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.

  • 30 minutes 33 seconds
    Sawbones: Mechanical Heart Pump

    Sometimes the cities we visit on tour have some historical medical mess-ups, but not Detroit! Dr. Sydnee and Justin talk about Forest Dewey Dodrill, who performed the first successful heart surgery (with a pump) in a time where operating on the heart was considered a no-no. 

    Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

    23 July 2024, 4:00 pm
  • 48 minutes
    Sawbones: Tampons

    You may have heard that a new study showed tampons contain traces of metals. Dr. Sydnee and Justin go through the history of tampons, why they might contain metal, and what we still need to find out about the possible effects of using them.

    Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

    16 July 2024, 4:00 pm
  • 41 minutes 5 seconds
    Sawbones: Human Tricks

    Can you touch your tongue with your nose or wiggle your ears? Dr. Sydnee and Justin talk about the science and studies behind weird little tricks some bodies can do, or "stupid human tricks." 

    Can you flare your nostrils? Take our poll: https://shorturl.at/rdzY3 

    Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

    9 July 2024, 4:00 pm
  • 47 minutes 22 seconds
    Sawbones: A Couple of Boob Questions

    Sawbones listeners just have so many strange medical questions! Questions like: Why do I sneeze at dark chocolate? Does Diet Coke actually relieve nausea? Why does saliva get thicker while exercising? And you know that TikTok with the cinnamon rolls and the yeast infection. . . is that . . .real? 

    Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

    2 July 2024, 4:00 pm
  • 34 minutes 16 seconds
    Sawbones Classic: Chocolate

    To coincide with the opening of Justin and Sydnee's stage production, we bring to you a classic episode about the medicinal history of chocolate! 

    This week on Sawbones, Dr. Sydnee and Justin take a sunrise and sprinkle it with dew. 

    Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

    18 June 2024, 4:00 pm
  • 35 minutes
    Sawbones: Willy Wonka

    There are different versions of Willy Wonka's chocolate factory exploits, but all of them involve strange things happening to children who misbehave. But from a biological standpoint, what does that look like? Dr. Sydnee and Justin discuss the strange science going on at Wonka's factory and whether gum could possibly contain enough juice to turn someone into a blueberry. 

    Note: Willy Wonka is the creation of Roald Dahl, not a good person. More information about his antisemitism available here: https://time.com/5937507/roald-dahl-anti-semitism/ 

    Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

    11 June 2024, 7:30 pm
  • 42 minutes 33 seconds
    Sawbones: Do You Know How Italian I Am?

    Hot time, summer in the city, time for listener Sawbones questions! Questions like: Why is blood sticky? Why does skin itch when it grows back? Might my twin reject my organs? And should I bring my own speculum to an exam? 

    Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

    4 June 2024, 4:00 pm
  • 39 minutes 8 seconds
    Sawbones: Hydrogen Water

    Dr. Sydnee has ruined her TikTok algorithm for the listeners once again and came across something called "Hydrogen Water." Similar to alkaline water, hydrogen water goes through an ionization process that leaves it with excess hydrogen molecules. But . . . is it better than regular water? Probably not.

     

    Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

    21 May 2024, 6:30 pm
  • 44 minutes 43 seconds
    Sawbones: Plexus

    In a collaboration of medical fads and brands, Dr. Sydnee and Justin dive into the confusing MLM called Plexus. The company started as a seller of the Breast Chek [sic] Kit but has since branched out into wellness and weight management products that it encourages its Ambassadors to recruit others to sell. 

    Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

    7 May 2024, 4:00 pm
  • 38 minutes 59 seconds
    Sawbones: Vampire Facials

    You may have seen some celebrities or influencers on social media getting something called a Vampire Facial. It's exactly what it sounds like: blood spread on the face like a cream mask. But why would anyone do this unless it's supposed to do something for the skin? Dr. Sydnee and Justin draw out where this trend came from and its questionable benefits.

    Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

    30 April 2024, 4:00 pm
  • 41 minutes 58 seconds
    Sawbones: CPR

    Squishing someone’s heart and blowing air into them to bring them back to life seems so basic, so why weren’t we able to agree on it for the past few hundred years? This week on Sawbones, Dr. Sydnee gives an overview of the evolution of CPR which, despite what movies and TV would have you believe, isn’t quite an infinite cheat code for avoiding death.

    Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

    23 April 2024, 4:00 pm
  • More Episodes? Get the App
© MoonFM 2024. All rights reserved.