S1E6 When We Don’t Pau... | Dec 22, 2025 012
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Summary
In this episode of What The Hellth, Brian and Nessa reconnect after a period of relentless schedules to explore what happens—both biologically and socially—when we stop pausing long enough to listen.
The conversation begins with the power of silence and intentional retreat, from multi-day silent experiences to smaller, daily practices that reduce cognitive overload and reset the nervous system. They discuss how constant digital and sensory stimulation prevents the body and brain from ever fully returning to baseline, contributing to burnout, poor decision-making, and disconnection from our own internal signals.
From there, the episode shifts into the public-health consequences of moving too fast and listening too little. Brian and Nessa unpack the recent removal of the universal newborn hepatitis B vaccine recommendation, grounding the discussion in decades of global data, real-world clinical experience, and the long arc of prevention. They explore how weakened public-health infrastructure and misinformation can quietly undo progress—often with consequences that won’t be fully visible for years.
The episode closes with a grounded discussion of norovirus—an often underestimated but highly disruptive illness—highlighting how easily it spreads, why hand sanitizer isn’t enough, and why recovery requires more patience than we tend to allow ourselves. Interwoven throughout is a recurring theme: when we don’t create space to slow down, reflect, and restore, vulnerabilities—whether viral, systemic, or emotional—find their way in.
Takeaways
Silence is not absence—it’s a biological reset.
Reducing digital and sensory input allows the brain to stop narrating, judging, and reacting, making space for observation and regulation.
Retreat doesn’t have to mean escape.
Even short, device-free periods—hours or a single day—can have measurable benefits when practiced intentionally and consistently.
Our bodies run on a “stimulus battery.”
Sleep, sensory input, social interaction, and stress all draw from the same reserve; awareness of this helps guide healthier daily choices.
Phantom urgency is real.
Constant alerts and notifications keep the nervous system activated long after the stimulus is gone—similar to the “phantom pager” phenomenon many clinicians recognize.
Public-health progress is fragile.
The removal of universal newborn hepatitis B vaccination risks reversing decades of global success in preventing liver disease and cancer.
Hepatitis B prevention works—exceptionally well.
Universal newborn vaccination has reduced perinatal transmission from tens of thousands of cases to single-digit numbers in many settings.
Norovirus deserves respect.
It spreads easily, survives on surfaces for days, resists alcohol-based sanitizers, and requires rigorous handwashing and environmental cleaning.
Recovery takes longer than symptoms.
Just because vomiting and diarrhea stop doesn’t mean the body—or the gut-brain axis—has fully recovered.
Burnout isn’t just personal—it’s systemic.
When healthcare, public policy, and daily life prioritize speed over reflection, the costs show up in illness, inequity, and preventable harm.
Pausing is protective.
At every level—individual, clinical, and societal—intentional slowing down creates resilience.
Links
Follow Pediatricians for Trustworthy Content on Children’s Health
CDC Norovirus (we think we can trust this)