Should we still circumcise babies?
NO SUCH THING
iHeartPodcasts and Kaleidoscope
4.6 • 609 Ratings
🗓️ 13 May 2026
⏱️ 75 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
New data shows that less than half of American newborn boys are circumcised, a major decrease from around 90% in the 1960s. But how and why did circumcision become so common here in the United States? This week, we speak to an epidemiologist, a sociologist, and an anti-circumcision “intactivist” to explore the origins of the procedure, its health impacts, and why attitudes around it are changing.
Our guests this week are Johns Hopkins epidemiologist Dr. Kate Grabowski, Vanderbilt University associate professor of sociology Laura Carpenter, and Intact America founding executive Georganne Chapin.
NOTE: Due to time restraints, not everything can make it into the final episode. We tried our best to represent all sides of the issue fairly and respectfully. With that said, some claims around the African VMMC trials in particular may be misleading. To clarify: these trials produced high quality peer-reviewed studies documenting medical benefits, particularly in relation to HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. They were also conducted in partnership with some of the world’s most respected African scientists and research institutions. They are not simply colonial interventions.
For additional information, please go to our newsletter to find links to research and more. NST has no particular agenda here, so please take a look at all the info yourself to decide what’s best for you.
Check out our newsletter here.
Have a question you want us to answer? Email us at mannynoahdevan@gmail.com or leave a voicemail at (860) 325-0286
EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ http://www.nordvpn.com/nst
Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | Just a quick note before we get started. |
| 0:01.9 | This is a very complex and sensitive issue, touching on all sorts of things, sex, religion, culture, bodily autonomy, parenting, et cetera, et cetera. |
| 0:10.1 | We unfortunately can't include everything in this episode, so if you want to read more, check at our newsletter to continue the conversation. |
| 0:15.7 | The Kalyzko. I'm Annie. I'm Annie. I'm Noah. |
| 0:29.5 | This is Devin. |
| 0:30.3 | And this is no such thing that show where we settle our dumb arguments and yours by actually doing the research. |
| 0:35.7 | This week, to cut or not to cut? That's the question. |
| 0:43.4 | There's no such thing. No such thing. No such thing. No such thing. No such thing. |
| 0:51.0 | No such thing. No such thing. This is a good Thank Thank you. This is an I-heart podcast. |
| 1:00.8 | Guaranteed human. |
| 1:04.9 | All right, we're talking about circumcision. |
| 1:07.4 | I actually remember a while ago talking to my then-girlfriend, now wife. |
| 1:13.4 | I don't know why I brought this up. |
| 1:15.7 | There was no reason for me to bring this up, but I was like, I think, you know, within the next 50 years, circumcision is going to be much less common in the United States. |
| 1:25.7 | I was just like... |
| 1:26.7 | You just had a hunch? Yeah. I don't know why I brought this up over dinner, but I was. I would just like... You just had a hunch? |
| 1:28.1 | Yeah. |
| 1:28.8 | I don't know why I brought this up over dinner, but I was like, I just think that's the way things are going to go. Since then, it'll come up once in a while and I'll hear from people who say, oh, yeah, I would never let my kid get circumcised. Yeah. And most of these people, and I haven't asked or confirmed, but most of them are circumcised. |
| 1:47.1 | Yeah. And most of these people, and I haven't asked or confirmed, but most of them are circumcised. Yeah. You haven't checked. Like I said, I haven't checked. You can assume, probably. Yeah. Sometimes, yeah, sometimes it's at least intimated that that's the case. Yeah. This happened to me, But I wouldn't do it to my child |
| 2:00.9 | Yeah |
| 2:01.1 | Essentially |
| 2:01.9 | Yeah Not is it Not even so dramatic But yeah Basically like We have to break the cycle Yeah Yeah So So So You know And then I'm wondering Okay well Why is it You know Obviously You know I'm Jewish It's common practice To do so Yeah Most people in the United States are not Jewish. |
... |
Transcript will be available on the free plan in 6 days. Upgrade to see the full transcript now.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from iHeartPodcasts and Kaleidoscope, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of iHeartPodcasts and Kaleidoscope and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.