68. The Politics of Health: Why Your Wellbeing Goes Beyond Medicine

In this thought-provoking episode of *Nourished with Dr. Anikó*, Dr. Anikó challenges one of our culture's most persistent taboos: talking about politics. Inspired by the book *Inflamed: Deep Medicine and the Anatomy of Injustice* by Dr. Rupa Marya and Raj Patel, and by recent news of protections being stripped from sacred lands, she makes the case that politics isn't separate from medicine it *is* medicine, on a grand scale. Dr. Anikó unpacks the concept of the exposome - the full environmental "soup" we live in, from the safety of our neighborhoods to the pesticides in our food to the stability of our wages and explains why all of it belongs in the conversation about health. She traces a direct line from wage discrimination and AI-driven "desperation scoring" in hiring, to pesticide regulation, to reproductive health policy, to the protection of sacred and ancestral lands, showing how each is inseparable from human wellbeing. She also shares a moving example from *Inflamed* about a radiology student who began attaching patient photos to CT scans and how simply seeing a patient's face made doctors more empathetic and more careful in their diagnoses. It's a small but powerful illustration of what gets lost when medicine and society, stops seeing people as people. Dr. Anikó encourages listeners to turn awareness into action, however small; a conversation, a shared post, a poem, getting involved locally, or simply staying engaged as a big election approaches. Drawing on sociologist Tressie McMillan Cottom, she reframes exhaustion itself: we're not tired from doing too much, but from doing too little with what we already know. Episode Highlights - **00:31** What "medicine" really means - **01:08** The book that sparked this episode: *Inflamed* by Dr. Rupa Marya and Raj Patel - **02:10** The deregulation of sacred lands - **04:06** Reconceptualizing politics: why "we don't talk about politics" - **05:40** How AI is being used to suppress wages - **06:42** The exposome: the environmental "soup" that shapes our health - **07:29** Rudolf Virchow's: "Politics is nothing but medicine on a grand scale" - **09:00** Pesticide regulation, glyphosate, and reproductive health - **09:47** Why you should go beyond medication - **11:13** Climate journalist Amy Westervelt "the planet will be fine - we may not" - **12:20** How reconnecting Indigenous youth to ancestral land is reducing suicide rates - **13:17** Patient photos added to CT scans and what changed - **15:36** Revisiting "why you're so exhausted": Tressie McMillan Cottom - **17:00** Turning overwhelm into action: conversation, creativity, community, and civic engagement **Previous Nourished with Dr. Anikó episodes referenced:** - 67\. Create More, Play More, Find Your Joy with Maurice Carlos Ruffin - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/67-create-more-play-more-find-your-joy-with-maurice/id1812511962?i=1000784253319 - 37\. Is Climate Change Human-Caused? Science, Misinformation & Media with Amy Westervelt - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/37-is-climate-change-human-caused-science-misinformation/id1812511962?i=1000746011065 - 36\. Who Do We Trust on Climate Change? Misinformation and Power with Amy Westervelt - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/36-who-do-we-trust-on-climate-change-misinformation/id1812511962?i=1000745108045 **Book Reference:**  - Inflamed: Deep Medicine and the Anatomy of Injustice - https://www.amazon.com/Inflamed-Deep-Medicine-Anatomy-Injustice/dp/0374602514 **Connect with Dr. Anikó:** Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.aniko/ Website: https://www.draniko.com/ Thank you for listening to Nourished with Dr. Anikó!  It would mean the world if you would take one minute to follow, leave a 5 star review and share with those you love!  Your presence is truly felt and deeply appreciated. **Disclaimer:** The content of this podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The views expressed are those of the host and guests and do not substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the guidance of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you heard on this podcast.