1016 - An Unlikely but Promising Collaboration in Ohio
Public Health On Call
About this episode: Despite swirling controversy around public health policies, some experts and advocates are finding ways to work together. In this episode: what an unlikely collaboration between a grassroots MAHA organizer and a Yale epidemiologist can teach us about finding common ground for the betterment of people’s health. Guests: is an award-winning executive producer, showrunner and journalist. She is currently an executive producer and co-host of the podcast, . is an Emmy award-winning executive producer with experience in documentary series, digital, cable and network...
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1015 - Unexplained Pauses in CDC Data
Public Health On Call
About this episode: The CDC has long collected and publicly reported data on infectious diseases, vaccination rates, overdose deaths, and other health topics. But in 2025, many of these datasets inexplicably went dark. In this episode: the importance of real-time data in implementing public health solutions and the potential consequences of these lapses in reporting. Guests: , JD, is a professor at the Boston University School of Law. She writes and teaches in the areas of patent law, intellectual property, information law, and civil procedure. Host: Stephanie Desmon, MA, is a former...
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1014 - How the FDA Regulates Mifepristone, “the Abortion Pill”
Public Health On Call
About this episode: A recent analysis of FDA documents has found that the agency has historically regulated mifepristone—a medication commonly used to terminate pregnancy—based on available scientific evidence and without ideological bias. In this episode: Caleb Alexander, an author of the study, discusses these findings and their implications for a possible new review of the medication by FDA. Guests: , MS, is a practicing internist and drug safety expert at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Host: Lindsay Smith Rogers, MA, is the...
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1013 - A College Course for Digital Detoxing
Public Health On Call
About this episode: A class at Loyola University Maryland has pushed students to think critically about their technology use in an age of constant scrolling. In this episode: class instructor Shreya Hessler and student Emma Hester reflect on the value of getting offline and how to spend less time on our devices. Guests: , PsyD, is a psychologist and the director of the . Emma Hester is a senior studying psychology and speech, language, and hearing sciences at Loyola University Maryland. Host: Stephanie Desmon, MA, is a former journalist, author, and the director of public relations and...
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1012 - A “Giant Geyser of Poop” Along the Potomac River
Public Health On Call
About this episode: A pipe collapse outside of D.C. has spilled nearly 300 million tons of sewage into the Potomac River. Recent frigid temperatures and long-term infrastructure challenges are making cleanup a formidable job. In this episode: Natalie Exum of the Johns Hopkins University Water Institute talks about the spill, its health impacts, and whether it could have been prevented. Guests: , PhD, MS, is an assistant professor of at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and an affiliate of the . Host: Lindsay Smith Rogers, MA, is the producer of the , an editor for , and the...
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1011 - Policies for Play: School Recess and Public Health
Public Health On Call
About this episode: Daily recess has been shown to improve mental health and academic outcomes for children while also providing an opportunity for physical activity and social development. But few states have formal policies that protect dedicated recess time. In this episode: Researchers Rachel Deitch and Erin Hager discuss the public health benefits of recess and their toolkit for advancing state recess laws. Guests: Rachel Deitch, MS, is a program officer in the at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Erin Hager, PhD, is a professor of at the Johns Hopkins...
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1010 - Centering Pleasure in Sexual Health
Public Health On Call
About this episode: Sexual education often focuses on the potential risks of unplanned pregnancies and STIs. But an approach to sexual health that includes frank discussions of what feels good could yield better health outcomes. In this episode: Sexual health expert Joshua O’Neal talks about the value of starting sexual health conversations with enjoyment and comfort. Note: This episode was produced in collaboration with the . Guests: Joshua O’Neal, MA, is a sexual health educator and program director at the . Host: Lindsay Smith Rogers,...
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1009 - What’s Happening at SAMHSA?
Public Health On Call
About this episode: Last month’s abrupt cancellation and reinstatement of $2 billion in grants is just the most recent ordeal in SAMHSA’s long year of funding cuts and administrative upheaval. In this episode: Dr. Yngvild Olsen, formerly the director of the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment at SAMHSA, chronicles the challenges facing the agency and their possible implications for efforts to reduce opioid overdose deaths and improve mental health outcomes. Guests: , MPH, is a nationally recognized leader in addiction medicine, public health policy,...
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1008 - The Outlook on Direct-to-Consumer Health Care
Public Health On Call
About this episode: Products and services like genetic testing, prescriptions for weight loss drugs, and health monitoring wearables are revolutionizing health and wellness in the U.S. But are these new gadgets and offerings easing the challenges facing the health care system or are they exacerbating them? In this episode: Dr. Josh Sharfstein speaks with health care entrepreneur Ashwini Nagappan about the pros and cons of the explosion of direct-to-consumer health care. Guests: Ashwini Nagappan, PhD, is a health care entrepreneur and researcher. Host: is distinguished professor of the...
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1007 - Public Health and Gambling Part 2: Problem Gambling
Public Health On Call
About this episode: Between scratch tickets, casinos, and the recent explosion of sports betting apps, opportunities to gamble abound. So too do opportunities for the development of a gambling disorder—a medical condition as serious as substance use disorders. In this episode: Will Hinman and Christopher Welsh from the Maryland Center of Excellence on Problem Gambling explain how to recognize gambling disorders and where to seek help. Guests: is a certified peer recovery specialist at the . is an addiction psychiatrist and a...
info_outlineAbout this episode:
Pertussis—more commonly known as “whooping cough—is on the rise, with more than 25,000 cases and a number of child deaths recorded in the U.S. in 2025. In this episode: Dr. Erica Prochaska talks about the symptoms of pertussis, how it spreads, when to seek out medical care, how to prevent infection, and the role of vaccines.
Guests:
Dr. Erica Prochaska, MHS, is a pediatric infectious disease doctor at the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center and an assistant professor of Pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.
Host:
Lindsay Smith Rogers, MA, is the producer of the Public Health On Call podcast, an editor for Expert Insights, and the director of content strategy for the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Show links and related content:
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Epidemiological Update: Pertussis (Whooping Cough) in the Americas Region—Pan American Health Organization
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Global whooping cough resurgence after COVID lull may point to need for better vaccines—CIDRAP
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More than 25,000 whooping cough cases reported this year as Kentucky records 3rd infant death—ABC News
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An Update On Measles, Pertussis, Mpox, and Other Vaccine-Preventable Diseases—Public Health On Call (November 2024)
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