Matters Microbial

Mark O. Martin•microbe.tv

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

Last refreshed: July 19th, 2025 at 5:17 AM ⓘ

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Episodes

Matters Microbial #10: Bacterial fight club

Today Dr. David Baltrus, Associate Professor of Plant Sciences at the University of Arizona, talks with us about how his laboratory studies bacteria that battle one another; the first rule of this fight club is that EVERYONE talks about Microbial Fight Club. Host: Mark O. Martin Guest: David Baltrus Subscribe: Apple Podcasts , Spotify Become a patron of Matters Microbial! Links for this episode Here is a wonderful and easy to read essay about bacterial predators , including Bdellovibrio , from S...

Oct 06, 2023•37 min•Ep. 10

Matters Microbial #9: Colorful microbes, citizen science, and tools for all

Today Sebastian Cocioba, a citizen scientist with myriad interests, talks with us about his path in science, some of the tools he has made for others, and how he views science and scientists. Host: Mark O. Martin Guest: Sebastian Cocioba Subscribe: Apple Podcasts , Spotify Become a patron of Matters Microbial! Links for this episode The article on Carl Woese that I wrote can be found here . An article on the felt sculpture of Carl Woese is here . The artist who created that sculpture, Amy Wright...

Sep 29, 2023•44 min•Ep. 9

Matters Microbial #8: Who goes there? Going deep in the Pine Barrens with Lauren Seyler

Microbes are everywhere and do remarkable things—-like breathing metal! Lauren Seyler joins us today to discuss the microbial mysteries of New Jersey’s Pine Barrens. Host: Mark O. Martin Guest: Lauren Seyler Subscribe: Apple Podcasts , Spotify Become a patron of Matters Microbial! Links for this episode A beautiful essay on tardigrades can be found here . Weird and wonderful (mythical?) cryptids around the US described here . Hallowe’en fun! Frivolous Forest’s site on Etsy is here . A lovely ove...

Sep 22, 2023•43 min

Matters Microbial #7: Microbiology from the refrigerator with Elinne Becket

We exist in a sea of microbes, it is true. We only need to look. And Dr. Elinne Becket of California State University San Marcos, joins Mark to describe some of the work she and her undergraduate colleagues are doing. And a popular hashtag on social media: #BlueSoup. Welcome to our quality quorum, Elinne! Host: Mark O. Martin Guest: Elinne Becket Subscribe: Apple Podcasts , Spotify Become a patron of Matters Microbial! Links for this episode An essay on gooseneck flasks, Louis Pasteur, and spont...

Sep 15, 2023•37 min•Season 1Ep. 7

Matters Microbial #6: What's the buzz on honeybee microbes? With Irene Newton

It is true that microbes are everywhere, and have impacts and applications that are often unexpected. Today, a true microbial force of nature visits Matters Microbial: Dr. Irene Newton of the Biology Department of the University of Indiana. Irene will tell us about some of her laboratory group’s recent research on how microbes interact with honeybees! Host: Mark O. Martin Guest: Irene Newton Subscribe: Apple Podcasts , Spotify Become a patron of Matters Microbial! Links for this episode A review...

Sep 07, 2023•36 min•Season 1Ep. 6

Matters Microbial #5: Mothers, Microbes, and Dung Beetles

It’s interesting to think about the microbes in and on us—some of which are vital to our well being—and how we came to possess them. Mark introduces Dr. Anne Estes of Towson University, who will discuss this very topic as it applies to dung beetles. Host: Mark O. Martin Guest: Anne Estes Subscribe: Apple Podcasts , Spotify Become a patron of Matters Microbial! Links for this episode Microbial fossils—stromatolites—are fascinating. A description of Gunflint stromatolites can be found here . Racha...

Sep 01, 2023•26 min•Season 1Ep. 5

Matters Microbial #4: Extreme Microbial Closeups: Cryo-EM and Fine Structure of Microbes with Ariane Briegel

Everyone thinks microbes are very small, and most of them are. But how to see them? The microscope opened a whole new world to the observer, starting with the Dutch microbiologist Antonie van Leeuvenhoek. But photographs and peering through lenses have limitations. Mark introduces his friend and colleague, Ariane Briegel of the Institute of Biology at Leiden University to Matters Microbial. She discusses how her own work can allow us to see microbes at extremely fine detail using a technique cal...

Aug 25, 2023•31 min•Season 1Ep. 4

Matters Microbial #3: How much of you is microbial? With Seth Bordenstein

Who are you? Human or a group of microbes? Mark discusses this with this with Dr. Seth Bordenstein of Penn State. Seth teaches Mark about a new word, holobiont, and the most successful pandemic in history (of invertebrates) that may help in the fight against malaria, Wolbachia! Finally, Seth discusses his team outreach efforts to teach critical thinking and STEM in students with Discover the Microbes Within. Host: Mark O. Martin Guest: Seth Bordenstein Subscribe: Apple Podcasts , Spotify Become ...

Aug 18, 2023•29 min

Matters Microbial #2: Shock and awe microbiology and a chat with Mya Breitbart

Mark discusses some “shock and awe” concepts about the microbial world that he introduces to his microbiology students, and asks three important questions about microbiology and microbiologists with guest Dr. Mya Breitbart of the University of South Florida. Host: Mark O. Martin Guest: Mya Breitbart Subscribe: Apple Podcasts , Spotify Become a patron of Matters Microbial! Links for this episode MicrobeTV Discord Server Ice nucleation information A video of ice nucleation A funny video by my stud...

Aug 11, 2023•44 min•Ep. 2

Matters Microbial #1: A microbiological introduction and a chat with Vincent Racaniello

In the first episode of Matters Microbial, Mark introduces himself and his history, talks a bit about his goals for this podcast, then asks three important questions about microbiology and microbiologists with his first guest, Vincent Racaniello. Host: Mark O. Martin Guest: Vincent Racaniello Become a patron of Matters Microbial! Links for this episode MicrobeTV Discord Server Virology blog MicrobeTV on YouTube Intro music is by Reber Clark Send your questions and comments to mattersmicrobial@gm...

Aug 07, 2023•40 min•Ep. 1

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