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This Podcast Will Kill You

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Public Health
Covid-19
Mental Health
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Pregnancy
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Cancer
Endometriosis
Dental Health
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Vaccines
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Epidemiology

This podcast might not actually kill you, but Erin Welsh and Erin Allmann Updyke cover so many things that can. In each episode, they tackle a different topic, teaching listeners about the biology, history, and epidemiology of a different disease or medical mystery. They do the scientific research, so you don’t have to. Since 2017, Erin and Erin have explored chronic and infectious diseases, medic... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes291Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Health & FitnessScience

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Artwork for This Podcast Will Kill You

Latest Episodes

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Key Facts

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

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Recent Guests

Christina Kupka-Decker
Storyteller and motion sickness sufferer
Episode: Ep 211 Motion Sickness: It comes in waves
Olivia Weisser
Historian and Associate Professor of History at the University of Massachusetts, Boston
University of Massachusetts, Boston
Episode: Special Episode: Dr. Olivia Weisser & The Dreaded Pox
Adam Kucharski
Professor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Episode: Special Episode: Adam Kucharski & Proof
April Rideout
Sibling sharing story of ALL in 2017 and transplant journey
Personal account
Episode: Ep 205 Cancer Part 4: Where do things stand today?
Dr. Long-Win
OB-GYN physician who shares personal cancer story and professional insight
Independent clinician / guest on podcast
Episode: Ep 204 Cancer Part 3: How do we treat it?
Lawrence Ingrassia
Author of A Fatal Inheritance, How a Family Misfortune Revealed a Deadly Medical Mystery
Author, A Fatal Inheritance
Episode: Special Episode: Lawrence Ingrassia & A Fatal Inheritance
Jon Adams
Co-author of Rat City, historian focusing on population sciences
Episode: Special Episode: Jon Adams and Edmund Ramsden & Rat City
Ed Ramsden
Co-author of Rat City, historian specializing in demographic studies
Episode: Special Episode: Jon Adams and Edmund Ramsden & Rat City
Nicola Twilley
Author and co-host of the podcast Gastropod
The New Yorker
Episode: Special Episode: Nicola Twilley & Frostbite

Hosts

Erin Welsh
Host and disease ecologist/epidemiologist focused on science communication.
Erin Allmann Updyke
Co-host; epidemiologist and disease ecologist, physician-in-training.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 28k ratings
  • This podcast did not kill my grade

    So my school(Academy)we have to listen to some of the podcast and I found it easy to listen to you because of instead of them giving us a whole book and we had to finish it by Summer and we have to answer questions when I get back to school we just listen to the podcast. We write a few paragraphs about it and I can even go back and say I don’t understand this, so I can just keep on replaying it until I understand what we’re doing and I found this much easier on time because I could pretty much l... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ghgbh7 hkbhjbhibhibhgg
    United States9 days ago
  • Best podcast!

    I’ve always loved this podcast so much! Please do post-viral illness/ rare diseases. So much Long Covid, people would love to hear about that

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    hahaudbcn j
    United States10 days ago
  • Great find!

    All I ever listen to is plants and murder stuff. There was an ad for this one on one of those true crime podcasts. Just listened to the first episode and I’m hooked. Glad there is lots for me to listen to, you guys made something that could be boring into an interesting and informative listen. So thank you!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    markers xxxx
    United States16 days ago
  • PASSENGER PIGEON

    I have never written a podcast review… which is shameful as you’ve been my constant companions for literal years- through drawing, roadtrips, flights and more. Your approach to science is straightforward and approachable and your cited sources easy to vet; much needed in 2026. I own a small tattoo studio in Portland, OR. I specialize in birds and flowers and am heavily influenced by scientific illustrations… just saying Erin W, if you’re ever in Portland and want to realize that tattoo idea it w... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    roseguilfoyle
    United Statesa month ago
  • Like…like….like

    It’s a modern thing that really irritates me and I just cannot get over it and it’s becoming far too acceptable.

    These two say like far too many times to tolerate, it’s literally dozens of times per sentence.

    If you need to pause to think, pause, or say erm or something, just don’t keep saying like over and over again. Please!

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    christianfrench
    United Kingdoma month ago

Listeners Say

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

In-depth research and robust references are a standout.
Mix of personal stories and rigorous science keeps episodes engaging.
Covers a wide range of health topics with strong historical context.
The hosts make dense medical topics approachable and entertaining.

Chart Rankings

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

Spotify
#17
United States/Science
Apple Podcasts
#17
United States/Science
Spotify
#23
United Kingdom/Science
Apple Podcasts
#17
Canada/Science
Apple Podcasts
#28
United Kingdom/Science
Spotify
#22
Australia/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Special Episode: Dr. Olivia Weisser & The Dreaded Pox
Q: What kinds of sources did you rely on to reconstruct people's lived experiences with pox, beyond medical records?
I broadened beyond hospitals to include court records, personal diaries, ballads, advertisement pages, recipe books, and even maps of where cures were sold, which together illuminate private behaviors, social norms, and the urban marketplace surrounding the disease.
Special Episode: Dr. Olivia Weisser & The Dreaded Pox
Q: Could you summarize why you call this venereal disease the 'first modern disease' in the sense you describe it?
I call it the first modern disease because the pre-germ theory era treated diseases as fluid, symptom-based experiences rather than fixed biological entities, and the intense stigma of venereal disease pushed healers to look for patterns across bodies in ways that resemble later 19th-century clinical thinking and modern disease surveillance.
Special Episode: Adam Kucharski & Proof
Q: What is the role of uncertainty in science and communication during emergencies like COVID-19?
The host and guest discuss balancing transparency about uncertainty with the need to provide actionable guidance, the dangers of overstating certainty, and strategies for communicating evolving evidence across populations and governments.
Special Episode: Adam Kucharski & Proof
Q: How do we decide when to act given imperfect evidence, especially in public health?
The guest explains that decision-making often requires triangulating multiple data sources, considering ethical constraints, and sometimes acting with a workable level of confidence rather than waiting for perfect certainty, with examples from smoking-cancer research and pandemic responses.
Special Episode: Adam Kucharski & Proof
Q: What is proof? Is there a standard definition?
Kucharski discusses how proof and certainty are context-dependent, highlighting historical shifts from universal mathematical truths to probabilistic and threshold-based reasoning, and notes that different fields adopt different standards for what counts as convincing evidence in order to act.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Professions
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Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast Will Kill You

What is This Podcast Will Kill You about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A data-driven, accessible deep-dive into the biology, history, and epidemiology of diseases and medical mysteries, with a focus on how public health, policy, culture, and science intersect. Episodes blend rigorous research, historical context, and human stories—ranging from venereal disease in early modern London to cancer, nutrition, and emerging pathogens—often paired with narrative anecdotes and practical takeaways. A standout is the hosts' ability to translate complex science for lay audiences while spotlighting social stigma, policy implications, and potential real-world impact. The show frequently features expert guests, patient voices, and writers, offering a broad view of health topics with both academic and personal insight, plus r... more

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How many episodes of This Podcast Will Kill You are there?

This Podcast Will Kill You launched 9 years ago and published 291 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 This Podcast Will Kill You?

Recent guests on This Podcast Will Kill You include:

1. Christina Kupka-Decker
2. Olivia Weisser
3. Adam Kucharski
4. April Rideout
5. Dr. Long-Win
6. Lawrence Ingrassia
7. Jon Adams
8. Ed Ramsden

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