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PODCAST

Critically Speaking

On each episode of Critically Speaking, your host, Dr. Therese Markow, interviews foremost experts in a range of fields. We discuss, in everyday language that we all can understand, fundamental issues that impact our health, our society, and our planet. Join our weekly journey where we separate fact from fantasy for topics both current and controversial.

science

All Episodes

34:20

Dr. Hussam Mahmoud: Climate Change and Bridge Stability

Critically Speaking ·

2024/10/15

In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Hussam Mahmoud discuss the vulnerability of bridges to climate change. When we think about climate-related disasters, hurricanes, floods, and wildfires come to mind. Probably the last thing we think about is a bridge collapsing, but we should. With over half a million bridges in the US, each with a life expectancy of 75 years, it is more important than ever to consider the role of climatic factors on bridge stability. Dr. Mahmoud discusses how flooding,

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28:45

Dr. Ximena Lopez: Helping Transgender Youth

Critically Speaking ·

2024/10/08

In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Ximena Lopez discuss the challenges faced by transgender youth, emphasizing the importance of gender-affirming care. Dr. Lopez explains the difference between sex and gender, noting that gender dysphoria is distress caused by a mismatch between one's gender identity and sex assigned at birth. She describes treatment options, including puberty suppression and hormone therapy, which can significantly improve mental health and reduce suicidality, particularly in

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18:08

Janine LaSalle, Ph.D.: Detecting Autism Before Birth

Critically Speaking ·

2024/10/01

In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Janine LaSalle discuss Dr. LaSalle’s research on autism, focusing on prenatal gene-environment interactions. She explains that autism affects one in 36 children and talks about how genetic and prenatal environmental factors, such as maternal health and chemical exposures, play a role in autism. Dr. LaSalle discusses how they use placental DNA to identify epigenetic marks linked to autism, aiming to predict probability of autism before birth in order to

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35:47

Elizabeth Scott, Ph.D.: Beware of Narcissists

Critically Speaking ·

2024/09/24

In this episode, Therese Markow and psychologist Dr. Elizabeth Scott, discuss narcissism, its clinical definition and the characteristics of “malignant narcissism”. Dr. Scott explains that narcissism involves patterns of grandiosity, a need for constant admiration, a lack of empathy, high levels of manipulation, and the narcissist’s “kryptonite” - criticism. They view themselves as the victim, never at fault. Despite their arrogance, they are very insecure. Dr. Scott also discusses why treatment is

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47:21

Dr. Adam Schiavi: Defining Brain Death

Critically Speaking ·

2024/09/17

Dr. Adam Schiavi is an assistant professor of anesthesiology and critical care medicine and neurology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. His areas of clinical expertise include anesthesiology, neurological critical care, disorders of consciousness and brain death diagnosis, clinical ethics, critical care medicine, and traumatic brain injury. In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Adam Schiavi discuss how the definition of death has changed throughout history, what the current

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30:02

Dr. Katie Pelch: Toxins in Our Bodies

Critically Speaking ·

2024/09/10

In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Katie Pelch discuss the harmful and pervasive effects of PFAS, also known as "forever chemicals." Found in various consumer and industrial products, contaminating air, water, and soil, they never break down. Dr. Pelch works for the Natural Resources Defence Council (NRDC) and has been studying PFAS throughout her career. Along with their many uses PFAS have been linked to serious health issues, including cancer and reduced vaccine effectiveness. The NRDC

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41:15

Dr. Alex Hinton: Genocide in the US??

Critically Speaking ·

2024/09/03

In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Alex Hinton explore the potential for genocide in the U.S., highlighting historical and contemporary atrocities. Dr. Hinton emphasizes that genocide can target groups based on social constructs such as race, gender, and sexuality, among others. They discuss the rise of white supremacism and hate speech, and Dr. Hinton identifies risk factors such as political upheaval, economic instability, and armed militias. Dr.Hinton also stresses the importance of critical

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43:38

Dr. Alex Hinton: Genocide and Perpetrators

Critically Speaking ·

2024/08/27

In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Alex Hinton discuss the complexities of genocide, its definitions, and the role of perpetrators. Dr. Hinton gives us the conventional, legal, and social scientific definitions of genocide and gives examples of how these affect the legal battles and social impact of different incidents, highlighting the Khmer Rouge mass killings in Cambodia. They also discuss the moral and legal implications of perpetrators and why none of us can be complacent in our

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41:24

Dr. Alan Rogol: Sex, Gender and the Olympics

Critically Speaking ·

2024/08/20

In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Alan Rogol discuss the complexities of gender, sex, and identity in elite sports, with a focus on the societal expectations and controversies surrounding gender eligibility in sports. Dr. Rogol touches on some of the history of women’s identities in elite sports, including some from the recent 2024 Paris Summer Games. Throughout the discussion, Therese and Dr. Rogol highlight the need for inclusive politics and having a respectful approach to athletes’

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37:10

Dr. Charles Easley IV: Paternal Effects on the Fetus

Critically Speaking ·

2024/08/13

In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Charles Easley IV discuss the significance of a father’s lifestyle before conception and its effects on prenatal development. This comes about not by mutations in the sperm DNA, but through heritable changes in the way the father’s genes are turned on and off during the development of the fetus. THese changes are referred to as epigenetic. So it’s not just about the mom, They thus explore the paternal origins of health and disease, highlight animal studies

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20:32

Daniel Aaron, M.D., J.D.: Food Safety Lack Of FDA...

Critically Speaking ·

2024/08/06

In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Daniel Aaron discuss the inadequate oversight of food additives by the FDA, particularly the agency's GRAS or “Generally Recognized as Safe” process, which allows unsafe additives to reach the market without proper scrutiny. Dr. Aaron highlights industry conflicts of interest, the lack of reporting requirements, the need for stricter regulation to protect public health, and discusses what is needed for the FDA to be better able to make impactful changes.

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27:48

Dr. Alexis Temkin: Pesticides in Your Body

Critically Speaking ·

2024/07/30

In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Alexis Temkin, Senior Toxicologist at the Environmental Working Group, discuss toxic chemicals we can’t see or detect in our food and daily-use products. Dr. Temkin describes common pesticides and other chemicals used in agriculture and how they enter the human body. She also shares resources provided by the Environmental Working Group that can help keep you and your family safer. Key Takeaways: Chemicals in cosmetics and other daily-use products are

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25:55

149 Dr. Tara Zimmerman: No More Misinformation

Critically Speaking ·

2024/07/23

In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Tara Zimmerman discuss how to “Fake News” proof children so that they can better interpret the vast amount of information available in the digital age, especially around misinformation and disinformation. They emphasize the importance of critical thinking skills, building those critical thinking skills, and how those important skills can be taught and practiced with children of all ages. In this digital age with so much information at our fingertips, media

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25:07

148 Dr. Thomas Guinn: Safe to Fly? Turbulence

Critically Speaking ·

2024/07/16

A serious type of turbulence has been encountered during commercial airline flights has been in the news lately. “Pancake turbulence”. Hard to detect in advance. Most recently, an Air Europa flight from Madrid to Uruguay was hit by “strong turbulence” and had to make an emergency landing in Brazil, In another recent event. a flight bound from London to Singapore with 211 passengers and 18 crew members encountered turbulence that resulted in the death of a passenger, and the hospitalization and

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20:48

147 Dr. Mary Rysavy MD: Obesity in the Delivery Room

Critically Speaking ·

2024/07/09

In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Mary Rysavy discuss all aspects of obesity during pregnancy. This is a significant concern that is growing. A study of 2000 deliveries in a single year highlighted the need for proper care and management of obese pregnant women to minimize risks and help ensure a healthy delivery. With 60% of women having a BMI over 30, and 16% having a BMI over 40, this is becoming a larger concern for both expectant mothers and for the hospitals and care providers. They also

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34:49

146 Dr. Jerald Kay & Dr. Joel Yager: Ambition and...

Critically Speaking ·

2024/07/02

In this episode, Therese Markow, Dr. Jerald Kay, and Dr. Joel Yager discuss the various forms of ambition. They discuss lack of ambition, mismatched ambition, and delve into some of the potential negative consequences of Machiavellian ambition and how to deal with malignant narcissists. Key Takeaways: There are biological underpinnings to ambition, but much of what we know about ambition is built on repeated interactions as children. Not everyone who is Machiavellian is ambitious. Not

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37:23

145 Fewer Sperm, More Infertility

Critically Speaking ·

2022/02/02

Infertility is on the rise, leading otherwise healthy young couples to seek a form of assisted reproductive technology appropriate for their particular situation. This increase infertility of considerable concern. Is one sex affected more than the other? What are the long-range implications if the trend keeps going? Is it only humans that appear to be affected? And the critical question is why? In today’s episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Shanna Swan, author of the new book Count Down, answer many of

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39:49

144 Our Failing Education System

Critically Speaking ·

2022/01/26

Dr. Richard P. Phelps is founder of the Nonpartisan Education Group, editor of Nonpartisan Education Review (http://nonpartisaneducation.org), a Fulbright Scholar, and fellow of the Psychophysics Laboratory. He has authored, or edited and co-authored Correcting Fallacies about Educational and Psychological Testing (APA); Standardized Testing Primer (Peter Lang); Defending Standardized Testing (Psychology Press); Kill the Messenger (Transaction), and several statistical compendia. Phelps has worked

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33:16

143 The mental health crisis: dreams and nightmares

Critically Speaking ·

2022/01/19

In this culture where dreams and nightmares are such a part of our everyday language, the question becomes, what is dreaming? We all dream, so what does it mean, and how does it impact other areas of our lives, such as our mental health? In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Michael Nadorff discuss these questions, as well as diving deeper into the different cycles of sleep, the changes in our dreams and sleep as we age, different types of nightmare therapies, and the relationship between

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10:13

142 Cold and Colder

Critically Speaking ·

2022/01/12

Various forms of cold therapy, from ice on wounds to cold showers, have been successfully used for ages. And ice baths help athletes after an event. But these temperatures don't fall below freezing, or 32°F, and are usually above this. Recently, tanks providing whole body cryotherapy have been promoted for a wide range of health problems, some serious and progressive. This involves subjecting the body to anywhere from minus 160°F to 250°F, for several minutes. While this extreme exposure, even if

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261 results

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