Pod·ology

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What happens when we treat addiction as a crime instead of a health condition?

In this episode of Pod-ology, the hosts explore the complex intersection of addiction, incarceration, and prison reform with Dr. Tejado Hanchell. They discuss how substance use disorders contribute to criminal justice involvement, whether prisons are equipped to address addiction, and what happens when individuals return to their communities after incarceration.

This episode challenges listeners to think differently about addiction and incarceration—and the role of community.

Episode Highlights:

• Addiction is often at the center of criminal justice involvement, yet treatment opportunities remain inconsistent.
• The hosts explore whether incarceration helps or hinders recovery.
• Evidence suggests rehabilitation-focused approaches can improve long-term outcomes.
• Mental health, trauma, and substance use frequently overlap and complicate recovery.
• Reentry after prison presents major challenges, including housing, employment, and access to healthcare.
• Prison reform conversations increasingly emphasize treatment, recovery, and reducing recidivism rather than punishment alone.
• The episode asks a fundamental question: What approach best serves both individuals struggling with addiction and the communities in which they live?

National Confidential Helpline for individuals and families facing substance use disorders:

1-800-662-HELP (4357)

Forsyth County Prison Ministry: https://forsythjpm.org

For more information on the Rat Park Study:

https://www.brucekalexander.com/articles-speeches/rat-park/148-addiction-the-%20view-from-rat-park

https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/what-does-rat-park-teach-us-about-addiction

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Welcome to another episode of Pod-ology! What if aging isn’t a slow decline—but an outcome we can influence? In this episode, we explore the science of “Super Agers”—people in their 80s and 90s with the cognitive function of someone decades younger.

With geriatrician Dr. Holly Jean Coward, Jeff, Daniel, and Carolyn unpack what really drives healthy aging—from social connection, a good night’s sleep, to movement, genetics, and the role of belonging.

Episode Highlights:

What is a SuperAger?

Social Connection and Healthy Aging

Genetics and Alzheimer’s Disease

Lifestyle Changes that Can Make a Difference

What are the Blue Zones?

Dr. Holly Jean Coward graduated from the Bowman Gray School of Medicine at Wake Forest University. After a residency in internal medicine she completed a 2-year fellowship in geriatrics. She has spent her career practicing and teaching geriatrics in academic medical centers and is currently Associate Professor of Medicine and Geriatrics at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist.

• Alzheimer’s Association: https://www.alz.org
• National Institute on Aging: https://www.nia.nih.gov/health

Informed by experts and science, this site provides information for patients, families, and caregivers on a variety of subjects.

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Welcome to another episode of Pod-ology! What happens when life doesn’t follow the timeline you planned?

In this episode, Daniel and Carolyn sit down with reproductive endocrinologist and author-- our own Jeff Deaton, to explore the emotional and physical challenges of infertility. Drawing from decades of clinical experience—and his book When Waiting Becomes Life—Jeff walks us through the complexity of infertility.

Whether you’re in the midst of infertility treatment, supporting someone who is, or simply trying to understand, this episode invites you to rethink what it means to live fully even during uncertainty.

Episode Highlights:

Impact of fertility on relationships and identity

Alternative paths to parenthood

How friends and family can support loved ones in the journey

Dr. Jeff Deaton is a well known fertility expert who currently directs the Wake Forest University Center for Fertility and Reproductive Surgery in Winston Salem, NC.

A respected voice in the field of infertility, he has published multiple scientific papers and helped countless women and couples achieve their goal of having a family.

Visit Resolve: The National Infertility and Family Building Association (https://resolve.org/) for helpful resources on how to navigate the infertility journey or find a support group in your area.

To find a clinic near you got to Society for Assisted Reproduction: https://www.sart.org/

For information on a variety of topics including infertility, unexplained infertility, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and male infertility visit: ReproductiveFacts.org

Dr. Jeff Deaton’s website: jeffdeatonmd.com

When Waiting Becomes Life is available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books A Million, Bookshop.org, Powell’s Books and Walmart. For direct links to your favorite book retailer see below.

Amazon:

https://tinyurl.com/JDeatonAmazon

Barnes & Noble:

https://tinyurl.com/JDeatonBandN

Books-A-Million:

https://tinyurl.com/JDeatonBAM

Bookshop.org:

https://tinyurl.com/JDeatonBookshop

Powell's Books:

https://tinyurl.com/JDeatonPowellsBooks

Walmart:

https://tinyurl.com/JDeatonWalmart

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What happens when AI starts to feel like a companion?

In this episode, we explore AI friendships, loneliness, emotional attachment, and the line between a helpful tool and a harmful replacement. Hosts, Daniel Bernal, Carolyn Huffman, and Jeff Deaton are joined by licensed marriage and family therapist Kelly Wiley, LMFT, for a thoughtful and sometimes humorous conversation about AI companions, emotional attachment, and mental health. Together, they explore where AI can be useful—and where it could potentially erode the human relationships we need most.

Highlights:

Why AI relationships feel so real?

When therapists get concerned

Red Flags to watch out for

Impact on adolescents

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Welcome to another episode of Pod-ology.

What if biology had a “pause” button?

In this episode, we explore the science—and cultural implications—of egg freezing. From career planning to cancer treatment, fertility preservation is reshaping how and when people think about family-building.

With our own reproductive endocrinologist Jeff Deaton taking the lead, we unpack what egg freezing actually involves, who it’s for, and the emotional and ethical questions that come with putting reproduction “on ice.”

Episode Highlights:

• Egg freezing isn’t a guarantee—it’s a strategic option. Success depends heavily on age and egg quality, not just the number frozen.
• Timing matters more than most people think. Early-to-mid 30s is often the optimal window, while outcomes decline significantly after 40.
• The process is intensive but short-term. About two weeks of hormone injections, monitoring, and a brief outpatient retrieval procedure.
• Fertility preservation reflects modern life choices. From cancer patients to career-focused individuals, egg freezing is reshaping how people plan families.

Dr. Jeff Deaton is a well known fertility expert who currently directs the Wake Forest University Center for Fertility and Reproductive Surgery in Winston Salem, NC.

A respected voice in the field of infertility, he has published multiple scientific papers and helped countless women and couples achieve their goal of having a family.

To find a clinic near you go to Society for Assisted Reproduction: https://www.sart.org/