If you asked people which of their senses they most feared losing, they'd probably say sight or hearing. But what about the ability to smell? This episode of Distillations examines what is perhaps our most underrated sense, and ponders what life would be like without it.

We hit the streets of South Philadelphia to understand how a pervasive odor troubled neighborhood residents in the summer of 2014. Then we hear the story of Mario Rivas, a man who has lived his whole life without a sense of smell, and the great lengths he went to gain one.

Then, we'll talk to two smell experts, Pamela Dalton, a psychologist at the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia, and David Barnes, a professor of the history of medicine and public health at the University of Pennsylvania. Our guests discuss the connection between smelling, odors, and emotions, as well as the history of odors, germs, and public health crises.

SHOW CLOCK:

00:01 Introduction

01:10 South Philadelphia's Great Stink of 2014

05:31 The Man Who Couldn't Smell

15:45 Interview with Pamela Dalton and David Barnes

CREDITS:

Hosts: Michal Meyer and Bob Kenworthy

Guests: Pamela Dalton and David Barnes

Reporters: Mariel Carr and Jocelyn Frank

Producer & Editor: Mariel Carr

Music courtesy of the Audio Network.

Check out Distillations magazine at distillations.org, where you'll find articles, videos, and our podcast.

Wake up and Smell the Story: Sniffing out Health and Sickness