Infectious diseases, parasites, and ticks aren’t typically the backdrop for friendship and success; however, they were the perfect intersection to bring Erin Welsh and Erin Allmann Updyke together. With over 200 episodes, the pair bring a fresh voice to the field of science communication in their podcast, “This Podcast Will Kill You.” Their audience includes the most invested scientists to the casual listener who love their on-air chemistry. They’ve received dozens of write-in messages from listeners describing their medical experiences and sharing how the podcast has had a positive impact, both in helping them find answers and encouraging them to discuss their ailments with physicians.

When Welsh and Allmann Updyke embarked on their academic careers, their shared goal was to improve people’s lives. Through their podcast, social media, and numerous speaking engagements, the women have reached more people than they thought possible.

Allmann Updyke arrived on campus in the fall of 2014 to pursue a combined medical and doctoral degree. Her doctoral adviser, Brian Allan, gave her a tour of Morrill Hall, introducing her to fellow PhD students. They ventured to the fourth floor to Allmann Updyke’s new office, which she would share with a fellow labmate. As they turned the corner, she was greeted by a sign reading “FALLOUT SHELTER” outside the room. Allmann Updyke paused. Right as the weariness started to creep in, a bright voice rang out with a quick hello, welcome, and “You’re coming to happy hour, right?”

It was the voice of Welsh, who had spent much of her year deep in the forests of Panama studying ticks but happened to be in Urbana on Allmann Updyke’s first day. Welsh had been anticipating the “other” Erin’s arrival ever since their adviser had emailed to let her know her new officemate shared her name, also studied entomology, and would join her in Panama to do fieldwork.

Little did they know, this day marked the beginning of a profound friendship that would ultimately lead to international recognition.

Welsh had longed for someone to meet her energy in the otherwise very technical and serious lab, and Allmann Updyke, a California girl now rooted in the Midwest, was just that person. From that first happy hour, the two were joined at the hip.

While in Panama, Welsh tracked the confluence of tick-borne illness and the impact of a changing climate in the rich foliage of the lush country. Allmann Updyke took to the streets to study Chagas disease in the local population, often communicating with residents and trapping bugs near their homes. The women’s quirky friendship grew while abroad. The gab was instant, and they could talk to each other for hours. When the duo returned to Champaign, they spent their days working and conversing in the lab. Their nights were spent hanging out with labmates at the many haunts of the Urbana-Champaign campus. One night at a friend’s barbecue, the pair was discussing podcasts they were listening to. Allmann Updyke jokingly declared they should start their own podcast – if others could do it, why not them? Welsh fed off her, noting the topics they could discuss. That night, Welsh, without a second thought, came up with the name “This Podcast Will Kill You,” and together the two came up with the idea for cocktails they could concoct while discussing their favorite topic, infectious diseases.

The following Monday, Welsh showed up at the lab as usual. She was deep into her data when Allmann Updyke pulled up her chair, holding a pile of notes. “These are the mics I think we should buy,” said Allmann Updyke. Caught off guard, Welsh started to feel a rising panic. She had just been shooting the breeze with her friend, not committing to becoming a podcast host. Allmann Updyke assured her it would be okay; they just had to try it out.

A few days later, they met at Allmann Updyke’s house. As they squeezed into the tiny downstairs bedroom, each was armed with copious notes ready to discuss their first topic, influenza. They set up their mics and hit “record.”

Two hours later, they emerged sore-throated and bleary-eyed. Welsh shot a sideways glare at Allmann Updyke and said, “Well, we’re never doing that again.”

“Hold on, just let me edit it and see what we can do,” Allmann Updyke cautioned. And that’s just what she did. A first edit was passed among their good friends, who provided feedback. With that, the first episode was released to the world.

Welsh and Allmann Updyke have come a long way from the apprehension they felt when they released their first episode in 2017.

They’ve now perfected their format, which draws on their academic backgrounds while showcasing their quirky personalities. The result? Storytelling that offers a modern perspective on public health, making it both fascinating and relatable.

In each episode, Welsh provides social and historical context that humanizes their topic and creates a connection for listeners. Allmann Updyke’s sweet spot is a deep dive into the science, helping listeners more easily understand what happens to the body when infected with the plague or bitten by a tick.

The infections, bugs, and illnesses all go down more easily with a signature drink the Erins pair with each episode — a “quarantini” (alcoholic option) or a “place-borita” (nonalcoholic option). The Erins also provide an extensive reading list of sources for each episode that surely makes their doctoral adviser proud.

Listeners flocked to the podcast — the formula worked so well, they were picked up by a network for season two and now have a loyal audience and thousands of glowing ratings. And while some diseases they cover, like plague, may seem far removed from our daily experience, others resonate profoundly with listeners. “Our endometriosis episode, which ran years ago, has really stuck with me because so many people reached out to us afterward to say they didn’t know that this amount of pain was not normal,” said Welsh. One of the most fulfilling things is when we hear from listeners who will thank us and tell us an episode made them feel less alone. It’s important to give people a voice and to acknowledge their feelings are valid.” With episodes like “ABRACADABRA! Go Away Malaria!,” “Poison Control: Call Me Maybe,” Gout: Toetally Fascinating,” and “Scabies: Tiny but Mite-y,” the Erins are the perfect balance of entertaining and informative.

As a child, Welsh remembers watching popular television wildlife educators and conservationists like Jeff Corwin and Steve Irwin, thinking they had the coolest jobs. When studying in Panama, she recalls feeling what they must have felt – she’d found a way to her dream job.

“I didn’t know that it was possible to do anything like that. The first time that I was outside in Panama, hiking around, hearing all the birds, seeing the snakes and the neon frogs or howler monkeys – it was the most alive place I’d ever been. I kept thinking, I’m getting paid to do this. This can be my job. I was hooked,” Welsh remembers.

Allmann Updyke similarly felt a pull toward science and performance — two fields her childhood idol, Bill Nye the Science Guy, blended seamlessly.

She remembers her excitement in her biology classes, especially Advanced Placement (AP) Bio in high school. She knew she wanted to pursue science, but she also felt a calling to the arts – by day a scientist and by night a thespian, to the point where she even considered acting as her second major. The podcast has been a way for her to do both.

“I am doing that with this podcast; I am connecting those parts of myself,” Allmann Updyke explained. “I feel so grateful. It is a fulfillment of my childhood dreams, merging science and performance.”

Since starting the show, Welsh has traveled the world, studying in Panama and Finland, to shed light on and expand the understanding of tick-borne illnesses. She’s now transitioned into a full-time role running the podcast. Allmann Updyke now serves as a primary-care physician at UC San Diego Health, one of the top-ranked hospitals in California.

Aspiring scientists may still idolize legends like Corwin, Irwin, and Nye, but now they can also learn from and look to Welsh and Allmann Updyke. “I’m really proud of how much we’ve maintained our friendship while also being business partners,” said Allmann Updyke. “This is honestly one of the most fulfilling jobs that I never knew existed. On so many levels, it’s fun that I get to work with my best friend. My goal is just to be able to keep doing this and know that people still want to listen.”