#healthcare-policy
18 episodes
#3516: What Actually Happens When You Say Yes to the Suicide Question
60% of depressed people experience suicidal thoughts. Here's what really happens when you tell a therapist.
#3511: How to Navigate Post-Gallbladder Surgery Symptoms
Seven years after gallbladder surgery, one patient's search for answers reveals how to advocate for yourself when the system won't connect the dots.
#3160: The Five Pathways to Homelessness (You’re Wrong About One)
26,000 people tracked across 50 cities. Five distinct pathways. One surprising number: 40-50% are employed.
#3146: Why Youth Smoking Is Rising in Israel
Global smoking is down, but youth rates in Israel are rising. Here’s why.
#3128: The Real Job of a Policy Wonk
What does a policy wonk actually do? It's not just a put-down — it's a real, high-impact job.
#3070: The Hidden World of Custom Drug Dosing
Why getting a precise 6.25mg Seroquel dose reveals the strange economics of custom medicine.
#2422: Rare Diseases: Incentives That Work and Backfire
How orphan drug policies created 800 new treatments—and the "orphan paradox" that lets blockbusters game the system.
#2420: How 4 Countries Actually Destigmatized Mental Health
Australia, New Zealand, Rwanda, and the Netherlands show what structural change looks like — not just awareness campaigns.
#2153: How Lobbying Actually Works in DC
Federal lobbying hit $6B in 2025. Here’s what a lobbyist actually does all day—and why the system regulates itself.
#1902: How a Single Blood Vial Becomes Hundreds of Results
A single vial of blood can yield hundreds of results. Here’s the high-tech industrial process that makes it possible.
#1274: The Weight of "Mild": Understanding Chronic Depression
"Mild" depression isn't a light burden—it's a slow rot. Discover why clinical labels often fail to capture the reality of chronic low mood.
#1256: Why Hospitals Still Treat Dads Like Unwanted Guests
Why are new fathers still treated like guests? Explore the systemic exclusion of dads from the maternity ward to the digital world.
#1191: Are Your Vitamins Just Expensive Houseplants?
Are your vitamins actually doing anything? Discover the regulatory loopholes and quality control issues hiding behind your supplement labels.
#1188: The Fixed Patient Paradox: Is Therapy a Forever Subscription?
Is therapy a tool for healing or an infinite subscription? Explore the tension between quick protocols and decade-long clinical journeys.
#838: The Afternoon Crash: ADHD Boosters and Metabolism
Why do ADHD meds wear off early? Explore the science of fast metabolism and the role of booster doses in managing the daily neurochemical curve.
#496: Beyond the FDA: Why Small Nations Re-Review Medicine
If the FDA says a drug is safe, why wait? Explore the science, economics, and recent reforms behind local pharmaceutical approvals.
#479: How the Pandemic Actually Ended
The pandemic "ended," but the virus remains. Herman and Corn break down the 2026 landscape of variants, policy shifts, and vaccine guidance.
#436: The Myth of Instinctual Parenting
You need a license to drive, but not to bring home a baby. Herman and Corn discuss the critical need for subsidized parenting education.