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In an instant, trauma changes everything.

In this episode of Wellness Musketeers, co-hosts "Aussie" Mike James and interviewer David Liss is joined by two leading experts: trauma surgeon Dr. Babak Sarani and orthopedic surgeon Dr. Marc Chodos of George Washington University Hospital. Together, they take you inside the trauma care system — from emergency scenes to operating rooms — and reveal why trauma is often a preventable public health crisis, not just a random accident.

🩺 What you’ll learn:

• What happens during the critical "golden hour" after serious injury
• Why most trauma is preventable — and how simple steps save lives
• How battlefield medicine revolutionized modern trauma care
• What patients, caregivers, and families should know before an emergency ever happens

This episode is packed with real-world insights for anyone who drives, parents, cares for aging loved ones — or simply wants to understand how trauma medicine works when seconds matter most.

🎧 Listen to more episodes of Wellness Musketeers:⁠https://wellnessmusketeers.buzzsprout.com/⁠

Dr. Marc Chodos Orthopedic Surgeon, GW Medical Faculty Associates⁠https://gwdocs.com/find-a-doctor/marc-j-chodos-md⁠

Dr. Babak Sarani Director, Center for Trauma and Critical Care, GW Hospital⁠https://gwdocs.com/find-a-doctor/babak-sarani-md⁠

If you would like to connect with the staff at The George Washington University Hospital for care, information, or appointments, you can:

🌐 Visit: ⁠https://www.gwhospital.com⁠ 📞 Call Physician Referral: 1-888-4GW-DOCS (1-888-449-3627) 📍 The George Washington University Hospital 900 23rd Street, NW Washington, DC 20037 Main Hospital Line: 202-715-4000

#trauma #traumacare #emergencymedicine #goldenhour #injuryprevention #publichealth #healthpodcast #wellnesspodcast #firstresponders #orthopedics #traumasurgery #firearminjuries #traumasystem #patienteducation #wellnessmusketeers #medicalpodcast #healthcarepodcast

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The alcoholic beverage in your glass has shaped cultures, sparked celebrations, ruined lives, and sparked fierce debate for millennia. In this illuminating conversation, our panel of experts cuts through the noise to deliver evidence-based insights about alcohol's true impact on our bodies and society.

Medical expert Dr. Richard Kennedy lays out the science with crystal clarity: "Probably the most important point is that alcohol in moderation is okay." He defines moderation precisely—one daily drink for women, two for men—while explaining the fascinating biological reasons behind these gender differences. The doctor doesn't shy away from alcohol's darker side either, linking excessive consumption to increased cancer risks while debunking common myths about alleged health benefits.

Our economist Kettle Hviding quantifies what many fail to consider: alcohol abuse costs societies approximately 2.5% of GDP—billions upon billions in healthcare burden, lost productivity, and human suffering. Yet banning it outright, as Prohibition demonstrated, creates its own problems. The panel explores how different cultures develop healthier relationships with alcohol, contrasting France's integration of wine with meals against the weekend binge-drinking patterns common in Nordic countries and America.

For fitness enthusiasts, fitness expert, "Aussie" Mike James delivers hard truths about alcohol's impact on physique goals and athletic performance. Beyond the obvious caloric content, he explains how alcohol compromises recovery and fine motor skills, noting elite athletes increasingly abstain entirely during competitive seasons.

Perhaps most compelling are the psychological insights—how alcohol reduces inhibitions through an initial euphoric state, explaining both its appeal as a social lubricant and its role in disastrous decision-making. Dr. Kennedy's emergency room stories, including a 350-pound intoxicated man who jumped from a three-story building on a $10 bet, vividly illustrate the point.

Whether you're reassessing your relationship with alcohol or simply curious about its true effects, this episode provides the balanced, evidence-based perspective you need to make informed choices. Subscribe now and join the conversation about one of humanity's most complex relationships.

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Contact Wellness Musketeers:

Email Dave at davidmliss@gmail.com with comments, questions, and suggestions for future guests.

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When Dr. Richard Kennedy took just three bites of a marijuana brownie years ago, he wasn't prepared for ceramic lions jumping across coffee tables and onto his lap. This vivid hallucination marked his first and last cannabis experience—but offers the perfect entry point into our comprehensive exploration of marijuana's complex role in modern society.

The Wellness Musketeers gather medical expert Dr. Kennedy, fitness expert and host "Aussie" Mike James, economist Kettle Hviding and wellness consultant Dave Liss examine cannabis through multiple lenses, creating a 360-degree view that challenges both prohibitionist fearmongering and uncritical enthusiasm. Each contributor shares personal experiences (or lack thereof) with marijuana, setting a tone of honesty that carries throughout this nuanced discussion.

We explore marijuana's medical applications, where evidence shows clear benefits for chemotherapy-induced nausea and specific pediatric seizure disorders, while other uses remain promising but less definitively proven. Dr. Kennedy explains the critical distinction between THC and CBD components and highlights how standardization issues complicate both research and patient experiences. The conversation doesn't shy away from concerns about youth marijuana use, cognitive effects, and the challenges of conducting rigorous scientific studies on a substance that remains federally prohibited.

The economic dimensions prove equally fascinating, as our panel unpacks how legalization has affected state revenues, created banking complications, and established a competitive but still-evolving marketplace. From security guards at cash-only dispensaries to the complications of marijuana tourism, the discussion highlights how policy decisions ripple through communities in unexpected ways.

Whether you're considering marijuana for medical purposes, curious about its economic impact, or simply wanting to understand this evolving aspect of our culture, this episode delivers thoughtful analysis without agenda or oversimplification. Join us for this enlightening conversation that respects your intelligence while expanding your understanding of a plant that's simultaneously ancient and at the cutting edge of social change.

Support the show

Contact Wellness Musketeers:

Email Dave at davidmliss@gmail.com with comments, questions, and suggestions for future guests.

Follow us on our social media:

• Bluesky
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Threads
• YouTube

Subscribe to our newsletter:

• Contact our co-host "Aussie" Mike James and sign up for our newsletter: Wellness Musketeers Newsletter