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Scandal Water

Scandal Water Podcast

Peculiar Stories from the Stage, Screen, and Everything In Between

  1. 6 days ago • Subscribers Only

    Research Gone Wrong: The Tuskegee Syphilis Study

    In 1932, the Tuskegee Syphilis Study was initiated by the U.S. Public Health Service. It involved 399 black men who already had the disease–though they thought they suffered simply from “bad blood”--and 201 who were part of the control group. The study was supposed to last 6 months, and part of the incentive for participation was free treatment, free meals, and free burial insurance. Instead, the study lasted 40 years, and the participants received no treatment… even though penicillin was widely and effectively used to treat syphilis by the mid-to-late 1940s. In this minisode, we discuss the infamous Tuskegee Syphilis Study, which was referenced in last week’s fascinating episode on “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.”

    16 min

  2. 6 days ago • Subscribers Only

    Research Gone Wrong: The Tuskegee Syphilis Study

    In 1932 the Tuskegee Syphilis Study was initiated by the U.S. Public Health Service. It involved 399 black men who already had the disease–though they thought they suffered simply from “bad blood”--and 201 who were part of the control group. The study was supposed to last 6 months, and part of the incentive for participation was free treatment, free meals, and free burial insurance. Instead, the study lasted 40 years, and the participants received no treatment… even though penicillin was widely and effectively used to treat syphilis by the mid-to-late 1940s. In this minisode, we discuss the infamous Tuskegee Syphilis Study, which was referenced in last week’s fascinating episode on “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.” Minisodes are bonus content available to Scandal Water supporters on Patreon and Buy Me a Coffee. So simply become a member through one of those sites if you’d like to access not only this minisode, but also the entire back catalogue! You can find the links to Patreon and Buy Me a Coffee at ScandalWaterPodcast.com.

    16 min

  3. 19 May • Subscribers Only

    The Women Behind “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks”

    HeLa cells –taken from the body of a young, black wife and mother named Henrietta Lacks– have traveled to space, been used in important medical advancements such as with in vitro fertilization and the polio and COVID-19 vaccines, and have helped medical companies earn billions of dollars. Yet when Henrietta died at age 31, she had no idea how her cells would change healthcare– or that they’d even been taken.  In this podcast, we discuss the book that brought Henrietta’s story into the spotlight, Rebecca Skloot’s “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks,” published in 2010, and the HBO movie that followed in 2017. What circumstances led to Henrietta’s cells being used for medical research? How did her family find out– more than 20 years later– that Henrietta was the woman behind HeLa cells? What makes these cells so special? How did author Rebecca Skloot and Henrietta’s daughter Deborah become partners in researching the book? And what recent developments have occurred in the lives of the Lacks family?   How to support Scandal Water: Rate, review, and subscribe! Follow the show on your favorite app or Scandal Water Podcast YouTube channel.  Send your shoutouts to scandalwaterpodcast@gmail.com. Become a member on patreon.com/ScandalWaterPodcast or buymeacoffee.com/scandalwaterpod – which will also grant you access to fabulous bonus content! #HenriettaLacks #HeLaCells #ImmortalLife #HenriettaLacksLegacy #RebeccaSkloot #DeborahLacks #Oprah #RoseByrne #Film #Movie #Biography #MedicalConsent #InformedConsent #ElizabethHolmes #Medical #MedicalMayhem #May #ScandalWaterPodcast #Podcast #Medical

    36 min

  4. 19 May

    The Women Behind “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks”

    HeLa cells –taken from the body of a young, black wife and mother named Henrietta Lacks– have traveled to space, been used in important medical advancements such as with in vitro fertilization and the polio and COVID-19 vaccines, and have helped medical companies earn billions of dollars. Yet when Henrietta died at age 31, she had no idea how her cells would change healthcare– or that they’d even been taken.  In this podcast, we discuss the book that brought Henrietta’s story into the spotlight, Rebecca Skloot’s “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks,” published in 2010, and the HBO movie that followed in 2017. What circumstances led to Henrietta’s cells being used for medical research? How did her family find out– more than 20 years later– that Henrietta was the woman behind HeLa cells? What makes these cells so special? How did author Rebecca Skloot and Henrietta’s daughter Deborah become partners in researching the book? And what recent developments have occurred in the lives of the Lacks family?   Thank you to Jennifer G. for her top-of-the-episode shout-out!  How to support Scandal Water: Rate, review, and subscribe! Follow the show on your favorite app or Scandal Water Podcast YouTube channel.  Send your shoutouts to scandalwaterpodcast@gmail.com. Become a member on patreon.com/ScandalWaterPodcast or buymeacoffee.com/scandalwaterpod – which will also grant you access to fabulous bonus content! #HenriettaLacks #HeLaCells #ImmortalLife #HenriettaLacksLegacy #RebeccaSkloot #DeborahLacks #Oprah #RoseByrne #Film #Movie #Biography #MedicalConsent #InformedConsent #ElizabethHolmes #Medical #MedicalMayhem #May #ScandalWaterPodcast #Podcast #Medical

    36 min

  5. 12 May

    Blood on Her Hands: The Fall of Elizabeth Holmes and Theranos (Part 2)

    What do you do when you discover a celebrated CEO named Elizabeth Holmes is marketing a medical device that is not only defective, but actually providing wildly inaccurate lab results to tens of thousands of people?  Yet that CEO’s billion-dollar company, Theranos, is protected by over-the-top security measures, has a board filled with former government leaders, and is defended by one of the most powerful and aggressive lawyers in the country?  This is the situation that faced former Theranos employees Erika Cheung and Tyler Shultz, as well as “Wall Street Journal” reporter John Carreyou, in 2015.  In the second episode of this fascinating 2-part series, we discuss the circumstances– and the brave people– that led to the fall of Elizabeth Holmes, her partner Sunny Balwani, and the start-up company Theranos.  If your blood was boiling while you listened to Part 1, you won’t want to miss the story’s satisfying conclusion.  How to support Scandal Water: Rate, review, and subscribe! Follow the show on your favorite app or Scandal Water Podcast YouTube channel.  Send your shoutouts to scandalwaterpodcast@gmail.com. Become a member on patreon.com/ScandalWaterPodcast or buymeacoffee.com/scandalwaterpod – which will also grant you access to fabulous bonus content! #ElizabethHolmes #Theranos #SunnyBalwani #ErikaCheung #TylerShultz #JohnCarreyou #GirlBoss #Medical #Fraud #MedicalMayhem #May #ScandalWaterPodcast #Podcast

    50 min

  6. 5 May

    Blood Lust: The Rise of Elizabeth Holmes and Theranos (Part 1)

    In 2014, Elizabeth Holmes was declared the youngest self-made female billionaire in the world by Forbes. Her start-up, Theranos, employed more than 700 people and was valued at over $9 billion.  By 2018, Theranos was worth nothing.  In part 1 of this fascinating 2-part series, we focus on the woman behind Theranos, Elizabeth Holmes, and her rise to success.   How did a 19-year-old dropout from Stanford start a company in Silicon Valley? What was the mission behind Theranos and the purpose of its notorious Edisons? How did Elizabeth Holmes use her role model, Steve Jobs, to craft her own persona? When and how did Sunny Balwani become COO of Theranos? And what were the key events that led to the company’s success? The episode will make your blood run cold…   How to support Scandal Water: Rate, review, and subscribe! Follow the show on your favorite app or Scandal Water Podcast YouTube channel.  Send your shoutouts to scandalwaterpodcast@gmail.com. Become a member on patreon.com/ScandalWaterPodcast or buymeacoffee.com/scandalwaterpod – which will also grant you access to fabulous bonus content! #ElizabethHolmes #Theranos #SunnyBalwani #ErikaCheung #TylerShultz #JohnCarreyou #GirlBoss #Medical #Fraud #MedicalMayhem #May #ScandalWaterPodcast #Podcast

    51 min

  7. 28 Apr • Subscribers Only

    Ryan Gosling Scored Big with This “Hail Mary”

    Amaze, amaze, amaze! The sci-fi thriller “Project Hail Mary” –based on the NYT best-selling book by Andy Weir– brought in nearly $141 million worldwide in its opening weekend, along with strong critical reviews. In this fun minisode we discuss the blockbuster movie and the circumstances behind its creation–including the instrumental role Canadian actor and producer Ryan Gosling played in not only bringing the story to the big screen, but also fleshing out the lead character, science-teacher-turned-astronaut Ryland Grace. *Minisodes are bonus content available to Scandal Water supporters on Patreon and Buy Me a Coffee. So simply become a member through one of those sites if you’d like to access not only this minisode, but also the entire back catalogue! You can find the links to Patreon and Buy Me a Coffee at ScandalWaterPodcast.com. #OCanada #Ryan Gosling #ProjectHailMary #ShaniaTwain #QueenofCountry #CountryMusic #LucyMaudMontgomery #AnneofGreenGables #CatherineOHara #ScandalWaterPodcast

    16 min

  8. 21 Apr

    Shania Twain: From Personal Trauma to Musical Icon

    *Content warning: This episode contains references to physical and sexual abuse. Listener discretion is advised.  Known as the Queen of Country Pop, Shania Twain is the best-selling female artist in country music history, globally, widely praised for her ground-breaking country-to-pop crossover style.  Yet Shania has suffered a great deal of personal trauma in her life, during her childhood and also after achieving superstardom. And in this fascinating episode on the legendary Shania Twain, we discuss all of it! What abuse did Shania both suffer and witness while growing up? Why (and how) was Shania performing in bars from the age of 8? What circumstances led to the hit album “The Woman in Me,” and how did it change the singer’s life? What health condition left Shania unable to perform for several years– at the same time her marriage was disintegrating? And why do some people say we are now in the Shaniassance?  She’s still the one… don’t miss this fascinating episode on country pop superstar Shania Twain.  How to support Scandal Water: Rate, review, and subscribe! Follow the show on your favorite app or Scandal Water Podcast YouTube channel.  Send your shoutouts to scandalwaterpodcast@gmail.com. Become a member on patreon.com/ScandalWaterPodcast or buymeacoffee.com/scandalwaterpod – which will also grant you access to fabulous bonus content! #OCanada #ShaniaTwain  #QueenofCountry #CountryMusic  #LucyMaudMontgomery #AnneofGreenGables #CatherineOHara  #ScandalWaterPodcast

    47 min
See All (261)

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About

Peculiar Stories from the Stage, Screen, and Everything In Between

Information

  • Creator
    Scandal Water Podcast
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    261
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Scandal Water
  • Provider
    Scandal Water Podcast LLC

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