In a Nutshell

Poison, medicine or magic potion? Drugs can probably be all of that. But what makes a drug legal or illegal? Or rather: who decides on that?  “Who will ever relate the whole history of narcotics? It is almost the history of ‘culture’,” wrote Friedrich Nietzsche more than a hundred years ago – and he might be onto something. In today’s episode, Antonia and this week’s guest, Brigitte Adriaensen, ta...

What makes scrolling on our phones dangerous? What does our scrolling have to do with digital surveillance? And who is surveilling whom, and for what reason? In this episode, Jara explores the unsettling world of digital surveillance. Together with this week’s guest, Guilel Treiber, she uncovers who the surveillers of the digital world are and peeks behind the curtains of their sleek self-staging...

Why do insects in the house make us jump? Have we always hated bugs that much? And what do the small animals have to do with morality – and warfare? In this episode of  In a Nutshell , Antonia takes a peek at insects that make people’s skin crawl and, together with this week’s guest researcher Charlotte Meijer, answers the question of why we’re so bugged by bugs. Spoiler alert: there hasn’t always...

Why are the current treatments for depression not effective enough? How can a what-fits-who approach help solve this problem? And can the already overwhelmed mental health sector actually provide more customized treatments? Welcome back to In a Nutshell – a podcast of Vox in which we explore everything you never knew you needed to know more about. We kick off the second season by taking a critical...

What makes a good political humour scandal? Why does what we find funny change over time? And what is the state of jokes today? In the final episode of In a Nutshell’s first season, we take a look at jokes, politics, and how the combination of both can (and has) lead to historic scandals. With the help of assistant professor and comedy critic Ivo Nieuwenhuis, we detangle modern humour – and look f...

What is the history of Dutch slavery? Where can we see the impacts of Dutch slavery today? And how can a day like Ketikoti lead to a more inclusive society? In the nineteenth episode of In a Nutshell, we delve into past realities and present traces of Dutch slavery. Together with this week’s guest, Coen van Galen, we will remember the histories of enslaved people, reflect on how the Dutch are deal...

How can a website collect your password – even before you hit the sign-up button? Does a VPN help against being tracked online? And why is tracking users actually such an issue? In the eighteenth episode of In a Nutshell , we will take a deep dive into cyber security – and all the things that make the internet a not-so-safe space when it comes to data protection. Together with this week’s guest, G...

Why do we need to change our outlook on video games? How can gaming help young people to quit smoking? And what role can technology play in mental health care globally? In the seventeenth episode of In a Nutshell, we delve into the world of mental health games. Together with this week’s guest Suhaavi Kochhar, we will debunk the stereotype of gaming, explore the benefits video games can have on our...

This month, In a Nutshell presents something different: a two-part series focussing on the subject of Palestine. We offer the microphone to researchers who tell us about their perspectives and knowledge on the topic in its broadest sense. This week’s guest, Sally Thin, will untangle the genocide case against Israel. How can a country be tried for genocide? What are the limits of international law?...

This month,  In a Nutshell  presents something different: a two-part series focussing on the subject of Palestine. We offer the microphone to researchers who tell us about their perspectives and knowledge on the topic in its broadest sense. Seeing that this is a big topic, we provide explanations for some key terms below. This week’s guest, Noura, will look at Palestine through a settler colonial...

Does it matter whether Russian athletes compete at the Olympics? Why do transgender athletes ruffle so many feathers when it comes to sports competitions – even in disciplines like darts? And why do countries keep hosting mega-sporting events, even if they lead to massive financial losses? Sport is at the centre of many political debates. But why? In this week’s episode of In a Nutshell, Antonia t...

Why do we need to talk about death? How can we relearn to think of dying differently? And why do music and tattoos help in processing the death of a loved one? In the thirteenth episode of In a Nutshell , we stare death in the face. Together with this week’s guest, Iline Ceelen, we will explore our perception of death, talk about last parties and walks, and, in the meantime, gain some engaging bit...

How can a spider ‘think’ with its eyes? What can we learn about thinking from baking bread? And how have the weird environments humans built around them changed the way we think? The twelfth episode of In a Nutshell is all about animal intelligence – and how understanding animal intelligence can teach us something about human intelligence too. Together with this week’s guest Bas van Woerkum-Rooker...

What does space look like? Why do we need to explore the universe? And what do microwaves have to do with that? The eleventh episode of In a Nutshell is a small expedition to space. Together with this week’s guest Søren Larsen, we will look at pictures from space, talk about telescopes, and learn why exploring space is not only important but also useful for life on Earth.   Søren Larsen is an asso...

Time seems to be a pretty straightforward affair – or is it? What if history would not move ahead, but function as a spiral, like Indigenous understandings of time suggest? And how does this influence the way we can relate to nature? The tenth episode of In a Nutshell is dedicated to Indigenous perspectives on nature and time. This week’s guest, Laura, will explain how this can inform Indigenous a...

Why are candy bars so tempting? What makes the microbes in our gut so important? And are we really what we eat? The ninth episode of In A Nutshell is all about the link between our brains and food choices. This week’s guest, Esther, will tell us how our brains, immune systems, and guts are connected. Esther Aarts is a Principal Investigator at the Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavio...

Have you ever watched a movie or read a book and thought: ‘I’d like to read more of this’? Then you are in luck because there probably is – in the form of fanfiction. And PhD student Julia Neugarten studies them. The eighth episode of In a Nutshell is entirely dedicated to this fascinating piece of online subculture and literary genre. And from its origins in the 1960s to the more than 14 million...

What makes Long Covid traumatic? Which role do politics and society play in this? And why should we follow the Germans? The seventh episode of In A Nutshell is all about Long Covid. This week’s guest Vivienne Matthies-Boon will tell us about her personal struggle with the sickness and about how her experience has been heavily affected by political structures. Vivienne Matthies-Boon is a professor...

From 25-year-old single women being historically referred to as ‘spinsters’ to Bridget Jones singlehood jokes of the early 2000s – singles don’t always have it easy. And, until recently, they were also neglected when it came to being academically studied as a distinct group of people. The sixth episode of In a Nutshell is entirely dedicated to this rising global demographic of singles. For this, w...

How risky is playing the lottery? Why would anyone go free solo climbing? And most importantly, do we need to risk it to get the biscuit?  The fifth episode of In a Nutshell is all about risking it. From gambling to putting one’s life on the line – this episode will take you onto the uncertain paths of life. And this week’s guest Kim Fairley will be the navigator on this exploration of risk. Kim F...

In the fourth episode of In a Nutshell , host Antonia Leise invites the Ph. D. candidate in Plant Ecology and Physiology Rosa Boone into the studio. In this episode, we go below ground and have a close look at the soil our food depends upon – or, more precisely, how an electronic nose can help sniff out whether grassland soil is healthy or not. Why is healthy soil important? How can smell help in...

In the third episode of  In a Nutshell,  host Jara Majerus invites professor of Mathematical Physics and lover of randomness Klaas Landsman into the studio. In this episode, we dive into the riddles of randomness. What is randomness? Which role does it play in the universe, and what does Einstein have to do with it? Klaas Landsman knows all the answers and explains why he is utterly excited about...

In the second episode of In a Nutshell, host Antonia Leise invites assistant professor and historian of emotion Anneleen Arnout into the studio. This episode is all about the material that we walk through the world on – and mostly tend to forget about. Guest Anneleen Arnout introduces the surprisingly emotional history of asphalt paving. Including an exploration into horse accidents of the 19th ce...

In the first episode of  In a Nutshell,  host Jara Majerus invites the PhD scholar and folktale enthusiast Arjan Sterken into the studio.  This episode is all about monsters. What are monsters? Where do they come from, and what are they trying to tell us? Arjan Sterken knows all the answers and lets us in on the mythical meaning of uncanny creatures. Arjan Sterken is a teacher and PhD scholar in C...

Welcome to the podcast In a Nutshell that is brought to you by Vox - or more precisely, by Jara Majerus and Antonia Leise. Every two weeks, we will explore the most interesting topics that a hundred years of Radboud University have brought forward. Do you want to learn more about stories you might have never heard of? Make sure to subscribe and check out the first episode on the 9th of October! Ho...