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Artwork for Drug Story

Drug Story

Thomas Goetz
Testosterone
Tuberculosis
Anxiety
Insomnia
Depression
Food Allergies
TRT (testosterone Replacement Therapy)
Masculinity
Placebo Effect
Obesity
Diabetes
Hypogonadism
Aging
The Virility Paradox
Johnson & Johnson
Chronic Pain
Pharmacogenomics
Public Health
Lydia Pinkham
Epinephrine

Every episode of Drug Story uses one prescription drug to tell surprising, true tales about the business of disease and health. Hosted by award-winning science journalist Thomas Goetz, MPH, this podcast asks the big question: What happens when we use drugs to fix our big problems? www.drugstory.co

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes15Founded6 months ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Health & FitnessMedicineSociety & Culture

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Artwork for Drug Story

Latest Episodes

A bonus episode! Here is a conversation that I had recently with STAT, the excellent publication about health and medicine.

If you are in the business of health and medicine, you surely know about STAT - For a decade they have been doing fantastic r... more

YouTube

You may not think of fluoride as a drug, but it fits the bill: The FDA classifies fluoride as a drug, an essential nutrient to human health, and regulates its use. So yeah. It’s a drug.

Fluoride used to be boring. 75% of US water is fluoridated, and... more

YouTube

This episode is all about ivermectin - which truly is a wonder drug! A veritable miracle cure.

For, ahem, river blindness. And for some other parasitic diseases, like hookworm. Mostly in animals.

But in the US, you have likely heard of ivermectin n... more

YouTube

Today we’re sharing an episode of Cautionary Tales, by Tim Harford.

This show concerns Lydia Pinkham’s Vegetable Compound - one of the most popular patent medicines of the late 19th century. Mrs. Pinkham’s compound was sold as a “women’s tonic,” ide... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
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Contact Information
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Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Thomas Goetz
Journalist and host of Drug Story
Drug Story
Episode: Bonus Episode: Thomas talks with STAT
Dr. Chase Kleinstecker
Grand Rapids dentist involved in the fluoride study
Dentist, Grand Rapids
Episode: On fluoride and tooth decay
Dr. Esther Machen
Dentist from Idaho Falls, advocate for fluoride programs
Dentist, Idaho Falls
Episode: On fluoride and tooth decay
David Bulwer
Infectious disease physician and professor
University of Minnesota
Episode: On ivermectin and parasites (and other things)
Tim Harford
Host of Cautionary Tales, economist and writer
Tim Harford (Cautionary Tales)
Episode: On patent medicines (with Tim Harford)
Eric Topol
Cardiologist and researcher, founder/director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute
Scripps Research Translational Institute
Episode: On medicine, with Dr. Eric Topol
Dr. Andrew Crystal
Professor of Psychiatry and Neurology, sleep expert
University of California, San Francisco
Episode: On Ambien and insomnia
Dr. Antje Barveld
Chief of Pain Medicine at Newton-Wellesley Hospital, president of the American Academy of Pain Medicine
Mass General Brigham
Episode: On chronic pain
Whitney Wright
Wife of Thomas Goetz and chronic pain sufferer
Episode: On chronic pain

Host

Thomas Goetz
Journalist; host of Drug Story; focuses on how public health, policy, and commercial forces shape medicine

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 581 ratings
  • Informative and entertaining

    As a former pharmacist, I’m thoroughly enjoying the first season of Drug Story. I appreciate learning about the background and current socioeconomic impacts of some of the world’s most popular medications. Looking forward to the second season!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Gabby - Tampa, FL
    United States13 days ago
  • Fun and Informative Listen…but

    Great podcast overall, well-researched and genuinely engaging. But the Zoloft episode was a glaring miss. Thomas cites that 20% of American women are on antidepressants, making them the primary demographic for this drug, and then interviews zero women about their experience with it. Hard to overlook that gap on a show about how drugs affect real people.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    karenlolkaren
    United States16 days ago
  • Informative and comprehensive new podcast

    Just discovered and listened to my first episode (Statins). Having worked in drug research (pre-clinical and development) I found the episode quite accurate and comprehensive. If you are looking for informative review of the history and the current state of our most commonly used medicines this is the place. I’m looking forward to catching up with previous episodes as well as upcoming entries.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Orlando I.
    United Statesa month ago
  • Just the intelligent and evenhanded medicine I needed.

    Smart, accessible, honest, and refreshingly agenda-free. (That is, if you find the scientific method and rational thought agenda free…) When my GP inevitably recommends I get on a statin, I will make him listen to this first.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    E. Foster Heiman
    United Statesa month ago
  • Informative and Entertaining

    If you like Ologies, I think you will like this show. I like the format and the host.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    NewMac83
    United Statesa month ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Guests and topics are consistently relevant to medicine, policy, and industry practices.
Some criticisms note episodes can feel heavy on anecdotes or sponsor integration but remain well-researched.
Listeners praise rigorous science storytelling and accessible explanations.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

On medicine, with Dr. Eric Topol
Q: Okay, good. So along these lines, one of the things I was curious about was, do you have time for a couple more questions?
Yes, go ahead.
On testosterone and Low T
Q: What is considered a normal range of testosterone?
Normal range is between about 250 to 800 nanograms per deciliter and varies with age.
On Zoloft & depression
Q: What are you hoping to achieve as a result of this campaign related to depression?
We have found that there are a large number of patients who have not sought treatment; we aim to change societal attitudes toward depression and encourage those suffering to seek help.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Drug Story

What is Drug Story about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Long-form, documentary-style episodes use a single prescription drug as a lens to explore broader stories about disease, medicine, and the healthcare system. Across episodes, the show blends historical context, investigative reporting, expert interviews, and personal testimonies to reveal how public health, policy, and industry shape drug development, access, and perception. Notable strengths include rigorous sourcing, clear explanations of complex science, and a consistent structure that layers diagnosis, prescription, and societal impact with storytelling. A few episodes stand out for tackling controversial topics (drug pricing, patent practices, and public trust in institutions) while still aiming to illuminate systemic forces behind med... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Drug Story?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Drug Story:

1. Cautionary Tales with Tim Harford
2. It Turns Out
3. Radiolab
4. The Secret World of Roald Dahl
5. Revisionist History

How many episodes of Drug Story are there?

Drug Story launched 6 months ago and published 15 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Drug Story?

Recent guests on Drug Story include:

1. Thomas Goetz
2. Dr. Chase Kleinstecker
3. Dr. Esther Machen
4. David Bulwer
5. Tim Harford
6. Eric Topol
7. Dr. Andrew Crystal
8. Dr. Antje Barveld

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