
Sawbones: A Marital Tour of Misguided Medicine
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.
Latest episodes

Mar 5, 2024 • 49min
Sawbones: IVF
Started in the 1930s by scientist Dr. Miriam Menkin, in vitro fertilization is a medical procedure to help with fertility that took until the 1970s to have results in humans. With some drastic misunderstandings going on in the news, Dr. Sydnee and Justin go through the long history of in vitro fertilization and its importance in fertility and contraception today.Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

Feb 27, 2024 • 50min
Sawbones: Knock Knock Hi
Justin and Dr. Sydnee are joined by parallel-universe versions of themselves, The Glaucomfleckens! The two doctor-spouse duos talk about Will and Kristen Flanary's journey into podcasting, including serious medical scares, balancing work and kids, and social media. KNOCK KNOCK HI: https://glaucomflecken.com/podcast/ Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

Feb 13, 2024 • 52min
Sawbones: Tongue Ties
A tongue tie is not just a turn of phrase, it's a medical condition in which the frenulum under your tongue is too thick and restricts your lingual movement. For a long time, a procedure to cut it has been done as a solution to some breastfeeding woes. But should it be? Dr. Sydnee and Justin talk about the history of this procedure and the medical field's view on it today. Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

Feb 6, 2024 • 38min
Sawbones: Aquatofana
Normally Sawbones talks about medical cures, whether real or fake, but today Dr. Sydnee and Justin are diving into the opposite. There was a time when women in bad marriages and needed a way out could turn to Julia Tofana who offered a secret, untraceable poison and, maybe, a chance at freedom. Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

Jan 30, 2024 • 43min
Sawbones: Gallstones
Do you even know where your gallbladder is? Maybe it's not so surprising that millions of Americans don't know they have a gastrointestinal disorder caused by gallstones. Dr. Sydnee and Justin go through the history of gallbladder disease, and why the icky medical mnemonic of "forty, fat, and fertile" is misleading and maybe even harmful.Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

Jan 23, 2024 • 40min
Sawbones: Dr. Scholl's
Dr. Scholl, a doctor with a particular interest in fixing feet, is the guest. The hosts discuss Dr. Scholl's medical training and his fascination with foot care. They explore the controversy surrounding whether Dr. Scholl was a real doctor or just a businessman. They also discuss the creation of Dr. Scholl's foot inserts and his marketing strategies. Overall, they delve into Dr. Scholl's legacy and his contributions to the field of feet care.

Jan 16, 2024 • 42min
Sawbones: Doctor Brands
A lot of brands name themselves "doctor" – but how many of them are named after actual medical doctors? Justin takes the wheel with a little quiz for Dr. Sydnee and the listeners on Dr. Pepper, Doc Martens, Dr. Teal, and more. Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

Dec 19, 2023 • 50min
Sawbones: Home Alone 2
The hosts discuss the injuries sustained in Home Alone 2 and the unrealistic functioning of characters. They analyze the potential damage caused by falling bricks and the dangers of electric shock. They also talk about the seriousness of burns on the scalp and the continuity of characters in the franchise.

Dec 12, 2023 • 42min
Sawbones: Why Don’t Americans get De-Wormed?
Shrug off that winter chill with a warm bowl of listener-submitted medical questions. Questions like: Am I giving away my immunity with a blood donation? Can antibiotics make colds worse? Can you cough while sleeping? Are we really new people every seven years? And is there any real health benefit to shaving my armpits?Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

Dec 5, 2023 • 41min
Sawbones: Pepto Bismol
In this episode of Sawbones, the hosts explore the history and availability of Pepto Bismol, sharing personal experiences and discussing its decline in popularity. They also discuss language learning and digital frames.