Send us Fan Mail

What happens in Brazil doesn’t stay in Brazil. The future of the Amazon rainforest has consequences for our climate, our food systems, and our health around the world.

In this episode of Expanding Health, Dr. Avriel Diaz sits down with Brazilian environmental social scientist Dr. Laila Sandroni to unpack a dramatic election, the grassroots movement that helped shape its outcome, and what Brazil’s political future means for the world’s largest tropical rainforest.

From the devastating rise in Amazon deforestation and wildfires to the power of Indigenous communities protecting biodiversity, we explore why environmental policy is ultimately health policy.

Laila also shares an extraordinary firsthand account of how millions of Brazilians mobilized through WhatsApp, social media, and street demonstrations, transforming political despair into collective action and hope.

We discuss the Amazon’s role in regulating rainfall, supporting food production, storing carbon, and protecting human health. And we ask a bigger question: What can the rest of the world learn from Brazil about democracy, community, and protecting the places that keep us healthy?

Enjoyed this episode? Leave a rating or review and share it with others and follow for thought-provoking conversations with leading experts exploring how our changing world is shaping your health.

Connect with us on Instagram:

@expandinghealthpodcast⁠ | @dravrieldiaz⁠

Disclaimer: This podcast is intended for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The information presented is not a substitute for professional medical guidance. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding your individual health needs. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking care because of information presented in this podcast. Views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host or podcast.

Send us Fan Mail

What if some of the answers to living healthier lives have been with us for thousands of years?

In this episode of Expanding Health, Dr. Avriel Diaz sits down with Dr. Kristina Douglass, an award-winning archaeologist, anthropologist, and professor at Columbia University’s Climate School, to explore what human history can teach us about health, resilience, and our connection to nature.

Drawing on her research in Madagascar, Dr. Douglass shares how communities have passed down knowledge across generations to adapt to environmental change, protect natural resources, and live well. We explore what happens when that knowledge is lost, how music, dance, and capoeira strengthen communities, and why our relationships with each other and the natural world are fundamental to our health. And as artificial intelligence transforms how we learn, communicate, and connect, we also ask: Does having more information actually make us wiser? And what can thousands of years of human experience teach us about navigating this rapidly changing world?

A conversation about the wisdom of the past, the importance of human connection, and what it means to live healthier lives in a rapidly changing world.

Enjoyed this conversation? Follow Expanding Health, leave a rating, and share this episode to help us grow!

Enjoyed this episode? Leave a rating or review and share it with others and follow for thought-provoking conversations with leading experts exploring how our changing world is shaping your health.

Connect with us on Instagram:

@expandinghealthpodcast⁠ | @dravrieldiaz⁠

Disclaimer: This podcast is intended for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The information presented is not a substitute for professional medical guidance. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding your individual health needs. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking care because of information presented in this podcast. Views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host or podcast.

Send us Fan Mail

When we think of wildfires, we think of destruction. But what if fire is also essential to keeping our forests, ecosystems, and communities healthy?

In this episode of Expanding Health, Dr. Avriel Diaz sits down with Dr. Erica Smithwick, Distinguished Professor at Penn State and Director of the Earth and Environmental Systems Institute, to explore the complex relationship between fire, our environment, and human health. From wildfire smoke traveling thousands of miles and carrying toxic chemicals into our bodies, to the hidden impacts on soil and drinking water, we uncover why the health consequences of wildfires extend far beyond the flames.

But there’s another side to this story. Fire has shaped healthy ecosystems for thousands of years. We explore how Indigenous cultural burning and modern prescribed fire can restore landscapes, support biodiversity, and help reduce the risk of devastating wildfires. As climate change reshapes wildfire risk, including across the eastern United States, how do we protect human health while recognizing the essential role of fire in nature? Join us as we explore the fire paradox: how something so destructive can also be a powerful tool for healthier, more resilient ecosystems and communities.

Enjoyed this episode? Leave a rating or review and share it with others and follow for thought-provoking conversations with leading experts exploring how our changing world is shaping your health.

Connect with us on Instagram:

@expandinghealthpodcast⁠ | @dravrieldiaz⁠

Disclaimer: This podcast is intended for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The information presented is not a substitute for professional medical guidance. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding your individual health needs. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking care because of information presented in this podcast. Views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host or podcast.