Backpacks are packed, schedules are filling up, and suddenly summer is over. But does going back to school actually make us healthier? In this episode, we talk about how structure can affect sleep, nutrition, movement and stress and share realistic ways parents, students and teachers can build healthy habits without trying to do it all perfectly.

Email us at wait.whatnowpod@gmail.com & along on Instagram @waitwhatnow_pod

Women’s sports are bigger than ever. Viewership is soaring, stadiums are selling out, and a new generation of girls is seeing what’s possible. But does greater visibility actually mean greater safety? In this episode of Wait. What Now?, Kiki, Grace, and Michelle explore the complicated reality behind the rise of women’s sports. We look at the experiences of women as fans at sporting events, the harassment and threats faced by female athletes, and the surprising connection between major sporting events and violence against women at home. It’s a conversation about how far women’s sports have come—and why safety needs to be part of the next chapter. Because women deserve to be able to play, watch, cheer, and compete without fear. If anything in today’s conversation hit close to home, you are not alone — the National Domestic Violence Hotline is available 24/7 at 1-800-799-7233, or text START to 88788. Sources: 1. Nielsen, “46 Billion Minutes of Women’s Sports Were Consumed in 2025” (Mar 5, 2026) — https://www.nielsen.com/news-center/2026/nielsen-46-billion-minutes-of-womens-sports-were-consumed-in-2025/ 2. Forbes, “Women’s Sports See Historic Growth…” (Apr 9, 2026) — https://www.forbes.com/sites/lizelting/2026/04/09/womens-sports-see-historic-growth-its-time-its-athletes-get-paid-like-it/ 3. Kick It Out, “Over half of women have experienced sexism at matches” — https://www.kickitout.org/news-media/over-half-women-have-experienced-sexism-matches 4. Trine University Center for Sports Studies, “American Fan Violence” (2023, citing Sportsbook Review survey) — https://www.trine.edu/academics/centers/center-for-sports-studies/blog/2023/american_fan_violence.aspx 5. Durham University, “Women need safer fan spaces at big football tournaments” (Jul 2024) — https://www.durham.ac.uk/research/current/thought-leadership/2024/07/euro-2024-women-need-safer-fan-spaces-at-big-football-tournaments-to-stamp-out-hostility-and-abuse/ 6. Northumbria University, “‘Safer Stadiums’ research shares women’s experiences at men’s football games” — https://www.northumbria.ac.uk/about-us/news-events/news/safer-stadiums-research-shares-womens-experiences-at-mens-football-games/ 7. Al Jazeera, “US man charged with stalking WNBA star Caitlin Clark” (Jan 14, 2025) — https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2025/1/14/us-man-charged-with-stalking-wnba-and-indiana-fever-star-caitlin-clark 8. Fox News, “WNBA players reveal ‘super scary’ privacy and security fears” (Jan 2025; incl. Bueckers case) — https://www.foxnews.com/sports/wnba-players-reveal-super-scary-privacy-security-fears-after-caitlin-clark-stalker-incident 9. Williams et al., Communication & Sport (2025), “Sports Organisations’ Responses to Social Media Abuse Against Professional Sportswomen” — https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/21674795251366402 10. AP (via WSB-TV), “Caitlin Clark condemns ‘harassment’ as WNBA players face a surge of online threats” (Jul 3, 2026) — https://www.wsbtv.com/sports/caitlin-clark/NP6OSOFPWM7GFAK7JBZ6X6DFLU/ 11. Newsweek, “Why Domestic Violence Can Rise During the World Cup” (Jun 2026; cites Lancaster Univ. 2014 and Card & Dahl 2012) — https://www.newsweek.com/world-cup-2026-domestic-violence-abuse-surge-12096701 12. Harvard Kennedy School Gender Action Portal, “Football, alcohol, and domestic abuse” — https://gap.hks.harvard.edu/football-alcohol-and-domestic-abuse 13. Women’s Aid, “‘The Other Kick Off’ campaign” (Jun 17, 2026) — https://womensaid.org.uk/womens-aid-reveals-the-other-kick-off-time-thousands-of-women-dread-during-the-world-cup/ 14. UK Crown Prosecution Service, “Domestic abuse expected to rise during the World Cup” (Jun 2026; NPCC Euro 2024 data) — https://www.cps.gov.uk/national-news/news/domestic-abuse-expected-rise-during-world-cup-prosecutors-urge-victims-come 15. Crimestoppers UK, “Violence against women & girls in football culture” (Jun 12, 2026) — https://crimestoppers-uk.org/news-media/news/2026/jun/violence-against-women-girls-in-football-culture-abuse-is-not-part-of-the-game

Email us at wait.whatnowpod@gmail.com & along on Instagram @waitwhatnow_pod

Is a breakthrough for Type 1 diabetes finally within reach? Kiki, Michelle, and Grace discuss the Eledon clinical trial, islet cell transplantation, and Katie Beth Hand's inspiring journey to insulin independence. Learn what makes this research different—and why it offers new hope for the future.

Email us at wait.whatnowpod@gmail.com & along on Instagram @waitwhatnow_pod

This month, we’re doing something a little different. In this “Life Edition” episode, we put the health headlines and research studies to the side and dive headfirst into a series of “Would You Rather?” questions that somehow spiral into conversations about technology, health, friendship, trauma, survival, and what it actually means to be human right now.

Would you want a live health score floating above your head at all times? Would you disconnect from technology completely or fully merge with AI? Is it better to know hard truths collectively, or live peacefully without carrying the weight of shared trauma?

As always, the conversation goes way beyond the question itself. We talk about how modern life continues to pull us further away from our natural instincts, the pressure of constantly optimizing ourselves, and how technology can both connect us and completely overwhelm us.

It’s thoughtful, existential, funny in parts, mildly concerning in others - basically a very “Wait. What now?” kind of episode.

Email us at wait.whatnowpod@gmail.com & along on Instagram @waitwhatnow_pod

In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, this episode of Wait. What Now? dives into the powerful connection between movement and mental well-being. We’re getting real about how exercise makes us feel—not just physically, but emotionally and mentally too. From boosting your mood to reducing stress and anxiety, we explore why getting your body moving can be one of the most accessible tools for better mental health. We also break down what actually counts as “enough” exercise, the recommended weekly guidelines, and how to make movement feel less like a chore and more like self-care. Whether you’re a gym regular or just trying to get off the couch, this conversation is all about meeting yourself where you are and finding what works for you.

Email us at wait.whatnowpod@gmail.com & along on Instagram @waitwhatnow_pod

Meta recently faced legal consequences tied to children’s safety—but that’s just the starting point. In this episode, we break down how social media is engineered to hook users, why that matters, and what it’s doing to developing minds. This is a deeper look at the mechanics, the incentives, and the real-world impact of the platforms we use every day.

Source links: https://nmdoj.gov/press-release/new-mexico-department-of-justice-wins-landmark-verdict-against-meta/

https://chicagocounseling.org/2025/01/mental-health-and-social-media-how-to-protect-your-well-being/ https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12144-025-08893-7

https://wjarr.com/sites/default/files/fulltext_pdf/WJARR-2024-3027.pdf

Email us at wait.whatnowpod@gmail.com and follow along on Instagram @waitwhatnow_pod.

What happens when trauma isn’t just personal — but structural? In this episode, we explore collective trauma through the lenses of war, displacement, and immigration enforcement, and examine how those forces shape the Social Determinants of Health — the everyday conditions that influence stability, opportunity, and wellbeing. From root shock to urban fear, we unpack how shared experiences become embedded in communities — and what that means for health across generations. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5o3fhqfbK9w https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6095989/ https://savingplaces.org/stories/looking-back-root-shock-at-twenty#:~:text=Root%20Shock%2C%20a%20term%20coined,name%20of%20progress%20or%20development https://www.britannica.com/summary/World-War-II

Email us at wait.whatnowpod@gmail.com and follow along on Instagram @waitwhatnow_pod.

The food pyramid isn’t new — and neither is its update cycle. In this episode, we unpack the history behind the food pyramid, why it was created with economic access in mind, and how those priorities still show up today. We talk through the latest guidance, what’s helpful about it, and where it can feel limiting or confusing, offering a balanced look at what these updates mean for health, wellness, and everyday eating.

Source links: Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030: https://cdn.realfood.gov/DGA.pdf https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0261561425002493 https://hsph.harvard.edu/news/higher-ratio-of-plant-protein-to-animal-protein-may-improve-heart-health/ https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/JAHA.119.012865 https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000838.htm https://www.statnews.com/2026/01/13/new-food-pyramid-saturated-fats-dietitian/ https://www.foodfacts.org/articles/us-dietary-guidelines-2025-2030-dietitians-react

Email us at wait.whatnowpod@gmail.com and follow along on Instagram @waitwhatnow_pod.