In Infectious Dose, Heather McSharry, PhD, virologist-turned-science-writer, brings her blog to the airwaves to help bridge the dangerous gap between the science of infectious diseases and public misperception. On the podcast website, infectiousdose.com, all episodes have corresponding blog posts with the information contained in the episode along with links or PDFs for all sources used. To prevent unwelcome surprises, episodes with limited, mild profanity are marked as explicit.
*Podcast intro and outro music are adapted from Heather Nova’s song, I Miss My Sky. Used with permission.
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In Infectious Dose, Heather McSharry, PhD, virologist-turned-science-writer, brings her blog to the airwaves to help bridge the dangerous gap between the science of infectious diseases and public misperception. On the podcast website, infectiousdose.com, all episodes have corresponding blog posts with the information contained in the episode along with links or PDFs for all sources used. To prevent unwelcome surprises, episodes with limited, mild profanity are marked as explicit.
*Podcast intro and outro music are adapted from Heather Nova’s song, I Miss My Sky. Used with permission.
Episode 20: Biting Mad - When Rabies Becomes the Reel Villain
Infectious Dose
45 minutes 46 seconds
3 months ago
Episode 20: Biting Mad - When Rabies Becomes the Reel Villain
Rabies is one of the deadliest viruses known to science—but its cultural legacy may be even more enduring. Rabies has stalked the screen for decades, not just as a disease, but as a symbol of primal fear, uncontrollable rage, and the thin line between animal and human. This episode investigates the biology of rabies bites and its eerie neurological symptoms, while examining its transformation into a metaphor for rage, madness, and monsterhood in popular media. Featuring deep dives into Cujo, a shocking Criminal Minds episode, and a host of pop culture references from Old Yeller to 28 Days Later, this episode traces how rabies bites into our deepest fears—both real and reel.
Infectious Dose
In Infectious Dose, Heather McSharry, PhD, virologist-turned-science-writer, brings her blog to the airwaves to help bridge the dangerous gap between the science of infectious diseases and public misperception. On the podcast website, infectiousdose.com, all episodes have corresponding blog posts with the information contained in the episode along with links or PDFs for all sources used. To prevent unwelcome surprises, episodes with limited, mild profanity are marked as explicit.
*Podcast intro and outro music are adapted from Heather Nova’s song, I Miss My Sky. Used with permission.