Vermont Edition

Vershire journalist Matthew Hongoltz-Hetling wades into the world of medical quackery

By Mikaela Lefrak,

Published June 12, 2023 at 3:25 PM EDT

Upper Valley resident and author Matthew Hongoltz-Hetling researched the depths of medical quackery in his new book.

In his latest book, Upper Valley journalist and Pulitzer Prize finalist Matthew Hongoltz-Hetling took a dive into the waters of fringe medicine—from laser treatments to homemade supplements to leech therapy to faith healers. He talks with host Mikaela Lefrak on what drives people to such off-beat treatments and Vermont's connection to medical quackery.

Our guest:

Matthew Hongoltz-Hetling, author of If It Sounds Like a Quack...: A Journey to the Fringes of American Medicine

Broadcast at noon Tuesday, June 13, 2023; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.

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Mikaela Lefrak

Mikaela Lefrak is the host and senior producer of Vermont Edition. Her stories have aired nationally on Morning Edition, All Things Considered, Weekend Edition, Marketplace, The World and Here & Now. A seasoned local reporter, Mikaela has won two regional Edward R. Murrow awards and a Public Media Journalists Association award for her work.

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Andrea Laurion

Andrea Laurion joined Vermont Public as a news producer for Vermont Edition in December 2022. She is a native of Pittsburgh, Pa., and a graduate of the Salt Institute for Documentary Studies in Portland, Maine. Before getting into audio, Andrea worked as an obituary writer, a lunch lady, a wedding photographer assistant, a children’s birthday party hostess, a haunted house actor, and an admin assistant many times over.

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