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. 4d ago

    The One with Matthew Perry

    Matthew Perry spent $7 million on rehab. The doctors who sold him ketamine charged $55,000. Plus, Tennessee execution physician thinks he’s like Jesus. Note: This episode is a couple of days later than usual due to unforeseen circumstances. Sir Patrick Stewart’s deathA round up of reactions to Sir Patrick Stewart’s deathMatthew Perry Matthew Perry’s autobiographyFive people charged in Matthew Perry’s deathMatthew Perry’s earlier hospitalizationMark Fowler New Yorker interview with Mark Fowler “I’m not incompetent.”Unmasked: the doctor who helps put prisoners to deathEpisode 54: we talked about Christa Pike’s attempted executionEpisode 53: we discuss the unique effects of ketamineOther News: JD Vance complains about hospital interpretersRFK Jr’s racist comments💊Take Two and Call Me in the Morning💊 Tom Hoyle and MAGA cult, interview on The HandbasketSaerijane’s video of fat jumping onto her faceText 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.

    The One with Matthew Perry

  2. Oct 23

    You Can See... Everything?!?!

    What do we really see in You Can See Everything? Never forget that Elizabeth Holmes is a lying liar. You Can See Everything Wired’s interview with Nathan FielderQ&A with Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim at the New York Film FestivalWhistleblower Tyler Schultz’s essay for STAT NewsJohn Carreyrou’s essay about You Can See EverythingReporter Matthew Herper’s essay💊Take Two and Call Me in the Morning💊 2 Frog 601: muppet Les Mis parodyPerla Soleil’s Dog on Neighborhood watchRichard Scarry’s Busytown with Marxist quotesText 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.

    You Can See... Everything?!?!

  3. Oct 16

    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.

  4. 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.

  5. 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?

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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
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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
    57
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Present Illness
  • Show Website
    The Present Illness

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