Ep 110 Influenza, Take 2: Sitting Ducks; Fowl Play
Over five years ago, on October 31, 2017, the very first episode of This Podcast Will Kill You premiered, an action-packed (and mildly disorganized) tour of the influenza virus and the 1918 flu pandemic. So much has happened since that episode’s release, both within the podcast and in the world of public he ... Show More
Feb 10
Ep 200 Poop Part 1: How the sausage gets made
It might be stinky and it might be unpleasant to behold, but we all do it. 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 or so, we’re going to bring it back into mind as we delve into the rich world of poop. ... Show More
1h 11m
Feb 3
Special Episode: Nicola Twilley & Frostbite
For much of the world, refrigeration is such a commonplace technology that we rarely stop to wonder at the many ways it has transformed our lives. From the foods we grow to where we grow them, from how they taste to what we eat, refrigeration has dramatically - and quite recently ... Show More
1 h
Jan 27
Ep 199 Sleep Part 2: Predictably unpredictable
Now that we know just how critical sleep is, we’re all making sure we get the amount we need, right? Unfortunately no. One-third to one-half of Americans are not getting enough sleep, according to public health guidelines. Why is that? Hypotheses abound, but many point the finger ... Show More
1h 10m
Apr 2021
BONUS: The 1957 Pandemic That Wasn’t
<p>In 1918, a flu pandemic killed more than 50 million people worldwide. Forty years later, it nearly happened again. This week on Sidedoor we go back to a time when the viruses were winning, and we remember one man, Dr. Maurice Hilleman, whose vaccine virtuosity helped turn the ... Show More
27m 35s
Oct 2020
Where Is This Pandemic Headed?
<p>The pandemic has killed more than one million people around the world, at least 210,000 in the United States alone. The illness has infiltrated the White House and infected the president.</p><p>Today, we offer an update on measures to fight the coronavirus and try to predict t ... Show More
25m 58s
Mar 2020
Is coronavirus 'worse' than flu?
The world is in the midst of a pandemic. For most people, symptoms of the virus are mild, they might develop a cough and a fever before getting better. This has led many people to compare the new coronavirus to seasonal influenza. But, for a minority of those affected, particular ... Show More
24m 8s