A short podcast about everyday risks from germs
The image shows a transparent plastic container filled with brown sugar, with dry, crumbly pieces of stale bread mixed in. The container is placed on a clean kitchen countertop with a neutral background, emphasizing the sugar’s granular texture and the contrasting roughness of the bread.
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of using stale bread to keep brown sugar moist.
Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼
The image shows a person loading dishes into an open dishwasher in a modern, well-lit kitchen. The dishes are visibly contaminated with red streaks and residue from raw meat juices, emphasizing cross-contamination risks. The individual, dressed casually, appears unaware of the contamination, with clean countertops and appliances surrounding them.
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from not pre-washing raw meat dishes and placing them directly in the dishwasher.
Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼
A close-up of a sunny-side-up egg cooking in a textured black pan. The yolk is vibrant yellow, and the whites are cooked with light browning at the edges. Subtle, glowing, microscopic virus-like shapes are faintly embedded in the egg whites, blending naturally into the scene under warm lighting.
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from sunny side up egg from a bird infected with bird flu.
Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼
The image depicts a man standing next to a bulldozer on a landfill. He appears worried, gazing at a pile of chicken feathers, beaks, and feet amidst the trash. The setting is overcast, with debris scattered around, creating a somber and tense atmosphere.
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of workers landfilling ground up highly pathogenic avian influenza infected chickens without personal protective equipment.
Dr. Don - risky ☣️
Professor Ben - risky ☣️
A whimsical scene of a bearded professor in a tweed jacket sipping diet cola while licking orange cheese dust off his fingers from Cheetos. Surrounded by scattered books and papers in a cozy academic office, his quirky enjoyment adds charm to the playful, lighthearted atmosphere.
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from licking Cheetos dust off your fingers.
Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼
A playful winter scene of a person licking an icicle attached to the edge of a snow-covered wooden cabin roof. Dressed in a cozy coat, gloves, and a beanie, they stand on a snowy ground, surrounded by snow-laden trees under a clear blue sky, capturing a fun, chilly moment.
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from occasionally eating icicles off your roof.
Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼
A lighthearted scene of a person changing a baby's diaper in a cozy nursery. Unknowingly, they have baby poop on their finger, dangerously close to their mouth. The baby lies amused on a changing table, surrounded by baby wipes, a clean diaper, and pastel-colored toys, creating a playful atmosphere.
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of eating baby poop regularly.
Dr. Don - risky ☣️
Professor Ben - risky ☣️
The image depicts a lively coffee cupping session where participants share spoons, simultaneously dipping them into small labeled coffee cups arranged on a rustic wooden table. The cozy café setting features sunlight streaming through large windows, green plants, and coffee equipment, creating a warm, collaborative, and interactive atmosphere.
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from coffee tasting using shared cups, i.e., coffee cupping.
Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - risky ☣️
The image shows a contact lens setup on a clean bathroom countertop. A contact lens case with open lids sits beside a bottle of cleaning solution with its cap removed and placed nearby. The countertop features a neatly arranged towel and a mirror, all illuminated by natural light.
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from accidentally leaving your contact lens solution bottle open.
Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼
The image shows an upright freezer in a dimly lit garage, surrounded by clutter like tools and boxes. The freezer door is slightly ajar, and a bright warning light near the top is prominently flashing, creating a sense of urgency against the muted tones of the garage setting.
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from food in a freezer ajar for 24 hours.
Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼
The image depicts a person cutting beef bones on a bandsaw in a dimly lit basement or garage. They wear a white chef's hat, protective goggles, and chainmail gloves. The scene includes a sturdy workbench, concrete floors, and storage shelves with tools and boxes, emphasizing the utilitarian, informal environment.
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from cutting bones on a band saw for use in soup stock.
Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼
The image depicts an expired open package of deli meat in a dimly lit refrigerator. The meat appears discolored and unappetizing, with crumpled packaging and faint condensation. Surrounding items include a milk carton, a pickle jar, and vegetables, emphasizing a neglected, realistic kitchen scene.
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of eating expired turkey deli meat.
Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼
A blindfolded person leans over a table, humorously using their face to sort seven quirky objects: an egg, paper, cheese wedge, icy tetrahedron, banana, water-filled cube, and jello pentagonal prism. The colorful, playful setting highlights the absurdity of the task, blending surreal elements with a touch of whimsy.
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of arranging objects on a table using only your face.
Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼
A large wooden bowl is filled with fresh, vibrant blueberries. Nestled among the berries are two upside-down baseball hats, one red and one blue, with their interiors facing upward. The scene is set on a rustic wooden table, softly lit by natural light, creating a whimsical and cozy atmosphere.
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of eating blueberries that had a new hat fall into them twice.
Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼
A joyful 2025 New Year's baby, wearing a "2025" sash, holds and playfully licks a colorful, harmless snake. The backdrop features vibrant New Year's decorations, including fireworks, balloons, and a festive atmosphere, creating a whimsical and celebratory scene that blends innocence, humor, and the excitement of the new year.
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of letting your baby lick a snake.
Dr. Don - risky ☣️
Professor Ben - risky ☣️
The image shows a butternut squash resting on lush green grass by a roadside on a sunny day. In the background, a man walks his dog along the road, which stretches into the distance. The scene is serene, blending natural elements with human activity.
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of cooking and eating a butternut squash that you found while walking your dog.
Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼
The actual “alley”, not DALL·E
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of using the alley behind your shop for staging turkey smoking.
Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼
A festive scene with a plate of cookies, one bitten, and partially drunk milk left for Santa, alongside carrots for the reindeer. Warm light from a fireplace and Christmas decor, including a tree and stockings, set a cozy ambiance. In the background, Santa is glimpsed departing the room.
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of leaving cookies and milk out for Santa, and carrots for his reindeer.
Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼
The image shows an open pint of vanilla ice cream in a plain, unbranded container on a clean kitchen counter. The surface of the ice cream is marked with mysterious, faintly glowing green spots, creating an eerie, unnatural appearance. The setting is softly lit, emphasizing the unusual details.
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks associated with mysterious green spots in ice cream.
Dr. Don - risky ☣️
Professor Ben - risky ☣️
The image shows a plate of roasted Sriracha chickpeas on a plain counter. The chickpeas are dry, shriveled, and slightly moldy, with patches of white fuzz indicating spoilage. The unappetizing appearance suggests they have been left out for days, emphasizing a sense of potential hazard and neglect.
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating homemade roasted sriracha chickpeas left at room temperature for three days.
Dr. Don - risky ☣️
Professor Ben - risky ☣️