Podcast about disease biology, history, and epidemiology
Podcast
This Podcast Will Kill You is an American podcast hosted by disease ecologists and epidemiologists Erin Welsh and Erin Allmann Updyke.[ 1] Its first full-length episode was released on October 31, 2017. New episodes were released weekly until the second season, when they were released every two weeks. Each week a different disease is covered, the majority of which are infectious diseases with some exceptions, such as scurvy in episode 19.[ 2]
" This Podcast Will Kill You" is part of the Exactly Right Podcast Network, created by the hosts of "My Favorite Murder ."[ 3]
Structure of Episodes [ edit ]
Each episode is about an hour in duration and generally starts with a firsthand account of someone affected by the disease. After that, the hosts create a mixed drink that is connected to the disease, called a 'Quarantini',[ 4] in a segment known as 'Quarantini time'. After this introduction, the biology of the disease is explained, then history, epidemiology, and finally, the disease's effect on the modern world.[ 2] Generally, Welsh tells the history of the disease and Updyke explains the biology epidemiology.[ 5] Finally, the hosts cite the sources used to present the information, and supply a link to their website where the sources can be found.
Erin Allmann Updyke, co-host, has an M.S. in epidemiology from the University of Hawaii and a Ph.D. in entomology and an M.D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign .[ 5] Erin Welsh, co-host, has an M.S. in epidemiology from the University of Louisville and a Ph.D. in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.[ 5] "The Erins," as they've coined themselves, started "This Podcast Will Kill You" because they felt that the medical knowledge that they have gained from their education rarely transfers out of the academia world.[ 6] They wanted to make medical knowledge more accessible and easier to understand to the general public, without diluting it.[ 6] Their first episode aired on October 31, 2017.[ 7] In 2018, prior to launching Season 2, "This Podcast Will Kill You" joined The Exactly Right Network.[ 3] In doing so, their downloads rose four times.[ 8] The show was nominated for a 2019 Webby Award in the Science and Education Podcasts category.[ 9] In 2020, they started a special series of episodes focusing on the COVID-19 Pandemic .[ 10] In 2023, Season 6 featured a miniseries of bonus episodes focussing on popular science books, "TPWKY book club".[ 11]
Date
Episode
Title
October 23, 2017
0
Trailer
October 31, 2017
1
Influenza Will Kill You
November 7, 2017
2
[Leprosy :] Skin in the Game, Horse in the Race
November 14, 2017
3
[Smallpox :] Gnarlypox
November 21, 2017
4
[Cholera :] The Poop Show
November 28, 2017
5
Plague Part I: The GMOAT
December 5, 2017
6
Plague Part II: TGFA
December 12, 2017
7
Hit Me With Your Best (Polio ) Shot
December 19, 20117
8
ABRACADABRA - Go Away Malaria !
January 2, 2018
9
Tuberculosis : A Slow Burn
January 9, 2018
10
Yellow Fever : Is there a Hamilton song about this?
January 16, 2018
11
Ebola : The New Kid on the Block
January 23, 2018
12
HIV/AIDS : Apathy Will Kill You
January 30, 2018
13
Bonus Episode: HIV/AIDS
February 27, 2018
-
Don't Tread on my Monkshood : Crossover with IDOP
Date
Episode
Title
November 27, 2018
14
Rabies , Don't dilute me, bro
December 11, 2018
15
MRSA : Make resistance Susceptible Again
December 24, 2018
16
Scratch and Sniff Diphtheria Membrane
January 8, 2019
17
Oh No Tetrodo : Crossover with TBOSP
January 22, 2019
18
Hantavirus : The Real Rat Race
February 5, 2019
19
Scurvy : Thanks a lot, evolution
February 20, 2019
20
Prions : Apocalypse Cow
March 5, 2019
21
Measles : The Worst Souvenir
March 19, 2019
22
Belladonna will dilate your mind: Crossover with IDOP
April 2, 2019
23
Opening a can of Hookworms
April 16, 2019
24
Zika : Rumors and Rumours
April 30, 2019
25
Put your hands together for: Gonorrhea !
May 16, 2019
26
Vaccines Part I: Let's hear it for Maurice
May 21, 2019
27
Vaccines Part II: Have you thanks your immune system lately?
May 28, 2019
28
H.pylori : Don't try this at home
June 11, 2019
29
Aspirin the Wonder Drug: Crossover w/ IDOP
June 25, 2019
30
Encephalitis Lethargica : Sleep Perchance to Dream (& Dream & Dream)
July 9, 2019
31
Giardia : Gerardia
July 23, 2019
32
Ask the Erins
August 6, 2019
33
Chytrid : The Silent Forest
August 20, 2019
34
Cystic Fibrosis : Complete Somatic Rebellion
September 3, 2019
35
Lyme Disease : I'd like to check you for ticks
Date
Episode
Title
October 29, 2019
36
Shades of Syphilis
November 12, 2019
37
E. coli (unless it's beets)
November 26, 2019
38
Lead Poisoning : Heavy Metal Episode
December 10, 2019
39
Toxoplasmosis : Calling All Cats
December 24, 2019
40
Dancing Plague : Worst Dance Party Ever
January 7, 2020
41
Ricin : A Bad Seed (crossover with IDOP)
January 21, 2020
42
Dandy Dengue Fever
February 4, 2020
43
M-m-m-my Coronaviruses
February 18, 2020
44
Pertussis : Whoop Here It Is
March 3, 2020
45
Hepatitis C : Hepatiti?
March 17, 2020
46
Lactose Intolerance : Never trust a fart
March 31, 2020
47
Schistosomiasis : A Snail's Pace
April 14, 2020
48
Botulism : Why are you the way you are?
April 28, 2020
49
Eastern Equine Encephalitis : Triple EEEk!
May 12, 2020
50
Antibiotics : We owe it all to chemistry!
May 26, 2020
51
The Path of Most (Antibiotic) Resistance
June 23, 2020
52
Rinderpest : Moo Cows, Moo Problems
July 7, 2020
53
Radiation : X-Ray Marks the Spot
July 21, 2020
54
Wake up and Smell the Caffeine
August 4, 2020
55
Rocky Mountain spotted fever : the Tick must be destroyed!
August 18, 2020
56
Sickle Cell Disease : Invisible Illness, Enduring Strength
September 1, 2020
57
Herpes : Stop the STIgma
September 15, 2020
58
Guinea worm : (Almost) Ancient History
September 29, 2020
59
Thalidomide : Justice Delayed, Justice Denied
October 13, 2020
60
Giving birth to "the pill "
Date
Episode
Title
December 1, 2020
61
Typhoid : There's Something About Mary
December 15, 2020
62
Leishmaniasis , Relationship Status: It's Complicated
December 29, 2020
63
Poison Ivy : It's Just Us
January 12, 2021
64
Rubella : Timing is Everything
January 26, 2021
65
Sweating Sickness : Ready, Sweat, Go!
February 9, 2021
66
The Outs and Ins of Organ Transplantation
February 23, 2021
67
HPV : My wart be with you
March 9, 2021
68
Coccidioidomycosis : It's never a spider bite
March 23, 2021
69
Huntington's disease : Let's talk frankly
April 6, 2021
70
Henrietta Lacks : HeLa There, & Everywhere
April 20, 2021
71
Onchocerciasis /River Blindness: So many mysteries
May 4, 2021
72
White-Nose Syndrome : How deep is your torpor?
May 18, 2021
73
Puerperal Fever : Seriously, wash your hands
June 1, 2021
74
Naegleria fowleri : The "brain eating amoeba"
June 15, 2021
75
Mercury : The cost of progress
June 29, 2021
76
Chickenpox : There's always a ‘but’
July 13, 2021
77
Legionnaires’ Disease : A Killer Mist
July 27, 2021
78
Bartonella : Keep Calm and Carrión
August 10, 2021
79
Hemophilia : A Hemorrhagic Disposition
August 24, 2021
80
Dysentery loves a disaster
September 7, 2021
81
Chagas disease : The Reverse Triple Discovery
September 21, 2021
82
Anthrax : The Hardcore Spore
October 5, 2021
83
Diabetes : Short & Sweet
October 19, 2021
84
West Nile virus : The Crow in the Coal Mine
November 2, 2021
85
Alcohol : Beer for Thought
In Season 5, a few of the regular podcast episodes were followed by a special episode often going deeper into detail on what was covered in the previous episode.
Date
Episode
Title
December 14, 2021
86
Typhus : Another lousy episode
December 28, 2021
87
C. diff : Fighting poop with poop
January 11, 2022
88
Endometriosis : menstrual backwash
January 25, 2022
89
Hepatitis B : Hepatiti, Take 2
February 1, 2022
Special
Special Episode: Hep B stigma & discrimination
February 8, 2022
90
Human African Trypanosomiasis : A lot to unpack
February 15, 2022
Special
Special Episode: Human African Trypanosomiasis & drug development
February 22, 2022
91
Myxomatosis : Down the rabbit hole
March 1, 2022
Special
Special Episode: Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus
March 8, 2022
92
Multiple Sclerosis : Scarred nerves & skating saints
March 15, 2022
Special
Special Episode: Epstein-Barr virus
March 22, 2022
93
Lightning & Other Stories: Power Hour (and a Half)
March 29, 2022
Special
Special Episode: Electricity
April 19, 2022
94
Chlamydia : Double Trouble
April 26, 2022
Special
Special Episode: Chlamydia , Koalas and More!
May 3, 2022
95
Tetanus : An inhuman calamity!
May 10, 2022
Special
Special Episode: On the Origin of Epidemiology
May 17, 2022
96
Tapeworm : We encyst you listen
May 24, 2022
Special
Special Episode: Coprolites !
May 31, 2022
97
Snake Venoms : Collateral Damage
June 7, 2022
Special
Special Episode: Snake Venom Evolution
June 14, 2022
98
Folate : Marmite , anyone?
June 28, 2022
99
Salmonella : A hard egg to crack
July 12, 2022
100
Monkeypox : Here we go again?
July 26, 2022
101
Immortality ; This Podcast Won't Kill You
August 9, 2022
102
Arsenic : Paris Green with Envy
August 31, 2022
103
Leptospirosis : Don't blame the rats
September 6, 2022
104
The Bends : Industrial Revolution, Baby
September 20, 2022
105
Down in the Mumps
October 7, 2022
106
Turner Syndrome : Let's talk about X
November 4, 2022
107
Sepsis : It's a mess
November 4, 2022
108
Gout : Toetally fascinating
November 15, 2022
109
Chikungunya : Not dengue (or is it?)
November 29, 2022
110
Influenza , Take 2: Fowl Play
Date
Episode
Title
January 31, 2023
111
RSV : What's syncytial anyway
February 14, 2023
112
Epilepsy : It's always the phlegm
February 28, 2023
113
Vitamin D : The D stands for drama
March 14, 2023
114
Listeria : It put Dairy on the map
March 28, 2023
115
Altitude Sickness : Balloons though?
April 11, 2023
116
It's never lupus (except this time)
May 15, 2023
117
Bedbugs : Bug-bitten and bedeviled
June 6, 2023
118
Asbestos : Corruption and cancer and corporate greed, oh my!
July 4, 2023
119
Marburg virus : Too fast, too furious
July 18, 2023
120
Acetaminophen/Paracetamol : Pain. Killer
August 1, 2023
121
Tularemia : Hare today, gone tomorrow
August 15, 2023
122
Asthma : A phlegmy episode
August 29, 2023
123
Hand, Foot, and Mouth (and Butt?) Disease
September 12, 2023
124
The full spectrum of color vision deficiency
September 26, 2023
125
Blastomycosis : How fungus became amongus
October 10, 2023
126
Migraine : A Cacophany in Four Movements
October 24, 2023
127
Bhopal: The 1984 Union Carbide Disaster
November 7, 2023
128
Skin Cancer : We love and fear the sun
November 21, 2023
129
Lymphatic Filariasis : Hiding in plain sight
December 5, 2023
130
Cocoliztli : We do love a salty dish
December 19, 2023
131
Parkinson's Disease : Dopamine & discoveries
To discuss the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the podcast introduced "The Anatomy of a Pandemic" series in which each episode tackles a particular aspect of COVID-19. This mini-series not only addresses the virus itself, but also addresses how it can impact mental health and cause societal disarray.[ 18] The series reached its tentative end with Chapter 19.
Season
Date
Episode
Title
Special
March 23, 2020
Chapter 1
COVID-19: Virology
Special
March 23, 2020
Chapter 2
COVID-19: Disease
Special
March 23, 2020
Chapter 3
COVID-19: Control
Special
March 23, 2020
Chapter 4
COVID-19: Epidemiology
Special
March 23, 2020
Chapter 5
COVID-19: Vaccines
Special
March 23, 2020
Chapter 6
COVID-19: Mental Health
Special
April 6, 2020
Chapter 7
COVID-19: Spillover
Special
April 9, 2020
Chapter 8
COVID-19: Disparities
Special
April 20, 2020
Chapter 9
COVID-19: Economics
Special
April 23, 2020
Chapter 10
COVID-19: Schools
Special
May 4, 2020
Chapter 11
COVID-19: Modeling (Institute for Disease Modeling interview)
Special
December 10, 2020
Chapter 12
Control, Take 2
Special
December 22, 2020
Chapter 13
Vaccines, Take 2
Special
January 5, 2021
Chapter 14
Virology, Take 2
Special
March 30, 2021
Chapter 15
Disease, Take 2
Special
April 13, 2021
Chapter 16
Disparities, Take 2
Special
April 27, 2021
Chapter 17
Frontline Mental Health
Special
May 11, 2021
Chapter 18
Conservation & Pandemics
Special
May 25, 2021
Chapter 18
Your Stories
Special
June 8, 2021
Chapter 19
Looking forward by looking back
Season 6 contains a miniseries of bonus episodes which features interviews with authors of popular science books, covering topics ranging from why sweat matters to the history of food safety, from the menstrual cycle to the persistence of race science.[ 19]
Season
Date
Title
6
February 21, 2023
Special Episode: David Quammen & Breathless
6
March 7, 2023
Special Episode: Sarah Everts & The Joy of Sweat
6
March 21, 2023
Special Episode: Angela Saini & Superior
6
April 25, 2023
Special Episode: Dr. Kate Clancy & Period
6
May 26, 2023
Special Episode: Mary Roach & Fuzz
6
June 20, 2023
Special Episode: Dr. Steven Thrasher & The Viral Underclass
6
July 11, 2023
Special Episode: Dr. Andrew Wehrmann & The Contagion of Liberty
6
July 26, 2023
Special Episode: Deborah Blum & The Poison Squad
6
August 8, 2023
Special Episode: Ed Yong & An Immense World
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^ a b "This Podcast Will Kill You" . Exactly Right Podcast Network . Archived from the original on 2019-04-15. Retrieved 2019-07-14 .
^ a b McDonell-Parry, Amelia (2018-11-28). " 'My Favorite Murder' Hosts Launch Podcast Network" . Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on 2020-10-29. Retrieved 2021-08-11 .
^ Dibdin, Emma (2019-07-18). "8 Podcasts for the Tech Curious" . The New York Times . ISSN 0362-4331 . Archived from the original on 2021-07-27. Retrieved 2021-08-10 .
^ a b c "This Podcast Will Kill You: Science communication through conversation" . Life Sciences Institute . 2019-10-31. Archived from the original on 2020-07-04. Retrieved 2020-07-10 .
^ a b Syrek, Ryan (16 July 2019). "This Interview Will Kill You" . Medscape . Archived from the original on 2020-08-10. Retrieved 2021-08-10 .
^ a b "Season 1 – This Podcast Will Kill You" . 6 March 2018. Archived from the original on 2021-05-23. Retrieved 2021-08-11 .
^ " 'This Podcast Will Kill You' Shows 4x Growth with Exactly Right" . Midroll . 2019-03-13. Archived from the original on 2020-07-10. Retrieved 2020-07-10 .
^ "Nominee - This Podcast Will Kill You" . The Webby Awards . Archived from the original on 2021-08-11. Retrieved 2021-08-11 .
^ Cummings, Sinead (26 March 2020). " 'This Podcast Will Kill You' has a new series on COVID-19" . PhillyVoice . Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 10 August 2021 .
^ "TPWKY Book Club – This Podcast Will Kill You" . 2023-08-08. Retrieved 2023-09-26 .
^ "Season 2 – This Podcast Will Kill You" . 3 September 2019. Archived from the original on 2021-05-23. Retrieved 2021-08-11 .
^ "Season 3 – This Podcast Will Kill You" . 13 October 2020. Archived from the original on 2021-05-23. Retrieved 2021-08-11 .
^ "Season 4 – This Podcast Will Kill You" . Archived from the original on 2021-05-23. Retrieved 2021-08-11 .
^ "Season 5 – This Podcast Will Kill You" . 2022-11-29. Retrieved 2023-09-26 .
^ a b "Season 6 – This Podcast Will Kill You" . 2023-09-12. Retrieved 2023-09-26 .
^ "COVID-19 – This Podcast Will Kill You" . Archived from the original on 2021-05-23. Retrieved 2021-08-11 .
^ "This Podcast Will Kill You and The C-Word - The TLS" . TLS . Archived from the original on 2020-07-04. Retrieved 2020-07-10 .
^ "Special Episode: David Quammen & Breathless – This Podcast Will Kill You" . 2023-02-21. Retrieved 2023-09-26 .