Knock Knock, Hi! with the Glaucomfleckens

Latest Episodes:

Knock Knock Eye: Something I Love and The Thing I Hate About Ophthalmology Apr 02, 2026

Show notes

Today, I’m putting on my "career counselor" hat to address the latest medical social media drama: a spine surgeon who decided to take a break from clinical practice just six months in to become a full-time content creator. While the internet is full of opinions, I’m sharing why I choose to stay in the game, even when YouTube decides to reclassify my skits and slash my ad revenue. For all you med students and residents watching, I’m breaking down why medicine is the ultimate "safety net" that gives you the freedom to create without the pressure of the algorithm.

After the break, we’re starting a new series called "Thing I Love, Thing I Hate." I’ll tell you why a simple stool in the OR convinced me to become an ophthalmologist and why cataract surgery remains the most rewarding 10 minutes of my day. Then, we’ll dive into the "Thing I Hate": Neurotrophic Keratitis. It’s a degenerative disease where your eye loses the ability to feel pain, which sounds like a superpower, but is actually a dangerous nightmare that can lead to permanent damage.

Takeaways:

The Illusion of Digital Freedom: Why relying on "owning" an audience on TikTok or YouTube is a risky bet compared to the stability of a medical degree.
The "Sitting Down" Advantage: How a single stool during a med school rotation can change the entire course of your career.
The 50+ LASIK Trap: Why you should be wary of "LASIK mills" and why cataract technology can actually do more for older patients than laser surgery.
The Danger of Comfortable Eyes: Why a lack of pain during a corneal infection is actually a red flag for a "sensitive" organ like the eye.
Cutting-Edge Nerve Repairs: How surgeons are experimenting with transplanting leg nerves into the eye to restore vision and feeling.

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

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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

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How One Family’s Christmas Morning Turned Into 9 Minutes of CPR with Ellie Breech Mar 31, 2026

Show notes

This week, the Glaucomfleckens connect with a fellow "co-survivor" whose Christmas morning took a harrowing turn from opening presents to performing life-saving chest compressions. Ellie Breach, a D1 goalkeeper for the Pittsburgh Panthers and NC State, shares the intense story of her father’s sudden cardiac arrest and the specific athletic training that kept her calm when "shit hit the fan" in her own basement.

The conversation dives deep into the "living wake" experience of the ICU, where Ellie discovered her reserved ER-nurse father was secretly the "grandpa of the ER" with two full sleeves of tattoos and a reputation for legendary patient tranquilizing. It’s a fascinating look at the clinical and emotional parallels between being a top-tier athlete and a medical professional, including why some specialties are famously described as "40 minutes of boredom followed by five seconds of terror".

Finally, Ellie discusses her new mission with "Hands on Hearts" and Project Adam, raising money to ensure that having an AED in the building actually matters.

Takeaways:

Why a D1 goalkeeper might be the most qualified person in the world to perform high-quality CPR.
The specific literary trivia point that proved to Ellie her father’s brain was "still in there" during recovery.
What a "Lucas device" is and why it might leave a patient with a broken back—even while saving their life.
The surprising reason why being a "terrible patient" actually makes you a better hospital visitor.
How a superstitious theory about the family dog and "medical demons" might explain Will's recent health streak.

—

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:

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.

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Knock Knock Eye: Can Oregon Stop this Corporate Takeover? Mar 26, 2026

Show notes

Usually, I’m teaching you about the finer points of ophthalmology, but today we’re looking at a real-world case study in "how to tank a hospital’s morale". We are heading to my home state of Oregon to discuss the PeaceHealth system and their decision to fire a group of 41 local emergency physicians who have served the community for 35 years.

I’m breaking down why this isn’t about money or performance, since the CEO admits those are fine, but looks a lot like retaliation for doctors who dared to speak up for their patients. We'll look at the "contract management groups" moving in, why they smell a lot like private equity, and how the Oregon Corporate Practice of Medicine Act might be the only thing standing in their way.

After we finish our lesson on hospital politics, we’ll move to the clinic for a new series: "Eye Conditions I Hate". First up is Pseudoexfoliation Syndrome, a "snow globe" disease that turns a standard cataract surgery into a high-stakes obstacle course.

Takeaways:

The Retaliation Curriculum: Why a 98% "no confidence" vote from nursing staff is the ultimate red flag for hospital leadership.
Decoding the "Med-Corp" Loophole: How out-of-state companies use "dummy corporations" to bypass local regulations and push out local doctors.
The Oregon Precedent: Why a 2025 state law might be the secret weapon doctors across the country need to fight corporate takeovers.
The "Snow Globe" Anatomy: A look at the fibrillar white flakes of Pseudoexfoliation and why they make your eye’s drainage system fail.
Pseudo vs. True Exfoliation: The rare history of "glassblower’s eye" and why we gave a common age-related disease such a confusing name.

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

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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

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Glauc Talk: How Do You Become a Space Doctor? Mar 24, 2026

Show notes

This week on Knock Knock, Hi, Will and Kristin stumble into one of the more unexpected parenting moments yet: discovering their teenager might want to become an astronaut. That leads to a surprisingly deep dive into what it actually takes to make it to space and the answer is… a lot. Think extreme environments, elite training, and possibly even medical school. Naturally, Will immediately begins researching astronaut pathways while Kristin begins quietly calculating the odds.

Then the conversation pivots to something even stranger: the science of smell.

Researchers are now experimenting with devices that could restore the sense of smell using electrical stimulation in the nose. Yes, that means scientists are literally shocking people’s noses in the name of research. The idea is to help people who lost their sense of smell from head injuries, infections, or COVID.

Along the way, Will explains how smell actually works, why losing it is more serious than most people realize, and why scientists are now trying to build the sensory equivalent of a cochlear implant… but for your nose.

Takeaways:

Astronaut training is even more intense than you think and there are surprisingly few paths that actually get you there.
Losing your sense of smell can dramatically affect quality of life, including mental health.
Scientists are experimenting with artificial smell technology, using electrical signals to help people detect odors again.
Some medical devices sound brilliant on paper… and very uncomfortable in real life.
Sometimes the most interesting conversations happen when kids start asking big questions about their future.

—

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:

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.

Go to Cozy Earth now for a Buy One Get One Free Pajama Offer from 1/25-2/8! Yes, go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠cozyearth.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ they are doing a BOGO pajama promo. Just use my Code: KNOCKKNOCKBOGO

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Knock Knock Eye: Where Is the Line Between Medical Comedy and Being Unprofessional? Mar 19, 2026

Show notes

Pull up a chair and grab your notebooks, because today I’m talking to you like it’s your first day of medical school. We’re seeing more "med-fluencers" than ever before, but our medical education system hasn’t quite caught up to the reality of TikTok and social media ethics. I’ve seen too many students and residents trip up lately, so I’m laying down the "Glaucomflecken Guidelines" for a successful, ethical career online.

We’re covering the "Number One Rule", which is a lot more than just avoiding HIPAA, and why you should never leave your jokes open to the audience’s interpretation. I’m even sharing a personal story about a video I had to delete after offending the DO community, because part of being a professional is knowing when to own your mistakes.

Later, we’ll move from the classroom to the clinic to discuss a "good-bad" TV show portrayal of a rare surgical complication called Posterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy. It’s a heavy case, but as future physicians, you need to know how to stay in a patient’s corner even when the clinical news is devastating.

Takeaways:

The "First Day" Curriculum: Why Will is stepping in to teach the social media professionalism that med schools are currently missing.
Avoid the "Hollywood Ending": Why medical content creators should never be subtle and how "beating people over the head" with your point prevents misinterpretation.
The "Where There’s Smoke, There’s Fire" Rule: How to recognize when a piece of content isn't landing and why a sincere apology is better than "backpedaling".
Research as a Professional Habit: Why accuracy in your skits is just as important as accuracy in your charts to protect your medical reputation.
The Resident’s Burden: Lessons from a difficult patient conversation at the VA about the "uncommon but devastating" reality of post-surgical vision loss.

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

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

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Why Did Physicians in Oregon Feel Forced to Strike? with Dr. Jennifer Lincoln Mar 17, 2026

Show notes

This week, Will and Kristin sit down with Dr. Jen Lincoln, OB-GYN, educator, advocate, and author of The Birth Book, for a conversation that goes way beyond the usual pregnancy advice.

Together, they unpack the internet’s favorite birth myths, from epidurals and exercise in pregnancy to IUD fearmongering and the idea that eating the “right” foods can somehow control how big a baby gets. Dr. Lincoln explains where so much of this misinformation comes from, why outdated practices still hang around, and what pregnant people actually deserve instead: context, evidence, and honesty.

They also get into the bigger picture, how little time patients often get in real appointments, how easily fear fills that gap, and why advocacy inside medicine can come with a real cost. Along the way, Dr. Lincoln shares stories from her own training, her experience speaking out during Oregon’s Providence strike, and what pushed her to write a book focused entirely on labor and delivery.

Takeaways:

Not all “common wisdom” about birth is actually backed by evidence and some of it should’ve been retired a long time ago.
Epidural myths are still everywhere, even though the real story is a lot more nuanced than the internet makes it sound.
Pregnant people are often expected to make huge decisions with incomplete information and that gap gets filled fast by fear.
IUD misinformation is still thriving online, even when the data says something very different.
Advocacy in medicine matters, but sometimes speaking up comes with consequences most people never see.

—

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:

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.

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Knock Knock Eye: My Official Medical Comedy Ladder Mar 12, 2026

Show notes

I saw a video from a dermatology resident asking people to stop making fun of dermatologists… and it got me thinking.

Why do certain specialties get roasted more than others?

So in this episode, I present something I’ve been mentally building for years: the medical comedy ladder. A hierarchy that explains who can make fun of who in medicine without accidentally starting a professional civil war.

Using three highly scientific criteria—ego, respect, and compensation, I rank specialties from the bottom of the comedy ladder to the very top. Along the way we talk about why primary care is the universal donor of medical jokes, why cardiologists have surgeon energy, and why dermatology might just be the safest target in medicine.

And yes… neurosurgeons are exactly where you think they are.

Takeaways:

The three surprisingly simple factors that determine where a specialty lands on the medical comedy ladder.
Why some specialties can joke about anyone above them, but not the other way around.
How compensation, public respect, and ego quietly shape the way doctors joke about each other.
Why dermatology ended up near the top of the ladder and why that actually proves the point.
The one specialty that sits firmly at the very top of the hierarchy (and probably won’t argue about it).

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

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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

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Glauc Talk: Why You Shouldn't Wear Contacts to a Protest? Mar 10, 2026

Show notes

After my recent pepper spray video unexpectedly hit 5–6 million views, we break down what actually happens to your eyes when exposed to pepper spray, what to do immediately, whether baby shampoo is your new best friend, and why milk absolutely does not belong anywhere near your corneas.

We also talk contact lenses (don’t wear them into situations where pepper spray is possible), corneal abrasions, how permanent scarring can happen, and why irrigation is the universal ophthalmology answer to almost everything.

Then we pivot into Southwest Airlines abandoning open seating and why apparently no one knows how to behave on planes anymore. Assigned seats, overhead bin warfare, and whether sitting in the back of the plane is actually safer.

And finally, we workshop a potentially revolutionary idea: what if after-visit summaries had jokes in them? Could AI make medical paperwork funny enough to actually read? Or are we just asking for dad-joke malpractice?

Takeaways:

Irrigation Is Everything: When it comes to pepper spray exposure, rinse early, rinse often, and please stop rubbing your eyes.
Milk Is Not an Eye Treatment: Even if it helps spicy food, it does not belong in your corneas.
Contacts Make Things Worse: Remove them after irrigation, not during peak panic.
Public Behavior Is Changing: Whether it’s protests or plane boarding, social norms feel… fragile.
Boring Medicine Might Need Humor: If patients don’t read after-visit summaries, maybe the problem isn’t the summary, maybe it’s the delivery.

—

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:

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.

Go to Cozy Earth now for a Buy One Get One Free Pajama Offer from 1/25-2/8! Yes, go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠cozyearth.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ they are doing a BOGO pajama promo. Just use my Code: KNOCKKNOCKBOGO

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Knock Knock Eye: What Did The Pitt Get Wrong About Conjunctivitis? Mar 05, 2026

Show notes

After reading your very disturbed (and very funny) comments, I briefly explore whether a large “package” might negatively affect figure skating rotational velocity.

Then we pivot to the eyeballs. The Pitt keeps delivering ophthalmology cases, so I break down gonorrhea conjunctivitis (yes, that’s a thing), what really happens when someone super-glues their eye shut, and why trimming eyelashes is sometimes the most heroic act in medicine.

Finally, we get into something far more serious: a routine clinic visit that revealed a pressure of 55 and one of the most devastating diagnoses in glaucoma, neovascular glaucoma. It’s a masterclass in ischemia, abnormal blood vessels, and when the goal of care shifts from saving vision to preserving comfort.

Takeaways:

Why gonorrhea causes “hyperacute” conjunctivitis and how it looks dramatically different from viral pink eye.
The reassuring truth about super glue in the eye (it’s the eyelashes, not the eyeball).
Why adenovirus still scares ophthalmologists more than most bacteria.
How a central retinal vein occlusion can quietly set the stage for neovascular glaucoma years later.
When a pressure of 55 isn’t a surgical emergency and why sometimes the right answer is comfort, not intervention.

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

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

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What Is a GI Psychiatrist? with Dr. Claire Brandon Mar 03, 2026

Show notes

This week we sit down with Dr. Claire Brandon, one of only a handful of GI psychiatrists in the country, to talk about something most of us learned in med school and then promptly never thought about again: the gut-brain axis.

Why does stress wreck your stomach?
Why do chronic GI conditions come with anxiety and depression attached?
Why does “it’s all in your head” miss the point entirely?

We talk about serotonin living in your intestines, inflammation affecting mood, why doctors struggle with gray areas, and how radical acceptance might actually be more powerful than another test.

We also get into what happens when medicine can’t “see” the problem and why that makes everyone uncomfortable.

Then, in true Knock Knock Hi fashion, we pivot from neuroscience to fecal transplants… and somehow land on a heated (but respectful) discussion about whether people should have kids.

Takeaways:

Your Brain and Gut Were Connected From Day One: Literally from embryology. This isn’t a trendy concept. It’s foundational biology we’re finally paying attention to.
Inflammation Doesn’t Stop at the Intestines: Autoimmune conditions, chronic GI disease, and mood disorders are more intertwined than most patients (and doctors) realize.
Invisible Symptoms Create Real Anxiety: When medicine can’t “see” the pathology, everyone feels unsettled, including physicians.
More Testing Isn’t Always the Answer: Sometimes decreasing hyper-focus on symptoms can actually reduce suffering.
The Gut Microbiome Is Just Getting Started: From depression to Parkinson’s research, we’re only beginning to understand how bacteria influence the brain.

—

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:

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.

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