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Artwork for This Podcast Will Kill You

This Podcast Will Kill You

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Public Health
Covid-19
Mental Health
Fluoride
Infertility
Tuberculosis
Pregnancy
Women's Health
Cancer
Endometriosis
Dental Health
World Health Organization
IVF
Pasteurization
Vaccines
Toxins
In Vitro Fertilization
Cocoliztli
Milk
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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes300Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ScienceHealth & Fitness

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Artwork for This Podcast Will Kill You

Latest Episodes

Already this summer, heatwaves are causing thousands of deaths across the world, catastrophic flooding threatens millions, wildfires rage across enormous swathes of the globe, many regions face extreme drought conditions, and a very strong El Niño is... more

Few spiders hold the dubious honor of name recognition among the general public. Most that do, like black widows, Australian funnel-web, the Goliath birdeater, are renowned not for their cute colors or weaving skills but for being fearsome, dangerous... more

If you have a medical question, where do you turn? How often is google or social media your first stop? As you sift through the AI overview and countless reels professing to have the answers, it becomes harder and harder to separate fact from fiction... more

Last week, we set the stage by breaking down the science behind cholesterol: how it moves through our body, why it causes disease, and when we discovered the link between LDL and atherosclerosis. This week, armed with that knowledge, we’re asking the... more

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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Clayton Page Aldern
Award-winning journalist and neuroscientist, author of The Weight of Nature
Grist
Episode: Special Episode: Clayton Page Aldern & The Weight of Nature
Dr. Deborah Cohen
Medically trained, award-winning journalist, broadcaster, editor
Author of Bad Influence
Episode: Special Episode: Deborah Cohen & Bad Influence
Alev Scott
Journalist and author of Cash Cow
Author, Cash Cow
Episode: Special Episode: Alev Scott & Cash Cow
Carl Elliott
Author and bioethicist at the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
Episode: Special Episode: Dr. Carl Elliott & The Occasional Human Sacrifice
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?

Hosts

Erin Welsh
Host of This Podcast Will Kill You, disease ecologist and epidemiologist
Erin Allmann Updyke
Co-host; epidemiologist and disease ecologist

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 28.1k ratings
  • Excellent!

    Podcast Addict
    5
    JesusGotWhatHeDeserved
    a month ago
  • 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 States2 months 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 States2 months 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 States3 months 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 States3 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Fans appreciate breadth of topics, from historical cases to current public health issues, with strong evidence bases.
Listeners praise clear, engaging science communication and accessible explanations of complex topics.
Some critique occasional political commentary or humor that may not align with all listeners.

Chart Rankings

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

Spotify
#17
United States/Science
Apple Podcasts
#22
United States/Science
Spotify
#26
United Kingdom/Science
Apple Podcasts
#15
Canada/Science
Apple Podcasts
#72
United Kingdom/Science
Spotify
#22
Australia/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Special Episode: Clayton Page Aldern & The Weight of Nature
Q: What are the mental-health implications of climate disasters, and how can individuals respond?
Climate disasters are linked to PTSD-like symptoms and neuropsychiatric issues; strategies like mindfulness and breathwork can help recover some cognitive control, and awareness at individual and societal levels is crucial to integrating health considerations into climate response.
Special Episode: Clayton Page Aldern & The Weight of Nature
Q: What evidence links rising temperatures to changes in cognitive function and behavior?
Historical experiments from the 1940s through the 1980s show hotter conditions impairing performance, increasing impulsivity and aggression, with mechanistic explanations including fixed attentional resources and brain region dynamics (DLPFC and VMPFC) shifting under heat, leading to less rational decision-making.
Special Episode: Clayton Page Aldern & The Weight of Nature
Q: Can you take me through the journey of this book?
The author describes transitioning from neuroscience to environmental journalism, merging mechanistic neuroscience with climate science to explain how the brain processes environmental change, and outlining a framework that is not doom-and-gloom but seeks to understand and mitigate the brain-based effects of a warming world.
Special Episode: Deborah Cohen & Bad Influence
Q: Was there a moment in the construction of this book that made you decide on a storytelling approach to the topic?
Cohen explains it was sparked by real-world anecdotes and a sense that the issue demanded accessible storytelling to illuminate how commercial interests shape health information. She wanted to ground the discussion in personal experiences and concrete examples to make the broader critique tangible.
Ep 217 The High Stakes of Cholesterol
Q: What is the relationship between LDL, age, and diet?
LDL tends to rise with age, and diets high in saturated fat can increase total cholesterol and LDL specifically, while physical activity can raise HDL and help shift the balance away from LDL.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
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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?

Two epidemiologists host a science-forward show that makes complex disease biology, history, and public health accessible through clear explanations, storytelling, and archival context. Episodes span statins, cholesterol, travel-related outbreaks, burn care, histoplasmosis, and dietary guidelines, often pairing rigorous science with historical moments and policy implications. A recurring strength is translating dense research into practical takeaways, with a personable, curious duo and a penchant for accessible, evidence-based discussion. Notably, guests include researchers, journalists, historians, and patient perspectives, providing diverse angles on how science intersects society. A distinctive quirk is the use of themed, sometimes whims... more

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This Podcast Will Kill You launched 9 years ago and published 300 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. Clayton Page Aldern
2. Dr. Deborah Cohen
3. Alev Scott
4. Carl Elliott
5. Christina Kupka-Decker
6. Olivia Weisser
7. Adam Kucharski
8. April Rideout

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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