It's A Sickness

It's A Sickness

By Lilah & NicoleScience
Download on the App Store

It's A Sickness episodes

  • 15. Elon Musk & Neuralink
    This week, we follow the life and career path of Elon Musk, the billionaire founder of Tesla, Space X and now Neuralink. Join us as we pick apart the neurotechnology that claims to have the potential to revolutionize brain illnesses and allow humans to merge with artificial intelligence.
    Be sure to connect with us on twitter & instagram @itsasickness_
    Cheers!
    Sources:
    Elon Musk Wikipedia
    Neuralink Website
    “Elon Musk American Entrepreneur” by Erik Gregersen
    Joe Rogan Podcast with “1470 - Elon Musk” (2020)
    Joe Rogan Podcast with “#1169 - Elon Musk” (2018)
    “Elon Musk launches Neuralink, a venture to merge the human brain with AI” written by Nick Statt on TheVerge.com
    "A Scientist and Engineer Explain Everything Elon Musk’s Neuralink Can (and Can’t) Do" written by Thomas Smith and Chris Chiang
    1 hr 26 min
  • 14. Brains & BMIs
    In this week's episode Lilah covers some foundational information for a better understanding of the hot new neurotechnology known as Neuralink. A fast crash course on the evolution of the brain, mechanisms of the brain, and a brief dive into the world of BMI’s is shared in this episode. Make sure to tune into next week's episode where Nicole covers some background information on Elon Musk and the Neuralink technology itself. Enjoy!
    Be sure to connect with us on twitter & instagram @itsasickness_
    Cheers!
    Sources:
    Urban, Tim. Neuralink and the brain's magical future
    Topics: 
    The evolution of the brain
    Mechanisms of the brain
    Brief information about BMIs and the challenges neuro engineers face with the Neuralink device
    1 hr 34 min
  • 13. MMM - ITP
    Welcome to our first of many spinoff series: My Medical Mystery! For this episode we had the honor of interviewing one of our dear friends about her medical mystery journey. From first initial symptoms to a final diagnosis, Wendy details her ongoing experience with a rare autoimmune disease. Immune thrombocytopenic purpura is not only difficult to say but also difficult to diagnose and continues to puzzle doctors around the world.
    Be sure to connect with us on twitter & instagram @itsasickness_
    Cheers!
    Sources:
    Liu, X., Peng, J. & Hou, M. Restoration of T cell tolerance in primary ITP. J Hematol Oncol 
    Zainal, Abir, et. al Immune thrombocytopenic purpura
    Kayal, L., Jayachandran, S., & Singh, K. (2014). Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura
    Lambert, M., & Gernsheimer, T. Clinical updates in adult immune thrombocytopenia 
    Quest Diagnostics Website: Complete Blood Count (CBC) Test Information
    National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Article: Blood Tests
    Topics covered:
    Interview with Wendy G. about her medical mystery story
    Immune thrombocytopenic purpura and idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP)
    The mechanisms of ITP 
    Autoimmune disease
    1 hr 18 min
  • 12. Don't Sleep On Us - Part 2

    Welcome to part two of our two part series of “Don’t Sleep on Us” where Nicole covers the mechanisms of a chronic sleep disorder. In part one Lilah covered the testimonies of two gals who suffer from this disorder and now we learn how, why, and what the sickness is going on. Enjoy! 

    Be sure to connect with us on twitter & instagram @itsasickness_ 

    Cheers! 

    Sources: 

    National Institute of Neurological disorders and Stroke

    Stanford Medicine: Center for Narcolepsy

    History of Narcolepsy by Emmanuel Mignot 

    Hypocretin/orexin system by I. O. Ebrahim

    Why narcolepsy is an autoimmune condition by Ana Sandoiu

    Topics covered:

    • The mechanisms of narcolepsy
    • Recent research discoveries of narcolepsy's connection to autoimmune conditions
      • 50 min
    • 11. Don't Sleep On Us - Part 1

      Welcome to part one of our two part series of “Don’t Sleep on Us” where Lilah presents some testimonies of two gals who suffer from a chronic and debilitating sleep disorder. Make sure to tune in for part two where Nicole covers the riveting mechanisms. Let’s jump right in! 

      Be sure to connect with us on twitter & instagram @itsasickness_ 

      Cheers! 

      Sources: 

      YouTube: What Is Narcolepsy? – Harvard Medical School  

      Science Direct: Publisher summary of the book Sleep Disorders Medicine - Basic Science, Technical Considerations, and Clinical Aspects by Sudhansu Chokroverty 

      Research Report from Elsevier: REM-dreams recall in patients with narcolepsy-cataplexy by Michela Mazzetti, et. al.

      YouTube: Diagnosing Narcolepsy – Harvard Medical School  

      Podcast: Narcolepsy 360 with Claire Crisp EP: Shannon Burkoth  

      Website: Know Narcolepsy   

      Narcolepsy Network 

      AMA Journal of Ethics: My Story – Living With Narcolepsy  National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke 

      Topics covered:

      • Testimonies of two victims journeys to narcolepsy diagnosis
        • 1 hr 8 min
      • 10. Hazzardous Hicks

        On this weeks serving of sickness we expose the tragic and senseless doings of Dr. Linda Hazzard and Dr. Thomas J. Hicks. Their unthinkable and unethical crimes affected the lives of many. Proceed with caution as we shit on thee Hazzardous Hicks. 

        Be sure to connect with us on twitter & instagram @itsasickness_ 

        Cheers! 

        Sources:

        Hulu Docuseries: Taken At Birth  

        Podcast: Criminal with Phoebe Judge - Episode 53 Melinda & Judy 

        Podcast: Criminal with Phoebe Judge - Episode 54 Melinda and Clarence  

        Akron Beacon Journal Article: Hicks Babies   

        Akron Beacon Journal Article: Adoptees Sold by Georgia Doctor to Akron couples 50 years ago renewing efforts to find biological families 

        YouTube: Dad Meets Biological Son After Being Told He Died At Birth  

        YouTube: Decades-old Secret Adoptions Solved by Modern DNA for Akron Area Families  

        YouTube: Finding Terry: Hicks Baby' Leader Never Quit  

        New York Times Article: Town Secret Is Uncovered In Birth Quest  

        Los Angeles Times Article: Long-Secret Black-Market Baby Scandal Uncovered 

        Book: Starvation Heights by Gregg Olsen 

        Murderpedia: Linda Burfield HAZZARD  

        Hushed Up History: What’s in a Name: Dr. Linda Hazzard and her Horrific Path to Health 

        WAMU 88.5 American University Radio: What Happens To The Body And Mind When Starvation Sets In?

        Topics covered:

        • The selling of black market babies by Dr. Thomas J. Hicks
        • Hulu Docuseries Taken at Birth
        • The starving of and death of patients by Dr. Linda Hazzard
          • 1 hr 38 min
        • 9. Two Girls, No Cap

          Spiral down this week's rabbit hole with us as we cover a bizarre true crime story that ties into a mysterious psychiatric syndrome that is rather peculiar. Nicole will share a hell of a “girlstrip” story and Lilah will cover the mechanisms of Folie à deux. 

          Be sure to connect with us on twitter & instagram @itsasickness_ 

          Cheers! 

          Episode corrections:

          The case Lilah mentions in the end is actually referencing the “Silent Twins” and they were born in 1963, not 1993. Lastly, the death of Jennifer was due to acute myocarditis (so June did not kill her although they were truly convinced one of them had to die in order to escape this delusional imprisonment.)

          Sources:

          YouTube: Ursula and Sabina Erikkson Highway Footage 

          Vice Article: The Twins Who Ran Into Traffic Before Stabbing A Man To Death written by James McMahon  

          Wikipedia: Ursula and Sabina Erikkson 

          The Morbid Curiosity Podcast: Folie à deux

          Topics covered:

          • The real life story of Sabrina and Ursula Erikkson, twin sisters who had an episode of folie à deux
          • The mechanisms of folie à deux
            • 1 hr 22 min
          • 8. Healers or Dealers?

            This week we discuss some massive failures of The Hippocratic Oath: an oath of ethics historically taken by physicians to “do no harm”. Two doctors, Dr. Max Jacobson and Gordon Pedersen are in the hot seat! Join us as we explore “magical” vitamin shots and a shiny new cure for COVID-19 to reveal whether these doctors intended to be dealers or healers? 

            Be sure to follow our twitter & instagram accounts to stay connected @itsasickness_ 

            Cheers! 

            Sources:  

            Foundation for Alternative and Integrative Medicine website: About Me page

            New York Times Article: Amphetamines Used by a Physician To Lift Moods of Famous Patients

            History article: History of Meth

            YouTube Documentary: The original Dr. Feelgood - "Everybody Went to Max" by Martin Kasindorf

            Book: Dr. Feelgood by Richard A. Lertzman and William J. Birne 

            Topics covered: 

            • Dr. Max Jacobson aka: Dr. Feelgood
            • High profile figures ingested with methamphetamine 
            • Gordon Pedersen's promotion of silver as a cure for COVID-19 and use for other medical benefits
              • 1 hr 35 min
            • 7. Shrizzin Series #1 - General Mechanisms

              Welcome back IAS tribe ! This week's topic for discussion is one we have been stoked to share with you all since we started brainstorming for the creation of It’s A Sickness Podcast and we hope you’re as excited as we are! Tune in as we dive into the world of pSyChEdElIcS! A hallucinogenic drug that alters your perception of the world to change so dramatically that it can feel like you’re actually on a trip to a strange and new land. Lilah shares a few trippy testimonies while Nicole covers the mechanisms of shrooms in general. This episode is the first of our Shrizzin Series and down the road we hope to dive deeper into more specific aspects of magic mushrooms (micro dosing, heroic dosing, DIY shrooms, and more!) 

              Be sure to follow our twitter & Instagram accounts to stay connected @itsasickness_ 

              Cheers! 

              Sources:

              Podcast: The Joe Rogan Experience Episode #1516 - Post Malone

              Podcast: The Daily Shroom Episode Johnny Pena

              Reddit: I Just Ended My Semester With The Highest Grades Since Starting College, Thanks to Psychedelics 

              Reddit: Funny Shroom Coincidence That Led To A Great Trip 

              YouTube: I Ate $800 Shrooms – Tales from the Trip 

              Double Blind Mag: Redesigning Psychedelic Mushrooms To Never Cause A "Bad Trip"

              Topics covered: 

              • Testimonies of shroom experiences
              • The mechanisms of psychedelic mushrooms
                • 1 hr 27 min
              • 6. Let's Talk About: #MedBikini

                In this bonus episode we address the controversial "scientific" study that sparked the hashtag #MedBikini and prompted a social media unrest among female vascular surgeons. Join us as we review the study and share our thoughts on what is considered to be "professionalism" in the field of medicine.

                Be sure to follow our twitter & instagram accounts to stay connected @itsasickness_

                Cheers!

                Topics Covered:

                • The #medbikini media movement 
                • Protest against sexism and body-shaming in the field of medicine
                • Journal of Vascular Surgery, article titled Prevalence of unprofessional social media content among young vascular surgeons
                  • 1 hr 6 min

                About It's A Sickness

                From the publisher's feed

                Two science enthusiasts discuss all things peculiar, perplexing, and #SickWidit in the fields of medicine, science and health. Lilah and Nicole - sole hosts, creators, editors, engineers, and…