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A/Prof Seye Abimbola explores how global health as a concept reinforces colonial power structures and argues for decentering Western institutions in health governance. His critique reveals how aid flows primarily benefit donor countries while creating dependencies that hinder meaningful health system development in recipient nations.

• The term "global health" itself is problematic, describing an industry with colonial roots rather than a truly global approach to health
• Much international aid functions as "tied aid," where donor countries require recipients to purchase overpriced products from them, limiting actual benefits
• 84% of major global health organizations are headquartered in wealthy nations, perpetuating knowledge hierarchies and power imbalances
• Historical colonial medical interventions like brutal sleeping sickness campaigns continue to impact health outcomes and trust in healthcare today
• Prestigious biomedical journals marginalize qualitative research, reinforcing knowledge hierarchies that privilege Global North perspectives
• True decolonization requires addressing not just authorship imbalances but ensuring research questions and methodologies serve local needs
• The withdrawal of USAID funding presents both challenges and opportunities for African nations to reimagine health systems on their own terms

Check out Dr. Abimbola's book "The Foreign Gaze: Essays on Global Health" available open access, which further explores how knowledge practices in global health often serve foreign interests rather than addressing local needs.

We also discussed Kyobutungi C, Okereke E, Abimbola S. After USAID: what now for aid and Africa? BMJ 2025; 388 :r479 doi:10.1136/bmj.r479 

Undisciplinary - a podcast that talks across the boundaries of history, ethics, and the politics of health.
Follow us on Twitter @undisciplinary_ or email questions for "mailbag episodes" [email protected]

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Part 2 of our conversation with philosopher Megan Dean. We explore the ethics of hosting and the tensions that arise when accommodating guests with dietary restrictions. We dive into her paper "The Worst Dinner Guest Ever" to understand why people with food allergies and gut issues often face skepticism and judgment when sharing their needs.

• Megan was inspired by a blog post about accommodating guests with multiple dietary restrictions and the heated debate in its comment section
• "Epistemic humility" means acknowledging people as authorities on their own bodies and experiences
• Many food intolerances cause invisible or delayed symptoms, making them easy to dismiss but no less real
• Hosting responsibilities include keeping guests safe and comfortable, which means taking dietary needs seriously
• Cultural contexts create complex ethical situations where being a "good guest" might mean risking discomfort
• "Healthism" flattens the rich experience of eating by assuming health should always be our primary consideration
• The true "worst dinner guest" is the one who judges others' food choices rather than enjoying the shared experience

Megan A. Dean; The “Worst Dinner Guest Ever”: On “Gut Issues” and Epistemic Injustice at the Dinner Table. Gastronomica 1 August 2022; 22 (3): 59–71. doi: https://doi.org/10.1525/gfc.2022.22.3.59 

Undisciplinary - a podcast that talks across the boundaries of history, ethics, and the politics of health.
Follow us on Twitter @undisciplinary_ or email questions for "mailbag episodes" [email protected]

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Philosopher Megan Dean joins us to explore the complex ethics of food restrictions, from hospital feeding tubes to revealing how deeply our identity and relationships are intertwined with what and how we eat.

In this episode we discuss

• Case of mushroom attempted mushroom poisoning - Ask Polly: My In-Laws are careless about my deadly food allergy! 
• Smuggled Doughnuts and Forbidden Fried Chicken: Addressing Tensions around Family and Food Restrictions in Hospitals by Megan A. Dean, Laura Guidry-Grimes
• The Culinary Mind - Center for the Philosophy of Food

Undisciplinary - a podcast that talks across the boundaries of history, ethics, and the politics of health.
Follow us on Twitter @undisciplinary_ or email questions for "mailbag episodes" [email protected]

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Chris and Jane kick off 2025 discussing their recent publication in the British Medical Bulletin titled "Obesity: Ethical Issues" and exploring how conversations about weight stigma have evolved in recent years.

• Jane shares her experience appearing on ABC Radio National's "God Forbid" program where the topic shifted from "thinness and morality" to focusing entirely on obesity
• Even as medical institutions acknowledge weight stigma is harmful, they continue to pathologize bodies outside narrow parameters
• Public health messaging has evolved from fear-based "toxic fat" campaigns to more positive approaches focused on movement and wellbeing
• Wonder drug narratives around Ozempic and other weight loss medications often ignore long-term risks including cardiac, gastrointestinal, and psychiatric impacts
• Challenging the pathologization of diverse body types remains more difficult than addressing overt stigma
• Chris teases an upcoming bioethics book project that will include interesting research tidbits

Let us know if you want us to discuss any particular topics - email us at [email protected] or find us on Bluesky @undisciplinary.bsky.social

Undisciplinary - a podcast that talks across the boundaries of history, ethics, and the politics of health.
Follow us on Twitter @undisciplinary_ or email questions for "mailbag episodes" [email protected]

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This episode discusses weight stigma as a systemic issue deeply rooted in healthcare practices, often leading to misdiagnosis and mistreatment of individuals based on their body size. Dr. Patty Thille highlights the dangers of medicalization and pharmaceuticalization - especially the popularity of drugs like Ozempic - in addressing obesity and encourages a more holistic approach to health that considers broader societal contexts. 

• Weight stigma as both a personal and systemic issue 
• The impact of bias in healthcare settings 
• Personal experiences leading to critical perspectives on healthcare 
• Medicalization redefines societal problems into medical concerns 
• Pharmaceuticalization shifts focus to drug interventions 
• Ethical implications of funding in medical guidelines 
• The need for a broader understanding of well-being and health 
• Encouraging holistic, weight-neutral approaches to healthcare

Undisciplinary - a podcast that talks across the boundaries of history, ethics, and the politics of health.
Follow us on Twitter @undisciplinary_ or email questions for "mailbag episodes" [email protected]

Send us a text

Undisciplinary - a podcast that talks across the boundaries of history, ethics, and the politics of health.
Follow us on Twitter @undisciplinary_ or email questions for "mailbag episodes" [email protected]

Send us a text

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Ever found yourself secretly despising a beloved Christmas classic or questioning the charm of a holiday favorite as you share it with the next generation? Join us as we navigate the highs and lows of 2024, starting with a comedic dissection of Christmas music and films. We take a cheeky swipe at Paul McCartney's "Wonderful Christmas Time," while debating the timelessness of "Christmas in New York" and "Carol of the Bells." Our scrutiny doesn't stop there; "Love Actually" gets a modern reevaluation, showing the inevitable cracks that appear when viewed through today's lens. Meanwhile, "Home Alone" brings a nostalgic warmth, offering a chance to bond over slapstick humor with our kids.

As we wrap up, we shine a spotlight on some of the year's most compelling reads and cultural gems. "The Sunbird" by Sarah Haddad emerges as a must-read, a novel so exquisitely written that every word resonates deeply. It's a self-published triumph that's capturing hearts and getting the recognition it deserves. This episode balances the light-hearted and the thoughtful, providing both a trip down memory lane and a glimpse into the year's standout stories. Join us for a conversation that is as varied as 2024 itself, filled with humor, heart, and a little bit of holiday sarcasm.

Undisciplinary - a podcast that talks across the boundaries of history, ethics, and the politics of health.
Follow us on Twitter @undisciplinary_ or email questions for "mailbag episodes" [email protected]

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This episode explores the complexities of grief during festive seasons, focusing on the interplay between love, loss, and holiday traditions. Insights from bell hooks highlight the importance of love as an action, while discussions on technology's impact on mourning encourage listeners to consider their relationships with grief and community.

• Discussing the emotional landscape of holiday traditions
• The contrast of summer festivities in Australia with feelings of grief
• Exploring the concept of death bots and digital mourning
• bell hooks' perspective on love as a verb
• The role of societal rituals in processing loss
• Examining issues of empathy in global conflicts
• Encouraging solidarity through small, actionable steps

Undisciplinary - a podcast that talks across the boundaries of history, ethics, and the politics of health.
Follow us on Twitter @undisciplinary_ or email questions for "mailbag episodes" [email protected]

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Is "cheeky" the most overused word in our everyday vocabulary? We kick things off with a humorous exploration of this label being slapped on everything from muesli bars to sports drinks. As we chuckle through language missteps, we also tackle an advertisement from the Victorian Cancer Council that boldly claims "one in two is too many." This prompts a serious reflection on the effectiveness of such messaging in cancer awareness and the potential for these tactics to oversimplify complex issues. 

Switching gears, we dive into the evolving landscape of breast cancer advocacy, spotlighting Andrea Smith’s push for visibility for those living with long-term metastatic breast cancer. Our conversation then takes a critical turn as we dissect a controversial UK government proposal advocating weight loss injections to reduce obesity-related unemployment. By unpacking the assumptions and socio-economic factors tied into this initiative, we raise questions about the erosion of public trust in health policies. Join us for this lively mix of humor, skepticism, and truth-seeking.

Undisciplinary - a podcast that talks across the boundaries of history, ethics, and the politics of health.
Follow us on Twitter @undisciplinary_ or email questions for "mailbag episodes" [email protected]

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Is solidarity in healthcare a double-edged sword? That’s the intriguing question we explore with our returning guest, Pete West-Oram. In this episode, we dissect how solidarity can both unite and divide, especially when misinformation—what Pete candidly refers to as "bullshit"—pervades public discourse. With a focus on healthcare ethics, we discuss the destabilizing power of dishonest communication and its impact on societal issues like the genocide in Gaza, where language is often wielded to distort reality.

The conversation broadens to consider global solidarity in times of geopolitical conflict, spotlighting the contrasting international reactions to the Russian invasion of Ukraine versus the ongoing situation in Palestine. We question the biases in media narratives and political responses, illustrating how they can obscure true solidarity efforts. Despite media noise and leadership failures, Pete and I champion the grassroots movements and community solidarity that emerged during crises like COVID-19, urging for more substantial support from authorities to sustain these efforts.

We then turn to the essential role of transparent communication in healthcare, drawing insights from Harry Frankfurt’s "On Bullshit." With emphasis on the importance of clarity, we consider how misinformation and epistemic injustices, as discussed by Miranda Fricker, can lead to issues like vaccine hesitancy. By highlighting examples such as the UK's NHS and the impactful work of the Patient Information Forum, we stress the necessity of accessible health information. Whether it’s through multilingual resources or straightforward language, the goal is to empower individuals with the knowledge needed to make informed health decisions, fostering trust and combating confusion.

Undisciplinary - a podcast that talks across the boundaries of history, ethics, and the politics of health.
Follow us on Twitter @undisciplinary_ or email questions for "mailbag episodes" [email protected]