Everything I Know About

Is Your Kitchen Killing You? Nov 13, 2024

We myth-bust common kitchen fears—is your plastic cutting board really the villain? How bad is a daily Diet Coke? We dive into food dyes, microplastics, microwaves, and more. Topics covered: -How concerned should we be about microplastics? -Debunking kitchen gadget myths: Teflon non-stick plans, microwaves, and air fryers -The health concerns, lack of regulation, and prevalence of food dyes in everyday foods -The science behind different types of sugar alternatives and artificial sweeteners Sources available to anyone at our ⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠ ❤️ If you’re able to and our content means something to you, you can support us there too!

One Year of Podcasting Oct 30, 2024

We’re celebrating our first year of recording the pod! Thank you so much for listening and being part of this journey. We share our reflections and learnings from being baby content creators and how things are changing in the future… Topics covered: -Our recording equipment -What editing software we use -How we decide what content to cover -How to grow a podcast -How to monetize a podcast If you’re able to and our content means something to you, you can support us on ⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠ ❤️

Cuffing Season Oct 23, 2024

We explore the surprising science behind cuffing season, the link between body heat & strong relationships, and why we should all cuddle more. Topics covered: -Is cuffing season real? Do our relationship-seeking behaviors change seasonally? -The biological, psychological, and evolutionary factors impacting our desire for companionship in the winter -The link between attachment styles and physical warmth -The power of association driving hook-up vs relationship messaging during different times of year -How dating timelines have changed across generations -Are we less satisfied in our romantic relationships now? -Pros and cons of participating in cuffing season Sources available to anyone at our ⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠ ❤️

Ghost Tours & Haunted Cities Oct 16, 2024

What are ghost stories really telling us? What makes a city haunted? We explore local histories and share some scary mysteries. Topics covered: -Ghost stories as a vehicle for overlooked histories -The commercialization of suffering and dark tourism -New Orleans ghost stories (LaLaurie Mansion, Ursuline Convent, Marie Laveau), black history, and Hurricane Katrina aftermath -The creation of voodoo and its misperception -Savannah’s haunted history (Mercer Williams House, Grietely Ship) Sources available to anyone at our ⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠ ❤️

Halloween History & Where Our Souls Go Oct 09, 2024

Spooky season has us thinking about ghosts, demons, and the dead. We look into the ancient roots of Halloween and see what other cultures can teach us about the afterlife. Topics covered: -The history of Halloween -Celtic Samhain + Roman Feralia and Pomona + Christian All Souls Day and All Saints Day -Dia de los Muertos celebrations in Mexico -Oban in Japan and friendly ghosts -Ghanian funeral rites and novelty coffins Sources available to anyone at our ⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠ ❤️

Pumpkin Spice & Spirit Halloween Oct 02, 2024

Anyone else wondered how the Pumpkin Spice Latte was born or what happens to Spirt Halloween stores on November 1st? This week, we dig into seasonal products and businesses to understand how and why they thrive. Topics covered: -Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte and the power of seasonal products -Spirit Halloween’s founding story and business model Sources available to anyone at our ⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠ ❤️

Doll Communities Sep 25, 2024

The Barbie movie’s critical lens on dolls was just the beginning…We dive into adult fan communities of American Girl Doll and reborn dolls to understand the enduring cultural impact of these pillars of girlhood. Topics covered: -The reborn doll community -American Girl Doll’s cultural impact and its adult fans -The Jellycat craze -The rise and fall of Beanie Babies -The psychology of collecting Sources available to anyone at our ⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠ ❤️

Reality TV Sep 18, 2024

Looking to justify your reality TV habit? Listen in as we explore why this genre deserves to be taken seriously, with both its positive and frightening impacts on our society and psychology. Topics covered: -The history of reality TV—how the format and drama originated -Behind the scenes: how casting, scripting/prompting, and editing really work -Why we find reality TV addicting and its psychological impact on the cast and audience -How trends in reality TV viewership have changed over time -The difference in content and approach between Western produced reality TV and Eastern (Korean, Japanese) Sources & transcript available to anyone at our ⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠ ❤️

Unusual Cults: Cargo Cults & Bikram Yoga Sep 11, 2024

You’ve heard of Jonestown and Heaven’s Gate, but what about cargo and hot yoga cults? We dive into two unusual cults we didn’t know existed: the Cargo Cults of Melanesia and the Bikram Yoga cult. Topics covered: -Fitness and health cults like YouTube high carb low fat vegans and Soulcycle -Amanda Montell's book Cultish -The history of Bikram yoga and its founder Bikram Choudhury -The crimes, scandals, and ongoing cultish behavior from the Bikram community -The origins of Cargo Cults and the John Frum Movement Sources & transcript available to anyone at our ⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠ ❤️

Is Hosting the Olympics Worth It? Sep 04, 2024

Ever wondered how Olympic host cities are selected and how much they have to spend? We dig into the big budgets behind the gold medals. Topics covered: -The history of the Olympics and its revival in modern day -Why the International Olympic Committee says countries should host -What independent research shows about the economics of hosting -Deep dive into the economics of the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics + Paris 2024 Summer Olympics Sources & transcript available to anyone at our ⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠ ❤️

If Goodreads & Reddit Had a Baby Aug 21, 2024

We quit our jobs in tech to work for ourselves and in the last 7 months, built Pagebound, a web app that combines the best of Goodreads and Reddit. Listen in as we get our first users and share lessons learned from our journey. 📚 ✨ Create a free account at https://pagebound.co/

Join the Everything I Know About pod book club on Pagebound!

Mukbangs Aug 06, 2024

From mukbangs to what I eat in a day vlogs, why are we so fascinated with what other people eat? This week, we dive into the origins of mukbang, its transformation when it hit mainstream America, and what the implications are of sensationalizing food and eating online. (Bonus—check out Patreon for us making mukbang content 🍗 🍪) Topics covered: -The origins of mukbang in Korea -Entrance into the American mainstream -The commercialization of mukbang and the new incentive structure -Discourse around Nikocado Avocado, Jelly Bean Sweets: promoting binge eating, feeder content, wastefulness -ASMR crossover -Why people love mukbang, how it affects our mental health and eating habits Sources & transcript available to anyone at our ⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠ ❤️

The Enneagram Personality Test with Christina S. Wilcox Jul 24, 2024

Our first episode with a guest! We bring our Enneagram skepticism to an expert. Will she convert us? Topics covered: -The intersection of mental health, therapeutic techniques, and the Enneagram -How to understand your Enneagram type: from triads to stances to wings, discover how your type approaches the world, how it uses energy, and how all this information can help you better understand yourself and those you care about -Christina’s journey growing a social media following and publishing two books Sources & transcript available to anyone at our ⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠ ❤️

Couples Therapy Jul 10, 2024

We reflect on our newest obsession, the show Couples Therapy. From sharing our own experiences with therapy to takeaways from the famous couples therapists out there, this episode is sure to get you thinking, whether you’re in a relationship or not. Topics covered: -Who’s going to couple’s therapy -The efficacy of couples therapy -When should you go to couples therapy (and when should you not)? -The types of couples therapy and finding a good fit with a therapist -Advice from popular couples therapists: Orna Guralnik, Virginia Goldner, Terry Real, Esther Perel Sources & transcript available to anyone at our ⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠ ❤️

Surprising Mafia Economies: Olive Oil & Sand Jun 26, 2024

What do olive oil and sand have in common? We dive into the surprising economies controlled by organized crime. Topics covered: -The history of the mafia -The olive oil mafia (also its effects on mozzarella and red wine) -The sand mafia (sand theft in India, Jamaica, and Kenya) Sources & transcript available to anyone at our ⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠ ❤️

Is College Still Worth It? Jun 12, 2024

To what degree is college still worth it? We explore the benefits, financial and developmental, of higher ed and dig into what’s really driving declining college enrollment. Topics covered: -How most Americans feel about college today -How college has changed: tuition increases, student loan debt, shady for-profit colleges, declining enrollment -Alternatives to college: software bootcamps, apprenticeships, trade schools Sources & transcript available to anyone at our ⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠ ❤️

Expats, Nomads, & Gentrification (Re-Release) Jun 05, 2024

We will be releasing episodes every other week in June and July. This is a re-release of our episode originally named Living Abroad "like" the Locals.

What’s the difference between an expat and a migrant? In this episode we explore the global impact of digital nomads and tourists, the community cost of airbnbs, and third-wave gentrification while unpacking our own experiences as expats. Topics covered: -Why are some groups labeled expats while others are migrants? -Media portrayals vs our own experience as expats -The rise of digital nomads -Displacement of local populations -The 3 waves of gentrification -The billionaire class and investment properties -The issue with Airbnb -NYC’s changing response to gentrification -Voluntourism and the ethics of being a tourist

Sources & transcript available to anyone at our ⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠ ❤️

Fusion: interracial marriage, cuisine, and the “melting pot” May 29, 2024

This week, a special guest co-host joins Lucy… Topics covered: -National Geographic’s “The Changing Face of America” and The Race Card Project -The rise in interracial marriages and multiracial children -Fusion in food: the history of food fusion and its newest form -Fusion vs authenticity as it relates to Chinese American food -Fusion in music: international music charting in America, racial barriers in country music Sources & transcript available to anyone at our ⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠ ❤️

Supplements May 22, 2024

So we know supplements have questionable science and little regulation, but what about something as common as protein powder? Join us as we investigate claims that roots and pills can invigorate libidos, kick coffee habits or even prevent hangovers. We discover surprising facts, and even find a product that convinces Lucy, our skeptic.

Topics covered: -The science behind the most common vitamin and mineral supplements Americans take: multivitamins, calcium, and fish oil -Why we add vitamins to food products -Do scientists agree on what levels of vitamins we need for ideal health? -The surprising science behind protein powder, and should you be taking it daily? -Influencer promoted supplements: Athletic Greens (AG1) and libido gummies -Herbs and roots in traditional Chinese and Indian medicine, adaptogens and coffee alternatives -A supplement to rid us of hangovers -The placebo effect Sources & transcript available to anyone at our ⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠ ❤️

Moral Dilemmas and Reddit’s AITA May 15, 2024

We lurk on Reddit’s Am I the Asshole forum and pass our own judgements using the backing of moral philosophy and some questionable logic. Questions covered: -AITA for telling my wife that she needs to seriously work on her mental and physical toughness? -AITA for being truthful and admitting that I find my wife unattractive after her surgery? -AITA for leaving my disabled mom with no caregivers after giving her over 6 months notice? Sources & transcript available to anyone at our ⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠ ❤️

True Crime May 08, 2024

The case of the true crime obsession. Join us as we unwind the history, unearth the clues, and navigate the pitfalls of being a true crime fan. Topics covered: -The history and origins of true crime -The rise of detective fiction -How Serial changed the industry and the rise of prestige true crime dramas: HBO’s The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst and Netflix’s Making a Murderer -Who watches true crime and why -Gender differences in criminals, victims, and viewers -News coverage of crimes and the relationship between serial killers and media -True crime’s effect on our judicial system -The problems with true crime: sensationalization of crime for profit and entertainment, centering the criminal rather than the victim -Parasocial relationships and armchair detectives -The women who fall in love with serial killers

Sources & transcript available to anyone at our ⁠Patreon⁠ ❤️

Footing the Bill May 01, 2024

We examine the social norms around paying for things for others. From gifts to obligations, how we spend our money speaks to our culture, our values, and how we may or may not be afraid of judgment from others. Topics covered: -Spending on milestones for our friends: weddings, showers, bachelorette parties, gifts -Sex and The City, A Woman’s Right to Shoes -Wedding one-upmanship & social media -Why we follow social norms, even when it doesn’t align with our self interest -Money norms when it comes to dating and splitting finances as a couple, in the US vs Europe -The history of tipping, tipping culture today, and tipflation

Sources & transcript available to anyone at our Patreon ❤️

Romance, Smut, and Fairy P*** Apr 24, 2024

We explore the tropes, trends, and monsters in the romance universe, asking important questions like why is it we have to go outside of our species to find a good man? 👹 Topics covered: -The history of the romance novel, from 1700s to today -The development of modern romance: romantasy, erotica, tropes -Inflection points like the invention of the “the bodice ripper” in 1972, Fifty Shades of Gray in modern day -An exploration of the types of romance novels: ACOTAR (A Court of Thorns and Roses), From Blood and Ash, Fourth Wing; authors like Colleen Hoover, Emily Henry; and monster corn like Ice Planet Barbarians and the Omega verse -Dark romance, taboos, and the “misattribution of arousal” phenomenon -How monster smut helps you heal from trauma -Kindle Unlimited and AI tools effect on indie authors and readership -Changing ideals of masculinity -Female sexual liberation

Sources & transcript available to anyone at our ⁠Patreon⁠ ❤️

Secret Societies Apr 17, 2024

We dive into the Western Esoteric Tradition, how its shaped our stories, symbols, and secret societies. From the Knights Templar to Beyonce as a member of the Illuminati, we traverse centuries of history and question fact vs conspiracy. Topics covered: -The origins of secret societies in the Western Esoteric Tradition -Its relation to Dark Academia as a genre of fiction: Babel by RF Kuang, Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo, Harry Potter -The history of the Freemasons and what we know about their practices today -The Anti-Masonic party and the pushback against secret societies -The Knights Templar and their potential ties to the Masons -The history of the Illuminati and modern conspiracy theories -How secret societies relate to modern Greek fraternities, Phi Beta Kappa -The history of secret societies at universities, and how the Skull and Bones society at Yale has changed over time -Research on in group, out group psychology in relation to empathy vs apathy

Sources & transcript available to anyone at our ⁠Patreon⁠ ❤️

Male-coded Media Apr 10, 2024

Are men and women drifting further apart in their views on the world? After living on the girlie side of the internet for so long, Jennifer & Lucy dip their toes into male-coded media and experience its wildly different messaging. Topics covered: -Male-coded media personalities and their similarities/differences: Joe Rogan, Andrew Huberman, David Goggins, Jocko Willink -Stoicism as a predominately male philosophy -Should art be separated from the artist? -Parasocial relationships and how celebrities become role models -Media echo chambers and how reading fiction helps us develop empathy -Female-coded media personalities and their similarities/differences: Alex Cooper of Call Her Daddy, Binchtopia, Brene Brown, Glennon Doyle -The differences between male-coded and female-coded content and messaging -How the genders are drifting apart -Gender socialization and gender as a construct

Sources & transcript available to anyone at our ⁠Patreon⁠ ❤️

Panic at the Tarmac Apr 03, 2024

Jennifer shares the experience of her first panic attack (+ involuntary grippy sock vacation), and we investigate what causes panic attacks and what you can do when faced with one. Topics covered: -How to recognize a panic attack -What to do when experiencing one -The types of panic attacks: depersonalization/derealization, cardiac, and respiratory -The biomechanisms causing fight or flight -How you can control (and let go of control) when it comes to panic attacks -The relationship between panic disorder and depression -How panic disorder differs between men and women

Sources & transcript available to anyone at our ⁠Patreon⁠ ❤️

Are We Having Fun Yet? Mar 27, 2024

Why does it feel so hard to have fun as an adult? And based on our feed, is everyone having it or is no one...👀 We look into fun as a business, fun for our health, and why/if the fun isn’t funning anymore.

Topics covered: -Key elements of fun: playfulness, connection, and flow -How you can have more fun -The commodification of fun: party coaches, corporate team events, fun as an industry -The performance of fun for social media -The impact of fun on mental and physical health -The importance of close friends as well as a large network of acquaintances -Younger generations are lonelier than ever -Shifting perceptions of fun in the 1900s -Changes in how Americans spend time since the 1960s -How Americans spend time compared to the rest of the world

Sources & transcript available to anyone at our ⁠Patreon⁠ ❤️

Girl Talk: Female Founder Edition Mar 20, 2024

We share the stories of four female founders we admire. From construction to candy, VC-backed to self-funded, they cover a wide spectrum of ways to build a business. Topics covered: -The myth of the young founder in Silicon Valley -Different paths to found companies—venture capital vs angel investors vs bootstrapping -Alternative exit strategies—acquisition, private equity -How female founders lead differently -Lucy Guo and her companies, Scale AI and Passes -Kristine Locker and her startup Locker, a shoppable Pinterest -Tracey Young’s $875M exit for PlanGrid and her new startup TigerEye -Tara Bosch developing and selling SmartSweets

Living Abroad "like" the Locals Mar 13, 2024

What’s the difference between an expat and a migrant? In this episode we explore the global impact of digital nomads and tourists, the community cost of airbnbs, and third-wave gentrification while unpacking our own experiences as expats. Topics covered: -Why are some groups labeled expats while others are migrants? -Media portrayals vs our own experience as expats -The rise of digital nomads -Displacement of local populations -The 3 waves of gentrification -The billionaire class and investment properties -The issue with Airbnb -NYC’s changing response to gentrification -Voluntourism and the ethics of being a tourist

Sources & transcript available to anyone at our ⁠Patreon⁠ ❤️

Girl Internet Mar 06, 2024

The girls chat girl dinner, girl math, and the girlification of womanhood. Is Lucy secretly a clean girl? And wth is a blueberry girl? Topics covered: - Does the use of “girl” infantilize women? (spoiler: we think not) - The changing connotations of womanhood & girlhood - Cultural origins of the use of “girl” - Girl internet & memes: girl dinner, girl math, girl hobbies, girl aesthetics - Coquette and girlhood nostalgia - Corporatization of the girl trend - Modern girlhood and the influence of social media - Sephora preteens - Building community and togetherness

Sources & transcript available to anyone at our ⁠Patreon⁠ ❤️

Personality Tests Feb 28, 2024

We each take personality tests and have some unexpected results. Is Jennifer actually likely to commit a crime of passion? 🔪 We dive into the history of personality tests, if there’s any science behind them, and why we’re all obsessed with categorizing ourselves. Topics covered: -The Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) -The Enneagram personality test -The Big Five personality test -The Feelings Wheel -How factors in our life (gender, socioeconomic status, birth order) affect our personality -Do our personalities change over time, and can we change them intentionally? -Why we like to categorize ourselves and ties to astrology and divination, tarot

Sources & transcript available to anyone at our ⁠Patreon⁠ ❤️

The Motherhood Decision Feb 21, 2024

Why does becoming a mother feel harder than ever? We reveal our inner turmoil, unpack our fears, and try to understand what’s got us so jaded. Topics covered: -Frameworks to decide if you want to become a mother -Portrayals of motherhood in the media -The lifestyle considerations of motherhood -Why America’s healthcare system and birthing process hurts the mother-infant bond -The rise of the trad wife and desire for the soft life among young women -What happens when a country’s population declines -Ways other countries have the edge when it comes to supporting mothers -The science behind the “geriatric pregnancy” at 35—is the cut-off accurate?

Other episodes referenced in this one:

Girlbossing Too Close to the Sun

Is Gilmore Girls America dead?

Love, Matchmaking, & Monogamy Feb 14, 2024

Roses are red 🌹, violets are blue 💙, is monogamy dead or is love still true? We share a bit about our romantic lives and dive into how to find your perfect match, making love last, and the evolution of marriage. Topics covered: -Biologically, what makes us feel love? -Marriage as an economic proposition and marriage for romance -How can we make love last? (research from The Gottman Institute) -Early predictors of divorce -Conflict management in couples -The history of human evolution in relation to monogamy and marriage -Dating apps and the modern love landscape -The New York Times 36 Questions to Fall in Love -Polyamory and ethical non-monogamy

Sources & transcript available to anyone at our ⁠Patreon⁠ ❤️

The Chinese & Western Zodiac Feb 07, 2024

Happy Lunar New Year! This is the year of the dragon 🐲 and not just because of Fourth Wing. Lucy shares her cultural heritage, and we explore the surprising intersections of the Chinese and Western Zodiacs, trying a bit of divination for ourselves. Topics covered: -Traditions and foods associated with Chinese New Year -The Chinese Zodiac and the sexagenary cycle (60 year time system that combines the 12 zodiac animals with 5 elements and also yin and yang -How the Chinese Zodiac and the Western Zodiac was developed -The math and science behind the Western Zodiac -Significance of entering the Age of Aquarius -Zodiac compatibility -We share our Western and Chinese Zodiac signs/charts

Girlbossing Too Close to the Sun Jan 31, 2024

We talk girlboss culture, the rise, the fall, and those of us left in its wake, feeling burnt out and lost. This was actually the first episode we ever recorded! 🫢

Is Gilmore Girls America dead? Jan 31, 2024

Gilmore girlies anyone? Lucy, a huge fan of the show, and Jennifer, who has somehow escaped its gravitational pull, chat about the life portrayed in Stars Hollow, whether its the last remnant of a bygone era or if there’s still hope for us to find that close knit community and a job that takes care of us. Topics covered: -The vision of America portrayed in Gilmore Girls -What jobs were like for our parents’ generation -The plight of millennials and why we have less wealth than previous generations -IBM’s cradle to grave culture in the 1960s -Layoffs and the shift in corporate culture -The decline of third spaces and community post COVID -Differences in community within large cities like NYC and mid-size cities like Nashville

The Passion Economy Jan 24, 2024

We get meta and talk about what the passion economy is, who’s participating in it (including us), and the sinister side of monetizing attention.

Topics covered: -The rise of the passion economy -Venture investors profiting from the passion economy -Platforms that support creators (Patreon, Substack, Pietra) -How much money successful creators can make -The sinister side of the passion economy, MLMs -What it takes to make it as an influencer -Is being an influencer all that it’s made out to be

Interpreting Dreams Jan 24, 2024

We get a little Freudian and talk science-backed dream analysis, what it means when you dream about your teeth falling out, and how our dream life can affect our waking life.

Topics covered: - Why we dream, psychological and biological purpose - REM sleep & memory consolidation - How to remember dreams better - Lucid dreaming & triggering lucid dreams - History of dream psychoanalysis (Freud, Carl Jung, Calvin Hall, Robert Van de Castle) - Dream analysis theory, 20th century psychology - Structural Dream Analysis - Most common dreams across cultures - Scientific meaning of specific dreams and symbols

Our Favorite Books of 2023 Jan 18, 2024

Bonus episode! We share our favorite books of 2023 and give you a sneak peak into our book club on Patreon. Visit https://patreon.com/EverythingIKnowAboutPod to learn more.

Drinking Culture & Dry January Jan 18, 2024

We tackle our deep cultural connections to alcohol (bacchanalia anyone?), why Gen Z is skipping happy hour, and the conflicting research on booze's impact on mental and physical health.

Find the full transcript at https://www.patreon.com/EverythingIKnowAboutPod.

The Artist's Way & Creativity Jan 17, 2024

We take the red pill and follow The Artists Way program for two weeks (with some unintended side effects) and chat about why everyone from CEOs to psychologists are obsessed with creativity, what happens when your hobbies become your work, and how we can all get in touch with our inner artiste.

Find the full transcript at https://www.patreon.com/EverythingIKnowAboutPod.

Overeducated, Unemployed, Almost 30 Jan 17, 2024

In this introductory episode, we talk about how we went from two girls making bank to two girls making a podcast on a Monday morning…Tune in for a chat about when we felt most ourselves & who we most likely were in a former life.

Find the full transcript at https://www.patreon.com/EverythingIKnowAboutPod.

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