In this episode of The Mini, Joe, Georgia, and a virtual Nick (recovering from norovirus) revisit their conversation, Episode 56: Medicine of the Future with fantasy author and physician Davis Ashura, emphasizing his key message: your best health starts in your kitchen, not your doctor’s office, and focusing on health span (quality of years) over lifespan (quantity of years).
This forked into a conversation about vegetable/fruit biodiversity and seed preservation. The crew discusses a Midwest native seed-saving coalition involving 300 ecologists across 150 institutions in 11 states, the practicalities of saving heirloom seeds (cross-pollination risks), why Red Delicious apples aren’t so delicious anymore, why, contrary to logic, eating more vegetables could save our favorite varieties, and the Norway seed vault. They also address the reality of food deserts and unequal access to fresh produce.
Science updates include clarifications from last episode about Dolly the sheep’s cloning (her “sister” clones lived normal lifespans), discussion about gene editing and Colossal Laboratories’ “dire wolf” de-extinction project, and a breakthrough from China where surgeons used a genetically modified pig liver to keep a patient alive while waiting for a human transplant organ. FDA trials now approved in the US.
Plus: upcoming episode teasers (chatbots and data centers/climate change), norovirus on cruise ship, and what the crew is reading and watching: Virginia Tufte, Stephen Graham Jones, Alice Feeney, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Shrinking, and The Traitors UK.
Where to Find Davis Ashura:
Website: davisashura.com
The Anchored Worlds Universe
Audiobooks narrated by: Nick Podehl and Travis Baldree
Listen to Episode 56:
Medicine of the Future: From Fantasy to Patient Care
In the 56th episode of Rabbit Hole of Research, Joe, Nick, and Georgia are joined by Davis Ashura, endocrinologist, epic fantasy author, and creator of the Anchored Worlds universe, to explore where magical healing meets medical reality. Davis brings a unique dual perspective: treating chronic diseases like diabetes and hypertension by day, and writing …
Check out what the RHR crew is creating:
Joe:
Red Line: Chicago Horror Stories Anthology featuring a new story by Joe!
Joe’s Sci-fi physiological thriller Novel: Will You Still Love Me If I Become Someone Else?
Essay by Joe: From Beyond Press: Specific Knowledge: Jotham Austin, II, PhD on Transformations in Fiction
It’s science for Weirdos
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Stay curious, stay speculative, stay safe, and we’ll catch you in the next rabbit hole. Love Y'all!
Future Events to Hang with the Crew:
Podcast Cross-Appearances
Events & Conventions:
Author palooza by New Book Joy at Imperial Oak Brewing in Brookfield IL
March 21st 1-5pm
5th Annual Mai Fest - Blue Island, IL (May 9th 12-5pm)
Creative Arts Summit - DIY Podcast Workshop at Lake County Public Library on May 23rd, 2026
ConCarolinas - Charlotte, NC (May 29–31, 2026 ) - Joe attending as Guest
Shore Leave 46 - Lancaster, PA (July 10-12, 2026)
Lancaster Wyndham Resort and Convention Center
Dragon Con - Atlanta, GA (September 3-7, 2026) - Joe attending as Professional
Upcoming Episodes
*The Mini will now be every other episode!
Episode 58 – The Science of Chatbots & Human Connection
Guests: Lily & Generoso
Diving into AI communication, computational science, and how chatbots are reshaping human interaction with MIT scientist-turned-writer Lily and illustrator/filmmaker Generoso.
Episode 60 – Lassoing the Truth Serum
Guest: David Detmer
Exploring the philosophy and science of truth, deception, and the Handwavium of Wonder Woman’s lasso.Episode 62 – The Science of Fear: Phobias, Physiology & Splatterpunk
Guest: Phrique
Diving into the biology of fear, phobia formation, and the extreme horror genre of splatterpunk with author Phrique.Episode 64 – Planetary Defense: Saving Earth from Other Worldly Impact
Guest: Charles Blue
Exploring asteroid detection, planetary defense systems, and what it takes to protect Earth from cosmic collisions.
What the Crew is Digging, Links, Resources, and Topics Mentioned in mini and/or full episode:
Science Updates & Research:
Seed Preservation:
Racing to save the Midwest’s native seeds – Coalition of ~300 restoration ecologists and land managers across 150 institutions in 11 states
Chicago Botanic Garden – Part of Midwest seed-saving coalition
Seed Savers Exchange (Iowa) – seedsavers.org – Heirloom seed provider and preservation
Norway Seed Vault (Svalbard Global Seed Vault) – Global seed bank in cold climate storage
Cloning & Genetics:
Dolly the Sheep – Clarification: While Dolly died at age 6 with short telomeres, her “sister” clones from the same adult cell line lived to normal ages without premature aging
Colossal Biosciences – De-extinction projects including dire wolf, woolly mammoth, dodo bird
Dire Wolf De-Extinction – Using gray wolf DNA with genetic modifications to recreate extinct apex predator (extinct ~10,000 years)
Xenotransplantation Breakthrough:
Genetically modified pig liver keeps man alive until human organ transplant – First time performed on living person
Extracorporeal perfusion – Medical technology circulating blood outside body to support organs
FDA approval (2025) – Trial to test extracorporeal perfusion using genetically modified pig livers for organ failure patients
Genetics & Cloning Concepts:
Telomeres – DNA protective caps that shorten with age, and linked to aging
Pluripotent stem cells – Master cells that can become any cell type
Differentiated adult cells – Cells that have already specialized
BRCA genes – Breast cancer susceptibility genes
CRISPR – Gene editing tool: (short for “clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats”) is a technology that research scientists use to selectively modify the DNA of living organisms.
Epigenetics – how environment, behavior, and lifestyle (e.g., diet, stress, toxins) alter gene expression—turning genes "on" or "off"—without changing the underlying DNA sequence.
Books Mentioned:
Joe Reading:
Artful Sentences: Syntax as Style by Virginia Tufte
Dear Writer by Maggie Smith
The Change Agent by Daniel Suarez
Nick Reading:
My Heart Is a Chainsaw by Stephen Graham Jones (Indian Lake Trilogy #1)
Don’t Fear the Reaper by Stephen Graham Jones (Indian Lake Trilogy #2)
The Killer on the Road by Stephen Graham Jones
Georgia Reading:
My Husband’s Wife by Alice Feeney – Thriller/bestseller
How High We Go in the Dark – Novel with interlocking short stories (mentioned pig research story)
Also Mentioned:
Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones
The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones
TV Shows & Media:
Shrinking (Apple TV+) – Joe watching
The Traitors UK – Joe watching (psychological game show, werewolf-style)
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Amazon Prime) – Nick watching, almost done with final season
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