We’re all about the good life – but we’re not heading to a wellness retreat in Byron Bay. We’re measuring our quality of life using cold, hard stats, and looking at our brains with a portable scanner. No ice baths required! Champagne encouraged.

See images discussed in the episode and more on the website.

In this live recording of the Australian Highlights series for the Melbourne International Comedy Festival we’re exploring local medical innovations, from a portable brain scanner currently being tested by the Royal Flying Doctor Service, to advancements in statistical measurements of patient outcomes: can the numbers really be centered on what is important to patients?

Dr Freda Werdiger, who was at the University of Melbourne at the time, takes us through the numbers and dials of her field to illuminate the promising leaps in human health happening across Australia right now, including improving care for Indigenous peoples in aged care and reducing the effects of strokes in emergency situations.

Host Rachel Rayner may faint (she’s quite squeamish, despite having her own aneurysm problems) but she’ll be joined by local comedy legend, Laura Davis, to laugh at how amazing and ridiculous the human condition is.

Credits

Producer: Rachel Rayner, Science Explainer

Guests: Freda Werdiger, Laura Davis

Venue: The Library at the Dock, Australia’s first six Green Star-rated public building 

Tech: Luke Morris

Music: Michelle Cashman

Editing: Graham Hunt

Made possible through Meta Australia Journalism Fund, administered by the Walkley Foundation, with support from Comedy Victoria. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.