Commercial Determinants of Health: Are Your Choices Really Yours?

Send us Fan MailFrom Fête de la Musique and Afro Nation to Wireless, Notting Hill Carnival and beyond, we know this summer is about to be hot. In this episode, we're unpacking STIs, testing, stigma, and the awkward conversations nobody wants to have but everyone should.Disclaimer: This episode is intended for educational purposes and should not replace professional medical advice. If you think you may have an STI, please seek advice from a qualified healthcare professional or your local sexual health clinic.The case studies in this episode are composite narratives inspired by real experiences reported in VICE articles. Some details have been modified to protect anonymity.Key sources:Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights. (n.d.). Sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBIs). https://www.actioncanadashr.orgCenters for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). About sexually transmitted infections (STIs). https://www.cdc.gov/sti/about/index.htmlNational Health Service. (2023). Sexually transmitted infections (STIs). https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/sexually-transmitted-infections-stis/UK Health Security Agency. (2024). Sexually transmitted infections (STIs): Annual data tables. https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/sexually-transmitted-infections-stis-annual-data-tablesWorld Health Organization. (2023). Sexually transmitted infections (STIs). https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/sexSupport the showFollow us on our socials so you don’t miss anything!Instagram https://www.instagram.com/whi_podcast/ Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@whi_podcast?_t=8cw9TYkj5XG&_r=1Twitter https://mobile.twitter.com/whi_podcast Facebook https://www.facebook.com/WHIpodcast LinkedIn ...

Send us Fan MailThis #MenstrualHygieneDay, we're asking a simple question: why does half the population have a monthly expense they never signed up for? We unpack period poverty, the hidden cost of menstruation, and why access to products is only part of the story. What was the first message you received about periods? Tell us in the comments below. Key sources:UK Gov, 2022, Penny Mordaunt launches new funds to tackle period poverty globallyWorld Bank, 2023, Menstrual Health and Hygiene BriefActionAid, 2023, Periods: All Your Questions AnsweredActionAid, 2022, Period Poverty Statistics Around the WorldThe Independent, 2026, 1 in 10 UK women face period poverty forcing some to take dangerous health risks, campaigners warn UNICEF, 2023, Busted: Eight Myths About PeriodsScottish Government, 2021, Period Products ActActionAid, 2019, How do people around the world celebrate periods?Global Citizen, The Tampon Tax: Everything You Need to Know, 2021Support the showFollow us on our socials so you don’t miss anything!Instagram https://www.instagram.com/whi_podcast/ Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@whi_podcast?_t=8cw9TYkj5XG&_r=1Twitter https://mobile.twitter.com/whi_podcast Facebook https://www.facebook.com/WHIpodcast LinkedIn ...

Send us Fan MailThis week, we’re exposing the real drivers of “lifestyle diseases” - and spoiler: it’s not just your willpower. From Coca-Cola *allegedly* influencing public health conversations to baby formula companies selling anxiety to new parents, we unpack the commercial determinants of health and how corporations shape what we eat, buy, and believe is “normal”.Key sources:World Health Organization, 2023, Commercial Determinants of Health Adfree Cities, 2024, Unhealthy Food Advertising in Deprived AreasCentre for Mental Health, 2025, The Commercial Determinants of Mental HealthThe Lancet, 2023, The 2023 Lancet Series on BreastfeedingMaani, N., 2024, Alcohol and the commercial determinants of health. Presentation for Faculty of Public HealthPolitico, 2019, Coca-Cola tried to influence CDC on research and policy, new report statesSupport the showFollow us on our socials so you don’t miss anything!Instagram https://www.instagram.com/whi_podcast/ Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@whi_podcast?_t=8cw9TYkj5XG&_r=1Twitter https://mobile.twitter.com/whi_podcast Facebook https://www.facebook.com/WHIpodcast LinkedIn ...

Send us Fan MailIn honour of Women’s History Month, we unpack endometriosis, PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome), menopause and why women’s pain is still dismissed, delayed, and under-researched. We look into funding failures, the gender bias built into medicine, and why women’s health is still treated like a footnote.Key sources:Endometriosis affects ~10% of women/AFAB globally — WHO. WHO: Endometriosis facts including prevalence and symptomsUK data: Diagnosis ~8 yrs 10 mo; GP visits & dismissal stats — Endometriosis UK. Endometriosis UK report on diagnosis delays + GP visit statsWomen’s health gets ~6% of total health funding — WEF & BCG report. Women’s health funding gap report (WEF/BCG)Endometriosis research funding ~ $28m globally — Impact Global Health. Global endometriosis R&D funding overviewStructural underfunding of women’s health research — Nature Reviews Bioengineering. Editorial: Funding research on women’s healthSupport the showFollow us on our socials so you don’t miss anything!Instagram https://www.instagram.com/whi_podcast/ Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@whi_podcast?_t=8cw9TYkj5XG&_r=1Twitter https://mobile.twitter.com/whi_podcast Facebook https://www.facebook.com/WHIpodcast LinkedIn ...

Send us Fan MailWeight loss drugs are changing what’s medically possible, but are they changing what we expect from bodies too? In this episode, we unpack obesity, GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, and the tension between public health and fatphobia. We discuss whether these medications address a global health crisis, or if they are just reshaping weight stigma with better branding. Enjoyed the episode? Please leave a like, comment or subscribe :) Key sources:World Health Organization (2024). Obesity and Overweight.https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/obesity-and-overweightRyan et al. (2023). Weight stigma experienced by patients with obesity in healthcare settings: A qualitative evidence synthesis. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/obr.13606Heitmann (2025). The Impact of Novel Medications for Obesity on Weight Stigma and Societal Attitudes: A Narrative Review.  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11799028/McWhorter, K. L. (2020). Obesity Acceptance: Body Positivity and Clinical Risk Factors. https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/73236 Support the showFollow us on our socials so you don’t miss anything!Instagram https://www.instagram.com/whi_podcast/ Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@whi_podcast?_t=8cw9TYkj5XG&_r=1Twitter https://mobile.twitter.com/whi_podcast Facebook https://www.facebook.com/WHIpodcast LinkedIn ...

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, we unpack how TikTokers, WhatsApp aunty group chats, and everyone in between use social media for health advice. We explore how misinformation, overconfidence, and anti-intellectualism are turning opinions into “facts.” From TikTok doctors to vaccine myths, we ask when influencers replaced experts, why trust in science is collapsing, and who is actually paying the price.Key sources:1. Pew Research Center (2024). Social Media Fact Sheet. https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/fact-sheet/social-media/ 2. WHO (2022). Infodemics and misinformation negatively affect people’s health behaviours. https://www.who.int/europe/news/item/01-09-2022-infodemics-and-misinformation-negatively-affect-people-s-health-behaviours–new-who-review-finds 3. Pure UJ et al. (2022). WhatsApp users and COVID misinformation in Africa.4. JMIR Infodemiology (2025). Health misinformation response in Malaysia.5. Kureyama N et al. (2023). Cancer misinformation on Twitter in Japan. Support the showFollow us on our socials so you don’t miss anything!Instagram https://www.instagram.com/whi_podcast/ Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@whi_podcast?_t=8cw9TYkj5XG&_r=1Twitter https://mobile.twitter.com/whi_podcast Facebook https://www.facebook.com/WHIpodcast LinkedIn ...

Send us Fan MailInvoluntary celibates, sketchy algorithms and gender wars. In this episode, we break down the world of incels and dig into why some men get sucked in, and how communities can stop the radicalisation. These networks give a fake sense of community, endorse misogyny and link to serious mental health issues like depression and suicidal thoughts.  Sources: 1. Predicting Harm Among Incels – UK Home Office, 2023: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/predicting-harm-among-incels-involuntary-celibates/predicting-harm-among-incels-involuntary-celibates-the-roles-of-mental-health-ideological-belief-and-social-networking-accessible 2. The Manosphere: ISD Report, 2022: https://www.isdglobal.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Manosphere-ISD-External-August2022.pdf Support the showFollow us on our socials so you don’t miss anything!Instagram https://www.instagram.com/whi_podcast/ Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@whi_podcast?_t=8cw9TYkj5XG&_r=1Twitter https://mobile.twitter.com/whi_podcast Facebook https://www.facebook.com/WHIpodcast LinkedIn ...

Send us Fan MailWhen the U.S. froze global health aid, chaos followed — layoffs, stalled programs, and a whole lot of political drama. But was the U.S. lowkey justified in pulling out? 👀 In this episode, we unpack America’s messy breakup with global health. Expect debate, a crash course on global health funding, and a few hot takes on aid, power, and who really benefits when the money stops flowing.Key Sources:Reevaluating and Realigning United States Foreign Aid - https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/reevaluating-and-realigning-united-states-foreign-aid/ USAID cuts are already hitting countries around the world. Here are 20 projects that have closed - https://apnews.com/article/usaid-cuts-hunger-sickness-288b1d3f80d85ad749a6d758a778a5b2 10 Things to Know About U.S. Funding for Global Health - https://www.kff.org/global-health-policy/issue-brief/10-things-to-know-about-u-s-funding-for-global-health/ Are the World's Largest Donors Cutting Their Bilateral Aid to Africa? - https://carnegieendowment.org/posts/2024/10/africa-development-aid-oecd-china?lang=en Africa relies too heavily on foreign aid for health – 4 ways to fix this - https://theconversation.com/africa-relies-too-heavily-on-foreign-aid-for-health-4-ways-to-fix-this-249886 Support the showFollow us on our socials so you don’t miss anything!Instagram https://www.instagram.com/whi_podcast/ Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@whi_podcast?_t=8cw9TYkj5XG&_r=1Twitter https://mobile.twitter.com/whi_podcast Facebook https://www.facebook.com/WHIpodcast LinkedIn ...

Send us Fan MailAI isn’t your therapist, your saviour, or your shortcut to a healthier world. So why is Big Tech selling it like it is? In this episode, we ask the messy, uncomfortable questions: Who pays the price for innovation? What happens when Big Tech plants massive data centres in countries facing drought? And is AI a lifesaving tool… or just the newest form of digital colonisation?Key sources:Your ChatGPT privacy questions answered. A guide for students (and everyone else) using ChatGPT –  https://pirg.org/edfund/resources/chatgpt-privacy/ Reimagining Global Health through Artificial Intelligence: The Roadmap to AI Maturity – https://www.broadbandcommission.org/publication/reimagining-global-health-through-artificial-intelligence/ Obermeyer et al., 2019, “Dissecting racial bias in an algorithm used to manage the health of populations.” – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31649194/ A bottle of water per email: the hidden environmental costs of using AI chatbots – https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/09/18/energy-ai-use-electricity-water-data-centers/ Protesters halt new data center – https://www.dw.com/en/protesters-halt-new-data-center/video-71397452 ChatGPT and large language models: what's the risk? https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/blog-post/chatgpt-and-large-language-models-whats-the-risk Support the showFollow us on our socials so you don’t miss anything!Instagram https://www.instagram.com/whi_podcast/ Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@whi_podcast?_t=8cw9TYkj5XG&_r=1Twitter https://mobile.twitter.com/whi_podcast Facebook https://www.facebook.com/WHIpodcast LinkedIn ...

Send us Fan MailFeeling overwhelmed, burnt out, or struggling to adopt healthy habits, even when you’re “doing all the right things”? You’re not alone, Globies. Season 4 starts with a reality check: wellness isn’t just yoga mats and green juice. We’re digging into burnout, daily routines, and the hidden forces that shape your health, like your postcode. We’re mixing vibes with verified research, sass with stats, and giving you the unfiltered truth about what it actually takes to live a healthy lifestyle in 2025.News: https://www.who.int/news/item/24-05-2025-seventy-eighth-world-health-assembly---daily-update--24-may-2025Key sources:Making health habitual: the psychology of ‘habit-formation’ and general practice: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3505409/#:~:text=HABIT%20FORMATION%20AND%20HEALTH&text=Decades%20of%20psychological%20research%20consistently,(that%20is%2C%20habitually).NHS Digital (2022). Health Survey for England 2021: Health-related behaviours, adult health status and wellbeing. https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/health-survey-for-england/2021Greater London Authority (2021). London Green Space Access Map and Data. https://data.london.gov.uk/dataset/public-open-space-londonHabit formation and change. Simple decisions, complex habits.  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3505409/Support the showFollow us on our socials so you don’t miss anything!Instagram https://www.instagram.com/whi_podcast/ Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@whi_podcast?_t=8cw9TYkj5XG&_r=1Twitter https://mobile.twitter.com/whi_podcast Facebook https://www.facebook.com/WHIpodcast LinkedIn ...