The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) at the US State Department works to establish cultural exchanges between the United States and other countries around the world. Currently leading the bureau is Matthew Lussenhop who serves as the Acting Assistant Secretary.  In this interview, GW third-year student Brian O'Rourke talks to Acting Secretary Lussenhop about the importance of cultural exchange programs in US diplomacy at large and the role of public diplomacy in strengthening relationships between countries. Brian is studying International Affairs and Political Communication.

Matthew Lussenhop, US State Dept: Building Enduring Networks - the ECA

Note: This episode was recorded before the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025. Today, we discuss poverty, the social detriments of health, and safety net programs in the U.S. with Robert Greenstein, founder and former president of the D.C.-based think tank Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP). He is also a Visiting Fellow – Economic Studies, The Hamilton Project, at the Brookings Institution.

Bob is one of America's leading experts on federal budget, tax policy and safety net programs. Odds are that you or someone you know got more services from the government—health insurance, financial help, food assistance—because of Bob’s life work. Over the past 40 years, he has worked tirelessly to address poverty in U.S. and help make healthcare accessible to all.  

Bob and CBPP played a major role in expanding our nation’s nutritional programs like SNAP (a.k.a. food stamps) and WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children. He and the CBPP helped expand the earned income tax credit (EITC) for low- and moderate-income families. And he and the organization helped get Obamacare passed and continue to defend it and Social Security from all comers.

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Transcript
bit.ly/3JoA2mz

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This podcast features the song “Follow Your Dreams” (freemusicarchive.org/music/Scott_Ho…ur_Dreams_1918) by Scott Holmes, available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial (01https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) license.

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Disclaimer: The content and information shared in GW Integrative Medicine is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views and opinions expressed in GW Integrative Medicine represent the opinions of the host(s) and their guest(s). For medical advice, diagnosis, and/or treatment, please consult a medical professional.

Poverty, Social Detriments of Health, & Safety Net Programs

Today on the pod we discuss  whole-person leadership and reimagining Integrative Medicine through a health equity lens with Scarlet Kali Soriano, MD, an internationally recognized expert on Integrative Medicine, health equity, and community-based health.

Dr. Soriano is the executive director of the Leadership Program in Health and Well-Being for the Duke University Health System, where she leads a multidisciplinary team in innovation aimed at addressing gaps in our healthcare delivery structures through equity-based health and well-being interventions. 

Dr. Soriano is a member of the Board of Directors of the Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine (AIHM) and a founding member of its Black, Indigenous and People of Color Committee.

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Related Links

Dr. Soriano's bio
https://bit.ly/4o5egGZ

Reimagining Integrative Medicine Fellowship Core Competencies with a Health Equity Lens https://bit.ly/4l4ZP3a



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Transcript
bit.ly/3JoA2mz

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This podcast features the song “Follow Your Dreams” (freemusicarchive.org/music/Scott_Ho…ur_Dreams_1918) by Scott Holmes, available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial (01https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) license.

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Disclaimer: The content and information shared in GW Integrative Medicine is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views and opinions expressed in GW Integrative Medicine represent the opinions of the host(s) and their guest(s). For medical advice, diagnosis, and/or treatment, please consult a medical professional.

Transforming Healthcare Through Whole-Person Leadership

Today, we discuss ketamine and mental health with integrative psychiatrist Scott Shannon, MD, one of the world’s leading experts on the therapeutic use of psychedelics in psychotherapy.

In 2010, Scott is the founded the Wholeness Center, the largest integrative mental health center in the U.S. In 2019, he helped launch the Psychedelic Research and Training Institute or PRATI. This visionary institute provides a platform to train professionals in ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, do research, and provide a deeper connection to self and nature.

Scott has published four books on holistic and integrative mental health including the first textbook for this field in 2001. And he has also published numerous articles about cannabidiol in mental health.

As a passionate advocate for transformative care, Scott has traversed the globe delivering lectures to professional groups.

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Related Links

The Wholeness Center (Mental Health and Functional Health Services): https://bit.ly/4oZyUsI

Ketamine paper on burnout: https://bit.ly/41mP9WC

Overview of ketamine therapy: https://bit.ly/45zxz46

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Transcript
bit.ly/3JoA2mz

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This podcast features the song “Follow Your Dreams” (freemusicarchive.org/music/Scott_Ho…ur_Dreams_1918) by Scott Holmes, available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial (01https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) license.

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Disclaimer: The content and information shared in GW Integrative Medicine is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views and opinions expressed in GW Integrative Medicine represent the opinions of the host(s) and their guest(s). For medical advice, diagnosis, and/or treatment, please consult a medical professional.

Ketamine & Mental Health

Research has shown that diets high in ultraprocessed foods are linked to more than 30 health conditions, according to an umbrella review of meta-analyses that was published in The British Medical Journal. Meanwhile, more exposure to ultraprocessed foods was associated with a higher risk of dying from any cause.

Ultraprocessed foods now account for nearly 60% of U.S. adults’ calorie consumption. Among American children, that portion is close to 70%. In other words, ultra-processed food is starting to overwhelm the American diet.
On this episode of the GW Integrative Medicine podcast, John Neustadt, ND, gives a lecture on “Ultra-Processed Foods: Health Implications and How to Talk to Patients.”

Dr. Neustadt has been recognized by the world's largest medical publisher, Elsevier, as one of the Top 10 Cited Authors in the world for his work. He's spent decades researching the underlying causes of disease and working with clinicians and patients to improve health outcomes through natural and Integrative Medicine.

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Slide presentation

https://bit.ly/4pxiQ1o

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Transcript

bit.ly/3JoA2mz

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This podcast features the song “Follow Your Dreams” (freemusicarchive.org/music/Scott_Ho…ur_Dreams_1918) by Scott Holmes, available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial (01https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) license.

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Disclaimer: The content and information shared in GW Integrative Medicine is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views and opinions expressed in GW Integrative Medicine represent the opinions of the host(s) and their guest(s). For medical advice, diagnosis, and/or treatment, please consult a medical professional.

Ultraprocessed Foods: Health Implications and How to Talk to Patients

An estimated three million Americans use cannabis for medical purposes, primarily for chronic pain, muscle spasms, anxiety, nausea, seizures, and other conditions. Yet, most healthcare practitioners and students in the health professions report feeling unprepared to counsel patients or integrate cannabis into care. Currently, standardized education on the therapeutic use of medical cannabis remains absent from most medical school curricula.

On this episode of the GW Integrative Medicine podcast, we discuss a new study published in JAMA on the importance of standardizing and integrating medical cannabis into the medical education curricula. We have three of the article’s co-authors here with us today.

•	Dr. Ethan Russo is a neurologist, preeminent psychopharmacology researcher, and founder and CEO of CReDO Science. A renowned global expert, Dr. Russo is author of some of the most influential and scientifically important books within the field of medical cannabis research. He has been actively researching medical cannabis and cannabinoids for nearly 30 years.
•	Dr. Leslie Mendoza Temple is the chair of the Medical Cannabis Advisory Board for the Illinois Department of Public Health. Dr. Temple is the and Owen L. Coon Chair of Integrative Medicine, Medical Director of the Integrative Medicine Program at Endeavor Health and a clinical professor of Family Medicine at the University of Chicago Pritzker (PRIT-skur) School of Medicine.
•	Dr. Misha Kogan, chief medical officer of the GW Center of Integrative Medicine, co-author of “Medical Marijuana: Dr. Kogan's Evidence-Based Guide to the Health Benefits of Cannabis and CBD,” and an associate professor of Medicine here at GW. His specific area of interest is utilizing cannabis as a solution to reduce polypharmacy in the geriatric patient population. He is a renowned international speaker in the field of medical cannabis.

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Developing Medical Cannabis Competencies: A Consensus Statement (JAMA Article)  https://bit.ly/4o82GtM 

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Transcript

bit.ly/3JoA2mz

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This podcast features the song “Follow Your Dreams” (freemusicarchive.org/music/Scott_Ho…ur_Dreams_1918) by Scott Holmes, available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial (01https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) license.

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Disclaimer: The content and information shared in GW Integrative Medicine is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views and opinions expressed in GW Integrative Medicine represent the opinions of the host(s) and their guest(s). For medical advice, diagnosis, and/or treatment, please consult a medical professional.

Integrating Medical Cannabis Into Medical Education

Chris Palmer, author of "Achieving a Good Death: A Practical Guide to the End of Life, gave a wellness talk on Swedish death cleaning, or "döstädning" during the GW Office of Integrative Medicine & Health's A Mindfulness Experience.  Swedish death cleaning is a trend resulting from the Swedish cultural tradition of decluttering and organizing one's life before passing away. 

Chris is also an activist, wildlife filmmaker, conservationist, retired American University professor, and grandfather. He is a hospice volunteer, runs an aging, death, and dying group for the Bethesda Metro Area Village, and is obtaining a certificate in End-of-Life Care.

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Related Links: 

Chris Palmer's website: chrispalmeronline.com; Chris' handouts, including a free copy of his book and info on decluttering your home, how to write an ethical will (legacy letter), and more:  bit.ly/4poQ4iT.

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Transcript

bit.ly/3JoA2mz

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This podcast features the song “Follow Your Dreams” (freemusicarchive.org/music/Scott_Ho…ur_Dreams_1918) by Scott Holmes, available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial (01https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) license.

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Disclaimer: The content and information shared in GW Integrative Medicine is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views and opinions expressed in GW Integrative Medicine represent the opinions of the host(s) and their guest(s). For medical advice, diagnosis, and/or treatment, please consult a medical professional.

What is Swedish Death Cleaning?

Dr. Stephanie Venn-Watson, who co-discovered the C15 essential fatty acid, returns to the podcast to discuss her new book “The Longevity Nutrient: The Unexpected Fat That Holds the Key to Healthy Aging.” In The Longevity Nutrient, She unveils the science behind the first essential fatty acid to be discovered in nearly a hundred years. Research on this ingredient shows that is may be crucial for combating chronic aging-associated diseases. 

Dr. Venn-Watson is a veterinary epidemiologist with more than 80 peer-reviewed scientific publications and 70 patents. She is the co-founder and CEO of Seraphina Therapeutics, a company that develops and sells health and wellness products based on the C15 fatty acid. She discovered the health benefits of C15 while working for the U.S. Navy to continually improve the long-term health of Navy bottlenose dolphins. While seeking to understand why some dolphins were aging at slower rates than others, Dr. Venn-Watson applied an advanced technology called metabolomics on archived dolphin serum to discover which molecules predicted the healthiest aging dolphins. Here, she discovered C15.

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Related Links: The Longevity Nutrient: The Unexpected Fat That Holds the Key to Healthy Aging
By Stephanie Venn-Watson, https://bit.ly/4a43w75; 

GW Integrative Medicine podcast: What Do Dolphins Have to Do with Anti-aging?,
https://bit.ly/4aljzxx

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Transcript

 bit.ly/3JoA2mz

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This podcast features the song “Follow Your Dreams” (freemusicarchive.org/music/Scott_Ho…ur_Dreams_1918) by Scott Holmes, available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial (01https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) license.

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Disclaimer: The content and information shared in GW Integrative Medicine is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views and opinions expressed in GW Integrative Medicine represent the opinions of the host(s) and their guest(s). For medical advice, diagnosis, and/or treatment, please consult a medical professional.

The Longevity Nutrient

We talk with Peter Grinspoon, MD—an internationally renowned expert on medical  cannabis, drug policy, and addiction—about the U.S. Congress recriminalizing most hemp-derived products.  The measure is set to take effect one year from enactment — around November 12, 2026. 

Dr. Grinspoon is a primary care physician and cannabis specialist at Massachusetts General Hospital and an Instructor in Medicine at Harvard Medical School.  A certified Health and Wellness Coach, he has provided medical cannabis care for patients for two decades. 

 He is a board member of the advocacy group Doctors for Drug Policy Reform and an advisor to the Parabola Group, which advocates for social justice in the cannabis space. He spent two years as an associate director of the Massachusetts Physician Health Service, treating and monitoring hundreds of physicians with addiction. 

Dr. Grinspoon is the author of "Free Refills: A Doctor Confronts His Addiction," “Seeing Through the Smoke: A Cannabis Specialist Untangles the Truth About Marijuana,”  and he has a new book coming out in May 2026—"Aging Well with Cannabis: Feel Better, Sleep Better, and Live Better with Marijuana and CBD."

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Related Links:  Dr. Grinspoon's website, www.petergrinspoon.com

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Transcript:

bit.ly/3JoA2mz

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This podcast features the song “Follow Your Dreams” (freemusicarchive.org/music/Scott_Ho…ur_Dreams_1918) by Scott Holmes, available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial (01https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) license.

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Disclaimer: The content and information shared in GW Integrative Medicine is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views and opinions expressed in GW Integrative Medicine represent the opinions of the host(s) and their guest(s). For medical advice, diagnosis, and/or treatment, please consult a medical professional.

Matthew Lussenhop, US State Dept: Building Enduring Networks - the ECA

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