The Infectious Science Podcast

Screwworms

A parasite that eats living flesh sounds like a monster movie plot until you realize it has a scientific name, a documented history, and a very real comeback story. We’re

Ergotism: From Medieval Plague to Modern Medicine

This episode, we’re talking ergotism, a fungus-driven poisoning linked to contaminated grains like rye. It’s a vivid One Health case study where weather patterns, crop di

Human Choices Reshape Ecosystems And Push Viruses Closer To Us

A virus rarely “comes out of nowhere.” More often, we build the bridge it crosses. We’re talking One Health through two vivid case studies, Machupo virus and Zika virus,

Space Pathogens In Fiction & Reality

A parasite that senses you coming. An “egg” that waits for the right moment. A life cycle designed to turn a host into a nursery. Space pathogen sci-fi stories hit so har

Parasites & People

Parasites spark equal parts fascination and fear—and they reveal how closely our health is tied to animals, food, water, and the places we live. We take you from the “hei

What Melting Permafrost Really Means For Human, Animal, and Planetary Health

Ice doesn’t just melt; it remembers. As permafrost thaws, we unpack what really ‘wakes up’ in the soil—and what that means for human health, animals, crops, and culture.

How Patients, Clinicians, and Communities Can Close the Healthcare Gap

The average primary care visit lasts about 18 minutes. Complex symptoms, multiple conditions, and a maze of electronic forms don’t fit neatly into that window—and neither

How Generative AI Can Speed Research, Elevate Care, And Keep Humans At The Center

Curious how AI can make healthcare feel more human instead of less? We sit down with medical writer and AI adoption strategist Dr. Núria Negrão, who went from bench scien

Climate Change and the Rise and Spread of Pathogens

The climate isn’t just warming—it’s reorganizing the rules of biology. We explore how rising temperatures, deforestation, wildfire smoke, and thawing permafrost are resha

Botulism: Medicine, Menace, and a Masterclass in Food Safety

Imagine a toxin so potent that a few nanograms can shut down a muscle—and yet, in the right hands, it eases migraines and calms spasms. We take you from the sausage-linke

War & Pathogens, How Combat Drives Contagion

War is a vector of disease. The battlefield isn't just a place where bullets fly—it's where pathogens thrive and evolve. Throughout human history, war and disea

Beyond the Sequence: People, Pathogens, and Power Dynamics

The cutting edge of infectious disease control isn't just about vaccines or treatments—it's increasingly about data. Dr. Stephen Molldrem, Assistant Professor a

From Four Corners to Hollywood: Tracing Hantavirus's Deadly Path

A hidden killer lurks in the humble dust of forgotten cabins and outbuildings across America. World-renowned virologist Dr. Thomas Ksiazek takes us behind the scenes of t

Measles: The Return of a Highly Contagious Disease

Measles isn't just a childhood rash—it's a potentially devastating illness that can reset your entire immune system. In this eye-opening conversation, our team

Googling the Flu: How Your Search History Became a Public Health Tool

What if your Google searches could predict disease outbreaks before traditional surveillance methods? That's exactly what happened during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic when

Unwrapping the Past: What Mummies Reveal About Disease Through the Ages

Unravel the intricate stories behind ancient mummies and their connection to various pathogens in our latest podcast episode of this season. This engaging discussion lead

Untangling Alzheimer's: From Prevention to Future Treatments

Unlock the secrets of the brain's most enigmatic conditions with Dr. Mauro Montalbano, our esteemed guest from the University of Texas Medical Branch. He takes us on

Unraveling the Modern STI Epidemic in America

This episode tackles the alarming rise of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the United States, exploring our hidden epidemic and the multitude of factors leading

Intertwined Lives: Animals, Humans, and the Dance of Zoonotic Diseases

Gain a deeper understanding of the intricate connections between humans, animals, and the environment as we explore the One Health concept. Picture the harmony of adding

Illness & Illustration: The Beauty Myths of Tuberculosis & Vampires

Could tuberculosis truly shape our understanding of beauty? Prepare to unravel the eerie yet intriguing connection between this historical disease and the evolution of be