Historian of Science Thomas Levenson — How Humans Discovered Germs

Historian of Science Thomas Levenson — How Humans Discovered Germs

Author: How To Academy July 8, 2025 Duration: 55:38
Today, you are far more likely to die of heart disease, cancer, or accident than you are to die of an illness caused by a germ: but for most of human history, microorganisms were our greatest nemesis. As recently as 1900, pnuemonia, influenza, tuberculosis, and gut infections accounted for half of all deaths in the United States. And yet, humans had known of the existence of germs since the invention of the microscope and the Scientific Revolution in the 17th century - to precious little advantage. Thomas Levenson joins the podcast to tell the epic story of how we finally came to grasp the role of germs as a cause of disease and develop a powerful arsenal to fight them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Every other week, the How To Academy Podcast opens a door into conversations that reshape how we see the world. Stemming from London's vibrant hub for big ideas, this series brings you extended, thoughtful dialogues with the very minds shaping contemporary thought. You'll hear from laureates and prize-winners, yes, but more importantly, you'll get the substance behind their headlines. These aren't quick soundbites; each episode allows for a deep, meandering exploration of topics that span society, culture, and the latest scientific discoveries, all with an eye toward practical understanding and personal growth. Tuning in is like securing a front-row seat to a private lecture, where the goal is always to leave you with something tangible-a new perspective, a clearer question, or a genuine sense of possibility. It’s for anyone who believes that ideas, when given enough space to breathe, can genuinely change us from the inside out. This podcast draws directly from the How To Academy's mission, transforming their stage into an intimate audio experience that connects global thinking to your daily life.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

How To Academy Podcast
Podcast Episodes
John Higgs - Unravelling the Spell of David Lynch [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:01
A boy scout from smalltown America known for his sincere, folksy charm. A chain-smoking maverick dedicated to the pursuit of the Art Life. A womaniser with a female skewing fanbase. A Hollywood outsider who was also a ma…
Neuroscientist Nicholas Wright – How the Brain Shapes War [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:48
In this episode of the podcast neuroscientist Nicholas Wright reveals how, whether we like it or not, the brain is wired for conflict – in the office or on the battlefield. Blending insights from cutting-edge research wi…
Joe Hill - The One With the Dragons [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:37
The son of Stephen and Tabitha King and brother of Owen King, Joe Hill was raised in a uniquely gifted literary family and has long established a reputation of his own as a first rate storyteller across prose fiction, co…
HYPERLAND: Graham Harman on the Nature of Reality [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:30:24
How do we understand the world and our place in it? Do our lives consist of a small number of dramatic turning points, or is there nothing but a series of gradual changes from infancy to old age? Are political elections…
Julia Belluz and Kevin Hall – Why We Eat What We Eat [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:12
Julia Belluz and Kevin Hall reveal the insights you need to better understand what's on your dinner plate, how it got there, and why you eat it. Award-winning health journalist Julia Belluz and internationally renowned n…
Nicola Sturgeon Meets Darren McGarvey - Trauma Industrial Complex [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:11:41
Today, trauma permeates media, from music and television to films and books. While the increasing openness is welcome, Darren has observed that the webs of digital networks surrounding us and which commodify our most vul…
Ian Mortimer - The Time Traveller's Guide to England [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:58
In his four Time Travellers Guides to England, historian Ian Mortimer has taken us from the Medieval period all the way to the Regency, revelling not in the business of courts and princes but the minutae of daily life fo…
Nish Kumar Meets Jimmy Wales - Trust and the Future of Democracy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:24:39
Two decades ago, Jimmy Wales founded Wikipedia and transformed the world’s access to knowledge. Today, people view Wikipedia 11 billion times every month in the English language alone. Yet in an age of ‘alternative facts…
Jens Stoltenberg - Leading NATO in a Time of War [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:22:13
Jens Stoltenberg was Prime Minister of Norway from 2005-2013, and when he took office as Secretary General of NATO in 2014, the world was already changing. What followed was a decade marked by war, diplomatic crises, and…