Fact-Checking Medical Claims on the Internet with Dr. Noc

Is medical misinformation just noise on the internet or a lifethreatening epidemic? Neil deGrasse Tyson, Chuck Nice, and Gary O’Reilly team up with pharmaceutical scientist and social media “medfluencer” Morgan McSweeny (aka Dr. Noc) to break down common internet medical myths from Big Pharma to raw milk to vaccine hesitancy. Plus a discussion with Academy Award Nominated filmmaker Scott Hamilton Kennedy () from SHOT IN THE ARM () , a film where Neil served as Executive Producer and Script Consultant.

Why is the truth so boring compared to a good conspiracy? From “cancer cures that Big Pharma is hiding” to miracle Himalayan salt and raw milk, we unpack the fact from the fiction dominating social feeds. We discuss what social media reveals about ourselves and why it's so hard to resist a digital car crash. Is it the algorithm or ourselves?

Are natural remedies being suppressed? What do drug patents actually cover? Dr. Noc breaks down drug development, biologics vs. chemicals, and how misinformation distorts risk. Is pink salt healthier? Do raw diets help? Is fluoride in the water dangerous? We explore what red flags to look out for when consuming media, and the tribalism involved in mixing medical decisions with identity.

The conversation shifts to vaccines: What is a vaccine, and how does it actually work? Can you get too many? Can you “boost” your immune system? What’s the real reason some vaccines need boosters while others don’t? Dr. Noc explains how the immune system works, why side effects happen, and why your immune system can handle yearly flu vaccinations.

Next, Academy Award Nominated filmmaker Scott Hamilton Kennedy discusses how storytelling can fight misinformation. What is the “social contract” of vaccination, and did the pandemic break it? Can we reclaim trust in science without falling into tribal traps of our own? From naturalist fallacies to freedom rhetoric, we examine where well-meaning skepticism crosses into denial. Is society willing to admit it has a problem? And what can we learn from past public health successes—and failures?

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Science meets pop culture on StarTalk! Astrophysicist & Hayden Planetarium director Neil deGrasse Tyson, his comic co-hosts, guest celebrities & scientists discuss astronomy, physics, and everything else about life in the universe. Keep Looking Up!

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