Shows
Causes or CuresExploring the Spiritual Realm: Angels, Healing Claims, and Skepticism, with Dr. Christopher MacklinSend us a textExploring the Spiritual Realm Where spiritual belief meets health, culture, and skepticism Disclaimer: This episode discusses spiritual and metaphysical beliefs that are not evidence-based 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. Recent surveys suggest around 69% of Americans say they believe in angels. Whatever you think of that, spiritual beliefs can shape real health decisions...what people trust, where they seek help, and how th...
2026-01-181h 11
Causes or CuresThey Received an Experimental Vaccine for Advanced Breast Cancer Decades Ago. They’re Still Alive Today—Dr. Zachary Hartman on the ScienceSend us a textWhat if cancer didn’t have to be eradicated, but could be remembered, monitored, and controlled by the immune system itself?In this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks speaks with Dr. Zachary Hartman, the lead researcher who revisited an extraordinary breast cancer vaccine trial conducted over 20 years ago. The trial involved a small group of women with advanced breast cancer. Women who, remarkably, are all still alive today.By analyzing their blood decades later, the research team discovered that these women still carried immune cells ca...
2026-01-0546 min
Causes or CuresPublic Health is Weird: Are Poinsettias Really Poisonous? A Holiday Health Myth (with Eeks) — Bonus EpisodeSend us a text*Disclaimer* This episode is part of the Causes or Cures Public Health Is Weird bonus series and is for educational and entertainment purposes only. If you’re worried about a child or pet eating a poinsettia, contact a medical professional or veterinarian. This podcast is not a poison control center. :)Every December, poinsettias show up, and so does the panic.Suddenly, a festive red plant is treated like antifreeze with leaves: dangerous to kids, deadly to pets, and one accidental nibble away from an emergency vet visit. But where did...
2025-12-3017 min
Causes or CuresHow to Find Your Inner Billionaire, with Debbie DobbinsSend us a textIn this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Debbie Dobbins, international prosperity consciousness speaker/teacher and author of Your Inner Billionaire.Why listen: Debbie’s origin story isn’t a soft-focus vision board. It's not feel-good Instagram or TikTok reels. It’s making millions..., then dollar-store cookies on food stamps; addiction, cancer, and IRS debt..., followed by a rebuild grounded in daily practices and a different relationship with money. What's covered in this episode: “Inner Billionaire” 101: What it is (ident...
2025-10-271h 07
Causes or CuresPublic Health is Weird: America's Failed Experience with Truth Serum (with Eeks) — Bonus EpisodeSend us a textDisclaimer: Entertainment only. Eeks is not a public health historian; just a gremlin who reads too much and asks weird questions BONUS Episodes are part of the "Public Health is Weird" Causes or Cures Series. What’s insideThe myth of “truth serum” and why scopolamine never earned the badgeFrom twilight sleep in childbirth to spy stories and interrogation loreWhat scopolamine actually does: amnesia, confusion, suggestibilityModern misuse and crime angles, plus real risksEthics, consent, and why the legend still sellsEeks' thoughts on an "actu...
2025-10-1524 min
Causes or CuresHow Chris Mirabile Made His Biological Age 13 Years YoungerSend us a textWhat if your biological age could be younger than the candles on your birthday cake? On this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Chris Mirabile who says he did just that. After surviving a brain tumor at just 16 years old, Chris committed himself to mastering his health. That journey led him to found NOVOS, the first health company to develop science-based solutions targeting the 12 biological causes of aging.Chris states he has reduced his biological age by 13.6 years and slowed his pace of aging by 37%. In...
2025-09-141h 05
Causes or Cures🔒 The Misinformation Massacre: Is Public Health Targeting the Wrong Enemy?Subscriber-only episodeSend us a textIn this bonus episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks dives into the "War on Misinformation" and unravels its complexities. Is misinformation truly an "infodemic," like a virus infecting our brains? Is the militaristic approach to misinformation missing the mark? Here we explore how misinformation is policed online, the rise of fact-checkers, and some of the biggest misinformation scandals of our time, including the opioid epidemic and the tobacco industry's attempts to define "sound science" while squelching the truth about second-hand smoke as a...
2024-10-1139 min
Causes or CuresIs There Anybody Out There?Send us a textKicking off the New Year with a fun one! In this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Naor Sagy on whether or not space aliens are out there; what they look like and how they act; our motivation for wanting to meet them (and their motivation for wanting to meet us); and what could possibly happen if we meet each other. Consider this a fun, shooting-the-breeze podcast. Neither Dr. Eeks nor Dr. Sagy have any special knowledge on space alien life form. However, they both like space, mysteries...
2024-01-0433 min
Causes or CuresSiberian Solitude: A Woman's Fasting Journey to Conquer Late-Stage Lyme, with Michelle Slater, PHDSend us a textDisclaimer: Causes or Cures is for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, and no medical claims are being made. Always talk to a qualified healthcare provider about your personal health. In this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Michelle B. Slater, PHD about her book Starving to Heal in Siberia. After working with a team of medical experts, trying everything in the book and contemplating assisted suicide, Michelle went all the way to Siberia as a last effort to heal from late-stage Lyme Disease, a...
2023-11-081h 11
Causes or CuresThe Amish Response to the COVID-19 Era, with Dr. Rachel SteinSend us a text In this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks talks with Dr. Rachel Stein, Associate Professor of Sociology and Anthropology at West Virginia University, about the Amish community’s experience during the COVID-19 pandemic.Dr. Stein’s research focuses on community building and health in Old Order Amish communities, and she shares how she became interested in studying them. The conversation dives into Amish values and way of life, how they responded to the pandemic, and what risk-reduction strategies—if any—they used.We discuss their excess death rates during CO...
2023-01-021h 12
Causes or CuresCan We Truly Live on Mars? With Space Medicine Guru Dr. Thais RussomanoSend us a textIn this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks sits down with Dr. Thais Russomano to explore the fascinating topic of human health in space. Dr. Russomano will discuss the changes the human body undergoes in space, the health challenges of living on Mars versus the Moon, and how medicines might behave differently in these environments. She’ll also touch on the diagnostic tools required for space missions, long-term health monitoring, and how clinical trials could be conducted in space. Finally, Dr. Russomano will share her insights on the possibility of humans living on...
2022-12-181h 13
Causes or CuresSteps of Longevity: Mapping the Optimal Number of Steps for Lowering Risk of Death, with Dr. Borja del Pozo CruzSend us a textIn this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Borja del Pozo Cruz, PhD, about his and his team's study recently published in JAMA Internal Medicine on the association between daily steps/step intensity and new cases of cancer, cardiovascular disease and death. (To date, it is the largest population sample and analysis of adults wearing an accelerometer.)In the podcast, Dr. Pozo Cruz will discuss his current research interests and why he is interested in the link between number of daily steps and health. He will explain how h...
2022-12-0740 min
Causes or CuresHygienic Chow: Dog Bowl Cleanliness and the Intersection with Human Health, with Dr. Emily LuisanaSend us a textIn this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Emily Luisana about her recent study on dog bowl and dog food hygiene and the link to human and dog health published here. In the podcast, Dr. Luisana will discuss how she became interested in this topic and provide an overview of the potential bacteria/viruses that may grow on dog bowls and the potential impact for dog and human health. She'll discuss results from her survey that assessed how many people knew about the FDA's pet dish cleaning recommendations...
2022-11-2935 min
Causes or CuresThe Global Burden of Cancer that is Attributed to Risk Factors, with Dr. Christopher MurraySend us a textIn this podcast, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Christopher Murray about his recent article published in The Lancet (2022) titled The Global Burden of Cancer Attributable to Risk Factors, 2010-2019, a Systematic Analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. This is the largest effort to date to determine the gobal burden of cancer due to risk factors. He will discuss what the global burden of disease study is, how he and his team estimated the burden of cancer, the risk factors and the assessment framework used to link specific cancers to specific risks...
2022-11-2337 min
Causes or CuresTalking about That Time of the Month, with DIVA CEO Carinne Chambers-SainiSend us a textIn this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Carinne Chambers-Saini, CEO of DIVA and founder of the DIVA menstrual cup about how the mainstream dialogue around menstruation has changed over the years, what menstrual inequity and period poverty is, how the DIVA Cup works and its benefits over pads and tampons, anything we have to worry about with the DIVA Cup, and finally how she implemented a "menstrual health leave policy" at her company and how folks responded. You can contact Dr. Eeks at bloomingwellness.com.Follow...
2022-11-1334 min
Causes or CuresThe Link between Psilocybin, Weight Control & Energy Balance, with Dr. Christoffer ClemmensenSend us a textIn this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Christoffer Clemmensen about his research on the psychedelic drug, psilocybin, and its connection to weight and energy balance. This podcast will mostly cover his animal study published here in Translational Psychiatry. As there is renewed interest in psychedelics and, of course, the ongoing obesity epidemic that is increasing around the globe, this is a doubly timely topic. Specifically, he will discuss psilocybin, how it works in the body, its relation to "cognitive flexibility", and how it might be used for o...
2022-11-0537 min
Causes or CuresEvidence for an Emerging Epidemic of Cancer in Young People, with Dr. Shuji OginoSend us a textIn this Causes or Cures episode, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Shuji Ogino about his recent paper published in Nature Reviews, Clinical Oncology, titled "Is early-onset cancer an emerging global epidemic? Current evidence and future implications." In the podcast, Dr. Ogino discusses what "early onset" means, what types of cancer are showing up earlier in people less than 50 years of age, and the evidence and data that supports this trend. He discusses how exposures early in life and in utero may be contributing to early-onset cancer in young people ( in their thirties...
2022-11-0257 min
Causes or CuresAt-Home Ketamine Treatment for Depression & Anxiety, with Jack Swain, Mindbloom's Head of Clinical OperationsSend us a textIn this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Jack Swain, head of clinical operations at Mindbloom. Mindbloom is a mental health and wellness company dedicated to expanding science-based treatments for depression and anxiety, and they are starting with at-home, sublingual Ketamine treatment that is supplemented with telehealth and peer support. There is an explosion of interest in how psychedelics and other kinds of alternatives might be used to treat depression and anxiety, diseases that are notoriously difficult to treat, particularly for the long-term. In this episode, Jack will...
2022-10-1957 min
Causes or CuresUnderstanding the Link Between Lifestyle Choices and Colon Cancer, with Dr. Marko LukicSend us a textIn this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Marko Lukic, a physician and researcher at the Arctic Univeristy of Norway, who recently did a study on modifiable risk factors for colon cancer, an interesting and timely topic considering the concerning rising rates of colon cancer in young people. The study was published in the International Journal of Cancer. In the podcast, Dr. Lukic talks us through his research and the data he used. He describes the specific, modifiable risk factors and how they link to new cases of...
2022-10-0445 min
Causes or CuresMapping the Opioid Epidemic to Help Bring It to an End, with Jeremiah LindemannSend us a textThe opioid epidemic is still raging, and people are still dying as a result. In this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Jeremiah Lindemann about how he is using his data, geographic information system and mapping skills to combat the opioid epidemic. Inspired by the loss of his brother to the opioid epidemic, he will discuss the creation of the "Celebrate Lost Loved Ones" map, hosted by the National Safety Council, who visits the map, and stories being shared on the map daily. He will discuss how he became a...
2022-09-2037 min
Causes or CuresHow Intermittent Fasting can Slow Aging & Prevent Disease, with Neuroscientist Dr. Mark MattsonSend us a textIn this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks will chat with neuroscientist Dr. Mark Mattson about his new book titled, The Intermittent Fasting Revolution: The Science of Optimizing Health and Enhancing Performance. Dr. Mattson is a professor of neuroscience at Johns Hopkins University, the former chief of the laboratory of neurosciences at the National Institute of Aging and someone who has done a lot of research on intermittent fasting. The National Institute of Health (NIH) considers him one of the world's top experts on the potential health benefits of intermittent fasting.
2022-09-131h 18
Causes or CuresThe First Real-Time Platform to Predict COVID-19 Vaccine Effectiveness, with Professor Maggie WangSend us a textIn this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Professor Maggie Wang about the first, real-time platform to predict the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines. The podcast is based on her and her team's work published in Nature Medicine in June of 2022. The platform has the potential to be used for other vaccines as well. In the podcast, Professor Wang will discuss the research behind the platform, how vaccine effectiveness relates to "genetic distance"; how, when using the platform, the different COVID-19 vaccine platforms compare; why over 80% of variation in vaccine ef...
2022-08-1141 min
Causes or CuresA Potential Nasal Spray for COVID-19 in the Works, with Dr. Hector Aguilar-CarrenoSend us a textIn this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Hector Aguilar-Carreno about his and his team's research published in Nature, May'22 titled: A TMPRSS2 inhibitor acts as a pan-SARS-CoV-2 prophylactic and therapeutic. In the podcast, he will break down the study and in an easy-to-understand way explain what TMPRSS2 is and how it relates to COVID-19 infection; the inhibitors and how they work; results when tested on cells and mice; why a nasal spray would be the most ideal way to administer this; public health implications, and where t...
2022-08-0742 min
Causes or CuresNaturally-Acquired Immunity against COVID-19 in Kids & Adolescents during the Delta Wave, with Dr. Tal PatalonSend us a textIn this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Tal Patalon, head of Kahn, Sagol, Maccabi (KSM), the Research and Innovation Center of Maccabi Healthcare Services in Israel about her recent study (still in preprint), titled: Naturally-acquired Immunity Dynamics against SARS-CoV-2 in Children and Adolescents, which you can access here. Currently, this is the largest, real-world, observational study looking at this research question during the Delta wave in Israel, with hundreds of thousands of kids and adolescents included in the study. In the podcast, she will discuss why she...
2022-07-2031 min
Causes or CuresThe Proof Pinnacle, A Deep Dive into the Evidence for Intermittent Fasting, with Dr. Krista VaradySend us a textIn this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Krista Varady about the evidence base for intermittent fasting (IF). Dr. Varady has conducted numerous randomized controlled trials on intermittent fasting and is with the Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition at the University of Illinois in Chicago. Her recent review on IF was published in Nature Reviews Endocrinology, which you can read here. You can follow her on Instagram here. In the podcast, she will discuss the evidence for intermittent fasting, its relationship to weight loss, if it helps with...
2022-07-1744 min
Causes or CuresHow the Food Industry Influences Public Health Policy & Nutritional Guidelines, with Dr. Melissa MialonSend us a textIn this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Melissa Mialon about how the food industry influences public health policy and nutritional guidelines. She will describe the many characters of the food industry, what corporate political activity is and how they use it to influence health policy and nutritional guidelines, food labels, conflicts of interests involving decisionmakers of important nutritional guidelines, how the industry biases the scientific evidence base and what we can do to make sure the system is not biased towards food industry interests and profits.
2022-06-2859 min
Causes or CuresWeighty Whispers: How Chemicals in Everyday Products Fuel Obesity, with Dr. Jerry HeindelSend us a textIn this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Jerry Heindel about his and other researchers' recent reviews published in Biochemical Pharmacology on how chemicals in everyday products may be fueling the obesity epidemic here in the US and elsewhere. He will discuss what these chemicals are and how we get exposed; what the term "Obesogen" means and why that term should be on our radar; the potential mechanism of actions for how these chemical lead to obesity; when getting exposed to these chemicals puts us more at risk; the...
2022-06-2546 min
Causes or CuresThe Monkeypox Outbreak that Started in Nigeria in 2017 & Lessons for the World, with Dr. OgoinaSend us a text In this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Dimie Ogoina about the human monkeypox outbreak that started in Nigeria in 2017, after the country had not seen a case for approximately 40 years. Dr. Ogoina is an infectious disease specialist and president of the Nigerian Infectious Disease Society whose hospital saw the first (index) case of human monkeypox in 2017. He has published several papers on this topic which can be found here. In this episode, he will describe the beginning of the monkeypox outbreak in Nigeria in 2017, symptoms, thoughts o...
2022-06-1644 min
Causes or CuresUnlocking the Depths: The Surprising Cognitive Brilliance of Fish, with Dr. Vera SchluesselSend us a textIn this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Vera Schluessel about her work on the cognitive abilities of fish, with a specific focus on her latest study published in Nature Scientific Reports, "Cichlids and Stingrays can add & subtract 'one' in the number space from 1 to 5. " Basically, she is going to tell us about fish doing math! In the podcast she will discuss why she started researching the cognitive abilities of fish, why the general public rarely considers it and wrongly assumes "fish are dumb", some of her unique fish s...
2022-06-0245 min
Causes or CuresPharma's Grip: Unpacking Drug Companies' Influence on Patient Gropus, with Dr. Lisa Parker & Dr. Joel LexchinSend us a textContinuing the exploration of industry's influence on healthcare and health policy, in this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Joel Lexchin and Dr. Lisa Parker about the influence drug companies have over patient groups. They will describe what patient groups are (why they are needed & the variety of work they do), why drug companies have a vested interest in patient groups, how drug companies fund and influence the groups (and sometimes even create them) and how the groups influence healthcare policy. They will also discuss practical things that...
2022-05-2659 min
Causes or CuresTripping through Time, Psychedelic Medicine's Past and the Promising Paths Ahead, with Dr. Dave SmithSend us a textIn this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. David Smith about the history and future of psychedelic medicine. He will discuss early research on psychedelics (including experiments the CIA ran), the potential health benefits and disorders they may treat, any potential side effects we should worry about, the current state of research, and why he remains cautiously optimistic. (You'll also hear about some of your favorite bands and how their contributions kept some of the earliest clinics open.) Dr. David Smith is one of the founders of t...
2022-05-1058 min
Causes or CuresCerebral Slimdown: Cracking the Code of Brain Proteins in Weight Control, with Dr. Schmidt and Dr. GassenSend us a textIn this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Mathias Schmidt and Dr. Nils Gassen about their recent research published in Science Advances that involves a protein in the brain that may link autophagy to metabolism to weight control and the fight against obesity. In the podcast, they will discuss why they are interested in obesity research, why they have a specific interest in this protein, what they knew about the protein before the study and what they learned, what autophagy is, how it is linked to the specific protein...
2022-05-0930 min
Causes or CuresOn Losing her Sons to the Opioid Epidemic and Navigating Grief, with Cheryl JuaireSend us a textIn this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Cheryl Juaire, founder of Team Sharing, INC. Cheryl will discuss Team Sharing, a not-for-profit for parents who have lost their kids to substance abuse disorder, including opioids, and why she started it. She will talk about what it was like to navigate loss and grief after losing two of her sons to the opioid epidemic and how Team Sharing helps parents and family members navigate through grief. She will also discuss what she thinks the public health response to the opioid epidemic s...
2022-04-2645 min
Causes or CuresThe First Potential Case of Deer to Human COVID-19 transmission, with Dr. Brad PickeringSend us a textIn this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Brad Pickering about COVID-19 spillover from humans into other animals, particularly his work on viral spillover into white-tailed deer in Canada, as well as the case he and his team discovered that might be the first, identifiable case of deer to human transmission of the virus. He will discuss the unique mutations in the deer viral samples, the potential first case of deer to human transmission (how it was identified and how it might have occurred), vaccine effectiveness against the deer...
2022-04-2328 min
Causes or CuresHow the Pharmaceutical Industry Influences UK's Parliamentary Groups & Why It Matters, with Emily RickardSend us a textContinuing our exploration of the pharmaceutical industry's influence on health and health policy at a global level, in this podcast, Dr. Eeks has a conversation with Emily Rickard about her research on how the industry influences the UK's All-Party Parliamentary Groups. She will explain what the All-Party Parliamentary Groups, particularly the health-related ones, are and what they do. She'll talk about both the direct and indirect ways the pharmaceutical industry influences those groups and why that matters from both a transparency issue and a health-policy one. Emily is a researcher and doctoral...
2022-04-1836 min
Causes or CuresWhat Indigenous Populations Can Teach Us About Preventing Dementia, with Dr. Margaret GatzSend us a textRates of dementia, including Alzheimer's Disease, are only increasing in developed nations as scientists race to find treatments and identify preventive strategies. In this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Margaret Gatz about her research published in the Journal of the Alzheimer's Association titled: Prevalence of dementia and mild cognitive impairment in indigenous Bolivian forager-horticulturalists. In the podcast she will discuss these indigenous populations, including their lifestyle, diet and educational levels, how she conducted her research to assess their risks and rates of dementia, how their rates compare t...
2022-04-1232 min
Causes or CuresWhose Science is it Anyway? The Perils of Regulatory Capture in Research, with Dr. Andrea SaltelliSend us a textIn this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Andrea Saltelli about his recent paper on regulatory capture titled: Science, the Endless Frontier of Regulatory Capture. He will discuss what regulatory capture is, what cultural capture is, what an epistemic ladder of corruption is and how all of these things impact science, influence policy and ultimately, all of us. He will use specific case studies to highlight elements of regulatory capture in science that make it easier to understand. He will also discuss ways to make regulatory capture less...
2022-04-071h 05
Causes or CuresThe Case for Why Features of the US HealthCare System Caused the Opioid Epidemic, with Dr. Janet CurrieSend us a textIn this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Janet Currie about the factors that caused the opioid epidemic. They will discuss her recent research published in The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, "The Opioid Epidemic was Not Caused by Economic Distress but by Factors that Could be More Rapidly Addressed." In this podcast, she will discuss the history of the opioid epidemic, how it started and explain why prescriptions for opioids and healthcare market policies are what fueled the epidemic, not economic factors. ...
2022-04-0448 min
Causes or CuresBehind the Script: Unveilling Doctor-Pharma Relationships and the Limits of Transparency, with Dr. Joel LexchinSend us a textIn this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Joel Lexchin about his recent research published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine titled: A Ray of Sunshine: Transparency in Physician-Industry Relationships Is Not Enough. He will discuss what the Sunshine Act was designed to accomplish in terms of being transparent about physician-industry relationships, what it actually did, and how it did or did not change physician behavior, industry behavior and consumer behavior. Dr. Lexchin is a professor at the York University Faculty of Health where he taught p...
2022-03-2447 min
Causes or CuresExploring the Spiritual Realm: A Conversation with a Modern Exorcist, Msgr. Stephen RossettiSend us a textExploring the Spiritual RealmWhere spiritual belief meets health, culture, and skepticism Disclaimer: This episode discusses spiritual and metaphysical beliefs that are not evidence-based 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 episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Msgr Stephen Rossetti about his work as an Exorcist. He has conducted hundreds of exorcisms. In this podcast, he will describe wh...
2022-03-2139 min
Causes or CuresUnmasking Deception: The Covert Hand of Drug Companies in Epistemic Corruption and Medical Science, with Dr. Sergio SismondoSend us a textIn this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Sergio Sismondo, a professor of philosophy at Queen's University in Ontario, Canada about his work titled "Epistemic Corruption, the Pharmaceutical Industry and the Body of Medical Science" published in Frontiers Research Metrics and Analytics. His years of empirical research has shed light on the various ways drug companies influence the practice of medicine and the body of medical science for profit. His research also allowed him to develop a framework for understanding the relationship between politics and pharmaceutical companies. In addition...
2022-03-091h 18
Causes or CuresEthical Science: Exploring Alternatives to Animal Testing in Research, with Neuroscientist Dr. Katherine RoeSend us a textIn this episode of The Causes or Cures Podcast, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Katherine Roe, a neuroscientist working on developing evidence-based strategies to replace animals in scientific research. While preclinical studies with animals is widely accepted in scientific research as a necessary step, many people worry about the welfare of the animals and wonder if there are viable, better alternatives. Some researchers do not want to do research on animals and struggle with the idea that they might have to, to advance their career. In this podcast, Dr. Roe will discuss potential...
2022-03-0733 min
Causes or CuresPharma's Playbook: Understanding Drug Companies' Role in Shaping Therapeutic Decisions, with Dr. Lisa ParkerSend us a textIn this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Lisa Parker on her research about how drug companies influence DTC (Drug and Therapeutic Committee) decisions at hospitals in Australia. She describes who is part of a DTC and what it does, conflicts of interest with industry, ways DTCs try to decrease industry's influence and the things drug companies do to get around those mitigation efforts. Finally, she makes suggestions for improving the system. Dr. Parker is a honorary senior lecturer in the school of Pharmacy at The University...
2022-02-2253 min
Causes or CuresA New Approach to Obesity and Binge-Eating Disorder (BED)Send us a textIn this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Trine Tetlie Eik-Nes about her new intervention for obesity with binge eating disorder (BED) that was recently tested in a feasibility study and published here. Obesity is an epidemic affecting many developed nations, and rates only increased during the pandemic, for both adults and kids. In the podcast she will discuss in detail her intervention, called People Need People (PnP), along with the link between obesity and binge eating disorder. She will also discuss the relationship of obesity and...
2022-02-1550 min
Causes or CuresAsthma and COVID-19: What's the Deal?Send us a textIn this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Tonya Winders, CEO of the Allergy and Asthma Network, an organization that represents millions of Americans, about the relationship between asthma and COVID-19. The relationship has been "confusing" to decipher from news articles, so she will shed light on that for us. She will also discuss what her organization prioritized during the pandemic to address COVID. In addition, she will provide information on the types of tools her organization offers for folks struggling with asthma and allergies and talk about advances...
2022-02-0832 min
Causes or CuresHow Measles can Wipe Out Your Immunity to Other Viruses? On Immune Amnesia, with Dr. Guillermo Barrios MoralesSend us a textIn this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Guillermo Barrios Morales about his recent research that modeled the effects of Mealses-induced "Immune Amnesia" while another outbreak is happening simultaneously. In this podcast he will discuss what immune amnesia is and its association to Measles, his predictive model and the assumptions he made, and the impact immune amnesia could have on the immune system's ability to fight off other viruses, both at the individual and population level. Could Measles wipe out herd immunity for another virus? Find out. Dr...
2022-02-0641 min
Causes or CuresAddressing Childhood Vaccine Concerns in a Religious Orthodox Community, with Blima MarcusSend us a textIn this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Blima Marcus, an oncology nurse practitioner at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and an Assistant Adjunct Professor at the Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing, about her community-level, grassroots initiative to address concerns about childhood vaccines in her religious orthodox community that experienced a Measles outbreak not too long ago. (In general, there have been concerns about increases in Measles outbreaks in various countries due to lower vaccination rates during the pandemic.) Blima will discuss why she pursued this initiative, what "PIE"...
2022-01-3139 min
Causes or CuresShould We Try Intermittent Fasting to Fight Obesity? With Dr. Nathorn ChaiyakunaprukSend us a textIn this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Nathorn Chaiyakunapruk about his recent study on intermittent fasting, published in JAMA Network here. He will discuss his study, what he and his research team learned about intermittent fasting when it comes to health benefits and health associations; the health differences between intermittent fasting and plain ol' calorie restriction; what the evidence says about intermittent fasting working for specific diseases and most importantly, if there is enough evidence to say that we should try intermittent fasting in our battle against a g...
2022-01-2223 min
Causes or CuresDr. Azza Halim MD Shares Her Top Wellness, Beauty & Immune-Boosting TipsSend us a textIn this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks interviews Dr. Azza Halim MD, a board-certified anesthesiologist and doctor who specializes in aesthetic, regenerative and anti-aging medicine. She is a national medical director for several aesthetic startup companies and runs her own medical consulting company. You can learn more about her and follow her on Instagram here. You can contact Dr. Eeks at bloomingwellness.com.Follow Dr. Eeks on Instagram here.Or Facebook here.Or Twitter.Read Manic Kingdom here.Listen to her short audio parody...
2022-01-1841 min
Causes or CuresA COVID Calculator Figures Out Your Risk of Hospitalization & Death, with Dr. Ariel IsraelSend us a textIn this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Israel's Dr. Ariel Israel, MD, PhD about his new study that resulted in the creation of a web-based calculator for determining your risk of hospitalization and death once infected with COVID-19. While the study is still in preprint and not peer-reviewed, statistical tests show that the predictive model is accurate. Anyone can access the calculator here and put in his/her risk values to determine overall risk of hospitalization and death. (Keep in mind that nothing is written in stone yet.)...
2022-01-1050 min
Causes or CuresCould this Cheap, Generic Drug Get Us Out of the Pandemic? The Story of Fluvoxamine with Dr. Eric LenzeSend us a textFluvoxamine is a cheap, generic, oral drug that is classified and used as an antidepressant. That said, recent trials have tested its use as early, at-home treatment for COVID-19 and so far, the results look extremely promising. So promising that an application was recently submitted to the FDA for emergency use authorization as early treatment for COVID-19. In this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Eric Lenze, a psychiatrist and clinical trialist at Washington University in St. Louis, who ran one of the randomized controlled trials on fluvoxamine...
2022-01-0240 min
Causes or CuresPrescribing Food as Medicine, with FarmboxRx CEO Ashley TyrnerSend us a textIn this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Ashley Tyrner, CEO of FarmboxRx, a company that helps get healthy and fresh foods to low-income and senior communities. Physicians can prescribe these food boxes for their patients, and Farmbox is partnering with a growing number of health insurance companies. Farmbox recently partnered with the USDA.Ashley was a single, Hispanic mother who started out in fashion and struggled herself with access to healthy foods. Passionate about connecting marginalized communities to healthy, affordable foods that are shown to cut down on...
2021-12-1723 min
Causes or CuresFormer CIA Officer Discusses His Experience with Havana Syndrome, a Mysterious Illness Targeting the Intelligence CommunitySend us a textIn this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with former CIA officer Marc Polymeropolous about his experience with the mysterious Havana Syndrome that has impacted many people in the intelligence community. Marc discusses when he was first impacted in Moscow, his symptoms, the CIA's response, what he thinks might have happened to him and what he hopes to accomplish by sharing his story. You can contact Dr. Eeks at bloomingwellness.com.Follow Dr. Eeks on Instagram here.Or Facebook here.Or Twitter.Subscribe to her...
2021-12-1541 min
Causes or CuresCOVID-19 Spillover into White-Tailed Deer & What it Means for the Pandemic, with Dr. Suresh KuchiPudiSend us a textIn this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Suresh Kuchipudi about his newly published research on the presence of SARS-Cov-2 ( COVID-19) in white-tailed deer. He will discuss how they conducted the study, its findings and what they could mean for viral transmission, the "spillover" of SARS-Cov-2 from humans to deer and how it most likely happened, the symptom profile in deer, how multiple hosts may complicate mitigation efforts, and what this may mean for the trajectory of the pandemic. Dr. Kuchipudi is a clinical professor at Penn S...
2021-11-2824 min
Causes or CuresMisinformation, Dissent & Censorship, with Dr. Joe SchwarczSend us a textIn this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks discusses "misinformation vs dissent" with Dr. Joe Schwarcz. Topics discussed include: who/what are credible sources; censorship; who is doing the fact checking; who defines what misinformation is/isn't; how do you weed out scientific dissent from misinformation; what to do with anecdotes; and how one measures the potential impact of misinformation. Dr. Schwarcz is Director of McGill University's Office for Science and Society which has the mission of "separating sense from nonsense." The office is currently focused on determining what is m...
2021-11-161h 22
Causes or CuresBig Pharma Has Our Privileged Selves Between Its TeethSend us a textCome one, come all, with your sarcasm hats and senses of humor, while Dr. Eeks provides pandemic updates and her perspective on why Big Pharma has our privileged selves between its teeth and is prolonging the pandemic. *Opinions do not reflect anyone Dr. Eeks works for.Don't be so serious, it's unbecoming & no one gets out of here alive. You can contact Dr. Eeks at bloomingwellness.com.Follow Dr. Eeks on Instagram here.Or Facebook here.Or Twitter.Read Manic Kingdom here.Listen...
2021-10-1927 min
Causes or CuresWhy Young Women Gain Weight, with Mary PegingtonSend us a textIn this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Mary Pegington about her research into why young women gain weight. Mary is a research dietitian with the Prevent Breast Cancer Research Unit in Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester. She will discuss the reasons young women gain weight and have trouble losing it, when they are most at risk of gaining weight, life events and factors that lead to increased weight gain in young women, diets that put young women at a heightened risk of gaining weight, and she will also dispel common a...
2021-08-0539 min
Causes or CuresThe Link Between Diet, Exercise & Breast Cancer Outcomes & Survivability, with Dr. Katie SturgeonSend us a textIn this episode, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Katie Sturgeon about the link between diet, exercise and breast cancer outcomes and survivability. This podcast will explore what diet, lifestyle changes and exercise program is optimal for improving breast cancer outcomes and survivability and why. Dr. Sturgeon will dive into the research. The podcast will also explore best preventive measures pre-menopausal women can take to lower their risk of getting breast cancer. Dr. Sturgeon is a researcher and assistant professor at Penn State Cancer Institute and works in the Department of Public H...
2021-07-0535 min
Causes or CuresThe Dominant Biomedical Research Agenda and Industry's Massive Influence on ItSend us a textIn this podcast, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Cecilia Rikap of Argentina, Dr. Marc-Andre Gagnon of Canada and Dr. Mercedes Garcia Carrillo of Argentia who, along with a few other researchers, conducted a study and wrote a paper titled: "Whose shoulders is health research standing on? Determining the key actors and contents of the prevailing biomedical research agenda."In the podcast, they will discuss what the dominant biomedical research agenda is and why it's so important; what its chief contents are; the players that have the most influence over the dominant research...
2021-05-151h 04
Causes or CuresPredictors for Becoming a COVID Long Hauler, with Dr. Chuck DownsSend us a textWe hear a lot about COVID Long Haulers and the symptoms they experience, but are there any predicting factors for becoming one? In this podcast, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Chuck Downs about his ongoing research on COVID Long Haulers. He discusses predicting factors for becoming a Long Hauler ( including age, sex, BMI); one's risk of becoming a COVID Long Hauler when he/she has asymptomatic COVID vs symptomatic COVID; the most common long-haul symptoms and how long they last; if vaccinations help Long Haulers or not, and the predominant theories a...
2021-04-2635 min
Causes or CuresWhy Vaccine Passports are a Bad Idea, with Dr. Dimitry KochenovSend us a textMany countries and states are considering vaccine passports that would show proof of COVID-19 vaccination in order to enter certain places and do certain things. While the idea has merit, there are many ethical, legal and social concerns. In this podcast, Dr. Eeks chats with Dimitry Kochenov, "The Passport Professor", about concerns over vaccine passports, including privacy issues; the further stigmatization of marginalized communities; the "immunoprivileged"; what we know and don't know about the science of the vaccines; the potential for the politicalization of vaccines; who will enforce vaccine passports; and personal...
2021-04-2143 min
Causes or CuresDid a Strep Infection Cause Your Child's Psychiatric Disorder? With Psychiatrist Dr. Steven HymanSend us a textIn this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Steven Hyman about PANDAS, Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections. A child with PANDAS might have a Strep throat infection and then develop psychiatric symptoms soon after. Dr. Hyman will discuss what PANDAS is, why it's considered controversial, what the medical community thinks about it and their approach, research shortcomings, how potential patients with PANDAS are treated and how that treatment is different than conventional psychiatric treatment, as well as prognosis and outcomes. He also will discuss the...
2021-04-0552 min
Causes or CuresWhat's a Near Death Experience? With Dr. Walter van LaackSend us a textWhat is a Near Death Experience? Is it a glimpse into what happens after we die or is it a side effect of something happening inside the brain as the body shuts down? Dr. Walter van Laack joins Dr. Eeks on this episode of Causes or Cures to discuss near death experiences. In addition to being an orthopaedic surgeon and professor of medicine at the Fachhochschule Aachen in Germany, he is one of the most popular researchers worldwide on the topic of Near Death Experiences. He's written many books on the topic, ne...
2021-03-151h 10
Causes or CuresThe Story of Ivermectin and COVID-19, with Dr. Pierre KorySend us a textDisclaimer: Causes or Cures is for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, and no medical claims are being made. Always talk to a qualified healthcare provider about your personal health. Ivermectin is an anti-parasite drug that has been used in human and animal medicine for many years. Early in the pandemic, it was suggested that it might help prevent and/or treat COVID-19. The NIH felt there was not enough evidence to support its use against COVID-19 and in August made a recommendation AGAINST its use. In e...
2021-02-2659 min
Causes or CuresAntibody-Dependent Enhancement & Vaccine Development, with Dr. Robert MaloneSend us a textThere are several viral videos with millions of views referencing something called Antibody-Dependent Enhancement as a potential effect of COVID-19 vaccines or vaccines in general. Some make very bold claims and it's difficult to sort fact from fiction from hyperbole in these videos. On today's episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks will chat with Dr. Robert Malone about Antibody-Dependent Enhancement and how it relates to vaccine development. He will describe it in an easy-to-understand way, discuss the specifics of vaccine development, antibodies, COVID-19 and his thoughts on herd immunity and the future...
2021-02-251h 44
Causes or CuresNFL Football Players & Modifiable Risk Factors for Cognitive Decline, with Dr. Andrea RobertsSend us a textMany people realize that a history of head trauma or concussions is significantly linked to cognitive decline and/or dementia later in life. More awareness has been created about this issue specifically in retired NFL players who take a lot of hits to the head during their professional playing years. Harvard's Football Players Health Study studies this issue and others in retired NFL players. While the link between head trauma and later-life cognitive decline is clear, are there any modifiable factors, or things a former player can do to lower his risk...
2021-02-1043 min
Causes or CuresWhat is Broken Heart Syndrome & Why it Happens, with Cardiologist Dr. Antonio AbbateSend us a textCountless songs, poems, movies and books are about heartbreaks. We often hear people talk about their broken hearts. Maybe your heart has been broken before, maybe it's breaking now. While none of that is to be taken literally and are expressions for how many of us will feel at some point in time..., did you know that there is actually a medical condition called Broken Heart Syndrome? It's sometimes called Takotsubo cardiomyopathy or stress cardiomyopathy, and it's linked to states of mental or physical distress. In this episode of Causes or C...
2021-02-1053 min
Causes or CuresTransgender Athletes, Policies and the Best Path Forward, with Dr. Timothy RobertsSend us a textWhat policies should and should not be in place for transgender athletes to compete in sports is a hotly debated topic. There are different rules and regulations for the elite level vs high school vs youth. But what should the path forward look like? What does the science show and how can we use that to implement better policies? In this episode, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Timothy Roberts, a researcher and physician who studies this topic. He is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of...
2021-01-2341 min
Causes or CuresGERD: Specific Lifestyle and Dietary Changes One Can Make to Prevent & Treat It, with Dr. Raaj MehtaSend us a textGERD is a common, painful and annoying health issue, but are there evidence-based changes people can make to prevent and/or treat it? In this episode, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Raaj Mehta, an internal medicine physician and gastroenterology fellow at the Massachussetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, who recently published a study in JAMA on specific lifestyle changes and dietary changes one can make to prevent GERD and/or improve treatment outcomes. He will talk about those factors in this podcast, along with the best medication options for GERD a...
2021-01-2333 min
Causes or CuresAdults' & Kids' Mental Health, Addiction & Alcohol Use During the LockDowns, with Dr. Conor FarrenSend us a textIn this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Conor Farren about mental health and addiction during the pandemic, and particularly during the lockdowns. Dr. Farren will discuss the trends he's seeing, differences between adults and kids, alcohol use and the link between alcohol and suicides, what people should do if they think they need help and how to find help that actually works. Dr. Farren is a consulting psychiatrist at St. Patrick's University Hospital in Dublin and a senior lecturer at Trinity Dublin. He is an international...
2020-12-2956 min
Causes or CuresPCOS and Obesity: What's the Best Diet & Lifestyle for Weight Loss, with Dr. Geranne JiskootSend us a textPCOS affects millions of people all over the world. It's associated with high rates of infertility, depression, anxiety and obesity. It's difficult for those struggling with PCOS to lose weight, which can by itself fuel feelings of depression and anxiety.In this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Geranne Jiskoot, a researcher and therapist who works in the Department of Reproductive Medicine and Department of Medical Psychotherapy at Erasmus MC in the Netherlands. She works daily with people with PCOS and weight struggles and has done research on...
2020-12-2444 min
Causes or CuresAnorexia Unlocked: With JL KeezSend us a textIn this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with JL Keez, founder of Anorexia Unlocked, a powerful online program to help people overcome anorexia and other eating disorders. JL suffered from anorexia for years, after a history of family sexual abuse, bullying, depression, suicidal thoughts and not knowing who she truly was. When she finally met the right person who could help her, she made a full recovery and went on to become a counselor specializing in reality therapy. She will discuss the darkest parts of her story, her recovery journey a...
2020-11-241h 05
Causes or CuresEarly At-Home Treatment for COVID-19 Can Save Lives, so Why Isn't the Media Talking About It? With Dr. Peter McCulloughSend us a textDisclaimer: Causes or Cures is for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, and no medical claims are being made. Always talk to a qualified healthcare provider about your personal health.While most people are focused on vaccines, face masks and lockdowns, some doctors are trying to get people to focus on, or at least consider, early ambulatory treatment for COVID-19. This means care that is initiated right when a person is diagnosed or starts to show symptoms, while he/she is still at home or self-isolating, and...
2020-10-301h 02
Causes or CuresHow the Pandemic is Changing the Opioid Epidemic, with Dr. John KellySend us a textPrior to the current pandemic, the news cycle was dominated by the opioid epidemic, a beast that has taken the lives of many people from all walks of life. Just yesterday, the Sackler family's Purdue Pharma, the maker of Oxycontin, plead guilty to federal criminal charges related to the marketing and selling of opioids. Universities, like NYU, just announced that they are removing the Sackler family name from their campuses. Many other drug companies face serious legal issues. Prior to COVID-19, the opioid crisis was the top public health issue that everyone w...
2020-10-2338 min
Causes or CuresThe Scientific Evidence for The Shroud of Turin, with Barrie SchwortzSend us a textIn this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks discusses the scientific evidence for The Shroud of Turin with Barrie Schwortz. The Shroud of Turin is a cloth that has an image of a man ( a negative image) that some people believe was the burial shroud of Jesus of Nazareth. Of course, others do not believe that. To this day, no one can explain how the image was created. In this podcast, Dr. Eeks and Barrie Schwortz discuss the evidence base for the Shroud, possible theories that could explain the characteristics of...
2020-09-301h 01
Causes or CuresMedicating Normal: A Conversation with Director Wendy Ractcliffe and Combat Veteran Angela PeacockSend us a textIn this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Wendy Ractcliffe and Angela Peacock about the documentary film, Medicating Normal. Wendy is a director and executive producter of the film and Angela, a combat veteran, is featured in the film. Angela is also a social worker and part of the film's outreach team. From the website, Medicating Normal is the "untold story of what can happen when profit-driven medicine intersects with human beings in distress." The documentary follows Angela, a Naval Academy Graduate and his wife, a teenager and a...
2020-09-2955 min
Causes or CuresBeware of Wellness Paranoia Syndrome!Send us a textIn this episode, Dr. Eeks discusses Wellness Paranoia Syndrome. (WPS for short, because acronyms are wonderful.) Please note that this isn't a real syndrome recognized by any reputable medical organization. But it is a "thing" that can suck the enjoyment out of your life, and it is a thing that marketers can use against you in the business of "Wellness." Take a listen with a healthy sense of humor and sarcasm. :) You can contact Dr. Eeks at bloomingwellness.com.Follow Dr. Eeks on Instagram here.Or Facebook here.Or T...
2020-09-2228 min
Causes or CuresAll About Medical Miracles with The Miracle Hunter, Michael O'NeillSend us a textDo you believe in medical miracles or do you believe science can explain everything? In this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with The Miracle Hunter, Michael O'Neill. Michael "hunts" for miracles around the globe and describes them in detail on his popular website, the Miracle Hunter. He is considered an expert on miracles and has been featured on popular TV shows and in numerous magazines, including National Geographic's feature on the Virgin Mary. He will discuss the requirements for something to be considered a miracle, how...
2020-09-2137 min
Causes or CuresThe Metaphor of Medicare for All, with Dr. John McDonoughSend us a textIn this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. John McDonough about Medicare for All. They discuss what the slogan really means, the details of Medicare, who would be covered, what role private insurance companies would play, quality of care, personal values, how much it would cost over ten years and who will pay for it. Dr. McDonough is a professor of practice at the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health in the Department of Health Policy & Management and Director of the HSPH Center for Executive...
2020-09-1251 min
Causes or CuresWellness is a Luxury BrandSend us a text Wellness is a Luxury Brand. Dr. Eeks explains why. Please come with a sense of humor and an open mind. ;) You can contact Dr. Eeks at bloomingwellness.com.Follow Dr. Eeks on Instagram here.Or Facebook here.Or Twitter.Read Manic Kingdom here.Listen to her short audio parody on the wellness industry here.Subcribe to her newsletter here!Support the show
2020-09-0326 min
Causes or CuresMass Shooters, Shootings, The Media's Response & Best Preventive Strategies, with Dr. Jaclyn SchildkrautSend us a textIn this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Jaclyn Schildkraut about the characteristics of mass shooters, mass shootings, the media's role and its impact, and the best, evidence-based prevention and response strategies. Dr. Schildkraut discusses her recent research on school lockdown drills and provides advice on how to conduct them. She also provides trusted websites to visit for helpful tips. Dr. Schildkraut is a national expert on mass shootings. She earned her Ph.D. in Criminal Justice from Texas State University and is currently an associate professor...
2020-08-3141 min
Causes or CuresThe Impact of Obesity on COVID-19, a Discussion with Dr. Rami Nakeshbandi and Rohan MainiSend us a textIn this episode, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Rami Nakeshbandi and Rohan Maini about their research and the paper they recently published in the International Journal of Obesity, The Impact of Obesity on COVID-19 Complications: A Retrospective Cohort Study. The CDC and other health organizations have unequivocally stated that obesity is a significant risk factor for increased severity of COVID-19 infections and clinical outcomes. While it's well established that obesity is a significant risk factor for numerous health problems, Dr. Nakeshbandi and Rohan Maini will discuss the results of their research, particularly differences...
2020-08-2829 min
Causes or CuresDoulas, The US Maternal Mortality Rate & The Black Maternal Health Crisis, with Sierra McClain-HenrySend us a textIn this episode, Dr. Eeks chats with Doula and Birth Educator Sierra McClain-Henry about the US maternal mortality rate and the Black maternal health crisis. The US has a shockingly high maternal mortality rate, especially for Black women who are 4x as likely to die as White women, and more likely to die than any other race. Sierra is a certified doula, hypnobirthing instructor, founder of Sankofa Mama Birth Services and founder of the 100 Black Mamas initiative. Sierra is going to talk about her experience as a Black doula, mom and why she...
2020-08-2440 min
Causes or CuresThe Hygiene Hypothesis & its Link to the Microbiome, Leaky Gut & Chronic Inflammatory Diseases, with Dr. Alessio FasanoSend us a textIn this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Alessio Fasano about the Hygiene Hypothesis and its connection to our guts, microbiomes and chronic inflammatory diseases. The Hygiene Hypothesis is a proposed explanation that states that improved hygiene in an industrialized world and less exposure to infectious agents ( bacteria & viruses) has led to an increase in chronic inflammatory conditions. ( This is why some supporters of the Hygiene Hypothesis will tell you to take your kids to a farm or play in the dirt.) In this episode, Dr. Fasano discusses...
2020-08-0438 min
Causes or CuresA Conversation with Life Coach & Nurse Practitioner Victoria Albina NP, MPHSend us a textIn this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Victoria Albina NP, MPH about her journey from clinical practice to becoming a Certified Life Coach, Certified Breathwork Meditation Facilitator and the host of the Feminist Wellness Podcast. They chat about perfectionism, codependency, authenticity and how Victoria's personal and clinical experience shape the work she is doing now. In addition to being a Nurse Practitioner, Victoria has a Masters degree in Public Health from Boston University School of Public Health and a BA in Latin American Studies from Oberlin College...
2020-07-121h 05
Causes or CuresCOVID-19: How Cytokine Storms Can Lead to Strokes, with Doctor Ricardo JoseSend us a textThere has been a lot of chatter in the news about COVID-19, increased clotting, and the possibility of strokes in old and young people in their thirties and forties. How does this happen? And what can we do about it? In this episode, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Ricardo Jose who has over ninety publications in the area of respiratory (lung) infections and how they affect us systemically. He is a Respiratory Consulting Physician at the Royal Brompton and HareField NHS Hospital in London who has a special interest...
2020-07-0134 min
Causes or CuresInconsistent Public Health Messaging, Political & Industry Bias, & How People Respond: In the Age of COVID-19Send us a textWhile this podcast focuses on what's happening with COVID-19, it could be applied to any public health intervention in present times. In this episode, Dr. Eeks discusses inconsistencies in public health messaging, political and industrial biases, and how those factors interact and impact how people will respond. She explains why consistent and objective public health messaging is more important now than ever. She discusses how inconsistent messaging and underlying biases will affect who people trust when it comes to healthcare advice, who wears a face mask and who doesn't, who complies with...
2020-06-2942 min
Causes or CuresThe Effectiveness of Supplements for Male Infertility and Erectile Dysfunction, an Interview with Dr. Ranjith RamasamySend us a textIn this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks interviews Dr. Ranjith Ramasamy about the effectiveness of the most popular commercial supplements for male fertility and erectile dysfunction. He recently published two papers on these topics and provides the most up-to-date evidence. He also discusses his recommendations for both of these issues, lifestyle interventions and provides interesting information on how marijuana may affect both male fertility and erectile dysfunction. Dr. Ramasamy is the Director of Male Reproductive Medicine and Surgery at the University of Miami in Florida. He is also a...
2020-05-2532 min
Causes or CuresContaminants in Commercial Supplements, with a focus on Spirulina & Chlorella- a Conversation with Dr. Piotr RzymskiSend us a textIn this episode, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Piotr Rzymski, who is a researcher with the Department of Environmental Medicine at Poznan University of Medical Sciences. He has over 140 publications in peer-reviewed journals and has a strong interest in analyzing the ingredients in commercial supplements, as well as the presence of any contaminants or teratogenic compounds, meaning things that can harm a developing fetus. This particular conversation will focus around his paper, "Essential and toxic elements in commercial microalgal supplements." The microalgal supplements include Spirulina and Chlorella, both of which are very popular...
2020-05-2445 min
Causes or CuresEMF-Sensitivity: What It Is, What the Symptoms Are, and a Nurse's Experience upon Discovering She Has ItSend us a textIn this episode, Dr. Eeks talks with Emily Copland, a registered nurse and nurse educator who has been diagnosed with EMF-Sensitivity. EMF-Sensitivity is also sometimes called EHS, or Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity. The World Health Organization classifies it as IEI-EMF, or Idiopathic Environmental Intolerance to Electromagnetic Fields. (EMF stands for electromagnetic fields or frequencies.) In the first part of the podcast, Dr. Eeks presents background information on EMF-Sensitivity, including what's known about it and what's not. In short, there are a lot of unknowns. Then Emily tells her story, from when mysterious and...
2020-04-2758 min