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This Podcast Will Kill You

@tpwky.bsky.social
6.7K followers 9 following 137 posts

Disease + podcast = so much good dinner party conversation. Hosted by @erinwelsh.bsky.social and Erin Allmann Updyke. YouTube Premiere of Pregnancy Act One on March 11, 5pm PT: youtu.be/Dx0ewmmMjnQ

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This Podcast Will Kill You @tpwky.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
In today’s episode, we attempt to convey the full picture of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS): from possible causes to early medical descriptions, from the baseball player whose impassioned speech captured the public’s hearts to the promising research on the horizon. Tune in for all this and more
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This Podcast Will Kill You @tpwky.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
It's quarantini time again! Thicker than Water 2oz pomegranate juice 2 oz orange juice 0.5oz lime juice 2 oz club soda Refreshing, though perhaps less so if you add chia or psyllium husk!
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This Podcast Will Kill You @tpwky.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Shortly after birth, many newborns are given vitamin K to help their blood clot properly and reduce the chances of hemorrhage. Increasingly, parents are refusing this, leaving these babies more likely to develop deficiency bleeding which can have catastrophic consequences. Tune in for the full story
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This Podcast Will Kill You @tpwky.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Imagine yourself as a 17th century English peasant, merchant, or noble dealing with some ailment. Where do you turn to for help? Listen to this week's book club episode with Dr. Alanna Skuse and her book, The Surgeon, The Midwife, The Quack: How to Stay Alive in Renaissance England to find out!
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This Podcast Will Kill You @tpwky.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
This week, we pick up where we left off last week starting with examining how ECT is administered, which conditions it’s used for, and what we know about how it works. To help us present an accurate and comprehensive perspective we bring on ECT expert Dr. Leonardo Lopez. Don't miss this one!
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This Podcast Will Kill You @tpwky.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
For last week and this week's quarantini, we're drinking Shock Talk. Make one now to get prepped for tomorrow's episode! Shock Talk 3 oz grapefruit juice 5 oz ginger ale combine with basil over ice; add club soda for bubbles!
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This Podcast Will Kill You @tpwky.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
For many, mentioning electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) conjures images of torture or mind control, while few know that ECT is still used today and is an incredibly safe and effective treatment for many psychiatric conditions. This week and next we explore this stigmatized and misunderstood therapy.
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This Podcast Will Kill You @tpwky.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
The devastating consequences of climate change can be measured any number of ways. In this week’s book club episode, we delve into some of the less explored impacts by chatting with author Clayton Page Aldern about his book, The Weight of Nature: How a Changing Climate Changes our Brains. Tune in!
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This Podcast Will Kill You @tpwky.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
it's quarantini time! A Tangled Web 1.5oz cherry juice 0.75 oz maraschino cherry syrup 0.75 oz lime juice 4 oz club soda Combine over ice and enjoy!
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This Podcast Will Kill You @tpwky.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
The brown recluse, like most spiders with name recognition, is renowned for being a fearsome, dangerous predator. A bite from one can send someone to the hospital with a painful necrotizing wound. But do these spiders actually deserve the hatred they get? Tune in for the low down on this shy spider.
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This Podcast Will Kill You @tpwky.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
Last week, we set the stage by breaking down the science behind cholesterol. This week, armed with that knowledge, we’re asking the big question: what do we do about high cholesterol? We delve into the story and science of statins and other cholesterol-lowering drugs. Listen now!
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This Podcast Will Kill You @tpwky.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
It's #quarantini time! Just in time for our second cholesterol-focused episode which drops tomorrow, make yourself a Plaque Attack. Full disclosure, it will not have any effect on your cholesterol (for better or worse), but it will be delicious!
Plaque Attack 
1/4c Blueberries
1 oz simple syrup
1 oz lemonade 
4 oz club soda 
Muddle blueberries and mint, add the rest of ingredients and serve over ice!
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This Podcast Will Kill You @tpwky.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
So you got your cholesterol results back - what do those numbers mean, and why do we care about them? In this first part of our cholesterol miniseries, we break down the science behind this compound and trace how we made the link between certain types of cholesterol and heart disease. Tune in now!
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This Podcast Will Kill You @tpwky.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
Quarantini time again! Though this one... well, it stinks. This Stinks lots of water your favorite electrolytes mix well and hope for the best!
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This Podcast Will Kill You @tpwky.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
You’ve seen the headlines: a food-borne parasite is infecting people across the US, leaving them chained to the toilet for weeks as they are ravaged by wave after wave of diarrhea. What the heck is cyclosporiasis and where did it come from? we put together this fact-filled episode for you!
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This Podcast Will Kill You @tpwky.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
In her book Cash Cow, Alev Scott explores the blurred line between empowerment and exploitation in the global fertility industry. The morality, legality, and expenses of procedures are a moving target, reflecting the struggle to attach moral judgment when science and circumstances change so rapidly.
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This Podcast Will Kill You @tpwky.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
This week's episode was a goldmine of earwax facts, so naturally, so is our quarantini! Enjoy The Goldmine! 2 oz pineapple juice 3/4 oz jalapeno simple syrup 1 oz lime juice 1 oz club soda combine over ice and know you've picked a winner!
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This Podcast Will Kill You @tpwky.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
In keeping with a theme of “bodily excretions that are kinda gross but are actually important”, we’re devoting this episode to earwax. We manage to weave together stories of earwax impaction, misadventures in ear candling, glimpses of earwax in art history, and a whale of a tale of cetacean cerumen.
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This Podcast Will Kill You @tpwky.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
Listen, you may or may not actually want to *drink* this quarantini, but it sure is fun to make. The Snot Rocket 1 tbsp gelatin powder 1 tbsp hot water 2 tbsp corn syrup food coloring - your choice of color! Mix gelatin in hot water until it dissolves, add food coloring, corn syrup and... enjoy?
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This Podcast Will Kill You @tpwky.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
Hard and crusty. Green and gloopy. Clear and watery. Boogers come in a veritable rainbow of colors and a full spectrum of textures from liquid to solid. They’re really quite impressive if you think about it. Boogers deserve a lot more credit, and this episode is our attempt at righting that wrong.
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This Podcast Will Kill You @tpwky.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
Rarely do stories of unethical medical experimentation focus on the people who fought to bring these harms to light: the whistleblower. What does it take to blow the whistle, and what does it cost? This week, Dr. Carl Elliott discusses his latest book The Occasional Human Sacrifice. Don't miss this!
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This Podcast Will Kill You @tpwky.bsky.social · 19/06/2026
In time for the weekend, our quarantini for burns is here! 2 oz non alcoholic gin 1 oz lemon juice 1 oz honey syrup shake, strain and enjoy By Degrees!
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This Podcast Will Kill You @tpwky.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
Over the past 80 years, burn care has undergone a profound transformation thanks to advances across diverse areas of medicine. This week, we trace how these were integrated, bringing hope to those with severe burn injuries and we explore research that blurs the lines between science and sci-fi.
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This Podcast Will Kill You @tpwky.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
Burns have been a part of the human experience since our relatives began controlling fire 1.5 million years ago.This week, we explore how burns are different than other injuries, examine our body's repair process, and tour through humanity’s quest to alleviate the pain and suffering burns can cause.
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This Podcast Will Kill You @tpwky.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
An accurate diagnosis can give us so much, yet many people wait years to receive an accurate diagnosis, causing a physical and emotional toll. What underlies this and what can we do about it? In this week’s TPWKY book club, Alexandra Sifferlin joins to discuss her book The Elusive Body. Listen now!
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This Podcast Will Kill You @tpwky.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
This week's #quarantini may or may not help motion sickness induced nausea, but at least it's delicious! The Motion Potion 6 oz ginger ale 1 oz lime juice mix with ice and garnish with candied ginger
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This Podcast Will Kill You @tpwky.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
It comes on sneakily. You become aware of your stomach. You break out in a cold sweat. Your mouth fills with saliva. And before you know it, you’re leaning over the side of the boat, barfing up your breakfast. Motion sickness. We’ve almost all been there. Why? Find out in this week's episode!
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This Podcast Will Kill You @tpwky.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
It's #quarantini time again! The Fungus Among Us 3 oz cream of coconut 1.5 oz pineapple juice 0.75 oz lime juice shake, strain and enjoy!
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This Podcast Will Kill You @tpwky.bsky.social · 19/05/2026
Once thought to be a rare, always fatal disease, histoplasmosis is now recognized as one of the most prevalent fungal infections in North America. In this episode, we dissect the biology of this abundant fungus and walk you through its history, a story that features many surprises. Curious? Tune in!
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This Podcast Will Kill You @tpwky.bsky.social · 12/05/2026
This week, Dr. Olivia Weisser, associate professor of history at the University of Massachusetts, Boston discusses her book The Dreaded Pox: Sex and Disease in Early Modern London. Tune in for a fascinating glimpse into a time and place where morality, sex, and disease were so strongly entangled.
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This Podcast Will Kill You @tpwky.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
it's quarantini time! To go along with learning about food guidelines, how about Your Daily Apple?
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This Podcast Will Kill You @tpwky.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
Hantavirus is all over the news lately because of the deadly outbreak ongoing on a cruise ship. We put together this primer with some basic info for all of you, and for even more detail, be sure to check out our episode from 2019 which features WAY more information about this group of viruses!
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This Podcast Will Kill You @tpwky.bsky.social · 05/05/2026
In part 2 of our episodes on dietary guidelines, we get to the bottom of the latest iteration of these guidelines and investigate which changes are good, bad, and somewhere in between. Then we explore what science has actually shown about what constitutes a “healthy” diet. Tune in now!
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This Podcast Will Kill You @tpwky.bsky.social · 28/04/2026
We all know the food pyramid , but dietary guidelines and the shapes they're presented in have changed over the decades. This week and next, we're exploring who makes these recommendations, how they've changed over time, and whether or not we should care about them at all.
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This Podcast Will Kill You @tpwky.bsky.social · 21/04/2026
Why do we believe what we believe? Is what we believe the truth? How can we convince others of our beliefs? If you’ve ever pondered these questions, you know the answers are rarely clear-cut. This week, Adam Kucharski discusses his latest book, Proof. Tune in for a fascinating conversation!
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This Podcast Will Kill You @tpwky.bsky.social · 17/04/2026
The Tearjerker is this week’s quarantini, but we promise it won’t make you cry.
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This Podcast Will Kill You @tpwky.bsky.social · 17/04/2026
Did we forget to post the #quarantini last week? Yep sure did. Does that mean you’ll get two for one today? Sure does!
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This Podcast Will Kill You @tpwky.bsky.social · 14/04/2026
Tear gas is an expected, normalized part of protests today. But its use in war is banned. How can that be? That’s just one of the questions we investigate in this episode. From the history of tear gas to what’s in these chemicals and much more, this is an info-packed episode you won't want to miss.
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This Podcast Will Kill You @tpwky.bsky.social · 07/04/2026
Oropouche virus may or may not be something you've heard of but it's definitely a headline-generating pathogen worth talking about. This week's episode we dive into what this viral disease is, how it spreads, and the importance of a One Health approach to emerging pathogens like Oropouche. Tune in!
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This Podcast Will Kill You @tpwky.bsky.social · 31/03/2026
Prevention and screening represent two under-appreciated pillars of cancer care, and we’re using this final ep in our cancer series to show some appreciation. We also consider the global landscape of cancer prevalence and incidence. Tune in for a thought-provoking look at the status of cancer today.
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This Podcast Will Kill You @tpwky.bsky.social · 30/03/2026
Make yourself a #quarantini before the last episode in our four part cancer series drops tomorrow!
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This Podcast Will Kill You @tpwky.bsky.social · 24/03/2026
150 years ago, the list of effective cancer treatments was essentially a single entry: surgery. Today, the list is ever-growing. It is nothing short of a revolution. Today, we delve into all facets of cancer treatment. Tune in to learn how far we’ve come and where we might go from here.
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This Podcast Will Kill You @tpwky.bsky.social · 17/03/2026
For centuries, physicians noticed that cancer sometimes ran in families, but until the 1960s, scientists didn't know why. Journalist Lawrence Ingrassia belongs to one of those families. This week, he joins to discuss his book A Fatal Inheritance. Tune in for a heartbreaking and inspiring journey.
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This Podcast Will Kill You @tpwky.bsky.social · 10/03/2026
Each of our cells can become cancerous. It’s an uncomfortable, yet unavoidable truth. This week, we consider the qualities that underlie a cancer cell’s success in our body. If you’ve ever wondered why we don't have a cure for all cancer or why some animals get cancer more than others, listen now.
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This Podcast Will Kill You @tpwky.bsky.social · 03/03/2026
Cancer has touched all of us in some capacity, and learning of a diagnosis raises more questions than it answers. In this 4-part series, we aim to lay a foundation of knowledge to help make sense of this complex disease. We begin by asking a deceptively simple question: what is cancer? Listen now.
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This Podcast Will Kill You @tpwky.bsky.social · 24/02/2026
Results from John B. Calhoun’s “rat utopia” experiments from the mid-20th century revealed a behavioral dark side as space grew limited, ultimately leading to complete population collapse. In this week’s book club episode, Jon Adams and Edmund Ramsden to discuss their book, Rat City. Don't miss it!
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This Podcast Will Kill You @tpwky.bsky.social · 17/02/2026
Poop is an incredibly valuable and massively underutilized resource. However, most of us don’t see it that way because of our evolutionarily ingrained disgust towards poop. In this episode, we explore the problems that poop can cause on both the individual and population level. Tune in now!
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This Podcast Will Kill You @tpwky.bsky.social · 10/02/2026
For many of us, our poop is out of sight, out of mind once we flush it away. But for the next hour and fifteen minutes, we’re bringing it front of mind as we delve into the rich world of poop. This episode, the first of two on poop, is sure to shift your perspective in how you think about poop.
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This Podcast Will Kill You @tpwky.bsky.social · 03/02/2026
For much of the world, refrigeration is such a common technology that we rarely stop to wonder at the many ways it has transformed our lives. As Nicola Twilley describes in her book, Frostbite, progress often comes at a cost. Listen now - you’ll never look at your fridge the same way again.
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This Podcast Will Kill You @tpwky.bsky.social · 27/01/2026
One-third to one-half of Americans are not getting enough sleep, according to public health guidelines. Why? Hypotheses abound, but many suggest that sleep in industrialized societies today is not just different but worse than in centuries past. Is that true? Tune in now to find out all we learned!
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