Health Wanted
Episodes
Fashion and Health
01 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
While celebs and their stylists prepare to make an impression at the Met Gala, we’re preparing for what I like to call the “Code Met&rdquo...
Testosterone
24 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Hey men! Are you feeling as manly as you could be? Do you have enough man juice flowing through your veins? Did you know hormones aren’t just fo...
Cannabis
17 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the show: cannabis! Is it bad for you? Is it good for you? Better than alcohol? And how does it seem to be EVERYWHERE…even in stat...
Private Equity
10 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Private equity is not just taking over companies—it’s increasingly gaining control of health care facilities as well. This week on Health ...
Transportation
03 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The U.S. has built our transportation infrastructure around vast landscapes of 6-lane highways and parking lots. Heck you’re probably listening ...
Wellness Scams
27 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
From magical amulets to metal funnels that cost $270, there are wellness scams all around for those who have eyes to see them. This week on Health Wan...
Fiber
20 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Everyone on the internet claims to have the secret solution to all your health needs, but has the answer been hiding in meemaw’s Metamucil this ...
Menopause Hormone Therapy
13 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
OOooh you ever get all hot and sweaty? You get that itch? You know you’re just gonna be up all night? Because you’re going through menopau...
Immigration Enforcement and Public Health
06 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
2025 saw the start of a particular focus on detentions and deportations. This week on the show, we’re taking a look at the way increased immigra...
CTE
27 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Let’s be honest, Americans love to watch a contact sport. We cheer at hockey fights, make highlight reels of the most brutal football tackles, y...
RFK Jr.: One Year in Office
20 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
There’s a saying in parenting: “The days are long, but the years are short.” This could also apply to the whirlwind first year of Ro...
Sugar
13 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Valentine’s day is here, and with it, mountains of sweets! Boxes of chocolates! Candy hearts that somehow still have phrases like “fax me!...
Dairy
06 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This week’s episode of Health Wanted has it all: Covert influencer sponsored content! Taco Bell! School lunches! White supremacy! The new Dietar...
Sterilization
30 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In a post-Roe world, more people are opting for a more permanent form of birth control, but their access might be limited by rules intended to prevent...
DIY Health Care
23 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The internet is a mecca for DIY enthusiasts. You can find out how to remodel your house, fix your car, and even…become your own doctor? This we...
Radiation
16 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Do you have acne? Low energy? Stinky feet? Ugly face? Crossed eyes? Well have we got the cure for you: RADIOACTIVE DECAY. This week on Health Wanted, ...
Brain-Computer Interfaces
09 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Mind control—it’s often thought of as a science fiction trope, borne from fears of body snatchers or domineering overlords. But what if we...
Cleanses
02 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
New Year, new you, new opportunities to punish yourself for being human! This week on Health Wanted…we’re kicking off the new year by put...
You Asked, Laurel Answered
26 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
2025 was a year of big questions: from our government, from our public health institutions, and, of course, from you, our lovely listeners. For this f...
Alcohol
19 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We are smack dab in the middle of the holiday season, which usually comes with enough liquid cheer to kill a horse…or at least get some people ...
CRISPR
12 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In the mid 2010s “designer jeans” became a topic of conversation not just in the fashion world, but in the world of medical intervention a...
Health Insurance
05 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Health insurance: seems like a straightforward concept. Every month you put money into an account so that, when you need to pay health care costs, tha...
Ask Laurel Anything (ALA), Part 6
28 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Did you know Laurel has never had a pumpkin spice latte? Well, you do now! We're back with another ALA! With your help, we Ask Laurel Anything. Health...
The Fertility Crisis
21 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In 1968, biologist Paul Ehrlich cautioned that by the 1980s we’d see hundreds of millions of people starving to death due to overpopulation. Tur...
OOPS- Q and A only
14 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Formula recall. What to do if you need to buy health insurance on the ACA market place? What’s the status of Long COVID research? Do COVID infec...
Longevity Science
07 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
After a month of Halloween-themed shows, everyone is probably a little tired of talking about dying. Finally, it’s time to start LIVING. Maybe F...
The Black Death
31 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Put on your favorite medieval tavern playlist, check yourself for signs of pestilence, and bring out your dead. This week on Health Wanted, we’r...
Frankenstein
24 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You ever hear the one about the two headed dog that walked out of a soviet research center? Well, you’re about to! This week on Health Wanted we...
Vampires
17 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Quick! Here’s a round of Kiss, Marry, Kill: Nosferatu, Lestat, and Count Chocula. This week on Health Wanted, we’re accessorizing with our...
Zombies!
10 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A term for a mindless person. A tiki drink that will make you wish you were dead if you have too many. An iconic dance break in a Michael Jackson vide...
DEATH!
03 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Health Wanted, host Laurel Bristow takes on the often-taboo topic of death and the difficult discussion of what to do with our own ...
Respiratory Virus Season
26 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Health Wanted, host Laurel Bristow helps you gear up to avoid getting taken down by a winter virus—COVID, flu, and RSV—...
Ye Olde Workplace Safety
19 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If you’ve ever found yourself muttering the phrase “this job is killing me,” take a moment to be grateful you mean it metaphorically...
7-OH: The New Opioid Crisis?
12 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Walking into a gas station in the past handful of years, you might have noticed a new product on the shelves: pills, powders, gummies, or energy shots...
Ask Laurel Anything (ALA), Part 5
05 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The ALA is back once again! With your help, we Ask Laurel Anything. Included in this episode are questions on topics ranging from Laurel's recent expe...
Prescription Drug Ads
29 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We’ve all been there: You’re on your couch watching TV, when suddenly a celebrity appears to try to sell you Ozempic. How does pharmaceuti...
Rats!
22 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Rats—they are often seen as pests or spreaders of disease, but they are also surprising public health heroes. This week on Health Wanted, host L...
Pools
15 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Swimming is an important skill to decrease your risk of drowning, but not everyone has the opportunity to learn how to do it. This week on Health Want...
Sleep
08 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
There is a reason we spend around a third of our lives asleep: We need sleep to survive. This week on Health Wanted, host Laurel Bristow and guest Day...
When Private Equity Meets Healthcare
01 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Private equity is not just taking over companies—it’s increasingly gaining control of health care facilities as well. This week on Health ...
35 Years After the Americans with Disabilities Act
25 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Disability has always existed, but ensuring equal rights for people with disabilities has not. This week on Health Wanted, host Laurel Bristow and fil...
Gambling
18 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Gambling is no longer limited to Vegas casinos—today, it is as easy as a few taps on a mobile device. This week on Health Wanted, host Laurel Br...
Snakes
11 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Symbolically and scientifically, snakes have long played a significant role in medicine. This week on Health Wanted, host Laurel Bristow and guest Ste...
Ask Laurel Anything (ALA), Part 4
04 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The ALA is back once again! The Health Wanted team takes a dive into the listener mailbag for a Special Summer Edition of Ask Laurel Anything. In...
Staying Safe on the Fourth
27 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It’s time for summer fun! But before you head to your Fourth of July barbecue, make sure you know how to keep yourself safe and healthy. This we...
Health of Incarcerated People
20 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The U.S. has the highest population of incarcerated people in the world, but quality health care is severely limited in correctional facilities. This ...
Laurel’s Birthday Episode
13 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week on Health Wanted, host Laurel Bristow celebrates her birthday by sharing her origin story, from a wide eyed youth to a voice of public healt...
Housing and Healthcare
06 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Homelessness has been rising in the U.S., and when people end up on the street, their health is at risk. This week on Health Wanted, host Laurel Brist...
Special Little Treats: Beverage Edition
30 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As Summer glides in, the temptation to grab and enjoy a refreshing beverage is ever-present. But what's the science behind the claimed "benefits" of e...
Cancer
23 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week on Health Wanted, host Laurel Bristow and guest Otis Brawley, MD discuss the current state of cancer in the country, giving insight to curre...
Tick Talk
16 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The return of summer brings fresh air, time outside, and a rising chance of running into ticks. This week on Health Wanted, host Laurel Bristow and gu...
Extreme Summer Weather
09 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As summer approaches, the threat of extreme weather begins to rise. This week on Health Wanted, host Laurel Bristow and guest Craig McLean discuss cli...
Gun Violence
02 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Gun violence is a major public health crisis in the U.S. and the number one cause of death for children aged 1-19. This week on Health Wanted, host La...
Ask Laurel Anything (ALA), Part 3
25 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The ALA is back once again! The Health Wanted team once again dives into the listener mailbag to Ask Laurel Anything, including important topics ...
The U.S. Food System
18 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Many Americans have diets deficient in fresh produce, whole foods, and important nutrients, and it isn’t all due to personal choices. This week ...
The U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps
11 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) is a uniformed governmental service that protects public health in the U.S. This week...
Autism
04 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects how people communicate, learn, and interact. This week on Health Wanted, ...
Trans Day of Visibility
28 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Access to gender-affirming health care is a critical and evolving issue that encompasses both medical and societal challenges. This week on Health Wan...
‘Everything is Tuberculosis’ with John Green
24 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In honor of World Tuberculosis Day, Health Wanted presents author John Green in conversation with host Laurel Bristow for his new book, “Everyth...
World Tuberculosis Day
21 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Every year, tuberculosis claims over one million lives worldwide. The United States has long been a key contributor to global efforts in preventing, t...
COVID-19, Five Years Later
14 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Five years ago this week, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic. This fast-tracked information sharing, vaccine development and d...
The Exposome
07 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The exposome is an expansive concept that encompasses everything in the environment a person is exposed to throughout their lifetime. This week on Hea...
Rural Health
28 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Rural communities face many significant health challenges due to inaccessible health care, economic instability, and occupational hazards. This week o...
Neglected Tropical Diseases
21 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a group of conditions that disproportionately impact low-income countries and receive insufficient attention an...
A Valentine for Public Health
14 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
From past to present, public health has driven essential progress, leaving a positive impact on our health and our hearts. This week on Health Wanted,...
Americans' Public Health Priorities
07 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In December 2024, the Rollins School of Public Health and the opinion polling company, Gallup, partnered up to get a sense of which public health issu...
Public Health and the Black Community
31 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Historically, health and medical systems have mistreated and exploited Black communities, and the impact of these injustices continues to affect Black...
Screen Time and Mental Health
24 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
From televisions and smartphones to laptops and tablets, screens surround us at all times of day. But what might this mean for our health? This week o...
Sexual Health
17 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sexual health plays a critical role in overall well-being, and having open conversations about it is vital to decreasing stigma and increasing wellnes...
Weight Loss
10 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Weight loss! It’s one of the most common resolutions to make, which means it’s also one of the most common resolutions to break. But a new...
Wellness in the New Year
03 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Juice cleanses. Vitamin supplements. Ice baths. The multi-billion-dollar wellness industry in the United States pushes out products and trends that cl...
Ask Laurel Anything (ALA), Part 2
20 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The ALA is back! We had so many listener questions, the Health Wanted team once again dives into the listener mailbag to Ask Laurel Anything, from her...
Ultra-Processed Foods
13 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Diets high in ultra-processed foods have been linked to increased risk of developing certain health conditions, but scientists are uncertain about the...
World AIDS Day
06 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Since the start of the HIV epidemic in the 1980s, an estimated 88 million people have been infected with HIV, and 42 million people have died due to c...
Ask Laurel Anything (ALA), Part 1
29 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this special bonus Q&A, the Health Wanted team jumps into the listener mailbag to Ask Laurel Anything, from getting to know Laurel to axolotl u...
AI and Healthcare
22 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Artificial intelligence (AI) holds great potential to improve and expedite a variety of processes in health care. This week on Health Wanted, host Lau...
Diabetes
15 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects over 10% of the world’s population and is the eighth leading cause of death worldwide. This week on Heal...
Smoking
08 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
From anti-smoking campaigns to advertisements for fruit-flavored vapes, marketing has played a huge role in how Americans interact with smoking produc...
Misinformation
01 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Health misinformation is a growing public health crisis, shaping behaviors, fueling skepticism, and undermining trust in science. Today on Health Want...
Halloween
25 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Halloween is here, listen if you dare! Turns out some of the most popular horror myths are based in public health reality. This week on Health Wanted,...
Aging
18 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Lifespans have increased significantly in the past century, and while plastic surgery and eye cream may slow the visible effects of aging, getting old...
Psychedelics
11 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As interest in the use of psychedelics as health therapeutics grows, research is uncovering their benefits, potential challenges, and cultural history...
Reproductive Health
04 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, the availability of reproductive health care has become fragmented, with states implement...
Clinical Trials
27 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Clinical trials play a crucial role in advancing medical knowledge and developing life-saving therapies, but it has taken decades for medical testing ...
Maternal Opioid Crisis
20 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The opioid epidemic has affected the lives of millions of Americans, including pregnant people experiencing opioid use disorder and their newborns. Th...
Food Fortification
13 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Food fortification is a simple solution that has played a crucial role in addressing global nutrient deficiencies and preventing life-threatening dise...
Winter Respiratory Viruses
06 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
With fall approaching, we can expect to see an increase in respiratory illnesses, beyond just COVID-19 and the flu. On this week’s episode of Health...
Ode to Sewers
30 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The creation of modern sewer systems solved critical sanitation issues in growing cities. Today, wastewater can even help researchers to detect and pr...
Vaccines
23 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
While public support of childhood immunizations in the US has decreased over the past two decades, keeping up-to-date on routine vaccinations has beco...
Microplastics and PFAS
16 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The invention of plastics brought us durable solutions to daily problems. But now, microplastics are harnessing that durability to stick around in our...
Extreme Heat
09 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Climate change is bringing the heat, and, along with it, volatile weather events and health hazards. On this week’s episode of Health Wanted, host L...
Mosquitoes
02 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Mosquitoes—a menace for hundreds of millions of years. Now, thanks to climate change, their territory is growing and with it, the spread of disease....
Coming soon: Health Wanted
01 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Subscribe now! From WABE and Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health, a brand new show breaking down science in pursuit of better health. E...
Premiering on August 2nd: Health Wanted
10 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Subscribe now! From WABE and Emory's Rollins School of Public Health, a brand new show breaking down science in pursuit of better health. Each week ho...