A cancer epidemiologist walks into the Australian outback, builds a field camp at 22, and accidentally sparks a small-town “cookie war” between two rival grandmothers. That’s the tone of this conversation with Dr. Christopher Loffredo of Georgetown University, whose new book Globe Trotting for Science blends global fieldwork stories with the real stakes of cancer prevention and public health research.

We talk about what science looks like outside the lab: the messy logistics, the teamwork, and the people skills that make international research possible. Chris shares how he moved from bench science to epidemiology through a life-changing data analyst job, and why mentors who “take care of their people” can shape not only careers but also better outcomes. We also dig into science communication and why humor isn’t a distraction it’s often the fastest path to trust across cultures, especially when you’re trying to do hard work in unfamiliar places.

Then the conversation turns to the heart of his mission: preventing cancer before it takes hold. Using liver cancer as a key example, Chris explains why prevention often matters more than treatment, how hepatitis B and C and alcoholism drive risk in different regions, and why solutions have to be culturally realistic. His Thailand research on liver fluke exposure from raw fish shows the challenge clearly: you can’t “educate” people out of a staple food without offering a workable alternative, so interventions like cooking or fermentation and credible local advocacy become essential. If you care about global health, epidemiology, cancer prevention, or how to build a meaningful career by saying yes to uncertainty, this one will stick with you. Find the book here: https://amzn.to/4ea99ml

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Elsa Kurt: You may know her for her uncanny, viral Kamala Harris impressions & conservative comedy skits, but she’s also a lifelong Patriot & longtime Police Wife. She has channeled her fierce love and passion for God, family, country, and those who serve as the creator, Executive Producer & Host of the Elsa Kurt Show with Clay Novak. Her show discusses today’s topics & news from a middle class/blue collar family & conservative perspective. The vocal LEOW’s career began as a multi-genre author who has penned over 25 books, including twelve contemporary women’s novels.

Clay Novak: Clay Novak was commissioned in 1995 as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry and served as an officer for twenty four years in Mechanized Infantry, Airborne Infantry, and Cavalry units . He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2019. Clay is a graduate of the U.S. Army Ranger School and is a Master Rated Parachutist, serving for more tha...

We track how fast today’s headlines move while the deeper patterns stay stubbornly the same, from Iran’s stalled negotiations and Strait of Hormuz tensions to US politics and media double standards. We also weigh what accountability looks like when officials resign, narratives spin, and public safety risks keep bleeding into everyday life.
• IRGC isolating Iran’s top leadership and collapsing negotiations
• Strait of Hormuz as an economic and military flashpoint
• US red line on nuclear weapons capability and the risks of enforcement
• Confusion between supporting Iranian people versus backing the regime
• Cabinet and congressional resignations plus calls for real consequences
• Late-night TV selective outrage and why audiences are tuning out
• California governor polling shifts after a major candidate exit
• Virginia mid-decade redistricting and the ethics of gerrymandering
• Apple CEO transition and what investors watch next
• Campus-area violence tied to teen mobs and social media coordination
• Misread comment controversy and why context matters online

Support the show

Elsa's AMAZON STORE
Elsa's FAITH & FREEDOM MERCH STORE

Elsa's BOOKS
Elsa Kurt: You may know her for her uncanny, viral Kamala Harris impressions & conservative comedy skits, but she’s also a lifelong Patriot & longtime Police Wife. She has channeled her fierce love and passion for God, family, country, and those who serve as the creator, Executive Producer & Host of the Elsa Kurt Show with Clay Novak. Her show discusses today’s topics & news from a middle class/blue collar family & conservative perspective. The vocal LEOW’s career began as a multi-genre author who has penned over 25 books, including twelve contemporary women’s novels.

Clay Novak: Clay Novak was commissioned in 1995 as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry and served as an officer for twenty four years in Mechanized Infantry, Airborne Infantry, and Cavalry units . He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2019. Clay is a graduate of the U.S. Army Ranger School and is a Master Rated Parachutist, serving for more tha...

Some people live through change. Cordell J. Overgaard tracked it, worked inside it, and then sat down to tell the truth about what it did to law, media, politics, and everyday life.

We talk about his memoir, Watching Things Change, and why it started as a message to his grandchildren before widening into a frank look at American systems. Cordell shares why Citizens United still matters, how campaign contributions distort incentives, and why “who funds a candidate” is now a basic voter skill. We also dig into information literacy in the social media era, where confidence can masquerade as expertise and bad sources can quietly shape what you believe.

Then we move through the career chapters that make his story so unusual: Harvard Law, corporate law’s shift toward billable hours and bigger firms, and what AI could realistically automate in the legal profession. From there, Cordell takes us into the early days of FM radio and cable television, showing how timing, formats, and scale can make or break a media business long before the public realizes the ground is moving.

The conversation also gets deeply personal, including the Steve Small kidnapping case and the way one late-night phone call can permanently change how you think about safety and risk. We close with practical advice for young professionals on adapting to rapid change, staying informed, and getting involved without losing your footing.

If you care about American politics, media change, AI disruption, and real-world career lessons, this one will stick with you. Subscribe, share this episode with a friend, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show.

Support the show

Elsa's AMAZON STORE
Elsa's FAITH & FREEDOM MERCH STORE

Elsa's BOOKS
Elsa Kurt: You may know her for her uncanny, viral Kamala Harris impressions & conservative comedy skits, but she’s also a lifelong Patriot & longtime Police Wife. She has channeled her fierce love and passion for God, family, country, and those who serve as the creator, Executive Producer & Host of the Elsa Kurt Show with Clay Novak. Her show discusses today’s topics & news from a middle class/blue collar family & conservative perspective. The vocal LEOW’s career began as a multi-genre author who has penned over 25 books, including twelve contemporary women’s novels.

Clay Novak: Clay Novak was commissioned in 1995 as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry and served as an officer for twenty four years in Mechanized Infantry, Airborne Infantry, and Cavalry units . He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2019. Clay is a graduate of the U.S. Army Ranger School and is a Master Rated Parachutist, serving for more tha...