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Healthcare is top of mind for many voters ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. With significant cuts to healthcare spending on the horizon, what’s at stake for healthcare costs and access? Host Sophia Meador speaks with Leslie Dach about how a shift in congressional power could shape the future of healthcare and impact the health of the public.

What does the growing use of artificial intelligence in public health mean for the future of the workforce? Host Sophia Meador speaks with Onicio Leal-Neto, PhD, MSc, on how AI is being used in public health, what it means for jobs and what students, educators and practitioners need to know about the technology. Books mentioned in this episode: Automating Inequality — Virginia Eubanks, PhD Weapons of Math Destruction — Cathy O'Neil, PhD Unmasking AI: My Mission to Protect What Is Human in a World of Machines — Joy Buolamwini, PhD

What do falling vaccination rates and growing vaccine exemptions mean for Americans’ trust in public health and science? Host Sophia Meador speaks with Kathleen Hall Jamieson, PhD, director of the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania, about what polling reveals about Americans’ views on vaccination, science and public health.

The U.S. is an outlier among high-income countries when it comes to health insurance. Rather than relying on a public system, employer-sponsored insurance is the nation's largest source of health coverage. What does that mean for workers, employers and public health? Host Sophia Meador talks with KFF's Matt Rae, MPH, MPA, about the costs, tradeoffs and history behind employer-sponsored insurance.

The nation's top doctor has been absent for more than 18 months as the Trump administration has advanced surgeon general nominees with limited public health and medical experience. Host Sophia Meador speaks with former Acting Surgeon General Boris Lushniak, MD, MPH, and former U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona, MD, MPH, about what they expect from the nation's next chief health officer.

Recent outbreaks are raising concerns about the nation’s preparedness for the next pandemic. Host Sophia Meador speaks with Jay Butler, MD, and Colin Carlson, PhD, about what the next pandemic could look like — and why the nation is not prepared to respond.

Fluoride — one of public health’s most effective and equitable tools — is facing a growing wave of policy rollbacks, misinformation and public skepticism. Host Sophia Meador talks with Wade Rakes, MBA, CEO of the CareQuest Institute for Oral Health, and pediatrician Susan Fisher-Owens, MD, MPH, to unpack what’s at stake for oral health, who could be most affected by potential bans and how to build trust in fluoride.

As loneliness and isolation grow among U.S. teens, some are turning to AI chatbots for companionship, sparking new concerns for public health professionals. Host Sophia Meador talks to experts about what the trend could mean for teen mental health.

As public confidence in vaccines ebb, clinicians and public health workers are increasingly addressing concerns and confusion with parents. In the latest episode of The Nation’s Health Podcast, host Sophia Meador speaks with Alexandra Cvijanovich, a pediatrician and official spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics. They discuss common parental concerns, strategies for addressing vaccine hesitancy and what lies ahead as federal guidance challenges established vaccine science.

Despite setbacks in 2025, the public health workforce remains resilient in protecting the nation’s health. Host Sophia Meador speaks with Aryn Melton Backus of the National Public Health Coalition on how advocates are continuing the fight.

Millions more Americans are expected to be food insecure as new restrictions on nutrition programs collide with rising prices. What does that mean for our health — and for the families already struggling to get by? Host Sophia Meador digs into the stakes with leading policy and food insecurity experts.

Violent deaths were once just statistics — but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Violent Death Reporting System is changing that. In this special bonus episode of The Nation’s Health Podcast, host Sophia Meador talks with two recipients of the Catherine Barber Research Award, whose groundbreaking work is revealing the stories behind violent deaths and helping shape smarter prevention policies.

The line between advocacy and lobbying can be confusing — especially for public health professionals. As the Trump administration continues to devastate the nation’s public health infrastructure, the need for strong, informed voices has never been greater. In this episode, host Sophia Meador talks with Shelley Hearne, DrPH, MPH, director of the Lerner Center for Public Health Advocacy, and Rebecca Boulos, PhD, MPH, of the Maine Public Health Association, on the ways public health supporters can use their expertise to shape policy and champion the health of their communities.

Youth tobacco use has hit record lows. But will it last? With the rise of e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches, decades of hard-won progress could be at risk. In this episode, host Sophia Meador sits down with Brian King, PhD, executive vice president for U.S. programs at the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, to explore what’s next for youth tobacco use in the U.S. — and whether we’re on the brink of a new public health crisis.

Following the Aug. 8 attack on CDC's Atlanta offices, members of the public health community are raising concerns about federal leadership's role in promoting vaccine misinformation. Two APHA leaders speak with The Nation's Health Podcast about what's at stake and what needs to be done.