The United States is on the brink of passing a climate bill that could get us closer to making real progress against climate change than we’ve ever been before. Gavin Schmidt, climatologist and director of the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies, talks with Andy about the seemingly insurmountable number of climate catastrophes we’re currently experiencing and how the the Inflation Reduction Act may help finally rein in climate change. We also hear from Leah Stokes, a political scientist and...
Aug 05, 2022•39 min
With interest rates and prices rising and GDP declining, many Americans want to know: Are we are in a recession, and should we be worried? Andy calls on expert economist Justin Wolfers to explain why the economy may not be as bad as it feels, what the Fed is doing to pump the brakes, and when we might see price increases come under control. Then Justin unpacks the economic elements in the Inflation Reduction Act and predicts whether it will live up to its name and help lower prices. Keep up with...
Aug 03, 2022•42 min
COVID-19 vaccines are no longer blocking infections like they used to. Nasal vaccines could help patch up the holes where the new variants like BA.5 are getting in. Andy talks to physician and scientist Eric Topol about the promising trials underway, when we could see a nasal vaccine hit the market, and why it could transform our pandemic response by providing mucosal immunity. Keep up with Andy on Twitter @ASlavitt . Follow Eric Topol on Twitter @EricTopol . Joining Lemonada Premium is a great ...
Aug 01, 2022•41 min
Monkeypox is currently spreading mostly within the queer community, but experts warn the diseases could expand its reach into other groups where skin-to-skin contact is common, from wrestling teams to spas. Guest host Stephanie Wittels Wachs speaks with Dr. Jay Varma and scientist and queer activist Joseph Osmundson about why cases continue to spread, including a poor rollout of available vaccines, treatment, and testing. They also discuss how to stay protected if you or a loved one is in an at-...
Jul 29, 2022•45 min
With BA.5 infecting and reinfecting people around the world, Andy wants to know why some people keep getting COVID while others seemingly never contract the virus. Apart from your daily safety decisions, it may have to do with your genetics, gut microbiome, and defense proteins called interferons. Physician and scientist Eric Topol breaks down these theories for Andy as they discuss BA.5’s severity compared to earlier versions of Omicron and what variant could come next. Keep up with Andy on Twi...
Jul 27, 2022•35 min
The January 6 hearings have proven how few people in Donald Trump’s inner circle stood up against his mission to overthrow the election results. How did we get to the point where someone was able to run over the country in such a roughshod way with little resistance? Andy speaks with author and reporter Mark Leibovich about the people who rolled over in submission to Trump’s antics and what it reveals about the current GOP. He offers glimpses inside his time interviewing key players like Eric Tr...
Jul 25, 2022•37 min
The number one way to prevent an unplanned pregnancy (apart from abstinence) is with contraception. But why does so much of that burden fall on women? In an eye-opening conversation about the development of male birth control, Dr. Brian Nguyen and Dr. Stephanie Page reframe pregnancy as an equally shared responsibility between two partners. They trace a line between the Dobbs v. Jackson decision and the need for male contraception, discuss the clinical trials happening right now, and explain why...
Jul 22, 2022•37 min
Andy talks with comedian Adam Conover about his Netflix show, "The G Word," where he partnered with President Obama to educate Americans on how the federal government works and what needs fixing within it. From public libraries to FEMA, they discuss how comedy can help Americans understand, appreciate, and properly scrutinize the agencies working for us everyday. Keep up with Andy on Twitter @ASlavitt . Follow Adam Conover on Twitter @adamconover . Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to supp...
Jul 20, 2022•50 min
The first major bipartisan gun bill in three decades is now law. Much of this is due to the work of Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT), who helped bring senators from both sides of the aisle together. Senator Murphy joins Andy to talk about what it took to get Republicans on board, what each senator brought to the table and why he hopes this bill will benefit his Republican colleagues. Andy asks about what it’s like working with victim families over and over again, plus a look at how this bill can save...
Jul 18, 2022•32 min
988 is now the 911 of mental health emergencies. The three-digit number will connect you to a crisis call center in your area and a trained counselor to talk, text, or chat with. Andy speaks with Wendy Martinez Farmer and Dr. Linda Henderson-Smith from Beacon Health Options about how 988 reimagines the National Sucicide Prevention Hotline to be more accessible and inclusive, and why you don’t have to be suicidal to call. Suicide attempt survivor and crisis counselor Shelby Rowe opens up about he...
Jul 15, 2022•45 min
Reinfections across the country are being driven by an explosion in cases of BA.5, the latest variant of COVID-19. Andy asks Harvard epidemiologist Bill Hanage whether our vaccines and immune systems have a fighting chance, if infections are more severe than other Omicron offshoots, and what we need to do to safely get through the summer and fall. Will those who have managed to avoid the virus for years finally succumb to this wave? Find out. Keep up with Andy on Twitter @ASlavitt . Follow Bill ...
Jul 13, 2022•46 min
Demand for air travel is back in a big way, but judging by the rise in delayed and canceled flights it seems like the airline industry got caught flat footed. What’s up? Andy grills United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby on what’s causing all the schedule problems, why he thinks removing the mask mandate was a good decision, and how to cut carbon emissions in the friendly skies. Keep up with Andy on Twitter @ASlavitt . Follow Scott Kirby on Instagram @scottkirby . Joining Lemonada Premium is a great wa...
Jul 11, 2022•45 min
With fentanyl deaths at a record high, Andy speaks with two experts about rethinking opioids, overdoses, and addiction. Ed Ternan, a father whose son died from fentanyl poisoning after buying a fake Percocet on Snapchat, explains how fake pills and social media are driving an increase in deaths among teenagers and young adults, while RAND researcher Bryce Pardo provides data and solutions. Keep up with Andy on Twitter @ASlavitt . Follow Ed Ternan and Bryce Pardo on Twitter @Ed27695920 and @bryce...
Jul 08, 2022•48 min
Democratic up-and-comer Jason Kander was about to announce his presidential campaign when, in 2018, he revealed that he suffered from PTSD and depression and walked away from politics. Though he felt his career and ambitions were over, he gained the opportunity to heal from trauma he experienced during his time serving in the Afghanistan War. In a sensitive and honest interview, Kander opens up about the traumas he and all of us face in different ways, and how to grow past them. Content warning:...
Jul 06, 2022•1 hr 5 min
On this Fourth of July holiday, we’re returning to a favorite episode with filmmaker Ken Burns about his latest documentary, “Benjamin Franklin.” When he wasn’t busy taming electricity, Franklin was encouraging inoculations to combat the smallpox pandemic of the 18th century. He bitterly regretted not inoculating his 4-year-old son, Francis, who died from smallpox in 1736. Andy talks to Ken about Franklin’s role during the outbreak, how he balanced his libertarian views with scientific and publi...
Jul 04, 2022•47 min
With gas prices soaring over $5 a gallon as Americans hit the road this Fourth of July weekend, Andy asks the question on many of our minds: what tradeoffs are we willing to make for relief at the pump? Columbia Climate School Dean Jason Bordoff and Harvard Kennedy School Professor Meghan O’Sullivan go through how different compromises, from deals with Saudi Arabia to gas tax holidays, would affect our pocketbooks, global relations, and the planet. Keep up with Andy on Twitter @ASlavitt . Follow...
Jul 01, 2022•46 min
As you head out on your summer trips, how often should you and your family test for COVID-19? Andy gets practical advice from epidemiologist and show favorite Dr. Michael Mina along with his eMed colleague Dr. Patrice Harris. Using real life scenarios, they tell you the most informative times to test, explain why some people stay negative while displaying symptoms, and offer an innovative way to test and treat from your home. Keep up with Andy on Twitter @ASlavitt . Follow Dr. Michael Mina and D...
Jun 29, 2022•48 min
In this special breaking-news edition, Andy helps you understand the impact of yesterday's Supreme Court decision on Roe v. Wade. As health clinics in several states halt abortion procedures due to the decision, Andy gets reaction and action items from Caitlin Cruz, a reporter from Jezebel who covers reproductive rights; Grace Howard, an expert on reproductive law; and Renee Bracey Sherman, a reproductive justice activist protesting outside the Supreme Court. Find out what the ruling means, wher...
Jun 25, 2022•36 min
A new study out of England found the risk of Long COVID to be lower with the Omicron variant compared to Delta. That’s good news, but there are some caveats. Andy chats with one of the researchers behind the study, Dr. Claire Steves, who breaks down the risk of Long COVID based on age and vaccination status. Benjamin Mazer joins to discuss why the population of Americans experiencing Long COVID remains largely unseen, and why the amount of quality data from the U.K. on Long COVID far surpasses t...
Jun 24, 2022•38 min
Andy starts the show with some good news about COVID-19, regarding case numbers, child vaccines, and a new study on long COVID and Omicron. Then, Obama’s former political advisor and Pod Save America host Dan Pfeiffer joins to react to the Jan. 6 hearings and explain why Democrats suck at political messaging. Plus he gives Democrats handy tips to level the political playing field, including how to make politics feel like a righteous adventure. Keep up with Andy on Twitter @ASlavitt . Follow Dan ...
Jun 22, 2022•59 min
Texas hasn’t had a Democratic governor in nearly 30 years. Why does Beto O’Rourke think he can change that? Andy sits down with the former presidential candidate to discuss how the families of Uvalde victims are doing, his thoughts on Congress’ bipartisan gun bill, and how he plans to defeat Greg Abbott in November. Keep up with Andy on Twitter @ASlavitt . Follow Beto O’Rourke on Twitter @BetoORourke . Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe t...
Jun 20, 2022•48 min
This week’s bipartisan hearings on the January 6 insurrection coincided with the preliminary announcement on a bipartisan gun bill in the Senate. We take a look at what led to this cross-party cooperation – in Congress and in public opinion – by inviting in a US political historian and a Trump official who blew the whistle on the former president’s support of domestic terrorism. Are we making progress or papering over our problems, and what does history tell us is about to happen? Keep up with A...
Jun 17, 2022•52 min
Americans will soon have access to several new COVID-19 vaccines. The FDA is expected to finally approve Pfizer and Moderna vaccines for children under 5 as well as the protein-based Novavax vaccine. Looking ahead, the FDA is meeting in late June to discuss a vaccine targeting multiple variants of the virus, which may be available in the fall. How do all these shots compare to our current ones, and how do you know what’s right for your family? Andy gets answers from epidemiologist Katelyn Jeteli...
Jun 15, 2022•55 min
Our pocketbooks are reeling from May's 40-year high inflation, and price gains don’t seem to be easing. Former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers saw this coming last year, when he predicted inflation would become a big problem in the U.S. What's his money on now? Andy asks Larry to make predictions about how the federal government’s attempt to lower inflation by raising federal interest rates could impact the price of gas, our jobs, home values, and retirement accounts. Larry has an answer. Keep ...
Jun 13, 2022•50 min
Four years after the first March for Our Lives rally in Washington D.C., survivors of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Florida are once again organizing student-led demonstrations around the country this weekend in response to the Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, Texas. Andy speaks with Parkland survivor Samantha Fuentes and ER physician Dr. Megan Ranney about how they turned their trauma into action, and how you can, too. Keep up with Andy on Twitter @ASl...
Jun 10, 2022•51 min
Actor Jay Ellis is in the hottest movie of the summer – Top Gun: Maverick. Andy escapes with Jay into a world of nostalgia, childhood dreams coming true, and trying to act while traveling 1,200 mph and 8 Gs without puking. Jay shares how growing up on Air Force bases with a jet mechanic for a father prepared him for this role and the communal power of a packed movie theater after years of pandemic isolation. Jay also hosts The Untold Story on Lemonada Media. Keep up with Andy on Twitter @ASlavit...
Jun 08, 2022•52 min
As the man responsible for manufacturing and distributing the COVID-19 vaccine in less than a year, US Army four-star General Gustave Perna has a thing or two to say about today’s supply chain issues. He says product shortages, from vaccines to baby formula, are preventable if you center mission over profit and run hypotheticals that prepare your team for worst case scenarios. Andy relives Operation Warp Speed with the general as they discuss what we can learn from it. Keep up with Andy on Twitt...
Jun 06, 2022•49 min
The price of goods like gasoline and food is up sharply amid the highest inflation since the 1970s, and a stock market slump may be impacting your investment portfolio. What should you do as you watch the pump tick up and your 401(k) tick down? Andy sits down with two money experts, the Washington Post’s Michelle Singletary and President Obama’s Economic Advisor Betsey Stevenson, to better understand what’s going on in our economy right now and how to weather this storm. Keep up with Andy on Twi...
Jun 03, 2022•59 min
Many Americans don’t feel like the politicians they elect are creating the laws they want, including common sense gun regulations, paid family leave, and universal health care. Why don’t our policies reflect the will of the majority? Andy explores that question with former Minnesota Senator Al Franken, who explains why we don't have the elective democracy we think we do and gets emotional reflecting on his time in Congress during the Sandy Hook shooting. Keep up with Andy on Twitter @ASlavitt . ...
Jun 01, 2022•43 min
On this Memorial Day, the producers of In the Bubble wanted to share another Lemonada Media show that they hope you will find helpful as the country feels like it’s spinning out of control. It’s called Last Day. In this award-winning series, Lemonada co-founder and author Stephanie Wittels Wachs confronts massive epidemics with humanity, wit, and a quest for progress. Now, back for a third season, Last Day grapples with guns in America, asking: How can we live safely in a country with more guns ...
May 30, 2022•50 min
