Science & Society · Weekly
Separating fact from fantasy at the intersection of science and society.
On each episode of Critically Speaking, host Dr. Therese Markow interviews foremost experts in a range of fields. They discuss, in everyday language that we all can understand, fundamental issues that impact our health, our society, and our planet. Join their weekly journey where they separate fact from fantasy for topics both current and controversial.
Host
Award-winning geneticist & podcast host
📍 United States
Dr. Therese Markow is an award-winning geneticist with decades of experience teaching undergraduates and training graduate and postdoctoral students. On Critically Speaking, she brings that same clarity and rigor to conversations with experts across science, health, and society — helping listeners separate fact from disinformation.
Epidemiologist, author & professor (IHPME, University of Toronto / UC San Diego)
📍 Toronto, Canada & San Diego, USA
Dr. Dan Werb is an epidemiologist and author whose research focuses on the intersection of urban environments, animal health, and human disease. His books include City of Omens, The Invisible Siege, and Our Wild Familiars.
View full profile →Neuroscientist, memory champion & trainer (Donders Institute)
📍 Nijmegen, Netherlands
Dr. Boris Konrad is a neuroscientist at the Donders Institute and an international Memory Champion who studies how memory training changes brain connectivity. He trains memory athletes and educators in evidence-based memorization techniques.
View full profile →Physician & researcher (Mayo Clinic)
📍 Rochester, Minnesota
Dr. Stephanie Grach is a physician at Mayo Clinic whose research and clinical work focus on complex chronic conditions, including Long COVID. She advocates for individualized patient care and evidence-based treatment.
View full profile →Education journalist & author (The Knowledge Gap, The Writing Revolution)
📍 Washington, D.C., USA
Natalie Wexler is an education journalist and author of The Knowledge Gap and The Writing Revolution. Her work explores the connection between background knowledge, writing instruction, and equity in American education — including the risks of over-reliance on generative AI.
View full profile →Author & artist
📍 United States
Ru Marshall is an author and artist whose book American Trickster: The Hidden Lives of Carlos Castaneda pulls back the curtain on one of the 20th century's most fascinating literary frauds, revealing the real lives, lies, and losses buried beneath the myth.
View full profile →Historian, author & podcaster (Lost Worlds, The Fall of Rome, Tides of History)
📍 United States
Patrick Wyman is a historian and author of Lost Worlds: How Humans Tried, Failed, Succeeded, and Built Our World. He is also the creator of The Fall of Rome and Tides of History podcasts, known for making deep history accessible and vivid.
View full profile →Infectious disease physician & former NIAID director
📍 United States
Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo is an infectious disease physician, former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), and now leads the Infectious Disease Society of America. She is a vocal advocate for evidence-based public health policy and scientific integrity.
View full profile →Reproductive health researcher (Guttmacher Institute)
📍 United States
Dr. Chelsea Polis is a reproductive health researcher at the Guttmacher Institute whose work focuses on fertility awareness, contraceptive access, and the regulation of femtech. She advocates for evidence-based reproductive health information and stronger oversight of reproductive health technologies.
View full profile →Dr. Dan Werb joins Therese Markow to reveal the hidden world of synanthropes — the wild animals that thrive in urban environments. They discuss his new book Our Wild Familiars and why cities are more biodiverse than the areas that surround them.
Neuroscientist and Memory Champion Dr. Boris Konrad discusses how memorization changes brain connectivity, why memory athletes use the method of loci, and how anyone can train their memory with evidence-based techniques.
Mayo Clinic's Dr. Stephanie Grach breaks down what we really know about Long COVID, who's at risk, and why believing and individualizing care for patients is absolutely critical.
Education journalist Natalie Wexler on how generative AI undermines the cognitive benefits of writing, why background knowledge matters more than ever, and what systematic changes are needed to combat AI dependence in education.
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 20-year research journey.
Historian Patrick Wyman discusses his latest book Lost Worlds, the importance of understanding past climate changes on human societies, and why migration is humanity's most basic tool for survival.
Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo discusses her termination and whistleblower lawsuit against the U.S. government, the critical role of NIAID in infectious disease research, and the dangers of political ideology overriding scientific evidence.
Dr. Chelsea Polis on the evolution of reproductive rights in the U.S., fertility awareness-based methods, the regulation of femtech products, and the broader political strategy to limit reproductive freedoms.
