Rephonic
Artwork for Why Should I Trust You?
Public Health
Covid-19
Vaccines
Trust In Science
Autism
Make America Healthy Again
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
CDC
COVID Vaccine
Misinformation
Maha Movement
Maha
Vaccination
Hepatitis B Vaccine
Public Trust In Science
Measles
Trust In Institutions
Chronic Disease
Ivermectin
Lab Leak Theory

Bold, unfiltered, and uncompromisingly honest, Why Should I Trust You? is a weekly podcast that looks at the breakdown in trust for science and public health. It drops every Thursday, with occasional additional special episodes sprinkled in. Hosted by Brinda Adhikari, the former executive producer of “The Problem with Jon Stewart” and a former TV news journalist; Tom Johnson, the former executive... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes90Foundeda year ago
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Artwork for Why Should I Trust You?

Latest Episodes

Trust in higher education is slipping, with a growing number of Americans questioning whether universities are delivering value beyond their walls (and ivory towers).

Today, we’re joined by Daniel Crowley, who goes by Max. He is a behavioral scienti... more

Today, we are delving into the subject of healthcare fraud.  The Trump administration has elevated it into a major political issue.

When it comes to Medicaid fraud specifically, do you see this administration's recent actions towards states such as ... more

YouTube

Today, we’re joined by Dr. Stephen Hoge, president of Moderna, the biotech company that helped make mRNA a household name during the pandemic, producing a vaccine taken by millions of Americans.

Now, Moderna is using that same technology to push int... more

YouTube

It's an episode full of news: Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s move to counter the federal judge who ruled his handpicked vaccine advisory committee lacked the expertise to guide U.S. vaccine policy. At the same time, the Trump administration has rolled out i... more

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Recent Guests

Dr. Stephen Hoge
President of Moderna
Moderna
Episode: Special Ep: A Conversation w the President of Moderna, Dr. Stephen Hoge On Building Back Trust Post-Covid
Dr. Jerel Ezell
Sociologist and public health researcher from Flint, Michigan; visiting professor at the University of Chicago, studies racial health disparities
University of Chicago; Flint, Michigan
Episode: Why a Health Equity Researcher Says His Field Is A Broken “Industrial Complex”: A Conversation w Dr. Jerel Ezell
Dr. Shanna Swan
Co-author of landmark sperm decline study; professor at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai; expert on endocrine-disrupting chemicals
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Episode: Is Our Overuse of Plastics Causing Fertility Issues? A Conversation w Dr. Shanna Swan and Dr. Jasmine McDonald
Dr. Jasmine McDonald
Epidemiologist at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health; studies environmental exposures and reproductive health
Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health
Episode: Is Our Overuse of Plastics Causing Fertility Issues? A Conversation w Dr. Shanna Swan and Dr. Jasmine McDonald
Liz Hamel
Senior Vice President and Director of Public Opinion and Survey Research, from KFF
KFF
Episode: A Polling-palooza: Is Health the Driving Issue of These Midterms? A Conversation w Pollsters from KFF, Navigator Research + A MAHA Supporter
Ashley Kirzinger
Director of Survey Methodology and Associate Director for Public Opinion and Survey Research, from KFF
KFF
Episode: A Polling-palooza: Is Health the Driving Issue of These Midterms? A Conversation w Pollsters from KFF, Navigator Research + A MAHA Supporter
Melissa Toufanian
Managing Director, Navigator Research
Navigator Research
Episode: A Polling-palooza: Is Health the Driving Issue of These Midterms? A Conversation w Pollsters from KFF, Navigator Research + A MAHA Supporter
Chellie Pingree
Congresswoman, Democratic from Maine
U.S. Congress
Episode: Special Ep: Meet the Democrats Working w MAHA: A Conversation w Reps. McGovern & Pingree w MAHA Activist Kelly Ryerson
Jim McGovern
Congressman, Democrat from Massachusetts
U.S. Congress
Episode: Special Ep: Meet the Democrats Working w MAHA: A Conversation w Reps. McGovern & Pingree w MAHA Activist Kelly Ryerson

Hosts

Brinda Adhikari
Host with background in TV news and executive producing, focusing on trust and public health discourse.
Tom Johnson
Co-host with TV-news background, co-leading discussions on public health trust and policy.
Dr. Maggie Bartlett
Virologist and public health expert contributing clinical insights.
Dr. Mark Abdelmalek
Skin cancer surgeon, medical journalist, and dermatologist providing medical/clinical perspective.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 165 ratings
  • Charlatanism is not legitimate policy making

    Is big pharma motivated by greed? Sure. Is America's health bad relative to its wealth? Yes. Does any of that suddenly mean paranoid laypeople like RFK Jr and every other "wellness" expert who has no professional medical training have the legitimate authority to dictate health policy? No. Internet access and half-baked Facebook medical conspiracies do not make you a medical expert. If you want to kid yourself into denying all of the lives saved by vaccines over the last hundred years plea... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    YourFriend63
    United States2 months ago
  • Pretentious Hosts

    I’m having a hard time getting through this podcast. As someone who has lost trust in the mainstream health system, I find the inherent elitist attitude of these people to be off putting. I appreciate the attempts to understand MAHA but they’re still missing the mark. It just seems like a strategy and not genuine. No thanks! That just makes you part of the problem.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    13Moons1209
    United States4 months ago
  • Had high hopes for this show

    The concept of the show, had great intentions but the execution of the concept and content is extremely lacking in multiple ways.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Gotchayeah
    United States4 months ago
  • Really disappointing

    Sad what this podcast has become

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    hou756
    United States4 months ago
  • "Tested against placebo"

    This is wrong. So frustrating to hear people state as fact what they clearly aren't informed about. You don't realize your bias but this has been clearly explained by RFK and DarkHorse pod hosts among others.

    Would be better if you questioned your "known facts" before stating as if they're true when perhaps you haven't yet awakened to reality.

    Also the female moderator makes herself sound like a complete idiot throughout the interview. Interrupting to divert from important points and "yo" and ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    LeahPDX
    United States6 months ago

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Talking Points

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Why a Health Equity Researcher Says His Field Is A Broken “Industrial Complex”: A Conversation w Dr. Jerel Ezell
Q: Do you think change is possible without government support, or must there be broader political alignment?
He believes reforms can be made within academic and public health institutions, but acknowledges that private funding alone may not suffice and that more transparent communication and accountability to communities are essential.
Why a Health Equity Researcher Says His Field Is A Broken “Industrial Complex”: A Conversation w Dr. Jerel Ezell
Q: What metrics should we prioritize to determine whether health disparities research is actually helping people?
He suggests incorporating quality of life as a metric alongside life expectancy, emphasizing social and economic conditions, and evaluating whether interventions actually improve daily living and community well-being rather than just documenting disparities.
Why a Health Equity Researcher Says His Field Is A Broken “Industrial Complex”: A Conversation w Dr. Jerel Ezell
Q: What exactly is a 'health equity tourist' and why is that a problem for public health research?
A health equity tourist is someone who enjoys the data and prestige of health equity work but lacks genuine investment in the communities studied, leading to studies focused on complexity and novelty rather than real-world impact or trust-building.
Why a Health Equity Researcher Says His Field Is A Broken “Industrial Complex”: A Conversation w Dr. Jerel Ezell
Q: Can you explain what you mean by the Health Disparities Research Industrial Complex and why this framing matters?
Ezell argues that decades of health disparities funding have become a self-perpetuating system driven by novelty, grant acquisition, and institutional prestige rather than tangible improvements in health. He calls for reevaluating goals, funding structures, and accountability to ensure research translates into real community benefits.
Special Ep: A Conversation w the President of Moderna, Dr. Stephen Hoge On Building Back Trust Post-Covid
Q: Where do you see personalized mRNA cancer vaccines fitting into patient care timelines?
A phase three trial in melanoma could read out soon, with hopes of regulatory approval and market availability within a year, contingent on data and independent review.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Why Should I Trust You?

What is Why Should I Trust You? about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show centers on understanding why trust in science and public health has fractured, hosting a mix of journalists, clinicians, and researchers who push for civil, evidence-based discussions. Topics frequently circle around vaccines, public health policy, and systemic factors that shape health outcomes, with an emphasis on bridging gaps between mainstream health institutions and everyday communities. A notable strength is its willingness to host voices from across the spectrum and to explore pragmatic paths to rebuilding trust, whether through policy critique, better science communication, or community-centered approaches. Potential listeners looking for nuanced, balanced conversations about health, policy, and trust will likely find this... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Why Should I Trust You??

These podcasts share a similar audience with Why Should I Trust You?:

1. Public Health On Call
2. Letters from an American
3. Radio Atlantic
4. Consider This from NPR
5. The Daily

How many episodes of Why Should I Trust You? are there?

Why Should I Trust You? launched a year ago and published 90 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Why Should I Trust You??

Recent guests on Why Should I Trust You? include:

1. Dr. Stephen Hoge
2. Dr. Jerel Ezell
3. Dr. Shanna Swan
4. Dr. Jasmine McDonald
5. Liz Hamel
6. Ashley Kirzinger
7. Melissa Toufanian
8. Chellie Pingree

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