Between soaring health insurance costs, confusing policy updates, and the ever-present threat of medical misinformation, it’s a good time to brush up on trusted sources. These six podcasts deliver expert knowledge about the past, present, and future of medicine in America, encompassing storytelling, investigative journalism, and tips on taking care of your own health.
## ‘This Podcast Will Kill You’: A Gripping Look at Disease and Epidemiology
Three years before the Covid-19 pandemic forced us to develop at least a passing interest in epidemiology, this podcast began with the goal of putting a mainstream spin on the subject. Hosted by experts Erin Welsh and Erin Allman, the show delivers dense and potentially grim subject matter in an accessible and entertaining way. Episodes often focus on a specific disease, like the flu, the plague, or monkeypox, typically kicking off with a real-life story from someone affected by the illness before delving into its history, biology, and epidemiology.
In other weeks, the focus might be a specific type of medication, like S.S.R.I. antidepressants, or a treatment like I.V.F. The Erins also spend a lot of time debunking myths and correcting the record on false claims, a mission which has only become more vital since the podcast’s launch in 2017. A great place to start is with their starter episode: ‘Childhood Vaccine Schedule 1: Let’s give it a shot.’
## ‘Bodies’: A Thoughtful Exploration of Inequality and Illness
This is a thoughtful, insightful series from KCRW about the internal and external forces that shape a human body, with an emphasis on how inequality can add fuel to the fire of illness. Created and hosted by Allison Behringer, ‘Bodies’ ran for four seasons between 2018 and 2023, delivering firsthand accounts of medical experiences from women, people of color, and other groups who are disproportionately likely to experience poor treatment and worse health outcomes. The show highlights stigmatized or poorly understood conditions – chronic pain, postpartum mental illness, autism – with an emphasis on the sickness in the system as much as in the individual.
An intimate mix of first-person storytelling and investigative reporting, this is the kind of journalism that public radio does best. A great place to start is with their starter episode: ‘Anxious Mess.’
## ‘Psychiatry & Psychotherapy Podcast’: Cutting Through the Noise on Mental Health
Therapy is more popular than ever in the U.S., with nearly one in four adults engaging in some form of mental health treatment according to a 2021 CDC report. But with the rise of mental health content on platforms like TikTok, it can be hard to separate fact from fiction. That’s where the ‘Psychiatry & Psychotherapy Podcast’ comes in – a helpful resource for anyone trying to cut through the noise and develop a better understanding of psychology.
The show consists of conversations between the host, Dr. David Puder, a practicing psychiatrist, and fellow mental health professionals with various fields of expertise across clinical and research work. Episodes might focus on a specific therapeutic approach like cognitive behavioral therapy or eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy (better known as E.M.D.R.), a single diagnosis like bipolar disorder, or broader topics like the much-contested link between cannabis use and psychosis. A great place to start is with their starter episode: ‘A.I. Psychosis: Emerging Cases of Delusion Amplification Associated with ChatGPT and L.L.M. Chatbot Use.’
In short, these six podcasts are a must-listen for anyone looking to stay informed and up-to-date on the latest developments in medicine and healthcare. From the complex world of epidemiology to the intricacies of mental health, these shows have got you covered.
