The House of Pod

Dr. Kaveh Hoda is joined by facial plastic surgeon Dr. Umang Mehta and physical therapist David Bailey to explore how sitting, screen use, long commutes, and demanding work affect the body. They share practical tips for improving posture, building strength, taking effective movement breaks, and preventing chronic pain before it becomes an injury. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Colon cancer is rising in younger adults, and most people still have no idea what the real warning signs look like. Dr. Kaveh Hoda breaks down what’s actually happening, what may be driving it, and the poop symptoms you should never ignore.This solo episode explains why early-onset colorectal cancer is rising, what the strongest risk factors are, and how to tell normal gut weirdness from real red flags. Kaveh also covers the role of diet, obesity, the gut microbiome, and the latest research on why younger patients may be different.He also answers rapid-fire colon questions: coffee and bathroom urgency, floating stool, mucus, poop frequency, stool shape, and bleeding or color changes you should never ignore. If you want a practical, science-backed guide to colon health, this episode is for you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kaveh is joined by Reproductive Psychiatrist Katrina Furey, Dr. Salman Mirza and Rebecca Watson to discuss the Lindsay Clancy case (the tragic case of an OB/GYN nurse who is undergoing trial for the deaths of her three young children) and to untangle the difference between postpartum depression, postpartum OCD, and postpartum psychosis. You’ll discover why the postpartum period is the highest-risk time for a woman’s first mental health episode, how rapid hormone shifts can affect the brain, and why intrusive thoughts are not always the same thing as psychosis.We break down the signs clinicians should not miss - including sleep loss, agitation, paranoia, delusions, hallucinations, and sudden changes in cognition or behavior - plus the real-world screening tools and treatment decisions that can make the difference, from mood stabilizers to ECT to emergency hospitalization. Katrina also explains why many providers are undertrained in women’s mental health, why a simple depression screen is not enough, and how systems failures can leave patients and families without the help they need. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Trump administration's push to split the MMR vaccine into three separate shots and slash the childhood vaccine schedule down to 11 injections represents one of the most significant federal interventions in immunization policy in a generation. But here's the thing: the separate MMR vaccine doesn't exist, Merck has said they won't make it, and the science has been settled for decades. Dr. Kaveh Hoda sits down with epidemiologist Jessica Malaty Rivera and musician Mark Gasaway to unpack the politics behind the plan — from RFK Jr.'s dismantling of the ACIP to the confirmation of a new CDC director who may bend the knee. They dig into the Andrew Wakefield legacy, the impossible standard of "proving a negative," and why comparing the U.S. to Denmark is apples to steaks. Plus: the rise of peptides and raw milk as the latest wellness grifts, COVID revisionism, and what it will actually take to rebuild public trust in science. 🎙️ Enjoyed the episode? Please take 30 seconds to it makes a huge difference in helping new listeners find the show https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-house-of-pod/id1225096382 🛍️ Rep the Pod — grab House of Pod merch! Pick up a shirt: Search "House of Pod" at bonfire.com or go to https://www.bonfire.com/hopmerch Find me Kaveh on Instagram or TikTok @thehouseofpod or email at hopquestions@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. Kaveh Hoda is joined by his nephew, intern Ali — in a last ditch effort to convince him to go to med school — and Dr. Aanika Warner, a board-certified internist, NIH fellow, and admissions consultant at Inspira Advantage. They tackle the big questions: should you go to medical school? How do you get in? Dr. Warner draws on her time serving on the Johns Hopkins admissions committee to share what actually makes a strong application, why your personal narrative matters more than a checklist of activities, and the only real "wrong" reason to apply. The group also covers gap years, the med school vs. PA school debate, AI in the application process, and listener questions on finances, older applicants, and staying politically active online. Honest, practical, and a little bit funny — Make sure to share with someone in your life that might be considering med school! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A government committee is trying to turn Anthony Fauci's Fifth Amendment into a crime, while RFK Jr. keeps selling vaccine fear with claims that fall apart under basic scrutiny. If you care about public health, scientific honesty, or what happens when politics starts prosecuting doctors, this one will make your blood boil. Dr. Kaveh Hoda reacts to the latest Fauci hearing, where Rand Paul and Senate Republicans push a contempt referral after Fauci refuses a partisan setup and invokes his constitutional rights. Kaveh breaks down how Tulsi Gabbard's lab leak document dump fuels the narrative, why the pardon fight is legally shaky, and why this feels less like oversight and more like a political trap.Then the episode turns to RFK Jr.'s CNN interview with Dana Bash, and the claims get even wilder. You'll hear why his arguments about Lyme disease, RSV, measles, ICU capacity, Tylenol, autism, and vaccine schedules don't hold up, plus a clear explanation of what gain-of-function research actually is and why it keeps getting weaponized in public debate. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. Kaveh Hoda is joined by Nathaniel Heidari (Memingless podcast) and nutritionist Kevin Klatt to dig into the world of "biblical nutrition," focusing on self-proclaimed expert Annette Reeder. The episode traces her murky educational credentials, dissects her viral claims about phytic acid and high-fructose corn syrup, and follows the money trail through supplements, grain mills, coaching programs, and a $1,433 sales funnel — all wrapped in scripture. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth just announced mandatory annual testosterone screening for U.S. service members over 30 — under the banner "The High T Department of War." Dr. Kaveh Hoda breaks down what's actually true about low T with pediatric endocrinologist Dr. Riordan Ledgerwood, a proudly trans-masculine Army veteran, and returning guest Myke Cole — writer, veteran, and author of The Bronze Lie — who's spent years dismantling the myth of the Spartan super-soldier. Together they dig into what low testosterone really means medically, why there's zero scientific evidence linking T levels to battlefield lethality, and the risks (yes, including gynecomastia) of dosing healthy young men who don't need it. They trace the "warrior hormone" myth back through history — from Spartan arete to Viking drengskapar — and connect it to the internet-fueled backlash against Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey and its casting choices. Plus: is The Odyssey actually a good movie? A mix of hard medical science, ancient history, and pop culture, with the usual dose of hot sauce. Enjoyed the episode? Please take 30 seconds to it makes a huge difference in helping new listeners find the show https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-house-of-pod/id1225096382 rab House of Pod merch! Pick up a shirt: Search "House of Pod" at bonfire.com or go to https://www.bonfire.com/hopmerch Find me Kaveh on Instagram or TikTok @thehouseofpod or email at hopquestions@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. Kaveh Hoda is joined by returning guests Kieran Hervold and Dr. Jason Rosenbaum (molecular pathologist) to dig into tech entrepreneur Bryan Johnson — the Silicon Valley figure who's turned anti-aging into a hyper-regimented, headline-grabbing lifestyle brand. The trio trace his path from Mormon missionary to Braintree/Venmo founder to self-proclaimed "longevity" evangelist, then pick apart his "Don't Die" blueprint: the $1,700-a-month supplement stack, 8:30pm bedtimes, cold showers, testicle icing, stem cell injections, and plasma exchanges with his own son. Jason breaks down the science (and overreach) behind the epigenetic methylation testing Johnson uses to claim he's aging in reverse, while the group debates whether his approach constitutes real health optimization, a quasi-religious philosophy, or an elaborate grift — money-making or not. They also cover his viral (and widely mocked) tweets about his girlfriend's vaginal microbiome and his son's nighttime erections, and close with a look at his recent autoimmune gastritis diagnosis and what it reveals about the limits of "hacking" biology. Enjoyed the episode?Please take 30 seconds to it makes a huge difference in helping new listeners find the show https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-house-of-pod/id1225096382 Rep the Pod — grab House of Pod merch! Pick up a shirt: Search "House of Pod" at bonfire.com or go to https://www.bonfire.com/hopmerch Find me Kaveh on Instagram or TikTok @thehouseofpod or email at hopquestions@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. Kaveh Hoda welcomes two guests to the House of Pod: child and adolescent psychiatrist Dr. Chase T.M. Anderson and former NFL punter Chris Kluwe. A record-setting eight-year veteran of the Minnesota Vikings, Kluwe opens up about the open letter defending same-sex marriage that reshaped his career and public life. The conversation covers the physical toll of professional football — concussions, CTE, and the long-term health risks players face — alongside the culture of silence around player safety and advocacy in the NFL. Chase brings a mental health lens to the discussion, exploring how visibility and allyship from athletes affect LGBTQ+ communities. Enjoyed the episode?Please take 30 seconds to it makes a huge difference in helping new listeners find the show https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-house-of-pod/id1225096382 Rep the Pod — grab House of Pod merch! Pick up a shirt: Search "House of Pod" at bonfire.com or go to https://www.bonfire.com/hopmerch Find me Kaveh on Instagram or TikTok @thehouseofpod or email at hopquestions@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

RFK Jr. has a new podcast — the Secretary Kennedy Podcast — and Dr. Kaveh Hoda sat through hours of it so you don't have to. Joining him are epidemiologist Dr. Elizabeth Jacobs and journalist/misinformation researcher Garrison Davis to break down what the show claims to be, what it actually is, and whatever "polyanecdotal" means. The trio dig into RFK Jr.'s branding as an anti-establishment truth-teller (despite literally being the establishment), his shaky grip on the scientific method, cherry-picked studies dressed up as "peer-reviewed," the MAHA/MAGA overlap, his takes on psychiatry and antidepressants, and the class politics hiding behind his food-as-medicine rhetoric. Enjoyed the episode? Please take 30 seconds to it makes a huge difference in helping new listeners find the show https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-house-of-pod/id1225096382 Rep the Pod — grab House of Pod merch! Pick up a shirt: Search "House of Pod" at bonfire.com or go to https://www.bonfire.com/hopmerch Find me Kaveh on Instagram or TikTok @thehouseofpod or email at hopquestions@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Migraines affect over one billion people worldwide and rank as the second leading cause of disability globally — yet fewer than 5% of chronic sufferers get adequate care. So why are they so misunderstood? Dr. Kaveh Hoda sits down with Dr. Andrew Charles (neurologist and migraine researcher at UCLA) and Jesse Thorn (broadcaster and lifelong migraine sufferer) to talk about what migraines really are, why stigma keeps so many people from getting help, and the exciting new treatments that are finally changing the game. Please share with a migraine sufferer in your life. Enjoyed the episode? Please take 30 seconds to it makes a huge difference in helping new listeners find the show https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-house-of-pod/id1225096382 Rep the Pod — grab House of Pod merch! Pick up a shirt: Search "House of Pod" at bonfire.com or go to https://www.bonfire.com/hopmerch Find me Kaveh on Instagram or TikTok @thehouseofpod or email at hopquestions@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In January 2010, a catastrophic earthquake devastated Haiti — a country that hadn't seen a single case of cholera in over a century. Then, months later, people living along the Artibonite River started getting violently ill. Within 29 days, cholera had spread throughout all of Haiti. The source? A UN peacekeeping base upstream, whose sewage was flowing directly into the river. In this episode, Dr. Kaveh Hoda is joined by co-host Kieran Hervold and special guest Joe Kassabian — host of the Lions Led By Donkeys podcast — to break down one of the most consequential public health failures in modern history. They cover what cholera actually is and how it kills, why the UN was in Haiti in the first place, how journalists and scientists pieced together the evidence. 🎙️ Enjoyed the episode? Please take 30 seconds to it makes a huge difference in helping new listeners find the show https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-house-of-pod/id1225096382 🛍️ Rep the Pod — grab House of Pod merch! Pick up a shirt: Search "House of Pod" at bonfire.com or go to https://www.bonfire.com/hopmerch Find me Kaveh on Instagram or TikTok @thehouseofpod or email at hopquestions@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kaveh is joined by comedian, illustrator, and podcaster Kaveh Taherian to investigate Dr. Max Jacobson — aka "Dr. Feelgood" and "Miracle Max" — the physician who fled Nazi Germany and built a celebrity clientele with amphetamine-laced "vitamin cocktails." His patients included Truman Capote, Tennessee Williams, and President John F. Kennedy. They dig into how his treatments worked, why JFK looked so good in the Nixon debate, and how a bottle of leftover "super serum" ended up with the FBI. 🎙️ Enjoyed the episode? Please take 30 seconds to it makes a huge difference in helping new listeners find the show https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-house-of-pod/id1225096382 🛍️ Rep the Pod — grab House of Pod merch! Pick up a shirt: Search "House of Pod" at bonfire.com or go to https://www.bonfire.com/hopmerch Find me Kaveh on Instagram or TikTok @thehouseofpod or email at hopquestions@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kaveh is joined by Kieran Hervold and infectious disease physician and global health expert Dr. Krutika Kuppalli to break down the facts about the Ebola virus, separating fact from fiction, her personal experiences treating the disease, understanding the stigma around diagnosis and discussing the unsung heroes of the battle against this deadly disease. Here is the link to the open letter to Congress expressing concerns about the proposed use of third-country facilities for Americans potentially exposed to or infected with Ebola. Please consider signing: tinyurl.com/Ebola-Letter House of Pod merch is here! Pick up a shirt: Search "House of Pod" at bonfire.com or go to https://www.bonfire.com/hopmerch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Kaveh discusses his recent colonoscopy and his broken finger and if the two are related. We cover when to start colon cancer screening, the pluses and minuses of the colon cancer screening options that are available, why Kaveh picked a colonoscopy and tips and tricks to make it go as smoothly as possible! 🎙️ Enjoyed the episode? Please take 30 seconds to it makes a huge difference in helping new listeners find the show https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-house-of-pod/id1225096382 🛍️ Rep the Pod — grab House of Pod merch! Pick up a shirt: Search "House of Pod" at bonfire.com or go to https://www.bonfire.com/hopmerch Find me Kaveh on Instagram or TikTok @thehouseofpod or email at hopquestions@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special episode, Dr. Kaveh Hoda is joined by guests Rebecca Watson (Skepchick) and Dr. Will Flannery (Dr. Glaucomflecken, ophthalmologist & comedian) to do what the film never asked for: a serious medical review of every injury inflicted on the Wet Bandits in Home Alone . From BB gun blasts to the groin, a blowtorch to the scalp, a hot iron to the face, a paint can to the head, and a nail through a bare foot — the trio rates each injury on a lethality scale of 1–10, debates whether Harry and Marv would actually survive, and asks the real question: why didn't Kevin just call the cops? Also on the docket: the tarantula hair ophthalmology incident (yes, it's real), the dangers of slipping on ice, skincare routines, aging, Zoom beauty filters, and the Jeremy Renner app — but for doctors. Featuring: - Rebecca Watson — skeptchick.org | patreon.com/rebecca - Dr. Will Flannery (Dr. Glaucomflecken) — glaucomflecken.com | Humor & Humanity in Medicine app The House of Pod is hosted by Dr. Kaveh Hoda. Rate & review on iTunes! Merch at bonfire.com/hopmerch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

RFK Jr. has set his sights on antidepressants — and we're not stoked about it. In this episode, Kaveh is joined by Dr. Tyler Black, psychiatrist and suicidologist, and Melody Schreiber, award-winning healthcare journalist, to break down the federal push to curb SSRI prescribing and what it really means for patients. They cover: What "deprescribing" actually means — and who it will harm most The racist history of "reparenting" and why RFK Jr.'s use of the term matters Whether SSRIs are truly linked to violence and school shootings Are antidepressants really "harder to quit than heroin"? The statin wars, cholesterol misinformation, and the wellness-to-conspiracy pipeline What good deprescribing actually looks like when done by a real clinician 🎙️ Enjoyed the episode? Please take 30 seconds to it makes a huge difference in helping new listeners find the show https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-house-of-pod/id1225096382 🛍️ Rep the Pod — grab House of Pod merch! Pick up a shirt: Search "House of Pod" at bonfire.com or go to https://www.bonfire.com/hopmerch Find me Kaveh on Instagram or TikTok @thehouseofpod or email at hopquestions@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Iran is one of the most important stories in the world right now — and one of the most distorted. Kaveh brings on AFP journalist Mariam Ishani Thompson, who reports from the only global news agency with a permanent bureau inside Iran, alongside returning guest Dr. Arghavan Salis, to talk about what's actually happening on the ground, why the information ecosystem around Iran is so broken, and what it means that most of us are getting our news from social media comments and partisan feeds. They get into the January massacres, the Strait of Hormuz, the diaspora's complicated relationship with the bombing, and how to find sources you can actually trust. House of Pod merch is here! Pick up a shirt: Search "House of Pod" at bonfire.com or go to https://www.bonfire.com/hopmerch Find me Kaveh on Instagram or TikTok @thehouseofpod or email at hopquestions@gmail.com And most importantly: Share with your firiends! Rate and review us at iTunes! Help the show grow! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-house-of-pod/id1225096382 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A mysterious illness strikes passengers aboard a cruise ship off the coast of Cape Verde — and it's not the norovirus you'd expect. In this episode, Dr. Kaveh Hoda is joined by guest cohost Allen Liu and infectious disease physician and global health expert Dr. Krutika Kuppalli to break down the hantavirus outbreak aboard the MV Hondius, what it means for public health in the US, and why it has experts paying close attention, particularly with millions of visitors expected for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the US stepping back from the WHO. How prepared are we really? Not as much as you would hope, that's for sure. House of Pod merch is here! Pick up a shirt: Search "House of Pod" at bonfire.com or go to https://www.bonfire.com/hopmerch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.