Health Wanted

Dr. Stephen Lin, a family physician and Stanford faculty who leads the HEART team researching AI in primary care, discusses AI's role in clinical workflows. He describes using AI to cut clinician admin work and the need for physician oversight. He warns about patient-facing chatbots, legal and privacy gaps, and urges transparency, consent, and cautious optimism about AI in routine care.

Do you have acne? Low energy? Stinky feet? Ugly face? Crossed eyes? Well have we got the cure for you: RADIOACTIVE DECAY. This week on Health Wanted, we’re putting on our lead aprons to look back at the history of radiation as a cure-all, including an interview with Timothy Jorgensen, author of Strange Glow. Plus: Why returning to working out after a break might make you sick. Does viral load mean someone who’s sicker than you can make you sicker? What’s going on with the new dietary guidelines for Americans? And the Sick of the Week. For a full rundown on all the information shared in today's episode, take a look at the show notes. Have a question for Laurel? Send it to healthwanted@wabe.org or leave a voicemail at 404-888-3630! For more, visit healthwanted.orgSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mind control—it’s often thought of as a science fiction trope, borne from fears of body snatchers or domineering overlords. But what if we’re thinking about the term the wrong way? Maybe we should be considering the reverse. This week on Health Wanted, we talk about how brain-computer interfaces are expanding the possibilities for our minds to control our worlds, including an interview with Dr. Chethan Pandarinath of the Systems Neural Engineering Lab. Plus: an update on the flu season. Does the Shingrix vaccine protect against cancer? And what the new CDC immunization recommendations mean for vaccine access. For a full rundown on all the information shared in today's episode, take a look at the show notes. Have a question for Laurel? Send it to healthwanted@wabe.org or leave a voicemail at 404-888-3630! For more, visit healthwanted.orgSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Charlotte Markey, a psychology professor at Rutgers and body image expert, shares her insights on the troublesome appeal of cleanses and cultural beliefs around dieting. She discusses how ‘fresh starts’ can motivate diets but rarely lead to lasting success. Charlotte highlights the dangers of dieting, emphasizing the psychological traps and the impact of social media on self-esteem. She advocates for intuitive eating and self-care that focuses on wellbeing rather than appearance, encouraging a mindset shift for better body image.

2025 was a year of big questions: from our government, from our public health institutions, and, of course, from you, our lovely listeners. For this final episode of the year, we’re bringing you your best questions and Laurel’s best answers from 2025, including: Are indoor waterparks just a close cousin of cruises? Are there any real world applications of the finding that axolotl mucus attacks breast cancer and MRSA? What’s the danger in leaving flowers in a hospital room? And our sick of the year: Are pesticides in tampons poisoning us? We'll be back on the first Friday of 2026 to break down more science, in the pursuit of better health. Have a question for Laurel? Send it to healthwanted@wabe.org or leave a voicemail at 404-888-3630. For more, visit healthwanted.org. To support Health Wanted and other public media programming, visit wabe.org/give.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We are smack dab in the middle of the holiday season, which usually comes with enough liquid cheer to kill a horse…or at least get some people to consider wringing themselves out in the new year. This week on Health Wanted, it’s a not-so-happy hour as we take a big old swig of the truth about the health risks of alcohol. Host Laurel Bristow also interviews with Dr. Marissa Esser, former head of the CDC’s Alcohol Program. Plus: What happened to the man with the pig kidney? Do people with a MTHFR gene mutation need to avoid folic acid? More concerns about the recent ACIP meeting, and the Sick of the Week. For a full rundown on all the information shared in today's episode, take a look at the show notes. Have a question for Laurel? Send it to healthwanted@wabe.org or leave a voicemail at 404-888-3630! For more, visit wabe.org/healthwanted  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ben Hurlbut, a bioethicist and associate professor, dives deep into the ethical implications of CRISPR in this engaging conversation. He discusses the balance between innovation and ethics, especially after the controversial actions of He Jiankui. Hurlbut emphasizes the importance of public dialogue around genetic editing, urging society to consider the 'shoulds' before the 'cans.' The discussion also touches on the equity of access to new therapies and the necessity for ongoing ethical considerations in the biotechnology landscape.

Health insurance: seems like a straightforward concept. Every month you put money into an account so that, when you need to pay health care costs, that account will cover it. If you’re laughing at the idea of using THAT description for THIS country, that’s probably because it’s a ridiculous oversimplification to the point that it’s closer to a lie.  This week on Health Wanted, host Laurel Bristow gives you an abridged explanation of health insurance in the U.S. She also talks to Rachel Nuzum of The Commonwealth Fund about what we could do to fix our health insurance system. Plus: can COVID vaccines impact the menstrual cycle? Does taking melatonin lead to heart failure? Will drinking instant coffee cause you to go blind? What’s going on with measles elimination in the country? And the Sick of the Week. For a full rundown on all the information shared in today's episode, take a look at the show notes. Have a question for Laurel? Send it to healthwanted@wabe.org or leave a voicemail at 404-888-3630! For more, visit wabe.org/healthwantedSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Did you know Laurel has never had a pumpkin spice latte? Well, you do now! We're back with another ALA! With your help, we Ask Laurel Anything. Health Wanted host Laurel shares her Halloween recap and Christmas preview and explains why she is only just getting into Vanderpump Rules. Plus, we close things out with the ever-speedy Lightning Round. We'll be back next week to break down more science, in the pursuit of better health. Have a question for Laurel? Send it to healthwanted@wabe.org or leave a voicemail at 404-888-3630. For more, visit wabe.org/healthwanted. To support Health Wanted and other public media programming, visit wabe.org/give.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 1968, biologist Paul Ehrlich cautioned that by the 1980s we’d see hundreds of millions of people starving to death due to overpopulation. Turns out… he was a bit off. This week on Health Wanted, the so-called “fertility crisis” is creating a panic about the fate of society and inspiring a movement for more babies. But what’s really driving our low birth rate, and what can we do to reverse it? Host Laurel Bristow also sits down with Dr. Karen Guzzo to discuss whether it’s truly necessary to lose our minds over the low fertility rate. Plus: Updates on the impending flu season. What’s causing an increase in opportunistic infections? Should people over age 65 get another COVID vaccine two months apart? How long can pathogens live on surfaces? Does microdosing weight-loss drugs work? For a full rundown on all the information shared in today's episode, take a look at the show notes. Have a question for Laurel? Send it to healthwanted@wabe.org or leave a voicemail at 404-888-3630! For more, visit wabe.org/healthwantedSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.