Two friends discuss episodes in the history of diseases past and present. We lay out the spread of diseases through history to the modern day, and how their history has affected our modern treatment of each illness.
Episodes
Saturday Dec 05, 2020
Saturday Dec 05, 2020
With the addition of new recording equipment we are back and better than ever, happy to present you with a really late Spooky Halloween/ really early Christmas episode (depending on your perspective)!
Today we discuss Ergot, a fungus that grows primarily on rye, and has a myriad of terrifying side effects. I don't want to give away much else but it's creepy, crawly, and as usual, people die!
Tune in, and we promise we won't make you wait long for the next!!
Wednesday Oct 28, 2020
Wednesday Oct 28, 2020
Hi friends of the pod! We're back, and we're seasonally themed (whether we are better than ever or not, is up to you). This week we discuss lead poisoning. Thematically, yes it's a bit weak- but there are lead poisoning epidemics, and hey, it's nearly halloween. Few things are spookier than poison, right?
We discuss toxic makeup, plumbing, and traditional medicine through the ages. Tune in next time for more toxic trends and poisonous parley!
Thursday Sep 10, 2020
Thursday Sep 10, 2020
In honour of wild polio being eliminated in Africa this week, we explore the roots of the disease, and the study of it over the years (and where it failed- because of course we have thoughts about that). We learn more interesting facts about Tuskegee, conspiracy, a man named Heine, and much much more.
Join us here, and on Instagram where we'll be posting some interesting images of the history of polio @InSickness2020. See you next time!
Thursday Aug 27, 2020
Thursday Aug 27, 2020
Happy 10 episodes, and welcome back to your regularly scheduled programming! Bringing you back to our roots with a little bit of smallpox, cow pox, and poxes of all sizes. Have questions about vaccines? Well so do we! We may even be able to provide some answers to your questions, but this podcast is guarantee free.
Join us as we explore the worlds first eliminated infectious disease, and what exactly we did right. And check us out on Instagram (@insickness2020) for some pictures of the heroes of the fight against smallpox, and also the all around gross historical imagery you've grown to love.
Thursday Aug 13, 2020
Thursday Aug 13, 2020
In the second episode of this two-part series, we continue our discussion of hysteria, and how it has influenced modern day health care. This time, we focus on mental health, and the various treatments and diagnoses seen throughout history, as well as the reflections in the modern day.
Mental illness is always a tricky topic, and we try our very best to talk about the root causes, the ramifications, and the barriers to quality care faced by a wide variety of minority groups.
In two weeks we'll be back to our regularly scheduled programming, but for now, enjoy getting all riled up about hysteria with us, one more time!
Thursday Jul 30, 2020
Thursday Jul 30, 2020
In this two-part episode, we begin our discussion of hysteria in history and the modern day by talking about physical health, and how it was (or wasn't) diagnosed. We now know that hysteria is more of a "category" than an actual disease, but one that was primarily used as a gendered tool for oppression based on sexual and reproductive organs.
Reproductive health services and women's health in the modern day are still negatively affected by this outlook on sex and gender, and you better bet we get all riled up about it.
We look forward to talking more about sex, gender, and hysteria in our next episode, where we will talk about mental health!
Wednesday Jul 08, 2020
Wednesday Jul 08, 2020
This week on In Sickness we are discussing Hansen's Disease, or what is commonly known as Leprosy. We talk about who the heck Hansen was, the medieval leper trope and Leper colonies in Hawai'i. Warning- may include light "Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga" spoilers at the end ;).
Up Next: A 2 part series on women's health!
Wednesday Jun 24, 2020
Wednesday Jun 24, 2020
This week we'll be dipping our toes into typhoid. Sensationalized and memeified as it was a few hundred years ago, we argue that this disease is perhaps a bit neglected in the modern day. Learn more about Mary Mallon (usually referred to as Typhoid Mary), and a brief foray into health economics- even more interesting than it sounds.
Don't forget to follow us on Instagram @InSickness2020 where we'll be posting the gross, the historical, and more.
Next time: Leprosy!
Wednesday Jun 10, 2020
Wednesday Jun 10, 2020
Today's episode touches on a lot of topics (well, if we're honest, they all do...we just have a lot to say about a lot of things!). As with most of our discussions of epidemic disease, racism, inequality, and bias, play a big role in who is getting sick and how they are treated. We discuss this in todays episode, before going more specifically into TB and its storied past.
We have also put together an ever growing reading list on racism and health that can be found in the show notes! We would love to hear from you- book clubs, reading suggestions, or anything else.
Wednesday May 27, 2020
Wednesday May 27, 2020
This week we'll be talking all things anthrax. Apart from the infamous terrorist attacks in 2001, this disease isn't talked about all that much (or at least, not to us!). We were excited to learn and explore the history, weird conspiracies, and spy thriller story behind this bacteria.
Don't forget to follow us on Instagram @InSickness2020 where we post fun/gross historical content, if that tickles your fancy.
Next time: Tuberculosis!