A short podcast about everyday risks from germs

A worried Canadian family—father with curly hair and beard, mother with long blonde hair, an older redheaded son, and a younger blonde son with a mullet—sits at a tropical restaurant table playing cards. A stern Gambling Police officer, badge and notebook in hand, writes a ticket as palm trees sway in the background.

780. Playing Games at a Table in a Restaurant

June 04, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from playing games at a table in a restaurant.

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

This image shows a half-eaten chocolate bar resting in its wrapper on a dusty desk, revealing layers of nougat, caramel, and peanuts. Several ants are crawling nearby, attracted to the sweet, decaying treat that has clearly been sitting for years. The scene feels old and forgotten.

776. Eating a Half Eaten Candy Bar After the Pandemic

May 26, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating a half eaten candy bar left on a desk during the COVID-19 pandemic

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

A grimy single-cup coffee maker sits on a speckled countertop, heavily stained with rust and old coffee residue. The machine looks neglected and unclean. A filthy, streaked paper cup rests on the drip tray, emphasizing the unhygienic condition. The setting evokes discomfort, like a poorly maintained hotel room.

773. Single Cup Hotel Coffee Makers

May 19, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from using hotel single cup coffee makers.

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

A greasy cook licks his fingers while holding a steak over a grill. He wears a stained apron and chef’s hat. A young girl with long black hair looks on in horror, her mouth open in shock. The kitchen appears grimy, with a burger on a shelf in the background.

771. Eating Steaks Flipped With Licked Bare Hands

May 14, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating steaks flipped by someone who has licked their bare hands before flipping.

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

DALL·E image text: A young restaurant worker in a black shirt and beige apron pulls on a white glove while a stern manager in a black suit watches disapprovingly with arms crossed. The warm, rustic restaurant setting contrasts with the tension between them, hinting that the worker skipped proper handwashing before gloving up.

768. Putting on Gloves Without Washing Your Hands

May 07, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of putting on gloves without first washing your hands as required by the FDA model food code.

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

DALL·E image text: The image shows the entrance to "Jordan's Bar & Restaurant," with wooden double doors featuring baseball bat handles. A lake and trees are visible through the glass panels. A sign on one door reads "Shoes, Shirt, No Service," and a wooden sign above displays the restaurant's name. The image is square.
Don: The image is square, and so is DALL·E, man.

767. Eating and Drinking at Nudist Bar

May 05, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks eating and drinking at nudist bar.

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

A man in a dark hoodie stands before an open refrigerator, cautiously sneaking a spoonful of cottage cheese straight from the container. The fridge glows with soft light, revealing milk, juice bottles, tomatoes, oranges, and lettuce. His wide eyes suggest he's hoping no one catches him in the act.

763. Yogurt or Cottage Cheese Directly Out of the Container

April 25, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from repeatedly eating yogurt or cottage cheese directly out of the container.

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

A panicked man frantically refills multiple plastic water jugs at a kitchen sink. His wide-eyed, stressed expression suggests urgency or impending crisis. The countertop and sink are crowded with empty jugs, and water spills slightly as he struggles to keep up with the task.

758. Reusing Plastic Drinking Water Jugs Without Washing

April 14, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from reusing plastic drinking water jugs without washing.

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

A clear glass of milk sits on a wooden surface, featuring a vibrant purple crazy straw looping playfully above the rim. The background is softly lit with a neutral tone, highlighting the straw’s curves and the milk’s smooth texture. The image is balanced, nostalgic, and visually inviting.

755. Reusable Straws

April 07, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from using re-usable straws.

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

A charming cartoon mouse in an apron stands on a stool, cheerfully churning butter in a rustic farmhouse kitchen. Warm lighting, wooden beams, and shelves filled with jars and herbs create a cozy, storybook atmosphere. The scene is whimsical, inviting, and full of delightful countryside detail.

748. Butter That a Mouse Churned

March 21, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating butter that a mouse churned.

Dr. Don - risky ☣️
Professor Ben - risky ☣️

A modern home kitchen features an open oven with a small pile of rodent feces on the rack. In the background, a cute mouse with big eyes and a guilty expression peeks out, adding a humorous contrast to the otherwise clean and well-lit space.

747. Cooking in an Oven With Mouse Droppings

March 19, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from cooking in an oven with mouse droppings.

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

The image depicts a blonde-haired, bearded man standing outdoors, gently kissing a raven. He has a peaceful expression, and the raven appears calm. The background is a soft, blurred natural setting with trees and sky. The lighting is serene, highlighting the man’s flowing hair and the raven’s sleek feathers.

743. Kissing a Raven

March 10, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from kissing a raven.

Dr. Don - risky ☣️
Professor Ben - risky ☣️

The image features a small, vibrant parrot perched on a person's finger, holding a tiny spoon in its beak and stirring a steaming cup of coffee. The background is warm and cozy, with soft lighting. The parrot appears curious and focused, adding a whimsical touch to the charming scene.

742. Stirring Your Coffee With "Pickle" the Barrista Bird Daily

March 07, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of letting a parrot stir you coffee with a spoon every day.

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

The image shows an open dishwasher in a modern kitchen. Inside, along with regular dishes, sits a very dirty bird feeder covered in grime, dirt, and birdseed remnants. The scene looks unusual and messy, highlighting the contrast between household cleaning and outdoor grime in an unexpected setting.

741. Using a Dishwasher to Wash a Bird Feeder

March 05, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from using a dishwasher to wash a bird feeder.

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

The image depicts a caring parent using a snot sucker to remove mucus from their infant's nose. The baby appears calm, while the parent has a concerned yet gentle expression. Virus particles swirl around, glowing to emphasize the presence of germs. The setting is a cozy home with soft lighting.

740. Using a "Snot Sucker" With Ones Mouth

March 03, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks posed by using a "snot sucker" with ones mouth.

Dr. Don - risky ☣️
Professor Ben - risky ☣️

A blonde-haired toddler with chubby cheeks sits on the floor, mischievously placing a chicken nugget into their tiny slipper. They wear colorful pajamas, and the cozy home setting has scattered toys in the background. The child's playful expression and clear action make the scene both adorable and amusing.

739. Nugget Shoes

February 28, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from a toddler placing chicken nuggets in their shoes.

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

A person is drying their hands with a slightly dirty, wrinkled hand towel in a home bathroom. The towel shows visible signs of frequent use, with light stains and a worn texture. The background features a bathroom sink and mirror, emphasizing an everyday, lived-in atmosphere.

737. Using a Bath Towel (Laundered Weekly) to Dry Hands After Using the Bathroom and Before Preparing Food

February 24, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of using weekly laundered bath towel to dry hands after using the bathroom and before preparing food.

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

A man in cozy pajamas stands in his softly lit bedroom, pouring a glass of water into a sleek white humidifier on the floor. The room features a neatly made bed, a bedside table with a lamp, and a window with slightly open curtains, creating a warm, calm atmosphere.

736. Reusing Old Sleep-Water in Cold Humidifiers

February 21, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of using water from a bedside glass to refill a humidifier.

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

A rugged, bare-chested Canadian man with a bushy beard smiles while holding a rice ball. His wild hair and visible chest hair add to his outdoorsy charm. In the background, a shy Japanese girl blushes, covering her face with one hand, standing in a cozy, traditional Japanese-style kitchen.

735. Armpit Riceballs

February 19, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of making riceballs in an armpit.

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

A small strawberry sits at the bottom of an absurdly deep kitchen sink garbage disposal filled with a chaotic spiral of countless sharp blades. The exaggerated quantity of blades contrasts humorously with the strawberry’s vulnerability. A big red button labeled "Garbage Disposal" looms in the background, enhancing the scene’s comedic tension.

733. Ben's Garbage Disposal Strawberry

February 14, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of eating a strawberry that has fallen into a garbage disposal.

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