This week's podcast discusses respiratory illness season, COVID-19 vaccines, flu vaccine myths, and newly approved preventatives for RSV in infants and older adults. They provide statistics, updates on mRNA vaccines, and insights on the need for new vaccines due to mutations. The podcast also covers flu season insights, preventative measures for infants and older adults, and the economic impact of respiratory illnesses.

This podcast explores the government's role in healthcare and health-related policies, discussing pivotal Supreme Court cases, the constitutionality of vaccine mandates, and legislation not based on science. The hosts emphasize the dangers of passing science-related policies without credible evidence. They also highlight the importance of scientific expertise in policy-making and the spread of misinformation impacting food safety, Lyme disease, and public health. The podcast delves into the historical significance of the government's role in health care and the complexities of governing systems in decision-making.

This podcast covers topics such as hygiene practices, changing bedsheets, toothbrush care, bacteria in water bottles, face washing, and proper food preparation to avoid cross-contamination.

In this podcast, Dr. Peter Hotez discusses anti-science aggression, the impact of anti-vaccine misinformation, and the personal experiences of scientists facing hostility. They also explore the challenges of spreading credible information and the reasons behind vaccine hesitancy. The speakers emphasize the importance of COVID vaccines and support for Dr. Peter Hotez.

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.comhttps://www.instagram.com/unbiasedscipodFollow Liz on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oriordanliz/Interested in advertising with us? Please reach out to advertising@airwavemedia.com, with “Unbiased Science” in the subject line. 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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.comhttps://www.instagram.com/unbiasedscipodInterested in advertising with us? Please reach out to advertising@airwavemedia.com, with “Unbiased Science” in the subject line.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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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.comhttps://www.instagram.com/unbiasedscipodInterested in advertising with us? Please reach out to advertising@airwavemedia.com, with “Unbiased Science” in the subject line. 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.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Andrea Love, Executive Director of the American Lyme Disease Foundation, joins the pod to discuss tick species, pathogens, and diseases. They debunk tick myths, emphasize prevention, and give advice on what to do if bitten. Tick testing limitations and the importance of clinical symptoms are highlighted. Enjoying the outdoors safely and getting involved with the American Lyme Disease Foundation are encouraged.

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.comhttps://www.instagram.com/unbiasedscipodInterested in advertising with us? Please reach out to advertising@airwavemedia.com, with “Unbiased Science” in the subject line. 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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.comhttps://www.instagram.com/unbiasedscipodInterested in advertising with us? Please reach out to advertising@airwavemedia.com, with “Unbiased Science” in the subject line. 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices