Sawbones: A Marital Tour of Misguided Medicine

Justin McElroy, Dr. Sydnee McElroy

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.

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20 episodes
Updated Tuesday

Episodes20

Newest first

Tuesday · 39 min
Sawbones: What’s More Edible, Paper or Cotton?
It’s one of our favorite kinds of episodes, making use of Dr. Sydnee’s expertise and Justin’s street smarts: medical questions! Why do we fart? How long is the digestive tract? Why are all minor mouth injuries so awful? Does REM “detoxify” the brain? And am I experiencing nightmares, night terrors, or ghosts? (Sawbones does not claim any expertise on the matter of ghosts.) PLUS, an update on Cyclospora. Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/ Asian Pacific Environme
July 21 · 41 min
Sawbones: Cyclospora
The food has been going wild lately, and none more in the headlines this second than cyclospora parasite which is causing an outbreak of . . . intense gastrointestinal distress. Dr. Sydnee and Justin talk about the history of parasitic illnesses and what to know about the outbreak right now. For example, maybe just never eat lettuce ever again. Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/ Asian Pacific Environmental Network: https://apen4ej.org/our-work/
July 7 · 39 min
Sawbones: Medicine Brand Names
This week, Justin walks Sydnee through the complexities of pharmaceutical naming. Join them as they review the history of the functional regulatory procedures, as well as the way branding and marketing has resulted in increasingly-wild names like "Prozac" and "Skyrizi." Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/ Asian Pacific Environmental Network: https://apen4ej.org/our-work/
June 30 · 34 min
Sawbones Classic: Sunburns
As folks in the northern hemisphere get back into the swing of summer we here at Sawbones thought it'd be a good time to reshare a classic episode about sunburns to help you get your D in the safest way possible. Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/ Lambda Legal: https://lambdalegal.org/
June 23 · 36 min
Sawbones: Blisters
We've probably all gotten a blister at some point, whether from walking too much or from shredding a guitar solo. Dr. Sydnee and Justin talk about what actually causes a blister, how they are treated, and, most importantly, when is a good situation in which to pop them? Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/ Lambda Legal: https://lambdalegal.org/
June 16 · 32 min
Sawbones: Matilda and Telekinesis
Dr. Sydnee is joined this week by Charlie and Cooper, who are starring in a production of Matilda, and therefore experts in . . . telekinetic government experiments. The three McElroys talk about the unsuccessful history of trying to prove – or create – people moving objects with their minds, including Uri Geller and the CIA. Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/ Lamda Legal: https://lambdalegal.org/
June 2 · 41 min
Sawbones: Kratom
Maybe you've heard of kratom, a substance being sold as a 'natural' energy substance. With its alarmingly growing popularity, Dr. Sydnee and Justin look into what exactly it is, what it really does, and whether you should take it. (Spoiler: you should not). Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/ Lamda Legal: https://lambdalegal.org/
May 19 · 34 min
Sawbones: Hantavirus, Part 2
The recent outbreak of human-communicable Hantavirus on a cruise ship continues to change rapidly and the U.S. continues to lag behind other nations in its response. This week on Sawbones, an update on the situation and some thoughts about the future of disease management in a country that seems uninterested in doing so. Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/ First Nations Development Institute: https://www.firstnations.org/
May 12 · 43 min
Sawbones: Hantavirus
In what may be our most requested episode of all time, Dr. Sydnee addresses the hantavirus outbreak in the headlines, looks at its history and evaluates just how badly the U.S. is handling the situation. Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/ First Nations Development Institute: https://www.firstnations.org/
May 5 · 42 min
Sawbones: Can Black Widow Venom Cure Diabetes?
After all the listener support, it’s only fair we give back! “We” meaning Dr. Sydnee is giving back to the listeners by answering their medical questions! Can hanging upside-down cause lasting damage? Are hangnails random or is it part of my life choices? Why did the black plague end? Does flexing my calves strengthen my bladder? And how many living cells are in poop? Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/ Marsha P. Johnson Institute: https://marsha
April 28 · 50 min
Sawbones: Milk, Part 2 - Government Cheese
Are you ready to lose your mind about dairy and look at your charcuterie board differently? Justin tells Dr. Sydnee all about the inflated demand for milk, how good for you dairy actually is, and how the United States came to have a giant bunker of cheese in Missouri Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/ Marsha P. Johnson Institute: https://marshap.org/
April 21 · 41 min
Sawbones: Milk, Part 1 - Lactose Intolerance
Why do some people have stomachaches when they drink or eat dairy products? Dr. Syndee and Justin talk about lactose and lactase to explain that it's really those who can drink milk who are the outliers and answer the very important question: is school milk racist? Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/ Marsha P. Johnson Institute: https://marshap.org/
April 7 · 36 min
Sawbones: Vitamin K
No, not the musical artist who sang the graduation song (that's Vitamin C). Vitamin K has been in the news a little bit lately because it's often given as a shot to newborns. Dr. Sydnee talks about the history of its discovery, what it is for, why it's important, and why in the world it's called Vitamin K. Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/ Marsha P. Johnson Institute: https://marshap.org/
March 31 · 47 min
Sawbones: Ranking TV Medical Shows
In celebration of Dr. Sydnee’s birthday, Justin brings a whole swath of medical show on TV since the year of her birth. From Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman to Nip/Tuck to The Pitt, Dr. Sydnee ranks shows for their accuracy and entertainment value until she’s finisher her bathtub birthday Prosecco. There is no democracy here, Dr. Sydnee’s opinion is the law. Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/ Border Angels: https://www.borderangels.org/our-services.html
March 24 · 38 min
Sawbones: Medicine in Movies
Miracle drugs, strange side effects, classical conditioning: there are many films where the plot hinges around the existence of some unrealistic medicine. Justin brings to the plate the pills and medical devices in Dune, Robocop, Scanners, and more, while Dr. Sydnee ascertains how close they are to reality – or not. Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/ Border Angels: https://www.borderangels.org/our-services.html
March 17 · 1 hr 2 min
Sawbones: Second Update: Havana Syndrome
Our first ever double-update, Justin and Dr. Sydnee bring an update to an update about the very mysterious Havana Syndrome. Not only is there kind of a reversal of the last update, but the cause actually COULD be a giant microwave? So enjoy the full episode explaining the history of Havana Syndrome, the old update from 2022, and what we learned very recently. Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/ Border Angels: https://www.borderangels.org/our-services.html
March 3 · 43 min
Sawbones: Measles 2026
It's been a decade since Sawbones last talked about measles, and we don't often check in with an update unless . . . well, something comes up in the news. Dr. Sydnee talks about how the vaccine for measles was developed, the unfortunate backlash that has been going on against it since 2008, and what we can do for the future. Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/ Border Angels: https://www.borderangels.org/our-services.html
February 24 · 42 min
Sawbones: Would a Healing Vape be More Efficient Than a Healing Potion?
The snow’s piling up outside so we’re cozying down with another batch of listener medical questions! Can I take all my antibiotics at once? If my twin has an allergy, do I have it too? Are prenatal vitamins good for people who do not want to get pregnant? And can air literally get knocked out of your lungs? Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/ Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota: https://www.ilcm.org/donate/
February 17 · 38 min
Sawbones: Carpal Tunnel
Carpal tunnel sydrome, or an irritation of the median nerve, is often thought of as a more "modern" ailment, exacerbated by 8-hour days at a computer and video game hobbies. Dr. Sydnee talks about the history of the first diagnosis of this syndrome, and Justin talks about his recent surgery experience, as well as the causes and possible prevention. Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/ Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota: https://www.ilcm.org/donate/
February 10 · 39 min
Sawbones: Sauna
Even though it's associated with Nordic countries, the Sauna has been around in many different cultures for as long as people have been trying to get warm in a hot box. But how about health benefits? Dr. Sydnee talks about the history of saunas and spirituality, as well as the association between sweat and the perception of health – and that even though actual studies don't say anything definite, sometimes it is just nice to get in a warm, steamy room. Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https:

Sawbones: A Marital Tour of Misguided Medicine

Sawbones: What’s More Edible, Paper or Cotton?

Sawbones: Cyclospora

Sawbones: Medicine Brand Names

Sawbones Classic: Sunburns

Sawbones: Blisters

Sawbones: Matilda and Telekinesis

Sawbones: Kratom

Sawbones: Hantavirus, Part 2

Sawbones: Hantavirus

Sawbones: Can Black Widow Venom Cure Diabetes?

Sawbones: Milk, Part 2 - Government Cheese

Sawbones: Milk, Part 1 - Lactose Intolerance

Sawbones: Vitamin K

Sawbones: Ranking TV Medical Shows

Sawbones: Medicine in Movies

Sawbones: Second Update: Havana Syndrome

Sawbones: Measles 2026

Sawbones: Would a Healing Vape be More Efficient Than a Healing Potion?

Sawbones: Carpal Tunnel

Sawbones: Sauna