Why We Do What We Do

Bullies are all around us. What drives these proto-criminals to be the jerks that they are? It's complicated. A tragedy of errors the drives people to be the worst versions of themselves. Let us explain... Recommendations Abraham: Agatha All Along ( https://www.disneyplus.com/series/agatha-all-along/6Nf0RIVHbJnh?v=var1 )  Shane: Haxtec dice (https://haxtec.com/) Holidays (1/29/2025): Chinese New Y...

Some of us have a nearly irresistable fascination with watching sores, boils, pustules, and zits be drained of their viscous contents. Some of us are repulsed by that very sentence. But for those who find enjoyment in that sort of thing, what is going on there? We do a quck dive into the mind of someone who loves popping zits or watching them pop. Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/wwdwwdpodca...

Why do we love to compete? From Olympic games to trivia nights, competition is everywhere—but what drives us to strive, push, and sometimes obsess over being the best? In this episode, we explore the origins of competition, its role in evolution and society, and why it’s both thrilling and necessary. Whether it's sports, art, or even board games, we unpack how competition connects us, challenges u...

Being stared at can be disconcerting the piont of sparking violent conflict. But why? Do other animals similarlty react to staring? We explore what it is about staring that can give rise to such intense reactions.  Join our supporters club: www.patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast Links and references:  https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/the-truth-about-exercise-addiction/201706/whats-really-going-on-...

What is Stendhal Syndrome? Also known as an “Art Attack,” this is a psychosomatic experience triggered by overwhelming encounters with art. Learn how stress, travel, and cognitive overload combine to create intense physical and emotional reactions in art lovers worldwide. From its origins in Florence to its curious scientific underpinnings, we explore the beauty—and mystery—of this unique phenomen...

Why is that every animals as a latin "sciency" name? How are these names created? This is the area of the esoterically named binomial nomenclature. These are some of the questions given to us that we attempt to answer.  New full length episodes on Wednesdays.  Support us on patreon: www.patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast Links and References:  https://www.nature.com/articles/s42003-020-01344-y https://byju...

The ivy league school club is enduringly exclusive. We trace the origins of the term "ivy league," the history of those schols, and the factors that perpetuate their olympian status in the eyes of the general public. Welcome to the big ivy leagues! Recommendations Abraham: Squid Game (season 2) https://www.netflix.com/title/81040344 Shane: Corporate Rock Sucks ( https://www.jimruland.net/?page_id=...

Start with: What is the purpose of education? If the answer is to produce intelligent, competent individuals, that means we care about how effective education is. If we care about how effective it is, then we should consider variables we know impact effectiveness. One of those is classroom size. The smaller the ratio of students to teachers, the better the outcomes. We'll explain better in the epi...

We got to 400 episodes! Let's take a look back into the past... not really, but we'll stalk about nostalgia—what it is, how it works, and why it’s more than just longing for the good old days. From its origins as a “psychological burden” to its modern role in fostering social connections and shaping behavior, we uncover the science, emotions, and even the marketing power behind nostalgic experienc...

The tongue map neatly divides taste into salty, sweet, sour, and bitter zones on which we can taste only those specific flavors. Turns out, it’s wrong. In this episode, we dive into the fascinating science of taste, debunking myths, exploring how our taste buds really work, and uncovering why this debunked idea keeps coming back. Become a member:  patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast Links and References:  h...

It's Christmas! Let's finish out the year with a chill retrospective on the year we are leaving behind. We recap our year as podcast, movies and TV we watched, and books we read. Plus we review some of our stats and accomplishments. Happy holidays and see you for full length episodes in 2025! Links:  https://www.princeton.edu/news/2024/03/28/daniel-kahneman-pioneering-behavioral-psychologist-nobel...

Another continuation of our discussion about the fall-out of the recent US election. In this discussion, we consider the implications for immigration on the economy, civil liberties, and democracy in our country. Its small but mighty, if we do say so ourselves. Let's fight for our fellow humans from wherever they hail! We are stronger together than apart.  Become a supporter: www.patreon.com/wwdww...

What is the economy, really? In this episode, we discuss the intricate maneuvering of goods, services, and decisions that shape our world. We'll unravel the myths, explore how government policies influence markets, and examine why inflation and wage growth often leave us feeling conflicted. Along the way, you'll discover that economics isn’t simple math—it’s human behavior, culture, and choices al...

This discussion is a brief follow up to our episode reacting to the recent, 2024 US election (likely a series of minis we will continue as things unfold). We attempt peer into the crystal ball to forecast how the next administration might employ dangerous, sweeping censorship tactics, leaving us all guessing what’s really happening at home and abroad. From transparency to misinformation, we unpack...

Cutting to the chase... we discuss vasectomies: what they are, why they work, and why some folks say they’re the best thing since sliced… tubes. With myth-busting, fun facts, and a dash of humor, it’s a snippy conversation you won’t want to miss :)  Recommendations Abraham: “Randomize” by Andy Weir ( https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49661162-randomize ) Shane: Gideon’s Bakehouse ( https://gideo...

Some people have a real problem with buts. Many of the popular airmchair psychologists love to delivery quick, simple heuristics as panacea and life-coaching advice. The idea that we shouldn't use "but" in our language is an unfortunately and non-functional tool in their arsenal. We explain why it is both conceptually and practically incorrect, and still offer that these hucksters recommendations...

Welcome to the new dictatorship! In this discussion, we reflect on the recent US election and the factors that contributed to the surprising shift in the electorate. We also speculate about the future given the proposed policies of the incoming administration. Prepare for doom and gloom with as much skeptical critical thinking as we can bring to this kind of activity. Recommendations Abraham: Boyc...

A lot of people like to share what they believe is the definition of insanity. What the definition of insanity is NOT is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. That is logically incoherent and also just not the definition of insanity. We'll explore where that saying comes from and what the actual definition of insanity is. Support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/w...

How do filmmakers manipulate our emotions and perceptions with just a few cuts? This episode unpacks the Kuleshov Effect, a groundbreaking discovery that revolutionized editing and storytelling in cinema. From Brad Pitt’s infamous “What’s in the box?!” scene in Seven to Pixar’s emotional masterwork Inside Out, we explore how juxtaposing shots creates meaning, evokes emotion, and shapes narrative....

It's these silly little questions that we don't think about, but are curious to hear the answer. We can estimate how many books someone reads by figuring out how long books are, how fast people read, how many books they tend to read in a year, and how many years they are likely to live. Depending on who you are, that number yields a pretty big range. But probably less than you might have thought.....

Some arguments are so bad that if even they were right, they'd be wrong. In this discussion, we unpack a specific example of criminally poor arguments. We take a couple of paragraphs and dismantal each argument. Perhaps this will even give you some ideas for how to take apart weak arguments that you encounter.  Recommendations Abraham: Inside Out 2  ( https://movies.disney.com/inside-out-2 ) Shane...

What is the deal with revolving doors? How are they trying to control us? Who's behind the cabal of big revolving doors? Just kidding :) There are some very practical reasons for revolving doors, and it's a thing we made as a species, so it's a thing we talk about as a podcast.  Become a member at patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast Links:  https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/computer-science/revolving-doo...

Public speaking is some people's number one fear. For most people, it is not preferred and can be difficult to master. There is a lot research about public speaking spanning the fear, treatment for the fear of public speaking, and how to improve your delivery of public speaking. We discuss the relative benefits of public speaking, the nature of the fear of public speaking, and some strategies to i...

Special guest, Dr. Lauren Brown, BCBA-D, LBA joins us in our first-ever guest-hosted mini to discuss a collaborative effort between behavior analysts and medical professionals to make it easier to receive vaccines for individuals with disabilities. These sensory-friendly vaccine kits are a part of a grant project to investigate some strategies for making shots less aversive. These may actually wor...

Humans have not universally hired performers to entertain the crowd during professional sports throughout all of human history... which means that it had to start somewhere! What evolved out of this coordinated crowd engagement is a highly athletic and dangerous gymnastics competition that is thing unto itself. Did you know it was entirely male at first? We didn't. We'll talk all about the history...