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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:

Itchy Business: How to Navigate Pinworm Panic Jun 25, 2025

Show notes

Every time your little one scratches their butt, you don’t need to freak out—but you should investigate pinworms. As the most common parasitic infection in the U.S., pinworms often stay under the radar despite how easily they spread.

Kara, Jennie, and Molly get honest about how pinworms wriggle into your home (hint: nail biting is basically a worm expressway), why the classic tape test is the gold standard for pinworm diagnosis, and how racing thoughts at bedtime might be more than just too much screen time. And yes, even Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard have battled these unwelcome guests. We’ll walk you through the grossest symptoms—from “scratch-scratch, there it is” to restless nights—and equip you with proven hygiene habits, home-disinfection routines, and treatment options that actually work. No more letting pinworm infections hide in the dark—let’s get ahead of them (and yes, we’re talking about the fecal matter).

Key Takeaways

Nail biting and finger licking create a direct route for pinworm transmission.
The tape test is a simple, at-home way to confirm a pinworm infestation.
Itching around the anus and insomnia are red-flag symptoms of pinworms.
Pinworms spread easily within families—quick action stops the cycle.
Consistent handwashing, clean bedding, and targeted treatments are your best defense.

0:00 – Welcome to Oh Gross: Today’s Topic: Pinworms

1:31 – Pinworm Basics & Kristen Bell

4:07 – How Pinworms Spread

10:06 – Nighttime Butt Party: Why You Need a Flashlight & Tape.

16:45 – How to Treat and Clean Tapeworms

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Temper Talks: Why Anger is Not Taboo Jun 19, 2025

Show notes

This week on Oh Gross!, Kara, Jennie and Molly explore how anger is consistently mischaracterized as a bad emotion and get real about anger management and why “losing it” isn’t the shameful glitch we’ve been sold. This week's guest. licensed therapist, author and anger-management expert Anita Avedian—one of Kara’s own teachers—leads the conversation on how to smash the stigma around this vital emotion. Topics tackled about understanding your temper include:

Anger vs. Aggression
Master the critical split between an emotion and a behavior—your first step to healthier emotional regulation.
Taboo Trigger
Discover why even saying the word “anger” can spark defensiveness—and how normalizing it dissolves the shame.
Inside Out IRL
How that Pixar moment taught Kara to name her feelings—and how labeling rewires your brain for better mental health.
Body Alerts
From racing heartbeats to clenched jaws, learn the physical “red flags” your body sends before your mind catches on.
Unmasking Hidden Feels
Anger often masks hurt, fear, or shame—why curiosity trumps combativeness when you dig deeper.
Pause & Reset
Try our quick breathing hack (long exhale > inhale) to flip from reactive to responsive in seconds.

Plus: real-world tips for role-modeling emotional literacy with your kids, why digital screens turbocharge frustration, and the forgiveness trick that turns conflict into connection.

Stay curious, stay gross—and catch all the feels (not the shame) on Oh Gross!

9:03 — Anger as a Signal: Primary vs. Secondary Emotions

11:06 — Gender & Anger at Work: Why it is different for men and women.

23:11 — The Digital Age and Aggression: What You Need To Know About Screens.

40:07 — Rage vs. Aggression

42:14 — Anger Management Tools: Anger Logs, Triggers & Breathwork

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The Gross Truth About Why Our Brain Needs A Break Jun 11, 2025

Show notes

Mindfulness doesn’t end with Mindful May. Kara's former MBSR teacher Cassie Schindler returns to chat about how to find the version of meditation that works for you. In Part 2 of our mindfulness series, we dig into burnout, how our brain actually works, and what really happens in your nervous system when you pause—even for just 90 seconds.

Cassie walks us through a short, accessible guided meditation and shows how small “mind your moments” check-ins can reset stress before it snowballs. We also explore whole-brain living, mindful parenting, and why judgment—more than multitasking—is the sneakiest stress trigger.

In this episode you’ll get:

A practical guided meditation you can try between meetings
Tips to calm your nervous system during real-life chaos
The difference between a dopamine detox and a true reset
Kid-tested mindful-parent moves that actually land
A primer on whole-brain living and the right-brain path to more joy

Whether you’re grabbing a quiet breath in the carpool line or stepping away from an inbox avalanche, consider this your permission to pause—guilt-free.

0:00 — Mindfulness. Why It’s For Everyone and Every Month

2:46 — Start Small: Tiny Moments Can Be Mindful

7:30 — MBSR Explained: “Paying Attention… Without Judgment”

10:05 — 5-Minute Meditation: Breath Anchor & Body Scan (Don’t Drive While Meditating)

32:37 — Whole-Brain Living: Left vs. Right Brain & Jill Bolte Taylor’s “4 Characters”

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This Is Your Brain on Mindfulness (No Incense Required) May 28, 2025

Show notes

At Oh Gross!, we’re all about the stuff that makes people squirm—and sometimes, that includes sitting still with our own thoughts. In this episode, the team unpacks one of the most misunderstood words in mental health and wellness: mindfulness.

Kara, Jennie, and Molly are joined by mindfulness educator and MBSR (Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction) expert Cassie Schindler—the very person who first taught Kara how to practice mindfulness and helped launch her journey.

Together, they break down what mindfulness actually is—and what it definitely isn’t. No incense. No chanting. No pressure to be “calm all the time.” Just real talk about how mindfulness can support emotional regulation, reduce stress, and rewire your brain for resilience.

This conversation covers:
– The science behind mindfulness and how it improves brain function
– Why you can’t fail at mindfulness (really)
– What silent retreats, inbox anxiety, and baby mountain lions have in common
– Simple ways to start mindfulness without changing your whole lifestyle

Whether you're stressed, skeptical, or just curious, this episode offers a fresh, practical look at how mindfulness works—and why it’s more accessible (and powerful) than you think.

0:00 — Chaotic Week Recap: Tech Fails, School Mayhem & Why We Need Mindfulness

6:45 — Meet Cassie: MBSR Teacher Breaking Down Mindfulness Misconceptions

9:27 — You Can’t Fail at Mindfulness

20:03 — Cassie’s MS Story: And How She Found Mindfulness

37:03 — Start Mindfulness Today: Be Curious, Kind, Patient, an Example & Consistent

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You’re Married to Your Money—Whether You Like It or Not May 21, 2025

Show notes

We’re continuing our Mindful May series with a deeper, more honest look at your relationship with money. Certified financial planner and Everyone’s Talkin’ Money podcast host Shannah Game is back, with powerful mindset shifts and unexpected stories.

From giving your money shame a nickname (yep, it works) to recognizing how childhood experiences still influence your spending today, Shannah helps us unpack the emotional side of money management. She explains how guilt, anxiety, and societal expectations can trigger self-sabotaging habits—and what to do instead.

You’ll learn:

Why renaming your money shame helps take back control
How to create healthy boundaries without restriction or guilt
The surprising ways your inner child still shows up when you spend
How to use “money dates” to transform financial stress into confidence
Why fixing isn’t the goal—feeling is

This episode is money therapy in the best way: no spreadsheets, no shame—just real talk and simple tools that help you rewrite your money story.

0:00 — Money Makes Us Squirm

1:06 — Meet Shauna Game & “Money As A Relationship”

2:54 — Name Your Money Shame

8:54 — How One Couple went from $3–4K Over Budget Monthly to Buying A House

27:23 — Five Steps to Reset Your Money Relationship

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Why is Money a Dirty Word? May 14, 2025

Show notes

Let’s face it—most of us would rather talk about bed bugs, lice, or even what’s growing on our cutting boards before we’d dare bring up…money. So why is something that is a necessity so uncomfortable to talk about or discuss?

This week on Oh Gross!, we get real about financial shame, anxiety, and the stress of just splitting a dinner bill. Our guest is Shannah Game, Certified Financial Planner™, award-winning Money Wellness expert, author, and host of the Everyone’s Talkin’ Money podcast. Shannah’s mission is to break the silence around money—and help you do the same.

She shares judgment-free tips for untangling money drama, calming financial anxiety, and having honest conversations about cash without spiraling into shame. Because money isn’t gross—it’s just something we were never taught how to talk about.

In this episode, we cover:
– Why setting a weekly 15-minute “money date” (yes, just like a real date) can totally shift your financial stress
– How to cancel old subscriptions, catch weird charges, and stop dodging your bank balance
– Why clarity—not spreadsheets or guilt—is the real first step to feeling better about money

This Mindful May episode is here to help you take your power back—one tiny money habit at a time.

0:01 — Why Money Talk Is Taboo (Silence → Shame → Stress)

1:32 — Shauna Game & The Money–Mental Health Link

12:03 — Financial Forgiveness

26:31 — Money Dates: A 15-Min Ritual Can Change Your Financial Future

42:06 — Teaching Kids About Money

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Maycember Madness for Moms and finding Mindfulness in Moments May 08, 2025

Show notes

It’s Maycember—because let’s be real, this month is a second December for moms. Field days, graduation parties, teacher gifts, final projects, and 87 unread school texts… all while pretending we still have snack duty under control. But amidst the chaos, it’s also Mental Health Awareness Month—a perfect reminder to stop and breathe.

Kara (trained in MBSR and anger management facilitation) reminds us that mindfulness isn’t about doing more. It’s about noticing more. Defined simply, mindfulness is being present without judgment.

In this episode, Jennie and Molly learn how to find calm in the middle of the madness. Through mini self-checks and quizzes from Kara, they have unexpected revelations. Molly realizes she doesn’t need to schedule every second to be present. Jennie uncovers what it really means to release judgment and let the process be what it is.

From belting ballads in the car to stealing a moment alone in the shower (yes, it counts), they share how tiny, mindful moments can make all the difference. Because sometimes the calm isn’t out there—it’s already inside, waiting for a moment. You’ll laugh, relate, and maybe even give yourself a little grace.

As Kara says, “Life is made of moments—and they fly by.” So here’s your official permission to slow down… even if it’s just for 60 seconds.

0:00 — “Maycember”: Why May Feels Like December 2.0

2:26 — Mindfulness Defined: Present, Without Judgment

14:48 — Yes, Pooping Can Be a Mindful Boundary

22:25 — How Your Commute & Shower Can Be Mindful Moments

44:31 — Everyday Mindful Acts: Walk, Clean, Pet, Brush Teeth

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Martinis, Miracles, and a Moment with an Angel Apr 30, 2025

Show notes

Have you ever sensed a presence when no one was around, or heard a whisper in complete silence guiding you when you least expected it? We’ve talked a lot about healing on Oh Gross!—but never like this.

In this captivating episode of Oh Gross, we delve into the mystical and often unspoken experiences that many are hesitant to share openly. Kara’s husband Brian opens up for the first time about his battle with colon cancer—and the moment he believes saved his life. It wasn’t a treatment, a drug, or a doctor. It was something else entirely. Something no one can quite explain.

One night, alone in a hospital room, Brian had a visit. Not from a nurse. Not from a friend. From... something else. Call it an angel, a message, a miracle—whatever it was, it changed everything.

This is the story they’ve never told. It’s personal, a little wild, and surprisingly funny at times. So pour yourself a martini (or a green juice), and get ready to get chills.

0:00 — Are There Angels Among Us?

16:15 — Brian’s Angel Story & Colon Cancer

18:01 — “If You’re Here To Heal Me, I Accept It.”

20:08 — Thanksgiving: Cancer Clean

22:12 — Who Is Archangel Metatron?

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Crazy Camp Stories & Contraband Apr 23, 2025

Show notes

We didn’t win the Webby—but being nominated just five months in? That’s a big deal, and we’re beyond grateful. Now on to summer camp… and the chaos that comes with it. In this episode, Kara, Molly and Jennie dive into the hilarious—and sometimes horrifying—realities of sending kids off to camp.

From snacks hidden in stuffed animals to fake phones and unexpected first aid moments. The packing list alone can be dramatic, and stories you won’t hear in the brochure. BUT, Camp is still amazing and the best way for kids to do a digital detox and dig into some fun. Special guest Lori Waldman, owner of Camp Blue Ridge, returns with an unforgettable splinter tale.

If you’ve ever packed a duffel bag or cried at drop-off, this one’s for you.

0:00 — Oh Gross Podcast Nominated for Two Webbys

1:02 — How to Countdown for Camp

4:27 — Boozy Bus Stories from a Camp Owner

8:30 — Camp Contraband: Fake Phones to Sock Chargers

12:57 — Splinter Down Below: Craziest Camp Story Ever (Ouch)

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Your Brain On Microplastics with Chris Beat Cancer Apr 17, 2025

Show notes

We kick off this episode with a friendly reminder: Oh Gross! is nominated for a Webby Award—and we need your vote!

Then, Kara and Jennie dive into a conversation sparked by Molly’s Instagram post last week: How often should you really wash things like...your bra? (Spoiler: some folks say every 2–3 weeks… and yes, we have thoughts.) From deodorant habits to jeans-washing debates, spring cleaning gets real.

But then we shift gears. Kara sits down with Chris Wark, better known as Chris Beat Cancer, for a powerful talk about healing, health, and the rise of microplastics in our food, homes, and even our bodies. Chris and Kara first connected 15 years ago, when Brian (Kara’s husband) was diagnosed with the same cancer Chris had. Now, years later, they reunite to reflect on

everything they’ve learned—including the infamous carrot juice phase that turned Brian orange. Brian joins the conversation to give us his POV.

This episode gets into:

Why microplastics are everywhere (yes, even your brain)
Easy swaps to detox your kitchen and life
The surprising power of walking barefoot
And Chris’s top tips to take control of your health—without judgment

It’s honest, helpful, and hilarious in all the ways Oh Gross! does best.

0:00 — Why Spring Break Is So Long

2:24 — How Often Should You Clean? Shower Heads to Jeans

8:55 — Microplastics 101 What is in our Water?

11:16 — Chris Wark: How Chris Beat Cancer: Simple, Free Steps that Heal

1:00:14 —Why Turning Orange Can Be Good: Earthing & Easy Plastic Swaps

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