This podcast episode examines the groundbreaking research on wildfire smoke conducted by Leda Kobziar and Naomi Hauser, revealing that smoke from wildfires is not just a destructive force but also a vector for transporting living bacteria and fungi, which may have significant implications for human and environmental health. As increasingly severe wildfires become a reality, this conversation sheds light on the need for further research to understand the health risks posed by smoke-borne pathogens and the ecological impacts of these microbial communities.