Causes or Cures
For the Nerds and the Nerd Nots Causes or Cures is an independent health podcast hosted by "Dr. Eeks" (ErinKate Stair, MD, MPH). It is an offbeat, grassroots show driven by curiosity and a genuine love of making complicated health topics easier to understand. Dr. Eeks is a public health professional specializing in applied epidemiology & health communication. By day, she works on challenging public health issues. By choice, she spends some of her free time asking scientists, physicians, researchers, authors, clinicians, and other fascinating people questions she hopes everyone else is wondering too. Along the way, the podcast has wandered into everything from memory and longevity to self medicating animals, migraines, gene drive mosquitoes, strange public health history, the spiritual realm, and the occasional existential detour. If it has something to teach us about health or what it means to be human, it is probably fair game. Recurring segments include Public Health is Weird, which uncovers strange but true stories from public health history, WTF Health News, where Dr. Eeks breaks down bizarre or buzzworthy health headlines, and Eeks Speakeasy, a more personal corner of the podcast where curiosity occasionally spills over into life, philosophy, and whatever else deserves a drink and a discussion. A few housekeeping notes... This podcast is for information, curiosity, and conversation. It is not medical advice. Although Dr. Eeks has an MD, she does not practice medicine. She is a full time public health nerd and will never tell you what to do with your own health. If you have a medical question, your healthcare provider knows you far better than a podcast ever could. Guests are invited because they have something interesting to contribute, not because Dr. Eeks agrees with every opinion they hold. Likewise, she does not endorse miracle supplements, mysterious oils, magic socks, potions, or anything that promises to solve all of life's problems. If an episode is sponsored or underwritten by a company she genuinely enjoys working with, she will always tell you. Causes or Cures is also not a news site. It is a place for thoughtful conversations. Dr. Eeks believes people can disagree respectfully, ask difficult questions, change their minds, and occasionally laugh at themselves along the way. Some of the best conversations she has ever had happened in hole in the walls, on sidewalks, and in places where nobody was trying to win an argument. Sometimes Barnaby, her dog and unofficial executive producer, contributes his thoughts as well. Fortunately, he is a pretty smart dog. Above all, Dr. Eeks hopes this podcast encourages people to stay curious, compassionate, honest, open minded, and engaged. Freedom of discussion is a beautiful, delightfully messy thing, and one worth protecting. The views expressed on this podcast are Dr. Eeks' own and do not reflect the views of any organization she contracts with or consults for. Want to help keep Causes or Cures independent and ad free? Click the Support button at the top of the page. Want to sponsor or underwrite an episode? Causes or Cures works with a limited number of sponsors and episode underwriters in health, science, and public health. Partnerships are kept separate from editorial content and guest selection. If your organization might be a fit, reach out at: erin@bloomingwellness.com Want more weird health news & public health oddities? Sign up for the Eeks Weekly newsletter (10,000 + subscribers) The Eeks Weekly
Episodes
What can hundreds of thousands of Reddit posts tell us about the side effects of GLP-1 medications?
In this episode of Causes or Cures, I talk with researcher Neil K. R. Sehgal about his recent study examining self-reported side effects of semaglutide and tirzepatide, commonly known by brand names including Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound.
Neil and his colleagues used AI to analyze more than 410,000 Reddit pos...
A woman named Victoria went viral after sharing that a prescription medication that would have cost her $1,000 out of pocket in the U.S. cost just $25 when obtained through a Canadian pharmacy from an Indian manufacturer.
But perhaps the most interesting part wasn't the price difference. It was the reaction.
The comments filled with people sharing their own stories about prescription prices, insurance, and the sometim...
Yes, scientists have invented smart underwear. And yes, we're going to have to talk about farts.
But this isn't really a story about underwear or even intestinal gas. It's about finding a new way to study the gut microbiome in real time.
In this episode, researcher Dr. Brantley Hall joins me to talk about the development of wearable “smart underwear” that continuously measures hydrogen pr...
Are you sharing your microbiome with your roommate? What about your romantic partner?
In this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks talks with microbiome researcher Dr. Nicola Segata about new research showing that we may share parts of our microbiome with the people we live with—including family members, roommates, and romantic partners.
They discuss how our microbiomes are shared between people, why...
Once upon a time, people blamed tuberculosis on vampires.
Seriously.
In this Public Health Is Weird episode, we head to 1892 Rhode Island, where the deaths of several members of one family led to an exhumation, a suspected vampire, and a truly horrifying attempt at a cure. The real culprit was tuberculosis.
We explore the strange connection between TB and vampire folklore, the discovery and treatment of tuberculo...
Why do so many middle-aged Americans feel like they're barely keeping their heads above water?
In this episode, Dr. Eeks is joined by Dr. Frank Infurna, Professor of Psychology at Arizona State University and lead author of a recent paper examining historical changes in midlife well-being in the United States and Europe. His research paints a concerning picture: today's middle-aged Americans appear to be faring worse...
Exploring the Spiritual Realm
Where spiritual belief meets health, culture, and skepticism
Disclaimer: This episode discusses spiritual and metaphysical beliefs that are not evidence-based public health methods or medical treatments. Nothing in this conversation is medical or health advice. If you have a health concern, please seek care from a licensed clinician. This is entertainment only.
In this epis...
Seasonal Blues, Melancholy, and the Winter Splinter...
Do you only get the Winter Blues?
Lucky you.
In this episode of Eeks Speakeasy, Dr. Eeks confesses to suffering from the entire seasonal collection—from the Autumn Bottom and Spring Sting to the Summer Bummer and the newly diagnosed Winter Splinter.
Along the way, she explores why our moods seem to shift throughout the year, why spring doesn't bring optimism f...
Can bananas change the nutritional value of your smoothie?
Bananas are often considered one of the healthiest fruits you can eat. But what happens when they're blended with berries or other foods rich in beneficial plant compounds?
In this episode, Dr. Eeks talks with Professor Gunter Kuhnle, Professor of Nutrition and Food Science, about his research examining how bananas may affect the absorption of flavan-3-ols&mda...
Can We Prevent Muscle Loss While Taking GLP-1 Weight-Loss Drugs?
GLP-1 medications like Zepbound have changed the way we treat obesity. But as more people lose significant amounts of weight, another question has emerged:
What happens to your muscle?
It's normal to lose some lean mass—including muscle—during weight loss. But researchers are now asking whether preserving more muscle could improve long-term he...
Can using your smartphone on the toilet increase your risk of hemorrhoids?
In this episode of WTF Health News, Dr. Eeks explores one of the strangest health headlines of the year—and yes, it's based on a real scientific study.
Researchers found that adults who reported using smartphones while sitting on the toilet had a 46% higher likelihood of hemorrhoids compared with people who didn't bring their phones to th...
Many people living with migraines say they can "feel a storm coming" before an attack. But is there scientific evidence that environmental exposures can influence migraine risk?
In this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks talks with Professor Gal Ifergane, neurologist and headache specialist, about his research on migraines and the environment. The conversation explores how air pollution, heat, solar radiati...
Can listening to music help protect your brain as you age?
In this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks talks with Professor Joanne Ryan about her research on music, dementia risk, cognitive decline, and healthy aging.
Drawing on data from thousands of older adults participating in the ASPREE Longitudinal Study of Older Persons (ALSOP), Professor Ryan discusses findings suggesting that frequent music engagement—...
What is The Long Whatever?
Good question.
It involves an asthma attack, a pet store, a nice guy afraid to help, a bathroom code, an emotionally fragile dog, ambulance rides, and several thoughts that probably should've stayed inside my head.
But here we are.
By the end of this episode, I promise you'll know what The Long Whatever Is.
DISCLAIMER: Eeks Speakeasy is part storytelling, part health discussion, and part ...
Can you be genuinely happy and, even thrive, as a single person?
In this episode, Professor Elyakim Kislev, author of Happy Singlehood: The Rising Acceptance and Celebration of Solo Living, discusses the growing global trend toward singlehood and what the research says about happiness, loneliness, marriage, and solo living.
We explore the difference between being alone and being lonely, why some peop...
Today's Causes or Cures' WTF Health News with Dr. Eeks starts with olive oil and somehow ends with the microbiome.
A recent study suggests that older adults consuming more virgin olive oil may perform better on cognitive tests than those consuming more refined olive oil. Researchers also found differences in the gut microbiome because, at this point, the microbiome appears contractually obligated to show up in every ...
What makes you you?
Is it your memories? Your personality? Your sense of humor? Your motivation? What happens when a neurological disease changes one of those things?
In this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks talks with neurologist, neuroscientist, and author Dr. Masud Husain about his new book, Our Brains, Our Selves: What a Neurologist's Patients Taught Him About the Brain.
Drawing on the stories of seven patients...
In this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks speaks with Dr. Judson Brandeis, a board-certified urologist, sexual medicine specialist, surgeon, author, and founder of BrandeisMD, about erectile dysfunction, sexual wellness, aging, intimacy, and the rapidly growing men’s penile enhancement industry.
Dr. Brandeis discusses his recent clinical research exploring whether nitric oxide boosting supplements may work s...
Do you cough a lot?
Does someone you know cough a lot?
What if you could actually measure it, continuously?
For people with chronic cough, those question matters.
Because right now, most of what we know about cough comes from self-report. And that’s not very precise.
In this episode, Dr. Eeks speaks with Dr. Peter Small from Hyfe, a company using AI to continuously detect and count coughs, ...
In this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks speaks with Dr. Amrita Vijay, a gut microbiome scientist who studies how diet shapes the microbiome and influences inflammation, mood, and overall health.
Her research tested three different dietary approaches over six weeks: a prebiotic fiber (inulin), omega 3 supplementation, and a synbiotic combining fermented kefir with prebiotic fiber. All three interventions reduced ...
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