This Podcast Will Kill You

In last week’s episode/love song to poison control centers, we journeyed through the history of these centers, from idea to institution. This week, we pick up where we left off by taking stock of the incredible impact that poison control centers have had on public health and individual lives. We also get a thrilling behind-the-scenes look at the operational side of things - who is on the other end of the line when you call poison control? How do they know so much and where do they get their information? Dr. Suzanne Doyon, Medical Director at the Connecticut Poison Control Center and Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine at the University of Connecticut joins us to answer these questions and so many more. If last week’s episode didn’t turn you into a poison center superfan, this one certainly will. Tune in today! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you’ve ever called poison control, you probably already have a deep appreciation for the voice on the other end of the line who provides solid answers, emanates calm, and empowers you to take whatever steps necessary to be safe and healthy. If you haven’t, this episode will turn you into a superfan anyway. How did this incredibly valuable yet often overlooked service come to be, and why did it arise when it did? In the first of what ends up being a two-part ode to poison control centers, we explore the origins of poison control centers in the US, from the early days when literally one guy answered calls from all over the country to the lifesaving nationwide coordinated organization it is today? Tune in to find out! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Roads are essential to our modern lives, so much so that they largely exist in the background of our minds. When we do think of roads, we’re either complaining about traffic or celebrating them for enabling our restless need to explore. Can you imagine if all of the world’s 40 million miles of roads were suddenly erased? Chaos for humanity. But a boon perhaps to natural ecosystems. In Crossings: How Road Ecology is Shaping the Future of Our Planet, author Ben Goldfarb takes readers on a fascinating tour of the relatively recent science of road ecology. Even beyond their impact on roadkill, roads are powerful disruptors of natural ecosystems, bringing noise, pollution, and humans to natural areas and fragmenting landscapes. And as Goldfarb demonstrates, we are only just starting to reckon with the widespread effects of roads and integrate this knowledge into road design. After this fascinating conversation, you’ll never think of roads in the same way again! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Think of an infectious disease. What comes to mind? A viral infection like influenza? Or a bacterial illness like cholera? Maybe some of you thought of a fungal pathogen or a parasite. But how many of you thought of a cancer? In this episode, we explore the bizarre, stranger than fiction story of devil facial tumor disease (DFTD), a transmissible cancer that has devastated Tasmanian devil populations over the past few decades. And when we say transmissible cancer, we don’t mean a cancer caused by a virus - we mean the cancer itself is transmissible. How is that possible? What does it do to the devils? What are Tasmanian devils like? What role do they play in the ecosystem? What does the future hold for these adorable creatures? Tune in for a lively discussion all about these devils and their disease, featuring Dr. Rodrigo Hamede, Senior Lecturer at the University of Tasmania and DFTD expert. This episode will have you looking up pictures of baby devils, listening to their wide range of sounds, and rethinking the lines between contagious and non-contagious disease. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Delving into the history and biology of gluten intolerance and celiac disease. Exploring the impact on mental health, navigating life with dietary restrictions, and understanding the autoimmune nature of the condition. Discussing the rise of gluten-free trends, global prevalence, challenges in diagnosis, and promising therapeutic research.

Dr. Rageshri Dhairyawan discusses the issue of patient dismissal in Healthcare, exploring systemic challenges in the doctor-patient relationship, impacts of miscommunication on marginalized communities, and strategies to enhance listening skills in medical practice. The conversation touches on hurdles in physician-patient communication, disparities in medical research, and the importance of decolonizing global health for equitable healthcare.

CW: mentions of infertility, pregnancy loss, body-shamingThe third and final installment of our series on IVF surveys the current and potential future landscape of this powerful technology. We first trace the growth of the IVF industry in the US since its inception in the early 1980s up to today before then giving an overview of some of the regulatory and ethical considerations facing this field on a global scale. Alongside these challenges of access and regulation are the incredible innovations that expand how we use IVF today as well as paint a world of possibilities for the future of IVF as we incorporate these revolutionary technologies. Tune in for a conversation about the past, present, and possible future of IVF! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

CW: mentions of infertility, pregnancy loss, suicideIn the second part of our three-part series on IVF, we’re picking up where we left off last week. From the historical side of things, that means investigating how the revolutionary technology of IVF was developed over the decades of the 20th century leading to the first “test tube babies” born in 1978, and how the field of IVF transformed from uncertain technology to burgeoning industry. From the medical side of things, that means exploring what a typical cycle of IVF might look like step by step (or rather, injection by injection) and go over how we define “success” when it comes to IVF. If you’ve ever wondered what exactly goes into the IVF process and how we developed such an incredible technology, this is the episode for you! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This podcast delves into the fascinating realm of IVF and other assisted reproductive technologies. From exploring the historical context of infertility to sharing personal accounts of IVF journeys, listeners are taken on a captivating journey. The episodes cover infertility assessments, unexplained infertility, and the emotional complexities faced by individuals and couples navigating fertility treatments.

Dr. Noah Whiteman, a toxicology expert, discusses the evolution and neuroscience of plant- and animal-derived poisons, exploring their fine line between healing and harm. He delves into the complex relationships between humans and nature's toxins, showcasing examples like digitalis and opiates. The podcast covers the historical and medicinal significance of poisonous plants, parallels between human chemical use and natural adaptations, diversity of toxins in plants, and the role of toxins in defense and manipulation.