PODCAST

Free Associations

Population Health Exchange

Mad musings from the messy world of science

health & fitness medicine

All Episodes

26:25

Episode 155: Probiotics and AI Chatbots

Free Associations ·

2025/04/28

Matt and Jess discuss the ethics of probiotics for children and we discuss whether AI chatbots can help reduce misinformation.Study link: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-03971-5

en-US

27:21

Episode 154: Gun Violence and Maternal Morbidity

Free Associations ·

2025/04/11

Matt, Jess and guest host Jon discuss a study of the effect of experiencing gun violence and maternal morbidity.Study link: Fatal Police Violence and Maternal Morbidity Study

en-US

27:48

Episode 151: The Role of Advocacy and Activism in...

Free Associations ·

2025/01/17

In an expansive, thought-provoking discussion ahead of the pivotal changes in Washington, DC, Matt, Jess and guest host Michael Stein discuss the role of advocacy and activism in public health and the changing views on the role of public health in society.(This discussion was originally part of the December episode, but we felt the subject matter was both timely and relevant enough to highlight on its own.)

en-US

58:54

Episode 144 - Human mobility and economic segregation

Free Associations ·

2024/03/26

Matt, Jess, and guest host Jonathan Jay discuss a study using cell phone data to see if living in cities gives us better economic integration, they explore whether AI will be developing our hypotheses in the future, and Matt naps with penguins.Journal club article: Human mobility and economic segregation study

en-US

56:19

Episode 143 - Workplace interventions for...

Free Associations ·

2024/02/27

Matt, Jess, and guest host Amruta Nori-Sarma examine a study testing the effect of a workplace intervention for cardiometabolic health, they discuss mental health as a human right, and Amruta tells us about the power of Taylor Swift.Journal club article: Workplace intervention for cardiometabolic health study

en-US

54:32

Episode 142 - A blood-based screening for cancer?

Free Associations ·

2024/01/30

Matt, Jess, and guest host Salma Abdalla discuss a study testing the efficacy of a blood-based cancer screening tool, they debate the role of the workplace in mental health, and Salma sees if she can pronounce the word “bubbles” while sounding angry. Journal club article: Blood-based cancer screening study

en-US

56:41

Episode 141 - Do taxes and warning labels affect meat...

Free Associations ·

2024/01/02

Matt, Jess, and first-time guest host Allegra Gordon discuss a study of the effect of taxes and warning labels on purchases of red meat, they lament the impact of disinformation campaigns, and Matt tells us how AI is going to take our grant writing jobs. Journal club article: Taxes and warning labels on red meat purchases study

en-US

57:13

Episode 140 - Neighborhood environment and childhood...

Free Associations ·

2023/12/05

Matt, Jess, and guest host Jonathan Jay discuss a study on child opportunity in the built environment and physical fitness, they debate whether to get rid of discussion sections, and Jon invites us to consider the Golden Bachelor. Journal club article: Neighborhood child opportunity and youth physical fitness study

en-US

57:23

Episode 139 - Wildfires and medical visits

Free Associations ·

2023/10/03

Matt, Jess, and guest host Amruta Nori-Sarma examine a study of the effect of proximity to wildfires on medical visits, they discuss housing as harm reduction, and Matt goes to Olive Garden. Journal club article: Wildfire exposure and health care study

en-US

57:24

Episode 138 - Can hearing aids prevent dementia?

Free Associations ·

2023/09/05

Matt, Jess, and guest host Salma Abdalla examine a study on the use of hearing aids to prevent dementia, they discuss whether loneliness is a public health problem (and, as usual, descend into talking about COVID), and Salma tells us the difference between coffee and concrete. Journal club article: Hearing aid and dementia study

en-US

53:49

Episode 137 - A breakthrough for meningitis vaccination?

Free Associations ·

2023/08/01

Matt and Jess go solo and Jess hosts for the first time! They discuss a study of the effectiveness of a new meningitis vaccine, whether active shooter drills do anything more than scare kids, and debate the best movie candy. Journal club article: Meningitis vaccine study

en-US

1:00:59

Episode 136 - The Best of Amazing and Amusing V...

Free Associations ·

2023/06/27

We are taking a one-month break this summer. Please enjoy this "best of" episode celebrating Chris' contributions to the podcast.

en-US

1:01:50

Episode 135 - Is coffee bad for your heart?

Free Associations ·

2023/05/30

Matt, Jess, and Chris examine a crossover study of the effects of coffee consumption on heart health, they discuss the commercial determinants of health, and Chris gives a heartfelt goodbye to the podcast and to BU. Journal club article: Coffee consumption and heart health study

en-US

56:14

Episode 134 - Did we have any effect on COVID?

Free Associations ·

2023/05/02

Matt, Jess, and Chris discuss a complex ecologic study on the effect of various interventions for COVID, they debate whether living evidence syntheses can save science, and Chris updates us on what killed Beethoven. Journal club article: COVID-19 interventions study

en-US

58:02

Episode 133 - Do masks work for COVID?

Free Associations ·

2023/04/04

Matt, Jess, and Chris examine a meta-analysis on whether masks reduce respiratory virus transmission, they discuss the peer review madness, and Jess tells us about vibrating pills. Journal club article: Masks to reduce the spread of respiratory viruses study

en-US

1:05:12

Episode 132 - Gestational age at birth and cognitive...

Free Associations ·

2023/03/07

Matt, Jess, and Chris discuss a study on the impact of gestational age at birth and cognitive outcomes, they debate who should be an author on an academic publication, and Jess tells us whether fish can recognize themselves. Journal club article: Gestational age and cognitive outcomes study

en-US

59:33

Episode 131 - Are magic mushrooms the answer to...

Free Associations ·

2023/02/07

Matt, Jess, and Chris discuss a phase 2 clinical trial on the use of psilocybin to treat severe depression, they lament the state of health literacy, and Chris finds out what happens when you give drugs to spiders. Journal club article: Psilocybin for major depression study

en-US

48:00

Episode 130 - The best of Amazing and Amusing IV

Free Associations ·

2023/01/10

Please enjoy this compilation of the best of Amazing and Amusing. Regular episodes will return in February.

en-US

58:38

Episode 129 - RSV during the COVID pandemic

Free Associations ·

2022/12/13

Matt, Jess, and guest host Leo Martinez discuss a study on the respiratory syncytial virus during the pandemic, they debate the value of the evidence in preprints, and Jess redesigns the urinal. Journal club article: Respiratory syncytial virus study

en-US

54:58

Episode 128 - Effects of racism on health in New Zealand

Free Associations ·

2022/11/15

Matt, Jess, and guest host Collette Ncube examine a study using different types of measurement to look at the effects racism has on health outcomes in New Zealand, they discuss what makes for a good research question when it comes to studying health disparities, and Jess teaches us how to hold a baby if you want them to sleep. Journal club article: Experiences of racism in New Zealand study

en-US

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Free Associations

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