Sick to Death: A History of Medicine in 10 Objects

The Modern World

In the final episode of our brand-new podcast series, historian and host Rebecca Rideal is joined by Sick to Death’s very own Dean Paton, as well as experts Professor Barry Doyle, Julie Mathias, Stephen McGann, Dr Kat Arney and Dr Jacob Steere-Williams, to investigates medical achievements of the mid and late 20th century - from the NHS to the WHO. Today’s object is a NHS issued insulin syringe. 

Written and produced by Rebecca Rideal. Edited and produced by Peter Curry. Theme music: “Time” by The Broxton Hundred.

The podcast is brought to you by Sick to Death, an exciting new medical museum in the heart of historic Chester.

War and Disease

In the penultimate episode of our brand-new podcast series, historian and host Rebecca Rideal is joined by Sick to Death’s very own Dean Paton, as well as experts Paul Reed, Dr Jacob Steere-Williams and Dr Tessa Dunlop, to investigates medical challenges and innovations during the First and Second World Wars. We also shine a light on the Third Plague Pandemic. Today’s object is a Second World War medical kit.

Written and produced by Rebecca Rideal. Edited and produced by Peter Curry. Theme music: “Time” by The Broxton Hundred.

The podcast is brought to you by Sick to Death, an exciting new medical museum in the heart of historic Chester.

Shock of the New

In the eighth episode of our brand-new podcast series, historian and host Rebecca Rideal is joined by Sick to Death’s very own Dean Paton, as well as experts Dr Deborah Brunton, Professor Kate Williams, Dr Lindsey Fitzharris, Dr Anton Howes, and Dr Subhadra Das. This episode explores nineteenth century innovations, discoveries, and looks at key figures such as Elizabeth Garrett Anderson and Joseph Lister. Today’s object is a model of smoke damaged lungs. Today’s object is an electric shock therapy machine.

Written and produced by Rebecca Rideal. Edited and produced by Peter Curry. Theme music: “Time” by The Broxton Hundred.

The podcast is brought to you by Sick to Death, an exciting new medical museum in the heart of historic Chester.

Industrial Revolution

In the seventh episode of our brand-new podcast series, historian and host Rebecca Rideal is joined by Sick to Death’s very own Dean Paton, as well as experts Dr Deborah Brunton, Julie Mathias, Stephen McGann, Dr David Turner and Dr Jaipreet Virdi. We’ll explore the ways in which the Industrial Revolution transformed public health, brought disability rights to the fore, and wreaked havoc on urban health. Today’s object is a model of smoke damaged lungs.

Written and produced by Rebecca Rideal.

Edited and produced by Peter Curry. 

The podcast is brought to you by Sick to Death, an exciting new medical museum in the heart of historic Chester.

Theme music: “Time” by The Broxton Hundred.

The Vaccine

In the sixth episode of our brand-new podcast series, historian and host Rebecca Rideal is joined by Sick to Death’s very own Dean Paton, as well as experts Elise Mitchell, Owen Gower, Professor Kate Williams and Dr Lindsey Fitzharris. Focusing on smallpox, we tell the fascinating story of vaccinations. Today’s ‘object’ is St Michael’s Church, Chester.

Written and produced by Rebecca Rideal.

Edited and produced by Peter Curry.

Theme music: “Time” by The Broxton Hundred

The podcast is brought to you by Sick to Death, an exciting new medical museum in the heart of historic Chester.

The Global Exchange of Medicine and Disease

In the fifth episode of our brand-new podcast series, historian and host Rebecca Rideal is joined by Sick to Death’s very own Dean Paton, as well as experts Elise Mitchell, Dr James Brown, Dr Kim Walker, Professor Manuel Barcia Paz and Dr Rohan Deb Roy to investigate how medicine and disease traveled around the globe. Focusing on the transatlantic slave trade and the story of malaria and quinine, we’ll shine a light on medicine during early modern globalization. Today’s objects are tea and coffee.

Written and produced by Rebecca Rideal.

Edited and produced by Peter Curry.

Theme music: “Time” by The Broxton Hundred

The podcast is brought to you by Sick to Death, an exciting new medical museum in the heart of historic Chester.

*Warning: this episode contains content some listeners might find disturbing*

Early Modern Medicine

In the fourth episode of our brand-new podcast series, historian and host Rebecca Rideal is joined by Sick to Death’s very own Dean Paton, as well as experts Julie Mathias, Dr Lara Thorpe, Dr Wanda Wyporska, Luke Pepera and Dr Anton Howes to investigate medicine during the early modern period. Forget the Tudors, the big story during this time is the movement of medical thinking away from Galen. Today’s object is a life-size replica of Andreas Vesalius’s Hanging Man.

Written and produced by Rebecca Rideal.

Edited and produced by Matt Pearson.

Theme music: “Time” by The Broxton Hundred

The podcast is brought to you by Sick to Death, an exciting new medical museum in the heart of historic Chester.

The Black Death

In the third episode of our brand-new podcast series, historian and host Rebecca Rideal is joined by Sick to Death’s very own Dean Paton, as well as experts Dr Janina Ramirez, Professor Michael Wood, Dr Eleanor Janega, Dr Emma Wells and Shafi Musaddique to investigate the history of the Black Death – from medicine and religion to trade and culture.  Today’s object is a pomander, used to ward of miasma…

Written and produced by Rebecca Rideal.

Edited and produced by Peter Curry.

Theme music: “Time” by The Broxton Hundred

The podcast is brought to you by Sick to Death, an exciting new medical museum in the heart of historic Chester.

Medieval Medicine

In the second episode of our brand-new podcast series, historian and host Rebecca Rideal is joined by Sick to Death’s very own Dean Paton, as well as experts Dr Janina Ramirez, Professor Michael Wood, Dr Eleanor Janega and Shafi Musaddique to explore the history of medicine during the medieval period. Today’s object is the skeleton of a medieval nun. 

Written and produced by Rebecca Rideal.

Edited and produced by Peter Curry.

Theme music: “Time” by The Broxton Hundred.

The Ancient World

In the first episode of our brand-new podcast series, historian and host Rebecca Rideal is joined by Sick to Death’s very own Dean Paton, as well as experts Dr Matt Pope, Dr Jay Crisostomo, Dr Sushma Jansari and Dr Naoise Mac Sweeney to explore the history of medicine during the prehistoric and the ancient world. Today’s object is a replica Roman medical kit, complete with votive eyes, knives and specula. Enjoy!

Written and produced by Rebecca Rideal.

Edited and produced by Peter Curry.

Theme music: “Time” by The Broxton Hundred.