Serious Inquiries Only

Latest Episodes:

SIO339: The Turnaway Studies, Part 1 Sep 08, 2022

Show notes

What happens to people who seek abortions but cannot get them? I imagine listeners to this show know the outcomes aren't good. But the Turnaway Studies put real, tangible data into the picture. Your arguments for abortion access will be made much sharper by listening to Lindsey break down the science.

Links: The Turnaway Study overview, Annotated bibliography of The Turnaway Study publications, The Turnaway Study Book info, Biggs, Gould, & Foster (2013) Understanding why women seek abortions in the US

SIO338: Is Depression 'Just a Chemical Imbalance?' with Dr. Dean Burnett Sep 01, 2022

Show notes

Recently a study made the rounds that sought to cast doubt on the efficacy of antidepressants. At the core of this misleading study was a real truth – that depression isn't merely a question of "not enough serotonin." But what exactly does that mean? Is this a new discovery? And why doesn't that mean that medication focused on serotonin doesn't work? Explaining this brilliantly and with singular charm is Dr. Dean Burnett!

SIO337: Major Announcement! Academia Has Lost a Science Person... Aug 28, 2022

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But SIO has gained one! That's right, Lindsey has left her job as a professor and has entered our hearts as (hopefully) a full time science communicator person! We discuss the change and the reasons for Lindsey's departure.

Pretty please help the show afford to pay Lindsey! patreon.com/seriouspod!

SIO336: How Night People Suffer in a Morning Person World Jul 31, 2022

Show notes

It's part 2! This time we talk about melatonin, and then go on through the many negative outcomes associated with being a night person in this horrible morning person world. It's a lot. But there's like one good thing so that's cool.

Links: Li et al (2019) - Melatonin to treat secondary sleep disorders, Brzezinski et al (2005) - Melatonin and sleep, Schrire (2021) - Safety of high dose melatonin in adults, Wei et al (2020) - Safety and efficacy of melatonin for children, Grigg-Damberger & Ianakieva (2017) Poor quality control of OTC melatonin, Yam et al (2014) Morning employees are perceived as better employees, Hepburn, Ortiz, & Locksley (1984) Stereotypes of evening types, Zielinska et al (2021) Political orientation and chronotype, Norbury (2021) Depression and chronotype, Antypa et al (2015) Anxiety and chronotype , Cox & Olatunji (2019) Anxiety and chronotype, Durmus et al (2017) ADHD and sleep, McGowan et al (2016) ADHD and sleep in adults, Preckel et al (2011) Cognitive ability, and academic achievement, Gorgol et al (2018) IQ, conscientiousness, and chronotype, Bhar et al (2022) Type 2 Diabetes and Insulin Resistance, Lotti et al (2022) Cardiometabolic Risk, Cancer, and Depression, Hasler et al (2013) Chronotype and reward response, Ahrens & Ahmed (2019) Sleep deprivation, reward circuitry, and addiction, Kivela et al (2018) Chronotype and psychiatric disorders, Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome, Kantermann et al (2007) Transition to DST, Allebrandt et al (2014) Chronotype and seasonal sleep duration

SIO335: Are There Morning People and Night People? What the Science Says Jul 30, 2022

Show notes

Day man! Fighter of the night man! As someone who has never been able to wake up in the morning, I've always been curious how much of that was determined and how much I might have control over it. What does the science say? Dr. Lindsey Osterman is here to teach us! There are a lot of interesting factors that go into it. Links: Bear, Wolf, Lion, & Dolphin Sleep Types, Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire, Adan & Almirall (1991) Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire: A reduced scale, Munich ChronoType Questionnaire, Roenneberg (2019) Chronotype and social jetlag: A (self-) critical review, Yetish et al (2015) Natural sleep and its seasonal variations in three pre-industrial societies, Kalmbach et al (2017) Genetic basis of chronotype in humans, Roenneberg et al (2007) Epidemiology of the human circadian clock, Hagenauer & Lee (2013) Adolescent sleep patterns in humans and laboratory animals, Shawa, Rae, & Roden (2018) Impact of seasons on an individual’s chronotype

SIO334: ‘Under the Banner of Heaven’ with the Glass Box Podcast, Part 2! Jun 29, 2022

Show notes

We continue our descent into Mormon Madness with Bryce and Shannon! If you haven't listened to part 1, STOP and go back! Check out the Glass Box Podcast!

SIO333: 'Under the Banner of Heaven' and the Lafferty Murders, with The Glass Box Podcast Jun 27, 2022

Show notes

When I started watching Under the Banner of Heaven, I honestly had no idea it was a: true crime and b: MORMON AS HELL. (I had just wanted to watch Andrew Garfield in a thing...) Well, if you were left a little confused by the Mormon lore in this true-crime thriller, have we got the show for you! Bryce Blankenagel and Shannon Grover help us understand this very... bizarre religious history. And Shannon has a personal connection to the real case! Check out the excellent Glass Box Podcast!

SIO332: Science Says Stop Spanking Your Kids, A-Holes! – Dear Old Dads Crossover Jun 09, 2022

Show notes

That's right, it's a crossover spectacular! Tom and Eli (and I) from Dear Old Dads are here to learn from Lindsey why no the f you should not spank your kids you a-hole! Science is clear. Don't do it. But Lindsey breaks it down and we make lottttts of jokes and hear more amazing dad stories!

Subscribe to Dear Old Dads!

Links: 2019 APA Resolution on Physical Discipline of Children by Parents, Gershoff and colleagues (2018) - Review on physical punishment and detrimental outcomes

SIO331: Study Shows Privileged People Perceive Equality as Unfair Jun 01, 2022

Show notes

It's another science thingy subjected to the Lindsey treatment! A study purports to show that people in a position of privilege view any effort to promote equality as an attack on them. Does the study hold up? Will Lindsey talk methods to us? Find out!

Stay tuned after for a special message from Andrew Torrez.

Links: New Scientist Article, Brown et al study 2022

SIO330: Does Meditation Reduce Prosocial Behavior? May 19, 2022

Show notes

By popular request, Lindsey will be taking us through this fascinating science-thingy! Certain kinds of meditation can reduce feelings like guilt, sadness, etc. But is that good? Does it make people less likely to help others in different ways? Find out!

Links: Mindfulness Meditation Reduces Guilt and Prosocial Reparation, popular coverage

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