175 episodes

Causes or Cures is an independent health and public health podcast hosted by Dr. Eeks. There are no corporate or academic sponsors, just a grassroots podcast rooted in curiosity and passion that tries to break down tough topics into digestible bits. Dr. Eeks works in the field of public health and health communications as a consultant & contractor. She is passionate about how science is communicated and has a penchant for using a blue-collar sense of humor as a health communications tool. On this podcast, she features experts in their field, doctors, public health experts, public figures, researchers, interesting people, "characters", and folks with compelling personal stories, with the goal of discussing hot topics in public health and wellness in a down-to-earth kinda way. Sometimes they will discuss stranger stuff too, mainly because life is short and it's fun. ;)  DISCLAIMER: Some topics are more controversial than others, so keep in mind that this is information only and not any kind of health advice. 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. 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-wall bars.) Some people are experts, some people are interesting or intriguing to talk to, and some people are both. 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. **You can contact Dr. Eeks (or her dog) through her blog, bloomingwellness.com. (Keep in mind that there are some blogs on there that are advertisement only. She does not review them, they are usually awful, but they help fund Barnaby's treat habit.)  Finally, thanks for listening, subscribing, sharing and supporting the show through the Support the Show Link! :) 

Causes or Cures Dr. Eeks

    • Health & Fitness
    • 4.8 • 41 Ratings

Causes or Cures is an independent health and public health podcast hosted by Dr. Eeks. There are no corporate or academic sponsors, just a grassroots podcast rooted in curiosity and passion that tries to break down tough topics into digestible bits. Dr. Eeks works in the field of public health and health communications as a consultant & contractor. She is passionate about how science is communicated and has a penchant for using a blue-collar sense of humor as a health communications tool. On this podcast, she features experts in their field, doctors, public health experts, public figures, researchers, interesting people, "characters", and folks with compelling personal stories, with the goal of discussing hot topics in public health and wellness in a down-to-earth kinda way. Sometimes they will discuss stranger stuff too, mainly because life is short and it's fun. ;)  DISCLAIMER: Some topics are more controversial than others, so keep in mind that this is information only and not any kind of health advice. 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. 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-wall bars.) Some people are experts, some people are interesting or intriguing to talk to, and some people are both. 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. **You can contact Dr. Eeks (or her dog) through her blog, bloomingwellness.com. (Keep in mind that there are some blogs on there that are advertisement only. She does not review them, they are usually awful, but they help fund Barnaby's treat habit.)  Finally, thanks for listening, subscribing, sharing and supporting the show through the Support the Show Link! :) 

    Understanding the Science of Nature's Mental Health Benefits, with Dr. Jay Maddock

    Understanding the Science of Nature's Mental Health Benefits, with Dr. Jay Maddock

    In this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Jay Maddock about his research on the scientific link between nature and mental health benefits. The focus is on one of his recently published studies that analyzed the link between communities' "Nature Score" and anxiety, stress and depression. He explains what a "Nature Score" is, how they did the study and the results. He describes other research showing that exposure to nature is beneficial for PTSD and ADHD and explains theories for why nature is linked to mental health benefits and lack of nature may be detrimental. Finally, he discusses ongoing research in this area and implications for public health practices.

    Dr. Maddock is a researcher and regents professor in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health at Texas A&M University. He is director of the Center for Health and Nature,  Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Healthy Eating and Active Living and Chair of the Nature and Health Alliance.

    You can contact Dr. Eeks at bloomingwellness.com.
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    • 46 min
    Sleeping Less, Ailing More: The Link Between Short Sleep, Diet and Type 2 Diabetes, with Dr. Diana Noga

    Sleeping Less, Ailing More: The Link Between Short Sleep, Diet and Type 2 Diabetes, with Dr. Diana Noga

    On this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Diana Noga about her new research on the relationship between short sleep and the risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes. This is especially relevant in a busy world that doesn't prioritize sleep and is already facing growing rates of Type 2 Diabetes, even in younger age groups.
     In the podcast, she discusses how they conducted their study and the theories for why a short nightly sleep duration may increase risk for Type 2 Diabetes. She also explains a surprising finding, which was that  a healthy diet did not mitigate risk of Type 2 Diabetes when short sleep was involved.
    Dr. Noga is a researcher at Uppsala University in Sweden where she focuses on the relationship between sleep and health. You can learn more about her work here.

    You can contact Dr. Eeks at bloomingwellness.com.
    Follow Eeks on Instagram here.
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    • 44 min
    The Bark Side of Medicine: a Vaccine for Cancer in Dogs is in the Works, with Dr. Mark Mamula

    The Bark Side of Medicine: a Vaccine for Cancer in Dogs is in the Works, with Dr. Mark Mamula

    In this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Mark Mamula about the vaccine he and his team created for cancer in dogs. In the podcast, he explains how they created the vaccine, how it works, how they are testing it in dogs, and what is currently known about how well it works. He describes the types of cancers in dogs that the vaccine is targeting, the similarities between cancer in dogs and cancer in humans and how the vaccine could one day also be used for cancer in humans.
    Dr. Mamula is a researcher and professor of medicine at Yale School of Medicine. His lab focuses on cancer immunology, tumor biology and autoimmune disease. You can learn more about his work here. You can read a scientific paper on the vaccine for cancer in dogs here.

    You can contact Dr. Eeks at bloomingwellness.com.
    Follow Eeks on Instagram here.
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    • 52 min
    From at least 200 Deadly Snake Bites to Using his Blood to Create Universal Antivenom, with venom expert Tim Friede

    From at least 200 Deadly Snake Bites to Using his Blood to Create Universal Antivenom, with venom expert Tim Friede

    In this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with venom expert Tim Friede about his twenty plus years' "unusual" journey with the world's most venomous snakes: Seeking protection from snake bites, Tim purposely injected himself with diluted venom at escalating doses until he achieved a level of hyperimmunity unknown to humans. Working by himself in his Wisconsin home, Tim achieved the uncanny ability of being purposely bitten by the world's deadliest snakes, including cobras, rattlers, black mambas, et al and surviving with no major side effects. He has been bitten by snakes at least 200 times. He has had some close calls, which he discusses in the podcast.
    Understanding that his blood was an anomalous, potentially life-saving stew for future victims of snake bites, Tim joined forces with Jacob Glanville, founder of biotech company Centivax, to create the world's first fully human broad-spectrum antivenom. In the podcast, Tim explains how Centivax is using his blood to do this and where they are in their research to create universal antivenom.

    You can contact Dr. Eeks at bloomingwellness.com.
    Follow Eeks on Instagram here.
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    SUBSCRIBE to her monthly newsletter here!
     
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    • 59 min
    Unveilling the Rapid Benefits of Quitting Smoking at Any Age, with Dr. Prabhat Jha

    Unveilling the Rapid Benefits of Quitting Smoking at Any Age, with Dr. Prabhat Jha

    On this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Prabhat Jha about his fascinating research recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine on the extent and speed at which quitting smoking reduces death rates from smoking-related illnesses.  What he describes in the podcast will be encouragement for anyone, no matter how long they smoked, to consider quitting. In addition to his research, we also chat about evidence for and against vaping, and he also shares a colorful tale on the lows the tobacco industry will go to keep people hooked.
    Dr. Jha is an epidemiologist, researcher and founding director of the Centre for Global Health Research at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto. His research focus is death resulting from HIV, tobacco, alcohol, malaria and both infectious and non-communicable diseases in general. You can read more about him on his Wikipedia page here.

    You can contact Dr. Eeks at bloomingwellness.com.
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    • 50 min
    Why Do People Hide the Fact that They are Sick with an Infectious Disease? With Dr. Wilson Merrell

    Why Do People Hide the Fact that They are Sick with an Infectious Disease? With Dr. Wilson Merrell

    In this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Wilson Merrell about his recently published research on the percentage of people who hide the fact that they are sick with an infectious disease. In the podcast, he discusses who hides the fact that they are sick, when they do it, why they do it and how they do it. He explains their motives, things the researchers found surprising and the wider implications of his research. 
    Dr. Merrell is a researcher who completed his PhD in social psychology at the University of Michigan. He is currently doing postdoc research at the Center for the Experimental-Philosophical Study of Discrimination at Aarhus University.  His research focus is on psychological processes that help people manage fundamental threats and opportunities in their environment.  



    You can contact Dr. Eeks at bloomingwellness.com.
    Follow Eeks on Instagram here.
    Or Facebook here.
    Or Twitter.
    On Youtube.
    Or Threads.
    SUBSCRIBE to her newsletter here.



    Support the show

    • 26 min

Customer Reviews

4.8 out of 5
41 Ratings

41 Ratings

Israel197o ,

What a wonderful find!

I truly look forward to your next podcast. They are all so informative and you have some great guests on! The last one with Dr Naor “Is Anybody Out There” was truly awesome! Great job Doctor and keep it up!

YourCabinMate ,

Love it!

"Dr. Eeks' public health podcast offers invaluable insights in succinct episodes. With expert analysis and engaging discussions, it navigates diverse health topics, making complex issues accessible. A must-listen for informed perspectives on public health."

Thavia ,

Great addition to my list

What a great podcast! Highly recommend

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