Ep 17. Student Debt & Fecal Medicine

In Vice season 4 episode 17, titled "Student Debt & Fecal Medicine," the show dives into two very different but equally pressing topics.

The first segment delves into the student debt crisis in America. Correspondent Gianna Toboni travels across the country to meet with students struggling with crippling debt, as well as professors and activists fighting for reform. Toboni highlights the staggering 1.6 trillion dollars of outstanding student loan debt in the United States, and shows how it affects not only individual borrowers, but also the economy as a whole. She interviews experts who explain the historical and political forces that have led to this crisis, and also looks at possible solutions, including debt forgiveness and free college education. Throughout the segment, Toboni's empathy and emotional investment in the issue make for powerful viewing.

The second segment, titled "Fecal Medicine," is an entirely different subject matter yet similarly captivating. This segment explores the potential of fecal transplants, also known as fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), as a treatment for a variety of medical conditions. Correspondent Seb Walker interviews patients who have undergone the procedure, which involves transplanting fecal matter from a healthy donor into the gut of someone with a medical condition caused by an imbalanced gut microbiome. These conditions range from C. diff infections (a potentially fatal gut infection) to ulcerative colitis to even mental health issues like anxiety and depression. Walker also highlights the controversy around FMT, as the FDA has not yet approved it for all conditions and there is a lack of regulation around the procedure outside of clinical trials. As always, Vice tackles the subject with sensitivity and nuance, showing the potential for innovative medical treatments while also carefully considering the ethical implications.

Overall, "Student Debt & Fecal Medicine" is an ambitious episode of Vice that covers two important topics in depth. Through interviews with impassioned individuals and touching personal stories, the show illuminates the urgency of these issues and the need for change.