Podcast
Doing Learning
Hosted by Doing Learning · EN
Two friends take turns teaching each other about a topic far-flung or familiar. Head down the rabbit hole and open your eyes as we do some learning about the wonderful world around us.
New episodes publish Thursday mornings!
15episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Pull the Lever: Paradoxes & Thought Experiments
1w ago01:23:23Tap to summarizeDetailsDaniel and McKyler are joined by guest co-host, Miles! McKyler takes the guys through the ringer of paradoxes and thought experiments--including the birthday paradox, the Monte Hall problem, the Trolley Problem, and the Fermi Paradox. Daniel rips a pack!LinksBrian Cox Explains The Fermi ParadoxAstrophysicists Discuss the Fermi ParadoxAbsurd Trolley Problems PatronsThank you to all our patrons for your support!Liz D.Seth T.Irvin H.DaDogMiles T.Kirk K.DiscordJoin our Discord channel: https://discord.gg/FYg6T5q7xK---
Transcribe →Crawling 250 Miles for Payback: The Hugh Glass Story
2w ago01:08:00Tap to summarizeDetailsDaniel and Mckyler dive into the wild, almost unbelievable true story behind The Revenant, tracing Hugh Glass’s journey from reluctant pirate to legendary mountain man on a brutal quest for payback. In this episode, Daniel walks Mckyler through Glass’s rumored capture by Jean Lafitte’s pirates, his years living with the Pawnee, and the infamous 1823 grizzly mauling that left him crawling more than 200–250 miles toward Fort Kiowa with a shattered leg and exposed wounds. Along the way, they unpack what’s fact, what’s frontier myth, and how Glass’s thirst for revenge turned into one of history’s most hardcore stories of survival and unexpected forgiveness. LinksYou guys know how Daniel is... PatronsThank you to all our patrons for your support!DiscordJoin our Discord channel: https://discord.gg/FYg6T5q7xK---
Transcribe →PEEPS Showdown
3w ago01:08:34Tap to summarizeNow with video! Available on Spotify and YouTube.Details Daniel and McKyler take on everyone's favorite sugary marshmellow chick-shaped snack!Patrons Thank you to all our patrons for your support!Liz D.Seth T.Irvin H.DaDogMiles T.Kirk K.DiscordJoin our Discord channel: https://discord.gg/FYg6T5q7xK---
Transcribe →Placebos: Fake It 'Til Your Brain Makes It
May 1401:21:43Tap to summarizeDetails Ever wonder why sugar pills can kill pain, or why reading a side effect list actually causes those symptoms? In this mind-bending episode, McKyler takes Daniel on a deep dive into the placebo and nocebo effects—where belief literally rewires your brain’s chemistry. From Benjamin Franklin debunking “animal magnetism” in 1784 to modern patients improving on pills they know are fake, we explore the wild history and cutting-edge neuroscience behind medicine’s most mysterious phenomena. LinksOpen label placebo: can honestly prescribed placebos work?Neurobiological Mechanisms of the Placebo EffectPlacebo effects on human μ-opioid activity during painGenetics and the Placebo Effect: the PlacebomeExpectation and Dopamine Release: Mechanism of the Placebo Effect in Parkinson's DiseaseHarnessing the power of placebosThe Story of the Placebo EffectPatrons Thank you to all our patrons for your support!Liz D.Seth T.Irvin H.DaDogMiles T.Kirk K.DiscordJoin our Discord channel: https://discord.gg/FYg6T5q7xK---
Transcribe →The Ant Syndicate: From Solitary Wasps to Global Superpowers
May 701:03:22Tap to summarizeDetailsDaniel and McKyler take cover. Ants are in a world war! We explore the fascinating evolution of ants, tracing their epic journey from ancient solitary wasps to the ultimate rulers of continent-spanning mega-colonies. We uncover the shocking realities of microscopic warfare, zombie mind-control fungi, and ruthless slaver ants that dominate the insect kingdom. Discover the secrets behind their brilliant ecological partnerships, from farming underground fungi to fiercely guarding aphids. LinksWasps get a bad rap‘Monstrously Big Ant’ Fossil Found in WyomingThe Evolution of Ants - Myrm’s Ant NestThe Billion Ant Mega Colony and the Biggest War on EarthThe Horror of the Slaver AntThese Ants Use Their Babies As Glue GunsHow did ants evolve? A quick and easy exploration of ant evolutionAnts Documentary Patrons Thank you to all our patrons for your support!Liz D.Seth T.Irvin H.DaDogMiles T.Kirk K.DiscordJoin our Discord channel: https://discord.gg/FYg6T5q7xK---
Transcribe →From Consul to Corpse: Julius Caesar and the Ides of March
Apr 3001:56:27Tap to summarizeDetailsMcKyler walks Daniel through the wild rise and brutal fall of Julius Caesar, from debt-ridden rich kid to “dictator for life.” Along the way they unpack why regular Romans adored Caesar for his epic Gallic victories, debt relief, and free grain, while senators saw him as a crown‑hungry tyrant dismantling the Republic. The duo dives into Decimus vs. Marcus Brutus, the real story of “Et tu, Brute?”, the first forensic autopsy in history, and how the Ides of March accidentally launched the Roman Empire. Perfect for fans of ancient Rome, political intrigue, and anyone who’s ever wondered how one stabbing changed the world.LinksAssassination of Julius Caesar – WikipediaJulius Caesar – Britannica Biography10 Facts About Julius Caesar’s Rise to Power – History HitThe Ides of March: The Assassination of Julius Caesar Explained – History HitThe Ides of March: The Assassination of Julius Caesar Explored – History ToolsConstitutional Reforms of Julius Caesar – WikipediaHow Decimus Brutus Led Julius Caesar to His Doom – History HitCaesar: A Colossus and the Fall of the Roman RepublicThe Assassination of Julius Caesar: The Ides of March ExplainedWhy Did Julius Caesar Cross the Rubicon?Julius Caesar’s Rise, Rule, and AssassinationPatrons Thank you to all our patrons for your support!Liz D.Seth T.Irvin H.DaDogMiles T.Kirk K.DiscordJoin our Discord channel: https://discord.gg/FYg6T5q7xK---
Transcribe →Los Banditos - Porfirio Díaz and the Seeds of the Mexican Revolution
Apr 901:30:14Tap to summarizeDetallesDaniel takes McKyler back to late-1800s Mexico—the era of Porfirio Díaz, the powerful leader whose long rule shaped a nation. We dig into the hacendados and vast haciendas, the deep social divides, and the oppression that sparked a revolution. From Díaz’s rise from humble roots to the legendary figures of Emiliano Zapata and Pancho Villa (and even General Pershing’s wild chase), we explore how it all connects.EnlacesPorfirio Diaz: Mexico's Gentleman DictatorPorfirio Diaz: From Mexican Liberalism to Revolution, 1876-1911Pancho Villa: Robin Hood or Ruthless Terrorist?Emiliano Zapata: Mexico's Greatest RevolutionaryPancho Villa and Emiliano Zapata: Allies in the Mexican RevolutionPancho Villa: Heroe o villano? Heroe del pueblo o villano psicopata? Biografia de Pancho VillaThe Mexican Revolution 1910-1920 (Documentary)Wanted: Dead or Alive: Pancho Villa and the American Invasion of Mexico | Historical DocumentaryPatrocinadores Thank you to all our patrons for your support!Liz D.Seth T.Irvin H.DaDogMiles T.Kirk K.DiscordJoin our Discord channel: https://discord.gg/FYg6T5q7xK---
Transcribe →The Calendar — A History of Humanity's Most Chaotic Project
Apr 201:40:53Tap to summarizeDetailsMcKyler teaches Daniel why our calendar and clock look the way they do: 24 hours, 60 minutes, 7-day weeks, leap years, and even the leap second all turn out to be political compromises, religious power moves, and mathematical hacks rather than rational design. You’ll hear stories about Julius Caesar’s 445-day “Year of Confusion,” Pope Gregory deleting 10 days from history, Sweden’s accidental February 30th, the French attempt at a 10-hour day, and the Soviet Union’s five-day color-coded workweek — plus how Daylight Saving Time once accidentally foiled a terrorist plot. If you’ve ever wondered “who decided this was the way time should work?” or you’re searching for a funny, deeply researched history podcast episode about calendars, timekeeping, and the science behind our days, months, and years, this one’s for you.LinksGeneral history of calendars (big-picture overview)Gregorian vs. Julian calendar and the 1582 reformWhy we have 24 hours, 60 minutes, and 60 secondsNarrative history of the calendar and month quirksFrench Revolutionary calendar and decimal timePatronsThank you all to all our patrons for supporting usLiz D.Seth T.Irvin H.DaDogMiles T.Kirk K.Looking for more? Join our Patreon for bonus content: Support this PodcastDiscordJoin our Discord channel: https://discord.gg/FYg6T5q7xK---Copyright 2026 Doing Learning
Transcribe →50 Years Later: Life, Labor, and Lessons Since 1976
Mar 2601:30:48Tap to summarizeDetailsIt's been 50 years since 1976 — and the world looks nothing like it did. Daniel and McKyler take a reflective look at what life actually felt like for an average American adult male in 1976: waking up, drinking coffee, punching the clock at a factory job, and calling it a life well-lived. Along the way, we dig into the top books and movies of the era, the moment the Apple Computer changed everything, a brief but chilling look at why serial killers seemed to dominate the headlines — and we turn the mirror on ourselves for our 50th episode milestone. What have we learned? What's changed? And what, somehow, hasn't?Links[PLACEHOLDER LINK 1][PLACEHOLDER LINK 2][PLACEHOLDER LINK 3]PatronsThank you all to all our patrons for supporting usLiz D.Seth T.Irvin H.DaDogMiles T.Kirk K.Looking for more? Join our Patreon for bonus content: Support this PodcastDiscordJoin our Discord channel: https://discord.gg/FYg6T5q7xK---Copyright 2026 Doing Learning
Transcribe →1893 World's Fair: Orange Cider, Belly Dancers, and a Madman on a Wheel
Mar 1901:21:07Tap to summarizeDetailsMcKyler takes Daniel on a wild tour of the 1893 Chicago World's Fair — where a serial killer ran a "Murder Castle" next door, the world's first Ferris wheel lifted 60 people 264 feet into the sky, belly dancers scandalized the nation, orange cider somehow became a thing, and the mayor of Chicago was assassinated two days before closing. Oh, and Cracker Jack, the dishwasher, and Pabst Blue Ribbon all debuted here too. Just a normal fair.LinksRanking the Weirdest Things at the 1893 Chicago World’s FairThe Incredible Story Of The 1893 World's FairThe World's Fair was Too WeirdPatronsThank you all to all our patrons for supporting usLiz D.Seth T.Irvin H.DaDogMiles T.Kirk K.Looking for more? Join our Patreon for bonus content: Support this Podcast DiscordJoin our Discord channel: https://discord.gg/FYg6T5q7xK---Copyright 2026 Doing Learning
Transcribe →