

Sawbones: A Marital Tour of Misguided Medicine
Justin McElroy, Dr. Sydnee McElroy
Join Dr. Sydnee McElroy and her husband Justin McElroy for a tour of all the dumb, bad, gross, weird and wrong ways we've tried to fix people.
Episodes
Mentioned books

May 6, 2025 • 38min
Sawbones: Renaissance Medicine
Sawbones brings you a studio version of the show at the ye olde Harmony House Renaissance Faire. Justin and Dr. Sydnee talk about how medicine evolved in the Renaissance beyond what passed for scientific theories during the middle ages including the four humours, alchemy, and the real cause of syphilis (insulting the sun god).Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/Center for Reproductive Rights: https://reproductiverights.org/

Apr 29, 2025 • 44min
Sawbones: Tetanus
It's a myth that tetanus is only found on rusty metal. What really matters is that a wound that is a dirty, deep puncture wound could to introduce the bacteria into the body. Dr. Sydnee and Justin talk about the long history of humans and tetanus, what it does to a body, and why maybe it's not a great idea to garden barefoot.Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/National Immigration Project: https://nipnlg.org/about/who-we-are

Apr 22, 2025 • 42min
Sawbones: The Medical Freedom Movement
The Medical Freedom or the Health Freedom Movement is not new, but it is currently gaining more traction and attention under RFK, Jr. On its face, it is a political movement that distrusts pharmaceutical companies and government regulations for supplements. But Dr. Sydnee talks about its history and roots in strange conspiracies and biases from the 1950s – and what the movement means for us today.Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/"The John Birch Society" by The Chad Mitchell Trio: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWCYSVZhPoUNational Immigration Project: https://nipnlg.org/about/who-we-are

Apr 15, 2025 • 40min
Sawbones: Thalassotherapy
TikTok has become enthralled with the idea of Thalassotherapy... which is basically going to the ocean to feel better. Dr. Sydnee talks about the history of this "sea cure" and Dr. Richard Russell, the man who popularized it in the second half of the eighteenth century.Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/National Immigration Project: https://nipnlg.org/about/who-we-are

Apr 1, 2025 • 42min
Sawbones: Why Don’t Edema and Enema Rhyme?
Join in for a quirky exploration of medical curiosities! Discover if Gatorade is really salty and the truth behind cat allergies. Get ready to chuckle at the hosts' wild anecdotes about bear encounters. The fascinating world of sea salt production reveals its mineral diversity and culinary perks, while debunking health myths. Plus, learn how norovirus spreads and the surprising ways fetal taste development occurs. The playful banter and strange questions keep the humor flowing throughout!

6 snips
Mar 25, 2025 • 35min
Sawbones: Dr. Odyssey: Shark Week
Dive into a chaotic cruise ship saga where a shark attack leads to a dramatic double amputation. The hosts blend humor with surprisingly accurate medical insights, critiquing the wild portrayal of emergencies at sea. Unpack the absurdity of a power outage during surgery, discussions on orca behavior, and the portrayal of autism in media, all while navigating the high seas of medical mayhem. Their playful banter keeps you entertained as they express gratitude for listener support and contributions!

Mar 18, 2025 • 40min
Sawbones: The Pitt
Dr. Sydnee brings a little levity as she talks about a new medical show, The Pitt. Following fictional doctors in real-time(ish), Dr. Sydnee discusses how it compares to working in an actual ER, as well as it how it compares to the 1990s show ER.Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/Harmony House: https://harmonyhousewv.com/

Mar 17, 2025 • 1h 19min
Feed Drop: Clint and Justin join MFD Spring Break!
It’s not MaxFunDrive without a wild kickoff spectacular! Former real-life VJ and host of MTV's Spring Break 1999, Dave Holmes, takes your favorite MaxFun hosts through some wacky ‘90s- and Spring Break-themed mini games!! Featuring: Dave Holmes, Jeremy Bent, Oscar Montoya, Dimitry Pompée, Tom Lum, Ellen Weatherford, Alex Schmidt, Brenda Snell, Drea Clark, Alonso Duralde, Dan McCoy, Jordan Morris, Manolo Moreno, Ella Hubber, Caroline Roper, Ella McLeod, John-Luke Roberts, Justin McElroy, Clint McElroy, Mike Cabellon, Sierra Katow, Hal Lublin, Danielle Radford, John Moe, Christian Dueñas, Christian Duguay.

Mar 11, 2025 • 36min
Sawbones: Henry VIII
How dangerous is jousting? Just look into the example of King Henry VIII of England. The Tudor king is infamous for his six wives, but Dr. Sydnee explains how a jousting injury may have changed his behavior – and changed the course of history.Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/Harmony House: https://harmonyhousewv.com/

Mar 4, 2025 • 39min
Sawbones: Kleptomania
Kleptomania is defined by an undeniable compulsion to steal, so it has wavered between legitimate diagnosis and flimsy criminal defense to somewhere in between since its inception. This week on Sawbones, Dr. Sydnee unpacks the facts from fiction while Justin tries to steal the show.Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/Harmony House: https://harmonyhousewv.com/


