Public Health Is Outgunned: A Conversation w Science Communicators Katelyn Jetelina and Jessica Steier

Today, we’re exploring the new world of health and science communication now that the old playbook is dead. The days of publishing a study and expecting to reach the public with it through legacy media or pointing people to health institutions and medical associations for guidance are over. Millions no longer trust the science, the guidance, or the messenger. Meanwhile, the Make America Healthy Again movement is finding new ways to communicate and harness the enthusiasm of its followers.

So what now for traditional public health? On today’s episode, we talk with Katelyn Jetelina of Your Local Epidemiologist and Jessica Steier of Unbiased Science—two innovators navigating this new communication landscape. They’re working to cut through the noise and connect evidence to people’s lives, even as traditional institutions struggle to keep up.

We’ll ask how they’re adapting, what’s working, and whether the scientific establishment is giving communicators like them the support they need in this moment of upheaval.

Hosts:

Brinda Adhikari

Tom Johnson

Maggie Bartlett

Dr. Mark Abdelmalek

Guests:

Katelyn Jetelina, founder, author Your Local Epidemiologist; data scientist and epidemiologist; named Time 100 Most Influential People in Health

Jessica Steier, data scientist, doctor of public health, founder and CEO of UnBiased Science site and podcast; has written recently about autism studies for  the New York Times. 

Your Local Epidemiologist: https://yourlocalepidemiologist.substack.com/

UnBiased Science: https://www.unbiasedscience.com/

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Chapters

• 0:14 Intro and Headlines: Public Health Communication Needs to Change
• 5:16 Our Communication Landscape: How Did We Get Here?
• 18:03 Welcome Katelyn Jetelina and Jessica Steier!
• 1:14:35 Thank you for joining us!