JOY Drive

25 Feb 2025

Professor Oliver A.H. Jones: Fluoride

Diet and Nutrition, Health, News & Politics, Science & Medicine

Fluoride—it’s a word that stirs up debate and headlines. For decades, it’s been hailed as a public health triumph, reducing tooth decay and protecting millions from dental disease.

But it’s also been at the center of controversy, with claims about health risks and debates over personal choice. Recently, fluoride has returned to the spotlight.

In the US, the incoming ‘health czar,’ Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has called for its removal from drinking water, while here in Australia, the Australian Medical Association Queensland is urging local councils to reintroduce it amid rising oral health concerns.

So, what exactly is fluoride? Why do we add it to drinking water?

Guest: Oliver A.H. Jones, Professor of Chemistry, RMIT University

Presenter: Warren Andrew

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 9:23 — 12.9MB)

Subscribe or Follow Us: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS

5 Feb 2026

Jesse Matheson: Mardi Gras Cancels its After Party

LGBTIQA+ Community, Personal Safety, Popular Culture, Society & Culture

The cancellation of the official Mardi Gras after-party has raised big questions for festival-goers and the broader community. Jesse Matheson ...

5 Feb 2026

Professor Emerita Thea van de Mortel: Why We Get Sick as Soon as the Holiday Starts

Health, Natural Sciences, Places & Travel, Science & Medicine

Many people push through stress and deadlines, only to feel unwell the moment they finally stop. Thea van de Mortel ...

5 Feb 2026

Associate Professor Vincent Ho: Ultra-processed Foods Increasing Bowel Cancer Rates In Under 50s

Diet and Nutrition, Health, Science & Medicine

Rates of bowel cancer are rising in people under 50, and researchers are increasingly linking this shift to ultra-processed foods. ...