America Dissected

In our penultimate episode, Abdul and Katelyn discuss the week’s public health news, which includes:

Then they look back on the last 6 years, and play some of Abdul’s favorite moments from American Dissected.

Check out our shop at store.americadissected.com for our new America Dissected merch – including logo shirts, hoodies and mugs. And don’t miss our “Vaccines Work. Science Matters.” t-shirts!

This show would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. America Dissected invites you to check them out. This episode was brought to you by:

Quince:Go to Quince.com/AD for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.

APHA: Listeners of this podcast get a 10% discount for the 2025 Annual Meeting and Expo using code: Dissected25.

Abdul and Katelyn discuss the latest news in public health, which includes:

Then Abdul sits down with Dr. Aziz Rahman, an American physician who recently completed a medical mission in Gaza. Dr. Rahman offers a gripping account of the devastation in Gaza, and the heroic efforts of doctors serving there.

Check out our shop at store.americadissected.com for our new America Dissected merch – including logo shirts, hoodies and mugs. And don’t miss our “Vaccines Work. Science Matters.” t-shirts!

This show would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. America Dissected invites you to check them out. This episode was brought to you by:

Boll & Branch:For a limited time get 20% off your first set of sheets plus free shipping at BollAndBranch.com/AD.

Quince:Go to Quince.com/AD for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.

APHA: Listeners of this podcast get a 10% discount for the 2025 Annual Meeting and Expo using code: Dissected25.

Abdul begins the show with a major announcement about America Dissected. Then, he and Katelyn discuss:

RFK Jr’s Autism report, which points to an unproven link between autism and acetaminophen

Last week’s ACIP meeting, where RFK Jr’s new appointees approved new recommendations on the Covid booster and MMRV vaccines

The end of the Covid summer wave, and how it compared to last year

Then Abdul sits down with Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, who recently resigned in protest from the FDA. They discuss the chaos at the agency and the future of public health under RFK Jr.

Check out our shop at store.americadissected.com for our new America Dissected merch – including logo shirts, hoodies and mugs. And don’t miss our “Vaccines Matter. Science Works.” t-shirts!

This show would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. America Dissected invites you to check them out. This episode was brought to you by:

OneSkin: Get 15% off OneSkin with the code DISSECTED at https://www.oneskin.co/#oneskinpod

Incogni:Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code DISSECTED at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/dissected

APHA: Listeners of this podcast get a 10% discount for the 2025 Annual Meeting and Expo using code: Dissected25.

Abdul and Katelyn discuss the week in public health, which includes:

Then Abdul sits down with Dr. Annette Campbell-Anderson, Deputy Director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Safe and Healthy Schools, to discuss why more schools across the country are implementing cell phone bans.

Check out our shop at store.americadissected.com for our new America Dissected merch – including logo shirts, hoodies and mugs. And don’t miss our “Vaccines Work. Science Matters.” t-shirts!

This show would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. America Dissected invites you to check them out. This episode was brought to you by:

Incogni:Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code DISSECTED at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/dissected

NPR Life Kit:Listen now to the Life Kit podcast from NPR.

ExpressVPN: Secure your online data today by visiting ExpressVPN.com/Dissected to find out how you can get up to four extra months FREE.

Abdul and Katelyn discuss the week in public health, which includes:

Then Abdul talks to Natalie Foster, president of the Economic Security Project, about the power of guaranteed income in health outcomes.

Check out our shop at store.americadissected.com for our new America Dissected merch – including logo shirts, hoodies and mugs. And don’t miss our “Vaccines Work. Science Matters.” t-shirts!

This show would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. America Dissected invites you to check them out. This episode was brought to you by:

Quince:Go to Quince.com/AD for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.

APHA: Listeners of this podcast get a 10% discount for the 2025 Annual Meeting and Expo using code: Dissected25.

Incogni:Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code DISSECTED at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/dissected

Abdul and Katelyn discuss another inundating week in public health, which includes:

Then as we look ahead to Labor Day, Abdul sits down with Dr. Taylor Walker, the president of the largest labor union representing physicians. We are dark next week for the holiday.

Check out our shop at store.americadissected.com for our new America Dissected merch – including logo shirts, hoodies and mugs. And don’t miss our “Vaccines Work. Science Matters.” t-shirts!

This show would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. America Dissected invites you to check them out. This episode was brought to you by:

Incogni:Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code DISSECTED at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/dissected

OneSkin: Get 15% off OneSkin with the code DISSECTED at https://www.oneskin.co/#oneskinpod

Abdul and Katelyn are energized by the first meeting of the Vaccine Integrity Project, which was founded to serve as an alternative to RFK Jr’s ACIP. They also discuss:

A new letter to Congress, signed by more than 700 CDC employees, which calls HHS Secretary Kennedy complicit in endangering the nation's health and the recent shooting at the CDC headquarters

The fallout from a draft report on childhood chronic disease, which suggests RFK Jr is folding on his promise to ban agricultural pesticides

The future of vaccines in the US without mRNA research, following RFK Jr’s decision to cut $500 million in research grants

Then, Abdul sits down with Dr. Michael Osterholm, a founding member of the Vaccine Integrity Project Steering Committee, to discuss the goals, processes and future of the organization.

To read and/or add your name to the CDC’s letter to Congress, click here.

Check out our shop at store.americadissected.com for our new America Dissected merch – including logo shirts, hoodies and mugs. And don’t miss our “Vaccines Matter. Science Works.” t-shirts!

This show would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. America Dissected invites you to check them out. This episode was brought to you by:

NPR Life Kit:Listen now to the Life Kit podcast from NPR.

Abdul and Katelyn condemn the violence at the CDC headquarters last week, and the startlingly weak response from lawmakers. Then they unpack Trump’s newest executive order, which seeks to give his own appointees the power to approve federal grants. They also discuss the future of the FDA as Vinay Prasad makes his return, following his resignation last month.

Then Abdul talks to Sherrell Byrd, founder of SOWEGA Rising, which has organized in rural Georgia to bring fresh produce to rural communities that lack grocery stores. They discuss the health implications of food deserts, and how food justice can change lives.

Check out our shop at store.americadissected.com for our new America Dissected merch – including logo shirts, hoodies and mugs. And don’t miss our “Vaccines Work. Science Matters.” t-shirts!

This show would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. America Dissected invites you to check them out. This episode was brought to you by:

Quince:Go to Quince.com/AD for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.

Abdul unpacks the week in public health, which includes:

Then Abdul interviews professor Dr. Brian Willoughby about his research on porn use among young people, and what parents should know about modern porn content.

Note: We recorded this episode before RFK Jr announced the cancellation of $500 million in funding for mRNA vaccine development. However, Abdul and Katelyn discussed the threat of mRNA research cuts in our May 7 and June 3episodes. (their May convo begins at 00:11:00 / their June convo begins at 00:16:00)

Check out our shop at store.americadissected.com for our new America Dissected merch – including logo shirts, hoodies and mugs. And don’t miss our “Vaccines Work. Science Matters.” t-shirts! 

Abdul and Katelyn unpack the latest headlines on RFK Jr and HHS, followed by some optimistic news on the spread of measles and Covid. Then Abdul talks to public health educator Dorian Johnson about the wild world of TikTok and Instagram - and how health professionals can harness it to build more trust and goodwill with the public.

This episode was made in collaboration with our sponsor deBeaumont Foundation. You can follow Dorian Johnson on social media @thephuncle on TikTok and Instagram.

Check out our shop at store.americadissected.com for our new America Dissected merch – including logo shirts, hoodies and mugs. And don’t miss our “Vaccines Matter. Science Works.” t-shirts!

Abdul and Katelyn discuss the latest in public health including:

Congress’ vote to reinstate $400 million in funding for global AIDS treatment

Trump’s budget proposal to cut 40% of the NIH budget

The health differences in Coca Cola sweetened with sugar vs high fructose corn syrup

Why heart attack is no longer the leading cause of death in the US

A comprehensive review of GI cancer research that show sharp rise in cases among young people

Then Abdul talks to Dr. Elaine Batchlor from Martin Luther King Jr Community Healthcare about how the impending Medicaid cuts will strain hospitals that serve low-income patients.

Check out our shop at store.americadissected.com for our new America Dissected merch – including logo shirts, hoodies and mugs. And don’t miss our “Vaccines Matter. Science Works.” t-shirts!

This show would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. America Dissected invites you to check them out. This episode was brought to you by:

NPR Life Kit:Listen now to the Life Kit podcast from NPR.

Quince:Go to Quince.com/AD for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.

Abdul and Katelyn discuss the latest in public health news, including:

Then Abdul talks to fitness influencer Dr. Mike Israetel about his approach to explaining evidence-based science on bodybuilding, and how to build trust with an audience prone to fringe theories.

Check out our shop at store.americadissected.com for our new America Dissected merch – including logo shirts, hoodies and mugs. And don’t miss our “Vaccines Matter. Science Works.” t-shirts!

This show would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. America Dissected invites you to check them out. This episode was brought to you by:
Ground News:Go to groundnews.com/AD today to get forty percent off the Ground News Vantage plan and get access to all of their news analysis features.

Abdul and Katelyn catch up on a harrowing week in public health, after Republicans passed Trump’s mega bill. They discuss:

New work requirements for Medicaid and SNAP beneficiaries

Why rural hospitals risk closure due to the upcoming changes to Medicaid

New renewal requirements for people who buy health insurance on the Affordable Care Act marketplaces

A new high in measles cases, which now jeopardize our “elimination status” distinction

A recent court ruling that halts RFK Jr’s plans to restructure HHS

Then Abdul talks to Dr. Andres Lopez from the Coalition of Communities of Color about their organization's innovative work in community data collection.

This interview was produced in collaboration with our sponsor deBeaumont Foundation.

Check out our shop at store.americadissected.com for our new America Dissected merch – including logo shirts, hoodies and mugs. And don’t miss our “Vaccines Matter. Science Works.” t-shirts!

This show would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. America Dissected invites you to check them out. This episode was brought to you by:

Quince:Go to Quince.com/AD for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.

Boll & Branch: Get 20% off plus free shipping on your first set of sheets at BollAndBranch.com /AD. 

Abdul and Katelyn discuss a busy week in health news including:

Then Abdul sits down with author and legal expert Leah Litman to discuss the biggest SCOTUS rulings of the year, and what it means for the future of public health.

Check out our shop at store.americadissected.com for our new America Dissected merch – including logo shirts, hoodies and mugs. And don’t miss our “Vaccines Matter. Science Works.” t-shirts!

This show would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. America Dissected invites you to check them out. This episode was brought to you by:

Boll & Branch: Feel the difference an extraordinary night’s sleep can make. Get 15% off, plus free shipping on your first set of sheets at bollandbranch.com/ad

Abdul shares a scheduling note, as we closely track this week's ACIP meeting.

Abdul and Katelyn discuss a rocky week in public health including:

RFK Jr gutting ACIP to replace every member with his own appointees.

The LA protests, and how immigration raids hurt community health

Good trouble at NIH, as staff band together and demand director Jay Bhattacharya defend their research

Then Abdul talks to Jaymes Black, CEO of The Trevor Project, about the Trump Administration's effort to weaponize the government against LBGTQ+ Americans, including cutting the 988 suicide Lifeline.

We are off next week for the Juneteenth holiday. We will be back with another episode on June 26.

Check out our shop at store.americadissected.com for our new America Dissected merch – including logo shirts, hoodies and mugs. And don’t miss our “Vaccines Matter. Science Works.” t-shirts!

This show would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. America Dissected invites you to check them out. This episode was brought to you by:

de Beaumont Foundation:For 25 years, the de Beaumont Foundation has worked to create practical solutions that improve the health of communities across the country. To learn more, visit debeaumont.org. 

Quince: Go to Quince.com/AD for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.

Abdul and Katelyn discuss the latest in science and health including:

Then Abdul sits down with Dr. Carmen Rojas, the President and CEO of the Marguerite Casey Foundation to talk about the role of philanthropy over the next four years, and why MCF has dramatically increased their funding to non-profits to meet this moment. 

Check out our shop at store.americadissected.com for our new America Dissected merch – including logo shirts, hoodies and mugs. And don’t miss our “Vaccines Matter. Science Works.” t-shirts!

This show would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. America Dissected invites you to check them out. This episode was brought to you by:

de Beaumont Foundation:For 25 years, the de Beaumont Foundation has worked to create practical solutions that improve the health of communities across the country. To learn more, visit debeaumont.org.

Abdul and Katelyn discuss the latest in public health including:

The FDA’s new rules on Covid boosters

RFK’s claim that Americans shouldn’t take his advice

Florida’s decision to remove fluoride from the drinking water

New proposed cuts to Medicaid and SNAP

A genetic breakthrough that saved the life of a 9 month old baby

Then Abdul talks to prescription drug policy expert Dr. Aaron Kesselheim about Trump’s feeble attempt to address drug prices, and what could actually be done to bring them down.

NOTE: We are dark next week for the Memorial Day holiday. We will be back with a new episode on June 5.

Check out our shop at store.americadissected.com for our new America Dissected merch – including logo shirts, hoodies and mugs. And don’t miss our “Vaccines Matter. Science Works.” t-shirts!

This show would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. America Dissected invites you to check them out. This episode was brought to you by:

de Beaumont Foundation:For 25 years, the de Beaumont Foundation has worked to create practical solutions that improve the health of communities across the country. To learn more, visit debeaumont.org. 

Katelyn and Abdul break down the latest news in public health and policy, including:

RFK’s appearance at the House Appropriations Committee and the Senate Health Committee

The House budget proposal to cut Medicaid

Donald Trump’s Executive Order to bring down drug prices

Trump’s nominee for Surgeon General

Then Abdul interviews former FDA Commissioner Dr. David Kessler about his new book Diet, Drugs and Dopamine.

Check out our shop at store.americadissected.com for our new America Dissected merch – including logo shirts, hoodies and mugs. And don’t miss our “Vaccines Matter. Science Works.” t-shirts!

This show would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. America Dissected invites you to check them out. This episode was brought to you by:

de Beaumont Foundation:For 25 years, the de Beaumont Foundation has worked to create practical solutions that improve the health of communities across the country. To learn more, visit debeaumont.org. 

Lumen:Go to lumen.me/AD to get 15% off your Lumen.

Our Big Shot: Search for and subscribe to “Our Big Shot: Wiping Out Disease” on Apple Podcasts, or your favorite podcast app.

Abdul and Katelyn break down the latest in public health, including:

RFK’s Jr’s push to test all future vaccines against placebos

Why the phrase “Do Your Own Research” often leads to mis and disinformation

New threats to MRNA vaccine research

A huge NIH investment toward a future universal flu vaccine

Why some leading medical journals received accusatory letters from a Trump surrogate

A new poll that shows Americans agree on the most pressing public health needs, but disagree on the solutions

Then Abdul sits down with Astra Taylor and Lindsey Muniak from The Debt Collective to talk about their work fighting medical debt while building solidarity among debtors.

Check out our shop at store.americadissected.com for our new America Dissected merch – including logo shirts, hoodies and mugs. And don’t miss our “Vaccines Matter. Science Works.” t-shirts!

This show would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. America Dissected invites you to check them out. This episode was brought to you by:

de Beaumont Foundation:For 25 years, the de Beaumont Foundation has worked to create practical solutions that improve the health of communities across the country. To learn more, visit debeaumont.org. 

Quince: Go to Quince.com/AD for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.

Our Big Shot: Search for and subscribe to “Our Big Shot: Wiping Out Disease” on Apple Podcasts, or your favorite podcast app.

Abdul and Katelyn discuss the latest news in health and policy, including:

Then Abdul and Katelyn talk to Princeton political science professors Dr. Frances Lee and Dr. Stephen Macedo about their new book “In Covid’s Wake.”

Check out our shop at store.americadissected.com for our new America Dissected merch – including logo shirts, hoodies and mugs. And don’t miss our “Vaccines Matter. Science Works.” t-shirts!

This show would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. America Dissected invites you to check them out. This episode was brought to you by:

de Beaumont Foundation:For 25 years, the de Beaumont Foundation has worked to create practical solutions that improve the health of communities across the country. To learn more, visit debeaumont.org. 

Ground News:Go to groundnews.com/AD today to get forty percent off the Ground News Vantage plan and get access to all of their news analysis features. 

Our Big Shot: Search for and subscribe to “Our Big Shot: Wiping Out Disease” on Apple Podcasts, or your favorite podcast app.

Abdul and Katelyn discuss the latest in health policy this week including:

Then Abdul interviews Harvard polling expert Dr. Gillian SteelFisher about a new survey on pandemic safety measures -- and most Americans are more open than you think! And a special thanks to deBeaumont Foundation for their contribution to today’s interview.

Check out our shop at store.americadissected.com for our new America Dissected merch – including logo shirts, hoodies and mugs. And don’t miss our “Vaccines Matter. Science Works.” t-shirts!

This show would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. America Dissected invites you to check them out. This episode was brought to you by:

de Beaumont Foundation:Find new, research-tested messaging to communicate about public health, plus useful tips for the real-world situations you face, at debeaumont.org.

Abdul and Katelyn cover this week’s health news, which includes:

Then Abdul sits down with Dr. Zachary Rubin to talk about allergy season and the many questions we have about antihistamines, peanuts and pollen!

Check out our shop at store.americadissected.com for our new America Dissected merch – including logo shirts, hoodies and mugs. And don’t miss our “Vaccines Matter. Science Works.” t-shirts!

This show would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. America Dissected invites you to check them out. This episode was brought to you by:

de Beaumont Foundation:The foundation advances policy, builds partnerships, and strengthens systems to give everyone the opportunity to achieve their best possible health. To learn more, visit debeaumont.org. 

Boll & Branch:Get 15% off, plus free shipping on your first set of sheets, at BollandBranch.com/AD.

Abdul and Katelyn discuss the latest news in health and policy, including:

Then Abdul sits down with an old friend, Scott Hugo, who has been battling Long Covid for more than a year. Abdul and Scott discuss how his life has dramatically changed by this illness, and the fallout from the Trump Administration’s decision to cut Long Covid research.

Check out our shop at store.americadissected.com for our new America Dissected merch – including logo shirts, hoodies and mugs. And don’t miss our “Vaccines Matter. Science Works.” t-shirts!

This show would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. America Dissected invites you to check them out. This episode was brought to you by:

de Beaumont Foundation:The foundation advances policy, builds partnerships, and strengthens systems to give everyone the opportunity to achieve their best possible health. To learn more, visit debeaumont.org. 

Quince: Go to Quince.com/AD for 365-day returns, plus free shipping on your order.

Abdul and Katelyn contend with a devastating week at HHS, including:

Then Abdul interviews Nat Kendall-Taylor and Julie Sweetland from the Frameworks Institute about their research on American attitudes around vaccine hesitancy, and how to frame productive public health conversations.

Check out our shop at store.americadissected.com for our new America Dissected merch – including logo shirts, hoodies and mugs. And don’t miss our “Vaccines Matter. Science Works.” t-shirts!

This show would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. America Dissected invites you to check them out. This episode was brought to you by:

de Beaumont Foundation:Find new, research-tested messaging to communicate about public health, plus useful tips for the real-world situations you face, at debeaumont.org.

Ground News: Go to groundnews.com/AD to get 40% off the unlimited access Vantage plan.

Boll & Branch: For a limited time get 20% off at BollAndBranch.com/AD.

Abdul and Katelyn discuss the latest in the world of public health including:

Then Abdul interviews urologist Dr. Maria Uloko about her groundbreaking work in sexual health, and the deep gender disparities that she’s working to erase. 

Check out our shop at store.americadissected.com for our new America Dissected merch – including logo shirts, hoodies and mugs. And don’t miss our “Vaccines Matter. Science Works.” t-shirts!

This show would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. America Dissected invites you to check them out. This episode was brought to you by:

de Beaumont Foundation:Find new, research-tested messaging to communicate about public health, plus useful tips for the real-world situations you face, at debeaumont.org.

Abdul and Katelyn round up all the latest health news, including:

Then Abdul interviews author Charles Duhigg about his new book Supercommunicators, about the ways physicians and public health workers can have more productive conversations with patients.

Check out our shop at store.americadissected.com for our new America Dissected merch – including logo shirts, hoodies and mugs. And don’t miss our “Vaccines Matter. Science Works.” t-shirts!

This show would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. America Dissected invites you to check them out. This episode was brought to you by:

de Beaumont Foundation:Find new, research-tested messaging to communicate about public health, plus useful tips for the real-world situations you face, at debeaumont.org.

Boll & Branch:Get 15% off, plus free shipping on your first set of sheets at bollandbranch.com/AD.

Abdul and Katelyn talk about the current measles outbreak, the danger of relitigating the MMR vaccine again, and the latest round of DOGE cuts to public health. They also peek into the confirmation hearings for Trump’s picks to lead NIH and the FDA, where Senators pressed hard against vaccine skepticism. Then Abdul talks to Adrienne Ammerman, founder of the public health communications platform Arclet.

Check out our shop at store.americadissected.com for our new America Dissected merch – including logo shirts, hoodies and mugs. And don’t miss our “Vaccines Matter. Science Works.” t-shirts!

This show would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. America Dissected invites you to check them out. This episode was brought to you by:

de Beaumont Foundation:For 25 years, the de Beaumont Foundation has worked to create practical solutions that improve the health of communities across the country. To learn more, visit debeaumont.org. 

Thrive Market: Head to thrivemarket.com/AD and get 30% off your first order, plus a FREE $60 gift!

This week Abdul is joined by physician and writer Dr. Dhruv Khullar, who is subbing in for Dr. Katelyn Jetelina this week. 

Abdul and Dhruv discuss a rash of alarming news out of HHS, including its uneven measles response, more cancelled meetings, a policy change to end public comment, and the re-evaluation of a key bird flu vaccine contract. They also break down the Republican budget plan and explain why its proposed cuts would likely gut Medicaid.

Then Abdul sits down with Lisa Sherman Luna, executive director of the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition, about the impact of ICE raids on the immigrant community.

Check out our shop at store.americadissected.com for our new America Dissected merch – including logo shirts, hoodies and mugs. And don’t miss our “Vaccines Matter. Science Works.” t-shirts!

This show would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. America Dissected invites you to check them out! This episode was brought to you by:

Quince: Get free shipping and 365-day returns at quince.com/AD

Abdul and Katelyn discuss some worrisome changes at HHS, including RFK’s decision to postpone a key immunization committee’s scheduled meeting and the Trump Administration’s short-sighted strategy to combat bird flu. Then Abdul talks to Former FDA Commissioner Robert Califf about the impacts of the federal workforce purge.

Check out our shop at store.americadissected.com for our new America Dissected merch – including logo shirts, hoodies and mugs. And don’t miss our “Vaccines Matter. Science Works.” t-shirts and “Make America Scientific Again” ballcaps!

This show would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. America Dissected invites you to check them out. This episode was brought to you by:

Boll & Branch: Get 15% off, plus free shipping on your first set of sheets atbollandbranch.com/AD.

Abdul and Katelyn talk about RFK Jr.’s first actions at HHS, including his first meeting with employees, where he promised to investigate the pediatric vaccine schedule and the use of mental health meds. Then they break down the nature vs modernity debate, and why the good old days weren’t all good. They also track the most recent firings in the federal workforce purge. Then Abdul interviews physician, professor and writer Dr. Dhruv Khullar about his recent piece in the New Yorker about ultra processed foods.

Check out our shop at store.americadissected.com for our new America Dissected merch – including logo shirts, hoodies and mugs. And don’t miss our “Vaccines Matter. Science Works.” t-shirts!

Abdul and Katelyn explain how Trump’s cuts to NIH will hobble U.S. research labs and their surrounding economies. They also speculate on RFK Jr’s first moves at HHS, and a new bird flu mutation. Then Abdul sits down with Drs. Joseph Wright and Helen Burstin to learn more about their efforts to root race-based clinical algorithms out of healthcare.

Check out our shop at store.americadissected.com for our new America Dissected merch – including logo shirts, hoodies and mugs. And don’t miss our “Make America Scientific Again” ballcaps!

This show would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. America Dissected invites you to check them out. This episode was brought to you by:

Thrive Market: Head to thrivemarket.com/AD and get 30% off your first order, plus a FREE $60 gift!

Boll & Branch:Get 15% off, plus free shipping on your first set of sheets at bollandbranch.com/AD.

Abdul and Katelyn discuss the RFK confirmation hearings, the gutting of USAID, and the erasure of CDC data. Then Abdul sits down with the NFL’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Allen Sills, about the public health process the NFL used to reduce concussions.

Check out our shop at store.americadissected.com for our new America Dissected merch – including logo shirts, hoodies and mugs. And don’t miss our brand new “Science Won’t Be Silenced” long-sleeved t-shirts and “Make America Scientific Again” ballcaps!

This show would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. America Dissected invites you to check them out: 

Calm:Get 40% off unlimited access to Calm’s entire library at calm.com/DISSECT.

Quince:Indulge in affordable luxury. Go to Quince.com/ad for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.

Abdul and Katelyn pose questions for RFK’s Senate Confirmation hearings. Then they discuss the fallout from Trump’s sledgehammer on our government agencies, including:

Then Abdul talks to epidemiologist and author Dr. Caitlin Rivers about her new book Crisis Averted: The Hidden Science of Fighting Outbreaks. Caitlin tells us where we are in the current flu season, and how public health professionals can build back trust with Americans.

You can find Caitlin Rivers’ newsletter Force of Infection here.

Check out our shop at store.americadissected.com for our new America Dissected merch – including logo shirts, hoodies and mugs. And don’t miss our brand new "Science Won't Be Silenced" long-sleeved t-shirts!

This show would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. America Dissected invites you to check them out. This episode was brought to you by:

Our Big Shot: This new podcast series explores one of the biggest achievements in human history: the worldwide effort of immunization. You can listen to “Our Big Shot” wherever you get podcasts.

In this supersized episode, Abdul and Katelyn break down Donald Trump’s first executive orders targeting public health and healthcare. Then they discuss the final actions of the Biden Administration, including the preemptive pardon for Dr. Anthony Fauci, a directive to identify bird flu cases in hospitals, and adding Ozempic to this year’s Medicare prescription drug negotiations. Abdul also shares hopeful thoughts about the ceasefire in Gaza. Then he interviews Cornell Law Professor and Marguerite Casey Foundation Freedom Scholar Sabeel Rahman about the legal protections that will help buffer our public health institutions.

Check out our shop at store.americadissected.com for our new America Dissected merch – including logo shirts, hoodies and mugs. And don’t miss our “Vaccines Matter. Science Works.” t-shirts!

This show would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. America Dissected invites you to check them out. This episode was brought to you by:

Calm:Get 40% off unlimited access to Calm’s entire library at calm.com/DISSECT.

Our Big Shot:This new podcast series explores one of the biggest achievements in human history: the worldwide effort of immunization. You can listen to “Our Big Shot” wherever you get podcasts.

Sharing an episode of the podcast Our Big Shot. It asks the question: What if we could build a disease free world? Well, we almost have. We are at a point in history where we have a Big Shot to make that happen. Dr Seema Yasmin, expert in disease control, brings you the stories of disease eradication, and the pioneers who can tell us how to finish the journey. These conversations will make you smarter, entertain and surprise you, and give you hope for the future of humanity.

Abdul and Katelyn break down the latest public health headlines, including the devastating fires in Los Angeles, how urban fires impact human health, another case of avian influenza in a child, and a nationwide drop in the rate of childhood vaccinations. Then Abdul talks to physician and author Dr. Linda Eckert about her new book “Enough,” which chronicles the fight to end HPV through the development of the cervical cancer vaccine, and the barriers that prevent women (and men!) from receiving it.

To help those impacted by the wildfires in Southern California, you can donate to:

The Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation

The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank

The United Way of Greater Los Angeles

The California Community Foundation’s Wildfire Relief Fund

This show would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. America Dissected invites you to check them out. This episode was brought to you by:

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Our Big Shot: America Dissected is brought to you by “Our Big Shot,” a new podcast series exploring one of the biggest achievements in human history: the worldwide effort of immunization. Search for and subscribe to “Our Big Shot: Wiping Out Disease” on Apple Podcasts, or your favorite podcast app.

Abdul and Katelyn take your questions after catching up on some of the most pressing health headlines over the holidays–including a new fluoride study, the first H5N1 death, and the passing of public health hero Jimmy Carter.

This show would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. America Dissected invites you to check them out. This episode was brought to you by:

Calm:Get 40% off unlimited access to Calm’s entire library at calm.com/DISSECT.

Our Big Shot:This new podcast series explores one of the biggest achievements in human history: the worldwide effort of immunization. You can listen to “Our Big Shot” wherever you get podcasts.

Abdul and Katelyn talk about a promising bipartisan bill that could disrupt Pharmacy Benefit Managers, a miracle drug that prevents HIV--at a serious cost, and new data that show that US obesity rates may have fallen for the first time in more than a decade. Then they talk about RFK Jr’s chances of being confirmed to lead HHS after news broke last week that his attorney asked the FDA to repeal approval of the polio vaccine back in 2022. Then Abdul sits down with Dr. Umair Shah, Washington State’s Secretary of Health, about the role of state health departments over the next four years.

We will be back with more episodes in 2025. We wish you all a restful holiday season!



This show would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. America Dissected invites you to check them out. This episode was brought to you by:

Marguerite Casey Foundation:Sign up now to get your free Boston Review issue delivered to your door at CaseyGrants.org/State.

Calm: Calm is offering an exclusive offer of 40% off a Calm Premium Subscription at calm.com/DISSECT.

Lumen:If you want to stay on track with your health this holiday season, head to http://lumen.me/AD for 15% off your purchase.

Reclaimed:This podcast takes you back to the very beginning when the Navajo reservation was first created. And it reveals the history of oppression and exclusion that led the Navajo to this point — and why their future is still uncertain. You can listen to “Reclaimed” wherever you get podcasts.

Abdul and Katelyn break down the latest news, including the murder of UnitedHealth’s CEO and new raw milk testing guidelines. Then Abdul sits down with Dermatologist Dr. Farhaad Riyaz to break down fact from fiction on skincare, how online fads are shaping his patients, and what you really should be doing when it comes to your skin routine.

This show would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. America Dissected invites you to check them out. This episode was brought to you by:

Marguerite Casey Foundation:Sign up now to get your free Boston Review issue delivered to your door at CaseyGrants.org/State.

Lumen:If you want to stay on track with your health this holiday season, head to http://lumen.me/AD for 15% off your purchase.

Reclaimed:This podcast takes you back to the very beginning when the Navajo reservation was first created. And it reveals the history of oppression and exclusion that led the Navajo to this point — and why their future is still uncertain. You can listen to “Reclaimed” wherever you get podcasts.

Abdul and Katelyn break down the latest in appointments to the new administration. They also discuss the latest news about H5N1 (hint, it’s still bad), and new study’s findings about how the HPV vaccine decimated cervical cancer rates among young women. Then Abdul sits down with Dr. Bill Foege, the public health leader and former CDC director who led the effort to eradicate smallpox, to talk about his new book “Change is Possible: Reflections on the History of Global Health.”

This show would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. America Dissected invites you to check them out. This episode was brought to you by:

Marguerite Casey Foundation:Sign up now to get your free Boston Review issue delivered to your door at CaseyGrants.org/State.

Quince: Gift luxury this holiday season, without the luxury price tag. Go to quince.com/AD to get free shipping and 365-day returns.

Blueland: To take advantage of their best sale of the year for up to 30% off your entire order, go to blueland.com/america.

Reclaimed:This podcast takes you back to the very beginning when the Navajo reservation was first created. And it reveals the history of oppression and exclusion that led the Navajo to this point — and why their future is still uncertain. You can listen to “Reclaimed” wherever you get podcasts.

And don’t forget to visit the America Dissected store for the Holiday sale! We’ve got our logo mugs, t-shirts, and hoodies and our “Vaccines Work. Science Matters.” shirts on sale now! Go to store.americadissected.com, promo code “Holiday.”

Happy Thanksgiving friends!

We are dark this week, but we are excited to share that America Dissected merch is back!

We have t-shirts, hoodies and mugs at store.americadissected.com

Use the promo code HOLIDAY for 15% off!

We will see you here next Thursday with a brand new episode.

Abdul and Katelyn break down the week’s top headlines, including what Trump’s troubling cabinet picks say about his priorities, the latest H5N1 case in Canada, and some good news about vaccination rates this fall. And then later, Abdul talks to strength training coach and physician Dr. Jordan Feigenbaum about his approach to evidence-based strength training in a world full of fitness influencers.

This show would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. America Dissected invites you to check them out. This episode was brought to you by:

Marguerite Casey Foundation:Join the MCF Book Club at CaseyGrants.org/BookClub.

Reclaimed:This podcast takes you back to the very beginning when the Navajo reservation was first created. And it reveals the history of oppression and exclusion that led the Navajo to this point — and why their future is still uncertain. You can listen to “Reclaimed” wherever you get podcasts.

You can find Dr. Jordan Feigenbaum at www.barbellmedicine.com

Sharing an episode of the podcast Reclaimed. It centers on a group of Americans who’ve been denied a basic human right: water. I’m talking about the Navajo people. More than one-third of households in the Navajo Nation do not have access to clean water. Right now, there’s a landmark bill in front of Congress that could change this — but it took more than 150 years to get here. “Reclaimed” takes you back to the very beginning when the Navajo reservation was first created. And it reveals the history of oppression and exclusion that led the Navajo to this point — and why their future is still uncertain. You can listen to more episodes of Reclaimed at https://abcaudio.com/podcasts/reclaimed-navajo-nation/

Abdul introduces America Dissected’s new co-host: Dr. Katelyn Jetelina. He and Katelyn break down “Make America Healthy Again,” Project 2025, and what it will take to protect the institutions of public health and healthcare over the next 4 years.

This show would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. America Dissected invites you to check them out. This episode was brought to you by:

Marguerite Casey Foundation:Join the MCF Book Club at CaseyGrants.org/BookClub.

Lumen:If you want to stay on track with your health this holiday season, head to http://lumen.me/AD for 15% off your purchase.

Abdul reflects on the meaning of a second Trump term.

It’s been a … stressful … couple of months. And if past elections are any indication, that anxiety may not go away any time soon. Though we all know that sleep is critical, few of us get enough of it, particularly during stressful moments. Abdul reflects on the quest for a good night’s sleep. Then he sits down with sleep expert Dr. Chris Winter to talk through the most important things all of us can do to get a good night.

This show would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. America Dissected invites you to check them out. This episode was brought to you by:

Marguerite Casey Foundation:Join the MCF Book Club at CaseyGrants.org/BookClub.

To See Each Other: A podcast that complicates the narrative about small town Americans in our most misunderstood communities. You can listen to more episodes of To See Each Other at https://link.chtbl.com/toseeeachother?sid=americadissected.

When it comes to "trust" in public health, there was a "before the pandemic" and an "after the pandemic." Rebuilding that trust will require us to deal with all the ways the pandemic moment shaped Americans' perceptions of what public health is, how it works, and who speaks for it. In this LIVE taping from the American Public Health Association's Annual Meeting, Abdul talks to author Prof. Eric Klinenberg, whose recent book "2020: One City, Seven People, and the Year that Changed Everything" contends that without dealing with the trauma of the pandemic, it may be impossible to move forward.

Pick up your copy of “2020: One City, Seven People, and the Year that Changed Everything” here.

This show would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. America Dissected invites you to check them out. This episode was brought to you by:

Marguerite Casey Foundation:Get your free Boston Review issue delivered to you at CaseyGrants.org/State.

Blueland:Reinvent cleaning essentials to be better for you and the planet, with the same powerful clean you’re used to. Right now, get 15% off your first order by going to Blueland.com/america.

To See Each Other: A podcast that complicates the narrative about small town Americans in our most misunderstood communities. You can listen to more episodes of To See Each Other at https://link.chtbl.com/toseeeachother?sid=americadissected.

You’ve probably heard all about Project 2025, the conservative plan to remake America … for 1950. Abdul reflects on the power of the federal government when it comes to health. Then he sits down with Sulma Arias and Aija Nemer-Aanerud with People’s Action Institute to dig into what Project 2025 would mean for health in America.

This show would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. America Dissected invites you to check them out. This episode was brought to you by:

Marguerite Casey Foundation:Join the MCF Book Club at CaseyGrants.org/BookClub.

Blueland:Reinvent cleaning essentials to be better for you and the planet, with the same powerful clean you’re used to. Right now, get 15% off your first order by going to Blueland.com/america.

To See Each Other: A podcast that complicates the narrative about small town Americans in our most misunderstood communities. You can listen to more episodes of To See Each Other at https://link.chtbl.com/toseeeachother?sid=americadissected.

The FDA recently issued a rule that requires all mammography reports include information about breast density. Abdul talks to Dr. Elise Desperito, the Breast Imaging Director at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center about what breast density is and its implications for breast cancer screening.

To assess your breast cancer risk, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center recommendsthe Tyrer-Cuzick Risk Assessment Calculator.

This show would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. America Dissected invites you to check them out. This episode was brought to you by:

Marguerite Casey Foundation:Join the MCF Book Club at CaseyGrants.org/BookClub.

Quince:Upgrade your wardrobe with pieces made to last with Quince. Go to Quince.com/AD for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.

Lumen: If you want to take the next step in improving your health, visit go.lumen.me/ADfor 15% off your purchase.

To See Each Other: A podcast that complicates the narrative about small town Americans in our most misunderstood communities. You can listen to more episodes of To See Each Other at https://link.chtbl.com/toseeeachother?sid=americadissected.

Sharing an episode of To See Each Other, a show that complicates the narrative about small town Americans in our most misunderstood, and often abandoned, communities. This season, host George Goehl travels to Lincoln County, Wisconsin to follow a small town battle for the last remaining public nursing home in the community. A conservative county board is hell bent on selling off this 5-star facility, but senior citizens are not having it, showing up to county board meetings, marching in the Labor Day Parade, and fighting with their very last breath. George goes deep into questions of aging in America, public vs. private long-term care, and the nuts and bolts of good old-fashioned organizing. This show will make you want to keep up the fight and think differently about aging.

You can listen to more episodes of To See Each Other at https://link.chtbl.com/toseeeachother?sid=americadissected

It’s October–which if the ubiquitous pink ribbons didn’t make it clear–is breast cancer awareness month. Breast cancer is a terrible disease, but so are so many others. But it has excellent branding. Which raises the question: should diseases have brands? Abdul reflects on the implications of branding disease. Then he sits down with Mara Einstein, a professor, author, and marketing expert to learn more about disease branding, its history, and its future.

This show would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. America Dissected invites you to check them out. This episode was brought to you by:

Marguerite Casey Foundation:Join the MCF Book Club at CaseyGrants.org/BookClub.

Rhone:Upgrade your closet with Rhone and use AD to save 20% at https://www.rhone.com/AD.   

Over the past several years, cities, counties, and states have elected to relieve their residents’ medical debt. That’s cascaded into a national movement to relieve it — which has been picked up by the likes of Vice President Kamala Harris in her presidential campaign. Abdul reflects on the particular pain of medical debt. Then he interviews Allison Sesso, President and CEO of Undue Medical Debt, the nation’s leading non-profit for medical debt relief. 

This show would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. America Dissected invites you to check them out. This episode was brought to you by:

Marguerite Casey Foundation:Join the MCF Book Club at CaseyGrants.org/BookClub.

Rhone:Upgrade your closet with Rhone and use AD to save 20% at  https://www.rhone.com/AD.   

Blueland:Reinvent cleaning essentials to be better for you and the planet, with the same powerful clean you’re used to. Right now, get 15% off your first order by going to Blueland.com/america.

You are what you eat…right? Or maybe, we are what we eat. And together, most of the meat we consume is raised on factory farms that degrade our environment, our pocketbooks, and yes, our health. Abdul reflects on the role financialization has played in creating factory farms. Then he sits down with Bob Martin, Senior Policy Advisor at the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future and co-editor of the new book “Industrial Farm Animal Production, the Environment, and Public Health.”

This show would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. America Dissected invites you to check them out. This episode was brought to you by:

Marguerite Casey Foundation:Sign up for their free Summer School webinar at CaseyGrants.org/SummerSchool.

Is a hospital the best place for childbirth? That question is driving a revolution in birthing, focused on creating outpatient birth centers. This National Birth Center Week, Abdul reflects on the birth experience — and who it leaves behind. Then he sits down with the co-founder and CEO of the birth center Birth Detroit Leseliey Welch to talk about why birth centers are a key public health intervention against racial inequities in maternal and infant mortality — and her fight to expand them.

This show would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. America Dissected invites you to check them out. This episode was brought to you by:

Marguerite Casey Foundation:Sign up for their new Summer School program at CaseyGrants.org/SummerSchool.

Liquid I.V.: Turn your ordinary water into extraordinary hydration with Liquid I.V.® Get 20% off your first order of Liquid I.V.® when you go to liquidiv.com and use code DISSECT at checkout.

Lumen: If you want to take the next step in improving your health, visit go.lumen.me/ADfor 15% off your purchase.

Rhone:Upgrade your closet with Rhone and use AD to save 20% at https://www.rhone.com/AD.   

For more than half of the adults alive, pelvic exams are among the most dreaded parts of getting healthcare. That’s not to mention the troublesome history of how they came to be a part of standard medical practice. Abdul reflects on the gender imbalance in medical innovation. Then he speaks with author and historian Prof. Wendy Kline, author of the new book “Exposed: The Hidden History of the Pelvic Exam” about the procedure’s history, present use, and future.

This show would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. America Dissected invites you to check them out. This episode was brought to you by:

Marguerite Casey Foundation:Sign up for their new Summer School program at CaseyGrants.org/SummerSchool.

Blueland:Reinvent cleaning essentials to be better for you and the planet, with the same powerful clean you’re used to. Right now, get 15% off your first order by going to Blueland.com/america.

It’s back-to-school season — and that means back-to-school vaccines. Abdul reflects on the roles that ritual and trust play in shaping vaccination. Then he sits down with Dr. Natasha Bhuyan, a family physician, to discuss the conversations she has with hesitant families and the future of family medicine.

This show would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. America Dissected invites you to check them out. This episode was brought to you by:

Marguerite Casey Foundation:Sign up for their new Summer School program at CaseyGrants.org/SummerSchool.

You’ve probably never heard of Trikafta — unless you or someone you love lives with cystic fibrosis. The drug has fundamentally changed cystic fibrosis care, extending life expectancy by decades. But the drug costs $326,000 a year — and requires people to be on it for life. Abdul reflects on the central challenge at promoting life-saving innovations that the people who need them can afford. Then he interviews Dr. Michael Boyle, President and CEO of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation about the science behind Trikafta and the work to make it universally affordable.

This show would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. America Dissected invites you to check them out. This episode was brought to you by:

Marguerite Casey Foundation:Sign up for their new Summer School program at CaseyGrants.org/SummerSchool.

Rhone:Upgrade your closet with Rhone and use AD to save 20% at https://www.rhone.com/AD.

Environmental injustice leaves too many Americans, mainly Black and brown, breathing air that has been poisoned by smokestacks too close to their homes and schools. Abdul reflects on the process that drives it. Then he sits down with Darren Riley, CEO of JustAir, a company working to build air monitoring networks across hard hit communities, about how to leverage tech for environmental justice.

This show would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. America Dissected invites you to check them out. This episode was brought to you by:

Marguerite Casey Foundation:Sign up for their new Summer School program at CaseyGrants.org/SummerSchool.

Liquid I.V.: Turn your ordinary water into extraordinary hydration with Liquid I.V.® Get 20% off your first order of Liquid I.V.® when you go to liquidiv.com and use code DISSECT at checkout.

Henson Shaving:Go tohttps://hensonshaving.com and enter AD at checkout to get 100 free blades with your purchase. (Note: you must add both the 100-blade pack and the razor for the discount to apply.)

Article: Check out their spring and summer home collection at article.com/AD. Make sure to use promo code AD at checkout to save $50 off your first purchase of $100 or more.

Public health is universal–or at least it should be. But since the pandemic, it’s been politicized in ways that threaten critical work in conservative communities. Abdul reflects on how the way we talk about public health may be contributing to that. Then he sits down with Dr. Dwayne Proctor, President and CEO of the Missouri Foundation for Health to learn about the pioneering work they sponsor in Missouri, and what we can learn from their experiences. 

This show would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. America Dissected invites you to check them out. This episode was brought to you by:

Marguerite Casey Foundation:Sign up for their new Summer School program at CaseyGrants.org/SummerSchool.

Henson Shaving:Go tohttps://hensonshaving.com and enter AD at checkout to get 100 free blades with your purchase. (Note: you must add both the 100-blade pack and the razor for the discount to apply.)

Blueland:Reinvent cleaning essentials to be better for you and the planet, with the same powerful clean you’re used to. Right now, get 15% off your first order by going to Blueland.com/america.

The concept of “excited delirium” has been used to justify extreme force from law enforcement and to cover up police violence. Coined by a medical examiner in Florida in the ‘80s, it has its roots in eugenics. Abdul reflects on the way that pseudoscience has too often been used by the medical establishment to justify racist maltreatment. Then he interviews Prof. Aisha Beliso-De Jésus, an anthropologist and author of a new book about the history and consequences of “Excited Delirium.”

This show would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. America Dissected invites you to check them out. This episode was brought to you by:

Marguerite Casey Foundation:Sign up for their new Summer School program at CaseyGrants.org/SummerSchool.

Article: Check out their spring and summer home collection at article.com/AD. Make sure to use promo code AD at checkout to save $50 off your first purchase of $100 or more.

Liquid I.V.: Turn your ordinary water into extraordinary hydration with Liquid I.V.® Get 20% off your first order of Liquid I.V.® when you go to liquidiv.com and use code DISSECT at checkout.

Hospitals can charge you however much they want for healthcare — without telling you. Rapper turned healthcare advocate Fat Joe thinks they need to lean back.Abdul reflects on the fight for price transparency in healthcare, then sits down with the entertainer to learn more about his fight for healthcare transparency.

This show would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. America Dissected invites you to check them out. This episode was brought to you by:

Marguerite Casey Foundation:Sign up for their new Summer School program at CaseyGrants.org/SummerSchool.

Blueland:Reinvent cleaning essentials to be better for you and the planet, with the same powerful clean you’re used to. Right now, get 15% off your first order by going to Blueland.com/america.

The Supreme Court is an unelected body–there was a time when the justices understood that. Not this court. In their most recent set of rulings, they took a hammer to the fundamentals of American government. Abdul unpacks the most important ruling. Then he sits down with Leah Litman, Constitutional Law professor and host of Crooked Media’s  Strict Scrutiny to understand the implications for public health and healthcare.

This show would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. America Dissected invites you to check them out. This episode was brought to you by:

Marguerite Casey Foundationinvites you to sign up for their new Summer School program at caseygrants.org/summerschool.

Liquid I.V. Turn your ordinary water into extraordinary hydration with Liquid I.V.® Get 20% off your first order of Liquid I.V.® when you go to liquidiv.com and use code DISSECT at checkout.

Article. Check out their spring and summer home collection at article.com/AD. Make sure to use promo code AD at checkout to save $50 off your first purchase of $100 or more.

Lumen. If you want to take the next step in improving your health, visit go.lumen.me/ADfor 15% off your purchase.

Recently, the FDA approved a genetic test for opioid use disorder despite clear opposition from scientists and the FDA advisory panel that had reviewed the evidence. The case demonstrates the space where Pharma’s incentive may drive innovation that may not help–or worse, cause harm. Abdul reflects on how genetic essentialism and the wrong incentives can reinforce each other. Than he speaks with Dr. Elizabeth Joniak-Grant, a sociologist and patient advocate who voted against the genetic test.

This show would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. America Dissected invites you to check them out. This episode was brought to you by:

Marguerite Casey Foundationinvites you to sign up for their new Summer School program at caseygrants.org/summerschool.

Henson Shaving invites you to find the razor that will last you a lifetime. Go tohttps://hensonshaving.com and enter AD at checkout to get 100 free blades with your purchase. (Note: you must add both the 100-blade pack and the razor for the discount to apply.)

Blueland invites you to celebrate Plastic Free July with up to 25% off your Blueland order. Go to Blueland.com/america now for your special limited time offer.

To the untrained eye, public health and healthcare are–if not the same thing–then two sides of the same coin. But to those of us who work in public health, healthcare is too often a giant vacuum of health dollars focused more on the bottom line than public wellbeing. Abdul reflects on the tradeoffs between health and healthcare. Then he sits down with Dr. Dave Chokshi, the former New York City Health Commissioner and current Chair of the Common Health Coalition, which is attempting to bridge the divide.

This show would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. America Dissected invites you to check them out. This episode was brought to you by:

Marguerite Casey Foundationwho invites you to sign up for their new Summer School program at caseygrants.org/summerschool.

Article who invites you to check out their spring and summer home collection at article.com/AD. Make sure to use promo code AD at checkout to save $50 off your first purchase of $100 or more.

Lumen who invites you to unlock your metabolism. Visit go.lumen.me/ADfor 15% off your purchase.

The pandemic didn’t change everything–it just made everything weird. From declining trust in institutions to the growing power of Big Tech on our lives, we are struggling to deal with the world as it’s become. Abdul reflects on the long tail of the pandemic. Then he sits down with New York TImes columnist David Wallace-Wells to talk about post-pandemic “medical libertarianism,” social media and teen mental health, and the impact of the pandemic on the foundations of our lives.

This show would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. America Dissected invites you to check them out. This episode was brought to you by:

Marguerite Casey Foundationwho invites you to sign up for their new Summer School program at caseygrants.org/summerschool.

Racism is among this country’s most persistent original sins. Not only does it pattern access to everything from education to housing to jobs — but infant mortality, cancer, and life expectancy. Abdul reflects on the stickiness of racism. Then he interviews author and journalist Dr. Layal Liverpool, author of the new book “Systemic,” about how racism gets under the skin, how that differs across countries, and what we can do about it. 

Pick up your copy of “Systemic” here.

This show would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. America Dissected invites you to check them out. This episode was brought to you by:

Marguerite Casey Foundationwho invites you to sign up for their new Summer School program at caseygrants.org/summerschool.

Article who invites you to check out their spring and summer home collection at article.com/AD. Make sure to use promo code AD at checkout to save $50 off your first purchase of $100 or more.

Henson Shaving invites you to find the razor that will last you a lifetime. Go tohttps://hensonshaving.com and enter AD at checkout to get 100 free blades with your purchase. (Note: you must add both the 100-blade pack and the razor for the discount to apply.)

We talk a lot more about mental health than we used to — and that’s served to destigmatize it and promote opportunities to improve it. But that conversation has yet to improve mental healthcare for those who need it most. Abdul reflects on why we still have so much further to go. Then he sits down with Dr. Alice Feller, a psychiatrist and author of American Madness about how politicians disassembled the US mental healthcare system and what we need to do to rebuild it.

This show would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. America Dissected invites you to check them out. This episode was brought to you by:

Marguerite Casey Foundationwho invites you to sign up for their new Summer School program at caseygrants.org/summerschool

Lumen if you want to take the next step in improving your health, go to https://lumen.me/AD to get 15% off your Lumen.

Too many politicians are too beholden to the healthcare industry to propose any meaningful change. That’s not true of the Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, Senator Bernie Sanders. Since 2016, his ideas have animated some of the most important changes in healthcare policy. Abdul reflects on the need for big ideas–and why we don’t get them that often. Then he interviews Senator Bernie Sanders on the 32-hour workweek, his Long COVID moonshot, and the price of GLP-1 agonists like Ozempic. 

This show would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. America Dissected invites you to check them out. This episode was brought to you by:

Marguerite Casey Foundationwho invites you to sign up for their book club at caseygrants.org/bookclub

Article who invites you to check out their spring and summer home collection at article.com/AD.

Make sure to use promo code AD at checkout to save $50 off your first purchase of $100 or more.

Trauma is all around us–and the word has come to dominate so much of our conversation about mental health. The common perception of trauma is that it lingers, devastating mental health over time. But what if the more common consequence of trauma was growth? Abdul reflects on the way we think about trauma. Then he interviews Prof. Richard Tedeschi, the psychologist who coined the term “post-traumatic growth” about the phenomenon, why it happens, and how we unlock it.

This show would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. America Dissected invites you to check them out. This episode was brought to you by:

Marguerite Casey Foundationwho invites you to sign up for their book club at caseygrants.org/bookclub

Millions of Americans go without healthcare every year. Many of them turn to crowdfunding to support their needs. Abdul reflects on what that says about how we think about one another. Then he interviews Prof. Nora Kenworthy, author of the new book “Crowded Out: The True Costs of Crowdfunding Healthcare” about who wins, who loses, and how we build a healthcare system where Americans don’t need to crowdfund.

This show would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. America Dissected invites you to check them out. This episode was brought to you by:

Marguerite Casey Foundationwho invites you to sign up for their book club at caseygrants.org/bookclub

Article who invites you to check out their spring and summer home collection at article.com/AD. Make sure to use promo code AD at checkout to save $50 off your first purchase of $100 or more.

The H5N1 Bird Flu has been circulating in cows for 5 months, spreading faster and farther than we had previously expected. Abdul reflects on the wake-up call it poses for the public health community. Then he interviews Dr. Kimberly Dodd, a veterinarian and former USDA official, about the risk of spread, whether or not the current regulations are enough to protect humans, and where this goes from here.

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The Anti-Diet movement has helped us understand some of the downsides of a perpetual diet culture driven by influencers and advertisers selling us this or that fad. But what happens when the influencers behind that movement get co-opted by corporations too? Abdul reflects on the way that corporate interests too often interfere with sound science and public education. Then he sits down with Sasha Chavkin, Senior Reporter at The Examination and Caitlin Gilbert, Well+Being Data Reporter at The Washington Post to learn about their reporting on food corporations funding the anti-diet movement.

This show would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. America Dissected invites you to check them out. This episode was brought to you by:

Marguerite Casey Foundationwho invites you to sign up for their book club at caseygrants.org/bookclub

Article who invites you to check out their spring and summer home collection at 

article.com/AD. Make sure to use promo code AD at checkout to save $50 off your first purchase of $100 or more.

For so many Americans, pets are members of the family. And our interactions with animals — in our homes, on our farms, and in the wild — shape our health in some important ways. Abdul reflects on what he’s learned about health working in animal welfare. Then he sits down with Melissa Miller, an animal care expert, disaster field responder, trainer, and county animal care and control director to talk about how pets shape our health, how to do our best for our fur babies, and what can go wrong when we fail them.

Public health professionals are people, too. Too often, though, we don’t think about them that way — their needs, their hopes, and aspirations, their individual skills and areas of passion. But if we want a functional public health system, we really should. Abdul reflects on the experience of leading public health teams. Then he speaks with Dr. Brian Castrucci, President and CEO of the de Beaumont Foundation and co-author of a new book, “Building Strategic Skills for Better Health: A Primer for Public Health Professionals,” about how to build a better public health workforce.

Last summer’s blockbuster “Oppenheimer” took home best picture for a stirring portrayal of the man behind the world’s most dangerous weapon. But there’s a part the story left out: the devastation wrought by nuclear weapons testing on communities here in the US. Abdul reflects on the broader fallout of producing weapons of war. Then he talks to Tina Cordova, co-founder and Executive Director of the Tularosa Basin Downwinders Consortium, and Dr. Chanese Forté, a scientist with the Global Security Program of the Union of Concerned Scientists about the testing fallout — and what it spells for the future.

In a time when AI is creating new realities faster than we can make sense of them, we need to imagine possible future scenarios to prepare. Which is why a new novel by Marschall Runge, Dean of the University of Michigan Medical School, is so prescient. In his book “Coded to Kill,” Runge helps us imagine what could go wrong, even if so much can go right. Abdul reflects on the critical role of imagination in science. Then he sits down with Dean Runge to talk about what his book can teach us about how we prepare for a future of artificial intelligence in medicine.

Maternal and child health inequities by race are a blot on our national fabric. But fixing them isn’t about one silver bullet — it’s about systems coming together to do their part. Abdul reflects on the struggle for birthing equity. He interviews Dr. Natalie Hernandez, one of the authors of the “Practical Playbook” on maternal health inequities to understand how sectors can come together to save Black moms and babies.

All of us live in bodies. But what happens when those bodies change in ways that rob us of critical life experiences? That’s the question that so many people face after mastectomy. Abdul reflects on the idea of embodiment and the role that healthcare plays in shaping it. Then he interviews Dr. Stacy Tessler Lindau, an obstetrician/gynecologist and scientist designing a bionic breast to help people who’ve lost their breast regain some of the critical functions that they too often lose.

For so many reasons — shame, privacy, social discomfort — we don’t talk enough about sex as a public health issue. But it's an important part of a healthy adult human life. So, we’re going to talk about sex. Abdul reflects on the forces that keep us from having a healthy, sex-positive perspective. Then he speaks with Emily Nagoski, New York Times Bestselling Author and Sex Educator about how to reframe and rebuild long term sexual relationships.

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For nearly a decade, Flint, Michigan has been synonymous with the lead and water crisis that put the city on the map. But Flint is resilient. Abdul reflects on the central role of poverty in all that Flint experienced. Then he speaks with Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, the pediatrician who uncovered the water crisis, and Prof. Luke Shaefer, an anti-poverty researcher, about their new “Rx Kids” program to provide cash to pregnant moms to solve poverty in Flint.

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A few weeks ago, the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that embryos created in the IVF process had the same rights as children. The ruling was a warning of just how far the anti-abortion might go. Abdul reflects on the hypocrisy at the core of the ruling. Then he sits down with Elisabeth Smith, Director for State Policy and Advocacy at the Center for Reproductive Rights to discuss the broader implications of the ruling and what it means for people in Alabama and beyond.

Chronic illness is debilitating. But it’s not just the pain and dysfunction it causes, but the anxiety of not really knowing when it’ll strike — or get worse. Abdul reflects on the ways that science has been diverted by the goals of the healthcare industrial complex away from answering questions at the edge of chronic illness. Then he sits down with author Megan O’Rourke, author of Invisible Kingdom, a book about the experience of living with a chronic autoimmune disorder, about her experience, how it changed her, and what she wishes more people understood about it.

Ottawa County, Michigan made national news last year after a MAGA take over of its County Commission. Their first major act? To try to defund their public health department. Abdul reflects on the impending risk of this across the country. Then he sits down with Adeline Hambley and Marcia Mansaray, the leaders of the Ottawa County Health Department to learn what happened — and what they did next. 

More pedestrians are dying in auto accidents. Abdul reflects on the public health challenges that cars pose in general. Then he sits down with Dr. Deborah Kuhls, a trauma surgeon who studies pedestrian fatalities to understand why and how to stop it.

Sickle Cell Disease is a debilitating genetic disease that almost exclusively affects Black folks. While genetic breakthroughs have made a cure possible, the high price tag may keep them away from people who need them. Abdul reflects on the way that society shapes the scientific questions we ask — and whose diseases we take seriously. Then he interviews Dr. Titilope Fasipe, a pediatric hematologist who treats sickle cell disease — and has lived with the disease her whole life. 

In less than four months, more than 25,000 people have been killed by Israeli bombardment in Gaza. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg of devastation. Abdul reflects on how the way we talk about this will shape how the international community values human life. Then he interviews Dr. Tanya Haj-Hasan, a pediatric intensive care doctor with Doctors without Borders and creator of the social medial channel “Gaza Medic Voices.”

The COVID-19 pandemic was a crucible for America’s public health institutions. It brought out their best — and worst. And many of us didn’t like what we saw. Abdul sits down with Prof. Sandro Galea, Dean of the Boston University School of Public Health to talk about his new book, Within Reason, in which Galea argues that the pandemic uncovered an “illiberal,” even, at times, authoritarian, strain within.

Over the past decade, Fentanyl, a cheap, hyper-potent, and synthetic opiate has accelerated the opioid pandemic already ravaging the country. Abdul reflects on the way that our atomized, lonely communities left us vulnerable to opioid addiction and fentanyl and sits down with Dr. Rahul Gupta, director of National Drug Control Policy to talk through the history of the opioid epidemic, fentanyl, and how the federal government is working with local communities to solve it.

America’s most common New Year’s resolutions focus on health–weight loss, fitness, or something else. While almost all of them focus on physical health, they all run through our mental health. Abdul reflects on how essential health is to everything else we do. Then he sits down with psychiatrist and author Dr. Jud Brewer to understand the mind-body axis and how mastering it can help us nail down those resolutions.

It’s not only what you say — it’s how you say it. And that’s often where public health gets it wrong. Our producer Emma Illick-Frank talks to a recovered anti-vaxxer about what ultimately brought him around. Then Abdul talks to Jessica Malaty Rivera, an epidemiologist and health communicator, about how far humility and accessible language can go to protecting health.

Feel that in your nose? If you’re like everyone else this time of year, you’ve probably got that dreaded nasal congestion that comes with the colds and flus this time of year. But nasal congestion is more complicated than you think. Abdul reflects on the collective burden of the annoying illnesses we fight through every year. Then he speaks with Sarah Zhang, a staff writer at the Atlantic who recently wrote about why nasal congestion is more complicated than you might think.

It’s cold and flu … and RSV, and COVID season. But vaccinations are down this year — and we haven’t made critical investments in things like air purification and ventilation that we could have and should have to protect ourselves from airborne diseases. Abdul reflects on the opportunities missed and the consequences of missing them. Then he sits down with Dr. Katelyn Jetelina, author of the Your Local Epidemiologist newsletter to talk about what folks can do to protect themselves.

Ady Barkan was a lion for healthcare justice. After his diagnosis with ALS, he spent his final years fighting for Medicare for All. Ady passed away this month at 39. We go back into the AD archives to 2019, when Abdul sat down with Ady to learn about his activism and his hopes for the America he’d leave his kids.

One of the hallmarks of living in a high-income country is that we can usually take food safety for granted. But what happens when food contamination recalls are on the rise? Food contamination was a full-blown epidemic at the turn of the 20th century. Abdul reflects on how much behind-the-scenes work goes into keeping food safe. Then he interviews Deborah Blum, a science journalist and author of two books about the history of food safety about what the history of food safety regulation should teach us about the future.

America Dissected comes to you LIVE from Atlanta at the American Public Health Association Annual Meeting. Abdul reflects on the ways that the internet is fundamentally reshaping the way we think about place–and its impact on public health. Then he sits down with Ian Bogost, professor, video game designer, and contributing writer at the Atlantic.

In 2019, the Mexican government instituted a new rule that took mascots like El Tigre Toño off of high-sugar foods. The food industry fought back. And now a similar fight may be coming to the United States. Abdul reflects on the role of marketing in our food environment. Then he speaks with Nick Florko, a reporter at STAT News, about Mexico’s struggle to cage the tiger.

GoFundMe to support the family of Ady Barkan

You are what you eat, right? If so, then our guest has a message for us: we’re “ultra-processed people.” In this episode, Abdul reflects on just how culturally-driven our food choices are and how big corporations use that to influence those choices and feed us food that’s…barely food at all. Then he interviews Dr. Chris van Tulleken, a physician and health researcher, about his book “Ultra-Processed People.”