What happens when private equity firms buy hospitals and doctor’s offices? In this episode of Humans in Public Health, host Megan Hall sits down with health care economist Yashaswini Singh to unpack how private equity is reshaping the American health care system—often behind the scenes. From rising costs to shifting priorities in patient care, Singh explains why the recent collapse of Steward Health Care is just the tip of the iceberg. Whether you’ve heard the term “private equity” or not, this conversation will change the way you think about your next doctor’s visit.

March 2020—life as we knew it changed overnight. In this special episode of Humans in Public Health, we take you back to the early days of the pandemic, when uncertainty loomed, fear spread and the world held its breath. Through personal stories and firsthand accounts from public health experts, we revisit the emotions, decisions and pivotal moments that shaped those first weeks. How did people react? And what have we learned since? Tune in for a compelling look at the moment everything changed.

Sound Effects in this episode from Freesound.org, courtesy of the following users:

Isaacburkevideo, Shaunhillyard, Wjoojoo, Charlie72203, Univ_lyon3, Richwise, Hardance, Kyles, Takimeko, nixeno, Humanoide9000, pblzr, Felixblume, Voxhumanamusicurators.

They’re not just in your nail polish. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl chemicals are everywhere—in our homes, clothing, the personal care products we use, and in our bodies. Postdoctoral researcher Amber Hall explains the dangers PFAS pose, especially to developing humans, and helps us learn how to avoid them. The burden of protecting our children’s health from toxic chemicals, she argues in the latest episode of Humans in Public Health, shouldn’t be borne by individuals. Regulation, Hall says, is needed to push through product-level change and protect the public’s health.

Sound Effects in this episode from Freesound.org, courtesy of:

• TRP
• Atks_
• Ingeos
• DeVern

Mentioned in this episode:

Tell someone you know!

And one last thing! If you enjoyed today’s episode, text a friend and let them know about the show.