MrBallen’s Medical Mysteries
Wondery | Ballen Studios
The human body is a miracle. But when it’s not working, it can be the stuff of nightmares. On this new series from master storyteller MrBallen, we’re sharing medical horror stories and diagnostic mysteries that are surgically calibrated to make your blood run cold.From bizarre, unheard-of diseases and miraculous recoveries to strange medical mishaps and unexplainable deaths — you’ll never hear the phrase “heart-stopping” in the same way again. MrBallen’s Medical Mysteries is a first-of-its-kind collaboration between MrBallen and Wondery, the award-winning company behind Dr. Death.Follow MrBallen's Medical Mysteries on Amazon Music, the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes publish for free every Tuesday. Prime members can listen to new episodes early and ad-free on Amazon Music. Or, you can listen episodes early and ad-free on Wondery+. Start your free trial in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or by visiting https://wondery.com/links/mrballens-medical-mysteries/ now.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jun 11, 2024 • 36min
Ep. 36 | A Step Too Far/Dying of Boredom
“A Step Too Far”A man in Scotland suffering from crippling breathing difficulty is mystified when his doctors can’t figure out what’s wrong with him. As he grows weaker and weaker, he worries that one day he’ll go to bed… and never get up. “Dying of Boredom”After undergoing ankle surgery, an Australian high schooler is dreading a summer stuck inside. But when he suddenly starts struggling for breath, his couch-bound recovery becomes the least of his problems.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Jun 4, 2024 • 31min
Ep. 35 | Common Ground
A boy in Minnesota is rushed to the emergency room with one of the worst food poisoning cases the doctors have ever seen. A short while later, a little girl shows up with the same illness. Soon, cases are popping up throughout the state, leaving some on the brink of death as doctors scramble to figure out why. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
May 28, 2024 • 40min
Ep. 34 | Mother or Murderer
When a young mother’s baby is suddenly hospitalized, doctors accuse her of intentionally harming him. Desperate to prove that she’s innocent, the mother seeks an answer before she loses her son forever.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
May 21, 2024 • 31min
Ep. 33 | Sunless Burn
A mysterious disease in Wisconsin causes young women to fall ill with a deadly rash, kidney, and lung failure. Doctors race to diagnose and treat the unknown illness, leading to the discovery of Toxic Shock Syndrome linked to specific tampon brands.
May 14, 2024 • 31min
Ep. 32 | Scourge of the South
A doctor in the early 1900s investigates the cause of the deadly disease palagra in the American South. Dr. Goldberger conducts risky experiments to uncover the link between diet and the disease, ultimately discovering a key dietary deficiency prevalent in poor households. His findings shed light on a historical medical mystery and the importance of nutrition for health.
May 7, 2024 • 24min
Ep. 31 | Jade’s Eye
A 9-year-old girl in Hawaii suddenly loses vision in one eye, and nobody knows why. And by the time she gets an answer, it might be too late to save her eye at all.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Apr 30, 2024 • 38min
Ep. 30 | Look Closely/Burning From the Inside
“Look Closely”A teenage boy suddenly falls into critical condition while on vacation with his family in Orlando, Florida. When his doctors find out what’s wrong with him, they fear the worst – this disease is almost always fatal. In order to save him, they’ll have to act faster than they ever have before.“Burning From the Inside”After a young woman crushes her hand in a workplace accident, she begins experiencing debilitating pain throughout her entire body. Will she be able to endure it long enough for her doctors to save her?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Apr 23, 2024 • 34min
Ep. 29 | It Came From the Basement
When a woman’s five-year-old son in Niagara Falls, New York, suddenly develops epilepsy, she becomes determined to figure out what made him sick. What she finds leads her to one of the biggest cover ups in American history.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Apr 16, 2024 • 31min
Ep. 28 | Dead Tired
A mother in Fresno, California races her young son to the emergency room after he goes limp and his eyes roll back in his head. It turns out, the boy was poisoned. And the true culprit was something no one ever saw coming.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Apr 9, 2024 • 27min
Ep. 27 | Deadly Cramp
A semi-pro tennis player nearly drowns in the pool when she suffers sudden, cramping pain in her midsection. Her doctors fear she has cancer, but then they realize that other people are showing the exact same symptoms.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
