Best Superbugs Podcasts (2024)

1
Investing in the Fight Against Superbugs 16:04

2h ago16:04

16:04

Antimicrobial resistance is getting worse. Set to impact healthcare, agriculture and insurance, it’s a phenomenon worth paying attention to. On this episode, we take a look at whether there’s an investment case for fighting back against the superbugs. Host: Bentley Kaplan, MSCI ESG Research Guest: Namita Nair, MSCI ESG Research…

1
When Superbugs Get Personal – From professional preoccupation to a family's nightmare 16:02

7h ago16:02

16:02

Dr. Nour Shamas knows about antimicrobial resistance. As a clinical pharmacist, she was trained in how to dispense drugs to treat infections, and her graduate studies in global health policy made her aware of the threat of antimicrobial resistance, or AMR. Antimicrobial resistance develops when bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites evolve the abil…

1
Net-Zero Tracker 2024 15:39

14d ago15:39

15:39

We periodically put out this report called the Net-Zero Tracker, and it examines the progress by the world’s listed companies toward curbing climate risk. This episode is a dive into the most important bits of our most recently published report. Link to the Net-Zero Tracker: The MSCI Sustainability Institute Net-Zero Tracker Host: Mike Disabato, MS…

1
Innovation to Save Antibiotics – Prize-Winning Diagnostics for UTIs 11:48

11d ago11:48

11:48

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common, uncomfortable, and embarrassing. They can also be deadly. These infections of the kidneys, bladder, or urethra affect about 1 in 10 men in their lifetimes and more than half of women. Untreated UTIs can cause a body-wide infection known as sepsis. An estimated 236,000 people globally die every year from U…

1
#114 - Self-Compassion Roundtable (Barbara Best & Mariana Behr) 42:06

6d ago42:06

42:06

Join us in this exciting episode as we sit down with Rodrigo Griesi, a modern-day Indiana Jones of the seas! With a rich background in consulting, logistics, project management, marketing, sales, and power generation, Rodrigo is now venturing into entrepreneurship and captaining his latest venture, Neptunya Ocean Power. He has found his Ikigai by d…

1
Does Social Matter? 12:55

1M ago12:55

12:55

The social pillar has often been maligned as the ignored sibling of the ESG acronym. In its essence, the social pillar is a measurement of how a company, its employees, its products, and the community it operates in are supported and often challenged. For this episode, we show you why that all matters for measuring a company’s market performance. H…

1
The Cost of Missing Sustainability Targets 16:33

1M ago16:33

16:33

It’s early days for sustainability-linked bonds, where issuers see their interest rates rise after missing sustainability targets. But instead of throwing in the towel after some initial setbacks, we talk about companies that have doubled down on their sustainability commitments. Host: Bentley Kaplan, MSCI ESG Research Guest: Guilherme de Melo Silv…

1
Does Governance Matter? 12:49

2M ago12:49

12:49

Good governance is foundational to effective capital markets, promoting accountability, transparency and sound decision-making aligned with investor interests. But how do those potential benefits translate into market performance? Well today, we answer that question for you! We answer the question: does governance even matter. If you want to read t…

1
Eradication of the Guinea Worm with Adam Weiss 50:07

1M ago50:07

50:07

Guinea worm infections have been plaguing mankind throughout recorded history. The Carter Center took the lead in the guinea worm eradication effort in the 1980’s, when there were over 3 million cases per year. Through concentrated effort, this disease is on the brink of extinction, with only 14 human cases in 2023! Adam Weiss, MPH, is the director…

1
Sustainability and the Cost of Capital 17:08

2M ago17:08

17:08

Data from over 4,000 issuers, spanning nearly a decade revealed that companies with better MSCI ESG Ratings tended to have a lower cost of capital. It’s big news for investors and another step towards understanding the relationship between sustainability and financial performance. Host: Bentley Kaplan, MSCI ESG Research Guests: Jakub Malich & Anett…

1
#113 - Blue Energy (Rodrigo Griesi) 1:09:22

2M ago1:09:22

1:09:22

Join us in this exciting episode as we sit down with Rodrigo Griesi, a modern-day Indiana Jones of the seas! With a rich background in consulting, logistics, project management, marketing, sales, and power generation, Rodrigo is now venturing into entrepreneurship and captaining his latest venture, Neptunya Ocean Power. He has found his Ikigai by d…

1
Hazardous Air in the Neighborhood– Local Pollution and Asthma 15:57

2M ago15:57

15:57

No one wants to be exposed to air pollution. No one wants to raise their kids breathing in polluted air in their own neighborhoods. But in Austin, Texas, people of color are disproportionately forced to do both. Dr. Sarah Chambliss, a research associate in the Department of Population Health at Dell Medical School at the University of Texas at Aust…

1
How I Learned to Stop Worrying About Nuclear Energy 20:08

2M ago20:08

20:08

Our demand for electricity is growing for the first time in decades. Nuclear energy is being proffered as the answer to our voracious energy-appetites. But are investors capable of propping up an industry with so much complexity and risk? This episode provides an answer. Host: Michael Disabato, MSCI ESG Research Guest: Elchin Mammadov, MSCI ESG Res…

1
The Next Pandemic 17:46

2M ago17:46

17:46

People don’t want to see any more pandemics, notes Nita Madhav, Senior Director of Epidemiology & Modeling at Ginkgo Biosecurity, the biosecurity and public health unit of Ginkgo Bioworks. The world is collectively traumatized by the horrors of the COVID-19 pandemic, Madhav says in this episode of One World, One Health. But just because we don’t wa…

1
What is Impact Materiality? 15:22

2M ago15:22

15:22

What is impact materiality, you ask? And how is it different from financial materiality? A fine and important question, listener! In this episode we take you through all the details you need to parse through the most important sustainability-jargon out there. Including, an explanation of the EU's Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, or the…

1
Wanted: A New Approach to Funding Treatments for Drug-Defying Germs 14:08

2M ago14:08

14:08

Drug-resistant bacteria are major killers, playing a role in killing five million people a year. Antibiotics were miracle drugs when they were invented 100 years ago, but they are losing their power against always adapting and evolving bacteria. At the same time, the market for new antimicrobial drugs has collapsed. Hardly anyone wants to make new …

1
Carbon Footprinting Demystified 16:47

3M ago16:47

16:47

When it comes to climate altering carbon emissions, investors, like asset managers and banks, used to only measure their direct carbon emissions from their buildings and purchased electricity. But now, they are being asked by regulators, stakeholders, and clients to report on the emissions associated with their investment portfolios – a much more c…

1
What if Drug-Resistant Infections Never Happened in the First Place? 16:22

3M ago16:22

16:22

An estimated 7.7 million people die from bacterial infections a year around the world. A growing number of these deaths are caused by bacteria that have developed antibiotic resistance – the ability to thrive in the face of antibiotics. This ability of germs to defy the effects of drugs is called antimicrobial resistance, or AMR. But why wait to tr…

1
A Cheat Sheet on Climate Funds 14:29

3M ago14:29

14:29

They may not be new, but climate funds have recently hit their stride. From managing transition risk, to targeting technology opportunities, to aligning with the Paris agreement – these funds come in all shapes and sizes and with pretty diverse objectives. On this episode we catch you up on where climate funds stand today, and how differently they’…

1
#112 - Co-creating the Near Future (Neil Redding) 1:01:18

2M ago1:01:18

1:01:18

In this episode, we sit down with Neil Redding, a visionary thinker and strategist renowned for his insights into the future of technology and society. Neil shares his journey from the early days of the internet to his current work in envisioning and shaping future experiences. We examine the intersections of technology, culture, and human behavior…

1
Targeting Drug Resistance – Achievable Goals to Keep Antibiotics Working 15:08

3M ago15:08

15:08

The problem of antimicrobial resistance – AMR for short – is clear. More and more of these germs resistant to existing treatments are emerging everywhere, and there’s little disagreement that governments, nonprofits, doctors, patients, and politicians all need to help tackle the problem. But people need to agree on what to do, and they need to agre…

1
The Stubborn Germs That are Getting the Upper Hand 16:11

3M ago16:11

16:11

What kills more people than HIV or malaria? What threatens anybody on the planet – and not just people, but animals, too? It’s antimicrobial resistance (AMR), the formal name for drug-resistant superbugs. These include bacteria that defy the effects of antibiotics, viruses that thrive in the face of antiviral drugs, and fungi that are immune to ant…

1
Stop! In The Name Of Sustainability Funds (i.e., ESMA’s New Guidelines) 27:05

3M ago27:05

27:05

Maybe a rose by any other name would smell as sweet, but that’s not going to fly for sustainability funds in the EU. On this episode we break down ESMA’s latest fund guidelines and discuss their place in a regulatory landscape with all kinds of moving pieces. Host: Bentley Kaplan, MSCI ESG Research Guests: Meggin Eastman & Simone Ruiz-Vergote, MSCI…

1
Can Airlines Go Green? 19:58

4M ago19:58

19:58

Airlines are part of a hard to abate industry for a reason as there is not one straightforward path to decarbonization. In this episode, we discuss the options that airlines have to reduce their direct emissions in the coming decades – and we tell you which ones are more likely to be more viable. Host: Gabriela de la Serna, MSCI ESG Research Guest:…

1
#111 - Driving Change: Beyond Business (João Pacífico) 57:57

4M ago57:57

57:57

Step into the remarkable journey of João Pacífico, founder and CEO of Grupo Gaia. This engaging conversation explores how business, activism, and the pursuit of happiness converge to create a positive impact in today’s fast-paced world. Join us as João shares his transformative experiences, from the challenges of starting his own company to his pas…

1
Never Again: Making Sure Patients Get the Air They Need 16:33

4M ago16:33

16:33

The second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic was especially bad in India. Patients filled hospitals as the Delta variant swept the country in April of 2021. As many as 2,000 people died every day. Many died literally gasping for air. Although India is a major producer of medical oxygen, supplies ran out amid the unprecedented demand. And while some are…

1
Spirits of Change: Alcohol in a Dry World 13:57

4M ago13:57

13:57

Alcoholic beverage companies are trying to navigate through a changing world, one where tastes are evolving, and resources are getting scarcer. In this episode, delve into the significant challenges and innovative strategies the alcoholic beverage industry is employing to combat this shift in drinking trends. Host: Michael Disabato, MSCI ESG Resear…

1
CHARMing the Superbugs with Dr. Victor Nizet 53:34

3M ago53:34

53:34

Antibiotic resistant bacteria are threatening modern society by making antibiotics obsolete. Dr. Nizet is a Professor and Vice Chair in the Department of Pediatrics at UCSD, as well as the faculty lead for the UCSD Collaborative to Halt Antibiotic-Resistant Microbes (CHARM). His laboratory studies how the human immune system interacts with microbia…

1
Vaccines for Adults Pay Off in Both Lives and Money 13:38

4M ago13:38

13:38

Vaccines save lives. There’s no doubt about this: childhood vaccination saves four million lives every year, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. Children worldwide get a long list of vaccines, but what about adults? A study by the Office of Health Economics (OHE), an independent research organization, took a look at the cost-eff…

1
AI is Diagnosing and Texas is Burning 17:08

4M ago17:08

17:08

Everyone is talking about AI, but on today’s episode we focus on the technology’s potential to disrupt health care. Then, we switch things up to look at how wildfires are exacerbating physical, legal and financial risks for electric utilities in the U.S. Host: Gabriela de la Serna, MSCI ESG Research Guests: Namita Nair & Mathew Lee, MSCI ESG Resear…

1
What's Surprising and Scary About Avian Influenza Right Now? 14:45

5M ago14:45

14:45

Bird flu – aka avian influenza – is doing what it does best yet again – surprising scientists, public health officials, farmers, and wildlife experts. It’s been spreading among dairy cattle in the United States, something that startles even long-term observers of the virus. The H5N1 strain of avian influenza was first noticed in the late 1990s and …

1
Pondering Peak Emissions in China 20:49

5M ago20:49

20:49

Coal still makes up a big cut of China’s energy mix. But the country’s growth in renewables is undeniable. As climate targets are laid down and climate change accelerates, figuring out China’s emissions trajectory is tricky. And that’s OK – we love a tricky discussion. Host: SK Kim, MSCI ESG Research Guests: Cody Dong & Siyao He, MSCI ESG Research…

1
#110 - Inclusive Futures: Disability and Climate Advocacy (Elham Youssefian) 45:01

5M ago45:01

45:01

In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Elham Youssefian, a visionary in the realms of disability rights and climate advocacy. Born blind in Iran, Elham recounts her journey overcoming educational barriers, supported by her family and vital braille resources, to becoming a human rights lawyer. She explains the essence of disability-inclusive em…

1
A Noah’s Ark for Coral Reefs 15:19

5M ago15:19

15:19

Coral reefs are literally the foundation for much of the life on Earth. These living cities are made up of animals –coral – which exist in symbiosis with algae. They are home to thousands of species of fish, as well as important to the lives of as many as a billion people who rely on their production of food, their protection of coastal areas, and …

1
Does Your Board Need a Climate Superstar? 16:25

5M ago16:25

16:25

For some investors, having a climate-savvy director on a company’s board may seem like a non-negotiable. But data from some of the world’s biggest greenhouse gas emitters shows that successful climate governance is complex and may require more than pinning all your hopes on a climate superstar. Host: Bentley Kaplan, MSCI ESG Research Guest: Florian…

1
A Problem of Access and Excess – Antibiotic Resistance 15:21

5M ago15:21

15:21

From the moment people discovered how to use penicillin, the first antibiotic, resistance has been a problem. Bacteria may be small, but they are not simple organisms and they have been fighting for survival for billions of years. Many bacteria have developed the tools they need to evade the effects of antibiotic treatments, and they can trade thes…

1
Children are still in the Cocoa Field 22:25

5M ago22:25

22:25

This week we provide an update to our March 2022 episode titled Children in the Cocoa Field that explored the growing problem of child labor in cocoa harvesting. And the attempt by Nestlé to use money and enhanced mapping technology to combat its prevalence. It sounds bleak, but it was a great story about how technology is allowing for better trans…

1
Dengue in Brazil – Putting the heat on vaccine development and mosquito control 18:20

5M ago18:20

18:20

It’s hotter and wetter than usual in Brazil, and climate conditions are driving an early blast of a killer virus – dengue. The mosquito-borne virus is spreading earlier than ever before and affecting far more parts of the country than usual – and all at once. Dengue’s a nasty virus. It causes pain so severe that it’s sometimes called breakbone feve…

1
Unwrapping the Green Claims of Plastic Packaging 21:00

5M ago21:00

21:00

Plastic is an inescapable reality of the modern world. But trading off its convenience and versatility for environmental and health impacts is getting harder. Companies that make or rely on plastic are being pushed to improve recyclability and reuse. And as tempting as it is to believe everything you read on a label, it looks like the road to a gen…

1
Cardiovascular disease in women: risk factors, prevention and supports 34:30

5M ago34:30

34:30

As part of this discussion, the panel will raise awareness around the key risk factors for heart health, in particular, how menopause affects women’s risk of heart disease and stroke, the role of lifestyle medicine in prevention and specific supports available around maintaining cardiac health and preventing cardiovascular disease. This episode wil…

1
The SEC Tests out the Climate 19:16

6M ago19:16

19:16

The SEC’s climate disclosure rule is finally here. It’s been a journey, one akin to a film drama full of plot twists, cliff hangers and edge of the seat moments. So in honor of the drama, this week we do a film review of sorts on this wide reaching regulation - going into the plot, the actors involved, and how the industry is likely to be affected …

1
#109 - Autoimmune & Inflammatory Diseases (Liliana Massis) 55:31

6M ago55:31

55:31

In this engaging episode we explore the intriguing world of immunology with our guest Liliana Moura Massis, a leading Scientist in autoimmune diseases. Liliana recounts her inspiring journey from Brazil to Silicon Valley, facing challenges and seizing opportunities in the biomedical sciences. She reflects on the brain drain from Brazil, offers advi…

1
When good bacteria are killed, C. difficile strikes 14:50

6M ago14:50

14:50

Peggy Lillis wasn’t expecting trouble when her dentist prescribed antibiotics after she had a root canal in 2010. It was a standard, just-in-case treatment to prevent infections after the procedure. She also wasn’t worried when she developed diarrhea soon afterward. The kindergarten teacher assumed she’d caught a bug from one of her young students.…

1
300 Days in Space with Astronaut Dr. Kate Rubins 56:41

6M ago56:41

56:41

Houston, we definitely do NOT have a problem…with interviewing Dr. Kate Rubins, NASA astronaut. Dr. Rubins is a virologist who has spent over 300 days in space, performing experiments aboard the International Space Station, where she was the first person to sequence DNA in space. We caught up with Dr. Rubins at the Neutral Buoyancy Lab in Houston, …

1
Women on Boards and Beyond! 19:02

6M ago19:02

19:02

We have been reporting on board’s gender diversity since 2009, and while progress has undoubtedly been made, the road ahead is still long. Linda-Eling Lee from MSCI’s Sustainability Institute tells us why we started compiling this report in the first place, and how it has managed to remain relevant in 2024. Then, our colleague Christina Milhomem te…

1
Why Aren’t People Clamoring for a Vaccine that Prevents Cancer? 15:45

6M ago15:45

15:45

There’s a virus that infects just about every adult. It’s passed by skin-to-skin contact – most often during sexual intercourse. It’s the human papillomavirus (HPV for short). It often doesn't show any symptoms, and at times the infection resolves on its own. It can cause warts, but more ominously, HPV is the single biggest cause of cervical cancer…

1
Nutrition for healthy growth and development 37:00

6M ago37:00

37:00

As part of this discussion, the panel will address the key concerns and worries that parents have around the topic of child nutrition and provide information and practical advice to support healthy growth and development. This episode will be chaired by Professor Oran D. Kennedy, Associate Professor, Department of Anatomy and Regenerative Medicine,…

1
Caught in a Cycle of Panic – “A fragile state of preparedness” 17:12

6M ago17:12

17:12

The world acted as if the COVID-19 pandemic was a big surprise. However, just months before, the Global Preparedness Monitoring Board (GPMB) had warned that the world was vulnerable to a pandemic of respiratory illness and needed to act quickly. Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, the former president of Croatia, says she felt frustrated and helpless when th…

1
ExxonMobil's Legal Parry 15:10

6M ago15:10

15:10

ExxonMobil filed a legal complaint against two of its own shareholders, who were hoping to put a climate-related proposal to a vote at the company’s upcoming AGM. We discuss why it’s a decision that could have consequences for the wider shareholder community and the companies they invest in. Host: Bentley Kaplan, MSCI ESG Research Guest: Harlan Tuf…

1
The Smallest Victims of Drug Resistance 15:06

6M ago15:06

15:06

Drug-resistant infections are a problem for everyone, but especially for newborns. They don’t have fully developed immune systems, and their bodies are less equipped to fight infections. The risk is highest for infants born sick or prematurely. Bloodborne infections – sepsis – are one major threat to newborns. Sepsis can move quickly, overpowering …

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Superbugs Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

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