Prove It To Me - Real Research, Real Data, No BS

Is the viral "drink of the summer" a heat-stress hack or a cardiovascular nightmare? After a gas station cocktail of Red Bull, Electrolit, and chili powder candy went viral, Dr. Matt Law decided to put the recipe through the scientific wringer. In this episode, we strip away the industry-funded sports drink propaganda and look at three unbiased, peer-reviewed studies to dissect exactly what happen...

Can you statistically prove why your dad jokes are terrible? A team of researchers scraped over 32,000 jokes from Reddit to find out. In this #StudyFinds episode of #ProveItPod, Dr. Matt Law breaks down the anatomy of a dad joke, exploring the semantic distance and linguistic markers that make them succeed or bomb. We also do a critical peer-review of this unpublished preprint, looking at the limi...

Have you seen the viral meme claiming that a lack of sleep causes your brain to "eat itself"? On this #StudyFinds episode of #ProveItPod, Dr. Matt Law tracks down the actual science behind the sensationalism. We look at the original mouse study that sparked the panic, map it onto three massive human studies, and explain the mechanical reality of your brain's glymphatic system. Spoiler alert: your...

We've all sat through the fearmongering presentations about how #AI is going to ruin human intelligence. On this #StudyFinds episode of #ProveItPod, Dr. Matt Law tears apart a new study on how ChatGPT impacts learning and thinking. Does it actually make us lazy? We look at the trace data of how people use AI, why it creates beautiful products with zero actual learning, and how #safety professional...

We all know heat causes heat exhaustion and heat stroke. But what happens to the likelihood of getting run over by a tractor or falling off a ladder when the temperature spikes? In this #StudyFinds episode of #ProveItPod, we dive into a recent study out of South Korea that shows a staggering 200% increase in severe traumatic injuries when the thermometer crosses 86 degrees. We also discuss why the...

Electric scooters have taken over our sidewalks, our bushes, and our commutes. In this #StudyFinds episode of #ProveItPod, we dive into a recent news brief from Safety and Health Magazine highlighted a study on pediatric e-scooter injuries, focusing heavily on boys getting hurt and the need for helmets. But a 300-word news brief can only tell you so much. Dr. Matt Law pulls the original Johns Hopk...

In this #StudyFinds episode of #ProveItPod, we dive into the complex world of measuring workplace safety technology and cognitive awareness. Can we use brain-scanning technology (fNIRS) to determine if a worker actually perceives a hazard, rather than just looking at it? Having spent years researching occupational risk perceptions, Dr. Matt Law breaks down the massive real-world hurdles of this ne...

In this #StudyFinds episode of #ProveItPod, Dr. Matt Law brings back the conversation from Episode 106 regarding the industry's toxic obsession with "Complacency." Thanks to a clinical psychology study sent over by his wife, we look at the fMRI neuroscience of "Recreational Fear" to validate why the C-word is a myth—it’s just the brain's Default Mode Network (DMN) achieving cognitive efficiency. W...

In this episode of #ProveItPod, we dive into the complex world of workplace #safety #technology with Kenna Stanley. It’s easy to get distracted by the "shiny object" of new tech, but as we discuss today, successful implementation comes down to #culture, #readiness, and the human element. We explore the gap between academic #research and real-world application, the very real danger of alert fatigue...

In this #StudyFinds episode of #ProveItPod, Dr. Matt Law battles post-conference road fatigue to tackle a brand new case study from the International Journal of Construction Management. The study reviews the implementation of the Army Safety and Occupational Health Management System (ASOHMS) within a USACE district. While the researchers found a correlation between the system's implementation and...

In this #StudyFinds episode of #ProveItPod, we are taking a quick detour from our usual heavy safety metrics this week to look at a headline that recently went viral: "Ohioans have 1.13% chance of being abducted by aliens, study finds." If that were true, over 130,000 people in Ohio would be missing right now! Dr. Matt Law tracks down the original "study" (published by a sports betting website) an...

In this #StudyFinds episode of #ProveItPod, Dr. Matt Law (running on fumes at hour 71 of a fast) dives into the latest industry report from the What Works Institute and Evotix. We explore the gap between "Industry Sentiment" and "Scientific Evidence," dissect the new trends in AI and SIF prevention, and discuss why standards like ANSI Z16.1 and ASTM E2920-26 are the cure for "muddled data." Refere...

In this #StudyFinds episode of #ProveItPod, we're going to talk about a clear link between the E and the S in EHS. We check the weather for lightning, but we ignore the smog. This study suggests that air pollution is a massive, hidden multiplier for workplace accidents. If the air is thick, your workers are slower and the risk is higher. Treat an 'Air Quality Alert' like a 'Red Flag Warning' for s...

In this #StudyFinds episode of #ProveItPod, we discuss how we are spending billions on safety interventions, but the evidence base backing them is surprisingly thin. We rely on 'Before and After' success stories that might just be statistical luck. If we want to be taken seriously as a scientific discipline, we need to stop accepting anecdotes as data and start demanding to know the mechanism of c...

In this #StudyFinds episode of #ProveItPod, we’re seeing a generational shift. The martini is out; the gummy is in. But chemically inducing sleep—whether with bourbon or botanicals—isn't the same as actual rest. And if your workforce is 11% stoned at bedtime, we need to ask what that looks like at the 7 AM toolbox talk. References: Patrick, M. E., Pang, Y. C., & Terry-McElrath, Y. M. (2025). C...

In this #StudyFinds episode of #ProveItPod, Dr. Matt Law explores the "Mediocrity Trap". We love to tell young safety pros to 'be the change' and 'stand out.' But this data proves that in many cultures, the nail that sticks out really does get hammered down. If your best employee suddenly starts cutting corners or going quiet, don't assume they burned out. Assume they got lonely. You can't just ma...

In this #StudyFinds episode of #ProveItPod, Dr. Matt Law takes a dive into the psychological and physiological effects of swearing on physical strength and performance. We used to think swearing worked because it made us angry (arousal) or numb (pain tolerance). Turns out, it works because it takes the brakes off our brain. It lowers our inhibition. That’s great for lifting a heavy rock. It’s mayb...

In this brand new episode of #ProveItPod, Dr. Matt Law gives up the host chair to Wyatt Bradbury for a quirky yet critical year-in-review about the podcast. Who is the best Batman, and what's in store for next year? Listen now at www.proveitpod.com or wherever you get your podcasts, and find the full video at https://youtu.be/YJrPZ8fmbqY

In this brand new episode of #ProveItPod, Dr. Matt Law talks to Georgia Bryce-Hutchinson about addressing mental health and psychosocial hazards through corporate therapy solutions and relying on subject matter experts. Are your workers at risk? Listen now at www.proveitpod.com or wherever you get your podcasts!   About Georgia Bryce-Hutchinson: Georgia A. Bryce-Hutchinson is a Licensed Marriage a...

In this brand new episode of #ProveItPod, Dr. Matt Law talks to Dr. Fred Sherratt about social science methodologies, critical discourse analysis, and "safety without the spin". Do construction workers see through your bulls***? Listen now at www.proveitpod.com or wherever you get your podcasts!   About Dr. Fred Sherratt: Dr. Fred Sherratt is an internationally recognized, world-leading academic i...

In this #StudyFinds episode of #ProveItPod, Dr. Matt Law dives into a recent study that explores how sleep can affect dark personality traits. Are your sleep habits sending you to the dark side? Listen now to find out! Episode Resources: Poor sleep can bring out workers' darker side, study finds - Safety+Health Magazine Kuijpers, E., Vergauwe, J., Vanderperre, S., Mairesse, O., & Hofmans, J. (...

In this compelling episode of #ProveItPod, Dr. Todd Loushine and Dr. Matt Law deconstruct traditional safety measurement approaches. They challenge listeners to think critically about how safety is defined, measured, and understood, exploring the complex relationship between data, perception, and workplace safety. Listen now at www.proveitpod.com or wherever you get your podcasts! Key highlights i...

In this #StudyFinds episode of #ProveItPod, Dr. Matt Law attempts to make sense of a meme that claims recent research has found that roasting your friends makes you more loyal and trustworthy. Listen now to find out! Episode Resources: Gorman, G., & Jordan, C. H. (2015). “I know you’re kidding”: Relationship closeness enhances positive perceptions of teasing. Personal Relationships, 22(2), 173...

In this brand new episode of #ProveItPod, Dr. Matt Law talks to Dr. Gretchen Roman about original qualitative research into musculoskeletal disorders and psychosocial hazards among sign language interpreters. Can Total Worker Health® help us better understand the physical and mental health of this population? Listen now at www.proveitpod.com or wherever you get your podcasts! About Dr. Roman: Dr....

In this #StudyFinds episode of #ProveItPod, Dr. Matt Law digs into a study that suggests married folks are at a higher risk of dementia. Is it true? Listen now to find out! Episode Resources: George, J. (2025, March 25). Surprising findings from new research about dementia and marriage - U.S. study could challenge the belief that marriage protects against cognitive decline. MedPage Today. https://...