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In this episode, Jaansi sits down with Rachel Kelly to explore how mental health advocacy, holistic wellness, and modern psychological frameworks shape the future of healthcare and personal well-being. Together, they discussed how emotional resilience shapes navigation of fast-paced modern environments, which in turn influences systemic healthcare approaches grounded in these fundamental wellness principles. Tune in for a meaningful conversation that challenges conventional mental health treatment and emphasizes the importance of accessible psychological tools in moments of intense personal and societal stress. Rachel Kelly is a prominent author, mental health advocate, former Times journalist, and a leading voice in evidence-based holistic wellness. A passionate speaker on the clinical implications of nutrition and mindfulness on mood, she has played a pivotal role in educating the public on depression recovery, sharing her insights through bestselling books and workshops worldwide. Kelly's research and advocacy focus has shaped critical conversations globally regarding the therapeutic duties of lived experience and the future of psychological self-care.  Check out Rachel Kelly's work: Official Website Inspire the Mind The Black Rainbow

In this episode, Jaansi sits down with Dr. Sergio Imparato to explore how ethics, technology, and classical political thought shape the future of governance and healthcare. Together, they discuss why emerging technologies like artificial intelligence must be grounded in moral responsibility rather than unchecked innovation, how normative considerations influence global power dynamics, and how historical value systems transform our understanding of human relationships in the modern era. Tune in for a meaningful conversation that challenges the idea of technological neutrality and emphasizes the importance of applied ethics in moments of rapid scientific and societal change.  Dr. Sergio Imparato is a Lecturer in Government and Assistant Director of Undergraduate Studies at Harvard University, as well as a leading scholar in applied ethics and international relations. A prominent voice on the ethical implications of the biotech and AI revolutions, he has played a pivotal role in educating the next generation of leaders, teaching one of Harvard's most popular courses on biotech ethics. Dr. Imparato's research and teaching focus has shaped critical conversations worldwide regarding the moral duties of natural talent and the future of human governance.  Check out Dr. Imparato's work:  Harvard Department of Government profile: https://www.gov.harvard.edu/directory/sergio-imparato/ The Lyceum Project: https://thelyceumproject.ai/speaker/dr-sergio-imparato/

In this episode, Jaansi sits down with Marshall Ganz to explore how organizing, storytelling, and power shape the pursuit of health equity. Together, they discuss why public health must be grounded in people rather than abstract data, how collective action builds power to drive systemic change, and how the “story of self, us, and now” framework transforms individual experiences into meaningful, values-driven movements. Tune in for a meaningful conversation that challenges the idea of neutrality and emphasizing the importance of values-driven leadership in moments of social and political crisis.Marshall Ganz is a senior lecturer in public policy at the Harvard Kennedy School and a longtime community organizer, scholar, and leader in social movement strategy. A key architect of the public narrative framework and a veteran of the civil rights movement, he has played a pivotal role in grassroots organizing efforts including the Obama presidential campaign. Dr. Ganz's research and teaching focus has shaped movements and organizers worldwide committed to building collective power for social change.​Check out Dr. Ganz's work: Harvard Kennedy School profile: www.hks.harvard.edu/faculty/marshall-ganzPeople, Power, and Change: www.hks.harvard.edu/faculty/marshall-ganz

This week, Jaansi sits down with healthcare journalist Kristen V. Brown to explore the role of science journalism in shaping public trust, health decision-making, and collective understanding. Together, they discuss how culture and politics influence scientific research, why women’s health remains underfunded, and how journalists can responsibly report on polarized topics like vaccines without deepening mistrust. Join us to learn about the essentials for communicating complex science in an increasingly fragmented media landscape!​Kristen V. Brown is a healthcare journalist currently working on a book about fertility. As a Hearst Fellow at the Albany Times Union and the San Francisco Chronicle, a staffer at Bloomberg and Gizmodo, and a Webby nominated podcaster, she has covered women’s health and the cultural forces that shape medical knowledge. Trained in arts and culture journalism, Brown brings a humanities-driven lens to science reporting and has written extensively on vaccines, reproductive health, and consumer genetics.Check out Kristen's work: ​www.kristenvbrown.com/

In this episode, Jaansi and Dr. Francis Shen unpack neurolaw, the emerging field at the intersection of brain science, law, and public policy. Together, they explore how neuroscience can reshape ideas, what debates about free will mean for criminal justice, and how brain-based explanations can either challenge or reinforce stigma, especially for marginalized communities. Tune in to hear why rigorous science, transparency, and community engagement is essential to advance health equity with these tools!​Dr. Francis X. Shen, JD, PhD is a Professor of Law and faculty member in the Graduate Program in Neuroscience at the University of Minnesota, and an Associate Professor in the Harvard Medical School Center for Bioethics and the MGH Department of Psychiatry. He directs the Shen Neurolaw Lab, co-directs the Neurotech Justice Accelerator at Mass General Brigham, and is the Founding Director of the Dana Foundation Career Network in Neuroscience & Society.Check out Dr. Shen's work:Shen Neurolaw Lab: www.fxshen.com/shenlab/Dr. Shen for Hennepin County Attorney: www.shenforsafety.org/Dana Foundation Career Network in Neuroscience & Society: neuroxcareers.org/Neurotech Justice Accelerator: neurotechjustice.org/

Today, Jaansi sits down with Dr. Michael Rich, also known as the Mediatrician, to explore how digital media and technology shape adolescent identity and connection. Together, they discuss why screens themselves aren’t the problem, how digital tools can amplify both harm and healing, and what it means to approach youth mental health through interdisciplinary, compassionate, and equity-centered lenses in a rapidly evolving digital world.​Dr. Michael Rich is a pediatrician and child health researcher at Boston Children’s Hospital and a professor at Harvard Medical School. He is the founder and director of the Digital Wellness Lab and the Clinic for Interactive Media and Internet Disorders. Widely recognized for bridging medicine, psychology, and media studies, Dr. Rich is a leading voice on understanding and improving how children and adolescents engage with digital media.Check out Dr. Rich's work:The Mediatrician's Guide: www.harpercollinsfocus.com/9780785255727/the-mediatricians-guide/The Digital Wellness Lab: digitalwellnesslab.org/Stay updated with DWL: www.linkedin.com/company/digital-wellness-lab/posts/?feedView=allThe Inspired Internet Pledge: inspiredinternet.org/

In this episode, Jaansi sits down with Dr. Anne Harrington to explore how science, especially medicine and mental health, operates not only through data, but through powerful stories. Together, they discuss how cultural narratives shape psychiatric knowledge, how historical decisions continue to influence mental health care today, and what emerging technologies like AI and psychedelics reveal about the future of healing, ethics, and health equity.Dr. Anne Harrington is a professor in the History of Science department at Harvard University and an internationally recognized scholar of psychiatry, neuroscience, and the mind sciences. Her work examines how scientific and medical knowledge shapes understandings of suffering, healing, and human identity, with a particular focus on mental health. She is the author of several widely cited works on the history of the brain and psychiatry and is known for bridging science, medicine, and the humanities in her scholarship.​Check out Dr. Harrington’s work:The Cure Within: www.amazon.com/Cure-Within-History-Mind-Body-Medicine/dp/B088KCYMSZ/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.m0K3063X5Yp3SJ-qwNHjod96kBTLkEG1AoLES05TVZVR0VUgail2XKLN0wHIFu56bJm4AYAjw6p7eXDCgTSKGFo1S7G98XU2kevVpUYRXcz3UFVvrTWSLrvtwTb-kOGKLPfrnyn8sgzeMSBIdn2A-LyyuAG-wgxTGYljjylSXonfTiKW0pbaAy6AASsoy-cyTkJxYUpSFjn8cCta4JYzAVDv8eEDU0RdVZX6SYsxQaY.R5LP6befEY0GVo7m-3MyLwQS5geJqFLSxQwQe0mfYG8&dib_tag=se&keywords=the+cure+within&qid=1768234667&sr=8-1Harvard History of Science faculty page: histsci.fas.harvard.edu/people/anne-harrington

In the first episode of the season, Jaansi sits down with Dr. Howard Gardner, the renowned creator of the Multiple Intelligences theory, to explore how we define intelligence in an age of rapid technological and social change. Together, they discuss the future of learning, the role of AI in education, the importance of ethical and respectful minds, and what it takes to cultivate good work and good citizenship in a global society.​Dr. Howard Gardner is a pioneering psychologist and educator whose work reshaped how scholars and educators think about intelligence, learning, and human potential. A professor at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, he is the author of numerous influential books, has led major research initiatives on education and ethics, and has received international recognition for his contributions to psychology, education, and public scholarship.Check out Dr. Gardner's work: Website: www.howardgardner.com/Blog: www.howardgardner.com/howards-blogFive Minds for the Future: www.amazon.com/Five-Minds-Future-Howard-Gardner-ebook/dp/B004OC075I/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0

After covering the cutting edge of medical innovation, we're taking a step forward this season to we ask a bigger question: who truly benefits from medical progress? Welcome to Season 7: The Power of Health Equity. In this season, we explore health equity as a learning journey shaped by access to information, trust in systems, and whose knowledge is valued. Through conversations with prominent thought leaders, we examine how intelligence, media, law, policy, and innovation can either close health gaps or widen them. New episodes drop every Monday 7 AM EST, along with a newsletter on Substack coming soon! Alongside this new season, LearnOn is evolving. What began as “the science show by kids, for everyone” has grown into “the show on health equity by youth, for everyone.” We’ll continue exploring medical and scientific advancements, but with a sharper focus on where equity and innovation intersect, as well as how young voices can help shape a more just future.

In this season finale, Sunay reflects on all 29 episodes of Season 6: Medical Marvels, revisiting the guests, ideas, and insights that shaped a season about how medicine works in the real world. From neurofeedback and gene therapy to clean water, mental health, environmental policy, and reproductive autonomy, this episode highlights how people, systems, equity, and persistence drive health outcomes. Sunay brings together the season’s biggest takeaways while thanking the guests and listeners who made the journey possible and setting the stage for what's coming next.

Access to contraception can shape health, autonomy, and opportunity, but what does it really take to safely expand that access? In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Stephanie Sober, OB-GYN and Global Director of Medical Affairs at Perrigo Women’s Health, to explore the landmark approval of Opill, the first daily oral contraceptive available over the counter in the U.S. Tune in to hear how nearly a decade of research and regulatory work made this switch possible, how the FDA evaluates real-world use without physician supervision, and why over-the-counter contraception is a major step forward for reproductive health equity.Dr. Stephanie Sober is an OB-GYN physician and the Global Director of Medical Affairs at Perrigo Women’s Health. She co-led the studies submitted to the FDA to support Opill’s transition from prescription-only to over-the-counter status and has worked closely with medical organizations, regulators, and reproductive health advocates to expand safe, evidence-based access to contraception.

Microplastics are everywhere, from our oceans and ecosystems to our food, water, and bodies, but their story began with a simple question: what are we missing? In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Richard Thompson, marine biologist at the University of Plymouth and the scientist who coined the term microplastics. Tune in to hear how curiosity led to a landmark discovery, why plastic pollution is fundamentally a design problem that affects public health, and why science must now shift from defining the problem to rigorously testing solutions. Dr. Richard Thompson is a Professor of Marine Biology at the University of Plymouth and a leading authority on plastic pollution. His research has shaped global understanding of microplastics and informed major policies to improve environmental health, including the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive and legislation banning microbeads in cosmetics. As an independent scientist, his work guides policymakers, industry, and the public toward safer and more sustainable use of plastics.

Language is central to healthcare, yet it’s often overlooked as a driver of equity, safety, and quality of care. In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Pilar Ortega, emergency medicine physician and Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the ACGME, to explore how rethinking language in medicine can transform patient outcomes. Join us to discuss why the term “language barrier” misses the real problem, how language-concordant care improves health outcomes, the promises and limitations of AI translation tools, and what systemic reforms are needed to better support multilingual clinicians and patients alike.​Dr. Pilar Ortega is an emergency medicine physician and the Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). A nationally recognized leader in medical Spanish education and language equity in healthcare, her work focuses on improving communication, valuing multilingualism in the medical workforce, and advancing more equitable healthcare systems through policy, education, and research.

Medication mismanagement is one of the most costly and preventable problems in healthcare as it impacts patient safety, outcomes, and billions in annual spending. In this episode, we’re joined by Yoona Kim, who cofounded Arine to use AI-driven medication intelligence for improving patient outcomes. Join us in a conversation about the key factors that contribute to medication errors, why culturally sensitive care is central to Arine's approach, and how smarter use of data can shape future healthcare policy.Yoona Kim is the co-founder and CEO of the healthcare technology company Arine. After studying human biology at Stanford, she was trained as both a pharmacist (PharmD from the University of California San Francisco) and health economist (PhD from the University of Texas at Austin). She previously served as Vice President at Proteus Digital Health and held leadership positions in research and consulting at global pharmaceutical companies.

Curiosity is at the heart of great science and great storytelling. In this episode, we’re joined by Laura Baisas, science news writer at Popular Science, to explore how curiosity fuels her work and shapes the way science is shared with the public. Tune in to hear about her process for finding story ideas, the importance of fact-checking in the age of AI, how journalists balance engaging narratives with accuracy, and why embracing science as an ever-evolving process is key to building public trust. Laura also reflects on her own “aha” moment that solidified her career in science journalism and offers advice for young listeners on charting meaningful paths forward. ​Laura Baisas is a science news writer and reporter at Popular Science. Prior to joining PopSci, she worked in children’s news programming and has built her career around making complex scientific topics accessible and engaging for broad audiences. Her work spans subjects from ocean science and paleontology to health and climate change, with a focus on curiosity-driven storytelling and accurate, impactful journalism. Check out Laura's writing: https://www.popsci.com/authors/laura-baisas/