America Dissected

Abdul and Katelyn talk about a promising bipartisan bill that could disrupt Pharmacy Benefit Managers, a miracle drug that prevents HIV--at a serious cost, and new data that show that US obesity rates may have fallen for the first time in more than a decade. Then they talk about RFK Jr’s chances of being confirmed to lead HHS after news broke last week that his attorney asked the FDA to repeal approval of the polio vaccine back in 2022. Then Abdul sits down with Dr. Umair Shah, Washington State’s Secretary of Health, about the role of state health departments over the next four years. We will be back with more episodes in 2025. We wish you all a restful holiday season!  This show would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. America Dissected invites you to check them out. This episode was brought to you by: Marguerite Casey Foundation: Sign up now to get your free Boston Review issue delivered to your door at CaseyGrants.org/State. Calm: Calm is offering an exclusive offer of 40% off a Calm Premium Subscription at calm.com/DISSECT. Lumen: If you want to stay on track with your health this holiday season, head to http://lumen.me/AD for 15% off your purchase. Reclaimed: This podcast takes you back to the very beginning when the Navajo reservation was first created. And it reveals the history of oppression and exclusion that led the Navajo to this point — and why their future is still uncertain. You can listen to “Reclaimed” wherever you get podcasts.

Abdul and Katelyn break down the latest news, including the murder of UnitedHealth’s CEO and new raw milk testing guidelines. Then Abdul sits down with Dermatologist Dr. Farhaad Riyaz to break down fact from fiction on skincare, how online fads are shaping his patients, and what you really should be doing when it comes to your skin routine. This show would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. America Dissected invites you to check them out. This episode was brought to you by: Marguerite Casey Foundation: Sign up now to get your free Boston Review issue delivered to your door at CaseyGrants.org/State. Lumen: If you want to stay on track with your health this holiday season, head to http://lumen.me/AD for 15% off your purchase. Reclaimed: This podcast takes you back to the very beginning when the Navajo reservation was first created. And it reveals the history of oppression and exclusion that led the Navajo to this point — and why their future is still uncertain. You can listen to “Reclaimed” wherever you get podcasts.

Abdul and Katelyn break down the latest in appointments to the new administration. They also discuss the latest news about H5N1 (hint, it’s still bad), and new study’s findings about how the HPV vaccine decimated cervical cancer rates among young women. Then Abdul sits down with Dr. Bill Foege, the public health leader and former CDC director who led the effort to eradicate smallpox, to talk about his new book “Change is Possible: Reflections on the History of Global Health.” This show would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. America Dissected invites you to check them out. This episode was brought to you by: Marguerite Casey Foundation: Sign up now to get your free Boston Review issue delivered to your door at CaseyGrants.org/State. Quince: Gift luxury this holiday season, without the luxury price tag. Go to quince.com/AD to get free shipping and 365-day returns. Blueland: To take advantage of their best sale of the year for up to 30% off your entire order, go to blueland.com/america. Reclaimed: This podcast takes you back to the very beginning when the Navajo reservation was first created. And it reveals the history of oppression and exclusion that led the Navajo to this point — and why their future is still uncertain. You can listen to “Reclaimed” wherever you get podcasts. And don’t forget to visit the America Dissected store for the Holiday sale! We’ve got our logo mugs, t-shirts, and hoodies and our “Vaccines Work. Science Matters.” shirts on sale now! Go to store.americadissected.com, promo code “Holiday.”

Happy Thanksgiving friends! We are dark this week, but we are excited to share that America Dissected merch is back! We have t-shirts, hoodies and mugs at store.americadissected.com Use the promo code HOLIDAY for 15% off! We will see you here next Thursday with a brand new episode.

Abdul and Katelyn break down the week’s top headlines, including what Trump’s troubling cabinet picks say about his priorities, the latest H5N1 case in Canada, and some good news about vaccination rates this fall. And then later, Abdul talks to strength training coach and physician Dr. Jordan Feigenbaum about his approach to evidence-based strength training in a world full of fitness influencers. This show would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. America Dissected invites you to check them out. This episode was brought to you by: Marguerite Casey Foundation: Join the MCF Book Club at CaseyGrants.org/BookClub. Reclaimed: This podcast takes you back to the very beginning when the Navajo reservation was first created. And it reveals the history of oppression and exclusion that led the Navajo to this point — and why their future is still uncertain. You can listen to “Reclaimed” wherever you get podcasts. You can find Dr. Jordan Feigenbaum at www.barbellmedicine.com

Abdul introduces America Dissected’s new co-host: Dr. Katelyn Jetelina. He and Katelyn break down “Make America Healthy Again,” Project 2025, and what it will take to protect the institutions of public health and healthcare over the next 4 years. This show would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. America Dissected invites you to check them out. This episode was brought to you by: Marguerite Casey Foundation: Join the MCF Book Club at CaseyGrants.org/BookClub. Lumen: If you want to stay on track with your health this holiday season, head to http://lumen.me/AD for 15% off your purchase.

Abdul reflects on the meaning of a second Trump term.

It’s been a … stressful … couple of months. And if past elections are any indication, that anxiety may not go away any time soon. Though we all know that sleep is critical, few of us get enough of it, particularly during stressful moments. Abdul reflects on the quest for a good night’s sleep. Then he sits down with sleep expert Dr. Chris Winter to talk through the most important things all of us can do to get a good night. This show would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. America Dissected invites you to check them out. This episode was brought to you by: Marguerite Casey Foundation: Join the MCF Book Club at CaseyGrants.org/BookClub. To See Each Other: A podcast that complicates the narrative about small town Americans in our most misunderstood communities. You can listen to more episodes of To See Each Other at https://link.chtbl.com/toseeeachother?sid=americadissected.

You’ve probably heard all about Project 2025, the conservative plan to remake America … for 1950. Abdul reflects on the power of the federal government when it comes to health. Then he sits down with Sulma Arias and Aija Nemer-Aanerud with People’s Action Institute to dig into what Project 2025 would mean for health in America. This show would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. America Dissected invites you to check them out. This episode was brought to you by: Marguerite Casey Foundation: Join the MCF Book Club at CaseyGrants.org/BookClub. Blueland: Reinvent cleaning essentials to be better for you and the planet, with the same powerful clean you’re used to. Right now, get 15% off your first order by going to Blueland.com/america. To See Each Other: A podcast that complicates the narrative about small town Americans in our most misunderstood communities. You can listen to more episodes of To See Each Other at https://link.chtbl.com/toseeeachother?sid=americadissected.

The FDA recently issued a rule that requires all mammography reports include information about breast density. Abdul talks to Dr. Elise Desperito, the Breast Imaging Director at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center about what breast density is and its implications for breast cancer screening. To assess your breast cancer risk, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center recommends the Tyrer-Cuzick Risk Assessment Calculator. This show would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. America Dissected invites you to check them out. This episode was brought to you by: Marguerite Casey Foundation: Join the MCF Book Club at CaseyGrants.org/BookClub. Quince: Upgrade your wardrobe with pieces made to last with Quince. Go to Quince.com/AD for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Lumen: If you want to take the next step in improving your health, visit go.lumen.me/AD for 15% off your purchase. To See Each Other: A podcast that complicates the narrative about small town Americans in our most misunderstood communities. You can listen to more episodes of To See Each Other at https://link.chtbl.com/toseeeachother?sid=americadissected.

Sharing an episode of To See Each Other, a show that complicates the narrative about small town Americans in our most misunderstood, and often abandoned, communities. This season, host George Goehl travels to Lincoln County, Wisconsin to follow a small town battle for the last remaining public nursing home in the community. A conservative county board is hell bent on selling off this 5-star facility, but senior citizens are not having it, showing up to county board meetings, marching in the Labor Day Parade, and fighting with their very last breath. George goes deep into questions of aging in America, public vs. private long-term care, and the nuts and bolts of good old-fashioned organizing. This show will make you want to keep up the fight and think differently about aging. You can listen to more episodes of To See Each Other at https://link.chtbl.com/toseeeachother?sid=americadissected

It’s October–which if the ubiquitous pink ribbons didn’t make it clear–is breast cancer awareness month. Breast cancer is a terrible disease, but so are so many others. But it has excellent branding. Which raises the question: should diseases have brands? Abdul reflects on the implications of branding disease. Then he sits down with Mara Einstein, a professor, author, and marketing expert to learn more about disease branding, its history, and its future. This show would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. America Dissected invites you to check them out. This episode was brought to you by: Marguerite Casey Foundation: Join the MCF Book Club at CaseyGrants.org/BookClub. Rhone: Upgrade your closet with Rhone and use AD to save 20% at https://www.rhone.com/AD.

Over the past several years, cities, counties, and states have elected to relieve their residents’ medical debt. That’s cascaded into a national movement to relieve it — which has been picked up by the likes of Vice President Kamala Harris in her presidential campaign. Abdul reflects on the particular pain of medical debt. Then he interviews Allison Sesso, President and CEO of Undue Medical Debt, the nation’s leading non-profit for medical debt relief. This show would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. America Dissected invites you to check them out. This episode was brought to you by: Marguerite Casey Foundation: Join the MCF Book Club at CaseyGrants.org/BookClub. Rhone: Upgrade your closet with Rhone and use AD to save 20% at https://www.rhone.com/AD. Blueland: Reinvent cleaning essentials to be better for you and the planet, with the same powerful clean you’re used to. Right now, get 15% off your first order by going to Blueland.com/america.