Just Human continues creating media with impact by producing new seasons of its flagship podcasts AMERICAN DIAGNOSIS and EPIDEMIC. The upcoming episodes will cover two of the most timely topics in public health today: the history of Indigenous health and the race to eradicate smallpox.
Just Human Productions will release new seasons of the acclaimed podcasts American Diagnosis and Epidemic in 2021, expanding on its mission to make science and health media with impact.
“The coronavirus pandemic has revealed an urgent need to elevate the national conversation around public health,” says Dr. Celine Gounder, executive editor and host for both podcasts. “We will need to work together to make society more just and more resilient in the face of crisis. With Just Human’s upcoming podcast programming, we will continue illustrating the impact of public health on Americans’ day-to-day lives. By making that information accessible to everyone, we will empower people to take civic action to protect communities across the country.”
In the fourth season of American Diagnosis, “Our Bodies and Land,” we will amplify the voices of Indigenous leaders, scholars, and activists. As the health of Indigenous communities continues to suffer from centuries of oppression, this timely project will promote Indigenous perspectives toward remedying a legacy of injustice. Inspired by Dr. Gounder’s work as a physician at Indian Health Service and tribal facilities across the United States, field reporting is already underway. Interview subjects include Deb Haaland, a member of New Mexico’s Laguna Pueblo tribe, and the first Indigenous Cabinet Secretary in the history of the United States. “Our Bodies and Land” will premiere in late 2021.
In the second season of Epidemic, “Target Zero,” we will cover one of history’s greatest triumphs over infectious disease: the race to eradicate smallpox. As we near the end of the coronavirus pandemic, Dr. Gounder will explore the important lessons we can learn from our past in preparing our society against the next public health threat. The project will be produced in collaboration with Howard Gertler, the executive producer and producer respectively of the Academy Award-nominated documentary films Crip Camp and How to Survive a Plague. “Target Zero” will premiere in late 2021.
Just Human Productions launched in 2017 with a single storytelling project. Today, we produce and distribute the American Diagnosis and Epidemic podcasts, generating millions of downloads worldwide. Our content blends science with storytelling to shed light on pressing issues and evidence-based solutions.
Previous seasons of American Diagnosis have covered youth mental health, the opioid overdose crisis, and gun violence in the United States. Stand-alone bonus episodes have addressed the Affordable Care Act, climate gentrification, and systemic racism in the health and science professions.
The premiere season of Epidemic debuted in February 2020 in direct response to the coronavirus pandemic. Since then, we have released weekly episodes on the science, public health, and social impacts of COVID-19, interviewing thought leaders ranging from Dr. Anthony Fauci to Stacey Abrams. On the Apple Podcast charts, Epidemic debuted at #1 in Medicine, #1 in Health/Fitness, and #12 across all categories. University professors and high school teachers incorporate the podcast into their classroom curriculum. College radio stations syndicate episodes for their student audiences. And in November 2020, Dr. Gounder’s Epidemic credentials helped earn her a position on the Biden-Harris Transition COVID-19 Advisory Board, where she counseled the incoming administration on coronavirus science and policy.
Previous and current episodes of American Diagnosis and Epidemic are now available to stream for free across all major podcast platforms, as well as at https://www.justhumanproductions.org/podcasts/all.