Good Job, Brain! – Episode 304: Spa Day

Release Date: December 8, 2025
Hosts: Karen, Colin, Chris
Theme: Unwinding, trivia-style, in a spa-themed episode—deep dives and quizzes about relaxation, pools, smell, and the science behind “spa.”

Episode Overview

Episode 304 invites listeners to “treat yourself” as the GJB crew tackles all things spa-related. Moving from corrections and clarifications, the team segues into quiz segments about music, therapies, and the science (and myths) behind what “spa day” really means, finally closing out with a whimsical but fascinating journey from chlorinated pools to gold-shedding eucalyptus trees and the quirks of koalas.

Key Segments and Insights

1. Omissions, Corrections, Clarifications – “Actually” Roundup ([02:03])

• Mailman vs. Postman: Mistakenly called NBA’s Karl Malone “the Postman” in an earlier episode, blending his real nickname (“Mailman”) and the celeb “Post Malone.”

  “My theory is why we kind of didn’t really catch it—Karl Malone sounds a lot like Post Malone.” – Karen [03:29]

• Hamilton Polka: Correction—yes, Weird Al’s “Hamilton Polka” includes “Wait For It,” contrary to an earlier quiz claim.
• Philadelphia Eagles Logo: Previously questioned why the Eagles’ NFL logo faces left. Listener David clarified it's to make the neck’s feathers form an “E”—a hidden initial.

  “A hidden secret E in the logo.” – Karen [04:51]

• Kansas City Chiefs Name: Discussion over whether “Chiefs” is named after an actual person. Turns out Mayor “Chief” H. Roe Bartle inspired the name, blending personal tribute and popular vote.
• CB Radios & the Energy Crisis: Listener Sean explains CB radios rose with the national 55 mph speed limit—truckers used them to spot police and “evade speed traps,” making long hauls more bearable.

  “So truckers would use their CB radios to keep each other informed. If they see cops...” – Karen [06:51]

2. Pop Quiz Hot Shot – Spa-adjacent Trivia Blitz ([07:28])

Music Singles Edition

• Longest-running Band: The Rolling Stones.
• Nelly Song with Vanna White: “Ride With Me,” commonly misnamed “Must Be the Money.”

  “No matter what the mp3 he downloaded... Off of Napster.” – Chris & Karen [09:53]

• ASCAP Stand For: American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers.
• Rockabilly Genre: Hank Williams popularized “honky tonk.”
• Fatboy Slim’s Name: DJ Norman Cook.
• Enrique Iglesias Album (2007): “Insomniac,” reflecting his nighttime writing.

Genus 4 (Classic Trivia)

• State Bird of 7 States: Cardinal.
• TV Show Diet: Flipper (mullet and butterfish—not Mr. Ed!).
• Who Shot the Sphinx’s Nose: Napoleon (not 100% historically confirmed).
• Oliver Evans’ River Invention: Steamboat, not submarine.
• Red Sox “Polaco” Nickname: Carl Yastrzemski.
• Song Mood Ratings Company: Muzak, not modern streamers.

3. Spa Day at Home – Parent Problems and Inspiration ([16:31])

• Parents and Veggies: Amusing discussion on hiding vegetables for kids.
• Inspiration: Chris’ child “saving cucumbers for spa day” sparks the spa-day episode.

  “I was saving two of them for a spa day.” – Chris’ child [18:13]

• Cucumber-on-eyes as spa symbol: A recurring motif.

4. Spa Therapies and Write-down Quiz ([19:01])

Types of Spa Therapy (Quiz Form)

• Halotherapy (Salt rooms):

  “They would vaporize or put a vapor containing a lot of salt in a room that you sit in.” – Chris [20:37]

• Watsu: Water + shiatsu massage (massage in a pool).
• Ashitsu: Foot (ashi) massage—yes, they step on you.
• Aromatherapy: From Greek for fragrant seasoning/spice.
• Thalassotherapy: Sea water (thalasso = sea).
• Algotheapy: Use of seaweed in treatments.
• Microdermabrasion: 17-letter word for face exfoliation.
• Cryotherapy: Cold therapy, not about crying!
• Snail Mucus Therapy: Real snails on your face for mucus-derived facials.
• Beer Baths: At Czechia’s Golden Lamb Hotel, you soak and drink as much beer as you want!

  “You are not drinking your bath beer... and you definitely should not! But—no, you have taps for light and dark beer.” – Chris [31:13]

• Other Notables: Chocolate bath at Hershey Hotel Spa (PA); Japan’s novelty themed “liquid” baths like wine or green tea.

5. Science of Pools: Chlorine vs. Saltwater ([35:26])

• Why Chlorinate?: Germ-killing, and keeps pools looking clean.
• Pre-chlorine Pools: Regular water replacement; sand filtration customary.
• Discovery of Chlorination: Linked to public drinking water chlorination after cholera/typhoid outbreaks; John Snow’s Broad Street pump epiphany recounted (“not that John Snow”).
• That “Pool Smell” Myth: It’s not chlorine—it’s chloramine, formed when chlorine reacts with sweat, oils, and urine.

  “It means, first of all, you’re out of whack with your chlorine in your pool... arms race where they add just a little bit of chlorine and then that just creates more mixture to form more chloramine.” – Colin [44:51]

• Saltwater Pools: Still make chlorine, just via salt (NaCl) breakdown through electrolysis. The “saltwater” label is more marketing than chemistry.

  “At the end of the day, you’re still getting chlorine there to kill all the gross stuff. You’re just arriving at it a different way.” – Colin [47:38]

• Saltwater vs. Chlorinated: Subjectively preferred; “smoother, softer” experience likely from continuous, steadier release of chlorine.
• Salinity Levels: Far below ocean water—not like swimming in the sea.

6. The “Spa Smell”: Eucalyptus ([49:49])

• Eucalyptus Basics: The telltale “spa smell” comes from eucalyptol in the leaves and bark—described as “minty, woodsy, fresh, astringent.”
• Native to Australia: Koalas famously feed on it; it’s called the “gum tree.”
• Weird Botany: Petal-less flowers (“all stamens”), fast-growing, and oil-laden (largely toxic to life, except adapted koalas).
• Koala Quirks:
  • They’re not “drunk” on eucalyptus (contrary to myth)—just exhausted from eating such a low-nutrient diet, necessitating lots of rest.

    “Koalas are like that because they’re just so tired... eucalyptus leaves... are so low in nutrients.” – Karen [54:00]

  • Koalas have small, smooth brains (less surface area)—so “smooth brained” is literally accurate.
  • Koala babies must eat a special poop (“pap”) from their mothers to digest eucalyptus safely.
• Money Does (Sort of) Grow on Trees:
  • Some Australian eucalyptus trees “sweat out” tiny gold particles on their leaves and bark—a byproduct of their incredibly deep root systems in gold-rich soil.

    “Scientists have found that... there is gold on the eucalyptus leaves. You can find micro amounts of gold. Real gold.” – Karen [57:37]

  • Not worth collecting for mining (would take 100+ trees to make a gold wedding band), but useful as a natural gold detector.

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• On the “Actually” theme song:

  “Because actually, factually and quite enthusiastically, I was right and you were wrong.” – Chris [02:27]

• Parent spa inspiration:

  “I was saving two [cucumbers] for a spa day.” – Chris’ child [18:13]

• Therapy naming fun:

  “Ashiatsu massage uses this body part. Colin has written ‘feet’... ashi is Japanese for foot. Asia is when a Japanese person is stepping on you.” – Chris [23:04]

• Koala brains:

  “Koalas not really a smart animal. Actually, their brains take up only a little bit over half of their cranial cavity... smooth brains. Not a lot of surface area.” – Karen [55:05]

• Summing up saltwater-chlorine:

  “At the end of the day, you’re still getting chlorine there to kill all the gross stuff. You’re just arriving at it a different way.” – Colin [47:38]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Omissions & Corrections: 02:03 – 07:28
• Music & General Trivia Blitz: 07:28 – 16:29
• Parental Spa Inspiration: 16:31 – 19:01
• Spa Therapy Quiz & Discussion: 19:01 – 33:14
• Pool Science (Chlorine vs. Saltwater): 35:26 – 48:21
• Spa Smell (Eucalyptus) & Koala Science: 49:49 – 61:20
• Outro and Recap: 61:21 – end

Conclusion

Spa Day delivers an information-packed, relaxing (yet lively) episode, blending competitive trivia with quirky real-life facts—ideal for trivia buffs and knowledge seekers alike. The crew’s signature banter is in full display, punctuating the science behind salt, therapy, and spa scents with quirky history and plenty of laughs.

Endnote:

“There’s gold in them there [eucalyptus] trees!” – Colin [60:53]
“They’re lucky they’re so cute is what they are.” – Colin, on koalas [61:16]

Listen to the pod for all the fun, brainy twists—not just spa knowledge, but smile-inducing camaraderie.