The Present Illness
Society’s running a fever, and two sharp-witted physicians are on the case. Surgeon-scientist Arghavan Salles dives into social media’s wildest trends, while anesthesiologist-bioethicist Alyssa Burgart follows news and legal cases for their ethical twists. Together, they examine the cultural, political, and public health symptoms of our time with scalpel-sharp analysis, unflinching questions, and enough humor to keep us all going.
Podcasting since 2025 • 16 episodes
The Present Illness
Latest Episodes
Robots, Research & Rubik's Cubes
Unethical research in Guinea-Bissau; Robots won’t fix maternity care deserts; Louisiana tries to extradite California doctor.Americas public health system teeters on the edge of an ICU admission thanks to the abysmal leadership of RFK Jr...
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Season 1
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Episode 16
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1:05:50
Too Much Propofol
This week: famed author's son dies after anesthesia, the "war on protein", and Arghavan's views on protests in Iran.Join Arghavan and Alyssa as they into the 'war on protein' narrative propagated by RFK Jr, the tragic story of Chimamanda...
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Season 1
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Episode 15
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1:11:40
Time to Block Grok
Activation Warning: This episode discusses SA, CSAM, state violence. In the first feverish episode of The Present Illness in 2026, the Doctors discuss the tumultuous events of winter break, including significant changes in vaccinati...
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Season 1
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Episode 14
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1:06:22
White House's Fever Dream Photoshoot
In their final episode of 2025, Drs. Salles & Burgart perform a brief examination of the Vanity Fair exclusive featuring
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58:54
Widening gender divide? Blame Nick Fuentes.
In this episode, the doctors perform a clinical examination of the pathological messaging aimed at young men by right-wing influencers like Nick Fuentes. They dissect the misogyny spreading through social media platforms, with particular attent...
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Season 1
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Episode 12
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56:14