Rephonic
Artwork for Germ & Worm
Travel Health
Vaccines
Malaria
Travel Medicine
Infectious Diseases
Dengue Fever
Covid-19
Vaccination
Tuberculosis
Measles
Public Health
Wilderness Medicine
Climate Change
Chikungunya
Travel Safety
Mosquito-Borne Diseases
University Of Washington
Hantavirus
Polio
Norovirus

Internationally-renowned travel health experts, Drs. Paul Pottinger and Chris Sanford, answer your most pressing (and most embarrassing) questions on maintaining good health during your global travels.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes110Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Health & FitnessMedicineSociety & CulturePlaces & Travel

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Artwork for Germ & Worm

Latest Episodes

Na nga def? Today, travel medicine specialists Drs. Paul Pottinger & Chris Sanford answer your questions about the role of the human gut microbiome in travel health and safety, including:

• What is the gut microbiome?

• What is the impact of travele... more

Oh hey there! Today, travel medicine specialists Drs. Paul Pottinger & Chris Sanford answer your questions about travel health and safety, including:

• What is going on with cyclosporiasis in the USA? What is it, how can I avoid it, what to do if I ... more

Salaam! Today, travel medicine specialists Drs. Paul Pottinger & Chris Sanford answer your questions about travel health and safety, including:

• If I boil water at an altitude of 14,000 feet, will it be safe to drink even though it will not achieve... more

Jambo! Today, travel medicine specialists Drs. Paul Pottinger & Chris Sanford talk with GYN expert Dr. Karen Tang, who will answer your questions about healthy travel during menopause. Topics include:

• What causes hot flashes, and how can I deal wi... more

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Recent Guests

Karen Tang
Gynecologist, women's health expert
Thrive Gynecology (thrivegyn.com)
Episode: 107: Travel Without Limits During Menopause, A Conversation with Dr. Karen Tang
Paul Pottinger
Infectious disease physician, mountaineer
University of Washington
Episode: 95: Top of Planet Earth: Reflections on Mountaineering with Dr. Paul Pottinger
Chris Sanford
Interview guest; physician with extensive disaster response experience
University of Washington
Episode: 91: 15 Years on a US Federal Disaster Response Team
Dr. Sheila Mackell
Pediatrician and international authority on children's travel health
Episode: 70: Keeping Kiddos Healthy During Travel, with Pediatrician Sheila Mackell, MD
Dr. Tom Sanford
A urologist and serious athlete who emphasizes cycling safety
Practicing in Honolulu, Hawaii
Episode: 68: Safety on Two Wheels, with Bicycle Safety Expert Tom Sanford, MD
Dr. Howard Donner
Wilderness medicine expert and co-author of the Field Guide to Wilderness Medicine
Episode: 63: Donner Party, anyone? Water, Med Kits, & Diamox with Howard Donner, MD
Dr. Paul Pottinger
Episode: 63: Donner Party, anyone? Water, Med Kits, & Diamox with Howard Donner, MD
Dr. Greg Davis
Attending otolaryngologist specializing in rhinology
Self-employed practitioner in Western Washington
Episode: 62: Hot Snot, Hot Shot: ENT travel health with Greg Davis, MD
Kyle Allred
Certified Physician Assistant with expertise in wilderness medicine
Not specified
Episode: 61: Extreme Feet in Extreme Heat: Foot Care with Kyle Allred, PA-C

Hosts

Paul Pottinger
Dr. Paul Pottinger—infectious diseases physician and travel health expert with affiliations at University of Washington.
Chris Sanford
Dr. Chris Sanford—family medicine and global health physician, co-host focused on travel health education.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 47 ratings
  • Don’t miss out!

    I listen to a lot of podcasts and this is one of my favorites. The doctors have a way of explaining things that makes the show fascinating and I always learn a ton of useful things. Both doctors have a broad range of travel experiences, so they give wonderfully vivid descriptions of what we need to do to keep ourselves and others healthy so we can enjoy our time exploring the world.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    L’excentrique
    United States5 months ago
  • germ and worm

    outstanding podcast. Extraordinarily useful information delivered in a entertaining fashion. Two very bright doctors who are enthusiastic about keeping you healthy out in the wilderness or in general in your travels. Highly recommended give it a listen you won’t regret it Dr. David Gendelman.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Grendel the dragon
    United States10 months ago
  • Great objective insight

    I started listening to prepare for an upcoming trip but now listen every week for the excellent insight and information to expand my understanding of our body’s reaction to disease or injury.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    NHdiver
    United Statesa year ago
  • Important for Everyone!

    This is fabulous! More people should be tuning in. As a retired registered nurse, I find this information fascinating and up-to-date. I would recommend it to anyone interested in staying healthy, regardless of where they go!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JCRetiredRN
    United Statesa year ago
  • Practical advice!

    I love this show. The advice is practical and detailed. The doctors have a broad range of expertise and experience, so I feel confident that I can trust the information given in their show.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    AllDayEnchanté
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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

The banter between hosts makes medical topics approachable and engaging.
Strong value for travelers seeking pre-travel planning and risk mitigation.
Experts explain complex travel health topics clearly, with practical takeaways.
Listeners appreciate the evidence-based approach and real-world anecdotes.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

107: Travel Without Limits During Menopause, A Conversation with Dr. Karen Tang
Q: Are there any travel issues for women taking oral or topical hormone therapy?
Oral therapy carries more risk for blood clots, especially on long flights, whereas non-oral forms (patches, gels, vaginal) tend to have lower clot risk; talk to a clinician to tailor therapy for travel and consider skin-based or vaginal options to minimize systemic risks.
102: Tick-Talk 2026!
Q: What should someone do if bitten by a tick in a high-risk area?
If the bite occurs in a high-risk area and the tick has been attached for more than 36 hours, remove the tick promptly and consider a single 200 mg dose of doxycycline to reduce Lyme risk; if the bite is in a low-risk scenario or ticks haven't fed long enough, antibiotics are not routinely indicated.
99: How to be the best Pre-Travel patient you can be!
Q: Should everyone traveling overseas see a travel doctor or only certain people/destinations?
The guests discuss the divide between high-income and low-income destinations, suggesting routine pre-travel visits may be less critical for healthy travelers going to high-income countries but highly advisable for lower or middle-income countries due to infectious disease risks and vaccines.
99: How to be the best Pre-Travel patient you can be!
Q: How did you get into this field of travel medicine?
Chris explains that travel medicine emerged as a formal field during training and conferences, eventually leading to a role at a university travel clinic where he could combine medicine with geography, travel anecdotes, and preventative care.
93: Poliovirus in Europe? WTF!
Q: What about vaccine recommendations changing at the state level in the US?
States, including Washington, are creating their own guidelines to protect residents; insurers may follow state rules, and this reflects ongoing debates about the best sources for vaccine information.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
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Frequently Asked Questions About Germ & Worm

What is Germ & Worm about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Two infectious-disease specialists answer listeners' most pressing travel health questions with practicality and humor. Episodes cover a wide range of topics from vaccines and disease risks to safe travel practices, often blending clinical guidance with personal travel anecdotes. The format leans into listener Q&A, real-world scenarios, and actionable steps for pre-, during-, and post-travel health, making complex medical topics approachable for educated, globally mobile audiences. A notable strength is the hosts' depth of clinical expertise (both affiliated with a major university) and their ability to translate evolving public health guidance into concrete travel-ready advice. The show stands out for its clear, evidence-based approach, em... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Germ & Worm?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Germ & Worm:

1. Up First from NPR
2. The Daily
3. The Curbsiders Internal Medicine Podcast
4. Throughline
5. The Journal.

How many episodes of Germ & Worm are there?

Germ & Worm launched 2 years ago and published 110 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 Germ & Worm?

Recent guests on Germ & Worm include:

1. Karen Tang
2. Paul Pottinger
3. Chris Sanford
4. Dr. Sheila Mackell
5. Dr. Tom Sanford
6. Dr. Howard Donner
7. Dr. Paul Pottinger
8. Dr. Greg Davis

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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