Causes or Cures

Dr. Eeks

"For the Nerds and the Nerd Nots"Causes or Cures is a health podcast hosted by Dr. Eeks—an independent, grassroots show driven by curiosity and a passion for breaking down complex health topics into bite-sized, easy-to-understand insights. Dr. Eeks (ErinKate Stair, MPH, MD) works as a senior consultant and contractor in the realm of public health, epidemiology, and health communication. She's all about making science relatable and often uses a blue-collar sense of humor to drive the message home. On this podcast, Dr. Eeks talks with experts from around the world (doctors, researchers, public health pros, and more) to dive into the latest hot topics in health and research, all in a down-to-earth kind of way. She also includes people with compelling stories of healing and "characters" because life is too boring and short to leave out characters. ;) DISCLAIMER: Some topics are more controversial than others, so keep in mind that this is information only and not health advice. If you are battling an individual health issue, always check in with your doctor & don't run with anything on podcast as advice. Dr. Eeks doesn't endorse any of her guests' views, and despite a strict health routine, nor does she endorse any products, supplements, oils, magic socks or potions. (If an episode is sponsored by a company she likes, she will say so in the show notes.) She does not practice medicine (only public health) so she does not give out medical advice nor should you treat anything on this podcast as medical advice.  Causes or Cures is not a "news site." It's about having conversations, and Dr. Eeks is confident that she can have a respectful conversation with anyone, even people who think far differently than she does. (At least that's been her experience at hole-in-the-walls & on the NYC sidewalks.) The point is to not take anything here as Gospel. Sometimes Dr. Eeks' dog Barnaby makes his opinion known, but the good news is that he's a smart dog. Most importantly, she hopes this podcast encourages folks to stay curious, empathic, hopeful, compassionate, honest, open-minded, and engaged. Freedom of discussion is a beautiful thing, delightfully messy, and one that many take for granted. *The views on this podcast do not reflect the views of anyone she contracts with or consults for on various public health projects.  You can help keep Causes or Cure independent and ad-free by hitting the "Support" button in the upper corner. You can contact Dr. Eeks through her website, bloomingwellness.com. SIGN UP for her Newsletter HERE: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/xnqmy06

  1. The Business of Healthcare Fraud and Corruption, with Professor Graham Brooks

    1 DAY AGO

    The Business of Healthcare Fraud and Corruption, with Professor Graham Brooks

    Send us a text Healthcare fraud and corruption are not limited to one type of country or healthcare system. It exists in low income, middle income, and wealthy nations alike. What differs is how it shows up, how visible it is, and who ends up paying the price. In this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks speaks with Professor Graham Brooks, an international expert on healthcare corruption and criminal justice, about how fraud and corruption operate across healthcare systems worldwide. Rather than treating corruption as a problem of “elsewhere,” this conversation focuses on the shared vulnerabilities that allow it to persist in both resource limited settings and highly regulated, well funded systems, like the US.  We discuss: What healthcare corruption looks like in low and middle income countries compared with wealthy countries, and why both are vulnerable in different waysReal world examples of healthcare corruption that illustrate how these schemes operate across contextsWho ultimately pays for corruption, including taxpayers, patients, and people at the pharmacy counter, regardless of national income levelHow much money is lost globally to healthcare fraud and corruption, and why those estimates almost certainly underestimate the true costWhy healthcare systems filled with trained professionals, regulations, and oversight remain surprisingly easy to exploitHow conflicts of interest and financial incentives can quietly shape care, guidelines, and clinical decisions across countriesWhere major corruption schemes tend to concentrate today, from billing and procurement to referrals and pricing practicesWhether data and AI can help detect corruption earlier without turning healthcare into a surveillance systemWhat patients and clinicians can realistically do to reduce their risk of exploitationAbout the Guest Professor Graham Brooks is an international expert on corruption in healthcare and criminal justice. He has advised governments, law enforcement bodies, and international organizations on counter fraud and anti corruption efforts, and has been a keynote speaker at major conferences across Europe. He has participated in United Kingdom Cabinet Office round table discussions on anti corruption, worked with the Royal United Services Institute on money laundering and online business risks, and currently serves as a member of the Group of Experts for the European Healthcare Fraud and Corruption Network. Professor Brooks has published extensively with international collaborators and is the author of Healthcare Corruption: Causes, Costs, Consequences and Criminal Justice. Work with me? Perhaps we are a good match.  You can contact Dr. Eeks at bloomingwellness.com. Follow Eeks on Instagram here. Follow Public Health is Weird Or Facebook here. Or X. On Youtube. Or TikTok. SUBSCRIBE to her WEEKLY newsletter here! Support the show

    1h 2m
  2. Exploring the Spiritual Realm: Angels, Healing Claims, and Skepticism, with Dr. Christopher Macklin

    18 JAN

    Exploring the Spiritual Realm: Angels, Healing Claims, and Skepticism, with Dr. Christopher Macklin

    Send us a text Exploring the Spiritual Realm Where spiritual belief meets health, culture, and skepticism  Disclaimer: This episode discusses spiritual and metaphysical beliefs that are not evidence-based medical treatments. Nothing in this conversation is medical or health advice. If you have a health concern, please seek care from a licensed clinician. This is entertainment only.  Recent surveys suggest around 69% of Americans say they believe in angels. Whatever you think of that, spiritual beliefs can shape real health decisions...what people trust, where they seek help, and how they make sense of illness. In this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks speaks with Dr. Christopher Macklin, a British-born spiritual teacher and interfaith minister, and founder of the Global Enlightenment Project. Christopher describes his lifelong spiritual experiences and his belief that he can work with “angels” and other non-physical beings in ways he says help people. We talk about what he believes, how he differentiates between types of angels, what he means by “Melchizedek beings,” and why some followers view his work as healing. And because Dr. Eeks is a skeptic, we also talk about skepticism: how he responds to critics, how he thinks about proof, and where he draws lines around claims. This episode is part of Eeks' broader exploration of the “spiritual” element of health—not as endorsement, but because spirituality influences how many people approach health and wellness, interpret symptoms, choose treatments, and build meaning around suffering. Think of it as part belief, part culture, part mystery. Guest bio: Dr. Christopher Macklin is a British-born spiritual teacher, interfaith minister, and founder of the Global Enlightenment Project. He describes having unusual spiritual perceptions since childhood and now offers spiritual guidance and sessions to clients internationally based on his personal beliefs about non-physical realms. Work with me? Perhaps we are a good match.  You can contact Dr. Eeks at bloomingwellness.com. Follow Eeks on Instagram here. Follow Public Health is Weird Or Facebook here. Or X. On Youtube. Or TikTok. SUBSCRIBE to her WEEKLY newsletter here! Support the show

    1h 11m
  3. They Received an Experimental Vaccine for Advanced Breast Cancer Decades Ago. They’re Still Alive Today—Dr. Zachary Hartman on the Science

    5 JAN

    They Received an Experimental Vaccine for Advanced Breast Cancer Decades Ago. They’re Still Alive Today—Dr. Zachary Hartman on the Science

    Send us a text What if cancer didn’t have to be eradicated, but could be remembered, monitored, and controlled by the immune system itself? In this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks speaks with Dr. Zachary Hartman, the lead researcher who revisited an extraordinary breast cancer vaccine trial conducted over 20 years ago. The trial involved a small group of women with advanced breast cancer. Women who, remarkably, are all still alive today. By analyzing their blood decades later, the research team discovered that these women still carried immune cells capable of recognizing their cancer, suggesting durable immune memory lasting more than two decades. (Study link here.) We discuss: The original breast cancer vaccine trial and what it was designed to do, in plain languageWhat it was like to discover that the women from the trial were still alive more than 20 years laterHow the immune systems of these women continued to recognize cancer cells long after the trialWhat CD27-positive immune cells are and why they matter, explained simplyWhy helper CD4 T cells may be just as important, or more important, than killer CD8 T cells when it comes to cancerWhat happened when researchers combined a CD27-boosting antibody with a cancer vaccine in miceWhat surprised the research team mostThe challenges of translating findings from mice to human trialsWhether cancer could someday be managed long-term by the immune systemHow generalizable this immune memory might be across different cancersWhat this research could mean for how we think about vaccines in a post-pandemic worldThe one key message the researcher hopes the public takes awayWhat’s next in this line of research Guest Bio: Dr. Zachary C. Hartman is an Associate Professor at Duke University in the Departments of Surgery, Pathology, and Integrative Immunobiology, where he also serves as Director of the Center for Applied Therapeutics and is a member of the Cellular and Molecular Biology and Genetics and Genomics programs. He earned his undergraduate degree from Northwestern University and completed his PhD at Duke University, followed by postdoctoral training in tumor immunology and breast oncology at Duke and the MD Anderson Cancer Center. In 2012, Dr. Hartman returned to Duke to establish a research program focused on tumor immunology and the development of cancer immunotherapies, including therapeutic vaccines, immune agonists, checkpoint inhibitors, antibody-based therapies, and strategies to stimulate anti-tumor immune responses.   Work with Eeks ? Perhaps we are a good match.  Subscribe to Eeks' weekly newsetter You can contact Dr. Eeks at bloomingwellness.com. Follow Eeks on Instagram here. Follow Public Health is Weird Or Facebook here. Or X. On Youtube. Or Support the show

    46 min
  4. Public Health is Weird: Are Poinsettias Really Poisonous? A Holiday Health Myth (with Eeks) — Bonus Episode

    29/12/2025

    Public Health is Weird: Are Poinsettias Really Poisonous? A Holiday Health Myth (with Eeks) — Bonus Episode

    Send us a text *Disclaimer*   This episode is part of the Causes or Cures Public Health Is Weird bonus series and is for educational and entertainment purposes only. If you’re worried about a child or pet eating a poinsettia, contact a medical professional or veterinarian. This podcast is not a poison control center.  :) Every December, poinsettias show up, and so does the panic. Suddenly, a festive red plant is treated like antifreeze with leaves: dangerous to kids, deadly to pets, and one accidental nibble away from an emergency vet visit. But where did this fear actually come from, and does the evidence support it? In this bonus episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks dives into one of the most persistent holiday health myths and asks a very public-health question: How did a weak claim turn into a century-long panic? Using poison-control data, toxicology studies, veterinary evidence, and a little personal history (including a dog named Barnaby and the hazards of NYC sidewalks), this episode unpacks what poinsettias really do, and don’t do, to humans and animals. In this episode, you’ll learn: Where the myth of the “deadly poinsettia” originated and why it stuckWhat large U.S. poison-control data shows about poinsettia exposures in childrenWhy poinsettias behave very differently in real life than in our imaginationsWhat toxicology studies in animals actually found (hint: no lethal effects)What the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center reports when pets chew on poinsettiasWhy dose and curiosity matter more than fearHow risk is often exaggerated when kids, pets, and holidays collideWhether Dr. Eeks would let her own pets near a poinsettia (spoiler: probably not, but not for the reasons you think)A Christmas legend behind the poinsettia...and a gentle reminder that miracles don’t pause for plant anatomyWork with me? Perhaps we are a good match.  You can contact Dr. Eeks at bloomingwellness.com. Follow Eeks on Instagram here. Follow Public Health is Weird Or Facebook here. Or X. On Youtube. Or TikTok. SUBSCRIBE to her WEEKLY newsletter here! References: All scientific references discussed in this episode are below and available on the accompanying blog post at BloomingWellness.com.  New York Botanical Garden Article: Dispelling a Seasonal Myth: For Humans, The Poinsettia is Not a Toxic Plant – Science Talk ArchiveKrenzelok, E. P., Jacobsen, T. D., & Aronis, J. M. (1996). Poinsettia exposures have good outcomes… just as we thought. The American Journal of Emergency Medicine, 14(7), 671–674.Evens, Z. N, & Stellpflug, S. J. (2012). Holiday Plants with Toxic Misconceptions. Western Journal of Emergency Medicine: Integrating Emergency Care with Population Health, 13(6). http://dx.doi.org/10.5811/westjem.2012.8.12572 Retrieved from https://escholarship.org/uc/iteSupport the show

    18 min
  5. Can Probiotics Protect You From Microplastics? With Dr. Christian Pacher-Deutsch

    22/12/2025

    Can Probiotics Protect You From Microplastics? With Dr. Christian Pacher-Deutsch

    Send us a text Microplastics are everywhere—but what are they doing inside the human body? In this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks speaks with Dr. Christian Pacher-Deutsch about his lastest study and the growing evidence that micro- and nanoplastics may affect the digestive system, the gut microbiome, and long-term health. He explains why this problem has reached crisis level.  Rather than focusing on dramatic claims or quick fixes, this conversation explores what the science actually shows, including how probiotics may help mitigate some of the harmful effects of microplastics...not by breaking them down, but by supporting gut integrity and immune balance. We discuss: What microplastics and nanoplastics are, how they’re formed, and where human exposure comes fromWhy nanoplastics may be especially concerning due to their size and biological interactionsThe range of health effects microplastics have been linked to, including immune, neurological, reproductive, and carcinogenic effectsHow microplastics may disrupt the gastrointestinal tract, including digestion, inflammation, barrier function, and gut permeabilityWhat the microbiome is and why it plays a central role in healthWhy probiotics were considered as a potential solution, and what the research foundWhy probiotic bacteria are unlikely to directly degrade plasticsHow probiotics may still help reduce inflammation and support the gut’s protective barriersWhether certain bacteria appear more protective than othersThe role of industry collaboration and whether probiotic formulations are being exploredWhether probiotics can realistically help us get ahead of the microplastic crisis, or if they are only part of a larger solutionPractical ways people can reduce exposure, and where reduction may be unrealisticHow diet, including probiotic- and prebiotic-rich foods, might help mitigate riskWhat this research changed about Dr. Pacher-Deutsch’s own habitsWhat’s next in microplastics and health researchThis episode offers a clear, evidence-based look at microplastics inside the human body—without panic, hype, or false promises. GUEST BIO: Dr. Pacher-Deutsch is a scientist and researcher in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria; Center for Biomarker Research in Medicine (CBmed), Graz, Austria.  Work with me? Perhaps we are a good match.  You can contact Dr. Eeks at bloomingwellness.com. Follow Eeks on Instagram here. Follow Public Health is Weird Or Facebook here. Or X. On Youtube. Or TikTok. SUBSCRIBE to her WEEKLY newsletter here! Support the show

    54 min
  6. Psychedelics and Acute Trauma: Insights from Oct 7th Nova Festival Survivors, with Dr. Zohar Rubinstein

    19/12/2025

    Psychedelics and Acute Trauma: Insights from Oct 7th Nova Festival Survivors, with Dr. Zohar Rubinstein

    Send us a text In this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks speaks with Dr. Zohar Rubinstein, a clinical psychologist, researcher and trauma expert about an early and deeply sensitive study examining how different substances may have influenced early trauma responses among survivors of the October 7 Nova music festival attack. Many survivors had taken substances just hours before the traumatic event — including classic psychedelics, MDMA, cannabis, alcohol, or none at all. Dr. Rubinstein’s team approached this research with extreme care, focusing on respect, consent, and the ethical challenges of studying trauma in real time. Together, they discuss: Why Dr. Rubinstein became interested in studying trauma at the moment it happens, not years laterHow the research team worked respectfully with survivors in the aftermath of mass traumaThe challenges of studying real-world substance use without lab-verified dosingWhy survivors who had taken classic psychedelics reported lower anxiety and fewer early PTSD symptoms compared with other groupsHow timing and state of consciousness during trauma may influence how the brain encodes memory and fearWhat we can, and cannot, conclude from an early, observational studyWhy these findings do not justify self-experimentation, but may justify further controlled researchWhat mental health professionals and policymakers should take away from this workHow doing trauma research has shaped Dr. Rubinstein’s own understanding of resilience and healingThis conversation does not promote psychedelic substance use. Instead, it explores how brain state, context, and timing may shape trauma responses, and why studying these questions responsibly matters. Content note: This episode discusses trauma related to the October 7 attacks. Listener discretion is advised. Disclaimer: This episode is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical or mental health advice. Dr. Zohar Rubinstein, PhD, is a clinical psychologist, trauma specialist, organizational psychologist and founder of the Morphic Institute. He is a founding member of the Interdisciplinary Master’s Program in Emergency and Disaster Management at the Faculty of Medicine at Tel Aviv University, where he lectures on trauma, resilience, and mental health in emergency settings. His research focuses on trauma, testimony, and resilience, including how individuals and societies process extreme events. Dr. Rubinstein developed an intensive short-term group intervention model for treating traumatic casualties and has led multidisciplinary research collaborations on trauma across psychology, history, and architecture.  Work with me? Perhaps we are a good match.  You can contact Dr. Eeks at bloomingwellness.com. Follow Eeks on Instagram here. Follow Public Health is Weird Or Facebook here. Or X. On Youtube. Or TikTok Support the show

    54 min
  7. Do Artificial Sweeteners Affect Your Brain? The Latest Evidence with Dr. Claudia Suemoto

    02/12/2025

    Do Artificial Sweeteners Affect Your Brain? The Latest Evidence with Dr. Claudia Suemoto

    Send us a text In this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks talks with Dr. Claudia Suemoto in Brazil about her new 8-year study looking at whether artificial sweeteners are linked to changes in thinking and memory. We cover: • How she started studying dementia and why she became curious about sweeteners. • What the research team hoped to learn and what they actually found. • Why these results are different from older, one-time “snapshot” studies. • Why the link between sweeteners and thinking problems showed up in people under 60, but not over 60. • The seven sweeteners they studied and whether any looked more concerning than others. • What a small decline on a cognition test really means in everyday life. • Whether people who switch to sweeteners because of health issues make sweeteners look guilty. • Whether there seems to be a “safe range” or if more sweetener means more risk. • How to use studies like this when they show association, not proof. • Easy ways to cut back on sweeteners without doubling your sugar. • What policies she thinks make sense while we wait for more data. • Her top tips for protecting your brain and lowering dementia risk. If you want a clear, calm, evidence-based take on sweeteners and brain health, this episode is for you. Guest Bio:  Claudia Suemoto, MD, PhD, is a geriatrician and researcher at the University of São Paulo whose work centers on successful brain aging, dementia, and the cardiovascular risks that shape both. She runs the Suemoto Lab, directs the Biobank for Aging Studies, contributes to the major ELSA-Brazil cohort, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Harvard School of Public Health. Dr. Suemoto has been recognized with major awards, including the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science honor and the Ewald W. Busse Research Award for her contributions to aging biology. She also serves in leadership roles with ISTAART and the Brazilian Society of Geriatrics and Gerontology.  Work with me? Perhaps we are a good match.  Follow Public Health is Weird You can contact Dr. Eeks at bloomingwellness.com. Follow Eeks on Instagram here. Or Facebook here. Or X. On Youtube. Or TikTok. SUBSCRIBE to her WEEKLY newsletter here! (Now featuring interviews with top experts on health you care about!) Support the show

    50 min
  8. How do Animals Self-Medicate and Heal Themselves? With Dr. Jaap de Roode

    25/11/2025

    How do Animals Self-Medicate and Heal Themselves? With Dr. Jaap de Roode

    Send us a text In this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks talks with Dr. Jaap de Roode, an evolutionary biologist and author of Doctors by Nature: How Ants, Apes, and Other Animals Heal Themselves, about one of the most fascinating corners of biology: the ways animals use plants, minerals, insects, and even toxins as medicine. They talk about: What sparked his interest in animals treating their own illnesses Why medicine isn’t only a human invention How scientists tell the difference between random behavior and true self-medication His favorite examples of animal doctors in the wild Whether animals know they’re taking medicine or if it’s instinct or trial-and-error The weirdest substances animals use to heal themselves What traditional healers who observed animals for years and years could teach us ,and what we ourselves could learn from observing this type of animal behavior.  Whether animal self-medication could lead to new drugs or therapies The risks of over-romanticizing “nature knows best” The scientific challenges in proving an animal is self-medicating  How seeing animals as medicine-users might change how we respect their lives and value their habitats  And the big question: Who is the best doctor in the animal kingdom?If you love animals, nature, weird science, evolutionary biology, or the idea that your pet might actually be a doctor or furry-little pharmacist, you’ll love this episode. Dr. Jaap de Roode runs a research lab at Emory University focused on how hosts and parasites co-evolve, from monarch butterflies to honey bees. He also leads science outreach, directs the Infectious Diseases Across Scales training program, and hosts the Virulent Vortex podcast. You can learn more about him and his research here.  Work with me? Perhaps we are a good match.  Follow Public Health is Weird You can contact Dr. Eeks at bloomingwellness.com. Follow Eeks on Instagram here. Or Facebook here. Or X. On Youtube. Or TikTok. SUBSCRIBE to her WEEKLY newsletter here! (Now featuring interviews with top experts on health you care about!) Support the show

    56 min
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About

"For the Nerds and the Nerd Nots"Causes or Cures is a health podcast hosted by Dr. Eeks—an independent, grassroots show driven by curiosity and a passion for breaking down complex health topics into bite-sized, easy-to-understand insights. Dr. Eeks (ErinKate Stair, MPH, MD) works as a senior consultant and contractor in the realm of public health, epidemiology, and health communication. She's all about making science relatable and often uses a blue-collar sense of humor to drive the message home. On this podcast, Dr. Eeks talks with experts from around the world (doctors, researchers, public health pros, and more) to dive into the latest hot topics in health and research, all in a down-to-earth kind of way. She also includes people with compelling stories of healing and "characters" because life is too boring and short to leave out characters. ;) DISCLAIMER: Some topics are more controversial than others, so keep in mind that this is information only and not health advice. If you are battling an individual health issue, always check in with your doctor & don't run with anything on podcast as advice. Dr. Eeks doesn't endorse any of her guests' views, and despite a strict health routine, nor does she endorse any products, supplements, oils, magic socks or potions. (If an episode is sponsored by a company she likes, she will say so in the show notes.) She does not practice medicine (only public health) so she does not give out medical advice nor should you treat anything on this podcast as medical advice.  Causes or Cures is not a "news site." It's about having conversations, and Dr. Eeks is confident that she can have a respectful conversation with anyone, even people who think far differently than she does. (At least that's been her experience at hole-in-the-walls & on the NYC sidewalks.) The point is to not take anything here as Gospel. Sometimes Dr. Eeks' dog Barnaby makes his opinion known, but the good news is that he's a smart dog. Most importantly, she hopes this podcast encourages folks to stay curious, empathic, hopeful, compassionate, honest, open-minded, and engaged. Freedom of discussion is a beautiful thing, delightfully messy, and one that many take for granted. *The views on this podcast do not reflect the views of anyone she contracts with or consults for on various public health projects.  You can help keep Causes or Cure independent and ad-free by hitting the "Support" button in the upper corner. You can contact Dr. Eeks through her website, bloomingwellness.com. SIGN UP for her Newsletter HERE: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/xnqmy06

Information

  • Creator
    Dr. Eeks
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    242
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Causes or Cures
  • Show Website
    Causes or Cures