Polio Part 2: Managing Misinformation

Send us Fan MailOn this episode the guys travel back to 1979 Russia to better understand a devastating lab leak that actually occurred. Conspiracy theorist eat your heart out. In true Russian fashion it was cold, calculated, there was needless death and it was a well kept secret until it wasn't. Tune in to see just have far they went to cover it up and the impact it had on a small factory town. ...resources https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/15/science/russia-plague-laboratory-mystery.htmlhttps://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/plague/sverdlovsk/https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/how-moscows-secrecy-about-a-suspected-plague-case-follows-a-soviet-era-patternhttps://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/science.7973702https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10408410490468812https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/189876

Send us Fan MailOn this episode of viral load the guys jump into the wonderful world of AI. Believe it or not even for those who absolutely hate this new world of tech there are some undeniable use cases that could save millions of lives, but what if that power lands in the wrong hands? What if the same Ai technology that could solve diseases could enhance those that already exist or evade terrorism detection systems? What are we willing to risk now in order to save the future or will it be that very hope that kills us? Tune in to find out. 

Send us Fan MailOn this episode of Viral load the guys get back to business unpacking what our lovely Home Health Secretary has been up to since we last spoke and what effect it's having on our healthcare system. Spoiler alert it's not great. If you despise the current admin approach to infectious disease you should listen. If you love RFK Jr. you should listen twice. 

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, Dr. Brett (PhD, Epidemiology) and Andy break down the viral claim by President Trump and RFK Jr. that Tylenol during pregnancy causes autism.They cut through the noise:What the White House actually said (nothing close to confirmation)What the JAMA studies show (associations, not causation)What RFK Jr. and Trump’s framing gets wrongWhat the evidence does suggest — and what it doesn’tListen to cut through all the BS and walk away with what you need to know.

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, we tackle the dangers of celebrity-driven vaccine misinformation, focusing on figures like Alicia Silverstone, who may still be Clueless. We also explore the continued influence of Andrew Wakefield, whose discredited study sparked the anti-vaccine movement, and the legal efforts of RFK Jr.'s lawyer to challenge vaccine mandates. This episode highlights the real-world consequences of misinformation and discusses how we can fight back for the sake of public health.

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, we explore the concerning potential for the return of polio, a disease that once terrified the world before vaccines brought it to the brink of eradication. What's behind the recent reports of poliovirus in wastewater and isolated cases? And how do vaccine gaps, global health inequities, and misinformation play a role in its possible resurgence? Stay tuned next week as we dive into Polio part 2 centered around celebrity vaccine misinformation, who's trying to get the FDA to revoke the approval of polio vaccine and why we should all be investing in iron lung technology. 

Send us Fan MailAustralia's got a reputation for dangerous creatures, but Hendra takes it to a whole new level. This week, we dive into the bat-sh*t crazy world of the Hendra virus—an outbreak that started in horses and quickly spread to humans in a way that’s both horrifying and weird. We’ll unpack how a bunch of flying friends with a taste for fruit can turn a quiet day in the outback into a biohazard situation. Who knew the land down under wasn’t just full of deadly snakes and spiders, but also viruses you’ve probably never heard of (until now)? Buckle up for a story of science, Aussie Slang, and the occasional galloping horse that’ll make you say, “Crikey, I need to chuck a sickie”

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, we venture boldly into the unsettling future of American healthcare as Robert F. Kennedy Jr. steps into the most controversial cabinet role of the new administration: Secretary of Health and Human Services. With a track record of questioning vaccine safety and promoting alternative health narratives, RFK Jr.'s appointment signals a seismic shift in the way the U.S. may tackle public health, disease research, and scientific integrity.But what lies ahead for the nation's health system? Will we see a return to an era of pseudoscience and unchecked rhetoric, or will Kennedy's leadership spark an unexpected revolution? As the lines between medical expertise and ideological warfare blur, we ask: Is this the dawn of a new era in healthcare — or the beginning of a health policy apocalypse?Tune in, because this ride through the future of HHS could leave you wondering if we’re on the verge of a cure… or a crisis.

Send us Fan MailDive into the mystery of Disease X, the hypothetical pathogen poised to trigger the next global pandemic. Amidst a sea of conspiracy theories, from government cover-ups and the New World Order to clandestine experiments, we sift through the noise to uncover the truth. Join the guys as they navigate the tangled web of misinformation to reveal the reality behind Disease X and its potential impact on our world........sourceshttps://apnews.com/article/fact-check-misinformation-disease-x-migrants-watermelon-7518534f7ae8deccec6836f6b5d0a9afhttps://www.who.int/teams/blueprint/who-r-and-d-blueprint-for-epidemicshttps://publichealth.jhu.edu/2024/what-is-disease-xhttps://www.weforum.org/events/world-economic-forum-annual-meeting-2024/sessions/preparing-for-a-disease-x/https://www.reuters.com/fact-check/measles-outbreaks-not-linked-disease-x-pandemic-planning-2024-02-08/https://interestingengineering.com/lists/8-diseases-lead-next-pandemic

Send us Fan MailDelve into the complex origins of HIV in our latest episode, unraveling the web of misinformation surrounding this global health crisis. Join us as we uncover the truth behind the virus, challenging misconceptions and shedding light on its historical context..........Sources https://www.ecohealthalliance.org/2017/12/world-aids-dayhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3234451/https://www.theguardian.com/science/2014/oct/02/hiv-aids-pandemic-kinshasa-africahttps://www.unaids.org/enhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.https://www.npr.org/2006/06/04/5450391/origin-of-aids-linked-to-colonial-practices-in-africanih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3328988/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/why-kinshasa-1920s-was-perfect-place-hiv-go-global-180952953/https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.1256739https://websites.umich.edu/~csfound/545/1998/marksch/chap08.htmhttps://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10.1098/rstb.2010.0031https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3328988/