Free Associations Podcast

With a sense of humor and a healthy dose of skepticism the hosts talk us through popular health studies and hyperbolic news headlines while teaching us how to ask the right questions.

Free Associations Podcast | June 30th, 2020

Did Netflix’s 13 Reasons Why lead to suicides?

Matt welcomes guests Lisa Bodnar and Jaimie Gradus to discuss a study that looks at the impact of the Netflix series 13 Reasons Why on suicides, they discuss whether epidemiologists should be called “Doctor”, and Lisa finally uses the word ‘twizpipe’ correctly.

Free Associations Podcast | June 16th, 2020

A new treatment for adolescent obesity?

Matt, Jen, and guest Hailey Banack from The University of Buffalo discuss a study that looks at the effect of a new drug to treat adolescent obesity, they discuss the rise of armchair epidemiologists, and Jen reminds us of a past public health success.

Free Associations Podcast | June 2nd, 2020

Which is worse, social media or eating potatoes?

Matt, Jen, and guest Kerry Keyes from Columbia University discuss a study that looks at the effect of digital media on health of adolescents, they debate whether COVID research is moving too fast, and Kerry warns us about taking medical advice from cartoons.

Free Associations Podcast | May 19th, 2020

Is fish oil all that useful?

Matt, Jen, and guest Laura Sampson discuss a study that looks at the effect of fish oil on cardiovascular disease, they get into the weeds on the proportional hazards assumption (no hate mail please), and Matt sits down to do some coloring.

Free Associations Podcast | May 5th, 2020

Is it worth the risk to bike to work?

Matt, Jen, and guest Laura Sampson examine a study that looks at the risk of accidents from cycling to work, they discuss an impressive response to a mistake in a research study, and Laura gives us the skinny on doctors’ coffee consumption habits.

Free Associations Podcast | April 21st, 2020

Are C-sections increasing BMI in kids?

Matt, Jen, and guest Jennifer Weuve discuss a study that looks at whether elective and non-elective C-sections are leading to increased BMI in kids, they discuss a blog that asks whether bad statistical practices are crowding out good ones, and Matt breaks out his dance moves.

Free Associations Podcast | April 10th, 2020

Live COVID-19 Q&A

Hosts of the PHX podcast, Free Associations, answer your questions surrounding the current pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus. Hear from Matt, Don, and Chris about how they’re all dealing with COVID-19 and the way it has changed day-to-day life.

Free Associations Podcast | April 7th, 2020

Can kids with chicken pox protect you from shingles?

Matt, Jen, and guest host Jennifer Weuve discuss a study that looks at whether exposure to kids with chicken pox protects adults from shingles, they ask whether blinding in randomized trials really matters, and Jen survives a podcast episode that feels like a year on Mars.

Free Associations Podcast | March 24th, 2020

An informal chat about COVID-19

The gang paused their usual format this week to discuss how they are all dealing with the changes that have come about due to COVID-19. We got Chris, Matt, Don, Jen and newcomer Laura (and even a guest appearance by Nick) all on Zoom. We’ll be back to our regular format in two weeks.

Free Associations Podcast | March 10th, 2020

Long-term follow up on a new prevention for breast cancer

Matt and Jen discuss a long-term follow up study of a drug to prevent breast cancer, they ask whether papers in predatory journals get cited, and Matt lets it all out watching guilty pleasure movies on planes.

Free Associations Podcast | February 11th, 2020

Social determinants of homicides in the US

Matt, Chris, and Jen examine a study on the social determinants of homicides, they discuss whether Mendelian randomization will save epidemiology, and Matt goes for the old BMJ Christmas edition.