Why We Do What We Do

Latest Episodes:

241 | Christmas Origins: Santa Claus Dec 21, 2022

Show notes

This time of year it is fun to explore the origins of our most rock-solid traditions. In this discussion we learn about our favorite god-like mutant: Santa Claus! This is one of the few beings with a pretty clear starting point in American (yes, mostly North American) history. We had a lot of fun unpacking the science of what it would mean for Santa to visit every house in the world, which involves a mountain of calories and alcohol and faster than light travel. What a guy!
References
-https://www.history.com/topics/christmas/santa-claus
-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wS1Uck8P-_A
-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OO6a6Ue2z5I
Recommendations
- Abraham: Midnight Mass (https://www.netflix.com/title/81083626)
- Shane: I Don’t Wanna Christmas Playlist (https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1Bv7xHqHWNaQ2rEwFyWB0V?si=e56fe93398be427c)

You can reach us directly at info@wwdwwdpodcast.com, through the comments below OR on social via @wwdwwdpodcast or #wwdwwdpodcast.

240 | (COVID) Vaccine Hesitancy pt 2 Dec 15, 2021

Show notes

"Pretend reasons" for being hesitant about the vaccine are the conspiracy theories and nonsense. Motivated reasons are the biases and excuses that sound legitimate, but really have no actual merit. The strategies to help someone become better educated include listening to them, asking them questions that demonstrate the flaws in their logic, being honest, and sharing data and information non-judgmentally.

Links and Resources:

https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-21-319

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/coronavirus/covid19-vaccine-hesitancy-12-things-you-need-to-know

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPHgRp70H8o

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWI0YiSmTKs&t=2s

We are on Reddit! https://www.reddit.com/user/WhyWeDoWhatWeDo

Recommendations

Abraham: Oura Ring (https://ouraring.com/?g_network=g&g_adid=562206779993&g_keyword=oura%20ring&g_adtype=search&g_campaign=G_SEM_Brand_Intent_US&g_keywordid=kwd-305035554360&utm_campaign=G_SEM_Brand_Intent_US&g_adgroupid=70823106696&g_acctid=553-919-5922&g_campaignid=1016078591&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&gclid=CjwKCAiAwKyNBhBfEiwA_mrUMlUj1ypfLQzCIwP_x9T-b7qUZ0kxtnXi41G4vtQosNZ_vOpTOanN6BoC2mIQAvD_BwE)

Shane: Ghostbusters: Afterlife (https://www.ghostbusters.com/)

You can reach us directly at info@wwdwwdpodcast.com, through the comments below OR on social via @wwdwwdpodcast or #wwdwwdpodcast.

239 | (COVID) Vaccine Hesitancy pt 1 Dec 08, 2021

Show notes

We may disagree with them, strongly, but those of us who are hesitant about getting the vaccine, are not stupid. And treating them as such will only cause them to dig their heels in more strongly. To begin, it is helpful to understand the virus and about the plan to develop a vaccine. We also suggest that there are three ways to think about the reasons for hesitancy: general reasons, pretend reasons, and motivated reasons. We get through the first of these. You probably know someone who falls into one of these three! Links and Resources: https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-21-319 https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/coronavirus/covid19-vaccine-hesitancy-12-things-you-need-to-know https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPHgRp70H8o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWI0YiSmTKs&t=2s We are on Reddit! https://www.reddit.com/user/WhyWeDoWhatWeDo Recommendations Abraham: None today :( Shane: You can reach us directly at info@wwdwwdpodcast.com, through the comments below OR on social via @wwdwwdpodcast or #wwdwwdpodcast.

238 | Goop Dec 01, 2021

Show notes

Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop brand markets itself as an “alternative wellness” brand that encompasses a variety of products, tips, and information geared toward improving the wellbeing of most anyone. There are suggestions for everything from food, sexual health, clothing, and more. But the promises of improvement may be based on loose information, lack of science, of falsehoods. Still, the brand has become a powerhouse worth hundreds of millions of dollars, and despite several instances of criticism, continues to grow its empire. While we might think that the average consumer is looking for legitimate products and answers to their problem, the old adage still holds: the customer is always right, whether the scientist likes it or not. Links and Resources: https://goop.com/whats-goop/ https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-body/pictures/gwyneth-paltrows-most-controversial-goop-moments/vaginal-steaming/ https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/why-is-gwyneth-paltrows-goop-so-controversial.html/ https://www.womanandhome.com/us/life/news-entertainment/what-is-gwyneth-paltrows-goop-brand-as-product-explodes-in-fans-living-room/ https://www.insider.com/goop-history-gwyneth-paltrow-controversy-products-2019-9#in-a-move-to-provide-break-into-the-beauty-business-goop-debuted-a-nontoxic-skin-care-line-with-juice-beauty-in-2016-11 https://www.bbc.com/news/health-51312438 https://latana.com/post/goop-deep-dive/ https://www.usmagazine.com/stylish/news/gwyneth-paltrow-shares-goop-vagina-candle-inspiration-details/ We are on Reddit! https://www.reddit.com/user/WhyWeDoWhatWeDo Recommendations Abraham: A Quiet Place pt II (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8332922/) Shane: Apple Cider You can reach us directly at info@wwdwwdpodcast.com, through the comments below OR on social via @wwdwwdpodcast or #wwdwwdpodcast.

237 | Beyond Dog and Boba Fett Nov 24, 2021

Show notes

Bounty hunting has evolved from several centuries ago from a more renegade and vigilante practice and into a formal, licensed, and routine job. Those who enter the business are often ex-law enforcement looking for private work and potential for big payouts. They are given license to use certain tactics that police are not allowed to, which makes the job potentially more exciting in some surveillance methods. Links and Resources: Bounty Hunter Laws by State (understandingbailbonds.com) https://people.howstuffworks.com/bounty-hunting4.htm https://www.history.co.uk/article/5-famous-bounty-hunters https://work.chron.com/college-classes-need-private-investigator-27168.html https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/how-to-become-bounty-hunter https://www.criminaljusticedegreeschools.com/careers/bounty-hunter/ You can reach us directly at info@wwdwwdpodcast.com, through the comments below OR on social via @wwdwwdpodcast or #wwdwwdpodcast.

236 | Don't You D.A.R.E. Nov 17, 2021

Show notes

This ideological and foolish program was not only ineffective but in some instances lead to increases in the likelihood that children would use drugs. Jeff Sessions supports it though. The D.A.R.E. program and the war on drugs was a rallying cry for the righteously anti-science and both caused more harm than good. D.A.R.E. to resist failed interventions. Links and Resources: DARE website: https://dare.org/about/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2lJYBpzyN8 (10 minutes, Steven Colbert highlighting D.A.R.E. history and it’s failures, goes through history though). https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2017/07/12/a-brief-history-of-d-a-r-e-the-anti-drug-program-jeff-sessions-wants-to-revive/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28595059/ https://www.researchgate.net/publication/24425491_A_Multivariate_Approach_to_a_Meta-Analytic_Review_of_the_Effectiveness_of_the_DARE_Program https://www.researchgate.net/publication/24425491_A_Multivariate_Approach_to_a_Meta-Analytic_Review_of_the_Effectiveness_of_the_DARE_Program https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/fasd/features/teen-substance-use.html https://www.history.com/topics/1980s/just-say-no Lynam, D. R., Milich, R., Zimmerman, R., Novak, S. P., Logan, T. K., Martin, C., Leukefeld, C., & Clayton, R. (1999). Project DARE: No effects at 10-year follow-up. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 67(4), 590–593. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.67.4.590 https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/Digitization/152055NCJRS.pdf https://americanaddictioncenters.org/blog/why-the-dare-program-failed Gosin, M., Marsiglia, F. F., & Hecht, M. L. (2003). Keepin' it R.E.A.L.: a drug resistance curriculum tailored to the strengths and needs of pre-adolescents of the southwest. Journal of drug education, 33(2), 119–142. https://doi.org/10.2190/DXB9-1V2P-C27J-V69V https://www.alcoholproblemsandsolutions.org/alternatives-to-d-a-r-e-drug-abuse-resistance-education-program/ https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09687637.2016.1208731 We are on Reddit! https://www.reddit.com/user/WhyWeDoWhatWeDo Recommendations Abraham: Whole Foods Chocolate Truffles (https://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/product/whole-foods-market-whole-foods-organic-chocolate-truffles-88-ounce-b001mm71kw) Shane: Eternals (https://www.marvel.com/movies/eternals) You can reach us directly at info@wwdwwdpodcast.com, through the comments below OR on social via @wwdwwdpodcast or #wwdwwdpodcast.

235 | Above the Atmosphere Nov 10, 2021

Show notes

Only a small percentage of people who have attempted to be astronauts have succeeded. The training and physical requirements are extremely stringent. This is because billions of dollars and many lives are at stake for the smallest mistake. Another component is what motivates someone to put themselves at risk. Particularly considering how little compensation is actually available. Links: https://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/postsecondary/features/F_Astronaut_Requirements.html https://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/pdf/606877main_FS-2011-11-057-JSC-astro_trng.pdf https://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/inventions/top-5-nasa-inventions.htm https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/development-and-psychopathology/article/abs/hidden-talents-in-harsh-environments/E5955348146CE5EE527AE225B1817628 https://serc.carleton.edu/microbelife/extreme/environments.html https://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-s-twins-study-results-published-in-science https://history.nasa.gov/SP-4225/long-duration/long.htm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychological_and_sociological_effects_of_spaceflight https://www.space.com/26799-nasa-astronauts-psychological-evaluation.html Recommendations Abraham: Bad Times at the El Royale (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6628394/) Shane: Every Time I Die - Radical (https://everytimeidie.net/) You can reach us directly at info@wwdwwdpodcast.com, through the comments below OR on social via @wwdwwdpodcast or #wwdwwdpodcast.

234 | Poisoned Nov 03, 2021

Show notes

Poisoning yourself can save your life! Although this statement makes it seem like we are some alternative medicine podcast or Goop shill, we are neither! The practice of taking small amounts of poison is called "Mithridatism" after the legendary King of Pontus who feared assassination by poison. In so doing, he became of the earliest and most expert chemists of his time. Why would people do this today? The short answer: snakes. But there might be other reasons too... Links: https://daily.jstor.org/poisoning-like-the-romans/ https://gizmodo.com/the-ironic-end-of-the-man-who-made-himself-immune-to-po-5972414 https://interestingengineering.com/king-poisoned-himself-regularly-and-used-honey-to-destroy-armies https://youtu.be/kWUJqwuwlh8 https://youtu.be/gu0vyDeJDeY We are on Reddit! https://www.reddit.com/user/WhyWeDoWhatWeDo Recommendations Abraham: Shang-Chi: And the Legend of the Ten Rings (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9376612/) Shane: Hey Ho, Let’s Go - The Story of the Ramones by Everette True (https://omnibuspress.com/products/hey-ho-lets-go-the-st0ry-of-the-ramones) You can reach us directly at info@wwdwwdpodcast.com, through the comments below OR on social via @wwdwwdpodcast or #wwdwwdpodcast.

233 | Why We Bury Our Dead Oct 27, 2021

Show notes

Did you ever think about that "burying" means when it comes to the dead? Although many creatures might end up in the dirt, humans seem to be the only ones who do it intentionally. The first evidence of "burials" took place in a cave. You might not also think about how much is wasted in modern funeral practices. Caskets, tombstones, cremation, burial plots, and formaldehyde are horrific for the environment. There, joy destroyed. Happy Halloween! Links: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burial#:~:text=It%20has%20been%20used%20to,to%20the%20cycle%20of%20life. (Description of burials) https://www.joincake.com/blog/why-do-we-bury-the-dead/ (Cultural burial practices) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sky_burial (Description of sky burials) https://youtu.be/o2dvXWX3Sdw (Problems with modern burial practices) https://youtu.be/nXZSm0PqJHw (History of burials video) Patrick, B. K., & Thompson, J. M. (2015). An uncommon history of common things. (Book, Vol. 1 p. 89) We are on Reddit! https://www.reddit.com/user/WhyWeDoWhatWeDo Recommendations Abraham: Promising Young Woman (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9620292/) Shane: Become a coral reef (https://www.eternalreefs.com/) You can reach us directly at info@wwdwwdpodcast.com, through the comments below OR on social via @wwdwwdpodcast or #wwdwwdpodcast.

232 | What Makes Something "Creepy?" Oct 20, 2021

Show notes

There are feelings that we call "the creeps:" Heightened awareness, the chills, dilated pupils. There are things that are creepy: things in contextually inappropriate places, things that imply a history of violence. And there are characteristics of creepy: greasy and poor hygiene, jobs having to do with death or exploitation, and suggesting predatory sexual behavior. I got creeped out just writing this. However, like most things, these are contextually influenced by our culture. What creeps you out? Links: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/science-creepiness-180957093/ https://www.academia.edu/2465121/Creepiness We are on Reddit! https://www.reddit.com/user/WhyWeDoWhatWeDo Recommendations Abraham: Morels Mobile Game (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/morels/id1396126409) Shane: House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski (https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/36526/house-of-leaves-by-mark-z-danielewski/) You can reach us directly at info@wwdwwdpodcast.com, through the comments below OR on social via @wwdwwdpodcast or #wwdwwdpodcast.

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