Podcast
Six Degrees of Rumination
Hosted by Nina Reno and Michael · EN
Join hosts Nina and Reno as they humorously navigate the World of Science with their smartass producer, Mike.
15episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Episode 117 - 6 Degrees of Coolness (it doesn’t get much cooler than 6 degrees) - 1/4/26
Jan 401:40:10Tap to summarizeEpisode 117 is one of our favorite types: a delightful grab bag of random topics! There's a section all about trends: fashion trends in the chimp community, wellness trends among orca, trends in human coolness over the years; a section about food (talking mushrooms and bitter honey); why deaf people sneeze differently than hearing people; and, of course - chlamydia in koalas. 6 traits of coolness Chimp fashion trends Orca wellness trends Orca present humans with offerings of food A chlamydia vaccine....for koalas New flavors of honey Dogs are good for mental health A critical age when thinking begins to decline Can mushrooms actually talk? Why don't deaf people say "achoo" when sneezing? Making a big life move
Transcribe →Episode 116 - The non-Christmas Christmas episode - 12/22/25
Dec 2200:54:10Tap to summarizeWelcome to Six Degrees of Rumination's "Non-Christmas Christmas episode!" It's co-host Reno's revenge on co-host Nina and producer Mike, for all the Christmas specials they made him record over the years. This episode is short and sweet, but spans over thousands of years of history as Reno takes us on a journey from the ancient Mayan pyramids to present day pagan customs. Also included are the "anti-gift list" and how weird it can be visiting other people's houses. The earliest winter solstice rituals Saturnalian traditions One woman's anti-list for Christmas gifts Visiting other people can be weird
Transcribe →Episode 115 - Producer Mike holds us hostage! Send help!!!! - 09/21/25
Nov 2702:22:56Tap to summarizeIn a series of unfortunate events, somehow our diabolical producer, Mike, has taken us hostage and forced us to read articles of his choosing. In this episode we were forced to discuss why Yoga sucks, how your gluten allergy is bullsh*t, and why Vegans are murderers. Send help...Please....we don't have much time left... 6 degrees episode 115 Mondays are more stressful than other days https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/mondays-really-are-more-stressful-on-the-brain-and-body/ Yoga is more dangerous that we thought https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/06/28/yogamore-dangerous-previously-thought-scientists-say/ Adverse effects of yoga https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6664709/ 9 reasons the art world is unfair https://news.artnet.com/art-world/9-reasons-art-world-is-unfair-1726653 Why is the art world so toxic? https://artofericwayne.com/2018/08/30/runaway-rant-why-is-the-art-world-so-toxic/ Is gluten the villain we think it is? https://nyulangone.org/news/one-third-americans-are-trying-avoid-gluten-it-villain-we-think-it-is The impact of a vegan diet https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10027313/ Plants can smell, and hear, and communicate https://www.gardensillustrated.com/features/plants-communication-research
Transcribe →Episode 114 - We'd give our eyeteeth for a good title - with guest Nicole Armour - 6/3/25
Jun 300:56:32Tap to summarizeWelcome to episode 114 with guest Nicole Armour. So we did not come up with a creative title for this episode - we'd give our eyeteeth for one! Perhaps it was difficult because the articles this episode really run the gamut. Join us for a science grab bag of surgical advancements (and surgical setbacks), strange amphibians, lingering human ancestors, and more. Eyeteeth Don't have surgery on a Friday Blood donor Homo floresiensis human ancestor may be alive Flat earthers Decline in teen drug use Sea turtle bubble butt Rhinella proboscidea
Transcribe →Episode 113 - “Spiritual shit on your event horizon - with guest Nicole Armour” - 4/25/25
Apr 25, 202501:36:21Tap to summarizeEnjoy Episode 113 with special guest Nicole Armour! We get into one of our favorite topics: the inner workings of the mind. Find out how to improve your mood, explore your own brand of spirituality, and prevent brain rot. Oh and also, do dogs actually watch TV when they're hanging out with us? Prevent brain rot Exploring your spirituality How to get caffeine out of your system Pooping affects performance Why you might not want to pluck or wax your nose hair Improve your mood Can dogs watch TV
Transcribe →Episode 112 - " “Back to the Basement, Producer Mike!” - 12/23/24
Dec 23, 202402:40:06Tap to summarizeWelcome to our last episode of 2024! Episode 112, "Back to the Basement, Producer Mike!" is, be warned, one of our longest episodes. So settle in, hopefully as you're starting a long drive to friends or family for the holidays, and prepare to be entertained with an all out throw down on socio-psychological-cultural-conspiracy theory issues, from chemtrails to astrology to coin tosses to artificial intelligence, and then perhaps the ultimate question of our time: who are metal guitarists trying to impress? Chemtrails https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/mar/31/chemtrails-tennessee-bill-conspiracy-theory?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other Lead exposure if you’re born before 1996 https://scitechdaily.com/born-before-1996-according-to-scientists-leaded-gas-may-have-permanently-altered-your-personality/ Urgency culture https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/urgency-culture-burnout?cmpid=org%3Dngp%3A%3Amc%3Dsocial%3A%3Asrc%3Dinstagram%3A%3Acmp%3Deditorial%3A%3Aadd%3Dig20240416science-urgencyculturegatedhedcard&linkId=399615453 How to appear more likable in social situations https://www.iflscience.com/psychology-study-reveals-trick-for-appearing-more-likeable-in-social-situations-77165 Metal guitarists may just be impressing other dudes https://www.psypost.org/extreme-metal-guitar-skills-linked-to-intrasexual-competition-but-not-mating-success/ AI Granny https://www.npr.org/2024/12/10/nx-s1-5220362/daisy-ai-granny-o2-fraud-spam-prevention Can you tell an AI face from a human one? https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/urban-survival/202311/people-now-see-ai-generated-faces-as-more-real-than-human-ones? (Test): https://www.whichfaceisreal.com/ Astrologists maybe can’t do astrology either https://www.iflscience.com/astrologists-are-overly-confident-and-terrible-at-astrology-study-finds-75562? (Test): https://programs.clearerthinking.org/astrology_challenge.html?_gl=1%2Az4wyvq%2A_ga%2AMTA5MjA3NjA4OC4xNzIzNDYyNzQ2%2A_ga_58RPQ2D860%2AMTcyMzY0NzE2OC4zLjEuMTcyMzY0NzE4OC40MC4wLjA Coin flips: 50/50 or not? https://www.iflscience.com/scientists-tossed-350757-coins-and-proved-coin-flips-are-not-5050-77192 Double uterus https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/dec/23/alabama-double-uterus-twins-delivery?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other Robotaxi fails https://futurism.com/the-byte/robotaxis-gather-honk-all-night Nature alters time https://www.sciencealert.com/being-in-nature-has-a-profound-effect-on-how-you-experience-time? Neanderthals may have been early risers https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/14/health/early-risers-neanderthal-dna-scn/index.html? Fossilized dinosaur poop https://www.npr.org/2024/11/26/nx-s1-5206634/fossilized-poops-show-how-dinosaurs-came-rule-earth
Transcribe →Episode 111 - “Animus Prime - who let Mike out of the basement?” - 12/16/24
Dec 16, 202401:29:27Tap to summarizeWelcome to episode 111, after about a year's hiatus! "Animus Prime - who let Mike out of the basement?" is filled with wacky animal stories, as our episodes are prone to do. Albatrosses, dragons, and military dolphins are just some of the friends we encounter in our second to last episode of 2024. Giant sperm found trapped in amber https://archaeology-world.com/100-million-year-old-giant-sperm-found-trapped-in-amber/? Ancient dragon https://www.sciencealert.com/ancient-dragon-unearthed-in-japan-is-unlike-anything-weve-ever-seen Nuclear codes https://www.iflscience.com/your-password-may-be-stronger-than-us-nuclear-codes-during-the-cold-war-77173 Military dolphins https://www.iflscience.com/military-dolphins-still-protect-around-a-quarter-of-the-uss-nuclear-arsenal-77088 Orcas attacking boats https://newatlas.com/biology/orcas-killer-whales-boats/ Cocaine pollution in the ocean https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/cocaine-sharks-brazil-pollution-contaminated-water Slingshot spiders https://www.npr.org/2024/12/06/nx-s1-5214779/slingshot-spiders-rely-on-good-vibrations-to-catch-supper Robot mushroom https://www.independent.co.uk/tech/robot-mushroom-biohybrid-robotics-cornell-b2610411.html Stop planting trees https://www.wired.com/story/stop-planting-trees-thomas-crowther/? Don’t plant trees in the wrong places https://www.sciencealert.com/study-planting-trees-in-wrong-places-actually-boosts-global-warming Wisdom the albatross https://www.npr.org/2024/12/06/nx-s1-5220094/shes-74-and-expecting-wisdom-the-albatross-astounds-once-again
Transcribe →Episode 110 - “Br-AI-n: Listen to episode 109 First” - 1/3/24
Jan 3, 202401:58:30Tap to summarizeWelcome to Episode 110 and a whole new year! But wait, before you forget about 2023 completely, we ask that if you have not yet listened to Episode 109 (air date 12/20/23), go back and do so before enjoying Episode 110. There are lessons to be learned before you delve further into the holy terror that is AI.... Elongated skulls in Rome https://www.iflscience.com/cemetery-full-of-deformed-long-skulls-reveals-the-chaos-after-the-fall-of-rome-55862 The Mandela Effect https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/unserious-psychology/202312/the-psychology-behind-the-mandela-effect Theta waves https://singularityhub.com/2023/07/23/scientists-found-the-source-of-a-key-brain-wave-for-memory-and-creativity/ Shape of the brain https://scitechdaily.com/century-old-paradigm-overturned-brain-shape-matters-more-than-neural-connectivity/ AI scores in top percentile for creative thinking https://www.psypost.org/2023/12/ai-scores-in-the-top-percentile-of-creative-thinking-214895 AI can read your thoughts https://www.iflscience.com/ai-brain-activity-decoder-can-translate-thoughts-into-written-words-68686 A breakthrough in understanding whale language https://www.vice.com/en/article/4a35kp/scientists-have-reported-a-breakthrough-in-understanding-whale-language AI lie detector https://www.freethink.com/robots-ai/ai-lie-detector#Echobox=1680279620 AI faces perceived as more real than human ones https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/urban-survival/202311/people-now-see-ai-generated-faces-as-more-real-than-human-ones
Transcribe →Episode 109 - “Shadow Work on the Way to Mars (Producer Mike was Right)” - 12/20/23
Dec 20, 202301:26:41Tap to summarizeProducer Mike LOSES HIS MIND and treats us to his best rant ever. Enjoy Episode 109 during your holiday travels or when you want to escape familial joy for a bit and indulge in some sarcasm. We cover hibernation, 3D printing (food and otherwise), caffeine intake, and of course - artificial intelligence. Hibernation for space travel https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/may/25/hibernation-artificially-triggered-in-potential-space-travel-breakthrough?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other Astronauts going to Mars should be all women https://www.iflscience.com/astronauts-going-to-mars-should-be-only-women-its-basic-science-68736 Are AI relationships cheating? https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2023/jun/15/a-bot-on-the-side-is-it-adultery-if-you-with-an-ai-companion?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other Human skin 3D printing https://www.iflscience.com/we-built-a-human-skin-printer-from-lego-and-we-want-every-lab-to-use-our-blueprint-68664 3D printed cheesecakes https://www.iflscience.com/scientists-create-3d-printed-cheesecakes-cooked-to-perfection-with-lasers-68071 How much caffeine is too much? https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-much-caffeine-is-too-much/ Optimism affects decision making https://neurosciencenews.com/optimism-cognition-decision-making-25307/ Dinosaur legs on chickens https://www.iflscience.com/dinosaur-legs-grown-genetically-modified-chickens-world-first-34465
Transcribe →Episode 108 - All Creatures Great and Small and Awkwardly Terrifying - 12/1/23
Dec 16, 202300:51:36Tap to summarizeIt's Episode 108! We're glad to be back after such a long time away. What better way to say hello to you all again than with weird animal articles? Some of our favorites! Hear about reanimated pigs, what snakes have that some humans also have, and how monkeys have made wolves do their bidding. Oh, and dolphins make an appearance, of course. Snakes have clitorises https://www.sciencenews.org/article/scientists-snakes-clitorises-evolution Dolphins and snakes https://www.businessinsider.com/dolphins-seen-playing-with-anaconda-while-sexually-aroused-study-2022-5 Monkeys have domesticated wolves https://www.zmescience.com/science/monkeys-and-wolves-domestication-423/ The hidden language of chimpanzees https://www.sciencealert.com/thousands-of-recordings-of-chimpanzees-reveal-a-hidden-language-we-never-knew-about AI talking to animals https://www.theguardian.com/science/2022/jul/31/can-artificial-intelligence-really-help-us-talk-to-the-animals?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other Plants make noise https://www.sciencealert.com/plants-really-do-scream-out-loud-we-just-never-heard-it-until-now Mass of humans vs animals in the world https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/mar/18/a-wake-up-call-total-weight-of-wild-mammals-less-than-10-of-humanitys?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other Reanimated pigs https://bigthink.com/surprising-science/zombie-pigs-brainex/#Echobox=1646437812-1
Transcribe →