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Matters Microbial

Mark O. Martin
Microbiology
Gut Microbiome
Microbiome
Antibiotic Resistance
Microbial Ecology
Biofilms
Bacteriophages
Antimicrobial Resistance
Marine Microbiology
Microbial Evolution
Climate Change
Symbiosis
Microbial Health
Microbial Diversity
Viruses
Archaea
Microbial Literacy
Public Health
Extracellular Matrix
Helicobacter Pylori

Matters Microbial is a podcast about the wonders of microbiology, microbiologists, and microbial centrism with Dr. Mark Martin

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes130Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Life SciencesScienceEducation

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Artwork for Matters Microbial

Latest Episodes

Matters Microbial #130: The Holobiont — Animals, Microbes, and Ecology May 19, 2026 Today Dr. Kevin Kohl, Associate Professor of Biological Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh, joins the #QualityQuorum to discuss how he and his colleagues study ... more

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Matters Microbial #129: Microbes Reveal How Evolution Might Replay May 5, 2026 Today Dr. Michael Travisano, Distinguished McKnight University Professor in the College of Biological Sciences of the University of Minnesota, joins the #QualityQuorum to ... more

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Matters Microbial #128: C. diff from Nursery to Nursing Home April 20, 2026 Today Dr. Joseph Zackular, Assistant Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, joins the #QualityQu... more

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Matters Microbial #127: Even Your Navel Has Them — An Archaea‑Whisperer Explores April 7, 2026 Today Dr. Nahui Medina-Chavez, postdoctoral scholar in the Travisano laboratory at the University of Minnesota, joins the Quality Quorum to discuss her int... more

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Recent Guests

Kevin Kohl
Professor of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
Episode: Matters Microbial #130: The Holobiont — Animals, Microbes, and Ecology
Michael Travisano
Professor in the Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior at the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
Episode: Matters Microbial #129: Microbes Reveal How Evolution Might Replay
Joseph Zackular
Assistant Professor, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine; CHOP Penn microbiome program
University of Pennsylvania; Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Episode: Matters Microbial #128: C. diff from Nursery to Nursing Home
Dr. Nahui Medina-Chavez
Researcher with focus on Archaea and experimental evolution
University of Minnesota
Episode: Matters Microbial #127: Even Your Navel Has Them — An Archaea‑Whisperer Explores
Dr. Spencer Nyholm
Professor at University of Connecticut, cocontributor on squid microbiome work
University of Connecticut
Episode: Matters Microbial #126: Squid Eggs Come With Antifungal Frosting
Paul Hoskisson
Professor at the University of Strathclyde
University of Strathclyde
Episode: Matters Microbial #125: Antibiotics, Streptomyces and Evolution
Dr. Anne Thompson
Marine microbiologist focusing on cyanobacteria and their ecological roles
Portland State University
Episode: Matters Microbial #124: How Bacteria Die in the Microbial Marine Forest
Dr. Seema Mattoo
Molecular genetics researcher studying Bordetella pertussis
Purdue University
Episode: Matters Microbial #123: What Whooping Cough Can Teach US
Dr. Alaina Weinheimer
Postdoctoral Fellow in Marine Microbial Ecology
Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences
Episode: Matters Microbial #122: Jumbo Marine Viruses and Nanoscopic Warfare

Host

Dr. Mark Martin
Host of the show and Associate Professor of Biology at the University of Puget Sound

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 50 ratings
  • Enthusiastic but hard to take

    Good guests. Seems a nice enough chap in smaller doses. Over-scripted paper reviews rather than flowing discussion. Mark’s “quirky professor” persona may entertain some.

    Some segments reference images so maybe find this in visual medium.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Uncultured Antipodean
    New Zealand4 months ago
  • Content much appreciated

    I am a practicing Clinical Nurse Specialist, employed by an Infectious Disease practice. Talk about carbon, oxy, and anthropocentric. I deeply appreciate the obvious love you bring for your craft, field, peers and learners of all kinds. It is lovely to recall that there is a wider, weirder world beyond our typical blinders. Thank you so much for all you do. It absolutely matters. I look forward to your podcast each week. I suspect I’m not the only one.

    Cheers,

    Greg Greenberg AGCNS

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Lead nerd at Instar
    United States2 years ago
  • Enthusiasm for science!

    I am an unabashed fan of all of the TWIX podcasts, and MM is another excellent addition to the family. It’s quite different from the other podcasts, in that it has more of an interview bias, but I really enjoy hearing scientists talk about their science. I think anyone who teaches microbial sciences should listen, and have their students listen as well. Everyone on this show is incredibly enthusiastic about what they do, and it shows.

    So listen and learn! We can all be micronauts!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Khabita
    United States2 years ago
  • A big heart for tiny creatures

    Marks big heart for the tiniest forms of life is inspiring ❤️

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MicroPat007
    Netherlands3 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Guests are strong, enthusiastic scientists who explain complex ideas well.
The show leans into interview-driven format with depth and storytelling.
Listener feedback often praises teaching insights and scientific curiosity.
Some segments feel scripted or overly paper-review oriented to a smaller subset of listeners.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Matters Microbial #130: The Holobiont — Animals, Microbes, and Ecology
Q: What directions is your lab pursuing now, and how do you balance ecological versus molecular approaches?
The lab is pursuing both ecological mechanism work with tadpoles and environmental microbiology in ponds, and molecular/cellular studies in rodents to understand how microbes influence host physiology, aiming to integrate these perspectives to explain holobiont outcomes.
Matters Microbial #130: The Holobiont — Animals, Microbes, and Ecology
Q: How do you define the holobiont and how do you visualize its components across different systems?
The holobiont is the macroorganism plus its microbiome, and the concept is often presented with nested genetic and environmental components that interact over time; the boundary between host, microbiome, and environment is fluid and context-dependent.
Matters Microbial #130: The Holobiont — Animals, Microbes, and Ecology
Q: Can you give listeners and viewers an idea of the different types of systems that you've worked on?
I've worked on nestling songbirds, wild rodents, lizards in South America, and currently tadpoles in the lab, along with collaborations involving whooping cranes and other species, to explore how host-microbe relationships affect physiology and evolution.
Matters Microbial #127: Even Your Navel Has Them — An Archaea‑Whisperer Explores
Q: What makes archaea so difficult to study compared to bacteria, and how are researchers addressing those challenges?
Archaea often do not grow easily in the lab, and many have slow growth rates, which complicates controlled experimental evolution. Researchers are using high-throughput sequencing, carefully designed growth media, and long-term evolution experiments to observe adaptation over many generations, even when cultivation is challenging.
Matters Microbial #120: Bacterial Interactions among Oral Microbes
Q: What are the health impacts associated with TM7?
TM7 is associated with periodontal disease and inflammatory conditions, but research suggests they might help reduce inflammatory responses in gingival cells.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Matters Microbial

What is Matters Microbial about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A biology-focused show that centers on microbiology, microbial ecology, and science communication. Conversations frequently feature researchers and educators exploring topics such as evolution, microbial communities, host-microbe interactions, antibiotic discovery, and environmental microbiology, often weaving in teaching experiences and practical implications for health and industry. Notable strengths include a clear enthusiasm for science, a willingness to tackle both classic and cutting-edge questions, and the use of long-form interviews to unpack complex topics with nuance. This mix makes it a strong fit for listeners who enjoy deep-dive science with accessible storytelling and insights from a broad range of microbiology-related fields.... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Matters Microbial?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Matters Microbial:

1. This Week in Microbiology
2. Immune
3. This Week in Virology
4. This Week in Virology
5. Infectious Disease Puscast

How many episodes of Matters Microbial are there?

Matters Microbial launched 3 years ago and published 130 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 Matters Microbial?

Recent guests on Matters Microbial include:

1. Kevin Kohl
2. Michael Travisano
3. Joseph Zackular
4. Dr. Nahui Medina-Chavez
5. Dr. Spencer Nyholm
6. Paul Hoskisson
7. Dr. Anne Thompson
8. Dr. Seema Mattoo

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