The Medical Detectives

Soft Skills Media

The Medical Detectives is a weekly podcast where medicine meets mystery—told by the very people who’ve lived it. Hosted by orthopedic surgeon Dr. Erin Nance and content creator Anna O’Brien, each episode unravels strange and surprising medical tales from the people who lived through them. Think of it as a detective story—only here, the clues are hidden in blood tests, x-rays, and patient files. From curious, unsolved diagnoses to behind-the-scenes accounts of what really goes on in hospital corridors, Anna and Dr. Nance guide you through the ups, downs, and jaw-dropping moments of life in the medical world. Dr. Nance brings her professional insight as a practicing physician committed to uncovering disparities in healthcare, while Anna shares her experiences as a patient navigating a complex system. In every episode you’ll hear first hand stories from guests who’ve confronted real medical puzzles on the relentless search for answers in a system that doesn’t always have them. Dr. Nance brings her insider expertise, while Anna uses her own patient experiences to spot the heart of every story. Together, they explore the suspense, the drama, and sometimes even the humor, behind solving these real-life medical mysteries. Whether you’re a curious mind, an avid true-crime fan, or someone who’s been left in the dark by confusing diagnoses, The Medical Detectives shines a light on the unexplained. Listen in each week to learn, to question, and to be amazed by the strange but true cases that prove sometimes the most gripping mysteries unfold in hospital corridors.

  1. 24 SEPT

    Dana & Ivan's Story: Watching Your Child Disappear

    When 16-year-old Ivan suddenly lost weight, slept through class, and found that eating hurt, doctors called it “disordered eating”—but Dana’s gut said something else. In this gripping, hopeful conversation, a midnight ER dash, blue lips, and a blaring heart monitor lead to the scan that changes everything. You’ll hear how bias can derail care, how distension pain hides in plain sight, and how one family kept pushing until the right tests—and treatment—brought Ivan back. Join the conversation! Have a medical mystery or story of your own? Send it to stories@themedicaldetectivespodcast.com. ***The information provided on the medical detectives is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. While we may feature licensed medical professionals, including doctors, we are not your personal doctors and no doctor patient relationship is established by listening to this podcast or interacting with our content. All discussions are general in nature and may not apply to your specific health situation. Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare professional before making any medical decisions or taking any action based on the content of this podcast. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking treatment because of something you have heard on this show If you are experiencing a medical emergency, please contact emergency services immediately or consult a qualified healthcare pro***

    1h 12m
  2. 17 SEPT

    Elizabeth's Story: The Generational Mystery

    In this powerful episode of Medical Detectives, Elizabeth traces an intergenerational medical mystery. This story starts not with our guest, but with her mother, whose lifelong health concerns gave a clue into Elizabeth's own medical mystery. After years of labels (hypothyroidism, PCOS, “degenerative disc disease,” postpartum depression) and a crucial clue everyone missed, one determined rheumatologist finally connected the dots to a rare genetic bone-mineralization disorder. Elizabeth describes the relief of a name for her suffering, the whiplash of treatments that helped until insurance pulled them, and the uphill fight to access the only disease-modifying therapy. Join the conversation! Have a medical mystery or story of your own? Send it to stories@themedicaldetectivespodcast.com. ***The information provided on the medical detectives is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. While we may feature licensed medical professionals, including doctors, we are not your personal doctors and no doctor patient relationship is established by listening to this podcast or interacting with our content. All discussions are general in nature and may not apply to your specific health situation. Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare professional before making any medical decisions or taking any action based on the content of this podcast. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking treatment because of something you have heard on this show If you are experiencing a medical emergency, please contact emergency services immediately or consult a qualified healthcare pro***

    1h 33m
  3. 3 SEPT

    Zoe's Story: 24 Hours from Paralysis

    Zoe’s story is a masterclass in “collect the dots so you can connect the dots.” After years of migraines, numbness, GI chaos, and escalating sciatica, her symptoms were brushed off as “stocking-and-glove neuropathy,” weight, or stress. Her symptoms crescendoed to saddle anesthesia, leg tremors, and urinary trouble, which were the red flags doctors used to finally make an emergency diagnosis, and just in time because Zoe was only 24 hours away from being completely paralyzed. Join the conversation! Have a medical mystery or story of your own? Send it to stories@themedicaldetectivespodcast.com. ***The information provided on the medical detectives is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. While we may feature licensed medical professionals, including doctors, we are not your personal doctors and no doctor patient relationship is established by listening to this podcast or interacting with our content. All discussions are general in nature and may not apply to your specific health situation. Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare professional before making any medical decisions or taking any action based on the content of this podcast. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking treatment because of something you have heard on this show If you are experiencing a medical emergency, please contact emergency services immediately or consult a qualified healthcare pro***

    1h 21m
  4. 20 AUG

    Re Release: Chan's Story - The Mystery of the Protruding Eye

    This is a re release of a past episode, but we will be back next week with brand new content! On this episode of The Medical Detectives, we sit down with the incredible Chan, known to many as @chanplante on TikTok, to hear her harrowing medical journey from an invisible illness to a visible one. Chan takes us through the baffling medical experiences that followed her COVID-19 diagnosis—unexplained strokes, eye pain, and a frustrating maze of misdiagnoses that ultimately led to her losing vision in one eye. In this raw and deeply personal conversation, Chan opens up about the emotional toll of seeking answers in a healthcare system that often dismisses young women, the frustration of living with an undiagnosed chronic illness, and the resilience it takes to advocate for yourself when doctors tell you, "It's just anxiety." If you've ever felt unheard in a medical setting, struggled with a chronic illness, or simply want to hear an inspiring story of strength, this episode is for you. Join the conversation! Have a medical mystery or story of your own? Send it to stories@themedicaldetectivespodcast.com. ***The information provided on the medical detectives is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. While we may feature licensed medical professionals, including doctors, we are not your personal doctors and no doctor patient relationship is established by listening to this podcast or interacting with our content. All discussions are general in nature and may not apply to your specific health situation. Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare professional before making any medical decisions or taking any action based on the content of this podcast. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking treatment because of something you have heard on this show If you are experiencing a medical emergency, please contact emergency services immediately or consult a qualified healthcare pro***

    52 min
  5. 13 AUG

    Katie & Steve's Story Part 2: The Wife Who Wouldn't Give Up

    A love story becomes a masterclass in advocacy. In this gripping part two, Katie takes us inside life with a rare brain disease, and shows how fierce care, ingenuity, and impossible choices collide with a messy healthcare system. You’ll hear the moments that test a marriage, what really happens at end of life, and how one night’s escalation changes everything. Most importantly, you’ll leave with hard-won wisdom of how to protect dignity in hospice, what to ask about palliative sedation, and how to advocate without losing yourself. Come for the story; stay because it might change how you show up for the people you love. Interested in supporting Katie and her cause? Links to her products and foundation are below! chieftedder.org https://www.medicalert.org/  Have a medical journey to share? Email us at stories@themedicaldetectivespodcast.com. ***The information provided on the medical detectives is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. While we may feature licensed medical professionals, including doctors, we are not your personal doctors and no doctor patient relationship is established by listening to this podcast or interacting with our content. All discussions are general in nature and may not apply to your specific health situation. Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare professional before making any medical decisions or taking any action based on the content of this podcast. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking treatment because of something you have heard on this show If you are experiencing a medical emergency, please contact emergency services immediately or consult a qualified healthcare pro***

    1h 22m

Hosts & Guests

About

The Medical Detectives is a weekly podcast where medicine meets mystery—told by the very people who’ve lived it. Hosted by orthopedic surgeon Dr. Erin Nance and content creator Anna O’Brien, each episode unravels strange and surprising medical tales from the people who lived through them. Think of it as a detective story—only here, the clues are hidden in blood tests, x-rays, and patient files. From curious, unsolved diagnoses to behind-the-scenes accounts of what really goes on in hospital corridors, Anna and Dr. Nance guide you through the ups, downs, and jaw-dropping moments of life in the medical world. Dr. Nance brings her professional insight as a practicing physician committed to uncovering disparities in healthcare, while Anna shares her experiences as a patient navigating a complex system. In every episode you’ll hear first hand stories from guests who’ve confronted real medical puzzles on the relentless search for answers in a system that doesn’t always have them. Dr. Nance brings her insider expertise, while Anna uses her own patient experiences to spot the heart of every story. Together, they explore the suspense, the drama, and sometimes even the humor, behind solving these real-life medical mysteries. Whether you’re a curious mind, an avid true-crime fan, or someone who’s been left in the dark by confusing diagnoses, The Medical Detectives shines a light on the unexplained. Listen in each week to learn, to question, and to be amazed by the strange but true cases that prove sometimes the most gripping mysteries unfold in hospital corridors.

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