Sawbones: A Marital Tour of Misguided Medicine - podcast cover

Sawbones: A Marital Tour of Misguided Medicine

Justin McElroy, Dr. Sydnee McElroysawbones.simplecast.com
Join Dr. Sydnee McElroy and her husband Justin McElroy for a tour of all the dumb, bad, gross, weird and wrong ways we've tried to fix people.

Episodes

Sawbones: Sex Chocolate

It's a Sawbones grab-bag, featuring some pop-sci mythbusting around MSG, a reality check into current events around vaccines, and a fun new questionable product bringing chocolate to the bedroom. Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/ Center for Reproductive Rights: https://reproductiverights.org/

May 27, 202539 minEp. 543

Sawbones Classics: Fluoride

With all the news around fluoride, we bring the classic Sawbones episode about the benefits of fluoride in drinking water, because the science has not changed. This week, Dr. Sydnee and Justin explore a medical mystery: Why, for a town in Colorado, was having brown teeth a sign of great tooth health? Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/ Center for Reproductive Rights: https://reproductiverights.org/

May 20, 202544 minEp. 542

Sawbones: Dr. Pope

There was a time when Popes had secondary careers (or primary ones) on to of their Papal one. This includes Pope John XXI, the only Pope to have also been a physician. Dr. Sydnee and Justin talk about this non-traditional Pope and his contribution to medicine in the 12th century. Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/ Center for Reproductive Rights: https://reproductiverights.org/

May 13, 202536 minEp. 541

Sawbones: Renaissance Medicine

Sawbones brings you a studio version of the show at the ye olde Harmony House Renaissance Faire. Justin and Dr. Sydnee talk about how medicine evolved in the Renaissance beyond what passed for scientific theories during the middle ages including the four humours, alchemy, and the real cause of syphilis (insulting the sun god). Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/ Center for Reproductive Rights: https://reproductiverights.org/

May 06, 202538 minEp. 540

Sawbones: Tetanus

It's a myth that tetanus is only found on rusty metal. What really matters is that a wound that is a dirty, deep puncture wound could to introduce the bacteria into the body. Dr. Sydnee and Justin talk about the long history of humans and tetanus, what it does to a body, and why maybe it's not a great idea to garden barefoot. Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/ National Immigration Project: https://nipnlg.org/about/who-we-are

Apr 29, 202544 minEp. 539

Sawbones: The Medical Freedom Movement

The Medical Freedom or the Health Freedom Movement is not new, but it is currently gaining more traction and attention under RFK, Jr. On its face, it is a political movement that distrusts pharmaceutical companies and government regulations for supplements. But Dr. Sydnee talks about its history and roots in strange conspiracies and biases from the 1950s – and what the movement means for us today. Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/ "The John Birch Society" by The...

Apr 22, 202542 minEp. 538

Sawbones: Thalassotherapy

TikTok has become enthralled with the idea of Thalassotherapy... which is basically going to the ocean to feel better. Dr. Sydnee talks about the history of this "sea cure" and Dr. Richard Russell, the man who popularized it in the second half of the eighteenth century. Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/ National Immigration Project: https://nipnlg.org/about/who-we-are

Apr 15, 202540 minEp. 537

Sawbones: Why Don’t Edema and Enema Rhyme?

Justin has gathered all the strangest listeners (questions) to quiz Dr. Sydnee with all of your weird and fun medical questions! Is Gatorade actually salty and NOT sweet? Are people with cat allergies allergic to big cats? Can you fart and spread norovirus? Can a fetus taste? And the most important question of all: who are Justin and Dr. Sydnee's favorite fictional doctors? Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/ National Immigration Project: https://nipnlg.org/about/...

Apr 01, 202542 minEp. 536

Sawbones: Dr. Odyssey: Shark Week

What medical drama does a doctor on a cruise ship get involved in? Dr. Sydnee and Justin talk about Dr. Odyssey: Shark Attack!, and the follow-up, Dr. Odyssey: Shark Attack! Part 2: Orca. It's a wild ride, but some of the medical beats are surprisingly accurate. Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/ Harmony House: https://harmonyhousewv.com/

Mar 25, 202535 minEp. 535

Sawbones: The Pitt

Dr. Sydnee brings a little levity as she talks about a new medical show, The Pitt. Following fictional doctors in real-time(ish), Dr. Sydnee discusses how it compares to working in an actual ER, as well as it how it compares to the 1990s show ER. Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/ Harmony House: https://harmonyhousewv.com/

Mar 18, 202540 minEp. 534

Feed Drop: Clint and Justin join MFD Spring Break!

It’s not MaxFunDrive without a wild kickoff spectacular! Former real-life VJ and host of MTV's Spring Break 1999, Dave Holmes, takes your favorite MaxFun hosts through some wacky ‘90s- and Spring Break-themed mini games!! Featuring: Dave Holmes, Jeremy Bent, Oscar Montoya, Dimitry Pompée, Tom Lum, Ellen Weatherford, Alex Schmidt, Brenda Snell, Drea Clark, Alonso Duralde, Dan McCoy, Jordan Morris, Manolo Moreno, Ella Hubber, Caroline Roper, Ella McLeod, John-Luke Roberts, Justin McElroy, Clint Mc...

Mar 17, 20251 hr 19 minEp. 533

Sawbones: Henry VIII

How dangerous is jousting? Just look into the example of King Henry VIII of England. The Tudor king is infamous for his six wives, but Dr. Sydnee explains how a jousting injury may have changed his behavior – and changed the course of history. Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/ Harmony House: https://harmonyhousewv.com/

Mar 11, 202536 minEp. 532

Sawbones: Kleptomania

Kleptomania is defined by an undeniable compulsion to steal, so it has wavered between legitimate diagnosis and flimsy criminal defense to somewhere in between since its inception. This week on Sawbones, Dr. Sydnee unpacks the facts from fiction while Justin tries to steal the show. Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/ Harmony House: https://harmonyhousewv.com/

Mar 04, 202539 minEp. 531

Sawbones: Apple Cider Vinegar

The recent semi-fictionalized Netflix series Apple Cider Vinegar explores the world of wellness following bloggers Belle Gibson and Milla Blake. Dr. Sydnee and Justin talk about what factors in the world and in peoples' lives could lead to fame and success in the pseudo-scientific alternative medicine world. Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/ World Central Kitchen: https://wck.org/

Feb 25, 202542 minEp. 530

Sawbones: Frostbite

It's been bitterly cold in our region lately and that's got Dr. Sydnee thinking about frostbite. This week, we'll gain a better understanding of this malady and even stage a brief theatrical selection about it. Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/ World Central Kitchen: https://wck.org/

Feb 11, 202542 minEp. 529

Sawbones: Science Updates

There has been a lot going on in the United States in the last few days that might affect what's going on with health, medicine, and other sciences. Dr. Sydnee talks about the implications of all of these now and in the immediate future, and what we can do about it. Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/ World Central Kitchen: https://wck.org/

Feb 04, 202541 minEp. 528

Sawbones: Whooping Cough

Depending on where you live, you might be hearing a lot lately about Pertussis or Whooping Cough, even in Dr. Sydnee and Justin’s home county. Dr. Sydnee talks about the long history of this disease, its symptoms, and how the vaccine eventually came about. Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/ Palestine Children's Relief Fund: https://www.pcrf.net/

Jan 28, 202536 minEp. 527

Sawbones: Physicians' Unions

Imagine if your doctor could go on strike in the middle of a treatment. That’s the most popular argument against physicians’ unions, but there’s a lot more to the issue. Dr. Sydnee talks about the process of training doctors in the United States, why doctors would want to unionize, and what a doctors’ union might look like. Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/ Palestine Children's Relief Fund: https://www.pcrf.net/

Jan 21, 202536 minEp. 526

Sawbones: Seven-Second Poop Trick

It's a real medical (with a lower-case m) mystery, as Dr. Sydnee tries to find the source of a trick on TikTok that reportedly helps alleviate constipation. Join Sydnee on her surprisingly difficult journey to find what exactly this "trick" is to determine whether or not it does anything at all. Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/ Palestine Children's Relief Fund: https://www.pcrf.net/

Jan 14, 202535 minEp. 525

Sawbones: Book Club

Dr. Sydnee and Justin are easing back into the swing of things after the holidays by discussing what they’ve been reading, both apart and together. So cozy up with some tea to hear some good book recommendations from your favorite health professional and clown husband. Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/ Palestine Children's Relief Fund: https://www.pcrf.net/

Jan 08, 202541 minEp. 524

Sawbones Classic Double-Feature: A Medicine Called Christmas 1 & 2

Happy Candlenights! We've got for you a double-feature of the original A Medicine Called Christmas 1 and 2. Medicine Called Christmas: Live from Candlenights 2018, we're so proud to present a staged reading of the new Hallmark Christmas movie written by Justin and Sydnee McElroy: A Medicine Called Christmas. Music: Adam Sakiyama CAST: Narrator: Rachel McElroy Daniel: Tommy Smirl Tabitha: Sydnee McElroy Phil: Griffin McElroy Chris: Justin McElroy Ms. Crimble: Teresa McElroy Mr. Frankson: Dwight S...

Dec 24, 20241 hr 12 minEp. 523

Sawbones: How's My Lump Doing?

As a gift to the audience, we have another Sawbones Q and A, answering strange questions submitted by listeners! How does a menstrual disk work? How should we ACTUALLY clean our ears? Are cat biscuits bad for pregnancy? And why does Justin have the old man cough? Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/ Harmony House: https://harmonyhousewv.com/

Dec 17, 202436 minEp. 522

Sawbones: Walking Pneumonia

It’s nearly winter, which means the return of mycoplasma or “Walking Pneumonia” on this hemisphere. This week Dr. Sydnee and Justin talk about how this infection was discovered, the questionable way it was researched and how it differs from “typical” pneumonia. Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/ Harmony House: https://harmonyhousewv.com/

Dec 10, 202439 minEp. 521

Sawbones: Tesla Medbed

Somehow the Tesla medical bed, or Tesla Biohealing Wellness Hotel and Resort is not related to Elon Musk. It is also not really related to actual medical care. Dr. Sydnee and Justin talk about another wellness product and what this harnesser of biphoton energy is supposed to do. Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

Nov 26, 202441 minEp. 520

Sawbones: Project 2025

Needless to say it’s going to be a long four years for the United States. This week’s episode of Sawbones offers some guidance on what we might expect for medicine and health care going forward and what pro-active steps you may want to consider. Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

Nov 19, 202442 minEp. 519

Sawbones Classic: History of Abortion

It's Election Day in the United States of America, and so we present this Sawbones episode on the history of abortion from May 2022. Go vote! With the recent news about Roe v. Wade, it’s important to talk about the history of abortion in the United States. The right to autonomy over one’s own body in regard to medical care is one of the basic tenets of medical ethics; but no matter what anyone personally believes, banning abortion doesn’t stop abortion. It just makes it unsafe. Music: "Medicines...

Nov 05, 202447 minEp. 518

Sawbones: John Green and Good.Store

Dr. Sydnee and Justin are joined by John Green to talk about the still-prevalent disease of tuberculosis and how his company Good.Store is using coffee and tea to eradicate it in one African country. Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

Oct 29, 202437 minEp. 517

Sawbones: Doctor Odyssey

There's a new medical show in town, and Sawbones is all here for it. Dr. Sydnee goes through some of the highlights of the medical emergencies above the cruise ship in Doctor Odyssey and their plausibility and how likely it is to be able to do procedures like dialysis on the high seas. Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

Oct 22, 202440 minEp. 516

Sawbones: Brazilian Butt Lift

Some cosmetic surgeries include adding silicon or plastic to enhance the figure. But what if the extra fat came from your own body? Dr. Sydnee and Justin talk about the fraught and history of the Brazilian Butt Lift, or BBL, which is a story of eugenics, bad medicine, and unrealistic beauty standards. Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

Oct 15, 202442 minEp. 515

Sawbones: Can Doritos Make Skin See-Through?

Bring on the fall weather and bring on the listeners’ weird medical questions! Dr. Sydnee and Justin answer listeners’ strangest queries and maybe learn a thing or two themselves. Is Shy Bladder a real thing? Can you inhale an item into your lungs? Are mosquitoes eating my bruises? And is urea actually good for your skin or is some skin care just pee in a bottle? Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

Oct 08, 202442 minEp. 514
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