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PODCAST

Joyful Microbe

Justine Dees, PhD

All about the microbes we encounter in our daily lives (with or without realizing it). The Joyful Microbe podcast helps you see how bacteria, fungi, viruses, archaea, and protozoa live everywhere around us and constantly impact our lives. Host Justine Dees, PhD talks to microbiology experts of all kinds to share the amazing variety of these fascinating microorganisms. Usually, we think of infections, but microbiology is SO MUCH MORE THAN THAT.

science life sciences

All Episodes

46:53

Microbes & health, forensic microbiology, and...

Joyful Microbe ·

2023/03/30

Dr. Jake Robinson is a microbial ecologist at Flinders University and researches microbes, ecosystems, social equity issues, and ways to conserve and restore nature. He studies how microbes can benefit human health and not just cause disease. He is also the author of the new book Invisible Friends. He came on the podcast to discuss a variety of topics, including the following:The importance of microbes for building a strong immune systemBalancing microbial exposure and targeted hygieneHow microbes

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21:19

Microbiology Education Ideas and Tips From The Joyful...

Joyful Microbe ·

2022/10/18

We are celebrating, microbe friends! This month marks the 4th anniversary of Joyful Microbe!!! I’ve had such a blast creating articles, podcast episodes, and other resources to help you enjoy microbes in your daily lives and spread knowledge about the microbial world with others.In this episode, I’m featuring ideas and tips about microbiology education from folks in the Joyful Microbe Community! You all came up with some great ideas: fun ways you’ve explored or learned about the microbial world at

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57:36

How To Nurture Your Skin Microbiome: Dr. Julie...

Joyful Microbe ·

2022/09/30

A vast number of microbes live on our skin, in our gut, and almost everywhere else you can imagine on and in our bodies. Collectively, these microbes are called the human microbiome and play a crucial role in our health and well-being. Different locations on our bodies contain a specific set of microbes, which are individual microbiomes, i.e., the gut microbiome, skin microbiome, and oral microbiome. The skin microbiome is a relatively less researched microbiome on our bodies but is incredibly

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37:35

What is a tardigrade?

Joyful Microbe ·

2022/08/05

Tardigrades are beloved microorganisms. These little water bears hide in moss, lichen, and bark of trees. When kids discover tardigrades, it often sparks an interest in science. If you haven’t personally experienced finding a tardigrade under the microscope, I promise it makes a significant impact.In this podcast episode, you’ll get the chance to learn about tardigrades from Dr. Sandeep Eswarappa, who studies these delightful organisms in his laboratory. After listening to the interview, you’ll see

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66:15

The Microbiology of Fermented Foods: Dr. John Leech

Joyful Microbe ·

2022/05/25

Fermented foods like beer, wine, bread, sauerkraut, yogurt, and kombucha are delicious to eat and fun to make at home. And we can give credit to microbes for the wonderful flavors of these foods. The process of fermentation is when microbes transform food so that it extends its shelf life, improves the taste, or makes it beneficial to consume. In this podcast episode, I talk with Dr. John Leech, a scientist who studies fermented foods at MASTER, APC, Teagasc, and University College Cork in Ireland

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61:24

Microbiology Activities for High School Students:...

Joyful Microbe ·

2022/04/28

The K-12 curriculum does not cover microbiology much at all. But this area of science matters. Children need a complete understanding of the microorganisms that play roles in our health, like the microbiome, and diseases, like germs. That way, they’ll carry these concepts into adulthood, ultimately helping keep them healthier.Despite the lack of microbiology education in K-12, some high schools offer full microbiology courses. So, to learn more about what it’s like teaching microbiology at the K-12

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51:42

Micronovo’s Microbiology Books for Kids: Dr. Mike...

Joyful Microbe ·

2022/03/25

How do you explain microbiology to a child? It’s an abstract topic since you can’t readily see microbes due to their size. So, to help your kids visualize microbes, you can read them a children’s book specifically about microbiology. I’ve featured a few excellent microbiology books for kids before on Joyful Microbe. But after I found out about Dr. Mike Manefield, a microbiologist who writes children’s microbiology books, I knew I needed to chat with him. He’s a full-time professor at the University

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40:02

Painting with colorful antibiotics from bacteria: Dr....

Joyful Microbe ·

2022/02/28

The words bacteria and beauty are not usually associated. But some bacteria make beautiful colors that span the entire rainbow. And one type of bacteria called Streptomyces coelicolor makes an antibiotic with a lovely blue pigment. This blue-colored antibiotic, called actinorhodin, inspired microbiologist Dr. Vineetha Zacharia, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of California, Berkeley studying this soil bacterium, to use it like watercolor paint to create art. So, read on or listen to the

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40:56

The superpowers of bacteria: Dr. Sarah Wettstadt...

Joyful Microbe ·

2022/01/25

Dr. Sarah Wettstadt is the founder of the BacterialWorld blog and loves sharing about bacteria and all of the amazing things they do in the world. So I know you’ll enjoy hearing this episode where we talk about the superpowers bacteria have and how bacteria can help us save the world.In this episode, you will learn about…4 bacterial superpowers3 ways bacteria can help save the planetHow bacteria impact our daily livesWhy not all microbes are badJOYFUL MICROBE SHOW NOTES:

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22:45

Geosmin: the smell of soil and rain

Joyful Microbe ·

2021/10/19

If it rained where you are today, you may have noticed that delightful earthy smell. It’s wonderful, right? Well, you can thank microbes for making a chemical called geosmin.But what is geosmin, what microbes make it, and why? Here, I’ll answer those questions, share a few places you may encounter geosmin without realizing it, and hopefully not disappoint you too much when I reveal the context where geosmin can be a problem. After listening to this episode, you’ll be armed with detailed knowledge

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42:44

Space Microbiology: Marta Cortesão

Joyful Microbe ·

2021/09/21

The field of microbiology spans many areas of study, with some focusing on microbes living in different environments, like the ocean, the desert, the soil, and...space. Microbes actually can survive in space.But what types of microbes do this? And how? So, I talked with space microbiologist Marta Cortesão about her research and asked her these questions about microbes that live in space.In this episode, you will learn about…What space microbiology isWhat kinds of microbes are in spaceSpace microbes

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69:27

Introduction to Lichens: Dr. Klara Scharnagl

Joyful Microbe ·

2021/08/16

What’s something from the microbial world you can go outside and almost be guaranteed to see? I’ll give you a hint. They are those gray, green, yellow, orange, red, and other colorful splotches on trees and rocks. I once even saw one while I was mountain biking. It was growing on an old boot! Those are lichens.But what are these things we call lichens? And what are they doing hanging out on rocks and other substrates that don’t move? That’s what we’ll talk about in this episode of the podcast

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53:57

How science art helps us understand microbiology: Dr....

Joyful Microbe ·

2021/07/19

We talk about microbes on this podcast. But let’s face it. If you don’t see a picture of them, it’s difficult to imagine what’s going on in the microbial world. That’s why microscopy is so helpful. It allows us to actually see the invisible communities of bacteria, fungi, algae, viruses, archaea, and protozoa.But sometimes, art does a better job of representing the microbial world and all of its intricacies and nuances. So that’s what my guest on the podcast, Dr. Lizah van der Aart, does. They

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67:47

Using viruses to battle superbugs (phage therapy):...

Joyful Microbe ·

2021/07/01

Imagine the last time you were sick and needed antibiotics...now imagine that you took the antibiotic, but the infection didn’t go away. The antibiotic didn’t work. And then the next one didn’t. And then the next one, all the way until none of them worked.It happens. And although I’ve never personally experienced this, I’d think it would be terrifying.What would you do? Recently, some doctors have started using viruses called bacteriophages (or phages for short) that can kill bacteria. It’s called

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61:07

Using microbes to treat infections: Dr. Brian Klein

Joyful Microbe ·

2021/06/16

What if doctors could use microbes to treat infections? It might seem counterintuitive at first because, well, aren’t the microbes the problem? Not really. Our bodies have microbes living in and on them, which is a good thing. These organisms, called the human microbiome, help keep us healthy. Because of the amazing benefits of having these microorganisms as a part of us, why couldn’t we try and take bacteria or other microbes that are considered “healthy” and use them to fix some of the problems we

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19:47

How Bacteria Cause Tooth Decay

Joyful Microbe ·

2021/06/02

The mouth is an ecosystem full of bacteria, fungi, and viruses, and protozoa. Although this ecosystem contains many different microbes, in this podcast episode, I’ll be focusing on bacteria. The human mouth is home to hundreds of bacterial species. But what role do they play in tooth decay? And how can we prevent it?In this episode, you will learn about…The oral microbiota: a microbial ecosystem in the mouthHow what we eat affects our dental healthHow brushing your teeth helps prevent cavitiesWhat

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61:38

What microbiologists do in their jobs: Shelli Nauman

Joyful Microbe ·

2021/05/19

When you picture a microbiologist, what do you imagine? Someone looking through a microscope? Maybe someone in a lab doing research? In your mind, are they wearing a white coat?Microbiologists work in so many different types of jobs. You might be surprised about some of the places you will find microbiologists working. So, I brought my friend Shelli Nauman on the Joyful Micobe podcast to share the various jobs she has had as a microbiologist. And though she currently works with infection-causing

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22:26

11 Audiobooks About Microbes

Joyful Microbe ·

2021/05/05

Do you love audiobooks? How about audiobooks about microbes?Finding time to sit down and read a book can be difficult. But audiobooks provide the perfect solution to this dilemma, allowing you to read books and learn on the go.It’s great that you can read books while doing the boring stuff like getting ready in the morning, doing the dishes, cleaning the house, or driving somewhere. So many options. With an audiobook playing, you can feel like you’ve used your time wisely. Discover a new

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55:30

How to spark interest in microbiology: Dr. Dave...

Joyful Microbe ·

2021/04/22

How do you get people interested in microbiology? Microbiology can be quite abstract since it is the study of organisms we most of the time cannot see without the aid of a microscope. Someone who has a passion for helping people discover a love for microbes is Dr. Dave Westenberg. I brought Dave onto the Joyful Microbe podcast because of his passion for microbiology education. He is a professor of Biological Sciences at Missouri University of Science and Technology, has a PhD in microbiology and

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63:15

Life in extreme locations: Dr. Adrienne Kish

Joyful Microbe ·

2021/04/07

Did you know that microbes live in some surprising places like hot springs, inside of salt, and at the bottom of the ocean?These organisms that love extreme environments are called extremophiles. Dr. Adrienne Kish is an Associate Professor of Microbiology at the National Museum of Natural History (Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle) in Paris, France. As an extremophile microbiologist, she studies how certain organisms on our planet can live in environments that we humans can’t. And really, we

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42 results

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