Join University of Georgia’s infectious disease experts David Peterson and Kim Klonowski every other Friday on the “People, Parasites and Plagues” podcast as they dive into the captivating world of pathogens and the journey of scientific discovery.
“People, Parasites and Plagues” began airing in 2021 with a focus on infectious disease research at the University of Georgia. Guests have come from across campus, representing five colleges and schools, three centers and institutes, and 12 departments. While it is a science podcast, it isn’t just about the science of infectious diseases.
“We stretch beyond just infectious diseases,” said Peterson, professor of infectious diseases in the College of Veterinary Medicine. “We really look for someone who is a good communicator.”
In 2023, featured guests included Glen Nowak from the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication who discussed health communication and Chris Cleveland from the Department of Population Health who has worked with the Carter Center on health policies.
“We’re not just focused on diseases caused by parasites either,” said Peterson, who is also a member of UGA’s Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases. “But we also discuss plagues which can be caused by viruses, bacteria, and fungi.”
One of the hosts’ favorite shows from last season was with Dan Peach from UGA’s Savannah River Ecology Laboratory. Peach studies one of the major insect transmitters of disease—the mosquito.
“We are really looking for different perspectives on infectious diseases,” said Klonowski, associate professor of cellular biology in Franklin College of Arts & Sciences. “We’d love to have someone from the humanities on the show.”
In addition to expanding their focus to other disciplines, the show is also looking to host experts who come to campus. Season 3 kicked off on September 20 with Astra Bryant of the University of Washington. She is a neuroscientist and parasitologist studying nematodes.
“We ended last season with Noah Butler, an immunologist whose research is focused on malaria, from the University of Iowa,” Klonowski said. “We’re thrilled to start this season with Astra who was one of the keynote speakers at the Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases’ Molecular Parasitology and Vector Biology symposium. It’s great to get to talk with these experts in a more casual way.”
In addition to hearing from scholars from outside the university, the show will also feature the work of graduate students.
“For episode 2 we interviewed last spring’s 3-minute thesis competition winners,” Peterson said. “It was a lot of fun. It’s the first time we’ve had multiple guests in the room, but we also got to hear from the next generation of scientists.”
“One of the reasons I joined the podcast is I’m concerned about the future of science communication,” Klonowski said. “We don’t really teach our students how to communicate their research to the general public. Not only do we consider our graduate student experts, but we also want to give them a platform to improve their communication skills.”
What else can listeners look forward to this season?
Fans of the 2023 television show The Last of Us will want to tune in when Blake Billmyre from the College of Pharmacy discusses fungal pathogens and the genetic tools he uses to study drug resistance. Because there is more than one way to a career in infectious diseases, the show will feature infectious disease professor Jeff Hogan who has followed an interesting career path to become a high-containment expert. Erin Dolan from the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology is also slated to appear on the show. She is the Georgia Athletic Association Professor of Innovative Science Education and has a passion for research mentorship.
There may be a return of the PPP Book Club, where the hosts and assistant producer Syd Wiegand, a Grady College graduate student, chat about popular nonfiction.
“Our goal is to highlight the cool research at UGA and beyond in a way that is accessible to the public,” Peterson said.
New episodes of “People, Parasites and Plagues” can be found every other Friday on all major podcast providers including Apple Podcast, Spotify, and Amazon Music. And be sure to follow them on Instagram (@PPPpodcastUGA) to get a behind the scenes look at upcoming shows.
The podcast is sponsored by the Office of Research, Graduate School, College of Veterinary Medicine, and Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication
