Why do we have such big butts? Why does society admire women's butts more than men's? And what does race have to do with all this? Featuring Jeanne Bovet, senior lecturer at Northumbria University in Newcastle. Citations and further reading: Gluteus muscle, Encyclopaedia Britannica Swain-Lenz, D., Berrio, A., Safi, A., Crawford, G. E., & Wray, […]
It affects 1 billion people worldwide, so why is disability considered a niche issue? How can we make life easier for people with disabilities? And what does any of this have to do with As Seen on TV products? Featuring Emily Ladau, disability rights activist and author of the new book, “Demystifying Disability: What to […]
What is depression, really? Do antidepressants actually work? And how can ketamine and psilocybin possibly help? Featuring Gerard Sanacora, director of the Yale Depression Research Program and Co-director of the Yale Interventional Psychiatry Service. Citations and further reading: Depression Isn't Always What You Think: The Subtle Signs by Alice G. Walton, Forbes (2015) Recognizing the […]
Why do we remove our body hair? Why do humans have less hair than our primate cousins? And why was Darwin obsessed with beards? Featuring Rebecca Herzig, author of "Plucked: A History of Hair Removal." Pick it up here: https://amzn.to/3Csj819 Citations and further reading: Sorry David Attenborough, we didn’t evolve from ‘aquatic apes’ – here’s […]
They're complex, mysterious, and easy to blame for everything from unexplained symptoms to seemingly superhuman abilities. Find out how we discovered hormones, what they do inside of us, and who's really controlling who. Featuring Randi Hutter Epstein author of "Aroused, the History of Hormones and How They Control Just About Everything." Citations and further reading: […]
Are kids really learning critical race theory in class? What IS critical race theory, anyway? And why is it so uncomfortable to talk about race? Featuring Janel George, associate professor of law at Georgetown University Law Center and founding director of the Racial Equity in Education Policy Clinic. Citations and further reading: Critical Race Theory […]
Why is it impolite to talk about money? Why are many of us uncomfortable with our own money habits? And how do we change things? Featuring Ted Klontz, Ph.D., director of the Financial Psychology Institute and associate professor of Practice and Financial Psychology at Creighton University. Citations and further reading: What hunter-gatherers can tell us […]
Why don't we have head transplants? Why would someone need one? And how much of you is in your head — and how much is everywhere else? Featuring Dr. Brandy Schillace, author of the book “Mr. Humble and Dr. Butcher: A Monkey's Head, the Pope's Neuroscientist, and the Quest to Transplant the Soul.” Pick it […]
How long have STIs been around? Why don't we have anything higher-tech than the condom? And when did we stop saying "STD," anyway? Featuring Ina Park, MD, associate professor at the UC San Francisco School of Medicine and author of the book "Strange Bedfellows: Adventures in the Science, History, and Surprising Secrets of STDs." Pick […]
Snot and pee and earwax, oh my! Why are we so full of gross substances? What do our fluids do for us? And is there really a chemical to catch people peeing in the pool? Featuring Erika Engelhaupt, a science writer and editor and author of the new book “Gory Details: Adventures from the Dark […]