Podcast Episodes

Ep 119 Marburg virus: Too fast, too furious

Season 6

In early February and late March of this year, separate outbreaks of Marburg virus were declared in Equatorial Guinea and in the United Republic of Tanzania. For several months, news of these outbrea…

Published on 2 years, 6 months ago

Special Episode: Dr. Steven Thrasher & The Viral Underclass

Season 6

Are viruses the “great equalizers” that some people claim them to be? Are we all similarly susceptible not only to infection from viruses but also to the consequences from infection? The short answer…

Published on 2 years, 6 months ago

Ep 118 Asbestos: Corruption and cancer and corporate greed, oh my!

Season 6

An entire generation probably first learned the word “mesothelioma” and its link to asbestos from those ubiquitous commercials in the 1990s and 2000s. You know the one: “if you or a loved one has bee…

Published on 2 years, 7 months ago

Special Episode: Mary Roach & Fuzz

Season 6

Where can you find banana-stealing macaques, dumpster-diving bears, flower-destroying gulls, and dangerously-exploding trees all in the same place? In a book by Mary Roach, of course. In this TPWKY b…

Published on 2 years, 7 months ago

Ep 117 Bedbugs: Bug-bitten and bedeviled

Season 6

This just might be our itchiest episode yet, and for that we sincerely apologize. But it might also be one of our most fascinating and fun episodes yet, and for that we are proud. Whether or not you …

Published on 2 years, 7 months ago

Special Episode: Dr. Kate Clancy & Period

Season 6

Menstruation. Is there any other biological process that is so widely experienced yet is still discussed in hushed tones or with an air of disgust? Period product commercials that never mention menst…

Published on 2 years, 8 months ago

Ep 116 It's never lupus (except this time)

Season 6

Even if you haven’t watched the TV show House MD, you’re probably familiar with the phrase “it’s never lupus”. But have you stopped to consider why it’s never lupus? Or why lupus is so often suspecte…

Published on 2 years, 8 months ago

Wondery Presents - This Is Actually Happening: Point Blank

In light of recent news, we encourage you to learn about the Covenant School shooting in Nashville, please help the victims if that’s available to you, and we urge you to take extra sensitivity and c…

Published on 2 years, 8 months ago

Ep 115 Altitude Sickness: Balloons though?

Season 6

In our episode on the bends, you joined us as we explored how low we can go. Now we’re back with a similar invitation: come along to learn how high we can fly (and what happens to our bodies when we …

Published on 2 years, 9 months ago

Special Episode: Angela Saini & Superior

Season 6

Listeners of this podcast are likely no strangers to the horrifying history of eugenics, a topic that has made an appearance in our episodes on epilepsy, Huntington’s disease, hemophilia, sickle cell…

Published on 2 years, 9 months ago