Wretched Conditions

Tune in as Vivian spins a tale involving poisonous fluff, the invention of the weekend, and the history of child labor laws in the US. From the pages of 200 year-old essays on strange coughs comes a mysterious and literal “Case of the Mondays” brought on by processing raw textiles - but what exactly is causing it? And why don't we work on Saturdays? And who's the kid in the Wretched Conditions icon? Find out all the answers to these questions - and more - in Episode 2: B is for Byssinosis.

Listen in as Vivian covers asbestos, mesothelioma commercials, and the extraordinary case of Nellie Kershaw. While we know now how toxic asbestos is, it was not yet widely understood in the early 20th century. Nellie Kershaw's case of pulmonary asbestosis was the first to be described in medical literature that linked asbestos to lung disease. Her death due to asbestos exposure would spark an investigation that would forever change worker's protections in the UK. 96 years later, the aftereffects of asbestos's ugly legacy can still be seen in those late night mesothelioma commercials that urge you to CALL NOW! 

Hello, listeners! I'm Vivian, a public health expert with a penchant for infectious diseases and a fascination with the past. This podcast, "Wretched Conditions," is an A-to-Z guide of occupational hazards through the Industrial Ages. The series sits at the intersection of medicine, history, and legislation, and covers some of the world's deadliest jobs. Each episode dives deep into the medical and historical aspects of illnesses or injuries that people have incurred while working - many of which led to a significant shift that has shaped the way our 9-to-5s look today. Listen in as I cover everything from Mad Hatters to radiation poisoning to those strange Mesothelioma ads that lurk during late night TV. Think your job sucks? Follow along as "Wretched Conditions" tells the tales of some of the most dangerous professions throughout the ages.