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The Body Odd 47: Giving doesn’t hurt

Dec. 13: Can you “catch” cancer from a blood donation? Also, could a swarm of blood-sucking mosquitoes kill you?

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Nov. 29, Episode 46: Boob dudes -- Why so many men prefer women with large breasts. Or do they? And the irresistible lure of the post-coital smoke.

Nov. 15, Episode 45: Cyber-chondria - Morgellons disease -- a real skin disorder or shared delusion? And why you yawn in the middle of a hard workout.

Nov. 1, Episode 44: Sexsomnia - Why is sleep sexually stimulating for some? And is it OK to get busy with a dozing partner?

Oct. 18, Episode 43: Death by video -- How can someone die while playing video games? Do you get a warning? Plus, what happens to your skin when you burn it.

Oct. 4, Episode 42: Surreal hospital tales -- Amputations, orifice insertions and the guy with a meat cleaver in his head – Dr. Billy shares fave ER moments.

Sept. 20, Episode 41: Weather forecasting -- Body aches and itches before it rains; do we grow out of motion sickness?

Sept. 6, Episode 40: A pain in the… -- 5 most annoying infections that (probably) won’t kill you.

Aug. 23, Episode 39: Morning glory -- What’s up with those morning erections? Got an extra finger or toe? Here’s why.

Aug. 9, Episode 38: Seeing spots -- A listener wants to know about the “floaters” in her eyes. Also, what might be the cause of that strong ammonia smell (Billy blames New Jersey).

July 26, Episode 37: Cold and frothy -- These icy hands and feet are getting on my nerves. And what’s up with foamy urine?

July 12, Episode 36: Thick-skinned -- Could hands and feet could soak up a tub of water? Plus, infertility is just another problem, why can’t I talk about it?

June 28, Episode 35: Crazy coincidence? -- Is it possible to be genetically prone to twins? And why you don't laugh when you hit your funny bone.

June 14, Episode 34: Dangerous dreamer -- I hit my partner when I sleep. How do I stop tossing and turning?

May 31, Episode 33: Strange brews -- Homemade remedies that really work; And Billy gives us the “poop” on colon cleansers.

May 3, Episode 32: Toxic sock syndrome -- How to get rid of horrible, stinky foot odor. Plus, will sleeping on your arms cause Saturday night palsy?

April 19, Episode 31: Picking and pulling -- Yanking out eyelashes, trichotillomania and hair-swallowing – are they genetic? Plus, Mark and Billy need help with their new book.

April 5, Episode 30: Morning sickness -- If I’m the one who is pregnant, why is my husband the one who’s gaining weight? And what’s that squishy pink thing in the corner of my eye?

March 22, Episode 29: Shame spiral -- Why we blush when embarrassed. Plus, Dr. Billy defends his denial of women’s synchronized periods.

March 8, Episode 28: Worst. Pain. Ever? -- Why paper cuts hurt so much. And Billy reveals which body parts you shouldn’t pop.

Feb. 22, Episode 27: Curvy coccyx -- This listener’s tailbone could put J. Lo to shame. Plus, what the shape of poop says about our health.

Feb. 8, Episode 26: Extreme sharing -- Do women really synchronize their periods? Also, boogers — pick 'em, eat 'em or leave 'em alone?

Jan. 25, Episode 25: Wanna pinch? -- Dimples - really cute or built for speed? Plus, Jane's mea culpa.

Jan. 11, 2007, Episode 24: The maple syrup boy -- Why he smells like a pancake house. And Mark takes on the hyperhidrotic sisters.

Dec. 28, Episode 23: Little men -- Listener wants to know, “why is my penis so small?” Plus, asymmetrical pectorals.

Dec. 14, Episode 22: Troubled sleep -- What causes sleep paralysis? And what about that uncontrollable urge to chew our fingernails?

Nov. 30, Episode 21: Get it outta there! -- Why do some songs get stuck in your head? We name the worst offenders. Why do we see stars when we bump our heads?

Nov. 16, Episode 20: Ahhhh -- Backrubs - why do they feel sooo good? And Pedro wants to know about the lump in his throat during sad movies.

Nov. 2, Episode 19: Eyes have it -- Are babies born with adult-sized eyeballs? How do I get this Styrofoam outta my ear? And all you wanted to know about boogers.

Oct. 19, Episode 18: Pee shivers -- Fight or flight response or mini-orgasms? And why does "Fear Factor" gross-out give me chills?

Oct. 5, Episode 17: To cut or not to cut -- Foreskin - what is its purpose? Plus, freckles and unusual birth defects.

Sept. 21, Episode 16: Macho men -- Why are guys with tool belts so hot to women? Can you become immune to rollercoaster stomach flops?

Sept. 7, Episode 15: Brain freeze -- Slurpee headache theories explored. Plus, eye twitches and why there’s no need to be ashamed of your ear wax.

Aug. 24, Episode 14: Achoo! -- From sleep sneezes to hiccups and why our 98.6 degree bodies feel so hot in the summer.

Aug. 10, Episode 13: Scccrrreee! -- Why do fingernails on a chalkboard give us chills? And a listener wants help with his involuntary, nighttime erections.

Aug. 1, Episode 12: From ecstasy to Zzzs -- A special bonus episode! Why do men fall asleep after sex? Why do we get goose bumps?

July 27, Episode 11: Offensive odors -- Morning breath and stinky belly buttons -- why are we such smelly creatures? Ahh. Why a scratch relieves an itch.

July 13, Episode 10: Throat clumps -- What are those nasty white things in the back of your throat? Also, getting philosophical about the most interesting thing about the human body.

June 29, Episode 9: Private parts -- Are they really dirty? Plus, what makes the Adam’s apple grow and why yawns are contagious.

June 15, Episode 8: Sun sneeze -- Why looking in the sun can make you go “achoo!” Does scab picking cause cancer? And what about those bedtime twitches?

June 1, Episode 7: Male nipples -- Are they an evolutionary trick? Plus, sweaty palms and why great songs give us chills.

May 18, Episode 6: The hair show -- Bearded ladies, bushy armpits and eyebrows. Why do we need all that hair? Plus, we review listeners’ answers to Dr. Billy’s snot question from our last show.

May 4, Episode 5: Sweat scents -- What's behind bad body odor? Ear hair -- a payback for living longer? When it comes to phlegm, are you a spitter or swallower?

April 20, Episode 4: Old farts -- Are seniors less inhibited? Also, do men have a 'time of the month?' And is it illegal to remove skin tags?

April 6, Episode 3: Deadly odors? -- Can a really bad smell kill you? Plus, the lowdown on disgusting burps. And what's the problem with this guy's sweaty armpits?

March 23, Episode 2: Gas pains -- Can passing gas help someone lose weight? Plus, one woman's problems with pork and why we can't cure the herpes virus.

March 9, 2006, Episode 1: Hanging low -- The many causes of ‘man boobs.’ Plus, your parents were wrong about knuckle cracking, but can you brush your tongue too hard?

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Disclaimer

The Body Odd podcast is not intended to be taken as medical advice or in any way substitute for a visit with your doctor. If you have a medical concern, please contact a physician.

About us

Humorist Mark Leyner, a successful TV and film screenwriter and novelist, met Billy Goldberg, M.D. on a cold night in a New York City emergency room while the two were working together on a TV medical drama.

Dr. Billy Goldberg is an emergency medicine physician on faculty at a New York City teaching hospital. While working as a medical advisor on a TV medical drama, he and Leyner forged a deep friendship and entertaining collaboration that has lasted long after the show was cancelled.

Jane Weaver is a health editor and award-winning senior writer for MSNBC.com. She regularly contributes features on a wide range of consumer health topics. Jane has been with MSNBC since 1996 and has made numerous appearances on MSNBC, CNBC, in Webcasts and the radio.

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March 22: Mark Leyner, author of "Why do men have nipples?", talks about the new podcast on MSNBC.com where he and Dr. Billy Goldberg explore the weird things our bodies do.

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