Netra Iyer

Episode 33: Season 4: Episode 5: Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease

August 1st, 2026  |  16 mins 37 secs

Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) is one of the rarest and most fascinating neurological diseases in the world. In this episode of Tumor Minutes, we explore the science behind prions, the unusual proteins responsible for CJD, and how a tiny change in protein structure can lead to widespread effects in the brain. We discuss how CJD affects neurons, its symptoms, how doctors diagnose it, current treatment approaches, and why prion research has completely changed the way scientists understand disease.

Episode 32: Season 4: Episode 4: Cerebral Palsy

July 25th, 2026  |  16 mins 36 secs

What exactly is cerebral palsy, and why is it so often misunderstood?

In this episode of Tumor Minutes, we explore the science behind cerebral palsy, a condition that affects movement, balance, and muscle control because of an injury to the developing brain. We discuss what causes CP, the different types, common misconceptions, and how modern therapies and assistive technologies help people live active, independent lives. Along the way, we clear up the myth that cerebral palsy gets worse over time and explain why every person's experience with CP is unique.

Episode 31: Season 4: Episode 3: Parkinson's Disease

July 25th, 2026  |  15 mins 45 secs

Parkinson's disease is often associated with tremors, but there's much more to the story. In this episode of Tumor Minutes, we explore how the loss of dopamine-producing brain cells affects movement, balance, and everyday life. We also discuss symptoms, diagnosis, current treatments like levodopa and Deep Brain Stimulation, common myths, and the exciting research that could shape the future of Parkinson's care.

Episode 30: Season 4: Episode 2: Multiple Sclerosis

July 25th, 2026  |  10 mins 16 secs

What happens when your body's own immune system mistakes your brain for the enemy?

In this episode of Tumor Minutes, Netra breaks down Multiple Sclerosis (MS)—a chronic autoimmune disease that affects the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves. Learn how myelin helps nerve signals travel, why the immune system attacks it, the symptoms people experience, how doctors diagnose MS, and the latest treatments that are changing lives.

Along the way, you'll discover why MS looks different for every person, why MRI scans are so important, and how researchers are working toward repairing damaged myelin.

Whether you've heard of MS before or you're learning about it for the first time, this episode makes a complex neurological condition easy to understand.

Episode 29: Season 4: Episode 1: Alzheimer's Disease

July 4th, 2026  |  12 mins 57 secs

In the Season 4 premiere of Tumor Minutes, we step into the world of brain diseases, starting with Alzheimer’s disease. The episode explores how Alzheimer’s affects memory, thinking, and identity over time, and breaks down what is happening inside the brain at a cellular level. It also clears up common misconceptions about dementia and Alzheimer’s, explains key structures like the hippocampus, and looks at the role of proteins such as amyloid beta and tau in disease progression. Finally, it highlights why research into Alzheimer’s is so important and what current science is doing to move toward better treatments and possible prevention.

Episode 28: Season 3: Episode 8: Lobotomy

July 4th, 2026  |  11 mins 48 secs

This episode of Tumor Minutes explores the history and impact of lobotomies, a once widely accepted brain surgery used to treat mental illness in the early 20th century. It explains how the procedure worked, why it gained popularity, and the devastating effects it had on patients. The episode also highlights key figures like Egas Moniz and Walter Freeman, while examining how desperation and limited medical knowledge led to harmful practices. It ultimately reflects on the ethical lessons lobotomies leave behind and why they still matter in modern medicine.

Episode 27: Season 3: Episode 7: Emergency!

July 4th, 2026  |  10 mins 12 secs

Emergency surgery is performed when a patient’s life is at immediate risk and there is no time to wait. This episode breaks down what qualifies as an emergency, how doctors make rapid decisions with limited information, and what actually happens before, during, and after these high-pressure procedures. It also explains why emergency surgeries carry higher risks and why recognizing serious symptoms early can make a critical difference.

Episode 26: Season 3: Episode 6: Osteo-odonto-keratoprosthesis

July 4th, 2026  |  11 mins 2 secs

What if losing a tooth could help you see again? In this episode of Tumor Minutes, we explore one of the strangest yet most fascinating surgeries in modern medicine: a procedure where a patient’s own tooth is used to restore vision. From cheek implantation to eye reconstruction, this episode breaks down the science behind the so-called “tooth in eye” surgery in a way that’s clear, engaging, and just the right amount of unhinged.

Episode 25: Season 3: Episode 5: Hemispherectomy

July 4th, 2026  |  9 mins 50 secs

In this episode of Tumor Minutes, Netra explores hemispherectomy, a brain surgery that sounds completely impossible but is very real. By removing or disconnecting half the brain, doctors can treat severe epilepsy and, in rare cases, brain tumors. The episode breaks down how this works and why the brain is way more adaptable than we give it credit for.

Episode 24: Season 3: Episode 4: ETS

April 4th, 2026  |  9 mins 22 secs

This episode of Tumor Minutes explains Endoscopic Thoracic Sympathectomy, a surgical treatment for severe Hyperhidrosis. Netra breaks down why excessive sweating happens, how the Sympathetic Nervous System controls sweat signals, and how surgeons can interrupt those signals to reduce symptoms. The episode explores how the surgery works, why doctors try other treatments first, and what patients can expect afterward, all while keeping the explanation clear, engaging, and a little humorous.

Episode 23: Season 3: Episode 3: Plastic Surgery

March 29th, 2026  |  11 mins 16 secs

This episode of Tumor Minutes breaks down plastic surgery, what it actually is, why people get it, and the double standards celebrities and Korean idols face when it comes to appearance.

Episode 22: Season 3: Episode 2: Eye Surgery

March 21st, 2026  |  13 mins 54 secs

This episode explores eye surgery, from LASIK and cataracts to retinal procedures and cancers like Retinoblastoma and Uveal Melanoma, showing how surgeons restore vision and treat disease with extreme precision.

Episode 21: Season 3: Episode 1: Brain Surgery

March 9th, 2026  |  11 mins 8 secs

Brain surgery sounds like something out of science fiction, but it’s a real and increasingly precise part of modern medicine. In this episode of Tumor Minutes, we break down what actually happens during brain surgery — why it’s done, how surgeons plan procedures using advanced imaging, and why some patients are even awake during the operation. We also explore the technologies that help neurosurgeons navigate the brain safely while protecting the functions that make us who we are.

Episode 20: Season 2: Episode 10: Tourette's Syndrome

March 9th, 2026  |  7 mins 1 sec

This season-finale episode explains Tourette syndrome using clinical definitions and neuroscience, and briefly examines media backlash using I Swear as a case study.

Episode 19: Season 2: Episode 9: Cameron Boyce

February 22nd, 2026  |  12 mins 15 secs

This episode of Tumor Minutes is a personal tribute to Cameron Boyce, Netra’s favourite actor of all time, and a reflection on how his life and legacy reshaped the way she understands epilepsy. Through his work, his kindness, and the conversations that followed his passing, this episode explores how one person’s story can make an invisible condition feel human, relatable, and far less isolating. The episode also highlights how the Cameron Boyce Foundation continues his legacy by supporting young people and raising awareness about epilepsy and SUDEP.

Episode 18: Episode 8: Schizophrenia

January 31st, 2026  |  11 mins 55 secs

This episode of Tumor Minutes breaks down what schizophrenia really is, how it affects the brain, what symptoms actually look like, how it is diagnosed and treated, and why early support matters, while also highlighting a real-world story to challenge stigma and common myths.