Living behind enemy lines, among the enemy, it's sometimes hard to remember why you're fighting in the first place.
An updated version of an episode from 2004.
Confession
Blood Agent
You can divide all living creatures into two camps. We humans are in one camp, along with lots of other things like dogs and birds and trees and caterpillars. In the other camp are the things that live inside of us, the bacterias and viruses, the worms and protozoans, in short, parasites. Scientists estimate that the parasites outnumber us and our free-living allies by 3 to 1. Carl Zimmer talks with Ira about how parasites manage the trick of living inside of us, behind enemy lines, without us finding out. Carl is the author of the book "Parasite Rex." (10 minutes)
As The Worm Turns
Another story about parasites. When Jasper Lawrence learned that hookworms might lessen the effects of his allergies, he set out on a unique mission: To travel to West Africa and purposefully become infected with the parasite. What he did next is even more surprising. Patrick Walters reported this story for Radiolab, a production of WNYC and NPR. (14 minutes)
Sleeping With The Enemy
A short story, "Fatso," by Etgar Keret from his collection "The Bus Driver Who Wanted To Be God." A woman reveals to her boyfriend that she's not always what she seems, especially at night. Matt Malloy reads. (6 minutes)
Song:
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Act Two: A Tribe Called Rest
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