The Present Illness

Alyssa Burgart & Arghavan Salles
  • 5.0 (26)
  • 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. 6d ago

    Poisoned his coworker, but walks free? Plus, get ready to watch You Can See Everything.

    Woman collects mountain of evidence that her co-worker poisoned her - now his criminal record has been expunged! Plus, we help you get ready to watch You Can See Everything about Elizabeth Holmes Note: Summary of the new White House press secretary’s debut Cadmium Poisoning Rong Yuan poisoned by David XuRong Yuan’s reportXu’s conviction expungedVideo of David Xu poisoning Yuan’s waterTexas attorney poisoned wifeYou Can See Everything You can see everythingFall of TheranosWhistleblower Tyler ShultzThe Dropout - fictionalThe Dropout Podcast - investigative journalismThe Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley - 2019 documentaryOther news Representative Ilhan Omar’s home raided by DHSHundreds of trees cut down on DC golf courseSixth measles deathRFK Jr announces vaccine clinic at NIH to investigate vaccine injuries💊Take Two and Call Me in the Morning💊 Thee Make That Magic series on Disney villains that had a point: Ursula, The Sanderson SistersCoyote vs ACMEText 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 BurgartMusic by Joseph UphoffSocial Media by Arghavan SallesDon’t take medical advice from random people on a podcast. This show is for informational purposes, is meant to be fun, and is certainly not medical advice. Please, take your medical questions to a qualified professional. Nothing we say represents our employers or anyone else.

    Poisoned his coworker, but walks free? Plus, get ready to watch You Can See Everything.

  2. Oct 9

    Is the plague back?

    Are we all going to get the plague? Why did Tennessee’s execution of Christa Pike “fail”? Unethical hep B research from RFK Jr continues. Measles update. Note: Reactions to the president’s calls for attacking LA and SD (and his speech on Monday) are here Plague Initial reports about person who died in RussiaWhat Russia says about the person who diedWhat was known as of 10/6/2026Dr. Angela Rasmussen’s overview of the situationWhy Annie Jacobsen may not be the best source on this2015 article Inside America’s secretive biolabs2025 editorial On the Controversies Surrounding the Lab-Leak Theory of COVID-19“Failed” Execution of Christa Pike Christa Pike, Child Rape Victim, Faces Execution for Crime She Committed as a TeenagerAmerican Board of Anesthesiologists prohibits anesthesiologists from participating in state-sanctioned killingTennessee’s Medical Ethics Defense ActWill physicians invoke the Medical Ethics Defense Act to prevent state-sanctioned killing?Trump approved the military's 1st firing squad execution since WWIIExonerated Play (2000), TV film (2005)Other updates: 5th measles deathUpdate on unethical Guinea-Bissau studyHegseth’s humiliation kinkFBI denies investigation into Nolan Wells’s deathNolan Wells autopsyPathological findings in drowning“When Anesthesia Goes Wrong” Atlantic article on mitochondrial condition 💊Take Two and Call Me in the Morning💊 Raha Akhavan becomes first Iranian woman to achieve open swimming Triple CrownPoems: “Failed ChatGPT” - Kate BaerPresent for Arghavan: Persepolis pinText 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 BurgartMusic by Joseph UphoffSocial Media by Arghavan SallesDon’t take medical advice from random people on a podcast. This show is for informational purposes, is meant to be fun, and is certainly not medical advice. Please, take your medical questions to a qualified professional. Nothing we say represents our employers or anyone else.

  3. Oct 2

    Why is Jane Doe suing Cornell and Seven Students?

    Why do universities protect rapists? What happened at Cornell? Why was there so much ketamine? What is Title IX?  All that and more as we discuss Cornell and seven students being sued by survivor Jane Doe. Stumbling in from: MAHA Summit agendaFact check: We call for the DA in the Cornell case to be replaced. NY Governor did so between recording and publication.The latest story to spark protest in India relates to the girl attacked in the park, but it is the latest in a series of attacks on girls that has ignited outrage.Cornell University and DA Protects Rapists Independent Case Archive: Cornell SevenThe civil lawsuit filed by Jane DoeCoverage of the lawsuit by the Cornell SunArghavan has multiple posts covering this story, including the names of the 7 men named in the lawsuit, in detail. You can find them here.The district attorney’s explanation for why he did not pursue the case in 2024Study on coercive SA behaviorsSA as real threat to womenKetamine Ketamine is a medication used for anesthesiaKetamine explainer; and another oneDept of Justice pamphlet on Drug Facilitated SATitle IX Images from: Society of Women EngineersPolitico article on Trump administration’s repeal of BidenFlip the Script approach can reduce SA by 46%Jennifer Freyd’s Center for Institutional CourageNWLC warns of harms to student survivorsBonus News: Update on Riley Gaines case against NCAA15 year-old girl abused in TunisiaSlew of rape cases in India11 women found dead near Johannesburg, South AfricaFat Bear Week winner announcedLindsay Clancy trial update💊Take Two and Call Me in the Morning💊 Dimpey Studios birth control clipJamiroquai Virtual Insanity song banned from the OR ; watch the OG music videoText 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 BurgartMusic by Joseph UphoffSocial Media by Arghavan SallesDon’t take medical advice from random people on a podcast. This show is for informational purposes, is meant to be fun, and is certainly not medical advice. Please, take your medical questions to a qualified professional. Nothing we say represents our employers or anyone else.

    Why is Jane Doe suing Cornell and Seven Students?

  4. Sep 26

    Ms. Rachel Defends Kids

    Good news only for our First Anniversary of The Present Illness! Ms. Rachel’s Invitation to Moral Courage. Door Dash settlement for workers. Gondwana Supercontinent. Arghavan’s post with videos of the president without audioMs Rachel Advocates for Kids’ Safety Profile of Ms. Rachel in The GuardianProfile of Ms. Rachel in Rolling StoneMs. Rachel’s support of Black-owned businessesMs. Rachel’s Subway TakesOur episode on ICE detention with Dr. Lara JonesMore Good News Stories Pelican asks for helpTrumpeter saves songMiley Cyrus on Dolly Parton mentorshipDolly Parton AirportGondwana Supercontinent - studies one and twoThe hole in the ozone is closingDoorDash agrees to give $131 million in lost wages and fees to NYC and its workers💊Take Two and Call Me in the Morning💊 Josh Ramsay from Marianas Trench covers Defying GravitySquirrels look like bobbleheadsSquirrel Maxine gets her teeth filed—and more!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 BurgartMusic by Joseph UphoffSocial Media by Arghavan SallesDon’t take medical advice from random people on a podcast. This show is for informational purposes, is meant to be fun, and is certainly not medical advice. Please, take your medical questions to a qualified professional. Nothing we say represents our employers or anyone else.

    Ms. Rachel Defends Kids

  5. Sep 18

    Our Host Sues the Feds

    Arghavan is suing the National Institutes of Health. Sydney Sweeney’s ads fuel sports betting. Ed Sheeran fires Macklemore from tour to appease a billionaire, Epstein-connected stadium owner. Mitch McConnell would probably fail a capacity assessment. Hyrox poop challenge. Salles v NIH lawsuitACLU press release re: NIH lawsuitDon’t forget to check your voter registration!Advertising, Sports, and Violence Against Women Sydney Sweeney’s adWomen athletes respond to the adCalloway golf club adSteve Sarkisian is dismissive of Holly RoweArch Manning’s commentsSteve Sarkisian’s statementMacklemore Fired for Promoting Peace Macklemore’s initial statementEd Sheeran’s statementRobert Kraft’s statementAaron Rowe’s statementLukas Graham’s statementFinneas’s statementOther Topics: Pennsylvania’s fourth measles deathMitch McConnell round-upHyrox race becomes biohazardJasmine Crockett honors Chris BrownAirlines cut back flights due to fuel costs💊Take Two and Call Me in the Morning💊 Matthew Rhys takes home two EmmysSouth Park cartoon becomes South AmericaKitty in a Lion BagText 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 BurgartMusic by Joseph UphoffSocial Media by Arghavan SallesDon’t take medical advice from random people on a podcast. This show is for informational purposes, is meant to be fun, and is certainly not medical advice. Please, take your medical questions to a qualified professional. Nothing we say represents our employers or anyone else.

    Our Host Sues the Feds

  6. Sep 13

    Math Attack and Mifepristone

    Mamdani releases 9-11 files. Open AI takes the credit for math program solve. Whose work did they steal? Louisiana tries to get the Fifth Circuit hears to impose national restrictions on Mifepristone. Note: Mamdani releases over 170,000 pages of documents on 9/11 Falling Man essayEssay about Bobby McIlvaine and his family’s grief after his deathHumans of New York shares Tyree Bacon’s story of how rescuing a burn victim saved his lifeThe story of the so-called Dust Lady (Marcy Borders)Some moving audios to listen to, if so inclined:Linda Gronlund called her sister from flight 93Betty Ong called the airline from flight 11Brian Sweeney called his wife from flight 175Melissa Doi called 911 from the south towerKevin Cosgrove called 911 from the south towerBrooke Jackman called her mom from the north towerAI Math Feud: Summary of the Navier-Stokes/Buckmaster/Alpöge/OpenAI/Anthropic storyArghavan’s post including statements from OpenAI, Buckmaster, and AlpögeJacob Coxon’s original posts about his resignationMailed abortion pills, FDA, Louisiana: Fifth Circuit Judges Press Louisiana on Standing as Mifepristone Stays Available by Mail with No Ruling YetEctopic Pregnancy Deaths Have Nearly Doubled. It’s Worse in States With Abortion Bans.Other News Watch the Elizabeth Holmes documentary trailer (Book: Bad Blood; Alyssa’s essay on Holmes)Lindsay Clancy mistrial—jurors speak outMcConnell watch update - expected to vote on farm bill on Sept 14; meat processing, veterinary care etcSarah Kendzior’s Essay on Iran, Israel, and Epstein💊Take Two and Call Me in the Morning💊 Hamilton/EDM mashupHamilton cast performs My Shot at 2016 Obama White House event. (note: the play was already on Broadway at the time after opening in August 2015.)Dog wants his toys repaired when owner is at sewing machineText 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 BurgartMusic by Joseph UphoffSocial Media by Arghavan SallesDon’t take medical advice from random people on a podcast. This show is for informational purposes, is meant to be fun, and is certainly not medical advice. Please, take your medical questions to a qualified professional. Nothing we say represents our employers or anyone else.

    Math Attack and Mifepristone

  7. Sep 4

    Measles and Misconduct

    Measles ramps up in Pennsylvania; RFK Jr. interferes with public health reporting; Dan Arielly’s fraud expands - he’s never faced scrutiny like Jason Arday faced; Lindsay Clancy trial drags on; Fake NFL player arrested Daejon Love charged by DOJOne hour of Daejon Love videosA parody by KevOnStageA parody by CamoA parody by Been DatA parody by Anthony Adams, a former NFL playerA parody by comedian Michael Blackson Measles Pennsylvania Department of Health data and guidanceRFK Jr asks for measles deaths not to be countedCDC Measles Data (Aug 30, 2026 excludes deaths in Penn)The Measles-Stricken Mother Who Lost Her Newborn Son Misconduct Data Colada has multiple posts dissecting Ariely’s research. Parts 138 and 139 are the ones on procrastination we discussed in detail in this episode. Part 98 is about the study on honesty.Ariely’s friendship with EpsteinArghavan has videos about all of these scandals (and the allegations against Francesca Gino) on her Work/Med Culture playlist on Tik Tok Other News: Gloria Steinem obituaryLawsuit against xAI/Grok7th Circuit Court decision on AI-generated CSAMLatest on Lindsay Clancy trial deliberations 💊Take Two and Call Me in the Morning💊 Duck Tales a cappellaHealing Together with Introspective SpacesThe Joint Medical ProgramText 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 BurgartMusic by Joseph UphoffSocial Media by Arghavan SallesDon’t take medical advice from random people on a podcast. This show is for informational purposes, is meant to be fun, and is certainly not medical advice. Please, take your medical questions to a qualified professional. Nothing we say represents our employers or anyone else.

    Measles and Misconduct

  8. Aug 28

    Farewell Dolly plus AOC's Eggs

    We mourn Dolly Parton. We discuss Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s egg freezing and what it means for reproductive justice in America. Plus, the baby born from the California-Texas surrogacy case. Dolly Parton’s Imagination LibraryDonate to support Imagination LibraryTop Movies with Dolly Parton AOC Egg Freezing One of AOC’s blogs on egg freezingArghavan’s essay on egg freezingFetal Personhood lawsArghavan’s substack essay with links to data on egg freezingArghavan’s research on parental leave during residencyArghavan’s research on the costs of family buildingArghavan’s research on barriers to family buildingSystematic review on outcomes with frozen eggsAlyssa’s essay series on The Retrievals podcast More Topics Background on the legal issues when a surrogate refused to have an abortionHypoplastic Left Heart SyndromeNorwood ProcedureWNBA update: Enes Kanter Freedom thrown out of gameCanada/US trade warUS threatens more sanctions against Iran 💊Take Two and Call Me in the Morning💊 Broadway à la Justin BieberPurple Skeletons99 Flock BalloonsText 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 BurgartMusic by Joseph UphoffSocial Media by Arghavan SallesDon’t take medical advice from random people on a podcast. This show is for informational purposes, is meant to be fun, and is certainly not medical advice. Please, take your medical questions to a qualified professional. Nothing we say represents our employers or anyone else.

    Farewell Dolly plus AOC's Eggs
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5
out of 5
26 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
    55
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Present Illness
  • Show Website
    The Present Illness

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