This is the latest episode of the free DDW narrated podcast, 'Outside the box thinking for drug discovery success', which covers three written for Volume 23 – Issue 4, Fall 2022 of DDW. They are called: Stanford researchers construct the most complete synthetic microbiome, Highs and lows of drug repurposing, and Unlocking the potential of mucoadhesive drug delivery.  In the first article, Rebecca McClellan, Scientific Program Manager, Research, Development & Communications, explains how scientists are learning more about the connections between the microbiome and human health to potentially develop first-in-class microbiome therapies. In the second article, DDW Editor Reece Armstrong explores the rise of drug repurposing and the benefits and disadvantages it brings to drug discovery and development.  In the third article, Ashley Rein, Global Market Manager for Topical Drug Delivery at Lubrizol Life Science Health (LLS Health), explains how by using mucoadhesive drug delivery, developers can bring novel drugs to market and maximise the efficacy of pre-existing APIs.