Episode Details

About this episode:

Wild pollinators like bees and hoverflies play a direct role in human health. A recent study in Nepal shows that flourishing pollinator populations lead to higher agricultural yields, bolstering both human economic wellbeing and access to ample, nutrient-rich foods. In this episode: Dr. Samuel Myers of the Johns Hopkins Institute for Planetary Health details the link between biodiversity and human health and the risk that mankind's ecological footprint poses to this complex and essential relationship.

Guest:

Sam Myers, MD, MPH, is the founding director of the Planetary Health Alliance and the faculty director at the brand new Johns Hopkins Institute for Planetary Health.

Host:

Stephanie Desmon, MA, is a former journalist, author, and the director of public relations and communications for the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs.

Show links and related content:

• Pollinators support the nutrition and income of vulnerable communities—Nature

• Why Pollinators Matter for Human Health: Five Questions With Samuel Myers—Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

• The Case for Planetary Health—Can We Change?—Public Health On Call (April 2025)

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