I've felt like I wanted to say a ton about this since day 1, but keep holding back. I finally hit brain saturation and just need to share. I think I have a useful way of looking at this whole thing, hope you'll consider it. Oh and also, f--- UnitedHealthcare and f--- the for profit healthcare industry in its entirety. Please read this incredible ProPublica piece. I finally started a monthly donation to them, which I should have long ago. https://www.propublica.org/article/unitedhealth-healthcare-insurance-denial-ulcerative-colitis Are you an expert in something and want to be on the show? Apply here! Please please pretty please support the show on patreon! You get ad free episodes, early episodes, and other bonus content!

SIO466 - Dr. Gary Slutkin has been cited in Salon and other outlets as an expert epidemiologist who runs an impressive NGO that helps reduce violence. While he may be an epidemiologist, almost everything else about him and his claims seems to be... very likely bull shit. Dr. Jenessa Seymour joins us to break this down. It gets more and more bull shit as we go, and eventually we're both live debunking parts of this nonsense. Are you an expert in something and want to be on the show? Apply here! Please please pretty please support the show on patreon! You get ad free episodes, early episodes, and other bonus content!

Hey folks, this is more of an SIO, but I recorded a solo show because I have to debunk this myth about Kamala losing 10-15m Democratic votes, and Trump only keeping his same voters from 2020. That isn't correct at all. I also have a million other thoughts that I really just want to get out there and that I hope will be helpful.

Dr. Jenessa Seymour is back to talk more about synesthesia! There are some absolutely fascinating case studies that Jenessa covers in this episode, and we theorize how in the world synesthesia happens. The brain is impossible. Are you an expert in something and want to be on the show? Apply here! Please please pretty please support the show on patreon! You get ad free episodes, early episodes, and other bonus content!

Dr. Janessa Seymour is back! This time she teaches us all about synesthesia. How does it work? How many people have it? Are they just faking it? How do we test for it? This episode features one of the most mind-blowing things I've ever heard on this show. I really enjoyed this one! Are you an expert in something and want to be on the show? Apply here! Please please pretty please support the show on patreon! You get ad free episodes, early episodes, and other bonus content!

Everyone's favorite dino guy Dr. Eric Jaffe returns! This time, he takes us through what happened when the dinosaurs died. How did it happen? What does the evidence show and how has our understanding of that changed over time? How in the world did anything survive? Also, what did other mass extinctions look like? All this and so much more! Are you an expert in something and want to be on the show? Apply here! Please please pretty please support the show on patreon! You get ad free episodes, early episodes, and other bonus content!

Astrophysicist Dr. Bryan Gillis returns to craft wild, hypothetical ways to obliterate our planet. From halting the moon's orbit to launching nuclear weapons, he discusses the complex physics behind these catastrophic ideas. They dive into the hilarity of a moonfall scenario, juxtaposed with serious reflections on humanity’s fragile future. The conversation also highlights the dangers of AI and cosmic threats, all wrapped in a playful, light-hearted banter that blends science with absurdity.

In 2020, the United Kingdom’s (NHS) commissioned an inquiry to provide recommendations for the healthcare of transgender adolescents. It was overseen by a pediatrician named Dr. Hillary Cass and was completed in April 2024. It became known as the Cass Review, and it has since been used to justify depriving a lot of people of the healthcare they badly need. But is it good science? Obviously not. Yale's Integrity Project gathered several actual experts in the field to conduct their own review of the review. The results are not pretty. They published an excellent report entitled "An Evidence-Based Critique of “The Cass Review” on Gender-affirming Care for Adolescent Gender Dysphoria." Three of these experts, Drs. Meredithe McNamara, Kellan Baker, and Ken C. Pang, were kind enough to join us to talk about their findings. It looks to me like the anti-trans side is winning this information war, so please share this far and wide to get the word out! Are you an expert in something and want to be on the show? Apply here! Please please pretty please support the show on patreon! You get ad free episodes, early episodes, and other bonus content!

Dr. Eric Jaffe, an expert in CRISPR technology, unpacks the fascinating world of genetic editing. He discusses the historical evolution of CRISPR and how it functions in bacterial immunity. The conversation explores groundbreaking applications in areas like spina bifida research and the controversial use of CRISPR to control mosquito populations. Ethical concerns and potential ecological impacts are examined, offering listeners a thorough understanding of both the promise and perils of this revolutionary technology.

Dr. Eric Jaffe, a genetics expert and CRISPR innovator, returns to discuss the fascinating intricacies of genetics. He dives into how eye color illustrates genetic complexity and why mapping the human genome hasn't led to instant modifications. The conversation explores the relationship between genes and physical traits, emphasizing the role of multiple genes in determining characteristics. Jaffe also explains genetic mutations, the gene expression journey, and sets the stage for the promise of CRISPR technology in reshaping genetic understanding.