screening methods, including mammograms, MRIs, and ultrasounds. We debunk some misconceptions regarding screenings and breast cancer. We answer some commonly asked questions including risk factors for breast cancer. We discuss genetic testing and spend some time chatting about BRCA genes and hereditary risk. This is our last episode before we break for the summer and you do NOT want to miss it!

Check us out on Substack and Instagram:

www.theunbiasedscipod.substack.com

https://www.instagram.com/unbiasedscipod

Follow Liz on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oriordanliz/

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Trying An At-Home Microbiome Test? This Might Make You C.Diff-erently. May 31, 2023

Show notes

On this week's episode of the pod, we tackle the very complex (and oft misunderstood) microbiome, specifically, the gut microbiome.

We highlight recent buzz surrounding the microbiome and claims circulating on social media. We discuss what the microbiome actually is, the diversity of the gut microbiome, some data on implications of disruptions to it, and the countless factors that influence it. We recap probiotics (briefly) and supplements that people take to "optimize" their microbiome. We discuss some recent studies-- including one on artificial sweeteners and how they "change" our microbiome—and how they are being misinterpreted. We end with a discussion on at-home microbiome tests which tout their ability to help us hack our health. (Spoiler alert: they are not diagnostic and are a waste of your money.) You definitely don't want to miss this!

Check us out on Substack and Instagram:

www.theunbiasedscipod.substack.com

https://www.instagram.com/unbiasedscipod

Interested in advertising with us? Please reach out to advertising@airwavemedia.com, with “Unbiased Science” in the subject line.

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When It Comes To Alternative Therapies, The Evidence Isn’t All Complimentary May 24, 2023

Show notes

On this week's episode of the pod, we take a more philosophical approach to a topic we've discussed in detail many times before-- alternative medicine.

We set the stage by discussing the complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) medicine industry and remind people that it is a multi-billion dollar industry. We discuss the available research on the effectiveness of alternative therapies, many of which lack scientifically verifiable effects. However, we talk about the very valid reasons why some people are drawn to CAM (largely due to the shortcomings of our healthcare system). We go on to discuss some of the potential dangers of CAM and give some specific examples, such as alternative therapies used to "treat" cancer. We discuss the many different types of CAM-- some of which have some evidence to support their use in conjunction with conventional medicine but are rarely (if ever) a replacement. We wrap up with a discussion of the vilification of conventional medicine and "big pharma" and why that kind of thinking is flawed and extremely dangerous. We discuss certain logical fallacies, such as the appeal to nature, which are central to this discussion-- and their implications. You do not want to miss this!

Check us out on Substack and Instagram:

www.theunbiasedscipod.substack.com

https://www.instagram.com/unbiasedscipod

Interested in advertising with us? Please reach out to advertising@airwavemedia.com, with “Unbiased Science” in the subject line.

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Don't Let Ticks Suck the Fun Out of the Outdoors May 10, 2023

Show notes

On this week's episode of the pod, we tackle a topic that bugs so many... ticks!

Tis the season for ticks in certain parts of the US, so we had to talk about these little blood-sucking arthropods! We are “joined” by a special guest and the Executive Director of the American Lyme Disease Foundation: our very own Dr. Andrea Love! We kick things off with a summary of the diversity of tick species, especially those to be aware of in the US. We chat about different types of pathogens and diseases that may be spread by ticks. We discuss the ways the ticks feed and survive and their life cycle. We remind folks that not all ticks carry pathogens-- and we try to allay the concerns of those who avoid going outside out of fear of tick bites. Next, we focus on prevention and the multi-pronged approach that will significantly reduce your risk of tickborne illness! We discuss what to do if you are bitten by a tick (and what NOT to do) and debunk some common tick myths and misconceptions. We wrap things up with a discussion about tick testing (and whether it's necessary to send in ticks to labs for testing) and distinguish between diagnostic testing and surveillance. You do not want to miss this!

Check us out on Substack and Instagram:

www.theunbiasedscipod.substack.com

https://www.instagram.com/unbiasedscipod

Interested in advertising with us? Please reach out to advertising@airwavemedia.com, with “Unbiased Science” in the subject line.

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Let's Maki This Clear: "Sushi Grade" Labels Are A Little Fishy May 03, 2023

Show notes

On this week's episode of the pod, we tackled a topic that really got our tummies rumbling...sushi!

We kick things off with some background on the origins of sushi. We spend some time talking about the multi-billion-dollar sushi industry in the US, and some factors that might impact the cost of sushi in the not-so-distant future. Next, we do a deep dive on the term, "sushi grade." For this discussion, we talk about FDA advisory guidelines-- what they cover, and what they don't. We spend some time talking about different food-borne illnesses related to sushi and raw fish consumption-- including those due to different types of parasites and bacteria. We discuss some obvious signs that fish might not be safe for consumption and whether consuming fish is "worth the risk." We chat about signs and symptoms of food poisoning from sushi and when to seek medical care. We wrap things up with a discussion about the risks of mercury poisoning due to frequent sushi consumption. You do not want to miss this episode!

Check us out on Substack and Instagram:

www.theunbiasedscipod.substack.com

https://www.instagram.com/unbiasedscipod

Interested in advertising with us? Please reach out to advertising@airwavemedia.com, with “Unbiased Science” in the subject line.

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Animals in Research: An Enor-mouse Contribution Apr 26, 2023

Show notes

This week, we tackle a topic that people often avoid discussing….pre-clinical animal research.

We acknowledge the controversies surrounding animal research and that some feel very strongly about this subject. We discuss our personal experience conducting animal research and some applications of the research conducted. We cover several examples of biomedical advancements made possible thanks to animal research. We dig into the reasons for using animals in research as well as the limitations of non-human studies. Animals serve as “models” that represent certain aspects of a biological phenomenon to study. There are also times when certain animal models are used, like fish and frogs, whose anatomy and physiology may be quite different from humans, but still can help researchers address fundamental biological processes similar across species to develop knowledge to improve human health. We detail regulations and laws protecting animals used in biomedical research and protocols in place for these types of studies. We cover a couple high-profile cases of inhumane treatment of animal subjects which, we want to reiterate, is absolutely inexcusable. We wrap up the episode with a discussion of future directions and the national (and international) push to find alternatives to animal research. Make sure to tune in!

Check us out on Substack and Instagram:

www.theunbiasedscipod.substack.com

https://www.instagram.com/unbiasedscipod

Interested in advertising with us? Please reach out to advertising@airwavemedia.com, with “Unbiased Science” in the subject line.

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We Shih Tzu Not, Hypoallergenic Pets Aren't A Thing. Apr 19, 2023

Show notes

On this week's episode of the pod, we tackle a topic near and dear to our animal-loving hearts: pet allergies!

We are joined by Dr. Manisha Relan, a pediatric allergy and immunology specialist, to discuss animal allergies. We kick things off with stats on pet allergies. We cover allergic reactions and allergies, including how the immune system response leads to the symptoms experienced. We discuss that pet allergies aren't responses to animal fur, hair, or feathers, but rather, proteins found in animal dander, saliva, and urine, and why that means there are no truly "hypoallergenic" pets and the data regarding this. (That’s right—save your money and head to the animal shelter!) We cover allergy testing and diagnosis, as well as different ways to manage pet allergies with behavior modifications and medications. You don't want to miss this one!

Check us out on Substack and Instagram:

www.theunbiasedscipod.substack.com

https://www.instagram.com/unbiasedscipod

Interested in advertising with us? Please reach out to advertising@airwavemedia.com, with “Unbiased Science” in the subject line.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.