When it comes to women in the workforce during the pandemic, the numbers don’t tell the full story. Since the pandemic began, women have lost $5.4 million jobs, and nearly 2.1 million women have left the workforce entirely. There are many reasons why women have been squeezed out, but one thing is sure, the effects will be long lasting. Angela Garbes, contributor to The Cut and author of “Like a Mother,” joins us for more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com S...
Feb 05, 2021•8 min
The vaccines are the world's biggest hope for getting the coronavirus pandemic under control, but for those that do get COVID-19, we have come a long way in being able to treat some of the most severe infections. Antibody treatments might be some of the most promising as they help the immune system recognize the virus and fight back. There are also antiviral and steroid drugs that can help keep the virus at bay and immune system in check. Claire Maldarelli, associate editor at Popular Science, j...
Feb 04, 2021•6 min
There is a lot of concern about the coronavirus variants floating around, especially as we are making a hard push to get as many people vaccinated as we can. One of the big questions with all of this is why are these different strains emerging now? One answer to this is time. The virus has always been mutating since the beginning and these variants can be a response to increasing herd immunity, response to treatments, and evolutionary changes due to the time it has been circulating. Brian Resnic...
Feb 03, 2021•11 min
Mass vaccination sites will soon be common around the country as states try to boost the number of people that are vaccinated. Pharmacies and pop-up sites will also play important roles, but most people will get their shots at one of these big centers. At this stage in the rollout, most of these sites will be hampered by the lack of available doses and logistical challenges. Elizabeth Weise, national correspondent at USA Today, joins us for more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.i...
Feb 02, 2021•8 min
Childhood obesity is an ongoing problem that has only been made worse by the pandemic. The huge disruptions to the regular school year has impacted the amount of movement schools kids are engaging in as well as their diets, and it could have a lasting effect on their health. Kids tend to gain weight over summer when there is no school and for many, the pandemic has been similar to a 10-month summer break. Furthermore, some of the most nutritious meals many kids were eating were in school setting...
Feb 01, 2021•11 min
CDC officials have said that it might be time to reopen schools. The most available evidence says that in-person instruction can be safely carried out if the proper precautions like mask wearing is followed and a community willing to impose restrictions on other settings like bars and indoor dining. Roni Rabin, health writer at the NY Times, joins us for why schools may be on the path to opening back up. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/...
Jan 29, 2021•7 min
It’s called vaccine tourism… and it’s how the super rich are beating you to the vaccine. In Florida, there were reports of rich Canadians and Venezuelans crashing the state to get their shots, but in London, there is an exclusive lifestyle and travel service called Knightsbridge Circle that has been organizing trips to Dubai and Abu Dhabi for their clients to get vaccinated. Oscar Rickett, contributor to Vice World News, joins us for how money can buy vaccines. Learn more about your ad-choices a...
Jan 29, 2021•7 min
California and other states have begun rolling back some of their strict coronavirus restrictions as new Covid strains are beginning to circulate. New cases and hospitalizations are declining causing governors like Gavin Newsom to let some businesses open at limited capacity again. Some say politics may be at play since he is facing a recall effort, but Newsom says that has no merit. Businesses and restaurants are happy at the chance to reopen, but some urge caution that it could be too soon. Em...
Jan 28, 2021•9 min
How have people finances held up during the pandemic? In many cases, not well, but many households have been saving and economists hope that these savings and pent-up demand will push economic growth this year when businesses open back up. 36% of people have saved their stimulus checks, 35% paid down debt, and 29% spent it right away. Harriet Torry, economics reporter at the WSJ, joins us for more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listen...
Jan 27, 2021•8 min
The troubling pattern emerging among the new coronavirus variants is that they are all more transmissible and they are becoming the dominant strains in their respective areas. Mutations in the virus are making the spike protein stickier, allowing people to become infected more easily. This leads many scientists to believe that the changing virus will require updated annual vaccines similar to the flu shot. Sarah Zhang, staff writer at the Atlantic, joins us for more on these new covid variants. ...
Jan 26, 2021•8 min
The new strains of coronavirus have been very concerning when it comes to vaccine efficacy, but Moderna, maker of one of the approved vaccines in the U.S. has said that their shots are effective against South African and U.K. variants. Still, they are exploring making a booster shot and a new version of the vaccine to combat the South African strain, in which scientists see sharp declines of antibody levels in people. Peter Loftus, healthcare reporter at the WSJ, joins us for Moderna's vaccine p...
Jan 26, 2021•8 min
A study of nursing home residents found that a monoclonal antibody treatment made by Eli Lilly can cut the risk of Covid-19 by up to 80%. It is important to catch people at the early stages of infection and is meant for those that are high-risk patients. One of the difficulties in administering these drugs however is that it’s delivered via an hour-long infusion. Karen Weintruab, health reporter at USA Today, joins us for more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork...
Jan 25, 2021•6 min
President Joe Biden has a singular focus in his first few days in office to get the coronavirus pandemic under control. He has signed ten executive orders aimed at accelerating the rollout of vaccines by using the Defense Production Act, supporting state and local governments to help them in their responses, mandating mask wearing, and restoring faith in the government. Will Feuer, health and science reporter at CNBC, joins us for the Biden Covid plan. Learn more about your ad-choices at https:/...
Jan 22, 2021•8 min
The pandemic may have fundamentally changed access to entertainment and possibly for the better. The live events industry has suffered under health restrictions and forced many events to go virtual. While live-streamed events can't replace the experience or financial benefits, it has opened events to wider audiences and will probably be part of the mix going forward. Emily Yahr, entertainment reporter at the Washington Post, joins us for how virtual events may be here to stay. Learn more about y...
Jan 20, 2021•7 min
Companies are still in a rush working on drugs that can help treat COVID-19 and stay ahead of new, more transmissible variants that are popping up all over. Monoclonal antibody drugs are administered intravenously making them a little cumbersome, and some are working on new ones that are more accessible and maybe given as a shot. Joseph Walker, reporter at the WSJ, joins us for the race to stay ahead of coronavirus mutations. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.c...
Jan 19, 2021•6 min
A large study of patients that have had COVID-19 shows that six months later, more than three quarters of them were still experiencing at least one lingering symptom. The most common issue was ongoing exhaustion, followed by muscle weakness and difficulty sleeping. Pam Belluck, health and science writer at the NY Times, joins us for the continued health issues covid survivors face. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy in...
Jan 18, 2021•7 min
One of the biggest lingering questions about the vaccines we have on deck right now is how long it bestows immunity on a person. Good news is that Moderna’s CEO says that their vaccine should provide immunity for at least one year. They’re also on track to deliver at least 600 million doses this year. Leah Rosenbaum, healthcare reporter at Forbes, joins us for this and another vaccine hitting phase 3 trials. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio....
Jan 15, 2021•7 min
The Trump administration has changed its vaccine rollout plans. It is now recommending for people over 65 and those with high-risk conditions such as heart disease or diabetes to get the vaccine immediately. They also want to send out more first doses without reserving the second shot, hoping more people can start the process. Dan Vergano, science reporter at BuzzFeed News, joins us for the rollout changes and concerns from the Biden administration about the new plan. Learn more about your ad-ch...
Jan 14, 2021•7 min
As vaccinations in the U.S. continue to ramp up slowly, the next phase may be even harder to administer. Finding and scheduling people in the next priority group could be a logistical nightmare. Doctors’ offices and pharmacies are expected to offer the vaccines next and mass vaccination sites are also being set up. Sarah Zhang, staff writer at The Atlantic, joins us for continued challenges in vaccinating everyone. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omny...
Jan 13, 2021•7 min
Because of the pandemic, grocery trends are looking different this year. Instead of seeing large product lines or product innovations, there will be a focus on supply chain issues and keeping shelves stocked instead. We will see changes in grocery store layouts, more plant-based items, and new functional foods and beverages. Cara Rosenbloom, registered dietician and president of Words to Eat By , joins us for what to look out for this year. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartp...
Jan 12, 2021•7 min
Once again we are trying to learn about the origins of the coronavirus that has caused a global pandemic. A team of scientists from the WHO is beginning an investigation as to how it has emerged. While the leading theory is that the virus jumped from bats to humans, another theory posits that it could all have been an accident... a virus made more infections in a lab through something called "gain of function" research. Nicholson Baker, author of 17 books and contributor to NY Magazine joins us ...
Jan 11, 2021•15 min
The pandemic has taken a toll on relationships in many ways, but interestingly, both marriages and divorces are down. Many had to cancel or postpone weddings due to lockdowns, and on the other side, some are avoiding divorce for practical reasons and economic uncertainty. Ben Steverman, reporter at Bloomberg News, joins us for why these rates may be falling and whether they might tick back up after the pandemic is over. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See...
Jan 08, 2021•6 min
Throughout the pandemic, many have had issues with claiming unemployment benefits, some waiting months for payments. But there has also been scammers cashing in on fraud in the system to the tune of $32 billion. Many of the scammers are coming out of Nigeria, but they can’t do it alone and use a “mule” network to get it done. Many of the victims are also people who are employed, but have had their identities stolen. Nick Penzenstadler, reporter at USA Today, joins us for how scammers are cashing...
Jan 08, 2021•10 min
With a new strain of coronavirus spreading through the U.K. and very strict lockdowns, Britain is taking a different approach to vaccinating its people. Instead of following the two shot protocol of the Pfizer vaccine taken about 3 weeks apart, officials have said they will try to give more people their first dose of the shot and delay the second shot by as much as three months. Helen Branswell, senior writer at STAT News, joins us for this modified rollout. Learn more about your ad-choices at h...
Jan 07, 2021•6 min
More than 1 million Americans are still waiting for unemployment aid. Deep backlogs are contributing to some not getting financial aid, but also to blame are extensive fraud prevention checks, old computer systems, and applications getting flagged for extra scrutiny. Any claim set aside for a manual review can take months to resolve. Heather Long, economic correspondent at the Washington Post, joins us for more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystu...
Jan 06, 2021•8 min
The rollout of the vaccines so far in the U.S. has been moving at a slower pace than expected. In California, where the state is experiencing huge coronavirus numbers and shortages of equipment and oxygen, only 35% of doses that have arrived have been administered. Colleen Shalby, reporter at the LA Times, joins us for why the rollout hasn’t gone as expected and what Gov. Newsom is planning to speed things up. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudi...
Jan 06, 2021•7 min
The new variant of the coronavirus that was found in the U.K. has now made its way into the U.S. The mutated virus is more transmissible, but not more severe and has been found Colorado, California, Florida and most recently, New York. People infected with the new variant are thought to have greater concentrations of the virus in their noses and throats. Apoorva Mandavilli, reporter at the NY Times, joins us for how Covid is spreading faster. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.ihear...
Jan 05, 2021•7 min
The coronavirus is mutating, and while we should be cautious, there is no cause for alarm yet. A new variant of the virus has appeared in the U.K. that officials said could spread up to 70% faster, but luckily, the variant doesn’t seem to be any more severe. Some have expressed concern that it might become resistant to the current vaccines rolling out. The worries are focused on whether the new strain is less vulnerable to certain antibodies. Apoorva Mandavilli, reporter at the NY Times, joins u...
Dec 23, 2020•9 min
The airline industry is looking to more testing as a way to make people feel safer while flying. What will that look like? Think testing sites at airports, adding results to passenger records, and offering flights only for tested passengers. While it may help, some caution that tests aren’t always reliable and fake negative-tests certificates already making the rounds. Scott McCartney, Middle Seat columnist at the WSJ, joins us for more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodc...
Dec 22, 2020•7 min
A CDC panel over the weekend has made its recommendations on who is next in line to receive the two vaccines we have available so far. What is called Phase 1b, will see first responders such as police and firefighters, other frontline workers like teachers and grocery workers and also people over 75 get the vaccine. Karen Weintraub, health reporter at USA Today, joins us for who’s next in getting the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwor...
Dec 22, 2020•7 min
