Best Pandemic Pulse Podcasts (2025)

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CGM Market Pulse: Innovations and Integrations in HME 25:11

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1h ago25:11

25:11

In this episode, join Matt Edwards, CEO, GEMCO Medical and Heather Trumm, Partner Account Manager, VGM & Associates, as they explore the latest advancements in Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) technology—from extended wear times to new pump integrations—making diabetes management easier and more effective for patients. We also unpack what these …

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How science got here, and where next 31:30

7d ago31:30

31:30

As anti-science leaves research reeling, does evidence-based policy in a scientific society have much of a future? Michael Mann, Naomi Oreskes, Angie Rasmussen and Deb Houry discuss some of the sources and motivations that perhaps belie the current state of scientific affairs. Presenter: Roland Pease Producer: Alex Mansfield Production Coordinator:…

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Coral extinctions and chalky unknowns 37:58

24d ago37:58

37:58

As two species of coral are killed off by the 2023 heatwave in the Florida reefs, the abilities of different plankton species to cope with rising CO2 remain crucially unknown. Also, retrospective research shows a strong suggestion that mRNA covid vaccination might serendipitously boost certain types of cancer immunotherapy. And, if you can’t identi…

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Home-Based Care on the Rise: Understanding Data Driven DME Strategies 21:51

14d ago21:51

21:51

This episode dives into the evolving landscape of the Durable Medical Equipment (DME) industry, where market growth is being driven by rising patient volumes and shifting care preferences. With demand projected to surge through 2033, the conversation explores how providers are adapting to meet the needs of a more dispersed and aging population. We …

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Paris agreement impacts and drought realities 38:45

21d ago38:45

38:45

Ten years on from the Paris climate agreement, has it helped? Also, an international drought experiment, insights from 2D water, and social distancin in ants. Presenter: Roland PeaseProducer: Alex MansfieldProduction co-ordinator: Jana Bennett-Holesworth (Photo: Small bushfire. Credit: Lea Scaddan/Getty Images)…

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Old faces and big spaces in small places 31:57

28d ago31:57

31:57

The 2025 Nobel prizes are announced this week – how did Science in Action’s predictions fare? Science author and thinker Philip Ball judges. The Whitley Fund for Nature this week hosted a “People for Planet” summit, exploring possible solutions to save nature. Amongst the speakers was Prof Martin Wikelski, of ICARUS, who has spent many years tracki…

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A mystery satellite has been jamming GPS in Europe 36:03

1M ago36:03

36:03

Scientists detect for the first time an unknown source of GPS interference coming from space. Also, as AI begins to design more and more DNA sequences being manufactured synthetically, how can those manufacturers be sure that what their customers are asking for will not produce toxic proteins or lethal weapons? And… how camera traps in polish fores…

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Autism and the epigenetics of early brain development 36:15

2M ago36:15

36:15

Epigenetic changes during early brain development, and the complexities of autism. Also, how bacteria learn to parry antibiotics, the subterranean burp that shook the Island of Santorini, and new guidance for sharing land between farming space and living space for the pollinators on which it depends. Presenter: Roland Pease Producer: Alex Mansfield…

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Unlocking Lowe’s Pro Benefits: Exclusive Savings for VGM Live at Home Members 13:25

2M ago13:25

13:25

Join host Cindi Petito as she sits down with Dennis Henry, Lowe’s National Account Manager, and Drew Aalderks, VGM Live at Home Member Account Manager, to explore the exclusive Lowe’s Pro programs available to VGM members. Discover how to access special discounts, maximize your rewards, and ensure your account is set up for success. Whether you’re …

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Stephen Hawking gets it right again 26:29

2M ago26:29

26:29

Gravitational waves show two black holes merge just how Hawking predicted. Plus, a space mission without a target. And a Space probe without a confirmed budget. In January 2025 the LIGO gravitational wave observatories witnessed two distant black holes spinning into each other. In the ten years of LIGO’s operations, that’s not a first. But the inst…

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Medicare Shared Savings Program Explained: What It Means for VGM Members 13:25

2M ago13:25

13:25

In this episode of Industry Matters, Alan Morris, SVP of Strategy at VGM & Associates, and Tyler Coulander, Market Strategy Manager, dive into the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) and its implications for the DME industry. They break down the data, highlight key trends, and share strategic insights into how the evolving healthcare landscape p…

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Asteroids, comets and where to find them 26:28

2M ago26:28

26:28

Scientists’ latest plans for welcoming interstellar visitor 3I/Atlas next month, and arranging a rendezvous with comet Apophis in 2029, as heard this week at the EPSC-DPS international planetary science joint meeting in Helsinki. Presenter: Roland Pease Producer: Ella Hubber, with Alex Mansfield Production coordinator: Jana Bennett-Holesworth Image…

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From Payroll to People: Let’s Talk HR Solutions 18:15

2M ago18:15

18:15

In this podcast, Connectify HR, a trusted vendor partner, shares how they support organizations through informal, no-pressure conversations. Whether you need to brainstorm, ask questions, or simply talk through a concern, they’re here to help. Listen in and learn how Connectify HR is making it easier to focus on the work that truly matters.…

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Why is Afghanistan so vulnerable to earthquakes? 28:22

2M ago28:22

28:22

Despite the relatively low magnitude, earthquakes in Afghanistan this week have left more than1000 dead. Afghan researcher Zakeria Shnizai from the University of Oxford unpicks some of the main causes of the country’s vulnerability to earthquakes. Also this week, we talk to the climate scientist who led a 400+ page rebuttal to the US Department of …

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How Fear Spreads 37:16

2M ago37:16

37:16

What can modern epidemiological methods tell us about French Revolutionary history? Also, the origins of horse riding, solar systems, and star dust itself. Presenter: Roland Pease Producer: Alex Mansfield Production Coordinator: Jana Bennett-Holesworth (Image: Storming of the Bastille Paris France 1789 illustration. Credit: Grafissimo via Getty Ima…

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Not cold fusion all over again 30:13

3M ago30:13

30:13

A desktop nuclear fusion reactor that uses electrochemistry to up the ante. Also, a global survey of human wildfire exposures finds Africa burning ahead, plus tiny swarming robots and record-breaking 2024 ice melts from glaciers on Svalbard. Presenter: Roland Pease Producer: Alex Mansfield Production co-ordinator: Jana Holesworth (Photo: The Thunde…

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IM: Unfiltered — Episode 1 28:58

3M ago28:58

28:58

We’re excited to introduce IM: Unfiltered — a fresh podcast series designed just for our VGM community. 🎙️ Tune in for real conversations around leadership, innovation, and industry buzz, hosted by a powerhouse voice in HME: Lindy Tentinger, President of VGM & Associates. Joining her this week is Ike Isaacson, SVP of Government & Regulatory Relatio…

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Vaccine study retraction request rejected 30:43

3M ago30:43

30:43

US Health Secretary RFK Jr’s call to retract a study on childhood vaccines is resisted by the journal. Also antibiotics get designed by AI, and a new way for stars to die. A study focussing on Danish childhood vaccination data has attracted the US Secretary for Health’s anger, as RFK jr calls for the journal in which it was published, the Annals of…

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An end to allergic reactions? 29:37

3M ago29:37

29:37

As the United States secretary of health and human services, Robert F Kennedy Jr., announces a $500 million cut to mRNA vaccine research in the United States, we hear a statement from the Nobel Prize winning biologist who made mRNA vaccines possible. A team of scientists from Northwestern University have uncovered the pathway believed to protect so…

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Getting ahead of tsunamis 30:19

4M ago30:19

30:19

After most of the population of the Pacific rim sought higher ground this week, we speak with the architect of the tsunami warning technology. Also how aging Killifish might help us probe our senior moments. This week, an M8.8 earthquake near Kamchatka in the western pacific led to tsunami evacuation alerts thousands of miles away. Seismologist Jud…

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Discovering Betelgeuse’s Betelbuddy 29:56

4M ago29:56

29:56

Have we found Betelgeuse’s ‘Betelbuddy?’ An astronomical mystery seems to be solved as the long-predicted stellar companion to the bright star Betelgeuse has been detected by a team of researchers led by Steve Howell of the NASA Ames Research Center using the Gemini North telescope in Hawaii. Steve discusses this breakthrough alongside astronomer A…

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Biggest black hole merger observed 27:38

4M ago27:38

27:38

Two black holes have collided and combined in the largest merger yet observed. Mark Hannam of Cardiff University and member of the study explains how the Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatories (LIGO) detected this ‘violent’ event through spacetime. The lifestyle of ancient humans had an impact on their risk for infectious diseases. Astrid …

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Tracking ocean circulation systems 33:47

4M ago33:47

33:47

The European Space Agency plans to use satellite gravity data to track weakening ocean circulation systems. Rory Bingham of the University of Bristol explains how these satellites can ‘weigh’ the Earth’s water and might help resolve whether we’re approaching the climate tipping point of a shutdown of ocean circulation in the Atlantic Ocean, somethi…

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What to Do When Payer Networks Are Closed | HME Contracting Strategies 32:37

4M ago32:37

32:37

In this episode, Craig Douglas, SVP of HME, Respiratory, & Wellness at VGM, is joined by Melanie Ewald, VP of Payer Relations and Reimbursement, and Kim Cuce', Director of Business Optimization, to tackle one of the biggest challenges in the HME industry: closed payer networks. They share practical strategies for navigating out-of-network situation…

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Bird flu surges in Cambodia 35:50

5M ago35:50

35:50

There's a surge in cases and deaths from H5N1 bird flu in Cambodia - we hear what's the driver and how concerned we should be. Erik Karlsson, Head of Virology at the Pasteur Institute in Phnom Penh and director of the WHO’s H5 Reference Laboratory has been watching the uptick. An interstellar interloper has been spotted entering our solar system. M…

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SBA Lending Explained: How Financing Can Help Your Business 36:11

5M ago36:11

36:11

In this edition of Industry Matters, Tyler Mahncke, SVP of Clinical Mobility & Accessibility with VGM & Associates, engages in a compelling conversation with Gene Richtsmeier, Vice President at Huntington National Bank, and Michael Berling, Vice President, SBA Senior Development Officer at Huntington National Bank. The episode delves into SBA Lendi…

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Vera C. Rubin Observatory first images 37:48

5M ago37:48

37:48

A spectacular new 10-year telescopic survey of the universe gets underway in Chile. Also, a project to create human chromosomes completely synthetically. Almost three decades ago Tony Tyson (now of UC Davis) and colleagues were standing in the control room of the world’s biggest (at the time) digital astronomical camera. It was 3am when he suggeste…

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Half a universe once lost now found 41:41

5M ago41:41

41:41

The universe is thought to consist of 70% Dark Energy, 25% Dark Matter, and just 5% Baryonic matter which is the atoms that make up you and me. At least, that’s what the models suggest. But a well-kept secret between astronomers and cosmologists for all these years has been that they have not actually ever seen almost half of that 5% normal matter …

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Navigating Post-Pandemic Healthcare Regulations: Updates & Guidance 16:53

5M ago16:53

16:53

Join hosts Ronda Buhrmester and Kim Cuce from VGM as they discuss the lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare regulations and policies, specifically for Medicare and other insurance guidelines. This episode covers updates on the five-year rule for patients who initially qualified under pandemic flexibilities, advice on managing pat…

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The first solar polar pictures 34:56

5M ago34:56

34:56

ESA’s Solar Orbiter camera probe begins raising its orbit towards the sun’s poles, whilst Betelgeuse’s elusive buddy continues to sneak past our best telescopes. Earlier this year, Solar Orbiter started to stretch its orbit over greater latitudes – effectively standing on cosmic tiptoes to catch a glimpse of the Sun’s poles. This week, we have seen…

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Navigating Lymphedema Compression Therapy: Compliance, Documentation, and Market Insights 36:31

5M ago36:31

36:31

During this episode of the Industry Matters podcast, Ronda Buhrmester, Senior Director of Payer Relations and Reimbursement at VGM & Associates and Noel Neil, Chief Compliance Officer at ACU-Serve, delve into the complexities of lymphedema compression therapy as a DME benefit. They discuss essential compliance and documentation requirements, market…

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Potential fungal 'Agroterror'? 44:17

5M ago44:17

44:17

What is Fusarium graminearum and why were scientists allegedly smuggling it into the US? Also, Alpine Glacier collapse and an HIV capitulation. The FBI has accused two Chinese scientists of trying to smuggle a dangerous crop fungus into the US, calling it a potential agro-terrorist threat. But the fungus has long been widespread across US farms, an…

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Thirteen months to a chip off the moon 35:53

6M ago35:53

35:53

China is aiming to join the small club of nations who have successfully returned scientific samples of asteroids for analysis on earth, teaching us more about how our and potentially other solar systems formed. Tianwen-2 launched successfully this week, bound for an asteroid known as Kamo‘oalewa, which sits in a very strange orbit of both the earth…

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WHO Pandemic Agreement reached 40:18

6M ago40:18

40:18

This week, 124 countries agreed at the World Health Assembly in Geneva on measures aimed at preventing a future pandemic. The agreement very strongly favours a “One Health” approach, appreciating how so many potential pathogens originate in human-animal interactions. Still to agree on the terms of how to share pathogens and information with global …

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Vaccinating rabies’ reservoir dogs 38:45

6M ago38:45

38:45

In 2015, the World Health Organisation set the goal of eradicating rabies deaths from dog-bites to “Zero by 2030”. A team at the University of Glasgow and colleagues in Tanzania have been assessing the efficacy of dog vaccination schemes for reducing the numbers of human infections over the last 20 years. As Prof Katie Hampson tells Science in Acti…

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Gain-of-Function: Loss-of-Funding 26:30

6M ago26:30

26:30

This week, the White House posted an executive order which details the administration’s intent to stop ‘dangerous gain-of-function research’. We talk to Gigi Gronvall, an immunologist and biosecurity expert at Johns Hopkins University who fears the timing and added bureaucracy could stop all sorts of important biosciences unnecessarily, and that th…

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5 Pillars of Wound Care: Building the Referral Base 19:40

6M ago19:40

19:40

In the 5th episode of the “5 Pillars of Wound Care” series, Heather Trumm, Partner Account Manager with VGM & Associates, and Amanda Smithey, Senior Manager, Advocacy and Strategic Partnerships, HME Division with McKesson, explore strategies for building your referral network using your existing referral base and patient population. The episode als…

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Introducing "So Every BODY Can Move" 20:51

7M ago20:51

20:51

In this edition of Industry Matters, we learn about "So Every BODY Can Move," an initiative to create equitable and life-changing access to prosthetic and orthotic care for physical activity. Nikki Grace, Director of OPGA, interviews Nicole Ver Kuilen, Director of Impact Campaigns for the Amputee Coalition and Campaign Lead for "So Every BODY Can M…

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Scientists of the world unite 29:25

7M ago29:25

29:25

Scientists from around the world have gathered together at the annual European Geosciences Union general assembly, to discuss current projects, working hypotheses and potential findings. There are nearly 18,000 in attendance this year and there is much to learn. AMOC – the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation - brings warmth to the north and…

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Wet market SARS CoV-2 origins revisited 35:17

7M ago35:17

35:17

Last week, the website covid.gov looked very different, containing information on coping with covid and US research. This week it leads you to a White House webpage outlining the lab-leak hypothesis – that the pandemic was the result of dodgy lab work at the Wuhan Institute of Virology. The scientific consensus however continues to suggest a zoonot…

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5 Pillars of Wound Care: Staff Training 17:02

7M ago17:02

17:02

In the 4th episode of the “5 Pillars of Wound Care” series, Heather Trumm, Partner Account Manager with VGM & Associates, and Amanda Smithey, Senior Manager, Advocacy and Strategic Partnerships, HME Division with McKesson, delve into the essential training for HME staff in wound care. This episode covers what a comprehensive training program would …

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Innovations in High Flow Therapy: Asymmetric Cannula 11:26

7M ago11:26

11:26

In this episode, Zach discusses the straightforward integration and significant benefits of high flow therapy using an asymmetric cannula with patients. He suggests starting with patients who are non-compliant with other therapies, highlighting the ease of implementing a Duet cannula for those already using high flow setups. Join Boone and Zach for…

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Any more for Moore’s Law? 29:07

7M ago29:07

29:07

After 60 years of doubling computer complexity every two years, can Moore’s law still predict the future power of the devices we use? In 1965, electronics pioneer Gordon Moore was asked to predict the next ten years of progress with the then new-fangled silicon integrated circuits. He estimated, based on physics and manufacturing technologies then …

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Real Talk in HME for Results that Matter 20:29

7M ago20:29

20:29

In this edition of Industry Matters, Shelby Graveman, Sr. Director of Customer Success at VGM & Associates, interviews Kyle Neese, Sr. Account Executive at ACU-Serve. Together, they explore the hottest topics in the HME industry, offering insights on how providers can effectively navigate daily challenges. They discuss the essential resources ACU-S…

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Researching pain, painlessly 43:03

7M ago43:03

43:03

Pain, particularly chronic pain, is hard to research. New therapeutics are hard to screen for. Patients are not all the same. Sergui Pascu and colleagues at Stanford university have been growing brain samples from stem cells. Then they began connecting different samples, specialised to represent different brain regions. This week they announce thei…

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Transforming for impact: Lessons from Dress for Success 17:30

7M ago17:30

17:30

Text us your thoughts on this episode In this episode, Kelly Pedersen, PwC's global retail leader, speaks with Michele C. Meyer-Shipp, CEO of Dress for Success, about the transformation journey of Dress for Success, a global nonprofit., The conversation highlights key lessons for leaders aiming to navigate organizational change. With growth can com…

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5 Pillars of Wound Care: The Right Partnerships 14:55

7M ago14:55

14:55

In the 3rd episode of the “5 Pillars of Wound Care” series, hosts Heather Trumm, Partner Account Manager with VGM & Associates, and Amanda Smithey, Senior Manager, Advocacy and Strategic Partnerships, HME Division with McKesson, dive into the essentials of establishing effective vendor partnerships. They explore strategies for simplifying the proce…

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Navigating Healthcare: DME Strategies for Modern Challenges 21:41

7M ago21:41

21:41

In today's episode of Industry Matters, Alan Morris, SVP of Strategy, VGM & Associates, and Tyler Coulander, Market Strategy Manager, VGM & Associates, explore key trends, from improving access to care and addressing staffing shortages to adapting to shifting consumer preferences, and financial pressures. Gain valuable insights and strategies to na…

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Earthquakes and the first breath of life on Earth 31:37

8M ago31:37

31:37

How Myanmar’s tragic earthquake left a 500km scar on the surface of the earth in just 90 seconds. Also, more hints of a link between shingles vaccines and reduced dementia, and how earth’s first oxygen breathers seem to have evolved way before there was enough oxygen to breath. Judith Hubbard is a seismologist and earthquake analyst who has been gl…

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Exploring Upcoming Changes in Ventilator Coverage for COPD Patients 59:07

8M ago59:07

59:07

In today's episode of Industry Matters Boone Lockard, VP of Clinical Services; Ronda Buhrmester, Sr Director Payer Relations & Reimbursements; Zach Gantt, CEO, Encore Healthcare; and Ray Gregg, VP of Sales and Business Development, Encore Healthcare; dive into the latest updates on the National Coverage Determination (NCD) for ventilators, focusing…