Finding Genius Podcast

Dr. Pamela Popper is the president of Wellness Forum Health, a company that's been offering a number of health and wellness services for the past 25 years. In this episode, critically important questions about COVID-19—the ones you won't hear in mainstream media—are asked and answered. You'll learn: Why so many people's videos are being censored and taken down during this pandemic—even those by credible medical doctors and scientists whose honesty and data contradict the narrative of the CDC, WHO, and mainstream media How many billions of dollars big pharma paid in advertising just last year to five major news outlets, and how this could be shaping the type of information we're being told through those news outlets What next…once we accept that things aren't exactly as they might appear? How do we retain our civil liberties? At first, we were told by health officials that masks couldn't stop the spread of the virus, and even worse, that they might increase the likelihood of contracting it, but now we can't buy food in most parts of the country without wearing one. Conflicting information has been coming at us through mainstream media outlets since day one, yet at the same time, popular platforms like Twitter and YouTube are actively censoring anyone who shares information that doesn't align with a very specific narrative—the same narrative that's touted in 24-hour news cycles, commercials, social media platforms, billboards, and even by many of our friends, family members, and neighbors. There is no end in sight. Will there be a second wave? Or are we already in the second wave, and waiting for the third? Is this really the "new normal" that we all just need to accept, one in which our children can return to school only if they wear a mask and stay far apart from their peers and teachers at all times, or else risk death? In this landscape, honest and credible medical doctors are being barred from documenting their clinical stats and perspectives on the handling of this virus. We must ask why. What about the doctors who admit that they're being pressured and monetarily incentivized to write COVID-19 on death certificates? What about the conflicting results from multiple COVID-19 tests on one person, or the fact that the PCR test used isn't a diagnostic tool at all, but a laboratory technique? How do we make sense of all of this? Dr. Popper provides a compelling answer that she can back of with extensive research and evidence, explaining "That's how you destabilize a population, and that's what this is really all about…If you want to completely take control of people, you make arbitrary rules and change them often, you make sure that people are separated and they can't assemble…you turn the people against one another, and then you can take over a population of people…Hitler...Stalin…Castro did it…What we're watching is how you can take over the world using the same strategies…" Dr. Popper provides a concise list of the four things that were necessary in order to bring about this pandemic, and what the powers that be—namely the CDC and WHO in conjunction with other powerful actors—didn't count on. To learn more about making sense of the state of the world, and to unite with like-minded Americans, visit https://makeamericansfreeagain.com/. To find information on Dr. Popper and Wellness Forum Health, visit https://wellnessforumhealth.com/. To check out Dr. Popper's informative and eye-opening videos on COVID-19, search for her channel on YouTube. Available on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/2Os0myK

David Berger is an associate professor of economics at Duke University who joins the show the discuss his expertise on the current and future economic climate in the U.S. Press play to learn: What the historically low interest rates in the housing market right now might mean for homeowners and the housing market in general What's wrong with the administration of unemployment insurance across different states Why/how personal savings rates increased by 30% in April of 2020 As an empirical macroeconomist, Berger researches a variety of topics having to do with the interactions between government policy and the housing markets, as well as issues around imperfect competition in the labor market (i.e. the economic effects of firms that have the power to set wages). In this episode, Berger talks about the current housing market and how mortgage interest rates have trended over the past 30 years, state-level implementation of unemployment insurance administration amid the coronavirus pandemic, what Berger thinks should happen if cases of foreclosure increase, the increasing rate of permanent job loss each month, and the economic importance of reopening elementary schools. He also discusses reasons why the current recession is different from other recessions, such as the fact that wealthier households are not spending money, perhaps because they've cut back on eating out and travelling due to the pandemic. This is having a devastating effect on a lot of retailers, and Berger doesn't think it will improve until the public health problems improve. Press play for all the details, and learn more about Berger's work at https://sites.google.com/site/davidwberger. Available on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/2Os0myK

Robert Siegel is a professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at Stanford University and commentator on coronavirus for several news outlets. He joins the podcast today to share his expertise. Tune in to discover: What viruses have been definitively linked to some of the most important cancers What type of basic information we do and do not know about COVID-19 Why Siegel believes things will look worse in six months than they do now in terms of the current pandemic Siegel started teaching about viruses over four decades ago during a course on the biology and causes of cancer. He teaches in public education, and works for a number of non-governmental organizations doing prevention work on HIV in regions of Africa, and malaria in Papua New Guinea. Most recently, he's been working with students on a review of asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic transmission of the current coronavirus. He explains where the gaps in our knowledge lie with regard to the current pandemic, for example knowing what percentage of people who are positive for the virus yet asymptomatic will become symptomatic. He discusses mutation rates and replication of coronaviruses more generally, and the speed with which the molecular biology of COVID-19 has been understood. "It's possible that we may have a vaccine in six months, or a year, or two years, or five years, but we can't be sure; it's possible we may have some very effective therapeutics by the end of the year, or in two years, or five years, but don't know for sure; the only thing we know for sure is that behavioral interventions are capable of stopping this virus," says Siegel. He goes on to explain the things that get in the way of behavioral intervention, which include psychological, economic, and political impacts. He advocates for a long-term perspective when it comes to thinking about this virus, and shares what he believes needs to happen right now in order to start getting rid of it. Available on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/2Os0myK

Senior program officer at The Kresge Foundation, Jalonne White-Newsome, joins the show to discuss equitable climate resilience and urban flooding and health. Tune in to discover: What is meant by climate resiliency and how it relates to community health and equity How "sunny day flooding" affects low-income communities and how the effects of climate change arecontributing to this In what ways flood and water damage creates a host of other problems and challenges for those affected, and what barriers prevent access to resources for recovery The Kresge Foundation mission is to expand opportunities in low-income American communities through grant making, where the focus is to help build climate-resilient communities in ways that are grounded in equity. This environmental program is where White-Newsome carries out most of her work at The Kresge Foundation. She explains that climate resilience is about reducing sources of pollution that drive climate change and helping people adapt to the new normal because of climate change. It's also about making sure that those who are impacted the most are a part of the solution. White-Newsome has been an integral part of The Kresge Foundation's Climate Resilience and Equitable Water Systems (CREWS) initiative, which aims to address climate-driven urban flooding—the kind of flooding that doesn't always make the headlines like the flooding that occurs during major national disasters. However, White-Newsome explains that the same level of anxiety and disaster can come from the flooding that occurs in urban environments, especially when it causes significant property damage, requires people in low-income communities to relocate, and leads to mental and physical health effects for those impacted. "What has been underappreciated is the way we solve the problem; it's not just…throwing up a levee or creating some type of physical infrastructure to…contain the water…the other critical piece is making sure that…we're addressing the social infrastructure problem," says White-Newsome. Press play for all the details of this important conversation, and learn more by searching for the CREWS initiative at https://kresge.org/. Available on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/2Os0myK

Chelsea Rochman is an assistant professor of ecology at the University of Toronto and scientific advisor to the Ocean Conservancy. On today's episode, she shares important insight from her research on anthropogenic contaminants in the environment and the organisms within it. Press play to learn: How the environmental impacts of micro and macroplastics differ What are some of the main dominant pathways for waste getting into the environment and how they differ depending on geographical location What type of filtration solution works well for keeping microplastics out of the environment Why it's difficult to understand the role of nanoparticles in the environment Rochman's research revolves around anthropogenic contaminants—what happens when they are added to the environment, how they interact with animals and plants, how they impact species and aquatic ecosystems, where they most frequently enter the environment, and what types of effects different contaminants have on different aspects of the environment. For over ten years, Rochman has focused on plastic contamination. By taking samples from various environmental sources and the guts of organisms, she quantifies and characterizes the plastics found, which allows her to not only conduct further research on how specific contaminants impact organisms, but also propose to industry and municipalities more sustainable ways of utilizing and managing plastics. Much of the research in this field has shown that the smaller the plastic, the more likely it is to have an impact on organisms, and those impacts range from changes in growth patterns to low offspring viability. In addition to discussing these topics in depth, Rochman touches on types of ecotoxicology research, trophic transfer of microplastics, bioaccumulation and biomagnification of microplastics, and the chemistry of the environment. For more information on Rochman's work, visit https://rochmanlab.com/. Available on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/2Os0myK

Frankie Wood-Black has a PhD in physics and is on the faculty at Northern Oklahoma College. She explains how she found herself in the field of chemical health and safety and shares her expertise on these matters. Tune in to learn: What the universe of chemicals is and how it differs from the chemicals used in commerce and industry What types of questions regarding chemical use and safety have been raised in light of the COVID-19 pandemic Common hazards and challenges in Wood-Black's field of work Chemicals are everywhere; walk through a grocery store and you're likely to pass by hundreds or more. Who regulates all of these chemicals? Who identifies health hazards and responds to environmental exposures? Who keeps the drinking water safe for drinking? Wood-Black answers all of these questions and more. She discusses the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), the Clean Air Act, how chemical regulation has changed over the past few decades and years, what the TSCA "reboot" accomplished, the role of the Food and Drug Administration and Environmental Protection Agency in the establishment of laws and regulations, how chemicals are categorized into "classes," what types of hazards and challenges are encountered in the field of chemical health and safety, and so much more. Available on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/2Os0myK

Director of Undergraduate Studies in the Department of Political Science at Duke University, Michael C. Munger, joins the show to discuss what he believes is the way forward for addressing poverty and more efficiently using resources. Tune in to learn: How the "sharing" economy differs from the "platform" economy Why it is important to understand the distinction between equality and poverty in the context of economics In what ways regulation is designed to make sure that certain types of social transformation don't occur and that the existing system remains locked in place Interested in woodworking but nowhere near financially prepared to purchase everything you'd need for a workshop? Wishing you could put your money toward a particular project in your community? Wondering what you'd do with your time if you just…didn't have to work anymore? These questions may seem entirely unrelated to each other, but according to Munger and many others, they're not. In fact, each one of these questions is raised and discussed in this episode on what it would mean to have a "platform" economy—a voluntary, private space where people use smart contracts and apps to coordinate the sharing of resources rather than the purchasing and owning of resources. "Until fairly recently, most of us thought that we needed jobs because we needed money so that we could go buy stuff and own it and pay to store it; platforms allow us to share things in a way that reduces our footprint on the environment...and make much more efficient use of the stuff we have," says Munger. He explains all the details of how this system would work, how it would solve the problem of triangulation, and the main challenges that must be overcome. Available on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/2Os0myK

Dr. Andrea Gambotto is working on potential vaccine candidates for COVID-19. In 2003, his group was the first to develop a vaccine for a coronavirus. He discusses developing the COVID-19 vaccine based on its epidemiology. He explains The difference between viral and protein platforms in vaccine development, The likely delivery method of their vaccine in a patch and microneedle array form, and The specific challenges for a COVID-19 vaccine, less common in other infectious diseases, such as the spike protein. Dr. Andrea Gambotto is an associate professor of surgery at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. He's worked on vaccines for MERs and SARs in the past decades and now his group is developing a prototype for COVID-19. Thus far, they have tested it on animal models and hope to move to testing on people soon. He explains the attributes necessary for the vaccine based on its epidemiology. Along the way he describes basic vaccine elements such as the difference between a protein and virus platform and the challenges of meeting yield requirements. He notes that the first group they will test is a subunit protein. Protein platforms are safer, he notes, because they are easier to manufacture large scale and to administer. Their prototype could be stable at room temperature, which is important because it needs to be used and stored all over the world. He comments that they are looking at delivery through microneedle patches and explains this process in more detail. He also tells listeners how the spike proteins in the vaccine induce antibodies that bind with the real virus and block it from entering the cell, which is called neutralizing a virus. He elaborates on this, explaining that ultimately the vaccine would have hundreds of different protein antibodies. He describes additional challenges of achieving the perfect balance in vaccine development particular to COVID-19. To find out more, see the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine website coverage, and keep an ear open for media updates. Available on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/2Os0myK

Trent Northen studies the chemistry of microbiomes. More specifically, he studies how exogenous metabolites structure a microbial community, and, in turn, how those microbes change the metabolite pool and grow the microbial population. Because his work is primarily funded by the Department of Energy, he's focused on the microbial community in soil and on plant roots. He describes The basic cycle of plant life, metabolites, and the microbial population and how this complex system affects each of its parts; The methods of his lab's research, including studies on hydroponic plant systems that are paired with the work of colleagues in the field; and The applications for these studies, like carbon restoration in poor, less fertile soils. Trent Northen is the Interim Deputy of the EGSB Division and a Chemist Senior Scientist at the Berkeley Lab of Biosciences. He begins the podcast describing the rich and complex cycles of plant, metabolites, and microbes, noting how plants feed microbes that live in and around their roots and how those microbial populations in turn help the plants with nitrogen-fixing, excluding pathogens, and transporting phosphorous, among other processes. His work mostly focuses on bacteria that live in close proximity to the roots, but he describes how fungi can interact with plant roots over very large distances. For example, biological soil crusts use fungal hyphae in extraordinary ways. He explains this process and ecology in more detail and then he describes his research into the microbial community attached to the roots of the plants—the rhizosphere. He also explains the mechanism of soil depletion in big agriculture, how the compost and organic carbon cycle of decaying plant materials is absent from larger farming systems. Furthermore, he elaborates on ways the work of his lab can and might address such problems as well as studying which plants might grow in low nutrient environments and heal the soil as well as practices for soil carbon restoration and other advances. For more information, see his lab's website, northenlab.org, and eco-fab.org. Available on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/2Os0myK

Is wifi radiation harmful? Dafna Tachover asked this after experiencing extreme symptoms that began with a laptop purchase. She shares her research and efforts since then with podcast listeners. In this episode, she addresses Health risks of wireless technology like increased cancers and worsening of ADHD and autism symptoms; Efforts you can make in your own home against electric and magnetic fields, or EMF protection; and What the future holds for 5G infrastructure and how to fight back. Dafna Tachover is the director of Stop 5G & Wireless Harms Project, a part of Children's Health Defense, and an attorney in New York and Israel. She begins by relaying her own experience in 2009 while living in Princeton, New Jersey, and starting her own law practice. After buying a new laptop, she noticed disturbing symptoms while in proximity with the computer that continued despite returning and trying other laptops. These symptoms included tingling in her fingers and feet, headaches, and heart palpitations. She explains that she doesn't like the term "sensitivity" for this condition—rather, the word "injury" is a more accurate word for this. She had worked with wireless for years before and it had taken its toll, injuring her system. She describes why our biology is affected and why we need EMF protection from this pulsation modulation. She also explains the pushback to this claim and notes that there is a huge amount of studies that answer "is wifi radiation harmful?" with a definitive "yes." She notes the extreme financial incentive for wireless companies to cast this in the light of conspiracy theory and then explains what 5G is and how it will increase this radiation. Finally, she offers several ways listeners can fight back and make decisions to hardwire their own homes and eliminate radiation in their surroundings. For resources on how to hardwire to the internet within your home along with other information, see childrenshealthdefense.org. Other resources include saferemr.com , mdsafetech.org, and buildingbiology.com. Available on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/2Os0myK