• RFK Jr.: One Year in Office
    Feb 20 2026

    There’s a saying in parenting: “The days are long, but the years are short.” This could also apply to the whirlwind first year of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s tenure as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. This week on Health Wanted, we take a walk down memory lane to review all that RFK Jr. and the MAHA movement have been able to accomplish in their first year…for better or for worse.

    Plus: Is it safe to pee in an unflushed toilet? Could a case of mono cause scarlet fever? And the Sick of the Week.

    For a full rundown on all the information shared in today's episode, take a look at the show notes.

    Have a question for Laurel? Send it to healthwanted@wabe.org or leave a voicemail at 404-888-3630!

    For more, visit healthwanted.org

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    52 Min.
  • Sugar
    Feb 13 2026

    Valentine’s day is here, and with it, mountains of sweets! Boxes of chocolates! Candy hearts that somehow still have phrases like “fax me!” There’s no limit to confectioneries for your cutie pie, but what does the research say about our sweet tooth’s connection to our overall health? This week on Health Wanted, we’re talking sugar, sugar.

    Plus: Does measles vaccination protect against SSPE? Are these measles outbreaks caused by foreign or domestic strains? And the Sick of the Week

    For a full rundown on all the information shared in today's episode, take a look at the show notes.

    Have a question for Laurel? Send it to healthwanted@wabe.org or leave a voicemail at 404-888-3630!

    For more, visit healthwanted.org

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    52 Min.
  • Dairy
    Feb 6 2026

    This week’s episode of Health Wanted has it all: Covert influencer sponsored content! Taco Bell! School lunches! The new Dietary Guidelines for Americans! And it all comes back to dairy. Join us as we take a look at the udder-ly fascinating history of how milk became the essential drink for kids…and if it’s really as healthy as advertisers might have you believe.

    Plus: How to respond to chemical irritants. An update on Tylenol and autism, and the Sick of the Week.

    For a full rundown on all the information shared in today's episode, take a look at the show notes.

    Have a question for Laurel? Send it to healthwanted@wabe.org or leave a voicemail at 404-888-3630!

    For more, visit healthwanted.org

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    52 Min.
  • Sterilization
    Jan 30 2026

    In a post-Roe world, more people are opting for a more permanent form of birth control, but their access might be limited by rules intended to prevent us from repeating violations of the past. This week on Health Wanted, we’re taking a look at the history of sterilization, and how well-intentioned laws can end up hurting people they meant to protect.

    Plus: Can you get ringworm from your pets? Are people who say cilantro tastes like soap lying for attention? Do noise cancelling headphones hurt your hearing? How are we counting vaccines? And the Sick of the Week.

    For a full rundown on all the information shared in today's episode, take a look at the show notes.

    Have a question for Laurel? Send it to healthwanted@wabe.org or leave a voicemail at 404-888-3630!

    For more, visit healthwanted.org

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    52 Min.
  • DIY Health Care
    Jan 23 2026

    The internet is a mecca for DIY enthusiasts. You can find out how to remodel your house, fix your car, and even…become your own doctor? This week on Health Wanted: As more Americans become disillusioned with our health care system, more tech companies are providing DIY alternatives to doctor’s offices…but is that a good thing?

    Plus: Is getting shingles protective against dementia? Do we all need to be testing our VO2 max? Will the Epstein-Barr virus kill us all? And the Sick of the Week.

    For a full rundown on all the information shared in today's episode, take a look at the show notes.

    Have a question for Laurel? Send it to healthwanted@wabe.org or leave a voicemail at 404-888-3630!

    For more, visit healthwanted.org

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    53 Min.
  • Radiation
    Jan 16 2026

    Do you have acne? Low energy? Stinky feet? Ugly face? Crossed eyes? Well have we got the cure for you: RADIOACTIVE DECAY. This week on Health Wanted, we’re putting on our lead aprons to look back at the history of radiation as a cure-all, including an interview with Timothy Jorgensen, author of Strange Glow.

    Plus: Why returning to working out after a break might make you sick. Does viral load mean someone who’s sicker than you can make you sicker? What’s going on with the new dietary guidelines for Americans? And the Sick of the Week.

    For a full rundown on all the information shared in today's episode, take a look at the show notes.

    Have a question for Laurel? Send it to healthwanted@wabe.org or leave a voicemail at 404-888-3630!

    For more, visit healthwanted.org

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    53 Min.
  • Brain-Computer Interfaces
    Jan 9 2026

    Mind control—it’s often thought of as a science fiction trope, borne from fears of body snatchers or domineering overlords. But what if we’re thinking about the term the wrong way? Maybe we should be considering the reverse. This week on Health Wanted, we talk about how brain-computer interfaces are expanding the possibilities for our minds to control our worlds, including an interview with Dr. Chethan Pandarinath of the Systems Neural Engineering Lab.

    Plus: an update on the flu season. Does the Shingrix vaccine protect against cancer? And what the new CDC immunization recommendations mean for vaccine access.

    For a full rundown on all the information shared in today's episode, take a look at the show notes.

    Have a question for Laurel? Send it to healthwanted@wabe.org or leave a voicemail at 404-888-3630!

    For more, visit healthwanted.org

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    52 Min.
  • Cleanses
    Jan 2 2026

    New Year, new you, new opportunities to punish yourself for being human! This week on Health Wanted…we’re kicking off the new year by putting you on a cleanse to detox you from useless health morality. Laurel Bristow talks with health psychologist Dr. Charlotte Markey about so-called “fresh starts” and the role of body image in weight loss.

    Plus: Is testosterone the most active hormone during your period? What causes the “asian glow” when drinking alcohol? How do we know what’s a mutation and what’s normal? Can a little bit of butter before bed prevent panic attacks? What’s new in the world of gonorrhea treatments? And the Sick of the Week.

    For a full rundown on all the information shared in today's episode, take a look at the show notes.

    Have a question for Laurel? Send it to healthwanted@wabe.org or leave a voicemail at 404-888-3630!

    For more, visit healthwanted.org

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    52 Min.