A short podcast about everyday risks from germs

A realistic rocking-horse mascot in a “ROCKERS” jersey sits on a stadium bench, eating popcorn. The costume features lifelike horse details and hoof-like hands. A sunny ballgame crowd fills the background, capturing a playful yet convincing scene of mascot fun during a baseball game.

790. Eating From a Bag of Popcorn After Hype the Mascot Has “Eaten” From It

June 27, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating from a bag of popcorn that a sports team mascot has touched with their costumed hand,

Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

High Point Rockers | Baseball Team | Mascot HYPE
High Point Rockers Mascot on Facebook
Salmonella Oranienburg Isolated from Horses, Wild Turkeys and An Edible Home Garden Fertilized with Raw Horse Manure - Jay‐Russell - 2014 - Zoonoses and Public Health - Wiley Online Library
An analysis of human pathogens found in horse/mule manure along the John Muir Trail in Kings Canyon and Sequoia and Yosemite National Parks - PubMed

A young man crouches on an astroturf field, licking a fake cupcake placed inside a chocolate-sprinkled inflatable donut. His eyes are closed, and he appears focused on the playful act. The scene is brightly lit, with the vibrant colors of the donut and cupcake contrasting the green synthetic grass.

789. Licking a Fake Cupcake That Has Been Repeatedly Tossed Into an Inflatable Donut on an Astroturf Field

June 25, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from licking a fake cupcake that has been repeatedly tossed into an inflatable donut on an astroturf field.

Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

788. 5-Year-Old Homemade Vanilla Extract From Reddit

June 23, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of consuming 5-year-old homemade vanilla extract as shown on reddit.

Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

A square image shows an opened glass jar of mayonnaise sitting on a wooden pantry shelf. The mayo appears discolored and crusty around the rim, suggesting spoilage. The dim lighting and aged wood add to the sense of neglect and food safety concern.

787. Mayonnaise From a Recently Opened Jar Kept in a Cabinet Less Than a Week

June 20, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from a jar of mayonnaise that was opened and then accidentally left at room temperature for less than a week

Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

A grimy, yellowed salad spinner sits on a worn wooden surface. Its translucent plastic walls are stained with residue and dirt, suggesting years of use without proper cleaning. The lid and handle are similarly discolored, giving the entire object a neglected, unhygienic appearance.

786. Never Washing the Salad Spinner

June 18, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from never washing your salad spinner with soap and water.

Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

A man with wavy hair and a beard eats fried chicken at a wooden table in a repurposed restroom. Behind him are visible urinals and a toilet, set against retro green tile walls. The scene is warmly lit, blending quirky discomfort with a casual, oddly content dining atmosphere.

785. Fried Chicken From a Old Public Restroom in a State Park

June 16, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating fried chicken from a from a public restroom in a state park that has been converted into a restaurant.

Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

A bunch of ripe red grapes hangs from a vine twisted through a chain-link fence. Behind it, a foggy graveyard lies near the intersection of two busy highways. Blurred headlights and drifting smoke from traffic lend an eerie, polluted atmosphere to the otherwise quiet, somber scene.

784. Eating Major Intersection Grapes

June 13, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from grapes grown at the intersection of two 4 lane highways.

Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

A large, square glass jar of chimichurri sits on a kitchen counter. The contents appear separated and discolored, with dark settling at the bottom and faded herbs suspended in oil. The lid is rusted and stained, suggesting the sauce has been sitting out far too long.

783. Homemade Chimichurri Left at Room Temperature for Months

June 11, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating homemade chimichurri left at room temperature for months.

Dr. Don - risky ☣️
Professor Ben - risky ☣️

A smiling man in a vibrant Hawaiian shirt sits at a wooden table, ready to eat a medium-rare steak. The steak is perfectly seared, pink in the center, and served with fries. Warm lighting and a simple background highlight the casual, relaxed dining moment.

782. Mechanically Tenderized Beef, Medium Rare

June 09, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of eating mechanically tenderize steak medium rare. You might want to listen to the end, no really all the way.

Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼