Is Our Overuse of Plastics Causing Fertility Issues? A Conversation w Dr. Shanna Swan and Dr. Jasmine McDonald
From Why Should I Trust You? by Brinda Adhikari, Tom Johnson, Maggie Bartlett, Dr. Mark Abdelmalek
April 2, 2026 · 58 min · Season 2 · Episode 19
About this episode
The episode discusses the impact of plastic exposure on fertility, featuring insights from scientists involved in a related documentary.
Today, we’re diving into a new Netflix documentary, The Plastic Detox, which follows six couples trying to conceive and what happens when they attempt to reduce plastic exposure in their daily lives. We’re joined by two of the scientists featured in the film: Dr. Shanna Swan of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, a leading researcher on endocrine-disrupting chemicals and reproductive health, and Dr. Jasmine McDonald of the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, an epide...
People in this episode
Hosts: Brinda Adhikari, Tom Johnson, Maggie Bartlett, Dr. Mark Abdelmalek
Guests: Dr. Shanna Swan, Dr. Jasmine McDonald
Topics covered
- plastic exposure
- fertility issues
- endocrine-disrupting chemicals
- reproductive health
- documentary discussion
Keywords
- plastics
- fertility
- endocrine disruptors
- reproductive health
- documentary
- health risks
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health
Books & works: The Plastic Detox
More episodes of Why Should I Trust You?
- A Conversation w Sen. Cory Booker: On Our Health, Corrosive Money in Politics & America’s Urgent Moment. A Message to MAHA, RFK Jr & His Own Party. · June 11, 2026 · 56 min
- A Conversation w Gen Z On AI: Promise, Populism, Anger & Hope. How Do They Wish Older Gens Spoke About AI? · June 4, 2026 · 1h 16m
- Is Parkinson’s A Preventable Disease? A Conversation w Dr. Ray Dorsey & Steve Brandenburg On Paraquat & Parkinson’s · May 28, 2026 · 58 min
- A Conversation w MAHA Supporters & Public Health Veterans: On Thomas Massie + Cuts To USAID Amid An Ebola Outbreak · May 21, 2026 · 1h 13m
- Special Ep: A Conversation w Sheryl Gay Stolberg, Lead Reporter for the NYT Covering RFK Jr. & MAHA In An Era of Mistrust · May 15, 2026 · 1h 10m
- Are MAHA & Public Health Going About Change All Wrong? A Conversation w Organizational Transformation Author Greg Satell · May 14, 2026 · 55 min
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Why Should I Trust You? podcast page.