Shows
Viral LoadRFK Jr.'s Tylenol FilesSend us a textIn this episode, Dr. Brett (PhD, Epidemiology) and Andy break down the viral claim by President Trump and RFK Jr. that Tylenol during pregnancy causes autism.They cut through the noise:What the White House actually said (nothing close to confirmation)What the JAMA studies show (associations, not causation)What RFK Jr. and Trump’s framing gets wrongWhat the evidence does suggest — and what it doesn’tListen to cut through all the BS and walk away with what you need to know.
2025-09-291h 38Viral LoadPolio Part 2: Managing MisinformationSend us a textIn this episode, we tackle the dangers of celebrity-driven vaccine misinformation, focusing on figures like Alicia Silverstone, who may still be Clueless. We also explore the continued influence of Andrew Wakefield, whose discredited study sparked the anti-vaccine movement, and the legal efforts of RFK Jr.'s lawyer to challenge vaccine mandates. This episode highlights the real-world consequences of misinformation and discusses how we can fight back for the sake of public health.
2025-01-0135 minViral LoadPolio Part 1: Paralysis AnalysisSend us a textIn this episode, we explore the concerning potential for the return of polio, a disease that once terrified the world before vaccines brought it to the brink of eradication. What's behind the recent reports of poliovirus in wastewater and isolated cases? And how do vaccine gaps, global health inequities, and misinformation play a role in its possible resurgence? Stay tuned next week as we dive into Polio part 2 centered around celebrity vaccine misinformation, who's trying to get the FDA to revoke the approval of polio vaccine and why we should all b...
2024-12-171h 11Viral LoadHendra Virus: We can't stop here. This is bat countrySend us a textAustralia's got a reputation for dangerous creatures, but Hendra takes it to a whole new level. This week, we dive into the bat-sh*t crazy world of the Hendra virus—an outbreak that started in horses and quickly spread to humans in a way that’s both horrifying and weird. We’ll unpack how a bunch of flying friends with a taste for fruit can turn a quiet day in the outback into a biohazard situation. Who knew the land down under wasn’t just full of deadly snakes and spiders, but also viruses...
2024-12-101h 17Viral LoadThe Real RFK Jr.: Department of Health and Human ServicesSend us a textIn this episode, we venture boldly into the unsettling future of American healthcare as Robert F. Kennedy Jr. steps into the most controversial cabinet role of the new administration: Secretary of Health and Human Services. With a track record of questioning vaccine safety and promoting alternative health narratives, RFK Jr.'s appointment signals a seismic shift in the way the U.S. may tackle public health, disease research, and scientific integrity.But what lies ahead for the nation's health system? Will we see a return to an era of pseudoscience and...
2024-11-271h 05Viral LoadDisease X: Navigating the Conspiracy Theory MazeSend us a textDive into the mystery of Disease X, the hypothetical pathogen poised to trigger the next global pandemic. Amidst a sea of conspiracy theories, from government cover-ups and the New World Order to clandestine experiments, we sift through the noise to uncover the truth. Join the guys as they navigate the tangled web of misinformation to reveal the reality behind Disease X and its potential impact on our world........sourceshttps://apnews.com/article/fact-check-misinformation-disease-x-migrants-watermelon-7518534f7ae8deccec6836f6b5d0a9...
2024-02-281h 16Viral LoadOrigins of HIV/AIDSSend us a textDelve into the complex origins of HIV in our latest episode, unraveling the web of misinformation surrounding this global health crisis. Join us as we uncover the truth behind the virus, challenging misconceptions and shedding light on its historical context..........Sources https://www.ecohealthalliance.org/2017/12/world-aids-dayhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3234451/https://www.theguardian.com/science/2014/oct/02/hiv-aids-pandemic-kinshasa-africahttps://www.unaids.org/enhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.https://www.n...
2024-02-131h 21Viral LoadEpidemic Enigma: Bird Flu Prophesies & 5 Strange DiseasesSend us a textDive into the ominous with some of the world's weirdest diseases. An is it finally the year of the Bird Flu? In this Viral Particle or Mini-sode. Uncover the eerie stories behind 5 peculiar diseases.. Join us on this unsettling journey through pandemic prophecies and the strange afflictions that haunt our disease ridden world.
2024-01-2939 minViral LoadArtificial Intelligence & Human Health: Rise of the Disease MachinesSend us a textIs it a system that creates a world where Instagram models and regular folks become indistinguishable . A revolutionary solution to blank page syndrome ? An epic tale of an artificial boy's quest for humanity? Or perhaps we are just talking about a complex machine that will ultimately out smart and overthrow man. Tune in to this week's episode to learn Just what AI is and how just maybe it could save the world.....sources https://missionlocal.org/2023/10/ai-malaria/https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36515751/h...
2024-01-151h 28Viral LoadTime-Traveling Pathogens: Update from SiberiaSend us a textThis week the guys jump back to a topic that started it all in 2019 (episode 1). We're talking zombie viruses and melting permafrost. What are scientists finding beneath the thawing ground? Listen to this week's episode to find out!.....sources https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/driven-by-climate-change-thawing-permafrost-is-radically-changing-the-arctic-landscape#:~:text=The%20thaw%20and%20collapse%20of,over%20the%20past%20two%20decades.https://scitechdaily.com/awakening-ancient-dangers-catastrophic-risks-of-time-traveling-pathogens-from-melting-permafrost/https://phys.org/news/2023-07-ancient-pathogens-ice-wreak-havoc.htmlhttps://phys.org/news/2023-07-time-traveling-pathogens-permafrost-pose-environment.html?_g...
2023-08-1852 minViral LoadWar in Ukraine: Cholera and Combat MosquitoesSend us a textIs Putin puttin' something in the water supply? Is Zelensky secretly an an evil mastermind using monster mosquitos to squash the Russian Regime? Is the U.S. funding bio labs in the Ukraine to undercut the Russians? Is it all simply political posturing? Or is there something a bit more sinister afoot? Find out on this episode of Viral Load Podcast. .....Sources Wind Rose Band : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34CZjsEI1yU https://telegra.ph/Brifing-po-voenno-biologicheskoj-deyatelnosti-SSHA-06-19http...
2023-07-251h 11Viral LoadViral Load Reviews The Last of UsSend us a textA fungal infection turning the entire human race into mushroom headed zombies...of course the guys from Viral Load are all in. On this episode Brett and Andy take a look at the fungal series that is causing an HBO Pandemic. Could Cordyceps really mutate and take over the human race? Are there any examples of fungal infections causing epidemics or pandemics throughout history? Did David Attenborough show us our future through zombified ants while lulling us into submission with his sweet soothing voice? And just how afraid of the fungus among us sh...
2023-03-0746 minViral LoadBird Flu Outbreak: Pandemic PredictionsSend us a textWhile we may not have a Delorean or a magic crystal ball; Brett is a doctor of epidemiology, an astronomy aficionado and now perhaps able to see into the future (Brett-stradamus )? After 2 years of bird flu prognostication are we finally seeing the first signs of the next pandemic? Tune in this week to find out. .....Sources ....https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/20/us/grizzly-bears-bird-flu.html?https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-01338-2htt...
2023-02-271h 03Viral LoadTB Sniffing Rodents: HeroRATSSend us a textThis week the guys take you on a trip down the rat hole. They discuss the incredibly accurate TB sniffing rats and how humans began domesticating animals for our benefit. So sit back relax and picture Linguini sniffing out TB instead of making delicious Disney dishes....Support APOPOhttps://apopo.org/ ...sources https://apopo.org/support-us/adopt/?v=7516fd43adaahttps://www.cdc.gov/tb/topic/basics/default.htm#:~:text=Tuberculosis%20(TB)%20is%20caused%20by,with%20T...
2023-01-1756 minViral LoadRSV and the TripledemicSend us a textWhat's that? The holidays are just around the corner. Well Brett and Andy have got just the topic for discussion around the ol' dinner table. This week the guys dive into the deep end of the latest pandemic that is RSV. In doing so we must once again venture into the dregs of society to uncover the latest conspiracy theories and the uphill battle the latest vaccine is going to have against the ongoing infodemic. So strap in take notes and whatever you do stay away from demon babies!
2022-12-201h 02Viral LoadThe Great Pacific Garbage Patch and Frozen Zombie VirusesSend us a textSame old new years resolutions and brand new set of terrifying disease predictions. This episode is a viral particle or mini-sode where Brett and Andy each choose a story and the other one has no clue what to expect. Brett dives into the deep end of the swirling trash pile that is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. While Andy ventures back to the frozen Tundra to check in on some of Zombie virus predictions of episodes past.
2022-12-1350 min
Law360's Pro Say - News & Analysis on Law and the Legal IndustryLingering Questions Of The FBI's Kavanaugh ProbeFour years since the FBI’s inquiry into alleged sexual misconduct by Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, questions linger as to how the agency handled the mountain of tips it received and what that could mean for future high court nominees. Law360 features reporter Cara Bayles joins Pro Say this week to discuss what we've learned since 2018, what we still don't know, and why lawmakers are still questioning the FBI about the investigation so many years later. Also this week, President Joe Biden’s marijuana possession pardons, Alec Baldwin’s settlement with the family of the “Rust” cinematographer killed on set las...
2022-10-0843 minViral LoadFecal Transplants Part 2 : Golden SoupSend us a textIt's finally arrived the long awaited sequel to our foray into fecal fodder. Do you or someone you love have gastrointestinal distress? or did you simply eat bad street meat at 1 am that sent you down a Youtube rabbit hole that has you thinking maybe a DIY fecal transplant is for you? Well, put down that blender and turkey baster and give this episode a listen first.
2022-10-041h 24Viral LoadFecal Transplants Part 1 : The MicrobiomeSend us a textWandering through the fecal fodder of 2022 has at times felt like a flummoxing failure. The good news is on this episode of Viral Load we show you the upside of your downtown business and how it could one day save your life.
2022-08-301h 12Viral LoadMonkeypox Rave 2022Send us a textPlanning to hit up your local rave? You may want to hold off on dropping the beat until you listen to this week's episode. We discuss the emergence of monkeypox in non endemic areas and why Marshmallow, Skrillex, and Deadmau5 may be responsible.
2022-06-2048 minViral LoadRabies: Destroy the BrainSend us a text On this episode we cover why that possum is really chasing it's tail, if you should invite those pesky raccoons into your home for some tea, and ponder just what is the best name for a Swedish metal band. That's right the deadliest disease on earth and old Yeller's demise this week we discuss rabies.
2022-03-151h 17Viral LoadOmicron Persei 8: A Variant of ConcernSend us a textWhat happens when anti-vaxxers, a promiscuous virus, and maybe some infected rodents get together? A new episode of Viral Load Podcast, of course. Also, a new variant of SARS-CoV-2......sources..https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/s1126-B11-529-omicron.htmlhttps://www.cnbc.com/2021/11/30/fauci-says-omicron-covid-variant-has-already-been-found-in-20-countries-but-not-yet-in-the-us.htmlhttps://www.npr.org/2021/11/30/1060025081/omicron-variant-netherlands-europe-south-africahttps://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/COVID-Variants.aspxhttps://www.who.int/en/activities...
2021-12-091h 24Viral LoadViral Particle: May the Quartz be with YouSend us a textWhy would a rare tropical disease outbreak emerge in America’s heartland? Get your crystals out and make sure your chakras are aligned, because Jupiter is in retrograde and Viral Load is on the case!...sources https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/23/health/aromatherapy-melioidosis-mystery/index.htmlhttps://www.cnn.com/2021/10/22/business/walmart-room-spray-recall-bacteria/index.htmlhttps://emergency.cdc.gov/han/2021/han00444.asphttps://www.cdc.gov/melioidosis/index.htmlhttps://journals.asm.org/doi/epub/10.1128/CMR.18.2.383-416.2005
2021-11-1530 minViral LoadMonkeypox: Furious GeorgeSend us a textWe are back from the grave for this halloween episode. On the 2 year anniversary of Viral Load we dive into the wonderful world of monkeypox. Tune in to find out why you should care about this boil inducing disease. And whatever you do this hallows eve don't pet prairie dogs!sources:https://www.statnews.com/2021/07/20/more-than-200-people-in-u-s-being-monitored-for-possible-monkeypox-exposure-cdc-says/https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/atlanta/1st-us-case-monkeypox-comes-traveler-flying-through-atlanta/BWBQZ5OIV5ANRP7MMOLJJMHF5U/https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/index.htmlhttps://www.sciencedirect.com/topics...
2021-11-071h 32Viral LoadRevenge of the Variants: Delta, Lambda, Omega-MuSend us a text"The Variants They Are A-Changin' " - Bob Dylan & SARS-CoV-2. What happens when an RNA virus meets an unevenly vaccinated planet? Tune in to our latest COVID-19 episode to find out! ...sources.https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/variants/variant-info.html https://www.nytimes.com/article/covid-breakthrough-delta-variant.html?campaign_id=190&emc=edit_ufn_20210811&instance_id=37681&nl=updates-from-the-newsroom®i_id=117681300&segment_id=65980&te=1&user_id=07cbd203bdf60faa1d6adeaea6d6acf5https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/08/12/science/covid-delta-breakthrough.html
2021-08-161h 30Viral LoadThe Bird Flu ComethSend us a textMove over COVID, there’s a new sheriff in town. While the COVID-19 continues to garner international attention, strains of avian influenza (“bird flu”) are lurking - ready to spark the next pandemic. Is BIRD-FLU-22 next?.sources .https://scitechdaily.com/global-spread-of-the-highly-pathogenic-h5n8-avian-influenza-virus-is-a-serious-public-health-concern/https://science.sciencemag.org/content/372/6544/784.fullhttps://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/27/6/20-4727_articlehttps://www.cdc.gov/flu/avianflu/h5n1-virus.htmhttp://www.fao.org/ag/againfo/programmes/en/empres/Global...
2021-06-251h 53Viral LoadHansen's Disease (Leprosy): MMMBopSend us a textLeprosy probably brings to mind skin falling from the bone and people cast away into quarantined colonies. It is among the most stigmatized diseases in history, that I can think of. In this episode, we cover the past, present, and future of this ancient foe..sourceshttps://www.who.int/health-topics/leprosy#tab=tab_1https://www.seeker.com/where-do-leper-colonies-still-exist-2015107873.htmlhttps://www.history.com/news/leprosy-colonies-us-quarantine#:~:text=Kalaupapa%20was%20one%20of%20a,by%20the%20far%20the%20largest. https://www.n...
2021-05-171h 28Viral LoadCOVID-19: Pandemic OriginsSend us a textThe search continues for the origins of the virus that causes COVID-19—and the pathway that it took to leap from animals to humans, resulting in 129 million infections and more than 2.8 million deaths....and counting. The World Health Organization recently released a report from a team of international researchers that traveled to China to investigate four possible origin scenarios. Tune in to find out what this 300-page monster has to tell us. Trigger alert: there will be bats.
2021-04-221h 16Viral LoadViral Particle: Stay Out of the ForestSend us a textBrett and Andy dive into the hot topics in the world of diseases for this viral particle (minisode). In an homage to the My Favorite Murder pod, each host chooses a recent disease story and presents without the other knowing what the subject matter will be. Tune in to find out the terrifying facts the guys uncovered this week. ....sources ..https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2021/03/19/979314118/next-pandemic-scientists-fear-another-coronavirus-could-jump-from-animals-to-hum .https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2021/03/15/977527808/who-points-to-wildlife-farms-in-southwest-china-as-likely-source-of-pandemic
2021-03-2245 minViral LoadTransmitted Infections Part 2: Interview with a Love DoctorSend us a textOn part 2 of our STI saga we sat down with occupational therapist and real life love doctor Karen McCarthy PhD. We discuss dating in the age of apps and the stigma of the gifts that keep on giving. For dating advice and more info on our guest head over to www.karenmccarthcoaching.com.
2021-03-021h 14Viral LoadSexually Transmitted Infections Part 1: Consider the MerkinSend us a textIn the words of the late Charles Bukowski, "Sex is kicking death in the ass while singing." Join us as we embark on a journey of sex, pathogens, and in our first episode, we explore the world of sexually transmitted infections.sources - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16341329/,https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/sexually-transmitted-infections-(stis),https://www.cdc.gov/std/general/default.htm#:~:text=Human%20papillomavirus%20(HPV)%20is%20the,can%20be%20prevented%20with%20vaccines.,
2021-02-221h 31Viral LoadTuberculosis: Consumption GumptionSend us a textTuberculosis is one of the deadliest diseases in the world infecting over 100 Million people annually. Every episode we end by asking listeners to send in any episode suggestions they'd like to hear about in the future. Well ask and the disease guys will deliver! Tulane University student Anna Ryu has done amazing work with the Borgen project and wanted to shed some light on ways we can help to prevent further spread of this horrible disease through legislation. Brett breaks down the science behind why TB remains so deadly. While Andy dives back d...
2021-02-011h 33Viral LoadVaccination Station: Herd immunity, Misinformation, and the next pandemicSend us a textOut with the old and in with the new! The 2020 dumpster fire is over and COVID-19 vaccines are rolling out. So, only one question remains: what new disease horrors does 2021 have in store for us?...sources ..https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/health/pfizer-biontech-covid-19-vaccine.htmlhttps://www.newscientist.com/article/2261805-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-pfizer-biontech-covid-19-vaccine/https://theconversation.com/how-covid-19-vaccines-will-get-from-the-factory-to-your-local-pharmacy-151362 https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/12/03/942303736/how-rich-countries-are-hoarding-the-worlds-vaccines-in-chartshttps://www.statnews.com/2020/12/19/a-side-by-side-comparison-of-the-pfizer-biontech-and-moderna-vaccines/
2021-01-181h 41Viral LoadChronic Kidney Disease Part 2: A Survivor's perspectiveSend us a textThis week we're continuing our nephrotic odyssey with a special interview with a kidney failure survivor and recent kidney transplant recipient Joe Mcguiggin. Joe pulls back the curtain on what it's like to be a recovering addict with kidney failure and we learn about a lesser-known disease that caused his kidney failure.Check out Joe's interview on WCVB 5 which includes an interview with his transplant team from Tufts Medical Center.https://www.wcvb.com/article/merrimack-valley-man-overcomes-addiction-kidney-failure/34907376?fbclid=IwAR1sEozvK1MykD4GppTJyTnc0fMzN43iZ0uzB5qLLxBuVjXzKPXx0eRXCMM
2020-12-141h 16Viral LoadChronic Kidney Disease Part 1: Nephrons, Ship Breakers, and Transplant TourismSend us a textWe’re dipping our toes in the sea of non-communicable diseases. Join us as we venture into the surprisingly strange world of chronic kidney disease. We’ve got science, a special guest, and Snapple facts that will leave you thirsty for more. What do mangrove forests and cargo ships have to do with kidney disease in Bangladesh? Tune in to find out! And you thought only infectious diseases could be weird...silly you.....sources .https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/574564/kidney-factshttps...
2020-12-071h 20Viral LoadPilgrim Pathogens: The Diseases of ThanksgivingSend us a textWe may not all agree on side dishes or which dessert is best, but the one thing we do know: Thanksgiving and diseases go together like turkey and gravy. On this episode of Viral Load, we cover the diseases, both past & present, of the Thanksgiving holiday (or the last Thursday in November for the rest of the world).Sources:.https://www.poison.org/articles/2014-oct/happy-and-safe-thanksgivinghttps://www.southtampaimmediatecare.com/common-ailments-around-thanksgiving.htmlhttps://slate.com/technology/2012/11/leptospirosis-and-pilgrims-the-wampanoag-may-have-been-killed-off-by-an-infectious-disease.h...
2020-12-041h 24Viral LoadYou Died of Dysentery: Diseases of the Oregon Trail (game)Send us a textTake a trip down memory road (or trail?) with us. We're discussing the disease-riddled icon computer lab mainstay, 'The Oregon Trail'...sources PLAY THE GAME ***https://classicreload.com/oregon-trail.html ***https://oregontrailcenter.org/pioneers-talkhttps://apnews.com/article/24e7fbf1d0e84f05a069e8c4c3fcc78fhttps://historicoregoncity.org/2019/04/02/doctors-and-diseases-on-the-oregon-trail/https://www.henrystrobel.com/saintboniface/oregon-trail-diary.pdfhttps://octa-trails.org/articles/l...
2020-11-231h 23Viral LoadViral Particle: Saved by the BellSend us a textWe know what you're thinking "2020 has been less than optimal". Well try and find solace in the fact that you aren’t waking up today only to find yourself buried alive. On this particle we discuss the devastating Yellow Fever Outbreak in Savannah Georgia in 1820. As well as the possible origin of an insectoid monster that has been terrorizing West Africa for over 700 years. ....sources ...https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2018/10/31/415535913/how-yellow-fever-turned-new-orleans-into-the-city-of-the-deadhttps://genteelandbard.com/savannah-ghost-stories/2018/11/7/the-ghosts-of-colonial-park-cemeteryht...
2020-11-0238 minViral LoadHalloween Special: Dracula Origins and Walking CorpsesSend us a textIn honor of Halloween, we’ve put together a spooktacular sampler of some of the diseases that are the real reason for the season! First, we explore the pathogen-riddled, Irish origins of Dracula. Then, we discuss Cotard Syndrome, otherwise known as the “Walking Corpse Syndrome”.....sources ..
2020-10-261h 11Viral LoadBrain Eating AmoebasSend us a textI know what your thinking 2020 has been a piece of cake and you have nothing to worry about. Well you're in luck this week we dive into the stagnant waters of your nightmares and bring you Naegleria the brain eating amoeba! Sources: https://www.popsci.com/story/science/brain-eating-amoeba-rare-infection/https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/naegleria-infection/symptoms-causes/syc-20375470https://www.insider.com/rise-of-brain-eating-amoeba-naegleria-fowleri-in-us-waters-2020-7https://www.ajtmh.org/content/journals/10.4269/ajtmh.17-0110Yoder JS, et al., 2012. Primary amebic meningoencephalitis dea...
2020-10-191h 12Viral LoadMr. COVID Goes to WashingtonSend us a textCOVID-19 knows no bounds! After prancing around Parliament with Boris Johnson COVID decided to hit the big time and took a romp in the White House rose garden. Donald Trump President of the United States tests positive for COVID-19. On this episode we chronicle the COVID-19 outbreak in the U.S and examine how exactly we ended up with a super spreader event at the white house. .....sources https://www.factcheck.org/2020/10/timeline-of-trumps-covid-19-comments/https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2020/10/politics/trump-covid-battle/
2020-10-1459 minViral LoadViral Particle : Bring Out Your DeadSend us a textWhat is the Million Death Study? How has Africa navigated COVID-19 relatively unscathed and for God’s sake can someone give us some Happy Science news? All that and more on this week’s Viral Particle mini-sode. ...Sources .https://pulitzercenter.org/reporting/their-own-hands-kibera-kenyas-largest-slum-tames-covid-19#slideshow-0https://www.vogue.com/article/david-avido-free-mask-kibera-nairobi-kenya-uwezahttps://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/08/pandemic-appears-have-spared-africa-so-far-scientists-are-struggling-explain-whyhttps://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/09/18/913937122/kenya-braced-for-the-worst-the-worst-didnt-happen-whyhttps://www.afro.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus-covid-19https://reliefweb.int/report/south-africa/social-environmental-factors-seen-behind-africa-s-low-covid-19-caseshttps://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/09/25/914073217/why-the-pandemic-could-change-the-way-we-record-deathshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Happy_Scienc
2020-09-2851 minViral LoadTis the Season...for TwindemicsSend us a textWhat is the flu? What does the flu do? Are there any flu socks? Is anyone listening to me? What happens when the world is up in flames, a Pandemic continues to rage on and Flu Season comes a knockin'? Buckle up kids because like it or not we're all strapped into the 2020 rollercoaster and we're about to find out. ..sources ..https://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/a33427007/when-is-flu-season/https://www.today.com/health/flu-season-2020-2021-what-know-when-get-flu-shot-t188740https://www.cdc.gov/fl...
2020-09-231h 27Viral LoadViral Particle: Vultures and the Shadow PandemicSend us a textOn this Viral Particle minisode, we discuss the drastic rise in domestic violence globally since the shutdown and we celebrate vultures, the unsung heroes of the public health world.....sources https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/09/10/910737751/the-women-of-peru-are-suffering-from-a-shadow-pandemichttps://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/vulturehttps://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/sky-burialhttps://earthjournalism.net/stories/why-falling-vulture-populations-could-harm-public-healthhttps://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/06/world/coronavirus-domestic-violence.html
2020-09-1449 minViral LoadWest Nile Virus: Counting CrowsSend us a textAre birds real? Do crows really remember faces? How hard is a Sentinal chicken's day at work? And what the hell does any of that have to do with West Nile Virus? Tune into this week's episode of Viral Load to find out. ...sources https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3967162/https://www.cdc.gov/westnile/statsmaps/cumMapsData.htmlhttps://www.cdc.gov/westnile/dead-birds/index.htmlhttps://www.nature.com/articles/nature05829https://www.me...
2020-09-071h 27Viral LoadViral Particle: Socks on FireSend us a textEarthquakes, Hurricanes, COVID, and now wild fires. 2020 you're incorrigible. On this viral particle we check in on the California wildfires and cap it off with a simple case study about a man and his socks. ...sources..https://www.iflscience.com/health-and-medicine/man-hospitalized-after-sniffing-his-socks-too-long/https://www.sfchronicle.com/news/article/Fire-evacuees-during-pandemic-steer-clear-of-15501184.php?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=briefing&utm_campaign=sfc_baybriefing_am&sid=5f13bd5e86dabf4d232cf8c1https://www.sciencealert...
2020-08-2739 minViral LoadNipah: The Worst Disease Nobody's Heard OfSend us a textWhat is the worst disease no one has ever heard of? Nipah! Ever heard of it? Join Andy and Brett as they discuss the Nipah virus, the inspiration for the 2011 blockbuster hit Contagion, bat urine, and date palm wine. All fun facts that are sure to make you a hit at your next Zoom cocktail hour..Sources ......https://www.cdc.gov/vhf/nipah/index.htmlSpiropoulou CF. Nipah Virus Outbreaks: Still Small but Extremely Lethal. J Infect Dis. 2019;219(12):1855...
2020-08-191h 55Viral LoadCOVID-19: Operation Warp Speed!Send us a textIt's been 8 months since the first case of the virus formally known as the Novel Coronavirus was found in Wuhan China. That number has grown in 8 months to over 20 Million cases. How do we escape this warped reality that is COVID-19? The answer just might be Operation Warp Speed............sources https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/basics/test-approve.htmlFact sheet: explaining Operation Warp Speed. US Dept of Health and Human Services. June 2020. Accessed July 30, 2020.
2020-08-111h 58Viral LoadViral Particle: The RunawaysSend us a textWhat do you get when you cross totalitarianism with a pandemic? If you guessed "one helluva story", we owe you a La Croix! COVID-19 has finally arrived in North Korea...or has it? Join Andy and Brett as they traverse the demilitarized zone, on this week's extra-large viral particle. References:https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/25/world/asia/north-korea-coronavirus-kim-jong-un.htmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/31/world/asia/north-korea-coronavirus.htmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/28/world/asia/north-korea-defector-coronavirus.htmlhttps://ourworldindata.org/covid-exemplar-south-koreahttps://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-53541730https://www.nytimes...
2020-08-051h 13Viral LoadNaughty By NatureSend us a textRemember to stop and smell the roses. Unless of course those roses are in fact Oleanders, Love Beans, Corpse Flowers, or any number of vegetable seed roots. Better yet take a picture you'll last longer. Are there plants around us everyday that can be made into weapons of terrorism? Have we found the perfect plant that when placed on the tip of an umbrella is capable of taking down even the best secret agents? Watch your back Mr. Bond. Join us on this week's episode to find out what not to add to...
2020-07-281h 17Viral LoadViral Particle: The OthersSend us a text2020 the year of COVID-19, Murder Hornets, locust swarms, social injustice and...it's not over yet. What if we told you the death toll didn't stop with COVID-19? What if as predicted by some in the scientific community the shutdown had unintended consequences of epic proportions? No we aren't talking about suffocation from wearing a mask while shopping at Wal-Mart or getting your hair did. We are talking about The Others! ..Resources: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/30/world/asia/h1n1-swine-flu-virus-china-pig.htmlhttps://www.cdc.go...
2020-07-2158 minViral LoadAstrovirology: Mars Attacks?Send us a textIs there life on Mars? On this episode follow Brett and Andy down the black hole of Astrovirology. The guys discuss what extraterrestrial life could look like as well as the unintended consequences of the arms race to colonize Mars.
2020-07-151h 49Viral LoadCOVID-19: Socks And BondsSend us a textIt's COVID-19 update time! This week, Brett and Andy bring in economist and friend of the show Austin Myers to discuss the economic implications of the pandemic thus far. Should we buy or sell? Tune in this week to find out!
2020-07-0648 minViral LoadSchistosomiasis: Dam SnailsSend us a textSchistosomiasis where we're going we don't need dams! On this episode of Viral Load the guys wade into the world of Neglected Tropical Disease. How is it that there is a disease that affects almost 1 billion people and most of the world's never heard if it? Tune in this week to find out.
2020-06-291h 21Viral LoadThe Dancing PlagueSend us a textDance, dance, dance until you die! No this isn't Hocus Pocus, this is 1518 and the dancing plague has overtaken Strasbourg. What caused people to dance until their feet bled and their bones were exposed? Tune into this episode of viral load to find out. ....Sourceshttps://www.theguardian.com/stage/2018/jul/05/bizarre-dance-epidemic-of-summer-1518-strasbourghttps://www.bbc.com/future/article/20161028-the-town-the-nearly-danced-itself-to-deathhttps://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS014067360960386X/fulltexthttps://thepsychologist.bps.org.uk/volume-22/edition-7/dancing-plagues-and-mass-hysteria
2020-06-161h 17Viral LoadCOVID-19: America's Pre-existing ConditionSend us a textOn this episode of Viral Load Brett and Andy take a closer look into racial inequality in the united states amidst a global pandemic. The guys break down social justice and why the lack of social justice has led to a grave disparity in COVID-19 mortality rates in the black community nationwide. They also tackle smart ways to protest including a checklist of ways to keep standing up for what you believe in while keeping yourself and your loved ones safe. We here at Viral Load stand with you. Black Lives Matter. .
2020-06-101h 25Viral LoadViral Particle: Corpse Medicine & Gladiator JuiceSend us a textOn this Viral Particle mini-sode Brett and Andy take on Quackery through the ages as well as a rare feel good story from a Sudanese refugee.
2020-05-2529 minViral Load1918 Spanish Influenza Pandemic: Now and ThenSend us a textOn part 2 of our "mother of all pandemics" mini-series, Brett and Andy look for parallels between the social and political responses to the 1918 "Spanish Influenza" pandemic and COVID-19. Spoiler alert: masks are still an issue 100 years later, cities handle things very differently, and politics can get in the way? Only epidemiology can save us!
2020-05-181h 42Viral Load1918 Spanish Influenza Pandemic: The Mother of All PandemicsSend us a textOn this week's episode Brett and Andy visit the mother of all pandemics. The 1918 Flu pandemic commonly known as the "Spanish Flu". In this episode the guys explore how during a world war the man in the foxhole beside you may have been deadlier than the enemy.
2020-05-111h 36Viral LoadCOVID-19: From the Front LinesSend us a textOn this Episode of Viral Load Brett and Andy take an inside look into working on the front lines and the different approaches countries have taken. They look at Sweden's very different approach and if the U.S could learn from it. What comes next and how every decision will impact healthcare around the world.
2020-05-0458 minViral LoadCOVID-19: New NormalSend us a textOn this week's Viral Particle per popular demand the guys are diving back into the Rona-sphere. They discuss continued misinformation, the unintended consequences of a lockdown, and what will be the new normal. Will we ever hug again? Tune in to find out.
2020-04-2745 minViral LoadKuru: The Cannibalism DiseaseSend us a textWhy did a remote tribe in Papua New Guinea experience a mysterious disease outbreak? Was it sorcery or something...darker? Brett and Andy look for the answers so you don't have to!Sources....https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2016/09/06/482952588/when-people-ate-people-a-strange-disease-emergedhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2581657/https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/3703763.pdf?casa_token=1afPjfG1sEcAAAAA:U32hy-YTqrJWbeaqRPR6LQldzB_8GUUj5PDwgmEfZsGwjbyggAgw1_OpuOyEUJ_Yldoo-hEL97T_g96IPqyQPBwZ4w_Xp3ilv0UkmWXRj6SNhWhp2rI
2020-04-241h 14Viral LoadToxoplasma Gondii: The 'Mind-Control' ParasiteSend us a textOn this week's Viral Load, Brett and Andy are back in the world of parasites. Are you a cat lover? You're in luck, so does the "mind control" parasite Toxoplasma gondii. Tune in to find out why you really shouldn't f**ck with cats!...References: https://www.livescience.com/56529-strange-facts-about-toxoplasma-gondii-parasite.htmlhttps://www.livescience.com/toxoplasmosis.htmlhttps://theconversation.com/toxoplasma-cat-poo-parasite-infects-billions-so-why-is-it-so-hard-to-study-120688https://jeb.biologists.org/content/216/1/127.longhttps://www.livescience.com/65038-why-usda-conducted-experiments-cat-cannibalism.htmlhttps://journals.p...
2020-04-131h 21Viral LoadMERS Attacks!Send us a textOn this week's episode Brett and Andy wrap up the coronavirus trilogy with MERS otherwise known as Middle East respiratory syndrome. MERS was the coronavirus outbreak that preceded the current COVID-19 pandemic. Did we handle MERS better? Could we have learned anything from MERS? Why are there still MERS hotbeds when SARS has seemingly been contained? Find out all that and more on this week's Viral Load.
2020-04-071h 07Viral LoadCOVID-19: To Mask or Not to Mask?Send us a textBrett and Andy sit down to discuss the ever changing climate of the Covid-19 Pandemic. On this Viral Particle mini-sode the guys take a look at the guidance on home made masks and the overriding question should we all be wearing masks?
2020-04-0721 minViral LoadSARS and the SuperspreadersSend us a textOn this episode Brett and Andy travel back to the SARS Pandemic of 2003. Did we learn anything from one of the largest coronavirus outbreaks of our time? Or are we simply repeating history? Tune into this week's episode to find out.
2020-03-301h 07Viral LoadCOVID-19: The Good, the Bad, and the UglySend us a textOn this week's Viral Particle Brett and Andy are sheltering in place on Covid-19 watch 2020. They discuss the present state of the pandemic as well as look into the dregs of society who are trying to profit off your fear. Could there be silver lining to this Pandemic? When humans lose, does nature win? Tune in this week to find out.
2020-03-231h 08Viral LoadEncephalitis Lethargica: A Sleepy EpidemicSend us a textThis week Brett and Andy find out what Post Malone, The Awakenings, and the Salem Witch trials have in common as they dive into what was a global pandemic Encephalitis Lethargica.
2020-03-161h 16Viral LoadCOVID-19: UpdateSend us a textOn this episode of Viral Load Brett and Andy keep you up to date on all things Covid-19. The crew sits down with a financial expert Austin Myers to discuss the economic implications of a global pandemic. The guys also field a few listener questions with the help of friend of the pod Sara Myers.
2020-03-091h 14Viral LoadViral Particle: Going BattySend us a textOn this week's Viral Particle Brett and Andy head into the bat cave! They discuss how many diseases bats carry, why they are causing so many diseases and why they don't get sick. The guys also dissect Batman and why DC will never catch up to Marvel until they dig in and do their research. ...Resources https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/02/21/805287609/theres-a-flood-of-fake-news-about-coronavirus-and-a-plan-to-stop-ithttps://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/02/20/807742861/new-research-bats-harbor-hundreds-of-coronaviruses-and-spillovers-arent-rare https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/02/09/803543244/bats-carry-many-viruses-so-why-dont-they-get-sick
2020-02-2453 minViral LoadI Got WormsSend us a textOn this week's episode Brett and Andy travel to Guinea to dive into the "little dragon from Medina" or as you may know it the Guinea Worm. They discuss how it went from pandemic to the verge of extinction and which U.S. President has made it his life's work to see the end of this intestinal terror. ....Resourceshttps://www.statnews.com/2016/08/26/guinea-worm-eradication-setback/https://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/26/arts/artsspecial/jimmy-carters-fight-against-the-guinea-worm.htmlhttp://www.deadlysins...
2020-02-1756 min
Joyous Expansion/Church of AwesomeJoyous Expansion #58 - Lea Bayles - From Total Immune System Failure To Teaching Others How To Cure ThemselvesBrett Dupree once again talks about the struggles with his weight and examining himself to see why he is so uncoachable. Something that is holding him back for sure.Then he has a wonderful interview with Lea Bayles who talks about how pushing herself to success caused her body to shut down. Learning how to listen to her body and teaching others to do the same while creating success in their business without burning themselves out.Lea has been called “a secret weapon for life and business success,” “a voice for hea...
2020-02-0638 minViral LoadCOVID-19: Fears and BeersSend us a textWorld Health Organization declares Wuhan Coronavirus "Public Health Emergency of International Concern'. Now that it's made the Pandemic jump with it comes misinformation. Brett and Andy sit down for a Viral Particle (mini-sode) to separate fact from fiction.
2020-02-0351 minViral LoadWuhan Coronavirus: Apocalypse Now?Send us a textIn this week's episode Andy and Brett travel to Wuhan China to track down the world's newest deadly disease. The Coronavirus has already made the jump to the United States and the number of infected and subsequent death toll continues to rise, but just how scared should you be? ...Resourceshttps://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.htmlhttps://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/01/21/798137962/china-tries-to-control-travel-in-and-out-of-wuhan-to-stem-coronavirus-spreadSuppression:https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2019/country-chapters/china-and-tibet
2020-01-271h 32Viral LoadViral Particle: Bieber FeverSend us a textOn viral particle 2 Andy and Brett discuss current events and a possible shift in tracking diseases in a modern society.
2020-01-2027 minViral LoadZ is for ZikaSend us a textOn this episode of Viral Load Andy and Brett take a trip to Brazil to chase down the Asian Tiger Mosquito and find out who or what is responsible for the increase in microcephaly. This episode will leave you feel guilty about more than just the extra calories you're spreading on your toast.
2020-01-131h 12Viral LoadViral Particle: Adopt Don't shopSend us a textBrett and Andy introduce their first Minisode. The first in a series of mini episodes focusing on current epidemiology events and strange disease stories from around the world. This week's episode revolves around why Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year and the gifts that keep on giving.
2020-01-0629 minViral LoadThe Ebola Wars (part 2)Send us a textOn this week's Episode Brett and Andy dive back into the world of Ebola and tie in how your cell phone may be contributing to the spread of the deadly disease.
2019-12-1638 minViral LoadThe Ebola Wars (part 1)Send us a textOn this week's episode Brett and Andy dive into the terrifying world of Ebola and how your cell phone could be helping to spread this deadly disease REFERENCESFeldmann, H., & Geisbert, T. W. (2011). Ebola haemorrhagic fever. The Lancet, 377(9768), 849-862.Leroy, E. M., Kumulungui, B., Pourrut, X., Rouquet, P., Hassanin, A., Yaba, P., ... & Swanepoel, R. (2005). Fruit bats as reservoirs of Ebola virus. Nature, 438(7068), 575.https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2019/11/04/774863495/this-congolese-doctor-discovered-ebola-but-never-got-credit-for-it-until-now
2019-12-0246 minViral LoadSmallpox: Mummies and Doomsday PreppersSend us a textGone, but not forgotten! On this episode of Viral Load, Andy and Brett explore smallpox - the first disease in humans to be kicked off the planet. From mummies to the always sane world of doomsday preppers, this episode will be sure to make you second guess that next mosquito bite!REFERENCEShttp://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20170504-there-are-diseases-hidden-in-ice-and-they-are-waking-uphttps://www.nature.com/news/infectious-diseases-smallpox-watch-1.15115https://www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/wps...
2019-11-1850 minViral LoadAnthrax in the ArcticSend us a textOn the pilot episode of Viral Load Brett and Andy discuss Siberia, Anthrax, Climate change and how when all those things collide it's bad news for all of us. REFERENCESNational Research Council. (2011). Review of the scientific approaches used during the FBI's investigation of the 2001 anthrax letters. National Academies Press.https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2016/08/03/488400947/anthrax-outbreak-in-russia-thought-to-be-result-of-thawing-permafrostRevich, B. A., & Podolnaya, M. A. (2011). Thawing of permafrost may disturb historic...
2019-11-0139 min