LearnOn Podcast: The Science Show By Kids, For Everyone!

Jaansi and Sunay Patel
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  • MEDICINE
  • EVERY TWO WEEKS
LearnOn Podcast: The Science Show By Kids, For Everyone! Podcast

Welcome to LearnOn Podcast, the science show by kids, for everyone! In engaging weekly episodes, you'll learn about problems and solutions in science with your hosts Jaansi (16 years old) and Sunay (10 years old). We discuss interesting topics such as health equity, medical technology, neuroscience, and mental health. We also work with a wide variety of medical professionals, researchers, businesses, non-profit organizations, and other companies to spread our message. Enjoy our podcast with endless learning to come!

  1. Gene Therapy for Muscular Dystrophy (featuring Dr. Jerry Mendell)

    4 SEPT

    Gene Therapy for Muscular Dystrophy (featuring Dr. Jerry Mendell)

    What would it be like to dedicate over 50 years of your life towards treating a disease? Today, we're finding out with Dr. Jerry Mendell, who has been working to help patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy since the 1960s. He is known for studying a similar disorder and partnering with Sarepta Therapeutics to create a therapy that delivers healthy copies of the dystrophin gene, which was approved by the FDA in June of 2023. Join us to hear Dr. Mendell's thoughts on applying new forms of gene therapy for this condition, extrapolating his findings to treat spinal muscular atrophy, and the onslaught of modern research becoming outdated in the context of accelerating technological developments.

    27 min
  2. The Genetics of Pregnancy Complications (featuring Dr. Marlena Fejzo)

    1 SEPT

    The Genetics of Pregnancy Complications (featuring Dr. Marlena Fejzo)

    Pregnancy, though vital for sustaining human life, comes with its own unique set of challenges. From weight fluctuation to morning sickness, most people who have experienced pregnancy were no stranger to these symptoms. But what happens when it goes too far? Today, we're discussing hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), a pregnancy complication that's often confused with the more milder versions of its symptoms, with geneticist Dr. Marlena Fejzo. Tune in to hear about her journey in researching the causes of hyperemesis, the importance of recognizing it in order to prevent negative health effects, and expanding dataset diversity by partnering with widespread genetic testing platform 23andMe.Dr. Marlena Fejzo is a researcher in the Center for Genetic Epidemiology at the University of Southern California. She has a PhD in genetics from Harvard University. She is also an HG survivor, which has informed her experiences as the Chief Scientific Officer of Harmonia Healthcare as well as a board member and research advisor for the HER foundation (see below).Learn about Harmonia Healthcare: www.harmoniahealthcare.com/Check out the HER foundation: www.hyperemesis.org/

    27 min
  3. Philosophy, Medicine, and Virtual Reality: What's the Connection? (featuring Dr. Brennan Spiegel)

    27 AUG

    Philosophy, Medicine, and Virtual Reality: What's the Connection? (featuring Dr. Brennan Spiegel)

    Throughout this podcast, we've explored many facets of what makes science and health so interdisciplinary. Today, we're adding one more factor to the mix: philosophy. Specifically, we'll be joined by Dr. Brennan Spiegel to learn about the future of virtual reality in new medical technologies and how it can be informed by a philosophical approach to tackle complex questions emerging from this field. Tune in to discover the ever-evolving nature of medical technology, how virtual reality can be used for mental health applications, and what human consciousness really means.Dr. Brennan Spiegel directs the Cedars-Sinai Center for Outcomes Research and Education (CS-CORE) to develop one of the largest medical VR programs and support the emerging field of Medical Extended Reality (MXR). Along with authoring many medical textbooks and over 270 articles in peer-reviewed journals, he published the best-selling book VRx: How Immersive Therapeutics Will Revolutionize Medicine in 2020.Read Dr. Spiegel's book here: www.amazon.com/VRx-Virtual-Therapeutics-Revolutionize-Medicine/dp/1541699769Check out Xaia, the mental health VR app developed by Dr. Spiegel's team: xaia.health/

    28 min
  4. Healthcare for Migrants (featuring Kim Nolte)

    26 AUG

    Healthcare for Migrants (featuring Kim Nolte)

    Though there are many known issues with the American healthcare system, one of the most overlooked faults is that it's designed for people who stay in place. Care is often neglected or subpar for immigrants, citizens that regularly travel for work, and other people that frequently move around for various reasons. To understand why this is the case and how to fix it, we spoke with Kim Nolte, CEO of the Migrant Clinicians Network. Tune in to hear about the importance of language for effective communication in medical settings, how this organization carefully tailors resources for the individual needs of populations they serve, and the power of turning your worst moments into your best ones.Kim Nolte joined the Migrant Clinicians Network in 2023. At MCN, she leads with her unique expertise through a master's degree in public health and multilingual experience. Prior to that, she served as the CEO of the Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Power & Potential, where she spearheaded a campaign to reduce the teen birth rate of Georgia by a third in just 5 years.Check out MCN's website here: www.migrantclinician.org/

    31 min
  5. Rapid Diagnosis of Alzheimer's (featuring Dr. Venkat Shastri)

    24 AUG

    Rapid Diagnosis of Alzheimer's (featuring Dr. Venkat Shastri)

    Tackling Alzheimer's disease has seemed to take up a lot of headlines lately - from drugs reducing the severity of symptoms to new research studies revolutionizing how we understand its causes, the media has been nothing short of enthralled by recent advances. However, the initial step of diagnosis is often overlooked despite being a key component of this story. Today, we're chatting with Dr. Venkat Shastri about how his company ALZPath developed a blood test for a protein marker to catch Alzheimer's early on and help prevent its progression. Join us to learn about how we can cut costs of expensive testing and the power of visualizing 5 to 10 years into the future!​Dr. Venkat Shastri is the CEO of ALZPath and the De Sanctis professor of engineering and entrepreneurship at the University of San Diego. He has a PhD in electrical and computer engineering and has been involved in many related startups. He has also previously conducted research at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Yale University along with serving as a consulting professor at Stanford University.Check out ALZPath: alzpath.bio/

    32 min
  6. Safe Drinking Water for All (featuring Ronnie Levin)

    22 AUG

    Safe Drinking Water for All (featuring Ronnie Levin)

    Many of us have heard about the issue of lead pipes contaminating our water supply. Though it's been well established that this could improve the health of millions of Americans, the challenge in moving forward is deciding whether the immense upfront costs of replacing pipes is worth it from a financial standpoint. To tackle this issue, we're discussing with Ronnie Levin, a Harvard professor who previously worked at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Tune in to hear about how the brilliant simplicity of her cost-benefit analysis approach pushed the EPA to commit to replacing all of the USA's lead pipes in the next decade for better health outcomes.​Ronnie Levin is an instructor in Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health’s department of environmental health. In May of 2023, she published a study demonstrating that the resulting health benefits of replacing lead pipes would be around $9 billion and result in an additional minimum of $2 billion in infrastructure benefits -- all by using analysis methods she developed during her time working at the EPA for 40 years.

    28 min
  7. Building a Growth Mindset for Research (featuring Dr. Katalin Karikó)

    19 AUG

    Building a Growth Mindset for Research (featuring Dr. Katalin Karikó)

    Some of the greatest scientific advancements of all time were made completely on accident or weren't recognized until far after the discoverer's death. But how do you stay motivated as a scientist when things don't go according to plan? To tackle this topic, we're interviewing Dr. Karikó, a Nobel Prize winner who's had her fair share of ups and downs through decades of researching mRNA. Join us in a conversation about her thoughts on prioritizing health through hard work, future applications of mRNA technology, and the power of focusing on self-improvement amidst a world full of comparisons.Dr. Katalin Karikó is a Hungarian-American researcher known for her work in mRNA technology. In 2023, she was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine along with Dr. Drew Weissman for the applications of her work in modifying mRNA to develop COVID-19 vaccines. Dr. Karikó is also a senior vice president at BioNTech and an adjunct professor of Neurosurgery at the University of Pennsylvania.

    28 min
  8. The Ins and Outs of Scientific Journalism (featuring Max Levy)

    15 AUG

    The Ins and Outs of Scientific Journalism (featuring Max Levy)

    One of the most important ways that we're inspired to discuss topics on this podcast is through science journalism: that is, reading the latest news in STEM fields to stay updated on new innovations! However, considering the sheer volume of science content available on the Internet, it's crucial to know how to navigate this scene. Today, we chatted with Max Levy to discuss key takeaways in this field from his experience as a researcher turned journalist. Tune in to hear about how he comes up with unique stories, balancing individual interests with the need of the consumer, and the power of following your passion to create the best content.​Max Levy is a freelance science journalist based in Los Angeles, California, with a Ph.D. in chemical & biological engineering from the University of Colorado, Boulder. He specializes in writing, editing, and fact-checking across a wide array of science topics, making complex scientific concepts accessible and engaging for a broad audience. His work has been featured on WIRED, Quanta Magazine, The Atlantic, Drug Discovery News, Smithsonian, TED-Ed, Veritasium, Vox, and more.Check out his magazine, Sequencer, here: www.sequencermag.com/

    25 min
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Welcome to LearnOn Podcast, the science show by kids, for everyone! In engaging weekly episodes, you'll learn about problems and solutions in science with your hosts Jaansi (16 years old) and Sunay (10 years old). We discuss interesting topics such as health equity, medical technology, neuroscience, and mental health. We also work with a wide variety of medical professionals, researchers, businesses, non-profit organizations, and other companies to spread our message. Enjoy our podcast with endless learning to come!

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