logo
episode-header-image
Oct 2025
8m 56s

How to Trick-or-Treat Your Gut

Scientific American
About this episode
Halloween might be a treat for your taste buds, but what about the trillions of microbes in your gut? Gastroenterologist Chris Damman joins host Rachel Feltman to explore how different candies affect your gut microbiome—and why moderation and whole foods matter even after a sugar binge. Recommended Reading “Halloween Candy Binges Can Overload Your Gut Mi ... Show More
Up next
Today
From tofu to biodiesel: How soybeans dominate America
In this episode of Science Quickly, Rachel Feltman speaks with environmental historian Edward Melillo about the tiny soybean, which has come to dominate America’s diet. When you think of soy, you may only picture a block of yummy tofu or soy milk, but this crop has quietly made i ... Show More
15m 42s
Nov 2
Ebola surge, AI math shocker and daylight saving time
In this week’s news roundup, we take a look at what’s happening with the Ebola outbreak in parts of Africa. Later SciAm editorial fellow Peter Hall joins host Rachel Feltman to discuss recent claims by OpenAI and Anthropic that their models have solved some of the world’s toughes ... Show More
12m 34s
Oct 30
Why we’re still obsessed with vampires
In this Halloween special episode of Science Quickly, host Rachel Feltman explores why our fascination with vampires refuses to die. We dive into the spooky history of vampires—from tuberculosis outbreaks in the 18th and 19th centuries to sexy pop culture icons—and examine what o ... Show More
20m 18s
Recommended Episodes
Oct 2020
The Science of Candy Land
Happy Halloween! We’re headed to Candy Land, a sugary laboratory where mathematicians found a mysterious candy dagger appear - over and over again. So gather up your candy box, and let’s discover out why mathematicians are studying candy to understand the real-life landscapes aro ... Show More
17m 17s
Oct 2019
Candy Story
tail spinning
4m 43s
Nov 2010
The Halloween Candy Trap
Halloween candy, for many people, is the beginning of the sugar season.  Bags of Halloween candy carry us into Thanksgiving pies, then on to the Holiday treats.  In the aftermath are a few more pounds and the Holiday Blues.  This week Licensed Nutritionists Kara Carper and Anna D ... Show More
45m 49s
Oct 2024
Your gut’s feelings
How we feel emotionally may be influenced by unseen troves of microbial life that live inside us. Is it possible to harness this gut power? (First published in 2022) Guests: Michael Gershon, professor of pathology at Columbia University; and Katerina Johnson, microbiome researche ... Show More
28m 9s
Oct 2021
Trick or Treat: Soul Cakes, Candy Corn, and Sugar Skulls Galore!
If you live in the U.S., chances are, your first hint of fall isn’t a russet-colored leaf landing on the sidewalk—it’s the orange-wrappered candies taking over the aisles of your local grocery and convenience stores. Forget decorative gourds: it’s officially Halloween candy seaso ... Show More
49m 54s
May 2019
The surprisingly charming science of your gut | Giulia Enders
Ever wonder how we poop? Learn about the gut -- the system where digestion (and a whole lot more) happens -- as doctor and author Giulia Enders takes us inside the complex, fascinating science behind it, including its connection to mental health. It turns out, looking closer at s ... Show More
14m 10s
Oct 2025
Pro Chefs Rank Halloween Candy
Today, Josh and Nicole are going on a sugar rush as they figure out which classic Halloween candy is truly the best of them all. Leave us a voicemail at (833) DOG-POD1 Check out the video version of this podcast: http://youtube.com/@mythicalkitchen 
44m 58s
Dec 2024
Beat Holiday Bloat: Secrets to a Happier Stomach (Revisit)
Big meals and holiday stress = a recipe for gut chaos. In this episode, Dr. Mark Hyman explores why the holidays often wreak havoc on your digestion. From common culprits like sugar and stress to deeper issues like SIBO and IBS, he shares a functional medicine approach to restori ... Show More
42m 14s
Nov 2023
Scary science
In the week where many celebrated Halloween we are wondering about that tingle down your spine, the dryness in your mouth, the racing pulse - might it actually be good for you? We also look into a special frequency of sound, just below our human hearing range, that might cause ra ... Show More
50m 16s