Podcast
Sawbones: A Marital Tour of Misguided Medicine
Hosted by Justin McElroy, Dr. Sydnee McElroy · EN
Join Dr. Sydnee McElroy and her husband Justin McElroy for a tour of all the dumb, bad, gross, weird and wrong ways we've tried to fix people.
64episodes
Episodes
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Sawbones: Hantavirus, Part 2
1w ago00:34:23Tap to summarizeThe recent outbreak of human-communicable Hantavirus on a cruise ship continues to change rapidly and the U.S. continues to lag behind other nations in its response. This week on Sawbones, an update on the situation and some thoughts about the future of disease management in a country that seems uninterested in doing so. Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/ First Nations Development Institute: https://www.firstnations.org/ Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinsawbones
Transcribe →Sawbones: Hantavirus
2w ago00:43:49Tap to summarizeIn what may be our most requested episode of all time, Dr. Sydnee addresses the hantavirus outbreak in the headlines, looks at its history and evaluates just how badly the U.S. is handling the situation. Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/ First Nations Development Institute: https://www.firstnations.org/ Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinsawbones
Transcribe →Sawbones: Can Black Widow Venom Cure Diabetes?
3w ago00:42:04Tap to summarizeAfter all the listener support, it’s only fair we give back! “We” meaning Dr. Sydnee is giving back to the listeners by answering their medical questions! Can hanging upside-down cause lasting damage? Are hangnails random or is it part of my life choices? Why did the black plague end? Does flexing my calves strengthen my bladder? And how many living cells are in poop? Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/ Marsha P. Johnson Institute: https://marshap.org/ Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinsawbones
Transcribe →Sawbones: Milk, Part 2 - Government Cheese
4w ago00:50:14Tap to summarizeAre you ready to lose your mind about dairy and look at your charcuterie board differently? Justin tells Dr. Sydnee all about the inflated demand for milk, how good for you dairy actually is, and how the United States came to have a giant bunker of cheese in Missouri Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/ Marsha P. Johnson Institute: https://marshap.org/ Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinsawbones
Transcribe →Sawbones: Milk, Part 1 - Lactose Intolerance
Apr 2100:41:35Tap to summarizeWhy do some people have stomachaches when they drink or eat dairy products? Dr. Syndee and Justin talk about lactose and lactase to explain that it's really those who can drink milk who are the outliers and answer the very important question: is school milk racist? Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/ Marsha P. Johnson Institute: https://marshap.org/ Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinsawbones
Transcribe →Sawbones: Vitamin K
Apr 700:36:10Tap to summarizeNo, not the musical artist who sang the graduation song (that's Vitamin C). Vitamin K has been in the news a little bit lately because it's often given as a shot to newborns. Dr. Sydnee talks about the history of its discovery, what it is for, why it's important, and why in the world it's called Vitamin K. Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/ Marsha P. Johnson Institute: https://marshap.org/ Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinsawbones
Transcribe →Sawbones: Ranking TV Medical Shows
Mar 3100:47:33Tap to summarizeIn celebration of Dr. Sydnee’s birthday, Justin brings a whole swath of medical show on TV since the year of her birth. From Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman to Nip/Tuck to The Pitt, Dr. Sydnee ranks shows for their accuracy and entertainment value until she’s finisher her bathtub birthday Prosecco. There is no democracy here, Dr. Sydnee’s opinion is the law. Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/ Border Angels: https://www.borderangels.org/our-services.html Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinsawbones
Transcribe →Sawbones: Medicine in Movies
Mar 2400:38:15Tap to summarizeMiracle drugs, strange side effects, classical conditioning: there are many films where the plot hinges around the existence of some unrealistic medicine. Justin brings to the plate the pills and medical devices in Dune, Robocop, Scanners, and more, while Dr. Sydnee ascertains how close they are to reality – or not. Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/ Border Angels: https://www.borderangels.org/our-services.html Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinsawbones
Transcribe →Sawbones: Second Update: Havana Syndrome
Mar 1701:02:11Tap to summarizeOur first ever double-update, Justin and Dr. Sydnee bring an update to an update about the very mysterious Havana Syndrome. Not only is there kind of a reversal of the last update, but the cause actually COULD be a giant microwave? So enjoy the full episode explaining the history of Havana Syndrome, the old update from 2022, and what we learned very recently. Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/ Border Angels: https://www.borderangels.org/our-services.html Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinsawbones
Transcribe →Sawbones: Measles 2026
Mar 300:43:28Tap to summarizeIt's been a decade since Sawbones last talked about measles, and we don't often check in with an update unless . . . well, something comes up in the news. Dr. Sydnee talks about how the vaccine for measles was developed, the unfortunate backlash that has been going on against it since 2008, and what we can do for the future. Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/ Border Angels: https://www.borderangels.org/our-services.html Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinsawbones
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