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The Other 80

The Other 80

Claudia Williams 79 Episodes Sep 9, 2026

The Other 80 is a podcast hosted by Claudia Williams of the UC Berkeley School of Public Health that explores the factors keeping people healthy beyond traditional medical care, such as housing, social connections and food. Through honest, in-depth conversations, it examines the policies, research and programs that support whole-person health. Williams, a former White House advisor and entrepreneur, interviews innovators, implementers, researchers and policymakers building these new models. Episodes discuss what is working, what is not, and how the US can move toward whole-person health rapidly and equitably.

Episodes

Dr. Francis Collins on the Human Genome Project, Faith, and the Future of Science
Dr. Francis Collins on the Human Genome Project, Faith, and the Future of Science Sep 9, 2026 39:48 Dr. Francis Collins served as NIH director for 12 years across three administrations (Obama, Trump, Biden), both Democrat and Republican. He brought enormous scientific vision to the role, along with a level of connection and humanity rare in any leader. A year and a half ago, he left NIH, not by his own choice. And now, he joins Claudia to ask: How do we make the case for future investments in s
Can states build a healthier health system? Maryland is trying with Meena Seshamani
Can states build a healthier health system? Maryland is trying with Meena Seshamani Aug 12, 2026 35:52 Today’s guest, Dr. Meena Seshamani, ran Medicare at CMS and is now Secretary of Health in Maryland. She is leading one of the country’s most ambitious health reform efforts: evolving Maryland’s all-payer model, expanding investment in primary care, and using data infrastructure to strengthen coverage and population health—all while navigating the implementation of HR1. In this conversation, record
The CMS Innovation Center at 15: What worked, what didn’t, and the next big bets with Abe Sutton
The CMS Innovation Center at 15: What worked, what didn’t, and the next big bets with Abe Sutton Jul 29, 2026 35:36 Fifteen years ago Congress created the CMS Innovation Center to test new ways of delivering quality care at lower costs. Since then, the Innovation Center has tested dozens of models - some have been successes, and many have not. Director Abe Sutton joins The Other 80 for a candid conversation about the Innovation Center’s record, its next chapter, and the big bets ahead. Abe identifies three feat
Rebuilding Primary Care with Rushika Fernandopulle
Rebuilding Primary Care with Rushika Fernandopulle Jun 17, 2026 42:58 Healthcare pioneer Rushika Fernandopulle joins us to discuss his new venture Liza and why this is the perfect moment to build new primary care models from the bottom up. Rushika argues that “shareholder value” has usurped the needs of patients in US healthcare, and that fundamental rethinking, not optimizing or tweaking at the edges, is needed. Rushika shares the ‘build principles’ for Liza:Backlo
Drug Story: Thomas Goetz on Drugs, Diseases and The Medicalization of Everyday Life
Drug Story: Thomas Goetz on Drugs, Diseases and The Medicalization of Everyday Life Jun 3, 2026 40:26 Does the history of drugs tell us something bigger about the world? That’s what former Wired executive editor and UC Berkeley Senior Impact Fellow Thomas Goetz is betting on with his new podcast Drug Story. He joins Claudia to talk about how big drug breakthroughs have shaped how we live and what it will really take to build health in our society.Thomas and Claudia dive into:Fluoride: The paradox
The ARPA for Philanthropy: Kumar Garg on Funding 'Big If True' Ideas in Science and Tech
The ARPA for Philanthropy: Kumar Garg on Funding 'Big If True' Ideas in Science and Tech May 20, 2026 36:44 After spending time in the Obama White House, Kumar Garg came away with a toolset of skills to help drive change, spotlight good ideas and scale them. Now he’s applying those ideas to philanthropy. As the co-founders of Renaissance Philanthropy, Kumar and Tom Kalil have built an organization around a deceptively simple idea: What if philanthropy could help scientists, technologists, and innovators
The "Smart Shot": Halle Tecco on Aligning Mission & Margin for Massively Better Healthcare
The "Smart Shot": Halle Tecco on Aligning Mission & Margin for Massively Better Healthcare Apr 22, 2026 30:51 Halle Tecco is an investor, entrepreneur, and author of the new book Massively Better Healthcare. In this live conversation, she offers advice for aspiring health tech founders, reflects on why “hustle culture” needs to be kept in check, and makes the case that founders should become anthropologists of the problems they want to solve. Most importantly, she argues that today’s founders need to be “
Can robots save your life? Fred Khosravi on the ambitious plan to bring stroke care to everyone
Can robots save your life? Fred Khosravi on the ambitious plan to bring stroke care to everyone Apr 8, 2026 32:06 After moving to the US from Iran at age 17, entrepreneur and inventor Fred Khosravi went on to launch more than 20 companies and earn hundreds of patents. In this conversation, Fred reflects on the power of immigration, freedom, education and what it means to build a life in a new country. He shares how leaving Iran after the revolution shaped his willingness to take risks, his sense of purpose, a
Patient Agency in the Age of AI with Liz Salmi & Hugo Campos
Patient Agency in the Age of AI with Liz Salmi & Hugo Campos Mar 25, 2026 42:09 Patient innovators Liz Salmi and Hugo Campos join The Other 80 to discuss the evolving role of patients in healthcare, using the recent release of ChatGPT Health as a central lens. They delve into how AI is shifting the power dynamic by enabling greater patient agency and creating new expectations for health systems. Drawing on their personal experiences, including Liz's work with OpenNotes and H
Missing the Nobel Call with Fred Ramsdell
Missing the Nobel Call with Fred Ramsdell Mar 11, 2026 38:39 Newly-minted Nobel laureate Fred Ramsdell joins Claudia to discuss his groundbreaking work on regulatory T cells, which act as the immune system's natural "brakes." His research aims to "reset" the immune system to cure autoimmune diseases (like rheumatoid arthritis and MS) moving beyond mere symptom management. Fred reflects on his new role as a science advocate, addressing the crisis of public t
Breaking the Cycle of Homelessness with Kunal Modi
Breaking the Cycle of Homelessness with Kunal Modi Feb 25, 2026 40:51 When Mayor Lurie took office, San Francisco was spending nearly $1 Billion a year responding to homelessness, yet the number of people living unsheltered had not budged in years. In this episode, Kunal Modi, the city’s Chief of Health and Human Services, shares how the Lurie administration is tackling the intersecting homelessness, mental health and addiction crises. Rather than layering on new pr
Bending the Chronic Disease Curve with Sean Duffy
Bending the Chronic Disease Curve with Sean Duffy Feb 11, 2026 39:47 Not many digital health companies go public. And even fewer do so with a model designed to fix what’s truly broken in U.S. healthcare: episodic, fragmented care that fails to support the behavior change required to manage chronic disease. Omada Health CEO Sean Duffy joins Claudia to discuss the company’s journey from scrappy startup to public company—and his biggest ambition for the future: bendin

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