Radio Health Journal

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.

• Share on Facebook
• Share on Whatsapp

Subscribe to this podcast

• Apple Podcasts
• Apple Podcasts
• RSS Feed

Episodes

• The Last Lesson: A Conversation With My Dying Professor

  Monday, January 27, 2025

  1 hour 30 minutes

  Larry Baden has spent the last few years getting comfortable with dying. After being diagnosed with multiple systems atrophy (MSA), a rare and terminal brain disease, his body’s been progressively deteriorating. But as death becomes a bigger theme in his life, it seems to be the only topic people refuse to discuss with him. In a one-on-one sit-down with Kristen Farrah, his former university student and producer of Radio Health Journal, Baden shares the intimate thoughts of a dying man. This conversation of death unravels his life’s trajectory – teasing apart the struggles and insecurities, ...

  Play Download Episode

• Medicine Is A Woman’s World: The History Of Apothecaries

  Sunday, January 26, 2025

  9 minutes

  Women used to be the main providers of medicinal remedies, so when did everything change? Why do we now take a trip to the pharmacy instead of across the street to a neighbor? Karen Bloom Gevirtz explains the historical role women played in healing and how they were pushed out of medicine.  Learn More: https://radiohealthjournal.org/medicine-is-a-womans-world-the-history-of-apothecaries Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  Play Download Episode

• Is The Secret To Living Only Found Within A Terminal Diagnosis?

  Sunday, January 26, 2025

  13 minutes

  Multiple systems atrophy is a rare and deadly brain disease that affects nearly every system in the body. While new research shows promise for the future, the cure won’t come in time to save Larry Baden, an MSA patient. He describes his experience living with the disease and how his outlook on life has changed since receiving the terminal diagnosis.  Learn More: https://radiohealthjournal.org/is-the-secret-to-living-only-found-within-a-terminal-diagnosis Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  Play Download Episode

• Medical Notes: How Caffeine Prevents Cancer, Reversing Heart Damage, And Your Guide To Dealing With The Winter Blues

  Wednesday, January 22, 2025

  3 minutes

  Can heart failure be reversed? Coffee may be the secret key to fighting cancer. How are you dealing with the winter blues? Learn More: https://radiohealthjournal.org/medical-notes-how-caffein-prevents-cancer-reversing-heart-damage-and-your-guide-to-dealing-with-the-winter-blues Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  Play Download Episode

• Is The ‘Twin Connection’ Real?

  Sunday, January 19, 2025

  10 minutes

  Though we’ve been studying twins for more than a century, there’s so much still unknown about this phenomenon. Dr. Nancy Segal discusses the facts, myths, and why the loss of a twin is often felt more deeply. Learn More: https://radiohealthjournal.org/is-the-twin-connection-real Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  Play Download Episode

• The Supplement Surge: Do We Need More Regulations?

  Sunday, January 19, 2025

  12 minutes

  The dietary supplement industry is huge, so you may be surprised to know that there’s very little FDA oversight for this category. In fact, most of its involvement comes after the products are already on the market. Dr. Cara Welch discusses the FDA’s involvement in this space and what to expect as the market evolves. Learn More: https://radiohealthjournal.org/the-supplement-surge-do-we-need-more-regulations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  Play Download Episode

• Medical Notes: A Cure For Nightmares, The Alcohol Myth, And How Cancer Hijacks Our Internal Clock

  Wednesday, January 15, 2025

  3 minutes

  How cancer hijacks our internal clock. Why we should be wary of dirt. Science may have found a cure for nightmares. Is alcohol ever good for you?  Learn More: https://radiohealthjournal.org/medical-notes-a-cure-for-nightmares-the-alcohol-myth-and-how-cancer-hijacks-our-internal-clock Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  Play Download Episode

• No Peace After Death: The Thousands Of Unclaimed Bodies In America

  Sunday, January 12, 2025

  8 minutes

  Millions of people die each year. And though many of us assume they’ll each be given a proper burial, the reality is much bleaker. Thousands of these bodies go unclaimed by family members and are left to the state. Our expert explains what happens to these people and how the states handle these situations.  Learn More: https://radiohealthjournal.org/no-peace-after-death-the-thousands-of-unclaimed-bodies-in-america Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  Play Download Episode

• The Forever Child Pt.2: Do Parents Always Know Best?

  Sunday, January 12, 2025

  13 minutes

  We continue our deep dive into growth attenuation therapy. Our experts explain why parents may choose this path for their child, the gaps in care for people with profound disabilities, and how much of a voice the disabled community should have on this choice. Learn More: https://radiohealthjournal.org/the-forever-child-pt-2-do-parents-always-know-best Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  Play Download Episode

• Medical Notes: How To Suppress Fear, Why Your Saliva Matters, And Why So Many Naloxone Prescriptions Are Unfilled

  Wednesday, January 8, 2025

  3 minutes

  Are high prices a barrier to preventing overdoses? Saliva may be the key to monitoring health. Do you feel fear? Learn More: https://radiohealthjournal.org/medical-notes-how-to-suppress-fear-why-your-saliva-matters-and-why-so-many-naloxone-prescriptions-are-unfilled Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  Play Download Episode

• The Mandela Effect: How Do We All Share The Same False Memories?

  Sunday, January 5, 2025

  10 minutes

  Have you ever looked at Mr. Monopoly and swore he used to have a monocle? Though you’d be wrong, you’re also not alone. Researchers have been studying this phenomenon of shared false memories across society. Our experts explain the leading research and what may be causing this collective experience.  Learn More: https://radiohealthjournal.org/the-mandela-effect-how-do-we-all-share-the-same-false-memories Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  Play Download Episode

• The Forever Child: A Controversial Practice That Halts Growth Of The Disabled

  Sunday, January 5, 2025

  13 minutes

  Growth attenuation therapy is a highly controversial practice that’s used on kids with profound disabilities to keep them small their whole lives. Parents say it makes caregiving easier, but disability advocates argue it’s an infringement on human rights. Our experts dissect both sides of the argument. Learn More: https://radiohealthjournal.org/the-forever-child-a-controversial-practice-that-halts-growth-of-the-disabled Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  Play Download Episode

• Medical Notes: The Brain Differences In Men And Women, Memories Can Be Made In The Kidney, and Why Hockey Is Bad For Your Health

  Wednesday, January 1, 2025

  3 minutes

  AI reveals a new understanding of the human brain. Memories aren’t only in your head. Hockey is bad for your health. Learn More: https://radiohealthjournal.org/the-brain-differences-in-men-and-women-memories-can-be-made-in-the-kidney-and-why-hockey-is-bad-for-your-health Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  Play Download Episode

• Can We Protect Athletes Without Changing The NFL?

  Sunday, December 29, 2024

  10 minutes

  Many athletes are no strangers to hard hits. However, when getting hit becomes your main job – like in the NFL – the injuries add up and can cause severe head trauma. Dr. Michael Alosco discusses what causes CTE and the mysteries that still surround the disease. Learn More: https://radiohealthjournal.org/can-we-protect-athletes-without-changing-the-nfl Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  Play Download Episode

• Protecting Your Pregnancy: Everything You Need To Know About Stillbirth

  Sunday, December 29, 2024

  14 minutes

  A stillbirth can happen in any pregnancy, but knowing the risk factors can help increase your chances of having a healthy birth. Our experts this week reveal what mothers should be doing to lower the risk of stillbirth and how to deal with the aftermath of losing a child. Learn More: https://radiohealthjournal.org/protecting-your-pregnancy-everything-you-need-to-know-about-stillbirth Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  Play Download Episode

• Medical Notes: How To Starve Cancer, Hack Your Sleep, And Supercharge Your Cells

  Wednesday, December 25, 2024

  3 minutes

  Cancer loves the sugar in our diets. Scientists may be able to supercharge our cells. Can you hack a good night’s sleep?   Learn More: https://radiohealthjournal.org/medical-notes-how-to-starve-cancer-hack-your-sleep-and-supercharge-your-cells Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  Play Download Episode

• Don’t Trust The Drugs: The Dangerous Lack Of Diversity In Clinical Trials

  Sunday, December 22, 2024

  10 minutes

  Many medications today are tested mainly on white men – putting millions of patients at risk for unknown side-effects. Our expert discusses the dangers of homogenous clinical trials and the current efforts working to improve the science.  Learn More: https://radiohealthjournal.org/dont-trust-the-drugs-the-dangerous-lack-of-diversity-in-clinical-trial Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  Play Download Episode

• One Woman’s Fight To Expose The Genetic Disease That Made Her An Orphan

  Sunday, December 22, 2024

  12 minutes

  Casey Mulligan Walsh only found out she had a genetic disease after the death of both her parents and her brother. She now advocates for early cholesterol testing in children. The earlier it can be detected, the earlier it can be treated, and the more lives can be saved. Our experts discuss the disease and treatment options. Learn More: https://radiohealthjournal.org/one-womans-fight-to-expose-the-genetic-disease-that-made-her-an-orphan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  Play Download Episode

• Medical Notes: Why Pregnant Women Should Skip Lipstick, The Tie Between Diabetes And Dementia, And The Future Of Farming In The Dark

  Wednesday, December 18, 2024

  3 minutes

  We may soon be farming in the dark. Will having diabetes affect your memory? Your favorite lipstick may be a risk to your pregnancy. What a fake immune system tells us about cancer. Learn More: https://radiohealthjournal.org/medical-notes-why-pregnant-women-should-skip-lipstick-the-tie-between-diabetes-and-dementia-and-the-future-of-farming-in-the-dark Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  Play Download Episode

• Why Breast Cancer Survivors Are Getting Tattoos

  Sunday, December 15, 2024

  10 minutes

  People often think that surviving cancer is the happy ending. And while it’s definitely happy, it’s not the end. Many breast cancer survivors are left with significant scarring and body image issues. Our expert reveals how her specific tattoo skillset helps these women become happy in their own skin again. Learn More: https://radiohealthjournal.org/why-breast-cancer-survivors-are-getting-tattoos Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  Play Download Episode

• Can COVID Cure Cancer? The Pandemic’s Silver Lining

  Sunday, December 15, 2024

  12 minutes

  History will remember 2020 as the year the world shut down, but there may be a silver lining to this dark time. New research shows that some cancer patients with severe Covid saw a reduction in their tumors. Our expert explains how Covid is helping researchers find a novel, effective treatment to fight cancer. Learn More: https://radiohealthjournal.org/can-covid-cure-cancer-the-pandemics-silver-lining Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  Play Download Episode

• Medical Notes: The Dangerous Additives In Ultra-Processed Foods, How Happiness Supports Your Brain Health, And Are Robots Outperforming Doctors?

  Wednesday, December 11, 2024

  3 minutes

  How scientists could catch schizophrenia sooner than ever before. Ultra-processed foods may be raising your blood sugar levels. How happiness supports your brain health. Are robots better doctors? Learn More: https://radiohealthjournal.org/medical-notes-the-dangerous-additives-in-ultra-processed-foods-how-happiness-supports-your-brain-health-and-are-robots-outperforming-doctors Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  Play Download Episode

• The Truth About PCOS: Birth Control, Infertility, And Gaps In Research

  Sunday, December 8, 2024

  10 minutes

  Polycystic ovarian syndrome affects at least one in ten women – probably more since it’s so underdiagnosed. Sadly, many women are told that having PCOS means they’ll never become pregnant. However, our expert this week dispels this and other misinformation that’s widespread about PCOS. Learn More:https://radiohealthjournal.org/the-truth-about-pcos-birth-control-infertility-and-gaps-in-research Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  Play Download Episode

• The Melanin Effect: The Ignorance That Puts Millions Of Americans In Danger

  Sunday, December 8, 2024

  13 minutes

  Scientific research is becoming more inclusive, but one area that’s still lacking this diversity is pre-clinical research. Without knowing how medications will react to different ancestries and skin tones, millions of people are being put at risk. Our experts discuss the effect melanin has on a drug’s efficacy and changes the industry can implement right now that will make a big difference.  Learn More: https://radiohealthjournal.org/the-melanin-effect-the-ignorance-that-puts-millions-of-americans-in-danger Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  Play Download Episode

• Medical Notes: Reversing Liver Damage, How Omega-3 Fatty Acids Fight Cancer, And Are Newborn Babies Conscious?

  Wednesday, December 4, 2024

  3 minutes

  Liver damage can be deadly, but you may be able to reverse it. Do you have a higher risk of cancer? You may want to skip your next caffeine fix. How much of the world can newborn babies understand? Learn More: https://radiohealthjournal.org/medical-notes-reversing-liver-damage-how-omega-3-fatty-acids-fight-cancer-and-are-newborn-babies-conscious Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  Play Download Episode

• The Eye Condition That Causes Hallucinations And Face Distortions

  Sunday, December 1, 2024

  9 minutes

  On the surface, seeing hallucinations and distorted faces seems like a mental illness. However, it’s actually an issue with sight called Prosopometamorphopsia. Many people with this rare condition don’t report it because they’re afraid they’re going crazy, but our expert breaks down this condition and what more research is needed to truly understand PMO. Learn More: https://radiohealthjournal.org/the-eye-condition-that-causes-hallucinations-and-face-distortions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  Play Download Episode

• Healthcare Architecture: The Designs That Speed Up Your Recovery

  Sunday, December 1, 2024

  13 minutes

  Though you may never stop to think about the room design when walking through a hospital, but it’s been tailored specifically for you. Jodi Feldheim, a healthcare architect, explains how nature plays an important part in medical design, the details that improve patient experience, and what future hospitals will look like. Learn More: https://radiohealthjournal.org/healthcare-architecture-the-designs-that-speed-up-your-recovery/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  Play Download Episode

• Medical Notes: How To Spend Money For Maximum Happiness, Why Brains Are Getting Bigger, And The Connection Between Down Syndrome And Alzheimer’s Disease

  Wednesday, November 27, 2024

  3 minutes

  You have a bigger brain than your ancestors – and that’s good news. New research unveils another mystery of Alzheimer’s disease. Can we reverse antibiotic resistance? How to spend your money for maximum happiness. Learn More: https://radiohealthjournal.org/medical-notes-how-to-spend-money-for-maximum-happiness-why-brains-are-getting-bigger-and-the-connection-between-down-syndrome-and-alzheimers-disease Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  Play Download Episode

• Locked-In Pt. 2: The Unexpected Consequences Of Cheating Death

  Sunday, November 24, 2024

  10 minutes

  After months of doctors mistakenly believing Jacob Haendel was dying in a coma, he managed to catch his medical team’s attention with a flick of his wrist. Haendel went on to recover from his deadly disease, beating all the odds. However, this journey opened his eyes to the pitiful state of accessibility in our society. He’s now focusing his efforts to increase accessible infrastructure through a revolutionary app. Learn More: https://radiohealthjournal.org/locked-in-pt-2-the-unexpected-consequences-of-cheating-death Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  Play Download Episode

• Locked-In Pt. 1: Trapped Inside Your Own Body

  Sunday, November 24, 2024

  12 minutes

  At age 28, Jacob Haendel was diagnosed with a rare, terminal brain disease and given six months to live. But while doctors thought he was dying in a coma, Haendel was fully aware – just trapped inside his paralyzed body. He recounts his incredible story of pain, hope, and beating death against all odds. Learn More: https://radiohealthjournal.org/locked-in-pt-1-trapped-inside-your-own-body Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  Play Download Episode

More episodes...