Radio Health Journal | The Latest in Health, Science & Public Policy
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.
Episodes
July 20, 2025 • 12 mins
Can your genes predict how much money you’ll make in your career? Dalton Conley, a sociologist, explains how our genes can be predictive of all aspects of our life – from BMI to who we’re friends with – in his new book, The Social Genome. Would you want to know the odds your genes have predetermined about life outcomes?
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https://radiohealthjournal.org/from-weight-to-career-success-how-your-genes-can-predict-your-futur...
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July 20, 2025 • 10 mins
Edible sunscreens have become a hot topic, but can SPF gummies replace your normal sunscreen? Dr. Susan Massick explains how UV rays cause damage throughout our body and what type of protection will be most effective.
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https://radiohealthjournal.org/edible-sunscreen-can-you-eat-your-sun-protection
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July 16, 2025 • 2 mins
What does poor sleep do to your brain? How can you grill smarter this summer? And could optimism secretly improve your health? We break down the latest science.
Learn More: https://radiohealthjournal.org/medical-notes-poor-sleep-can-change-your-brain-how-to-grill-safely-this-summer-and-the-secret-superpower-of-optimism
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July 13, 2025 • 9 mins
Chronic pain in children is often dismissed as “growing pains,” but ignoring it can lead to lifelong health and socioeconomic consequences. Dr. Tonya Palermo emphasizes the need for better pain education and early intervention to help kids avoid long-term damage.
Learn More: https://radiohealthjournal.org/dont-blame-growing-pains-the-dangers-of-ignoring-childhood-pain
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July 13, 2025 • 13 mins
In the daily life of a paramedic, true emergencies are rare, resources are thin, and burnout runs high. Instead of glamorized rescues, medics often face issues that would be better handled by social workers and lawyers. This week, Joanna Sokol details her experience on the job and why the field is desperate for better worker rights.
Learn More: https://radiohealthjournal.org/inside-the-ambulance-chaos-camaraderie-and-the-calls-y...
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July 9, 2025 • 3 mins
Can inflammation affect fertility? Could curiosity change your life? This week, we explore cutting-edge research on anxiety treatments, parenting patterns, and the science of self-improvement.
Learn More: https://radiohealthjournal.org/medical-notes-how-to-change-your-personality-customizing-your-anxiety-treatment-and-a-hidden-cause-of-infertility
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July 6, 2025 • 10 mins
The adrenal glands regulate cortisol, a hormone crucial for managing stress and energy. When stress is chronic, cortisol imbalances can cause fatigue, anxiety, and pain. Dr. Izabella Wentz offers simple lifestyle changes that can help restore balance and improve your overall health.
Learn More: https://radiohealthjournal.org/full-body-reset-stress-cortisol-and-adrenal-dysfunction
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July 6, 2025 • 11 mins
Whenever we experience pain, our bodies use internal pain relief symptoms to reduce some of that discomfort. Though it’s been believed that men and women use the same, main system, a new study is pioneering an entirely new understanding of chronic pain. Our experts discuss this research and how it could change the future of pain management.
Learn More: https://radiohealthjournal.org/her-pain-his-treatment-issues-with-the-generic-...
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Ultrasound isn’t just for imaging. Sleep apnea may silently rewire the brain. A new non-opioid painkiller shows promise—without the dangerous side effects. Dementia can make people act out in unexpected ways—and families are often left struggling.
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June 29, 2025 • 12 mins
When Jakki Maser’s back pain started at 13, doctors brushed it off as a minor injury. Years of unrelenting pain and dead-end appointments led her to uncover the real cause herself – Bertolotti’s syndrome, an underdiagnosed spinal condition. This week, our experts explain how to accurately catch this condition and the best treatment methods for a full recovery.
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https://radiohealthjournal.org/bertolottis-syndrome-the-u...
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June 29, 2025 • 9 mins
New technology like AI offers promise, but experts say true healthcare reform starts with prevention, not just innovation. The U.S. spends more on healthcare than any other nation, yet outcomes lag because we focus on expensive treatments instead of early care. Our expert explains how real change will require prioritizing prevention to keep people healthier from the start.
Learn More: https://radiohealthjournal.org/the-future-of-m...
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Your ‘aura’ may just be a mixture of oils and fats on the skin. Scientists still don’t fully know why we yawn—but they’re getting closer. The debate over fluoride is back in the spotlight. Urban rats may be more than just an annoying pest.
Learn More: https://radiohealthjournal.org/medical-notes-the-science-behind-your-aura-the-fluoride-debate-and-the-real-reason-behind-your-yawn
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June 22, 2025 • 12 mins
For people with inflammatory bowel disease, daily life can be painful, unpredictable, and isolating. The successful management of IBD means addressing both physical and mental symptoms. Our experts discuss treatment approaches and a new program aiming to end the stigma and offer support for patients.
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https://radiohealthjournal.org/the-mental-and-physical-toll-of-inflammatory-bowel-disease
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June 22, 2025 • 9 mins
Most Americans don’t have a clear picture of what universal healthcare really means. Dr. Marschall Runge says we’re unlikely to see fully free, unlimited care – but a model based on preventive, team-based medicine is possible. In his new book, The Great Healthcare Disruption, Runge outlines how AI, better access, and more shareable medical records could revolutionize care – if we also prioritize our own health.
Learn More: https:/...
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Is there a new brain region for our senses? Why are so many adults feeling alone? Can fish oil really slow down aging?
Learn More: https://radiohealthjournal.org/medical-notes-how-fish-oil-slows-aging-the-loneliness-epidemic-and-how-to-better-understand-autism
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June 17, 2025 • 15 mins
This segment is part of a new, podcast exclusive series called Producer's Cut. We'll be revisiting past shows that've left a lasting impact on the RHJ team, and providing behind-the-scenes insights on how the story came together.
Commercial gestational surrogacy allows parents to have a biological child that’s carried and birthed by another woman who receives a salary. Though many countries have outlawed commercial surrogacy, st...
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June 15, 2025 • 13 mins
For the most part, food companies are allowed to police themselves when introducing new food additives to market. This gap in oversight is the product of a GRAS loophole, a decades-old FDA policy. Jennifer Pomeranz explains how the status-quo is threatening public health and offers innovative solutions for reform.
Learn More: https://radiohealthjournal.org/gras-fed-loopholes-why-your-diet-is-more-toxic-than-the-fda-knows
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June 15, 2025 • 9 mins
Rheumatoid arthritis is tough to diagnose and even harder to treat effectively. Thankfully, researchers are creating more precise tests that can match patients to the right treatment plan on the first try. Our experts explain the challenges of rheumatoid arthritis and a new test that can bypass the trial-and-error approach to medicine.
Learn More: https://radiohealthjournal.org/more-than-growing-pains-the-hidden-toll-of-rheumatoi...
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A diabetes drug may be helpful in the fight against alzheimers. A tiny part of the brain may be the key to treating addiction. Kids should join a sport to boost their mental health.
Learn More: https://radiohealthjournal.org/medical-notes-the-brains-secret-microstructure-that-has-powerful-impacts-why-kids-should-play-sports-and-how-a-diabetes-drug-can-fight-off-alzheimers-disease
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June 10, 2025 • 25 mins
In this podcast-exclusive episode, you'll hear the original interview audio between Radio Health Journal producer Kristen Farrah and psychologist and Vietnam War veteran Dr. Edgardo Padin-Rivera. The two have a conversation about military indoctrination, the mental health of soldiers, and the challenges of navigating life after service. They also dive into Padin-Rivera’s personal experiences of war, addiction, and his journey to fi...
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