On each episode of Critically Speaking, your host, Dr. Therese Markow, interviews foremost experts in a range of fields. We discuss, in everyday language that ...
Dr. Amy Cooter: Militias in the United States Today
In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Amy Cooter discuss the complexities and variations within militia groups in the United States, citing examples of constitutional militias, millenarian militias, and border militias noting their varying beliefs and tendencies. Dr. Cooter also highlights how the role of nostalgia and protecting the Second Amendment rights are integral in militias’ self-perception. They discuss the difficulty in tracking militia activity, the racial undertones in these militia groups, as well as the legality and legal loopholes that many of these groups fall within. Key Takeaways: Not all militias are the same. They do not have the same goals, structure, meetings, life experiences, or beliefs. Border militias tend to be more concerned about migration, whereas others, who live away from the Southern border of the US, are less concerned about immigration. The Second Amendment and nostalgia are two major things that tie militia groups together with a point of commonality. A lot of militia members aren't very religious themselves, but we have to pay attention to the way that the mythologized story of our founding and who we are as a nation connects to certain Christian mythology in ways that are getting pulled forward with different iterations of what we’re calling White Christian Nationalism. "Most militias really see their limits at their community or even their county boundary. They tend to have only very local members to set their own agenda, even if they do coordinate, sometimes for training or other activities, with other geographically near militias." — Dr. Amy Cooter Episode Reference: ProPublica Article: The Militia and the Mole by Joshua Kaplan: https://www.propublica.org/article/ap3-oath-keepers-militia-mole Connect with Dr. Amy Cooter: Professional Bio: middlebury.edu/institute/people/amy-cooter Website: https://www.amycooter.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-cooter-67a9a242 Book: Nostalgia, Nationalism, and the US Militia Movement: https://www.amazon.com/Nostalgia-Nationalism-US-Militia-Movement/dp/1032421975 Connect with Therese: Website: www.criticallyspeaking.net Threads: @critically_speaking Email: [email protected] Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.
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25:51
Richard Conniff: Ending Epidemics
In this episode, Therese Markow and Richard Conniff discuss his book "Ending Epidemics," which explores the history of infectious diseases and vaccines. Richard highlights the evolution from ancient humoral theories, which thrived for nearly 2000 years, to modern germ theory, emphasizing the importance of cleanliness and vaccination. He recounts the development of the smallpox vaccine by Edward Jenner and the polio vaccine by Jonas Salk, noting initial resistance and the success of widespread vaccination. He also addresses the current resistance to COVID-19 vaccines, stressing the importance of balancing vaccine risks against disease risks. He also warns of the dangers of withdrawing from global health organizations like the WHO. Key Takeaways: The Semmelweis Reflex is the tendency of people to stick with what they already believe and ignore clear evidence that it’s wrong. Smallpox has been eradicated. In many areas, they were still using Jenner’s vaccine, which still worked up until 1980. With some viruses, illnesses are dormant but can crop up later in life, such as chickenpox and shingles. Viruses hide in the nervous system When you are thinking about vaccines, think about the disease, and then think about what the relative risk of the vaccine is versus the risk of the disease. "The problem is that people can develop these imaginary problems with vaccines because they do not have any conception of how awful the disease is that the vaccine is preventing." — Richard Conniff Episode References: Ending Epidemics: A History of Escape from Contagion - https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262552974/ending-epidemics/ The Species Seekers: Heroes, Fools, and the Mad Pursuit of Life on Earth - https://wwnorton.com/books/9780393341324 Connect with Richard Conniff: Professional Bio: https://mitpress.mit.edu/author/richard-conniff-39217/ Website: https://strangebehaviors.wordpress.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-conniff-9689a02/ Connect with Therese: Website: www.criticallyspeaking.net Threads: @critically_speaking Email: [email protected] Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.
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48:46
Dr. MacKenzie Pellin: Cancer in Your Dog or Cat
In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. MacKenzie Pellin discuss the cancer rates in dogs and cats, the types of cancer we tend to see in our four-legged friends, and the challenges of diagnosing cancer in pets. Dr. Pellin also breaks down some of the main differences of cancer in breeds of dogs and cats, and the reasons why those types of cancer are more common based on the pet’s structure. Finally, Dr. Pellin emphasizes the importance of routine veterinary care and early detection for your pets. Key Takeaways: Dogs and humans are diagnosed with cancer at about the same rate - about 25% over their life, with about 50% at geriatric ages. About ⅓ of all cats will be diagnosed with cancer throughout their lifetime. Large and giant breed dogs are more predisposed to bone cancer. Dogs with long noses are more likely to get nasal tumors. Snub-nosed dogs are more likely to have tumors in their heart space. In cats, certain types of viruses, like FIV of FeLV can be transmitted to other cats, which can then mutate into cancer. These seem species-specific and cannot be transmitted to other species like dogs or humans. Monitor your dog or cat’s habits enough that you can tell when things change. You know them, you know their habits, trust your gut, and take them in if things seem unusual. "Be aware of your animal's habits, and if things start to change, pay attention to that and take them into your clinic for a checkup." — Dr. MacKenzie Pellin Connect with Dr. MacKenzie Pellin: Professional Bio: https://www.vetmed.wisc.edu/people/mackenzie-pellin/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mackenzie-pellin-962a66b6/ Connect with Therese: Website: www.criticallyspeaking.net Threads: @critically_speaking Email: [email protected] Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.
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30:17
Dr. John Hutton: Reading to Babies Helps Their Brains
In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. John Hutton discuss the impact of early reading exposure on brain development in infants and young children. He explains that babies are born with 100 billion brain cells, each with around 1,000 connections and that these connections are shaped by experiences. Dr. Hutton emphasizes the importance of a nurturing home literacy environment, which includes regular reading routines and interactive reading. He also addresses the negative effects of excessive screen time on brain development, particularly in preschoolers, and advocates for reducing screen usage to allow for more real-world engagement. Additionally, he highlights programs like Reach Out and Read and Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library that aim to increase access to books for children from underprivileged backgrounds. Key Takeaways: It takes a long time for the human brain to develop compared to other animals. Humans are uniquely more sensitive to experiences in their environment than other organisms because of this long development process. The Home Literacy Environment can be divided into quantitative (such as the number of books and amount of time spent reading) and qualitative (such as questions asked, format of books, interest in reading, etc.) components. There is no “reading network” built-in to the brain. If kids aren’t taught to read, they are not going to just magically know how to read. Do your best to form your own routines, and try to make reading fun, enjoyable, and nurturing. Kids want to emulate their parents. If we want them to use less screen time, as adults, we must also have less screen time. "Books, more than anything, are a catalyst that brings grown-ups and kids together to exchange language, to exchange emotions, to show love and affection, and that can be a source of nurturing for all these different aspects of development that are related to that experience." — Dr. John Hutton Episode References: Read Aloud 15 Minutes: https://readaloud.org/ Reach Out and Read: https://reachoutandread.org/ Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library: https://imaginationlibrary.com/usa/ Dr. John Hutton Introduces the SHARE STEP Method for Reading with Young Children: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuQhnbrwutw Connect with Dr. John Hutton: Professional Bio: https://profiles.utsouthwestern.edu/profile/226447/john-hutton.html Twitter: https://x.com/drjohnhutton Books: https://www.bluemanateepress.com/our-authors#/dr-john-hutton/ Connect with Therese: Website: www.criticallyspeaking.net Threads: @critically_speaking Email: [email protected] Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.
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52:42
Dr. Adina Wise: Parkinson's - Environmental Risks
In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Adina Wise discuss the complexities of Parkinson’s disease, including its causes, symptoms, and the role of environmental factors, such as air pollution. They discuss who Parkinson’s primarily affects, the genetic factors at play, the higher incidents in specific regions, and the increase in the frequency of Parkinson’s cases. They also talk about the recent advancements including continuous infusion therapy and stress that early detection is crucial, though challenging due to ethical considerations. Key Takeaways: Movement disorders are one of the few areas of medicine where diagnosis continues to rely heavily on careful observation. Parkinson’s is a heterogeneous disorder, not a single disease. Every case is a little different with the well-known motor symptoms - such as tremors, stiffness, and slowness, but also equally important non-motor symptoms - like sleep disturbances, mood changes, cognitive impairment, and more. Parkinson’s mostly appears in people over the age of 60. For early-onset Parkinson’s (before the age of 50) accounts for about 4-10% of all cases. In these early-onset cases, there tends to be a stronger genetic influence. The number one thing you can do to keep your brain healthy right now is regular aerobic exercise. "Environmental factors, genes, lifestyle - these all may influence whether Parkinson’s manifests. This makes the Parkinson’s genetics quite complicated." — Dr. Adina Wise Connect with Dr. Adina Wise: Professional Bio: https://profiles.mountsinai.org/adina-wise LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adinawise Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awise.md/ Connect with Therese: Website: www.criticallyspeaking.net Threads: @critically_speaking Email: [email protected] Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.
On each episode of Critically Speaking, your host, Dr. Therese Markow, interviews foremost experts in a range of fields. We discuss, in everyday language that we all can understand, fundamental issues that impact our health, our society, and our planet. Join our weekly journey where we separate fact from fantasy for topics both current and controversial.
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