My favourite form of commuting is walking, especially if I am able to listen to an episode or two of a great podcast while I’m getting from A to B. I get to reflect on the content, learn new things while also taking in the sights and sounds around me (Sydney weather also helps, as it’s nearly always sunny!)
While I listen to podcasts on a range of topics including history, food and technology, I’ve been trying to listen to more podcasts related to health and research. And it seems there is a growing list for me to choose from (or perhaps I’m just discovering them), so here’s three that I’m currently enjoying. Unintentionally, they are all hosted by Australians (which demonstrates the great content coming from the Australian health sector)!
Interviews with diverse research, thinkers and health professionals on complex health issues including the future of evidence-based medicine and the relationship between medicine and the media. The series is produced by Cochrane Australia and co-published with the BMJ.
Recommended episodes:
- Professor Alex Barrett, (former clinician and journalist, now Professor of Public Health, University of Sydney)
- Dr Rita Redberg (Editor-in-Chief, JAMA Internal Medicine)
Disclaimer alert: I am actually part of the advisory committee of this podcast and have been involved a number of interviews but I was a fan before I became involved.
This podcast involves interviews with prominent researchers, policy makers and practitioners in the broader public health field across Australian and internationally.
Recommended episodes:
- Professor Judith Smith (Health Services Management Centre, Univeristy of Birmingham)
- Professor Les Toop (Pegasus Primary Health Organisation, New Zealand)
- Professor Emily Banks (National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University)
Short, succinct interviews with authors of papers in recent issues of the Medical Journal of Australia. Hosted by Cate Swannell, the MJA’s news and online editor.
Recommended episodes:
- Episode 55: Mapping general practitioner provider communities using big data (Professor Louisa Jorm and Dr Michael Falster, University of NSW)
- Episode 88: Social media and public health protection (Keira Glasgow and Dr Catherine Bateman-Steel from NSW Health and Southeast Sydney Local Health District)
Podcasts are a great medium for more in-depth discussion of specific topics, and I particularly enjoy well-crafted interviews. Let me know your favourite by tweeting me @jokhooz1.
Jo Khoo 