Health Stuff

In this final episode of Health Stuff, Dr. Priyanka Wali and Hari Kondabolu look back on the episodes, guests, and health lessons that stuck with them throughout the season. They revisit conversations about racism in medicine, sleep, vaccines, AI, psychedelics, emotional sensitivity, solitude, and the ways our health is shaped by more than individual choices. They share the practical advice they still use, the health myths they wish would disappear, and how making the show changed the way they think about medicine, healthcare, and their own lives. Thank you for listening.

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Dr. Priyanka and Hari turn the medical microscope on themselves and share two personal health stories. Hari recounts a botched wisdom tooth removal that left a piece of tooth behind and led to an infection, a trip to the dentist in India, and a very humbling lesson about assumptions and advocating for yourself. Dr. Priyanka shares what it was like to develop bullous myringitis, a rare condition that caused excruciating ear pain and temporary hearing loss, and how the experience changed the way she thinks about accessibility and empathy.

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When you’re standing in the drugstore staring at a wall of pain creams, patches, and gels, how do you know what actually works? Hari and Dr. Priyanka break down topical pain relievers, from diclofenac and lidocaine to menthol, camphor, and capsaicin, including what they do and which kinds of pain they can help. Plus, they cover the risks of burns, heating pads, overuse, and why reading the “active ingredients” on the label matters.

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Kidney stones are common, painful, and often preventable. Hari and Dr. Priyanka break down what causes them, why they hurt so much, and how hydration, diet, salt, and calcium can affect your risk. Plus, they cover what you can do at home, when a kidney stone is a medical emergency, and bust common myths about lemon juice, cranberry juice, chugging water, and beer.

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Over-the-counter pain medications are common, but how much do we actually know about what we’re taking? Dr. Priyanka and Hari break down the differences between acetaminophen, ibuprofen, naproxen, and aspirin, including what each medication treats, how they work, and the risks to your liver, kidneys, stomach, and heart. Plus, they bust common myths about mixing medications, drinking alcohol, daily use, and how to read the label so you don’t accidentally take too much.

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Dr. Priyanka and Hari explore what it means to feel emotions more intensely with psychiatrist and ADHD expert Dr. Sasha Hamdani, author of Too Sensitive: Rejection, Resilience, and the Science of Feeling Deeply. They unpack rejection sensitivity, ADHD, and the science behind emotional sensitivity, from unanswered texts and relationship conflict to the ways trauma, hormones, and cultural expectations can shape how we experience emotions.

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Tonsil stones are small, common, and easy to mistake for something more serious. Hari and Dr. Priyanka break down how these little balls of trapped debris form in the tonsils, why they can cause bad breath and throat irritation, and what makes some people more prone to them. They also cover how to prevent them, what you can safely do at home, and why you should resist the urge to go digging around your throat with a Q-tip.

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Why does acid reflux happen, and when is it more than just heartburn? Dr. Priyanka and Hari break down acid reflux and GERD, from the surprising symptoms you might not recognize as reflux to the lifestyle changes and treatments that can actually help. Plus, they tackle common myths and explain when heartburn could be a sign of something more serious.

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On this mini episode, Dr. Priyanka Wali shares practical health advice about the everyday symptoms and screenings people often overlook. She explains when eye floaters can signal something serious, why routine eye and hearing exams matter more than most people realize, what your gums and teeth can reveal about your overall health, and why pregnant women should avoid changing cat litter. She also breaks down the safest way to handle earwax, when a fever requires urgent care, what persistent wounds can signal, common causes of hair loss, and why massage therapy may offer real health benefits beyond relaxation.

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Ketamine has a complicated reputation. It’s been a horse tranquilizer, a party drug, linked to celebrity headlines, and is now being explored as a breakthrough treatment for depression, PTSD, and trauma. So what is it really?

Dr. Priyanka and Hari trace ketamine’s history from operating rooms to mental health clinics, explain how it works differently from traditional antidepressants, and unpack why it can help some people with treatment-resistant depression. They also discuss the principles of ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP), the lessons from Matthew Perry’s death, and why proper medical oversight matters. Along the way, Dr. Wali shares powerful stories from her own clinical experience.

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