Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Jessica Malaty Rivera, MS, Executive Director, Infodemiology Initiative, and infectious disease epidemiologist, joins us to unpack the “infodemic,” the overwhelming flood of health information shaping how we think, decide and act. From misinformation to trust, she explains why science isn’t finished until it’s communicated — and what each of us can do to navigate today’s complex information landscape more responsibly.
Watch the episode on YouTube.
Featuring:
Jessica Malaty Rivera, MS, Executive Director, Infodemiology Initiative
Host/Producer: Carol Vassar
00:00 Welcome to Well Beyond Medicine
00:36 Meet Jessica Malaty Rivera + Why This Conversation Matters
01:25 “Science Isn’t Finished Until It’s Communicated”
02:21 What Is an Infodemic?
03:47 Are We Living in an Infodemic Right Now?
03:53 How to Spot Trustworthy Health Information
04:37 Trust in Public Health: Are We Losing It?
06:03 Teaching People How to Evaluate Information
07:21 Why Debunking Myths Isn’t Enough
08:42 Going Viral During COVID-19: Lessons on Trust
10:49 Can People Change Their Minds? The “Movable Middle”
11:30 What Is Infodemic Resilience?
13:08 Raising Kids to Navigate Misinformation
13:28 Should We Spend Less Time Online?
14:29 How Algorithms Fuel Outrage
14:52 Fighting Back: Prebunking & Information Inoculation
16:10 Training Credible Messengers in Health
17:50 Staying Compassionate in a Hostile Environment
19:34 AI, Misinformation & the Future of Health Communication
22:12 Will Infodemics Ever End?
23:05 Signs We’re Turning the Corner
24:06 Misinformation Isn’t New: A Historical Perspective
25:30 Preparing for the Next Infodemic
25:42 What You Can Do: Think Before You Post
26:30 Closing
Thanks for listening to Well Beyond Medicine: The Nemours Children’s Health Podcast. How do you go well beyond medicine in your own life or community? How do you celebrate it?
🎙️ Share your story or leave us a voicemail: speakpipe.com/NemoursWellBeyond
Your message could be featured in a future episode.
🌐 Listen to more episodes and explore the podcast: nemourswellbeyond.org
📩 Sign up for our monthly newsletter for new episodes, stories, and updates: nemourswellbeyond.org/news
Follow Nemours Children’s Health:
Instagram: instagram.com/nemours
X (Twitter): twitter.com/Nemours
Facebook: facebook.com/Nemours
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/nemours
Well Beyond Medicine: The Nemours Children’s Health Podcast explores children’s health, pediatric care, health equity, mental health, social determinants of health, and health care innovation—from food security and community-based care to meeting families where they are with accessible health and wellness resources. We highlight the people and ideas shaping the future of pediatric health care and building the healthiest generations of children ever.
#WellBeyondMedicine #NemoursChildrensHealth #Pediatrics #ChildrensHealth #HealthEquity #HealthcareInnovation #MentalHealth #socialdeterminantsofhealth
Jessica Malaty Rivera, MS, Executive Director, Infodemiology Initiative, and infectious disease epidemiologist, joins us to unpack the “infodemic,” the overwhelming flood of health information shaping how we think, decide and act. From misinformation to trust, she explains why science isn’t finished until it’s communicated — and what each of us can do to navigate today’s complex information landscape more responsibly.
Watch the episode on YouTube.
Featuring:
Jessica Malaty Rivera, MS, Executive Director, Infodemiology Initiative
Host/Producer: Carol Vassar
00:00 Welcome to Well Beyond Medicine
00:36 Meet Jessica Malaty Rivera + Why This Conversation Matters
01:25 “Science Isn’t Finished Until It’s Communicated”
02:21 What Is an Infodemic?
03:47 Are We Living in an Infodemic Right Now?
03:53 How to Spot Trustworthy Health Information
04:37 Trust in Public Health: Are We Losing It?
06:03 Teaching People How to Evaluate Information
07:21 Why Debunking Myths Isn’t Enough
08:42 Going Viral During COVID-19: Lessons on Trust
10:49 Can People Change Their Minds? The “Movable Middle”
11:30 What Is Infodemic Resilience?
13:08 Raising Kids to Navigate Misinformation
13:28 Should We Spend Less Time Online?
14:29 How Algorithms Fuel Outrage
14:52 Fighting Back: Prebunking & Information Inoculation
16:10 Training Credible Messengers in Health
17:50 Staying Compassionate in a Hostile Environment
19:34 AI, Misinformation & the Future of Health Communication
22:12 Will Infodemics Ever End?
23:05 Signs We’re Turning the Corner
24:06 Misinformation Isn’t New: A Historical Perspective
25:30 Preparing for the Next Infodemic
25:42 What You Can Do: Think Before You Post
26:30 Closing
Thanks for listening to Well Beyond Medicine: The Nemours Children’s Health Podcast. How do you go well beyond medicine in your own life or community? How do you celebrate it?
🎙️ Share your story or leave us a voicemail: speakpipe.com/NemoursWellBeyond
Your message could be featured in a future episode.
🌐 Listen to more episodes and explore the podcast: nemourswellbeyond.org
📩 Sign up for our monthly newsletter for new episodes, stories, and updates: nemourswellbeyond.org/news
Follow Nemours Children’s Health:
Instagram: instagram.com/nemours
X (Twitter): twitter.com/Nemours
Facebook: facebook.com/Nemours
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/nemours
Well Beyond Medicine: The Nemours Children’s Health Podcast explores children’s health, pediatric care, health equity, mental health, social determinants of health, and health care innovation—from food security and community-based care to meeting families where they are with accessible health and wellness resources. We highlight the people and ideas shaping the future of pediatric health care and building the healthiest generations of children ever.
#WellBeyondMedicine #NemoursChildrensHealth #Pediatrics #ChildrensHealth #HealthEquity #HealthcareInnovation #MentalHealth #socialdeterminantsofhealth
