Access to contraception can shape health, autonomy, and opportunity, but what does it really take to safely expand that access? In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Stephanie Sober, OB-GYN and Global Director of Medical Affairs at Perrigo Women’s Health, to explore the landmark approval of Opill, the first daily oral contraceptive available over the counter in the U.S. Tune in to hear how nearly a decade of research and regulatory work made this switch possible, how the FDA evaluates real-world use without physician supervision, and why over-the-counter contraception is a major step forward for reproductive health equity.
Dr. Stephanie Sober is an OB-GYN physician and the Global Director of Medical Affairs at Perrigo Women’s Health. She co-led the studies submitted to the FDA to support Opill’s transition from prescription-only to over-the-counter status and has worked closely with medical organizations, regulators, and reproductive health advocates to expand safe, evidence-based access to contraception.

Microplastics are everywhere, from our oceans and ecosystems to our food, water, and bodies, but their story began with a simple question: what are we missing? In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Richard Thompson, marine biologist at the University of Plymouth and the scientist who coined the term microplastics. Tune in to hear how curiosity led to a landmark discovery, why plastic pollution is fundamentally a design problem that affects public health, and why science must now shift from defining the problem to rigorously testing solutions.

Dr. Richard Thompson is a Professor of Marine Biology at the University of Plymouth and a leading authority on plastic pollution. His research has shaped global understanding of microplastics and informed major policies to improve environmental health, including the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive and legislation banning microbeads in cosmetics. As an independent scientist, his work guides policymakers, industry, and the public toward safer and more sustainable use of plastics.

Language is central to healthcare, yet it’s often overlooked as a driver of equity, safety, and quality of care. In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Pilar Ortega, emergency medicine physician and Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the ACGME, to explore how rethinking language in medicine can transform patient outcomes. Join us to discuss why the term “language barrier” misses the real problem, how language-concordant care improves health outcomes, the promises and limitations of AI translation tools, and what systemic reforms are needed to better support multilingual clinicians and patients alike.
​Dr. Pilar Ortega is an emergency medicine physician and the Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). A nationally recognized leader in medical Spanish education and language equity in healthcare, her work focuses on improving communication, valuing multilingualism in the medical workforce, and advancing more equitable healthcare systems through policy, education, and research.

Medication mismanagement is one of the most costly and preventable problems in healthcare as it impacts patient safety, outcomes, and billions in annual spending. In this episode, we’re joined by Yoona Kim, who cofounded Arine to use AI-driven medication intelligence for improving patient outcomes. Join us in a conversation about the key factors that contribute to medication errors, why culturally sensitive care is central to Arine's approach, and how smarter use of data can shape future healthcare policy.
Yoona Kim is the co-founder and CEO of the healthcare technology company Arine. After studying human biology at Stanford, she was trained as both a pharmacist (PharmD from the University of California San Francisco) and health economist (PhD from the University of Texas at Austin). She previously served as Vice President at Proteus Digital Health and held leadership positions in research and consulting at global pharmaceutical companies.

Curiosity is at the heart of great science and great storytelling. In this episode, we’re joined by Laura Baisas, science news writer at Popular Science, to explore how curiosity fuels her work and shapes the way science is shared with the public. Tune in to hear about her process for finding story ideas, the importance of fact-checking in the age of AI, how journalists balance engaging narratives with accuracy, and why embracing science as an ever-evolving process is key to building public trust. Laura also reflects on her own “aha” moment that solidified her career in science journalism and offers advice for young listeners on charting meaningful paths forward.

​Laura Baisas is a science news writer and reporter at Popular Science. Prior to joining PopSci, she worked in children’s news programming and has built her career around making complex scientific topics accessible and engaging for broad audiences. Her work spans subjects from ocean science and paleontology to health and climate change, with a focus on curiosity-driven storytelling and accurate, impactful journalism.

Check out Laura's writing: https://www.popsci.com/authors/laura-baisas/

Throughout this season in the podcast, we have explored the unique role of cutting-edge technology in driving innovation for medicine. But what about the other way around? It turns out that the unique makeup of the healthcare system is crucial in the context of leading changes in digital health. Today, we're hearing from Noelle Eder, CIO at The Cigna Group, for her insights through a career of over 30 years. Tune in to hear about the verticalization of American healthcare, how the fragmentation of this space affects the demand for innovation in medical technology, and the importance of empathy in leadership.
Noelle Eder is the Executive Vice President and Global Chief Information Officer (CIO) at The Cigna Group. Prior to this role, she served as the Chief Information and Digital Officer at Hilton Worldwide Holdings, the Chief Card Customer Experience Officer for Capital One Financial Corporation, as well as other technology leadership roles at Intuit and TeKnowledge.