Public health loves a slogan. “Condoms equal safe sex.” “Just say no.” “Seatbelts save lives.” They’re short, sticky, and persuasive — and they work. Many more people buckle up today than ever before because of decades of relentless messaging. More teens carry condoms because they were told they mean “protection.”

But here’s the problem: slogans are also misinformation by omission. They leave out the details that actually matter. And when you oversimplify science, people start believing things that aren’t true. They think condoms make them “safe,” even though 94% of people have unprotected oral sex and many STIs — HPV, herpes, mycoplasma genitalium — spread without barriers. They think being “tested” means they’re clear, without realizing most standard panels skip key infections.

This is risk homeostasis at work: when people feel protected, they often take more risks elsewhere. Public health agencies know this, but they bank on slogans anyway because they’re easy and scalable. The result? People who don’t care much might make slightly better choices, but those who do care — who are proactive, sex-positive, and actually want to understand their health — end up misled.

That’s where this podcast comes in. Everything Is Simple to a Simpleton is about pulling apart those half-truths. We explore how oversimplified messaging helps in some ways but backfires in others. We look at what the science actually says about condoms, testing, risk, and intimacy. And we do it with candor, humor, and zero patience for lazy slogans.

Hosted by Robert, founder of Shameless Care, and Anna, a practicing PA, the show blends research with real-world stories to show why public health’s favorite tool — the slogan — is also its biggest liability.

Because the truth is messy. Slogans are simple. And when it comes to sexual health, simple isn’t safe.