Critically Speaking

Worried about what your forgetfulness really means and whether it's just aging or the start of something more serious? Listen in as memory expert Dr. Zaldy Tan breaks down the different types of dementia, how early detection really works, and what you can do now to protect your brain and plan for the future. In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Zaldy Tan discuss his new book, "What to Remember When You Are Forgetting," which addresses cognitive decline and dementia. Dr. Tan discusses the main types of dementia, the importance of early diagnosis, and how dementia varies from age-related cognitive decline. They also dive into the steps that people can take now to help strengthen their minds and things to do to help assist those you love who you may suspect have dementia or have been diagnosed. Key Takeaways: Currently, about 7.5 million people are diagnosed with dementia. That number is likely twice that, as about 50% with dementia are living with it unaware of the diagnosis until the late stages. There are around 100 types of dementia - the most common ones are Alzheimer's Disease, vascular dementia, Lewy Body Dementia, and frontotemporal dementia. Memory and other cognitive functions do change as we get older. Divided attention and working memory do decline as we age, and that is a normal part of aging. Different types of dementia are caused by different pathologies. As such, the treatment and prognosis will be different. A dementia diagnosis does not always mean that you have to quit your job. It may mean that you have to talk to your employer about reasonable accommodations to make sure you are safe and able to complete your tasks. "We shouldn't think of dementia as monolithic. Those days are gone. A precise and accurate diagnosis is really important." — Dr. Zaldy Tan Connect with Dr. Zaldy Tan: Professional Bio: https://researchers.cedars-sinai.edu/Zaldy.Tan LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/zaldy-tan-5426a639b Book: What to Remember When You Are Forgetting: https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Zaldy-Tan/232701319 Connect with Therese: Website: www.criticallyspeaking.net Bluesky: @CriticallySpeaking.bsky.social Instagram: @criticallyspeakingpodcast Email: [email protected] Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

Drowning in wellness hype, viral "experts," and five-star opinions that feel more real than facts? In this episode, law and public health scholar Timothy Caulfield exposes the certainty illusion — how "scienceploitation", predatory journals, and weaponized opinions quietly shape what we believe about our health. Today, Therese Markow and Timothy Caulfield discuss Tim's latest book, break down the misinformation drivers that are contributing to the delegitimization of scientific expertise, and the three illusions that are being used to distort public perception. From influencers and celebrities to predatory journals and politicians, it feels like "experts" are constantly bombarding us with information, but how do we know what is true? Listen in to find out more. Key Takeaways: So many of the misconceptions about health and science are now closely tethered to political ideological positions. Influencers are having a greater impact on beliefs around health than ever before. For example, the sale of Ivermectin spiked after a Joe Rogan conversation with Mel Gibson. Be aware of products and studies that are using scienceploitation and publishing in predatory journals. While they may look legitimate, they often do not have proper science behind the claim. Most health halos- words like "organic" or "natural" or, now, "protein" do not necessarily make the food or product healthy. But it does often convince people to buy. "Your personal identity, your personal community has just a tremendous impact. So if you can manipulate those opinions, you can manipulate people's perceptions, their beliefs, and maybe even their actions." — Timothy Caulfield Episode References: The Certainty Illusion: What You Don't Know and Why It Matters: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0735245886 Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger Documentary: https://gem.cbc.ca/harder-better-faster-stronger What is the manosphere? I went inside to find out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJzHZFv-Ezg Connect with Timothy Caulfield: Professional Bio: https://www.ualberta.ca/en/law/research/health-law-institute/people/timothycaulfield.html Threads: threads.net/@caulfieldtim Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/caulfieldtim.bsky.social Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caulfieldtim/ X: https://twitter.com/CaulfieldTim Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/timothy.caulfield.792 Books: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/authors/255688/timothy-caulfield Connect with Therese: Website: www.criticallyspeaking.net Bluesky: @CriticallySpeaking.bsky.social Instagram: @criticallyspeakingpodcast Email: [email protected] Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

Have you or someone you loved considered taking antidepressants for mental health, but had concerns? Listen in as Dr. Andrew Novick talks about the research and the science behind these drugs and other options for those struggling with MDD and other mental health concerns. In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Andrew Novick discuss major depressive disorder (MDD) and its treatment options. Dr. Novick explains the key characteristics of MDD and discusses some of the many treatment options, which include psychotherapy, particularly cognitive-behavioral therapy, and pharmacological interventions like SSRIs. He highlights the effectiveness of esketamine for treatment-resistant MDD, and also addresses the controversy surrounding SSRIs and the potential of new treatments like psilocybin, noting ongoing research and regulatory challenges. Key Takeaways: Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) can begin in childhood, but can often show up as irritability rather than other traditional depressive symptoms that we would see in adults. It's also more common to see it manifest during puberty, rather than before. Treating MDD does not require starting with psychotherapy. Medication can help more immediately, especially because there is an obstacle to accessible therapy for a lot of people. It can also be a tool used in tandem with therapy. While there are no blood tests or simple diagnostic tests to see if you have depression, like with an infectious disease model, there are some brain scans that can show signs of depression, especially across wide populations of individuals. There is no one gene that is associated with MDD. However, through research, many different genes have been identified, often related to brain function and stress response. "If depression goes untreated, the most awful consequence of that is potential suicide." — Dr. Andrew Novick Connect with Dr. Andrew Novick: Professional Bio: https://som.cuanschutz.edu/Profiles/Faculty/Profile/29109 ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Andrew-Novick LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annovick Connect with Therese: Website: www.criticallyspeaking.net Bluesky: @CriticallySpeaking.bsky.social Instagram: @criticallyspeakingpodcast Email: [email protected] Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

Ru Marshall pulls back the curtain on the man behind the myth of Carlos Castaneda, exposing the real lives, lies, and losses buried beneath his legendary books. In this episode, Therese Markow and Ru Marshall discuss the life and legacy of Carlos Castaneda, who claimed to have been trained as a shaman by Don Juan. Castaneda's books, which sold over 8 million copies, were initially believed but later dismissed as fiction. Marshall's book, "American Trickster," explores Castaneda's origins in Peru and his life in the U.S. Castaneda, born Cesar Arana, was a charismatic storyteller who seduced both women and academics. Despite initial academic support, his claims were eventually debunked. Ru's research spanned 20 years, revealing Castaneda's complex personal life and the impact of his cult-like following. Key Takeaways: Long before the books, Carlos Castaneda was known as a gifted storyteller and trickster, blurring the line between entertainment, fabrication, and manipulation. Castaneda's real power was psychological. He made individuals, especially women, feel uniquely seen, chosen, and special, a classic mechanism of charismatic control. The disappearance and deaths of key followers after Castaneda's passing reveal the devastating human cost when a closed belief system collides with reality. And when followers are willing to follow a narrative all the way to the end. "It's a really interesting thing, that when people, both professionally and, more importantly, I think, emotionally, become invested in a belief, it is incredibly hard for people to admit they're wrong." — Ru Marshall Connect with Ru Marshall: Website: https://rmarshallstudio.com/ Threads: https://www.threads.com/@robtmars Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robtmars/ American Trickster: The Hidden Lives of Carlos Castaneda: https://orbooks.com/catalog/american-trickster/ Connect with Therese: Website: www.criticallyspeaking.net Bluesky: @CriticallySpeaking.bsky.social Instagram: @criticallyspeakingpodcast Email: [email protected] Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

When a globally respected infectious disease expert is abruptly sidelined by an anti‑vaccine administration, what does it reveal about the future of public health and scientific integrity? In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo discuss her termination and whistleblower lawsuit against the U.S. government. She highlighted NIAID's critical role in infectious disease research, funding $6.6 billion annually. Dr. Marrazzo criticized the new administration's anti-vaccine stance, cessation of global HIV/AIDS funding, and termination of clinical trials, which she argued endangered public health. Dr. Marrazzo filed a whistleblower complaint in September 2025, leading to her firing in October. She now leads the Infectious Disease Society of America, advocating for evidence-based policies and scientific integrity. Key Takeaways: Tuberculosis (TB, formerly known as Consumption) is now the top global killer as an infectious disease. Shutting down clinical trials and cutting international research funding mid‑stream doesn't just waste taxpayer dollars; it endangers patients who rely on those therapies and violates core ethical standards. Political ideology overriding scientific evidence can rapidly dismantle decades of progress in vaccines, global health research, and public trust. Independent professional societies and medical organizations now play a critical role in evidence above ideology, preserving rigorous guidelines, publishing unbiased research, and speaking truth to power when government agencies are silenced or hollowed out. "What I don't think people realize is the power of the platform that the Secretary and indeed the President have. The tragic part about this is that we've spent decades building up that trust, trying to make sure that it was justified, and to see that just summarily destroyed, there's no other word for it, is really, really tragic. I don't know what it's going to take to build it up again." — Jeanne Marrazzo, MD Connect with Jeanne: Professional Bio: https://www.niaid.nih.gov/about/jeanne-marrazzo-md-mph Website: https://www.idsociety.org/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeanne-marrazzo-203463179 Connect with Therese: Website: www.criticallyspeaking.net Bluesky: @CriticallySpeaking.bsky.social Instagram: @criticallyspeakingpodcast Email: [email protected] Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.