Stephani Shelton
@stephanishelton.bsky.social
Longtime broadcast & digital journalist. Podcaster: Conversations on Health: How We Get There. Show notes & links https://stephanishelton.com/conversations
Opinions mine; reposts not endorsements
Opinions mine; reposts not endorsements
We hear a lot about Canada’s single payer, cover all health system. And the long waiting lists for elective surgery. But there’s seldom a wait for anything else - as you’ll learn in #39 of my podcast Conversations on Health: How We Get There. Links, notes at stephanishelton.com/conversations
November 20, 2025 at 3:03 AM
We hear a lot about Canada’s single payer, cover all health system. And the long waiting lists for elective surgery. But there’s seldom a wait for anything else - as you’ll learn in #39 of my podcast Conversations on Health: How We Get There. Links, notes at stephanishelton.com/conversations
After a record government shutdown, nothing has changed for Americans on Obamacare. Federal subsidies will still end January 1. Premiums will spike. But problems with insurers won’t end there. Podcast #39, Conversations on Health: How We Get There. Links, notes on stephanishelton.com/conversations
November 13, 2025 at 1:49 AM
After a record government shutdown, nothing has changed for Americans on Obamacare. Federal subsidies will still end January 1. Premiums will spike. But problems with insurers won’t end there. Podcast #39, Conversations on Health: How We Get There. Links, notes on stephanishelton.com/conversations
For many of us – no matter how we get our health insurance – monthly premiums will be a lot higher in 2026. Deductibles are likely to be higher too. The probable results in Episode 39 of my podcast Conversations on Health: How We Get There. Links, show notes on stephanishelton.com/conversations
October 22, 2025 at 11:26 PM
For many of us – no matter how we get our health insurance – monthly premiums will be a lot higher in 2026. Deductibles are likely to be higher too. The probable results in Episode 39 of my podcast Conversations on Health: How We Get There. Links, show notes on stephanishelton.com/conversations
A new tracking poll by KFF finds just 1/3 of US adults trust HHS Secretary RFK Jr. for reliable vaccine information. This includes the discredited theory that the MMR vaccine causes autism. See what we know on #37 Conversations on Health: How We Get There. Links: stephanishelton.com/conversations
October 10, 2025 at 1:13 AM
A new tracking poll by KFF finds just 1/3 of US adults trust HHS Secretary RFK Jr. for reliable vaccine information. This includes the discredited theory that the MMR vaccine causes autism. See what we know on #37 Conversations on Health: How We Get There. Links: stephanishelton.com/conversations
That hyped RFK Jr.“study” on pregnancy, autism &Tylenol? Just a warning: women should ask their doctors about taking Tylenol. With no linking evidence Trump told pregnant women just “tough it out”. Actual autism FACTS in Conversations on Health: How We Get There. stephanishelton.com/conversations
September 24, 2025 at 1:40 AM
That hyped RFK Jr.“study” on pregnancy, autism &Tylenol? Just a warning: women should ask their doctors about taking Tylenol. With no linking evidence Trump told pregnant women just “tough it out”. Actual autism FACTS in Conversations on Health: How We Get There. stephanishelton.com/conversations
It appears HHS head Robert F. Kennedy Jr.‘s promise to tell Americans exactly what causes autism is unlikely to happen in September. But there’s still that potential Tylenol study reported in the WSJ. More in Conversations on Health: How We Get There. Links on stephanishelton.com/conversationsp
September 18, 2025 at 1:33 AM
It appears HHS head Robert F. Kennedy Jr.‘s promise to tell Americans exactly what causes autism is unlikely to happen in September. But there’s still that potential Tylenol study reported in the WSJ. More in Conversations on Health: How We Get There. Links on stephanishelton.com/conversationsp
Why do so many other countries have better health outcomes than the US? When we spend far more on medical care? Well maybe we should take a good look at the Czech Republic. Which I did in my latest podcast Conversations on Health: How We Get There. Links: stephanishelton.com/conversations
September 4, 2025 at 3:03 AM
Why do so many other countries have better health outcomes than the US? When we spend far more on medical care? Well maybe we should take a good look at the Czech Republic. Which I did in my latest podcast Conversations on Health: How We Get There. Links: stephanishelton.com/conversations
One of the best ways to cut health care expenses is to not get sick in the first place. But that requires regular visits to a medical professional. Like the Czechs do. More in my latest episode of Conversations on Health: How We Get There. Links and show notes on stephanishelton.com/conversations
August 20, 2025 at 1:13 PM
One of the best ways to cut health care expenses is to not get sick in the first place. But that requires regular visits to a medical professional. Like the Czechs do. More in my latest episode of Conversations on Health: How We Get There. Links and show notes on stephanishelton.com/conversations
What has the UK’s Labor government got to show for its now one year old mission to “fix” the “broken” NHS? An analysis of the NHS a year after Labor’s big election win in my podcast Conversations on Health: How We Get There. Links and show notes on stephanishelton.com/conversations
August 14, 2025 at 1:26 AM
What has the UK’s Labor government got to show for its now one year old mission to “fix” the “broken” NHS? An analysis of the NHS a year after Labor’s big election win in my podcast Conversations on Health: How We Get There. Links and show notes on stephanishelton.com/conversations
The UK’s Labor government has a ten year plan to centralize NHS health care in new neighborhood health centers. But what about right now? What about the waiting lists? Some answers in my latest podcast Conversations on Health: How We Get There. Links on stephanishelton.com/conversations
July 21, 2025 at 3:13 AM
The UK’s Labor government has a ten year plan to centralize NHS health care in new neighborhood health centers. But what about right now? What about the waiting lists? Some answers in my latest podcast Conversations on Health: How We Get There. Links on stephanishelton.com/conversations
Some parents fear their kIds get so many vaccines now they’ll develop autism or other conditions. But experts generally agree autism is genetic. & certainly isn’t caused by the most common vaccines. More in my podcast Conversations on Health: How We Get There. Links stephanishelton.com/conversations
June 18, 2025 at 2:06 AM
Some parents fear their kIds get so many vaccines now they’ll develop autism or other conditions. But experts generally agree autism is genetic. & certainly isn’t caused by the most common vaccines. More in my podcast Conversations on Health: How We Get There. Links stephanishelton.com/conversations
Medicare spent $360 Billion on dementia patients’ total healthcare costs in 2024. But a Medicare partnership with a private company may cut those costs while also improving care. More in #33 of the podcast Conversations on Health: How We Get There. Links on stephanishelton.com/conversations
June 5, 2025 at 1:26 AM
Medicare spent $360 Billion on dementia patients’ total healthcare costs in 2024. But a Medicare partnership with a private company may cut those costs while also improving care. More in #33 of the podcast Conversations on Health: How We Get There. Links on stephanishelton.com/conversations
US healthcare is mostly privately funded, except for a few government programs like Medicare & Medicaid. But the line is blurring. As in a trial Medicare dementia program called Guide. More in #33 of Conversations on Health: How We Get There. Links on stephanishelton.com/conversations
May 22, 2025 at 1:10 AM
US healthcare is mostly privately funded, except for a few government programs like Medicare & Medicaid. But the line is blurring. As in a trial Medicare dementia program called Guide. More in #33 of Conversations on Health: How We Get There. Links on stephanishelton.com/conversations
When you’re in pain because of injury or disease – you expect a doctor to mitigate that pain. Without turning you into an addict. Why it’s not that simple - in Episode 32 of my podcast Conversations on Health: How We Get There. Links and show notes on stephanishelton.com/conversations
May 8, 2025 at 1:03 AM
When you’re in pain because of injury or disease – you expect a doctor to mitigate that pain. Without turning you into an addict. Why it’s not that simple - in Episode 32 of my podcast Conversations on Health: How We Get There. Links and show notes on stephanishelton.com/conversations
If you had a simple outpatient procedure & the surgeon gave you prescription pain pills but said over-the-counter pain killers would likely work too – which would you choose?Addiction deep dive in #32 of Conversations on Health: How We Get There. Links on stephanishelton.com/conversations
April 17, 2025 at 2:17 AM
If you had a simple outpatient procedure & the surgeon gave you prescription pain pills but said over-the-counter pain killers would likely work too – which would you choose?Addiction deep dive in #32 of Conversations on Health: How We Get There. Links on stephanishelton.com/conversations
Are you always one medical bill away from disaster? Too many Americans are. But in Episode 31 of my podcast Conversations on Health: How We Get There, you’ll learn about a simple way to get out from under. Links to the major podcast platforms and show notes on stephanishelton.com/conversations
April 9, 2025 at 1:36 AM
Are you always one medical bill away from disaster? Too many Americans are. But in Episode 31 of my podcast Conversations on Health: How We Get There, you’ll learn about a simple way to get out from under. Links to the major podcast platforms and show notes on stephanishelton.com/conversations
UPDATE: The Trump administration says Medicare will NOT pay for the popular GLP-1 drugs just for weight loss. It would have cost the government nearly $40 B
over 10 years. More on obesity in #30 of Conversations on Health: How We Get There. Links on stephanishelton.com/conversations
over 10 years. More on obesity in #30 of Conversations on Health: How We Get There. Links on stephanishelton.com/conversations
April 7, 2025 at 2:59 AM
UPDATE: The Trump administration says Medicare will NOT pay for the popular GLP-1 drugs just for weight loss. It would have cost the government nearly $40 B
over 10 years. More on obesity in #30 of Conversations on Health: How We Get There. Links on stephanishelton.com/conversations
over 10 years. More on obesity in #30 of Conversations on Health: How We Get There. Links on stephanishelton.com/conversations
Do you know that unexpected medical bills are a major reason for personal bankruptcy in the US? Even if you have insurance! Find out how to fight back in Episode 31 of my podcast Conversations on Health: How We Get There. Links, show notes: stephanishelton.com/conversations
March 22, 2025 at 11:54 AM
Do you know that unexpected medical bills are a major reason for personal bankruptcy in the US? Even if you have insurance! Find out how to fight back in Episode 31 of my podcast Conversations on Health: How We Get There. Links, show notes: stephanishelton.com/conversations
There are now 2 GLP-1 obesity drugs which people without insurance can buy directly from their manufacturers. Latest-Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy. $499/month, cash. < 1/2 its usual price. Much more on obesity in #30 of Conversations on Health: How We Get There. Links - stephanishelton.com/conversations
March 7, 2025 at 8:22 PM
There are now 2 GLP-1 obesity drugs which people without insurance can buy directly from their manufacturers. Latest-Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy. $499/month, cash. < 1/2 its usual price. Much more on obesity in #30 of Conversations on Health: How We Get There. Links - stephanishelton.com/conversations
We all probably know at least one person who’s used the new GLP-1 obesity drugs. But what else do you know about obesity? So much info in #30 of my podcast Conversations on Health: How We Get There. Links to the major podcast platforms and show notes on stephanishelton.com/conversations
February 19, 2025 at 11:09 PM
We all probably know at least one person who’s used the new GLP-1 obesity drugs. But what else do you know about obesity? So much info in #30 of my podcast Conversations on Health: How We Get There. Links to the major podcast platforms and show notes on stephanishelton.com/conversations
Currently, the main source of women’s health information – the CDC website – says it’s “being modified to comply with President Trump’s Executive Orders”. Much missing. Menopause info’s still there; more in #29, Conversations on Health: How We Get There. stephanishelton.com/conversations
February 6, 2025 at 4:27 AM
Currently, the main source of women’s health information – the CDC website – says it’s “being modified to comply with President Trump’s Executive Orders”. Much missing. Menopause info’s still there; more in #29, Conversations on Health: How We Get There. stephanishelton.com/conversations