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In this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks discusses the scientific evidence for The Shroud of Turin with Barrie Schwortz. The Shroud of Turin is a cloth that has an image of a man ( a negative image) that some people believe was the burial shroud of Jesus of Nazareth. Of course, others do not believe that. To this day, no one can explain how the image was created. In this podcast, Dr. Eeks and Barrie Schwortz discuss the evidence base for the Shroud, possible theories that could explain the characteristics of the image, the 1988 Carbon dating, as well as eye-opening, new details that emerged related to it, why he believes it is authentic and the future of Shroud research.

Barrie Schwortz was the Official Documenting Photographer for the Shroud of Turin Research Project (STURP), the team that conducted the first in-depth scientific examination of the Shroud in 1978. Today, he plays an influential role in Shroud research and education as the editor and founder of the internationally recognized Shroud of Turin Website, the oldest, largest and most extensive Shroud resource on the Internet, with more than fifteen million visitors from over 160 countries. In 2009 he founded the Shroud of Turin Education and Research Association, Inc. (STERA, Inc.), a non-profit  corporation, to which he donated the website and his extensive Shroud photographic collection, as well as many other important Shroud resources, in order to preserve and maintain these materials and make them available for future research and study. He currently serves as the President of STERA, Inc

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In this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Wendy Ractcliffe and Angela Peacock about the documentary film, Medicating Normal. Wendy is a director and executive producter of the film and Angela, a combat veteran, is featured in the film. Angela is also a social worker and part of the film's outreach team.
From the website, Medicating Normal is the "untold story of what can happen when profit-driven medicine intersects with human beings in distress." The documentary follows Angela, a Naval Academy Graduate and his wife, a teenager and a waitress as they struggle with unexpected prescription side effects, polypharmacy, dependency and withdrawal symptoms from drugs that were taken as prescribed.
This podcast covers what "medicating normal" means, the importance of informed consent, the struggle to be heard and taken seriously, while not being labeled "anti-psychiatry," how people overcame their unexpected struggle with prescription medication, the future of mental health and what optimal, long-lasting healing looks like. Angela also shares her insight on how these topics relate specifically to the veteran community.

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In this episode, Dr. Eeks discusses Wellness Paranoia Syndrome. (WPS for short, because acronyms are wonderful.) Please note that this isn't a real syndrome recognized by any reputable medical organization. But it is a "thing" that can suck the enjoyment out of your life, and it is a thing that marketers can use against you in the business of "Wellness."  Take a listen with a healthy sense of humor and sarcasm. :)
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Do you believe in medical miracles or do you believe science can explain everything?

In this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with The Miracle Hunter, Michael O'Neill. Michael "hunts" for miracles around the globe and describes them in detail on his popular website, the Miracle Hunter. He is considered an expert on miracles and has been featured on popular TV shows and in numerous magazines, including National Geographic's feature on the Virgin Mary.

He will discuss the requirements for something to be considered a miracle, how the Catholic Church investigates miracles and how science plays into the entire process. He will also discuss apparitions of Mary, Stigmata, specifically the well-documented case of Padre Pio of Pietrelcina, and the Incorruptibles, or bodies of the holy deceased that do not decay. He will also discuss what he says to those who remain cynical.
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In this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. John McDonough about Medicare for All. They discuss what the slogan really means, the details of Medicare, who would be covered, what role private insurance companies would play, quality of care, personal values, how much it would cost over ten years and who will pay for it.

Dr. McDonough is a professor of practice at the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health in the Department of Health Policy & Management and Director of the HSPH Center for Executive & Continuing Professional Education. Between 2008 and 2010, he served as a Senior Advisor on National Health Reform to the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions where he worked on the writing and passage of the Affordable Care Act. Between 2003 and 2008, he was Executive Director of Healthcare For All, a Massachusetts consumer health advocacy organization, where he played a leading role in the passage of the 2006 Massachusetts Health Reform Law.  From 1998 through 2003, he was an associate professor at the Heller School at Brandeis University.  From 1985 to 1997, he was a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives where he co-chaired the Joint Committee on Health Care.  His articles have appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine, Health Affairs and other journals.  He has written: Inside National Health Reform in 2011 and Experiencing Politics: A Legislator’s Stories of Government and Health Care in 2000, both by the University of California Press and the Milbank Fund, and Interests, Ideas, and Deregulation: The Fate of Hospital Rate Setting in1998 by the University of Michigan Press. He holds a doctorate in public health from the University of Michigan and a master’s in public administration from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard.
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 Wellness is a Luxury Brand. Dr. Eeks explains why.  Please come with a sense of humor and an open mind. ;)

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In this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Jaclyn Schildkraut about the characteristics of mass shooters, mass shootings, the media's role and its impact, and the best, evidence-based prevention and response strategies. Dr. Schildkraut discusses her recent research on school lockdown drills and provides advice on how to conduct them. She also provides trusted websites to visit for helpful tips.

Dr. Schildkraut is a national expert on mass shootings. She earned her Ph.D. in Criminal Justice from Texas State University and is currently an associate professor in the Department of Criminal Justice at the State University of New York at Oswego. She is highly published in numerous peer-reviewed journals, and the majority of her research focuses on mass and school shootings, media effects, social problems, moral panic, school safety and survivor needs. She's made numerous media appearances and is the author of several books, including Columbine, 20 Years Later and Beyond: Lessons from Tragedy, Mass Shootings, Media, Myths and Realities, and Lights, Camera, Execution!: Cinematic Portrayals of Capital Punishment.

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In this episode, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Rami Nakeshbandi and Rohan Maini about their research and the paper they recently published in the International Journal of Obesity, The Impact of Obesity on COVID-19 Complications: A Retrospective Cohort Study. The CDC and other health organizations have unequivocally stated that obesity is a significant risk factor for increased severity of COVID-19 infections and clinical outcomes. While it's well established that obesity is a significant risk factor for numerous health problems, Dr. Nakeshbandi and Rohan Maini will discuss the results of their research, particularly differences noted between men and women, ages, fat deposition, what outcomes were significantly impacted, and, perhaps most interestingly, why and how obesity impacts COVID-19 and its link to inflammation. They also use their sample population to elaborate on the causes of obesity and what we can do to prevent or slow down the USA's rising obesity rates. 
Dr. Nakeshbandi is the Interim Chief Medical Officer at Suny Downstate Medical Center and the Chief Quality Officer. He is also the Director of the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program and is the Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine and Infectious Diseases. Rohan is a 4th year medical student at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, where he cofounded a Street Medicine organization and serves as the director of a student-run asylum clinic. He will be applying for an Internal Medicine residency this year. 

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In this episode, Dr. Eeks chats with Doula and Birth Educator Sierra McClain-Henry about the US maternal mortality rate and the Black maternal health crisis. The US has a shockingly high maternal mortality rate, especially for Black women who are 4x as likely to die as White women, and more likely to die than any other race. Sierra is a certified doula, hypnobirthing instructor, founder of Sankofa Mama Birth Services and founder of the 100 Black Mamas initiative. Sierra is going to talk about her experience as a Black doula, mom and why she feels the maternal mortality rate is so high for Black women and how doulas can play a significant role in creating a positive birth experience. She is also going to talk about her new initiative, 100 Black Mamas, a grassroots birth education project designed to address the Black maternal health crisis by providing comprehensive, holistic and culturally- aware birth education on a scholarship basis. After hearing from Sierra, if you are interested in donating to 100 Black Mamas, please click here.


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In this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Alessio Fasano about the Hygiene Hypothesis and its connection to our guts, microbiomes and chronic inflammatory diseases.
The Hygiene Hypothesis is a proposed explanation that states that improved hygiene in an industrialized world and less exposure to infectious agents ( bacteria & viruses) has led to an increase in chronic inflammatory conditions. ( This is why some supporters of the Hygiene Hypothesis will tell you to take your kids to a farm or play in the dirt.) In this episode, Dr. Fasano discusses how this hypothesis relates to a leaky gut and how our modern way of life may affect our microbiome ( bacteria that live in our gut) in a way that puts us at risk of developing a chronic inflammatory condition. He will discuss the 5 pillars that he believes need to be in place for this to happen, how probiotics and gluten relates to this, and ways we can improve leaky guts.
Dr. Fasano is a pediatric gastroenterologist and researcher. He is a professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School and professor of nutrition at Harvard School of Public Health. He is the director of the Center for Celiac Research and Treatment at Mass General for children and co-director of the Harvard Medical School Celiac Research Program. He's the director of the Mucosal Immunology and Biology Research Center, where he oversees over 50 researchers and staff. Dr. Fasano is credited with discovering Zonulin, a protein responsible for regulating intestinal tight junctions ( and he explains this in the podcast) and he is the author of over 300 peer-reviewed publications. He is considered a world expert on Celiac disease and is in the top 1% of scientists cited worldwide.

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