Health Wanted

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 ...

After a month of Halloween-themed shows, everyone is probably a little tired of talking about dying. Finally, it’s time to start LIVING. Maybe FOREVER. This week on Health Wanted, host Laurel Bristow is looking at the field of longevity science to see how close we are to cheating death, and what’s still in the realm of fantasy. Laurel also sits down with Dr. Tom Frieden to discuss his new book “The Formula for Bet...

Put on your favorite medieval tavern playlist, check yourself for signs of pestilence, and bring out your dead. This week on Health Wanted, we’re rounding out our month of Halloween horrors by talking about the original plague: THE PLAGUE. We’ll also be talking with medical entomologist Dr. Adelaide Miarinjara about battling plague in Madagascar.

Plus: Do you need to worry about chikungunya now? How much lead is too muc...

You ever hear the one about the two headed dog that walked out of a soviet research center? Well, you’re about to! This week on Health Wanted we’re rounding out our Halloween series by talking about the closest we’ve come to a real-life Dr. Frankenstein through the weird history of transplants past, present, and future, and talking to author Mary Roach about her new book exploring all the modern ways we can replac...

Quick! Here’s a round of Kiss, Marry, Kill: Nosferatu, Lestat, and Count Chocula. This week on Health Wanted, we’re accessorizing with our best garlic necklaces and inviting everyone in to get up close and personal with the medical explanations for vampires.

Plus, do COVID vaccines cause “turbo cancer?” What’s going on with the lawsuit saying some birth control causes brain tumors? And why would anyone...

A term for a mindless person. A tiki drink that will make you wish you were dead if you have too many. An iconic dance break in a Michael Jackson video. Laurel’s favorite Cranberries song. What do these have in common? This week on Health Wanted Laurel investigates the medical origins, and possible explanations, for zombies, and interviews Dr. Roger Byard about real-life cases of people consuming a zombie’s favorite tre...

In this episode of Health Wanted, host Laurel Bristow takes on the often-taboo topic of death and the difficult discussion of what to do with our own bodies when we go. And she interviews filmmakers Barry Koch and Jason Zamer about their documentary “A Butterfly Has Been Released,” exploring how a lifetime spent near death can create a more peaceful view of dying.

Plus, Laurel answers questions about the safety of gel n...

In this episode of Health Wanted, host Laurel Bristow helps you gear up to avoid getting taken down by a winter virus—COVID, flu, and RSV—and chats with friend of the show Dr. Seema Lakdawala about the best ways to stop transmission.

Plus, Laurel recaps the recent Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices meeting and talks about why we should be wary of supplements claiming to be alternatives for a recently announced...

If you’ve ever found yourself muttering the phrase “this job is killing me,” take a moment to be grateful you mean it metaphorically and not literally. In this episode of Health Wanted, host Laurel Bristow dives into forgotten occupational diseases—from jobs that turn you yellow to jobs that melt your face off.

She’s joined by guest Linda Forst, MD, to explore workplace safety today, in the United Stat...

Walking into a gas station in the past handful of years, you might have noticed a new product on the shelves: pills, powders, gummies, or energy shots containing “pure kratom alkaloids.” But what is kratom? And what is the new substance (7-hydroxymitragynine) that the FDA is concerned about? This week on Health Wanted host Laurel Bristow dives into the rise of 7-OH, the substance being dubbed the “next opioid cris...

The ALA is back once again! With your help, we Ask Laurel Anything. Included in this episode are questions on topics ranging from Laurel's recent experience at the Public Media Content Conference to the proper pronunciation of "gif." She also dives into a Best Muppets rundown and takes a moment for Axolotl Rose in Pet Corner. We close things out with the always speedy Lightning Round.

We'll be back next week to break down more scie...

We’ve all been there: You’re on your couch watching TV, when suddenly a celebrity appears to try to sell you Ozempic. How does pharmaceutical marketing influence patient behavior, doctor-patient relationships, and public policy? Learn all that and more this week on Health Wanted, when host Laurel Bristow dissects the uniquely American phenomenon that is direct-to-consumer prescription drug advertising. Then, she is join...

Rats—they are often seen as pests or spreaders of disease, but they are also surprising public health heroes. This week on Health Wanted, host Laurel Bristow explores the role rats play in disease transmission, from the Black Death to modern outbreaks, and uncovers their contributions to science, from sniffing out landmines to serving as human proxies in lab studies. Then, she is joined by Kaylee Byers, PhD, to talk about rat...

Swimming is an important skill to decrease your risk of drowning, but not everyone has the opportunity to learn how to do it. This week on Health Wanted, host Laurel Bristow and guest Megan Benvenuto dive into the health concerns and benefits of pools and how important they are for people to learn to swim.

In the Q&A, Bristow addresses questions on virus aerosol transmission and mitigation, drinking soda to hydrate, the threat ...

There is a reason we spend around a third of our lives asleep: We need sleep to survive. This week on Health Wanted, host Laurel Bristow and guest Dayna Johnson, PhD, talk about why we sleep, the importance of sleep quality, and how to make sure you are getting the most out of your body’s time at rest.

In the Q&A, Bristow SSRIs and pregnancy, vitamin C and bleeding gums, myocarditis and COVID, and some good news about vac...

Private equity is not just taking over companies—it’s increasingly gaining control of health care facilities as well. This week on Health Wanted, host Laurel Bristow and guest Megan Greenwell explain private equity and how it can lead to lower-quality care for patients and financial instability for hospitals.

In the Q&A, Bristow addresses questions on plague, Coca-Cola's new cane-sugar-sweetened Coke, and - hold ont...

Disability has always existed, but ensuring equal rights for people with disabilities has not. This week on Health Wanted, host Laurel Bristow and filmmaker/disability rights advocate James Lebrecht talk about his documentary, "Crip Camp," review the history of the disability rights movement and the importance of continuing to advocate for equality.

And Laurel answers your questions about C-sections and colon cancer, uncured vs. cu...

Gambling is no longer limited to Vegas casinos—today, it is as easy as a few taps on a mobile device. This week on Health Wanted, host Laurel Bristow and guest Rachel Volberg, PhD, discuss the rise in problem gambling and why it is a public health issue.

In the Q&A, Bristow has an update on the number of measles cases in the U.S., if there is a link between brain damage and COVID-19, and whether or not a tech millionaire&...