Joyful Microbe
Episodes
Sharing the Story of Agar and Fanny Angelina Hesse: Dr. Corrado Nai
25 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Agar is a crucial tool used daily in most microbiologists’ work. It’s the stuff that goes in Petri dishes for microbes to grow on. But many microb...
Are Oysters Safe to Eat Raw? Understanding the Microbes and Risks: Dr. Rachel Diner
21 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Oysters can be risky to eat raw, but what microbes are actually responsible? Is there more to it than just chance? In this episode, I talk with Dr. Ra...
The Impact of Alcohol on the Gut Microbiome: Andrew Day
27 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Can drinking alcohol impact our gut health? It sure can. Since our gut health is so crucial for our overall health, this episode focuses on the connec...
Science-Backed Approaches to Gut Health: Kristina Campbell
31 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Gut health has become a major topic in wellness, influencing everything from grocery choices to discussions on social media. Research increasingly sho...
How Microbes Are Useful in Agriculture: Dr. Barry Goldman
30 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever stopped to think about the teeming world hidden beneath your feet? It's not just dirt down there; it's a vibrant ecosystem teemi...
Coloring the Microbial World: Drs. Sarah Wettstadt and Noémie Matthey
27 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Coloring books aren't just for kids anymore. In fact, one unique coloring book is bringing the fascinating world of bacteria to life for all ages....
Making Microscopy Accessible with Foldscope: Holly Stuart
31 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Understanding microbes is an essential part of appreciating the natural world and our environment. But exploring microbiology using a traditional micr...
Degrading Plastic Through the Power of Microbes: Angie Beckett
02 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Plastic waste in our oceans is a significant problem, but some bacteria might offer a solution. Did you know that certain bacteria can break down plas...
Lichen Basics: Dr. Jessica Allen
29 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever noticed the colorful growths on trees and rocks but weren't sure what they were? Lichens are all around us yet often overlooked. The...
Plant Pathogen Lettuce Downy Mildew: Dr. Kelsey Wood
25 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever noticed little white fluffy spots or yellowish patches on your lettuce at the grocery store? This could be downy mildew, a microbe that ...
Safe Chicken Handling from Supermarket to Backyard: Dr. Andrea Etter
27 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
While many microbes bring benefits, pathogens are the focus when ensuring food safety. This episode dives into practical tips for enjoying chicken, wh...
The Skin Microbiome and Our Health: Dr. Aayushi Uberoi
29 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever stopped to think about the bustling world of life thriving right on your skin? Billions of microscopic organisms, collectively known as ...
The Gut Virome: Michael Shamash
18 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever thought about the trillions of invisible, microscopic entities inhabiting your body right now? While much of the microbiome spotlight sh...
Sustainability Through Biodegradation: Jhonatan Hernandez Valdes
19 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Are you curious about how microbes are involved in creating a more sustainable world? Those tiny, often-overlooked organisms hold a remarkable secret ...
The Lab Coat Project: Dr. Derek Miller
11 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Lab coats are an integral part of the world of microbiology, serving as a vital piece of personal protective equipment (PPE). When we envision a micro...
Teaching High School Microbiology with Passion and Purpose: Clara Marcelín
30 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Are you a science educator who wants to spark curiosity in your high school students with microbiology? In this world of information overload and digi...
The Aromatic World of Microbes: Exploring the Delightful and Repulsive Smells
20 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever caught a whiff of something and wondered, "What in the world is responsible for this?" Well, the world of microbes might hold th...
What Really Makes Something Dirty: Dr. Sandra Wilks
30 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In a world where news articles claim that your water bottle has more bacteria than a toilet seat, it's natural to worry about microorganisms makin...
Algae in Nature and Biotechnology: Dr. Kyle Lauersen
30 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we dive into the captivating world of algae and biotechnology with Dr. Kyle Lauersen. He is an Assistant Professor at King Abdullah U...
Introducing Joyful Microbiology Activities
27 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I'm thrilled to announce that in this podcast episode, I read the introduction chapter of my brand new ebook, Joyful Microbiology Activities. This...
Microbes & health, forensic microbiology, and Invisible Friends: Dr. Jake Robinson
30 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Jake Robinson is a microbial ecologist at Flinders University and researches microbes, ecosystems, social equity issues, and ways to conserve and ...
Microbiology Education Ideas and Tips From The Joyful Microbe Community
18 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We are celebrating, microbe friends! This month marks the 4th anniversary of Joyful Microbe!!! I’ve had such a blast creating articles, podcast epis...
How To Nurture Your Skin Microbiome: Dr. Julie O’Sullivan
30 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A vast number of microbes live on our skin, in our gut, and almost everywhere else you can imagine on and in our bodies. Collectively, these microbes ...
What is a tardigrade?
05 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Tardigrades are beloved microorganisms. These little water bears hide in moss, lichen, and bark of trees. When kids discover tardigrades, it often spa...
The Microbiology of Fermented Foods: Dr. John Leech
25 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Fermented foods like beer, wine, bread, sauerkraut, yogurt, and kombucha are delicious to eat and fun to make at home. And we can give credit to micro...
Microbiology Activities for High School Students: Jessica Popescu
28 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The K-12 curriculum does not cover microbiology much at all. But this area of science matters. Children need a complete understanding of the microorga...
Micronovo’s Microbiology Books for Kids: Dr. Mike Manefield
25 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
How do you explain microbiology to a child? It’s an abstract topic since you can’t readily see microbes due to their size. So, to help your kids ...
Painting with colorful antibiotics from bacteria: Dr. Vineetha Zacharia
28 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The words bacteria and beauty are not usually associated. But some bacteria make beautiful colors that span the entire rainbow. And one type of bacter...
The superpowers of bacteria: Dr. Sarah Wettstadt (BacterialWorld)
25 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Sarah Wettstadt is the founder of the BacterialWorld blog and loves sharing about bacteria and all of the amazing things they do in the world. So ...
Geosmin: the smell of soil and rain
19 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
If it rained where you are today, you may have noticed that delightful earthy smell. It’s wonderful, right? Well, you can thank microbes for making ...
Space Microbiology: Marta Cortesão
21 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The field of microbiology spans many areas of study, with some focusing on microbes living in different environments, like the ocean, the desert, the ...
Introduction to Lichens: Dr. Klara Scharnagl
16 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
What’s something from the microbial world you can go outside and almost be guaranteed to see? I’ll give you a hint. They are those gray, green, ye...
How science art helps us understand microbiology: Dr. Lizah van der Aart
19 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We talk about microbes on this podcast. But let’s face it. If you don’t see a picture of them, it’s difficult to imagine what’s going on in th...
Using viruses to battle superbugs (phage therapy): Dr. Jessica Sacher
01 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Imagine the last time you were sick and needed antibiotics...now imagine that you took the antibiotic, but the infection didn’t go away. The antibio...
Using microbes to treat infections: Dr. Brian Klein
16 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
What if doctors could use microbes to treat infections? It might seem counterintuitive at first because, well, aren’t the microbes the problem? Not...
How Bacteria Cause Tooth Decay
02 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The mouth is an ecosystem full of bacteria, fungi, and viruses, and protozoa. Although this ecosystem contains many different microbes, in this podcas...
What microbiologists do in their jobs: Shelli Nauman
19 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
When you picture a microbiologist, what do you imagine? Someone looking through a microscope? Maybe someone in a lab doing research? In your mind, are...
11 Audiobooks About Microbes
05 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Do you love audiobooks? How about audiobooks about microbes?Finding time to sit down and read a book can be difficult. But audiobooks provide the perf...
How to spark interest in microbiology: Dr. Dave Westenberg
22 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
How do you get people interested in microbiology? Microbiology can be quite abstract since it is the study of organisms we most of the time cannot see...
Life in extreme locations: Dr. Adrienne Kish
07 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Did you know that microbes live in some surprising places like hot springs, inside of salt, and at the bottom of the ocean?These organisms that love e...
How to enjoy fungi: Dr. Matt Kasson
23 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Do you ever notice fungi in your daily life? They are everywhere. Dr. Matt Kasson came on the Joyful Microbe podcast to tell us how awesome fungi are...
Welcome to the Joyful Microbe Podcast!
16 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Join microbiologist Justine Dees, PhD on a journey into the microbial world. The Joyful Microbe podcast is a show all about the microbes we encounter ...