Oh Gross!

Oh Gross!

Don’t let the “ick” factor hold you back—we get to the bottom of life’s toughest and grossest moments, so nothing is off-limits or unspeakable. So if you are tired of asking awkward questions on Social Media or spiraling down a misinformation Doctor Google rabbit hole, welcome to the Oh Gross! Community. Ever wonder how many times the average person gets bitten by a spider? Or what to do about germs on a plane? We pull back the curtain on life’s most unnerving mysteries by having real conversations with science to takeaways—that help you face the “ick” with clarity (and maybe a laugh). So don't worry about that fuzz on your fruit in the fridge or panic about what to put in your "Bug Out Bag" for emergencies. We do the research so you can skip the stress—and get the answers you didn’t know you needed. Each episode Kara, Jennie and Molly dive into a squeamish or scary subject, blending expert-driven interviews, practical tips, and plenty of personal stories and wit to help you handle whatever life (or your leftovers) throw your way. We explain the science, delve into the history, and debunk the misinformation so you can tackle life’s sticky realities with confidence. No topic is too taboo—and yes, we’ll even tell you how many times you’re likely being bitten by spiders in a year. In each episode, journalist and crime expert Kara Kurcz investigates the questions you’ve always wanted to ask, scientist Jennie Wickham breaks down the methodology behind the answers, and pop culture guru Molly Lucas shares relatable anecdotes that make even the gross stuff easier to digest. Together, these three friends make sure listeners walk away informed, intrigued, and ready for whatever creepy-crawly scenario comes their way because knowledge is the best antidote to “gross.” Tune in to Oh Gross—we'rer here to make life’s messy moments more manageable.

Episodes

April 24, 2026 55 mins
On Oh Gross, we explore the complicated laws of self-defense. Gun laws, self-defense rights, and use-of-force rules vary wildly by state, and most people have no idea what applies to them.  This week, Kara, Jennie, and Molly sit down with Kara’s dear friend, veteran crime journalist Tom Morris Jr., for a conversation everyone should hear, no matter where you stand on guns. Kara and Tom have worked together for over two...
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Next Thursday, veteran TV correspondent and “crime fighter” Tom Morris Jr. joins Kara Kurcz for a candid conversation on self-defense. Reuniting as longtime colleagues from America’s Most Wanted and Live PD, the discussion brings firsthand experience from years of covering real cases. Joined by Jennie Lasater and Molly Brandenberger, the group shares behind-the-scenes stories while breaking down how self-defense laws vary by...
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You can vote for Oh Gross to win the People's Voice here: ⁠wbby.co/57425N Oh Gross! is nominated a 2nd time in a row for a Webby Award (Science & Education) for our episode “Gas Station Heroin: The Kratom Crisis.” Just click Vote, sign up (free), and confirm. You can vote once per email through April 16. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Here is a sneak peek of our conversation with veteran crime journalist and former America's Most Wanted correspondent Tom Morris Jr. He tackles the self-defense conversation people are uncomfortable having, but everyone needs to hear.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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March 25, 2026 49 mins
Your ears have a secret life: bugs, buildup, and the truth about Q-tips with infectious disease expert Dr. Steve Threlkeld. On this episode of Oh Gross!, Dr. Steve Threlkeld joins Kara and Jennie to break down the secret life of your ears! It is all about earwax and why trying to get rid of it might be the worst thing you can do. And whatever you do… put down the Q-tip. Plus, the ER story you won’t forget involves a live cockroac...
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St. Patrick’s Day is here, using the luck of the Irish to get down and dirty with the holiday’s grossest realities. Join Kara, Molly, and Jennie for an unfiltered look at the traditions that leave a trail of questionable decisions and bacteria in their wake. This episode highlights: The "Urination Olympics": Discover why St. Paddy's Day causes more than a “wee” spike in public urination offenses in major cities like Chicago a...
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AI “deepfakes,” crypto craziness, and the terrifying reality of today’s rapidly evolving technology—how do you know what’s real and what’s not? This episode cuts through the noise to tell you what you really need to know about technology, your future, and your money. Kara sits down with best-selling author, futurist, and tech tycoon Armando Pantoja (the “Tall Guy Tycoon”) to explain the rapidly evolving world of artificial intelli...
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In the final installment of our special kratom series, Kara and Jennie speak with Emmy-nominated producer Joanne Rubino, creator of the documentary Kratom: Side Effects May Include. After a friend lost her 27-year-old son, Wyatt Wheeler, Joanne spent years investigating the growing and largely unregulated kratom industry. Her research uncovered a complicated story—one that includes passionate supporters, heartbreaking loss stories...
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February 26, 2026 45 secs
A public service message from Oh Gross! Search Oh Gross and subscribe for our episodes on Spotify, Youtube, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get yours. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Kara and Jennie sit down with kratom researcher and University of Florida medicinal chemistry professor Dr. Chris McCurdy for a no‑BS look at how a traditional Southeast Asian leaf turned into today’s potent “gas‑station” products. He explains where leaf‑only kratom may actually help with pain and opioid withdrawal, what changes when companies crank out 7‑OH shots and other concentrates, and why unregulated products are now tie...
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February 11, 2026 7 mins
Oh Gross! is back with a new season. This is where the questions people avoid actually get answered. Real conversations. Real experts. No topic is off-limits, because the things we’re most uncomfortable asking about are usually the things we need to understand the most. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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February 4, 2026 55 mins
Kratom is sold as a “natural” sleep aid, mood booster, and pain reliever—sometimes right next to energy drinks at gas stations—yet there is no consistent regulation, no standard dosing, and deeply conflicting information online about how safe it really is. In part one of this two-part Oh Gross! special, Kara and Jennie unpack the fast-growing world of kratom and its synthetic offshoots like 7-OH, exploring how an herbal tree f...
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January 21, 2026 11 mins
In preparation for our 2026 season premiere, we assembled a recap from the 2025 season episodes.  Also catch up on any of our amazing episodes you missed! Stay tuned for the 2026 premiere with an amazing lineup of expert guests and investigative episodes.  As always we are your news source for weird science, taboo health topics, misinformation & crisis blunders.  We uncover the ‘gross’ truth with humor and facts by asking what o...
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In the aftermath of the Los Angeles fires, Oh Gross! revisits our conversation with Kerry Sanders in this replay of Behind the Lens: Stories & Tips from Reporter Kerry Sanders. As communities reflect on how quickly a crisis can unfold—and how long the impact can last—this episode explores what happens when preparation, travel, and real-time reporting collide. An Emmy and Peabody Award–winning journalist and longtime NBC News ...
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On the one-year anniversary of the Los Angeles fires, Oh Gross! host Kara Kurcz and Molly revisits a conversation that feels just as urgent today as it did when it first aired. For Kara, interviewing Kerry Sanders was a full-circle moment. The conversation offered rare insight into how the world’s most experienced crisis journalists prepare long before disaster strikes, and how the public can take simple, practical steps to be mor...
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In this episode of Oh Gross, Jennie plays: a rapid-fire game with Kara that takes listeners through the grossest hygiene habits in human history. From ancient civilizations swimming in sewage, to Romans sharing communal butt sponges,—nothing is off the table. The hosts dig into why bathing was once considered dangerous, how urine became mouthwash, where June weddings really came from, and how humanity somehow got cleaner… then dir...
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It’s our favorite episode of the year...The Gross Holiday Gifts Your Kids Will Love holiday special!After surviving a cursed live-stream launch (including a demonic mic test), Kara and Jennie reveal the weirdest, grossest, and most internet-obsessed gifts of the season. From National Geographic’s “Weird But True” facts (yes, including a flying inflatable poop sculpture) to TikTok-famous mystery dumpling stress toys that smell ...
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If you thought your biggest lash problem was clumpy mascara… buckle up. Because today, the Oh Gross! crew uncovers the horrifying-but-also-hilarious truth that tiny microscopic spiders basically live rent-free on your face. Yes. Right now. As you read this. Kara, Jennie, and Molly kick things off with the viral eyelash-mite headlines… but things really take a turn when Kara calls her celebrity lash artist Jayron, who drops an un...
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November 26, 2025 57 mins
This week, we’re serving up a throwback that ruined us the first time around—and is even more necessary before Thanksgiving kitchen chaos begins. Kara, Molly, and Jennie sit down with food-safety expert Katie Defour to unpack the deli fried chicken horror story that will haunt you (and maybe save your holiday meal). From “Poppin’ Chicken” gone wrong to raw-poultry splash zones, bacteria that refuses to die, cutting board crimes, l...
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Kara Kurcz reunites with Tom Morris Jr. for a live Oh Gross! episode packed with behind-the-scenes stories from America’s Most Wanted and Live PD. They break down the myths around self-defense, why the laws vary so widely state to state, and why talking openly about safety matters now more than ever. #livepd #crimetv #ohgrosspodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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