

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

Jul 13, 2020 • 54min
Health Media Literacy
We're being inundated by medical news in the face of COVID-19, but how is the layman supposed to make sense of all it? How can you tell a trustworthy report from simple clickbait? We'll discuss on this week's Sawbones (with a brief tangent about re-opening schools).Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers

Jul 3, 2020 • 41min
Sawbones: The Weight of the Human Soul
An introspective moment on Sawbones this week as we meet the doctor who devoted his life to discovering the weight of the human soul.NOTE: This episode contains discussions of mortality, both human and animal.Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers

Jun 26, 2020 • 50min
Systemic Racism in Medical Honors
AOA is a medical honors society that's supposed to separate top-tier medical students from the rest of the pack. It helps determine which doctors get the top jobs in the most competitive fields. The problem? There's implicit racism in the way it chooses members, and fixing it may be a massive challenge.Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers

Jun 12, 2020 • 44min
Sawbones: COVID-19 and Bad Data
OK, yes, this is an episode about medical research, but it's the sexiest medical research story you're ever going to hear. It's got scandal! It's got a detective! It's got a sentient robot equipped with anti-gravity technology!We'd type more here, but we have to assume you're already listening.Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers

Jun 5, 2020 • 42min
Sawbones: The Black Panthers and Public Health
If you received the typical, white-centric education, you probably associate the Black Panthers only with violence and political protest. This week on Sawbones, we talk about their work in medical research advocacy and creating public health programs that sought to make life better for all black and oppressed people. Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers

Jun 1, 2020 • 47min
Sawbones: Medical Racism and Protest Safety
This week on Sawbones, we examine how Black Americans have received substandard care and fewer opportunities within the American medical system. Also, some guidance on how to protest as safely as possible in the face of COVID-19.Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers

May 22, 2020 • 45min
Sawbones: The Cholera Riots
Fear that the government and doctors were allied in a grand conspiracy to oppress the populace was at a fever pitch. The people took to the streets to prove that they would not abide by quarantine, that they would defy the powers that be and go on about their daily lives.The year is 1831. The disease is cholera.Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers

May 17, 2020 • 53min
Sawbones: COVID-19 Q&A
It should come as no surprise that the Sawbones inbox has been chockablock with questions about the ongoing ... unpleasantness. This week, we're trying to group your COVID-19 queries in an orderly fashion and answer them to the best of our ability. Well, the best of Sydnee's ability. Justin just talks about dandruff shampoo. Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers

May 8, 2020 • 48min
Sawbones: Cabin Fever
Did you know that cabin fever isn't just the cooped-up funk we all find ourselves in? It's a real actual disease called typhus -- or at least, it used to be. It's confusing, we know, but this week we're gonna walk you through all the extremely gross details.Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers

May 1, 2020 • 52min
Sawbones: COVID Lies, Darned Lies and Statistics
Two doctors made headlines this week by trying to construct the narrative that the COVID-19 pandemic has been overblown by the hospital system in pursuit of more profits. This week, Dr. Sydnee and Justin explain why their numbers don't add up, and how you can combat this narrative if it, depressingly, sticks around.Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers