Medical Media Mixer: The Perfect Cocktail

medicalmediamixer
  • 5.0 (9)
  • Medicine
  • Updated Weekly

Medical Media Mixer is a fun and educational podcast where two full-time medical professionals dive into the world of pop culture—TV, movies, music, and books—with a medical twist. Each episode breaks down the science (and nonsense) behind popular media, served up with a themed cocktail for good measure. Whether you’re a healthcare worker, a pop culture junkie, or just love a good drink with your deep dives, Medical Media Mixer is your prescription for smart laughs and spirited conversation.

  1. 2d ago

    Ep 82 Cast It Out: The Real Horror of Demonic Possession, Parasites & the Diet Shake From Hell

    This week on Medical Media Mixer, we're diving into Grady Hendrix's beloved horror novel My Best Friend's Exorcism (2016) and its Amazon Prime Video film adaptation (2022) — a love story about female friendship set against the backdrop of 1988 South Carolina, demonic possession, and a tapeworm that crawls out of someone's mouth in the middle of school. (Yes, really.) The medical pivot point is impossible to ignore: the demon uses body image insecurity as a weapon, delivering a 'diet shake' laced with parasites. This week, we take that moment and run with it — covering the real science of GI parasitic infections including tapeworms, hookworm, pinworm, and amebiasis. We talk transmission, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and the very real (very horrifying) Victorian history of the tapeworm diet. Equal parts camp, friendship, and parasitology. This one crawls under your skin — in the best way.   Sources My Best Friend's Exorcism — Wikipedia My Best Friend's Exorcism (film) — Wikipedia Tapeworms: Causes, Types, Symptoms, and Treatments — Medical News Today Tapeworm Infection — Cleveland Clinic Tapeworms in Humans — WebMD Tapeworm — StatPearls / NCBI Tapeworm Infection (Intestinal Cestodes) — Merck Manual The Horrifying Legacy of the Victorian Tapeworm Diet — Atlas Obscura Tapeworm Diet: Weight Loss, Risks and Side Effects — Healthline Fad Diets and Weight Loss: From the 1800s to the 1930s — ZOE Common Intestinal Parasites — American Family Physician (2023) Soil-Transmitted Helminth Infections — Lancet Entamoeba Histolytica Infection — IDSA Guidelines The Diagnosis and Treatment of Pinworm Infection — Deutsches Ärzteblatt   Episodes every Monday  ⭐️ Subscribe, Rate and Review! 🍸 Recipes drop on socials  Discounts: 15% off Comfrt apparel Purple Carrot: 40% off your first box ClassPass: 2 weeks free 15% off non-alcoholic spirits at The Zero Proof 💳 Support us on Patreon | ☕️ Buy Me a Coffee  Contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.

  2. Jul 20

    Ep 81 Hypnosis: The School Principal Whose Hypnosis Sessions Preceded Three Teen Deaths

    This week, Tara and Nicole pour a Hypnosis (vodka, Hpnotiq, and Squirt) while diving into one of the strangest true-crime-meets-medicine stories out there: Florida high school principal Dr. George Kenney, who wasn't a licensed hypnotherapist but ran one-on-one hypnosis sessions with more than 70 students over five years — three of whom (Marcus Freeman, Wesley McKinley, and Brittany Palumbo) died within weeks of each other in 2011. The hosts break down what actually happened, what the SundanceTV docuseries Look Into My Eyes revealed, and then pivot to the clinical side: what legitimate, licensed clinical hypnosis actually looks like, what it can and can't do, and why "who's holding the reins" matters so much when it comes to a technique that alters consciousness. Sources referenced in this episode: Hypnosis cocktail recipe — Bevvy Dr. George Kenney teen hypnosis deaths, explained — People Peer-reviewed research on hypnosis and memory — PMC/NCBI Hypnosis overview — Johns Hopkins Medicine About Clinical Hypnosis — American Society of Clinical Hypnosis Look Into My Eyes, Season 1 — Amazon Episodes every Monday  ⭐️ Subscribe, Rate and Review! 🍸 Recipes drop on socials  Discounts: 15% off Comfrt apparel Purple Carrot: 40% off your first box ClassPass: 2 weeks free 15% off non-alcoholic spirits at The Zero Proof 💳 Support us on Patreon | ☕️ Buy Me a Coffee  Contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.

  3. Jul 13

    Ep 80 Shark Attack: The Real Medicine Behind Jaws, Soul Surfer, and Surviving a Bite

    What does Spielberg's 1975 blockbuster Jaws have in common with the real-life story of teenage surfing champion Bethany Hamilton? More than you'd think — and the medicine in between is worth every minute. In this episode, Tara and Nicole pair two very different shark stories to explore what actually happens to the human body during a shark attack, how trauma surgery has evolved over the past 50 years, and why the antibiotic you reach for in the ED could make or break a marine wound. We cover the epidemiology of shark attacks worldwide (yes, Florida leads the U.S. — surprise), the injury patterns surgeons see most often, the critical rule against closing marine wounds right away, the marine microbiome that makes these infections unlike any other bite wound, and the often-overlooked psychological toll on survivors and witnesses. Plus: how a surfboard leash tourniquet saved Bethany Hamilton's life, why Quint never stood a chance, and what 'You're gonna need a bigger antibiotic regimen' actually means in clinical practice.       Sources & References   Pop Culture & Cocktail Jaws (1975) — Wikipedia Soul Surfer (2011) — Wikipedia Shark Attack Cocktail Recipe — Play Party Plan   Peer-Reviewed Literature 1. Ricci JA et al. Shark Attack-Related Injuries: Epidemiology and Implications for Plastic Surgeons. JPRAS. 2016. 2. Ganske W et al. Shark-Related Injuries in the United States: A National Trauma Data Bank Analysis. The American Surgeon. 2021. 3. Lentz AK et al. Mortality and Management of 96 Shark Attacks and Development of a Shark Bite Severity Scoring System. The American Surgeon. 2010. 4. Gosselin C et al. Shark Bites in New Caledonia: A Retrospective Study of 22 Hospitalized Cases. Injury. 2025. 5. Ballas R et al. Clinical Features of 27 Shark Attack Cases on La Reunion Island. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2017. 6. Popa D, Van Hoesen K. A Shark Encounter: Delayed Primary Closure and Prophylactic Antibiotic Treatment. J Emergency Med. 2016. 7. Rtshiladze MA et al. The 2009 Sydney Shark Attacks: Case Series and Literature Review. ANZ J Surg. 2011. 8. Auerbach PS. Marine Envenomations. NEJM. 1991. 9. Unger NR et al. Antibiotic Susceptibilities of Bacteria Isolated Within the Oral Flora of Florida Blacktip Sharks. PLoS One. 2014. 10. Noonburg GE. Management of Extremity Trauma and Related Infections in the Aquatic Environment. JAAOS. 2005. 11. Appelbaum RD et al. Antibiotic Prophylaxis in Injury — AAST Critical Care Committee Clinical Consensus. Trauma Surg Acute Care Open. 2024. 12. Taylor J et al. Direct and Indirect Psychological Impacts of Shark-Bite Events. ANZ J Psychiatry. 2019. 13. Ryan LA et al. A Shark's Eye View: Testing the Mistaken Identity Theory. J Royal Soc Interface. 2021. 14. Lagabrielle E et al. Environmental and Anthropogenic Factors Affecting Shark-Human Interactions Around La Reunion. Scientific Reports. 2018. 15. Midway SR et al. Trends in Global Shark Attacks. PLoS One. 2019. 16. Tucker JP et al. Increased Shark Bite Survivability Revealed by Two Centuries of Australian Records. Scientific Reports. 2022. 17. Huveneers C et al. Shifts in the Incidence of Shark Bites and Efficacy of Beach-Focussed Mitigation in Australia. Marine Pollution Bulletin. 2024. 18. Tomberg RJ et al. Shark Related Injuries: A Case Series of Emergency Department Patients. Am J Emergency Med. 2018. 19. Taglioni F et al. Variability of Environmental, Contextual and Individual Factors in Human-Shark Interactions in New Caledonia, 1980-2022. Scientific Reports. 2025.   Episodes every Monday  ⭐️ Subscribe, Rate and Review! 🍸 Recipes drop on socials  Discounts: 15% off Comfrt apparel Purple Carrot: 40% off your first box ClassPass: 2 weeks free 15% off non-alcoholic spirits at The Zero Proof 💳 Support us on Patreon | ☕️ Buy Me a Coffee  Contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.

  4. Jul 11

    The Shot: Cyclospora outbreak

    Cyclosporiasis cases have surged past 3,000 across at least 31 states this summer, with Michigan alone reporting more than 1,500 cases since late June — roughly 25 times its typical annual total. In this episode of The Shot, Tara breaks down what's driving the surge, why cases are concentrated in southeast Michigan, and what's still unconfirmed about the source. She also covers the clinical picture clinicians need to recognize, the testing pitfall that causes cases to be missed and the current treatment protocol. Links CDC: Surveillance of Cyclosporiasis TODAY.com: Cyclospora Cases Reported in at Least 25 States Michigan Department of Health and Human Services: Outbreak of Cyclosporiasis Occurring in Michigan The Lancet Infectious Diseases: Human Cyclosporiasis, Giangaspero & Gasser (2019) Clinical Infectious Diseases: IDSA Guidelines for Infectious Diarrhea, Shane et al. (2017) American Family Physician: Common Intestinal Parasites, Pyzocha & Cuda (2023) Episodes every Monday  ⭐️ Subscribe, Rate and Review! 🍸 Recipes drop on socials  Discounts: 15% off Comfrt apparel Purple Carrot: 40% off your first box ClassPass: 2 weeks free 15% off non-alcoholic spirits at The Zero Proof 💳 Support us on Patreon | ☕️ Buy Me a Coffee  Contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.

  5. Jul 6

    Ep 79 Bipolar Christy: When Genius and Mental Illness Collide — Bipolar Disorder, Creativity, and the Celebrities Who Changed the Conversation

    What do Kanye West, Mariah Carey, Carrie Fisher, Demi Lovato, and Brian Wilson all have in common? They’ve all lived — and created — with bipolar disorder. In this episode of Medical Media Mixer, Tara and Nicole pour the Bipolar Christy (a tart, jewel-toned vodka and pomegranate cocktail as mood-shifting as the condition itself) and dive deep into one of the most misunderstood mental health diagnoses of our time. They break down the clinical realities of bipolar I and II — mania, hypomania, depressive episodes, and everything in between — while exploring the complicated, often controversial relationship between bipolar disorder and creative genius. From Kanye’s documented four-month manic episode to Mariah Carey’s years of living in denial, to Carrie Fisher’s lifelong advocacy for mental health awareness, the stories of these artists humanize a condition that still carries enormous stigma. Tara and Nicole discuss what “mood episodes” actually look like clinically, how misdiagnosis remains a widespread problem, and what effective, evidence-based treatment looks like today — because recovery is possible, and productivity doesn’t require suffering. Sources: Bipolar Christy — Cocktail Recipe Kanye West Details Bipolar Disorder 4-Month Manic Episode — E! Online Kanye West Apologizes for Antisemitic Remarks, Blames Bipolar Disorder — People Famous People With Bipolar Disorder — WebMD Celebrities With Bipolar Disorder: Selena Gomez & Others — The Flow Space Celebrities Share Self-Management Strategies for Bipolar Disorder — BP Hope Bipolar Disorder Fact Sheet — World Health Organization Bipolar Disorder — National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Episodes every Monday  ⭐️ Subscribe, Rate and Review! 🍸 Recipes drop on socials  Discounts: 15% off Comfrt apparel Purple Carrot: 40% off your first box ClassPass: 2 weeks free 15% off non-alcoholic spirits at The Zero Proof 💳 Support us on Patreon | ☕️ Buy Me a Coffee  Contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.

  6. Jun 29

    Ep 78 Pride & Passion: Dallas Buyers Club, the HIV Crisis, and the Science That Changed Everything

    In Episode 78, Tara and Nicole use the 2013 film Dallas Buyers Club as a lens to explore one of the most consequential medical crises in modern history: the HIV/AIDS pandemic. From the 1981 CDC reports of a mysterious illness decimating a community to the 2024 IAS-USA guidelines recommending single-pill daily ART, this episode traces the full arc — the science of HIV pathogenesis, the evolution of antiretroviral therapy, the lifesaving frameworks of PrEP, PEP, and U=U, and the patient activism that reshaped FDA drug approval forever. Ron Woodroof's buyers club was an act of desperation. The medicine that followed was a triumph. Sources: AIDS — The First 20 Years. Sepkowitz KA. NEJM. 2001 — https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJM200106073442306 Response to the AIDS Pandemic. Piot P, Quinn TC. NEJM. 2013 — https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMra1201533 Antiretroviral Therapy and Management of HIV Infection. Volberding PA, Deeks SG. Lancet. 2010 — https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(10)60676-9 Development of ARV Therapy for AIDS. Yarchoan R, Broder S. NEJM. 1987 — https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJM198702263160925 HIV Epidemiology, Prevention, Treatment, and Implementation Strategies. Mody A et al. Lancet. 2024 — https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(23)01381-8 Global Burden of HIV/AIDS, 1990–2021. GBD 2021 HIV Collaborators. Lancet HIV. 2024 — https://doi.org/10.1016/S2352-3018(24)00212-1 ARV Drugs for Treatment and Prevention — 2024 IAS-USA Recommendations. Gandhi RT et al. JAMA. 2025 — https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2024.24543 HIV Preexposure Prophylaxis: A Review. Riddell J et al. JAMA. 2018 — https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2018.1917 HIV Infection: Epidemiology, Pathogenesis, Treatment, and Prevention. Maartens G et al. Lancet. 2014 — https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(14)60164-1 Molecular Biology of HIV Type 1 Infection. Greene WC. NEJM. 1991 — https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJM199101313240506 HIV/AIDS Epidemiology, Pathogenesis, Prevention, and Treatment. Simon V et al. Lancet. 2006 — https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(06)69157-5 Guidelines for ARV Agents in Pediatric HIV Infection. Hazra R et al. OARAC. 2024 — https://clinicalinfo.hiv.gov/en/guidelines/pediatric-arv Recommendations for ARV Use During Pregnancy. Badell ML et al. OARAC. 2025 — https://clinicalinfo.hiv.gov/en/guidelines/perinatal HIV Infection — Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment. Saag MS. NEJM. 2021 — https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMcp1915826 Guidelines for ARV Agents in Adults and Adolescents With HIV. Gulick RM et al. OARAC. 2024 — https://clinicalinfo.hiv.gov/en/guidelines/adult-and-adolescent-arv ARV Drugs for Treatment and Prevention of HIV — 2022 IAS-USA Panel. Gandhi RT et al. JAMA. 2023 — https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2022.22246 HIV. Ghosn J et al. Lancet. 2018 — https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(18)31311-4 FDA Orange Book — Approved Drug Products — https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/ob/index.cfm Episodes every Monday  ⭐️ Subscribe, Rate and Review! 🍸 Recipes drop on socials  Discounts: 15% off Comfrt apparel Purple Carrot: 40% off your first box ClassPass: 2 weeks free 15% off non-alcoholic spirits at The Zero Proof 💳 Support us on Patreon | ☕️ Buy Me a Coffee  Contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.

  7. Jun 26

    Making Rounds: Inside Bellemara Distillery — Cults, Cons, and Crime Scenes Unpacked

    If you would like to see the full video of this episode- join our Patreon, starts at just $3 a month! This week MMM hits the road for a Making Rounds episode, broadcasting live from Bellemara Distillery in Hillsborough, NJ — New Jersey's first single malt distillery, where every spirit is made grain-to-glass on-site. Sipping on their craft cocktails, Tara and Nicole dig into a stacked lineup: the Netflix dark comedy Sirens, where a sister's intervention unravels a cult-like world of wealth and control; the British psychological thriller Unchosen, exploring life inside a high-control religious community and the psychology of a dangerous awakening; the true crime documentary The Murder of Rachel Nickell, unpacking the controversial child-interview techniques used on Rachel's young son and the offender-profiling missteps that derailed the investigation for years; and a lighter palate cleanser with Jury Duty / Jury Duty Presents: Company Retreat, looking at how a hidden-camera show finds and builds its real-life "heroes." Cheers to a packed episode, on location at Bellemara. Episodes every Monday  ⭐️ Subscribe, Rate and Review! 🍸 Recipes drop on socials  Discounts: 15% off Comfrt apparel Purple Carrot: 40% off your first box ClassPass: 2 weeks free 15% off non-alcoholic spirits at The Zero Proof 💳 Support us on Patreon | ☕️ Buy Me a Coffee  Contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.

  8. Jun 22

    Ep 77 Ethereal Mind: AI-Induced Psychosis, Delusional Amplification, and the Mental Health Risks of Emotional AI

    SHOW NOTES What happens when the algorithm becomes your therapist, your confidant, and your reality? In this episode, Tara and Nicole use Brilliant Minds Season 2, Episode 13 — "The Rabbit Hole" — as a launchpad into one of the most urgent and underexamined mental health crises of the AI era: chatbot psychosis. When a patient arrives at Dr. Wolf's neurology unit in a full mental health break driven by her relationship with an AI chatbot, the show mirrors something clinicians are actually seeing right now. Tara and Nicole break down the clinical picture of AI-induced delusional amplification, why these chatbots are uniquely dangerous for vulnerable users, what psychiatry is doing to catch up, and what all of us — clinicians and patients alike — need to understand about this moment. Sources: The Emerging Problem of AI Psychosis — Psychology Today Chatbot Psychosis — Wikipedia Psychiatrists Hope Chat Logs Can Reveal Secrets of AI Psychosis — UCSF When the Chatbot Becomes the Crisis — Pennsylvania Association for Psychotherapy Episode 253: AI Psychosis — Psychiatry Psychotherapy Podcast Brilliant Minds Recap: "The Rabbit Hole" — Nerds That Geek Ethereal Mind Cocktail — BarGPT Episodes every Monday  ⭐️ Subscribe, Rate and Review! 🍸 Recipes drop on socials  Discounts: 15% off Comfrt apparel Purple Carrot: 40% off your first box ClassPass: 2 weeks free 15% off non-alcoholic spirits at The Zero Proof 💳 Support us on Patreon | ☕️ Buy Me a Coffee  Contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.

See All (94)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

Medical Media Mixer is a fun and educational podcast where two full-time medical professionals dive into the world of pop culture—TV, movies, music, and books—with a medical twist. Each episode breaks down the science (and nonsense) behind popular media, served up with a themed cocktail for good measure. Whether you’re a healthcare worker, a pop culture junkie, or just love a good drink with your deep dives, Medical Media Mixer is your prescription for smart laughs and spirited conversation.

Information