Podcast appearances and mentions of Alison Young

Send us a textHiking has a way of making us more resilient, not so much manifested as strength and persistence, but in developing trust and embracing the unknown.We have a saying in the hiker community, “The Trail Will Provide.” It signifies the aid and assistance hikers encounter on trail, encouraging trust and faith that things will work out.On a section hike of the Continental Divide Trail, Blissful encounters a miracle and realizes that allowing the trail to provide is part of successfully walking a long trail and also living life too. MUSIC: "Poema del Pastor Coya" by Angel Lasala as played by Alison Young, flute and Vicki Seldon, piano. Support the show

Season 9 of MinneCulture drops on March 27. This season features:lots of local food historystories about life and commerce along the Mississippi Rivera Minnesota woman who developed a new form of contact tracing for tuberculosisa barber and fiddler who helped run the Underground Railroad in Minnesotaa haunting story about Minnesota's 20th century sterilization programa jingle for pickles that will get stuck in your head....and so much more!Stories by Michelle Bruch, Gina Favano, John Gwinn, Lydia Moran, Sheila Regan, Matthew Schneeman, and Alison Young. Hosted by John Gebretatose. Edited by Julie Censullo.MinneCulture is a production of KFAI - Fresh Air Community Radio in Minneapolis, MN. Support for MinneCulture is provided by the Minnesota Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.

Send us a textOn October 10, Blissful gave her first TEDx talk, “How do you find your bliss? Take the long trail!”Blissful shares the loss of her flute career due to a neurological disorder called dystonia. It was on trail that she began to heal – and her greatest teacher on learning to live with her loss and move forward into the unknown. Blissful's talk is about resilience in spite of life's inexplicable randomness.Watch the TEDx and see some jaw-dropping images as well!MUSIC: Introduccion y Allegro by Carlos Guastavino as played by Alison Young, flute and Vicki Seldon, piano. Support the show

On Friday's show: Houston is home to a lot of above-ground pipelines. So, you might be surprised by how limited regulations are surrounding their protection. Alison Young of Houston Landing discusses how September's deadly Energy Transfer accident and fire in Deer Park was only the most high-profile of accidents involving vehicles crashing into pipelines.Also this hour: With the holiday shopping season in full force, has consumerism become too rampant these days? We talk it over and explore how we can avoid letting consumerism get the better of us during the holidays.Then, from Beyoncé's Grammy-nominated album Cowboy Carter inspiring a new history class at UH, to Cruise possibly getting out of the driverless car game in Houston, our non-experts discuss The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week.And a new production at Stages Houston takes on the story of Pinocchio with a modern twist.

The job of the Criminal Cases Review Commission - or CCRC - is to investigate cases where people may have been wrongfully convicted of a crime in the criminal courts of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The CCRC has faced criticism over it's actions - or lack of action - in a high-profile miscarriage of justice. In April this year, the CCRC offered an unreserved apology to Andrew Malkinson. He spent 17 years in prison following conviction for a rape in Salford that he didn't commit. DNA testing which led to his conviction being quashed was not commissioned by the CCRC, and in July, an independent review found that he could have been freed five years after receiving a life sentence in 2003. After the report was published, the Justice Secretary called for the resignation of the chair of the CCRC, Helen Pitcher. However, she said she was still the “best person” for the job and that she had no intention of standing down. So how does the Criminal Cases Review Commission work? How does it make decisions about which cases should go back to the Court of Appeal, and which should be rejected?Also this week: - Are the laws around accessing social care for disabled children too complicated? - And if you're selling your home - are you legally bound to mention problem neighbours? Presenter: Dr Joelle Grogan Producers: Ravi Naik and Nathan Gower Editor: Tara McDermott Production Coordinator: Maria OgundeleContributors Dr Hannah Quirk, a Reader in Criminal Law at King's College London, who also used to work at the CCRC. Professor Alison Young, Commissioner for Public and Welsh Law, the Law Commission. Catriona Moore, policy manager at IPSEA, a charity which helps parents with SEND legislation - Special Educational needs and disabilities. Tracey Moloney, from Moloney Family Law, also known as the Legal Queen on social media

Send us a textOn October 10, Blissful will give her first TEDx talk about Resilience as part of TEDX AmoskeagMillyard in Manchester, New Hampshire.  What is a TED talk??TED stands for Technology, Entertainment and Design and was founded in 1984 to showcase the "most interesting people on earth and let them communicate their passion."The tagline is "ideas worth spreading."The talks are short (under 18 minutes) and all memorized, given on a red dot of a carpet in front of a live audience, filmed for later broadcast. I was recommended for this particular organization, but needed to apply and convince those in charge that I was the best person to share this idea. Blissful's talk is about resilience in spite of life's inexplicable randomness. You'll come along with her on trail as she lets go of her flute career and meets another Blissful Hiker named Beethoven.Get tickets here. Use coupon code "Alison15" for a discount!MUSIC: Introduccion y Allegro by Carlos Guastavino as played by Alison Young, flute and Vicki Seldon, piano. Support the show

Send us a textTaking a class this weekend, Blissful learns about the key skills of a good teacher.  This was especially important when she needed to face down an irrational fear of falling out of her kayak and being upside down in the water. Here are some of those skills:Positive Learning Environment. Encourage Risk Taking.  Provide Feedback and GuidancePromote a Growth Mindset Just wanting to get better and do something out of our comfort zone isn't enough. Sometimes we need guide who possessed strong leadership and teaching skills. Blissful will give her first TEDx talk this October in Manchester, New Hampshire! The subject is "Stepping into the Unknown." Get tickets here. Use coupon code "WILD" for a discount!MUSIC: Introduccion y Allegro by Carlos Guastavino as played by Alison Young, flute and Vicki Seldon, piano. Support the show

Send us a textOn the Teton Crest Trail in Wyoming, Blissful decides to go for an "SKT" (Slowest Known Time) and surprises abound. 1. John Muir (and Henry David Thoreau) hated the word "hike" and preferred to saunter, entering beautiful natural places with reverence.2. Physiologists tell us that walking at a turtle's pace releases endocannabinoids a kind of "persistence high" that elicits a state of euphoria. 3. But most important, going slow and leaving plenty of time allows us to simply exist and enjoy – explore off-trail, enjoy sights like a bull moose, pikas,  and wildflowers, and nab the best campsites!Blissful will give her first TEDx talk this October in Manchester, New Hampshire! The subject is "Stepping into the Unknown." Get tickets here. Use coupon code "WILD" for a discount!MUSIC: Introduccion y Allegro by Carlos Guastavino as played by Alison Young, flute and Vicki Seldon, piano. Support the show

On the Pyrenean Haute Route, an oafish American hiker questioned Blissful's ability to manage a route of this difficulty. “Even YOU?” he asked, his lip curling in disdain. “I haven't seen many old people hiking this.”It shook her confidence, for sure, but here she was, backpacking while old. We don't tend to bounce back the way we did when we were younger.That's why we have to prioritize –1:46 Rest3:34 Nutrition5:46 Exercise– and in that order! Blissful will give her first TEDx talk this October in Manchester, New Hampshire! The subject is "Stepping into the Unknown." Get tickets here. MUSIC: Introduccion y Allegro by Carlos Guastavino as played by Alison Young, flute and Vicki Seldon, piano. Support the show

Have you been wanting to do something a little wild and out-of-your-comfort-zone but were afraid to take the first step? When it comes to dreams, don't let them become a broken record of something you'll do "someday." In this episode, Blissful shares three reasons why we fail to act and keep our dreams to ourselves –rulesfear shameTake your dreams for a spin, even if you fail spectacularly. Your future self will thank you because, afterall, we tend not to regret the things we did do but the things we didn't do.Blissful will give her first TEDx talk this October in Manchester, New Hampshire! The subject is "Stepping into the Unknown." Get tickets here. MUSIC: Introduccion y Allegro by Carlos Guastavino as played by Alison Young, flute and Vicki Seldon, piano. Support the show

Alison Young is The Blissful Hiker, former professional flutist "The solo, female, middle-aged, titanium-reinforced, neurological-movement-disorder-manager, cancer-thriver and long-distance-backpacker, Blissful Hiker. With over 12,000 miles logged as a backpacker on six continents and a background as a world class professional musician and nationally syndicated radio host, Alison Young offers a unique perspective with engaging programs that connect us with the natural world and ultimately help us grapple with life's challenges. Alison Young is an expert at reinvention as well as tapping into creativity for success." .

Blissful  feels plenty of fear and anxiety before a thru-hike, but she manages her fears by asking, “If the worst happens, then what?” The answers to those questions helps us think more rationally rather than being paralyzed by anxiety, and thus live a more zesty and adventurous life.All of us feel fear at least some of the time that can hold us back from action.The trick is not to tame fear but to hear it out and hen get on with things anyway.We do this by asking far questions: "what if?" followed by "then what?" It helps us be less emotional and more rational. MUSIC: Introduccion y Allegro by Carlos Guastavino as played by Alison Young, flute and Vicki Seldon, piano. Support the Show.

We are joined by returning guest & 2 x Tactical Strength Challenge WINNER Alison Young. Alison is an SFG1 (Kettlebell) & SFL (Barbell) instructor through Strongfirst & is also a Level 3 Personal Trainer embarking on a new career within the fitness industry - transferring from the world of I.T. In this fascinating conversation Alison shares how she's finding her way in the fitness industry in one of the most populated & competitive cities in the world - London. How she's learning & adapting her training to cater for the ‘general population' & how she's transferring her skills & insights from her former tech career into helping her clients get stronger & move better.

Banksy is in the news this week after he unveiled his latest artwork in North London. You may have seen it – it was green paint sprayed on a wall behind a tree to give the appearance of leaves, with a person holding a sprayer next to it. But what is perhaps most interesting about Banksy is that he has remained anonymous throughout his career. So how has he done it? On today's episode, we interview Professor Alison Young from the University of Melbourne, who has researched graffiti and street art extensively, to understand the world's obsession with Banksy. Hosts: Billi FitzSimons and Zara SeidlerGuest: Professor Alison Young, University of MelbourneAudio producer: Joe Kiely Do you have feedback for the podcast? Share your thoughts via our survey!Subscribe to The Daily Aus newsletterBuy our book No Silly Questions Today's episode is sponsored by Kttipay. Head to KttiPay.com and download KttiPay. Splitting expenses not headaches.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Blissful is given the "all clear" by her surgeon and gets ready to step into the rest of her life.  Surgery for breast cancer has completely changed Blissful's body, but has given her a new power of bravery and knowing herself better. One friend calls her a "sur-thriver" facing down the situation directly, and trying to do what St. Paul said, to "rejoice always and not worry about anything."Time is running out but wouldn't it be cool to live fully, audaciously, without fear – and with joy – even in an uncertain world? Next week, Blissful heads back to trail in Arizona to finish a portion she had to skip when walking two years ago. MUSIC: Introduccion y Allegro by Carlos Guastavino as played by Alison Young, flute and Vicki Seldon, piano. Support the show

Did the COVID-19 pandemic start with a lab leak? Pandora's Gamble author Alison Young is here to crunch the numbers without entertaining conspiracies! What We Discuss with Alison Young: How often disease research lab leaks really occur. Why even the world's best-run labs are susceptible to safety breaches. The prevalence of disinformation campaigns to cover up, obscure, or misdirect lab leak blame. What gain-of-function research is and why it's so controversial. What we do and don't know about the possibility of the COVID-19 pandemic being the result of a lab leak in Wuhan, China. And much more... Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/958 This Episode Is Brought To You By Our Fine Sponsors: jordanharbinger.com/deals Sign up for Six-Minute Networking — our free networking and relationship development mini course — at jordanharbinger.com/course! Like this show? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider including your Twitter handle so we can thank you personally!

Blissful takes her first hike on a trail after surgery for breast cancer and decides she prefers to be described as a "thriver" – or even "aliver" – rather than survivor. It's a hot, humid summer day at Lebanon Hills, a region carved by glaciers with kettles and eskers, plus the singing of numerous birds. Blissful's surgeon tells her it's time to put on a backpack and get back on trail, even though she's isn't completely healed. Illness humbles us and teaches us about our vulnerability and ultimate decline, and yet it opens us up to discover our superpowers, like moving forward to see what's next. It's the price we pay for being alive, but it offers us a chance to appreciate what we have even more. MUSIC: Poema del Pastor Coya by Angel Lasala as played by Alison Young, flute and Vicki Seldon, piano. Support the show

As Blissful heals from a bilateral mastectomy due to breast cancer, she reflects on the person she wants to be going forward. Blissful is incredibly lucky in only having to undergo a radical surgery to rid her body of cancer. Step by step walking through her neighborhood, she slowly recovers back to her hiker self. The American writer Joyce Carol Oates speaks of the moment we realize that loss is part of our experience. “When that starts to happen to you, it is quite stunning.”Being out of control with illness is falling-to-the-knees humbling for Blissful and it's a challenge to stay positive and "bad ass."But she's inspired by the late actor Julian Sands who spoke of climbing summits as "not so  much a celebration of oneself, but the eradication of one's self-consciousness. And so on these walks you lose yourself, you become a vessel of energy in harmony, hopefully with your environment.” What a way to live!MUSIC: Poema del Pastor Coya by Angel Lasala as played by Alison Young, flute and Vicki Seldon, piano. Support the show

When Blissful is diagnosed with breast cancer, she undergoes a bilateral mastectomy to save her life and secure her future.A friend tells Blissful she has it easy because she has a partner in her husband Richard. Indeed, she is incredibly grateful to be part of a team because it's helped her navigate some very tough times in her life. Blissful's view of life is that it can be full of abundance and grace, but sometimes bad things just happen at no fault of our own. Kind of like the children's book, Good Luck, Bad Luck, we shouldn't blame ourselves when life throws us a curveball – no, the universe is not sending us a "message," rather it's a chance for us to grow and stretch when we learn how to face difficulty. Bad Luck came to Blissful with a diagnosis of cancer, but good luck was that it was caught quickly, so there's no need for chemotherapy – a moment of grace. MUSIC: Poema del Pastor Coya by Angel Lasala, Suite by Ernst Krenek and Introduccion y Allegro by Carlos Guastavino  as played by Alison Young, flute and Vicki Seldon, piano. Support the show

Blissful begins her cancer journey looking back at her life as a woman. Blissful spends the days before a bilateral mastectomy gathering together a team of supportive women who have been through the procedure.She also walks, hikes, bikes, swims, kayaks all in an effort to calm herself – or running away from panic. In looking forward to being flat-chested and "ultra-light", Blissful reminisces on becoming a woman from "sprouts" to a "mean girl" to a middle-aged woman saving her own life. MUSIC: Suite by Ernst Krenek and Introduccion y Allegro by Carlos Guastavino  as played by Alison Young, flute Support the show

Blissful wraps up her hike of the Appalachian Trail in Maine to head home for cancer treatment. The two days between Monson and Caratunk are rain-free and magical with a winter wren, hermit thrush, northern parula plus warty frogs and a curious snake. It's two big mountains with views including Moxie Bald and Pleasant Pond with glorious views of humpy green forested peaks like emerging leviathan in an even more expansive sea of green.Camping is near a pond circled by summer homes and loud pontoon boats, only a few miles out of Caratunk.Blissful meets a cancer survivor finishing the Appalachian Trail and is empowered by her healing and moxie to get right back on trail. Then she heads home for a new and scary adventure. MUSIC: Poema del Pastor Coya by Angel Lasala  as played by Alison Young, flute and Vicki Seldon, pianoSupport the show

Blissful makes it out of the 100 Mile Wilderness and receives a call from her doctor calling her home to have a bilateral mastectomy.It's wet and muddy but mostly road out to Monson, Maine, the first town in ten days.She has to go home, but not immediately, and can head back on trail for at least a few more days. And it's perfect timing in sunny weather at last and a long reroute around flooded rivers. But it's a gorgeous hike through forest loud with birds and frogs. And it takes her to lovely Moxie Bald Pond where the forest creatures enchant her even when distressed by her cancer diagnosis and the fact that she'll have to go home.MUSIC: Poema del Pastor Coya by Angel Lasala  as played by Alison Young, flute and Vicki Seldon, pianoSupport the show

The trail is hard in rain, mud and cold, but Blissful gets the boost she needs from hiker and creature.  It's mountainous now in the 100-mile Wilderness, revealing only misty views of distant lakes enveloped in thick forest. The "Sibs", two thru-hikers also from Minnesota, plus "Shoes," a barefoot hiker, meet her and offer encouragement.As does Fourth Mountain Bog, a stunning ecosystem crossed by boardwalk where a White Throated Sparrow greets her as well as giant. maroon-veined pitcher plants.It's too hard to get to the planned shelter so she and Shoes stay next to Long Pond Stream.They are rudely awakened by hikers late at night who warn them not to try to cross and instead offer directions for the reroute.Blissful is grateful for all that happened today, even the rude hikers who ensure she doesn't get in trouble in teh flooded stream. MUSIC: Poema del Pastor Coya by Angel Lasala  as played by Alison Young, flute and Vicki Seldon, pianoSupport the show

Blissful crosses a high, exposed peak in fog and rain then discovers she needs to go further than she thought.   Hiking south on the Appalachian Trail, it's the first high mountains since Katahdin, but the weather is manageable.  And there are small surprises like twisted and stunted "krumholz" trees, wildly fluorescent fungus and wildflowers heavily laden with damp. Even high up, the birds are loud including a new bird t Magnolia Warbler.When Blissful discovers she needs to go further than expected, crossing a river and steeply up, she goes for it.The "Sibs" – a pair of siblings also from Minnesota – give her courage as well as spotting her first Red Spotted Newt as orange as a gummy.The river crossing is easy and the uphills go one and on finally ending in a rock fall to climb up Chairback Mountain to a shelter shared with a barefoot thru-hiker named 'Shoes.' MUSIC: Poema del Pastor Coya by Angel Lasala  as played by Alison Young, flute and Vicki Seldon, pianoSupport the show

Blissful creates an audio narrative as an Artist-in-Residence at Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park in Upper Peninsula, Michigan.  During her artistic residency, she immersed herself in the vividly sonorous landscape , collecting sound as she hiked. Birds, falls and the wind spoke to her about spring's message – a message of renewal and rebirth.It's  such a fleeting moment, one so transitory, we could almost miss if we're not listening carefully. MUSIC: Poema del Pastor Coya by Angel Lasala  as played by Alison Young, flute and Vicki Seldon, pianoSupport the show

We are back with our first show of 2024 & we are joined by the incredible Alison Young. Alison is an I.T professional by day & a Powerlifter by night (& at weekends). She also has more recently taken on HYROX as well as WINNING the last TSC ‘Tactical Strength Challenge'. Alison is also an SFG2 Kettlebell Instructor AND an 'Iron Maiden'! We discuss the importance of competition, programming, preparation & Alison's recent decision to change careers. This is a fascinating conversation with a woman who has a unique way of looking at & approaching new challenges.

Blissful makes her first dangerous  ford over a swollen and dangerous river in flood from the non-stop rain.   For a SOBO  – or southbounder – on the Appalachian Trail, it's often wise to pay for delivery of a cache of food to break up the 10-day hike of the 100 Mile Wilderness. Right after the cache, the trail gets harder, steeply uphill into real mountains, plus river fords. With an unusual amount of rain, the rivers are in spate and dangerous.Blissful is alone and carefully crosses the Pleasant River – less pleasant, but doable especially with affixed ropes, yet there's no information on whether the ropes are safe. A Winter Wren congratulates her on a successful cross, and encourages a climb to Logan Brook right below White Cap Mountain, where a shelter awaits.MUSIC: Poema del Pastor Coya by Angel Lasala  as played by Alison Young, flute and Vicki Seldon, pianoSupport the show

When seeing two Pileated Woodpecker parents up close, Blissful learns that she is only passing through and to savor the moment while it lasts. It's an easy enough day on the Appalachian Trail (AT) though rainy without any views.Blissful stops at a lovely campground on the banks of Lower Jo-Mary Lake surrounded by pink Lady Slippers, as delicate as crepe. These first days walking south through Maine have been hard and Blissful feels like an amateur muddling through. While she licks her wounds, two woodpeckers poke out of a snag, chittering to each other and seemingly planning who will head out for food and how will stay with the young; it's magical. The lesson that "we're only passing through" is made apparent as is that she will never pass this way again. And this realization makes her feel gratitude for being invited into this wild world.  MUSIC: Poema del Pastor Coya by Angel Lasala  as played by Alison Young, flute and Vicki Seldon, pianoSupport the show

In constant rain and cold, Blissful learns the power in facing her negative feelings and using them to spur her to action rather than resignation. The trail has yet to get hard on the Appalachian Trail (AT) but the rain is drenching.Blissful can't stop in the cold and swarms of mosquitos even to eat, and is full of frustration but fellow hiker Ingrid catches up and gives her courage, suggesting they sleep inside the next shelter to stay dry. It's not far or difficult to the shelter at Nahmakanta Stream and she grabs a corner spot.Wet and cold, she is reminded of the book Deep Survival  by Laurence Gonzales where he says, "“Stop denying and begin surviving. You don't have to be elite or perfect, just get on with it and do the next right thing.” And this is exactly what she does, focusing her negative emotions to doing the next right thing - to stay as dry and warm as possible, and to keep moving ahead. MUSIC: Poema del Pastor Coya by Angel Lasala  as played by Alison Young, flute and Vicki Seldon, pianoSupport the show

Blissful is ill-prepared for the constant damp, but discovering an inner fierceness to solve her problems and keep moving ahead. The summer of 2023 on the Appalachian Trail (AT) is the wettest in memory.But this one day in Northern Maine is thankfully dry with big wind off Rainbow Lake where Blissful is able to dry out her gear. It's all easy trail lined with wildflowers from one shelter at Hurd Brook to the next at Rainbow Stream with a delightful site right above falls through a gorge. New friends of fellow hikers give Blissful courage and she makes it to the next site now with dried out gear – only to survive yet another night of soaking rain. MUSIC: Poema del Pastor Coya by Angel Lasala  as played by Alison Young, flute and Vicki Seldon, pianoSupport the show

Blissful leaves Baxter State Park to enter the 100-mile Wilderness, learning that "everything changes" including the weather.Blissful is waiting a pathology report from breast surgery, unsure if she will get the all-clear or have to manage a cancer diagnosis.Her surgeon encourages just to start hiking while she waits and here she is. Lured into the lovely idyllic summer weather at the start of hiking the  Appalachian Trail (AT) Blissful gives away her plastic waterproof backpack liner to pack her gear in compression sacks that fail completely.The walk out of Baxter State Park is flat and easy, the trail lined with wildflowers and filled with bird song. At Abol Bridge, she meets other hikers and they look back at Katahdin as the air turns black, lightnings strikes the summit and it begins pouring rain. Maine rain is different in humid, saturated air and she's almost immediately soaked through.At the warning sign, three miles ahead of the first shelter at Hurd Brook, it begins to hail. She sets her tent with new friends who offer dry clothes and to share their tent if she gets too cold, but somehow she sleeps well through the night in a lumpy and clammy down quilt. MUSIC: Poema del Pastor Coya by Angel Lasala  as played by Alison Young, flute and Vicki Seldon, pianoSupport the show

Blissful decides to put her feet on the Appalachian Trail, beginning from the north on Mount Katahdin in Maine. Those in the know will laugh when the Appalachian Trail (AT) is described as a "footpath" as it's more a rock climbing challenge.And it's tough to get to the start, 100 miles from any airport, then a 4,000-foot climb in five miles up to the summit and Mile 0.The weather calls for unseasonably hot weather, over 90 degrees, so it's a very early start.  Planning two nights of camping at Katahdin Stream Campground, Blissful walks steeply up to spectacular views before hitting boulders requiring crawling, pressing, pulling and squeezing with only a few iron ladders to help. The tableland is easy walking, but exposed and hot with no wind and swarms of flies. At the top, Blissful meets a cohort of thru-hikers and carefully returns right before a loud thunder clap. MUSIC: Poema del Pastor Coya by Angel Lasala  as played by Alison Young, flute and Vicki Seldon, pianoSupport the show

This is a selection of highlights from episode #171 of The 80,000 Hours Podcast.These aren't necessarily the most important, or even most entertaining parts of the interview — and if you enjoy this, we strongly recommend checking out the full episode:Alison Young on how top labs have jeopardised public health with repeated biosafety failuresAnd if you're finding these highlights episodes valuable, please let us know by emailing podcast@80000hours.org.Highlights put together by Simon Monsour, Milo McGuire, and Dominic Armstrong

"Rare events can still cause catastrophic accidents. The concern that has been raised by experts going back over time, is that really, the more of these experiments, the more labs, the more opportunities there are for a rare event to occur — that the right pathogen is involved and infects somebody in one of these labs, or is released in some way from these labs. And what I chronicle in Pandora's Gamble is that there have been these previous outbreaks that have been associated with various kinds of lab accidents. So this is not a theoretical thing that can happen: it has happened in the past." — Alison YoungIn today's episode, host Luisa Rodriguez interviews award-winning investigative journalist Alison Young on the surprising frequency of lab leaks and what needs to be done to prevent them in the future.Links to learn more, summary, and full transcript.They cover:The most egregious biosafety mistakes made by the CDC, and how Alison uncovered them through her investigative reportingThe Dugway life science test facility case, where live anthrax was accidentally sent to labs across the US and several other countries over a period of many yearsThe time the Soviets had a major anthrax leak, and then hid it for over a decadeThe 1977 influenza pandemic caused by vaccine trial gone wrong in ChinaThe last death from smallpox, caused not by the virus spreading in the wild, but by a lab leak in the UK Ways we could get more reliable oversight and accountability for these labsAnd the investigative work Alison's most proud ofProducer and editor: Keiran HarrisAudio Engineering Lead: Ben CordellTechnical editing: Simon Monsour and Milo McGuireAdditional content editing: Katy Moore and Luisa RodriguezTranscriptions: Katy Moore

Years after the emergence of COVID-19, the origins of the pandemic still remain unclear. With many theories being considered, getting to the bottom of the evidence has been challenging for scientists and reporters alike.  So, what do the potential beginnings of COVID-19 look like? Alison Young, a veteran journalist with nearly fifteen years of experience covering safety breaches at U.S. laboratories, joins us to explain… In April 2023, Alison released Pandora's Gamble: Lab Leaks, Pandemics, and a World at Risk, a book that dives into the history of safety errors in scientific labs – and how such errors could potentially have contributed to the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic. What has her research done to further our understanding of this complex subject? Tune in now to see for yourself! In this episode, we cover: Why it is dangerous to dismiss investigations as conspiracy theories.  Circumstantial evidence that supports the lab leak theory.  The long history of safety breaches in labs, and why they are often kept secret.  You can pick up a copy of Alison's new book here! Episode also available on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/38oMlMr

In this episode, we connect with Alison Young, the author of Pandora's Gamble: Lab Leaks, Pandemics, and a World at Risk. As a veteran journalist with decades of experience, Alison uses her latest book to outline the history and implications of safety errors in scientific labs – and how such errors could potentially have contributed to the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic. Alison has worked with news organizations across the country, primarily covering health, environment, and consumer issues. For the past 15 years, one of her areas of expertise involved reporting on laboratory accidents. Once COVID-19 hit, she was well-equipped to dissect the intricacies of this complex situation… In this conversation, we discuss: Often overlooked facts involved in the lab leak theory.  Why it is difficult to consider different motives for creating lab-manipulated viruses.  Why lab leaks are often covered up throughout history.  You can pick up a copy of Alison's new book here! Episode also available on Apple Podcast: http://apple.co/30PvU9C

The Biden administration is expected to declassify some information gathered on the origin of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, hoping to end a three-year battle over whether covid-19 came from a seafood market or a laboratory in Wuhan, China. Some scientists say they have strong evidence for a market origin—although many are far from convinced. Will this mystery ever be solved? Natasha Loder, The Economist's health editor, asks James Wood, an epidemiologist at the University of Cambridge, how to trace a virus back to its source—and why interpreting the patchy data is so complicated. Plus, Alison Young, the author of “Pandora's Gamble” explains the implications of this investigation on laboratory safety. Alok Jha, The Economist's science and technology editor, hosts. We would love to hear from you. Please fill out our updated listener survey at economist.com/podcastsurvey.For full access to The Economist's print, digital and audio editions subscribe at economist.com/podcastoffer and sign up for our weekly science newsletter at economist.com/simplyscience. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Biden administration is expected to declassify some information gathered on the origin of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, hoping to end a three-year battle over whether covid-19 came from a seafood market or a laboratory in Wuhan, China. Some scientists say they have strong evidence for a market origin—although many are far from convinced. Will this mystery ever be solved? Natasha Loder, The Economist's health editor, asks James Wood, an epidemiologist at the University of Cambridge, how to trace a virus back to its source—and why interpreting the patchy data is so complicated. Plus, Alison Young, the author of “Pandora's Gamble” explains the implications of this investigation on laboratory safety. Alok Jha, The Economist's science and technology editor, hosts. We would love to hear from you. Please fill out our updated listener survey at economist.com/podcastsurvey.For full access to The Economist's print, digital and audio editions subscribe at economist.com/podcastoffer and sign up for our weekly science newsletter at economist.com/simplyscience. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We don't have definitive proof of how COVID-19 emerged. But several agencies in the US Intelligence community have concluded that a leak from the Chinese government-run virology research institute just miles from where it was first discovered is the likely source. And lab leaks happen more often than you probably think. That last part is something we don't talk about enough. Abdul reflects on scientific safety–and the governance and transparency we need to protect it. Then he interviews Allison Young, a veteran journalist and author of the new book “Pandora's Gamble,” about the history and risks of laboratory accidents. 

Krystal and Saagar discuss the Debt deal passing with no conservative support, Biden Voters doubting him for 2024, Mike Pence set to run for President, DeSantis rips Trump as a "Loser" that failed on Covid, Leaked DeSantis audio shows disastrous polling, the West refusing to condemn Ukraine attacks on Russia, Saagar looks into Car Dealers saying "Screw you" to Biden's EV plan, Krystal looks into conservatives losing their mind over Rainbow Capitalism, and professor/author Alison Young joins us to talk about her new book Pandora's Gamble which investigates lab leaks throughout history. Finally, we give one last goodbye to the old set and reflect on the journey that Krystal and Saagar have taken with all of you.To become a Breaking Points Premium Member and watch/listen to the show uncut and 1 hour early visit: https://breakingpoints.supercast.com/To listen to Breaking Points as a podcast, check them out on Apple and SpotifyApple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/breaking-points-with-krystal-and-saagar/id1570045623 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Kbsy61zJSzPxNZZ3PKbXl Merch: https://breaking-points.myshopify.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Krystal and Saagar discuss the Debt deal passing with no conservative support, Biden Voters doubting him for 2024, Mike Pence set to run for President, DeSantis rips Trump as a "Loser" that failed on Covid, Leaked DeSantis audio shows disastrous polling, the West refusing to condemn Ukraine attacks on Russia, Saagar looks into Car Dealers saying "Screw you" to Biden's EV plan, Krystal looks into conservatives losing their mind over Rainbow Capitalism, and professor/author Alison Young joins us to talk about her new book Pandora's Gamble which investigates lab leaks throughout history. Finally, we give one last goodbye to the old set and reflect on the journey that Krystal and Saagar have taken with all of you. To become a Breaking Points Premium Member and watch/listen to the show uncut and 1 hour early visit: https://breakingpoints.supercast.com/ To listen to Breaking Points as a podcast, check them out on Apple and Spotify Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/breaking-points-with-krystal-and-saagar/id1570045623   Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Kbsy61zJSzPxNZZ3PKbXl   Merch: https://breaking-points.myshopify.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Blissful shares insights about setting flexible goals."Summit Fever" is one of the consequences of setting one single big goal and can cause us to fail every day, sometimes with tragic consequences. Rather than goals, setting systems can work in our favor because they are bite-sized goals more easily achieved.Systems allow us to succeed more often.And, allow us to change our minds and still succeed. MUSIC: Poema del Pastor Coya by Angel Lasala  as played by Alison Young, flute and Vicki Seldon, pianoSupport the show

Blissful Hiker is honored to have been named an "Artist in Residence" by the Friends of the Porkies and will live in a remote cabin this spring to create audio narrative essays in Upper Peninsula Michigan in the Porcupine Mountains.  In this episode, she revisits her fall backpack trip when she fell in love with the "Porkies."  Awakening to a spectacular sunrise on Lake of the Clouds,  Blissful walks into a the magical and primeval hemlock forest. She meets the Big Carp River and enchanted by its silvery cascades on volcanic rock.  A short walk along Lake Superior and she's back in forest following another river, the Little Carp where she camps next to a pool reflecting gold and red  fall colors. The next day she  climbs to the high point at Summit Peak, then down to  gorgeous Mirror Lake and finally a private site on a beaver pond filled with nature's sound including chipmunks, owls, beaver and a howling wolf. MUSIC: Poema del Pastor Coya by Angel Lasala  as played by Alison Young, flute and Vicki Seldon, pianoSupport the show

Blissful Hiker is honored to have been named an "Artist in Residence" by the Friends of the Porkies and will live in a remote cabin this spring to create audio narrative essays in Upper Peninsula Michigan in the Porcupine Mountains.  In this episode, she revisits her fall backpack trip when she fell in love with the "Porkies." In this episode: Blissful visits this magical place, a wilderness state park of 35,000 acres of primary stand hemlock amidst a massive volcanic uplift above Lake Superior. Her first day is along the escarpment above Lake of the Clouds to her stunning campsite with a large rock apron looking out to the astounding view. Birds and a wolf celebrate the setting sun and the stars coming out. As she crawls into her tent, an acorn bombardment spooks her reminding her that this is indeed a wilderness. MUSIC: Poema del Pastor Coya by Angel Lasala  as played by Alison Young, flute and Vicki Seldon, pianoSupport the showSupport the show

This week, Blissful Hiker completes the list of ten lessons from the trail that are helping her now.In this episode:7) :38 Everything changes  “If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude.”8) 1:50 You will never pass this way again  "Sooner or later, we must realize there is no station, no one place to arrive at once and for all. The true joy of life is the trip."9) 3:26 Let go and forgive  "Forgiveness is the economy of the heart… forgiveness saves the expense of anger, the cost of hatred, the waste of spirits."10) 5:41 You are stronger than you think you are  "If I waited for perfection, I'd never write a word."MUSIC: Poema del Pastor Coya by Angel Lasala  and Milongs sin palabras by Astor Pizzolla as played by Alison Young, flute and Vicki Seldon, pianoSupport the show

This week, Blissful Hiker shares some lessons from the trail that are helping her now.In this episode::38 Let the day unfold  “I think that's what I love about my life. There's no maniacal master plan. It's just unfolding before me.”3:02 Trail Angels exist "That's what I consider true generosity: You give your all, and yet you always feel as if it costs you nothing." 5:10 The point of a thru hike is not to triumph  "The goal of life … is not happiness, peace, or fulfillment, but aliveness."MUSIC: Poema del Pastor Coya by Angel Lasala  and Milongs sin palabras by Astor Pizzolla as played by Alison Young, flute and Vicki Seldon, pianoSupport the show

 This week, Blissful Hiker shares some lessons from the trail that are helping her now. In this episode:1:30 Take Risks “The most hopeful thing you are doing is taking these months to repair your body for the next hikes.” 3:42 Stay in the Present Moment Experience fully what each day brings, the surprises and tiny victories.  6:12 Practice Patience "Life is already too short to waste on speed." MUSIC: Poema del Pastor Coya by Angel Lasala  and Milongs sin palabras by Astor Pizzolla as played by Alison Young, flute and Vicki Seldon, pianoSupport the show

One year ago Blissful Hiker set her feet on the Arizona Trail and planned to return to walk the final 100 miles, but an injury interrupted the trip. In this episode:This time of year is called "Lent" and is all about waiting and preparing, as well as contemplating the brevity of our lives.An injury is like that, a close up look at vulnerability. Learning to manage the frustration teaches us how to embrace our lives. A long walk – and the weak place of injury – helps bring the hiker closer to the spirit, letting go of control and worry and trusting in the "peace that transcends all understanding."MUSIC: Poema del Pastor Coya by Angel Lasala  and Milongs sin palabras by Astor Pizzolla as played by Alison Young, flute and Vicki Seldon, pianoSupport the show

Regret can actually act as the motivating fuel to push us towards our goals.Phrases like "no regrets!" are helpful in keeping us focussed on the future and not on mistakes from the past.And yet, looking with openness at what we regret from the past can help us build up the courage  we need in our present to take risks. And then we are better able to choose what matters most projecting the idea of regret into the future.  See a picture from Blissful's past. Listen to the podcast episode all about taking risks.MUSIC: Poema del Pastor Coya by Angel Lasala as played by Alison Young, flute and Vicki Seldon, pianoSupport the show

Blissful Hiker shares the reasons she hikes alone, to get grounded, to engage more deeply with the world around me and to do so at my own pace.Being alone in nature has been practiced by all civilizations to build self-reliance and connect with the spirit.As Emily Dickinson said, "The soul should always stand ajar, ready to welcome the ecstatic experience." But that does not mean that you shouldn't prepare by taking the Ten Essentials including telling someone where you're going, and when to expect you to return.I have added professional speaker to my "bag of tricks." If you'd like me to speak to your group, contact me! MUSIC: Poema del Pastor Coya by Angel Lasala as played by Alison Young, flute and Vicki Seldon, pianoSupport the show