Wellness isn’t just about mindfulness, exercise, or the right skin routine. Science, politics, media, culture, tech — everything around us — interact to shape our health. On America Dissected, Drs. Abdul El-Sayed and Katelyn Jetelina cuts into what really makes us sick — be it racism, corporate greed, or snake oil influencers — and what it'll take to heal it. From for-profit healthcare to ineffective sunscreens, America Dissected cuts deeper into the state of health in America. New episodes every Thursday. Want to know where to start? Here are some fan-favorite episodes to search: Cannabis Capitalism with David Jernigan; Weight Weight Don’t Tell me with Harriett Brown; Black Scientists Matter with Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett.
To close out this season of the pod, Abdul and Katelyn record from the American Public Health Association’s annual convention. They discuss the current public health landscape, as the government shutdown threatens SNAP and WIC funding. Then, they are joined by Dr. Peter Marks, the former director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. They discuss the future of public health, and the road ahead.
America Dissected is taking an indefinite pause. We thank you for six amazing years.
Check out our shop at store.americadissected.com for our America Dissected merch – including logo shirts, hoodies and mugs. And don’t miss our “Vaccines Work. Science Matters.” t-shirts!
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9 Oct 2025TRANSCRIPT
Put Up Or Shutdown
In our penultimate episode, Abdul and Katelyn discuss the week’s public health news, which includes:
Why Democrats are demanding Republicans extend healthcare subsidies
How the shutdown has impacted funding to public health programs
The new childhood vaccination schedule
The CDC’s official approval of the Covid booster
Then they look back on the last 6 years, and play some of Abdul’s favorite moments from American Dissected.
Check out our shop at store.americadissected.com for our new America Dissected merch – including logo shirts, hoodies and mugs. And don’t miss our “Vaccines Work. Science Matters.” t-shirts!
This show would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. America Dissected invites you to check them out. This episode was brought to you by:
Quince: Go to Quince.com/AD for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.
APHA: Listeners of this podcast get a 10% discount for the 2025 Annual Meeting and Expo using code: Dissected25.
2 Oct 2025TRANSCRIPT
On The Ground In Gaza
Abdul and Katelyn discuss the latest news in public health, which includes:
Trump’s $100,000 H1-B visa fee, which is could significantly hurt staffing in rural hospitals
A new 100% tariff on certain imported brand-name drugs
RFK Jr’s announcement that the FDA is re-evaluating the abortion medication mifepristone
A new scientific breakthrough that’s giving hope to people with Huntington’s Disease
Then Abdul sits down with Dr. Aziz Rahman, an American physician who recently completed a medical mission in Gaza. Dr. Rahman offers a gripping account of the devastation in Gaza, and the heroic efforts of doctors serving there.
Check out our shop at store.americadissected.com for our new America Dissected merch – including logo shirts, hoodies and mugs. And don’t miss our “Vaccines Work. Science Matters.” t-shirts!
This show would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. America Dissected invites you to check them out. This episode was brought to you by:
Boll & Branch: For a limited time get 20% off your first set of sheets plus free shipping at BollAndBranch.com/AD.
Quince: Go to Quince.com/AD for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.
APHA: Listeners of this podcast get a 10% discount for the 2025 Annual Meeting and Expo using code: Dissected25.
Inside a recent episode
Where We Go From Here
Published 6 Nov 2025 · Transcript excerpt
[…] And that's probably happening across the country. So this creates a really, really challenging set of circumstances for hospitals themselves, right? Because at some point, I've been up and down my state over the last several months. And like we watched as one of the rural hospitals in the Upper Peninsula in Michigan closed down abruptly. But like at some point, these folks are going to find it unsustainable. And I think that the thing we sometimes don't appreciate is the reason rural health care for rural hospitals often shut down is because if they can't operate at profit, they're still valuing the real estate. […]
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