Viral Load

Brett Bayles (a professor) / Andy Pupa (not a professor)
  • 5.0 (60)
  • SCIENCE

The disease podcast for a diseased world! Hosts: Brett Bayles (a professor) & Andy Pupa (not a professor) gleefully explore the weird and wacky world of diseases on a changing planet.

  1. 09/29/2025

    RFK Jr.'s Tylenol Files

    Send us a text In this episode, Dr. Brett (PhD, Epidemiology) and Andy break down the viral claim by President Trump and RFK Jr. that Tylenol during pregnancy causes autism. They cut through the noise: What the White House actually said (nothing close to confirmation)What the JAMA studies show (associations, not causation)What RFK Jr. and Trump’s framing gets wrongWhat the evidence does suggest — and what it doesn’tListen to cut through all the BS and walk away with what you need to know.

    1h 38m

  2. 01/01/2025

    Polio Part 2: Managing Misinformation

    Send us a text In this episode, we tackle the dangers of celebrity-driven vaccine misinformation, focusing on figures like Alicia Silverstone, who may still be Clueless. We also explore the continued influence of Andrew Wakefield, whose discredited study sparked the anti-vaccine movement, and the legal efforts of RFK Jr.'s lawyer to challenge vaccine mandates. This episode highlights the real-world consequences of misinformation and discusses how we can fight back for the sake of public health.

    36 min

  3. 12/17/2024

    Polio Part 1: Paralysis Analysis

    Send us a text In this episode, we explore the concerning potential for the return of polio, a disease that once terrified the world before vaccines brought it to the brink of eradication. What's behind the recent reports of poliovirus in wastewater and isolated cases? And how do vaccine gaps, global health inequities, and misinformation play a role in its possible resurgence?  Stay tuned next week as we dive into Polio part 2 centered around celebrity vaccine misinformation, who's trying to get the FDA to revoke the approval of polio vaccine and why we should all be investing in iron lung technology.

    1h 12m

  4. 12/10/2024

    Hendra Virus: We can't stop here. This is bat country

    Send us a text Australia's got a reputation for dangerous creatures, but Hendra takes it to a whole new level. This week, we dive into the bat-sh*t crazy world of the Hendra virus—an outbreak that started in horses and quickly spread to humans in a way that’s both horrifying and weird. We’ll unpack how a bunch of flying friends with a taste for fruit can turn a quiet day in the outback into a biohazard situation. Who knew the land down under wasn’t just full of deadly snakes and spiders, but also viruses you’ve probably never heard of (until now)? Buckle up for a story of science, Aussie Slang, and the occasional galloping horse that’ll make you say, “Crikey, I need to chuck a sickie”

    1h 17m

  5. 11/27/2024

    The Real RFK Jr.: Department of Health and Human Services

    Send us a text In this episode, we venture boldly into the unsettling future of American healthcare as Robert F. Kennedy Jr. steps into the most controversial cabinet role of the new administration: Secretary of Health and Human Services. With a track record of questioning vaccine safety and promoting alternative health narratives, RFK Jr.'s appointment signals a seismic shift in the way the U.S. may tackle public health, disease research, and scientific integrity. But what lies ahead for the nation's health system? Will we see a return to an era of pseudoscience and unchecked rhetoric, or will Kennedy's leadership spark an unexpected revolution? As the lines between medical expertise and ideological warfare blur, we ask: Is this the dawn of a new era in healthcare — or the beginning of a health policy apocalypse? Tune in, because this ride through the future of HHS could leave you wondering if we’re on the verge of a cure… or a crisis.

    1h 6m

  6. 02/28/2024

    Disease X: Navigating the Conspiracy Theory Maze

    Send us a text Dive into the mystery of Disease X, the hypothetical pathogen poised to trigger the next global pandemic. Amidst a sea of conspiracy theories, from government cover-ups and the New World Order to clandestine experiments, we sift through the noise to uncover the truth. Join the guys as they navigate the tangled web of misinformation to reveal the reality behind Disease X and its potential impact on our world. . . . . . . . sources https://apnews.com/article/fact-check-misinformation-disease-x-migrants-watermelon-7518534f7ae8deccec6836f6b5d0a9afhttps://www.who.int/teams/blueprint/who-r-and-d-blueprint-for-epidemicshttps://publichealth.jhu.edu/2024/what-is-disease-xhttps://www.weforum.org/events/world-economic-forum-annual-meeting-2024/sessions/preparing-for-a-disease-x/https://www.reuters.com/fact-check/measles-outbreaks-not-linked-disease-x-pandemic-planning-2024-02-08/https://interestingengineering.com/lists/8-diseases-lead-next-pandemic

    1h 17m

  7. 02/13/2024

    Origins of HIV/AIDS

    Send us a text Delve into the complex origins of HIV in our latest episode, unraveling the web of misinformation surrounding this global health crisis. Join us as we uncover the truth behind the virus, challenging misconceptions and shedding light on its historical context. . . . . . . . . . Sources  https://www.ecohealthalliance.org/2017/12/world-aids-dayhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3234451/https://www.theguardian.com/science/2014/oct/02/hiv-aids-pandemic-kinshasa-africahttps://www.unaids.org/enhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.https://www.npr.org/2006/06/04/5450391/origin-of-aids-linked-to-colonial-practices-in-africanih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3328988/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/why-kinshasa-1920s-was-perfect-place-hiv-go-global-180952953/https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.1256739https://websites.umich.edu/~csfound/545/1998/marksch/chap08.htmhttps://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10.1098/rstb.2010.0031https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3328988/

    1h 22m

  8. 01/29/2024

    Epidemic Enigma: Bird Flu Prophesies & 5 Strange Diseases

    Send us a text Dive into the ominous with some of the world's weirdest diseases. An is it finally the year of the Bird Flu? In this Viral Particle or Mini-sode. Uncover the eerie stories behind 5 peculiar diseases.. Join us on this unsettling journey through pandemic prophecies and the strange afflictions that haunt our disease ridden world.

    40 min
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5
out of 5
60 Ratings

About

The disease podcast for a diseased world! Hosts: Brett Bayles (a professor) & Andy Pupa (not a professor) gleefully explore the weird and wacky world of diseases on a changing planet.

Information

  • Creator
    Brett Bayles (a professor) / Andy Pupa (not a professor)
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2025
  • Episodes
    79
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Viral Load
  • Show Website
    Viral Load