Bloodsuckers!

<p>Leeches don’t get a lot of love. They’re slimy, wriggly, and, well, they suck—blood that is. But there’s a lot to learn about the lowly leech. Led by a troupe of Smithsonian experts, we’ll discover how these toothy hangers-on wormed their way into medical practices, performance art, and EVERY human cavity. Yes, even that one. It's a journey of discovery from the swamp to the stage and deep into the vaults of the Smithsonian. And it just may leave you with a little more appreciation (dare we say, love?) for the bloodsuckers.</p><p><strong>Guests: </strong></p><p><strong>Anna J. Phillips,</strong> research zoologist and curator of Clitellata and parasitic worms at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History</p><p><strong>Rachel Anderson,</strong> project specialist at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History</p><p><strong>Josh T. Franco,</strong> national collector at the Smithsonian Archives of American Art, former Smithsonian Artist Research Fellowship selectio...