Podcast
Profoundly Pointless
Hosted by Cloud10 · EN
A podcast for the curious. Interviews on Society, Sex, Science and Sports.
From CERN Particle Physicists and Professional Casino Cheats to Erotic Hypnotists and Olympic Athletes, every week host Nick VinZant sits down with a guest from a different walk of life.
The story is never the same but the goal always is, to truly learn something new. Signal Award winner for Best Interview Podcast.
34episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
The Art and Science of Creating Fireworks Shows with Pyrotechnician Steve Yoss
1w ago01:00:16Tap to summarizeThe fireworks explode in an instant of blinding light and thunderous sound. But designing a fireworks show takes months of preparation and years of training. From the Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks show to Burning Man, Pyrotechnician Steven Yoss has been behind the scenes at some of the world’s biggest fireworks shows. In this episode of Profoundly Pointless we talk the art of designing fireworks shows, the science of making fireworks and what happens when things go wrong. Then, in the Pointless part of the show, we countdown the Top 5 Actors and Actresses You Know but Can’t Name. 00:00 Introducing Pyrotechnician Steve Yoss 0:59 Designing Fireworks Shows 04:32 How Fireworks are Made 07:41 Fireworks Dangers 09:37 The Best and Worst Fireworks 11:51 Fireworks Colors 13:51 Fireworks Injuries 15:51 The Best Fireworks Shows 19:49 The Future of Fireworks Shows 20:51 Pointless 46:51 Top 5 Actors You Know But Can’t Name Contact the Show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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The Songs of Summer with Summer Song Researcher Devon Powers
2w ago01:00:09Tap to summarizeWhat makes the perfect song of the summer? Professor Devon Powers studies summer songs. She says every great summer songs usually has three things: a memorable chorus, a beat that makes you feel good and lyrics anyone can sing. In this episode of Profoundly Pointless we look a the last 25 years of Songs of the Summer. We talk making the perfect summer song, the behind the scenes marketing that turn ordinary songs into massive hits and why we sometimes don’t have a song of the summer. Then, in the Pointless part of the show, we countdown the Top 5 Summer Songs. 00:00 Introducing Professor Devon Powers 00:58 What Makes a Good Summer Song 06:62 A Bar Song (Tipsy) by Shaboozey 09:23 Despacito by Daddy Yankee 10:19 Blurred Lines by Robin Thicke 11:55 Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jespen 15:38 The Simple Complexity of Summer Song 18:04 Old Town Road by Lil Nas X 19:30 Party Rock Anthem by LMFAO 21:21 The Best Song of the Summer 22:19 The Worst Song of the Summer 24:20 Timing the Song of the Summer 26:26 2026’s Song of the Summer 27:37 Pointless 46:18 The Top 5 Summer Songs Contact the Show Devon Powers’ Book on Trend Forecasting Devon Powers’ Book on the Birth of Rock Criticism Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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I'm Attracted to Water with Aquaphiliac Raven Lynette
3w ago00:51:46Tap to summarizeAs an Aquaphiliac Raven Lynette loves the water. But this isn't about just swimming around. In this episode of Profoundly Pointless we explore Aquaphilia. We talk why people are attracted to water, the kinds of things Aquaphiliacs like to do in the water and her most interesting requests. 00:00 Introducing Raven Lynette 01;06 What is Aquaphilia 03:08 What Aquaphiliacs are Looking For 05:26 When Water is Sexy 08:20 Why the Type of Water Matters 09:41 How Popular is Aquaphilia 12:20 Aquaphilia and Mermaids 14:28 Most Interesting Requests 16:52 Pointless 37:01 Candle of the Month 42:22 The Top 5 Batteries Contact the Show Raven Lynette Website Raven Lynette TikTok Raven Lynette Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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The Universe's Oldest Stars with Stellar Archaeologist Dr. Anna Frebel
May 2800:58:42Tap to summarizeThey were born more than 13 billion years ago but ancient stars are still shaping our Universe today. And without them, we wouldn’t be here. Astrophysicist and Stellar Archaeologist Dr. Anna Frebel has discovered some of the Universe’s oldest stars. We talk how ancient stars created life as we know it, the chaotic conditions of the early Universe and what the next generation of stars will look like. Then, in the Pointless part of the show, it’s Just Do It and Where’s the Beef vs. Got Milk and I’m Loving It as we countdown the Top 5 Company Slogans. 00:00 Introducing Astrophysicist Dr. Anna Frebel 01:25 What Ancient Stars Tell Us About the Universe 03:37 How Ancient Stars Created the Universe as We Know It 06:43 The Odds All This Would Happen 07:56 First Generation Stars 10:00 Our Sun 12:16 10,000 Generations of Stars 15:41 The Best Star in the Universe 17:39 What Every Astrophysicist is Trying to Find 21:21 Pointless 42:47 The Top 5 Company Slogans Contact the Show Dr. Anna Frebel Website Searching for the Oldest Stars Dr. Anna Frebel TikTok Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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The New Soccer Hooligans with Soccer Violence Researcher Dr. Linus Peitz
May 2100:53:34Tap to summarizeSociologist Dr. Linuz Peitz studies the psychology that drives Soccer (Football) Hooligans. He says the rising tide of soccer violence is all about one thing, territory. In this episode of Profoundly Pointless we take an indepth look at Soccer (Football) Hooligans. We talk the psychology behind hooliganism, the most dangerous Firms/Ultras, places that aren't safe to go and how Hooligans will impact the World Cup. Then, in the Pointless part of the show, we countdown the Top 5 Life Lessons We Learned the Hard Way 00:00 Introducing Soccer Violence Researcher Dr. Linus Petiz 01:11 What Drives Soccer (Football) Hooligans 04:08 Hooligans and Soccer Violence 07:33 Soccer (Football) Hooligans and Organized Crime 10:16 The Most Dangerous Soccer (Football) Firms / Ultras 11:14 Joining a Firm / Ultra 12:34 Where Soccer Violence is the Worst 13:25 Soccer Hooligans and the World Cup 14:41 Pointless 35:26 Top 5 Life Lessons We Learned the Hard Way Contact the Show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Secrets of Sorority Rush with Rush Consultant Trisha Addicks
May 1400:57:06Tap to summarizeWhat does it take to get into the United States’ best sororities. And why would you want to. As the world’s first Rush Consultant, Trisha Addicks literally wrote the book on getting into sororities. We talk the secret to sorority rush, why sororities are exploding in popularity, the influence of “Rush Tok” and her new book “The Rush Bible”. Then, its the roar of the crowd vs. the crack of the bat as we countdown the Top 5 Sports Sounds. 00:00 Introducing Rush Consultant Trisha Addicks 01:28 Why Do Women Join Sororities 02:18 What Top Sororities are Looking For 04:11 When Women Don’t Get In 06:13 Preparing for Sorority Rush 09:04 Three Big Things Sororities are Looking For 10:06 Dealing with Parents 15:23 How Rush is Different Now 16:30 The Influence of Rush Tok 19:18 The Secret Score 21:34 Fraternity Rush Consultant 23:45 Being a Legacy 26:38 Pointless 44:41 The Top 5 Sports Sounds Contact the Show The Rush Bible Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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The Business of the World Cup with Sports Economist Dr. Victor Matheson
May 701:03:23Tap to summarizeThe World Cup is the biggest sporting event in the world. But the action on the pitch still pales in comparison to the business going on behind the scenes. Sports Economist Dr. Victor Matheson has studied the economic impact of the World Cup for more than thirty years. In this episode of Profoundly Pointless we talk the business behind the World Cup, the corruption inside FIFA and if any of the money generated by the World Cup will trickle down to you. Then, in the Pointless part of the show, we unveil a new Candle of the Month and countdown the Top 5 Summer Foods. 00:00 Introducing Dr. Victor Matheson 01:38 The Economic Impact of the World Cup 03:59 FIFA and Corruption 06:36 Will the World Cup Benefit Host Cities 16:17 World Cup Host Cities that Will Lose Money 17:50 How the United States’ Reputation is Hurting the World Cup 24:09 Pointless 40:26 Candle of the Month 49:17 Top 5 Summer Foods Contact the Show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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How to Tell if Someone is Lying with Lie Detection Researcher Vincent Denault
Apr 3000:37:48Tap to summarizeHow can you tell if someone is lying? Criminology Professor and Lie Detection Researcher Vincent Denault says that while lies are complicated, there's one simple way to get to the truth. We talk signs someone is lying, what makes someone appear credible and if we are living in the age of lies. Then, in the Pointless part of the show, it's Michael Jordan and Patrick Stewart vs. Vin Diesel and the Rock as we countdown the Top 5 Bald Celebrities. 00:00 Introducing Vincent Denault 01:11: How Good are We at Spotting Liars 02:51 Signs Someone is Lying 05:52 The Simple Way to Find Out the Truth 06:49 Do Lie Detectors Work 08:42 Are We Living in the Age of Lies 09:50 Pointless 24:19 The Top 5 Bald Celebrities Contact the Show Vincent Denault Website Vincent Denault LinkedIn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Celebrities and Cults with Celebrity Cult Expert Cassie Marie
Apr 2301:11:56Tap to summarizeFrom Tom Cruise and Jared Leto to Allison Mack and Gwyneth Paltrow, Celebrity Cult Expert Cassie Marie says celebrities have a long association with cults and cult-like behavior. We talk why celebrities are drawn to cults, the biggest celebrity cults and the strangest celebrity cult stories. Then, it’s raking the leaves and mowing the lawn vs, weeding and power washing as we countdown the Top 5 Worst Yard Chores. 00:00 Introducing Celebrity Cult Expert Cassie Marie 01:38 Why Celebrities are Drawn to Cults 03:58 How Cults Draw Celebrities In 07:04 Tom Cruise and Cults 11:26 The Biggest Celebrity Cult 12:55 Gwyneth Paltrow and Cults 16:04 Allison Mack and Cults 17:06 Miley Cyrus and Cults 20:59 Jared Leto and Cults 23:50 The Most Dangerous Cult 25:32 Justin Bieber and Cults 29:27 Pointless 51:07 The Five Worst Yard Chores Contact the Show Cassie Marie TikTok Cassie Marie Instagram Cassie Marie YouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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The Science and Meaning of Deja Vu
Apr 1600:44:14Tap to summarizeWhat is Deja Vu, where does it come from and why do we get it? Deja Vu researchers Dr. Christopher Moulin and Dr. Akira O'Connor have spent their lives trying to answer those questions. In this episode of Profoundly Pointless we look at the latest science surrounding Deja Vu, Jamais Vu and memory. We talk what causes Deja Vu and Jamais Vu, if Deja Vu is connected to past lives and how different types of Vus explains our lives. Then, it's Darth Vader and Scarface against Thanos and Anton Chigurh as we countdown the Top 5 Movie Villain Quotes. 00:00: Introducing Dr. Christopher Moulin and Dr. Akira O'Connor 01:17: What is Deja Vu 02:00: What's Happening During Deja Vu 05:01: How Long Does Deja Vu Last 06:18: How Deja Vu Helps Us 07:28: Jamais Vu Explained 13:29: Other Types of Vus 15:31: Deja Vu and Past Lives 19:10: Pointless 30:11: Top 5 Movie Villain Quotes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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