Critically Speaking

In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Adam Berinsky discuss political rumors and misinformation. Dr. Berinsky defines rumors as unsubstantiated claims without evidence, emphasizing their social transmission. He identifies two factors influencing rumor belief: conspiratorial thinking and partisan polarization. Berinsky's research reveals that while some people firmly believe rumors, others are ambivalent and more open to correction. He suggests focusing on these undecided individuals rather than entrenched believers. Berinsky also highlights the role of political leaders in spreading misinformation and the need for creative messaging to counteract it.    Key Takeaways: Political rumors (or misinformation) are claims that are unsubstantiated by the balance of publicly available information.  Republicans and Democrats are equally (or very nearly) likely to believe different pieces of misinformation that they're presented with. Currently, Republican politicians are more likely to spread misinformation.  The more attention you pay to politics, the more likely you are to listen to people on your side. Better-educated and more informed people should be more likely to reject misinformation, but what we find is that actually, they're more attuned to the partisan angle of that information.    "Maybe our effort is better spent on trying to get these people who are not sure where they stand, because those are the people that we can move." —  Dr. Adam Berinsky   Connect with Dr. Adam Berinsky: Professional Bio: https://polisci.mit.edu/people/adam-berinsky  Website: https://berinsky.mit.edu/  Book: https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691158389/political-rumors  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-berinsky-7b9830/    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. James Alcock discuss what near-death experiences are and the increase in them in recent years due to improvements in medical technology. While near-death experiences (NDEs) have been known about for a long time, we, as a scientific community, are starting to understand more about what they mean for neurological processes. However, despite knowing the science of what is happening, NDEs and how they are experienced are subject to one's own beliefs, context, and even religious framework. Dr. Alcock and Therese also discuss the relationship between near-death experiences, hallucinations, and even reactions to various drugs and how they create powerful subjective experiences.     Key Takeaways: In surveys taken in the United States, about 3% of people have reported having near-death experiences. This number can be difficult to assess as they are based on memory and the surveys are taken, sometimes years after the incident in question. It is difficult to prove near-death experiences in research studies due to the subjectivity of what is being perceived.  Even with the science that we do know, those who have near-death experiences (including neurologists who have studied the brain) report the reality of the feelings and perceptions that are felt in these experiences.    "Context is important. Our interpretation is important. And it's very difficult, if not impossible, for any individual to distinguish between reality and subjective fantasies in those situations." —  Dr. James Alcock   Connect with Dr. James Alcock: Wikipedia Page: James Alcock   Book: Belief: What it Means to Believe and Why Our Convictions are so Compelling  Magazine: Skeptical Inquirer   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. Deborah Lang discuss the rise of skin cancer, particularly melanoma, and its causes. Dr. Lang explains that skin cancers are derived from different skin cells: basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, both linked to UV exposure, and melanoma, which can be UV-independent and linked to genetic susceptibility. Dr. Lang emphasizes the importance of early detection and personalized medicine, noting that melanoma can metastasize early. She also highlights the role of genetic mutations in cancer development and the impact of funding cuts on cancer research.    Key Takeaways: There are three major types of skin cancer. About 80% are basal cell carcinomas.  Because we are living longer, we have an increased chance of cancer. However, other reasons for increased skin cancer include increased UV exposure and tanning beds.  We are all born with moles, but if you notice a change or have a lot (such as over 100), it is worth getting them checked out.  Between 5 and 25 minutes of sun exposure per day is enough for your vitamin D production (less for lighter skin). However, sunlight has other benefits for your health and circadian rhythm.    "Melanomas are derived from a different type of cell - from cells that produce pigment called melanocytes. While this type of cancer is much rarer than basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma, it is the most lethal type of skin cancer." —  Dr. Deborah Lang   Episode References:  NIH: https://www.nih.gov/  American Cancer Society: https://www.cancer.gov/  Leo Foundation: https://leo-foundation.org/en/    Connect with Dr. Deborah Lang: Professional Bio: https://profiles.bu.edu/Deborah.Lang  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborah-lang-691158208/  ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/scientific-contributions/Deborah-Lang-38651370    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. Anice Lowen discuss the bird flu outbreak, highlighting the virus's spread from birds to dairy cattle and recorded cases of human infection. Dr. Lowen explains the differences between influenza A and influenza B viruses, talks about which type causes pandemics, and what we can do to try to prevent future pandemics from these flu strains.     Key Takeaways: An epidemic affects a specific region, a pandemic is global. Only Influenza A viruses can cause pandemics and are often transmitted via birds and mammals.  Humans can become infected with viruses from animals only if we are exposed to those animals.  Flu epidemics happen every winter due to the circulation of influenza A and B viruses. Pandemics happen sporadically, the last four were well documented in 1918, 1957, 1968, and 2009.  Bird flu can become serious if human to another.  So monitoring is critical.   "Viruses circulating in these domestic animals actually present the greatest pandemic risk simply because humans are exposed to those animals more than they are to wild animals." —  Dr. Anice Lowen   Connect with Dr. Anice Lowen: Professional Bio: biomed.emory.edu/PROGRAM_SITES/MMG/about-us/faculty-detail/anice-lowen-phd   Website: https://www.lowenlab.com/      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. Joshua Weitz discuss his book "Asymptomatic: The Silent Spread of COVID-19 and the Future of Pandemics" and his work in understanding the risk of COVID spread from as early as spring of 2020. He highlights the double-edged sword of asymptomatic infections, discusses what governments could do to help mitigate at-risk populations, and what we, as individuals, can do to help keep everyone safe. Dr. Weitz criticizes early predictions of COVID-19's disappearance by mid-2020, attributing the error to underestimated infections and behavioral changes. He emphasizes the importance of public health measures, vaccination, and testing, especially in vulnerable populations. Finally, Dr. Weitz talks about the role of asymptomatic transmission in future pandemics and the need for proactive public health investments.    Key Takeaways: Not having symptoms doesn't mean that you never had COVID-19. Nearly 50% of cases in early 2020 were asymptomatic (though that number varies by age).  There was not one single group of modelers trying to make sense of the data coming out of the pandemic. As such, different projections can come out even from the same pandemic information. For infectious diseases, our behavior is correlated with the risk.  COVID is not the flu. COVID is not gone, and we now have a double seasonal burden from both flu and COVID. If everyone is asymptomatic or it was always mild, we wouldn't worry. We wouldn't have stopped things or been so upset just by cases or infections; it was the severe ones and the number of severe cases that dictated the approach to control, as the transmission potential by asymptomatic individuals was not considered.  "The double-edged sword is good news, in some sense, for individuals, but it's bad news for populations, because many more people can be infected. They're contagious and interact with more people. When we try to think from a public health perspective, not just a personal health perspective, then we have to be concerned." —  Dr. Joshua Weitz   Connect with Dr. Joshua Weitz: Professional Bio: https://biology.umd.edu/people/dr-joshua-weitz  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-weitz-5866599/  Substack: http://joshuasweitz.substack.com/    Website: https://weitzgroup.umd.edu/   Book: Asymptomatic: The Silent Spread of COVID-19 and the Future of Pandemics https://www.press.jhu.edu/books/title/53730/asymptomatic   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.  

When we hear the term tumor or cancer, the image that often comes to mind is a bunch of bad cells next to normal ones, and growing. Like many things, it's just not that simple. How do the normal cells turn bad? Can our immune systems detect the cancer cell and kill it? Why does some initially successful chemotherapy stop working? Why does cancer spread? These are all great questions, since cancers of one kind or another will affect so many of us either as patients, friends, or loved ones. Well, basic science is providing some critical answers. In today's episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Ajit Nirmal discuss just these questions.    Key Takeaways: If we didn't have an immune system, we'd all get cancer.  Drug resistance continues to be the principal limiting factor to achieving cures in patients with cancer. Once a normal cell has turned cancerous, it is likely dividing much faster than a normal cell. This rapid cell division is error-prone and can lead to the accumulation of mutations at a much faster rate.   "I truly believe, with adequate basic understanding of the molecular underpinnings of cancer evolution, and how the tumor microenvironment helps it or promotes it, we will be able to predict the best course of action to target all cancer cells up until the very last one, and consequently to the patient." —  Dr. Ajit Nirmal   Connect with Dr. Ajit Nirmal: Professional Bio: https://scholar.harvard.edu/ajitjohnson/home  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ajitjohnsonnirmal/    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. Jodi Gilman discuss the implications of cannabis use on health and safety. Dr. Gilman explains that THC, the main psychoactive compound in cannabis, binds to cannabinoid receptors in the brain, affecting areas involved in emotion, memory, and decision-making. Cannabis use can lead to long-term brain alterations, particularly in adolescents, frequent users, and those using high-potency products. Dr. Gilman highlights the risks of cannabis-induced psychosis, depression, and anxiety, especially in those with a family history of psychosis. She also notes the lack of evidence for medical marijuana's efficacy and the challenges in detecting cannabis impairment.    Key Takeaways: Edibles typically last longer than smoked or vaped cannabis, but it takes longer to feel the effects. It can take 30-60 minutes to reach the brain. The three things that make cannabis risky are the age you start to use cannabis, the frequency of use, and the potency of the product you are using. Those three factors increase the likelihood of long-term alterations on the brain, structurally and functionally. Cannabis is a psychoactive substance, like alcohol, tobacco, nicotine, and cocaine; it is addictive to some people. It is estimated that 1 in 5 people who use cannabis will become addicted. THC impairs attention, it impairs coordination, and it impairs reaction time - all of these are critical for driving. THC is thought to double the risk of a crash.   "People think cannabis is safe, like bubble gum. It's not bubble gum. It's a psychoactive compound that affects your brain, and you really need to be cautious about these products." —  Dr. Jodi Gilman     Connect with Dr. Jodi Gilman: Professional Bio: https://researchers.mgh.harvard.edu/profile/4080912/Jodi-Gilman  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodi-gilman-474a4ab4/      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. Robert Meade, an expert in thermal physiology, discuss the dangers posed to human health by the rising heat. Dr Meade explains that extreme heat is a combination of air temperature and humidity, which can strain the body's ability to regulate temperature. He notes that older adults and women may be more vulnerable to heat stress due to reduced sweating and cardiovascular function. They talk about the differences between heat stress and heat stroke and how to identify symptoms to keep an eye on if you are in a hot environment. The discussion highlights the challenges of accurately measuring heat-related deaths and the importance of adaptive strategies, such as cool roofs and reflective pavements, to mitigate heat stress. Dr. Meade also mentions an ongoing study in India on the heat stress experienced by informal workers.    Key Takeaways: Heat stress is more than just temperature and humidity. Activity, clothing, location, and anything else that impedes and impacts the body can change the level of heat stress. What constitutes extreme heat will vary from person to person.  Evaporative cooling is impacted by humidity - it's much harder to evaporate fluid from the skin into the air when there's already a lot of moisture in the air. The impacts of heat on the body are difficult to correctly identify in hospitals or medical records.   "The response the body takes to help maintain safe internal body temperatures implicates many bodily systems. Heat has a kind of widespread cascading effects that are just really hard to correctly identify." —  Dr. Robert Meade   Connect with Dr. Robert Meade: Professional Bio: https://hsph.harvard.edu/profile/robert-meade/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-meade-09536520a  X: https://x.com/robertdmeade    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. Brandon Sparks discuss the phenomenon of involuntary celibacy (incels). Dr. Sparks, an applied forensic psychologist, explains that incels are men experiencing long-term involuntary celibacy, often due to social exclusion and bullying during adolescence. Incels, primarily aged 18-30, are less likely to be in education or employment. The term "incel" originated from a woman's project at Carleton University. Incels often self-identify online, where they discuss the "Black Pill" philosophy, a nihilistic view of society. Dr. Sparks highlights the need for empathy and understanding to address their isolation and frustration.    Key Takeaways: The modern iteration is often “incel” refers exclusively to men who are experiencing involuntary celibacy and they've been experiencing this for quite some time. They've come to believe that they can't form romantic or sexual relationships, and that's causing them an extreme amount of distress. For women who identify with the experience of an incel, they are often called “femcels”.  There's a lot of incels that are looking to talk to people and to share their experiences. One of the biggest risk factors in adolescence is the people who are already being left behind. This seems to indicate that there's certainly a subset of people who struggle to catch up.   "Incel philosophy as we know it, based on forum analysis they've created this worldview called the “Black Pill”, which is a nihilistic perspective of the world. It's this very transactional view of relationships, which is quite problematic because they're viewing women as master manipulators, playing this big game plan, and that men are just a means to an end for them." —  Dr. Brandon Sparks   Connect with Dr. Brandon Sparks: Website: https://www.brandontsparks.com/  Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.ca/citations?user=vWzf3QMAAAAJ&hl=en    Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Brandon-Sparks-4  Twitter: https://x.com/brandon__sparks    Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/brandonsparks.bsky.social      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 discusses the impact of budgetary cuts on scientific research and the Nations Report Card from the Department of Education. She explains what the funding from the National Institutes of Health and National Science Foundation supports, and argues how cutting overhead costs to 15% shuts down scientific progress. She also highlights the importance of the Nations Report Card, which has tracked student performance since 1969, for informing educational policy. Markow urges listeners to contact their representatives to reinstate funding for the National Report Card.   Key Takeaways: Laboratories are in buildings - buildings with plumbing, lights, air conditioning, heat, power to operate equipment, and more that all require maintenance, These are paid for by the overhead, not from the research grants Test results are critical for understanding where improvements need to be made in education, both private and public. We want our students to be competent.  When people aren't reading, they are missing information that is vital to their wellbeing and the well-being of their communities.   "When you hear complaints that these overhead costs are excessive or a rip-off, think about it. Clearly, they're essential and they shouldn't be cut." —  Therese Markow, Ph.D.     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.

We all believe in something, from Santa Claus, to the global shape of the earth, to babies needing to be taken care of for survival. While some of our beliefs are intuitive or have evidence, many are not. Sometimes the evidence that we believe to be true is faulty. In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. James Alcock discuss how these beliefs are built, how we interpret situations to create beliefs, and why we, as a society, have so many common beliefs. As humans, we like to believe we are rational beings, but so many of our beliefs are happening automatically, without our conscious thought or from common teachings that we are all exposed to from those in authority. Therese and Dr. Alcock also discuss further complications regarding belief, such as conspiracy mentalities, imagination inflation, and memory contamination and the role that these elements of complication can play in trying to suss out what to believe in this world full of many shades of gray.       Key Takeaways: We cannot learn everything in one lifetime so, as a society, we come to rely on authorities and shared, inherited beliefs.  There is no evidence that people can bury trauma. The problem with trauma is people can't forget.  Due to mental desire to belief and idiosyncratic movements, humans often see things that are “magic” or “unexplainable” due to our own actions.   "The problem is, if we don't have the capacity and we don't have the motivation to critically examine the evidence, then we won't distinguish between evidence that really is factual and evidence which is wrong." —  Dr. James Alcock   Connect with Dr. James Alcock: Wikipedia Page: James Alcock   Book: Belief: What it Means to Believe and Why Our Convictions are so Compelling      Connect with Therese: Website:  www.criticallyspeaking.net Twitter: @CritiSpeak 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. Loretta Mayer discuss the growing problem of urban rat populations, exacerbated by climate change and the ineffectiveness of traditional poisoning methods. Dr. Mayer discusses the non-lethal contraceptive method for rats and mice, developed from her research on reproductive physiology, and successful field tests that have shown significant reduction in rodent populations around the world. Finally, they discuss the non-profit Wisdom Good Works as well as Wisdom Good Bites and their aim to improve public health and environmental conditions by reducing rodent-borne diseases and improving rodent health.     Key Takeaways: Rats are the most successful reproductive mammal on earth, with the ability of a single female to generate over 15,000 prodigy over her lifetime.  The rat contraceptive has a half-life of less than 15 minutes, meaning there is no possibility of transferring the contraceptive to a predator like a cat or a raptor. Rats are smart, and they learn. If you're trying to feed them poison, they will learn, and they will avoid it.    "The literature is quite deep on these rodents. They love to be tickled. They have compassion for other rodents. They are very closely connected to their conspecifics." —  Dr. Loretta Mayer   Episode References:  Another unwelcome consequence of climate change: An explosion of urban rats by Karen Kaplan - https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2025-01-31/climate-change-could-cause-an-explosion-of-urban-rats    Connect with Dr. Loretta Mayer: Professional Bio: https://wisdomgoodworks.org/about-us/  Website: https://wisdomgoodworks.org/ & https://wisdomgoodbites.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/loretta-mayer-b4025914/    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 Charles Piller discuss the slow progress of Alzheimer's treatments. Based on his research and findings as an investigative journalist, as well as his newest book, Doctored: Fraud, Arrogance, and Tragedy in the Quest to Cure Alzheimer's, they discuss the complexity of the disease, msiconduct in the research, and the other problems the research is facing despite the funding for it being at an all time high. Charles comments on the FDA's reliance on industry-affiliated advisors, the revolving door phenomenon, and why the new anti-amyloid drugs are not as practical as they might seem on the surface with limited effectiveness, high costs, and high liability. Finally, Charles emphasizes the need for diverse research strategies and better regulation to protect patients and families traversing this complex disease.     Key Takeaways: There are more than 7 million people with Alzheimer's in the US. In addition, there are 11 million family caregivers or loved ones taking care of these patients, which is an enormous issue and burden, both financial and emotional.  The Amyloid Mafia idea is behind the concerns that the competitive pressure has reduced the extent of the types of ideas that are being fully examined in the treatments for Alzheimer's. While science is often self-correcting, it can take time. It is important for forensic image sleuths and journalists to expose misconduct and other scientific errors or wrongdoings to speed up that process of science, acknowledging and correcting the errors.    "In the marketplace of scientific ideas, competition is almost always valuable to test and press the progenitors of these ideas into being able to think flexibly and to try to prove out the ones that are the ones that are the most effective." —  Charles Piller   Connect with Charles Piller: Professional Bio: https://www.science.org/content/author/charles-piller  Book: Doctored: Fraud, Arrogance, and Tragedy in the Quest to Cure Alzheimer's - https://www.amazon.com/Doctored-Fraud-Arrogance-Tragedy-Alzheimers/dp/1668031248    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. Paul Offit discuss the MMR vaccine, the history of it, and the current decay of measles herd immunity today.  Many parents are refusing to vaccinate their children, referencing politicians, actors, and social activists who lack correct information regarding the vaccine.  Even if an unvaccinated child recovers from measles,  they may, years later, develop a fatal encephalitis from the measles virus that has hidden in their brains. Dr. Offit thus discusses not only the serious potential complications of measles during the illness but the risks of later and seemingly unrelated fatalities in the unvaccinated.     Key Takeaways: School vaccine mandates were born in the mid-1970s, especially in big cities, as outbreaks were often spread in schools. In a portion of children who recover from measles, the measles virus still remains hidden in the brain and can result in encephalitis. You have the right to make decisions about your own health, but you don't have the right to make your child a martyr for your cause. Many of those activating against vaccinations are still referencing an invalidated and retracted paper from 1998.   "Medicine's hard enough – there is so much we can't do - but this we can do! We can prevent this disease, so watching parents, knowingly, put their children in harm's way, and putting those their children come in contact with in harm's way, has been very hard to watch." —  Dr. Paul Offit   Connect with Dr. Paul Offit: Professional Bio: https://www.chop.edu/doctors/offit-paul-a  Book: Bad Advice: Or Why Celebrities, Politicians, and Activists Aren't Your Best Source of Health Information and More!   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. Jamie Lo discuss the complex topic of marijuana and the fetal brain. Dr. Lo explains some of the findings from a study of over 3 million pregnant individuals in California, why pregnant individuals may choose to use marijuana, the links between THC exposure in the fetal brain and long-term neurodevelopmental issues, and why this conversation is becoming increasingly important for healthcare providers to have with their patients. Dr. Lo emphasizes the importance of both maternal and fetal health, the need for better public health campaigns, and increased education for healthcare providers to address the rising use of cannabis during pregnancy.     Key Takeaways: More people now use marijuana than alcohol. The prevalence of pregnant individuals ranges from about 2-5% up to 30% depending on socioeconomic status, region, and other factors.  The reasons that pregnant individuals report marijuana use are typically for nausea, vomiting, sleep, insomnia, and mental health as well as management of pain and stress. Marijuana is not safer just because it is “plant-based”. Opium, tobacco, and alcohol are all also plant-based.  We need clearer public health messaging around cannabis. The information widely available now is often confusing or stigmatized.   "Cannabis, unlike other drugs, is not related to birth defects, but there is an increased risk for preterm birth, small for gestational age babies, increased risk for stillbirth, as well as longer-term effects that are more subtle but are very important." —  Dr. Jamie Lo, MD   Connect with Dr. Jamie Lo, MD: Professional Bio: https://www.ohsu.edu/people/jamie-lo-md-mcr    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 Natalie Wexler discuss the poor reading skills of American students, as evidenced by NAEP test results. Natalie highlights the ineffectiveness of current reading programs and the focus on skills over content. She also talks about the discrepancies between students of different backgrounds, and how The Matthew Effect appears in reading comprehension and general knowledge. She also encourages teachers and parents to introduce their children, as early as possible, to higher concepts and vocabulary as children can and do understand more than many give them credit for. Natalie also discusses the role of writing in enhancing reading comprehension and the need for systemic changes in education to improve literacy outcomes.    Key Takeaways: When it comes to literacy and reading, the standards don't specify content. Therefore, the tests are not grounded in consistent content. Most kids need to learn their phonics in order to become fluent readers. Making this a more automated skill will free up brain power for comprehension.  Vocabulary is more likely to stick if it is heard in context and on repeat. Read aloud to your kids. Kids can take in more sophisticated concepts and vocabulary through listening than reading. This goes through age 13.  More than average amounts of social studies in elementary school are correlated with higher than average reading scores later in school.    "Kids who started with less of that academic knowledge and vocabulary, if they don't acquire it through school, they're going to fall farther and farther behind, because they're going to be limited to those simple texts. Even if there's some new vocabulary, new information in those texts, they're less likely to be able to retain it because they don't have anything for it to stick to." —  Natalie Wexler   Episode References:  The Knowledge Matters Campaign: https://knowledgematterscampaign.org/    Connect with Natalie Wexler: Professional Bio: https://nataliewexler.com/about/  Website: https://nataliewexler.com/  Substack: https://nataliewexler.substack.com/    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 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. Amy Cooter discuss the complexities and variations within militia groups in the United States, citing examples of constitutional militias, millenarian militias, and border militias noting their varying beliefs and tendencies. Dr. Cooter also highlights how the role of nostalgia and protecting the Second Amendment rights are integral in militias' self-perception. They discuss the difficulty in tracking militia activity, the racial undertones in these militia groups, as well as the legality and legal loopholes that many of these groups fall within.     Key Takeaways: Not all militias are the same. They do not have the same goals, structure, meetings,  life experiences, or beliefs. Border militias tend to be more concerned about migration, whereas others, who live away from the Southern border of the US, are less concerned about immigration. The Second Amendment and nostalgia are two major things that tie militia groups together with a point of commonality. A lot of militia members aren't very religious themselves, but we have to pay attention to the way that the mythologized story of our founding and who we are as a nation connects to certain Christian mythology in ways that are getting pulled forward with different iterations of what we're calling White Christian Nationalism.   "Most militias really see their limits at their community or even their county boundary. They tend to have only very local members to set their own agenda, even if they do coordinate, sometimes for training or other activities, with other geographically near militias." —  Dr. Amy Cooter     Episode Reference:  ProPublica Article: The Militia and the Mole by Joshua Kaplan: https://www.propublica.org/article/ap3-oath-keepers-militia-mole    Connect with Dr. Amy Cooter: Professional Bio: middlebury.edu/institute/people/amy-cooter  Website: https://www.amycooter.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-cooter-67a9a242  Book: Nostalgia, Nationalism, and the US Militia Movement: https://www.amazon.com/Nostalgia-Nationalism-US-Militia-Movement/dp/1032421975    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 Conniff discuss his book "Ending Epidemics," which explores the history of infectious diseases and vaccines. Richard highlights the evolution from ancient humoral theories, which thrived for nearly 2000 years, to modern germ theory, emphasizing the importance of cleanliness and vaccination. He recounts the development of the smallpox vaccine by Edward Jenner and the polio vaccine by Jonas Salk, noting initial resistance and the success of widespread vaccination. He also addresses the current resistance to COVID-19 vaccines, stressing the importance of balancing vaccine risks against disease risks. He also warns of the dangers of withdrawing from global health organizations like the WHO.    Key Takeaways: The Semmelweis Reflex is the tendency of people to stick with what they already believe and ignore clear evidence that it's wrong. Smallpox has been eradicated. In many areas, they were still using Jenner's vaccine, which still worked up until 1980. With some viruses,  illnesses are dormant but can crop up later in life, such as chickenpox and shingles.  Viruses hide in the nervous system When you are thinking about vaccines, think about the disease, and then think about what the relative risk of the vaccine is versus the risk of the disease.   "The problem is that people can develop these imaginary problems with vaccines because they do not have any conception of how awful the disease is that the vaccine is preventing." —  Richard Conniff   Episode References:  Ending Epidemics: A History of Escape from Contagion - https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262552974/ending-epidemics/ The Species Seekers: Heroes, Fools, and the Mad Pursuit of Life on Earth - https://wwnorton.com/books/9780393341324     Connect with Richard Conniff: Professional Bio: https://mitpress.mit.edu/author/richard-conniff-39217/  Website: https://strangebehaviors.wordpress.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-conniff-9689a02/    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. MacKenzie Pellin discuss the cancer rates in dogs and cats, the types of cancer we tend to see in our four-legged friends, and the challenges of diagnosing cancer in pets. Dr. Pellin also breaks down some of the main differences of cancer in breeds of dogs and cats, and the reasons why those types of cancer are more common based on the pet's structure. Finally, Dr. Pellin emphasizes the importance of routine veterinary care and early detection for your pets.    Key Takeaways: Dogs and humans are diagnosed with cancer at about the same rate - about 25% over their life, with about 50% at geriatric ages. About ⅓ of all cats will be diagnosed with cancer throughout their lifetime. Large and giant breed dogs are more predisposed to bone cancer. Dogs with long noses are more likely to get nasal tumors. Snub-nosed dogs are more likely to have tumors in their heart space. In cats, certain types of viruses, like FIV of FeLV can be transmitted to other cats, which can then mutate into cancer. These seem species-specific and cannot be transmitted to other species like dogs or humans.   Monitor your dog or cat's habits enough that you can tell when things change. You know them, you know their habits, trust your gut, and take them in if things seem unusual.   "Be aware of your animal's habits, and if things start to change, pay attention to that and take them into your clinic for a checkup." —  Dr. MacKenzie Pellin     Connect with Dr. MacKenzie Pellin: Professional Bio: https://www.vetmed.wisc.edu/people/mackenzie-pellin/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mackenzie-pellin-962a66b6/    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. John Hutton discuss the impact of early reading exposure on brain development in infants and young children. He explains that babies are born with 100 billion brain cells, each with around 1,000 connections and that these connections are shaped by experiences. Dr. Hutton emphasizes the importance of a nurturing home literacy environment, which includes regular reading routines and interactive reading. He also addresses the negative effects of excessive screen time on brain development, particularly in preschoolers, and advocates for reducing screen usage to allow for more real-world engagement. Additionally, he highlights programs like Reach Out and Read and Dolly Parton's Imagination Library that aim to increase access to books for children from underprivileged backgrounds.    Key Takeaways: It takes a long time for the human brain to develop compared to other animals. Humans are uniquely more sensitive to experiences in their environment than other organisms because of this long development process. The Home Literacy Environment can be divided into quantitative (such as the number of books and amount of time spent reading) and qualitative (such as questions asked, format of books, interest in reading, etc.) components. There is no “reading network” built-in to the brain. If kids aren't taught to read, they are not going to just magically know how to read. Do your best to form your own routines, and try to make reading fun, enjoyable, and nurturing.  Kids want to emulate their parents. If we want them to use less screen time, as adults, we must also have less screen time.    "Books, more than anything, are a catalyst that brings grown-ups and kids together to exchange language, to exchange emotions, to show love and affection, and that can be a source of nurturing for all these different aspects of development that are related to that experience." —  Dr. John Hutton   Episode References:  Read Aloud 15 Minutes: https://readaloud.org/  Reach Out and Read: https://reachoutandread.org/  Dolly Parton's Imagination Library: https://imaginationlibrary.com/usa/  Dr. John Hutton Introduces the SHARE STEP Method for Reading with Young Children: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuQhnbrwutw    Connect with Dr. John Hutton: Professional Bio: https://profiles.utsouthwestern.edu/profile/226447/john-hutton.html  Twitter: https://x.com/drjohnhutton  Books: https://www.bluemanateepress.com/our-authors#/dr-john-hutton/    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. Adina Wise discuss the complexities of Parkinson's disease, including its causes, symptoms, and the role of environmental factors, such as air pollution. They discuss who Parkinson's primarily affects, the genetic factors at play, the higher incidents in specific regions, and the increase in the frequency of Parkinson's cases. They also talk about the recent advancements including continuous infusion therapy and stress that early detection is crucial, though challenging due to ethical considerations.    Key Takeaways: Movement disorders are one of the few areas of medicine where diagnosis continues to rely heavily on careful observation. Parkinson's is a heterogeneous disorder, not a single disease. Every case is a little different with the well-known motor symptoms - such as tremors, stiffness, and slowness, but also equally important non-motor symptoms - like sleep disturbances, mood changes, cognitive impairment, and more.  Parkinson's mostly appears in people over the age of 60. For early-onset Parkinson's (before the age of 50) accounts for about 4-10% of all cases. In these early-onset cases, there tends to be a stronger genetic influence.  The number one thing you can do to keep your brain healthy right now is regular aerobic exercise.   "Environmental factors, genes, lifestyle - these all may influence whether Parkinson's manifests. This makes the Parkinson's genetics quite complicated." —  Dr. Adina Wise   Connect with Dr. Adina Wise: Professional Bio: https://profiles.mountsinai.org/adina-wise  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adinawise  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awise.md/    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. 

Most of us take for granted that the seafood we eat is healthy and better for the atmosphere.  But there are hidden costs in our increasing consumption of seafood that we don't see.  Why?  Because these costs are accrued on the high seas and under the sea where few journalists endeavor to cover them.  Sea slavery, overfishing, pollution, and loss of revenue for people already struggling to make a living are extensive, but not well known.  Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times investigative reporter Ian Urbina has seen these horrors firsthand and talks with us today about his book “The Outlaw Ocean” and his foundation of the same name.      Key Takeaways:  Approximately 50 of our seafood is farmed, and the other 50 percent arrives to consumers via practices involving human abuse and serious environmental damage.  Much of the farmed fish eat fish-meal that is derived from massive overfishing of fish less desirable for eating (but nonetheless ecologically important) and other species, such as whales, sharks, and turtles) caught up in the fishing process.  Cooked, ground up, and used to feed the farmed fish.   We tend to think about greenhouse gases as being the driver of global change, but these practices are wreaking severe havoc on the planet, underwater. Human abuse and slavery are often involved in the fleets that harvest from the sea.  Invisible people, disposable people. Because all of the above take place out of sight, the damage usually goes unseen due to a lack of journalistic coverage.  It's expensive to document but it's critical that it's brought to light.   "There is a dark irony to aquaculture and raising fish on land and in pens. It was meant, and supported for many years by environmentalists, as a way to slow the rate of depletion of the wild fish. Now, because those aquaculture fish are being fed pelletized wild-caught fish, it's actually speeding up the rate of ocean depletion." —  Ian Urbina   Connect with Ian Urbina: Twitter:  twitter.com/ian_urbina Facebook: facebook.com/IanUrbinaReporter Website: theoutlawocean.com Book: theoutlawocean.com/book YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCykiIhv2wP4-BftEiKb241Q Instagram: instagram.com/ian_urbina   Connect with Therese: Website:   www.criticallyspeaking.net Twitter: @CritiSpeak Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net   Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.  

Breast cancer is on the rise, especially in women under 40. This is pretty scary and the increase points to something environmental. In today's episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Kris McGrath talk about one of these environmental factors and how our individual underarm hygiene may play a role in our risk for breast (and prostate) cancers earlier in life. Dr. McGrath has had a long-time interest in this trend and they discuss some of his work on the relationship between underarm shaving and the use of deodorants and antiperspirants.    Key Takeaways: The majority of breast cancer is environmental or lifestyle-related. Only 5-10% of breast cancer is due to genetic causes. So what are the factors? Both breast cancer and prostate cancer are hormone-driven cancers. More research needs to be done, but there already is a significant and scary relationship between underarm hygiene and breast and prostate cancers.    "In my paper, I showed that the earlier you began underarm habits, shaving your underarms and applying antiperspirant deodorant three times a week or more, the diagnosis of breast cancer began at a younger age, especially if you started using these products before the age of 16." —  Dr. Kris McGrath   Connect with Dr. Kris McGrath: Professional Bio: feinberg.northwestern.edu/faculty-profiles/az/profile.html?xid=15819     Connect with Therese: Website:   www.criticallyspeaking.net Twitter: @CritiSpeak 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 Mark Greene discuss the pervasive issue of mansplaining, a phenomenon where men explain things to women despite their lesser expertise. Mark explains that mansplaining is rooted in "Man Box Culture," a set of rigid masculine rules that discourage emotional expression and promote dominance. He highlights that these rules, which include not showing emotions and being a breadwinner, have been ingrained since the Industrial Revolution and are still prevalent today. Mark emphasizes the need for men to unlearn these behaviors to form meaningful connections and improve their mental health. He also discusses the impact of these cultural norms on men's professional and personal lives, advocating for a shift towards more inclusive and emotionally open masculinity.    Key Takeaways: No culture is monolithic. No culture is non-changeable.  Mansplaining is one direct product of a culture of masculinity that says: Don't show your emotions. Always be tough, be right, know more.. Never talk about anything deep. Man Box Culture is not traditional masculinity The breaking of connection is what leads to Man Box Culture and the increased rates of suicide in teenage boys and mental health challenges in adult men. Authentic, deep, caring relationships require emotional sharing. If you spend your life mansplaining, you don't have connection.   "My work is around the idea that we want to get men to wake up to the limitations of Man Box Culture and shift that culture to a healthier culture of expression and connection." —  Mark Greene   Episode References:  Men Explain Things to Me by Rebecca Solnit: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1608464660  The Man Box Study by Equimundo: https://www.equimundo.org/resources/man-box-study-young-man-us-uk-mexico/  When Boys Become Boys by Judy Chu: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0814764800  Niobe Way: https://www.niobe-way.com/  Catalyst: How Combative Cultures Prevent Men from Interrupting Sexism: https://www.catalyst.org/research/combative-culture-sexism-infographic/  The Good Men Project: https://goodmenproject.com/    Connect with Mark Greene: Website: https://remakingmanhood.com/  Twitter: https://x.com/remakingmanhood  Book: The Little #MeToo Book for Me: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0983466963  Book: The Relational Book for Parenting: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1979378657  Remaking Manhood Podcast: https://remakingmanhood.com/2019/04/01/the-podcast/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrkgreene/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/remakingmanhood/    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. Anna Stokke discuss the decline in math education, noting that students lack basic arithmetic skills, hindering their ability to grasp complex concepts across multiple subjects. Dr. Stokke highlights the persistence of ineffective teaching methods, such as constructivism, despite evidence supporting direct instruction. She advocates for a return to systematic, explicit teaching methods to build a strong foundation in math. They also stress the importance of parents questioning educational practices and seeking evidence-based research.     Key Takeaways: Math is cumulative. It is like a ladder. To teach a student algebra, they need to know what happens before that. If you don't learn the basic math at the time you should, times tables, for instance, you should really know by the end of grade three, and then you don't get that fixed, it's just going to snowball. Memorization practices are sometimes called drill and kill. However, if students don't get that practice, they will fall behind early on.  There is a lot of evidence from cognitive and neuroscientists that learning basic mathematics actually contributes to your problem-solving abilities for a range of different problems, not just mathematical ones.   "The decline in math is well documented in North America. We don't know why that is, but it's fairly clear that these changes in education seem to correlate with the decline in scores. It's very concerning, and I think we could turn it around if we'd focus on more of a bottom-up approach, building the foundation and using good instructional techniques." —  Dr. Anna Stokke   Episode References:  NCTM: https://www.nctm.org/  Project Follow Through: https://www.nifdi.org/what-is-di/project-follow-through.html  Sold a Story: https://features.apmreports.org/sold-a-story/    Connect with Dr. Anna Stokke: Professional Bio: https://www.annastokke.com/cv  Twitter: https://x.com/rastokke  Website: https://www.annastokke.com/  Podcast: https://www.annastokke.com/podcast  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqqz6R2IoI5te260LbQeI5A  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-stokke-5b095626a/    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. Joel Gallant discuss the history and evolution of HIV treatment and prevention. He highlights the changes of treatment from early AZT, to the extensive multi-drug regimens of the 90s, and the current single-pill treatment with minimal side effects. They also discuss the racial and regional disparities of new HIV cases in the US. Despite progress, challenges persist, including stigma, lack of healthcare access, and resistance to treatments. Dr. Gallant also gives more information on hope for ending the epidemic and hope for a cure.     Key Takeaways: With early diagnosis and treatment of HIV, AIDS is not commonly seen anymore, though it still exists. HIV is a retrovirus, meaning that it has enzymes that are able to do the opposite of most viruses which transcribe DNA into RNA. HIV can be inserted  into the DNA. With more research, we've seen a steady improvement with more, safer drug choices, and better and easier combinations. Most people can be treated with a single pill once a day and are expected to live a normal lifespan in good health. In the US, no one has to go without treatment based on inability to pay. Even people who are uninsured and live in states that didn't expand, Medicaid can get comprehensive HIV care, including medications, through clinics established by the Federal Ryan White Care Program.   "We do know that treatment is highly effective at preventing transmission, including sexual and mother-to-child transmission. It's so effective that the CDC says that if your viral load (how we measure how much virus there is in your blood) is fully suppressed on treatment (having an undetectable virus) then you cannot treat HIV. Treatment is 100% effective as prevention." —  Dr. Joel Gallant   Episode References:  Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program: https://ryanwhite.hrsa.gov/    Connect with Dr. Joel Gallant: Professional Bio: https://www.iasusa.org/faculty/joel-e-gallant-md-mph/  Website: https://www.axcesresearch.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joel-gallant-b6875432/    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, Dr. MacKenzie Pellin, Dr. Laurie Malone, and Dr. Patricia Ungar explore how dogs can detect early signs of cancer and COVID-19. They discuss their collaborative research, how the dogs are trained, and the types of diseases that these medical scent dogs can help to identify. They also discuss how the dogs' accuracy rivaled or exceeded other tests, but logistical challenges exist in public screening. The potential for early cancer detection and mass COVID screening is highlighted, emphasizing the need for further research and public acceptance.    Key Takeaways: Medical scent dogs began first with observation as it was noticed that many dogs indicated carcinomas in their owners. Longnose dogs tend to be more beneficial than others, such as a French Bulldog or those with a shorter snout, in scent detection.  While the initial training can take several months, dogs have a long scent memory. If you want them to train a new scent, that can take a couple of months.  Dogs could detect covid infection prior to symptoms or testing   "The goal is early detection, but to be efficient and really valuable for a screening test, tests need to be accurate, it needs to be easy, and it should be cost-effective too." —  Dr. MacKenzie Pellin   Episode References:  The use of sniffer dogs for early detection of cancer: a One Health approach: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/375576717_The_use_of_sniffer_dogs_for_early_detection_of_cancer_a_One_Health_approach    Connect with Dr. MacKenzie Pellin: Professional Bio: https://www.vetmed.wisc.edu/people/mackenzie-pellin/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mackenzie-pellin-962a66b6/    Connect with Dr. Patricia Ungar: Website: https://www.scentsolutiondogs.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patricia-ungar-dvm-cva-10598929b/    Connect with Dr. Laurie Malone: Professional Bio: https://scholars.uab.edu/4812-laurie-a-malone  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurie-malone-a9754821a/    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. Hussam Mahmoud discuss the increasing frequency and severity of wildfires, citing the 2023 Maui fire and the 2024 Ventura County fire. Dr. Hassam Mahmoud, an expert in wildfire control, explains that wildfires have risen by 5% annually since 2001 and are now more intense. He highlights that 90% of wildfires in the US are human-induced. Dr. Mahmoud discusses his research focusing on a model to predict fire spread in urban areas, considering factors like wind, building materials, and vegetation. This model, which has accurately reproduced historical fires, aims to identify "super spreaders" to target mitigation efforts effectively. The approach could potentially reduce wildfire damage by identifying critical structures and implementing preventive measures.    Key Takeaways: Human-caused fires are far more common than weather-caused fires, up to 90% in the United States. There are things that can be done in both communities and in wildlands that can help to control wildfires. Preventing and controlling wildfires is more than just a one-person effort. Even if you make your house fireproof, there is still a probability of the house burning. But you can minimize the chance of the house burning.  Communities should look at fire prevention as a collective effort for a collective impact.   "I am incredibly hopeful that in the future we will get to the point where we minimize losses to a great extent. Maybe it will happen. We're not there yet, but I'm confident we'll get to that point." —  Dr. Hussam Mahmoud   Episode References:  TEDxMileHigh: Hussam Mahmoud Wildfires and Pandemics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55uop7jsJaQ    Connect with Dr. Hussam Mahmoud: Professional Bio: https://www.engr.colostate.edu/~hmahmoud/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hussam-mahmoud-4b16754      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. 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 also can 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 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. Elizabeth Scott discuss the impact of cognitive distortions on stress. Dr. Scott explains what cognitive distortions are, how they lead to increased stress and emotional difficulties and gives examples of different types of distortions. They discuss how the distortions can be mitigated. They also talk about why addressing cognitive distortions is crucial for mental and physical health, reducing stress, and improving overall well-being. Finally, Dr. Scott provides free or minimal cost resources to help you change cognitive distortions and regain power over your mind.    Key Takeaways: Cognitive distortions are patterns of thinking that skew our perception of reality. They are shortcuts of the brain, but they aren't always accurate and can lead to increased stress and emotional difficulties. Cognitive distortions often prevent us from enjoying the good things in life through distortions such as catastrophizing,  jumping to conclusions, emotional reasoning, or disqualifying the positive, among many others.  Your brain's attempt to protect you from disappointment and from setting yourself up to be hurt can actually create stress. Remember, stress response is triggered when our mind thinks there's a threat, whether there is one or not. Over time, we can rewire our brains to think more positively and accurately. Intentionally focusing on the things that are going well and moments of gratitude, will help your brain to help notice the good as well as the bad. It is never too early to teach children about thoughts and recognizing patterns.   "Once we can identify these distortions, we can challenge them and begin to think more realistically and positively." —  Dr. Elizabeth Scott    Check out Dr. Scott's link for a new course Designed for anyone tired of being held back by negative thought loops. Take charge of your thoughts.  https://drelizabethscott.com/mindset-makeover-masterclass-landing-page/ Episode References:  Woebot: https://woebothealth.com/  CBT Thought Diary: https://www.thinkwithclarity.com/  The Five Minute Journal: https://www.intelligentchange.com/collections/all/products/the-five-minute-journal    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: amazon.com/Keys-Stress-Management-Mental-Health-ebook/dp/B00AJUKO5M    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 a world full of media, which may contain misinformation or fake news, there are conspiracy theories abounding. However, conspiracy theories, and the spreading of those theories, are not a new practice, it has been around and transmitted in any way that people communicate. In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Joseph Uscinski talk about the origin of conspiracy theories and how these formal theories differ (and are similar) to the fake news and misinformation that fills our media screens today. They discuss some of the earliest US conspiracy theories, as well as some of the more modern ones, and how they are different now, with our current political climate, from what they may have done in the past. They also discuss why people believe these conspiracy theories, as well as why people believe in them, even in the face of refuting evidence.   Key Takeaways: The internet did not introduce the spread of conspiracy theories. They will always be spread in any way that people communicate. Our worldviews impact the media that we access, which then can filter which conspiracy theories we are likely to believe. The two most consistent predictors of those who believe in conspiracy theories are education and level of income.   "Most of the arguments about evidence, really aren't about evidence - they're just about subjective judgments about evidence, which gets us away from evidence and gets us back into how people interpret information and what the world views are they bring into interpreting that information." —  Dr. Joseph Uscinski   Connect with Dr. Joseph Uscinski: Twitter: @JoeUscinski  Website: JoeUscinski.com  Books: American Conspiracy Theories & Conspiracy Theories and the People Who Believe Them     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. John Sweller discuss the decline in student preparedness for college and how the modern education system, which has shifted from knowledge acquisition to inquiry-based learning, is at the root of that decline. Dr. Sweller explains his Cognitive Load Theory, breaks down the differences between working memory and long-term memory, and why ineffective teaching methods continue to survive. Finally, they talk about the changemakers in education and how political and bureaucratic intervention can drive educational reform.    Key Takeaways: Education changed about 1-2 decades ago. The emphasis switched from the acquisition of knowledge to how to acquire knowledge itself. We need to emphasize the acquisition, not the discovery, of knowledge in education.  Students who are subjected to inquiry-based educational approaches do substantially worse on international tests than students who are exposed to a knowledge-rich curriculum. The more emphasis your education system places on inquiry learning, the worse the students do. If you don't show students how to do something and they don't figure it out themselves, it cannot go into long-term memory.  The best way to obtain information is to obtain it from somebody else. If you want to efficiently have somebody learn something, the best way to do it is to have somebody explicitly explain it.    "An educated person who can do things, think about things, solve problems, which otherwise they couldn't dream about solving, is somebody who's got enormous amounts of information in long-term memory, and that immediately tells us what education should be about. You need to have lots of information in long term memory, and an educated person is different from an uneducated person because of that and solely because of that." —  Dr. John Sweller   Episode References:  Greg Ashman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-ashman-phd-790b59ab/    Connect with Dr. John Sweller: Professional Bio: https://www.unsw.edu.au/staff/john-sweller    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. Hussam Mahmoud discuss the vulnerability of bridges to climate change. When we think about climate-related disasters, hurricanes, floods, and wildfires come to mind. Probably the last thing we think about is a bridge collapsing, but we should. With over half a million bridges in the US, each with a life expectancy of 75 years, it is more important than ever to consider the role of climatic factors on bridge stability. Dr. Mahmoud discusses how flooding, extreme temperatures, erosion, and extreme heat are affecting the bridges and he emphasizes the need for proactive inspection and maintenance to mitigate these risks.    Key Takeaways: There are approximately 600,000 bridges across the US. Of the long-span bridges, there are about 6,000. Many of these bridges are old, some are in poor condition, and all are affected by climate change.  Owing to the passenger and huge amount of industrial traffic crossing bridges, a collapse could cost trillions of dollars to the economy. Bridges are built for a life span of about 75 years, with proper maintenance and care. There was a bridge-building boom in the 1960s and earlier - and the majority were built over 50 years ago.   "Generally speaking, bridges are relatively very safe. Even if you lose an element or something that is carrying the load ends up breaking or cracking, bridges are phenomenal in being able to redistribute the load and figure out how to carry the load with the remaining elements." —  Dr. Hussam Mahmoud Connect with Dr. Hussam Mahmoud: Professional Bio: https://www.engr.colostate.edu/~hmahmoud/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hussam-mahmoud-4b16754      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. Ximena Lopez discuss the challenges faced by transgender youth, emphasizing the importance of gender-affirming care. Dr. Lopez explains the difference between sex and gender, noting that gender dysphoria is distress caused by a mismatch between one's gender identity and sex assigned at birth. She describes treatment options, including puberty suppression and hormone therapy, which can significantly improve mental health and reduce suicidality, particularly in teens. Dr. Lopez also criticizes state bans on gender-affirming care for minors and cites numerous studies showing its benefits, as well as discusses the inconsistencies in hormonal therapy for children and teens.     Key Takeaways: In medicine and psychology, gender and sex are two different things. While aligned in most people, they are not aligned in those individuals on the transgender, nonbinary, or intersex spectrum.  Adults who transitioned later in life typically knew they were different when they were young, but didn't have the language or awareness.  When a child comes out as transgender, most parents are typically in denial. It is not until their child or teen is depressed and often suicidal, that the parents are willing to take the next steps with their child.  Gender-affirming care at the beginning of puberty can help to pause the puberty of the incorrect gender where changes happen that cannot easily, if at all, be reversed later in life. Puberty suppression can be reversed on the off chance the individual changes their mind.    "Most of the stress comes from the adult world, and if the adults are transphobic and influence their kids to be transphobic, then we can also see kids who are transphobic, and then they can bully and discriminate. If it's a very affirming school where there are policies to protect transgender students, and the teachers and all the staff are on board, then that promotes well-being." —  Dr. Ximena Lopez   Episode References:  TEDMED Talk: How one pediatrician is supporting transgender youth:     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViqvPknY4HE    Connect with Dr. Ximena Lopez: Professional Bio: https://profiles.ucsd.edu/ximena.lopez      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. Janine LaSalle discuss Dr. LaSalle's research on autism, focusing on prenatal gene-environment interactions. She explains that autism affects one in 36 children and talks about how genetic and prenatal environmental factors, such as maternal health and chemical exposures,  play a role in autism. Dr. LaSalle discusses how they use placental DNA to identify epigenetic marks linked to autism, aiming to predict probability of autism before birth in order to intervene early. The conversation highlights the importance of understanding these factors to develop early intervention strategies.    Key Takeaways: It's almost impossible to compare autism incidents across time because the diagnostic criteria have changed many times over this span. There's no definitive laboratory test for autism. A number of genes have been identified that increase the risk of autism, genes that affect prenatal neurodevelopment. Maternal obesity, maternal asthma or fever during pregnancy, and preterm birth are a few examples of maternal health factors implicated in autism. Environmental exposures during pregnancy that increase risk for autism include air pollution and some pesticide exposures - these have the best evidence because they can be measured easily. Prenatal identification of newborns at risk for autism allows treatment to begin immediately after birth to improve their developmental trajectories. While little boys have a much higher incidence of autism and ADHD, the mechanism underlying the sex difference is not understood.    "The best explanation for most cases of autism is really the combination of common environmental factors and common genetics." —  Janine LaSalle, Ph.D.   Connect with Janine LaSalle, Ph.D.: Professional Bio: https://health.ucdavis.edu/medmicro/faculty/lasalle/  Website: https://mmi-lab.ucdavis.edu/  UCDavisMind Institute: https://health.ucdavis.edu/mind-institute/ UCDavis Genome Center: https://genomecenter.ucdavis.edu/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janine-lasalle-70149415    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 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 a 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 Threads: @critically_speaking Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net   Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it. 

Dr. Adam Schiavi is an assistant professor of anesthesiology and critical care medicine and neurology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. His areas of clinical expertise include anesthesiology, neurological critical care, disorders of consciousness and brain death diagnosis, clinical ethics, critical care medicine, and traumatic brain injury. In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Adam Schiavi discuss how the definition of death has changed throughout history, what the current definition is, and how that is determined by the medical technology of the time. Brain death is the current definition of death, medically, but what happens to a body after brain death is determined can vary depending on the state you live in. This can be a trying time for families and for the providers involved with the now-deceased patient as the definition of death is not understood by everyone. They also discuss how brain death differs from other states of consciousness and how people often confuse the terminology of those different states, as well as the ability to hope for healing from all but brain death.  Key Takeaways: The total cessation of all functions of the brain is the current definition of brain death in the United States. This definition is based on a clinical exam testing all parts of the brain, typically done by somebody certified in doing brain death determinations. You have to have a reason for the neurologic exam to be declining. Without a reason, you can't call somebody brain dead. You can replace every organ in the body, but you cannot replace the brain and when the brain dies, the body dies all the time 100% unless those organ systems are artificially supportive.  "Our culture changes with technology and the way we define death is a part of culture. As that culture has shifted, the way we define death has also shifted with our new technologies of how we can actually determine whether people are dead." —  Dr. Adam Schiavi Connect with Dr. Adam Schiavi: Johns Hopkins Bio: Adam Schiavi, MD, PhD, MS    Email: aschiav1@jhmi.edu 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. Katie Pelch discuss the harmful and pervasive effects of PFAS, also known as "forever chemicals." Found in various consumer and industrial products, contaminating air, water, and soil, they never break down. Dr. Pelch works for the Natural Resources Defence Council (NRDC) and has been studying PFAS throughout her career. Along with their many uses PFAS have been linked to serious health issues, including cancer and reduced vaccine effectiveness. The NRDC advocates for banning non-essential uses of PFAS and encourages public awareness and involvement in regulatory efforts. Dr. Pelch shares with us the prevalence of PFAS, its dangers, and the regulation or lack thereof.    Key Takeaways: When you heat the nonstick cookware above a certain temperature, some of the PFAS can migrate from the pan and into the food you're going to eat, or they could enter the air that you breathe. Exposures from the air that we breathe and from our skin have generally been less well studied, but there is evidence to suggest that PFAS do enter our skin. Per the CDC, at least 98% of people in the United States have PFAS in their bodies.  The EPA stepped up in a big way this year by finalizing the regulation of six PFAS in drinking water. This ban was preceded by many states proactively setting enforceable limits to PFAS in drinking water, some banning the unnecessary use of them entirely by 2032.    "Not only are PFAS persistent in the environment, but they're also persistent in our bodies, and in most cases, we don't have a great way to get PFAS out of our bodies. So the two most highly studied PFAS can last in our bodies for years." —  Dr. Katie Pelch   Episode References:  Dark Waters: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9071322/  The Devil We Know: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7689910/  Environmental Working Group: https://www.ewg.org/  PFAS Exchange: https://pfas-exchange.org/    Connect with Dr. Katie Pelch: Professional Bio: https://www.nrdc.org/bio/katie-pelch  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiepelch      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. Alex Hinton explore the potential for genocide in the U.S., highlighting historical and contemporary atrocities. Dr. Hinton emphasizes that genocide can target groups based on social constructs such as race, gender, and sexuality, among others. They discuss the rise of white supremacism and hate speech, and Dr. Hinton identifies risk factors such as political upheaval, economic instability, and armed militias. Dr.Hinton also stresses the importance of critical thinking and depolarization to prevent genocide, and suggests an easy way for everyone to do so without committing 40 hours per week to stay abreast of all of the issues and topics.     Key Takeaways: Genocide and mass violence are not typically planned from the beginning. They often evolve from other behaviors stemming from upheaval and past atrocities, scapegoating, grievance, and legitimation of formed hierarchies.  Hate speech is everywhere—left, right, and center. Wherever someone is on the political spectrum, they can agree it's bad. The problem is that people sometimes disagree about what constitutes it.  People are busy. Trying to keep informed can be a full-time job. One little thing everyone can do pretty easily to begin to do this in general, as we enter the political cycle, just pick a left-leaning, more centrist, and right-leaning news media source then on the top of the hour, turn on the TV, and flip between them and see the headlines.   "Ideology is central to all genocides, in some sense. Ideologies provide legitimation to disempower groups, and to legitimate different forms of hierarchy within a society and in the extreme. That then lays the basis for saying that groups are inferior." —  Dr. Alex Hinton   Episode References:  We Charge Genocide - The 1951 Black Lives Matter Campaign: https://depts.washington.edu/moves/CRC_genocide.shtml  2019 Citizenship Amendment Act: https://www.uscirf.gov/resources/factsheet-citizenship-amendment-act-india    Connect with Dr. Alex Hinton: Professional Bio: https://sasn.rutgers.edu/alex-hinton Twitter: https://x.com/AlexLHinton   Center for the Study of Genocide & Human Rights: https://x.com/Rutgers_CGHR    Check out Dr. Hinton's writings mentioned in this episode:  It Can Happen Here: White Power and the Rising Threat of Genocide in the US: https://www.amazon.com/Can-Happen-Here-Rising-Genocide-ebook/dp/B08L9JHRN6      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. Alex Hinton discuss the complexities of genocide, its definitions, and the role of perpetrators. Dr. Hinton gives us the conventional, legal, and social scientific definitions of genocide and gives examples of how these affect the legal battles and social impact of different incidents, highlighting the Khmer Rouge mass killings in Cambodia. They also discuss the moral and legal implications of perpetrators and why none of us can be complacent in our understanding of genocide.    Key Takeaways: There are three main definitions of genocide. Most recognize it as mass deaths, often perpetrated by a state figure. The UN legal definition requires intent. And the social scientific definition expands beyond the UN definition. While genocide is an atrocity, not all atrocities are genocides. Similarly, not all mass murders are genocides. When legally looking at the genocide perpetrators, the courts typically go after the architects and lower-level individuals are often brought in as witnesses. However, the question of who the perpetrators are is a moral and ethical question still being debated. Education is key - the dynamics that gave rise to Auschwitz are all around us and we are all part of them. We must be self-critical, reflexive people as a first step to make sure that we don't have a recurrence.   "It's a potentiality that exists for ourselves and for our societies. You know, it's not comfortable. Many people will say ‘no,' but that's the starting point of prevention, because only when you have that realization can you effectively begin to take action to stop genocide from taking place." —  Dr. Alex Hinton   Episode References: Ordinary Men: Reserve Police Battalion 101 and the Final Solution in Poland by Christopher R. Browning: https://www.amazon.com/Ordinary-Men-Reserve-Battalion-Solution/dp/0060995068  To Save Heaven and Earth: Rescue in the Rwandan Genocide by Jennie E Burnet: https://www.amazon.com/Save-Heaven-Earth-Rwandan-Genocide/dp/1501767119/    Connect with Dr. Alex Hinton: Professional Bio: https://sasn.rutgers.edu/alex-hinton Twitter: https://x.com/AlexLHinton   Center for the Study of Genocide & Human Rights: https://x.com/Rutgers_CGHR    Check out Dr. Hinton's writings mentioned in this episode: Why Did They Kill?: Cambodia in the Shadow of Genocide: https://www.amazon.com/Why-Did-They-Kill-Anthropology/dp/0520241797  Perpetrators: Encountering Humanity's Dark Side: https://www.amazon.com/Perpetrators-Encountering-Humanitys-Stanford-Studies/dp/1503634272  Anthropological Witness: Lessons from the Khmer Rouge Tribunal: https://www.amazon.com/Anthropological-Witness-Lessons-Khmer-Tribunal/dp/1501765698/  It Can Happen Here: White Power and the Rising Threat of Genocide in the US: https://www.amazon.com/Can-Happen-Here-Rising-Genocide-ebook/dp/B08L9JHRN6  Pol Pot's Secret Prison: https://www.ronslate.com/pol-pots-secret-prison/      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. Alan Rogol discuss the complexities of gender, sex, and identity in elite sports, with a focus on the societal expectations and controversies surrounding gender eligibility in sports. Dr. Rogol touches on some of the history of women's identities in elite sports, including some from the recent 2024 Paris Summer Games. Throughout the discussion, Therese and Dr. Rogol highlight the need for inclusive politics and having a respectful approach to athletes' identities. This is a complicated topic, still undecided as to what is fair and acceptable.     Key Takeaways: When women were allowed to compete in the Olympics, originally it was only allowed in three events: croquet, golf, and tennis. All were considered socially appropriate, with no bodily contact, and while wearing normal clothes of full, layered skirts.  Sex and gender are not the same thing. Gender is self-identified, an expression, and is changeable. There are also varieties of sex - sex at birth, sex of rearing, legal sex, and chromosomal sex.  Many of the girls who find out they have an XY chromosome after being identified as female at birth often don't find out until later in life. Because  while they had testosterone, they also had a gene that prevented their bodies from responding to it. These girls never developed as males, and in fact went through female puberty, but lacked a uterus. The IOC has many drugs that are banned except for certain situations. These include testosterone, endocrine drugs, growth hormones, and insulin among others.    "It is not the level of absolute testosterone that you have that counts. What counts is the stuff that is biologically active, and that is very complicated, and that's why numbers aren't so helpful." —  Dr. Alan Rogol   Episode References:  Personal Account: A woman tried and tested by Maria José Martínez-Patiño: https://www.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/lancet/PIIS0140673605678415.pdf   The New York Times: Running in a Body That's My Own by Caster Semenya: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/21/opinion/running-body-semenya.html    Critically Speaking Episode 9: You Go Girl: Testosterone with Dr. Alan Rogol: https://criticallyspeaking.libsyn.com/009-dr-alan-rogol-you-go-girl-testosterone    Connect with Dr. Alan Rogol: Professional Bio: https://med.virginia.edu/faculty/faculty-listing/adr/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alan-rogol-49b18018/      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. Charles Easley IV discuss the significance of a father's lifestyle before conception and its effects on prenatal development. This comes about not by mutations in the sperm DNA, but through heritable changes in the way the father's genes are turned on and off during the development of the fetus.  THese changes are referred to as epigenetic. So it's not just about the mom, They thus explore the paternal origins of health and disease, highlight animal studies and human cohort studies that demonstrate intergenerational transmission of epigenetic changes, and discuss the dangers of toxic chemical exposure on male sperm.    Key Takeaways: To study the paternal effects on the fetus, we are able to do animal studies in the lab, however, for human studies, we can only study in cohorts after the fact, such as with the Dutch Famine, Michigan PBB, or, lately, the effects of COVID-19. Gary Miller is one of the leaders studying how paternal exposure prior to conception can have profound effects on the lifespan and healthy aging of future offspring. While we cannot pinpoint all the chemicals as having a lasting effect yet, it is important to try to be as healthy as you can. Certain chemicals, such as BPA and certain pesticides, have been studied to have an effect.  And not just the mother during pregnancy.   "We've got a lot more evidence to suggest that what the father does prior to conception can have a profound effect on the genes that are expressed during development, and can have profound effects on how these organs develop in the offspring." —  Dr. Charles Easley IV   Episode References:  The Dutch Famine Birth Cohort: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7934722/  The Michigan PBB Cohort: https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/3929/cdc_3929_DS1.pdf  The Poisoning of Michigan by Joyce Egginton: https://www.amazon.com/Poisoning-Michigan-Joyce-Egginton/dp/0870138677    Connect with Dr. Charles Easley IV: Professional Bio: https://publichealth.uga.edu/faculty-member/charles-a-easley/  Website: https://www.easleylab.com/  Email: cae25@uga.edu    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. Daniel Aaron discuss the inadequate oversight of food additives by the FDA, particularly the agency's GRAS or “Generally Recognized as Safe” process, which allows unsafe additives to reach the market without proper scrutiny. Dr. Aaron highlights industry conflicts of interest, the lack of reporting requirements, the need for stricter regulation to protect public health, and discusses what is needed for the FDA to be better able to make impactful changes.     Key Takeaways: The majority of food additives in the US are not vetted by the FDA. Since 1958, food additives have been presumed safe until proven otherwise.  The Clean Eating movement in the US is indicative of the skepticism of the American food supply.  While the FDA used to maintain a list of GRAS substances, today, reporting to the FDA is not required.  Europe uses a more precautionary approach to food additives. The EFSA must approve all chemical substances prior to their use in foods.  Food additives are known to cause synergistic harm. However, the FDA poorly regulates single additives so it is not surprising that its consideration of interacting chemicals is insufficient.   "The FDA is the most accountable to corporate power. The largest impediment, in my view, to food regulation is funding. FDA's Food Center has been underfunded for decades. Further funding from Congress is needed, but our legislators often are supported by industry that doesn't necessarily want a more robust review of food additives." —  Daniel Aaron, M.D., J.D.   Episode References:  Bystanders to a Public Health Crisis: The Failures of the U.S. Multi-Agency Regulatory Approach to Food Safety in the Face of Persistent Organic Pollutants by Katya S. Cronin: https://scholarship.law.gwu.edu/faculty_publications/1725/  EFSA: https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en  FDA Food Center: https://www.fda.gov/food    Connect with Daniel Aaron, M.D., J.D.: Professional Bio: https://faculty.utah.edu/u6052921-DANIEL_G_AARON/hm/index.hml  Email: Daniel.Aaron@law.utah.edu    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. Alexis Temkin, Senior Toxicologist at the Environmental Working Group, discuss toxic chemicals we can't see or detect in our food and daily-use products.  Dr. Temkin describes common pesticides and other chemicals used in agriculture and how they enter the human body. She also shares resources provided by the Environmental Working Group that can help keep you and your family safer.     Key Takeaways: Chemicals in cosmetics and other daily-use products are often considered safe until proven otherwise. It often takes years before the harm is discovered and the chemical banned Pesticides are introduced into our bodies through the food we consume.  Despite a lack of EPA regulations, consumers can decrease their exposure to potentially harmful pesticides. Always wash your fruits and vegetables. It may not remove all pesticides, but it is good practice and will reduce at least some of your exposure to the chemicals.    "It'll depend on the pesticide, but we've seen exposure to pesticides being linked to a variety of health harms. That could include brain and nervous system toxicity, we've seen associations with increased cancer after exposure to certain types of pesticides, impacts on reproduction, and dietary pesticide consumption has also been associated with cardiovascular health." —  Dr. Alexis Temkin   Episode References:  EWG Consumer Guides: https://www.ewg.org/consumer-guides  Center for Biological Diversity: https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/  EWG's 2024 Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce: https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/summary.php    Connect with Dr. Alexis Temkin: Professional Bio: https://www.ewg.org/news-insights/our-experts/alexis-temkin-phd  Website: https://www.ewg.org/  Email: alexis@ewg.org   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexis-temkin-46345750    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. Tara Zimmerman discuss how to “Fake News” proof children so that they can better interpret the vast amount of information available in the digital age, especially around misinformation and disinformation. They emphasize the importance of critical thinking skills, building those critical thinking skills, and how those important skills can be taught and practiced with children of all ages. In this digital age with so much information at our fingertips, media literacy and critical thinking are more important than ever and Dr. Zimmerman discusses how to empower everyone to make more informed decisions and draw more informed conclusions from what they see and hear every day.     Key Takeaways: When we hear information from someone we know and generally agree with, we are more likely to perceive that information as true. That same information coming from someone you have a history of disagreeing with, the more likely you are to disbelieve that information. Humans have developed a tendency to believe the information shared with us unless there is an overwhelming amount of evidence to the contrary. One person cannot know everything, so we trust others to pass on information to survive.  We can't possibly think critically about every single piece of information we're exposed to. The key is to determine what information is vital versus what information is superfluous to us. Bias happens to everyone, no matter their social class, race, gender, intelligence, education level, or anything else.  As a society, we need to normalize being open to new information and changing our opinions when necessary.      "I believe the best way to help society overall is to focus on teaching children how to think critically about all the information that they encounter, because by helping them develop the skills and the habits of critical thinking early on, they will make the biggest long term effect on how society responds to information." —  Dr. Tara Zimmerman   Connect with Dr. Tara Zimmerman: Professional Bio: https://apps.twu.edu/my1cv/profile.aspx?type=twp&id=JyyM03CAxnlQZrrdrpan7Q%3d%3d  Website: http://www.tarazimmerman.net/  Email: tzimmerman1@twu.edu  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tara-zimmerman-813421152/    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. 

A serious type of turbulence has been encountered during commercial airline flights has been in the news lately. “Pancake turbulence”.  Hard to detect in advance. Most recently, an Air Europa flight from Madrid to Uruguay was hit by “strong turbulence” and had to make an emergency landing in Brazil, In another recent event. a flight bound from London to Singapore with 211 passengers and 18 crew members encountered turbulence that resulted in the death of a passenger, and the hospitalization and critical care of about 20 more with spinal injuries. What's this type of turbulence all about? How concerned should we be about flying? Dr. Thomas Gwynn, head of the Department of Applied Aviation Sciences at the distinguished Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University,  explains about this type of turbulence and how turbulence may be increasing with global warming.    Key Takeaways: Turbulence result from eddies in the atmosphere and can be light, moderate, severe, and extreme. Chop turbulence is usually more moderate and rhythmic, similar to driving a car over a rumble strip. It can be annoying but isn't usually dangerous.   While onboard radar can help determine storms enabling pilots to avoid them, pancake turbulence, such as what affected these recent flights, cannot be detected by instruments.  Pilots can only learn of these from other pilots. Some studies seem to suggest that turbulence could be increasing with climate change.  No form of travel is without some level of risk, but flying is still, statistically, the safest mode of travel.    "The smaller the aircraft, the more vulnerable it's going to be to turbulence. For commercial airliners, generally, they have roughly the same vulnerability. So what really determines the vulnerability is something called the wing loading. The least vulnerable aircraft is going to be heavy aircraft with smaller wing sizes like your large jets. The greater weight makes it harder for the airflow to disrupt or move the aircraft." —  Dr. Thomas Guinn   Connect with Dr. Thomas Guinn: Professional Bio: https://faculty.erau.edu/Thomas.Guinn  Email: guinnt@erau.edu  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-guinn-37686439    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. Mary Rysavy discuss all aspects of obesity during pregnancy. This is a significant concern that is growing. A study of 2000 deliveries in a single year highlighted the need for proper care and management of obese pregnant women to minimize risks and help ensure a healthy delivery. With 60% of women having a BMI over 30, and 16% having a BMI over 40, this is becoming a larger concern for both expectant mothers and for the hospitals and care providers. They also discuss the complications that mothers and babies can face during and after birth, how weight can impact those complications, and why it is so important for physicians to talk about obesity with their patients directly, but with compassion.     Key Takeaways: Mothers with obesity are more likely to have to deliver by C-Section, have greater blood loss, and experience preeclampsia. The study found that obese mothers had worse complications during delivery.  While fetal monitoring in obstetrics is a highly debated topic, we know it helps to prevent stillbirth. It is our best tool when we see when mom or baby are in trouble to help.  Obesity is a medical condition. But it is also emotional and psychological and there are many components to it beyond only the medical side. Many feel shame about it even when there are aspects outside of their control.    "The biggest, most important thing to do is to talk about it. As physicians, we have to be willing to bring this up so that patients understand that this is not a cosmetic issue that we're concerned about. We just want them to be safe and healthy, and we want them to know what they can do to be as healthy as possible." —  Dr. Mary Rysavy MD   Episode References: Steffen HA, Swartz SR, Kenne KA, Wendt LH, Jackson JB, Rysavy MB. Increased Maternal BMI at Time of Delivery Associated with Poor Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes. Am J Perinatol. 2024 Mar 21. doi: 10.1055/a-2274-0463.    Connect with Dr. Mary Rysavy MD: Professional Bio: https://med.uth.edu/obgyn/2022/10/28/mary-b-rysavy-md/  Email: Mary.B.Rysavy@uth.tmc.edu    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, Dr. Jerald Kay, and Dr. Joel Yager discuss the various forms of ambition. They discuss lack of ambition, mismatched ambition, and delve into some of the potential negative consequences of Machiavellian ambition and how to deal with malignant narcissists.     Key Takeaways: There are biological underpinnings to ambition, but much of what we know about ambition is built on repeated interactions as children.  Not everyone who is Machiavellian is ambitious. Not everyone who is 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. Some are treatable. The last division of severe narcissistic personality 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 Jerald & Joel: Dr. Jerald Kay Professional Bio: https://people.wright.edu/jerald.kay  Dr. Joel Yager Professional Bio: https://som.cuanschutz.edu/Profiles/Faculty/Profile/1789  Email Dr. Jerald Kay: jerald.kay@wright.edu  Email Dr. Joel Yager: joel.yager@cuanschutz.edu    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.    

Infertility is on the rise, leading otherwise healthy young couples to seek a form of assisted reproductive technology appropriate for their particular situation. This increase infertility of considerable concern. Is one sex affected more than the other? What are the long-range implications if the trend keeps going? Is it only humans that appear to be affected? And the critical question is why? In today's episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Shanna Swan, author of the new book Count Down, answer many of these questions, including discussion of the types of chemicals and other factors that may contribute to the rising infertility.    Key Takeaways: The number of “good” sperm observed in human populations (as indicated by the WHO) has dramatically decreased. Other characteristics for function, such as abnormal shape, inability to swim correctly, and chromosomal abnormalities are increasing as well. Male and female infertility is about 50/50. Newborn babies are being born “pre-polluted” with up to 100 environmental chemicals.  One solution you can undertake yourself is to determine where your food comes from, as that's what's going into your body.   "I'm convinced that a large proportion of the decline we're seeing is due to chemical exposures, man-made chemicals." —  Dr. Shanna Swan   Connect with Dr. Shanna Swan: Professional Bio: mountsinai.org/profiles/shanna-h-swan   Website: shannaswan.com  Book: Count Down - shannaswan.com/countdown LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/shanna-swan-phd-339a4258 Instagram: instagram.com/drshannaswan Twitter: twitter.com/DrShannaSwan   Reference: Environmental Working Group: ewg.org     Connect with Therese: Website:   www.criticallyspeaking.net Twitter: @CritiSpeak Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net     Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.  

Dr. Richard P. Phelps is founder of the Nonpartisan Education Group, editor of Nonpartisan Education Review (http://nonpartisaneducation.org), a Fulbright Scholar, and fellow of the Psychophysics Laboratory. He has authored, or edited and co-authored Correcting Fallacies about Educational and Psychological Testing (APA); Standardized Testing Primer (Peter Lang); Defending Standardized Testing (Psychology Press); Kill the Messenger (Transaction), and several statistical compendia. Phelps has worked with several test development organizations, including ACT, AIR, ETS, the OECD, Pearson, and Westat. He holds degrees from Washington, Indiana, and Harvard Universities, and a PhD in Public Policy from the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School.   In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Richard Phelps discuss the education system in the United States, especially in comparison with Western Europe and other industrialized societies. They look at how Common Core, No Child Left Behind, and the changes to the SAT test have affected the curriculum, learning, and student preparedness both for further education as well as life after school. These trends in educational standards and standardized tests continue to impede our students compared to those of the industrialized world. Students from all levels and backgrounds are affected by these programs and the changes that need to be made are discussed.    Key Takeaways: The U.S. is falling behind other countries, even those with less spending on education. Common Core and No Child Left Behind have caused progress to be lost in elementary and secondary education standards. The SAT has become less of an aptitude test and more of an achievement test, and can discriminate against talented students from underrepresented groups that attended lower quality high schools.   "Most information is not on the world wide web, much of what is there is wrong, and search rankings are easily manipulated by money and interests." —  Dr. Richard Phelps   Connect with Dr. Richard Phelps:  Twitter: https://twitter.com/RichardPPhelps Website: https://richardphelps.net/ &https://nonpartisaneducation.org/ Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Richard_Phelps SSRN Scholarly Papers: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/cf_dev/AbsByAuth.cfm?per_id=1592150 Academia: https://204.academia.edu/RichardPhelps LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardpphelps/ LinkedIn Learning: https://www.slideshare.net/search/slideshow?searchfrom=header&q=Richard+P+Phelps   Connect with Therese: Website:  www.criticallyspeaking.net Twitter: @CritiSpeak Email: theresemarkow@criticiallyspeaking.net   

In this culture where dreams and nightmares are such a part of our everyday language, the question becomes, what is dreaming? We all dream, so what does it mean, and how does it impact other areas of our lives, such as our mental health? In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Michael Nadorff discuss these questions, as well as diving deeper into the different cycles of sleep, the changes in our dreams and sleep as we age, different types of nightmare therapies, and the relationship between nightmares and suicide.      Key Takeaways: All dreams, good and bad, occur during the REM cycles of our sleep. The amount of REM sleep increases as the night goes on and, consequently, dreams get longer too.   Sleep loves the cold. If you fall asleep in too warm of an environment, during REM sleep when your temperature drops, you are more likely to wake up feeling overheated.  Having nightmares significantly increased the likelihood of future suicide attempts in those who had previously attempted suicide.    "REM is so important to us that, if you are sleep deprived, your body actually prioritizes REM, and it makes it even that much more intensive." —  Dr. Michael Nadorff   Connect with Dr. Michael Nadorff: Professional Bio: psychology.msstate.edu/people/michael-r-nadorff/     Connect with Therese: Website:   www.criticallyspeaking.net Twitter: @CritiSpeak Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net     Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.