Sawbones: A Marital Tour of Misguided Medicine

This episode of Sawbones is a little lighter, and what’s lighter than pink? Nothing, especially when we’re talking about Baker-Miller Pink, a hue theorized to calm people down, quell violence, and maybe even influence muscle strength. It wasn’t the first color thought to have an effect on people’s behavior, and it’s EXACTLY as affective.Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

After a week of working on the hospital floor, Dr. Sydnee discusses her personal experience with the current state of the health care system and what the experts say the omicron variant might mean for the future of the COVID-19 pandemic.Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

Ever felt an urgent need to use the bathroom while shopping for books or browsing TJ Maxx? This curious phenomenon was named by Mariko Aoki in 1985 and has spread online. The hosts delve into its cultural roots, exploring various theories—like how postures and scents might trigger it. They also discuss who experiences this urge and why bookstore employees often don’t. As they analyze the intersection of relaxation and anxiety, they uncover quirky associations with coffee and reading habits. Get ready to laugh and ponder the mysteries of bodily responses!

The song "The Twelve Days of Christmas" sounds like an extravagant and generous cavalcade of gifts. But what if your true love had less than pure intentions? Justin and Dr. Sydnee go through each present and speculate what deadly diseases they could potentially give you. Not hard to theorize, considering these gifts include two dozen birds.Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

We're re-releasing our classic holiday episode all about Home Alone.For your listening edification, Dr. Sydnee McElroy and her lovely assistant Justin McElroy are delighted to present a full accounting of the injuries likely sustained by the Wet Bandits.Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

We're warming the December chill with another Sawbones Q+A, answering all the weird medical questions that can only be answered publicly, on a podcast. Questions about milk and lost limbs, mole hair, spontaneous UTIs, dead germs, where does the vaccine go, and sexy sneezing.

Plop, plop, fizz, fizz, oh what a LEGACY it is. Welcome back to Justin McElroy’s Medical Brand Hall of Fame, where we can put aside questions of science and efficacy and focus on what really matters: How Juliana Marguiles’ dad wrote a jingle that was hidden for 20 years before it changed the world.

You can’t.

No, dear listener, “arsenic wallpaper” is not just a great band name, it’s also a reference to a mid-1800s fanaticism around using arsenic to create a particular vibrant shade of green. A sort of . . . jade? Sage? Anyway. You’ve probably already guessed how that works out, but we’ll lay it out for you just the same on this week’s Sawbones.

 You may have heard about a recent deadly outbreak related to gemstone-laden room sprays. The culprit in that sad situation is called “Melioidosis,” and this week we’ve got a history of how humanity tracked down this slippery ailment.