🎙️ Episode 5: Parasites Pt 2 – Tapeworm Tapenade

Welcome back to Mutant Hollow for Part Two of our three-part parasite series—where things get slimier, squirmier, and far more grotesque. This episode is all about the monsters that feed inside us: tapeworms, roundworms, and other writhing hitchhikers that blur the line between horror and biology.

From chilling case studies of Trichinella outbreaks and parasitic infections in pythons, to the mind-bending tale of a tapeworm that gave its host cancer, we dive deep into the dark side of parasitology. We’ll chew on the infamous “tapeworm diet,” gape at the sheer scale of whale tapeworms, and serve up a fictional sponsor you’ll never forget: Tapeworm Tapenade—spread it, share it, survive it.

💀 Creepy science.

💀 Disgusting case studies.

💀 Speculative zombification.

💀 A few gag-inducing surprises.

This is Part Two of our Parasite Trilogy—so if you thought disco-ball snail eye stalks were bad, just wait until you hear what’s wriggling in your dinner plate.

Tags:

parasites, tapeworms, trichinella, parasitology, creepy science, horror podcast, microbiology, infectious disease, zombie science, will it zombie, Mutant Hollow, parasite diet, tapeworm cancer, grotesque biology, parasite case studies

Parasite Master of Puppets, Part One | S1E4

Episode Summary:

Welcome to Mutant Hollow, the show where creepy-crawlies meet speculative science and the apocalypse gets… uncomfortably plausible. In Parasite: Master of Puppets, Part One, we dive deep into the world of parasitic puppet-masters, starting with three spine-crawling heavyweights:

• The zombie snail (Leucochloridium paradoxum), whose tentacles pulsate like disco worms to attract hungry birds.
• The horsehair worm, turning innocent crickets into suicidal swimmers.
• The infamous castrating barnacle, a tiny marine invader that rewrites crab biology and reproduction for its own gain.

Join Amber and Stacy for plenty of gagging noises, laughs to mask the horror, and a “Will It Zombie?!” segment where we rate each parasite’s potential to spark a full-on zombie apocalypse. This is Part One of our three-part parasite series—and the first to feature our fan-favorite Will It Zombie scale. If you like weird science, mind-control organisms, and imagining what happens if nature gets even weirder… this one’s for you.

Podcast Description:

Mutant Hollow blends spooky science, horror-comedy, and apocalypse speculation, exploring real infectious agents, folklore, and speculative scenarios. Hosted by Amber (sensationalist microbiologist) and Stacy (rational creature doctor), the show brings cutting-edge science and dark humor together in episodes that are as educational as they are unsettling.

Tags:

parasites zombie snail horsehair worm castrating barnacle parasitology infectious disease pathogens apocalypse zombie apocalypse speculative science biology science communication weird nature parasite master of puppets mutant hollow mind control parasites will it zombie

🎙️ Episode 3.5: Mini - Prion Holiday in Cambodia

⚠️ Warning: This mini episode dives into some of the strangest and darkest tales from the history of prion disease. Expect unsettling science, grim memories from the Midwest, and a dose of satire so twisted you’ll wonder if it was ever real.

In this nightmarish detour through the world of prions, Amber and Stacy unearth a trio of disturbing stories:

• Case Studies That Haunt — From labs to morgues, prion disease has left behind a trail of medical horrors. We revisit chilling reports that blur the line between biology and nightmare.
• Mad Cow in the Midwest — A firsthand memory from a rancher’s child, where cattle feed warnings and late-night visits from government officials turned the farm into a place of whispered dread. What did it feel like to live under the shadow of a disease no one fully understood?
• Cambodia’s Explosive Satire — Believe it or not, someone once proposed disposing of infected cattle by sending them into land mine fields. It was meant as satire… but the fact that people took it seriously tells you everything about the fear—and absurdity—of the prion years.

All of this set against the apocalyptic backdrop that prions always bring: silent incubation, unstoppable spread, and the eerie reality that they can linger in flesh, blood, and bone long after life is gone.

Stacy unpacks the science of these cases while Amber threads in the cultural panic, the dark humor, and the speculative “what if” questions that make Mutant Hollow… well, Mutant Hollow.

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📖 Extended references and bonus content available on Patreon.

💀 Follow us for more twisted science and folklore at MutantHollow.com.