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PODCAST

The Psychology of Health

Each episode is a clear, accessible synthesis of research studies on timely and controversial health topics; no hot takes, no hype, just what actual science says. Hosted by Milan Toma, Ph.D., this podcast cuts through the noise. Instead of speculation and hearsay, you’ll get evidence-based insights on everything from sleep and weight gain to the anatomy of misinformation and the psychology behind public health debates. If you’re frustrated by the flood of opinions online and want to know what the

health & fitness medicine

All Episodes

00:31:16

From Raw Milk to Sweeteners

The Psychology of Health ·

2025/08/28

This episode highlights the pervasive issue of health misinformation and its serious consequences, often amplified by social media and misleading narratives. It examines how various topics, such as the supposed benefits of raw milk, the impact of weight loss on mortality, and the simplicity often presented in nutritional science, are frequently distorted. The episode points out how scientific findings are routinely oversimplified or taken out of context to promote certain agendas or products,

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00:31:09

The Subtle Deception of (Mis)information

The Psychology of Health ·

2025/08/27

This episode explores the crucial role of science popularization in making complex discoveries accessible to the public, while simultaneously highlighting the perils of oversimplification and misinformation. It emphasizes the delicate balance between simplifying information for understanding and inadvertently distorting it, which can lead to the spread of false narratives and erode public trust. A compelling example illustrates how a subtle alteration in a graph's title led to a widespread

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00:27:43

Digital Echoes

The Psychology of Health ·

2025/08/26

This episode explores how the digital age has intensified the spread of misinformation, creating a "Digital Amplification Era" where pseudoscientific narratives, like those about ivermectin and Ozempic, are amplified by algorithms and lead to real-world harm. It highlights how age-based engagement patterns across platforms contribute to fragmented understanding and how sensationalized headlines lead to "epistemic collapse" by exploiting cognitive biases. Furthermore, the episode

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01:09:23

Pseudoscience and Profit in Alternative Medicine

The Psychology of Health ·

2025/08/25

This episode explores the pervasive issue of medical misinformation and the exploitation of public distrust in conventional medicine by the alternative health industry. It highlights how historical patterns of predation are amplified by modern digital tools, leading to the promotion of unproven and potentially harmful remedies such as ozone therapy, 5G detox scams, colloidal silver, and DNA healing frequencies. The sources illustrate the lucrative nature of this market, often fueled by conspiracy

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00:45:22

Grifting the Grieved

The Psychology of Health ·

2025/08/24

This episode examines how historical betrayals and systemic distrust in institutions create fertile ground for pseudoscientific exploitation and profit-driven misinformation. It highlights how grifters and influencers capitalize on these "epistemic voids," often by reframing unproven alternatives as "ancestral wellness" or "rebellion" against perceived corrupt establishments like "Big Pharma." The episode uses examples such as the Samoa measles tragedy and

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00:45:59

mRNA Vaccines

The Psychology of Health ·

2025/08/23

This episode examines the widespread misinformation and conspiracy theories surrounding mRNA vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic. It highlights several prevalent false claims, such as the pandemic being a hoax, the vaccines altering DNA, causing infertility, or being tools for population control or microchip implantation. The episode explains the scientific inaccuracies of these theories, emphasizing that mRNA vaccines do not contain live viruses, are not designed for surveillance, and were

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00:37:00

The Modern Plagues

The Psychology of Health ·

2025/08/22

The episode explores the rise and persistence of modern health conspiracy theories, highlighting how they leverage historical distrust, scientific ambiguities, and digital platforms to spread misinformation. They examine specific examples like the fluoridation and iodized salt controversies, concerns about Wi-Fi, chemtrails, genetically modified organisms, and antidepressant discontinuation syndrome, demonstrating how profit-driven wellness industries exploit public fears. The episode also analyzes

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00:16:32

Scientific Research Distorted

The Psychology of Health ·

2025/08/21

This episode explores how scientific research, specifically on the measles virus for cancer therapy, is misused and distorted by anti-vaccine proponents to create misinformation and fear. It highlights how terms like "attenuated" and "oncolytic viruses" are taken out of context to falsely suggest dangers in vaccines, despite the research emphasizing their safety and efficacy. The episode also draws historical parallels, explaining how public distrust and misattributed

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00:23:21

Anti-Vaccine Narratives

The Psychology of Health ·

2025/08/20

This episode examines anti-vaccine narratives that exploit concerns and spread misinformation, particularly focusing on the debunked link between vaccines and autism. It highlights how false claims, originating from fraudulent studies, are amplified by digital platforms and framed as "resistance" against institutions, despite overwhelming scientific evidence to the contrary. The episode introduces a landmark 2025 Danish study that rigorously disproves the alleged harm of aluminum in

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00:20:47

Resistance to Public Health Initiatives

The Psychology of Health ·

2025/08/19

This episode examines the historical and psychological roots of resistance to public health initiatives, highlighting how contrarianism is often mistakenly perceived as critical thinking. They illustrate this through modern examples like COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, showing how narcissistic tendencies and insufficient cognitive reflection can fuel conspiratorial beliefs, even among the educated. The sources then draw parallels to the 1721 Boston smallpox epidemic, where the introduction

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00:27:45

Misattributing Causality

The Psychology of Health ·

2025/08/18

Step back to the late 19th century and explore the Germ Theory revolution that transformed medicine. Discover how Louis Pasteur, Joseph Lister, and Robert Koch debunked old beliefs and established microbial pathogenesis, leading to sanitation reforms, vaccination, and antiseptic surgery.This groundbreaking theory faced stubborn resistance from 19th-century surgeons unwilling to admit their practices caused deaths, highlighting how ego and self-preservation hindered progress. Shockingly, modern

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00:14:24

Digital Distortions

The Psychology of Health ·

2025/08/17

This episode examines how misinformation and distrust are amplified in the digital age, particularly concerning scientific information. It highlights systemic incentives, such as clickbait economics, that prioritize sensationalism over accuracy, leading to oversimplified narratives and misinformed choices about health. The episode also discusses the quantity manipulation paradox, where the sheer volume of false claims creates confusion, and the search engine paradox, where independent online

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00:11:21

Legacy of Medical Mistrust

The Psychology of Health ·

2025/08/16

This podcast episode offers a deep dive into "A Legacy of Medical Mistrust," meticulously tracing the historical roots and enduring impact of misinformation and institutional betrayal in healthcare.The episode covers:The Anatomy of Medical Myths:It begins by exploring how history reflects both human progress and the persistent shadows of misinformation, highlighting the human tendency to seek simple explanations for complex phenomena.The discussion emphasizes the critical need for accurate

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00:13:40

Truth, Trust, and Progress in Medicine

The Psychology of Health ·

2025/08/15

This episode about the critical issue of medical misinformation and its profound impact on public health and trust. The episode highlights why healthcare communication carries unique risks, emphasizing that unlike advancements in space exploration, medical claims directly affect people's well-being, making the public highly sensitive and critical of them.Key themes and discussions in the episode include:The Immediate Consequences of Misinformation in Healthcare: The episode uses the COVID-19

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00:17:46

The Lethal Reach of Medical Misinformation

The Psychology of Health ·

2025/08/14

The episode explores how medical misinformation has consistently led to detrimental health outcomes and fatalities throughout history. It presents numerous examples, ranging from early 20th-century patent medicine scams like Radithor to modern-day phenomena such as the opioid crisis, anti-vaccine movements, and the promotion of unproven alternative therapies. The episode highlights how corporate deception, regulatory failures, the exploitation of public trust, and the amplification of falsehoods

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00:14:46

Foundations of Distrust

The Psychology of Health ·

2025/08/13

In this episode, we talk about the pressing issue of medical misinformation and the business of conspiracy based on the book, "The Economy of Distrust," by Dr. Toma. The historical roots of medical misinformation, tracing cyclical patterns from medieval witch hunts and plague-era scapegoating to modern challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic. We explore how historical betrayals, institutional failures, and profit-driven scandals – such as the Radithor radioactive tonic scandal, the Tuskegee

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00:10:52

Epistemic Humility

The Psychology of Health ·

2025/08/12

This podcast episode talks about a critical phenomenon where Epistemic Humility (i.e., the recognition of the limits of one’s own knowledge) clashes with ideological rigidity. This clash highlights how a refusal to acknowledge the boundaries of one's expertise, often driven by strongly held beliefs, can lead to the dismissal of valid evidence and genuine expert consensus.In this thought-provoking episode, based on a section from Dr. Milan Toma’s book, "The Economy of Distrust," the discussion

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00:19:56

The Educational Paradox

The Psychology of Health ·

2025/08/11

Join us as we talk about a groundbreaking and counterintuitive phenomenon: 'The Educational Paradox.' In this thought-provoking episode, we discuss a section from Dr. Milan Toma's book, "The Economy of Distrust, Medical Misinformation and the Business of Conspiracy."Dr. Toma reveals how, contrary to popular belief, higher education can paradoxically increase susceptibility to conspiracy theories among narcissistic individuals. This occurs when academic credentials inflate a

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38 results

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