Health Wanted

Everybody put on your party hats and grab a slice of cake. It’s a birthday party for the births that never were. This week on Health Wanted, we’re celebrating a very merry un-birthday in the truest sense, because May 9 was the 66th anniversary of the FDA approving the first oral birth control pill, a divisive medication people still love to hate.

Plus - Is mushroom tea worth the hype? Can you get enough fiber from suppl...

Moms! They do so much for their children, but somehow, according to everyone else's opinion, all of it is terrible and wrong. As Mother’s Day approaches, we wanted to say thank you to all our moms for doing their best by presenting data to silence the haters.

This week on Health Wanted…we’re defending moms.

Plus - Do GLPs have anything to do with why people are drinking less? What exactly is a “gut biofilm?...

While celebs and their stylists prepare to make an impression at the Met Gala, we’re preparing for what I like to call the “Code Met” Gala. This week on Health Wanted…we have a passion for surgical fashion.

Plus - Are roundabouts bad for pedestrian safety? Are “whole grain” foods just as bad as refined flour? Should we be rethinking cremation?

For a full rundown on all the information shared in ...

Hey men! Are you feeling as manly as you could be? Do you have enough man juice flowing through your veins? Did you know hormones aren’t just for girls anymore? They’re manly! This week on Health Wanted…Are you man enough to learn about testosterone therapy?!?

Plus - Is ivermectin effective against head lice? What should you look for in electrolytes? Does the phrase “GLP-1 Like” mean anything? Why is ...

This week on the show: cannabis! Is it bad for you? Is it good for you? Better than alcohol? And how does it seem to be EVERYWHERE…even in states where you know it’s illegal?

Plus - Is red light therapy a scam? Is there any truth to the idea that the FDA doesn’t withhold good products? And what does “holistic health” actually mean?

For a full rundown on all the information shared in today's episode, t...

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.

Have a question for Laurel? Send it to healthwanted@wabe.org or leave a voicemail at 404-888-3630!

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The U.S. has built our transportation infrastructure around vast landscapes of 6-lane highways and parking lots. Heck you’re probably listening to this while driving! And if you happen to be stuck in traffic, perhaps it’s time to question if cars are really solving more problems than they create. This week on Health Wanted we’re putting the pedal to the metal to talk about how your whip may be impacting your welln...

From magical amulets to metal funnels that cost $270, there are wellness scams all around for those who have eyes to see them. This week on Health Wanted, we’re preparing for April Fools’ Day by reviewing some health and wellness products, practices, and claims so ridiculous they make you say, “this is a joke, right?”

Plus, a little good news. Why is protein in everything? Are David protein bars trying to Re...

Everyone on the internet claims to have the secret solution to all your health needs, but has the answer been hiding in meemaw’s Metamucil this whole time? This week on Health Wanted: Fiber! How does it do so many wonderful things for health?

Plus: How to feel (more) confident in your medical influencers on social media? What risks do hair dye pose? How much attention should you pay to California’s Prop 65 warnings?

For...

OOooh you ever get all hot and sweaty? You get that itch? You know you’re just gonna be up all night? Because you’re going through menopause. This week on Health Wanted we’re talking about the comeback queen known as menopause hormone therapy, and where the science stands on alleged miracle cure.

Plus: What’s with all the aspartame hate? Are oral vitamin K drops just as good as the shot? Are toner printers f...

2025 saw the start of a particular focus on detentions and deportations. This week on the show, we’re taking a look at the way increased immigration enforcement activity impacts public health.

Plus: What’s going on with blood screening tests for cancer? How scientific are personality tests? How dangerous is raw chicken? And the Sick of the Week.

For a full rundown on all the information shared in today's episode, take a...

Let’s be honest, Americans love to watch a contact sport. We cheer at hockey fights, make highlight reels of the most brutal football tackles, yell, “kill him!” When our favorite wrestlers get their opponent in a headlock. We know massive hits can take a toll on the old noggin', but as it turns out, it might just be the lesser hits that happen over and over and over again that are causing more damage to the most p...

There’s a saying in parenting: “The days are long, but the years are short.” This could also apply to the whirlwind first year of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s tenure as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. This week on Health Wanted, we take a walk down memory lane to review all that RFK Jr. and the MAHA movement have been able to accomplish in their first year…for better or for worse.

Valentine’s day is here, and with it, mountains of sweets! Boxes of chocolates! Candy hearts that somehow still have phrases like “fax me!” There’s no limit to confectioneries for your cutie pie, but what does the research say about our sweet tooth’s connection to our overall health? This week on Health Wanted, we’re talking sugar, sugar.

Plus: Does measles vaccination protect against SSPE? Are t...

This week’s episode of Health Wanted has it all: Covert influencer sponsored content! Taco Bell! School lunches! The new Dietary Guidelines for Americans! And it all comes back to dairy. Join us as we take a look at the udder-ly fascinating history of how milk became the essential drink for kids…and if it’s really as healthy as advertisers might have you believe.

Plus: How to respond to chemical irritants. An upd...

In a post-Roe world, more people are opting for a more permanent form of birth control, but their access might be limited by rules intended to prevent us from repeating violations of the past. This week on Health Wanted, we’re taking a look at the history of sterilization, and how well-intentioned laws can end up hurting people they meant to protect.

Plus: Can you get ringworm from your pets? Are people who say cilantro taste...

The internet is a mecca for DIY enthusiasts. You can find out how to remodel your house, fix your car, and even…become your own doctor? This week on Health Wanted: As more Americans become disillusioned with our health care system, more tech companies are providing DIY alternatives to doctor’s offices…but is that a good thing?

Plus: Is getting shingles protective against dementia? Do we all need to be testing ou...

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 t...

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...