Aug 25
Part One: Percy Fawcett: Real-Life Indiana Jones, or Deluded Psychic Racist?
There are a few candidates for the title "the real Indiana Jones" but Percy Fawcett is the man whose reputation most inspired our favorite fictional archaeologist. Unfortunately, he was a racist, a murderer and a weirdo occultist who led his own son to a horrific death for reason ... Show More
58m 57s
Feb 2025
Can I trust the FDA? (from thalidomide to cough medicine)
<p><strong>#206</strong></p>
<p>Melissa and Jam address a listener's question about the FDA's reliability in approving products. They discuss the intersection of chemistry, government, and society, focusing on FDA's role in regulating food and drugs. The episode includes a deep d ... Show More
30m 23s
Aug 2025
The FDA Boss on the Agency’s MAHA Makeover
Dr. Marty Makary has criticized the Food and Drug Administration for being "captured" by Big Food and Big Pharma. Now, the surgeon and former professor is in charge. In an interview with host Jessica Mendoza, the new FDA head talks about food dyes, AI, vaccines and the big change ... Show More
21m 7s
Mar 2022
“No Evidence of Risk” (FDA Pt. 2)
In 1999, an FDA food investigator found traces of mercury in America’s favorite sweetener. But when she presented her findings, she was told to stop her research. The incident rang alarm bells — was the FDA covering up threats to public health? More recently, the agency’s sources ... Show More
45m 15s
Mar 2025
Why is red food dye banned?
<p><strong>#208</strong></p>
<p>Melissa and Jam dive deep into the topic of FDA regulations, particularly focusing on food additives like red food dye. They discuss the complexities of the FDA's approval process, the Delaney Clause, and recent changes in the regulation of red dye ... Show More
33m 49s
Aug 2020
Trump's peddling a fake Covid-19 cure
Jane, Dara, and Matt on convalescent plasma, FDA reform, and the politics of science.
Resources:
"Trump used a rare disease survivor to take a shot at the FDA" by Julia Belluz, Vox
"Making American Great Again–The FDA" by Alex Tabarrok, Marginal Revolution
"Reopening schools safe ... Show More
49m 39s
<p><strong>#183<br />
</strong><br />
We're adding another chapter to the PFAS series! There's new information from the FDA that we've got to talk about,. It's about the PFAS that coat food wrappers. What does it mean? Is it good news? Is it enough? Let's talk about it!</p>
<p><s ... Show More