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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 donât 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 âThe Outlaw Oceanâ 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. Itâs expensive to document but it's critical that itâs 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." â 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: [email protected]
Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.
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Breast cancer is on the rise, especially in women under 40. This is pretty scary and the increase points to something environmental. In todayâs 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." â 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: [email protected]
Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.
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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 donât 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." â 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: [email protected]
Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.
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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 donât 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." â 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: [email protected]
Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.
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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.
âHIV is a retrovirus, meaning that it has enzymes that allow it to transcribe RNA into DNA, the reverse of the usual process in which DNA is transcribed into RNA. The viral DNA can then be inserted into the DNA of human cells.
With more research, weâve 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. Itâs 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 transmit HIV. Treatment is 100% effective as prevention." â 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: [email protected]
Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.
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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." â 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: [email protected]
Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.
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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." â 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: [email protected]
Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.
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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 donât 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." â 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: [email protected]
Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.
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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 arenât 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." â Dr. Elizabeth Scott
Check out Dr. Scottâs 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: [email protected]
Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.
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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 arenât about evidence - theyâre 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." â 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: [email protected]
Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.
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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 donât show students how to do something and they donât 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." â 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: [email protected]
Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.
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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." â 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: [email protected]
Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.
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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 didnât 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." â 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: [email protected]
Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.
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In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Janine LaSalle discuss Dr. LaSalleâs 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." â 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: [email protected]
Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.
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In this episode, Therese Markow and psychologist Dr. Elizabeth Scott, discuss narcissism, its clinical definition and the characteristics of âmalignant narcissismâ. Dr. Scott explains that narcissism involves patterns of grandiosity, a need for constant admiration, a lack of empathy, high levels of manipulation, and the narcissistâs âkryptoniteâ - 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 canât 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." â 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: [email protected]
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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." â Dr. Adam Schiavi
Connect with Dr. Adam Schiavi:
Johns Hopkins Bio: Adam Schiavi, MD, PhD, MS
Email: [email protected]
Connect with Therese:
Website: www.criticallyspeaking.net
Threads: @critically_speaking
Email: [email protected]
Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.
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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 youâre 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." â 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: [email protected]
Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.
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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 everywhereâleft, 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." â 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. Hintonâs 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: [email protected]
Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.
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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 donât 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 âno,â 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." â 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. Hintonâs 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 Humanityâs 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 Potâs Secret Prison: https://www.ronslate.com/pol-pots-secret-prison/Connect with Therese:
Website: www.criticallyspeaking.net
Threads: @critically_speaking
Email: [email protected]
Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.
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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 womenâs 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 athletesâ 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 donât 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." â Dr. Alan Rogol
Episode References:
Personal Account: A woman tried and tested by Maria JosĂ© MartĂnez-Patiño: https://www.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/lancet/PIIS0140673605678415.pdf
The New York Times: Running in a Body Thatâs 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: [email protected]
Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.
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