Home

In this episode, Elle, Micaela, and Jerbil dig into the messy legacy of Typhoid Mary—aka Mary Mallon—the woman history loves to blame. We break down how this poor cook got turned into America’s favorite disease scapegoat. We explore how sexism, classism, and science collided to ruin her reputation. Was she a menace, a martyr, or just really dedicated to peach ice cream and dangerously casual about soap? Join us for a hilarious and eye-opening look at the most misunderstood woman in epidemiology.Featuring the original song “Who Farted?” by Micaela SuperstarBecome a Patron on our PatreonFollow us online: thebluntletters.com, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, DepopReferencesCDC Foodborne Contamination OutbreaksBL Teeth EpisodeTyphoid Mary/Mary Mallon: An Asymptomatic Carrier of Salmonella typhiThe Lingering Ghost of Typhoid Mary: How the sad tale of Mary Mallon still haunts us todayHow Typhoid Mary left a trail of scandal and deathList of foodborne illness outbreaks by death toll