Several years ago, in 2016, we told a story about Amy Pearl. For as long as she could remember, Amy loved meat in all its glorious cuts and marbled flavors. And then one day, for seemingly no reason, her body wouldn’t tolerate it. No steaks. No brisket. No weenies. It made no sense: why couldn’t she eat something that she had routinely enjoyed for decades?
It turned out Amy was not alone. And the answer to her mysterious allergy involved maps, a dancing lone star tick, and a very particular sugar called Alpha Gal.
In this update, we discover that our troubles with Alpha Gal go way beyond food. We go to NYU Langone Health hospital to see the second ever transplant of a kidney from a pig into a human, talk to some people at Revivicor, the company that bred the pig in question, and go back to Amy to find out what she thinks about this brave new world.
The original episode was reported by Latif Nasser, and produced by Annie McEwen and Matt Kielty. Sound design and scoring from Dylan Keefe, Annie McEwen, and Matt Kielty. Mix by Dylan Keefe with Arianne Wack.
The update was reported and produced by Sarah Qari. It was sound designed, scored, and mixed by Jeremy Bloom.
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First up on the podcast, freelance science journalist Brendan Borrell talks about his work reporting on the previously undisclosed death of a 6-year-old girl in a gene-editing clinical trial in China and the reasons her parents came forward.
This story was produced in collaboration with Retraction Watch and supported by the Science Fund for Investigative Reporting.
Next on the show, Producer Meagan Cantwell talks with Evan McKenzie, a researcher at the University of British Columbia, about an insect that evolved to avoid predators by modifying its respiratory system to withstand high pressure at depth.
This week’s episode was produced with help from Podigy.
Image credit: Daria Lada
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Hillary Sterling was a Brooklyn kid raised on cream cheese sandwiches and canned potatoes. So how did she become one of New York City's best chefs? The Ci Siamo executive chef explains on the second episode of Better in Person. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Pain feels like a simple message from the body. If your elbow hurts, there must be something wrong with your elbow. If your back is painfully stiff, you need some work done on your back. But psychologist Rachel Zoffness says our minds play a much larger role in our experience of pain than many of us realize. This week, we look at what's really happening when we experience pain, and how a better understanding of this process can open up new possibilities for treatment and healing.
In our companion conversation for Hidden Brain+ subscribers, Rachel Zoffness goes deeper into techniques that can help to reduce our brains' sensitivity to pain. You can hear that episode, which is called "Plastic Brain, Changeable Brain," with a free seven-day trial to Hidden Brain+. Go to support.hiddenbrain.org or apple.co/hiddenbrain to access your trial subscription.
For more Hidden Brain ideas and insights, be sure to check out our new YouTube channel! And don't forget to subscribe so you don't miss any of our upcoming videos. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
This is an abbreviated version of Checkup's topic on the high cost of wedding season. Canadians face wedding costs between 30,000 to 42,000 according to WeddingWire Canada and The Knot. As guests and couples feel financial pressure, an expert explains how to navigate difficult conversations when celebrations push the limits of what people can afford.
Canadians face wedding costs between 30,000 to 42,000 according to WeddingWire Canada and The Knot. As guests and couples feel financial pressure, an expert explains how to navigate difficult conversations when celebrations push the limits of what people can afford.
From scoring exclusive seats, to dealing with scams, resellers, and rising prices, buying live concert tickets is becoming a bit of a gamble these days. Canadians share their ultimate concert stories, and when they've felt ripped off in the process. Plus, CBC's Dave Seglins shares tips on how to avoid scams and predatory practices.
This ICYMI episode takes you back to 2003 when the Rolling Stones headlined a massive concert in Toronto famously dubbed SARS-stock. It was staged to raise money for healthcare and hospitality workers as Toronto recovered from a deadly outbreak. Nearly 500,000 fans came and the show was broadcast across the country. On August 3rd 2003, Checkup callers weighed in on what they thought of the concert benefit.
