How should parents actually think about disease risk without panic, minimization, or pressure?

In this episode, we join Katie Collins, PA-C, for a thoughtful, wide-ranging conversation about how disease risk is framed in modern medicine versus how it shows up in real life. Together, we explore why fear-based messaging leaves families feeling overwhelmed, how nuance gets lost in public health conversations, and what informed consent truly requires.

This episode unpacks:

• Why disease discussions are unhelpful when it swings between extremes

• The difference between relative risk and absolute risk (and why it matters for families)

• What parents are (and aren’t) taught about vaccine-preventable diseases

• How baseline health, environment, nutrition, and access to care shape outcomes

• How parents can respond calmly to alarming headlines and social media narratives

This is not an episode telling you what choice to make. It’s a conversation designed to help parents feel more grounded, informed, and confident when navigating medical decisions for their families.

If you value informed consent, context, and honest conversations that leave room for complexity, this episode will meet you right where you are.

Resources:

Read the free Motherhood Guide

Find a provider with our Pro-Informed Consent Provider Directory

Take our free training course

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