Knock Knock, Hi! with the Glaucomfleckens

Latest Episodes:

Glauc Talk: Fixing Healthcare One Smell at a Time Apr 22, 2025

Show notes

So this episode started with a Reddit post about a guy who thinks his poop smells like his patients’ poop... and I wish I could say it gets less weird from there, but no—it really doesn’t.

Kristin and I spiral into the science (and total lack of science) behind smell memory, hospital food, and whether we’re all just walking around slowly absorbing our work environments.

Spoiler: if you're in ophthalmology, congrats—you’re mostly scent-neutral. Unless you've ever used a slit lamp on someone mid-GI crisis.

I also revisit 30 Days of Healthcare and question a few of my creative choices (including a weird little sketch about fixing healthcare with just vibes and prior auths). And because I clearly haven’t suffered enough, we open up the brand new First Aid for Step 1 (2025 edition) and test how much I remember from med school. It’s… not great.

Takeaways:

There’s a Reddit post you can’t unread—and now we all have Deja P.

We may be slowly absorbing our patients… through scent.

Kristin puts Will’s med school knowledge to the test. It does not go well.

Sneeze guards: good for spit, better for smell trauma.

We’re trying to make medical education funny again. Starting with capitation. And poop.

—

To Get Tickets to Wife & Death: You can visit Glaucomflecken.com/live

We want to hear YOUR stories (and medical puns)! Shoot us an email and say hi! knockknockhi@human-content.com

Can’t get enough of us? Shucks. You can support the show on Patreon for early episode access, exclusive bonus shows, livestream hangouts, and much more! – http://www.patreon.com/glaucomflecken

Also, be sure to check out the newsletter: https://glaucomflecken.com/glauc-to-me/

If you are interested in buying a book from one of our guests, check them all out here: https://www.amazon.com/shop/dr.glaucomflecken

If you want more information on models I use:

Anatomy Warehouse provides for the best, crafting custom anatomical products, medical simulation kits and presentation models that create a lasting educational impact. For more information go to Anatomy Warehouse DOT com. Link: https://anatomywarehouse.com/?aff=14 Plus for 15% off use code: Glaucomflecken15

A friendly reminder from the G’s and Tarsus: If you want to learn more about Demodex Blepharitis, making an appointment with your eye doctor for an eyelid exam can help you know for sure. Visit http://www.EyelidCheck.com for more information.

Today’s episode is brought to you by DAX Copilot from Microsoft. DAX Copilot is your AI assistant for automating clinical documentation and workflows helping you be more efficient and reduce the administrative burdens that cause us to feel overwhelmed and burnt out.

To learn more about how DAX Copilot can help improve healthcare experiences for both you and your patients visit aka.ms/knockknockhi.

Produced by Human Content

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Knock Knock Eye: The Real Horror in Nosferatu? His Corneas Apr 17, 2025

Show notes

What do 19th-century vampires, corneal scarring, and rampant chlamydia have in common? Possibly more than you'd think. I Nosferatu and spiraled (in a good way) into diagnosing one of film’s creepiest figures using real ophthalmology. Along the way, I breaks down the leading causes of corneal blindness, unpack the wild world of corneal transplants, and imagine what kind of eye care Nosferartu might’ve needed in his castle.

Takeaways:

He May Be Immortal, But His Corneas Are Not:

Nosferatu’s cloudy eyes raise some very real medical questions—and Dr. Flanary can’t let it go.

Not All Corneal Scarring Comes from Contact Lenses:

What causes corneal blindness around the world might surprise you… and gross you out a little.

There’s a Toothpick-Sized Transplant That Can Change Lives:

Modern corneal transplant technology has gotten weirdly precise—and impressively effective.

PBM Reform Might Finally Be Moving… a Little:

A glimpse of progress in the middleman mess, with state-level action heating up.

If You Watch Horror with a Doctor… Be Prepared for Diagnoses:

Don’t expect a relaxing movie night. Expect theories, pathologies, and a bit of eye-rolling. Literally.

—

To Get Tickets to Wife & Death: You can visit Glaucomflecken.com/live

We want to hear YOUR stories (and medical puns)! Shoot us an email and say hi! knockknockhi@human-content.com

Can’t get enough of us? Shucks. You can support the show on Patreon for early episode access, exclusive bonus shows, livestream hangouts, and much more! – http://www.patreon.com/glaucomflecken

Also, be sure to check out the newsletter: https://glaucomflecken.com/glauc-to-me/

If you are interested in buying a book from one of our guests, check them all out here: https://www.amazon.com/shop/dr.glaucomflecken

If you want more information on models I use:

To learn more about how DAX Copilot can help improve healthcare experiences for both you and your patients visit aka.ms/knockknockhi.

Produced by Human Content

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Poop Question GI Doctors Are Tired of Hearing with Dr. Kaveh Hoda Apr 15, 2025

Show notes

In this episode we welcome back Dr. Kaveh Hoda—gastroenterologist, musician, podcaster, and accidental poop ambassador. We discuss what life is really like as a GI doc (spoiler: it’s not all about poop), how Match Day can go terribly wrong—or surprisingly right—and why some residents get influenced by... ultimate frisbee.

Kaveh also opens up about his path into medicine, his Persian music background, and his worst interview story (hint: it involves casual racism and a dental drill). But it wouldn’t be a Glaucomflecken episode without a little absurdity—like when we brainstorm ways for UnitedHealthcare to get even more terrifyingly vertically integrated.

Takeaways:

A heartfelt moment during CPR left Kristin questioning if med school was even worth it.

Will’s proposed test for letting your child go to med school involves a brutal prior auth simulation.

The NIH funding freeze isn’t just theoretical—it’s dismantling real labs, careers, and discoveries.

Medicaid cuts could gut healthcare access and destabilize emergency departments across the country.

Ortho Bro has very strong opinions on which bones are real, fake, or just embarrassing.

—

Want more Dr. Kaveh Hoda:

BlueSky: @kavehmd

The House of Pod: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-house-of-pod/id1225096382

To Get Tickets to Wife & Death: You can visit Glaucomflecken.com/live

We want to hear YOUR stories (and medical puns)! Shoot us an email and say hi! knockknockhi@human-content.com

Can’t get enough of us? Shucks. You can support the show on Patreon for early episode access, exclusive bonus shows, livestream hangouts, and much more! – http://www.patreon.com/glaucomflecken

Also, be sure to check out the newsletter: https://glaucomflecken.com/glauc-to-me/

If you are interested in buying a book from one of our guests, check them all out here: https://www.amazon.com/shop/dr.glaucomflecken

If you want more information on models I use:

To learn more about how DAX Copilot can help improve healthcare experiences for both you and your patients visit aka.ms/knockknockhi.

Produced by Human Content

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Knock Knock Eye: Dr. Mike vs. Anti-Vaxxers: What Went Down on Surrounded? Apr 10, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, I dive into a mix of strange eye conditions, pop culture moments, and one very public showdown between a doctor and a group of anti-vaxxers on Jubilee’s Surrounded. But beyond the headlines, there’s a deeper conversation here—about what it costs to stay online, stay visible, and speak up. You’ll laugh, you’ll cringe, and you might even check your eyelids before bed.

Takeaways:

A Surprisingly Common Condition You’ve Probably Never Heard Of:

It flips, it flops, and it might be the reason you wake up with irritated eyes.

A Debate That Left More Than a Mark:

What happens when a doctor faces off with misinformation... for hours? The emotional fallout might surprise you.

Engaging Online: Heroic or Hopeless?

Dr. Flanary asks the uncomfortable question: Is fighting misinformation on social media actually helping—or just draining the people trying to help?

Sci-Fi Fails a Real-World Eye Test:

Those high-tech retinal scanners in movies? There’s one big flaw they forgot to mention—and it could keep you out of your own evil lair.

Trauma, TV, and Why It Might Still Be Worth Watching:

One gritty show might be getting people into medicine… but is that a good thing?

—

To Get Tickets to Wife & Death: You can visit Glaucomflecken.com/live

We want to hear YOUR stories (and medical puns)! Shoot us an email and say hi! knockknockhi@human-content.com

Can’t get enough of us? Shucks. You can support the show on Patreon for early episode access, exclusive bonus shows, livestream hangouts, and much more! – http://www.patreon.com/glaucomflecken

Also, be sure to check out the newsletter: https://glaucomflecken.com/glauc-to-me/

If you are interested in buying a book from one of our guests, check them all out here: https://www.amazon.com/shop/dr.glaucomflecken

If you want more information on models I use:

To learn more about how DAX Copilot can help improve healthcare experiences for both you and your patients visit aka.ms/knockknockhi.

Produced by Human Content

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Glauc Talk: Real Bone or Fake Bone? Ortho Bro Decides! Apr 08, 2025

Show notes

In this episode we ask a deceptively simple question: Would you let your kid become a doctor? What starts as a heartfelt reflection on medicine, sacrifice, and identity quickly unravels into a chaos-filled ride through policy disasters, parenting hypotheticals, and bone-based controversy.

We touch on the NIH budget freeze and massive proposed Medicaid cuts—and why they’re not just headlines, but real threats to research, residency programs, and patients. Will also pitches a darkly hilarious “prior auth simulation” to anyone considering med school.

And just when things start getting too serious… Ortho Bro shows up. With strong takes and stronger forearms, he’s here to settle the great debate once and for all: What counts as a real bone? (Sorry, teeth.)

Healthcare is a mess, bones are controversial, and nobody is safe from Ortho Bro’s tier list.

Takeaways:

A heartfelt moment during CPR left Kristin questioning if med school was even worth it.

Will’s proposed test for letting your child go to med school involves a brutal prior auth simulation.

The NIH funding freeze isn’t just theoretical—it’s dismantling real labs, careers, and discoveries.

Medicaid cuts could gut healthcare access and destabilize emergency departments across the country.

Ortho Bro has very strong opinions on which bones are real, fake, or just embarrassing.

—

We have an active survey going. Hope you participate here: http://glaucomflecken.com/survey

To Get Tickets to Wife & Death: You can visit Glaucomflecken.com/live

We want to hear YOUR stories (and medical puns)! Shoot us an email and say hi! knockknockhi@human-content.com

Can’t get enough of us? Shucks. You can support the show on Patreon for early episode access, exclusive bonus shows, livestream hangouts, and much more! – http://www.patreon.com/glaucomflecken

Also, be sure to check out the newsletter: https://glaucomflecken.com/glauc-to-me/

If you are interested in buying a book from one of our guests, check them all out here: https://www.amazon.com/shop/dr.glaucomflecken

If you want more information on models I use:

To learn more about how DAX Copilot can help improve healthcare experiences for both you and your patients visit aka.ms/knockknockhi.

Produced by Human Content

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Knock Knock Eye: I Had a Surgical Complication—Here’s How I Dealt With It Apr 03, 2025

Show notes

In this episode I share one of the more difficult days in the OR—when a routine cataract surgery didn’t go according to plan. I walk through the moment everything shifted, how I kept my cool, and what came after—both technically and emotionally. If you’ve ever wondered what it feels like to be a surgeon in that moment, this episode is a rare, honest window into it.

Takeaways:

Sometimes, Even “Routine” Surgeries Aren’t: Dr. Flanary opens up about a recent case that didn’t go as expected—and why even years into practice, there are still moments that test every skill you’ve got.

Staying Calm When Things Go Sideways: When a complication unfolds in real time, there’s no time to panic. Dr. Flanary shares how he handled a challenging situation, and what surgeons learn to do when instincts and training have to carry the moment.

Confidence Doesn’t Mean Perfection: Through a powerful metaphor, Dr. Flanary reflects on how surgical confidence evolves—not as certainty that nothing will go wrong, but as the ability to keep moving when it does.

Conversations After Complications Matter: How do you talk to a patient—and their family—when the procedure didn’t go exactly as planned? Dr. Flanary talks about how he approaches these moments with honesty and trust.

The Policies Behind the Pressure: In a classic healthcare rant, Dr. Flanary traces how systems like Medicare Advantage add stress behind the scenes—and why real reform, especially around PBMs, can’t come soon enough.

—

We have an active survey going. Hope you participate here: http://glaucomflecken.com/survey

To Get Tickets to Wife & Death: You can visit Glaucomflecken.com/live

We want to hear YOUR stories (and medical puns)! Shoot us an email and say hi! knockknockhi@human-content.com

Can’t get enough of us? Shucks. You can support the show on Patreon for early episode access, exclusive bonus shows, livestream hangouts, and much more! – http://www.patreon.com/glaucomflecken

Also, be sure to check out the newsletter: https://glaucomflecken.com/glauc-to-me/

If you are interested in buying a book from one of our guests, check them all out here: https://www.amazon.com/shop/dr.glaucomflecken

If you want more information on models I use:

Anatomy Warehouse provides for the best, crafting custom anatomical products, medical simulation kits and presentation models that create a lasting educational impact. For more information go to Anatomy Warehouse DOT com. Link: Anatomy Warehouse Plus for 15% off use code: Glaucomflecken15

To learn more about how DAX Copilot can help improve healthcare experiences for both you and your patients visit aka.ms/knockknockhi.

Produced by Human Content

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Glauc Talk: What’s Going On Inside the Emergency Medicine Doctor’s Head? Apr 01, 2025

Show notes

In this episode we are joined by a long-awaited guest—the one, the only, Emergency Medicine Doctor. Known for his mile-a-minute energy, caffeine addiction, and refusal to slow down, he makes his first-ever in-person podcast appearance… and it’s just as chaotic as you’d expect.

Takeaways:

He’s caffeinated. He’s chaotic. And now he’s got a microphone.

What happens when a fictional ER doctor enters a real podcast studio?

We tested ChatGPT’s joke-writing abilities… and the results were cringe.

Batman might belong in the ER—but not for the reason you think.

Some patients say wild things under sedation. One of them proposed.

—

We have an active survey going. Hope you participate here: http://glaucomflecken.com/survey

To Get Tickets to Wife & Death: You can visit Glaucomflecken.com/live

We want to hear YOUR stories (and medical puns)! Shoot us an email and say hi! knockknockhi@human-content.com

Can’t get enough of us? Shucks. You can support the show on Patreon for early episode access, exclusive bonus shows, livestream hangouts, and much more! – http://www.patreon.com/glaucomflecken

Also, be sure to check out the newsletter: https://glaucomflecken.com/glauc-to-me/

If you are interested in buying a book from one of our guests, check them all out here: https://www.amazon.com/shop/dr.glaucomflecken

If you want more information on models I use:

Anatomy Warehouse provides for the best, crafting custom anatomical products, medical simulation kits and presentation models that create a lasting educational impact. For more information go to Anatomy Warehouse DOT com. Link: Anatomy Warehouse Plus for 15% off use code: Glaucomflecken15

To learn more about how DAX Copilot can help improve healthcare experiences for both you and your patients visit aka.ms/knockknockhi.

Produced by Human Content

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Knock Knock Eye: The Pitt: Is This the Most Realistic Medical Show Ever? Mar 27, 2025

Show notes

In this episode I dive deep into the chaotic world of Match Day, exploring the emotional rollercoaster for medical students who match—and those who don’t. I share insights into why family medicine and pediatrics residency spots are going unfilled at alarming rates and what this means for the future of primary care. I also review the medical drama The Pitt, breaking down one of its most realistic emergency eye trauma scenes—complete with a lateral canthotomy and high-pressure eye injuries.

Takeaways:

Match Day is one of the most stressful times in a medical student’s life, and not matching doesn’t mean your career is over.

Family medicine and pediatrics residency spots are going unfilled, raising concerns about the future of primary care.

The Pitt is one of the most medically realistic shows, and its portrayal of emergency eye trauma is surprisingly accurate.

Medical education is becoming increasingly unaffordable, and debt is pushing students away from lower-paying but essential specialties.

ER doctors need to know how to handle emergency eye procedures, including lateral canthotomies and managing high-pressure eye trauma.

—

We have an active survey going. Hope you participate here: http://glaucomflecken.com/survey

To Get Tickets to Wife & Death: You can visit Glaucomflecken.com/live

We want to hear YOUR stories (and medical puns)! Shoot us an email and say hi! knockknockhi@human-content.com

Can’t get enough of us? Shucks. You can support the show on Patreon for early episode access, exclusive bonus shows, livestream hangouts, and much more! – http://www.patreon.com/glaucomflecken

Also, be sure to check out the newsletter: https://glaucomflecken.com/glauc-to-me/

If you are interested in buying a book from one of our guests, check them all out here: https://www.amazon.com/shop/dr.glaucomflecken

If you want more information on models I use:

Anatomy Warehouse provides for the best, crafting custom anatomical products, medical simulation kits and presentation models that create a lasting educational impact. For more information go to Anatomy Warehouse DOT com. Link: Anatomy Warehouse Plus for 15% off use code: Glaucomflecken15

To learn more about how DAX Copilot can help improve healthcare experiences for both you and your patients visit aka.ms/knockknockhi.

Produced by Human Content

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fighting Fentanyl Myths with Dr. Ryan Marino Mar 25, 2025

Show notes

In this episode we invite Dr. Ryan Marino, a triple-board-certified toxicologist, addiction specialist, and emergency physician known for his relentless battle against medical misinformation—particularly myths about fentanyl and drug policy onto the podcast to share his shocking experience of being targeted by Tucker Carlson, which led to online harassment, real-life threats, and even attempts to get him fired.

Takeaways:

The fentanyl “touch overdose” myth is still widely believed, despite overwhelming scientific evidence proving it’s impossible.

Tucker Carlson’s attack on Dr. Marino led to real-world harassment, job threats, and an online mob—highlighting the risks of fighting misinformation.

Social media is both a tool and a trap—it helps spread accurate medical information but also fuels toxic debates and misinformation.

Proposed laws targeting fentanyl analogs may actually hurt public health by criminalizing research into safer treatment options.

Doctors engaging in online advocacy can make a difference, but they also need support to withstand the backlash.

—

Want more Dr. Ryan Marino:

BlueSky: @ryanmarino.bsky.social

Instagram: @drryanmarino

YouTube: @RyanMD

We have an active survey going. Hope you participate here: http://glaucomflecken.com/survey

To Get Tickets to Wife & Death: You can visit Glaucomflecken.com/live

We want to hear YOUR stories (and medical puns)! Shoot us an email and say hi! knockknockhi@human-content.com

Can’t get enough of us? Shucks. You can support the show on Patreon for early episode access, exclusive bonus shows, livestream hangouts, and much more! – http://www.patreon.com/glaucomflecken

Also, be sure to check out the newsletter: https://glaucomflecken.com/glauc-to-me/

If you are interested in buying a book from one of our guests, check them all out here: https://www.amazon.com/shop/dr.glaucomflecken

If you want more information on models I use:

Anatomy Warehouse provides for the best, crafting custom anatomical products, medical simulation kits and presentation models that create a lasting educational impact. For more information go to Anatomy Warehouse DOT com. Link: Anatomy Warehouse Plus for 15% off use code: Glaucomflecken15

To learn more about how DAX Copilot can help improve healthcare experiences for both you and your patients visit aka.ms/knockknockhi.

Produced by Human Content

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Knock Knock Eye: The Southwest Airlines Debacle: A Warning for Medicine? Mar 20, 2025

Show notes

In this episode I go on a private equity rant, breaking down how corporate takeovers are ruining healthcare—just like they’ve wrecked other industries, including Southwest Airlines. I explain how profit-driven ownership models are prioritizing revenue over patient care, forcing doctors into impossible situations and leading to worse outcomes for everyone.

Takeaways:

Private Equity is a Disaster for Healthcare: Dr. Flanary explains how private equity firms take over medical practices, cut costs, reduce patient care quality, and flip them for profit, leaving physicians and patients suffering.

Southwest Airlines’ Private Equity Problem is a Warning: The downfall of Southwest’s customer-friendly policies is just another example of how corporate ownership ruins everything it touches—including medicine.

Orthopedic Surgeons Really Love Pickleball: While speaking at an ortho conference, Dr. Flanary witnessed a full pickleball tournament happening inside the exhibit hall—which, honestly, makes a lot of sense for ortho docs.

How ERs Handle Eye Emergencies: Not every ER has an on-call ophthalmologist, but level 1 and level 2 trauma centers are required to have one available 24/7—so if you have a serious eye emergency, that’s where you should go.

The Internet Really Wants to Talk About Spleens: After joking about replacing the spleen with a second liver, Dr. Flanary responds to fan concerns that spleens can “explode”, clearing up how spleen ruptures actually happen.

—

We have an active survey going. Hope you participate here: http://glaucomflecken.com/survey

To Get Tickets to Wife & Death: You can visit Glaucomflecken.com/live

We want to hear YOUR stories (and medical puns)! Shoot us an email and say hi! knockknockhi@human-content.com

Can’t get enough of us? Shucks. You can support the show on Patreon for early episode access, exclusive bonus shows, livestream hangouts, and much more! – http://www.patreon.com/glaucomflecken

Also, be sure to check out the newsletter: https://glaucomflecken.com/glauc-to-me/

If you are interested in buying a book from one of our guests, check them all out here: https://www.amazon.com/shop/dr.glaucomflecken

If you want more information on models I use:

Anatomy Warehouse provides for the best, crafting custom anatomical products, medical simulation kits and presentation models that create a lasting educational impact. For more information go to Anatomy Warehouse DOT com. Link: Anatomy Warehouse Plus for 15% off use code: Glaucomflecken15

To learn more about how DAX Copilot can help improve healthcare experiences for both you and your patients visit aka.ms/knockknockhi.

Produced by Human Content

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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