A short podcast about everyday risks from germs

A person is cleaning a reddish-orange spill inside a refrigerator using a scrub brush and a bowl of water. Some food items, like eggs, milk, and condiments, have been removed and sit on the counter. The refrigerator shelves hold strawberries, jars, and bottles, creating a tidy but active cleaning scene.

761. Cleaning the Fridge With Water Only

April 21, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from cleaning refrigerator shelves using water only.

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

Domestic and Indoor Microbiology - ScienceDirect
Surface Sanitation and Microbiological Food Quality of a University Foodservice Operation
Domestic Refrigeration Practices with Emphasis on Hygiene: Analysis of a Survey and Consumer Recommendations - ScienceDirect
Microbiological Safety of Domestic Refrigerators and the Dishcloths Used To Clean Them in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico - ScienceDirect

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 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 👍🏼

DALL·E - An elderly man with wrinkles and white hair, dressed in full kayaking gear including a life jacket, helmet, and paddling gloves, jumping enthusiastically under a ceiling fan.

671. Older Man Kayaking With Fresh Wounds in Water Which Regularly Fails Coliform Tests

September 23, 2024 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of kayaking with fresh wounds in water which regularly fails coliform tests while elderly.

Dr. Don - risky ☣️
Professor Ben - risky ☣️

DALL·E - A cup of coffee placed on an airline tray table, with a mysterious and eerie atmosphere. The coffee is steaming, but the steam forms into strange shapes.

659. Drinking Coffee or Tea on an Airplane

August 26, 2024 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from drinking coffee or tea brewed on an airplane.

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

DALL·E - A clear glass electric kettle is placed on a kitchen counter. Inside the kettle, water is boiling vigorously, with visible bubbles and steam rising…

601. Reusing Electric Kettle Water

April 12, 2024 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of reusing electric kettle water.

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

DALL·E - An illustration of a neti pot made of ceramic, gently pouring a clear stream of water. In the foreground, a magnifying glass hovers over the stream, revealing happy little bacteria.

597. Using a Netipot with Tap Water

April 03, 2024 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of using a netipot with tap water.

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

DALL·E - Imagine a serene Swiss lake, reflecting the beauty of the surrounding landscape with a majestic water jet in the center. This jet is teeming with microbes.

591. Drinking Water From Switzerland's 7,000 Lakes

March 20, 2024 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of drinking untreated lakewater from Switzerland.

Dr. Don - risky ☣️
Professor Ben - risky ☣️

DALL·E - a pot of water on a stove teeming with bacteria

550. Water for Cooking Held in the Danger Zone

December 15, 2023 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of holding water used for cooking in a restaurant in the danger zone all day.

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

DALL·E Kids on a lawn playing in a water sprinkler in the style of norman rockwell

506. Kids on Lawns Irrigated With Water Containing Pathogenic E. coli

September 04, 2023 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of letting your kids play on a lawn 24 hours after that lawn has been irrigated with water containing pathogenic E. coli.

Dr. Don - risky ☣️
Professor Ben - risky ☣️

DALL·E - Children bobbing for apples in the style of Norman Rockwell

451. Bobbing for Apples

April 28, 2023 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of bobbing for apples.

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

DALL·E: a wet slice of pepperoni pizza floating in a pool

448. Pool Pizza

April 21, 2023 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of eating a slice of pizza dipped momentarily in a pool.

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

Mystery Guest 1 - not risky 👍🏼
Mystery Guest 2 - not risky 👍🏼

DALL·E 2022-12-17 17.02.18 - cans of water in a boiling water bath canner

394. Home Canning Water

December 16, 2022 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of using a boiling water bath canning method for canning water for long-term storage.

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

363. Transporting Watermelons in a Grass Lined Flume

October 05, 2022 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of transporting watermelons from the field to post harvest in a grass lined flume

Dr. Don - risky ☣️
Professor Ben - risky ☣️

348. Drinking a Glass of Polluted Water From a ‘Holy River’

August 31, 2022 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of drinking drinking a glass of polluted water from a ‘holy river’, with bonus content from Ben's vacation.

Dr. Don - risky ☣️
Professor Ben - risky ☣️

316. Using Cups to Scoop Water Out of a Shared Bowl

June 17, 2022 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of using cups to scoop water out of a shared bowl when it's really hot out.

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

242. Brushing Teeth With Well Water

December 27, 2021 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of brushing teeth with well water in a town in Ontario.

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

175. Drinking From the Bathroom Tub

July 23, 2021 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from drinking from the bathroom tub.

Dr. Don - nicht riskant 👍🏼
Professor Ben - riskant ☣️

137. Tap Water in Mexico

April 26, 2021 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of drinking tap water in Mexico.

114. Water Cooled Beverages

March 03, 2021 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from drinking beverages cooled natural water sources.
Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼