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
Travel Safety
Chikungunya
Mosquito-Borne Diseases
University Of Washington
Rabies
Hantavirus
Polio

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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes116Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
MedicineHealth & FitnessPlaces & TravelSociety & Culture

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Artwork for Germ & Worm

Latest Episodes

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

• What can I do to support the flood survivors in Nepal?

• How can I safely watch a solar eclipse?

... more

Oku ke fefe hake? Today, travel medicine specialist Dr. Chris Sanford talks with emergency medicine physician and toxicologist Dr. Richard Clark about things that bite and sting! Questions include:

• Where in the US is the risk highest for black wid... more

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

• Can my son catch chronic wasting disease from hunting elk?

• Where can I find reviews of gear that is no... more

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

• Can I safely save money on rabies vaccine by getting it overseas?

• If I fall onto my trekking pole, w... 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
Chris Sanford
Associate professor in the departments of family medicine and global health
University of Washington
Episode: 99: How to be the best Pre-Travel patient you can be!
Paul Pottinger
Infectious disease physician, mountaineer
University of Washington
Episode: 95: Top of Planet Earth: Reflections on Mountaineering with Dr. Paul Pottinger
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 49 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 States6 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 Statesa year 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 States2 years 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.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

113: Impaled on your trekking pole: What to do?
Q: What is the status of the cyclosporiasis outbreak and how can travelers protect themselves?
Avoid high-risk produce, wash and peel as needed, and seek medical care if you develop symptoms; consider looking at recalls and CDC guidance for lettuce products in affected areas.
113: Impaled on your trekking pole: What to do?
Q: What should you do if you fall and impale yourself on a trekking pole?
Do not remove the object in the field if possible; stabilize it, seek emergency care, and let a physician remove it in a controlled setting to prevent massive bleeding.
113: Impaled on your trekking pole: What to do?
Q: Can I save money on rabies vaccine by getting it overseas, and is it safe to do so?
Vaccine costs overseas can be lower, but risks include counterfeit vaccines and unreliable supplies; if you are exposed you still need post-exposure treatment, and pre-immunization plus proper medical oversight is important.
112: Breathing Easy in Wildfire Season
Q: What are the best earplugs I can use to protect my hearing while traveling to noisy events?
There are four main categories: foam, wax, noise-canceling, and custom-fit earplugs; foam are comfortable and good for low-frequency noise, wax are effective for intermittent sounds like traffic and snoring, noise-canceling options help reduce overall noise, and custom-fit plugs offer the best overall reduction but require an audiologist visit.
111: Grand Mystery in the Grand Canyon
Q: Chris, back on episode 109, we talked about titanic diarrhea sweeping across our nation in the form of cyclosporiasis. Can you give us an update, please?
The CDC has tracked over 1,600 cases since May; cyclospora is tied to food and water exposure with a long incubation, making tracing exposures challenging, and recent updates point to iceberg lettuce as a likely source at Taco Bell.

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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1. Radiolab
2. This American Life
3. Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!
4. Fresh Air
5. Radio Atlantic

How many episodes of Germ & Worm are there?

Germ & Worm launched 2 years ago and published 116 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. Chris Sanford
3. Paul Pottinger
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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