This Podcast Will Kill You
Episodes
Ep 56 Sickle Cell Disease: Invisible Illness, Enduring Strength
18 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Neglected and ignored by the medical establishment throughout most of its history, sickle cell disease remains one of the most common (and commonly mi...
Ep 55 Rocky Mountain spotted fever: The tick must be destroyed!
04 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Ep 54 Wake Up and Smell the Caffeine
21 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 mayb...
Ep 53 Radiation: X-Ray Marks the Spot
07 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
“I have discovered something interesting, but I do not know whether or not my observations are correct.” With these words, Wilhelm Röntgen introd...
Ep 52 Rinderpest: Moo Cows, Moo Problems
23 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The second disease ever to be eradicated, rinderpest could be the most devastating and notorious infection you never knew existed. Though its name mea...
Ep 51 The Path of Most (Antibiotic) Resistance
26 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 ‘...
Ep 50 Antibiotics: We owe it all to chemistry!
12 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Fifty episodes. That’s fifty (sometimes) deadly viruses, bacteria, protozoa, parasites, and poisons. And don’t forget the fifty quarantinis to acc...
COVID-19 Ch 11: Modeling
04 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The eleventh episode of our Anatomy of a Pandemic series has arrived, and just in time. Have you found yourself trying to sift through headlines claim...
Ep 49 Eastern Equine Encephalitis: Triple EEEk!
28 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In 2019, eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), a viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes, made headlines in much of the US as cases skyrocketed compared ...
COVID-19 Chapter 10: Schools
23 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In the tenth episode of our Anatomy of a Pandemic series on COVID-19, we continue our exploration of the diverse impacts of this pandemic by taking a ...
COVID-19 Chapter 9: Economics
20 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 9 of our Anatomy of a Pandemic is here, and this week we’re stepping outside our public health sphere to examine COVID-19 from an entirely d...
Ep 48 Botulism: Why are you the way you are?
14 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
You don’t look surprised to see this in your podcast feed - or is that just the botox? This week we’re taking a tour of the wonderful world of Cl...
COVID-19 Chapter 8: Disparities
09 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In the eighth episode in our Anatomy of a Pandemic series focusing on COVID-19, we discuss how this pandemic will likely lead to a disproportionate im...
COVID-19 Chapter 7: Spillover
06 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Coming at ya with our seventh episode in our Anatomy of a Pandemic series on the ongoing COVID-19 situation. So far in the series, we’ve discussed a...
Ep 47 Schistosomiasis: A Snail's Pace
31 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
It’s back to your regularly scheduled programming this week with an episode on schistosomiasis (aka bilharzia), that scourge both ancient and modern...
COVID-19 Chapter 6: Mental Health
23 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to Chapter 6 of our Anatomy of a Pandemic series exploring the world of COVID-19. If you have made it this far in the series, you might be fee...
COVID-19 Chapter 5: Vaccines
23 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Chapter 5 of our Anatomy of a Pandemic series covering all things COVID-19 goes through some of the exciting developments in potential vaccines for th...
COVID-19 Chapter 4: Epidemiology
23 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The fourth installment of our Anatomy of a Pandemic series takes a look at some of the epidemiological characteristics of the COVID-19 pandemic. But f...
COVID-19 Chapter 3: Control
23 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to the third chapter of our Anatomy of a Pandemic series, in which we cover the many aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this chapter, we dis...
COVID-19 Chapter 2: Disease
23 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This marks the second installment in our Anatomy of a Pandemic series, in which we discuss the various aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this secon...
COVID-19 Chapter 1: Virology
23 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
To discuss the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we are introducing Anatomy of a Pandemic, a series in which each episode tackles a particular aspect of COVI...
Ep 46 Lactose Intolerance: Never trust a fart
17 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Everyone loves a good poop story, don’t they? We certainly hope so, because our good friend Katie shares a fantastic one to kick off our episode on ...
Ep 45 Hepatitis C: Hepatiti?
03 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
From its discovery only 30 years ago to the recent development of an effective treatment, the short life of the Hepatitis C virus certainly has been a...
Ep 44 Pertussis: Whoop Here It Is
18 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
[TRIGGER WARNING: see below] Whooping cough, that terrible childhood scourge, has been making an alarming comeback due to lapses in vaccination cover...
Ep 43 M-m-m-my Coronaviruses
04 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
What better time to explore the world of coronaviruses than amidst an outbreak of the 2019 novel coronavirus that brings to mind memories of SARS and ...
Ep 42 Dandy Dengue Fever
21 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Our first vector-borne disease episode of season 3 and our first mosquito-borne pathogen in quite some time, dengue virus proves itself to be more tha...
Ep 41 Ricin: A Bad Seed
07 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Have you missed learning about plant poisons? Well, it’s your lucky day! Today is our first crossover of season three with our friend Matt Candeias ...
Ep 40 Dancing Plague: Worst Dance Party Ever
24 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In 1518 a strange sight could be seen all over the town of Strasbourg. Crowds of people dancing unceasingly, unable to control their movements, seemin...
Ep 39 Toxoplasmosis: Calling All Cats
10 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
You’ve seen the headlines: could this cat-associated parasite be controlling your every move? Is the love you have for cats pure or merely a manipul...
Ep 38 Lead Poisoning: Heavy Metal Episode
26 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This episode, our first foray into toxic metals, is heavy in all kinds of ways - metallically, emotionally, informationally, politically. Lead poisoni...
Ep 37 E. coli (unless it's beets)
12 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
E. coli. Such a short name for such a massive topic. This episode we explore the delightful diversity of Escherichia coli, the ubiquitous bacterium t...
Ep 36 Shades of Syphilis
29 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
That’s right, we’re back! And we’re starting off with a bang. Syphilis, aka the Great Imitator, is the subject of today’s long-awaited episode...
Ep 35 Lyme Disease: I'd like to check you for ticks
03 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
For our last episode of this season, we’re going out with a bang, or should we say bite? This week we’re tackling the doozy of a disease called Ly...
Ep 34 Cystic Fibrosis: Complete Somatic Rebellion
20 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Despite being one of the most common genetic disorders, affecting millions of people worldwide, cystic fibrosis evaded medical description for thousan...
Ep 33 Chytrid: The Silent Forest
06 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Walking through a forest at dusk, you’ve likely heard the croaks and groans of frogs and toads forming a chorus in the damp undergrowth. But what if...
Ep 32 Ask the Erins
23 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
What exactly is disease ecology anyway? How did TPWKY come to be? How do we come up with our quarantinis? What’s our favorite pathogen? In this ve...
Ep 31 Giardia: Gerardia
09 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Giardia may be the most common intestinal parasite in the US and one of the most common worldwide, but did you know it was only in the last 40 years t...
Ep 30 Encephalitis Lethargica: Sleep Perchance to Dream (& Dream & Dream)
25 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Imagine this: a sickness where millions fell into a deep slumber from which they never woke. Of those that did, many remained trapped in a cage of the...
Ep 29 Aspirin the Wonder Drug: Crossover w/ IDOP
11 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
On this very special crossover episode with our friend Matt Candeias from In Defense of Plants, we’re switching things up from poison to remedy, foc...
Ep 28 H. pylori: Don't try this at home
28 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This week's episode comes with a warning: don't attempt this at home. While self-experimentation has led to many a scientific breakthrough, we're defi...
Ep 27 Vaccines Part 2: Have you thanked your immune system lately?
21 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Were you stoked about the history and biology of vaccines we covered in part 1, but left with even more questions? Were you really hoping to hear us t...
Ep 26 Vaccines part 1: Let's hear it for Maurice
14 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The wait is finally over: this week we are very excited to bring you the episode we’ve been teasing for weeks: vaccines! This week and next (you don...
Ep 25 Put your hands together for: Gonorrhea!
30 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This bug deserves a big round of applause and not just because it’s nicknamed “The Clap”. Check out this week’s episode to gasp in wonder at t...
Ep 24 Zika: Rumors and Rumours
16 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Zika virus may not have as long and storied a history as many diseases we've covered, but in a short time it has managed to make a big impression. Tod...
Ep 23 Opening a can of Hookworms
02 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Today we’re taking a bite out of hookworm, our first macroparasite. We start, as all hookworm journeys must, from the dewy grass, where larvae burro...
Ep 22 Belladonna will dilate your mind: Crossover w/ IDOP
19 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Are you ready to dilate your mind? Or at least your eyes? We hope so, because that means you’re ready for another Poisoncast episode! This week we’...
Ep 21 Measles: The Worst Souvenir
05 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
You’ve seen the recent headlines and heard the news reports, but they’re only part of this deadly virus’s story. This week we’re covering the ...
Ep 20 Prions: Apocalypse Cow
19 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This week's episode is nothing like any of our past episodes, and there will never be another quite like it. How can we be so sure, you ask? Because t...
Ep 19 Scurvy: Thanks a lot, evolution.
05 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Arr, mateys, climb aboard for a swash-buckling tale of when the high seas were full of disease! Today we’re covering a non-infectious but no less te...
Ep 18 Hantavirus: The Real Rat Race
22 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
What do Korea, Slovenia, Finland, and the southwestern US all have in common? If you guessed Hantaviruses, you’d be quite correct. Today we bring yo...
Ep 17 Oh No Tetrodo: Crossover w/ TBOSP
08 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Are you hungry for braaaaiiiinnnnssss? Or for fugu at the very least? We hope so, because this week we’re talking zombies and tetrodotoxin. In this ...
Ep 16 Scratch and Sniff Diphtheria Membrane
24 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is so good that we’re putting it out a full day early. Pour yourself a quarantini and cozy up with us as we tell you a story of a bacte...
Ep 15 MRSA: Make Resistance Susceptible Again
11 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
We've gotten pretty graphic on this podcast before, but this episode takes it to a whole new level. The omnipresent Staphylococcus aureus is a bacteri...
Ep 14 Rabies: Don't dilute me, bro
27 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
After a long hiatus we are back with a much anticipated look at one of the most feared diseases of all time: rabies. We cover everything from its evol...
Ep 13 Don't Tread on my Monkshood: Crossover w/ IDOP
27 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
What's the difference between a physician and a pretender, a magician and a poisoner? That's a question we'll try and answer in today's episode! We ar...
Special Episode: HIV/AIDS
30 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The cherry on top of our first season, this bonus episode features more of Frank, Hillel, and Brryan's stories. Frank and Hillel, who live on opposite...
Ep 12 HIV/AIDS: Apathy Will Kill You
23 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This is it, y'all: the season finale. This week we’re talking about HIV/AIDS, one of the biggest pandemics of modern times. We were fortunate enough...
Ep 11 Ebola: The New Kid on the Block
16 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Let's face it. This is the episode you've been waiting for. Are you ready for one of the most publicized epidemics of the century? Because we're ready...
Ep 10 Yellow Fever: Is there a Hamilton song about this?
09 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Today we're talking about yellow fever, a disease with a history as colorful as its name, and a vector as pretty as a picture (depending on whom you a...
Ep 9 Tuberculosis: A Slow Burn
02 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Today, we’re taking a page straight out of Dickens and talking about tuberculosis- a disease as rich in history as it is in bloody sputum. We'll tra...
Ep 8 ABRACADABRA - Go Away Malaria!
19 Dec 2017
Contributed by Lukas
It's both a disease of dinosaurs and a plague of people. A gin and tonic might make you forget how much those bites itch, but it won't protect you muc...
Ep 7 Hit Me With Your Best (Polio) Shot
12 Dec 2017
Contributed by Lukas
A scientific rivalry for the ages, a president with a closely kept secret, and a summertime with no pool time. What do all these things have in comm...
Ep 6 Plague Part 2: TGFA
05 Dec 2017
Contributed by Lukas
We're back with another episode all about plague-TGFA: Thank Goodness For Antibiotics! Today we'll focus on the status of plague in the modern world: ...
Ep 5 Plague Part 1: The GMOAT
28 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
That's right y'all... Today we're talking the GMOAT: The GREATEST MORTALITY OF ALL TIME: BLACK DEATH. This episode we'll cover the biology and history...
Ep 4 The Poop Show
21 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
That's right.. this is the poop show! Today we talk cholera- the bacterial disease that makes you liquid-poop your pants (and then some). Travel back...
Ep 3 Gnarlypox
14 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
This week we pay tribute to one of the gnarliest diseases of all time, and the only human disease that's ever been eradicated (thus far). That's right...
Ep 2 Skin in the Game, Horse in the Race
07 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
This week we tackle leprosy. That biblical (or is it?) infection that, believe it or not, is still with us today. Leprosy has an ancient history that ...
Ep 1 Influenza Will Kill You
31 Oct 2017
Contributed by Lukas
In Episode 1 we're talking all things flu, just in time for the start of flu season! We'll dive into the 1918 influenza pandemic that killed literally...
Episode 0 - TPWKY Season 1 Trailer
23 Oct 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to This Podcast Will Kill You, your new favorite way to learn about disease biology, history, and stuff to gross out your dinner party guest...