Causes or Cures
Dr. Eeks
"For the Nerds and the Nerd Nots"Causes or Cures is a health podcast hosted by Dr. Eeks—an independent, grassroots show driven by curiosity and a passion for breaking down complex health topics into bite-sized, easy-to-understand insights. Dr. Eeks works as a public health consultant, in the realm of epi/scicomms. She's all about making science relatable and often uses a blue-collar sense of humor to drive the message home.On this podcast, Dr. Eeks talks with experts from around the world (doctors, researchers, public health pros, and more) to dive into the latest hot topics in health and research, all in a down-to-earth kind of way. She also includes people with compelling stories of healing and "characters" because life is too boring and short to leave out characters. ;)DISCLAIMER: Some topics are more controversial than others, so keep in mind that this is information only and not health advice. Dr. Eeks doesn't endorse any of her guests' views, and despite a strict health routine, nor does she endorse any products, supplements, oils, magic socks or potions. If an episode is sponsored by a company she likes, she will say so in the show notes! Causes or Cures is not a "news site." It's about having conversations, and Dr. Eeks is confident that she can have a respectful conversation with anyone, even people who think far differently than she does. (At least that's been her experience at hole-in-the-walls & on the NYC sidewalks.) The point is to not take anything here as Gospel. Sometimes Dr. Eeks' dog Barnaby makes his opinion known, but the good news is that he's a smart dog. Most importantly, she hopes this podcast encourages folks to stay curious, empathic, hopeful, compassionate, honest, open-minded, and engaged. Freedom of discussion is a beautiful thing, delightfully messy, and one that many take for granted.*The views on this podcast do not reflect the views of anyone she contracts with or consults for. You can contact Dr. Eeks through her website, bloomingwellness.com.If you are interested in sponsoring an episode, write erin@bloomingwellness.com.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Sep 9, 2023 • 1h 44min
The US Experiment with Universal Healthcare for Kidney Failure & What Went Bad, with David Krissman
Send us a textIn this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with filmmaker and documentarian David Krissman about his investigative podcast series, "The Great Social Experiment," about America's only experiment with universal healthcare, the treatment of patients with kidney failure. David takes us back to 1972, when congress guaranteed healthcare coverage for people with kidney failure regardless of race, socioeconomic status and age. And while on the surface, this sounds like a great and altruistic endeavor..., David describes why it is a cautionary tale of inequity, faulty decisions on life-or-death matters, putting profits first, questionable incentives and at the core, a cautionary tale about what drives human behavior. Throughout the podcast, David references media reports, government data, interviews with prominent experts and kidney patients. So fasten your seatbelts, because this is an incredible story by an amazing storyteller. (And after you listen to this, absolutely check out David's podcast here.) You can contact Dr. Eeks at bloomingwellness.com.Follow Dr. Eeks on Instagram here.Or Facebook here.Or Twitter.On Youtube.Or Threads.SUBSCRIBE to her newsletter here.Support the show
Aug 30, 2023 • 43min
Alzheimer's Defense: Exploring the Brain Protein that Could Halt Progression, with Dr. Nicholas Seyfried
Send us a textIn this episode, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Nicholas Seyfried about his research on a protein(s) in the brain that may hold the key to making people resilient to Alzheimer's Disease, a growing concern in western nations with aging populations and those who have a family history of the disease. In the podcast, Dr. Seyfried discusses what the pathological hallmarks are of Alzheimer's Disease and why cognitive impairment happens. He then describes why certain proteins in the brain, with a special focus on one called Neuritin, may make people resilient to Alzheimer's and how approaches to Alzheimer's disease may evolve over the next several years. He also discusses evidence-based prevention strategies that are good for everyone to know. Dr. Seyfried is director of the Emory Integrated Proteomics Core at Emory University School of Medicine and a professor in the department of biochemistry. The Seyfried Lab at Emory focuses on the relationship between proteomics and biology to tackle Alzheimer's Disease and other neurodegenerative disorders.You can contact Dr. Eeks at bloomingwellness.com.Follow Dr. Eeks on Instagram here.Or Facebook here.Or Twitter.On Youtube.Or Threads.SUBSCRIBE to her newsletter here.Support the show
Aug 28, 2023 • 50min
Viral Mysteries: Delving into the Potential Link Between COVID and Type 1 Diabetes in Children, with Dr. Lars Stene
Send us a textThere has been recent reports and concerning articles suggesting that COVID-19 is leading to an uptick of new cases of Type 1 Diabetes in kids but is this potential link something parents and kids have to worry about? Dr. Lars Stene joins Dr. Eeks on the podcast to discuss risk factors for Type 1 Diabetes and the trend of diagnosing new cases in kids over the last several years. He then discusses the potential, talked-about link between COVID and Type 1 Diabetes and provides his perspective on the current evidence. He discusses relative risk vs absolute risk (a good lesson for everyone), his current research on risk factors for Type 1 Diabetes and also talks about the "exposome." Dr. Stene is a senior researcher at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health. For over 20 years, his focus is researching environmental factors, infections, nutritional factors and gene-environment interactions that may be risks for Type 1 Diabetes. You can learn more about his work here. And thank you to everyone who leaves a review and rating for the podcast! :) You can contact Dr. Eeks at bloomingwellness.com.Follow Dr. Eeks on Instagram here.Or Facebook here.Or Twitter.On Youtube.Or Threads.SUBSCRIBE to her newsletter here.Support the show
Aug 7, 2023 • 50min
Advancements in MS: Exploring Recent Research and the Future of Treatments, with Dr. Ari Green
Send us a textIn this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Ari Green about the latest thinking on what causes Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and who it impacts most, current treatment approaches, and research on potential new treatments involving remylenation therapies. He chats about the ReBUILD trial and something called the "Myelin Water Fraction" and how it can be used to measure remylenation. He also discusses the latest evidence on preventive factors for MS. Dr. Green is a neurologist and neuro-ophthalmologist and medical director of the UCSF Multiple Sclerosis Center. He is also director of the UCSF Neurodiagnostic Center. His research focus is on reparative treatments for people with MS and slowing down neurodegeneration. You can learn more about him here. You can contact Dr. Eeks at bloomingwellness.com.Follow Dr. Eeks on Instagram here.Or Facebook here.Or Twitter.On Youtube.Or Threads.SUBSCRIBE to her newsletter here!Support the show
Aug 2, 2023 • 43min
Is NYC Going Under? Delving into the Connection between Skyscrapers and Sinking, with Dr. Tom Parsons
Send us a textIn this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Tom Parsons about his study called The Weight of New York City, Possible Contributions to Subsidence from Anthropogenic Sources published in Earth's Future. He tells us what subsidence is and how it is measured, how and by how much the skyscrapers and buildings of NYC are contributing to it, why we should care about it, and what the potential short-term and long-term implications are. He talks about the potential implications from a "One Health" perspective, specifically in the realm of how our environment impacts our health. He also talks about what his study shows versus how it was presented by many media outlets, serving as an interesting case study for those in the scientific communications field. Dr. Tom Parsons earned his PhD in geophysics from Stanford University and is a Research Geophysicist at the US Geological Survey in Menlo Park, California. You can learn more about his work, publications and research interests here. You can contact Dr. Eeks at bloomingwellness.com.Follow Dr. Eeks on Instagram here.Or Facebook here.Or Twitter.Or Threads.Subscribe to her newsletter here!Support the show
Jul 27, 2023 • 1h 2min
Bite by Bite: Exploring the Relationship between Meat Consumption and UTIs, with Dr. Lance Price
Send us a textIn this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Lance Price about his recent study published in One Health on the link between the meat we eat and urinary tract infections (UTIs). In the podcast, he explains how he conducted the study and breaks down the more technical stuff so that it is understandable. He discusses the results of his work, antibiotic resistance, the types of meat most significantly linked to UTIs and how eating and preparing these types of meat may lead to UTIs. Then he talks about preventive strategies on the individual level and the population level. Dr. Lance Price is a professor at George Washington University's School of Public Health in Washington DC and the founding director of the Antibiotic Resistance Action Center. You can learn more about him here. You can contact Dr. Eeks at bloomingwellness.com.Follow Dr. Eeks on Instagram here.Or Facebook here.Or Twitter.On Youtube.Or Threads.SUBSCRIBE to her newsletter here!Support the show
Jul 21, 2023 • 56min
Flight Against Infections: The Role of Genetically Engineered Mosquitoes, with Dr. Stephanie James
Send us a textIn this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Stephanie James about the potential use of genetically modified mosquitoes (GMMs) to fight diseases that mosquitoes carry and spread, such as Malaria and Dengue Fever. In the podcast, Dr. James provides an overview on GMMs, as well as what something called Gene Drive Modified Mosquitoes (GDMMs) are. She talks about the current state of research, testing, and describes the GeneConvene Global Collaborative "GeneConvene", which was created to advance best practices and informed decision making for developing GMMs and GDMMs. She talks about the potential benefits versus the potential risks, how they are conducting risk assessments, how they plan to test GMMs, the ethical and safety concerns, and how local communities will be included in the decision-making process. Dr. James is the Senior Scientific Advisor, Population Health Science at the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health. She helps lead the work being conducted by the GeneConvene Global Collaborative, has a doctorate in microbiology and a background in research on parasitic disease. She’s also led global health programs at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases/NIH and the Ellison Medical Foundation.You can contact Dr. Eeks at bloomingwellness.com.Follow Dr. Eeks on Instagram here.Or Facebook here.Or Twitter.Or Threads.Subscribe to her newsletter here!Support the show
Jul 7, 2023 • 41min
Revitalizing Desires: Exploring a Potential Breakthrough in Hypoactive Sexual Desire Treatment, with Dr. Alexander Comninos
Send us a textIn this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Comninos about Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD) and his and his team's research on a potential new treatment called Kisspeptin. He will discuss prevalence, diagnosis, symptoms, how the diagnosis may be misdiagnosed as Erectile Dysfunction Disorder, and current treatment approaches to HSDD. In detail, he'll describe what Kisspeptin is and how it might help. He'll also talk about the clinical trials he has conducted involving both men and women diagnosed with HSDD and how well Kisspetin worked in those clinical trials. Dr. Comninos is a Consultant Endocrinologist at Imperial College London where he also leads the Imperial Endocrine Bone Unit. He has authored over 75 clinical and translational publications in reproductive endocrinology, with a focus on reproductive hormones and their influence on both behavior and bones. You can learn more about him here.You can contact Dr. Eeks at bloomingwellness.com.Follow Dr. Eeks on Instagram here.Or Facebook here.Or Twitter.On Youtube.Or Threads.SUBSCRIBE to her newsletter here!Support the show
Jun 30, 2023 • 1h 4min
"A Dog's Life is Short, Help Us Make it Longer," with Vaika's Dr. Andrei Gudkov and Dr. Joseph Wakshlag
Send us a textIn this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Andrei Gudkov and Dr. Joseph Wakshlag about their research on extending a dog's lifespan. They both are part of a group of scientists at Vaika, a non-profit medical research organization that is dedicated to extending the lifespan of domestic animals. In the podcast, they will discuss the aging process, how it might be reversed and how some of the things they are learning may apply to humans too. They will also talk about some of the research they are doing, including testing drugs to slow or prevent the aging process in retired sled dogs that were in kennels around the US and are now living out their retirement on spacious grounds in upstate NY. You will hear more about the dogs and their way of life in the podcast too. Dr. Gudkov is one of the founders of Vaika and a professor of oncology and senior vice president of research technology and innovation at Roswell Park Cancer Center. Dr. Wakshlag is a veterinarian with Cornell University and the medical director of this "sled dog study." You can contact Dr. Eeks at bloomingwellness.com.Follow Dr. Eeks on Instagram here.Or Facebook here.Or Twitter.On Youtube.Or Threads.SUBSCRIBE to her newsletter here!Support the show
Jun 29, 2023 • 1h 30min
Questioning the Narrative: Uncovering Pitfalls in Misinformation Studies, with Dr. Sacha Altay
Send us a textOn a topic near and dear to her, in this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with "misinformation scientist" Dr. Sacha Altay on what we are getting wrong about misinformation. This podcast will focus on his and his peers' paper published in the journal Social Media and Society titled Misinformation on Misinformation: Conceptual and Methodological Challenges. His article identifies 6 big misconceptions about misinformation and provides a lot to think about when it comes to our current aproaches to identifying and managing misinformation. In the podcast, Sacha will discuss some of the misconceptions about misinformation when it comes to prevalence and circulation, as well as misconceptions associated with its impact and reception. Essentially, concerns with how we are measuring the impact of misinformation and communicating that to the public. He will then discuss how the aformentioned things are associated with misinterpretation of research results. Finally, he will suggest a better path forward when it comes to misinformation. Dr. Altay is an experimental psychologist working on misinformation, misperceptions, and (dis)trust. After completing his PhD in Cognitive Science at the École Normale Supérieure in Paris, he did a postdoc in Oxford at the Reuters Institute. As "misinformation policies" is a "triggering" topic for many, I request that you listen with a few deep breaths and a curious mind. You can contact Dr. Eeks at bloomingwellness.com.Follow Dr. Eeks on Instagram here.Or Facebook here.Or Twitter.Subcribe to her newsletter here!Support the show
