Why Latino Families Struggle to Get Care in the U.S. | Erik Cardenas, Zócalo Health

Why Latino Families Struggle to Get Care in the U.S. | Erik Cardenas, Zócalo Health

🏥 Roughly 1 in 5 Latino adults in the U.S. lacks health insurance, the highest uninsured rate of any major demographic group. Latino families often wait longer for care, receive less preventive screening, and experience worse outcomes for chronic diseases, despite making up nearly 20% of the U.S. population and representing the youngest, fastest-growing demographic in the country. In this episode of The Health Curve, Dr. Jason Arora is joined by Erik Cárdenas, entrepreneur and healthcare builder at Zócalo Health, to unpack why the U.S. healthcare system consistently fails Latino communities, and what we can do about it. Together, they explore how structural barriers shape health outcomes: Medicaid access gaps, primary care shortages, language barriers, underrepresentation of Latino clinicians (fewer than 6% of U.S. physicians), and a fee-for-service model that leaves little room for trust, prevention, or whole-family care. They examine why Latino adults are ~50–70% more likely to develop type 2 diabetes, face higher rates of obesity, liver disease, and kidney disease, and are significantly less likely to receive timely preventive care, even though many of these conditions are preventable or far more manageable when caught early. The conversation also digs into the so-called “Hispanic paradox” - why newer immigrants often live longer than U.S.-born Latinos - and why that advantage erodes over time as families encounter the realities of American food systems, work patterns, housing insecurity, and healthcare access. They discuss how fear, immigration policy, and administrative complexity further discourage people from seeking care, even when they are eligible. Crucially, this episode doesn’t stop at diagnosis. Erik and Jason explore what does work: community-based care models, culturally fluent teams, community health workers, and healthcare designs that meet people where they are: at home, in families, and in communities.  This is not a niche issue. It’s a test case for whether the U.S. healthcare system can deliver equitable, effective care at scale - for Latino communities and beyond.

Neuroarts: Can Art and Creativity Heal You? | Susan Magsamen, Ruth J. Katz, and Sarah Lyding | The Neuroarts Blueprint Initiative

Can art and creativity actually heal you? In this episode of The Health Curve Podcast, we explore a powerful idea at the intersection of science, culture, and health: that music, art, movement, storytelling, and creative expression don’t just enrich life. They can actively shape our brains, our mental health, and even our physical well-being. Dr. Jason Arora is joined by Susan Magsamen (Johns Hopkins, Your Brain on Art), Ruth Katz (Aspen Institute), and Sarah Lyding (Music Man Foundation) to unpack the emerging field of neuroarts—and what the science is now beginning to show. Together, we break down how engaging with the arts can influence brain function, stress, emotional regulation, connection, and recovery. From Parkinson’s disease and dance, to music and Alzheimer’s, to trauma, youth mental health, and community healing—this is a field that’s rapidly moving from intuition to evidence. But this conversation goes beyond science. We ask a bigger question: what if the arts aren’t a luxury, but a core pillar of health? We also explore why this field is only now gaining traction, how initiatives like the NeuroArts Blueprint are pushing for research and policy change, and what it would take to bring creativity into mainstream healthcare, education, and everyday life. If you’ve ever felt better after listening to music, writing, moving, or creating something, this episode explains why that matters more than you think. Follow The Health Curve for evidence-based conversations that help you navigate your health with clarity. Chapters: 00:00 Intro 00:04 What is neuroarts, and why does it matter? 02:22 Defining neuroarts 03:38 What counts as “art”? 05:43 What does the evidence show? 08:44 Making vs experiencing art 10:48 The science of art and the brain 15:14 Where the evidence is strongest 21:26 Art and human evolution 26:42 Why is this field still new? 29:13 The NeuroArts Blueprint 38:36 Global perspectives 41:38 Bringing neuroarts into healthcare 48:07 Practical takeaways 50:09 Closing

Are Dating Apps Bad For Your Health? | Jen Hecht, Executive Director - Building Healthy Online Communities

Are dating apps really helping us connect, or are they damaging our mental health? In this episode of The Health Curve Podcast, Dr. Jason Arora sits down with Jen Hecht, Executive Director of Building Healthy Online Communities, to explore a modern question that affects millions of people: what are dating apps really doing to our minds, our relationships, and our well-being? Dating apps have transformed how people meet, date, and form relationships. For many, they’ve created opportunities that might never have existed otherwise. But they’ve also introduced a new kind of emotional environment - one shaped by constant swiping, ghosting, rejection, comparison, ambiguity, and the sense that connection has become both more available and more toxic at the same time. In this conversation, Jen brings a public health perspective to the mental health side of digital dating. She explains how online interactions can become especially painful when they happen in intimate contexts, why negative experiences within one’s own community can cut particularly deep, and how repeated exposure to disrespect, discrimination, or silence can affect anxiety, self-esteem, and emotional well-being. They explore whether the problem is mainly the behavior of people on the apps, the design of the apps themselves, or the combination of both. From dopamine-driven reward loops to the loss of normal social cues, this episode looks at how digital environments can amplify some of the worst parts of human behavior, and why that matters even more when people are searching for closeness, validation, or love. The conversation also asks a more constructive question: can dating apps be designed in ways that support healthier experiences? Jen shares what she and her team have learned from working directly with dating platforms, including how profile design, moderation tools, community guidelines, and better safety features can reduce harm and improve the experience for users. The episode also touches on sexual health, especially where it intersects with mental and relational well-being. From STI testing and health information to clearer communication and public health messaging, Jen explains how these platforms can be used not just to facilitate connection, but to support healthier decisions too. Most importantly, this is a conversation about how to use dating apps without letting them use you. If you’ve ever felt drained, anxious, discouraged, or emotionally worn down by digital dating, or if you’re trying to navigate these platforms in a more intentional way, this episode is for you. Follow The Health Curve for evidence-based conversations that cut through hype and help you navigate your health with more clarity. Chapters: 00:00 Intro 00:03 Welcome and opening remarks 00:27 Jen Hecht’s background in public health 04:18 Why dating app companies are so hard to reach 06:49 How dating apps changed human connection 13:15 What apps change about relationships and behavior 17:06 User behavior vs app design 19:45 Can platforms create healthier digital environments? 23:02 Subscribe and share 23:47 Have dating apps changed sexual health patterns? 27:30 Sexual health tools built into the apps 31:32 Where public health messaging belongs on dating apps 34:08 Free at-home testing and smarter sexual health support 35:50 How to use dating apps in a healthier way 37:53 Final takeaways and thank you

What Should I Eat? Nutrition Principles Everyone Should Know | Dr. Jaime Schehr

Poor diet is one of the biggest drivers of chronic disease worldwide.  In this episode of The Health Curve, we explore one of the most basic but most confusing questions in health: what should people actually eat? Host Dr. Jason Arora is joined by Dr. Jaime Schehr - integrative medicine physician, naturopathic doctor, registered dietitian, and Peloton's official Nutritionist @OnePeloton 🚴 - to cut through the noise on food, wellness, and the diets people are constantly told to follow. Together, they break down the nutrition principles that matter most: why whole, recognizable foods matter, why most people need more fiber, how to think about protein, carbohydrates, fats, dairy, and micronutrients, and why so much of the confusion around food comes from misinformation, overprocessing, and convenience-driven eating. The conversation also gets practical. What does a healthy plate actually look like? How should people think about smoothies, sugar, seed oils, hidden fats, and ultra-processed foods? And how can someone eat well even on a tight budget? At its core, this episode is about simplifying nutrition. Not fad diets. Not food fear. Just the core principles that help most people eat better, feel better, and reduce their long-term risk of disease. Follow The Health Curve @thehealthcurve for evidence-based conversations that make it easier to navigate health with clarity. Chapters: 00:00 Intro 00:23 Dr. Jaime Schehr's background 03:13 Wellness trends and what's changed 07:53 Where nutrition fits in health today 11:22 Why nutrition feels so confusing 13:03 What a healthy diet actually looks like 17:01 What changed in the food pyramid 18:31 Do people eat enough protein? 21:43 How to eat healthy on a budget 24:52 Seed oils and ultra-processed foods 30:53 Why fiber matters so much 35:03 Carbohydrates explained 37:39 Smoothies, fruit, and sugar 42:21 Dairy explained 44:21 What micronutrients are 46:27 Where nutrition needs to go next 47:44 Closing thoughts

Skin Cancer - How To Reduce Your Risk | Dr. Thomas Dobbs - NHS (Melanoma & Skin Cancer Awareness Month)

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the world. In this episode of The Health Curve, we explore how to actually reduce your risk - what matters, what doesn’t, and what most people get wrong. Host Dr. Jason Arora is joined by Dr. Thomas Dobbs, NHS plastic surgeon and skin cancer specialist, to break down the basics: what skin cancer is, why it’s so common, and how it develops. Together, we unpack the key risk factors (sun exposure, burns, tanning beds, skin type, age, and more), the main types of skin cancer, and what to look for on your own skin. We also get practical about prevention. When should you use sunscreen? What does SPF actually mean? Do you need it on cloudy days? And how should you apply it properly? Finally, we cut through the noise on some of the biggest myths online - does sunscreen actually cause cancer? Does it block vitamin D? Are certain ingredients unsafe? - and bring it back to what the evidence actually says. If you care about your long-term health, this is one of the simplest areas where small habits can make a big difference. Follow The Health Curve  @thehealthcurve [https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UCQqXmV-9UHvdd-BRnQkw1VQ]for evidence-based conversations that help you navigate your health with clarity.