Podcast: Has Modern Life Wrecked Our Microbiome (And Our Health)?

By Cameron English and ChuckDinerstein — Nov 03, 2025

The trillions of microbes that live in and on the human body—collectively known as the microbiome—appear to have profoundly important effects on our health. This raises a potential concern: some of our most significant public health interventions—vaccines, antibiotics, sanitation—are designed to kill or limit exposure to harmful germs. Have we gone too far in our war against microbial exposure? Let's take a closer look.

Image: Generated by Grok

Join Cameron English and Dr. Chuck Dinerstein on Episode 143 of the Science Dispatch podcast as they discuss the chaotic climate in the human gut:

The Climate Crisis Within

Western modernization has triggered an “internal climate crisis” in the human gut. An ecological upheaval marked by biodiversity loss, disrupted food webs, and chronic inflammatory “weather,” driven by antibiotics, sanitation, diet, and lifestyle. Reversing course requires ecosystem-level restoration rather than reductionist fixes.

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Cameron English

Executive Vice President

Cameron English is a writer, editor and co-host of the Science Facts and Fallacies Podcast. Before joining ACSH, he was managing editor at the Genetic Literacy Project.