

Chemistry For Your Life
Melissa and Jam, Bleav
A podcast that helps you understand the fascinating chemistry hidden in your everyday life.
Have you ever wondered why onions make you cry? Or how soap gets your hands clean? What really is margarine, or why do trees change colors in the fall? Melissa is a chemist, and to answer these questions she started a podcast, called Chemistry for your life!
In each episode Melissa explains the chemistry behind one of life’s mysteries to Jam, who is definitely not a chemist, but she explains it in a way that is easy to understand, and totally fascinating.
If you’re someone who loves learning new things, or who wonders about the way the world works, then give us a listen.
Have you ever wondered why onions make you cry? Or how soap gets your hands clean? What really is margarine, or why do trees change colors in the fall? Melissa is a chemist, and to answer these questions she started a podcast, called Chemistry for your life!
In each episode Melissa explains the chemistry behind one of life’s mysteries to Jam, who is definitely not a chemist, but she explains it in a way that is easy to understand, and totally fascinating.
If you’re someone who loves learning new things, or who wonders about the way the world works, then give us a listen.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jul 1, 2021 • 34min
What is benzene and why is it in my sunscreen?
#102
Well there's more to sunscreen than we thought. Like some super recent not so great info, about something called benzene. This is another example of the unfortunate dark side of chemistry. Check it out and make sure to check the list of safe sunscreens in the references below!
How to start a podcast. <- Check this out if you've got a podcast idea you want to make happen!
References from this episode
https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1981/08/10/osha-backs-off-trying-to-fire-cancer-specialist/649696f8-ac91-4f32-bc67-aa8ab9174c81/
https://www.chemistryworld.com/podcasts/benzene/3005709.article
https://www-tandfonline-com.libproxy.library.unt.edu/doi/abs/10.1179/oeh.2006.12.3.268
https://www.valisure.com/wp-content/uploads/Attachment-A-Table-5-of-Valisure-FDA-Citizen-Petition-on-Sunscreen-v2.pdf
https://www.valisure.com/blog/valisure-news/valisure-detects-benzene-in-sunscreen/
http://www.inchem.org/documents/icsc/icsc/eics0015.htm
https://www.who.int/ipcs/features/benzene.pdf
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3053447/
https://www.valisure.com/wp-content/uploads/Valisure-Citizen-Petition-on-Benzene-in-Sunscreen-and-After-sun-Care-Products-v9.7.pdf
https://cen.acs.org/business/consumer-products/Lab-finds-benzene-78-sunscreens/99/i21
https://ir.library.louisville.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3602&context=etd
https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2014-03/documents/benzene_toxicological_profile_tp3_3v.pdf
https://www.fda.gov/food/chemical-contaminants-food/questions-and-answers-occurrence-benzene-soft-drinks-and-other-beverages
Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChemForYourLife.
Email us at chemforyourlife@gmail.com
And check out our chill, simple little website at https://chemforyourlife.transistor.fm/
And seriously, we love using Transistor. Check it out to be sure your podcast makes a bang.
Thanks to our monthly supporters
Ciara Linville
J0HNTR0Y
Jeannette Napoleon
Cullyn R
Erica Bee
Elizabeth P
Sarah Moar
Rachel Reina
Letila
Katrina Barnum-Huckins
Suzanne Phillips
Nelly Silva
Venus Rebholz
Lyn Stubblefield
Jacob Taber
Brian Kimball
Emerson Woodhall
Kristina Gotfredsen
Timothy Parker
Steven Boyles
Chris Skupien
Chelsea B
Bri McAllister
Avishai Barnoy
Hunter Reardon
★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Jun 28, 2021 • 8min
Chemistry at home: Elephant's Toothpaste
Bonus Episode: Chemistry at Home 14
Here's another bonus episode dedicated to teaching a specific chemistry experiment you can do at home. This month, we see how to make the internet popular concoction called elephant's toothpaste.
How to start a podcast. <- Check this out if you've got a podcast idea you want to make happen!
Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChemForYourLife.
Email us at chemforyourlife@gmail.com
And check out our chill, simple little website at https://chemforyourlife.transistor.fm/
And seriously, we love using Transistor. Check it out to be sure your podcast makes a bang.
Thanks to our monthly supporters
Ciara Linville
J0HNTR0Y
Jeannette Napoleon
Cullyn R
Erica Bee
Elizabeth P
Sarah Moar
Rachel Reina
Letila
Katrina Barnum-Huckins
Suzanne Phillips
Nelly Silva
Venus Rebholz
Lyn Stubblefield
Jacob Taber
Brian Kimball
Emerson Woodhall
Kristina Gotfredsen
Timothy Parker
Steven Boyles
Chris Skupien
Chelsea B
Bri McAllister
Avishai Barnoy
Hunter Reardon
★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Jun 24, 2021 • 36min
How are airbags made of chemicals?
#101
Ok we all get it, they save our lives, and they aren't just a really good Radiohead song. But HOW? Most of us never even need to experience airbags, which is great. But for those of us who do, how do they do their very important job so perfectly and impressively? There's more to airbags than you'd expect, unless you're a chemist and already know this stuff in which case you might not be impressed and that's sad.
How to start a podcast. <- Check this out if you've got a podcast idea you want to make happen!
References from this episode
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-do-air-bags-work/
https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/pressroom/reactions/videos/2018/how-do-airbags-work.html
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/ed073p347?rand=ivyobk59
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S016523702030437X
https://cecas.clemson.edu/cvel/auto/actuators/airbag.html
Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChemForYourLife.
Email us at chemforyourlife@gmail.com
And check out our chill, simple little website at https://chemforyourlife.transistor.fm/
And seriously, we love using Transistor. Check it out to be sure your podcast makes a bang.
Thanks to our monthly supporters
Ciara Linville
J0HNTR0Y
Jeannette Napoleon
Cullyn R
Erica Bee
Elizabeth P
Sarah Moar
Rachel Reina
Letila
Katrina Barnum-Huckins
Suzanne Phillips
Nelly Silva
Venus Rebholz
Lyn Stubblefield
Jacob Taber
Brian Kimball
Emerson Woodhall
Kristina Gotfredsen
Timothy Parker
Steven Boyles
Chris Skupien
Chelsea B
Bri McAllister
Avishai Barnoy
Hunter Reardon
★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Jun 21, 2021 • 16min
Bonus: Why do bug bites itch? (and other questions)
Bonus Episode: Question and Response 21
In this month's bonus episode, Melissa and Jam respond to comments and questions about bug bites, histamine, jellyfish, hair, coffee, and Harry Potter.
Want to start your own podcast? Use Transistor and you'll have the best podcast platform available. We use it and we are totally in love with it.
Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChemForYourLife.
Email us at chemforyourlife@gmail.com
And check out our chill, simple little website at https://chemforyourlife.transistor.fm/
Thanks to our monthly supporters
Ciara Linville
J0HNTR0Y
Jeannette Napoleon
Cullyn R
Erica Bee
Elizabeth P
Sarah Moar
Rachel Reina
Letila
Katrina Barnum-Huckins
Suzanne Phillips
Nelly Silva
Venus Rebholz
Lyn Stubblefield
Jacob Taber
Brian Kimball
Emerson Woodhall
Kristina Gotfredsen
Timothy Parker
Steven Boyles
Chris Skupien
Chelsea B
Bri McAllister
Avishai Barnoy
Hunter Reardon
★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Jun 17, 2021 • 48min
CHEMISTRY QUIZ: Is Jam actually learning this stuff??
#100
For episode 100, it's time for a TEST. Jam has been learning chemistry every week for 100 weeks, but what does he know? What does he remember? Let's put it to the test. Follow along with us and see how many questions you get right!
How to start a podcast. <- Check this out if you've got a podcast idea you want to make happen!
Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChemForYourLife.
Email us at chemforyourlife@gmail.com
And check out our chill, simple little website at https://chemforyourlife.transistor.fm/
And seriously, we love using Transistor. Check it out to be sure your podcast makes a bang.
Thanks to our monthly supporters
Ciara Linville
J0HNTR0Y
Jeannette Napoleon
Cullyn R
Erica Bee
Elizabeth P
Sarah Moar
Rachel Reina
Letila
Katrina Barnum-Huckins
Suzanne Phillips
Nelly Silva
Venus Rebholz
Lyn Stubblefield
Jacob Taber
Brian Kimball
Emerson Woodhall
Kristina Gotfredsen
Timothy Parker
Steven Boyles
Chris Skupien
Chelsea B
Bri McAllister
Avishai Barnoy
Hunter Reardon
★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Jun 10, 2021 • 39min
Do anti-aging products work?
#099
The ads are everywhere. Trying to convince us to buy something to prevent or undo the wrinkles and skin damage that comes with aging. But can those products really do anything for us? Is it even chemistry? Or is it all just a bunch of hooey? Let's find out.
How to start a podcast. <- Check this out if you've got a podcast idea you want to make happen!
References from this episode
https://www.jidonline.org/action/showPdf?pii=S0022-202X%2815%2940798-5
https://www.jidonline.org/article/S0022-202X(15)40798-5/fulltext
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6791161/#:~:text=Retinoids%20are%20also%20commonly%20known,and%20promotes%20angiogenesis%20%5B13%5D
https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/molecule-of-the-week/archive/v/vitamin-a.html
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2699641/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6791161/#:~:text=Firstly%2C%20retinol%20is%20converted%20to,to%20the%20retinoic%20acid%20receptors.&text=Retinol%20concentration%20in%20the%20cosmetic,the%20oxidized%20form%20of%20retinol
https://youtu.be/grxmyM7EuDk
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsomega.0c02102
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3790843/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3583892/#R60
https://cen.acs.org/articles/95/i10/Periodic-graphics-anti-aging-creams.html
https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/pressroom/reactions/videos/2017/are-anti-aging-creams-legit.html
Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChemForYourLife.
Email us at chemforyourlife@gmail.com
And check out our chill, simple little website at https://chemforyourlife.transistor.fm/
And seriously, we love using Transistor. Check it out to be sure your podcast makes a bang.
Thanks to our monthly supporters
Ciara Linville
J0HNTR0Y
Jeannette Napoleon
Cullyn R
Erica Bee
Elizabeth P
Sarah Moar
Rachel Reina
Letila
Katrina Barnum-Huckins
Suzanne Phillips
Nelly Silva
Venus Rebholz
Lyn Stubblefield
Jacob Taber
Brian Kimball
Emerson Woodhall
Kristina Gotfredsen
Timothy Parker
Steven Boyles
Chris Skupien
Chelsea B
Bri McAllister
Avishai Barnoy
Hunter Reardon
★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Jun 3, 2021 • 34min
What’s the future of antihistamines?
#098
Could histamine and antihistamines do more than just affect our allergies? Actually yes. Today we discuss new and recent research in the world of histamine, and believe us, there's some really cool stuff.
How to start a podcast. <- Check this out if you've got a podcast idea you want to make happen!
References from this episode
https://cen.acs.org/articles/91/web/2013/06/Tracking-Histamine-Levels-Glowing-Nanosensors.html
https://cen.acs.org/articles/92/web/2014/12/Chemical-Cocktail-Lures-Bedbugs-Coaxes.html
https://cen.acs.org/pharmaceuticals/antibiotics/Common-allergy-drug-makes-resistant/97/i24
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.jafc.8b05515
https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/molecule-of-the-week/archive/h/histamines.html
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/jacs.9b03300
Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChemForYourLife.
Email us at chemforyourlife@gmail.com
And check out our chill, simple little website at https://chemforyourlife.transistor.fm/
And seriously, we love using Transistor. Check it out to be sure your podcast makes a bang.
Thanks to our monthly supporters
Ciara Linville
J0HNTR0Y
Jeannette Napoleon
Cullyn R
Erica Bee
Elizabeth P
Sarah Moar
Rachel Reina
Letila
Katrina Barnum-Huckins
Suzanne Phillips
Nelly Silva
Venus Rebholz
Lyn Stubblefield
Jacob Taber
Brian Kimball
Emerson Woodhall
Kristina Gotfredsen
Timothy Parker
Steven Boyles
Chris Skupien
Chelsea B
Bri McAllister
Avishai Barnoy
Hunter Reardon
★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

May 31, 2021 • 12min
Chemistry at Home: Lifesavers in the Dark
Bonus Episode: Chemistry at Home 13
Here's another bonus episode dedicated to teaching a specific chemistry experiment you can do at home. This month, we see what happens when we crack Lifesaver mints in the dark. Trust us, it should raise your eyebrows.
How to start a podcast. <- Check this out if you've got a podcast idea you want to make happen!
Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChemForYourLife.
Email us at chemforyourlife@gmail.com
And check out our chill, simple little website at https://chemforyourlife.transistor.fm/
And seriously, we love using Transistor. Check it out to be sure your podcast makes a bang.
Thanks to our monthly supporters
Ciara Linville
J0HNTR0Y
Jeannette Napoleon
Cullyn R
Erica Bee
Elizabeth P
Sarah Moar
Rachel Reina
Letila
Katrina Barnum-Huckins
Suzanne Phillips
Nelly Silva
Venus Rebholz
Lyn Stubblefield
Jacob Taber
Brian Kimball
Emerson Woodhall
Kristina Gotfredsen
Timothy Parker
Steven Boyles
Chris Skupien
Chelsea B
Bri McAllister
Avishai Barnoy
Hunter Reardon
★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

May 27, 2021 • 29min
Why are seasonal allergies the worst?
#097
Most of us know the feeling. But what are we actually experiencing when we experience allergies? How does being around plants and pollen make us all sniffly? Why does this beautiful season have such a dark side? Let's find out.
References from this episode
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538528/
https://www.chemistryworld.com/podcasts/histamine/3005799.article
https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/molecule-of-the-week/archive/h/histamine.html
https://cen.acs.org/articles/93/i19/Periodic-Graphics-Allergies-Antihistamines.html
Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChemForYourLife.
Email us at chemforyourlife@gmail.com
And check out our chill, simple little website at https://chemforyourlife.transistor.fm/
And seriously, we love using Transistor. Check it out to be sure your podcast makes a bang.
Thanks to our monthly supporters
Ciara Linville
J0HNTR0Y
Jeannette Napoleon
Cullyn R
Erica Bee
Elizabeth P
Sarah Moar
Rachel Reina
Letila
Katrina Barnum-Huckins
Suzanne Phillips
Nelly Silva
Venus Rebholz
Lyn Stubblefield
Jacob Taber
Brian Kimball
Emerson Woodhall
Kristina Gotfredsen
Timothy Parker
Steven Boyles
Chris Skupien
Chelsea B
Bri McAllister
Avishai Barnoy
Hunter Reardon
★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

May 24, 2021 • 14min
Bonus: What color is grass at night? (and other questions)
Bonus Episode: Question and Response 20
In this month's bonus episode, Melissa and Jam respond to comments and questions about color changing markers, electron energy level analogies, forensics, grass, chocolate, and more!
Want to start your own podcast? Use Transistor and you'll have the best podcast platform available. We use it and we are totally in love with it.
Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChemForYourLife.
Email us at chemforyourlife@gmail.com
And check out our chill, simple little website at https://chemforyourlife.transistor.fm/
Thanks to our monthly supporters
Ciara Linville
J0HNTR0Y
Jeannette Napoleon
Cullyn R
Erica Bee
Elizabeth P
Sarah Moar
Rachel Reina
Letila
Katrina Barnum-Huckins
Suzanne Phillips
Nelly Silva
Venus Rebholz
Lyn Stubblefield
Jacob Taber
Brian Kimball
Emerson Woodhall
Kristina Gotfredsen
Timothy Parker
Steven Boyles
Chris Skupien
Chelsea B
Bri McAllister
Avishai Barnoy
Hunter Reardon
★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★