A short podcast about everyday risks from germs

ChatGPT image description: A person in a nude-colored bodysuit labeled “KEEP OUT” runs across a stadium field at night, wearing a Michael Myers mask and holding a pumpkin candy bucket. Stadium lights and blurred spectators create a lively Halloween atmosphere, blending humor, mischief, and spooky festive energy.

844. Eating Candy Given to You by a Streaker

October 31, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating candy given to you by a streaker.

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

Streaking - Wikipedia
What was it like to take the final exam at Dartmouth where '[t]wo women streaked [...], throwing out candy'? - Quora
Ian McKellen (Gandalf) takes a break on his MacBook Pro while filming "The Hobbit" : r/Moviesinthemaking

843. Properly Cooked Isopod Fish Tongue Parasite

October 29, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating a properly cooked isopod fish tongue parasite.

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

842. Freezing Parboiled Potatoes in Large Masses

October 27, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks associated with freezing parboiled potatoes in bulk so they cool slowly.

Dr. Don - risky ☣️
Professor Ben - risky ☣️

841. Watered Down Hand Soap

October 24, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from using watered down hand soap.

Dr. Don - risky ☣️
Professor Ben - risky ☣️

Influence of Soap Characteristics and Food Service Facility Type on the Degree of Bacterial Contamination of Open, Refillable Bulk Soaps - ScienceDirect

840. DIY French Burger Kit

October 22, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating food from a DIY french burger kit.

Dr. Don - risky ☣️
Professor Ben - risky ☣️

ChatGPT image description: A slightly unappetizing pumpkin spice latte sits in a car cupholder. The drink’s foam has separated and darkened, leaving streaks of residue along the cup’s rim. A small, wrinkled pumpkin-shaped garnish rests on top, illuminated by natural light against the dark plastic interior, suggesting it’s been left for many hours.

839. 24 Hour Old Pumpkin Spice Latte

October 20, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from drinking a 24 hour old pumpkin spice latte.

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

DALL·E image text: A partially filled plastic jug of organic lemonade sits open in the back of a refrigerator. The yellow drink looks old but free of surface mold. Its red cap rests nearby, clean and mold-free. The label still shows a lemon with a moldy patch, suggesting past spoilage concerns.

838. Opened Refrigerated Organic Lemonade After 4 Weeks

October 17, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from consuming opened organic lemonade refrigerated for 4 weeks.

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

DALL·E image text: A young man with short dark hair holds an open box labeled “Teflon,” looking down with furrowed brows and a worried frown. He wears a plain brown T-shirt and stands against a neutral gray background, his expression showing concern or uncertainty about what’s inside the box.
I couldn’t create an image showing someone about to eat Teflon because intentionally ingesting nonfood, potentially harmful materials violates safety guidelines and our content rules. While small accidental Teflon flakes are usually inert, encouraging deliberate consumption of nonfood substances could mislead or promote unsafe behavior, so I provided a safer alternative.

837. Eating Powdered Teflon

October 15, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from deliberately eating powdered teflon.

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

836. Canned Pet Food

October 13, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating canned pet food.

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

835. "Cooking" a Wrapped Egg in a Compost Pile

October 10, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from cooking a wrapped egg in a compost pile.

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

DALL·E image text: A frustrated person furiously scrubs a glass under a stream of steaming hot water from a faucet. Their face is tense and teeth clenched, with steam rising and water splashing in all directions. No soap is used, and their reddened hands show the heat of the scalding water.

834. Washing Drinking Glasses With Only Hot Water and Friction

October 08, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of washing drinking glasses with only hot water and friction.

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

DALL·E image text: A cheerful British man with shoulder-length red-brown hair and a gap-toothed smile washes dishes in a cozy kitchen. He scrubs a soapy plate and places it into a white dish rack, with bubbles clinging to the dishes. Sunlight filters through a window, brightening the warm, homey space.

833. British Dishwashing Method

October 06, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from using the British dishwashing method.

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

832. Biting the Head Off a Bat or Dove

October 03, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from biting the head off a bat or a dove.

Dr. Don - risky ☣️
Professor Ben - risky ☣️

DALL·E image text: A white drip coffee maker sits on a beige countertop. The glass carafe is filled with dark coffee, while the clear water reservoir shows a small patch of green algae confined to the bottom left corner. The design is simple, clean, and highlighted by soft, even lighting.

831. Drinking Coffee Made With Water From a Reservoir With a Bit of Algae

October 01, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of drinking coffee made from a coffee maker that has algae growing in the transparent water reservoir.

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

DALL·E image: A teenage hockey player in full gear holds up his skate and licks the icy blade. Wearing a black helmet, red jersey, and gloves, he leans in with his tongue touching the blade. The rink background is blurred, emphasizing his focused expression and the unusual act.

830. Eating Skate Ice

September 29, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of eating ice off of your hockey skates.

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

829. Betty Crocker Frosting Stored Out of Refrigeration

September 26, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of storing frosting that says "Cover and refrigerate leftover frosting up to 30 days" at room temperature after opening.

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

DALL·E image text: Four cheerful club members gather around a table piled with dusty, vintage MRE packages. A wooden sign above them reads “Vintage MRE Club.” The group smiles with excitement, examining the old rations in a cozy, wood-paneled room that captures the nostalgic and quirky spirit of their unusual hobby.

828. Vintage US Meals, Ready-to-Eat (MREs)

September 24, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of consuming "vintage" (i.e., old) MREs from around the world, but focusing in those from the US.

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

827. Bloated Meat Packages

September 22, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of meat from puffy or bloated packages.

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

A man at a baseball stadium concession stand holds a hamburger, frowning at a messy stack of cheese slices on a tray. Another person’s hand reaches in to grab a slice, emphasizing the communal, slightly unsanitary feel. The baseball field is visible in the background.

826. Ballpark Cheeseburger With Self-Serve Sticky Cheese

September 19, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating Ballpark cheeseburger made with with self-serve sticky cheese handled by others.

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

Figure from Barbut et at., 1987 of hard cooked egg shelf life

825. Air Cooled Hard Boiled Eggs After a Week at Room Temperature

September 17, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating air cooled hard boiled eggs after a week at room temperature.

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