The Most Important Question

Jafar Tabebordbar was in his early 30’s, living and working as an accountant in Shiraz, Iran, when he became a father.It was 1986, nearly a decade after the 1979 revolution, and Jafar’s muscles were already beginning to whither.As his sons grew, and watched, their father Jafar lost his balance, his ability to walk, to drive, and eventually, the reliable use of his hands. There were no answers, and no treatments to be found.Two questions haunted his sons as they grew: What was causing their father’s suffering? And would they get it next?Quinn's guest today, 30 years later, is Dr. Sharif Tabebordbar, Jafar’s oldest son, and the man closest to a cure.Sharif received his bachelors and masters degrees in biotechnology from University of Tehran and a Ph.D. in Developmental and Regenerative Biology from Harvard University.He is the recipient of Distinction in Teaching Award from Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning at Harvard, the Albert J. Ryan Foundation Award for Outstanding Graduate Students in Biomedical Sciences, the Excellence in Research Award and the Career Development Award from the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy, and the Royan International Research Award in Regenerative Medicine. In 2020, Sharif was listed as a finalist in the MIT “35 innovators under 35” competition.In 2021, Sharif and others posted an article in the journal Cell that may change the world.All of these years later, Jafar’s son Sharif has figured out how to help: He stands on the cusp of transforming gene therapy for nearly all muscle wasting diseases.-----------Have feedback or questions? Tweet us, or send a message to questions@importantnotimportant.comNew here? Get started with our fan favorite episodes at podcast.importantnotimportant.com.-----------INI Book Club:"Never Split the Difference" by Chris Voss"Becoming" by Michelle ObamaFind all of our guest recommendations at the INI Book Club: https://bookshop.org/lists/important-not-important-book-clubLinks:Sharif TabebordbarSharif on TwitterFollow us:Subscribe to our newsletter at newsletter.importantnotimportant.comFollow us on Twitter: twitter.com/ImportantNotImpFollow Quinn: twitter.com/quinnemmettEdited by Anthony LucianiIntro/outro by Tim Blane: timblane.comArtwork by Amrit Pal

In 2019, Quinn interviewed his good friend Craig Mazin, writer, producer, and creator of the hit HBO miniseries, Chernobyl, to learn what happened there, and what it means for our energy future.This week, Vladimir Putin declared war on Ukraine, directing the Russian military to take Ukraine's bases, cities, people, and strategic assets.Today, they took Chernobyl.We're re-running this invaluable conversation because misinformation is rampant, and it's never been more important to understand the cost of lies.-----------Have feedback or questions? Tweet us, or send a message to questions@importantnotimportant.comNew here? Get started with our fan favorite episodes at podcast.importantnotimportant.com.-----------INI Book Club:Find all of our guest recommendations at the INI Book Club: https://bookshop.org/lists/important-not-important-book-clubLinks:Watch Chernobyl on HBOFollow Craig on TwitterScriptnotes podcastFollow us:Subscribe to our newsletter at newsletter.importantnotimportant.comFollow us on Twitter: twitter.com/ImportantNotImpFollow Quinn: twitter.com/quinnemmettEdited by Anthony LucianiIntro/outro by Tim Blane: timblane.comArtwork by Amrit Pal

This week: Gas: the forever bridge fuelBoosters, boostedMegadrought self-awarenessMaternal deaths on the riseYour location data, for saleGet more:Get more news, analysis, and Action Steps at newsletter.importantnotimportant.comGot feedback? Email us at questions@importantnotimportant.comFollow us on Twitter at @importantnotimpGet fun merch at importantnotimportant.com/storeTake a nap you deserve it

This week: America will see an average of 12 inches of sea level rise by 20501 million COVID deaths$1 billion for cover cropsAntimicrobial resistance got nextClearview's next steps (to harvest your data)Get more:Get more news, analysis, and Action Steps at newsletter.importantnotimportant.comGot feedback? Email us at questions@importantnotimportant.comFollow us on Twitter at @importantnotimpGet fun merch at importantnotimportant.com/storeTake a nap you deserve it

This week: Carbon markets are magic and demand to be taken seriously, MichaelMask mandates are endingFood prices up the riseBiden's cancer moonshotIRS FaceTime cancelledGet more:Get more news, analysis, and Action Steps at newsletter.importantnotimportant.comGot feedback? Email us at questions@importantnotimportant.comFollow us on Twitter at @importantnotimpTake a nap you deserve it

This week: Will the EPA's powers be gutted?Don't forget your vaccines for everything elsePFAS can't get regulated soon enoughEverywhere needs more nursesThe database with virtually everyone's most private health info just sold (again)Get more:Get more news, analysis, and Action Steps at newsletter.importantnotimportant.comGot feedback? Email us at questions@importantnotimportant.comFollow us on Twitter at @importantnotimpTake a nap you deserve it

It's been 26 months since so many of us took our kids out of schools, downloaded an app called Zoom, and started videoconferencing our work from our kitchens and sweatpants. For many others, especially the marginalized and those working in the service industry, working from home was never an option.It's been 12 months since groundbreaking vaccines began to roll out across the world. You've probably got at least two, maybe three.And yet today, 39% of humans across the globe haven't received a single shot, and just 10% across low-income countries have received a single dose.Over 3 billion humans remain not only susceptible to sickness and death, but also a vector for transmission and mutations that could affect us all.The only way any of us is truly done with this is if we vaccinate the world. So why aren't we doing it?Quinn's guest this week is Dr. Madhukar Pai. Dr. Pai is not only an outspoken advocate for vaccine equity, but also the Canada Research Chair of Epidemiology and Global Health at McGill University, the associate director of the McGill International Tuberculosis Centre, the Commissioner of the Lancet Commission on Diagnostics, the recipient of the Union Scientific Prize and many others.If you want to understand how this ends, why it hasn't yet, and what you can do to get us there -- this conversation is for you.-----------Have feedback or questions? Tweet us, or send a message to questions@importantnotimportant.comNew here? Get started with our fan favorite episodes at podcast.importantnotimportant.com.-----------INI Book Club:"How to Fight Inequality (And Why That Fight Needs You)" by Ben PhillipsINI Book Club: https://bookshop.org/lists/important-not-important-book-clubLinks:Follow Dr. Pai on TwitterPai Global TB GroupOur World in Data: COVID-19 vaccination updateConnect with us:Subscribe to our newsletter at newsletter.importantnotimportant.comFollow us on Twitter: twitter.com/ImportantNotImpFollow Quinn: twitter.com/quinnemmettLike and share us on Facebook: facebook.com/ImportantNotImportantIntro/outro by Tim Blane: timblane.comArtwork by Amrit Pal

This week: Gas stoves can GTFOOmicron means we still need masks at schoolsThe future of "organic" foodThrowing cash at bigger baby brainsPregnancy apps are a data nightmare which is so so greatGet more:Get more news, analysis, and Action Steps at newsletter.importantnotimportant.comGot feedback? Email us at questions@importantnotimportant.comFollow us on Twitter at @importantnotimpTake a nap you deserve it

This week: How to market climate change to the peopleHere come the masks - are they enough? What's "enough"?Kids EBT food on the waneExpanding the blood donor poolThe IRS wants your selfie (or do they?)Get more:Get more news, analysis, and Action Steps at newsletter.importantnotimportant.comGot feedback? Email us at questions@importantnotimportant.comFollow us on Twitter at @importantnotimp

This week: Moving on from Machin; What "mild" COVID really means; How China's going plant-based; How exercise defeats anxiety; This is what happens when old senators misunderstand new techGet more news, analysis, and Action Steps at newsletter.importantnotimportant.comGot feedback? Email us at questions@importantnotimportant.comFollow us on Twitter at @importantnotimp