HTDE: Heckling, Yawning, and Imitating, with James Austin Johnson and Patton Oswalt
Jan 15, 2025
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James Austin Johnson, a talented cast member of Saturday Night Live, showcases his hilarious Donald Trump impression, revealing the art of comedic imitation. Mariska Krett, a scientist specializing in contagious yawning, dives into the psychology behind this curious behavior, discussing its social implications and evolutionary significance. The lively conversation touches on audience engagement, heckling in comedy, and the quirky ways yawning can foster social bonding. Get ready for laughter and insight as these guests blend comedy and science!
The podcast explores how perceived heckling can actually arise from a desire for connection, offering opportunities for humor and kindness in response.
Yawning is presented as a contagious behavior with evolutionary benefits, illustrating the interconnectedness of social dynamics and biological processes across species.
Deep dives
Heckling as a Form of Engagement
Some listeners' questions are interpreted as heckling, prompting the speakers to explore the nuances of audience interaction. One email asked how to end a podcast season, while another questioned what could make the podcast funnier. The speakers, alongside comedian Patton Oswalt, reflected on how heckling might stem from a desire for connection rather than mere criticism. They concluded that such comments could be met with humor and kindness, converting a potentially negative interaction into a more personable engagement.
The Science of Contagious Yawning
Yawning is identified as a contagious behavior that serves a significant evolutionary purpose. Experts explain that yawning helps cool down the brain and enhances attention, making it beneficial in certain situations, like when you're around other yawners. It was revealed that various species, not just humans, exhibit this behavior, reinforcing its biological relevance across the animal kingdom. The concept of contagious yawning underscores the interconnectedness of social dynamics and evolutionary biology, illustrating how our responses can influence those around us.
Emotional Expressions and Their Benefits
Facial expressions play a critical role in conveying emotions and fostering social connections, as discussed in the podcast. Specific expressions, like disgust or fear, serve protective purposes by preventing sensory overload from adverse stimuli. The conversation highlighted that these reactions could also prompt mimicry in others, enhancing social cohesion and awareness within group settings. This interplay between expressions and physiological responses illustrates how our natural inclinations contribute to survival and interpersonal relationships.
On our season finale, when a young listener has a question on behalf of her fifth grade class, we call up an old friend/chimp butt expert to help her out. And Saturday Night Live's James Austin Johnson walks us through his hilarious Donald Trump impression to tend to a listener's curiosities. Plus, Mike and Ian are stressed about some (cryptic) hate mail, so they call Patton Oswalt for some words of encouragement.
You can email your burning questions to howto@npr.org. And not to fear, we will be returning for season two. Follow @waitwaitnpr on Instagram for updates on how to stay in touch in the meantime.
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How To Do Everything is hosted by Mike Danforth and Ian Chillag. It is produced by Heena Srivastava. Technical direction from Lorna White.