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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
Toxins
Vaccines
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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes297Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Health & FitnessScience

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Artwork for This Podcast Will Kill You

Latest Episodes

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

So your latest blood test results have come in, and you see a couple of numbers for cholesterol. What do those numbers mean, and why do we care about them? In this first part of our cholesterol miniseries, we break down the science behind this compou... more

You’ve seen the headlines: a food-borne parasite is infecting people across the US, leaving them chained to the toilet sometimes for weeks on end, as they are ravaged by wave after wave of gastrointestinal upset. What the heck is cyclosporiasis and w... more

Social media ads for egg freezing. A craigslist-like site for breast milk. Fertility fairs featuring IVF clinics alongside shamanic nutritionists. Surrogacy contracts offering a discount for multiple embryos. The rapidly-growing global fertility indu... more

Key Facts

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

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Recent Guests

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?
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

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
  • Excellent!

    Podcast Addict
    5
    JesusGotWhatHeDeserved
    13 days 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 States2 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 States2 months 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
#14
United States/Science
Apple Podcasts
#14
United States/Science
Spotify
#21
United Kingdom/Science
Apple Podcasts
#8
Canada/Science
Apple Podcasts
#19
United Kingdom/Science
Spotify
#18
Australia/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Special Episode: Alev Scott & Cash Cow
Q: What ethical practices did you find that you consider relatively positive or well-regulated?
She points to UK regulatory changes that require donors to be contactable by donor-conceived children at 18, emphasizing transparency and long-term child welfare over secrecy, while acknowledging ongoing debates about supply and accessibility.
Special Episode: Alev Scott & Cash Cow
Q: What surprised you most about the global fertility market during your research?
She was struck by how differences in regulation, cultural attitudes, and economic incentives create a patchwork of practices—from openly commercial to strictly altruistic—across countries, often leaving vulnerable women exposed.
Special Episode: Alev Scott & Cash Cow
Q: How did the seed of the book grow from the breast milk market to a broader examination of commodification?
The author explains that her curiosity formed from a personal encounter with an oversupply of breast milk, which led her to explore the online market and gradually connect it with other commodified aspects of the maternal body, like IVF, surrogacy, and egg donation.
Special Episode: Dr. Carl Elliott & The Occasional Human Sacrifice
Q: How does the concept of honor and shame shape whistleblowers' decisions, and how is that different from legal or ethical codes?
Whistleblowers frame their actions as personal moral duties tied to self-respect and public accountability, often outweighing formal oaths or legal considerations and revealing a broader, existential dimension to whistleblowing beyond rules.
Special Episode: Dr. Carl Elliott & The Occasional Human Sacrifice
Q: In your view, what motivates someone to blow the whistle in the face of massive institutional power?
A combination of personal integrity, the obligation to protect others, and a sense that remaining silent would cause ongoing harm; these motivations often emerge as a struggle between self-respect and institutional loyalty.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
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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?

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 297 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. Alev Scott
2. Carl Elliott
3. Christina Kupka-Decker
4. Olivia Weisser
5. Adam Kucharski
6. April Rideout
7. Dr. Long-Win
8. Lawrence Ingrassia

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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