Episodes
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Infidelity (with Lucia O’Sullivan)
It's the #1 cause of breakup and divorce. What if we're approaching infidelity all wrong?
Today's guest is Lucia O'Sullivan, a social psychologist and professor in the department of psychology at the University of New Brunswick in Canada.
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Vaginas (with Rachel E. Gross)
Why do we know so little about female anatomy? Why are so many of women's reproductive organs named after dudes? And hold up, the clitoris looks like THAT?!
Today's guest is Rachel E. Gross, an award-winning science journalist who's writing a book about the female reproductive system.
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Acne (with Dr. Alexa Shipman)
Why are we so grossed out by acne? What is it that makes popping pimples so satisfying? And why doesn't acne go away after adolescence?
Today's guest is Dr. Alexa Shipman, a consultant dermatologist for the NHS in the United Kingdom.
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Obesity (with Dr. Yoni Freedhoff)
What do we get wrong about weight? Where did BMI even come from? And is there really an obesity "epidemic"?
Today's guest is Dr. Yoni Freedhoff, an Associate Professor of Family Medicine at the University of Ottawa and Medical Director of Ottawa's Bariatric Medical Institute who's known as Canada's most outspoken obesity expert. He's also the author of "The Diet Fix: Why Diets Fail and How to Make Yours Work."
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Cannibalism (with Bill Schutt)
Why do humans have such an aversion to eating each other? How many cultures really practice cannibalism? And does cannibalism happen in the Western world anymore? (Yes. The answer is yes.)
Today's guest is Bill Schutt, zoologist and research associate at the American Museum of Natural History. He's also the author of the book "Cannibalism: A Perfectly Natural History."
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Penises (with Emily Willingham)
How does the human penis measure up to the rest of the animal kingdom? What can the shape of the penis tell us about human mating? And what is up with society's obsession with the penis?
Today's guest is Emily Willingham, science journalist and author of the book "Phallacy: Life Lessons from the Animal Penis."
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Pornography (with Joshua Grubbs)
What makes porn, porn? Why is a Playboy centerfold porn when the Venus de Milo isn't? How long have we been making porn? And importantly, is porn addictive?
Today's guest is Dr. Joshua Grubbs, professor of psychology at Bowling Green State University.
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Profanity (with Benjamin K. Bergen)
What makes a word profane? Why are my swear words different from my parents'? If swearing is so bad, why do we do it? And what can a culture's swear words tell us about the things they hold taboo?
Today's guest is Dr. Benjamin K. Bergen, professor of cognitive science at UC San Diego and author of the book "What the F: What Swearing Reveals About Our Language, Our Brains, and Ourselves."