PODCAST · health
The Curious Clinicians
by The Curious Clinicians
The Curious Clinicians is a medical podcast that asks "why?". Why do diseases present in certain ways? What are the mechanisms of treatments we use? Why does the human body function as it does? Join us to explore these questions and many more.
Episodes
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[Archive] A Scleroderma Crisis
This week, we're rebooting Episode 80, originally posted November 8, 2023, in which we asked the question: "Why do we use ACE inhibitors to treat scleroderma renal crisis?" Show Notes for this episode can be found on our website.
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131 - A President's Polio
In this episode, Avi walks us through a medical mystery many of us may not be aware of: Did President Franklin Delano Roosevelt truly have polio, or is an alternate diagnosis more likely? Click here for show notes and click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician...
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[Archive] The Smell of the Rain
In the waning days of summer, we at The Curious Clinicians were in the mood take things back to the rains of spring. This episode is a reboot from our archives of one originally posted on March 27, 2025. Hannah dove into a question inspired by nature: Why do humans have such a keen smell for...
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130 - The Simp with Roshan Sethi
This week, Dr. Roshan Sethi joined us for a conversation about his new book, The Simp, balancing life as a director, author, and radiation oncologist, and a bit about his upcoming work. Listen for more insights about Hollywood versus medicine and maintaining roles across many areas!
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129 - Ironing Out More Platelets
In this episode, Tony walks us through the surprising physiology behind a phenomenon many of us see every day: Why does iron deficiency cause thrombocytosis? Click here for show notes and click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM…
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128 - After Shock with Dr. Rana Awdish
In this episode, we talk curiosity, healing, and the wonders of the human body with Dr. Rana Awdish, bestselling author of In Shock: My Journey from Death to Recovery and the Redemptive Power of Hope and the new book, After Shock, out now! The book prompts doctors (and everyone else) to feel...
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127 - ACHOO! (The Sunlit Sneeze)
In this episode, Avi achoo-ses an seasonal question: Why can sunlight exposure induce sneezing?? Click here for show notes and click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 hours). Resident Giancarlo Buonomo and medical...
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126 - A Third Circulatory System
What are the Hidden Pathways in the Human Body? This week, Avi fills us in on the science behind his New York Times Magazine article (link) describing the interstitium as our third circulatory system. We cover questions that he wasn't able to get to in the article and he fills us in on the story...
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125 - Why Comics?
This week, we talk with Dr. Grace Farris, who is a hospitalist and the author of See One, Do One, Teach One: The Art of Becoming a Doctor: A Graphic Memoir. We explore how she got into comic-drawing, her advice for people who want to explore storytelling about medicine through comics, and some of...
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Why Does Umami Taste So Good?
Today, we are rebooting an absolute classic from way back in our catalog - episode 9. Avi teaches us about the biology behind the taste of umami and why we might have evolved to find it so delicious. Show notes for the episode are a very long scroll down our website, or you can find them here:...
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124 - One of the Fastest Reactions in the Human Body
Why don't interstitial lung disease patients typically get increased pCO₂? The answer involves one of the fastest chemical reactions in the human body. Click here for show notes and click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC…
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123 - Why-roid
In this neck(st) episode, Avi asks an isthmus-ing question: Why does an autoimmune antibody stimulate the thyroid in Graves disease? Click here for show notes and click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 hours)....
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[Archive] Irregularly Irregular
We apologize for the break in our regularly scheduled programming! This is a reboot of Episode 77, originally posted in September 2023, which asked: why is hyperthyroidism associated with atrial fibrillation? We will return with an adjacent thyroid-related topic in 2 weeks! Read the show notes...
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[Archive] More Right Than Left
This is a reboot of Episode 66, originally posted back in March 2023, where investigated why tricuspid valve endocarditis is more common in persons who inject IV drugs. Read the show notes here. Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or...
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122 - When CRP Goes Missing
This week, Tony shares a morning report physiology pearl: Why do patients with active lupus have a low CRP? Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 hours). Audio edited by Clair Morgan of Nodderly.com. Resident...
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Reboot! Bendopnea
Cold and flu season greetings from the Curious Clinicians! We hope you all are cold-free, but we were unfortunately under the weather this week. In honor of our "heme boards" series from Hannah's PGY-6 year, we decided to reboot this PGY-1 "intern question" that taught us all a new word. We will…
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121 - The Forgotten Factor
This week, Hannah shares the story of an overlooked piece of the coagulation cascade, beginning with a 1950s medical mystery: Why didn't John Hageman bleed? Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 hours). Audio...
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120 - No Sleep for the Weary
This week, Avi shares the pathophysiology behind an important question: Why can't people with familial fatal insomnia fall asleep? Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 hours). Audio edited by Clair Morgan of...
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119 - While My Liver Gently Weeps
This week, Tony explores a fascinating, hospital rounds-ready question: Why does cirrhosis cause low SAAG ascites? You can read the show notes here! Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 hours). Audio edited by...
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118 - Extremophiles
This week, Avi follows up Episodes 112 and 114 with the question: How does a bacterial species called Deinococcus radiodurans withstand extreme levels of radiation? You can read the show notes here! Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5…
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117 - The Body A-Z with Dr. Mike Todorovic
This week, Dr. Mike Todorovic returns as a special guest to tell us about his book with Dr. Matt Barton, The Body A-Z! Join us as Dr. Mike gives us a sneak preview of the interesting questions and fascinating insights within. You can order the book here, and show notes for this episode are here!...
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116 - Ammonia Rising
This week, Tony brings us a question straight from the hospital wards: Why does valproic acid cause elevated ammonia? You can read the show notes here! Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 hours). Audio edited…
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115 - The Art of the Question with Dr. Mark Shapiro
This week, Dr. Mark Shapiro joins us for a candid conversation about the art of the question. Join us to think through how we interview, how to make connections, and how curiosity translates in the clinic and beyond. You can read the show notes here! Audio edited by Clair Morgan of Nodderly.com....
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114 - The Mold that Eats Radiation for Breakfast
This week, Avi follows up Episode 112 with the question: What's with the black mold growing inside Chernobyl? You can read the show notes here! Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 hours). Audio edited by Clair...
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Reboot! Hyperkalemia
This week, we bring back a classic question for new interns and old hats alike: Why do we give calcium in hyperkalemia? You can read the show notes here! Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 hours). Audio…
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113 - From Vessel to Bone
This week, Tony poses a hard question: Why does calcium deposit in blood vessels? You can read the show notes here! Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 hours). Audio edited by Clair Morgan of Nodderly.com....
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112 - Wherefore Iodine?
This week, Avi asks: Why was iodine given to people exposed to radioactivity after Chernobyl? You can read the show notes here! Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 hours). Audio edited by Clair Morgan of...
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111 - Null Neutrophils
This week, Tony asks a physiologic question: Why is Duffy Null status associated with lower neutrophil counts? You can read the show notes here! Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 hours). Audio edited by…
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110 - Salt in the Wound
This week, Avi shares a saline-ent question: Why does rubbing salt in a wound hurt so much? You can read the show notes here! Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 hours). Audio edited by Clair Morgan of...
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109 - The HITs Keep Coming
This week, Tony shares another "fresh case" physiology question: Why don't we all get spontaneous HIT? You can read the show notes here! Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 hours). Audio edited by Clair Morgan...
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108 - Alpha-gal Again
This week, Avi shares new insights on the topic of episode 61: alpha-gal! We tackle the question: How could alpha-gal be used to treat cancer? You can read the show notes here! Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2...
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107 - The Smell of the Rain
This week, Hannah dives into a question inspired by nature: Why do humans have such a keen smell for the scent of the rain? You can read the show notes here! Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 hours). Audio...
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106 - Pulse Check: Methemoglobin
This week, Tony brings us a fresh case straight from morning report! Join the Curious Clinicians as we learn: Why do patients with methemoglobinemia have an oxygen saturation fixed at 85%? Watch this episode on our new YouTube channel here, and read the show notes here! Click here to obtain AMA…
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105 - Grapes of Pseudomonas's Wrath
We're on a gram negative run! Join the Curious Clinicians as we learn: Why does Pseudomonas smell like grapes? Watch this episode on our new YouTube channel here, and read the show notes here! Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or...
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104 - A Pseudo-truth?
Producer Giancarlo Buonomo is back! Join the Curious Clinicians as we learn: Why do we worry about Pseudomonas infection in diabetic patients? Watch this episode on our new YouTube channel here, and read the show notes here! Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours),...
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103 - Oral Argument
Welcome back to the Curious Clinicians! In today's episode, Tony asks an important question: "Why don't we administer insulin orally?" Read the show notes here! Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 hours).
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102 - Long Lives the Lobster
Happy Holidays from the Curious Clinicians! In today's episode, Avi shells us about a fascinating question: "Why do lobsters live so long?" Read the show notes here! Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 hours).
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101 - Automatic ABO
In today's episode, Hannah asks the question: "Why do we 'automatically' form antibodies to ABO blood type antigens that are not our own?" Read the show notes here! Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 hours).
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[Archive] Thanksgiving & The Food Coma
Join us as we revisit our annual Thanksgiving episode, in which we answered the question: "Does tryptophan in turkey really cause a food coma?" Read the show notes here! Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5...
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100! - Our Favorite Questions
For our 100th episode this week, the Curious Clinicians take a look back at some of our favorite old episodes. Take a trip down memory lane with us and get some spaced repetition of our favorite learning points along the way. Thank you so much for listening to our show! Watch this episode on our...
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99 - Living on a Lung
This week, the Curious Clinicians come to you LIVE from the CHEST 2024 conference explore a breathtaking topic: How could you live with only one lung? Watch this episode on our new YouTube channel here, and read the show notes here! Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours),...
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[Archive] Tusks and Tumor Suppressors
Before our 100th episode, we are rebooting some favorite early episodes! In episode 89, we asked the question: Why don't elephants get cancer? Read the show notes here! Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 hours).
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98 - How Do You Feel?
This week, the Curious Clinicians meet Dr. Jessi Gold to talk about an important, and often undiscussed question in medicine: "How Do You Feel?" Dr. Gold's new book, out 10/8, covers the mental and physical costs of caring for others as a medical professional. More information about her book can…
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97 - Cascading Prescriptions
This week, the Curious Clinicians explore the mechanism behind-- and against-- a common prescribing cascade: Why does gabapentin cause edema? Watch this episode on our new YouTube channel here, and read the show notes here! Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours)…
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[Archive] - Why is fever beneficial?
Before our 100th episode, we are rebooting some favorite early episodes! In episode 24, we asked the question: Why is fever beneficial? Read the show notes here! Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 hours).
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[Archive] The Fast and the Furosemide
Before our 100th episode, we are rebooting some favorite early episodes! In episode 25, we asked the question: Why can furosemide improve pulmonary edema from heart failure almost immediately? Read the show notes here! Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician...
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96 - Dr. Mike Todorovic and the Wonders of the Na+/K+ATPase Pump
Dr. Mike Todorovic, medical educator and science communicator extraordinaire, joins The Curious Clinicians to discuss the Na+/K+ ATPase pump ("the most important enzyme in the human body") and his approach to digital medical education. Watch this episode on our new YouTube channel here, and read...
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95 - Beethoven Redux
This week, the Curious Clinicians return to the topic of episode 72, "Bringing up Beethoven" with a surprising news update and new perspectives on a 200 year old tale! Watch this episode on our new YouTube channel here, and read the show notes here! Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1…
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94 - Flash in the PA
This week, the Curious Clinicians give a 'hot take' on a common symptoms: why do hot flashes occur? Watch this episode on our new YouTube channel here, and read the show notes here! Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC…
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93 - Pumping Protons, Pumping Blood
Producer Giancarlo Buonomo joins the Curious Clinicians this week to answer a morning report musing: why do we use IV PPIs to treat upper GI bleeding? Watch this episode on our new YouTube channel here, and read the show notes here! Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours),...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
The Curious Clinicians is a medical podcast that asks "why?". Why do diseases present in certain ways? What are the mechanisms of treatments we use? Why does the human body function as it does? Join us to explore these questions and many more.
HOSTED BY
The Curious Clinicians
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does The Curious Clinicians have?
The Curious Clinicians currently has 158 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The Curious Clinicians about?
The Curious Clinicians is a medical podcast that asks "why?". Why do diseases present in certain ways? What are the mechanisms of treatments we use? Why does the human body function as it does? Join us to explore these questions and many more.
How often does The Curious Clinicians release new episodes?
The Curious Clinicians publishes regularly with 158 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to The Curious Clinicians?
You can listen to The Curious Clinicians on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts The Curious Clinicians?
The Curious Clinicians is created and hosted by The Curious Clinicians.
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