Why is ‘chronic’ lyme disease so controversial?

Science Weekly

The Guardian

Science

4.2 • 1K Ratings

🗓️ 16 October 2025

⏱️ 23 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Celebrities including Bella Hadid, Justin Bieber and Miranda Hart have talked about their years-long struggles with the effects of Lyme disease, but despite rising rates and better awareness, the illness remains poorly understood. To understand more about how the illness can impact people over the long term, Madeleine Finlay hears from the Guardian’s Patrick Barkham about his daughter Milly’s experience, and from Prof John Aucott, director of the Johns Hopkins Lyme Disease Research Center, and associate professor of medicine at Johns Hopkins University. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	This is The Guardian.
0:10.7	Welcome to Curries.
0:12.1	That's the A-rated 10-kilo hot point washing machine with fabric care to help clothes less longer.
0:17.4	Wow. Wait, you said that?
0:19.5	Me? I'm using telepathy instead of talking.
0:22.3	It uses less energy.
0:23.7	Oh, let me try.
0:25.4	That that.
0:28.0	It takes practice.
0:30.3	Delivery, installation and recycling for only 35 pounds.
0:33.8	Energy efficient tech made easy.
0:35.8	At Curries.
0:36.9	Add installation recycling up basket and 21st of the tempter since these apply.
0:43.7	Science Weekly is supported by Proton VPN.
0:48.1	It's really worth thinking about using a VPN when you're travelling,
0:51.9	or even just working from a local cafe,
0:56.0	to keep your online life private and secure. That's where Proton VPN comes in. The great thing about Proton is they don't just
1:02.4	claim to protect you. They actually back it up. They never log your browsing. So your activity
1:08.1	stays private. And unlike a lot of VPNs that slow everything down,
1:12.6	Proton runs fast, reliable servers all over the world,
1:16.6	in over 120 countries.
1:19.6	So if you care about keeping your data safe while browsing or working,
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from The Guardian, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of The Guardian and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.