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Ep 60 Giving birth to "The Pill"
Season 3
Well, TPWKY listeners, it has been a heck of a year, and it’s not even over yet! But one thing has come to an end: our third season. Given the profound implications these next couple of months will h…
Published on 5 years, 2 months ago
Ep 59 Thalidomide: Justice Delayed, Justice Denied
Season 3
The story of thalidomide is often employed as a cautionary tale - why testing a drug’s safety during pregnancy is crucial or why it’s important to choose the right animal models. Or it’s framed as a …
Published on 5 years, 3 months ago
Ep 58 Guinea worm: (Almost) Ancient History
Season 3
You’ve heard about smallpox, and you’ve learned about rinderpest. Now it’s time to meet what may be the third disease to ever be eradicated: dracunculiasis, also known as Guinea worm disease. In this…
Published on 5 years, 3 months ago
Ep 57 Herpes: Stop the STIgma
Season 3
The harm caused by herpes simplex viruses (HSV) 1 & 2 often arises not from the pathology of the viruses themselves but rather from the stigma and shame associated with a positive diagnosis. In this …
Published on 5 years, 3 months ago
Ep 56 Sickle Cell Disease: Invisible Illness, Enduring Strength
Season 3
Neglected and ignored by the medical establishment throughout most of its history, sickle cell disease remains one of the most common (and commonly misunderstood) genetic conditions in the world. In …
Published on 5 years, 4 months ago
Ep 55 Rocky Mountain spotted fever: The tick must be destroyed!
Season 3
Despite what its name might suggest, the story of Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) takes us far beyond the jagged, snow-capped peaks of the western range. From the Bitterroot Valley to southeaster…
Published on 5 years, 4 months ago
Ep 54 Wake Up and Smell the Caffeine
Season 3
Are you one of the billions of people around the world who starts your day with a freshly brewed and deliciously aromatic cup of coffee or tea or maybe even hot chocolate? Or are you caffeine-avoidan…
Published on 5 years, 5 months ago
Ep 53 Radiation: X-Ray Marks the Spot
Season 3
“I have discovered something interesting, but I do not know whether or not my observations are correct.” With these words, Wilhelm Röntgen introduced the world to an invisible power, a power which wo…
Published on 5 years, 5 months ago
Ep 52 Rinderpest: Moo Cows, Moo Problems
Season 3
The second disease ever to be eradicated, rinderpest could be the most devastating and notorious infection you never knew existed. Though its name means “cattle plague”, the deadly rinderpest virus i…
Published on 5 years, 6 months ago
Ep 51 The Path of Most (Antibiotic) Resistance
Season 3
No story of antibiotics would be complete without the rise of resistance. As promised in our last episode, this week we dive into what the WHO calls ‘one of the biggest threats to global health, food…
Published on 5 years, 7 months ago