Public Health On Call
Evidence and experts to help you understand today’s public health news—and what it means for tomorrow.
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936 - The New Reality Facing Medicare, Medicaid, and the ACA
08/21/2025
936 - The New Reality Facing Medicare, Medicaid, and the ACA
About this episode: The reconciliation bill passed by Congress in July is set to unravel key aspects of the Affordable Care Act that have expanded health coverage to millions of Americans. In this episode: One of the architects of the ACA, Liz Fowler, outlines how work requirements, truncated enrollment periods, and higher premiums will change health care for Americans on Medicaid and Medicare and for those buying coverage through their state’s marketplace. Guest: Elizabeth Fowler, PhD, JD, is a distinguished scholar in Health Policy and Management at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and previously served as the director of the Innovation Center at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Host: Lindsay Smith Rogers, MA, is the producer of the , an editor for , and the director of content strategy for the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Show links and related content: —Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health —Center for American Progress —KFF Transcript information: Looking for episode transcripts? Open our podcast on the Apple Podcasts app (desktop or mobile) or the Spotify mobile app to access an auto-generated transcript of any episode. Closed captioning is also available for every episode on our YouTube channel. Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us or . Follow us: Here's our Note: These podcasts are a conversation between the participants, and do not represent the position of Johns Hopkins University.
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935 - World Mosquito Day: Harnessing New Tools to Jumpstart the Fight Against Malaria
08/20/2025
935 - World Mosquito Day: Harnessing New Tools to Jumpstart the Fight Against Malaria
About this episode: Progress in the global mission to eradicate malaria has stalled due to mosquito evolution, drug resistance, and underfunding. In this episode: Dr. Michael Adekunle Charles discusses what it will take to get this mission back on track, promising new tools recommended by WHO, and why a multisector approach to defeating malaria is crucial for achieving healthy outcomes. Guest: , MPH, is the Chief Executive Officer of the which brings together over 500 international partners dedicated to eliminating the disease. Host: Stephanie Desmon, MA, is a former journalist, author, and the director of public relations and communications for the . Show links and related content: —Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs —African Arguments Transcript information: Looking for episode transcripts? Open our podcast on the Apple Podcasts app (desktop or mobile) or the Spotify mobile app to access an auto-generated transcript of any episode. Closed captioning is also available for every episode on our YouTube channel. Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us or . Follow us: Here's our Note: These podcasts are a conversation between the participants, and do not represent the position of Johns Hopkins University.
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934 - Sickle Cell Disease: Genetic Therapies and Treatment Hurdles
08/18/2025
934 - Sickle Cell Disease: Genetic Therapies and Treatment Hurdles
About this episode: Sickle cell disease affects an estimated 100,000 people in the United States. Recent advancements in gene therapies and medicines like hydroxyurea are diminishing extreme pain, reducing strokes, and extending survival times for those afflicted by the disease. In this episode: leading sickle cell disease expert Dr. Mark Gladwin explains how revolutionary new treatments work and discusses the challenges to accessing life-saving care. Guest: is a physician-scientist and the Dean of the University of Maryland School of Medicine and Vice President for Medical Affairs at the University of Maryland, Baltimore. His research focuses include sickle cell disease and hypertension. Host: is vice dean for public health practice and community engagement at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, a faculty member in health policy, a pediatrician, and former secretary of Maryland’s Health Department. Show links and related content: —CNBC —Sickle Cell Disease Association of American —Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Transcript information: Looking for episode transcripts? Open our podcast on the Apple Podcasts app (desktop or mobile) or the Spotify mobile app to access an auto-generated transcript of any episode. Closed captioning is also available for every episode on our YouTube channel. Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us or . Follow us: Here's our Note: These podcasts are a conversation between the participants, and do not represent the position of Johns Hopkins University.
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933 - Fall Vaccine Confusion with Your Local Epidemiologist
08/15/2025
933 - Fall Vaccine Confusion with Your Local Epidemiologist
About this episode: Fall vaccines for flu, RSV, and—more recently—COVID have long followed a uniform rollout schedule allowing clinics and pharmacies ample time to order and administer shots. But that process looks different this year, raising concerns about access. In this episode: Katelyn Jetelina, publisher of Your Local Epidemiologist, explains how changes to the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and the FDA are pushing back the timeline and changing recommendations for routine vaccinations. Guest: , PhD, MPH, is an epidemiologist and scientific communicator. She is the co-founder of Health Trust Initiative, an adjunct professor at Yale School of Public Health, and a Senior Scientific Advisor to several government and non-profit agencies, including the CDC. In addition, Jetelina is the publisher of . Host: Lindsay Smith Rogers, MA, is the producer of the , an editor for , and the director of content strategy for the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Show links and related content: —Your Local Epidemiologist —The Guardian —AARP Transcript information: Looking for episode transcripts? Open our podcast on the Apple Podcasts app (desktop or mobile) or the Spotify mobile app to access an auto-generated transcript of any episode. Closed captioning is also available for every episode on our YouTube channel. Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us or . Follow us: Here's our Note: These podcasts are a conversation between the participants, and do not represent the position of Johns Hopkins University.
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932 - Cuts to mRNA Vaccine Development
08/13/2025
932 - Cuts to mRNA Vaccine Development
About this episode: The Department of Health and Human Services has cancelled nearly $500 million in funding for the development of mRNA vaccines, including for vaccines against potential new pandemic threats. In this episode: Professor Bill Moss delves into the misinformation surrounding mRNA vaccines, explains their potential to treat diseases like cancer and HIV, and warns of the national security threats posed by cuts to development. Guest: , MPH, is an infectious disease specialist and the executive director of the at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Host: Stephanie Desmon, MA, is a former journalist, author, and the director of public relations and communications for the . Show links and related content: —WBAL-TV 11 —Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health —Axios —Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Transcript information: Looking for episode transcripts? Open our podcast on the Apple Podcasts app (desktop or mobile) or the Spotify mobile app to access an auto-generated transcript of any episode. Closed captioning is also available for every episode on our YouTube channel. Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us or . Follow us: Here's our Note: These podcasts are a conversation between the participants, and do not represent the position of Johns Hopkins University.
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931 - A Big Setback for Nutrition Education
08/13/2025
931 - A Big Setback for Nutrition Education
About this episode: Since 2010, the nonprofit ChopChop Family has published magazines, cookbooks, and other tools to help pediatricians and nutrition educators inform families about the positive health outcomes of cooking nutritious foods. But deep cuts to SNAP-Ed, the federally-funded nutrition education program, are placing programs like ChopChop Family in limbo. In this episode: ChopChop Family founder and president Sally Sampson explains how the rapid rollback of SNAP-Ed is crippling nutrition education. Guest: Sally Sampson is a cookbook author and the founder and president of , a nonprofit publisher of cooking magazines, cookbooks, digital content, cooking curricula, and learning decks for children and families. Host: is vice dean for public health practice and community engagement at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, a faculty member in health policy, a pediatrician, and former secretary of Maryland’s Health Department. Show links and related content: —STAT —Apple Podcasts —Substack Transcript information: Looking for episode transcripts? Open our podcast on the Apple Podcasts app (desktop or mobile) or the Spotify mobile app to access an auto-generated transcript of any episode. Closed captioning is also available for every episode on our YouTube channel. Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us or . Follow us: Here's our Note: These podcasts are a conversation between the participants, and do not represent the position of Johns Hopkins University.
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930 - Peace Building in a Polarized Public Health Landscape
08/11/2025
930 - Peace Building in a Polarized Public Health Landscape
About this episode: As the United States grows more polarized along regional, political, and ideological lines, it is critical to resolve conflict civilly—particularly when it comes to pressing public health concerns that implicate all of us. In this episode: Peace building experts David Addiss and John Paul Lederach draw on their careers in conflict resolution and public health to share strategies for building relationships, restoring trustworthiness, and fostering solutions-oriented conversations to bridge ideological gaps. Guest: , MPH, is a public health doctor whose career has involved migrant health, mountain medicine, neglected tropical diseases, research, philanthropy, and global health. He is the Director of the Focus Area for Compassion and Ethics at the Task Force for Global Health. , PhD, is Professor Emeritus at the University of Notre Dame and a Senior Fellow with Humanity United. He is widely known for the development of culturally-based approaches to conflict transformation and the design and implementation of integrative and strategic approaches to peace building. Host: Lindsay Smith Rogers, MA, is the producer of the , an editor for , and the director of content strategy for the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Show links and related content: —Washington Post —www.johnpaullederach.com —Public Health On Call (June 2025) —Public Health On Call (December 2023) Transcript information: Looking for episode transcripts? Open our podcast on the Apple Podcasts app (desktop or mobile) or the Spotify mobile app to access an auto-generated transcript of any episode. Closed captioning is also available for every episode on our YouTube channel. Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us or . Follow us: Here's our Note: These podcasts are a conversation between the participants, and do not represent the position of Johns Hopkins University.
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929 - How To Spot Unregulated Pharmacies and Falsified Medications
08/06/2025
929 - How To Spot Unregulated Pharmacies and Falsified Medications
About this episode: Trying to save money on antibiotics, GLP-1 antagonists, or other medications using online pharmacies can pose serious health risks. These sites are flush with substandard and falsified drugs, which can cause adverse side effects, leave serious conditions untreated, and, in some instances, lead to death. In this episode: Dr. Henry Michtalik shares how providers and patients can spot unregulated suppliers and report counterfeit drugs. Guest: , MHS, MPH, is a hospitalist at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and an assistant professor at both the School of Medicine and the Bloomberg School of Public Health. He is a co-principal investigator with the School of Public Health’s . Host: Lindsay Smith Rogers, MA, is the producer of the , an editor for , and the director of content strategy for the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Show links and related content: —DW —Hopkins Bloomberg Public Health Magazine —National Association of Boards of Pharmacy —U.S. Food and Drug Administration Transcript Information: Looking for episode transcripts? Open our podcast on the Apple Podcasts app (desktop or mobile) or the Spotify mobile app to access an auto-generated transcript of any episode. Closed captioning is also available for every episode on our YouTube channel. Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us or . Follow us: Here's our Note: These podcasts are a conversation between the participants, and do not represent the position of Johns Hopkins University.
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928 - When Pharmacists Prescribe Medication for Abortion
08/04/2025
928 - When Pharmacists Prescribe Medication for Abortion
About this episode: Following the rise of restrictive abortion laws around the country, a pilot program in Washington state is training pharmacists to screen for and prescribe medication abortion. In this episode: Dr. Beth Rivin talks about the Pharmacist Abortion Access Project and how it’s creating more options for safe, convenient, and effective care for women—especially those living in rural and low-income communities. Guest: , MPH, is the President and CEO of , an organization focused on improving health and human rights with a particular emphasis on family planning and reproductive rights. Host: Stephanie Desmon, MA, is a former journalist, author, and the director of public relations and communications for the . Show links and related content: —New York Times —NPR —Public Health On Call (July 2024) Transcript information: Looking for episode transcripts? Open our podcast on the Apple Podcasts app (desktop or mobile) or the Spotify mobile app to access an auto-generated transcript of any episode. Closed captioning is also available for every episode on our YouTube channel. Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us or . Follow us: Here's our Note: These podcasts are a conversation between the participants, and do not represent the position of Johns Hopkins University.
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927 - World Breastfeeding Week: Creating Sustainable Support Systems
08/01/2025
927 - World Breastfeeding Week: Creating Sustainable Support Systems
About this episode: Breastfeeding plays a crucial role in babies’ development and new research is even suggesting that breast milk can provide benefits to the microbiomes and immune systems of adults. In this episode: Meghan Azad, a breastfeeding researcher from the University of Manitoba, explains the chemical compounds that make human breast milk unique from other mammals, the opportunities to build more community support for breastfeeding, and the benefits of lactation for mothers. Guest: , PhD, is a professor of pediatrics and child health at the University of Manitoba, where she leads a lab studying breastfeeding and breast milk. Host: Lindsay Smith Rogers, MA, is the producer of the , an editor for , and the director of content strategy for the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Show links and related content: —World Health Organization —UM Today —The Economist Transcript information: Looking for episode transcripts? Open our podcast on the Apple Podcasts app (desktop or mobile) or the Spotify mobile app to access an auto-generated transcript of any episode. Closed captioning is also available for every episode on our YouTube channel. Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us or . Follow us: Here's our Note: These podcasts are a conversation between the participants, and do not represent the position of Johns Hopkins University.
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926 - A Disability Advocate Speaks Out on Medicaid Cuts
07/31/2025
926 - A Disability Advocate Speaks Out on Medicaid Cuts
About this episode: Medicaid cuts from the recent budget reconciliation law are raising fears of cutbacks among Americans with disabilities who rely on the program for services that allow them to live independently. In this episode: Demi Eckhoff, who has a rare form of muscular dystrophy, and who relies on Medicaid in North Carolina, explains the uncertainty and what people with disabilities are doing to advocate for themselves. Guest: , MPH, is a disability advocate, a registered dietitian, and an incoming doctoral student at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Host: is vice dean for public health practice and community engagement at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, a faculty member in health policy, a pediatrician, and former secretary of Maryland’s Health Department. Show links and related content: —New York Times —The Assembly —Public Health On Call (July 2025) —Public Health On Call (March 2025) Transcript information: Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or . Follow us: Here's our Note: These podcasts are a conversation between the participants, and do not represent the position of Johns Hopkins University.
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925 - Starvation in Gaza
07/30/2025
925 - Starvation in Gaza
About this episode: The World Health Organization is reporting thousands of cases of malnutrition and 74 civilian deaths resulting from mass starvation in Gaza in 2025. In this episode: Dr. Paul Spiegel discusses the origins of the crisis and recent developments and shares what this dire situation means for the future of the international humanitarian system. Guest: is a physician, epidemiologist and the director of the at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Dr Spiegel has worked in humanitarian emergencies for the last 30 years. Host: is vice dean for public health practice and community engagement at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, a faculty member in health policy, a pediatrician, and former secretary of Maryland’s Health Department. Show links and related content: —New York Times —World Health Organization —Public Health On Call (June 2025) Transcript information: Looking for episode transcripts? Open our podcast on the Apple Podcasts app (desktop or mobile) or the Spotify mobile app to access an auto-generated transcript of any episode. Closed captioning is also available for every episode on our YouTube channel. Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us or . Follow us: Here's our Note: These podcasts are a conversation between the participants, and do not represent the position of Johns Hopkins University.
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924 - The Shocking Hazards of Louisiana's “Cancer Alley”
07/28/2025
924 - The Shocking Hazards of Louisiana's “Cancer Alley”
About this episode: Since the 1980s, petrochemical production along an 85-mile stretch of the Mississippi River has designated the corridor as “Cancer Alley,” but recent research shows that the risks from air pollution in the region have been seriously underestimated. In this episode: Pete DeCarlo and Keeve Nachman of the Johns Hopkins University discuss their concerning findings about compounding chemical exposure on human health and explain what these conclusions mean for how the United States should regulate carcinogens. Guest: , PhD, is an associate professor in Environmental Health and Engineering at the Johns Hopkins Whiting School of Engineering. , PhD, MHS, is the Robert S. Lawrence Professor in Environmental Health and Engineering at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Host: Stephanie Desmon, MA, is a former journalist, author, and the director of public relations and communications for the . Show links and related content: —ABC News 4 —Environmental Science and Technology —The Hub Transcript information: Looking for episode transcripts? Open our podcast on the Apple Podcasts app (desktop or mobile) or the Spotify mobile app to access an auto-generated transcript of any episode. Closed captioning is also available for every episode on our YouTube channel. Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us or . Follow us: Here's our Note: These podcasts are a conversation between the participants, and do not represent the position of Johns Hopkins University.
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923 - A Critical Moment in the Fight Against HIV
07/24/2025
923 - A Critical Moment in the Fight Against HIV
About this episode: The United States stands at a pivotal juncture in eliminating HIV. Despite recent advancements, including the development of an effective new form of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), an uncertain future marked by cuts to Medicaid and research hurdles threatens to undo the country’s progress. In this episode: Jeremiah Johnson, Executive Director of PrEP4All, sheds light on the urgent need for equitable access to PrEP and what’s at stake if we fail to scale up initiatives to test, prevent, and treat HIV. Guest: Jeremiah Johnson is the Executive Director of —an organization that seeks to prevent the spread of HIV by identifying data-driven policy solutions to increase access to PrEP. Host: is vice dean for public health practice and community engagement at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, a faculty member in health policy, a pediatrician, and former secretary of Maryland’s Health Department. Show links and related content: —Tradeoffs —CNBC —Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics —Public Health On Call (April 2022) Transcript information: Looking for episode transcripts? Open our podcast on the Apple Podcasts app (desktop or mobile) or the Spotify mobile app to access an auto-generated transcript of any episode. Closed captioning is also available for every episode on our YouTube channel. Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us or . Follow us: Here's our Note: These podcasts are a conversation between the participants, and do not represent the position of Johns Hopkins University.
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922 - Book Club—Valley of Forgetting: Alzheimer's Families and the Search for a Cure
07/23/2025
922 - Book Club—Valley of Forgetting: Alzheimer's Families and the Search for a Cure
About this episode: In the 1980s, Colombian neurologist Francisco Lopera discovered a rare genetic mutation afflicting residents of a village outside Medellín that could hold the key to understanding and treating Alzheimer’s disease. In this episode: Author Jennie Erin Smith talks about her new book and how families in the Paisa region of Colombia have forever changed the study of neurodegenerative diseases. Guest: is an author and a regular contributor for The New York Times, whose work has also appeared in The Wall Street Journal, The Times Literary Supplement, The New Yorker, and more. Host: Lindsay Smith Rogers, MA, is the producer of the , an editor for , and the director of content strategy for the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Show links and related content: —Penguin Random House —The Atlantic —New York Times Transcript information: Looking for episode transcripts? Open our podcast on the Apple Podcasts app (desktop or mobile) or the Spotify mobile app to access an auto-generated transcript of any episode. Closed captioning is also available for every episode on our YouTube channel. Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us or . Follow us: Here's our Note: These podcasts are a conversation between the participants, and do not represent the position of Johns Hopkins University.
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921 - Is Bird Flu Gone for Good?
07/21/2025
921 - Is Bird Flu Gone for Good?
About this episode: In early July, the CDC deactivated the United States’ H5N1 emergency response, citing lowered rates of infection among animals and humans. But fewer cases might not indicate an end to the years-long emergency. In this episode: Dr. Erin Sorrell of the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security details the timeline of the virus, its impacts on American farmers, and how to prepare for the return of migratory birds later this year. Guest: , PhD, MSc, is an associate professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health Department of Environmental Health and Engineering and senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. Host: Stephanie Desmon, MA, is a former journalist, author, and the director of public relations and communications for the . Show links and related content: —ScienceNews —Live Science —Public Health On Call (January 2025) Transcript information: Looking for episode transcripts? Open our podcast on the Apple Podcasts app (desktop or mobile) or the Spotify mobile app to access an auto-generated transcript of any episode. Closed captioning is also available for every episode on our YouTube channel. Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us or . Follow us: Here's our Note: These podcasts are a conversation between the participants, and do not represent the position of Johns Hopkins University.
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920 - Changes to the CDC's Vaccine Advisory Committee
07/17/2025
920 - Changes to the CDC's Vaccine Advisory Committee
About this episode: The recent dismissal of all members of the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has stirred questions about vaccine safety and immunization protocols. In this episode: Dr. Grace Lee—a former ACIP chair—shares insights on the committee's crucial role in recommending vaccines uses, the importance of transparent decision-making, and dangers of abandoning strong processes. Guest: is the Chief Quality Officer and the Christopher G. Dawes Endowed Director of Quality at Stanford Medicine Children’s Health and Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford, and Associate Dean for Maternal and Child Health (Quality and Safety) and Professor of Pediatrics at Stanford University School of Medicine. She previously served as the Chair of ACIP. Host: is vice dean for public health practice and community engagement at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, a faculty member in health policy, a pediatrician, and former secretary of Maryland’s Health Department. Show links and related content: —STAT —Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Transcript information: Looking for episode transcripts? Open our podcast on the Apple Podcasts app (desktop or mobile) or the Spotify mobile app to access an auto-generated transcript of any episode. Closed captioning is also available for every episode on our YouTube channel. Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us or . Follow us: Here's our Note: These podcasts are a conversation between the participants, and do not represent the position of Johns Hopkins University.
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919 - The Texas Floods and the Future of Forecasting
07/16/2025
919 - The Texas Floods and the Future of Forecasting
About this episode: The deadly Fourth of July floods in Kerr County, TX are raising urgent concerns about flash flooding risks and the future of storm response. In this episode: Hurricane specialist and storm surge expert Michael Lowry discusses what causes increasingly intense storms, details the significant strides made in forecasting, and outlines what’s at stake with potential cuts to NOAA. Guest: is a hurricane specialist and storm surge expert for WPLG-TV in Miami, FL. He previously served as a senior scientist at the National Hurricane Center and as disaster planning chief at FEMA. Host: Lindsay Smith Rogers, MA, is the producer of the , an editor for , and the director of content strategy for the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Show links and related content: —Eye on the Tropics —Intelligencer —New York Times Transcript information: Looking for episode transcripts? Open our podcast on the Apple Podcasts app (desktop or mobile) or the Spotify mobile app to access an auto-generated transcript of any episode. Closed captioning is also available for every episode on our YouTube channel. Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us or . Follow us: Here's our Note: These podcasts are a conversation between the participants, and do not represent the position of Johns Hopkins University.
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918 - Should AI Be Your Therapist?
07/14/2025
918 - Should AI Be Your Therapist?
About this episode: Artificial intelligence is changing everything about how we work, live, and study—and, now, AI therapy chatbots are poised to transform mental health care. In this episode: Stanford researcher Nick Haber details recent data that suggests that therapeutic AI has a long way to go in addressing biases and recognizing safety-critical situations in order to provide adequate care. Guest: is an assistant professor at the Stanford Graduate School of Education, and by courtesy, Computer Science, where he researches AI implementation for learning and therapeutic tools. Host: Stephanie Desmon, MA, is a former journalist, author, and the director of public relations and communications for the , the largest center at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Show links and related content: —FAccT '25: The 2025 ACM Conference on Fairness, Accountability, and Transparency —New York Times —Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI Transcript information: Looking for episode transcripts? Open our podcast on the Apple Podcasts app (desktop or mobile) or the Spotify mobile app to access an auto-generated transcript of any episode. Closed captioning is also available for every episode on our YouTube channel. Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us or . Follow us: Here's our Note: These podcasts are a conversation between the participants, and do not represent the position of Johns Hopkins University.
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917 - Why Some Moms Are Hesitant To Vaccinate
07/09/2025
917 - Why Some Moms Are Hesitant To Vaccinate
About this episode: For mothers questioning whether or not to vaccinate their children, the decision can be complicated by an overwhelming and, at times, conflicting information environment. In this episode: Health communication researcher Melissa Carrion explores how an onslaught of messaging is informing how mothers decide to vaccinate their kids and how public health experts can better communicate on these key decisions. Guest: is an assistant professor of Writing and Rhetoric at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where she researches rhetoric and health communication. Host: Lindsay Smith Rogers, MA, is the producer of the , an editor for , and the director of content strategy for the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Show links and related content: —ScienceNews —The 74 —Health Communication —Public Understanding of Science Transcript information: Looking for episode transcripts? Open our podcast on the Apple Podcasts app (desktop or mobile) or the Spotify mobile app to access an auto-generated transcript of any episode. Closed captioning is also available for every episode on our YouTube channel. Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us or . Follow us: Here's our Note: These podcasts are a conversation between the participants, and do not represent the position of Johns Hopkins University.
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916 - Childhood Asthma
07/07/2025
916 - Childhood Asthma
About this episode: Asthma can cause sometimes debilitating symptoms for children who have it, and some—particularly Black and Hispanic children—can experience higher rates of diagnoses, hospitalizations and emergency department visits. In this episode: pediatrician and immunology researcher Dr. Elizabeth Matsui talks about the known causes behind childhood asthma and how it impacts youths, and how factors like poor housing conditions and barriers to care and medication worsen conditions and undermine long-term lung development. Guest: Dr. Elizabeth Matsui is a pediatric allergist-immunologist and epidemiologist and a leading researcher on the connection between asthma and environmental conditions. Host: Stephanie Desmon, MA, is a former journalist, author, and the director of public relations and communications for the at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Show links and related content: —American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine —JAMA —The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology —Public Health On Call (June 2023) Transcript information: Looking for episode transcripts? Open our podcast on the Apple Podcasts app (desktop or mobile) or the Spotify mobile app to access an auto-generated transcript of any episode. Closed captioning is also available for every episode on our YouTube channel. Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us or . Follow us: Here's our Note: These podcasts are a conversation between the participants, and do not represent the position of Johns Hopkins University
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915 - America's Caregiver Crisis
07/02/2025
915 - America's Caregiver Crisis
About this episode: Caregivers—both paid and unpaid—are the silent backbone of the nation’s workforce, providing crucial support to America’s young, aging, and disabled populations. But 24 states stand on the precipice of crisis with looming threats to caregiver stipends, salaries, and other resources. In this episode: what led to this tipping point, how proposed cuts to Medicaid could make it worse, and how to build a more supportive system for caregivers, patients, and loved ones. Guest: is a professor of Law and Ethics at Johns Hopkins University’s Carey Business School, with , where she specializes in business law, health law, and negotiations. Host: Stephanie Desmon, MA, is a former journalist, author, and the director of public relations and communications for the at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Show links and related content: —Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Department of Health Policy and Management —HuffPost —Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health —Public Health On Call (April 2024) Transcript information: Looking for episode transcripts? Open our podcast on the Apple Podcasts app (desktop or mobile) or the Spotify mobile app to access an auto-generated transcript of any episode. Closed captioning is also available for every episode on our YouTube channel. Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us or . Follow us: Here's our Note: These podcasts are a conversation between the participants, and do not represent the position of Johns Hopkins University.
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914 - Reducing Food Waste to Take Climate Action
07/01/2025
914 - Reducing Food Waste to Take Climate Action
About this episode: American farms, restaurants, retailers, and households throw out nearly 30% of the food in our system, landfilling millions of tons of food each year and draining resources like land and energy. Households generate the most waste, with everyday cooks overbuying at grocery stores and throwing away a substantial portion of their purchases—but getting ahead of those scraps can make a big difference. In this episode: ReFED’s Dana Gunders covers the environmental costs of food waste and shares immediate action items to better manage it. Guest: is a national food systems expert and the president of —an organization that researches and promotes evidence-based action to end food waste. Host: Stephanie Desmon, MA, is a former journalist, author, and the director of public relations and communications for the at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Show links and related content: —ReFED —WYPR —U.S. Environmental Protection Agency —Public Health on Call (June 2025) Transcript information: Looking for episode transcripts? Open our podcast on the Apple Podcasts app (desktop or mobile) or the Spotify mobile app to access an auto-generated transcript of any episode. Closed captioning is also available for every episode on our YouTube channel. Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us or . Follow us: Here's our Note: These podcasts are a conversation between the participants, and do not represent the position of Johns Hopkins University.
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913 - Uncovering America’s Decades-Long PFAS Contamination
06/30/2025
913 - Uncovering America’s Decades-Long PFAS Contamination
About this episode: Since the 1950s, companies have been using PFAS—or “forever chemicals”—to manufacture everyday household items from waterproof mascara to shaving cream to Bandaids. Research and advocacy have not only linked these chemicals to certain cancers, liver disease, and fertility issues, but they have also posited that 97% of Americans have traces of PFAS in their blood. In this episode: guest host Tom Burke talks with writer Rachel Frazin about her new book outlining the dark history of PFAS in American manufacturing, the communities across the country demanding accountability and regulation, and the near future of regulation of drinking water. Guest: covers energy and environmental policy for The Hill and is the co-author of the book . Host: is an emeritus professor at Johns Hopkins and a former top official with the Environmental Protection Agency in the Obama administration. Show links and related content: (book)—Island Press –American Heart Association —The New York Times —Public Health On Call (April 2024) Transcript information: Looking for episode transcripts? Open our podcast on the Apple Podcasts app (desktop or mobile) or the Spotify mobile app to access an auto-generated transcript of any episode. Closed captioning is also available for every episode on our YouTube channel. Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us or . Follow us: Here's our Note: These podcasts are a conversation between the participants, and do not represent the position of Johns Hopkins University.
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912 - The Correlation Between Movement and Health As We Age
06/26/2025
912 - The Correlation Between Movement and Health As We Age
About this episode: Consumer wearables like Fitbits track a lot of our activity, from time spent standing to estimates of calorie expenditure. What if they could also alert us to possible health issues as we age? In this episode: How movement patterns change with aging, and how researchers are examining ways to measure those patterns to determine what’s normal and what may be associated with cognitive decline and other neurological issues. Guest: is the director of the . Host: Stephanie Desmon, MA, is a former journalist, author, and the director of public relations and communications for the at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Show links and related content: —Hopkins Bloomberg Public Health Magazine —The Hub —Time Transcript information: Looking for episode transcripts? Open our podcast on the Apple Podcasts app (desktop or mobile) or the Spotify mobile app to access an auto-generated transcript of any episode. Closed captioning is also available for every episode on our YouTube channel. Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us or . Follow us: Here's our Note: These podcasts are a conversation between the participants, and do not represent the position of Johns Hopkins University.
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911 - Book Club—We Are Eating The Earth: The Race to Fix Our Food System
06/25/2025
911 - Book Club—We Are Eating The Earth: The Race to Fix Our Food System
About this episode: Growing and producing our food comes at an extreme cost to the environment. In this episode: a conversation about climate and agriculture with journalist and author Michael Grunwald, whose blunt new book looks at how the food system is wiping out wetlands, forests, and other carbon reservoirs that protect us from global warming. Guest: is a journalist and author who covers public policy. He’s written for Politico Magazine, The Boston Globe, and Washington Post, and Time. His new book is . Host: is vice dean for public health practice and community engagement at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, a faculty member in health policy, a pediatrician, and former secretary of Maryland’s Health Department. Show links and related content: —The Atlantic —The New York Times (Opinion) Transcript information: Looking for episode transcripts? Open our podcast on the Apple Podcasts app (desktop or mobile) or the Spotify mobile app to access an auto-generated transcript of any episode. Closed captioning is also available for every episode on our YouTube channel. Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us or . Follow us: Here's our Note: These podcasts are a conversation between the participants, and do not represent the position of Johns Hopkins University.
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910 - Climate Change and Meteorology: 2025 Update
06/23/2025
910 - Climate Change and Meteorology: 2025 Update
About this episode: What might be in store for the 2025 hurricane season? Meteorologist Brian McNoldy returns to the podcast to talk about how things are shaping up, a look back at how last summer’s unprecedented mix of heat and moisture played out in an extremely active season, and a zoomed-out look at climate change trends as larger patterns beyond individual events and year-over-year comparisons. Guest: is a senior research associate at the Rosenstiel School of Marine Atmosphere and Earth Science at the University of Miami. Host: Lindsay Smith Rogers, MA, is the producer of the , an editor for , and the director of content strategy for the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Show links and related content: —Public Health On Call (July 2024) —AP —News@TheU (2024)
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909 - From the Archives: Reflecting on Juneteenth with Janice Bowie
06/18/2025
909 - From the Archives: Reflecting on Juneteenth with Janice Bowie
About this episode: Juneteenth was declared a federal holiday in 2021 but many people don’t know the history or how to recognize the day. In this episode: a look back at a 2022 conversation with Janice Bowie about how to celebrate, reflect, and recommit to social justice this Juneteenth. Guest: is a Bloomberg Centennial Professor in Health, Behavior, and Society at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Her research focuses on health equity and disparities. Host: is vice dean for public health practice and community engagement at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, a faculty member in health policy, a pediatrician, and former secretary of Maryland’s Health Department. Show links and related content: —Smithsonian Instutition — —The New York Times Transcript information: Looking for episode transcripts? Open our podcast on the Apple Podcasts app (desktop or mobile) or the Spotify mobile app to access an auto-generated transcript of any episode. Closed captioning is also available for every episode on our YouTube channel. Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us or . Follow us: Here's our Note: These podcasts are a conversation between the participants, and do not represent the position of Johns Hopkins University.
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908 - A Sharp Decline in Homicides
06/17/2025
908 - A Sharp Decline in Homicides
About this episode: Homicides in the U.S., particularly those involving gun violence, peaked in 2022 following a rapid rise during the COVID pandemic. In the years that followed, there were notable decreases and 2025, so far, shows one of the most dramatic reductions in homicides in decades. In this episode: A look at some of the reasons behind the rise and fall of deaths, and why staying the policy course may be key to avoiding another spike. Guest: is a Bloomberg Professor of American Health who has studied gun violence and prevention for more than thirty years. Host: is vice dean for public health practice and community engagement at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, a faculty member in health policy, a pediatrician, and former secretary of Maryland’s Health Department. Show links and related content: —USA Today —NBC News —Mayor Brandon Scott, Baltimore City —Public Health On Call (February 2025) Transcript information: Looking for episode transcripts? Open our podcast on the Apple Podcasts app (desktop or mobile) or the Spotify mobile app to access an auto-generated transcript of any episode. Closed captioning is also available for every episode on our YouTube channel. Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us or . Follow us: Here's our Note: These podcasts are a conversation between the participants, and do not represent the position of Johns Hopkins University.
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907 - Humanitarian Health in Gaza and Beyond
06/16/2025
907 - Humanitarian Health in Gaza and Beyond
About this episode: Humanitarian health systems provide relief like food, water, and medicine in crisis situations. They operate within a carefully organized framework built on core principles including impartiality and neutrality. In this episode: what's happening with humanitarian aid in Gaza and the importance of a new framework for global humanitarian efforts. Guest: is a physician, epidemiologist and the director of the at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Dr Spiegel has worked in humanitarian emergencies for the last 30 years. Host: is vice dean for public health practice and community engagement at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, a faculty member in health policy, a pediatrician, and former secretary of Maryland’s Health Department. Show links and related content: —The New York Times —The Wall Street Journal (paywall) —Public Health On Call (January 2024) Transcript information: Looking for episode transcripts? Open our podcast on the Apple Podcasts app (desktop or mobile) or the Spotify mobile app to access an auto-generated transcript of any episode. Closed captioning is also available for every episode on our YouTube channel. Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us or . Follow us: Here's our Note: These podcasts are a conversation between the participants, and do not represent the position of Johns Hopkins University.
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