

The Brain Candy Podcast
Susie Meister PhD & Sarah Rice AMFT
Laugh and learn with Susie Meister PhD & Sarah Rice MFT from MTV's The Challenge as they cover psychology, pop culture, human interest, and science, and make everything from The Kardashians to quantum physics accessible to all.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 28, 2025 • 53min
940: Ayn Rand Jeans, Mosquito Music, & Sing Like a Canary
Susie's shirt sparked a whole conversation about Ayn Rand, red flag books, Catcher in the Rye, incels, back-to-school hauls, PacSun jeans, the great jeans/genes scandal, and Lauren Sanchez. And none of it was planned. So buckle up. We debate whether/how we can regulate adult content online to limit its exposure to children without compromising free speech and ushering in a surveillance state, and well, we get nowhere. We find out about a UK drug lord whose undoing came from an unlikely informant, and it taught us why you should never trust someone with an unusual pet. We learn how much birds are pooping, and we're not ok. And scientists found out which type of music mosquitoes hate, and let's just say Susie feels vindicated.Brain Candy Podcast Website - https://thebraincandypodcast.com/Brain Candy Podcast Book Recommendations - https://thebraincandypodcast.com/books/Brain Candy Podcast Merchandise - https://thebraincandypodcast.com/candy-store/Brain Candy Podcast Candy Club - https://thebraincandypodcast.com/product/candy-club/Brain Candy Podcast Sponsor Codes - https://thebraincandypodcast.com/support-us/Brain Candy Podcast Social Media & Platforms:Brain Candy Podcast LIVE Interactive Trivia Nights - https://www.youtube.com/@BrainCandyPodcast/streamsBrain Candy Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/braincandypodcastHost Susie Meister Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susiemeisterHost Sarah Rice Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imsarahriceBrain Candy Podcast on X: https://www.x.com/braincandypodBrain Candy Podcast Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/braincandy (JOIN FREE - TONS OF REALITY TV CONTENT)Brain Candy Podcast Sponsors, partnerships, & Products that we love:Cancel your unwanted subscriptions and reach your financial goals faster at https://rocketmoney.com/braincandy today.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Aug 25, 2025 • 54min
939: Finger Fame, Last Supper Project, & Yogurt Shop Murders
Susie found out that the lesbian community has a real affinity for fingers, and she might have what they're looking for, but she wonders if the gays are keeping secrets about their romantic ways. We learn about a man who announced his intention to do assisted suicide, but asked people to invite him to dinner beforehand. We find out how his dinner tour is going, why mental health experts are not impressed with him, and why he might abandon his original plan. We discuss an all-women commune and find out why they forbid men, how they arrange their community, and why it's so popular. Susie talks about the new documentary about the Yogurt Shop Murders, and how the film shows the ripple effect of violent crime in families and communities, and why it extends beyond crimes's victims. Brain Candy Podcast Website - https://thebraincandypodcast.com/Brain Candy Podcast Book Recommendations - https://thebraincandypodcast.com/books/Brain Candy Podcast Merchandise - https://thebraincandypodcast.com/candy-store/Brain Candy Podcast Candy Club - https://thebraincandypodcast.com/product/candy-club/Brain Candy Podcast Sponsor Codes - https://thebraincandypodcast.com/support-us/Brain Candy Podcast Social Media & Platforms:Brain Candy Podcast LIVE Interactive Trivia Nights - https://www.youtube.com/@BrainCandyPodcast/streamsBrain Candy Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/braincandypodcastHost Susie Meister Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susiemeisterHost Sarah Rice Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imsarahriceBrain Candy Podcast on X: https://www.x.com/braincandypodBrain Candy Podcast Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/braincandy (JOIN FREE - TONS OF REALITY TV CONTENT)Brain Candy Podcast Sponsors, partnerships, & Products that we love:Get $10 dollars off your first month’s subscription and free shipping when you go to https://nutrafol.com and enter the promo code BRAINCANDYGet 10% off their first month at https://www.betterhelp.com/braincandySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Aug 21, 2025 • 1h 5min
938: Labubu Mania, Cover Songs, & Trader Joe's
We are super excited to announce our very first live event in Denver on October 30! We discuss all the details of what we have planned for our inaugural IRL Brain Candy event! (get tickets here!). We discuss the bizarro world of Labubu and try to figure out why people are losing their minds for them. We hear why Sarah will forever chase the high of her best Goodwill score. We learn the history of the cover song and debate the best ones (and which might even be better than the original). Susie has to teach Sarah about Pat Boone. And we learn why Sarah thinks ADHD people love Trader Joe's, why she wants to take Susie on a field trip there, and what it is about the store that gets her motor running.Brain Candy Podcast Website - https://thebraincandypodcast.com/Brain Candy Podcast Book Recommendations - https://thebraincandypodcast.com/books/Brain Candy Podcast Merchandise - https://thebraincandypodcast.com/candy-store/Brain Candy Podcast Candy Club - https://thebraincandypodcast.com/product/candy-club/Brain Candy Podcast Sponsor Codes - https://thebraincandypodcast.com/support-us/Brain Candy Podcast Social Media & Platforms:Brain Candy Podcast LIVE Interactive Trivia Nights - https://www.youtube.com/@BrainCandyPodcast/streamsBrain Candy Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/braincandypodcastHost Susie Meister Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susiemeisterHost Sarah Rice Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imsarahriceBrain Candy Podcast on X: https://www.x.com/braincandypodBrain Candy Podcast Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/braincandy (JOIN FREE - TONS OF REALITY TV CONTENT)Brain Candy Podcast Sponsors, partnerships, & Products that we love:Save 20% Off Honeylove by going to https://www.honeylove.com/braincandy #honeylovepodVisit https://shopbeam.com/BRAINCANDY and use code BRAINCANDY to get our exclusive discount of up to 50% off.Get 60% off your first Smalls order PLUS free shipping when you head to https://www.smalls.com/braincandyHead to https://cozyearth.com and use my code BRAINCANDY for 40% off! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Aug 18, 2025 • 1h 4min
937: Cat Cafe, Cake Smash, & Bite Club
Susie has an update on her cat situation, and Sarah is learning more than she ever wanted to know about cat cafes. We debate the cake smash tradition at weddings, and we hear why the more violent and abusive examples of this are going viral on TikTok. And we consider why men resort to this aggressive ritual even when they're humiliating or hurting the bride. We learn about a group of shark bite survivors who have formed a community to help each other with side effects both physical and emotional, and we discuss the human urge to connect. Amanda Knox wrote a piece on why we shouldn't call people "evil," and how this does a disservice to victims of violent crimes. And we learn some surprising effects your first name can have on your life.Brain Candy Podcast Website - https://thebraincandypodcast.com/Brain Candy Podcast Book Recommendations - https://thebraincandypodcast.com/books/Brain Candy Podcast Merchandise - https://thebraincandypodcast.com/candy-store/Brain Candy Podcast Candy Club - https://thebraincandypodcast.com/product/candy-club/Brain Candy Podcast Sponsor Codes - https://thebraincandypodcast.com/support-us/Brain Candy Podcast Social Media & Platforms:Brain Candy Podcast LIVE Interactive Trivia Nights - https://www.youtube.com/@BrainCandyPodcast/streamsBrain Candy Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/braincandypodcastHost Susie Meister Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susiemeisterHost Sarah Rice Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imsarahriceBrain Candy Podcast on X: https://www.x.com/braincandypodBrain Candy Podcast Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/braincandy (JOIN FREE - TONS OF REALITY TV CONTENT)Brain Candy Podcast Sponsors, partnerships, & Products that we love:Go to https://paireyewear.com and use code BCP for 15% off your first pair. And support the show by mentioning that The Brain Candy Podcast sent you in your post-checkout survey!Visit https://www.carawayhome.com/braincandy10 you can take an additional 10% off your next purchase.Get 40% off your first box PLUS get a free item in every box for life when you go to https://www.hungryroot.com/braincandy and use code braincandySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Aug 14, 2025 • 1h 9min
936: Pac-Man, Camp Life, & Shiny Happy People
We have a new Brain Candy seal of approval, inspired by Sarah, created by Adam, and loved by all. Pay attention to our approvals with our new device. We wonder why the Twinkie never left despite threats that they were discontinuing their production of the food (???). We learn the origin of Pac-Man, why the game was revolutionary, and what makes us love it still. We talk about the strange success of the sporting goods story, Dicks, and how Sarah thought Dick divorced someone and she had a spinoff store called Chicks. We debate AI for therapy, wellness, and friendship, and share what we think people should do instead (and it involves, you know, talking to actual people). We learn about the new Shiny Happy People season, but it turns out, Susie's up to speed, since she was a participant in evangelical churches in the 90s.Read this week's Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/thebraincandypodcast/chatgpt-therapists-unwanted-pets-molar-cityBrain Candy Podcast Website - https://thebraincandypodcast.com/Brain Candy Podcast Book Recommendations - https://thebraincandypodcast.com/books/Brain Candy Podcast Merchandise - https://thebraincandypodcast.com/candy-store/Brain Candy Podcast Candy Club - https://thebraincandypodcast.com/product/candy-club/Brain Candy Podcast Sponsor Codes - https://thebraincandypodcast.com/support-us/Brain Candy Podcast Social Media & Platforms:Brain Candy Podcast LIVE Interactive Trivia Nights - https://www.youtube.com/@BrainCandyPodcast/streamsBrain Candy Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/braincandypodcastHost Susie Meister Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susiemeisterHost Sarah Rice Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imsarahriceBrain Candy Podcast on X: https://www.x.com/braincandypodBrain Candy Podcast Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/braincandy (JOIN FREE - TONS OF REALITY TV CONTENT)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Aug 11, 2025 • 1h 2min
935: What Dan Read, Song Bingo, & Dental Scam
We're fresh off the heals of our Colorado Rocky Mountain high, and we are still recovering. Susie talks about a man who read 3,599 books in his lifetime and kept an adorable handwritten list of them that is now available to all of us. A zoo wants you to know that if you have any "unwanted" pets that they'll take them off your hands and feed them to their predators, which is weird? A doctor might've killed a patient through music, and we think it's sad, but also the game he was playing sounds really fun. We hear why lots of people are getting their teeth fixed in Mexico, and Susie rants about insane reasons why our teeth aren't included on our healthcare plans, the reason dental insurance is the opposite of health insurance, and she wants to know why we have silent cars, but not silent dental drills.Read this week's Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/thebraincandypodcast/chatgpt-therapists-unwanted-pets-molar-cityBrain Candy Podcast Website - https://thebraincandypodcast.com/Brain Candy Podcast Book Recommendations - https://thebraincandypodcast.com/books/Brain Candy Podcast Merchandise - https://thebraincandypodcast.com/candy-store/Brain Candy Podcast Candy Club - https://thebraincandypodcast.com/product/candy-club/Brain Candy Podcast Sponsor Codes - https://thebraincandypodcast.com/support-us/Brain Candy Podcast Social Media & Platforms:Brain Candy Podcast LIVE Interactive Trivia Nights - https://www.youtube.com/@BrainCandyPodcast/streamsBrain Candy Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/braincandypodcastHost Susie Meister Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susiemeisterHost Sarah Rice Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imsarahriceBrain Candy Podcast on X: https://www.x.com/braincandypodBrain Candy Podcast Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/braincandy (JOIN FREE - TONS OF REALITY TV CONTENT)Brain Candy Podcast Sponsors, partnerships, & Products that we love:Get 25% off your first month of Ritual when you visit https://ritual.com/braincandy & add Essential Protein today!For 50% off your order, head to https://www.dailylook.com and use code BRAINCANDYSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Aug 7, 2025 • 1h 11min
934: Surrogacy Gone Wild, Parents Aplenty, & Moose Meese
Sarah talks about a couple who started their own surrogacy company, but then just used it as a cover for them to have 21 children, and now authorities are investigating how they were able to get away with this insanity for so long. We learn that some families are more likely to produce boys vs girls or vice versa, and that the men in the family (well, the sperm) are the part of the equation that influences the sex of a person. And we discuss the eight babies born in the UK with three biological parents and how the combination allows children to overcome a genetic abnormality that would likely happen if they only had two biological parents. And despite this great news, Susie sees some trouble up ahead by having three people have a genetic link (and custodial right?) to a single child. The company that "brought" back an extinct wolf is at it again, and we think they're up to no good. But more importantly, why are we saying more than one goose is geese, but more than one moose isn't meese? Huh? Riddle me that.Read this week's Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/thebraincandypodcast/933-934Brain Candy Podcast Website - https://thebraincandypodcast.com/Brain Candy Podcast Book Recommendations - https://thebraincandypodcast.com/books/Brain Candy Podcast Merchandise - https://thebraincandypodcast.com/candy-store/Brain Candy Podcast Candy Club - https://thebraincandypodcast.com/product/candy-club/Brain Candy Podcast Sponsor Codes - https://thebraincandypodcast.com/support-us/Brain Candy Podcast Social Media & Platforms:Brain Candy Podcast LIVE Interactive Trivia Nights - https://www.youtube.com/@BrainCandyPodcast/streamsBrain Candy Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/braincandypodcastHost Susie Meister Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susiemeisterHost Sarah Rice Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imsarahriceBrain Candy Podcast on X: https://www.x.com/braincandypodBrain Candy Podcast Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/braincandy (JOIN FREE - TONS OF REALITY TV CONTENT)Brain Candy Podcast Sponsors, partnerships, & Products that we love:Cancel your unwanted subscriptions and reach your financial goals faster at https://rocketmoney.com/braincandy today.Save 20% Off Honeylove by going to https://www.honeylove.com/braincandy #honeylovepodFor 20% off your order, head to https://reliefband.com and use code BRAINCANDYHead to https://cozyearth.com and use my code BRAINCANDY for 40% off! And if you get a Post-Purchase Survey, make sure to let them know you heard about Cozy Earth right here!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Aug 4, 2025 • 1h 7min
933: Man Overboard, Mental Miracle, & Useful Grief
ATTENTION: Spotify is the source of issues with the podcast episode this week. The full version is available on Apple Podcasts.You can also listen to the episode here: https://thebraincandypodcast.com/episode/933Susie's Chili's is back after a two year closure due to fire, and she's finally got her baby back. And we learn the reason she is obsessed with the fast casual restaurant chain in the first place, and how it relates to her time on reality tv. We hear the follow-up on a man who jumped off a Disney cruise ship to save his daughter who fell off the boat, and we cheer on dads doing superhero shit. We learn about some people who, after decades of severe schizophrenia, have made complete recoveries after receiving treatment for a separate disease, which is showing doctors that there might be more at play than just a mental illness in the first place. And we learn the fascinating downsides to going back to "normal" after living with mental illness. Susie tells the story of a pediatrician who accidentally killed his toddler son, how he channeled his pain into saving lives, and why workaholism can be a powerful tool for people struggling with grief.Read this week's Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/thebraincandypodcast/933-934DON'T MISS LIVE TRIVIA NIGHT: https://www.youtube.com/@BrainCandyPodcast/streamsFollow Susie on Instagram,it's a laugh a minute: https://www.instagram.com/susiemeisterBrain Candy Podcast Website - https://thebraincandypodcast.com/Brain Candy Podcast Book Recommendations - https://thebraincandypodcast.com/books/Brain Candy Podcast Merchandise - https://thebraincandypodcast.com/candy-store/Brain Candy Podcast Candy Club - https://thebraincandypodcast.com/product/candy-club/Brain Candy Podcast Sponsor Codes - https://thebraincandypodcast.com/support-us/Brain Candy Podcast Social Media & Platforms:Brain Candy Podcast LIVE Interactive Trivia Nights - https://www.youtube.com/@BrainCandyPodcast/streamsBrain Candy Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/braincandypodcastHost Susie Meister Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susiemeisterHost Sarah Rice Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imsarahriceBrain Candy Podcast on X: https://www.x.com/braincandypodBrain Candy Podcast Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/braincandy (JOIN FREE - TONS OF REALITY TV CONTENT)Brain Candy Podcast Sponsors, partnerships, & Products that we love:Get $10 off your first month’s subscription and free shipping when you go to https://nutrafol.com and enter the promo code BRAINCANDYThis episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Get 10% off their first month at https://www.betterhelp.com/braincandyGo to https://thrivecausemetics.com/braincandy for an exclusive offer of 20% off your first order.For a limited time, get 40% off your first box PLUS get a free item in every box for life when you go to https://www.hungryroot.com/braincandy and use code BRAINCANDYSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jul 31, 2025 • 1h 3min
932: Coldplay Cheaters, Cruise Mystery, & Little Treats
Susie hasn't been this happy since we found out Luigi Mangioni's name thanks to the Coldplay cheaters on the kiss cam. We discuss how it's not the crime, but the cover-up once again that got them into trouble. We debate which concerts are cheater concerts, whether it's ok to make fun of people like them who go viral, and what we think will happen to them now. We talk about the Amy Bradley Is Missing documentary, the insanity of cruise "law" and security, and what we think happened to this woman who disappeared mysteriously from a cruise ship. Sarah explains why young people need more "little treats" than previous generations, and for once Susie defends younger generations. Plus, we hear about the Gilgo Beach Long Island serial killer's family, why they can't accept that he killed people despite the overwhelming evidence pointing to him.Read this week's Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/thebraincandypodcast/fast-content-house-of-secrets-smelling-antsBrain Candy Podcast Website - https://thebraincandypodcast.com/Brain Candy Podcast Book Recommendations - https://thebraincandypodcast.com/books/Brain Candy Podcast Merchandise - https://thebraincandypodcast.com/candy-store/Brain Candy Podcast Candy Club - https://thebraincandypodcast.com/product/candy-club/Brain Candy Podcast Sponsor Codes - https://thebraincandypodcast.com/support-us/Brain Candy Podcast Social Media & Platforms:Brain Candy Podcast LIVE Interactive Trivia Nights - https://www.youtube.com/@BrainCandyPodcast/streamsBrain Candy Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/braincandypodcastHost Susie Meister Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susiemeisterHost Sarah Rice Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imsarahriceBrain Candy Podcast on X: https://www.x.com/braincandypodBrain Candy Podcast Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/braincandy (JOIN FREE - TONS OF REALITY TV CONTENT)Brain Candy Podcast Sponsors, partnerships, & Products that we love:Get $10 off your first month’s subscription and free shipping when you go to https://nutrafol.com and enter the promo code BRAINCANDYThis episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Get 10% off their first month at https://www.betterhelp.com/braincandyGo to https://thrivecausemetics.com/braincandy for an exclusive offer of 20% off your first order.For a limited time, get 40% off your first box PLUS get a free item in every box for life when you go to https://www.hungryroot.com/braincandy and use code BRAINCANDYSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jul 28, 2025 • 54min
931: Making Memories, Fake Jobs, & TikTok Brain
LIVE trivia is this Wednesday July 30th at 8PM! - Today, Sarah tells a story about a man who watched a few YouTube videos and pretended to be a dentist, performing actual dental work on people. This leads us to think of the professions one could fake the easiest and get away with it. And Susie thinks of the best possible answer. We learn some tips on retaining memories and why we need to be intentional about it these days. We discuss the sleep deficit a lot of people have, the reasons for it, and why we might've been misled by some "experts." Plus, we hear why TikTok is affecting our attention spans and our brains and thinking more generally. It ain't good, people.Read this week's Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/thebraincandypodcast/fast-content-house-of-secrets-smelling-antsJOIN SUSIE AND SARAH FOR LIVE INTERACTIVE TRIVIA! -https://thebraincandypodcast.com/trivia/ - https://www.youtube.com/@BrainCandyPodcast/streamsBrain Candy Podcast Website - https://thebraincandypodcast.com/Brain Candy Podcast Book Recommendations - https://thebraincandypodcast.com/books/Brain Candy Podcast Merchandise - https://thebraincandypodcast.com/candy-store/Brain Candy Podcast Candy Club - https://thebraincandypodcast.com/product/candy-club/Brain Candy Podcast Sponsor Codes - https://thebraincandypodcast.com/support-us/Brain Candy Podcast Social Media & Platforms:Brain Candy Podcast LIVE Interactive Trivia Nights - https://www.youtube.com/@BrainCandyPodcast/streamsBrain Candy Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/braincandypodcastHost Susie Meister Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susiemeisterHost Sarah Rice Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imsarahriceBrain Candy Podcast on X: https://www.x.com/braincandypodBrain Candy Podcast Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/braincandy (JOIN FREE - TONS OF REALITY TV CONTENT, MTV, REAL WORLD INTERVIEWS, THE CHALLENGE INTERVIEWS, SURVIVOR, AND MORE POPULAR CAST MEMBERS AND SHOWS)Brain Candy Podcast sponsors, partnerships, codes and discounts:Our favorite Brain Candy cat food partner! Get a whopping 60% off your order! Go to: https://www.smalls.com/braincandyYou know we love Caraway Home cooking and baking pots and so much more. The've been a Giveaway partner on our live trivia too. Go to: https://carawayhome.com/BRAINCANDY10 to take an additional 10% off your next purchase! This is a must.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.