A short podcast about everyday risks from germs

ChatGPT image description: An open blue portable toilet stands outdoors. From the toilet bowl, a single arm reaches upward holding a bottle of Mountain Dew, creating a surreal, humorous scene. A safety sign and chain-link fence are visible in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

966. Drinking a Mountain Dew That You Accidentally Dropped in a Port-a-Potty

August 12, 2026 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from drinking a Mountain Dew that you accidentally dropped in a port-a-potty.

Dr. Don - risky ☣️
Professor Ben - risky ☣️

ChatGPT image description: A sealed package of hot dogs floats in cloudy, dirty water in a stainless-steel kitchen sink. Food debris and bubbles surround the package, suggesting it was accidentally left soaking overnight.

965. Cooked Frozen Hot Dogs in the Package Left in Sink Basin Over Night With Water

August 10, 2026 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating cooked frozen hot dogs in the package left in sink basin over night with water.

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

ChatGPT image description: A man stands outside a Mexican fast-food restaurant, happily eating sliced jalapeños straight from a large plastic container. Holding the oversized tub in his arms, he appears to be snacking exclusively on peppers in front of the restaurant's entrance on a sunny day.

964. Eating Jalapeños Right Now

August 07, 2026 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating fresh jalapeños right now.

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

Actual tuna in questions, non-leaking version

963. Eating Shelf Stable Tuna With Garlic in Olive Oil if the Jar Is Leaking

August 05, 2026 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating shelf stable tuna with garlic in olive oil if the jar is leaking.

Dr. Don - risky ☣️
Professor Ben - risky ☣️

962. Dane's Cadmium Cod Liver

August 03, 2026 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating cod liver with a Proposition 65 warning about cadmium.

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

960. Drinking Water from a Source that Failed to Maintain Treatment for Removing Bacteria

July 29, 2026 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from drinking water from a source that failed to maintain treatment for removing bacteria.

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

Borough Public Notifications | Milltown, NJ

ChatGPT image description: Five bamboo toothbrushes stand in a rustic wooden holder on a weathered bathroom vanity. Four have colorful protective brush covers, while one exposed toothbrush is missing its cover. A pump soap dispenser, wood-framed mirror, and warm natural lighting complete the cozy, rustic setting.

959. Brushing Your Teeth With a Toothbrush That Was Not in a Toothbrush Protector

July 27, 2026 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from brushing your teeth with a toothbrush that was not in a toothbrush protector.

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

ChatGPT image description: The outline of Michigan’s Upper and Lower Peninsulas is formed entirely from crisp iceberg lettuce leaves, arranged on a dark textured background. The square, top-down composition highlights the state’s distinctive shape using layered pale-green lettuce pieces for a playful, food-inspired map.

958. Eating Lettuce in Michigan Right Now

July 24, 2026 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating lettuce in Michigan right now

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

ChatGPT image description: A person holds a labeled container of cooked mixed vegetables while removing it from a refrigerator. The vegetables appear thawed and ready for reheating, with bright colors and no visible ice crystals. Other refrigerated foods and fresh produce are visible on the surrounding shelves.

957. Reheating Refrigerated Cooked Frozen Vegetables

July 22, 2026 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from reheating refrigerated cooked frozen vegetables (when the package says not to).

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

This is an actual image of a water fountain, but it's probably not the one from the Louvre.

956. Drinking From a Bathroom Sink Water Fountain at the Louvre

July 20, 2026 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from drinking from a bathroom sink water fountain at the Louvre.

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

ChatGPT image description: A hand drops a white aspirin tablet into a glass pint jar packed with fresh raspberries on a kitchen counter. Nearby are an aspirin box, a blister pack of tablets, and a metal jar lid, suggesting a home remedy or food-preservation practice in a warm kitchen setting.

955. Aspirin Canning

July 17, 2026 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of aspirin canning.

Dr. Don - risky ☣️
Professor Ben - risky ☣️

ChatGPT image description: A smiling man in a white lab coat labeled “Toxicologist” tends a wood-fired maple syrup evaporator in a snowy Canadian forest. Holding a beaker of finished syrup, he monitors the boiling sap while scientific glassware and a rustic sugar shack emphasize the blend of science and traditional maple syrup production.

954. Making Your Own Maple Syrup

July 15, 2026 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from making your own maple syrup.

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

ChatGPT image description: A restaurant worker in a black uniform and gloves leans over a large roast beef sub sandwich in a commercial kitchen. She is visibly spitting onto the sandwich, creating an intentionally unsanitary scene. Food-preparation ingredients and an employee handwashing sign are visible in the background.

953. Herpes Spit Sandwich

July 13, 2026 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating a sandwich contaminated with spit from someone with oral herpes.

Dr. Don - risky ☣️
Professor Ben - risky ☣️

952. Smash Tacos

July 10, 2026 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating smash tacos

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

Actual image of the package of the product in question.

951. Eating Boiled Fresh Tortellini From a Package With a Few Mold Spots

July 08, 2026 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating boiled fresh tortellini from a package with a few mold spots.

Dr. Don - risky ☣️
Professor Ben - risky ☣️

ChatGPT image description: An open takeout container of chicken tikka masala and rice sits beside a crowded hot tub. The curry appears diluted and splashed, with water droplets covering the container and table. Several children are visible in the background, suggesting the meal has been contaminated by hot-tub splash water.

950. Takeout Chicken Tikka Masala Splashed With Hot Tub Water

July 06, 2026 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating chicken tikka masala splashed with hot tub water.

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

ChatGPT image description: A visibly intoxicated man crouches in a driveway, lighting the fuse of an oversized fireworks mortar while holding a beer. Alarmed friends and family back away with raised hands and worried expressions. The nighttime suburban scene emphasizes unsafe behavior and the potential danger of mishandling fireworks.

949. Launching the "Good" Fireworks in Your Driveway

July 03, 2026 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from launching the "good" fireworks in your driveway.

Dr. Don - risky ☣️
Professor Ben - risky ☣️

ChatGPT image description: A father sits at a kitchen table eating a deli meat sandwich while his smiling infant son reaches over and pulls a slice of meat from it. The candid family moment captures curiosity, playfulness, and shared mealtime interaction in a warm, homey setting.

948. Feeding Lunchmeat to a Baby

July 01, 2026 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from feeding lunchmeat to a baby.

Dr. Don - risky ☣️
Professor Ben - risky ☣️

ChatGPT image description: A person stands at the entrance to a berry-picking field holding a basket, facing a prominent warning sign that reads, “Norovirus is spiking in this area.” The sunny farm setting and cheerful berry-picking signage contrast with the health warning, creating a clear food-safety dilemma.

947. Pick Your Own Berries During a Norovirus Spike in June 2026

June 29, 2026 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating pick your own berries in an area during a norovirus spike in June 2026.

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