Serious Inquiries Only

Senator Bernie Sanders introduced Senate Bill 3947 to change the standard 40-hour workweek to 32 hours with no loss in pay and held a hearing on March 14th. Naturally the right doesn't love this. But what do the studies say? And where did the 40-hour week even come from? SeriousPod colleague Lydia Smith explains how this particular issue highlights ways in which we can combat rhetoric from the right and move towards something that is, on every metric, better than what we have now. 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

It feels like this comes up precisely every 4 years, but once again I find myself having to point out that the way to make things better isn't to make them worse. That math just doesn't work. But what should we do? A campaign to vote "Uncommitted" for the Democratic Primary Election went viral. Lydia Smith from Where There's Woke joins as we discuss what this movement is, what kind of impact it could have, and whether or not a vote can be a "message".   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!

We're focusing in on some sci-fi with Dr. Bryan Gillis, astrophysicist to the stars! We take you through one of Ted Chiang's incredible short stories, Exhalation, and Dr. Gillis teaches us about entropy and the Laws of Thermodynamics. What is the heat death of the universe? Can we avoid it by turning up the AC a bit or are we just plain effed? Find 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!

CW: Discussion of suicide; please skip this episode if it's better for your mental health After a long hiatus, Dr. Alan Smerbeck AKA Stormy Decisis is back to cover a topic we've been talking about discussing for a while. What does the research tell us is the responsible way to cover death by suicide? What kind of impact can the media have on the greater population if they get it wrong? And how many different ways did 13 Reasons Why completely screw up? 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. Bryan Gillis discusses the controversial Em Drive, its potential for space travel efficiency. Explore momentum transfer, directional acceleration, and surprising findings from Chinese research. Learn about navigating uncertainties in experimental measurements, Bayesian statistics, and avoiding bias in research.

Join Quantum Anne as she quizzes the hosts on real vs. fake quantum products, exploring topics like quantum materials, energy bars for quantum scientists, quantum computing credibility, and the mysteries of Mr. Squid. Dive into playful banter on quantum healing skepticism, branding strategies, and the ambiguity of quantum.com's services.

Dr. Joe Siev and Dr. Jake Teeny discuss their studies on how artists and scientists are punished for misconduct. They explore disparities in punishments, moral decoupling, public perception, and personal ramifications. The conversation delves into the unique perspectives of artists and scientists, the impact of sexual misconduct, and the varying consequences in different professional fields.

Dr. Harry Barbee out of Johns Hopkins University recently co-authored a meta-analysis in JAMA Surgery, examining postoperative regret for those people seeking gender-affirming care. We talk about how many people *actually* regret receiving surgery, how that compares with general postoperative regret in the cisgender population, the politics and misinformation influencing the bad science in this area of study, and what we can do about it.    Another piece by Dr. Barbee advocating for sanctuary locations for gender-affirming care: Transgender Youths and Sanctuaries for Gender-Affirming Care    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. Paul Sutter discusses the flaws in current scientific practices and suggests ways to improve academia. He explores the lack of trust in science, challenges in the scientific profession, and the need for transparency and communication to maintain scientific integrity.

Exploring personal growth and LGBTQ+ support, reflecting on virtue signaling and social justice advocacy. Defiance against banning pride tape in hockey, promoting acceptance and support for marginalized communities through small gestures. Encouraging inclusivity and allyship for queer individuals.