#86 Cody and Trichinella in Canada's Arctic North

What happens when a parasite learns to survive the deep freeze? In this episode, host Cat Vendl talks with parasitologist Cody Malone about Trichinella, the tiny worm behind your grandmother's warnings to cook pork through, and a real hazard for Canada's northern communities who rely on wild game. Cody shares how this strange nematode completes its entire life cycle in a single host, why freezing meat won't kill it, and how it can lurk in a frozen carcass for years. Along the way: a newly named species discovered on a Yukon mountain, a globe-trotting parasite that turned up in an Alaskan grizzly via what may have been a cruise ship landfill, and the surprising idea that a thriving Trichinella population can actually signal a healthy ecosystem. It's detective work, food safety, and Arctic ecology all in one, an unexpectedly gripping tour of life in the frozen north. LinksLearn more about Cody's fascinating work on his Researchgate and LinkedIN profile.We'd love to hear from you ... share your thoughts, feedback and ideas.