You got a fever, and the only prescription is more...antipyretics? In this episode we break down what a fever is, why a fever is, as well as when and how to treat a fever. How hot can a fever get? Can it damage your brain? Is there such thing as a low grade fever? Do emergency departments have fancy Tylenol? All this plus hallucinations, seizures, and the most accurate way to take a temperature (hint: it isn't your mouth ..read more

This week we’re getting into the weeds on…Marijuana! How safe is it? What’s the difference between smoking it and eating it? And how long has it been around anyway? The team tackles these totally deep questions as well as the recent uptick in marijuana-related ER visits. We leave no stone(r) unturned ..read more

Is it over yet? No! So, grab a mask and a bottle of hand sanitizer and cozy up with Mel, Jess, and Dave as they discuss the latest from the front lines of the pandemic: NY vs CA, to mask or not to mask, massage beds vs. ventilators, antibody testing, Dave’s adventures in the grocery aisle, and, of course, when will life get back to normal ..read more

It’s flu season (in the northern hemisphere) and that means it’s time to vaccinate yourself against common medical misconceptions. In this episode we tackle some of the big questions people have about influenza: What is it? And why should we get vaccinated? Can you get sick from a flu shot? Is the flu basically a bad cold? Does Tamiflu actually do anything? In addition, Dr. Jess Mason does some deep investigative reporting and contracts the flu virus for this episode ..read more

On this episode of This Won’t Hurt a Bit we talk about botulinum toxin. It seems to be everywhere: in your dirt, in your honey, in your celebrities. But how can you stay safe from this deadly poison? And if you get it, can you be saved? Also, Mel teaches us why babies are especially at risk, Jess teaches us why movie stars aren’t just like us, and Dave attempts to describe canning ..read more

In this episode, Dr. Jessica Mason, Dr. Mel Herbert, and, well, just Dave, cut through the Corona craziness and bring you the latest in COVID-19 news, medical science, and cocktail recipes. Wash your hands, grab your headphones, and enjoy ..read more

In this episode we break down two understudied, but frequently experienced, phenomena: Farts and Hiccups. We cover what’s normal and what’s not, throw around big words like “flatogenicity” and “singultus,” and ask important questions like “can lighting a fart make your butt explode?” We also learn about the longest hiccup bout ever, why Mel refuses to eat vegetables, and more ..read more

After an extended break, we are back with an episode about all of those things that are found in places they shouldn't be. Mel and Jess tell us all of the wildest "foreign bodies" stories from their time in the ER ..read more

President James Garfield’s life was tragically cut short when a deranged gunman shot him on a train platform, but could modern doctors have saved him? We travel back to the year 1881 to relive that fateful summer day and talk about bullets, miasma, scene safety, and why it’s a bad idea to go digging around in open wounds ..read more

In this episode we look back at some questionable medical practices that haven’t quite stood the test of time. How does a smoke enema sound? Or heroin as a cough suppressant? How about blood letting? If your answer is “great!” then you’re into some pretty outdated medicine. For the rest of us, sit back and listen to how far we’ve come and how far we probably have to go ..read more