Critically Speaking

Have you or someone you loved considered taking antidepressants for mental health, but had concerns? Listen in as Dr. Andrew Novick talks about the research and the science behind these drugs and other options for those struggling with MDD and other mental health concerns.    In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Andrew Novick discuss major depressive disorder (MDD) and its treatment options. Dr. Novick explains the key characteristics of MDD and discusses some of the many treatment options, which include psychotherapy, particularly cognitive-behavioral therapy, and pharmacological interventions like SSRIs. He highlights the effectiveness of esketamine for treatment-resistant MDD, and also addresses the controversy surrounding SSRIs and the potential of new treatments like psilocybin, noting ongoing research and regulatory challenges.    Key Takeaways: Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) can begin in childhood, but can often show up as irritability rather than other traditional depressive symptoms that we would see in adults. It's also more common to see it manifest during puberty, rather than before. Treating MDD does not require starting with psychotherapy. Medication can help more immediately, especially because there is an obstacle to accessible therapy for a lot of people. It can also be a tool used in tandem with therapy.  While there are no blood tests or simple diagnostic tests to see if you have depression, like with an infectious disease model, there are some brain scans that can show signs of depression, especially across wide populations of individuals.  There is no one gene that is associated with MDD. However, through research, many different genes have been identified, often related to brain function and stress response.    "If depression goes untreated, the most awful consequence of that is potential suicide." —  Dr. Andrew Novick   Connect with Dr. Andrew Novick: Professional Bio: https://som.cuanschutz.edu/Profiles/Faculty/Profile/29109  ResearchGate:  https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Andrew-Novick  LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annovick    Connect with Therese: Website:  www.criticallyspeaking.net Bluesky: @CriticallySpeaking.bsky.social Instagram: @criticallyspeakingpodcast Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net   Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it. 

From testosterone craze headlines to myths about prostate cancer, fertility, and aggression, men are getting a lot of confusing messages about their sexual health. Today, urologist and men's health expert Dr. Justin Dubin cuts through the noise with science-backed answers to the questions men are often too embarrassed to ask.   In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Justin Dubin discuss listener questions regarding men's sexual health. Dr. Dubin explains the nuances of testosterone levels, noting that normal ranges vary and can impact overall health. He highlights the importance of addressing low testosterone, which can lead to significant health issues, including all-cause mortality. He dives into the risks and benefits of testosterone replacement therapy, emphasizing the need for proper medical guidance. Additionally, Justin addresses the stigma around men's health, the role of direct-to-consumer testosterone sales, and the impact of prostate cancer treatments on sexual function.     Key Takeaways: Health is not just about living longer; it should also be about living better.  There are different forms of testosterone. The majority of it, about 98%, is bound to other proteins. Free testosterone is what can bind to your receptors. There is really good data suggesting that men with low testosterone die at a younger age; they have a higher all-cause mortality. It's not just a mood; it's not just a sex thing. It is an overall marker for your health. If you are interested in future fertility and you have low testosterone, do not take real testosterone replacement therapy; there are alternative options. Before you go on any medication, you should know the risks and benefits of what you are thinking of taking.   "If I can stop making men think with their penises and start making them think about their penises, I think we can get a lot more guys healthier, a lot more guys happier, and a lot more guys doing the things that they want to be able to do inside and outside the bedroom." —  Dr. Justin Dubin   Episode References: Guideline-Discordant Care Among Direct-to-Consumer Testosterone Therapy Platforms: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2799297    Connect with Dr. Justin Dubin: Professional Bio: https://baptisthealth.net/doctors/justin-dubin/5921802  Website: https://www.themanuppod.com/  Man Up Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/1FkEhH04XdxruNg1xxsEdo  YouTube: http://youtube.com/@themanuppod  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-dubin-m-d-9a9b7917/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justindubinmd/?hl=en  Linktree: https://linktr.ee/JustinDubinMD    Connect with Therese: Website:  www.criticallyspeaking.net Bluesky: @CriticallySpeaking.bsky.social Instagram: @criticallyspeakingpodcast Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net     Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it. 

Do you ever feel exhausted by home life, even when the chores look "even"? This episode uncovers the hidden mental load running beneath every household and reveals how it quietly shapes stress, careers, and relationships.   Today, Therese Markow and  Dr. Allison Daminger discuss her research on cognitive labor, which reveals gender inequality in household decision-making. Allison interviewed 92 couples, and they discuss the results found between both queer and heterosexual couples throughout the study. These decisions were categorized into 10 domains, ranging from maintenance to health to childcare. Throughout the episode, Allison emphasizes the need for couples to recognize and address the imbalances, suggesting starting with low-hanging fruit and fostering a growth mindset to achieve a more equitable division of labor.     Key Takeaways: In different-sex households, cognitive labor is overwhelmingly shouldered by women, with roughly 80% of such homes being woman-led across domains like schedules, childcare coordination, finances, and home maintenance. Same-sex couples tend to divide cognitive labor more deliberately and flexibly, often discussing who does what and viewing roles as changeable rather than fixed by gender stereotypes. Unequal cognitive labor carries real costs - chronic exhaustion, career compromises, and relationship strain - making it crucial for couples to name this work, question "it just happened this way" narratives, and experiment with small, intentional rebalances in specific domains. Women's lives changed dramatically in the second half of the twentieth century, in a way that men's lives did not. However, there is now an emerging trend that seems to show more men feeling a pull toward the traditional household cognitive load often carried by women.   "One reason that my research has resonated with a lot of people is that it's given them language to explain something that they experience every day. People know that they're doing a lot, but until they recognize this as a form of work that is taxing, it can be easy to kind of downplay what you're contributing to your family, especially when it feels like you and your partner are sharing the physical work relatively equitably." —  Dr. Allison Daminger   Connect with Allison: Professional Bio: https://www.allisondaminger.com/about  Substack: https://allisondaminger.substack.com/    Website: https://www.allisondaminger.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisondaminger  Book: What's On Her Mind: The Mental Workload of Family Life - https://bookshop.org/p/books/what-s-on-her-mind-the-mental-workload-of-family-life-allison-daminger/585e2aa7eac0a0ea    Connect with Therese: Website:  www.criticallyspeaking.net Bluesky: @CriticallySpeaking.bsky.social Instagram: @criticallyspeakingpodcast Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net   Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.  

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 challenging and why therapy often focuses on managing symptoms rather than the deeper core issues. They can't see that they have a problem, and thus are resistant to treatment.    Key Takeaways: The myth of Narcissus illustrates the danger of excessive self-focus, which is the hallmark of narcissism in clinical terms and is becoming increasingly common in some aspects of our modern society.  Narcissists are very good at manipulation. They consciously will do things to sort of manage their image in the eyes of others. They may appear to show empathy at times in a relationship, but it's usually more of a means to an end than a genuine concern for the feelings of others. Criticism is like kryptonite to a narcissist, so even the mildest critique can provoke a strong defensive reaction: anger, denial, or shifting the blame to somebody else. You cannot change a narcissist's behavior, but you can control your own responses to it. Think about limits and then give yourself leeway within those to protect your own mental health.    "[Narcissists] might mimic empathetic behaviors to achieve their own ends, but it's more about manipulation than genuine caring. So they can understand maybe what empathy looks like, but not really get how it feels and how it's supposed to feel and how those behaviors are supposed to be rooted in something inside them." —  Elizabeth Scott, Ph.D.   Connect with Elizabeth Scott, Ph.D.: Twitter: https://x.com/ElizabethScott  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AboutStressManagement/  Website: https://drelizabethscott.com/   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.elizabethscott/  Book: 8 Keys to Stress Management: https://www.amazon.com/Keys-Stress-Management-Mental-Health-ebook/dp/B00AJUKO5M    Connect with Therese: Website:  www.criticallyspeaking.net Bluesky: @CriticallySpeaking.bsky.social Instagram: @criticallyspeakingpodcast Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net   Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it. 

What if the biggest risk factor for cancer, heart disease, and dementia isn't your genes, diet, or blood pressure but aging itself? Listen in as biogerontologist Dr. Matt Kaeberlein reveals how understanding the biology of aging could add not just years to our lives, but healthy decades, and why your dog might hold some of the most important clues.   In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Matt Kaeberlein discuss aging research. He explains that aging is characterized by damage accumulation and loss of resilience, leading to functional decline. Matt highlights the hallmarks of aging, such as deregulation of nutrient sensing and DNA damage, and the potential of interventions like rapamycin to slow aging. He notes that biological age is a significant risk factor for major diseases, and that understanding and addressing aging biology could significantly extend human lifespan. They also discuss the Dog Aging Project, with 55,000 participating dogs, which aims to uncover genetic and environmental factors influencing health and longevity in pets.    Key Takeaways: Our bodies are constantly being exposed to stress, and stress can move us out of the optimal zone of function. When we're young, we're very resilient and able to come back to optimal function. As we get older, we lose that resilience. When we slow aging in laboratory animals, we prevent the onset and progression of all of the major age-related functional declines and diseases simultaneously, because we've slowed biological aging. Based on what's possible in mice, it is estimated that we could potentially gain 2-3 additional decades of life if we can achieve this in humans. There is a genetic component to longevity; however, how big that genetic component is to longevity is hotly debated. The environment is also a large contributor.    "Biological age is the single greatest risk factor for nine of the top 10 killers in the United States, and it's not a small effect. The magnitude of effect from biological aging dwarfs all of the other risk factors combined…it's useful to appreciate how important biological age is to the risk of developing many of the chronic diseases and functional declines that limit quality and quantity of life for most people." —  Dr. Matt Kaeberlein   Episode References:  Dog Aging Project: https://dogagingproject.org/  Dog Aging Institute: https://dogaginginstitute.org/  Longevity for Dogs: https://www.youtube.com/@LongevityForDogs    Connect with Dr. Matt Kaeberlein: Professional Bio: https://halo.dlmp.uw.edu/people/matt-kaeberlein/  Publications: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=%22kaeberlein+m%22[author]    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mkaeberlein  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mkaeberlein/    Connect with Therese: Website:  www.criticallyspeaking.net Bluesky: @CriticallySpeaking.bsky.social Instagram: @criticallyspeakingpodcast Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net   Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it. 

Hidden in your water, food, and even your blood, forever chemicals (PFAS) are nearly impossible to destroy - and now U.S. regulations are being rolled back. Listen in to how PFAS became unavoidable, what they're doing to our health, and whether we can ever truly get rid of them.   In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Carrie McDonough discuss perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as forever chemicals. PFAS, which include PFOA and PFOS, are persistent organic pollutants used in various products, such as Teflon for your cooking pans and Scotchgard. While there are natural molecules that incorporate fluorine, the compounds we are most concerned about when we talk about PFAS cannot be synthesized naturally and are difficult to break down. Dr. McDonough discusses exposure risks, how we are exposed, and the efforts that have been made to regulate these chemicals. She emphasizes the need for better detection methods and remediation strategies.     Key Takeaways: While some PFAS are excreted from the human body, many are not and linger in our blood and cells. A lot of pollutants accumulate in the adipose fat in the human body. However, PFAS are mostly found in proteins and membranes, such as the kidney, liver, and blood.  The first clue that PFAS were widespread in humans was back in the 1970s. However, the results were inconclusive - they just didn't have the instrumentation they needed to confirm it or the standards from the companies in order to identify the PFAS. Biomagnification causes creatures, including humans, that are higher up the food chain to have higher concentrations of PFAS than those lower in the food chain. This includes those who are herbivores, omnivores, and carnivores.  Companies have been putting these things out into our environment for decades; for some amount of that time, they knew that they were doing it and that they were toxic, but didn't tell anyone. There is really no way to protect anyone from these chemicals that we did not consent to being in our bodies.    "If you're not living in an area with highly contaminated water, or some kind of large contamination issue, your main source of PFAS is probably your diet." —  Dr. Carrie McDonough   Episode References:  Toxic Gaslighting: How 3M Executives Convinced a Scientist the Forever Chemicals She Found in Human Blood Were Safe: https://www.propublica.org/article/3m-forever-chemicals-pfas-pfos-inside-story  PFAS leave fingerprints in your blood – researchers are figuring out how forever chemicals transform in your body to read these clues: https://theconversation.com/pfas-leave-fingerprints-in-your-blood-researchers-are-figuring-out-how-forever-chemicals-transform-in-your-body-to-read-these-clues-280396 Dark Waters: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9071322/  They Poisoned the World: Life and Death in the Age of Forever Chemicals by Mariah Blake: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/554198/they-poisoned-the-world-by-mariah-blake/    Connect with Dr. Carrie McDonough: Professional Bio: https://www.cmu.edu/chemistry/people/faculty/mcdonough.html  Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=Xq5HrPYAAAAJ&hl=en  Website: https://groups.chem.cmu.edu/mcdonough/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carrieamcd    Connect with Therese: Website:  www.criticallyspeaking.net Bluesky: @CriticallySpeaking.bsky.social Instagram: @criticallyspeakingpodcast Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net   Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.  

Peptides are being sold online as miracle fixes for energy, healing, and longevity—but what if the science behind them is shaky, or even dangerous?    In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Leigh Baxt pull back the curtain on the peptide craze, revealing what we really know (and don't know) about these heavily marketed "biohacks." They discuss the complexities and risks of unapproved peptides, which are often marketed for health enhancement. Dr. Baxt explains what peptides are and speaks to those drugs that are FDA-approved, like GLP-1 agonists and insulin, but also highlights the safety concerns of unapproved peptides, such as BPC-157 and TB-500, which lack appropriate clinical trial data and are often synthesized in unregulated labs. Dr. Baxt emphasizes the importance of proper clinical trial processes and regulatory oversight to ensure drug safety and efficacy.    Key Takeaways: A peptide is just a short chain of amino acids. They can be created synthetically, they can be isolated, and they are natural. The body doesn't care whether a peptide is "natural" or synthetic; what matters is its exact molecular structure. FDA-approved peptide drugs go through years of rigorous testing in animals and humans to prove both safety and effectiveness before reaching the market. Calling something "scientifically proven" can be misleading when the underlying evidence is weak, preliminary, or based only on rat studies. Especially as much of the "science" cited on peptide marketing sites comes from small, limited animal, or cell studies, not large, controlled human trials.  Just because a product is available online or from a compounding pharmacy does not mean it is FDA-approved, well-studied, or safe; consumers must look beyond hype and ask what evidence truly exists. A naturally occurring peptide is generally not going to be suitable for use therapeutically.   "You can say that something is scientifically demonstrated because it showed something interesting in a rat. The key is that the people may not ask that, because a lot of times people hear 'scientific terminology' and it makes something sound really legitimate, but it doesn't mean that there's solid data." —  Dr. Leigh Baxt   Evaluation of Research Grade Peptides Marketed Directly to Consumers Reveals Extensive Variability in Purity and Measured Abundance: https://www.preprints.org/manuscript/202604.1748    Connect with Dr. Leigh Baxt: Professional Bio: https://www.mskcc.org/profile/leigh-baxt  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leigh-baxt-314b877    Connect with Therese: Website:  www.criticallyspeaking.net Bluesky: @CriticallySpeaking.bsky.social Instagram: @criticallyspeakingpodcast Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net   Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it. 

Dr. Kate Mangino exposes the hidden burden of cognitive and emotional labor at home and explains how "benevolent sexism" and unequal household roles quietly push women to the breaking point.   In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Kate Mangino discuss gender inequality in household responsibilities. Kate differentiates between structural and social inequalities, noting that societal norms perpetuate these "male" and "female" roles. She also emphasizes the importance of cognitive labor, which often falls on women, and addresses the emotional impact of household tasks on whichever partner carries the burden of the larger load. Dr. Mangino also encourages intentional conversations about division of labor in relationships from the time you're dating, rather than after marriage. Finally, she advocates for challenging traditional gender roles and promotes equal partnerships to improve overall wellbeing.     Key Takeaways: While there have been some improvements in the structural and social components of inequality, we are at a milestone point, not an end point. There is still a lot of work to be done. Cognitive labor as the project management work that happens in households - it is all about planning in your head that is oftentimes more cumbersome than the actual physical work. It's the anticipation, research, decision making, and evaluating of every decision within the home.  If you're trying to push back on social norms, you may need to reconsider who our role models are, and maybe pick some new ones who are closer to where you want to be or where your family wants to be. We need to be better at preparing young people of all genders to match their dating habits a little bit more closely with the person they want to end up with. The more intentional that we can be about gender roles and what we're looking for in a partner, the better.   "Broadly speaking, women do more and men do less. Broadly speaking, but you can find representations of all different kinds of families, and I think what it comes down to is, regardless of gender, the person who is doing more feels burdened, feels bitter, resentful, tired, frustrated." —  Dr. Kate Mangino Connect with Dr. Kate Mangino: Website: https://www.katemangino.com/   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katemangino  Book: Equal Partners: Improving Gender Equality at Home - https://read.macmillan.com/lp/equal-partners/      Connect with Therese: Website:  www.criticallyspeaking.net Bluesky: @CriticallySpeaking.bsky.social Instagram: @criticallyspeakingpodcast Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net      Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it. 

Our cities are anything but concrete jungles. Listen in as Therese Markow and Dr. Dan Werb reveal the hidden world of synanthropes - the wild animals that not only live alongside us, but thrive because of us. In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Dan Werb discuss Dan's new book "Our Wild Familiars", which explores how animals (and plants) adapt to urban environments. They dive into the history and impact of synanthropes, such as raccoons, coyotes, and rats. He also highlights the adaptability of these animals and why they have expanded into cities. Dr. Werb emphasizes the importance of viewing cities as living, thriving ecosystems and the need for human ecosystem-based solutions for the good of humans and animals alike in these ecosystems.   Key Takeaways: Humanity has a much higher risk of experiencing viral spillover events now than before, because we are increasingly intersecting with wild animals that we have never seen before in urban spaces that carry pathogens that we've never been exposed to before. As humans, we have a relationship with synanthropes that is so deep and long-standing that it has become central to our spiritual selves as well.  With more small animals being drawn into cities, that is going to continue to draw in more predators, such as coyotes, which have expanded their home range by about 50 kilometers per year for the last 150-200 years. It may be impossible to eliminate any synanthrope that has found an ecosystem within a city. Even if you remove one creature from an area, the niche they had developed will still be there ready for the next synanthrope to move in. Solutions that make life better for humans can actually be profoundly beneficial for animals as well, or at least for the functioning of our urban ecosystems.  "Cities are more biodiverse than the areas that surround them, and that's because humans, like any other organism, want to live in places that are as fertile and rich as possible." —  Dr. Dan Werb Connect with Dr. Dan Werb: Professional Bio: https://ihpme.utoronto.ca/faculty-profile/dan-werb/,  https://profiles.ucsd.edu/daniel.werb  Website: https://danwerb.substack.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danwerb/  Books:  PREORDER: Our Wild Familiars - https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/769255/our-wild-familiars-by-dan-werb/  City of Omens - https://www.amazon.com/City-Omens-Search-Missing-Borderlands-ebook/dp/B07QLN4K3T  The Invisible Siege - https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/670859/the-invisible-siege-by-dan-werb/  Connect with Therese: Website:  www.criticallyspeaking.net Bluesky: @CriticallySpeaking.bsky.social Instagram: @criticallyspeakingpodcast Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it. 

In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Boris Konrad discuss the striking impact of memorization on functional changes and connectivity in the brain. Dr. Konrad is a neuroscientist as well as an international Memory Champion. He not only studies brain connectivity, but also trains other memory athletes, as well as those who simply wish to improve their memories. They discuss more specific aspects of memorization and its benefits across a range of other activities and problem-solving, independent of the particular memorization training utilized. Dr. Konrad summarizes his recent study, published in the journal Neuron, and the techniques used to train the brain to improve memory.     Key Takeaways: Memorization and memory are not a part of the brain; they are functions of the brain. It is a capability of our brain and our neural system.  Without exception, memory athletes use the method of loci (colloquially called the "memory palace") as a technique to memorize and remember information.  Memory training actually decreases the brain activity needed to complete a range of tasks.   "Learning and thinking in your brain are not separate. We don't have a thinking brain and a learning brain; it's exactly one brain which does both." —  Dr. Boris Konrad   Connect with Dr. Boris Konrad: Donders Institute: https://www.ru.nl/en/people/konrad-b  Website: https://www.boriskonrad.com/en/  Memory Training: Superbrain! Memory Training with Boris Konrad - https://memory1.teachable.com/p/memory-training     TED Talks:  How to use memory techniques to improve education - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qIBe0h0-Ig  The mind and methods of a Memory Champion - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t76N00urDlU  https://www.ted.com/talks/boris_nikolai_konrad_how_to_use_memory_techniques_to_improve_learning_and_education_jan_2018   Connect with Therese: Website:  www.criticallyspeaking.net Bluesky: @CriticallySpeaking.bsky.social Instagram: @criticallyspeakingpodcast Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net    Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.  

Long COVID isn't just lingering fatigue. It's a complex, often life-altering condition that can follow even mild or unnoticed infections. Listen in as Mayo Clinic's Dr. Stephanie Grach breaks down what we really know about Long COVID, who's at risk, and why believing and individualizing care for patients is absolutely critical.   In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Stephanie Grach discuss the emergence and impact of Long COVID. Dr. Grach explains that Long COVID affects an estimated 18 million Americans with a wide variety of symptoms that can manifest differently from patient to patient, influenced by a variety of factors, such as viral variant, genetics, and immune responses. Dr. Grach emphasizes the importance of individualized treatment and highlights ongoing research and the need for better understanding and management of this complex chronic condition.     Key Takeaways: Long COVID can look very different from person to person, with over 200 symptoms. However, common symptoms can include fatigue, brain fog, shortness of breath, changes in smell, and more, affecting nearly every organ system.  The larger proportion of people with Long COVID had multiple COVID infections, partly because of sheer numbers - each additional infection is another opportunity for post-acute symptoms to develop or worsen.  The presentation of the Long COVID symptoms is not going to be consistent - patients may have good weeks and feel pretty close to normal, as well as bad weeks, where the symptoms are at their strongest.  Telling someone to "push through" on the assumption that it will just get better really isn't what helps the Long COVID patients.   "Long COVID is real. Patients deserve to be believed, and treatment should be individualized, rather than trying to fit or wait for a one-size-fits-all." —  Dr. Stephanie Grach   Connect with Dr. Stephanie Grach: Professional Bio: https://www.mayoclinic.org/biographies/grach-stephanie-l-m-d-m-s/bio-20536370  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniegrach    Connect with Therese: Website:  www.criticallyspeaking.net Bluesky: @CriticallySpeaking.bsky.social Instagram: @criticallyspeakingpodcast Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net     Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it. 

How does ChatGPT affect your ability to learn, recall, and share information?   In this episode, Therese Markow and Natalie Wexler discuss the impact of generative AI (like ChatGPT) on education. They discuss the change in writing skills, how AI can undermine the learning process that comes with writing, and the incorrect information often provided by generative AI. Natalie explains how AI can function as cognitive outsourcing, which can reduce the cognitive benefits of learning and memory retention. She emphasizes the importance of explicit writing instruction in education and background fundamental knowledge stored in long-term memory for critical thinking and effective learning - including the importance of memorization (even if you don't use that word). Finally, Natalie warns of a potential downward spiral where AI dependence weakens cognitive abilities and advocates for systematic changes to combat this trend.    Key Takeaways: Generally speaking, reading and writing are connected. But writing is harder, so you can be a good reader and still not be a good writer. However, if you learn to write well, you're almost certainly going to be a good reader as well. The problem is over-reliance on AI, and when students use it as a crutch, they don't develop the understanding or the cognitive abilities that they would develop if they did the cognitive work themselves. Writing helps with the cognitive processes of long-term memory, retrieval, elaboration, and more. When we offload that cognitive work, it can hamper our ability to retrieve the information from our long-term memory bank. Unconsciously, we use background knowledge to understand pretty much anything that we try to read. Democracy depends on a citizenry that is educated enough to understand the issues and to be able to distinguish misleading information from reliable information.   "Writing is, itself, a way of thinking, of deepening understanding, maybe of realizing that you didn't understand something as well as you thought you did, and you need to go and do some more research. If we skip that step of doing the writing, then we're missing out on developing those cognitive abilities, retaining knowledge, and deepening our understanding of things." —  Natalie Wexler   Connect with Natalie Wexler: Professional Bio: https://nataliewexler.com/about/  Show:  https://nataliewexler.com/podcast/  Substack: https://nataliewexler.substack.com/    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-wexler-0b89979/  Books: Beyond the Science of Reading: https://nataliewexler.com/beyond-the-science-of-reading/  The Knowledge Gap: https://nataliewexler.com/the-knowledge-gap/  The Writing Revolution: https://nataliewexler.com/the-writing-revolution/twr-2-0-cover-amazon/    Connect with Therese: Website:  www.criticallyspeaking.net Bluesky: @CriticallySpeaking.bsky.social Instagram: @criticallyspeakingpodcast Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net   Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it. 

Ru Marshall pulls back the curtain on the man behind the myth of Carlos Castaneda, exposing the real lives, lies, and losses buried beneath his legendary books. In this episode, Therese Markow and Ru Marshall discuss the life and legacy of Carlos Castaneda, who claimed to have been trained as a shaman by Don Juan. Castaneda's books, which sold over 8 million copies, were initially believed but later dismissed as fiction. Marshall's book, "American Trickster," explores Castaneda's origins in Peru and his life in the U.S. Castaneda, born Cesar Arana, was a charismatic storyteller who seduced both women and academics. Despite initial academic support, his claims were eventually debunked. Ru's research spanned 20 years, revealing Castaneda's complex personal life and the impact of his cult-like following.    Key Takeaways: Long before the books, Carlos Castaneda was known as a gifted storyteller and trickster, blurring the line between entertainment, fabrication, and manipulation. Castaneda's real power was psychological. He made individuals, especially women, feel uniquely seen, chosen, and special, a classic mechanism of charismatic control. The disappearance and deaths of key followers after Castaneda's passing reveal the devastating human cost when a closed belief system collides with reality. And when followers are willing to follow a narrative all the way to the end.   "It's a really interesting thing, that when people, both professionally and, more importantly, I think, emotionally, become invested in a belief, it is incredibly hard for people to admit they're wrong." —  Ru Marshall   Connect with Ru Marshall: Website: https://rmarshallstudio.com/  Threads: https://www.threads.com/@robtmars  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robtmars/  American Trickster: The Hidden Lives of Carlos Castaneda: https://orbooks.com/catalog/american-trickster/    Connect with Therese: Website:  www.criticallyspeaking.net Bluesky: @CriticallySpeaking.bsky.social Instagram: @criticallyspeakingpodcast Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net   Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it. 

In this episode, Therese Markow and Patrick Wyman discuss Patrick's latest book, Lost Worlds: How Humans Tried, Failed, Succeeded, and Built Our World. Patrick also discusses his journey as a historian from studying the Fall of Rome to popular history. He emphasizes the importance of understanding past climactic changes and their impact on human societies, including the development of agriculture and the rise of social hierarchies. Patrick also highlights the significance of migration and the diverse burial practices that reveal aspects of ancient societies' beliefs and social structures.     Key Takeaways: Human history is not stable, and it always starts with the climate. Climate and environment are the unavoidable parameters within which everyone is living, and, whether people are aware of them or not, they are responding to the pressures and shifts that are happening climatically around them. Abandonment of sites and cities happens over time and often for a variety of reasons that are always specific to the climate systems and problems of that particular area. Modern science, like ancient DNA extraction, now allows us to learn more about dynamics in ancient periods that we never could have seen before. Funerary practices vary across the world in ancient times, as they do in modern times. Often, it is based on one of two poles: when people die, are their spirits potentially dangerous (ghost society) or potentially beneficial (ancestor society)? Every single one of the billions of people who lived was living a life that was full, rich, sophisticated, and complex. As humans, we have been through big, crazy stuff, and yet we are still here and still thriving. Humanity is incredibly durable, and we can make it through some really, really bad times if we work hard and work together.   "Migration is humanity's most basic tool for getting out of bad situations and finding better ones. The simplest possible thing you can do if things get bad wherever you're living is to move somewhere else. And this has been our response at every time and on every geographic scale over the course of human existence." —  Patrick Wyman   Episode References:  Lost Worlds: How Humans Tried, Failed, Succeeded, and Built Our World - https://www.harpercollins.com/products/lost-worlds-patrick-wyman?variant=43084775817250    Connect with Patrick Wyman: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/PastLivesMedia    Threads: https://www.threads.com/@wyman_patrick    TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@patrick.wyman    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wyman_patrick/  Substack: https://substack.com/@patrickwyman  Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/patrickwyman.bsky.social    Shows: The Fall of Rome: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fall-of-rome-podcast/id1141563910  Tides of History: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tides-of-history/id1257202425  Past Lives: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/coming-soon-past-lives/id1852618120?i=1000736506949    Connect with Therese: Website:  www.criticallyspeaking.net Bluesky: @CriticallySpeaking.bsky.social Instagram: @criticallyspeakingpodcast Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net    Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it. 

When a globally respected infectious disease expert is abruptly sidelined by an anti‑vaccine administration, what does it reveal about the future of public health and scientific integrity?   In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo discuss her termination and whistleblower lawsuit against the U.S. government. She highlighted NIAID's critical role in infectious disease research, funding $6.6 billion annually. Dr. Marrazzo criticized the new administration's anti-vaccine stance, cessation of global HIV/AIDS funding, and termination of clinical trials, which she argued endangered public health. Dr. Marrazzo filed a whistleblower complaint in September 2025, leading to her firing in October. She now leads the Infectious Disease Society of America, advocating for evidence-based policies and scientific integrity.    Key Takeaways: Tuberculosis (TB, formerly known as Consumption) is now the top global killer as an infectious disease. Shutting down clinical trials and cutting international research funding mid‑stream doesn't just waste taxpayer dollars; it endangers patients who rely on those therapies and violates core ethical standards. Political ideology overriding scientific evidence can rapidly dismantle decades of progress in vaccines, global health research, and public trust. Independent professional societies and medical organizations now play a critical role in evidence above ideology, preserving rigorous guidelines, publishing unbiased research, and speaking truth to power when government agencies are silenced or hollowed out.   "What I don't think people realize is the power of the platform that the Secretary and indeed the President have. The tragic part about this is that we've spent decades building up that trust, trying to make sure that it was justified, and to see that just summarily destroyed, there's no other word for it, is really, really tragic. I don't know what it's going to take to build it up again." —  Jeanne Marrazzo, MD   Connect with Jeanne: Professional Bio:  https://www.niaid.nih.gov/about/jeanne-marrazzo-md-mph  Website: https://www.idsociety.org/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeanne-marrazzo-203463179    Connect with Therese: Website:  www.criticallyspeaking.net Bluesky: @CriticallySpeaking.bsky.social Instagram: @criticallyspeakingpodcast Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net   Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.  

In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Chelsea Polis discuss the evolution of reproductive rights in the U.S., highlighting the 2022 Supreme Court decision revoking the right to abortion and the historical context of contraception access. Dr. Polis also explains fertility awareness-based methods (FABMs) and their effectiveness, noting that some methods have moderate quality studies suggesting high effectiveness, while others are less reliable. She emphasizes the importance of evidence-based information, the need for stronger regulation of femtech products, and the potential privacy risks associated with reproductive health data. Dr. Polis also addresses the broader political strategy to limit reproductive rights and the importance of reproductive justice.    Key Takeaways: Fertility tracking technologies are becoming more common (often called femtech), but it is important to note that only two apps have currently been cleared by the FDA for contraceptive purposes - Natural Cycles and Clue (the second is not currently available on the market). While others can help with tracking your cycle, they are not cleared for contraceptive use. FABMs focus on observing real-time signs from the body - such as cervical mucus changes and basal body temperature. Over a dozen have been studied in clinical trials, but some methods have been marketed or promoted for contraceptive use without strong evidence from appropriately designed effectiveness studies. For people who are in a partnership that is limited in terms of communication, or not supportive, or certainly abusive, or anything along those lines, FABMs would not be a method that somebody could rely on for pregnancy prevention.  Be very cautious about getting your information on contraception from social media influencers or companies selling specific products, because there is a lot of misinformation out there.   "As my colleagues at Guttmacher have documented, you can't seek to restrict one aspect of sexual and reproductive health without tightening other types of care and people's overarching reproductive freedoms. All of these things are deeply interconnected." —  Dr. Chelsea Polis   Episode References:  Guttmacher: https://www.guttmacher.org/united-states/contraception  Emergence of FemTech in the Sexual and Reproductive Health Landscape: https://www.contraceptionjournal.org/content/femtech    Connect with Dr. Chelsea Polis: Professional Bio: https://www.guttmacher.org/about/staff/chelsea-polis  Website: https://www.chelseapolis.com/index.html  LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/chelseapolis  Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/cbpolis.bsky.social    Connect with Therese: Website:  www.criticallyspeaking.net Bluesky: @CriticallySpeaking.bsky.social Instagram: @criticallyspeakingpodcast Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net   Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.  

In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Keith McCormick discuss what you need to know about osteoporosis and bone health. Dr. McCormick explains what causes osteoporosis, the importance of early bone density tests, and breaks down some of the lifestyle factors that affect bone health. They discuss the need for personalized treatment beyond only medication, and Dr. McCormick advocates for patient empowerment and comprehensive understanding to improve treatment outcomes.     Key Takeaways: 50% of women will get osteoporosis. 20% of men will get osteoporosis.  People should be getting bone density tests in their forties, not waiting until their fifties or sixties. The sooner it is discovered you are having symptoms, the sooner you can begin to treat and prevent.  Bone strength is a combination of bone density and bone quality. Get both the DEXA and Trabecular Bone Score or TBS. Usually, physicians don't request the TBS, but it is very important.  Ask for it. Testing should include blood tests for bone turnover markers. Your blood is telling a larger story, and it can get complicated.  Systemic inflammation can also be tested, as it can contribute to loss of bone density. The more times you stimulate your body, the more you will stimulate the osteoblasts.    "It's important to understand that you, the patient, are the boss, and you're paying that person, you're asking that person for help, and that they should be working with you." —  Dr. Keith McCormick   Connect with Dr. Keith McCormick: Website: https://www.osteonaturals.com/   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/r-keith-mccormick-dc-433a2526/  Twitter: https://x.com/OsteoNaturals  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OsteoNaturals/     Books:  Great Bones: Taking Control of Your Osteoporosis: https://www.amazon.com/Great-Bones-Taking-Control-Osteoporosis/dp/B0BS8RJ2V3  The Whole-Body Approach to Osteoporosis: https://www.amazon.com/Whole-Body-Approach-Osteoporosis-Strength-Harbinger-ebook/dp/B0056JX49Y    Connect with Therese: Website:  www.criticallyspeaking.net Bluesky: @CriticallySpeaking.bsky.social Instagram: @criticallyspeakingpodcast Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net    Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it. 

In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Dawn Sarno, a leading expert on cyber scams, discuss the prevalence and detection of phishing scams. Dawn explains that phishing often targets older adults due to their perceived lack of tech savvy and higher financial stakes, but notes that younger adults are also vulnerable, often due to impulsivity and poor online habits. She highlights the rise of AI-generated deep fakes, which make scams more convincing and harder to detect. Dawn advises slowing down and verifying suspicious communications, emphasizing the importance of cyber hygiene practices, such as using strong passwords and multi-factor authentication. She also emphasizes the importance of vigilance and reporting scams to help prevent others from falling victim.    Key Takeaways: Differences and similarities between fraud, phishing, whaling, deep fakes, scams, and spam. Older adults are often targeted by scams, but they also typically have more to lose relative to a younger adult. While factors associated with age, like loneliness and abnormal cognitive decline, may make you more vulnerable to falling for a scam, Dr. Sarno's research generally suggests that there may not be a huge difference in detection abilities between younger and older adults.  Cyberscams are a numbers game. People often send out messages to large groups (such as everyone at a university) rather than targeting one person at a time.  If you notice that something's not right, report it, because this is going to help the social media platform or your organization's IT department find these scams and prevent them from reaching other people.   "One big thing I would stress is that if people are ever in doubt, they should never click a link or open an attachment, because that curiosity alone could lead them to have some problems." —  Dr. Dawn Sarno   Connect with Dr. Dawn Sarno: Professional Bio: https://sciences.ucf.edu/psychology/person/dawn-sarno/  LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dawn-sarno-790a1558    Connect with Therese: Website:  www.criticallyspeaking.net Bluesky: @CriticallySpeaking.bsky.social Instagram: @criticallyspeakingpodcast Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net   Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it. 

In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Daniel Buchman discuss chronic pain, affecting over 20% of the population in the US, Canada, and Europe. Chronic pain (persisting pain lasting over three months) includes conditions like arthritis, lower back pain, fibromyalgia, and phantom limb pain, among many others. Daniel highlights the challenges in pain assessment, the role of AI in pain management, and the ethical considerations, including bias in pain reporting. He notes that chronic pain increases suicide risk, and the conversation also touches on the stigma surrounding pain and opioid use.    Key Takeaways: Pain can come from an identifiable condition, but sometimes doesn't have a clear cause. Primary pain is the type of pain that is not explained by another disease. Secondary pain is pain that arises because of or is related to an underlying condition - perhaps injury, illness, disease, or other reason. When we talk about bias in health care providers, we also need to look at the broader societal bias that plays into those biases. As AI is used more in medicine, we do need to be aware of bias in the data sets that the AI is utilizing to learn and then use to make predictions.  Pain is a warning sign. It is not, in and of itself, bad. It is telling you that something might need to be addressed in your body.    "There isn't a blood test or a brain scan or anything that can determine how much pain somebody's in, or what it's like to experience that pain. This is subjective because it depends on the person, and it depends on a whole host of factors, not just their biology. It depends on their psychology, social factors, cultural factors, and gender is a big part of this as well." —  Dr. Daniel Buchman   Episode References:  Buchman, Daniel Z.a,b,c,d. 2025 AI and the ethics of techno-solutionism in pain management. PAIN 166: 469-470. | DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000003389   Connect with Dr. Daniel Buchman: Professional Bio: https://www.camh.ca/en/science-and-research/science-and-research-staff-directory/danielbuchman  Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/danielbuchman.bsky.social    X: https://x.com/DanielZBuchman    Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.ca/citations?user=3Yja_7QAAAAJ&hl=en    Connect with Therese: Website:  www.criticallyspeaking.net Bluesky: @CriticallySpeaking.bsky.social Instagram: @criticallyspeakingpodcast Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net   Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it. 

In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. David Hill discuss the rise of peanut allergies in children. David explains that anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction, is common in children, often triggered by food. He emphasizes the importance of early allergen introduction to prevent allergies. The LEAP study from 2015 showed that introducing peanuts before six months reduces the risk of peanut allergy. They also discuss other common allergies and the fact that many children outgrow milk and egg allergies by age four.     Key Takeaways: The major allergens are milk, egg, soy, wheat, peanut, tree nut, fish, shellfish, and sesame, which are among the most common foods around the world. Thus we must do everything we can to prevent food allergy in the first place.  The part of the immune system that causes allergic reactions, was originally evolved to fight parasites.  There is still a lot to learn about what causes allergies. Multiple people are working on it now, and we will likely see, in the coming years, new risk factors emerging.   "In the first year, specifically somewhere between four to six months of age (once the child is able to handle a solid food in their mouth and swallow appropriately), at that point, we should start to introduce the major allergens." —  Dr. David Hill   Connect with Dr. David Hill: Professional Bio: https://www.chop.edu/doctors/hill-david-a  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-a-hill-md-phd-aab8744    Connect with Therese: Website:  www.criticallyspeaking.net Bluesky: @CriticallySpeaking.bsky.social Instagram: @criticallyspeakingpodcast Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net   Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.  

In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Fred Miller discuss the autoimmune disease epidemic, highlighting the economic burden and the rise of diseases like juvenile diabetes, lupus, and multiple sclerosis. Dr. Miller explains that autoimmune diseases occur when the immune system attacks the body, affecting various organs. He notes that there are at least 150 types of autoimmune diseases, with prevalence rates varying from 0.1% to 5% of the population - the exact number is unknown due to the need for better registries to track these diseases. Dr. Miller also discusses the role of genetics and environmental factors, lifestyle, and exposure to chemicals. He also mentions new treatments and the importance of lifestyle changes in prevention and management.    Key Takeaways: Virtually any organ system or tissue in the body can be damaged by the immune system, which makes autoimmune diseases difficult to assess, diagnose, and treat, as they can be so varied from person to person, and they can change over time. There are no fully agreed-upon definitions for autoimmune diseases. As such, we don't know how many there are, but most experts would say at least 150 different types. All of the autoimmune diseases are developed from interactions of many genes and many environmental risk factors in combination. Various environmental exposures might not change the genes themselves, but they might alter the normal way that genes are supposed to be turned on and off.   "We really don't have a way to measure all of these yet, but we are expanding the range of the types of exposures we can measure every year, and there are a few ways of capturing which exposures or mixtures of them we've experienced at what times, and by integrating all these together into a single number, this could help us understand the cumulative exposures that are that are probably important for the development of these diseases." —  Dr. Fred Miller   Connect with Dr. Fred Miller: Professional Bio: https://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/atniehs/labs/crb/pi/ea/staff/miller    Connect with Therese: Website:  www.criticallyspeaking.net Bluesky: @CriticallySpeaking.bsky.social Instagram: @criticallyspeakingpodcast Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net   Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. John Kisiel discuss early cancer detection using liquid biopsies. Dr. Kisiel explains that liquid biopsies detect cancer signals in blood and urine, including tumor cells, fragments, proteins, and DNA. He highlights the FDA's approval of a blood test for colon cancer and the development of multi-cancer early detection tests. Dr. Kisiel notes that false positive and false negative rates vary by test. He emphasizes the potential of liquid biopsies to complement, not replace, standard screening methods and the need for further validation and clinical trials. Key Takeaways: Liquid biopsies have been used in the oncology community to test if cancer is still present, may need additional or more aggressive treatment, or if the cancer has come back. Each test will have its own false positive and false negative rate, partially based on where manufacturers set the thresholds for that positive/negative result. Peripheral blood-based tests for colon cancer do not detect polyps, and it's the finding and removing of polyps that actually offers the greatest preventive benefit, so that somebody never gets cancer in the first place.    "Another word of cautious optimism, I think that I, personally, and many other people active in the space really view these as an addition to standard of care cancer screening and not a replacement." —  Dr. John Kisiel   Connect with Dr. John Kisiel: Professional Bio: https://www.mayo.edu/research/faculty/kisiel-john-b-m-d/bio-00092659    Connect with Therese: Website:  www.criticallyspeaking.net Bluesky: @CriticallySpeaking.bsky.social Instagram: @criticallyspeakingpodcast Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net   Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it. 

Some people live more than a hundred years with no health problems and very little cognitive decline.  How come?  While healthy lifestyles certainly play a part in healthy aging, these "centenarians" share a number of special biological attributes.  Furthermore, these attributes, along with attaining an age of 100 or greater, show a strong genetic component.  Dr. Stacy Andersen of the Boston University School of Medicine has been studying these centenarians and the factors that are associated with not only their attaining an advanced age, but also doing so with no history of major physical or mental health problems.  In her interview, Dr. Andersen discusses what she and her colleagues have discovered about this unusual group of older people.    Key Takeaways: Centenarians are people who have reached 100 years of age, while "supercentenarians" are 110 and older. Recent studies of these groups of adults reveal that during their lives, they have "escaped" diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular problems, dementia, and diabetes that cause earlier mortality among adults born at the same time. Dr. Andersen discusses her work on the genetic bases for being an "escaper", as well as the lifestyle and personality characteristics they have in common.   "The older you get, the healthier you've been." —  Dr. Stacy Andersen   Connect with Dr. Stacy Andersen: BUMC Bio: profiles.bu.edu/Stacy.Andersen     Connect with Therese: Website:  www.criticallyspeaking.net Bluesky: @CriticallySpeaking.bsky.social Instagram: @criticallyspeakingpodcast Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net   Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.  

In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Kari Nadeau discuss the presence and health effects of microplastics in our bodies. Microplastics can enter our bodies through various environmental routes, including food, water, and air. They are in everyone's bodies to some degree.  Microplastics have been linked to health issues like stroke, cancer, and heart attacks. Simple actions like avoiding single-use plastics and processed foods can reduce microplastic levels in the blood by up to 80% in three months. Dr. Nadeau emphasizes the need for further research and consumer awareness to mitigate plastic pollution.   Key Takeaways: A microplastic, scientifically, is anything between 1 micron (the size of a red blood cell or an immune cell) to 5 millimeters (the size of a sesame seed). Anything smaller than that is a nanoplastic. Plastics are chemicals. Plastics, as we know them, did not exist before the 1940s. Now we see them in so many places, from healthcare to food to our clothing.  In the US, we are getting about a credit card's worth of plastic per week in what we eat. In Indonesia, it is more like a credit card amount per day. The amount varies around the world.    "We really need to think about air and water and soil as ways that these plastics can get into our bodies." —  Dr. Kari Nadeau   Episode References:  Environmental Working Group: https://www.ewg.org/  Jung YS, et al. Characterization and regulation of microplastic pollution for protecting planetary and human health. Environ Pollut. 2022 Dec 15;315:120442.  Ward CP, Reddy CM. We need better data about the environmental persistence of plastic goods, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 117 (26) 14618-14621.  Ziani K, Ioniță-Mîndrican CB, Mititelu M, Neacșu SM, Negrei C, Moroșan E, Drăgănescu D, Preda OT. Microplastics: A Real Global Threat for Environment and Food Safety: A State of the Art Review. Nutrients. 2023 Jan 25;15(3):617.  Leslie, H. A. et al. (2022). Plastic particles in cosmetics and personal care products: A review. Science of the Total Environment, 822, 153406.  https://www.fda.gov/food/environmental-contaminants-food/microplastics-and-nanoplastics-foods     Connect with Dr. Kari Nadeau: Professional Bio & Studies: https://hsph.harvard.edu/profile/kari-c-nadeau/    Connect with Therese: Website:  www.criticallyspeaking.net Bluesky: @CriticallySpeaking.bsky.social Instagram: @criticallyspeakingpodcast Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net   Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.  

In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Lise Eliot discuss neurosexism and brain differences between males and females. Dr. Eliot explains that historical brain comparisons often aimed to prove women's inferiority, citing examples like weighing cadaver brains. Modern MRI studies show minor structural differences, but still present significant methodological challenges. She highlights that brain plasticity and social experiences shape gender differences, noting that women tend to have more active default mode networks, linked to anxiety and rumination. She emphasizes that gender is a psychological phenomenon, not strictly binary, and that early life experiences significantly influence brain development.    Key Takeaways: Sex is a biological phenomenon determined by physical characteristics and some secondary characteristics. Gender is a psychological phenomenon and is not binary - there are multiple dimensions of gender.  Without brain plasticity, you would be unable to learn anything. While the brain has more plasticity when you're young, the brain can continue to learn and form new pathways even in adulthood.  Gender is a uniquely human attribute - other animals do not have gender. This is something that humans have invented and reinvented in every culture to adapt our different physical bodies and reproductive roles to a social environment.   "I'm really starting to think about gender learning as almost like learning a language. You learn the language, you learn the rules and the symbols of being a boy or being a girl until it's finally internalized, and you reach this moment of gender identity thanks to endless clues in your environment, and this strong drive to find your place and find your identity and social community." —  Dr. Lise Eliot   Connect with Dr. Lise Eliot: Professional Bio: https://www.rosalindfranklin.edu/academics/faculty/lise-eliot/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lise-eliot-b0018713  Books: Pink Brain, Blue Brain: How Small Differences Grow into Troublesome Gaps and What We Can Do About It What's Going On in There?: How the Brain and Mind Develop in the First Five Years of Life   Connect with Therese: Website:  www.criticallyspeaking.net Bluesky: @CriticallySpeaking.bsky.social Instagram: @criticallyspeakingpodcast Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net     Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.  

In this episode, Therese Markow, Dr. Catherine Lebel, and Dr. Sam Nivins discuss the impact of prenatal factors on fetal brain development. Catherine explains how MRI can detect subtle brain changes due to prenatal alcohol exposure, even at low levels, and emphasizes the importance of avoiding alcohol during pregnancy. Sam discusses the effects of maternal obesity before pregnancy on brain development, noting sex-specific differences and the importance of early intervention. Both also touch on the impact of stressors, such as natural disasters, and the need for early identification and support for children with potential reading difficulties.     Key Takeaways: Even exposing a fetus to one alcoholic drink per week during pregnancy shows a detectable difference in brain structure compared to kids who had no alcohol exposure at all.  The same is true of prenatal maternal obesity, even if the obesity is preconceptional. Reading is a skill that must be taught to children. Prereading skills lay the foundation for later reading. And prereading skills can be visualized with brain imaging. When you know what part of the brain is affected, you can better tailor interventions to target those particular consequences.   "People who have good support from a partner or other folks in their lives, not only do they tend to do better, but their kids tend to do better too." —  Dr. Catherine Lebel   Connect with Dr. Lebel and Dr. Nivins  Dr. Lebel's Professional Bio & Publications: https://profiles.ucalgary.ca/catherine-lebel  Dr. Nivins' Professional Bio & Publications: https://ki.se/en/people/samson-nivins  Website: https://www.developmentalneuroimaginglab.ca/    Connect with Therese: Website:  www.criticallyspeaking.net Bluesky: @CriticallySpeaking.bsky.social Instagram: @criticallyspeakingpodcast Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net   Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it. 

In this episode, Therese Markow and Dorothy Roberts discuss her book "The Mixed Marriage Project," which explores her father's unpublished research on mixed marriages in Chicago. Dorothy's father, a white anthropology professor, interviewed over 500 black-white couples from the 1930s to the 1960s. The book blends personal stories, historical insights, and interviews, revealing the challenges and discrimination faced by interracial couples. They also discuss Dorothy's mother's remarkable journey from Jamaica to Chicago and the impact of her parents' interracial marriage on her life. The book highlights systemic racism and the one-drop rule, emphasizing the need for societal love and equality.    Key Takeaways: All black movements can be linked back to the Marcus Garvey Movement, which started in Jamaica. Even within early mixed marriages and organizations for these couples, such as the Manassas Club, there were harmful stereotypes within these groups. To interracial couples, the biggest barrier was the barrier of the black belt that was created by racially restricted covenants and mob violence against black people.    "The One-Drop Rule was instituted to support white supremacy, and also it proves that race is not a natural division of human beings. Who is black, who is white, depends entirely on social rules, which might be instituted in law, or they're just part of societal norms and expectations. But they're not biological, they're not natural. They're made up." —  Dorothy Roberts   Connect with Dorothy Roberts: Professional Bio: https://www.law.upenn.edu/faculty/roberts1  Website: https://www.dorothyeroberts.com/   Book: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Mixed-Marriage-Project/Dorothy-Roberts/9781668068380    Connect with Therese: Website:  www.criticallyspeaking.net Bluesky: @CriticallySpeaking.bsky.social Instagram: @criticallyspeakingpodcast Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net   Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it. 

In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Tami Rowen discuss the listener questions that arose from her last episode on Critically Speaking. From drinking soy milk as a substitute for estrogen, the complex relationship between the number of children you have and breast cancer risk, dense breast tissue, early menstruation, hormone replacement therapy, and more. Listen in for the answers to your questions!    Key Takeaways: Soy is not in any way a substitute for estrogen. How it affects your circulating estrogens depends on your age. While the number of kids you have is inconclusive regarding its relationship to breast cancer, breastfeeding has been shown in every study to be preventative against breast cancer. The number one killer of women is heart disease. It's not breast cancer.   "A period is a bleed in response to ovulation, and that is coming from the level of the hypothalamus, pituitary, ovary, and uterus, so you can have a problem at any of those levels." —  Dr. Tami Rowen   Episode Reference: Welcome to the Wild West of Testosterone: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/welcome-to-the-wild-west-of-testosterone/id1708072320?i=1000743735353    Connect with Dr. Tami Rowen: Professional Bio: https://profiles.ucsf.edu/tami.rowen  Website: https://www.ucsfhealth.org/providers/tami-rowen  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drtamirowen/    Connect with Therese: Website:  www.criticallyspeaking.net Bluesky: @CriticallySpeaking.bsky.social Instagram: @criticallyspeakingpodcast Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net   Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it. 

In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Haley Hersant discuss a study by Dr. Hersant and her colleagues that reviewed over 100 brain and memory supplements. They found 18 common ingredients grouped into three categories: those with scientific evidence of benefit, those with no compelling evidence, and those with mixed results. They discuss the results of this study and emphasize the need for more rigorous testing. While not giving medical advice, they caution against potential interactions with prescription medications and advise listeners to do their research as well as talk to their own providers.   Key Takeaways: The most common factor across all of these ingredients that had some benefit is that, theoretically, they are known to decrease inflammation and help activate cellular repair pathways. The FDA does not have the authority to approve dietary supplements before they are put on the market, so it primarily regulates them once they are already on the market. This is different from traditional pharmaceuticals. If you are taking supplements, do report them when completing a medical history with your doctor, as they can interact with your prescriptions, vitamins, and other supplements.   "For many people, it could be harmless to be taking these supplements. They may be wasting their money without getting much benefit. But health-wise, they may be okay. However, whenever you start mixing a lot of different supplements, or are taking supplements with prescription medications, there are certainly some risks that can come into play." —  Dr. Haley Hersant   Episode References:  Over the Counter Supplements for Memory: A Review of Available Evidence   Connect with Dr. Haley Hersant: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/haley-hersant-79a0b12a4/    Connect with Therese: Website:  www.criticallyspeaking.net Bluesky: @CriticallySpeaking.bsky.social Instagram: @criticallyspeakingpodcast Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net   Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.  

In this episode, Therese Markow and Adam Morgan discuss Adam's new book, A Danger to the Minds of Young Girls, which explores the life and legacy of Margaret C. Anderson. Margaret was a pioneering figure in modern literature, the founder of "The Little Review" in Chicago, and one of the key figures in fostering the Chicago literary renaissance. They talk about the challenges she faced, despite her initial successes, why her physical appearance often overshadowed her contributions, and the impact on young girls today that Margaret also faced during her time.     Key Takeaways: "The Little Review" served as a platform for uncensored conversations about literature and art, including experimental works that were often undiscovered during her time. The Comstock Act was a group of federal laws that banned the mailing of "obscene materials" and was upheld, in part, through censorship at what is now the USPS. This resulted in many copies of "The Little Review" being burned or otherwise destroyed before they could arrive at their subscribers. We are seeing the same rhetoric used by conservative lawmakers today that was used in the early 20th century against Margaret Anderson, despite no evidence to support it. They argued that if young girls read "obscene literature," they would turn to a life of immorality, prostitution, or partner with people not approved of by their parents.   "She was not a saint, but there were a lot of things to admire about her courage and her sense of agency." —  Adam Morgan   Connect with Adam Morgan: Professional Bio: https://adam-stephen-morgan.com/  Twitter: https://x.com/adamm0rgan  Book: https://adam-stephen-morgan.com/a-danger-to-the-minds-of-young-girls/  Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thefrontlist.org  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adamm0rgan    Connect with Therese: Website:  www.criticallyspeaking.net Bluesky: @CriticallySpeaking.bsky.social Instagram: @criticallyspeakingpodcast Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net   Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it. 

In this episode, Therese Markow and Elizabeth Burch discuss Elizabeth's new book, "The Pain Brokers: How Con Men, Call Centers, and Rogue Doctors Fuel America's Lawsuit Factory," which exposes a scheme where con artists, attorneys, and rogue doctors exploited women through mass torts involving pelvic mesh implants. Elizabeth explains how mass torts differ from class actions and explains how attorneys earn contingency fees. Throughout the episode, they discuss the ways in which the scheme was perpetuated and how vulnerable women were exploited by a data breach in India.     Key Takeaways: A tort is a harm, such as a punch or a car accident. A mass tort is when those harms happen on a large scale.  Mass torts can be a goldmine for lawyers (and there is a convention held twice a year regarding mass torts in Las Vegas). This can be concerning as more states are allowing law firms to be owned, even partially, by non-lawyers.  Many of the women involved with this mass tort were conned by people who had their specific information, including birth dates, surgery dates, and other medical information. It created a lot of confusion for many.    "You can imagine that your scam detector would probably go off if someone called you and asked you for that information. But if someone calls you and they already know your birth date and the name of your implanting doctor and the type of mesh that you have and exactly when you had the surgery and where you had the surgery, then all of a sudden it feels a lot more legitimate." —  Elizabeth Burch   Connect with Elizabeth Burch: Professional Bio: https://www.elizabethchambleeburch.com/about  Website: https://www.elizabethchambleeburch.com/  Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/eburch.bsky.social    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethcburch/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elizabethcburch/  X: https://x.com/elizabethcburch  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ECBurch/   Pre-Order The Pain Brokers: How Con Men, Call Centers, and Rogue Doctors Fuel America's Lawsuit Factory here: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Pain-Brokers/Elizabeth-Chamblee-Burch/9781668068861    Connect with Therese: Website:  www.criticallyspeaking.net Bluesky: @CriticallySpeaking.bsky.social Instagram: @criticallyspeakingpodcast Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net   Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.  

In this episode, Therese Markow, Dr. Jerald Kay, and Dr. Joel Yager discuss the various forms of ambition: lack of ambition, mismatched ambition, 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 everyone ambitious is Machiavellian. But when you have people who have dark triad characteristics, it can mean trouble for those around them.  There are levels of narcissism. Only some are treatable. The last division of severe narcissism is called malignant personality disorder and is relatively untreatable.   "It's both nature and nurture. We know ambition runs in families. And we know kids that are adopted into families with ambitious parents turn out to be more ambitious than if they weren't adopted into those kinds of families." —  Dr. Joel Yager   Episode References: https://journals.lww.com/jonmd/fulltext/2023/04000/ambition_and_its_psychopathologies.1.aspx   Connect with Therese: Website:  www.criticallyspeaking.net Bluesky: @CriticallySpeaking.bsky.social Instagram: @criticallyspeakingpodcast Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net   Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it. 

In this episode, Therese Markow and Sophie Lucido Johnson discuss the evolution of family and the concept of "kin" in Sophie's book "Kin: The Future of Family." They explore the isolation and loneliness in modern society, emphasizing the importance of chosen family networks, or "pods," for emotional and physical well-being. She highlights the benefits of close, non-genetic relationships, citing research showing that strong social connections can prolong life more than health habits. Sophie also addresses the challenges of maintaining friendships post-children and the mutual support needed in kin relationships, drawing parallels to primate behavior and community responses to disasters.    Key Takeaways: Digital connective tools are wonderful, but they do not take the place of human connection of conversation, and relationships.  You do not have to live with someone to create a family pod together. Living in proximity can help to share the burden and lighten the load. It is good for your mental and physical health to build relationships with those in close proximity to you. Relationships do not need to be transactional. However, by nature, there will be levels of give and take.  Commitment is not just for romantic relationships.  Planning is difficult. Be spontaneous with short time hangouts, running errands together, and a willingness to commit more deeply with your friends while being flexible. Cross-generational relationships have many benefits for all parties involved.    "There's nothing that the science has shown to prolong your life more than relationships with other people." —  Sophie Lucido Johnson   Connect with Sophie Lucido Johnson: Website: https://www.sophielucidojohnson.com/  Linktree: https://linktr.ee/sophielucidojohnson    Book: simonandschuster.com/books/Kin/Sophie-Lucido-Johnson/9781668060650  Instagram: instagram.com/sophielucidojohnson    Connect with Therese: Website: www.criticallyspeaking.net Bluesky: @CriticallySpeaking.bsky.social Instagram: @criticallyspeakingpodcast Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net   Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.  

In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Tami Rowen discuss menopause, perimenopause, and hormone therapy. She explains that menopause is defined as one year without a period, while perimenopause can last up to 10 years with symptoms like mood changes and menstrual irregularities. Dr. Rowen discusses the changes in FSH levels and how to understand what the levels mean across time, and why they may not be as helpful as you think. She also explains how hormone therapy can alleviate symptoms and prevent osteoporosis, and that bioidentical hormones are preferred for their safety and efficacy. Finally, she cautions that social media can spread both accurate and misleading information about menopause and hormone therapy.    Key Takeaways: There is a debate over whether or not there is a cardiovascular benefit to starting hormone therapy early. While several studies suggest there may be a benefit, all the current guidelines recommend against using hormone therapy specifically for the prevention of heart disease.  When somebody enters menopause or post-menopause, there is no significant change in their testosterone levels. However, testosterone will be lower than when someone was in their 20s.  The majority of people giving information about menopause are not healthcare providers. Oftentimes, when they are discussing hormone therapy, some of the risks get missed, some of the benefits get overblown, and many are left believing hormone therapy will be a cure-all.   "Anytime someone makes a definitive statement, I would take it with a grain of salt and just know that there's oftentimes nuance to recommendations and guidance, and I would encourage all women to seek out a provider that is familiar with the data." —  Dr. Tami Rowen   Connect with Dr. Tami Rowen: Professional Bio: https://profiles.ucsf.edu/tami.rowen  Website: https://www.ucsfhealth.org/providers/tami-rowen  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drtamirowen/    Connect with Therese: Website: www.criticallyspeaking.net Threads: @critically_speaking Instagram: @criticallyspeakingpodcast Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net   Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.  

In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Robert Klitzman discuss the implications of new anti-obesity drugs, initially designed for type 2 diabetes but now used for weight loss. These drugs are expensive and may not be fully covered by insurance. They discuss how the drugs work and explain why they may be more effective for some than others. Dr. Klitzman highlights the socio-economic disparity that contributes to some of the causes of obesity. He emphasizes the need for prevention and policy changes to address the root causes of obesity, including dietary habits and access to healthy food.   Key Takeaways: The US spends twice as much per person on health care as any other country in the world, yet our health indices are nowhere near the top. A lot of that is because of the price of drugs. Obesity medications are being touted as the end of the obesity pandemic, as a cure-all. However, while they do a lot of good, there are many limitations to the drugs.  Obesity is often more prevalent in lower socio-economic classes. With the increased use of these obesity drugs, the disparity between the haves and have-nots will continue to grow, potentially leading to additional stigmas being placed on those struggling with obesity.   "I do have concerns that the attention on drugs, if we're going to spend a lot of money on drugs for obesity, my concern is we're not going to spend as much attention on how to prevent obesity in the first place." —  Dr. Robert Klitzman   Connect with Dr. Robert Klitzman: Professional Bio: https://www.publichealth.columbia.edu/profile/robert-klitzman-md  Website: https://sps.columbia.edu/person/robert-klitzman-md  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-klitzman/    Connect with Therese: Website: www.criticallyspeaking.net Threads: @critically_speaking Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net    Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it. 

In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Kevin Spencer discuss the innovative use of magic tricks as therapy for children with autism. Kevin found that teaching magic helped children with autism improve social skills, communication, and self-esteem. He developed the Hocus Focus program for schools and the Magic Therapy program for hospitals, both using simple magic tricks with common items. Kevin's research showed significant improvements in social skills and self-esteem using the Social Skills Improvement Scale (SSIS) and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES). He also successfully adapted his therapy to virtual formats during the pandemic.    Key Takeaways: One of the most significant deficits of traditional social skills programs in the schools is that they try to teach social skills explicitly, through this very didactic structure, but none of that is transferred over to a real-world setting.  Doug Henning's formula for magic works well with kids on the spectrum, and really, everyone: The difficult must become habit. Habit becomes beautiful. Beautiful becomes magic.  Magic gives kids an avenue to practice social interactions and other social skills that become broadly applicable to other areas of life. In classroom settings, it gives kids a chance to practice both performing and being an audience.  Teachers and parents often see the changes before the child does, as the kids are so engaged in the learning and sharing with their friends. There are no expectations that you know how to do magic (unlike other behaviors). It allows for failure to be part of the process, which builds frustration tolerance, persistence, critical thinking, and resilience.   "All of the tricks that we teach are done with very ordinary items. It's coins and Q-tips and string and rope and paper clips and rubber bands, because we want them to recognize that the magic is connected to them. It's not connected to a prop." —  Dr. Kevin Spencer   Episode References: TDF: https://www.tdf.org/    Connect with Dr. Kevin Spencer: Professional Bio: https://kevinspencerlive.com/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/spencersmagic  Website: https://www.spencersmagic.com/   Books: https://www.kevinspencerlive.com/books  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/spencersmagic  Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/spencersmagic  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinwspencer/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/magicguy2012    Connect with Therese: Website: www.criticallyspeaking.net Bluesky:@CriticallySpeaking.bsky.social Instagram: @Criticallyspeakingpodcast Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net    Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.  

In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Tami Rowen discuss the controversy surrounding the use of Tylenol during pregnancy and its potential link to autism. She emphasizes that the evidence is largely anecdotal and not supported by robust scientific studies. Dr. Rowen highlights a study published in Environmental Health in 2025 that found a weak association between Tylenol use and autism, but adds that a subsequent study revealed flaws in the earlier study and showed no association.  Fever in pregnant women can have dangerous effects and should be relieved. She stresses that Tylenol is the safest pain reliever and fever reducer for pregnant women, who experience fevers in 20% of pregnancies. Dr. Rowen criticizes the media and some health officials for misrepresenting the risks, potentially leading to harmful decisions by pregnant women.    Key Takeaways: Tylenol is the safest option that we have in terms of a fever reducer and pain reliever. Fevers actually have more association with autism than Tylenol does in the research. On the other hand, Ibuprofen and NSAIDs are unsafe in pregnancy, especially in the third trimester.    "Pregnancy is quite an uncomfortable state of being. We tell pregnant women, and we tell women in general, to tough out a lot of things, but pain is not something that I think is reasonable. I think that it goes against the principle of doing no harm, to tell people they should just suffer with pain when there is actually effective and safe medication for them." —  Dr. Tami Rowen   Episode References:  The Conversation Article: https://theconversation.com/as-an-ob-gyn-i-see-firsthand-how-misleading-statements-on-acetaminophen-leave-expectant-parents-confused-fearful-and-lacking-in-options-265947    Connect with Dr. Tami Rowen: Professional Bio: https://profiles.ucsf.edu/tami.rowen    Connect with Therese: Website: www.criticallyspeaking.net Bluesky:@CriticallySpeaking.bsky.social Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net   Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.  

In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Lucas F.W. Wilson discuss his book, Shame-Sex Attraction, which explores the experiences of conversion therapy survivors. Lucas explains that conversion therapy aims to change sexual orientation or gender identity, despite its ineffectiveness and harmful nature. He traces the history of conversion practices from the 1800s to the present, highlighting various methods like electroshock therapy and aversion therapy, and their rapid growth after 1976 up through the heyday in the early 2000s. Dr. Wilson shares his personal journey through conversion therapy at Liberty University and emphasizes the broader impact of conversion practices on societal beliefs and individual identities. He advocates for empathy and understanding to challenge these practices.    Key Takeaways: There are no known cases where conversion therapy has actually changed someone's sexual attraction. While there is anecdotal evidence from the organizations perpetuating the claims, research shows that it is not effective. "Pastoral Counseling" and other similar phrases are used to mask or obfuscate the practice of conversion therapy to hide the work that is being done. There is no typical or standard conversion therapy. The experiences range widely from person to person. Conversion practices can be seen throughout many, if not all, people's lives, even if they've never been to official conversion therapy, nor is it solely for those who are part of the queer or religious community. It is important to engage with ideas and communities that are different from your own.    "I would argue that probably every single person in this world at some point has been told 'don't act like this,' whether they were a kid or older, and that message has stayed with them and affected how they present their gender and how they identify." —  Dr. Lucas F.W. Wilson   Episode References:  Boy Erased: A Memoir of Identity, Faith, and Family by Garrard Conley 1946: The Mistranslation That Shifted Culture Genocidal Intentions: Social Death and the Ex-Gay Movement by Sue E. Spivey and Christine M. Robinson   Connect with Dr. Lucas F.W. Wilson: Professional Bio:  https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/historical-studies/people/lucas-wilson  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucas-wilson-2a0753b1  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/luke.wilson.96  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lukeslamdunkwilson/  Threads: https://www.threads.com/@lukeslamdunkwilson  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lukeslamdunkwilson  Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/lukeslamdunkwilson.bsky.social  X: https://x.com/wilson_fw  Other Publications: https://utschools.academia.edu/LucasWilson    Book: Shame-Sex Attraction: Survivors' Stories of Conversion TherapyBook: At Home with the Holocaust   Connect with Therese: Website: www.criticallyspeaking.net Threads: @critically_speaking Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net   Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it. 

In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Joe Pierre discuss the phenomenon of false beliefs, as explored in his book, False. Joe explains the distinction between clinical delusions and delusion-like beliefs, emphasizing the continuum of belief conviction and the role of motivated reasoning. He highlights the impact of political affiliation on belief spread and the concept of "suicide by false belief." Joe also discusses the importance of intellectual humility, cognitive flexibility, and analytical thinking in combating misinformation. He notes Finland's success in addressing misinformation through societal education and advocates for a similar approach to foster a culture of truth.    Key Takeaways: There is a spectrum of conviction when we are discussing delusion-like beliefs - such as conspiracy theories. Misinformation refers to information that isn't true. Disinformation is usually used to mean deliberate misinformation. Knowing the difference can be tricky because it relies on knowing the intent of the person spreading the misinformation. The Holy Trinity of Truth Detection is something people can learn and adopt - they aren't always intuitive. They must be learned and valued for people to adopt them.    "False beliefs always have at least the potential for harm. They don't always cause harm, but they certainly carry the risk of harm. And these days, because of some of the false beliefs that are going around - like beliefs about vaccines or climate change denialism - I sometimes refer to what's going on right now as suicide by false belief, because these beliefs really are potentially dangerous." —  Dr. Joe Pierre   Connect with Dr. Joe Pierre: Professional Bio: https://drjoepierre.com/index.php/about/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/psychunseen/  Website: https://drjoepierre.com/  Book: https://drjoepierre.com/index.php/false/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-pierre-1b33469/    Connect with Therese: Website: www.criticallyspeaking.net Threads: @critically_speaking Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net   Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.  

In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Teresa Lynch discuss the portrayal of women in video games and its impact on gender stereotypes. Teresa explains her research on gender stereotypes in media, influenced by her personal gaming experiences. She highlights the evolution of female character representation, noting a shift from sexualized to more diverse and empowered portrayals. They also address the economic significance of the gaming industry, which generated $59 billion in consumer spending in the U.S. in 2021, and the prevalence of online gaming, with 89% of gamers playing online weekly. The conversation also touches on the challenges women face in gaming communities and the importance of diverse and interesting character portrayals.    Key Takeaways: Game context can change how a character is perceived. A female character in a bikini in a beach volleyball game might not feel objectified in the way that the same character in the same outfit in a war game might. How women are portrayed in video games can influence gender stereotypes in society. To be able to interface with gaming technologies and utilize video games as an entertainment option allows you to develop tech savviness and comfort with technology that can boost your skills in other aspects of your life.  Gaming is not just for young people. It is not just for any one demographic. While the term "gamer" can be gatekept by certain members of the gaming community, if you play games, you are a gamer.   "Everybody benefits from more interesting characters and from lots of different kinds of physical portrayals of characters." —  Dr. Teresa Lynch   Connect with Dr. Teresa Lynch: Professional Bio: https://chronoslaboratory.com/people/faculty/  Website: https://teresa-lynch.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/teresa-lynch-22364845    Connect with Therese: Website: www.criticallyspeaking.net Threads: @critically_speaking Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net   Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.  

In this episode, Therese Markow and Jill Dixon discuss the rising food insecurity in the U.S., highlighting the critical role of food banks. Jill explains that food banks coordinate efforts across 200+ food banks and thousands of food pantries. The Food Depot in Northern New Mexico serves 43,000 people annually, distributing 10 million pounds of food. Recent cuts to federal programs like TEFAP and SNAP have significantly impacted food banks, with the Food Depot losing 10% of its food supply and 58,000 New Mexicans at risk of losing SNAP benefits. Dixon emphasizes the need for community support and innovative programs to address these challenges. Key Takeaways: Food banks across the US all have different requirements based on the people they serve, where they are, and what those people need. If you've seen one food bank, you've seen one food bank. While food drives are still extremely meaningful and important, fund drives are becoming increasingly common and necessary. The vast majority of people who receive SNAP assistance and turn to food banks when SNAP assistance is not enough are already working at least one job or are caregivers. Food banks are a highly sophisticated business network, working together nationwide to acquire supplies through different means. "Hunger is not actually its own issue. It's a symptom of poverty; it's a symptom of the cost-of-living crisis that is making it increasingly hard year over year." — Jill Dixon Connect with Jill Dixon: Professional Bio: https://thefooddepot.org/jill-dixon/ Website: https://thefooddepot.org/ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jill-dixon-22b15b312 Connect with Therese: Website: www.criticallyspeaking.net Threads: @critically_speaking Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

In this episode, Therese Markow and Irin Carmon discuss Irin's new book, “Unbearable: Five Women and the Perils of Pregnancy in America.” 80% of maternal deaths in the United States are due to completely preventable reasons. She highlights the three pillars of reproductive justice: the right not to have a child, the right to have a child, and the right to parent in a safe community. She shares her personal experiences and those of five women to illustrate systemic inequalities in maternal care. Irin emphasizes the need for respectful, autonomous care and the impact of systemic racism and misogyny on maternal health outcomes.    Key Takeaways: Abortion care affects all levels of pregnancy care. In many states, such as Alabama, many former abortion clinics want to turn into birth centers, but are prevented by the government and state medical associations. 80% of maternal deaths in the United States are due to completely preventable reasons. In the US, we have a system where OBGYNs are classified as primary care providers and are the most common way people give birth, which is not right for everyone.  False binaries (C-Section vs vaginal birth, epidural or not, etc.) are a way to pit women against each other for their own biological story that is often outside of their control.    "There's something profoundly wrong with a system that doesn't recognize your full humanity at a point where you need it the most. Because these are life and death experiences, even in the best of circumstances and regardless of the course of your pregnancy and your choices around it, they concern our deepest held values and our ideas about our destiny." —  Irin Carmon   Episode References:  Pregnancy Justice: https://www.pregnancyjusticeus.org/    Connect with Irin Carmon: Professional Bio: https://www.irincarmon.com/about  Website: https://www.irincarmon.com/  Book: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Unbearable/Irin-Carmon/9781668032602    Connect with Therese: Website: www.criticallyspeaking.net Threads: @critically_speaking Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net   Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.  

In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. James Michael Thomas discuss Critical Race Theory (CRT). Dr. Thomas explains CRT as a framework for understanding persistent racism post-Civil Rights Era, emphasizing its structural presence in law, education, and urban planning. He highlights the misconceptions around CRT, noting it's often misrepresented in legislative efforts to ban it. Dr. Thomas also discusses systemic racism, implicit vs. explicit racism, and the concept of white privilege. He shares personal anecdotes and research on white Southerners' awareness of racial advantages, and critiques legislative attempts to control education and maintain inequality.    Key Takeaways: Critical Race Theory is a framework for understanding how racism persisted and continues to persist in the post-Civil Rights Era. We distinguish systemic racism from personal acts of prejudice, racist attitudes, or racist actions because those individual attitudes and actions do not have the same effect on the distribution of power, resources, and opportunity. Many who object to teaching American history, good and bad, often are in power and do not want to discuss the unequal arrangements that have resulted from the racism and inequality that have shaped this country and present-day conditions, nor do they want to have their source of power questioned. Race has no basis in biology; race is a social construction.   "When Critical Race theorists consider the idea of racial progress, what they're trying to do is make distinctions between changes in law and then how that law is enforced or not enforced, and if it is enforced, often unevenly and with very mixed results." —  Dr. James Michael Thomas   Episode References:  ‘It's a complicated time to be a white Southerner' - and their views on race reflect that: https://theconversation.com/its-a-complicated-time-to-be-a-white-southerner-and-their-views-on-race-reflect-that-261454    Connect with Dr. James Michael Thomas: Professional Bio: https://olemiss.edu/profiles/jmthoma4.php  Books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B00SJPHVD2/allbooks  LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/james-thomas-63952728    Connect with Therese: Website: www.criticallyspeaking.net Threads: @critically_speaking Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net   Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.  

In this episode, Therese Markow and Law Professor Anya Prince discuss the pros and cons of direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic testing. DTC testing, which began in the 1990s and grew significantly by the 2010s, allows individuals to purchase genetic tests without a doctor's prescription. By 2021, 100 million people globally used DTC testing. Companies like 23andMe and Ancestry offer ancestry, health, and wellness information. However, concerns include data privacy, potential genetic discrimination, and the accuracy of health results. Professor Prince breaks down the 2023 data breach at 23andMe, discusses what DTC companies do with customer data (including DNA samples), and what third parties may be interested in the data collected by these companies.     Key Takeaways: There are hundreds of DTC genetic testing companies out there with a variety of levels of security measures. Some are going to be more secure than others.  Depending on which DTC company you use, some will destroy your genetic sample, but others may keep it indefinitely, potentially for future research and use. The US doesn't have any general data privacy protections, nor any broad genetic privacy action or protection. However, many states are beginning to pass general data protection laws.  There is no right or wrong answer for participating in genetic testing. It is something each needs to weigh the pros and cons for themselves and understand what is important to them and the risks they are willing to take.    "For the most part, DTC companies can do a lot with your data, and the customer doesn't have too much control over it. The main protection is a company's privacy policy." —  Anya Prince   Connect with Anya Prince: Professional Bio: https://law.uiowa.edu/people/anya-prince  Publications: https://library.law.uiowa.edu/anya-er-prince    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anya-prince-3a06b171/    Connect with Therese: Website: www.criticallyspeaking.net Threads: @critically_speaking Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net   Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it. 

In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Dorothy Leidner discuss the growing trend of personal relationships with AI, including AI-generated therapists and romantic partners. Dr. Leidner  highlights the history of AI in therapy, noting the shift from rule-based systems in the 60s to generative models today. She emphasizes the potential dangers, such as AI encouraging harmful behaviors and replacing real human interaction. She also discusses the lack of regulation in the U.S. and the need for responsible AI development. The conversation underscores the importance of recognizing AI as a technology rather than a human counterpart to prevent unhealthy dependencies.    Key Takeaways: Most chatbots and AI are not trained for therapy or relationships, but many people are using them for that. There are specific programs that have been developed based on therapy and mental health knowledge.  Many people who are using generative AI and chatbots in a therapeutic way do not yet realize they need therapy, and the AI encourages the person to continue talking to the chatbot. People may forget that their AI boyfriend or girlfriend isn't real. Generative AI has been trained on so many books and types of writing that it is good at predicting what should come next and coming up with language that is realistic. But it is important to remember that it is just a technology.    "One of the things that bothers me about AI is how it talks in the first person. And to me, it's deceitful, because it's not an I, it's an object. It is a piece of software running on a piece of hardware, and for it to refer to itself as ‘I' then it's definitely humanizing it and technologies are being humanized enough already just by the language." —  Dr. Dorothy Leidner   Connect with Dr. Dorothy Leidner: Professional Bio: https://www.commerce.virginia.edu/faculty/cva8qh    Connect with Therese: Website: www.criticallyspeaking.net Threads: @critically_speaking Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net     Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.  

In this episode, Therese Markow and P.E. Moskowitz discuss P.E.'s new book, Breaking Awake, which explores their lifelong struggle with trauma and mental health. They recount their near-death experience in Charlottesville in 2017 and their subsequent journey of self-discovery. P.E. critiques the reliance on SSRIs and other medications for mental health, arguing these provide temporary relief but do not address the root causes of trauma. They emphasize the importance of community and collective grieving in addressing societal stressors. P.E. also highlights the societal pressures that drive individuals to substance abuse and the need for systemic changes to address mental health issues.    Key Takeaways: Many people's struggles with trauma are deeply personal, shaped by near-death experiences, substance use, and the long process of healing through writing and therapy. Medications such as SSRIs and Adderall can help, but they often fail to address underlying trauma or the broader societal causes of distress. Economic instability, lack of community, and global crises all contribute significantly to widespread anxiety, depression, and substance use. A “quick fix” culture often prioritizes fast solutions over long-term care like therapy, community, and systemic change. Healing and resilience are most powerfully nurtured in supportive communities, where collective action and shared experiences provide hope.   "If you experience [community], it makes it easier to fight, because all of a sudden you have something to fight for, not just something to fight against." —  P.E. Moskowitz   Episode References:  Breaking Awake: A Reporter's Search for a New Life, and a New World, Through Drugs. https://www.amazon.com/Breaking-Awake-Reporters-Search-Through-ebook/dp/B0DV6K8G2X?ref_=ast_author_dp  How to Kill a City: Gentrification, Inequality, and the Fight for the Neighborhood. https://www.amazon.com/How-Kill-City-Gentrification-Neighborhood-ebook/dp/B01MXXCDVV?ref_=ast_author_dp  The Case Against Free Speech: The First Amendment, Fascism, and the Future of Dissent. https://www.amazon.com/Case-Against-Free-Speech-Amendment-ebook/dp/B07L2TP6HV?ref_=ast_author_dp    Connect with P.E. Moskowitz:  Website: https://moskowitz.xyz/    Connect with Therese: Website: www.criticallyspeaking.net Threads: @critically_speaking Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net   Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.  

In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Amaal Starling discuss the prevalence and impact of migraines, affecting approximately 1 billion people worldwide. Dr. Starling highlights the genetic and hormonal factors and discusses the different subtypes of migraines. They delve into the importance of talking to your doctor or seeing a headache specialist if you are experiencing headaches and migraines, as well as the economic burden of migraines in the US. Finally, they discuss exciting new treatment options, ones that have been developed over the last decade.    Key Takeaways: There is a lot of stigma around people with migraines. Women with migraines and pain conditions are disproportionately stigmatized.  1 in 5 women, 1 in 11 children, and 1 in 16 men are affected by migraines - an average of 1 in 7 worldwide.  Different people will experience migraines and migraine treatment differently. They all also have different triggers, though some are more common, such as red wine, nitrates, and caffeine. Many new migraine treatment options are not covered, either immediately or at all, by insurance providers. Colic in infants appears to be associated with increased risk of adult migraine.   "There is still a lot to learn about the genetics of migraines. Genetics is a strong factor in who is going to have migraines versus not, but there are also a lot of other external and internal factors." —  Dr. Amaal Starling   Episode References:  American Migraine Foundation: https://americanmigrainefoundation.org/    Connect with Dr. Amaal Starling: Professional Bio: https://www.mayo.edu/research/faculty/starling-amaal-j-m-d/bio-20147052  LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/amaal-starling-md-fahs-faan-085b58a3    Connect with Therese: Website: www.criticallyspeaking.net Threads: @critically_speaking Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net   Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.  

In this episode, Therese Markow and Richard Kirk discuss the rise of inequality and homelessness, highlighting the lack of access to healthcare and resources for marginalized populations. They delve into the myth of trickle-down wealth and the downsides of gentrification. Richard also discusses the impact of large projects, such as stadiums, which increase property values and rents, exacerbating homelessness. He emphasizes the need for better regulations and policies to address these issues.     Key Takeaways: There is no adequate tracking of the fates of people displaced by gentrification, large-scale projects, and other circumstances.  Gentrification sometimes starts informally with young professionals, artists, or students moving into an affordable area with new businesses following. Other times, it is intentional with cities and developers targeting an area for development, but this is often done without protections for those original community members.  People in displaced communities often don't have the knowledge and energy, due to the roadblocks placed by those in charge and the need to work, in order to fight back against the gentrification and aggressive acquisition of their property.  Since the 1970s, the government has stepped back from providing affordable housing and robust social safety nets, prioritizing private investment and large development projects.   "It's really, really hard to combat something that is a global phenomenon without major reforms at the federal level. But elections at every scale matter, and voting still matters." —  Richard Kirk   Episode References:  SAJE - https://www.saje.net/  Necropolitics by Achille Mbembe: https://muse.jhu.edu/article/39984/summary  Neoliberal necropolitics and the global competition for urban dominance by Richard Kirk - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0016718524001684?via%3Dihub    Connect with Richard Kirk: Professional Bio: https://geog.ucla.edu/person/richard-kirk/  LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/richard-kirk-49110024a    Connect with Therese: Website: www.criticallyspeaking.net Threads: @critically_speaking Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net   Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.  

In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Molly Hales discuss the growing trend of young children using anti-aging skincare products, influenced by social media and influencers. Dr. Hales highlights the concerns about the rise in young patients with skin reactions to these products. These young users often apply multiple products with potentially irritating ingredients (and often multiple active ingredients or multiple products with the same active ingredient). Dr. Hales also emphasizes the need for basic skincare routines for young users, with a focus on sunscreen, and calls for better education and regulation to protect these children.     Key Takeaways: Girls as young as 9 are increasingly using antiaging creams geared to older women. These products contain ingredients and are designed for more mature skin rather than youthful skin.  Sunscreen is the number one recommended product for people of all ages (except babies under 6 months). This is also not the most commonly used product among social media influencers with their viral skincare routines.  There are three main risks associated with using improper skincare products, with the main risk being irritation (irritant contact dermatitis).  Brands get more attention and recognition by sending free products to influencers for videos, reaching a wider (and younger) audience than they might otherwise.  "It seems like, as more younger and younger people are putting more and more products on their skin, that there is more and more skin allergy that's happening and that's going to follow kids around for the rest of their lives." —  Dr. Molly Hales   Episode References:  Pediatric Skin Care Regimens on TikTok - Molly Hales, MD, PhD - https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article-abstract/156/1/e2024070309/202103/Pediatric-Skin-Care-Regimens-on-TikTok    Connect with Dr. Molly Hales: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/molly-hales-987b6410/     Connect with Therese: Website: www.criticallyspeaking.net Threads: @critically_speaking Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net   Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.  

In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Eve Espey discuss the impact of the US Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v Wade. Dr. Espey explains that 41 states have abortion bans, with 12 states imposing total bans and 28 states restricting based on gestational duration. She highlights the increased maternal mortality and health risks due to these restrictions. She also emphasizes the need for continued advocacy and training for medical professionals in reproductive health care.    Key Takeaways: The overturning of Roe v Wade reversed about 50 years of women's reproductive rights. In many states, the Roe v Wade protections had been chipped away over the years, even before it was overturned.  Abortion bans are about more than abortion - they affect women's health care in areas of family planning, cancer screenings, and basic preventative health care. Contraception and abortion are integral parts of comprehensive women's health care.   "We do have a very energized group of people around this issue and much more scholarship and advocacy than in days past. So I would say we need to keep up the fight, and we need to keep supporting our learners to really understand why this care is so important and how to provide it." —  Dr. Eve Espey   Episode References:  Aid Access: https://aidaccess.org/en/  Reproductive Justice: https://www.sistersong.net/reproductive-justice    Connect with Dr. Eve Espey: Professional Bio: https://hsc.unm.edu/directory/espey-eve.html    Connect with Therese: Website: www.criticallyspeaking.net Threads: @critically_speaking Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net      Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.    

In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Emily Callaci discuss the Wages for Housework movement, highlighting the 1970s campaign demanding payment for unpaid labor in the home or “housework”. Dr. Callaci explains the movement's relevance today, noting that women's unpaid work has significant economic consequences. The conversation explores the historical context, the five key figures behind the movement, and the economic and cultural implications of unpaid housework. Callaci emphasizes the need for recognition of and payment for housework to address gender inequality and improve women's autonomy and economic well-being.    Key Takeaways: A recent statistic from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows women's unpaid work in the US has a value of about $3.6 trillion. The economy would grind to a halt without the housework that is, primarily, done by women: cooking, cleaning, laundry, child-rearing, etc.  The wages for housework movement are not gendered; they equally affect men and women who do housework.  Recognizing the work that people do, paid and unpaid, is the first step in really transforming the social consciousness.   "Wages for housework was not arguing that we should all become housewives and that should be our profession instead of the other things we might want to do. Rather, it was about recognizing the way that work is exploited. In our economic system, if you don't recognize it, if you don't see it and name it, then how can you overcome it?" —  Dr. Emily Callaci   Connect with Dr. Emily Callaci: Professional Bio: https://history.wisc.edu/people/callaci-emily/   Books: Street Archives and City Life: https://www.dukeupress.edu/street-archives-and-city-life  Wages for Housework: penguin.co.uk/books/442807/wages-for-housework-by-callaci-emily/9780241502907    Connect with Therese: Website: www.criticallyspeaking.net Threads: @critically_speaking Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net     Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.