MrBallen’s Medical Mysteries - podcast cover

MrBallen’s Medical Mysteries

Wondery | Ballen Studioswondery.com

The human body is a miracle. But when it’s not working, it can be the stuff of nightmares. On this new series from master storyteller MrBallen, we’re sharing medical horror stories and diagnostic mysteries that are surgically calibrated to make your blood run cold.

From bizarre, unheard-of diseases and miraculous recoveries to strange medical mishaps and unexplainable deaths — you’ll never hear the phrase “heart-stopping” in the same way again. MrBallen’s Medical Mysteries is a first-of-its-kind collaboration between MrBallen and Wondery, the award-winning company behind Dr. Death.

Follow MrBallen's Medical Mysteries on Amazon Music, the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes publish for free every Tuesday. Prime members can listen to new episodes early and ad-free on Amazon Music. Or, you can listen episodes early and ad-free on Wondery+. Start your free trial in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or by visiting https://wondery.com/links/mrballens-medical-mysteries/ now.

Episodes

Ep. 52 | A Dark Discovery

A little girl’s parents grow concerned when she develops a debilitating headache. They take her to the hospital but test after test returns negative. When her doctors finally figure out what’s wrong with her, the answer is something none of them saw coming. Follow MrBallen's Medical Mysteries on Amazon Music or wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes publish for free every Tuesday. Prime members can binge episodes 49-56 early and ad-free on Amazon Music. Wondery+ subscribers can listen ad-f...

Oct 01, 202425 minEp. 52

Ep. 51 | Culture Clash

When a quiet town in Oregon is beset by a dangerous Salmonella outbreak, the health authorities mobilize to trace it back to the source. What they find isn’t just surprising – it’s sinister. Follow MrBallen's Medical Mysteries on Amazon Music or wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes publish for free every Tuesday. Prime members can binge episodes 49-56 early and ad-free on Amazon Music. Wondery+ subscribers can listen ad-free--join Wondery+ in the Wondery App or on Apple Podcasts. See Pri...

Sep 24, 202431 minEp. 51

Ep. 50 | Elephant Man

When a routine medical study makes patients swell up like sausages, the doctors running it struggle to understand what went wrong. They have to act fast – because if they can’t figure it out soon, the so-called “elephant men” could die. Follow MrBallen's Medical Mysteries on Amazon Music or wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes publish for free every Tuesday. Prime members can binge episodes 49-56 early and ad-free on Amazon Music. Wondery+ subscribers can listen ad-free--join Wondery+ in...

Sep 17, 202429 minEp. 50

Ep. 49 | Hunger Games

A college student’s return to school is cut short when she starts acting erratically and has to be committed to a psychiatric hospital. As she continues to spiral out of control, her parents worry that their daughter will never be the same again. Follow MrBallen's Medical Mysteries on Amazon Music or wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes publish for free every Tuesday. Prime members can binge episodes 49-56 early and ad-free on Amazon Music. Wondery+ subscribers can listen ad-free--join W...

Sep 10, 202429 minEp. 49

Ep. 48 | Cold Case

A teenage girl comes down with unexplainable abdominal pain after spending a few days at a fair. Unbeknownst to her, the same thing is happening to hundreds of teenagers in a completely different state…and doctors can’t figure out what’s causing it. Follow MrBallen's Medical Mysteries on Amazon Music or wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes publish for free every Tuesday. Prime members can binge episodes 41-48 early and ad-free on Amazon Music.  Wondery+ subscribers can listen ad-fre...

Sep 03, 202434 minEp. 48

Ep. 47 | The Tell-Tale Heartbeat

An avid runner is out for a routine jog when she suddenly feels dizzy and faints, dropping right in her tracks. Years later, it happens again and doctors warn that she has a serious problem. If she can’t stop it, she’s in danger of passing out and never waking up. Follow MrBallen's Medical Mysteries on Amazon Music or wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes publish for free every Tuesday. Prime members can binge episodes 41-48 early and ad-free on Amazon Music.  Wondery+ subscribers ca...

Aug 27, 202426 minEp. 47

Ep. 46 | Bad Blood

A single mother is terrified when her little boy becomes violently sick and doctors can’t figure out why. Every test is negative, yet the child seems to be dying. But when the mother finally finds out what’s wrong with him, it’s even more tragic than she ever imagined. Follow MrBallen's Medical Mysteries on Amazon Music or wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes publish for free every Tuesday. Prime members can binge episodes 41-48 early and ad-free on Amazon Music.  Wondery+ subscribe...

Aug 20, 202427 minEp. 46

Ep. 45 | The Buried Brain/Killer Jetlag

“The Buried Brain” A young man barely survives being trapped in an avalanche while on a ski trip. Then, his recovery is derailed when he starts suffering from mysterious seizures. When his doctors find out what’s triggering them, they’re shocked and amazed. “Killer Jetlag” A young woman comes home from studying in Ghana, ready to enjoy a relaxing summer. But soon, she starts experiencing horrifying nightmares – and finds herself on the verge of death. Follow MrBallen's Medical Mysteries on Amazo...

Aug 13, 202435 minEp. 45

Ep. 44 | Needle in a Haystack

A little girl falls prey to a disease so deadly and rare, the CDC fears it might be an act of bioterrorism. Investigators scramble to find the source, but the answer comes from somewhere nobody was expecting. Follow MrBallen's Medical Mysteries on Amazon Music or wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes publish for free every Tuesday. Prime members can binge episodes 41-48 early and ad-free on Amazon Music.  Wondery+ subscribers can listen ad-free--join Wondery+ in the Wondery App or on...

Aug 06, 202431 minEp. 44

Ep. 43 | Hard Case to Crack

A college student in Mississippi has to put his life on hold when his hips literally begin to die. Facing a life of unbearable pain, he must dig deep into his past to find a cure. Follow MrBallen's Medical Mysteries on Amazon Music or wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes publish for free every Tuesday. Prime members can binge episodes 41-48 early and ad-free on Amazon Music.  Wondery+ subscribers can listen ad-free--join Wondery+ in the Wondery App or on Apple Podcasts. See Privacy ...

Jul 30, 202428 minEp. 43

Ep. 42 | Deadly Tourist

A man vacationing in Germany becomes violently ill, and no medicine is helping. The solution may be hidden somewhere on the man’s home of Vancouver Island… where a deadly outbreak is spreading. Follow MrBallen's Medical Mysteries on Amazon Music or wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes publish for free every Tuesday. Prime members can binge episodes 41-48 early and ad-free on Amazon Music.  Wondery+ subscribers can listen ad-free--join Wondery+ in the Wondery App or on Apple Podcasts...

Jul 23, 202427 minEp. 42

Ep. 41 | Adrian's Leg

A teenage boy suffers pain and embarrassment when his leg becomes grotesquely swollen and infected. His doctors can’t stop it from getting worse, and the problem spirals out of control. But his teacher refuses to give up on him. Working together, they make a startling discovery. Follow MrBallen's Medical Mysteries on Amazon Music or wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes publish for free every Tuesday. Prime members can binge episodes 41-48 early and ad-free on Amazon Music.  Wondery+...

Jul 16, 202431 minEp. 41

Ep. 40 | Glass Baby

A couple in Colorado is accused of child abuse when their infant daughter is diagnosed with multiple fractures in her legs. The ordeal threatens to break the family apart – and there may be no putting them back together. Follow MrBallen's Medical Mysteries on Amazon Music or wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes publish for free every Tuesday. Prime members can binge episodes 41-48 early and ad-free on Amazon Music.  Wondery+ subscribers can listen ad-free--join Wondery+ in the Wonde...

Jul 09, 202431 minEp. 40

Ep. 39 | Family Ties

Seemingly out of nowhere, an otherwise healthy man’s body starts filling with a thick, lemon meringue-like liquid that is slowly drowning him in his own fluids. His family is terrified, both for him, and for themselves – because this mysterious disease might come for them too. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ....

Jul 02, 202435 minEp. 39

Ep. 38 | After the Bell

One night, two girls from the same school are rushed to the hospital with the same deadly disease. At first, doctors worry the girls’ entire school was exposed to the same disease. But soon they realize that the problem is even bigger. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ....

Jun 25, 202428 minEp. 38

Ep. 37 | River of Blood

  In late 1976, a terrifying new disease that causes eyes to bleed grips the country of Zaire. Doctors from all over the world arrive to search for the cure… if one exists at all. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ....

Jun 18, 202440 minEp. 37

Ep. 36 | A Step Too Far/Dying of Boredom

“A Step Too Far” A man in Scotland suffering from crippling breathing difficulty is mystified when his doctors can’t figure out what’s wrong with him. As he grows weaker and weaker, he worries that one day he’ll go to bed… and never get up.  “Dying of Boredom” After undergoing ankle surgery, an Australian high schooler is dreading a summer stuck inside. But when he suddenly starts struggling for breath, his couch-bound recovery becomes the least of his problems. See Privacy Policy at https:...

Jun 11, 202436 minEp. 36

Ep. 35 | Common Ground

A boy in Minnesota is rushed to the emergency room with one of the worst food poisoning cases the doctors have ever seen. A short while later, a little girl shows up with the same illness. Soon, cases are popping up throughout the state, leaving some on the brink of death as doctors scramble to figure out why.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ....

Jun 04, 202431 minEp. 35

Ep. 34 | Mother or Murderer

When a young mother’s baby is suddenly hospitalized, doctors accuse her of intentionally harming him. Desperate to prove that she’s innocent, the mother seeks an answer before she loses her son forever. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ....

May 28, 202440 minEp. 34

Ep. 33 | Sunless Burn

In December 1979, young women all over Wisconsin fall ill with a mysterious disease that starts with a bright red rash – and sometimes leads to death. Soon, it’s happening to women all over the United States – and nobody knows why. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ....

May 21, 202431 minEp. 33

Ep. 32 | Scourge of the South

A doctor in the early 1900s is tasked with discovering the cause of a sometimes-fatal disease ravaging the American South. But in order to figure it out, he has to conduct a dangerous experiment that puts people’s lives at risk. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ....

May 14, 202431 minEp. 32

Ep. 31 | Jade’s Eye

A 9-year-old girl in Hawaii suddenly loses vision in one eye, and nobody knows why. And by the time she gets an answer, it might be too late to save her eye at all. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ....

May 07, 202424 minEp. 31

Ep. 30 | Look Closely/Burning From the Inside

“Look Closely” A teenage boy suddenly falls into critical condition while on vacation with his family in Orlando, Florida. When his doctors find out what’s wrong with him, they fear the worst – this disease is almost always fatal. In order to save him, they’ll have to act faster than they ever have before. “Burning From the Inside” After a young woman crushes her hand in a workplace accident, she begins experiencing debilitating pain throughout her entire body. Will she be able to endure it long...

Apr 30, 202438 minEp. 30

Ep. 29 | It Came From the Basement

When a woman’s five-year-old son in Niagara Falls, New York, suddenly develops epilepsy, she becomes determined to figure out what made him sick. What she finds leads her to one of the biggest cover ups in American history. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ....

Apr 23, 202434 minEp. 29

Ep. 28 | Dead Tired

A mother in Fresno, California races her young son to the emergency room after he goes limp and his eyes roll back in his head. It turns out, the boy was poisoned. And the true culprit was something no one ever saw coming. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ....

Apr 16, 202431 minEp. 28

Ep. 27 | Deadly Cramp

A semi-pro tennis player nearly drowns in the pool when she suffers sudden, cramping pain in her midsection. Her doctors fear she has cancer, but then they realize that other people are showing the exact same symptoms. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ....

Apr 09, 202427 minEp. 27

Ep. 26 | The Birds

In the summer of 1999, a mysterious outbreak rages through New York City, paralyzing and even killing its victims. Doctors scramble for a solution, not realizing the answer is lying at their feet. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ....

Apr 02, 202428 minEp. 26

Ep. 25 | It Moves

A young woman working on a fishing vessel in Alaska begins experiencing a strange burning sensation in her eye. What she finds inside her eyelid makes her skin crawl. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ....

Mar 26, 202425 minEp. 25

Ep. 24 | Blood on Their Hands

In the summer of 1846, a young doctor is thrilled to join Austria’s prestigious Vienna General Hospital. But he soon discovers that new mothers in one of the hospital’s maternity wards are dying at a disturbing rate. He desperately seeks an answer for why it’s happening… and what he finds changes the field of medicine forever. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ....

Mar 19, 202424 minEp. 24

Ep. 23 | Gut Instinct/Into the Woods

“Gut Instinct” In the summer of 2021, a doctor celebrates his retirement with a rafting trip in the Grand Canyon. But shortly after he gets back, he begins experiencing debilitating stomach pain. Desperate to figure out what’s wrong with him, he tries to diagnose himself. He suspects the answer is a horrible disease that people rarely survive.  “Into the Woods” After a camping trip in the summer of 2009, a woman develops a gruesome rash that covers her body with painful welts and makes her ...

Mar 12, 202434 minEp. 23