WNYC presents the next edition of “VISCERA,” Radiolab’s series of live podcast tapings about the weird but true science of the human body
Hosted by NYU ER Doctor and Radiolab Correspondent Avir Mitra, MD
Thursday, February 12, 2026 at 7pm at The Greene Space at WNYC
(January 22, 2026 – New York, NY) – On Thursday, February 12 at 7pm, WNYC’s Radiolab will present the next installment of VISCERA, its series of live podcast tapings exploring the mysteries of the human body.
Hosted by ER doctor, storyteller, and literal rock star Dr. Avir Mitra, VISCERA takes audiences on a journey deep inside the core systems that keep us alive, revealing the hidden stories of our own blood and guts.
“VISCERA: World War B” will bring us to the frontlines of the microscopic war against antibiotic-resistant bacteria and how they quickly mutate and spread from person to person. The evening will examine the 15,000 year old biological back-and-forth between humans, bacteria, and the animals we breed, raise, and eat, creating a loop from ER to farm and back again.
Dr. Mitra and Radiolab Executive Editor Soren Wheeler will be joined by Dr. Steffanie Strathdee, professor of epidemiology and author of The Perfect Predator, and Dr. Bruce Stewart-Brown, Chief Science Officer at Purdue Farms, to discuss what the medical field is doing to combat these infectious diseases, and assess the odds for winning this war.
WHAT: Live podcast taping of Radiolab’s VISCERA series
WHERE: The Greene Space at WNYC – 44 Charlton St. (at Varick St.)
WHEN: Thursday, February 12, 2026 at 7pm ET
WHO: Hosted by Dr. Avir Mitra and Radiolab Executive Editor Soren Wheeler
TICKETS: Available now by visiting https://www.wnyc.org/events/events/2026/feb/12/radiolab-presents-viscera/
Past installments of the VISCERA series include “How to Save a Life,” on how anyone can save a life with CPR, and “The Elixir of Life,” about the symbiotic relationship between an indigestible sugar in breast milk and bacteria found in infants’ digestive systems. The VISCERA series and all episodes of Radiolab are available wherever you get your podcasts.
Leadership support for Radiolab’s science programming is provided by the Simons Foundation and the John Templeton Foundation. Foundational support for Radiolab was provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.
ABOUT DR. AVIR MITRA
Dr. Avir Mitra is an emergency room physician and clinical associate professor of emergency medicine at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine. Dr. Mitra is a sitting member of the ACEP Communications Committee and has lectured across the country on various topics within emergency medicine. He is a contributing editor at Radiolab and has produced health and science stories for outlets including NPR, WHYY, and Vice. Dr. Mitra received his undergraduate degree from Brown University and completed medical school at the Drexel University College of Medicine. He completed his Emergency Medicine residency in 2018 at Mount Sinai Beth Israel. Dr. Mitra enjoys sharing his interest in health and medicine with residents, students and the general public.
ABOUT RADIOLAB
Radiolab is a public radio show and podcast from WNYC Studios that takes listeners on a curiosity bender. We ask deep questions and use investigative journalism to get the answers. A given episode might whirl you through science, legal history, and into the home of someone halfway across the world. The show is known for innovative sound design, smashing information into music. It is hosted by Lulu Miller and Latif Nasser. Founded in 2002, Radiolab has been named one of “10 non-fiction podcasts that changed everything,” “revolutionary” and a pioneer in narrative sound design (Vulture) and has been honored with two Peabody Awards. Radiolab was ranked among the top 50 U.S. podcasts by Edison Research in 2024.