From microplastics and “forever chemicals” in household items—from our kitchens to our bathrooms—to the charred bits of meat on a barbecue grill, to the smoke and fumes we inhale simply by walking through a city, and recently even kimchi (?!), concern about cancer risk seems to be everywhere. Like cancer metastasis itself, the conversation is rapidly spreading across social media and online forums. But how many of these so-called “carcinogens” are truly worth our time, apprehension, and caution?

In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Timothy Tiutan, MD (known online as Dr. Tim), a board-certified internal medicine physician, oncology/cancer hospitalist, author of 'The Mediterranean Diet,' and assistant medical professor based in New York City. With nearly two million followers on social media, Dr. Tiutan's unique "edutainment" style delivers pertinent general health and cancer-prevention education to his online audience.

Dr. Tiutan received his BA/BS in Spanish and Physiology and MD from the University of Arizona College of Medicine and completed his Internal Medicine residency at Weill Cornell Medical College. Currently, he is an oncology specialist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Medical Contributor at CBS News, the official media spokesperson of the American Cancer Society, and a member of the World Health Organization (WHO) Fides Network, a select group from around the world that combats misinformation in the media and supports health initiatives for communities globally.

Dr. Tiutan has been featured on the New York Post, HuffPost, Yahoo!, Daily Record, UNILAD, LADBible, The Independent, Times of India, CBS News, and Daily Mail.

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“Paraben-free,” “non-comedogenic,” “medical-grade skincare,” "collagen-boosting," "benzene-free," “fragrance-free,” and “dermatologist-tested” are among the most commonly used terms in cosmetic and skincare marketing worldwide. These familiar labels are often treated as shortcuts for trust, quality, and clinical legitimacy—yet without consistent regulation, their meanings can be surprisingly fluid. Do they carry meaningful weight from a scientific and dermatologic standpoint, or are they simply marketing buzzwords that blur the line between evidence and persuasion?

In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Michelle Wong, PhD. Dr. Wong is a Chemistry PhD, beauty and cosmetic science communicator, and author based in Sydney, Australia. She is known online as Lab Muffin Beauty Science, having amassed over 1.5 million followers by educating the public about the science behind beauty products and ingredients.

Dr. Wong received her PhD in Chemistry from the University of Sydney, with a dissertation focused on cyclic peptide-based structures for medicinal and supramolecular applications. She then received the Diploma of Personal Care Formulation from the Institute of Personal Care Science. Since then, Dr. Wong has written two books: ‘The Science of Beauty' and ‘The Lab Muffin Guide to Basic Skincare.' She also co-founded BeautySciComm, an online initiative to increase the quality, volume, and reach of accurate beauty science content.

Dr. Wong is a trusted voice, featured as a media expert on The New York Times, The Atlantic, HuffPost, Daily Mail, ABC News, ELLE France/Canada, Well+Good, IFLScience, and The Cut.

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In today's skin-obsessed world, we are met with ever-emerging beauty trends, viral products, and buzzy cosmetic treatments that aim to do one thing: delay and reverse the dermal signs of aging, while preserving and nourishing the skin barrier. From beef tallow to NAD+ IV therapy to rosemary oil for hair loss and even what seems to be more benign marketing like "clean beauty" claims, how can we determine what truly keeps skin healthy versus what’s simply trending?

In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Connie Yang, MD, FAAD. Dr. Yang is a board-certified dermatologist and clinical assistant professor of medicine based in New York City. Dr. Yang received her MD from Boston University School of Medicine, spent a dedicated research year focused on pigmentary disorders at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School Department of Dermatology, and completed her Dermatology residency at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, where she served as Chief Resident of Cosmetics in her final year. Currently, Dr. Yang serves as a physician at PFRANKMD by Dr. Paul Jarrod Frank and an assistant clinical professor at the Icahn School of Medicine Department of Dermatology. Dr. Yang has been featured on Vogue, ELLE, Cosmopolitan, Popsugar, The New York Post, Allure, NBC News, Well+Good, and RealSelf.

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