Free Associations

Nov 19 2024 148 ep. 54 mins 1.6k
Free Associations Podcast artwork

Free Associations is about using a critical eye when reading journal articles or news coverage about research breakthroughs. With a sense of humor and a healthy dose of skepticism Boston University School of Public Health faculty Matt Fox, Jessica Leibler, and guests talk us through popular health studies and hyperbolic news headlines while teaching us how to ask the right questions. Music: "Duress" by Ketsa under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.

  Health & Fitness  Science
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Episode 149 - Outdoor Light Pollution and Alzheimer’s disease

Nov 19 2024 25 mins  
In a new format for the “Free Associations” podcast, we split our usual podcast into two bite-sized morsels. In the first segment, Jess, Matt and guest host Salma discuss an article that examines the effect of nighttime ambient light on risk of Alzheimer’s disease.   Journal club article: Alzheimer’s Disease Study     In the second segment, Jess, Matt

Episode 146 - The effects of early cessation of oxytocin

May 21 2024 61 mins  
Matt, Jess, and guest host Salma Abdalla discuss a study of early discontinuation of oxytocin during delivery, they try to predict the future of journals alongside a mass editorial board resignation, and Matt and Salma reveal their love for octopuses. Music: "Duress" by Ketsa under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.

Episode 145 - Tweets and changes in racial sentiments

Apr 23 2024 54 mins  
Matt, Jess, and guest host Allegra Gordon discuss a study using tweets to see if there have been changes in racial sentiment over time, they debate whether in-person or remote work is better for paradigm shifts, and Allegra tells us how birds are smarter than people who don’t want birds nesting on their roofs. Music: "Duress" by Ketsa under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.

Episode 144 - Human mobility and economic segregation

Mar 26 2024 58 mins  
Matt, Jess, and guest host Jonathan Jay discuss a study using cell phone data to see if living in cities gives us better economic integration, they explore whether AI will be developing our hypotheses in the future, and Matt naps with penguins. Music: "Duress" by Ketsa under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.

Episode 143 - Workplace interventions for cardiometabolic health

Feb 27 2024 56 mins  
Matt, Jess, and guest host Amruta Nori-Sarma examine a study testing the effect of a workplace intervention for cardiometabolic health, they discuss mental health as a human right, and Amruta tells us about the power of Taylor Swift. Music: "Duress" by Ketsa under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.

Episode 142 - A blood-based screening for cancer?

Jan 30 2024 54 mins  
Matt, Jess, and guest host Salma Abdalla discuss a study testing the efficacy of a blood-based cancer screening tool, they debate the role of the workplace in mental health, and Salma sees if she can pronounce the word “bubbles” while sounding angry. Music: "Duress" by Ketsa under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.

Episode 141 - Do taxes and warning labels affect meat purchases?

Jan 02 2024 56 mins  
Matt, Jess, and first-time guest host Allegra Gordon discuss a study of the effect of taxes and warning labels on purchases of red meat, they lament the impact of disinformation campaigns, and Matt tells us how AI is going to take our grant writing jobs. Music: "Duress" by Ketsa under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.

Episode 140 - Neighborhood environment and childhood physical fitness

Dec 05 2023 57 mins  
Matt, Jess, and guest host Jonathan Jay discuss a study on child opportunity in the built environment and physical fitness, they debate whether to get rid of discussion sections, and Jon invites us to consider the Golden Bachelor. Music: "Duress" by Ketsa under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.

Episode 139 - Wildfires and medical visits

Oct 03 2023 57 mins  
Matt, Jess, and guest host Amruta Nori-Sarma examine a study of the effect of proximity to wildfires on medical visits, they discuss housing as harm reduction, and Matt goes to Olive Garden. Music: "Duress" by Ketsa under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.

Episode 138 - Can hearing aids prevent dementia?

Sep 05 2023 57 mins  
Matt, Jess, and guest host Salma Abdalla examine a study on the use of hearing aids to prevent dementia, they discuss whether loneliness is a public health problem (and, as usual, descend into talking about COVID), and Salma tells us the difference between coffee and concrete. Music: "Duress" by Ketsa under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.