In an expansive, thought-provoking discussion ahead of the pivotal changes in Washington, DC, Matt, Jess and guest host Michael Stein discuss the role of advocacy and activism in public health and the changing views on the role of public health in society.

(This discussion was originally part of the December episode, but we felt the subject matter was both timely and relevant enough to highlight on its own.)

Matt, Jess and guest host Michael Stein discuss a paper that reviews the results of a series of trials that were highly influential in a move away from use of menopausal hormone replacement therapy, but newer analyses suggest the implications maybe be more nuanced than that.

Study Link: Women’s Health Initiative Reviews

In the second segment (29:30), Matt, Jess and guest host Michael Stein discuss the role of advocacy and activism in public health and what the future holds for both as the administration changes and views on the role of public health in society are changing.

In a new format for the “Free Associations” podcast, we split our usual podcast into two bite-sized morsels. In the first segment, Jess, Matt and guest host Salma discuss an article that examines the effect of nighttime ambient light on risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

Journal club article:

Alzheimer’s Disease Study

In the second segment, Jess, Matt and Salma discuss what attending a predatory conference is like and Salma explains why we should (or maybe shouldn’t) care about a rehabilitated beaver.

Matt, Jess, and guest host Salma Abdalla discuss a study of early discontinuation of oxytocin during delivery, they try to predict the future of journals alongside a mass editorial board resignation, and Matt and Salma reveal their love for octopuses.

Journal club article:

Oxytocin discontinuation study

Matt, Jess, and guest host Allegra Gordon discuss a study using tweets to see if there have been changes in racial sentiment over time, they debate whether in-person or remote work is better for paradigm shifts, and Allegra tells us how birds are smarter than people who don’t want birds nesting on their roofs.

Journal club article:

Twitter and racial sentiment study

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Matt, Jess, and guest host Jonathan Jay discuss a study using cell phone data to see if living in cities gives us better economic integration, they explore whether AI will be developing our hypotheses in the future, and Matt naps with penguins.

Journal club article:

Human mobility and economic segregation study

Matt, Jess, and guest host Amruta Nori-Sarma examine a study testing the effect of a workplace intervention for cardiometabolic health, they discuss mental health as a human right, and Amruta tells us about the power of Taylor Swift.

Journal club article:

Workplace intervention for cardiometabolic health study

Matt, Jess, and guest host Salma Abdalla discuss a study testing the efficacy of a blood-based cancer screening tool, they debate the role of the workplace in mental health, and Salma sees if she can pronounce the word “bubbles” while sounding angry.

Journal club article:

Blood-based cancer screening study

Matt, Jess, and first-time guest host Allegra Gordon discuss a study of the effect of taxes and warning labels on purchases of red meat, they lament the impact of disinformation campaigns, and Matt tells us how AI is going to take our grant writing jobs.

Journal club article:

Taxes and warning labels on red meat purchases study

Matt, Jess, and guest host Jonathan Jay discuss a study on child opportunity in the built environment and physical fitness, they debate whether to get rid of discussion sections, and Jon invites us to consider the Golden Bachelor.

Journal club article:

Neighborhood child opportunity and youth physical fitness study