
Tom Frieden
Former CDC Director and New York City Health Commissioner who now leads Resolve to Save Lives; public health leader and author focusing on policy interventions to prevent chronic disease and rebuild trust in public health.
Top 10 podcasts with Tom Frieden
Ranked by the Snipd community

74 snips
Sep 26, 2025 • 53min
Debating the Legacy of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Dr. Jerome Adams, former U.S. Surgeon General, shares insights on public health communication failures and societal challenges during COVID-19. Dr. Mike Varshavski, known as Dr. Mike, highlights systemic issues that contributed to the crisis. Dr. Dara Kass recounts her frontline experiences and the misinformation that hindered collective action. Dr. Tom Frieden, ex-CDC Director, emphasizes the importance of effective communication and the need for future public health investments. The debate raises critical questions about accountability and the role of society in managing health crises.

31 snips
Oct 22, 2025 • 1h 41min
Former CDC Director on Rebuilding Public Health and Trust in America | Dr. Tom Frieden
Dr. Tom Frieden, former CDC Director and health policy leader, discusses his transformative new book, sharing insights on rebuilding public trust in health. He introduces the See–Believe–Create framework, linking public policy with personal health choices. The conversation highlights the impact of sodium and potassium on heart health, lessons from the food industry’s history with tobacco, and the potential of AI in healthcare. Frieden emphasizes practical policy changes that could save millions, advocating for a shift towards preventive measures in public health.

30 snips
Oct 15, 2025 • 13min
The Simple Formula for a Longer, Healthier Life
Dr. Tom Frieden, former director of the CDC and a key player in public health, offers actionable insights on living a longer, healthier life. He reveals that many health crises like heart attacks and strokes are preventable. Frieden emphasizes the importance of early detection of hidden risks through personal health monitoring. He introduces six habits that can extend both lifespan and well-being, underscoring the power of simple solutions in public health initiatives. Tune in to discover how to take control of your health!

22 snips
Oct 7, 2025 • 38min
Obama CDC Director Tom Frieden: "'Believe in Science' Is a Terrible Idea."
Tom Frieden, former CDC director and CEO of Resolve to Save Lives, shares insights from his book on public health strategies. He introduces his 'See, Believe, Create' approach and discusses the importance of distinguishing settled facts from speculation. Frieden critiques the slogan 'Believe in Science,' emphasizing the need for evidence over directives. He highlights significant public health victories like hypertension management and argues against prolonged school closures and vaccine mandates, advocating for a more nuanced approach to health crises.

21 snips
Oct 1, 2025 • 35min
Tom Frieden & Eric Topol - Discuss the Formula for Better Health Book
Tom Frieden, former CDC director and public health leader, shares insights from his book on improving health. He discusses the 'Cassandra's curse' and the 'see, believe, create' formula for addressing public health inaction. Frieden highlights strategies to combat hyperbolic discounting, making future health benefits feel immediate. He critiques wellness industry hype and emphasizes proven interventions. The conversation also explores the need for funding and data in public health, and personal changes he made to reduce toxin exposure.

16 snips
Oct 2, 2025 • 50min
Deadly Risks You Overlook & Why We Treat Pets Like People
Dr. Tom Frieden, former CDC director, dives into pressing health risks, spotlighting hypertension as the leading cause of heart attacks and strokes. He offers actionable tips, like switching to potassium-enriched salt and boosting physical activity, to improve longevity. Meanwhile, Justin Gregg explores anthropomorphism, dissecting our tendency to humanize pets and objects, and examining its psychological benefits and potential pitfalls. Their insights reveal profound connections between health, behavior, and the ways we relate to the world around us.

13 snips
Oct 22, 2025 • 51min
Why Prevention Is the Best Medicine with Dr. Tom Frieden
Dr. Tom Frieden, a leading public health expert and former CDC Director, shares insights from his work on preventing global health crises. He discusses the six keys to healthier communities and emphasizes the importance of trust in science. Frieden introduces the 'Cassandra curse,' revealing how misunderstandings hinder public health action. He also highlights effective strategies for communication and addressing vaccine skepticism. The podcast wraps up with actionable health tips, stressing that small lifestyle changes can significantly impact well-being.

Dec 5, 2025 • 41min
ADHD therapies, and the NHS gig economy
There is an enormous amount of research on treatment for ADHD - pharmaceutical and otherwise. But not all of those trials, or meta-analyses, are of high quality; and not many compare the whole literature.
Now a new umbrella review - a review of reviews - tries to give a broad overview of the whole evidence base. Corentin Gosling, associate professor at the Université Paris Nanterre, joins us to set out the benefits and harms of ADHD therapies.
Also, the BMJ’s been investigating the employment of doctors on “local” contracts in the NHS - and our latest look at this exposes what some have described as a “gig economy”, with doctors plugging rota gaps but missing out on training, development, and salary progression. Rebecca Coombes, head of journalism at The BMJ explains more.
Finally, Tom Frieden is former head of the US Centers for Disease Control, and current CEO of Resolve to Save Lives - he’s written a new book on public health. He joins us to talk about what actually improves health at a population level, and why the current US administration’s approach to staffing the CDC is leaving the country open to danger.
Reading list
Benefits and harms of ADHD interventions: umbrella review and platform for shared decision making
Revealed: Thousands of NHS doctors are trapped in insecure “gig economy” contracts

Oct 6, 2025 • 12min
As The CDC Falters, How Do We Fill Public Health Gaps?
Dr. Tom Frieden, former CDC director and president of Resolve to Save Lives, dives into the current turmoil of the public health system in the U.S. He discusses the pressing need for local agencies to step up amid CDC challenges. Tom highlights innovative efforts addressing issues like PFAS, exposes the gap between federal rhetoric and rollbacks in health programs, and emphasizes the importance of rebuilding trust post-COVID. He also encourages community support for local health departments and underscores the crucial balance between scientific certainty and public action.

Oct 3, 2025 • 12min
The Formula for Better Health: How to Save Millions of Lives
Tom Frieden, former CDC director and president of Resolve to Save Lives, shares his insights on public health. He discusses the weakened defenses since COVID-19 and his 'see, believe, create' approach to pandemic preparedness. Frieden highlights the crucial distinction between wasteful healthcare spending and underfunded public health. He emphasizes the need to control blood pressure and criticizes rollbacks in tobacco control. Additionally, he explores the potential of obesity drugs and advocates for a modern, adaptable CDC that prioritizes community health.


