The Sport of Life: Chats w/ Comedians, Filmmakers, Sports Figures, Musicians, & Intellectuals

Zoologist and science writer Jo Wimpenny chats with Trey Elling about AESOP'S ANIMALS: THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE FABLES. Questions include: From "The Crow and the Pitcher", why did one researcher refer to corvids as "feathered apes" in 2004? (4:50) Inspired by "The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing", are there animals more likely than wolves to use deception in capturing prey? (14:09) Based on "The Ass Carrying the Image", ancient cultures lauded donkeys. So why did our collective opinion about them change? (19:27) From "The Fox and the Crow", why did one wildlife biologist call foxes the "catlike canine"? (28:03) Inspired by "The Lion and the Shepherd", is the lion's mane a defense mechanism? (36:24) Based on "The Ant and the Grasshopper", can humans take any valuable traffic tips from ant highways? (49:17) From "The Tortoise and the Hare", why did a team of mechanical engineers argue a few years ago that the fastest animals and vehicles are neither the biggest nor fastest over a lifetime? (52:01)

Actor Tye Sheridan chats with Trey Elling about the new Amazon Prime film, THE TENDER BAR, co-starring Ben Affleck and directed by George Clooney. Questions include: What sort of prep goes into a role where he plays the author and main character of a film based on a memoir? (1:27) Based on his character's belief that getting into Yale was a "lucky break," what is a lucky break from Tye's career, and how did he handle things after getting past the idea that he didn't belong? (4:19) His character was a voracious reader from a young age. What is a book that Tye holds dear? (7:01) A question that would be considered highly offensive, IF the listener hasn't seen the film (9:01)

University of Notre Dame philosophy professors Meghan Sullivan & Paul Blaschko chat with Trey Elling about THE GOOD LIFE METHOD: REASONING THROUGH THE BIG QUESTIONS OF HAPPINESS, FAITH, AND MEANING. Questions include: What is the Good Life Method? (1:25) What is our function as humans? (4:05) How does 'bullshit' keep one from the good life? (7:08) Why are philosophers so enamored with 'caves' as a metaphor? (15:12) How important is financial wealth for the good life? (18:01) Why is taking responsibility an important quality? (24:46) What is the attentive mind as it relates to love? (38:46) What question do they like to ask people to get to know them better? (42:43) What is God? (48:34) Why does stoicism come up when they write about contemplating one's purpose? (53:28) How have Paul and Meghan prepared for death? (1:02:23)

Primetime Emmy-winning actor Tony Hale chats with Trey Elling about the new animated film, POUPELLE OF CHIMNEY TOWN, for which Tony voiced the title character. Questions include: What is POUPELLE OF CHIMNEY TOWN? (01:01) Does he seek out projects with positive, uplifting themes in 2021? (01:57) Based on his character's secret skill, what surprising skill does Tony possess? (03:34) What is Tony's biggest fear? (04:41) Since his character got jumped in the film, when was the last time Tony got into a fistfight, and how'd it turn out? (05:36) What is an example of modern oppression that Tony loves to see people pushing back on? (06:26) What is the proper Christmas tip for the garbage man? (07:05) Who are what led to Tony conducting himself in such a gracious manner in an industry with a reputation of doing the opposite? (08:31)

Former zoo & aquarium senior leader and leadership consultant Julie C. Henry chats with Trey Elling about WISDOM FROM THE WILD: THE NINE UNBREAKABLE LAWS OF LEADERSHIP FROM THE ANIMAL KINGDOM. What is leadership? (00:57) What is the mangrove method, as it relates to change? (01:17) What does Julie mean by, "one person's spider is another's sea otter"? (04:02) Why are baby sea turtles worth remembering during difficult changes? (04:56) What can leaders learn from the relationship between giraffes and termites? (07:19) How can a coral reef help with the structural foundation of a team? (08:22) Why are pelicans so resilient? (09:32) How are sea cucumbers good examples of thriving? (10:37) What's so special about the platypus? (12:30)

Nutritional psychiatrist, professional chef, and nutritional specialist Dr. Uma Naidoo chats with Trey Elling about THIS IS YOUR BRAIN ON FOOD: AN INDISPENSABLE GUIDE TO THE SURPRISING FOODS THAT FIGHT DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, PTSD, OCD, ADHD, AND MORE. Learn all about the foods and beverages that can have a positive or negative impact on mental health issues such as: Depression (05:06) Anxiety (12:31) PTSD (18:08) ADHD (20:29) Dementia & brain fog (21:20) OCD (24:35) Bipolar disorder & schizophrenia (26:50)

Award-winning filmmaker Sean Baker, whose credits include THE FLORIDA PROJECT and TANGERINE, chats with Trey Elling about RED ROCKET. The dark comedy stars Simon Rex as an aging porn star who returns to his hometown and a cadre of people from his past, most of whom are leery of parasitic ways. Questions include: Why did he chose Texas City, TX as the film's locale? (01:32) How did he land on Simon Rex to play the lead? (03:05) What convinced Sean to cast Suzanna Son as 'Strawberry'? (04:28) Was it tough to get NSYNC to sign off on the film's usage of "Bye Bye Bye"? (06:06) Is there a specific film or director that influenced his abrupt audio cuts? (06:48) Why does he like telling stories through socioeconomically disadvantaged lives? (07:56) What's the key to telling a good story? (09:47) Was it a prosthetic? (12:38) Does he typically consider where his story is headed after the end credits roll? (12:57)

Journalist and science writer Emily Willingham chats with Trey Elling about THE TAILORED BRAIN: FROM KETAMINE, TO KETO, TO COMPANIONSHIP, A USER'S GUIDE TO FEELING BETTER AND THINKING SMARTER. Questions include: Why does the brain burn so much energy, even when it isn't doing much? (03:04) Can brain game apps translate to increased performance in real life? (10:41) Do any drugs enhance cognitive load, a la Bradley Cooper in Limitless? (13:53) How much does exercise help with cognition? (14:45) Can socioeconomics impact cognitive functioning? (18:04) Neurologically speaking, how does empathy work? (20:27) Is there a common mistake made when thinking about stress in modern times? (25:44) Do psychedelics help with anxiety? (28:45) Why do 'memory athletes' remember so much better than the average person? (32:58) How can temporary depression be valuable to the individual? (36:50) Can psychedelics help with depression? (39:20) Do Omega 3s or vitamin D combat depression? (40:48) How does sugar negatively affect creativity? (43:41)

Durham University psychologist and neuroscientist Amanda Ellison chats with Trey Elling about SPLITTING: THE INSIDE STORY ON HEADACHES. Topics include: The common mechanism of most headaches Brain freeze Why sinus congestion causes headaches Snot Cluster headaches Migraines Dehydration as a catalyst for headaches

Award-winning professor and writer Bart Elmore chats with Trey Elling about SEED MONEY: MONSANTO'S PAST AND OUR FOOD FUTURE. Questions include: What does Coca Cola have to do with Monsanto's earliest days? When did Monsanto get into agricultural chemicals and pesticides? Was Monsanto actively covering up the potential harms of the chemicals the produced 50+ years ago? What is the Technology Use Agreement (TUA) Monsanto requires farmers to sign who use their genetically engineered seeds? How big a problem was the radioactive phosphate slag that the EPA discovered at Monsanto's Soda Springs, ID facility in the 1970s? How did Monsanto react to farmers reporting of Roundup-resistant weeds in the early 2000s? How influential is Monsanto within local, state, and federal governments? Why did Bayer buy Monsanto in 2018, considering all of the legal problems piling up for the latter? Have GE crops improved food production, like MOnsanto has promised since the 1990s?