Health Discovered

In January, many people choose to refrain from alcohol, or what is known as a “dry January,” after potential excess during the holiday season. But what about those who want to refrain longer or explore their relationship with alcohol? What does it mean to be sober curious, or practice mindful drinking? How would shifting our drinking habits impact our health? We spoke to Amanda E. White, licensed professional counselor and the owner of Therapy for Women Center, author of Not Drinking Tonight, and creator of the popular Instagram account @therapyforwomen, about mindful drinking, how to practice boundaries when refraining from alcohol, and helpful tips for listeners who are sober curious to begin changing their relationship with alcohol.

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Do you know the difference between a pap smear and a pelvic exam? Do you know where the cervix is located and what it does? Most importantly, what about the connection between human papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical cancer? According to some experts, almost 100% of sexually active people will contract HPV at some point in their lifetime and more than 14,000 women in the US are diagnosed with HPV related invasive cervical cancer every year. For cervical cancer awareness month, we spoke with Staci Tanouye, MD, a board-certified OB/GYN to answer common questions about cervical health. We discuss the difference between pelvic exams and pap smears, how often to schedule them, common facts and misconceptions about HPV, and why regular cervical cancer screenings are so important throughout the lifespan.

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A 2023 survey by Cleveland Clinic found that 44% of men do not get an annual physical exam. How should men take control of their health? What are the top health concerns for men after the age of 40? What health screenings are essential? And why do we often overlook mental health when having these discussions? Neha Pathak, MD, and John Whyte, MD, discuss the importance of checking blood pressure and cholesterol, maintaining heart health, cancer risk and screening, and how wearable devices and apps can inform and empower men to approach their health and wellness proactively.

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In the first episode of the new year, Dr. Pathak takes a different approach to traditional New Year's resolutions. Rather than overwhelming you with the pressure of becoming a "new you," this episode encourages listeners to appreciate and love the "you" that exists right now. With a focus on embracing and accepting the current version of ourselves, we explore the transformative power of self-compassion. Guiding us through this topic is our guest, Kristin Neff, PhD, a pioneer in the field of self-compassion research and author of the books Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself, and Fierce Self-Compassion: How Women Can Harness Kindness to Speak Up, Claim Their Power and Thrive. Dr. Neff explores mindfulness, empathy, fierce self-compassion, and helpful practices we can incorporate into our daily lives to show up with an open heart and mind.

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Many of us can relate to feeling triggered or having our buttons pushed in our closest relationships, but what can we do about it? Is there an effective way to identify and communicate healthy boundaries? Can we create and sustain healthier connections even in the midst of conflict? We spoke with Whitney Goodman, LMFT, psychotherapist behind the hugely popular Instagram account @SitWithWhit, author of Toxic Positivity, host of the Calling Home podcast, and owner of the Collaborative Counseling Center, about how to communicate our wants, needs, and boundaries, as well as dynamics of enmeshment, estrangement and loving detachment.

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It’s commonly said that we are what we eat. A great deal of research has been done to find a correlation between healthy diets and brain function, but misinformation persists. Figuring out how certain foods impact our physical, mental, and emotional health while also balancing our busy lives can become a frustrating exercise. So, how does food impact the brain exactly? To find out, we spoke to Uma Naidoo, MD, director of Nutritional and Metabolic Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) & director of Nutritional & Lifestyle Psychiatry at MGH Academy, and author of the forthcoming book Calm Your Mind with Food. We explored the gut and brain connection, the benefits of spices and adaptogens, helpful food pairings to boost bioavailability and realistic solutions for supporting our mental and emotional health with food.

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We've all heard of seasonal affective disorder, but did you know that it's more than just the winter blues? The cooler temperatures, seasonal changes, and limited daylight hours of the winter months can stir up a certain cozy feeling, but they can also bring a sense of lethargy, persistent sadness, and a loss of interest in activities that once brought joy. So, what exactly is seasonal affective disorder? What are the symptoms? Are there effective treatments available? We spoke with Michael Terman, PhD, founder and president of the Center for Environmental Therapeutics, about the science behind what causes seasonal affective disorder, the significant role that your chronotype plays, where and how to accurately assess mood changes during seasonal transitions, and the therapies available that alleviate symptoms associated with seasonal affective disorder. 

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What happens when vaccine hesitancy and medical misinformation evolve into an anti-science aggression? While navigating the COVID-19 pandemic, we found ourselves facing daily monumental decisions regarding our health. As the pandemic continued, many of us became well-informed about viral loads, the effectiveness of masks in preventing transmission, and the critical question of whether the vaccine would benefit or potentially harm us. The introduction of the COVID vaccine brought these decisions to the forefront of our lives along with a debate about politics, identity, and privacy. We spoke with Peter Hotez, MD, PhD, scientist, pediatrician, and the author of The Deadly Rise of Anti-Science: A Scientist's Warning, about the origins of vaccine skepticism, the impact of community outreach and patient education, and lessons learned in countering the spread of medical misinformation.

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Forty years ago, the idea that HIV would shift from a terminal illness to a chronic manageable disease was almost unthinkable. In recent years, another health crisis, COVID-19, much like HIV, was wrought with fear, stigma, and misinformation. In honor of World AIDS Day, we'll discuss key terminology, misconceptions, and advancements in HIV, including U=U undetectable equals untransmittable, the life-changing impact of current treatments and medical breakthroughs, and how science has prepared us with tools to navigate future pandemics. Joining us in this conversation is Michael Saag, MD, physician and prominent HIV/AIDS researcher at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and author of Positive: One Doctor's Personal Encounters with Death, Life, and the US Healthcare System. This episode is dedicated to people living with and affected by HIV and those who lost their lives to AIDS.

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Have you ever been in a stressful situation where it feels as if you are losing control of your body? Activation of the sympathetic nervous system may cause our chest to tighten, our thoughts to race, and our breathing to become shallow. What are our options in these moments? What can we rely on to bring us back to center when we experience dysregulation? Breathwork, belly breathing, or paced respiration is an intentional manipulation of how we breathe to achieve specific mental, emotional, or physical benefits. We spoke to Ana Lilia, a certified breathwork teacher, about various breathwork techniques, from breath of fire to box breathing, and the powerful advantages of breathwork, including relaxation, stress reduction, and overall well-being. Through this discussion, we learn how consciously incorporating our breath is a pathway for transformation.

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