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Podcast episodes

Check latest episodes from Second Opinion podcast

When Health Care Becomes a Ballot Battle: Three Propositions, Three Flawed Ideas

2026/10/18

I support community clinics, medical research, and taxing billionaires—so why am I voting against three California propositions that claim to support those same goals?

The Comment In The Operating Room

2026/10/11

When no one speaks up, silence can become part of the culture of care.

Want Your Doctor to Write Back?

2026/10/04

Need to send your doctor a message? A new study suggests how you write it—not just what you say—may affect whether your doctor responds.

No Room In The Hospital

2026/09/27

It's not the sniffles clogging our ERs. It's a hospital system with nowhere left to put people.

When Good Enough Is Never Good Enough

2026/09/20

An A-minus isn't a crisis. But for some high achievers, it can feel like one. When does striving for excellence become something harmful?

The Pressure to Succeed

2026/09/13

American teens are anxious, exhausted, and getting too little sleep. Are phones really the whole problem—or should we also be looking at our culture of achievement?

Would You Get Sick for Science?

2026/09/06

They were conscientious objectors who refused to fight in World War II. So they found another way to serve: they offered their own bodies for dangerous medical experiments.

Maybe We've Been Fighting the Wrong Enemy

2026/08/30

For 100 years we've been trying to kill mosquitoes. What if the real problem was us?

Mosquitoes Are Winning

2026/08/23

We've spent decades trying to kill mosquitoes. So why do they seem to be getting better at living with us?

The Missing Ingredient in Fighting Ebola

2026/08/16

You can bring doctors, laboratories, and protective equipment to an Ebola outbreak. But you can't ship trust in a box.

The Choice Dementia Takes Away

2026/08/09

Who should make the final decision about your death? You, your family, your doctor...or a disease that slowly takes away your mind?

Evolution Never Saw this Coming

2026/08/02

Your body was built for a world that no longer exists — and that mismatch might be making you sick.

In The Last Pew

2026/07/26

When the family of a longtime patient invited me to her funeral, I found myself wrestling with a question I never addressed in medical school.

Before You Take That Alzheimer's Test, Ask This Question

2026/07/19

New Alzheimer's blood tests are accurate, available, and increasingly advertised — but for healthy people, a positive result is rarely useful.

Because We've Always Done It That Way

2026/07/12

Standard medical practice isn't the same as proven medical practice — and the difference can be deadly.

Podcast reviews

Read Second Opinion podcast reviews

4.5 out of 5

68 reviews

★★★☆☆

Fernandina M 2025/11/23

Not that kind of doctor

I’ve been listening for a long time and today’s was the first episode I found disappointing. In “not that kind of doctor”, Dr Wilkes describes an NP w...

★★★★☆

Sylverwylf 2022/04/30

Ticks and one health

While I agree with the assessment of physicians and veterinarians should work together. Facts were wrong in the episode. Ticks require 3 blood meals ...

★☆☆☆☆

Auditory Aficionado 2022/02/05

One opinion, Lop sided, physician centric

Podcast brings a single perspective to common problems with the US healthcare system. At a time when debate, dialogue and collaboration are necessary ...

★★★★★

lsmakarova1717b 2021/06/05

Love it

Love it!

★★★★★

pinpillage_ray 2021/02/14

Underrated-long needed

Concise and important. Leaves me wanting more Seriously, I cannot stress enough how great this podcast is

★★★★★

Lizblank40 2020/03/28

Second Opinion

Short, easy to understand messages. Important and relatable topics.

★★★★★

Chelsea Born 2020/03/27

All

Excellent podcast. Evidence based and short! Thanks

★★★★★

staeces 2017/11/04

Cuts to the chase

I appreciate the effective & simple format the doc uses to provide relevant perspectives on things I need to hear. He cuts to the chase perfectly. T...

★★★★★

@MrRLA3 2016/08/30

One of my favorites'

The information is to the point, helpful, consistent, and well delivered. Great Job!

★★★★★

n7011n 2014/04/08

Thought provoking

I often wish I could find a physician who knew as much and cared as much as Dr. Wilkes.

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