Causes or Cures
Dr. Eeks
"For the Nerds and the Nerd Nots"
Causes or Cures is a health podcast hosted by Dr. Eeks—an independent, grassroots show driven by curiosity and a passion for breaking down complex health topics into bite-sized, easy-to-understand insights. Dr. Eeks works as a public health consultant, in the realm of epi/scicomms. She's all about making science relatable and often uses her blue-collar sense of humor to drive the message home.
On this podcast, Dr. Eeks talks with experts from around the world—doctors, researchers, public health pros, and more—to dive into the latest hot topics in health and research, all in a down-to-earth kind of way.
DISCLAIMER: Some topics are more controversial than others, so keep in mind that this is information only and not health advice. Dr. Eeks doesn't endorse any of her guests' views, and despite a strict health routine, nor does she endorse any products, supplements, oils, magic socks or potions. Causes or Cures is not a "news site." It's about having conversations, and Dr. Eeks is confident that she can have a respectful conversation with anyone, even people who think far differently than she does. (At least that's been her experience at hole-in-the-wall bars.) The point is to not take anything here as Gospel. Sometimes Dr. Eeks' dog Barnaby makes his opinion known, but the good news is that he's a smart dog. Most importantly, she hopes this podcast encourages folks to stay curious, empathic, hopeful, compassionate, honest, open-minded, and engaged. Freedom of discussion is a beautiful thing, delightfully messy, and one that many take for granted.
The views on this podcast do not reflect the views of anyone she contracts with or consults for. You can contact Dr. Eeks through her website, bloomingwellness.com.
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Top 10 Causes or Cures Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Causes or Cures episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Causes or Cures for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Causes or Cures episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
Stories that Save: Film, Kindness & Transforming Live Kidney Donation, with David Krissman
Causes or Cures
08/29/24 • 74 min
In this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with filmmaker David Krissman about his groundbreaking grassroots initiative aimed at revolutionizing live kidney donations. David, a repeat guest (Episode 154) who previously discussed "The Great Social Experiment" and America's trial with universal healthcare for kidney disease, now shares how he's leveraging his filmmaking expertise and deep understanding of kidney disease, dialysis, and transplants to connect individuals in desperate need of a kidney with living donors. He explains how anyone can become an "angel advocate" and make a life-saving impact simply by sharing someone's filmed story. This episode highlights how spreading kindness can lead to finding a kidney and ultimately saving a life.
You can contact Dr. Eeks at bloomingwellness.com.
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Beyond Ozempic: New Therapies for Post-Obesity Drug Weight Management, with Dr. Harith Rajagopalan
Causes or Cures
06/04/24 • 59 min
In this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with cardiologist, physician-scientist and CEO of Fractyl Health Dr. Harith Rajagopalan about solutions his company is developing for the problem of keeping weight off after someone stops taking the obesity/weight loss medication, such as Ozempic. Dr. Rajagopalan explains the issue of weight rebound after stopping the medication, and describes two new therapies Fractyl Health is developing that would allow a person to sustain weight loss without the need for ongoing medication. He also provides an overview of the multifaceted approach necessary for tackling obesity and offers a unique perspective on chronic disease.
You can contact Dr. Eeks at bloomingwellness.com.
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Pay to Post: Unveiling Industry Payments to Doctors on X (Twitter), with Dr. Aaron Mitchell
Causes or Cures
07/16/24 • 45 min
In this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Aaron Mitchell about his recent research on pharmaceutical industry payments to medical doctors for promoting specific drugs on X (formerly known as Twitter). Dr. Mitchell describes the financial relationships between pharmaceutical companies and doctors, the prevalence of this issue, and what is known about its impact on prescribing practices and patient outcomes. He also shares his thoughts on direct-to-consumer drug advertisements and offers solutions to mitigate the massive influence of pharmaceutical companies on our health system.
Dr. Mitchell is an oncologist and health services researcher at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in NYC, with a research focus on the interaction between financial incentives and physician behavior. You can learn more about him and his work here.
You can contact Dr. Eeks at bloomingwellness.com.
Follow Eeks on Instagram here.
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Read Manic Kingdom
08/24/24 • 56 min
In this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Jason Block about his research on weight gain caused by antidepressants. He compares weight gain across different antidepressants and explains what those taking these medications should expect. Dr. Block also discusses other medications his team is evaluating for weight gain, explores why these medications cause weight gain, and shares the practical implications of his findings in relation to the obesity epidemic.
Dr. Jason Block, MD, MPH, is a physician, researcher, and associate professor in population health medicine at Harvard Medical School. His research focuses on social and environmental determinants of weight gain and obesity, as well as innovative strategies to improve diet quality.
You can contact Dr. Eeks at bloomingwellness.com.
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How Your Poop Patterns are Linked to Organ Health, with Dr. Johannes P. Johnson-Martinez
Causes or Cures
10/31/24 • 46 min
Do you struggle with constipation or diarrhea? How is that linked to your overall organ health?
In this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Johannes P. Johnson-Martínez about his recent research on how variations in bowel movement frequency (BMF) can impact the gut microbiome, blood metabolites, and overall organ health. They discuss how abnormal BMF patterns are linked to toxins produced by gut microbes that enter the bloodstream and increase inflammation levels and how abnormal BMFs may be early warning signs of organ dysfunction. Finally, he highlights how diet and lifestyle choices can influence BMF variations and the larger health implications and "take-home" points of this research.
Dr. Johnson-Martinez is a researcher interested in the gut microbiome who conducted this research in the Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington.
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You can contact Dr. Eeks at bloomingwellness.com.
Follow Eeks on Instagram here.
Or Facebook here.
Or X.
On Youtube.
Or TikTok.
SUBSCRIBE to her monthly newsletter here.
What Happens to Our Health When We Remove Toxins from Plastics? With Prof Maureen Cropper
Causes or Cures
06/01/25 • 53 min
In this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Professor Maureen Cropper, Chair of the Economics Department at the University of Maryland and a leading environmental economist, about her recent research on the health and economic impacts of toxic chemicals in plastics.
We explore how an economist came to study chemical exposures and what her research reveals about the true cost of common compounds found in everyday plastic products. The conversation focuses on three major groups of toxic chemicals (BPA, DEHP, and PBDEs) and the serious health risks linked to them. Professor Cropper explains where these chemicals are commonly found, who is most at risk, and how she estimated both the public health burden and the economic costs tied to ongoing exposure.
You’ll also hear about what she believes needs to change: the policy actions, regulatory strategies, and paradigm shifts necessary to move toward safer, healthier materials.
If you're concerned about chemicals in consumer products, interested in environmental health policy, or curious how economists quantify health risks, this episode is a great listen!
Professor Maureen Cropper is a Distinguished University Professor of Economics at the University of Maryland and Chair of the Economics Department. She is also a Senior Fellow at Resources for the Future and a former Lead Economist at the World Bank. Dr. Cropper is a member of the National Academy of Sciences and a Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research. Her research focuses on valuing environmental amenities, estimating consumer preferences for health and longevity improvements, and analyzing the trade-offs inherent in environmental regulations. Her recent work examines the public health and economic impacts of toxic chemicals found in plastics.
You can contact Dr. Eeks at bloomingwellness.com.
Follow Eeks on Instagram here.
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On Youtube.
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SUBSCRIBE to her monthly newsletter here.
Is Diet Connected to Colon Cancer and Why Cases are Rising in Young Adults, with Dr. Timothy Yeatman
Causes or Cures
02/22/25 • 63 min
In this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Timothy Yeatman about the connection between diet, inflammation, and colon cancer. He’ll explain why cancer can be thought of as a "poorly healing chronic wound" and describe his recent study highlighting how chronic inflammation, fueled by dietary choices, plays a key part in the progression of colorectal cancer. We’ll explore the alarming rise of colon cancer in adults under 50 and any common patterns he’s observed in this population. Dr. Yeatman will shed light on the immune tumor microenvironment, how it influences colon cancer, and its potential role in future treatments. Plus, we’ll discuss natural approaches to prevention and treatment, including key lifestyle interventions, such as achieving the right balance of omega-3s and omega-6s.
Dr. Yeatman is the Associate Center Director for Translational Research and Innovation at Tampa General Hospital Cancer Institute and a Professor of Surgery at the University of South Florida. With a career spanning leadership roles at Intermountain Healthcare, the Huntsman Cancer Institute, and Moffitt Cancer Center, he has spearheaded groundbreaking research in colorectal cancer, genomics, and biomarker development. He founded the Guardian Research Network, led a $100M Moffitt-Merck collaboration, and co-founded M2Gen, a biotech company. His work has been funded by the National Cancer Institute since 1993, and he continues to advance cancer research and clinical innovation.
You can contact Dr. Eeks at bloomingwellness.com.
Follow Eeks on Instagram here.
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On Youtube.
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SUBSCRIBE to her monthly newsletter here.
12/22/19 • 41 min
In this episode, Dr. Eeks chats with Julie Ryan, a medical intuitive and psychic who works with clients remotely.
Before Julie started a career as a medical intuitive, she founded several companies and invented surgical devices that are used around the world. Some of the services Julie offers include scanning a person for potential illnesses, energy healings, scanning pets for potential illnesses, accessing past lives, and communication with spirits. She also helps remove ghosts from folks' homes, and in this podcast, discusses a time a ghost's behavior shocked her.
Now, if you're a complete skeptic, good. Dr. Eeks is a skeptic too. But she also knows that the world is full of mysteries that go beyond conventional understanding. Please listen with an open mind yet don't run to the hills with anything as hard truth.
Julie also discusses the "12 Phases of Transition" everyone goes through when he/she is dyings and her new book, Angelic Attendants.
To contact Julie and learn more about her work, visit AskJulieRyan.com.
You can contact Dr. Eeks at bloomingwellness.com.
Follow Dr. Eeks on Instagram here.
Or Facebook here.
Or Twitter.
Read Manic Kingdom here.
Listen to her short audio parody on the wellness industry here.
Subcribe to her newsletter here!
Hygienic Chow: Dog Bowl Cleanliness and the Intersection with Human Health, with Dr. Emily Luisana
Causes or Cures
11/29/22 • 35 min
In this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Emily Luisana about her recent study on dog bowl and dog food hygiene and the link to human and dog health published here.
In the podcast, Dr. Luisana will discuss how she became interested in this topic and provide an overview of the potential bacteria/viruses that may grow on dog bowls and the potential impact for dog and human health. She'll discuss results from her survey that assessed how many people knew about the FDA's pet dish cleaning recommendations as well as the most common current practices for handling/storing dog food and cleaning dog bowls. She'll describe results from a survey to assess bacterial growth on dog dishes among groups, one of which used the FDA guidelines, and discuss differences. Then she'll offer general guidance and a bit of nutritional wisdom for dogs.
Dr. Luisana is a practicing veterinarian and board-certified clinical nutritionist for veterinary medicine. You can read more about her here.
You can contact Dr. Eeks at bloomingwellness.com.
Follow Dr. Eeks on Instagram here.
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Subscribe to her newsletter here!
"Does the Vitamin D, Algae Omega-3s & Exercise Combo Really Slow Aging? With Dr. Heike Bischoff-Ferrari"
Causes or Cures
05/13/25 • 54 min
In this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with aging and longevity expert Dr. Heike Bischoff-Ferrari about whether simple lifestyle interventions, like supplementation and exercise, can actually make us biologically younger.
Dr. Bischoff-Ferrari breaks down:
• What DNA methylation clocks are and how they’re used to measure biological age
- The design and findings of the DO-HEALTH Bio-Age Trial
- Whether vitamin D, algae-based omega-3s, and exercise can turn back your biological clock
- The science behind how these interventions may work
- Practical takeaways for longevity and healthy aging
- What’s next in this fast-moving field
Dr. Bischoff-Ferrari is a physician and researcher with board certifications in geriatrics, internal medicine, and rehab. She’s a professor at the University of Zurich where she chairs the Department of Geriatrics and Aging Research, and the principal investigator of DO-HEALTH, Europe’s largest study ever on healthy longevity. With a doctorate from Harvard and a long-standing commitment to aging research, she’s at the forefront of understanding how to extend not just lifespan, but healthspan. You can learn more about her here.
You can contact Dr. Eeks at bloomingwellness.com.
Follow Eeks on Instagram here.
Or Facebook here.
Or X.
On Youtube.
Or TikTok.
SUBSCRIBE to her monthly newsletter here.
Listen to the very short satire wellness audio book Yours in Wellness!
Read Manic Kingdom.
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FAQ
How many episodes does Causes or Cures have?
Causes or Cures currently has 227 episodes available.
What topics does Causes or Cures cover?
The podcast is about Life Sciences, Health & Fitness, Alternative Health, Wellness, Medicine, Podcasts, Science and Global Health.
What is the most popular episode on Causes or Cures?
The episode title 'Hygienic Chow: Dog Bowl Cleanliness and the Intersection with Human Health, with Dr. Emily Luisana' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on Causes or Cures?
The average episode length on Causes or Cures is 49 minutes.
How often are episodes of Causes or Cures released?
Episodes of Causes or Cures are typically released every 8 days, 4 hours.
When was the first episode of Causes or Cures?
The first episode of Causes or Cures was released on Mar 12, 2019.
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