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Dr. Kaveh Hoda is joined by comedian Butch Escobar and Dr. Jason Rosenbaum for the latest entry in their ongoing series on films that broke men's brains. The trio digs into Martin Scorsese's The Wolf of Wall Street (2013) — a movie that proposes to be a cautionary tale about Jordan Belfort's reign of fraud, drugs, and excess, but may have accidentally created a hero for every hustle-bro in a boiler room. They debate whether the film works as satire or celebration, why Belfort's victims are almost entirely absent from the story, and how the movie compares to better-constructed cautionary tales like Goodfellas and The Big Short. Butch draws on his own experience working in a boiler room and his past struggles with substance use, offering a raw and personal lens on the drug culture the film glamorizes. Jason breaks down why the movie's structure undercuts its stated intentions, and Kaveh — a physician who admits he reluctantly enjoyed the film — walks through the real history of Quaaludes, the neuroscience of addiction, and why doing cocaine to counteract a sedative overdose is a terrible idea. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. Chad Smith was the only emergency room doctor living in Weaverville, California — the guy you wanted in the room when it mattered most. Then one night, troubled by what he saw on the news and read online, he posted his thoughts on his private Facebook page. The next morning, his hospital fired him. This week on The House of Pod, Dr. Kaveh Hoda sits down with Dr. Chad Smith and his civil rights attorney Matthew Kumin to unpack what happened in a small mountain town with a big story about free speech, worker's rights, and who gets to decide what a doctor can and can't say online. We dig into the First Amendment, California labor law, the difference between private and government employers, and why this case might matter more than you think. Plus: Chad's decision to run for the hospital board, what he's hearing from nurses and clinicians who've been afraid to speak up, and what every healthcare worker should know about their rights. Follow Chad on facebook and spread the word about his fight! https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61593455607298&mibextid=wwXIfr&mibextid=wwXIfr Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Before Europe built its universities, before the Renaissance "rediscovered" science, and before the West even had the vocabulary to describe diseases, there was a young man from the Persian heartlands who was diagnosing rulers, running clinical trials, and building a system of knowledge that would dominate European medical schools for over 600 years. His name was Ibn Sina — you might know him as Avicenna. This week on Persian of Interest, Kaveh takes Shauhin on a wild ride through the life of a 10th-century Persian polymath who was too smart for his own good: a child genius who became a physician at 17, a vizier he never wanted to be, a fugitive who wrote his masterpiece by candlelight on the run, and a man whose ideas about medicine, philosophy, and the universe were centuries ahead of anyone else on Earth. Also: how much of his work was lost to book burnings, why he's the only non-Greek in The School of Athens, and whether Doogie Howser was secretly Persian. It's part history lesson, part cultural reclamation, and part excuse for two middle-aged friends to hang out. They welcome corrections and look forward to hearing from you! Have a figure you'd like them to cover? Email [email protected]. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. Kaveh Hoda is joined by OB/GYN and bestselling author Dr. Jen Gunter and esthetician Naomi Laguana to learn about perimenopause — what it actually is, why it's so misunderstood, and who's profiting from the confusion. They break down the chaos of hormone fluctuations, the Women's Health Initiative and what it really showed, why hormone testing is mostly useless for diagnosis, the dangers of pellet therapy, and how the wellness industry exploits women's legitimate grievances with the medical system. Plus: brain fog, the "grievance economy," and why menopause care might be simpler than the internet wants you to believe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Part 2 of the Raw Milk Saga: The Reckoning. Dr. Kaveh Hoda and Dr. Rakesh Jatwani take on raw milk's health claims one by one — lactose intolerance, nutrition, gut health, and asthma — and the evidence doesn't hold up. Then: the legal loophole that lets producers sell raw milk as "pet food," why aged cheese isn't as safe as you'd think, RFK Jr.'s role in gutting enforcement, and a recent outbreak across nine states. Plus a devastating story of a toddler poisoned by raw goat milk bought through a chiropractor's Facebook group — and how public health officials can find common ground with the MAHA movement without sacrificing kids' safety. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is raw milk the health miracle its advocates claim, or a dangerous gamble with children's lives? In this two-part deep dive, Dr. Kaveh Hoda sits down with Dr. Rakesh Jatwani (Dr. Rak) — double board-certified physician in Internal and Lifestyle Medicine, and the host of The Health Feast podcast — to unpack the raw milk debate from every angle. Part 1 tells the story of Mary McGonigle-Martin, a Southern California mother who gave her seven-year-old son raw milk from Organic Pastures dairy, only to watch him land in a medically induced coma with kidney failure from E. coli O157:H7. We trace the suprising actions of dairy owner and the real clinical consequences: hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), long-term kidney damage, and the pathogens lurking in unpasteurized milk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What did The Matrix actually say — and what did men hear? Dr. Kaveh Hoda is joined by writer/podcaster Margaret Killjoy and psychiatrist Dr. Tyler Black to dissect the 1999 classic and its most co-opted symbol: the red pill. They explore how the Wachowskis' trans allegory was hijacked by the manosphere, the "chosen one" fantasy and its pull toward conspiracy culture; and why Cypher is the real incel of the movie. Make sure to also listen to Margaret's history podcast Cool People Who Did Cool Stuff and Tyler's podcast Suicidology Data and Evidence. Also, check out Kaveh's new podcast Persian of Interest, exploring stories of Persian history. Send topic ideas and movie suggestions for this series at [email protected]. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on The House of Pod, Dr. Kaveh Hoda is joined by Quinn, Chris, and Christian from the Failure to Launch podcast to explore what space travel actually does to the human body — and spoiler alert, it's not great. From G-forces that can make you black out to microgravity that gives you "puffy face chicken leg syndrome," we break down why the human body was simply never designed to leave Earth. Enjoyed the episode? Please take 30 seconds to it makes a huge difference in helping new listeners find the show https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-house-of-pod/id1225096382 rab House of Pod merch! Pick up a shirt: Search "House of Pod" at bonfire.com or go to https://www.bonfire.com/hopmerch Find me Kaveh on Instagram or TikTok @thehouseofpod or email at [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the House of Pod, we usually talk health and science — but sometimes a movie says more about our mental health than any study. In the first installment of "Movies That Broke Men's Brains," Dr. Kaveh Hoda explores films that shaped (or misshaped) the male psyche. Today's subject: Obsession, the 2025 indie horror sensation that some call a takedown of incel logic and male entitlement — and others call deeply relatable. Where's the line between depicting toxic masculinity and endorsing it? And what happens when a movie's critique gets swallowed by the very culture it was critiquing? Featuring the inimitable Rax King and frequent HOP contributor, Dr. Jason Rosenbaum. Rate and Review on iTunes! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. Kaveh Hoda is joined by facial plastic surgeon Dr. Umang Mehta and physical therapist David Bailey to explore how sitting, screen use, long commutes, and demanding work affect the body. They share practical tips for improving posture, building strength, taking effective movement breaks, and preventing chronic pain before it becomes an injury. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Colon cancer is rising in younger adults, and most people still have no idea what the real warning signs look like. Dr. Kaveh Hoda breaks down what’s actually happening, what may be driving it, and the poop symptoms you should never ignore.This solo episode explains why early-onset colorectal cancer is rising, what the strongest risk factors are, and how to tell normal gut weirdness from real red flags. Kaveh also covers the role of diet, obesity, the gut microbiome, and the latest research on why younger patients may be different.He also answers rapid-fire colon questions: coffee and bathroom urgency, floating stool, mucus, poop frequency, stool shape, and bleeding or color changes you should never ignore. If you want a practical, science-backed guide to colon health, this episode is for you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kaveh is joined by Reproductive Psychiatrist Katrina Furey, Dr. Salman Mirza and Rebecca Watson to discuss the Lindsay Clancy case (the tragic case of an OB/GYN nurse who is undergoing trial for the deaths of her three young children) and to untangle the difference between postpartum depression, postpartum OCD, and postpartum psychosis. You’ll discover why the postpartum period is the highest-risk time for a woman’s first mental health episode, how rapid hormone shifts can affect the brain, and why intrusive thoughts are not always the same thing as psychosis.We break down the signs clinicians should not miss - including sleep loss, agitation, paranoia, delusions, hallucinations, and sudden changes in cognition or behavior - plus the real-world screening tools and treatment decisions that can make the difference, from mood stabilizers to ECT to emergency hospitalization. Katrina also explains why many providers are undertrained in women’s mental health, why a simple depression screen is not enough, and how systems failures can leave patients and families without the help they need. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Trump administration's push to split the MMR vaccine into three separate shots and slash the childhood vaccine schedule down to 11 injections represents one of the most significant federal interventions in immunization policy in a generation. But here's the thing: the separate MMR vaccine doesn't exist, Merck has said they won't make it, and the science has been settled for decades. Dr. Kaveh Hoda sits down with epidemiologist Jessica Malaty Rivera and musician Mark Gasaway to unpack the politics behind the plan — from RFK Jr.'s dismantling of the ACIP to the confirmation of a new CDC director who may bend the knee. They dig into the Andrew Wakefield legacy, the impossible standard of "proving a negative," and why comparing the U.S. to Denmark is apples to steaks. Plus: the rise of peptides and raw milk as the latest wellness grifts, COVID revisionism, and what it will actually take to rebuild public trust in science. 🎙️ Enjoyed the episode? Please take 30 seconds to it makes a huge difference in helping new listeners find the show https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-house-of-pod/id1225096382 🛍️ Rep the Pod — grab House of Pod merch! Pick up a shirt: Search "House of Pod" at bonfire.com or go to https://www.bonfire.com/hopmerch Find me Kaveh on Instagram or TikTok @thehouseofpod or email at [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. Kaveh Hoda is joined by his nephew, intern Ali — in a last ditch effort to convince him to go to med school — and Dr. Aanika Warner, a board-certified internist, NIH fellow, and admissions consultant at Inspira Advantage. They tackle the big questions: should you go to medical school? How do you get in? Dr. Warner draws on her time serving on the Johns Hopkins admissions committee to share what actually makes a strong application, why your personal narrative matters more than a checklist of activities, and the only real "wrong" reason to apply. The group also covers gap years, the med school vs. PA school debate, AI in the application process, and listener questions on finances, older applicants, and staying politically active online. Honest, practical, and a little bit funny — Make sure to share with someone in your life that might be considering med school! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A government committee is trying to turn Anthony Fauci's Fifth Amendment into a crime, while RFK Jr. keeps selling vaccine fear with claims that fall apart under basic scrutiny. If you care about public health, scientific honesty, or what happens when politics starts prosecuting doctors, this one will make your blood boil. Dr. Kaveh Hoda reacts to the latest Fauci hearing, where Rand Paul and Senate Republicans push a contempt referral after Fauci refuses a partisan setup and invokes his constitutional rights. Kaveh breaks down how Tulsi Gabbard's lab leak document dump fuels the narrative, why the pardon fight is legally shaky, and why this feels less like oversight and more like a political trap.Then the episode turns to RFK Jr.'s CNN interview with Dana Bash, and the claims get even wilder. You'll hear why his arguments about Lyme disease, RSV, measles, ICU capacity, Tylenol, autism, and vaccine schedules don't hold up, plus a clear explanation of what gain-of-function research actually is and why it keeps getting weaponized in public debate. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.