September 14, 2025

Rethinking Medicare & Race, Housing, and Utility Bills

Episode Segments:

Billions in Medicare Waste: The Hidden Cost of Unnecessary Healthcare Did you know that Medicare wastes billions annually on low-value healthcare services that offer little to no benefit and sometimes even cause harm? A. Mark Fendrick, MD, Professor of Internal Medicine in the School of Medicine, Professor of Health Management and Policy in the School of Public Health at the University of Michigan, reveals how common but unnecessary procedures, like certain prostate cancer screenings in older men, contribute to this wasteful spending. He offers his prescription for money-saving reforms.
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The Hidden Cost of Energy: Race, Housing, and Utility Bills Did you know African-American households often pay a significantly higher percentage of their income on energy bills? George Homsy, PhD, Director of Environmental Studies and Associate Professor in the Environmental Studies Program at Binghamton University State University of New York, unveils groundbreaking research showing how historical housing discrimination continues to impact energy costs today, even for even middle-class black families.
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Balancing Act: Wildlife and Human Presence in National Parks When humans hit the trails, wildlife plays a complex game of hide and seek! In this fascinating episode, zoologist Kaitlyn Gaynor, PhD, Assistant Professor in the Departments of Zoology and Botany at the University of British Columbia, reveals surprising insights about how wildlife responds to human presence in U.S. national parks. She says by respecting the natural habitats and giving animals the space they need, people can coexist harmoniously with wildlife.
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