Episodes

  • Back*up*your*data!
    Jun 18 2026

    In this episode of Life Unculturable, Sam and Julia talk all things data collection and then speculate about the yelp reviews on their bioinformatic performances and theorize on the dating profiles of anaerobes.

    If you have any questions for Sam, Julia, or Michael, drop a comment on YouTube, Spotify, LinkedIn, Instagram, etc. or send us an email at lifeunculturable@gmail.com!

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    1 hr and 8 mins
  • The profiling files
    Jun 4 2026

    In this episode of Life Unculturable, Sam and Julia walk us through their process of how to characterize and describe novel microbes. Tune in to find out what steps are required, what they do first, and how to validly publish a novel organism.


    If you have any questions for Sam, Julia, or Michael, drop a comment on YouTube, Spotify, LinkedIn, Instagram, etc. or send us an email at lifeunculturable@gmail.com!

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    1 hr and 2 mins
  • Do better!
    May 21 2026

    In this episode of Life Unculturable, Sam and Julia sit down with Dr Melanie Eldridge from Black Cat Microbiome Consulting to learn all about navigating the ups and downs of academia and industry. Mel is a seasoned captain who has sailed both waters and is now offering her expertise through her two companies Black Cat Microbiome Consulting and Black Cat and Black Cat Genetic Testing.

    Get in touch with Melanie Eldridge on LinkedIn and check out her website (https://www.blackcatmicrobiomeconsulting.com/)!

    If you have any questions for us, drop a comment on YouTube, Spotify, LinkedIn, Instagram, etc. or send us an email at lifeunculturable@gmail.com!

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    1 hr and 15 mins
  • The ramble-sode
    May 7 2026

    In this episode, Julia and Sam set out to talk about the special equipment you can find in anaerobic microbiology labs - and then quickly go off the rails to ramble about all things science (and non-science)

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    1 hr and 7 mins
  • Home sweet hypoxia
    Apr 23 2026

    In this episode of Life Unculturable, Sam and Julia talk about where anaerobes live and what vacation destination they would likely choose!

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    1 hr and 3 mins
  • No baby daddy sequencing
    Apr 9 2026

    We are back with another exciting interview guest! This time Janet Rogers tells us all about Sanger sequencing, mass spectrometry and what had kept her at Oklahoma State University since 1978. Tune in to learn a bit about the history of the sequencing core facility at OSU, what it is like to work for and managing a core facilty and what reason Janet has to diligently keep working out at the Colvin Center.

    If you have any questions for Janet, Sam or Julia, feel free to reach out on LinkedIn, Instagram, BlueSky, or YouTube @LifeUnculturable!

    Life Unculturable is the number one podcast on anaerobic microbiology, (un)culturable microbes, and the real life of researchers, brought to you by Drs Sam Miller, Julia Vinzelj, and Michael Prattes!


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    1 hr and 11 mins
  • Road Trippin'
    Mar 12 2026

    In this episode of Life Unculturable, Julia skedaddles away, exploring New Mexico and Arizona, while Sam stays in good 'ole Oklahoma holding down the fort. If you're looking for the science and the nitty gritty parts of anaerobic microbiology, this is not the episode for you! Today, it's all about road trips and childhood memories with a heaping helping of judgement.

    Please excuse the sound quality of this episode! It really was recorded in a coffee shop and hence includes all the clanking and clinking and the occasional bark of coffee shop dog Hope! If you are in Winslow, Arizona, be sure to check out MOJO Coffee Roasting Co.& Cafe (not sponsored; Julia is just a fan).

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    1 hr and 11 mins
  • Enrich or die tryin'
    Feb 26 2026

    In this episode of Life Unculturable, Sam and Julia are taking a deep dive into the 'bread and butter' of the lab: enrichment and isolation. Tune in to find out how they go about enriching for and isolating specific anaerobic organisms, how they identify their isolates, and what lab equipment they secretly prefer over others.

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    1 hr