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Oh Gross! — Science
Oh Gross!

Don’t let the “ick” factor hold you back—we get to the bottom of life’s toughest and grossest moments, so nothing is off-limits or unspeakable. So if you are tired of asking awkward questions on Social Media or spiraling down a misinformation Doctor Google rabbit hole, welcome to the Oh Gross! Community.
Ever wonder how many times the average person gets bitten by a spider? Or what to do about germs on a plane? We pull back the curtain on life’s most unnerving mysteries by having real conversations with science to takeaways—that help you face the “ick” with clarity (and maybe a laugh). So don’t worry about that fuzz on your fruit in the fridge or panic about what to put in your “Bug Out Bag” for emergencies. We do the research so you can skip the stress—and get the answers you didn’t know you needed. Each episode Kara, Jennie and Molly dive into a squeamish or scary subject, blending expert-driven interviews, practical tips, and plenty of personal stories and wit to help you handle whatever life (or your leftovers) throw your way. We explain the science, delve into the history, and debunk the misinformation so you can tackle life’s sticky realities with confidence. No topic is too taboo—and yes, we’ll even tell you how many times you’re likely being bitten by spiders in a year.
In each episode, journalist and crime expert Kara Kurcz investigates the questions you’ve always wanted to ask, scientist Jennie Wickham breaks down the methodology behind the answers, and pop culture guru Molly Lucas shares relatable anecdotes that make even the gross stuff easier to digest. Together, these three friends make sure listeners walk away informed, intrigued, and ready for whatever creepy-crawly scenario comes their way because knowledge is the best antidote to “gross.”
Tune in to Oh Gross—we’rer here to make life’s messy moments more manageable.

Copyright: © All rights reserved. 2024

Latest Episodes:

Welcome to Food Poisoning Season: Dr. Steve on the Holiday Germ Buffet Nov 13, 2025

Show notes

Was it food poisoning or the stomach flu? Infectious-disease expert Dr. Steve Threlkeld returns to Oh Gross! to unpack the real difference and why the “last thing you ate” isn’t always the culprit. We dig into the invisible fecal veneer, Dr. Steve’s unforgettable “painting the room” visualization, and a new favorite phrase you’ll hear in this convo: deer veneer. Gross? Yep. Useful? Totally.

Food poisoning vs. stomach flu: Timing, symptoms, incubation windows—how to actually tell them apart.
Common culprits & settings: Undercooked poultry, lukewarm buffets, sketchy prep zones, dicey leftovers.
Doctor’s advice: What to eat/drink, what to avoid, red-flag symptoms, and when to call a pro.
Kitchen hygiene upgrades: Smarter cutting board habits, fridge temps, cooling/reheating, and storage timelines.

Packed with real-world food safety tips, myth-busting, and a few “you’ll never unhear this” moments, this one might save your next potluck.
Follow Oh Gross! on Spotify, Apple Podcasts.

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The Viral Truth #2 - With Dr. Steve (Live Replay) Oct 09, 2025

Show notes

This Week on Oh Gross! — Recorded LIVE!
Nothing hit the cutting room floor—from Kara’s booger checks with Jennie to Molly’s Cologuard chat over cupcakes! The audience came ready with questions, and infectious disease expert Dr. Steve Threlkeld speaks about sickness, smell, and science.

Episode Highlights:

Losing your sense of smell: Why it happens, how to retrain your nose, and why nicotine patches are more myth than medicine.
The Tylenol debate: Does it really cause autism or neurodegenerative disorders?
First aid myths: Nivea cream or Noxzema? Here’s what you should (and shouldn’t) do.
Contagious confusion: How long are you really contagious? And what even is mycoplasma?
The shingles vaccine: Why you may—or may not—want to consider it.

0:00 - The viral truth

7:11 — Q1: Lost Smell After Illness—What Helps?

13:45 — Tylenol in Pregnancy: What Do Studies Say?

26:11 — Q2 (from Jennie's Husband): When Are You Most Contagious?

31:50 — Molly Pops In: Birthday Cupcakes + Cologuard

34:16 — Shingles 101: Who Needs Shingrix & Why

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The Viral Truth #1 - With Dr. Steve (Live Replay) Sep 24, 2025

Show notes

Missed our first Oh Gross! livestream? Catch the replay of The Viral Truth—where Kara and Jennie put infectious disease expert Dr. Steve Threlkeld on the spot to separate myth from medicine.

Ever heard these?

Butter soothes burns.
Cracking your knuckles causes arthritis.
Sleeping with the window open can give you Bell’s palsy.
Whiskey kills germs.
“Starve a fever, feed a cold.”

In this jam-packed live episode, Dr. Steve reveals which viral “truths” hold up—and which are nothing more than old wives’ tales. Funny, fast, and full of facts, this one’s perfect for anyone who’s ever Googled their way into a panic.

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REPLAY: The Thunder Down Under premiere episode Sep 17, 2025

Show notes

0:00 — Lice Have Sex On Your Head

8:12 — Meet Cleve Willis: Rock Guitarist & Owner of Still Hot Yoga

13:10 — Head Lice Vs. Pubic Lice

20:04 — Can You Catch Crabs In Yoga?

28:43 — A “Flying Crab” Causes Pubic Lice In The Eye

41:23 — How to Sanitize Things to Not Get Pubic Lice

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Fleas, Fungus & Flesh-Eaters: Dr. Steve Filters Fact from Fear Sep 10, 2025

Show notes

Fleas in Los Angeles. Deadly Vibrio oysters. Valley Fever dust storms. Even armadillos carrying leprosy. Don’t panic—we’ve got infectious disease expert Dr. Steve Threlkeld back to separate fact from frenzy.

In this jam-packed conversation, Kara, Jennie, and Molly pepper Dr. Steve with the latest health scare headlines and the questions we’re all secretly Googling:

What exactly is flea-borne typhus—and should L.A. pet owners worry
Why are oyster-related Vibrio infections popping up more often in the news?
How to tell Valley Fever from “just a cough,” and why knowing your region matters.
The nightmare case of screw-worms burrowing in humans (yes, really).
And the surprising truth about armadillos, bats, and rabies exposure.

00:00 — Burpgate and Terrifying News on TikTok

03:30 — Meet Dr. Steve + Why August was so “Diseasy”

06:03 — Fleas, Lice & Typhus 101 (from L.A. to Napoléon)

14:42 — What You Need to Know About Eating Oysters, Warm Seas & Valley Fever

39:00 — Screw Worms & What Animal Carries Leprosy (Spoiler Alert: Armadillos)

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Traveling With Kids: Stinky Cheese, Bees & Bidets Sep 04, 2025

Show notes

Ever tried dragging a six-year-old and an eleven-year-old 11 hours on a plane? Kara’s back from France with wild stories and a few fun lessons about traveling with kids... because they have zero filter. From shouting about stinky fromage to dramatic bee attacks, unsolicited anti-smoking PSAs, and the shock (and joy) of discovering bidets—this trip had it all.

In this episode we unpack:

The #1 thing parents really fear when traveling abroad (spoiler: it’s not jet lag).
The genius parenting hacks Kara wishes she’d known before boarding the plane.
Why giving your kids power over packing (and a checklist) might just save your sanity.

Whether you’re planning a family trip overseas or just want to laugh at someone else’s travel chaos, this episode is stuffed with tips and totally relatable parenting moments.

0:00 — First Impressions: Funny Stories from Kids' POV of France

5:55 — How to Curb the Culture Shock of Kids' Travel (Hint: Heads up the Stinky Cheese)

14:07 — Best of Bidets & How to Go Champagne Tasting with Kids

26:40 — Packing Smart as a Family, Travel Tips and What Should Go in Your “Magic Bag”

53:27 — Tucked in My Undies: A Wedding Guest Dress Disaster and More.

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Molluscum Madness, Beetlejuice + Bonus Best Of! Aug 06, 2025

Show notes

Those weird little bumps or holes on your kid’s skin? They might not be chickenpox, bug bites, or an allergy—they could be Molluscum Contagiosum, nicknamed the “summer fun virus” (spoiler: there’s nothing fun about it). Kara, Jennie, and Molly break down what molluscum really is, how it loves to spread during sweaty summer activities, and why those pesky bumps hang around much longer than parents bargain for.

From swim towels to soccer fields, we’re talking about the surprising (and kinda gross) ways molluscum makes its move. And yes, we finally explain the infamous “Beetlejuice” treatment that sounds spooky but is actually one of the safest doctor-approved fixes out there.

Key Molluscum Takeaways:

What molluscum contagiosum is, what it looks like, and the sneaky ways it spreads.
Why you should never attempt a DIY removal (seriously—leave the beetles where they belong).
The real deal on “Beetlejuice” and why dermatologists swear by it.
Smart prevention tips to stop molluscum from hijacking your kid’s summer.

And because we love a good gross-meets-fascinating mashup, stick around for a Bonus Best-Of featuring:

Dr. Pedram Ghasri with expert derm advice on skin safety and summer care.
Beef‑fat facials (yes, people actually do this for their skin).
Chris Wark’s inspiring journey from colon cancer survivor to health advocate—why he ditched processed foods, leaned into carrot juice and raw plants, and what he’s learned about detoxing from hidden toxins like microplastics. He shares practical wisdom on healing, stress, and living more intentionally.
And finally, a showdown with the so-called miracle solution for bug season: mosquito repellent bracelets. Do they actually work, or are they just another summer gimmick? Kara puts them to the test.

0:00 — Molluscum 101: Shiny Bump and Tiny “Holes”

3:53 — Spotting Molluscum: What it is Not and How it Looks

6:02 — Summer Spreaders: Pools, Wet Towels & How You Get “The Scum”

8:22 — Beetlejuice: Why Dermatologists Use Bugs.

15:19 — Best-of Clips: Skin-care Truths & What You Need to Know About Microplastics

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Caught Coldplay, Goop On Gwen & A Hip Hop Hero Jul 30, 2025

Show notes

This episode explores the idea of “gross oversight” and asks whether the Coldplay Caught On Cam story that won’t die is really about owning our actions—even when we’re caught.

Hip-hop legend Pretty Ken (Ken Stokes)—known for working with artists like Outkast, Jeezy, T.I., and CeeLo—joins host Kara Kurcz and co-hosts Jennie Lasater and Molly Brandenberger to break down the viral Coldplay kiss-cam and Gwyneth Paltrow’s PR pivot.

Fun Fact: Jennie and Ken are longtime friends. As a former Billboard-charting artist, Jennie first worked with Ken when she sang the hook on Jeezy’s "Rainy Days."

Just days before a tell-all book about her dropped, Gwyneth appeared as a spokesperson for Astronomer, sliding into the viral buzz with a message to “get back to business.”
Pretty Ken’s take: “If she were my client? I’d have told her to do exactly that.”
Ken brings behind-the-scenes industry insight as he and Kara unpack whether Gwyneth’s move was a clever deflection, accidental brilliance, or just part of life in the spotlight.
Plus, Ken shares wild backstage stories from his time on the road with hip-hop’s biggest names.

0:00 — Kiss Cam Scandal: Coldplay Concert Caught Cheating

6:06 — Meet Pretty Ken: Atlanta Hip Hop Icon (Outkast, Jeezy, T.I.)

9:27 — Expectations of Privacy: Do They Exist in Public?

13:03 — Celebrity PR Moves: Gwyneth Paltrow, Deflection & Damage Control

35:04 — Pretty Ken’s Gross Celebrity Story + Hilarious Studio Memories

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Adult Diapers, Lance Bass B'Day Surprise & Vegas Gross-outs: Plus a Bonus Best-Of! Jul 23, 2025

Show notes

Adult diapers are trending—no, seriously—they are not just for Times Square on New Year’s Eve anymore and Kara has A Story... Jennie gets the surprise of a lifetime from Kara with a birthday message from NSYNC’s Lance Bass. Then, while in Las Vegas she and Molly bump into Jenny McCarthy for some beauty confessions that belong in the Oh Gross! hall of fame.

This episode is full of surprises and favorite moments from past episodes!

Key Takeaways:

Adult diapers have multi-uses—and some are actually stylish now.
Parasites are real—and can come out of places you really wish they wouldn’t.
Bed bugs don't care about your 5-star hotel rating.
Gross toys were part of childhood, and we wouldn't have it any other way.
Being prepared isn't paranoid—it's practical.

0:00 — Summer Catch-Up + The Adult Diaper Confession

6:01 — Vegas Surprise: Lance Bass Birthday Message 🎶

8:21 — Jenny McCarthy Joins the Fun (Beauty, Makeup & an Eye Infection)

11:14 — Best-of Clips: Gross Toys of the ’80s: Garbage Pail Kids to Baby Alive

21:30 — Bed Bug Bites & Hotel Safety Tips with an Expert

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Summer Announcement and RE-RELEASE of Popstars, Tapeworms with Mama Jan Jul 02, 2025

Show notes

In this episode start with a summer announcement from Kara and the RE-RELEASE of this episode.

What happens on the Backstreet Boys tour bus definitely doesn’t stay on the tour bus. In this laugh-out-loud episode, Jennie and Molly dish on their pop star days, spilling the tea (and maybe some cringe-worthy truths) about a certain unexpected guest that hitched a ride: a tapeworm. Yep, you read that right—this isn’t your average behind-the-scenes story!

Jennie, Kara and Molly are also thrilled to welcome the legendary Mama Jan Smith, the Grammy-winning vocal coach behind music's biggest stars, for an inspiring and hilarious chat just in time for Thanksgiving. Mama Jan shares motivational gems that’ll warm your heart—and reveals her own ‘Oh Gross!’ moment featuring worms in a way only she can.

Tune in for all the laughs, the inspiration, and a few moments that’ll make you say, Oh Gross!

0:00 — Summer Announcement & The Music Icon Mama Jan

1:21 — Backstreet Boys Tapeworm Story

11:15 — Mama Jan Talks: Usher & More

23:35 — Saving Bieber’s Voice

42:00 — Sushi Parasites Explained: Anisakiasis, Tapeworm & Food Safety

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