The Present Illness

Alyssa Burgart & Arghavan Salles
  • 5.0 (23)
  • MEDICINE

Society’s running a fever, and two sharp-witted physicians are on the case. Surgeon-scientist Arghavan Salles dives into social media’s wildest trends, while anesthesiologist-bioethicist Alyssa Burgart follows news and legal cases for their ethical twists. Together, they examine the cultural, political, and public health symptoms of our time with scalpel-sharp analysis, unflinching questions, and enough humor to keep us all going.

  1. Telehealth Abortion under Attack, plus Bedside Betrayal in Canada Court’s Sloka Case

    21H AGO

    Telehealth Abortion under Attack, plus Bedside Betrayal in Canada Court’s Sloka Case

    5th Circuit Mifepristone chaos heads to Supreme Court; Canadian judge let’s off doctor for SA; C**t art; Golden Tempo; and bee huts! Hunter Peterson tries to launch Spirit 2.0 Passengers stranded after Spirit Airlines shut down Mifepristone Fifth Circuit Decision Directs FDA to Restrict Mifepristone AccessSupreme Court puts decision on hold, for now“Nuclear option” used to normalize requiring only simple majority to confirm judges - 2013 by Democrats and 2017 by Republicans.Personhood: The New Civil War Over Reproduction by Mary ZieglerFetal personhood and access to contraceptionLouisiana law considers an embryo created during IVF to be a “juridical person.” This has been in place since 1986.More on Louisiana’s bills related to IVFLouisiana legislator’s attempt to protect IVF shelvedWhy Alabama’s bill was problematicFact check: Louisiana law has considered an embryo to be a “juridical person” since 1986, restricting access to IVF in the state. Patients must ship their embryos out of state, yet this is not as restrictive as the law proposed in Alabama in 2024 that specifically referred to embryos as children.Bedside Betrayal: Jeffrey Sloka Canadian physician Jeffrey Sloka was found not guiltyFindings of the College of Physicians and Surgeons (CPSO) re: Sloka summarizedCPSO report💊Take Two and Call Me in the Morning💊 Sophia Wallace clitoris artJust Bee Hawai’iGolden Tempo wins Kentucky DerbyText us! Thanks for listening to The Present Illness!  Follow us on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube @ThePresentIllness Credits Production by Arghavan Salles & Alyssa BurgartEditing by Alyssa BurgartTheme Music by Joseph UphoffSocial Media by Arghavan Salles

    57 min
  2. Surgeon Takes Out Liver by "Accident"?!

    MAY 1

    Surgeon Takes Out Liver by "Accident"?!

    Surgeons need to know anatomy; Voting is good; SCOTUS conflicts of interest; pediatric society hosts unscientific panel on trans kids SCOTUS decision on the Voting Rights Act (Arghavan reacts)Lawsuit against John Roberts due to conflict of interestSlow Burn on Clarence ThomasDeath during surgery: Summary of “accidental” liver removalState medical board order suspending Shaknovsky’s licenseInvestigation into the hospital/interviews of Shaknovsky and staffArghavan’s video going over the anatomyArghavan’s video going over the operative report Unscientific Conference Panel: PAS hosts anti-trans panelProtestsScientific take down of HHS report 💊Take Two and Call Me in the Morning💊 Alyssa’s paper on conscientious objectionAssociation for Surgical EducationDr. Gardner on the stage with her babyText us! Thanks for listening to The Present Illness!  Follow us on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube @ThePresentIllness Credits Production by Arghavan Salles & Alyssa BurgartEditing by Alyssa BurgartTheme Music by Joseph UphoffSocial Media by Arghavan Salles

    58 min

  3. APR 24

    Everybody Pees + Abuse Academy

    Where’s the bathroom?; digital sexual violence; Buck v. Bell turns 99; RFK Jr’s hearings; Bhattacharya is actually fine with censorship; RFK Jr: Trump Math, glyphosate, “re-parenting,” wants to eliminate chronically ill people Everyone Just Needs to Pee Trans Legislation TrackerTrans bathroom billsNex Benedict (he/him/they/them)CA requires gender neutral bathrooms (Note: schools must have at least one such bathroom)Tawana WilliamsRefuge RestroomsInterAct’s guide to advocacyDigital Sexual Violence CNN’s report on the “rape academy”Telegram channelDominique Pelicot’s website relaunchedApple & Google help users find nudify apps.Collien Fernandes’s husband spread deepfakes of herThe Tea App was removed after a data breach after being targeted by hackers.💊Take Two and Call Me in the Morning💊 Merlin the PigMargot’s Got Money Troubles (Book & on AppleTV)Text us! Thanks for listening to The Present Illness!  Follow us on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube @ThePresentIllness Credits Production by Arghavan Salles & Alyssa BurgartEditing by Alyssa BurgartTheme Music by Joseph UphoffSocial Media by Arghavan Salles

    59 min
  4. Shut Down Dilley Detention Center with Dr. Lara Jones

    APR 17

    Shut Down Dilley Detention Center with Dr. Lara Jones

    Pediatrician Dr. Lara Jones discusses advocating to free children from ICE detention facilities. Follow her @AskLaDoctora. Kids in ICE Detention The 19th: These pediatrician moms have a shared message: Release all children in immigration detentionLetter to DHSThe Marshall Project April 2026: Data on child detentionFamilies describe conditions at DilleyMore on Drs. Jones, Patel and CozzoCore Civic: the private prison company raking in cash running ICE detention facilitiesFind out if your representatives have taken cash from the companies fueling ICE’s mass deportation effortsCheck out our previous episodes (E20 & E25)Get kids out of ICE detention Call your representatives (202)-224-3121. Public pressure really works and has led to recent releases of children and congressional hearings on this issue! Text “GO ESH” TO 50409 to send your congress members a letter telling them to end child detentionSign Ms Rachel's petitionFind pre-written advocacy letters by the team on Chili to help organize collective action on child detentionDonate to commissary funds for families in Dilley (Each Step Home)Talk to one person you know about this. Remain curious and center the children.Are you a local organizer? Bring your ideas to us let us know how we can support you locally in the community💊Take Two and Call Me in the Morning💊 Dr. Jones goes on a walk with her toddlerDr. Burgart talks about seeing a Giant Sea Bass in Catalina - they can grow to up to Text us! Thanks for listening to The Present Illness!  Follow us on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube @ThePresentIllness Credits Production by Arghavan Salles & Alyssa BurgartEditing by Alyssa BurgartTheme Music by Joseph UphoffSocial Media by Arghavan Salles

    57 min
  5. We're Overwhelmed Too, But We'll Take the Cool Moonshots

    APR 10

    We're Overwhelmed Too, But We'll Take the Cool Moonshots

    Crossing our fingers to avoid nuclear war; Pentagon goes after the pope; Artemis sends back dope pictures of the moon and earth Iran Trump violates international law, says unhinged stuffIranian government offers citizen sacrifice23% Americans support Trump on IranUS bombs Pasteur Institute, Sharif UniversityIsrael bombs LebanonSampler of Bad Things Nazi Kanye WestGrocery, fuel pricesInsider tradingPentagon threatens Pope (Avignon Papacy)ICE denies/delays medical careJD Vance for OrbanSampler of Good Stuff Dems call for impeachment/25th amendmentElection winsDriscoll fights HegsethArghavan’s post with Jim Lovell’s comments and video of the Artemis II crew naming Carroll💊Take Two and Call Me in the Morning Artemis II mobile wallpapers, FlickrEddie is not a morning dogText us! Thanks for listening to The Present Illness!  Follow us on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube @ThePresentIllness Credits Production by Arghavan Salles & Alyssa BurgartEditing by Alyssa BurgartTheme Music by Joseph UphoffSocial Media by Arghavan Salles

    1 hr
  6. Forced Sex Testing and Forced C-sections

    APR 3

    Forced Sex Testing and Forced C-sections

    IOC resumes harmful sex gene testing; forced c-sections with zoom court rooms; The Lancet profiles our host!; A woman goes to the moon; Alyssa recommends bioethics books The Lancet profiles Arghavan! Sally Ride, 100 tampons (song) IOC sex testing International Olympic Committee’s new policy Andrew Sinclair’s essay Tested podcast Caster SemenyaImane KhelifEero MäntyrantaSteven van de Velde allowed to compete in 2024Fact Check: The Namibian runner is Christine, not Christina, Mboma. Also, astronaut Victor Glover is the first Black person to reach the moon!Forced C-sections Court ordered C-sections & hearingsRinat DrayRefusal of Medically Recommended Treatment During PregnancyBook recommendations Testosterone: An Unauthorized Biography Policing the WombMedical BondageRadical Reproductive JusticeFatal Invention Killing the Black Body Medical Apartheid💊Take Two and Call Me in the Morning💊 DogsKit Kat heistText us! Thanks for listening to The Present Illness!  Follow us on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube @ThePresentIllness Credits Production by Arghavan Salles & Alyssa BurgartEditing by Alyssa BurgartTheme Music by Joseph UphoffSocial Media by Arghavan Salles

    59 min
  7. Mayo Med Student + ICE at the Airport

    MAR 27

    Mayo Med Student + ICE at the Airport

    Mayo medical student’s videos go viral in the bad way; medical misogyny; Match Day memories; ICE at the airports; husbands learn about pelvic exams Mayo Medical Student: Dr. Chloe Nazra Lee on Nick Baumel and medical misogynyGynogirl on DSM5Dr. Shannon ClarkDr. Jenn LincolnFeminist Midwife on pelvic careDr. Milhouse’s videoLindsey Shelton’s videoAlyssa’s Ethics ConsultMen trying to understand stirrupsICE in America's Airports: SAVE America ActThe Brennan Center puts the SAVE America act into contextLongest TSA wait times in historyWoman detained by ICE at SFOProject 2025Arghavan’s round-up on ICE at airports (including Steve Bannon’s comments)Tragic LaGuardia accidentTravel tips in the ICE eraACLU’s summary of your rights dealing with ICE at the airportInformation on our rights from the National Immigration Law CenterSummary of changes to USPS that could affect mail-in votingTrump’s crusade against mail-in voting💊Take Two and Call Me in the Morning💊 Druski’s Erika Kirk videoDruski’s NASCAR/redneck videoUnicorn Day origin story and whaText us! Thanks for listening to The Present Illness!  Follow us on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube @ThePresentIllness Credits Production by Arghavan Salles & Alyssa BurgartEditing by Alyssa BurgartTheme Music by Joseph UphoffSocial Media by Arghavan Salles

    1 hr
  8. A Testosterone Filled Nothing Burger (Plus Rare Good News!)

    MAR 20

    A Testosterone Filled Nothing Burger (Plus Rare Good News!)

    RFK loses ACIP lawsuit; Pediatricians fight ICE; Boy Boss Documentary disappoints us (Review of Inside the Manosphere); WNBA players get a raise March madness: Women’s tournament, men’s tournament Fire celebration: Chaharshanbe suri gatherings in IranPersian New YearFact check: Arghavan misspoke when she said the name of one of the manfluencer/boy bosses. His name is Justin, not Jeremy.  Peds vs. ICE; ACIP Lawsuit Victory: Pediatricians demand children be removed from ICE detentionsHere is the letter Drs. Patel, COzzo, and Jones sent to Kristi Noem last monthJudge blocks RFK Jr from scaling back childhood vaccinesJudge Murphy’s orderReview of Inside the Manosphere Inside the ManosphereHS Tikky TokkyMyron GainesPlaying the feminist card💊Take Two and Call Me in the Morning💊 WNBA players reach new agreementCharity Ekezie on AfricaCharity Ekezie on EgyptWomen’s face coverings near the Straight of HormouzSNL’s MAHAspitalText us! Thanks for listening to The Present Illness!  Follow us on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube @ThePresentIllness Credits Production by Arghavan Salles & Alyssa BurgartEditing by Alyssa BurgartTheme Music by Joseph UphoffSocial Media by Arghavan Salles

    1h 6m
See All (32)

5
out of 5
23 Ratings

About

Society’s running a fever, and two sharp-witted physicians are on the case. Surgeon-scientist Arghavan Salles dives into social media’s wildest trends, while anesthesiologist-bioethicist Alyssa Burgart follows news and legal cases for their ethical twists. Together, they examine the cultural, political, and public health symptoms of our time with scalpel-sharp analysis, unflinching questions, and enough humor to keep us all going.

Information

  • Creator
    Alyssa Burgart & Arghavan Salles
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    32
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Present Illness
  • Show Website
    The Present Illness

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