Significant Stories: Podcasting the History of Science Dave Unger and HISTSCI 193

We explore the history and implications of aging research. First we review the evolution of the medical understanding of the aging process, then we conclude with a discussion of the ethics associated with current anti-aging proposals.

In Episode 3 of “Significant Stories: Health and Healing” co-hosts CJ and Nick discuss traditional and Western processes of medical discovery, as well as the unique and ancient history of the ma huang plant.

In Episode 2 of “Significant Stories: Health and Healing,” Chris interviews his friend Kamil to discuss cultural healing and healthcare access in the Afar region of Djibouti, Ethiopia, and Eritrea.

In Episode 1 of “Significant Stories: Health and Healing,” co-hosts Judy and Maia talk about biopiracy, the connections between Western and traditional medicine, and the legal battle that ensued in the 1990s when turmeric was granted a patent in the United States.

This episode is about the subjective language used by the West to describe the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in the global south. We dive into how countries like Senegal and Rwanda are leading the charge in COVID-19 management and innovation, despite skeptical coverage by Western media that might have you believe otherwise. We listen to news coverage from throughout the pandemic to facilitate a larger discussion about how the media plays an outsized role in shaping public opinion. 

In this episode, we dive into the environmental factors that contribute to the disproportionate incidence of COVID-19 morbidity and mortality in minority communities. We explore the institutions and practices underlying the increased burden of pollution and other forms of environmental toxicity placed on communities of color. This episode features an interview with Kim Gaddy, an Environmental Justice Organizer for Clean Water Action of New Jersey.