In this episode, Therese Markow and P.E. Moskowitz discuss P.E.’s new book, Breaking Awake, which explores their lifelong struggle with trauma and mental health. They recount their near-death experience in Charlottesville in 2017 and their subsequent journey of self-discovery. P.E. critiques the reliance on SSRIs and other medications for mental health, arguing these provide temporary relief but do not address the root causes of trauma. They emphasize the importance of community and collective grieving in addressing societal stressors. P.E. also highlights the societal pressures that drive individuals to substance abuse and the need for systemic changes to address mental health issues.

 Key Takeaways:

• Many people’s struggles with trauma are deeply personal, shaped by near-death experiences, substance use, and the long process of healing through writing and therapy.

• Medications such as SSRIs and Adderall can help, but they often fail to address underlying trauma or the broader societal causes of distress.

• Economic instability, lack of community, and global crises all contribute significantly to widespread anxiety, depression, and substance use.

• A “quick fix” culture often prioritizes fast solutions over long-term care like therapy, community, and systemic change.

• Healing and resilience are most powerfully nurtured in supportive communities, where collective action and shared experiences provide hope.

"If you experience [community], it makes it easier to fight, because all of a sudden you have something to fight for, not just something to fight against." —  P.E. Moskowitz

Episode References: 

• Breaking Awake: A Reporter's Search for a New Life, and a New World, Through Drugs. https://www.amazon.com/Breaking-Awake-Reporters-Search-Through-ebook/dp/B0DV6K8G2X?ref_=ast_author_dp 

• How to Kill a City: Gentrification, Inequality, and the Fight for the Neighborhood. https://www.amazon.com/How-Kill-City-Gentrification-Neighborhood-ebook/dp/B01MXXCDVV?ref_=ast_author_dp 

• The Case Against Free Speech: The First Amendment, Fascism, and the Future of Dissent. https://www.amazon.com/Case-Against-Free-Speech-Amendment-ebook/dp/B07L2TP6HV?ref_=ast_author_dp 

Connect with P.E. Moskowitz: 

Website: https://moskowitz.xyz/ 

Connect with Therese:

Website: www.criticallyspeaking.net

Threads: @critically_speaking

Email: [email protected]

Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.  

In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Amaal Starling discuss the prevalence and impact of migraines, affecting approximately 1 billion people worldwide. Dr. Starling highlights the genetic and hormonal factors and discusses the different subtypes of migraines. They delve into the importance of talking to your doctor or seeing a headache specialist if you are experiencing headaches and migraines, as well as the economic burden of migraines in the US. Finally, they discuss exciting new treatment options, ones that have been developed over the last decade.

 Key Takeaways:

• There is a lot of stigma around people with migraines. Women with migraines and pain conditions are disproportionately stigmatized. 

• 1 in 5 women, 1 in 11 children, and 1 in 16 men are affected by migraines - an average of 1 in 7 worldwide. 

• Different people will experience migraines and migraine treatment differently. They all also have different triggers, though some are more common, such as red wine, nitrates, and caffeine.

• Many new migraine treatment options are not covered, either immediately or at all, by insurance providers.

• Colic in infants appears to be associated with increased risk of adult migraine.

"There is still a lot to learn about the genetics of migraines. Genetics is a strong factor in who is going to have migraines versus not, but there are also a lot of other external and internal factors." —  Dr. Amaal Starling

Episode References: 

• American Migraine Foundation: https://americanmigrainefoundation.org/ 

Connect with Dr. Amaal Starling:

Professional Bio: https://www.mayo.edu/research/faculty/starling-amaal-j-m-d/bio-20147052 

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/amaal-starling-md-fahs-faan-085b58a3 

Connect with Therese:

Website: www.criticallyspeaking.net

Threads: @critically_speaking

Email: [email protected]

Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.  

In this episode, Therese Markow and Richard Kirk discuss the rise of inequality and homelessness, highlighting the lack of access to healthcare and resources for marginalized populations. They delve into the myth of trickle-down wealth and the downsides of gentrification. Richard also discusses the impact of large projects, such as stadiums, which increase property values and rents, exacerbating homelessness. He emphasizes the need for better regulations and policies to address these issues. 

 Key Takeaways:

• There is no adequate tracking of the fates of people displaced by gentrification, large-scale projects, and other circumstances. 

• Gentrification sometimes starts informally with young professionals, artists, or students moving into an affordable area with new businesses following. Other times, it is intentional with cities and developers targeting an area for development, but this is often done without protections for those original community members. 

• People in displaced communities often don’t have the knowledge and energy, due to the roadblocks placed by those in charge and the need to work, in order to fight back against the gentrification and aggressive acquisition of their property. 

• Since the 1970s, the government has stepped back from providing affordable housing and robust social safety nets, prioritizing private investment and large development projects.

"It's really, really hard to combat something that is a global phenomenon without major reforms at the federal level. But elections at every scale matter, and voting still matters." —  Richard Kirk

Episode References: 

• SAJE - https://www.saje.net/ 

• Necropolitics by Achille Mbembe: https://muse.jhu.edu/article/39984/summary 

• Neoliberal necropolitics and the global competition for urban dominance by Richard Kirk - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0016718524001684?via%3Dihub 

Connect with Richard Kirk:

Professional Bio: https://geog.ucla.edu/person/richard-kirk/ 

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/richard-kirk-49110024a 

Connect with Therese:

Website: www.criticallyspeaking.net

Threads: @critically_speaking

Email: [email protected]

Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.  

In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Molly Hales discuss the growing trend of young children using anti-aging skincare products, influenced by social media and influencers. Dr. Hales highlights the concerns about the rise in young patients with skin reactions to these products. These young users often apply multiple products with potentially irritating ingredients (and often multiple active ingredients or multiple products with the same active ingredient). Dr. Hales also emphasizes the need for basic skincare routines for young users, with a focus on sunscreen, and calls for better education and regulation to protect these children. 

 Key Takeaways:

• Girls as young as 9 are increasingly using antiaging creams geared to older women. These products contain ingredients and are designed for more mature skin rather than youthful skin. 

• Sunscreen is the number one recommended product for people of all ages (except babies under 6 months). This is also not the most commonly used product among social media influencers with their viral skincare routines. 

• There are three main risks associated with using improper skincare products, with the main risk being irritation (irritant contact dermatitis). 

• Brands get more attention and recognition by sending free products to influencers for videos, reaching a wider (and younger) audience than they might otherwise. 

"It seems like, as more younger and younger people are putting more and more products on their skin, that there is more and more skin allergy that's happening and that's going to follow kids around for the rest of their lives." —  Dr. Molly Hales

Episode References: 

• Pediatric Skin Care Regimens on TikTok - Molly Hales, MD, PhD - https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article-abstract/156/1/e2024070309/202103/Pediatric-Skin-Care-Regimens-on-TikTok 

Connect with Dr. Molly Hales:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/molly-hales-987b6410/  

Connect with Therese:

Website: www.criticallyspeaking.net

Threads: @critically_speaking

Email: [email protected]

Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.  

In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Eve Espey discuss the impact of the US Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v Wade. Dr. Espey explains that 41 states have abortion bans, with 12 states imposing total bans and 28 states restricting based on gestational duration. She highlights the increased maternal mortality and health risks due to these restrictions. She also emphasizes the need for continued advocacy and training for medical professionals in reproductive health care.

 Key Takeaways:

• The overturning of Roe v Wade reversed about 50 years of women’s reproductive rights. In many states, the Roe v Wade protections had been chipped away over the years, even before it was overturned. 

• Abortion bans are about more than abortion - they affect women’s health care in areas of family planning, cancer screenings, and basic preventative health care.

• Contraception and abortion are integral parts of comprehensive women's health care.

"We do have a very energized group of people around this issue and much more scholarship and advocacy than in days past. So I would say we need to keep up the fight, and we need to keep supporting our learners to really understand why this care is so important and how to provide it." —  Dr. Eve Espey

Episode References: 

• Aid Access: https://aidaccess.org/en/ 

• Reproductive Justice: https://www.sistersong.net/reproductive-justice 

Connect with Dr. Eve Espey:

Professional Bio: https://hsc.unm.edu/directory/espey-eve.html 

Connect with Therese:

Website: www.criticallyspeaking.net

Threads: @critically_speaking

Email: [email protected]

Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.  

In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Emily Callaci discuss the Wages for Housework movement, highlighting the 1970s campaign demanding payment for unpaid labor in the home or “housework”. Dr. Callaci explains the movement's relevance today, noting that women's unpaid work has significant economic consequences. The conversation explores the historical context, the five key figures behind the movement, and the economic and cultural implications of unpaid housework. Callaci emphasizes the need for recognition of and payment for housework to address gender inequality and improve women's autonomy and economic well-being.

 Key Takeaways:

• A recent statistic from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows women's unpaid work in the US has a value of about $3.6 trillion.

• The economy would grind to a halt without the housework that is, primarily, done by women: cooking, cleaning, laundry, child-rearing, etc. 

• The wages for housework movement are not gendered; they equally affect men and women who do housework. 

• Recognizing the work that people do, paid and unpaid, is the first step in really transforming the social consciousness.

"Wages for housework was not arguing that we should all become housewives and that should be our profession instead of the other things we might want to do. Rather, it was about recognizing the way that work is exploited. In our economic system, if you don't recognize it, if you don't see it and name it, then how can you overcome it?" —  Dr. Emily Callaci

Connect with Dr. Emily Callaci:

Professional Bio: https://history.wisc.edu/people/callaci-emily/  

Books:

Street Archives and City Life: https://www.dukeupress.edu/street-archives-and-city-life 

Wages for Housework: penguin.co.uk/books/442807/wages-for-housework-by-callaci-emily/9780241502907 

Connect with Therese:

Website: www.criticallyspeaking.net

Threads: @critically_speaking

Email: [email protected]

Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.  

In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Peter Liang discuss the rise in colorectal cancer among younger people, those below the age of 50. While colorectal cancer is a slow-growing cancer, it is still the third most common cancer for both men and women, and the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States. Due to the trend of decreasing age in colorectal cancer patients, screening guidelines have been lowered to 45, but can be done earlier as needed, based on risk factors. Dr. Liang emphasizes the importance of screening, diet, exercise, and awareness of family history in preventing and detecting colorectal cancer early. 

 Key Takeaways:

• Colorectal cancer is the third most common cause of cancer in both men and women. It is the second leading cause of cancer death behind lung cancer.

• Early-onset colorectal cancer is traditionally defined as occurring in people under age 50. However, there is a rise in people in their 40s, though some (though they are a minority) are in their 20s or 30s.

• Colorectal cancer is unique due to the number of different tests available for screening for prevention.

• Colorectal cancer is a slow-growing cancer. A single polyp can sometimes take 10-20 years to develop into cancer.

• There is no evidence correlating constipation with colorectal cancer. If people want to do juices or fasts or colonics, that is fine, but there is no medical need to do it.

• If you have symptoms that are concerning, tell your doctor. Sometimes you do need to advocate for yourself to get additional testing.

"Any test that is not a colonoscopy and is abnormal does need to be followed by a colonoscopy. How we prevent Colorectal cancer is by going in with the colonoscopy, removing polyps (which can turn into cancer), or by finding the cancer early, so that your prognosis is much better." —  Dr. Peter Liang

Connect with Dr. Peter Liang:

Professional Bio: https://med.nyu.edu/faculty/peter-s-liang 

Website: https://med.nyu.edu/research/liang-lab/ 

Connect with Therese:

Website: www.criticallyspeaking.net

Threads: @critically_speaking

Email: [email protected]

Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.  

In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Joshua Woolley discuss his transition from neurology to psychiatry and his current focus on psychedelic drug therapies. He explains the mechanisms and effects of psychedelics like psilocybin and LSD, highlighting their potential to treat depression and other mental health conditions. Dr. Woolley describes controlled clinical trials at the University of California, San Francisco, where patients undergo psychedelic experiences with therapeutic support. He notes the challenges and benefits of these treatments, including long-term positive effects in alleviating depression.  He also addresses the regulatory hurdles and the potential for future FDA approval of psychedelic therapies.

 Key Takeaways:

• While SSRIs can and have saved a lot of people, they don’t work fully or at all for some people.

• Some diagnoses don’t have any effective pharmacotherapies, such as anorexia, methamphetamine use disorder, and even PTSD. 

• Over the years, a lot of people have said that psychedelics have allowed them to have real, transformative experiences. It is a common description.

• To conduct psychedelic research, you have to get permission from multiple organizations, including the FDA and the DEA.

• People do sometimes have frightening experiences when they take psychedelics. This is not likely to happen in a clinical setting with support. 

"Almost every psychiatric illness can be thought of as an inability to change something about emotions, thoughts, or behavior. If psychedelics really do reopen these critical periods, or allow people a period of a window of changeability, that would be a real game changer." —  Dr. Joshua Woolley

Connect with Dr. Joshua Woolley:

Professional Bio: https://profiles.ucsf.edu/joshua.woolley 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-d-woolley-md-phd-076018110/ 

Connect with Therese:

Website: www.criticallyspeaking.net

Threads: @critically_speaking

Email: [email protected]

Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it. 

In this episode, Therese Markow interviews Dr. Shaina Stacy about her studies on cancer risks in children depending upon the body mass index (BMI) of their mothers before and during pregnancy. Dr. Stacy explains how she obtained a sample of nearly 2 million mother-child pairs in the state of Pennsylvania, the largest sample size ever for such a study. They discuss how children of women with a BMI of over 30 when pregnant had a significantly higher risk of cancers compared to children of lean mothers. This was notable for leukemia in children under 5, especially acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The mechanism underlying the increased risk is not yet known.

 Key Takeaways:

• Maternal obesity before and during pregnancy increases the risk of cancers in children under 5 years of age. 

• The risk of leukemia, especially acute lymphoblastic leukemia or ALL, is the greatest. 

• Children of white, educated women, if obese during pregnancy, have the highest risk. 

• Transgenerational effects of obesity are becoming more apparent.

"We found that children born to mothers in our highest BMI category had over 30% higher risk of developing any type of childhood cancer." —  Dr. Shaina Stacy 

Connect with Dr. Shaina Stacy:

Scientific American Blog Post: Cancer Prevention Should Start before Birth - https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/cancer-prevention-should-start-before-birth/  

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaina-stacy-0664962b/ 

Connect with Therese:

Website: www.criticallyspeaking.net

Threads: @critically_speaking

Email: [email protected]

Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.  

In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Cheryl Hawkes discuss the increasing scientific evidence that maternal obesity affects the developing fetal brain.  While many of the effects manifest early, in infant temperament and childhood cognitive (IQ) decrements, other effects do not show up until years later, in adult psychiatric and neurodegenerative problems.  The physical bases for these changes in fetal brains are also clearly evidenced in laboratory model systems, such as mice, where the maternal diets can be controlled, and the offspring not only can be given behavioral tests, but their brains can be dissected to reveal the changes in the blood vessels caused by obese mothers.

 Key Takeaways:

• Children born to obese mothers have lower IQs and poorer motor, spatial, and verbal skills.

• Mice and rodents have similar brain development to humans, which is why rodent study models are so beneficial to science.

• Brain maturation takes many years. Your brain is fully formed at birth, but continues to mature and change into your mid-twenties.

"Because of the rise in obesity globally, a lot of people have started to look, rather than looking at famine…, to now shift our attention to looking at the long-term effects of obesity because 30% of women around the world, over the age of 18, are now considered to be obese." —  Dr. Cheryl Hawkes

Connect with Dr. Cheryl Hawkes: 

Lancaster University Profile: Dr. Cheryl Hawkes  

Connect with Therese:

Website: www.criticallyspeaking.net

Threads: @critically_speaking

Email: [email protected]

Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.