Our health is shaped by factors we may not even consider, from the personal to the social to the political. In this episode, Prof Noel McCarthy outlines the vital role of public health in steering us towards a healthier world, and the hidden challenges that can drive us towards poorer outcomes.

Medicine is far more than clinical trials and petri-dishes - medical science is hugely reliant on statistics and mathematical modelling to illuminate new insights, and as the engine of evidence-based medicine. With the explosion of data in the world, this has become even more to the forefront. In this episode, Prof Cathal Walsh elucidates the vital…

Our immune system is utterly vital yet deeply complicated - and shrouded in misunderstandings. In this episode, Prof Cliona O'Farrelly separates truth-from-fiction about our immunity, and how the strange interplay of many parts keeps us alive, and points to new treatments in the future.

Anatomy is integral to modern medicine, and has a rich and often unbelievable history. But how do we best study the body, and what can anatomy teach us today? In the episode Dr Denis Barry guides us through the curious story of anatomy from its history right up to new developments in learning about our physical selves.…

We live in a rapidly changing world, and medical science evolves at a staggering rate. Yet the challenges we face are extremely diverse, and very different to prior generations: how can doctors and medical education adapt to things like climate change, shifting geopolitics, and a more divided world? In this episode, Prof Colin Doherty discusses the…

Psychedelic drugs are inexorably linked to our vision of the 1960s counter-cultural revolution. But given the potent impact drugs like LSD and Psilocybin have on our perceptions, is there a role for them in treating mental health condition? In this episode, Drs Kathryn Ledden and Guillaume Thuery delve into the colourful history of Psychedelic drug…

There are people in society who, by accident or design, are excluded from many of the health benefits the rest of us take for granted. And for these people, health outcomes are markedly worse. But the impact of their suffering affects us all in curious and unexpected ways, and in this episode, Prof Clíona Ní Cheallaigh explains the vital importance…

Across the world, the COVID-19 pandemic focused a spotlight on medical policy and the work of health scientists in informing policy. In Ireland, Chief Medical Officer Prof Tony Holohan endured the trials of being a public figure in the midst of a pandemic, and the challenging role of advising policy makers in a rapidly changing environment. In this…

Addiction affects every strata of society, and deeply impacts the lives of millions of us. Yet despite this, it remains deeply misunderstood. Just what do we get wrong, and how can we get it right? In this Episode, Prof Jo-Hanna Ivers, Professor of Addiction Studies at TCD, shares her unique insights into what addiction is, and how we can address i…

Mental health is a vital part of our well-being, and yet fictions persist about it even in today's more enlightened times. In this episode, Prof Brendan Kelly charts the folk history of madness, and shares modern insights into mental health. Content warning: Contains frank discussion of suicidality and measures to reduce self-harm. Listener discret…