Best Dr Christopher Labos Podcasts (2024)

1
103 – Lupus / Tylenol in Pregnancy / Red Meat 1:00:14

1h ago1:00:14

1:00:14

What does the body of evidence say on lupus, the autoimmune disease that famously imitates so many other illnesses? Plus: a new study shows that Tylenol in pregnancy is not associated with neurodevelopmental problems, and Chris revisits the topic of red meat following a listener’s question. A Block: Lupus (0:57) How common lupus is; what may be cau…

1
Myths and Mindsets in a Decade of Electric Transport – Robert Llewellyn 1:13:17

8d ago1:13:17

1:13:17

In the last 10 years consumer production models of EVs have become more readily available. In spite of data which shows EVs are more efficient than fossil fuel vehicles, with reduced CO2, emissions and particulates, in a recent policy U-turn, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak kicked back the date for full transition to EVs to 2035, eliciting heavy critici…

1
102 – Too Tired to Party / Avian Flu / Earwax 45:46

13d ago45:46

45:46

It’s the case of the woman who was too tired to “par-tay!” What is afflicting her? It’s something that we don’t about enough. Plus: what is happening with avian flu and should you keep using Q-tips in your ears to remove earwax? A Block: The Case of the Woman Who Was Too Tired to Party (0:58) A woman falls asleep at work and has a constant headache…

1
How cholesterol skepticism became a pseudoscience – Dr Christopher Labos 1:40:06

21d ago1:40:06

1:40:06

There was a time when you could be skeptical about cholesterol’s role in cardiovascular prevention. There was uncertainty about causality, diet seemed to have little impact and the drugs were either ineffective or potentially dangerous. But then things changed. Medications improved, genetic causes of high cholesterol became clear, and the cardiovas…

1
101 - Measles / AG1 / A Day in the Life of a Doctor 1:11:46

28d ago1:11:46

1:11:46

What does the body of evidence say on measles, that scourge we thought we’d gotten rid of? Plus: do you need to drink AG1 every day for the rest of your life, and Chris explains what doctors do and don’t control when you see them at the clinic. A Block: Measles (0:57) How many people have measles; how measles is transmitted; how the disease progres…

1
100 - Ask Us Anything 1:33:19

2M ago1:33:19

1:33:19

It’s episode 100! For this very special episode, Jonathan and Chris do the Wired autocomplete interview; they answer listeners’ personal and health-related questions; and they make an announcement that will forever change the face of the podcast. A Block: The Wired Interview (1:14) What happens when you google “Jonathan Jarry” and “Christopher Labo…

1
First Light: Switching on Stars at the Dawn of Time – Dr Emma Chapman 1:22:47

2M ago1:22:47

1:22:47

Astronomers have successfully observed a great deal of the Universe’s history, from recording the afterglow of the Big Bang to imaging thousands of galaxies, and even to visualising an actual black hole. There’s a lot for astronomers to be smug about. But when it comes to understanding how the Universe began and grew up we are literally in the dark…

1
099 - Acne / New Food Allergy Drug / Answering Emails 1:09:00

2M ago1:09:00

1:09:00

What does the body of evidence say on acne and how to treat it? Plus: you’re going to want to pay attention to this latest study if you have food allergies, and Chris answers listeners’ questions about when to exercise, whether spinal cord stimulators work, and why some older adults are told that surgery would mess with their brain. A Block: Acne (…

1
Tourette Syndrome: Sounds, movements and myths. – Adrienne Hill 2:01:49

2M ago2:01:49

2:01:49

During her presentation, Adrienne will delve into the myriad myths surrounding Tourette Syndrome, the intriguing TikTok Tics phenomenon that started during the pandemic, and the pseudoscientific “cures” targeting vulnerable parents who seek to support their children. Be ready with pencil and paper to experience what it is like to live with TS+. Adr…

1
098 - The Case of the Injured Water-Skiier / Cancer Update 50:12

3M ago50:12

50:12

It’s the case of the injured water-skier, which gets Chris to talk about painkillers (NSAIDs, opioids, and Tylenol) and how quickly you lose muscle mass when you’re injured. Plus: a cancer update! Should you pay thousands of dollars for a full-body scan to make sure you don’t have cancer? Can you legally send poop through the mail? And how can we m…

1
The science of mental health; how it goes wrong, how it’s treated, and the many misunderstandings in between – Dr Dean Burnett 1:41:13

3M ago1:41:13

1:41:13

Mental health awareness is a very big concern in 2021, particularly with the impact of the pandemic and lockdown. But while being aware that mental health can and does go wrong is important, very little attention is paid to how and why this happens. In his new book, Psycho Logical, neuroscientist, author, and former Psychiatry lecturer Dr Dean Burn…

1
097 – Microplastics / Long COVID Update / CRISPR Therapy Approved 1:16:34

3M ago1:16:34

1:16:34

What does the body of evidence say on microplastics and their impact on our health? Plus: we talk about what we have learned about long COVID since 2020, and we discuss the very first approval for a clinical application of the gene-editing technology known as CRISPR. A Block: Microplastics (0:58) What are micro- and nanoplastics; microplastics in t…

1
Does life know about quantum mechanics? – Professor Jim Al-Khalili 1:10:48

3M ago1:10:48

1:10:48

Physicists and chemists are used to dealing with quantum mechanics, but biologists have thus far got away without having to worry about this strange yet powerful theory of the subatomic world. However, times are changing. There is now solid evidence that enzymes use quantum tunnelling to accelerate chemical reactions, while plants and bacteria use …

1
Sport Science 4 - Fitspiration 31:21

4M ago31:21

31:21

A limited series on sport science hosted by student athlete Sophie and featuring two experts: Dr. Christopher Labos, cardiologist and regular co-host of this podcast, and Nick Tiller, who holds a doctorate in exercise physiology. Together, they will answer Sophie’s questions while dispelling myths that athletes—and anybody getting into fitness—are …

1
Sport Science 3 - Supplements 35:49

4M ago35:49

35:49

A limited series on sport science hosted by student athlete Sophie and featuring two experts: Dr. Christopher Labos, cardiologist and regular co-host of this podcast, and Nick Tiller, who holds a doctorate in exercise physiology. Together, they will answer Sophie’s questions while dispelling myths that athletes—and anybody getting into fitness—are …

1
Sport Science 2 - Recovery 32:54

4M ago32:54

32:54

A limited series on sport science hosted by student athlete Sophie and featuring two experts: Dr. Christopher Labos, cardiologist and regular co-host of this podcast, and Nick Tiller, who holds a doctorate in exercise physiology. Together, they will answer Sophie’s questions while dispelling myths that athletes—and anybody getting into fitness—are …

1
Sport Science 1 - Wearables 35:18

5M ago35:18

35:18

A limited series on sport science hosted by student athlete Sophie and featuring two experts: Dr. Christopher Labos, cardiologist and regular co-host of this podcast, and Nick Tiller, who holds a doctorate in exercise physiology. Together, they will answer Sophie’s questions while dispelling myths that athletes—and anybody getting into fitness—are …

1
Solving Cases for Christmas (Special) 55:35

5M ago55:35

55:35

As the year comes to an end, Jonathan recruits three doctors—Chris, Niko, and Aigul—and invites them to solve two perplexing cases. These mysteries involve a lot of (necessary?) rectal exams; the blood of witches; activated charcoal; farting patients; controversial diagnoses; tales from the ER that border on true crime; and diagnosing brain injurie…

1
Born to dance? The evolutionary origins of music making – Dr Jacques Launay 1:32:25

5M ago1:32:25

1:32:25

What’s the point in making music? Is there a point? Although music surrounds us for a large proportion of our time it doesn’t seem to serve an obvious purpose, and this talk will explore that problem. Darwin suggested music could be involved in sexual selection, used to flaunt genetic fitness to potential partners, but there are also several altern…

1
Dangerous Products: In The Home & In Our Stomachs – David Frank and Virginia Ng 1:37:10

5M ago1:37:10

1:37:10

The societal and scientific consensus says only irrational people fear things like WiFi, artificial sweeteners, and fluoridated water, but there have been legitimately dangerous products sold as safe in the past. Flammable, toxic, radioactive and generally bad for you, we’ll look at products throughout history that killed, injured and poisoned, an…

1
Bad Air Can Make You Sick (with Joey Fox) 48:34

5M ago48:34

48:34

Chris and Jonathan speak to Joey Fox, an engineer and the chair of the Indoor Air Quality Advisory Group for the Ontario Society of Professional Engineers. COVID-19 is not over, as both Jonathan and Chris can testify. How can we better protect ourselves from the coronavirus and other respiratory viruses? By improving our air! Joey Fox explains the …

1
Is Red Meat as Bad as Cigarettes? A Radio Play 44:01

6M ago44:01

44:01

Chris, Jonathan, and a mystery guest get together for an old-fashioned radio play. Are hot dogs and other red meat really as bad for your health as cigarettes? A doctor without a name boards an airplane and is soon asked to answer this question. It involves risk, hazard, and a budding romance. * Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hack…

1
Resisting Incarceration: Prisons, Activism and Abolition – Professor Phil Scraton 1:44:25

6M ago1:44:25

1:44:25

Since Michael Howard’s pronouncement that ‘Prison Works’ the prison population in the UK has doubled with the current Government planning to build several more multi-occupancy ‘Titan’ prisons to incarcerate thousands more men and women. This reflects an ill-founded commitment to what became a cross-party mantra. In what sense does ‘prison work’? Do…

1
096 - Ozempic / Running for Depression / The Case of the Baseball Player's Heart 1:06:41

6M ago1:06:41

1:06:41

What does the body of evidence say on Ozempic and its impact on diabetes and obesity? Plus: can you trade in your antidepressant for a jog, and Chris returns to the hot seat to diagnose a teenage boy who fell during a baseball game! Block 1: (2:22) Ozempic/Wegovy: GLP-1 receptor agonists; the difference between them; Mounjaro; Trulicity; diabetes b…

1
A Dog’s World – Imagining the Lives of Dogs in a World without Humans – Jessica Pierce and Marc Bekoff 1:29:58

6M ago1:29:58

1:29:58

What would happen to dogs if humans simply disappeared? Would dogs be able to survive on their own without us? A Dog’s World imagines a posthuman future for dogs, revealing how dogs would survive—and possibly even thrive—and explaining how this new and revolutionary perspective can guide how we interact with dogs now. Drawing on biology, ecology, a…

1
Jewish Space Lasers – Mike Rothschild 1:15:06

7M ago1:15:06

1:15:06

For more than 200 years, the name “Rothschild” has been synonymous with two things: great wealth, and conspiracy theories about what they’re “really doing” with it. Almost from the moment Mayer Amschel Rothschild and his sons emerged from the Jewish ghetto of Frankfurt to revolutionize the banking world, the Rothschild family has been the target of…

1
Misinformation Blah Blah Blah (with David Scales) 55:49

7M ago55:49

55:49

Jonathan and Chris talk to David Scales, MPhil, MD, PhD, an assistant professor of medicine at Weill Cornell and the chief medical officer at Critica. Misinformation is everywhere and it is causing actual harm. But what can we do about it beyond recognizing the problem? Dr. Scales mentions a scientific solution that transposes to social media what …

1
095 - Macular Degeneration / Fall Vaccines / Blue-Blocking Glasses 1:01:56

7M ago1:01:56

1:01:56

What does the body of evidence say on age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and how to treat the #1 cause of blindness in North America? Plus: which vaccines are available this fall to prevent respiratory tract infections, and a look at whether blue-light-blocking glasses will make a difference in your life! Block 1: (2:15) AMD: how common it is, …

1
Trans People Need Gender-Affirming Care (with Michelle Cohen) 54:40

8M ago54:40

54:40

Chris and Jonathan talk to Michelle Cohen, MD, CCFP, FCFP, an assistant professor at Queen University’s Department of Family Medicine and a staff physician at Lakeview Family Health Team. Dr. Cohen provides gender-affirming care and is here to dispel myths surrounding trans people, especially the panic around the mistaken idea that children are bei…

1
That Potential Neurological Syndrome in New Brunswick (Special) 51:37

8M ago51:37

51:37

Is there a mysterious neurological syndrome harming the people of New Brunswick? And is the Government of New Brunswick suppressing the truth so as not to upset commercial interests? That is certainly the story strongly hinted at by the Canadaland podcast, which has featured a New Brunswick neurologist who now claims to have identified over 200 cas…

1
Pseudo-Archaeology: Fake news and new fakes – Mirko Gutjahr 1:24:11

9M ago1:24:11

1:24:11

Light bulbs in antiquity? UFO landing sites in Peru? Giant pyramids in the Balkans? Authors like Erich von Däniken or TV shows like “Ancient Aliens” accuse archaeologists of hiding important discoveries and masking the truth. According to them the monumental buildings of the past were created not by our ancestors but by aliens or extradimensional b…

1
Too dangerous to publish? Navigating the high-stakes nature of AI research – Rosie Campbell 1:22:15

9M ago1:22:15

1:22:15

As AI becomes increasingly advanced, it promises many benefits but also comes with risks. How can we mitigate these risks while preserving scientific inquiry and openness? Who is responsible for anticipating the impacts of AI research, and how can they do so effectively? What changes, if any, need to be made to the peer review process? In this talk…

1
094 - Air Quality / OTC Birth Control Pill / Chris Tries to Solve Another Case 57:52

9M ago57:52

57:52

What does the body of evidence say on air quality and how to protect ourselves from airborne pollution? Plus: a birth control pill becomes easier to access in the Republic of Gilead, and Chris returns to the hot seat to help a lawyer with blood-streaked loose stool! Block 1: (2:11) Air Quality: forest fires and their causes; major air pollutants; w…

1
The Human Cosmos – Dr Jo Marchant 1:31:38

9M ago1:31:38

1:31:38

For most of human history, we have led not just an earthly existence but a cosmic one. Celestial cycles drove every aspect of our daily lives. Our innate relationship with the stars shaped who we are – our religious beliefs, power structures, scientific advances and even our biology. But over the last few centuries we have separated ourselves from …

1
The Patriarchs: How men came to rule – Angela Saini 1:29:37

9M ago1:29:37

1:29:37

Award-winning science journalist Angela Saini goes in search of the true roots of gendered oppression, uncovering a complex history of how male domination became embedded in societies and spread across the globe from prehistory into the present. Travelling to the world’s earliest known human settlements, analysing the latest research findings in sc…

1
Planetary Protection: Guardians of the Galaxy or lame science-party poopers? – Dr Jennifer Wadsworth 1:11:50

10M ago1:11:50

1:11:50

What is planetary protection? Is it even important? Because it sounds like it’s either an incredibly exciting space battle strategy from Independence Day or an exceedingly dull health and safety class that future generations will be subjected to. In reality it’s kind of both (except that thankfully it’s not from Independence Day). I’m a space scien…

1
The Anti-Vaccine Movement, Then and Now (with Anna Merlan) 59:57

10M ago59:57

59:57

Jonathan and Chris speak to Anna Merlan, a senior reporter with Motherboard and the author of the book Republic of Lies: American Conspiracy Theorists and Their Surprising Rise to Power. How has the anti-vaccine movement changed since the COVID-19 pandemic? Its influencers deny the “mainstream narrative” on vaccine safety, which makes them prone to…

1
093 - Bioidentical Hormones / Gene Therapy / Natural Health Product Regulation 59:12

10M ago59:12

59:12

What does the body of evidence say on the topic of bioidentical hormones? Plus: a new gene therapy troublingly gets approved by the FDA, and Health Canada finally changes how it regulates natural health products (a little). Block 1: (2:19) Bioidentical hormones: sex hormones, hormone replacement therapy, testosterone replacement therapy, and what “…

1
Lost and found in the Science of Emotion – Dr Dean Burnett 1:45:06

10M ago1:45:06

1:45:06

Why can’t we think straight when hungry? What’s the point of nightmares? And why can’t we forget embarrassing memories?Emotions can be a pain. After losing his dad to Covid-19, Dean Burnett found himself wondering what life would be like without them. And so, he decided to put his feelings under the microscope – for science. In this talk, Dean take…

1
The Crisis in Canadian Emergency Departments (with Ken Milne) 57:30

11M ago57:30

57:30

Chris and Jonathan speak to Ken Milne, the host of the Skeptics’ Guide to Emergency Medicine and a physician who practices rural emergency medicine in Ontario. What is it like treating patients away from major urban centres? It may actually be better in some ways! Also, the trio tackles the unfolding crisis in which Canadian emergency departments a…

1
Digressions 92 - Fever / Metformin for Long COVID (Bonus) 20:50

11M ago20:50

20:50

Exceptionally, we are releasing this month's patron-only bonus episode, Digressions, on the main feed. Chris answers a patron's question about fever delirium (is that really a thing or a Hollywood invention?), and we dig into a paper that claims to show that a cheap diabetes drug, metformin, can be used to prevent long COVID. We do this type of bon…

1
Unidentified Flying Objects: Are there any images that require an extraterrestrial explanation – Dr Steve Barrett 1:27:11

11M ago1:27:11

1:27:11

As a Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Physics, my research interests span all aspects of imaging, image processing and image analysis. This includes medical imaging (biophysics), scanning probe microscopy of atoms, molecules and surfaces (nanophysics), microscopy of earth materials (geophysics) and astrophotography. The music used in thi…

1
092 - Fever / Strep Infections on the Rise / Chris on the Hot Seat 57:21

11M ago57:21

57:21

What does the body of evidence say on fevers and whether or not we should treat them? Plus: more and more children are getting invasive streptococcal disease, and Chris fulfills two dreams of his: to become Dr. House and to write a book! Block 1: (1:47) Fever: what a fever is; the role the hypothalamus plays; why we shiver Block 2: (7:36) Fever: wh…

1
A critical perspective on what cognitive science can tell us about first impressions and stereotypes – Dr Lou Safra 1:33:01

11M ago1:33:01

1:33:01

In this talk, I will present the key findings on first impressions and stereotypes offered by cognitive science. By presenting the main experimental designs that are used to product these results, I will question the limits and issues of this research and discuss how we can ensure a safe use of these results Lou Safra holds a PhD in cognitive scien…

1
BPA and Endocrine Disruptors (with Julie Robitaille) 43:49

12M ago43:49

43:49

Jonathan and Chris speak to Julie Robitaille, a Ph.D. student investigating endocrine disruptors in waste water and the president of the student committee of the Intersectoral Centre for Endocrine Disruptors Analysis. We’ve all heard of them: chemicals that mimic hormones and that are found in everyday products. What are they doing to human health?…

1
How to Make the World Add Up – Ten Rules for Thinking Differently About Numbers – Tim Harford 1:27:13

12M ago1:27:13

1:27:13

When was the last time you read a grand statement, accompanied by a large number, and wondered whether it could really be true? Statistics are vital in helping us tell stories – we see them in the papers, on social media, and we hear them used in everyday conversation – and yet we doubt them more than ever.But numbers – in the right hands – have th…

1
091 - Gluten / Ice Cream Conspiracy / Abortion Pill 1:01:39

1y ago1:01:39

1:01:39

What does the body of evidence say on the topic of gluten, celiac disease, and non-celiac gluten sensitivity? Plus: a puzzling finding in nutritional epidemiology is painted as a conspiracy, and the FDA is getting sued by people who claim the abortion drug mifepristone was wrongly approved… twenty years ago. Block 1: (2:26) Gluten: what gluten is, …

1
Women, Wellness, and Woo – Dr Alice Howarth 1:30:35

1y ago1:30:35

1:30:35

We all want to be well, right? Whether you’re a bit run down and just need a pick me up to get through the next working week, you’re suffering symptoms of a long-standing condition that you just can’t figure out or you’re reaching an age where you want security in your long-term health. The wellness industry has become ever more popular in an age w…

1
Personality Disorders: Fact vs Fiction (with Carla Sharp) 51:43

1y ago51:43

51:43

Chris and Jonathan speak to Professor Carla Sharp, the director of both the Developmental Psychopathology Lab and the Adolescent Diagnosis Assessment Prevention and Treatment Center at the University of Houston. Glenn Close in Fatal Attraction. Benedict Cumberbatch’s Sherlock. Batman’s rogues gallery. Hollywood loves to both glamourize and stigmati…

1
Food Therapy: How our psychology affects how we eat – Pixie Turner 1:24:28

1y ago1:24:28

1:24:28

How does food make you feel? We need food to survive, but often we don't stop to think about why we eat the way we do. From birth, we are shaped by our early psychological environment, which ultimately affects what, where, when, and why we eat. Are your parents really to blame for everything? Can you actually eat your way out of depression? Or is i…

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Dr Christopher Labos Podcasts

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