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Have you ever wondered where the supposedly sustainable farmed fish you see at the grocery store comes from?    In this episode, Therese Markow, Susan Ryan, and Maya Martin discuss the environmental and human-rights costs in global aquaculture, with a focus on inland fish farms in China and the fish meal used to feed farmed seafood. They break down some of the findings from the Outlaw Ocean Project in greater detail regarding the governmental oversight gaps, the international impact of these fish farms, and concerns about employee relocation.    Key Takeaways: Many of the workers at the aquaculture fish farms in inland China are relocated from other parts of China, and even North Korea.  A large portion of what's being imported into the US doesn't undergo a physical inspection by the FDA. A physical inspection is where you would expect to find things like chemicals that shouldn't be in your food, antibiotics, or spoiled products. ⅔ of the global aquaculture industry is carnivorous or fed, so most of it relies on fish meal or fish oil, which is tied to other problems. The very wild fish that we're supposed to be protecting by fish farming are the ones being exploited, and the wild fish populations are still being damaged.   "As a consumer, what you can do is focus on eating locally caught seafood - if you see it come in from the fishing boat, then it's a lot harder for hidden abuses to sneak in. You can also focus on eating more sustainable types of aquaculture, such as bivalves, which are mussels and oysters and things like that." —  Maya Martin   Connect with The Outlaw Ocean Project: Outlaw Ocean Project: https://theoutlawocean.com/      Connect with Therese: Website:  www.criticallyspeaking.net Bluesky: @CriticallySpeaking.bsky.social Instagram: @criticallyspeakingpodcast Email: [email protected]     Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

Bedbug infestations have reached epidemic proportions.  They are found in homes and hotels everywhere in the world and come out at night to feed on the blood of the sleeping person.  Their bites produce inflamed, irritating welts, sometimes days after their bite.  Because they are small and hard to find since they hide in crevices, and because they are resistant to many insecticides, eliminating them has been challenging.  Dr. Edward Vargo, Professor of the Texas A&M University Division of Urban and Structural Entomology, is a bedbug expert who discusses the history of the bedbug-human association, the reasons why they are difficult to eliminate, and the best practices to avoid unknowingly bringing them into your home.   Key Takeaways: Bedbugs are everywhere, having undergone global population explosions in the last three decades They can hitchhike in your luggage, so it's best to unpack your suitcases anywhere but on your bed They can be found in used furniture, especially things you find put out on the street, making it critical to carefully examine any used furniture before you acquire it.  Bedbugs can move between apartments in the same building.   "In almost every case, all the bedbugs in a building can be traced back to a single female, or very small group of females." —  Dr. Ed Vargo   Connect with Dr. Ed Vargo: Texas A&M University: Urban and Structural Entomology Program at Texas A&M University Bed Bug Biology and Management: Bed Bugs BedBug Registry: The Bedbug Registry   Connect with Therese: Website:  www.criticallyspeaking.net Bluesky: @CriticallySpeaking.bsky.social Instagram: @criticallyspeakingpodcast Email: [email protected]   Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

Satellite growth is creating escalating orbital-debris, safety, environmental, legal, and security risks without effective international regulation.   In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Samantha Lawler discuss what satellites are, why there are so many in orbit, and why they are such a problem. She discusses the risk of reentry of the satellites (or pieces of said satellites), including the falling debris that happened recently in Canada, with additional debris falling in Poland and the United States. Samantha also discusses the gaps in government oversight and gives some potential solutions for the future.     Key Takeaways: Most satellites in orbit are owned by one private company, owned by one billionaire. 11,000 of the over 17,000 satellites currently in orbit are owned by Starlink.  The Outer Space Treaty, which came together back during the Apollo Space Race days, is now outdated. At the time, really only countries were involved, but now there are more private companies that are working in space. The treaty does not account for potential changing liabilities.  While the US Space Force does track satellites and publish their orbits, this does not account for all satellites, including private satellites or those that are launched in bigger batches, as it takes time to measure and catalogue.  There are more than 2 million planned satellites. That is too many to have in orbit at the same time safely.   "Scientists have measured the dust in the upper atmosphere, and it has metal in it already from satellite and rocket reentries. So we are changing the composition of the atmosphere with all of these reentries. We don't know what that is going to do." —  Dr. Samantha Lawler   Episode References:  Too many satellites? Earth's orbit is on track for a catastrophe – but we can stop it: https://research.bond.edu.au/en/publications/too-many-satellites-earths-orbit-is-on-track-for-a-catastrophe-bu/    Connect with Dr. Samantha Lawler Professional Bio: https://www.uregina.ca/science/physics/directory/faculty/samantha-lawler.html  Research: https://uregina.ca/~slb861/pub.html    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-lawler-bb777a159/    Connect with Therese: Website:  www.criticallyspeaking.net Bluesky: @CriticallySpeaking.bsky.social Instagram: @criticallyspeakingpodcast Email: [email protected]     Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

What starts as advice on fitness, dating, or success can lead young men into a world of grievance and reshape how they see women, masculinity, and themselves. Dr. Alice Marwick unpacks how the manosphere works, why it's growing, and the real-world harm it can cause.   In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Alice Marwick examine the manosphere's origins, business models, influence on young men, and links to misogyny, harassment, and extremist movements. They discuss what the manosphere is, how it appears in different environments, and the social impact of these manosphere influencers. As men's rights movements are often a stepping stone to more extreme movements, this is a topic that should matter to all.     Key Takeaways: Manosphere is a slang term that describes a loose network of blogs, forums, podcasts, and creators, and is built around men's grievances. Increasingly, they're built around self-improvement and hustle culture, as well as dating strategy, but what unites them is an opposition to modern feminism. Manosphere influencers are going to places and communities where there are a lot of young men and are actively trying to get audiences from those groups. While some are only there for the fitness or self-improvement, some do get persuaded by the more extreme political arguments.  The self-obsession with how you look on camera has always existed, but was primarily seen around celebrities and public figures; with so much of your life on social media, the standards for what is a "normal" or "attractive" person have skyrocketed.  Gender roles can be upheld by anybody. Within any peer group, you're going to have some sort of person or role where there is a reinforcement of what that person should be doing.   "We are in an economically depressed time period, and we're in a time in America where a lot of people are very exhausted and frustrated and angry. And women and feminism is an explanation and a scapegoat." —  Dr. Alice Marwick   Episode References:  Down Girl: The Logic of Misogyny by Kate Manne: https://www.katemanne.net/down-girl.html  Louis Theroux: Inside the Manosphere: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt39792948/  Drinking male tears: language, the manosphere, and networked harassment   Connect with Dr. Alice Marwick: Professional Bio: https://datasociety.net/team/alice-e-marwick/   Website: https://tiara.org/  Website: https://datasociety.net/   Books: https://tiara.org/publications/books/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alice-marwick-7304341  Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=lf-BS3IAAAAJ&hl=en  Drinking Male Tears:  https://tiara.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Marwick_Caplan_Drinking-male-tears-language-the-manosphere-and-networked-harassment.pdf Networked harassment: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/20563051211021378 Media Manipulation & Disinformation Online: https://datasociety.net/research-library/media-manipulation-and-disinformation-online/ White supremacist "redpilling" (open access): https://ijoc.org/index.php/ijoc/article/view/21934   Connect with Therese: Website:  www.criticallyspeaking.net Bluesky: @CriticallySpeaking.bsky.social Instagram: @criticallyspeakingpodcast Email: [email protected]    Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

CTE isn't just an NFL story, and a diagnosed concussion isn't the only warning sign. Dr. Jonathan Cherry explains how years of repetitive impacts may quietly change the brain, and why researchers are racing to find a way to detect it during life.   In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Jonathan Cherry discuss his research into understanding how repetitive head injuries cause progressive brain changes and their work to learn how to detect the disease during life. They break down the difference between CTE and concussions, explain who is more likely to get CTE, and explain the links between CTE and other cognitive diseases.    Key Takeaways: While it's only been talked about for the last 20 years or so, the first research on CTE was done in the 1920s on boxers. There is currently no way to diagnose CTE in life. TES is being used as a way to diagnose people in life with symptoms of CTE, but at this time, CTE can only be diagnosed after death.  While contact sports are one of the biggest contributors to CTE, it is not the only way to get it. CTE has also been seen in the brains of those afflicted by domestic violence and those in the military.   "CTE is from a history of repetitive head injury, and a concussion is essentially the damage as a result of one injury." —  Dr. Jonathan Cherry   Connect with Dr. Jonathan Cherry: Professional Bio: https://www.bumc.bu.edu/camed/profile/jonathan-cherry/  Website: https://cherrylab.science/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-cherry-phd-80117695/  Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=g3ztmrwAAAAJ&hl=en  PubMed: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/10iEdlxiameAD/bibliography/public/    Connect with Therese: Website:  www.criticallyspeaking.net Bluesky: @CriticallySpeaking.bsky.social Instagram: @criticallyspeakingpodcast Email: [email protected]   Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

Things you do or are exposed to early in life, including during fetal development, can actually affect your health later in adulthood. Normally, we're unaware of it, and it's difficult to make the connection. Today, Dr. Cheryl Rosenfeld dives into some of the research regarding placentas and their key implications in every life. In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Cheryl Rosenfeld discuss how prenatal exposures can alter placental function, fetal brain development, and later-life health, with varying effects based on fetal sex. They expose the dangers of BPA and substitutes such as BPS, the importance of the neurotransmitters created by the placenta to the developing fetal brain, and the surprising results Dr. Rosenfeld has found in her research into maternal probiotic supplementation.     Key Takeaways: The placenta is an endocrine organ. There are sex differences in the placenta between male and female fetuses.  The placenta provides neurotransmitters, such as dopamine and serotonin, to the brain. If there's not enough serotonin, that could compromise early brain development and make a child unfortunately vulnerable to diseases later in life. While many people try to avoid BPA, we are all impacted by it or by one of its substitutes. In a side-by-side study shot with BPA and BPS (a common substitute), it was found that both of them have equally harmful effects on the placenta.   "Essentially, all the fetal organs depend on that placenta. So if you affect the function of the placenta, it will affect the vital processing of all the other fetal organs." —  Dr. Cheryl Rosenfeld   Connect with Dr. Cheryl Rosenfeld: Professional Bio: https://cvm.missouri.edu/pathobiology-and-integrative-biomedical-sciences/faculty/cheryl-s-rosenfeld-dvm-phd/  ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Cheryl-Rosenfeld    Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=qluXCCYAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=Rosenfeld+Cheryl+S&sort=date      Connect with Therese: Website:  www.criticallyspeaking.net Bluesky: @CriticallySpeaking.bsky.social Instagram: @criticallyspeakingpodcast Email: [email protected]     Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

The U.S. declared measles eliminated in 2000 — so why are we seeing more cases and deaths than in the last 30 years? Dr. Jennifer Nuzzo reveals the hyper-local vaccination gaps driving the resurgence, and why preparing for the next pandemic starts on your block, not in Washington. In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Jennifer Nuzzo discuss the recurring nature of pandemics that require prevention, preparedness, and coordinated action from global, national, and local organizations, institutions, and communities. They discuss the current preparedness systems, where they are working, and where they could be strengthened, as well as breaking down some vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks and the future risks of pandemics.    Key Takeaways: Pandemics happen regularly throughout history. We are not going to be able to prevent them from happening, but we can prepare for them in a way that will not put everything on hold and upend lives (or cause deaths).  Pandemic means a global spread. It does not have to be deadly; it just has to be global. When talking about pandemics, respiratory viruses are the pathogens that are most worried about.  Transparency in preparedness not only is shown to help the individuals in that one country, but also other countries because decisions can be made based on more complete information. Immunization works by having the majority of a population covered by the vaccine. When more people are vaccinated, everyone can be protected. This makes the more immediate community, such as your child's school vaccination rate, more important than a larger population, such as the state or national vaccination rate.    "There's a lot of stuff wrong with the world right now, and a lot of it is at the global level or at the national level. But the good news is that preparedness is a bottom-up exercise. It starts in your community, and just like when I talked about, it really matters what the vaccination coverage is in your school, in your kid's school, or what it is in your community. What happens locally absolutely matters." —  Dr. Jennifer Nuzzo   Connect with Jennifer Nuzzo: Professional Bio: https://pandemics.sph.brown.edu/people/jennifer-nuzzo-drph  Research: https://vivo.brown.edu/display/jnuzzo  X: https://x.com/JenniferNuzzo    Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/jennifernuzzo.bsky.social    Website: http://thepandemiccenter.org/    Connect with Therese: Website:  www.criticallyspeaking.net Bluesky: @CriticallySpeaking.bsky.social Instagram: @criticallyspeakingpodcast Email: [email protected]   Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Daniel Aaron discuss the inadequate oversight of food additives by the FDA, particularly the agency's GRAS or "Generally Recognized as Safe" process, which allows unsafe additives to reach the market without proper scrutiny. Dr. Aaron highlights industry conflicts of interest, the lack of reporting requirements, the need for stricter regulation to protect public health, and discusses what is needed for the FDA to be better able to make impactful changes.     Key Takeaways: The majority of food additives in the US are not vetted by the FDA. Since 1958, food additives have been presumed safe until proven otherwise.  The Clean Eating movement in the US is indicative of the skepticism of the American food supply.  While the FDA used to maintain a list of GRAS substances, today, reporting to the FDA is not required.  Europe uses a more precautionary approach to food additives. The EFSA must approve all chemical substances prior to their use in foods.  Food additives are known to cause synergistic harm. However, the FDA poorly regulates single additives, so it is not surprising that its consideration of interacting chemicals is insufficient.   "The FDA is the most accountable to corporate power. The largest impediment, in my view, to food regulation is funding. FDA's Food Center has been underfunded for decades. Further funding from Congress is needed, but our legislators often are supported by industry that doesn't necessarily want a more robust review of food additives." —  Daniel Aaron, M.D., J.D.   Episode References:  Bystanders to a Public Health Crisis: The Failures of the U.S. Multi-Agency Regulatory Approach to Food Safety in the Face of Persistent Organic Pollutants by Katya S. Cronin: https://scholarship.law.gwu.edu/faculty_publications/1725/  EFSA: https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en  FDA Food Center: https://www.fda.gov/food    Connect with Daniel Aaron, M.D., J.D.: Professional Bio: https://faculty.utah.edu/u6052921-DANIEL_G_AARON/hm/index.hml  Email: [email protected]    Connect with Therese: Website:  www.criticallyspeaking.net Bluesky: @CriticallySpeaking.bsky.social Instagram: @criticallyspeakingpodcast Email: [email protected]    Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

Have you ever wondered what the purpose of staying up to date on your vaccines is? Well, new research is showing that not only does it help to prevent the disease the vaccine is protecting you from, but it may also reduce your risk of Alzheimer's and other dementia related diseases.  In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Paul Schulz discuss the exciting discovery that influenza vaccines may reduce the risk of Alzheimer's by up to 40%. Dr. Schulz's research suggests that high-dose vaccines (offered to those over the age of 65) are more effective, particularly in women. Additionally, other vaccines like shingles, pneumococcus, and Tdap also showed protective effects.    Key Takeaways: Every neurologist knows that when your Alzheimer's patient gets pneumonia, a UTI, bronchitis, a hip fracture, a hip replacement, or any inflammatory process in the body, it makes their Alzheimer's a lot worse. Over the age of 65, patients are typically given a 4x dose of the influenza vaccine for as long as it is available. Evidence shows that the regular dose reduces Alzheimer's by about 40%, while the high dose reduces it by about 15% more.  Other types of vaccines, including for shingles, pneumococcus, and Tdap, also show effectiveness in the reduction of Alzheimer's and related dementias.    "The conclusion was that compared to people with no influenza vaccines, which turns out to be very common, unfortunately, in the United States, three annual vaccines out of six years is associated with a 20% reduction in Alzheimer's risk for up to eight years that we know of so far." —  Dr. Paul Schulz   Connect with Dr. Paul Schulz: Professional Bio: https://med.uth.edu/neurosciences/dr-paul-e-schulz-md-2/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-schulz-199a9944/  Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=MoJcqd4AAAAJ&hl=en    Connect with Therese: Website:  www.criticallyspeaking.net Bluesky: @CriticallySpeaking.bsky.social Instagram: @criticallyspeakingpodcast Email: [email protected]   Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

Worried about what your forgetfulness really means and whether it's just aging or the start of something more serious? Listen in as memory expert Dr. Zaldy Tan breaks down the different types of dementia, how early detection really works, and what you can do now to protect your brain and plan for the future.   In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Zaldy Tan discuss his new book, "What to Remember When You Are Forgetting," which addresses cognitive decline and dementia. Dr. Tan discusses the main types of dementia, the importance of early diagnosis, and how dementia varies from age-related cognitive decline. They also dive into the steps that people can take now to help strengthen their minds and things to do to help assist those you love who you may suspect have dementia or have been diagnosed.      Key Takeaways: Currently, about 7.5 million people are diagnosed with dementia. That number is likely twice that, as about 50% with dementia are living with it unaware of the diagnosis until the late stages.  There are around 100 types of dementia - the most common ones are Alzheimer's Disease, vascular dementia, Lewy Body Dementia, and frontotemporal dementia.  Memory and other cognitive functions do change as we get older. Divided attention and working memory do decline as we age, and that is a normal part of aging.  Different types of dementia are caused by different pathologies. As such, the treatment and prognosis will be different.  A dementia diagnosis does not always mean that you have to quit your job. It may mean that you have to talk to your employer about reasonable accommodations to make sure you are safe and able to complete your tasks.    "We shouldn't think of dementia as monolithic. Those days are gone. A precise and accurate diagnosis is really important." —  Dr. Zaldy Tan   Connect with Dr. Zaldy Tan: Professional Bio: https://researchers.cedars-sinai.edu/Zaldy.Tan  LinkedIn:  linkedin.com/in/zaldy-tan-5426a639b  Book: What to Remember When You Are Forgetting: https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Zaldy-Tan/232701319    Connect with Therese: Website:  www.criticallyspeaking.net Bluesky: @CriticallySpeaking.bsky.social Instagram: @criticallyspeakingpodcast Email: [email protected]   Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

Have you ever wondered how trolls, bots, and paid influencers are quietly manipulating what you see online and why even smart, skeptical people fall for it? Today, disinformation expert Dr. Darren Linvill pulls back the curtain on the tactics that bad actors are using to try and shape our beliefs.    In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Darren Linvill discuss the various forms of digital deception and the strategies used by state actors to manipulate global discourse. Dr. Linvill distinguishes between misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation and gives examples of each, including tactics used by different international organizations from Iran, China, Israel, North Korea, and others. He also discusses the psychological impact that this disinformation has on humanity.     Key Takeaways: Fraud is the oldest form of disinformation, and it's rampant across social media. It's a multi-billion-dollar industry.  The main way that AI is being used right now to disseminate false information, disinformation, whether it's fraud or political disinformation, is the scale at which this content is created.  Sometimes there is not enough information to attribute disinformation accounts to a specific person or group. Sometimes it can be traced either through the content being posted or similar information on other websites.  At the end of the day, people will believe what they want to believe, regardless of whether it is true or has been fact-checked as false.    "At the end of the day, all of us humans are emotional animals. And we are interpreting the world around us, including the information we find on social media, through an emotional lens, especially when it comes to the communities that we're a part of, and our emotional attachments to those communities and our emotional needs that we derive from those communities, that absolutely affects the lens through which we interpret information." —  Dr. Darren Linvill   Episode References:  Clemson University Media Forensics Hub: Spot the Troll - https://spotthetroll.org/    Connect with Dr. Darren Linvill: Professional Bio: https://www.clemson.edu/cbshs/about/profiles/darrenl  Twitter: https://x.com/DarrenLinvill?lang=en   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darren-linvill-6673655b  Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=gQl4PlQAAAAJ&hl=en    Connect with Therese: Website:  www.criticallyspeaking.net Bluesky: @CriticallySpeaking.bsky.social Instagram: @criticallyspeakingpodcast Email: [email protected]   Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

Drowning in wellness hype, viral "experts," and five-star opinions that feel more real than facts? In this episode, law and public health scholar Timothy Caulfield exposes the certainty illusion — how "scienceploitation", predatory journals, and weaponized opinions quietly shape what we believe about our health.   Today, Therese Markow and Timothy Caulfield discuss Tim's latest book, break down the misinformation drivers that are contributing to the delegitimization of scientific expertise, and the three illusions that are being used to distort public perception. From influencers and celebrities to predatory journals and politicians, it feels like "experts" are constantly bombarding us with information, but how do we know what is true? Listen in to find out more.    Key Takeaways: So many of the misconceptions about health and science are now closely tethered to political ideological positions.  Influencers are having a greater impact on beliefs around health than ever before. For example, the sale of Ivermectin spiked after a Joe Rogan conversation with Mel Gibson. Be aware of products and studies that are using scienceploitation and publishing in predatory journals. While they may look legitimate, they often do not have proper science behind the claim.  Most health halos- words like "organic" or "natural" or, now, "protein" do not necessarily make the food or product healthy. But it does often convince people to buy.    "Your personal identity, your personal community has just a tremendous impact. So if you can manipulate those opinions, you can manipulate people's perceptions, their beliefs, and maybe even their actions." —  Timothy Caulfield   Episode References:  The Certainty Illusion: What You Don't Know and Why It Matters: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0735245886  Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger Documentary: https://gem.cbc.ca/harder-better-faster-stronger  What is the manosphere? I went inside to find out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJzHZFv-Ezg    Connect with Timothy Caulfield: Professional Bio: https://www.ualberta.ca/en/law/research/health-law-institute/people/timothycaulfield.html  Threads: threads.net/@caulfieldtim  Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/caulfieldtim.bsky.social  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caulfieldtim/  X: https://twitter.com/CaulfieldTim    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/timothy.caulfield.792  Books: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/authors/255688/timothy-caulfield    Connect with Therese: Website:  www.criticallyspeaking.net Bluesky: @CriticallySpeaking.bsky.social Instagram: @criticallyspeakingpodcast Email: [email protected]     Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

The last few decades have seen a continuing rise in really serious and often fatal health problems. The list is long: cancer, heart disease, diabetes, infertility, autoimmune diseases, and autism, just to name a few. While vulnerability to disease often has an underlying genetic predisposition, there have to be environmental triggers to set these diseases in motion. In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Aly Cohen discuss just these topics and what we can look for on a daily basis, as well as the small changes that we can, individually, do to make our lives a little healthier.     Key Takeaways: It's estimated there are about 95,000 chemicals available on the US market for everything we use from cleaning products, makeup, and everything we use. The US has only banned 5 chemicals since 1976. European countries have banned around 1200, on average. There are resources out there to help you to vet the products you are using in your life, such as The Environmental Working Group and Skin Deep Database.   "The goal is less is more - use fewer products, the products that you use, if you want to use them, just vet them." —  Dr. Aly Cohen   Connect with Dr. Aly Cohen: Website: https://thesmarthuman.com/  TED Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSCeP0hyuTI  Show: https://thesmarthuman.com/podcast/  Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheSmartHuman  Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574591840716 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCb6NhglVIu6ruM19QNhpJDw  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aly-cohen-md-facr-0b570749/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesmarthuman/  Book: https://thesmarthuman.com/dr-aly-cohen-and-dr-fred-vom-saals-new-book-available-now/    Connect with Therese: Website:  www.criticallyspeaking.net Bluesky: @CriticallySpeaking.bsky.social Instagram: @criticallyspeakingpodcast Email: [email protected]   Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

Have you or someone you loved considered taking antidepressants for mental health, but had concerns? Listen in as Dr. Andrew Novick talks about the research and the science behind these drugs and other options for those struggling with MDD and other mental health concerns.    In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Andrew Novick discuss major depressive disorder (MDD) and its treatment options. Dr. Novick explains the key characteristics of MDD and discusses some of the many treatment options, which include psychotherapy, particularly cognitive-behavioral therapy, and pharmacological interventions like SSRIs. He highlights the effectiveness of esketamine for treatment-resistant MDD, and also addresses the controversy surrounding SSRIs and the potential of new treatments like psilocybin, noting ongoing research and regulatory challenges.    Key Takeaways: Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) can begin in childhood, but can often show up as irritability rather than other traditional depressive symptoms that we would see in adults. It's also more common to see it manifest during puberty, rather than before. Treating MDD does not require starting with psychotherapy. Medication can help more immediately, especially because there is an obstacle to accessible therapy for a lot of people. It can also be a tool used in tandem with therapy.  While there are no blood tests or simple diagnostic tests to see if you have depression, like with an infectious disease model, there are some brain scans that can show signs of depression, especially across wide populations of individuals.  There is no one gene that is associated with MDD. However, through research, many different genes have been identified, often related to brain function and stress response.    "If depression goes untreated, the most awful consequence of that is potential suicide." —  Dr. Andrew Novick   Connect with Dr. Andrew Novick: Professional Bio: https://som.cuanschutz.edu/Profiles/Faculty/Profile/29109  ResearchGate:  https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Andrew-Novick  LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annovick    Connect with Therese: Website:  www.criticallyspeaking.net Bluesky: @CriticallySpeaking.bsky.social Instagram: @criticallyspeakingpodcast Email: [email protected]   Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

From testosterone craze headlines to myths about prostate cancer, fertility, and aggression, men are getting a lot of confusing messages about their sexual health. Today, urologist and men's health expert Dr. Justin Dubin cuts through the noise with science-backed answers to the questions men are often too embarrassed to ask.   In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Justin Dubin discuss listener questions regarding men's sexual health. Dr. Dubin explains the nuances of testosterone levels, noting that normal ranges vary and can impact overall health. He highlights the importance of addressing low testosterone, which can lead to significant health issues, including all-cause mortality. He dives into the risks and benefits of testosterone replacement therapy, emphasizing the need for proper medical guidance. Additionally, Justin addresses the stigma around men's health, the role of direct-to-consumer testosterone sales, and the impact of prostate cancer treatments on sexual function.     Key Takeaways: Health is not just about living longer; it should also be about living better.  There are different forms of testosterone. The majority of it, about 98%, is bound to other proteins. Free testosterone is what can bind to your receptors. There is really good data suggesting that men with low testosterone die at a younger age; they have a higher all-cause mortality. It's not just a mood; it's not just a sex thing. It is an overall marker for your health. If you are interested in future fertility and you have low testosterone, do not take real testosterone replacement therapy; there are alternative options. Before you go on any medication, you should know the risks and benefits of what you are thinking of taking.   "If I can stop making men think with their penises and start making them think about their penises, I think we can get a lot more guys healthier, a lot more guys happier, and a lot more guys doing the things that they want to be able to do inside and outside the bedroom." —  Dr. Justin Dubin   Episode References: Guideline-Discordant Care Among Direct-to-Consumer Testosterone Therapy Platforms: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2799297    Connect with Dr. Justin Dubin: Professional Bio: https://baptisthealth.net/doctors/justin-dubin/5921802  Website: https://www.themanuppod.com/  Man Up Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/1FkEhH04XdxruNg1xxsEdo  YouTube: http://youtube.com/@themanuppod  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-dubin-m-d-9a9b7917/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justindubinmd/?hl=en  Linktree: https://linktr.ee/JustinDubinMD    Connect with Therese: Website:  www.criticallyspeaking.net Bluesky: @CriticallySpeaking.bsky.social Instagram: @criticallyspeakingpodcast Email: [email protected]     Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.