Episode #44: Vaccines

Episode #44: Vaccines

Author: Hannah Wright & Victoria LaFont October 1, 2025 Duration: 35:02

In this episode, Hannah & Victoria speak with Dr. Heather Zwickey about vaccines.

About Dr. Zwickey:

Heather Zwickey earned a Ph.D. in Immunology and Microbiology from the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center with a focus on infectious disease and vaccine development. Dr. Zwickey went on to complete a postdoctoral fellowship and teach at Yale University School of Medicine, where she worked on immunotherapy for cancer.

She was then recruited to the National University of Natural Medicine in Portland, OR, where she launched the Helfgott Research Institute and served as its director for 17 years. In 2009, Dr. Zwickey established the School of Graduate Studies, developing programs in integrative medicine research, nutrition, and global health, among others. As the founding dean of the graduate school, she continues to teach many courses.

Dr. Zwickey currently co-leads an NIH-funded clinical research training program focused on training the next generation of integrative medicine researchers. She teaches at many universities and speaks at conferences worldwide. At Helfgott Research Institute, Dr. Zwickey applies her immunology expertise to natural medicine, with a specific interest in the gut-brain axis in neuroinflammation.

With expertise in infectious disease and vaccine development, Dr. Zwickey has been sought out for her knowledge regarding COVID-19. She’s spoken on more than 50 podcasts, written articles, and been a resource for people with tough questions.

They cover these questions:

* Do some kids need certain vaccines while others don’t?

* What is the optimal schedule for a healthy baby, toddler, or child based on the changes occurring in their immune system?

* What determines the current vaccine schedule?

* Is there a greater potential for adverse effects when multiple vaccines are given in tandem, ex., MMR?

* What might make some children or adults more susceptible to adverse effects compared to others?

* Why has the vaccine schedule changed so much in the past 25 years?

* What would you say to a parent who is hesitant to vaccinate their child because they are worried about vaccine side effects?

* What would you say to someone who is angry that some people choose not to vaccinate their children?

* How do you think vaccines have affected health outcomes over the last 100 years?

Note: We didn’t record with video because Dr. Zwickey was on hour 14 of interviews the day we spoke.



This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit influencedtodeath.substack.com

Navigating the endless scroll of wellness advice can feel like a full-time job, and a dangerous one at that. Influenced to Death, hosted by Hannah Wright and Victoria LaFont, is your critical companion in the chaotic landscape of health trends and social media gurus. This podcast digs into the often-absurd, sometimes alarming world of wellness influencing with a sharp comedic lens, because sometimes you have to laugh to keep from crying over a $100 "detox" tea. Each episode unpacks the latest fads, questionable supplements, and pervasive myths peddled online, blending researched health commentary with relatable humor. You'll hear them dissect the language of influencers, separate fleeting trends from actual science, and share their own misadventures in trying to keep up. It’s a health and fitness podcast that acknowledges the comedy in our collective pursuit of better living, while seriously questioning the forces trying to sell it to us. Tune in for a dose of reality that’s far more refreshing than any juice cleanse. Find more from the podcast naturally on their Substack.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Influenced to Death
Podcast Episodes
Episode #27: Methylene blue, colostrum, high-protein diets [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:23
In this episode, Hannah & Victoria create a veritable charcuterie board of influence-y topics: methylene blue, colostrum, and a high-protein diet.They briefly discuss some of the history and research on each while, as al…
Episode #26: Gluten [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:10
In this episode, Hannah & Victoria dive into one of the most contentious topics in all of wellness: delicious, delicious gluten. They discuss: * What, exactly, is gluten?* Where macronutrients come from (like, originally…
Episode #25: Detox with Amanda Jones, part 2 (paid subscribers) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:15
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit influencedtodeath.substack.comIn this episode, Hannah & Victoria are back with listener-favorite Amanda Jones to finish up their detox discussion. Be sure to…
Episode #24: Should we supplement with hydrochloric acid? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:05
In this episode, Hannah & Victoria welcome Amanda Jones back for an episode all about using supplemental hydrochloric acid.Hydrochloric acid is a popular digestive supplement in integrative medicine. But is it safe? Is i…
Episode #23: Functional medicine misses the mark in pregnancy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:54
In this episode, Hannah & Victoria have the pleasure of speaking with Sara Russell on blood chemistry changes that happen in pregnancy and postpartum.Fair warning, we’re breaking our typical episode pattern because we’re…
Episode #21: Detox w/ Amanda Jones, part 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:35
In this episode, Hannah and Victoria speak with Amanda Jones as they explore one of the most controversial and lucrative corners of alternative wellness: DETOX. They discuss:* The interesting connections between our cult…
Episode #20: Medicinal leeches [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:05
In this episode (that you should probably not listen to on your lunch break), Hannah & Victoria welcome back guest Jameson Simpson (of episode #8 fame) to talk about medicinal leeches. Jameson has been using leeches medi…