• 42 minutes 4 seconds
    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://marshap.org/

    Thanks to everyone who participated in this year's MaxFunDrive! Still want to get in on the action? Follow this link to support this show (and get in on our limited-time keychain sale to benefit the Center for Constitutional Rights): https://maximumfun.org/joinsawbones

    5 May 2026, 4:00 pm
  • 50 minutes 14 seconds
    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/

    Thanks to everyone who participated in this year's MaxFunDrive! Still want to get in on the action? Follow this link to support this show (and get in on our limited-time keychain sale to benefit the Center for Constitutional Rights): https://maximumfun.org/joinsawbones

    28 April 2026, 4:00 pm
  • 41 minutes 35 seconds
    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/

    Thanks to everyone who participated in this year's MaxFunDrive! Still want to get in on the action? Follow this link to support this show (and get in on our limited-time keychain sale to benefit the Center for Constitutional Rights): https://maximumfun.org/joinsawbones

    21 April 2026, 4:00 pm
  • 36 minutes 10 seconds
    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/

    Thanks to everyone who participated in this year's MaxFunDrive! Still want to get in on the action? Follow this link to support this show (and get in on our limited-time keychain sale to benefit the Center for Constitutional Rights): https://maximumfun.org/joinsawbones

    7 April 2026, 4:00 pm
  • 47 minutes 33 seconds
    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

    Thanks to everyone who participated in this year's MaxFunDrive! Still want to get in on the action? Follow this link to support this show (and get in on our limited-time keychain sale to benefit the Center for Constitutional Rights): https://maximumfun.org/joinsawbones

    31 March 2026, 4:00 pm
  • 38 minutes 15 seconds
    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

    Thanks to everyone who participated in this year's MaxFunDrive! Still want to get in on the action? Follow this link to support this show (and get in on our limited-time keychain sale to benefit the Center for Constitutional Rights): https://maximumfun.org/joinsawbones

    24 March 2026, 4:00 pm
  • 1 hour 2 minutes
    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

    Thanks to everyone who participated in this year's MaxFunDrive! Still want to get in on the action? Follow this link to support this show (and get in on our limited-time keychain sale to benefit the Center for Constitutional Rights): https://maximumfun.org/joinsawbones

    17 March 2026, 4:00 pm
  • 43 minutes 28 seconds
    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

    Thanks to everyone who participated in this year's MaxFunDrive! Still want to get in on the action? Follow this link to support this show (and get in on our limited-time keychain sale to benefit the Center for Constitutional Rights): https://maximumfun.org/joinsawbones

    3 March 2026, 5:00 pm
  • 42 minutes 44 seconds
    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/

    Thanks to everyone who participated in this year's MaxFunDrive! Still want to get in on the action? Follow this link to support this show (and get in on our limited-time keychain sale to benefit the Center for Constitutional Rights): https://maximumfun.org/joinsawbones

    24 February 2026, 5:00 pm
  • 38 minutes 47 seconds
    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/

    Thanks to everyone who participated in this year's MaxFunDrive! Still want to get in on the action? Follow this link to support this show (and get in on our limited-time keychain sale to benefit the Center for Constitutional Rights): https://maximumfun.org/joinsawbones

    17 February 2026, 5:00 pm
  • 39 minutes 58 seconds
    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://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

    Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota: https://www.ilcm.org/donate/

    Thanks to everyone who participated in this year's MaxFunDrive! Still want to get in on the action? Follow this link to support this show (and get in on our limited-time keychain sale to benefit the Center for Constitutional Rights): https://maximumfun.org/joinsawbones

    10 February 2026, 5:00 pm
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