Volcanoes. Trees. Drunk butterflies. Mars missions. Slug sex. Death. Beauty standards. Anxiety busters. Beer science. Bee drama. Take away a pocket full of science knowledge and charming, bizarre stories about what fuels these professional -ologists' obsessions. Humorist and science correspondent Alie Ward asks smart people stupid questions and the answers might change your life.

Thyroidology (THYROID GLAND) with Kepal Patel

January 29, 2025 01:17:45 74.84 MB Downloads: 0

Sad? Cold? Hot? Wired? Blame the thyroid. In your throat there is a butterfly-shaped gland under a shield-shaped Adam’s Apple and it controls how you feel. We asked Thyroidologist and surgeon Dr. Kepal Petal of NYU Langone Hospital about everything from how to decipher TSH to T4 to T3, libido factors, radioactive cats, stress and thyroids, how diet can affect them, flim-flam and how being on TV might save your life. 

Learn more about Dr. Patel 

Follow NYU Langone Health on Instagram and YouTube

A donation went to The American Association of Endocrine Surgeons (AAES)

More episode sources and links

Smologies (short, classroom-safe) episodes

Other episodes you may enjoy: Diabetology (BLOOD SUGAR), Laryngology (VOICE BOXES), Trichology (HAIR), Evolutionary Anthropology (METABOLISMS), Environmental Toxicology (POISONS + TRAIN DERAILMENT)

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Editing by Mercedes Maitland of Maitland Audio Productions and Jacob Chaffee

Managing Director: Susan Hale

Scheduling Producer: Noel Dilworth

Transcripts by Aveline Malek 

Website by Kelly R. Dwyer

Theme song by Nick Thorburn