This Week in Parasitism: A Podcast About the Tiny Creatures that Live In and On Us

Parasites are fascinating, according to the listeners of the biweekly podcast This Week in Parasitism (TWiP). With 4.9 stars on Apple Podcasts (with over 440 reviews) and over 40 5-star reviews on Spotify, TWiP is a "fun," "constantly intriguing," and "endlessly curious" podcast that's sure to engage everyone, no matter their science background. Every other week, scientists, doctors, and professors come together to deconstruct parasites, discussing how they cause illnesses and how to prevent infections. Each episode solves a real case study, while presenting a new one to unravel the next. With over 240 episodes and counting, this conversational-style podcast shares everything there is to know about the creatures that live in us, on us, and with us.

"We take a deep dive into the vast world of parasites, and ask our listeners to help us analyze signs and symptoms to solve real cases," shares Dr. Daniel Griffin, MD, PhD, and Director and President of Parasites Without Borders, a global health nonprofit. Dr. Griffin is board certified in Infectious Disease, with expertise in Global Health, Tropical Medicine, Parasitology, and Virology.

Vincent Racaniello, PhD, Professor of Microbiology and Immunology, and Dick Despommier, PhD, Emeritus Professor of Microbiology and Public Health, started This Week in Parasitism (TWiP) in 2009. In 2015, Dr. Griffin joined the team and since Dr. Christina Naula from the University of Glasgow has been added. Their collective enthusiasm for teaching inspired them to reach beyond the classroom through new media, traversing into the world of podcasting. In every episode, listeners and scientists alike come together to solve real life case studies from around the world, inspired by patients that Dr. Griffin has encountered through his infectious disease work. At the end of every episode, Dr. Griffin introduces a new case, along with its mysterious symptoms to ponder and study. "We get so many intriguing guesses, and many listeners even diagnose patients accurately. It's really both fun and encouraging to know we have so many listeners engaging and learning about parasites, whether they're medical professionals, scientists, or just curious folks expanding their minds," Dr. Griffin shares.