The Jordan Harbinger Show 1219: Redheads | Skeptical Sunday
30 snips
Oct 5, 2025 
Jessica Wynn, a writer and researcher, joins to unravel the mysteries of red hair. She explains how the MC1R gene causes the distinctive color and affects pain sensitivity, highlighting that redheads tolerate electric shocks better but are more sensitive to heat. The podcast dives into the higher melanoma risks they face and the biases they endure, from childhood bullying to adult fetishization. Wynn emphasizes that understanding redhead genetics can improve medical treatments for everyone, promoting a broader acceptance of genetic diversity.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Lived Experience Of Bullying And Harassment
- Jessica Wynn recounts childhood teasing that included being spat on and hit.
- She also describes crude pickup lines and invasive comments as an adult.
MC1R Drives Red Hair And Sun Sensitivity
- Red hair arises from mutations in the MC1R gene that alter pigment production.
- Those mutations produce more pheomelanin and less protective eumelanin, causing pale skin and sun sensitivity.
Red Hair Alters Pain Perception
- MC1R affects more than pigment; it also alters pain-processing pathways.
- Redheads often tolerate electric shock more but are more sensitive to thermal pain and temperature changes.