Noam Hassenfeld

Jeff Horwitz, a Wall Street Journal reporter with a flair for the unusual, shares his wild experiment of consuming poison oak to build immunity. Alongside Noam Hassenfeld, they discuss the surprising culinary potential of this notorious plant. The duo dives into the humorous and perilous world of foraging, poking fun at the absurdity of trying to eat your way to immunity. They also explore the controversial views on poison oak consumption and unravel historical treatments for poison ivy, blending science and adventure with a side of humor.

Noam wrote an end-of-year song with Today, Explained host Sean Rameswaram, so we thought to drop it here as a little end-of-year surprise.Lyrics:2021, it was gonna be funGet a couple shots and then you’re doneThen the second the year’d begunWe had an insurrection2021, it was gonna be funGet a couple shots and then you’re doneThen the second the year’d begunWe had an insurrectionYeah it wasn’t just what we hoped to seeWe might have started too optimisticallySo if we keep our expectations lowMaybe the world won’t seem so terribleYeah it wasn’t just what we hoped to seeWe might have started too optimisticallySo if we keep our expectations lowMaybe the world won’t seem so terribleDial back to when the year had begunWe were looking forward to the end of hibernation But it didn’t even last a weekNo it didn’t even last a week, mm-hmmOn the sixth day of 2021Vanilla Isis tried to flip the electionBut looking back we can’t agree On the facts, no, we can’t agree, mm-mmPretty soon we were signing up for shots (shots!)Talking about shots (shots!)Shots shots shots (shots!)Everyone was a pharma fanWith the Pfizer fam, the Moderna clan (J&J)But we should have known Delta would happen Most of humanity not getting vaxxed andFourth wave — fifth wave, in rhythmThat’s one more wave than feminism!2021, it was gonna be funGet a couple shots and then you’re doneBut according to Joe Ro-gunYou should take IvermectinYeah it wasn’t just what we hoped to seeWe might have started too optimisticallyBut if we keep our expectations lowMaybe the world won’t seem so terribleA booster, I’m not sure I need it. Dune on the IMAX, I seen it.Back to the good life, I dreamed it. (Arrakis)Wake up, reality, don’t fit.Hope you don’t need a house or a condo (a condo)Hope you don’t need a trip to Toronto (Toronto)Hope you don’t need some gas for your Durango (Durango) Hope you don’t need a can of dried mangos (dried mangos)Everyone is feeling frustrationQuitting jobs — the Great ResignationBlaming Biden for rising inflationWhile billionaires shoot off to space, racingDid we fix the grid in Texas? (yes)Figure out how wide the Suez is? (yes)Don’t ask meAll I see on TV It's just fights on Critical Race Theory2021, it was gonna be funGet a couple shots and then you’re doneMoving onto issue number one:Whether to allow abortions!Yeah it wasn’t just what we hoped to seeWe might have started too optimisticallyBut if we keep our expectations lowMaybe the world won’t seem so terribleI just want to be freeOf thinking about Covid-19I just want to seeSomething done about global warmingAnd I still don’t get NFT’sCan’t understand crypto currency andAnd we can’t agree on anythingBut at least we got together to free Britney(Oh baby baby)2021, it was gonna be funGet a couple shots and then you’re doneThen the second as the year’d begunWe had an insurrectionAnd people lied about the last electionAnd made it harder to vote in electionsAt least we don’t have another electionWait, I think there’s another election...2021, it was gonna be funGet a couple shots and then you’re doneThen the second we thought we’d wonWe’re learning how to say "Omicron"Guess you never know what’s gonna come throughMaking plans for things you’ll never do But take it from a brown guy (and a Jew)There’s always 2022.This song was written and performed by Sean Rameswaram and Noam Hassenfeld, produced by Noam, engineered by Efim Shapiro, and features additional vocals from Christina Animashaun.For more, go to http://vox.com/unexplainableIt’s a great place to view show transcripts and read more about the topics on our show.Also, email us! unexplainable@vox.comWe read every email.Support Unexplainable by making a financial contribution to Vox!bit.ly/givepodcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices