Dr. Shoshana Ungerleider

This is TED Health, a podcast from TED, and I'm your host, Dr. Shoshana Ungerleider.

Speaking up for what's true, especially when it's personal, isn't easy.

But in a world where misinformation about health spreads fast and loud, choosing to use your voice can be a powerful act of courage.

Today we're kicking off a special mini-series on vaccines.

And in a time when misinformation spreads quicker than facts, understanding vaccines has never been more critical to our personal and public health.

This mini-series explores how trust in science is built and how it's broken through real stories, expert insights, and what we can all do to stay informed.

As our public health systems face mounting challenges, this series offers the clarity and context everyone needs to make confident, evidence-based choices.

In today's episode, you'll hear from someone who did just that.

Ethan Lindenberger didn't set out to start a movement.

He just asked a question.

And in doing so, he stepped into one of the most polarizing public health conversations of our time.

His story is a reminder that you don't have to be an expert to make an impact.

You just have to be willing to stand up for what's real, even when it's uncomfortable.

Because protecting our health and the health of others often starts with one brave decision to speak out.

Then stick around after the talk for an interview with Dr. Jennifer Reich, an expert on why some parents choose to not vaccinate their children.

But before we dive in, a quick break to hear from our sponsors.

That was Ethan Lindenberger at TEDx Mid-Atlantic in 2019.

Now I want to welcome Dr. Jennifer Reich to take us deeper into this topic.

Dr. Reich is a professor of sociology at the University of Colorado Denver and a researcher on vaccine decision-making.

Her work explores how parents make choices about childhood vaccination and how those decisions are shaped by social, cultural, and political forces.