573 - The Black Death
Summary
In this episode of Do Go On, hosts David Warnicke, Jess Perkins, and Matt Stewart tackle the Black Death, the seventh most requested topic for their annual Blocktober countdown. They explore the plague's origins in Asia, its transmission via black rats and fleas, and its devastating spread across Europe in the 1300s. The discussion covers the three types of plague, the historical misattribution of the name "Black Death," and the ineffective medieval treatments like bloodletting and trepanning. The hosts also reflect on the rapid spread through trade routes and the early public health measur…
Topics discussed
Tour wrap-up and upcoming 2026 live shows
Welcome to Blocktober and the 'Big Three'
Christmas vs. Blocktober and movie ideas
Jason Statham as a gardener/black ops agent
Color associations and the meaning of black
Coleman Pringle character and name appreciation
Discussion on personal names and duds
The Plague of Justinian and early outbreaks
Etymology of the term 'Black Death'
Origin of Yersinia pestis and rat transmission
Flea behavior and host switching to humans
Vaguely familiar facts and moving houses
Sadness of fleas and Jason Statham jokes
Bubonic plague symptoms and buboes
Quail jokes and eating small animals
Gross symptoms, blackening skin, and mortality
Pneumonic plague and person-to-person spread
Epidemic dynamics and Ebola comparison
Sponsorship: Squarespace video features
Sponsorship: Squarespace plumbing course joke
1346 outbreak origins and Golden Horde isolation
Paranoia, mistrust, and recurring plague waves
Patreon video feed and catapulting the plague
Spread across England, Scotland, and Scandinavia
Editing jokes and soiled clay
Professor Ole J. Benedictau and academic coolness
Speed of spread by ship and land
Time to recognize epidemic in various settlements
Galen's four humours and medical theories
Bubonic eggs joke and drilling holes in heads
Origin of the word 'quarantine'
Muckrakers, gong farmers, and job titles
Unimaginable death tolls and historical sources
Mass graves and Agnolo de' Tura 'The Fat'
Chewing the fat and The Fat's survival
Contagion, confessors, and carbuncles
The Click vs. The Snap and dubbing jokes
John de Stratford and Archbishop of Canterbury
Power, cronies, and unpaid priests
Stinky places and European death toll estimates
Population decline in Paris and Florence
Wage rises and emergence of the middle class
Useless cures, amulets, and Thomas Van Hoof
Cumulative death toll and climate cooling
Embarrassment by body count and end of world fears
Skincare jokes and La Roche-Posay
Dance of Death and skeleton figures
Apologizing jokes and the Decameron
Plague Mythbusters and doctor costumes
Steampunk plague doctor look
Ring a Ring o' Roses and plague origins
Centuries of outbreaks and recurring waves
Eames village and the 1665 outbreak
Hands Across the Water song reference
Quarantine in Eames and political rector issues
Peak deaths in 1666 and Elizabeth Hancock
Heaven vs. hell on earth jokes
Louis Pasteur and 'Ladies and Germs'
Frog tongs, jelly spoons, and naming Yersinia
Modern plague cases and WHO statistics
Reflections on society surviving the plague
Crossing the road and bloodletting jokes
Blocktober goals and voted topics
Patreon appreciation and show longevity
Facebook group and meeting patrons in Canada
Sydney-Shineberg level perks and titles
Canel Boats and plastic bathtubs
Matt's ride to stand-up in Toronto
Evie, the Uber, and snagging a new patron
Toronto brewery recommendations
Jordan Nassi and the Angels call and response
Sponsorship: Gymshark winter consistency
Sage plague symptoms and exploding nuts
Merchandise address updates and artwork
Fluoro pink eyes and exploding eyes
Trip Ditch Club and three-year supporters
Booking a band for the club
Welcoming Daniel Sullivan to the club
Welcoming Russell Leek and others
Sponsorship: Wayfair holiday magic
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