
Radio Health Journal | The Latest in Health, Science & Public Policy
Each week, Radio Health Journal breaks down important news in medicine, science and technology with the help of world-renowned experts. Our three weekly segments will help guide you to a happier, healthier life – with some fun facts to share at dinner parties. Can magic mushrooms cure your depression? Have we outrun natural selection? Hosted by Elizabeth Westfield, Greg Johnson and Maayan Voss de Bettancourt and produced by Kristen Farrah and Amirah Zaveri. New shows posted each Sunday by 5 a.m. EST. Subscribe, listen, and rate. If you’re looking for older episodes, you can find our entire segment catalog on our website radiohealthjournal.org. Also, check out the latest on Facebook and Instagram @radiohealthjournal and on X @RadioHealthJrnl.
Latest episodes

Jul 20, 2025 • 12min
From Weight To Career Success, How Your Genes Can Predict Your Future
Can your genes predict how much money you’ll make in your career? Dalton Conley, a sociologist, explains how our genes can be predictive of all aspects of our life – from BMI to who we’re friends with – in his new book, The Social Genome. Would you want to know the odds your genes have predetermined about life outcomes?
Learn More:
https://radiohealthjournal.org/from-weight-to-career-success-how-your-genes-can-predict-your-future Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 20, 2025 • 10min
Edible Sunscreen: Can You Eat Your Sun Protection?
Edible sunscreens have become a hot topic, but can SPF gummies replace your normal sunscreen? Dr. Susan Massick explains how UV rays cause damage throughout our body and what type of protection will be most effective.
Learn More:
https://radiohealthjournal.org/edible-sunscreen-can-you-eat-your-sun-protection Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 16, 2025 • 3min
Medical Notes: How Sleep, Safety, and Optimism Shape Your Health
What does poor sleep do to your brain? How can you grill smarter this summer? And could optimism secretly improve your health? We break down the latest science.
Learn More: https://radiohealthjournal.org/medical-notes-poor-sleep-can-change-your-brain-how-to-grill-safely-this-summer-and-the-secret-superpower-of-optimism Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 13, 2025 • 9min
Don’t Blame Growing Pains: The Dangers Of Ignoring Childhood Pain
Chronic pain in children is often dismissed as “growing pains,” but ignoring it can lead to lifelong health and socioeconomic consequences. Dr. Tonya Palermo emphasizes the need for better pain education and early intervention to help kids avoid long-term damage.
Learn More: https://radiohealthjournal.org/dont-blame-growing-pains-the-dangers-of-ignoring-childhood-pain Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 13, 2025 • 14min
Inside The Ambulance: Chaos, Camaraderie, And The Calls You Never See On TV
In the daily life of a paramedic, true emergencies are rare, resources are thin, and burnout runs high. Instead of glamorized rescues, medics often face issues that would be better handled by social workers and lawyers. This week, Joanna Sokol details her experience on the job and why the field is desperate for better worker rights.
Learn More: https://radiohealthjournal.org/inside-the-ambulance-chaos-camaraderie-and-the-calls-you-never-see-on-tv Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 9, 2025 • 3min
Medical Notes: Personality Tweaks, Fertility Clues, and the Right Way to Meditate
Can inflammation affect fertility? Could curiosity change your life? This week, we explore cutting-edge research on anxiety treatments, parenting patterns, and the science of self-improvement.
Learn More: https://radiohealthjournal.org/medical-notes-how-to-change-your-personality-customizing-your-anxiety-treatment-and-a-hidden-cause-of-infertility Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 6, 2025 • 12min
Her Pain, His Treatment: Issues With The Generic Approach To Pain Relief
Whenever we experience pain, our bodies use internal pain relief symptoms to reduce some of that discomfort. Though it’s been believed that men and women use the same, main system, a new study is pioneering an entirely new understanding of chronic pain. Our experts discuss this research and how it could change the future of pain management.
Learn More: https://radiohealthjournal.org/her-pain-his-treatment-issues-with-the-generic-approach-to-pain-relief Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 6, 2025 • 11min
Full Body Reset: Stress, Cortisol, And Adrenal Dysfunction
The adrenal glands regulate cortisol, a hormone crucial for managing stress and energy. When stress is chronic, cortisol imbalances can cause fatigue, anxiety, and pain. Dr. Izabella Wentz offers simple lifestyle changes that can help restore balance and improve your overall health.
Learn More: https://radiohealthjournal.org/full-body-reset-stress-cortisol-and-adrenal-dysfunction
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 2, 2025 • 3min
Medical Notes: How Sleep Apnea Rewires Your Brain, A Non-Addictive Pain Pill, And Using Ultrasound As A Disinfectant
Ultrasound isn’t just for imaging. Sleep apnea may silently rewire the brain. A new non-opioid painkiller shows promise—without the dangerous side effects. Dementia can make people act out in unexpected ways—and families are often left struggling. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 29, 2025 • 13min
Bertolotti’s Syndrome: The Under-diagnosed Cause Of Back Pain
When Jakki Maser’s back pain started at 13, doctors brushed it off as a minor injury. Years of unrelenting pain and dead-end appointments led her to uncover the real cause herself – Bertolotti’s syndrome, an underdiagnosed spinal condition. This week, our experts explain how to accurately catch this condition and the best treatment methods for a full recovery.
Learn More:
https://radiohealthjournal.org/bertolottis-syndrome-the-under-diagnosed-cause-of-back-pain Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices