Elsa and Riya’s ER 🚨

Join Elsa and Riya for the final episode of season 4 where they conclude their discussion of Dr. Elisabeth Rosenthal’s book. Elsa and Riya will talk about the true importance of screening for disease, medical technology such as FitBits and Apple Watches, and the pros and cons of telemedicine. Thank you for listening and enjoy the final episode! 🚨Disclaimer: Elsa and Riya are not licensed medical professionals and therefore all things discussed in this episode, as well as past and future episodes, are for the purpose of entertainment only.🚨

Are you looking for a more efficient way to get medication? Should doctors work more collaboratively to improve patient experience? Join Elsa and Riya as they continue discussing financial issues in healthcare, specifically as it relates to insurance and obtaining medication. Listen to the potential solutions that Dr. Rosenthal proposes on both an individual and societal level, and Elsa and Riya’s perspective on their plausibility. 🚨Disclaimer: Elsa and Riya are not licensed medical professionals and therefore all things discussed in this episode, as well as past and future episodes, are for the purpose of entertainment only.🚨

Join Elsa and Riya this week as they discuss tips on how you can save money in your doctor’s visits and hospital trips. The content is based on Dr. Elisabeth Rosenthal’s book “An American Sickness: How Healthcare Became Big Business and How You Can Take It Back”. Listen as Elsa and Riya discuss the importance of asking questions and paying attention to the affiliation of the facility, the professionals you come in contact with, and the type of visit you are having - observation or admission. Elsa and Riya also discuss topics such as doctors self-referring to their own labs and the need for malpractice law reform. Finally, they discuss the Michelin Guide of healthcare and call for more governmental action. If you are in need of financial savings in healthcare, this is not an episode you will want to miss! 🚨Disclaimer: Elsa and Riya are not licensed medical professionals and therefore all things discussed in this episode, as well as past and future episodes, are for the purpose of entertainment only.🚨

Join Elsa and Riya as they continue
discussing Dr. Elisabeth Rosenthal's book "An American Sickness: How Healthcare Became a Big Business and How You Can Take it Back". One would think that innovations in healthcare would be beneficial for patients and doctors, as it should cut costs and give doctors more time to focus on other tasks. However, financial incentives for hospitals such as innovative technology, outsourcing dialysis treatment, and private hospital rooms seem to be having the opposite effect in a lot of scenarios. Elsa and Riya discuss the Affordable Care Act and a few ways national policy can change to make healthcare better in America. 🚨Disclaimer: Elsa and Riya are not licensed medical professionals and therefore all things discussed in this episode, as well as past and future episodes, are for the purpose of entertainment only.🚨

Join Elsa and Riya as they discuss Dr. Elisabeth Rosenthal’s book “An American Sickness: How Healthcare Became a Big Business and How You Can Take it Back”. Elsa and Riya explain how insurance has become profitable by discussing its history. Reasons for outrageous hospital bills are explored as Elsa and Riya discuss various patient experiences. If you find American Healthcare confusing, listen in to Elsa and Riya as they try to work through the mud. 🚨Disclaimer: Elsa and Riya are not licensed medical professionals and therefore all things discussed in this episode, as well as past and future episodes, are for the purpose of entertainment only.🚨

Join Elsa and Riya this week as they discuss the stories of two individuals with distinct, but common experiences in healthcare regarding their gender identity. When it comes to pregnancy, it is important to remember that people can be pregnant, not just women, as written by a transgender man who experienced an uphill battle during his second pregnancy. Elsa and Riya also discuss the inadequacies in healthcare surrounding mental health, especially to those in the LGBTQ+ community. Tune in this week to learn more! Warning: This episode contains behaviors, feelings and stories regarding suicide. If you or someone you know are having thoughts of self harm, use the Suicide Prevention Hotline 1-800-273-8255 or dial 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Hotline. 🚨Disclaimer: Elsa and Riya are not licensed medical professionals and therefore all things discussed in this episode, as well as past and future episodes, are for the purpose of entertainment only.🚨

Join Elsa and Riya as they discuss excerpts from “The Remedy: Queer and Trans Voices on Health and Healthcare” edited by Zena Sharman. Elsa and Riya wanted to bring to light the voices of those in the LGBTQ+ community who have experienced mistreatment by their healthcare providers. By learning about these individual’s perspectives, Elsa and Riya tried to empathize and learn how they could go about providing more culturally-competent care. Join the conversation with them by tuning in! 🚨Disclaimer: Elsa and Riya are not licensed medical professionals and therefore all things discussed in this episode, as well as past and future episodes, are for the purpose of entertainment only.🚨

From surgeon to patient, Dr Kalanithi experienced many drastic changes in his life. When five good years dwindled down to mere months, Dr. Kalanithi was forced to see life from the patient’s perspective. When so much is out of our control, we try to hang tight to the few things we have, but in this final episode of “When Breath Becomes Air”, Elsa and Riya discuss how Dr. Kalanithi learns to let go so he could focus on his family. He leaves this world with a beautiful message to his daughter and also to the whole world. Tune in this week to hear more!🚨Disclaimer: Elsa and Riya are not licensed medical professionals and therefore all things discussed in this episode, as well as past and future episodes, are for the purpose of entertainment only.🚨

Join Elsa and Riya as they explore Dr. Paul Kalanithi’s cancer progression and how it affects all aspects of his life from his career to family decisions. Listen as Dr. Kalanithi gains a new perspective on death - now as someone directly facing the phenomena - and compares it to his relationship with death as a doctor. His honest reflection is sure to capture your heart as it did Elsa and Riya’s. 🚨Disclaimer: Elsa and Riya are not licensed medical professionals and therefore all things discussed in this episode, as well as past and future episodes, are for the purpose of entertainment only.🚨

Welcome back for season 4 of the podcast! We’re super excited to be starting off with “When Breath Becomes Air” by Dr. Paul Kalanithi. Dr. Kalanithi is a renowned neurosurgeon and neuroscientist whose life and death made a huge impact on his readers. Tune in as we discuss Dr. Kalanithi’s professional and personal life and the different takeaways that we find applicable to the healthcare field, such as the importance of mental health of doctors, patient autonomy and empathy towards others. 🚨Disclaimer: Elsa and Riya are not licensed medical professionals and therefore all things discussed in this episode, as well as past and future episodes, are for the purpose of entertainment only.🚨

Ever wondered where the term “graveyard shift” originated from? Neither did Elsa or Riya, but they were both amused upon learning about it. Join them this week as they talk about the history of autopsies and how they are viewed today. Do you see the importance in them or are they a practice of the past? 🚨Disclaimer: Elsa and Riya are not licensed medical professionals and therefore all things discussed in this episode, as well as past and future episodes, are for the purpose of entertainment only. 🚨

The obesity epidemic continues to rage on with no end in sight despite the numerous diet and exercise programs that exist. Medicine offers patients various weight loss surgeries, but do they really work? Listen in this week to hear Elsa and Riya discuss what gastric bypass surgery is and how it changed one man’s life.🚨Disclaimer: Elsa and Riya are not licensed medical professionals and therefore all things discussed in this episode, as well as past and future episodes, are for the purpose of entertainment only. 🚨

Your blushing is a minor inconvenience; Her blushing is preventing her way of life. Join Elsa and Riya as they discuss a case of chronic blushing and the extreme measure taken to cure this symptom. Would you have done the same thing as the patient in this case study? Listen in to make your decision. 🚨Disclaimer: Elsa and Riya are not licensed medical professionals and therefore all things discussed in this episode, as well as past and future episodes, are for the purpose of entertainment only. 🚨

Mind over body is a common phrase often heard in sports, but it is also applicable to one’s personal health. It’s important to stay in tune with your body as it signals to what is wrong so that you discuss these issues with a trusted physician and get the proper treatment. But what happens if the doctor isn’t as receptive as you hoped? Tune in this week to hear Elsa and Riya discuss various medical mysteries, where doctors struggled to crack the case on what was wrong with the patient, and the importance of listening to your patients as a healthcare professional. 🚨Disclaimer: Elsa and Riya are not licensed medical professionals and therefore all things discussed in this episode, as well as past and future episodes, are for the purpose of entertainment only. 🚨

“You need to help yourself before you can help others” is a common phrase we hear on airplanes, schools and even at home. Often, people turn to physicians for help for psychological and physical problems, but fail to realize that physicians also face problems that can have disastrous effects on their work performance. On this week’s podcast, Elsa and Riya discuss the importance of mental health, strides that have been made to help physicians deal with the anxiety, depression and other common mental illnesses that are prevalent in healthcare and the concept of burnout. Tune in to learn more! 🚨Disclaimer: Elsa and Riya are not licensed medical professionals and therefore all things discussed in this episode, as well as past and future episodes, are for the purpose of entertainment only. 🚨

The saying goes “A jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of none”, but what if we were talking about doctors? Would you rather an expert doctor specialized in one area or one with experience in multiple specialities? What if the doctors were replaced with robots? Is this the future of medicine as we know it? Tune in this week as Elsa and Riya discuss this and much more! 🚨Disclaimer: Elsa and Riya are not licensed medical professionals and therefore all things discussed in this episode, as well as past and future episodes, are for the purpose of entertainment only. 🚨

Welcome back! Elsa and Riya start off Season 3 with the book “Complications: A Surgeon’s Note on an Imperfect Science” by Dr. Atul Gawande. You’ve heard the saying practice makes perfect, but can perfection be expected every time? What about the casualties along the way to perfection? For instance, would you let a resident in training operate on your child? Tune in as Elsa and Riya discuss the fallibility of doctors and the importance of practice.🚨Disclaimer: Elsa and Riya are not licensed medical professionals and therefore all things discussed in this episode, as well as past and future episodes, are for the purpose of entertainment only. 🚨

Bless you...
The annual flu season has become so common in today's world that we just shrug it off and hope the vaccine does the job. Pharmaceuticals and medical industries anticipate the next year's influenza strain and develop the vaccine months in advance. However, Dr. Osterholm cautions the public that the next worldwide disaster that kills millions is very likely to be your common flu. Is the US prepared for a health disaster of this caliber? And are we preparing enough to prevent this from happening? It might be hard to imagine but Elsa and Riya have you covered. Tune in this week to hear about all about influenza and the toll the infectious disease could take. 🚨Disclaimer: Elsa and Riya are not licensed medical professionals and therefore all things discussed in this episode, as well as past and future episodes, are for the purpose of entertainment only. 🚨

We are living in a bacterial world and Elsa and Riya are bacterial girls... okay maybe not that last part. This week the girls discuss antibiotic resistance and the potential it has to regress society. Elsa and Riya start with the discovery of antibiotics such as penicillin and sulfa drugs and how they completely revolutionized medicine. However, bacteria are smart little things and through mutation, some have developed the gene to become resistant to antibiotics. Through reproductive measures, this mutation has become more common and thus antibiotic resistance has become a big problem in today’s world. So big that if we don’t come up with a solution, minor surgeries and procedures may become quite risky; Infections that killed our great grandparents might just kill us. To prevent this, we need to be more cognizant of our own antibiotic intake as well as that of the animals we consume. This is harder said than done because of the economics involved so we may need more science to come in and fix the problem by heightening inflammatory responses, using bacteriophages, and/or holding biomarker exams. Tune in this week to hear Elsa and Riya discuss all of the intricacies of Antibiotic Resistance. 🚨Disclaimer: Elsa and Riya are not licensed medical professionals and therefore all things discussed in this episode, as well as past and future episodes, are for the purpose of entertainment only. 🚨

Shut the front door! Don’t you know there are disease carrying mosquitos that could come in! Now you may be thinking this is just a problem for developing countries, but don’t be so naive. Dr. Osterholm’s own son was bitten by the Aedes triseriatus mosquito right in Minnesota and then developed La Crosse encephalitis. The U.S also used to have many cases of Yellow Fever, but fortunately efforts of the government helped to eradicate this virus. However, now it is slowly creeping back. This seems to be the general trend for other mosquito-born illnesses throughout the world as well such as Malaria, Dengue, Zika, and Chikiungunya, as temperatures and population increase. There are preventative measures such as bed nets, sprays, creams, and vaccines, but will they be enough? We may need to rely on gene editing to get the job done once and for all. Tune in to this week’s episode to hear all about the threat that mosquitos pose and what we’re doing to protect ourselves.🚨Disclaimer: Elsa and Riya are not licensed medical professionals and therefore all things discussed in this episode, as well as past and future episodes, are for the purpose of entertainment only. 🚨

In September of 2014, news of the Ebola virus in Texas, US made headlines all around the country. For many, it was the first time hearing about this deadly disease, but this isn’t the first time Ebola was in the United States. Crazy right? Pigs poultry and aquatic birds seem like harmless animals- that is until you take a closer look because they are a natural reservoir for many deadly viruses such as SARS. It might be easy to kill off infected populations of animals to control the spread of the virus, but what if the infected populations were worth millions, such as camels who carry MERS? Tune in this week to hear Elsa and RIya talk more about SARS, MERS and how the brave actions of one saved the lives of countless others. 🚨Disclaimer: Elsa and Riya are not licensed medical professionals and therefore all things discussed in this episode, as well as past and future episodes, are for the purpose of entertainment only. 🚨

We’ve all heard the saying “curiosity killed the cat”, but science is all about making new discoveries by venturing out into uncharted territory... so does this maxim still hold? This week, Elsa and Riya talk about the dangers of faulty biosecurity, and the potential harm imposed on the world due to the growing threat of bioterrorism. What if we told you one small vial of anthrax had the potential to wipe out hundreds of people. Now imagine this in the wrong hands. In short, it is impending havoc to be wrecked. Will the US be prepared to handle an attack of this caliber or will we feel the effects of our unpreparedness when it’s too late? Tune into this week’s episode to hear more! 🚨Disclaimer: Elsa and Riya are not licensed medical professionals and therefore all things discussed in this episode, as well as past and future episodes, are for the purpose of entertainment only. 🚨

Keep out the enemy at all costs! Unless... introducing the enemy at a smaller scale would be beneficial. But how would this be possible? Here’s a hint- Vaccines! Vaccines save the day but they are harder to manufacture than you would think. For HIV, the science is not there yet, but for mosquito-transmitted viruses it’s the economy standing in the public’s way. Tune in this week to hear Elsa and Riya discuss the advances the medical community has made with vaccines, and hear about our ongoing fight against malaria, AIDS and tuberculosis! 🚨Disclaimer: Elsa and Riya are not licensed medical professionals and therefore all things discussed in this episode, as well as past and future episodes, are for the purpose of entertainment only. 🚨

We hope your immune system is equipped because you are in the midst of a war- whether you knew it or not- and the enemy is a tough one- microbes! The domino effect of our societal actions, and their implications on our biosphere is shown through discussion of a variety of diseases, such as Ebola and malaria. Is it too late to change the tide or can we win this battle? Methods of disease transmission, as well as steps taken to prevent outbreaks are highlighted as Elsa and Riya dive into the microscopic world of microbes, and the effect of hyper-evolution on this population. 🚨Disclaimer: Elsa and Riya are not licensed medical professionals and therefore all things discussed in this episode, as well as past and future episodes, are for the purpose of entertainment only. 🚨

You’ve probably heard the saying “you’re so much bigger than a spider, you have nothing to be afraid of”. But what happens when the deadliest killers are invisible to the naked eye? Elsa and Riya dive into the world of microbes as they discuss Toxic Shock Syndrome, Pasteur’s finding and much more. In our rapidly evolving world, antibiotics might become a thing of the past as we encounter an increasing number of resistant microbes. Could this be a pitfall in our civilization? Tune in to hear about the four events that could wreck havoc on life as we know it, and what we can do to prevent this. 🚨Disclaimer: Elsa and Riya are not licensed medical professionals and therefore all things discussed in this episode, as well as past and future episodes, are for the purpose of entertainment only. 🚨

Welcome back to season 2! It’s finally here! Listen in as Elsa and Riya dive into this season’s book “Deadliest Enemy: Our War Against Killer Germs” by Dr. Michael T. Osterholm and author Mark Olshaker. Dr. Osterholm is a world renowned epidemiologist who has focused his expertise on infectious diseases, such as HIV/AIDS, influenza and STDs, among many others. In this podcast, Dr. Osterholm discusses in general how these black swans are handled and how they should be handled in the future to prevent global pandemics. Important? We think so. Tune in for the season opener you’ve been looking forward to all semester! 🚨Disclaimer: Elsa and Riya are not licensed medical professionals and therefore all things discussed in this episode, as well as past and future episodes, are for the purpose of entertainment only. 🚨

Is that a wrinkle on your forehead? Save yourself the Botox injections and listen to Elsa and Riya talk about the scientific fountain of youth: telomeres. Scientists haven’t unlocked the key yet to age reversal, but in this episode Elsa and Riya talk about how it may be possible. However, is it too good to be true? All this and water births only a few taps away...TAP in to the season finale! 🚨Disclaimer: Elsa and Riya are not licensed medical professionals and therefore all things discussed in this episode, as well as past and future episodes, are for the purpose of entertainment only.🚨

Chances are you’ve heard about the “magical” health properties of green tea. Well it turns out, the beverage might just be magical after all; it might be an example of a “magical methyl marker” as Dr. Moalem puts it. Okay... you caught us: it’s really just science. However, this science may explain why chewing a certain nut may lead to cancer; why male fetuses may be more prone to miscarriage; why you’re destiny might be dependent on your grandma. Tune in to learn about this science so unbelievable, you’ll think it’s magic. 🧙‍♀️✨ 🚨Disclaimer: Elsa and Riya are not licensed medical professionals and therefore all things discussed in this episode, as well as past and future episodes, are for the purpose of entertainment only.🚨

You’ve heard of jumping beans.. but how about jumping genes? Mutations? That’s some shady business. Speaking of shady, is the sun the culprit behind viruses? And speaking of viruses, did you know that a good chunk of your dna belonged to them? Intrigued? Listen in this week to learn more! 🚨Disclaimer: Elsa and Riya are not licensed medical professionals and therefore all things discussed in this episode, as well as past and future episodes, are for the purpose of entertainment only.🚨

Is your boyfriend not buying you that bouquet of roses you’ve been hinting at? Always the bridesmaid, never the bride? Well, we can’t help you with that.. BUT we will tell you that you don’t have to search far for a relationship. Tune in to listen to all the secret relationships you have going on right in your own body. You won’t feel lonely after this episode! 🚨Disclaimer: Elsa and Riya are not licensed medical professionals and therefore all things discussed in this episode, as well as past and future episodes, are for the purpose of entertainment only.🚨

Was your mom really right when she said vegetables were good for you? Elsa and Riya discuss why that might not be the case in this weeks podcast. They also review the reoccurring theme of how poison might be just be protection. 🚨Disclaimer: Elsa and Riya are not licensed medical professionals and therefore all things discussed in this episode, as well as past and future episodes, are for the purpose of entertainment only.🚨

This week, Elsa and Riya level up and look into... cholesterol levels! What is the significance? Are certain people at higher risk? Why? How does cholesterol relate to malaria? Confused? Listen in to hear more! 🚨Disclaimer: Elsa and Riya are not licensed medical professionals and therefore all things discussed in this episode, as well as past and future episodes, are for the purpose of entertainment only.🚨

Elsa and Riya look into the evolution of diabetes! Do you have a sweet tooth? Does diabetes run in your family? Does anyone run in your family? Listen in to hear why you should be wary of one of the silent killers in the world...oh sugar! 🚨Disclaimer: Elsa and Riya are not licensed medical professionals and therefore all things discussed in this episode, as well as past and future episodes, are for the purpose of entertainment only.🚨

“Why would you take something that will kill you in 40 years? One reason, right? It’ll stop you from dying tomorrow”. Elsa and Riya delve further into hemochromatosis and it’s evolutionary purpose for existing. 🚨Disclaimer: Elsa and Riya are not licensed medical professionals and therefore all things discussed in this episode, as well as past and future episodes, are for the purpose of entertainment only.🚨

Elsa and Riya dissect the introduction of Dr. Sharon Moalem’s book “Survival of the Sickest”. They discuss giving blood, Alzheimer’s, and evolution among other topics. 🚨Disclaimer: Elsa and Riya are not licensed medical professionals and therefore all things discussed in this episode, as well as past and future episodes, are for the purpose of entertainment only.🚨