Rephonic
Artwork for Let's Talk Micro

Let's Talk Micro

Luis Plaza
Microbiology
Clinical Microbiology
Antimicrobial Resistance
Infectious Diseases
Antibiotics
Urinary Tract Infections
Public Health
Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing
Medical Laboratory Science
Antibiotic Resistance
Antimicrobial Stewardship
Pharmacokinetics
MRSA
Pasteurella Multocida
Epidemiology
Clinical Laboratory Science
Veterinary Microbiology
Oxazolidinones
Neisseria Gonorrhoeae
Antibiotic Stewardship

Clinical microbiology explained in simple terms, suitable for students and microbiologists alike. We discuss organisms, reactions, infectious diseases, and more. Hosted by Luis Plaza, a Medical Laboratory Scientist and microbiologist, who also shares his experiences in the field.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes244Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ScienceLife Sciences

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Let's Talk Micro

Latest Episodes

In Part 2 of this hantavirus series, Luis continues the conversation with Dr. Ryan Relich and Dr. Stephanie Seifert by focusing on the recent Andes virus cruise ship outbreak and what makes this hantavirus different from others.

The discussion expl... more

Hantaviruses have recently been in the headlines, but what exactly are they and how do they spread? In Part 1 of this hantavirus series, Luis is joined by Dr. Ryan Relich and Dr. Stephanie Seifert for a deep dive into the world of hantaviruses.

The... more

YouTube

Workforce shortages continue to impact clinical laboratories across the country, especially in rural healthcare settings. In this episode of Let's Talk Micro, Luis is joined by Kenzi Haigler to discuss an innovative high school laboratory program des... more

YouTube

In this episode of Let's Talk Micro, we close out our gram-negative cocci series by talking about the "background singers" of the group—the organisms that quietly show up on respiratory cultures and oral flora plates every day.

We explore the world... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Infectious Disease Puscast
Infectious Disease PuscastVincent Racaniello
This Week in Microbiology
This Week in MicrobiologyVincent Racaniello
This Podcast Will Kill You
This Podcast Will Kill YouExactly Right and iHeartPodcasts
This Week in Virology
This Week in VirologyVincent Racaniello

Recent Guests

Kenzi Haigler
Educator, medical lab scientist who started a high school lab program in a rural area
Educator, Medical Lab Scientist
Episode: 234: High School, the Laboratory, and Workforce Development
Bobbi Pritt
Chair of the Division of Clinical Microbiology, Mayo Clinic; Laboratory Director for Parasitology Laboratory
Mayo Clinic
Episode: 232: What's New at ASM Microbe 2026?
Bob Tibbetts
Associate Director of Clinical Microbiology, Henry Ford Health System; Chairman of the Program Committee for Microbe 2026
Henry Ford Health System
Episode: 232: What's New at ASM Microbe 2026?
Dr. April Bobenchik
Medical Director of the Microbiology and Virology Laboratories at Penn State Hershey Medical Center
Penn State Hershey Medical Center
Episode: 226: CLSI M100 2026 Updates
Dr. Christopher Doern
Guest expert on wound cultures, CMPH guidelines
VCU Health System (via context as described)
Episode: 225: Too Many Bugs, One Culture: A CMPH Guide to Wound Cultures
Dr. Alexandra Bryson
Associate Director of Clinical Microbiology, Associate Professor of Pathology
VCU Health System
Episode: 225: Too Many Bugs, One Culture: A CMPH Guide to Wound Cultures
Krisandra Allen
A genomic epidemiologist working with public health agencies and clinical partners to integrate genomics into infectious disease investigations.
Episode: 221: Beyond the Plate: Your Isolates and Genomic Epidemiology
Dr. Kyle Rodino
Assistant Professor in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, specializing in microbiology and diagnostics.
University of Pennsylvania
Episode: 219: Tick-Borne Diseases: The Lab and Diagnostics
Dr. Stephen Miller
Chief Medical Officer of Delve Bio, expert in microbiology and metagenomics
Delve Bio
Episode: 218: Metagenomics in Clinical Microbiology

Host

Luis Plaza
Host of Let's Talk Micro

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 116 ratings
  • Invaluable

    I love this podcast! I find myself turning to it for ways to explain difficult concepts to my clinical rotation students. Would really love to hear an episode on Brucella species.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jeanie315
    United Statesa year ago
  • Helpful

    I’m studying for ascp micro and he explains concepts very well! Thank you!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    CeeBee__
    United States2 years ago
  • Great podcast

    I love this podcast! As a non-microbiologist working in the microbiology field, Luis does a great job of explaining complex concepts in an easy-to-understand way. He also has such great guests on to talk about diverse topics. Keep it up!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    mam2wm
    United States3 years ago
  • Great podcast!

    Love the podcast. Great explanations and interviews. Love how he mentions things he has learned while on the bench.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Luys plaza
    United States4 years ago
  • Love for micro

    Excellent podcast! Very informative, you can feel how much the presenter loves microbiology.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    alfred ismael plaza
    United States4 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Consistent depth across episodes with strong emphasis on microbiology fundamentals.
Great guest variety and approachable explanations for non-experts.
Audience appreciates practical lab tips and real-world workflow insights.
The host explains complex topics clearly and with enthusiasm.
Listeners value how episodes tie lab work to patient care.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

232: What's New at ASM Microbe 2026?
Q: Why should someone attend Microbe 2026 despite time and cost?
Because Microbe 2026 offers a comprehensive view of where clinical microbiology is headed, with hands-on workshops, exposure to new technologies at the exhibit hall, opportunities to earn CME/PACE credits, and multiple sessions designed to help attendees plan their careers, collaborate with peers, and see the future of the lab in action.
232: What's New at ASM Microbe 2026?
Q: What topics can MLS/MLTs expect to find at the workshop on Sunday?
The Sunday workshop focuses on professional development for MLS/MLTs, including basics of antimicrobial susceptibility testing, fungal diagnostics, and real-world lab stories about staffing, supply issues, and workflow challenges, designed to help attendees advance their careers with practical takeaways.
232: What's New at ASM Microbe 2026?
Q: What sessions or tracks will you highlight as specially valuable?
The orientation session on Thursday, followed by targeted sessions within the health unit and related tracks, is recommended as essential, plus other practical talks like the 'stories from MLSs' and hands-on workshops that cover topics from antimicrobial susceptibility testing to mold and acid-fast bacilli workflows. The hosts emphasize looking for sessions that fit both clinical and laboratory perspectives and avoiding unnecessary overlaps.
226: CLSI M100 2026 Updates
Q: What upcoming updates or documents should listeners anticipate beyond M100, such as M45?
M45 is slated for release in early 2027 with expanded organism groups and refined breakpoints; CLSI will likely provide webinars and publications to accompany these updates to help labs prepare.
226: CLSI M100 2026 Updates
Q: What should clinicians and labs do about the Burkholderia cepacia complex testing given the removal of ECVs?
Labs should follow CLSI guidance on reference methods (frozen broth microdilution versus the standard reference method), coordinate with reference labs when in-house testing isn't feasible, and stay updated through CLSI publications and ARUP/other reference labs' recommendations.

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 Let's Talk Micro

What is Let's Talk Micro about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show breaks down clinical microbiology in accessible terms, spotlighting organisms, testing workflows, and real-world lab practice. Across episodes, listeners get practical bench tips, updates on standards and guidelines (such as CLSI breakpoints and wound culture guidance), and deep dives into important mnemonic groups like Gram-negative cocci. Guests range from hospital laboratorians and pathologists to public-health experts, often tying lab findings to patient care, antimicrobial stewardship, and conference developments. A standout is the host's ability to translate complex microbiology concepts into clear, memorable explanations, complemented by guest experts from top institutions and major societies.

The format tends to combine r... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Let's Talk Micro?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Let's Talk Micro. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Let's Talk Micro and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Let's Talk Micro get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Let's Talk Micro, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Let's Talk Micro?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Let's Talk Micro, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Let's Talk Micro have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Let's Talk Micro has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Let's Talk Micro?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Let's Talk Micro:

1. Infectious Disease Puscast
2. This Week in Microbiology
3. This Podcast Will Kill You
4. This Week in Virology
5. Dear Hank & John

How many episodes of Let's Talk Micro are there?

Let's Talk Micro launched 5 years ago and published 244 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Let's Talk Micro?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Let's Talk Micro?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Let's Talk Micro from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Let's Talk Micro?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Let's Talk Micro. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Let's Talk Micro?

Recent guests on Let's Talk Micro include:

1. Kenzi Haigler
2. Bobbi Pritt
3. Bob Tibbetts
4. Dr. April Bobenchik
5. Dr. Christopher Doern
6. Dr. Alexandra Bryson
7. Krisandra Allen
8. Dr. Kyle Rodino

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days