How to trust public media again with Jessica Malaty Rivera
Summary
Epidemiologist Jessica Malati Rivera discusses how public health trust is built and broken, arguing that institutions must earn credibility through transparency and repair rather than demanding it. She reflects on her role in the COVID Tracking Project and the importance of humanizing data to combat misinformation rooted in identity. The episode concludes with a TED Talk by Substack co-founder Hamish McKenzie, who proposes a "garden" media model where creators build direct, trust-based relationships with audiences, offering a sustainable alternative to algorithm-driven attention economies.
Topics discussed
Sponsors: Kashi, Planet Visionaries, and MSK Cancer Center
Introduction: Dr. Shoshana Ungerleiter and episode overview
Jessica Rivera's background: Egyptian American identity and trust
Career path: From pre-med to public health and human rights
The COVID Tracking Project: Origins and personal impact
Sponsors: Gymshark and Creighton University
The limits of data: Humanizing statistics during a pandemic
Infodemiology: Identity, echo chambers, and the term 'misinformation'
Rebuilding trust: Apology, nuance, and the fallibility of science
Media habits and the uncomfortable truth about risk
Sponsors and transition to Hamish McKenzie's TED Talk
Hamish McKenzie: The media disruption and the 'Temple' model
The 'Garden' model: Economic autonomy for independent creators
Benefits of the Garden: Resilience, nuance, and cultural choice
Closing credits and final sponsors
Listen ad-free on Castria