Learn It from a Layman

Joel Christensen joins us to discuss the basics of Electric Vehicles (EVs). What are the pros and cons of EVs? Where are EVs being adopted? What is the technology behind EV batteries and are they bad for the environment? Are charging stations being built at the same rate that EVs are being sold? What rate are EVs being sold? Are plug-in hybrids a sensible alternative? Where are EVs feasible and wh...

We're back from vacation to discuss the Olympics, and a bit about CrowdStrike. What happened when the computers all went down, and how? When did the Olympics start? What is the IOC and what does it do? How are Olympic venues chosen? How are Olympic sports chosen? How much better/faster/stronger are Olympians than your hosts?

We opine on the 10 worst creatures (species, not including individual human mass murderers of the past). What is a lamprey and is it the inspiration for the sandworm in Dune? Why are bats so ugly? What is an assassin bug? How many people do mosquitoes kill every year? Are crocodiles actually dinosaurs? What are Tsetse flies and how do they kill? Where and what variety of snake and spider are the w...

We discuss how to become a teacher, and why to become a teacher. Why is Tim a teacher? How far can altruism take you? Is there a shortage of teachers? How do we increase the quality of teachers? What certification do you need to be a teacher? Do you need a college degree? How are teachers given specific class assignments? Who were your favorite teachers in school and what does that have to do whic...

We discuss the basics of making money. How should you structurally think about making money? What are the principles of improving your financial situation? Who is Steve Ballmer and what does he teach us about making money? Why are all Ivy League grads rich? What does success mean for you financially?

Dr. Erika Handly joins the podcast to discuss the basics of biotech. Is the 'tech' in 'biotech' using technology to understand biology, or using technology to fix biology? What are the types of problems that biotech is being used to understand and solve? What is CRISPR in layman's terms? How predictable are the outcomes of editing DNA? Can biotech help solve global climate change and famine? Are i...

We discuss the basics of vocabulary. What is a word? What is a lemma? What is morphology? How many words do most people have in their vocabulary? How many words are there in the English language? Does cursing mean you're not as intelligent? What is lexical density? How do you increase your vocabulary, and does a larger vocabulary mean you're more intelligent?

We discuss the basics of rocket science. What is the difference between a rocket and a jet? What is the rocket equation? What is delta-v? Was Wall-e actually saying delta-v? What is rocket fuel? What is rapid unscheduled disassembly? What is a specific impulse? What are stages of a rocket for? Why does it look like rockets aren't going straight up? Why are rockets clamped to the launch pad?

MD-PhD Seth Vogel joins us to discuss the basics of anesthesia. What happens in the brain when you put someone under? What are the drugs that you use and how do they work differently? How often does general anesthesia cause incontinence, or is that a thing? Are there drugs that can wake you up from general anesthesia? How common are medical issues resulting directly from general anesthesia? How di...

We're joined by doctor of physical therapy Natalie Vogel as we discuss the basics of physical therapy. Can physical therapy help people avoid surgery? Does each injury/disease require a different therapy plan, or are there just go-to therapies depending on body part? Should physical therapy be viewed as a life-habit, or a medication to be taken for a specific amount of time? What are common issues...

Dr. Jonny discusses the basics of dementia. What happens in your brain when you have dementia? Are there different kinds of dementia, affecting different parts of the brain? What's the difference between dementia and Alzheimer's? How young does dementia start? Does dementia affect life expectancy? Can dementia be reversed?

We discuss the basics of digital illustration with freelance illustrator Jarom Vogel.  What's the difference between digital illustration and graphic design? How technical does digital illustration get, i.e. do you need to code, or just draw? What hardware and software do you use to do digital illustration? What forums are there to sell and distribute your illustrations? What are recent advancemen...

We discuss the basics of demographics. What is a demographic? What are the most common demographic characteristics? What is the world population and how quickly has it grown? What is the most densely populated city and country? What is the world wide fertility rate? What is the biggest world religion and which countries are the most and least religious? What is the median household income in the U...

We talk about facts for the New Year. How many days does it take to make or break a habit? Is it better to lift weights first or do cardio first? How did Winston Churchill's career get started? What was the battle of Middle Creek and what did Abraham Lincoln say about Kentucky? What is intellectual humility and is it acquirable? Does the brain use different mechanisms for numbers?

We discuss the basics of grades. How well do grades reflect intelligence? Are grades predictive of future performance? What is grade inflation and is it harmful? How do you raise your grades according to a teacher? How can you identify bad teachers?

We discuss the basics of sleep. What is sleep and why do we do it? What happens when you're asleep? What are the different stages of sleep? How does sleep affect physical and mental performance? Are naps bad for you? How does caffeine affect you? Do some people need more sleep than others? Can you sleep with your eyes open? Why do loud noises wake you up and are reddit doctors the best source of i...

We discuss the basics of chemistry. What is the periodic table? What is a molecule and why do atoms bond? What is radioactivity? What is an isotope and an ion? What are some common chemical reactions that the layman sees daily?

We discuss the basics of fluid mechanics. What is a Newtonian fluid? Can fluids be compressed? How do hydraulics work? What are fluid statics vs fluid dynamics? What is Pascal's Law? What are some of the formulas used in fluid mechanics? Can a fluid be squishy? What are the Navier–Stokes equations? How do you design a submarine and a jet engine? What is laminar flow vs turbulent flow?

We discuss the basics of insurance. What is liability insurance? What are bodily injury and property damage limits in auto insurance? What are coverages A-F in home owners insurance? Did Tim have children out-of-network and is he currently on the lamb? What is a health share plan? What is an insurance actuary? What is the difference between a PPO and an HMO? What is term life vs whole life vs univ...

We discuss the basics of creole languages. What does the word creole mean? How do languages change and how are creoles formed? What is a pidgin language? What are common characteristics of creole languages? What is the largest creole language? How many creole languages are there? Why does it matter?

We're joined by artist and entrepreneur Michelle Christensen to discuss art and business. What is the process of going from artist to entrepreneur? Is there a difference between an artist and a designer? How does the creative process for an artist differ from an entrepreneur? How do you market your business? Do you work with a team to design your products? What are sustainably sourced clothes and...

Can the naked mole rat help us live longer? Can you survive off the water from metabolism? How many Swedish pirate enthusiasts are there? How are air traffic controllers doing in the United States? What is the speed of fluid that is in contact with a pipe? Which language is most closely related to Finnish? Where did the word Arizona come from? How much of the earth can be seen from a satellite at...

We're joined by distinguished guest Brent Christensen to discuss the basics of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Why is ICAO one of the most important organizations you've never heard of? What is America's role in the ICAO? Does ICAO work with preflight safety? What kind of powers does ICAO have? What was ICAO's role in Malaysia Airlines Flight 370? Does ICAO work directly with...

We're joined by resident physicist and newly minted dentist Peter Vogel DDS to discuss the basics of teeth. What are the different layers of a tooth? What is fluoride and is it helpful or harmful? Is there a right way to brush your teeth? How does sugary food or soda affect the chemistry of your mouth? Are there certain toothbrushes or toothpastes that are better? Why shouldn't you brush your teet...

We're joined by Ian Christensen MD and discuss the basics of eyes. What is an ophthalmologist vs an optometrist? Are ophthalmologists just eye dentists? What tools do ophthalmologists use? What is the process of Lasik? What are other laser eye surgeries? Why is wearing your contacts while you sleep bad? Is rubbing your eyes bad for them? What are floaters and flashers? Do we really see things upsi...