The Curious Clinicians

126 - A Third Circulatory System 29.05.2026 22min

What are the Hidden Pathways in the Human Body? This week, Avi fills us in on the science behind his New York Times Magazine article (link) describing the interstitium as our third circulatory system. We cover questions that he wasn't able to get to in the article and he fills us in on the story behind this (magazine) story! Audio edited by Clair Morgan of Nodderly.com. Resident Giancarlo Buonomo and medical student Millennium Manna are our producers.

125 - Why Comics? 13.05.2026 36min

This week, we talk with Dr. Grace Farris, who is a hospitalist and the author of See One, Do One, Teach One: The Art of Becoming a Doctor: A Graphic Memoir. We explore how she got into comic-drawing, her advice for people who want to explore storytelling about medicine through comics, and some of the backstory behind the book!

Why Does Umami Taste So Good? 29.04.2026 21min

Today, we are rebooting an absolute classic from way back in our catalog - episode 9. Avi teaches us about the biology behind the taste of umami and why we might have evolved to find it so delicious. Show notes for the episode are a very long scroll down our website, or you can find them here: https://curiousclinicians.com/2020/09/16/episode-9-why-is-umami-so-delicious/ We'll be back in 2 weeks in discussion with doctor and illustrator Grace Ferris!

124 - One of the Fastest Reactions in the Human Body 09.04.2026 24min

Why don't interstitial lung disease patients typically get increased pCO₂? The answer involves one of the fastest chemical reactions in the human body. Click here for show notes and click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 hours). Audio edited by Clair Morgan of Nodderly.com. Resident Giancarlo Buonomo and medical student Millennium Manna are our producers.

123 - Why-roid 20.03.2026 28min

In this neck(st) episode, Avi asks an isthmus-ing question: Why does an autoimmune antibody stimulate the thyroid in Graves disease? Click here for show notes and click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 hours). Audio edited by Clair Morgan of Nodderly.com. Resident Giancarlo Buonomo and medical student Millennium Manna are our producers.

[Archive] Irregularly Irregular 05.03.2026 29min

We apologize for the break in our regularly scheduled programming! This is a reboot of Episode 77, originally posted in September 2023, which asked: why is hyperthyroidism associated with atrial fibrillation? We will return with an adjacent thyroid-related topic in 2 weeks! Read the show notes here. Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 hours). Audio edited by Clair Morgan of Nodderly.com.

[Archive] More Right Than Left 26.02.2026 21min

This is a reboot of Episode 66, originally posted back in March 2023, where investigated why tricuspid valve endocarditis is more common in persons who inject IV drugs. Read the show notes here. Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 hours). Audio edited by Clair Morgan of Nodderly.com.

122 - When CRP Goes Missing 12.02.2026 30min

This week, Tony shares a morning report physiology pearl: Why do patients with active lupus have a low CRP? Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 hours). Audio edited by Clair Morgan of Nodderly.com. Resident Giancarlo Buonomo and medical student Millennium Manna are our producers.

Reboot! Bendopnea 23.01.2026 23min

Cold and flu season greetings from the Curious Clinicians! We hope you all are cold-free, but we were unfortunately under the weather this week. In honor of our "heme boards" series from Hannah's PGY-6 year, we decided to reboot this PGY-1 "intern question" that taught us all a new word. We will be back in 2 weeks with our regularly scheduled new episodes! Show notes for this episode are here!

121 - The Forgotten Factor 08.01.2026 39min

This week, Hannah shares the story of an overlooked piece of the coagulation cascade, beginning with a 1950s medical mystery: Why didn't John Hageman bleed? Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 hours). Audio edited by Clair Morgan of Nodderly.com. Resident Giancarlo Buonomo and medical student Millennium Manna are our producers.

120 - No Sleep for the Weary 12.12.2025 27min

This week, Avi shares the pathophysiology behind an important question: Why can't people with familial fatal insomnia fall asleep? Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 hours). Audio edited by Clair Morgan of Nodderly.com. Resident Giancarlo Buonomo and medical student Millennium Manna are our producers.

119 - While My Liver Gently Weeps 27.11.2025 26min

This week, Tony explores a fascinating, hospital rounds-ready question: Why does cirrhosis cause low SAAG ascites? You can read the show notes here! Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 hours). Audio edited by Clair Morgan of Nodderly.com. Resident Giancarlo Buonomo and medical student Millennium Manna are our producers.

118 - Extremophiles 12.11.2025 24min

This week, Avi follows up Episodes 112 and 114 with the question: How does a bacterial species called Deinococcus radiodurans withstand extreme levels of radiation? You can read the show notes here! Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 hours). Audio edited by Clair Morgan of Nodderly.com. Resident Giancarlo Buonomo and medical student Millennium Manna are our producers.

117 - The Body A-Z with Dr. Mike Todorovic 29.10.2025 45min

This week, Dr. Mike Todorovic returns as a special guest to tell us about his book with Dr. Matt Barton, The Body A-Z! Join us as Dr. Mike gives us a sneak preview of the interesting questions and fascinating insights within. You can order the book here, and show notes for this episode are here! Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 hours). Audio edited by Clair Morgan of Nodderly.com. Resident Giancarlo Buonomo and medical student Millennium Manna are our producers.

116 - Ammonia Rising 08.10.2025 29min

This week, Tony brings us a question straight from the hospital wards: Why does valproic acid cause elevated ammonia? You can read the show notes here! Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 hours). Audio edited by Clair Morgan of Nodderly.com. Resident Giancarlo Buonomo and medical student Millennium Manna are our producers.

115 - The Art of the Question with Dr. Mark Shapiro 25.09.2025 46min

This week, Dr. Mark Shapiro joins us for a candid conversation about the art of the question. Join us to think through how we interview, how to make connections, and how curiosity translates in the clinic and beyond. You can read the show notes here! Audio edited by Clair Morgan of Nodderly.com. Resident Giancarlo Buonomo and medical student Millennium Manna are our producers.

114 - The Mold that Eats Radiation for Breakfast 10.09.2025 24min

This week, Avi follows up Episode 112 with the question: What's with the black mold growing inside Chernobyl? You can read the show notes here! Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 hours). Audio edited by Clair Morgan of Nodderly.com. Resident Giancarlo Buonomo and medical student Millennium Manna are our producers.

Reboot! Hyperkalemia 20.08.2025 27min

This week, we bring back a classic question for new interns and old hats alike: Why do we give calcium in hyperkalemia? You can read the show notes here! Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 hours). Audio edited by Clair Morgan of Nodderly.com. Resident Giancarlo Buonomo and medical student Millennium Manna are our producers.

113 - From Vessel to Bone 06.08.2025 25min

This week, Tony poses a hard question: Why does calcium deposit in blood vessels? You can read the show notes here! Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 hours). Audio edited by Clair Morgan of Nodderly.com. Resident Giancarlo Buonomo and medical student Millennium Manna are our producers.

112 - Wherefore Iodine? 23.07.2025 28min

This week, Avi asks: Why was iodine given to people exposed to radioactivity after Chernobyl? You can read the show notes here! Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 hours). Audio edited by Clair Morgan of Nodderly.com. Resident Giancarlo Buonomo and medical student Millennium Manna are our producers. This episode was sponsored by FIGS. FIGS is offering 15% off your first purchase. Just go to wearfigs.com and use the code FIGSRX at checkout