1219: Redheads | Skeptical Sunday

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Jordan Harbinger Show — Episode 1219: Redheads | Skeptical Sunday

Release Date: October 5, 2025

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Main Theme & Purpose

Hosted by Jordan Harbinger with co-host and writer/researcher Jessica Wynn, this Skeptical Sunday episode delves into the myths, science, and social perceptions surrounding redheads. The episode aims to separate fact from folklore, explore the genetics and biology of red hair, highlight the stereotypes and social experiences of redheads, and investigate unusual findings about pain, anesthesia, and more. Always with humor, skepticism, and a spirit of empathy, Jordan and Jess ask: What’s really unique about redheads, and what misconceptions just won’t die?

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Skeptical Sunday Recap and Rationale

The Structure of Skeptical Sunday episodes is recapped, with a humorous nod to how even seemingly innocuous topics generate heated feedback.

• People get incredibly defensive about questionable beliefs—even ear candling (01:19–04:28).
• “People will die on the hill that something they believe in is not BS.” — Jordan (02:12)
• Fact-checking is thorough, often with firsthand expert confirmation (e.g., calling a Sioux tribal historian about ear candling myths).

2. Redhead Stereotypes & Social Experience

• Redheads have been accused historically of everything from being witches and vampires to being untrustworthy or demonic (05:13–06:03).
• Stereotypes persist: fiery temperaments, hypersexuality, being "soulless" (South Park parody) (06:24–07:50).
• The real-life impact: teasing, bullying, viral “ginger hunting,” and social media harassment, especially for children (07:50–08:16).
  • “When I was a kid, I got called freckled freak and the devil spawn.” — Jess (07:55)

Memorable Moment — The Relatable Trauma

• Discussion of humiliating nicknames and intrusive questions:
  • “In middle school, I was given a nickname that stuck for years—Firemuff.” — Jess (09:31)
  • Redheaded women even get questioned about their pubic hair in locker rooms (09:59).

3. Genetics: Why Redheads Exist

• The gene responsible is MC1R—mutations result in red hair, pale skin, and unique traits (11:09–12:03).

  • Both red hair and blue eyes are recessive traits; the combination is extremely rare (0.17% globally) (11:38).
  • “You are really a freak then.” — Jordan to Jess (12:00)

• Eumelanin (dark pigment) vs. pheomelanin (light pigment): redheads produce lots of pheomelanin (12:29–13:35).

• The MC1R gene isn’t working alone—at least eight genes are involved, explaining wide variation in red hair expression (13:42).

4. Pain, Medicine, and Body "Superpowers"

• Redheads process pain differently; have higher pain thresholds for some types, increased sensitivity for others (14:59–15:55).

  • “You’d shrug off a taser, but if somebody opens a window, you collapse.” — Jordan (15:50)

• MC1R mutations may require different anesthesia dosing, but studies are inconsistent—medical advice is not to dose by hair color alone (18:03–20:57).

  • Old studies (sample size: 20) suggested redheads needed more anesthesia, but a larger 2015 study found no difference (18:11).

• Morphine and opioids hit harder but run out faster for redheads (24:22–24:48).

  • “Opioids, for instance, in redheads, they work too well... But then the effect of that wears off quicker.” — Jess (24:22)

• Anecdotal evidence for redheads getting drunk faster or having odd responses to medication, but science is patchy (25:04–25:37).

• Lidocaine (local anesthetic) may work less well in redheads (27:29); opioid painkillers often need lower doses.

5. Evolution and Distribution

• MC1R mutations likely originated in Central Asia ~50,000 years ago (36:08–36:16).
  • Mutation spread with human migration, thriving in cloudy regions—red hair allowed for faster vitamin D production from rare sunlight (31:30–32:01).
  • “So our redheaded ancestors were basically toast.” — Jess on pre-sunscreen days (29:17)
• Redheads are not exclusive to Europeans; high concentrations appear in Morocco, Russia, South America, and among African and Middle Eastern populations (37:19–38:35).
  • “Red hair is found among people of Viking descent, but it’s not exclusive to them.” — Jess (35:46)

6. Health Quirks: Ups and Downs

• Benefits:
  • Redheads’ bodies naturally synthesize vitamin D faster, giving an evolutionary advantage in low-UV regions (31:19–31:53).
  • “Pale skin plus the MC1R means redheads have evolved to naturally make up for what they lack.” — Jess (31:30)
• Risks:
  • Much higher skin cancer risk due to lack of protective melanin (29:17–30:10).
  • Redheads’ skin ages faster, looking about two years older than average (30:24–30:37).
  • Higher risk of certain cancers in women and possible higher depression/anxiety rates (32:01–32:49, 48:09).

7. Societal and Sexual Myths

• Redheads are often fetishized; both attraction and misconception are rampant (45:56–46:40).
• Small studies suggest redheaded women report more sexual activity/partners, but causes may be social, not strictly biological (45:12–47:08).
  • “It’s because it’s a fetish...there’s less supply, maybe, because of the rarity.” — Jordan (45:48)
• Anecdotes suggest targeting and exclusion (e.g., man’s anti-ginger rant at a city council—clip at 50:27–51:59).

8. Extinction Myth and Population Numbers

• The idea that redheads are “going extinct” is bunk; the recessive MC1R mutation persists and can re-emerge in any generation (52:32–53:14).

  • “Genetic roulette—it can pop up anytime both parents are carriers.” — Jordan (53:08)

• Redheads currently make up 1–2% of the world’s population (~150 million), with highest concentrations in Ireland, Scotland, and Wales (33:24).

9. Representation in Media & Pop Culture

• Redheads are overrepresented in advertising—30% of TV commercials feature redheads, despite their small population share (54:41–54:59).
• Red-haired cartoon and film characters abound: The Little Mermaid, Wilma Flintstone, Jessica Rabbit, etc. (56:11–56:41).
• Clowns historically have red hair for visibility—and to lean on Irish/immigrant caricatures (57:06–58:23).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On harsh teasing:
  • “Try being 13 and explaining [the nickname 'Firemuff'] to your mom.” — Jess (09:47)
• On rare genetics:
  • “If you’ve got red hair and blue eyes, that’s the rarest combo on earth. The odds are 0.17%.” — Jess (11:38)
• On the pain paradox:
  • “So you’d shrug off a taser, but if somebody opens a window, you collapse.” — Jordan (15:50)
• On extinction myths:
  • “Like it or not, you’re stuck with us, world. It’s just total nonsense. Redheads could go extinct... just a sneaky trait in the gene pool.” — Jess (52:40)
• On being fetishized:
  • “Some guys treat it like they’re collecting rare Pokemon. Like, ‘I’ve always wanted a redhead.’ I’m not interested in being the shiny Charizard.” — Jess (48:09)
• Mock-rant at city council:
  • “We can't have gingers running around... If we can throw out all the gingers...” — Jordan parodying a viral anti-redhead video (50:46–51:59)

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Timestamps for Major Segments

• Introduction & Skeptical Sunday concept: 01:19–05:13
• Folklore and stereotypes: 05:13–09:18
• Personal/social stories: 09:18–10:58
• Genetics of red hair: 11:09–13:42
• Pain and medical myths: 14:46–20:57
• Animal comparisons, inheritance: 28:24–29:10
• Evolution of the gene, population stats: 31:30–34:51, 36:08–38:35
• Health quirks and risks: 29:17–32:49
• Sexuality and attraction studies: 45:12–47:08
• Media/pop culture overrepresentation: 54:41–56:41
• Extinction myth debunking: 52:32–53:23

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Tone & Style

The episode is lighthearted, witty, and occasionally irreverent, but always empathetic when addressing real challenges redheads face. Both hosts share personal anecdotes, scientific research, and social observations, balancing humor with facts.

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Takeaways

Redheads are genetically rare but in no danger of extinction; their differences in pain sensation, sun sensitivity, and even drug response are real but exaggerated by myth. Many negative (and positive) stereotypes persist, leading to both bullying and fetishization. In reality, redheads are regular people with fascinating quirks—resilient, not cursed; unique, not demonic. And yes, they still need SPF 1000.

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For more from Jessica Wynn, find her Substacks: Between the Lines and Where Shadows Linger.

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For more practical skepticism, tune in to Skeptical Sunday and consider sharing this episode with a redheaded friend!

Transcript

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[A]

Welcome to Skeptical Sunday. I'm your host, Jordan Harbinger. Today I'm here with Skeptical Sunday co host, writer and researcher Jessica Wynn on the Jordan Harbinger Show. We decode the stories, secrets and skills of the world's most fascinating people and turn their wisdom into practical advice that you can use to impact your own life and those around you. Our mission is to help you become a better informed, more critical thinker, and during the week we have long form conversations with a variety of amazing folks from spies to CEOs, athletes, authors, thinkers and performers. On Sundays though, we do Skeptical Sunday, where a rotating guest co host and I break down a topic you may have never thought about and debunk common misconceptions about that topic, such as Reiki healing, ear candling, self help cults, bottled water, diet pills and energy drinks. And if you're new to the show or you want to tell your friends about the show, I suggest our Episode Starter Packs. These are collections of our favorite episodes on persuasion and negotiation, psychology, disinformation, junk science, crime and cults, and more that'll help new listeners get a taste of everything we do here on the show. Just visit jordanharbinger.com start or search for us in your Spotify app to get started. It's funny. Jessica. We started, I think our very first Skeptical Sunday was ear candling. And I thought, oh, here's something that some people do and it doesn't really do anything and it's kind of a scam but no one's going to get super upset about it. I thought this is going to be a relatively non controversial start to Skeptical Sunday. And what amazed me but I guess shouldn't have and is now just played out over every episode of this show is people will die on the hill that something that they believe in is not bs.

[B]

How dare you try and take away my ear candle.

[A]

And you would think, ear candle. Like no one's people are just going to go, oh, I've been doing that for years. I guess it doesn't work. Silly me. Or like, I don't believe you and they'll just keep doing it. No, I got vitriolic emails. The funniest ones were from like white blonde people who are like, I'm 1-7000th Cherokee. And this goes way back to the tribe of or whatever, you know, Indian tribe, Native American tribe. And I remember it's funny because of course we fact checked these episodes and we didn't do as much of that back then, but we do now. But then I was like, I better check this one. So I called, it was supposed to be like, oh, this goes back to the Sioux Indians. So I called this Sioux tribe and I was like, this is so random. But I have a question. And they had this historian person be like, yeah, no, that's just one of those the many things where they say Native Americans thought of it and like dumb hippies buy it and it has absolutely nothing to do with Native Americans. And no, we don't do ear candle.

[B]

Where do these tales come from? You'll out of my dead cold ear, you'll take my candle.

[A]

Exactly. And so I just thought, how funny is it that this person's like, you're offending my Native American history. And I call the authority at the tribe. And he's like, yeah, no, first of all, we never do that and we don't do that. And if it's a BS and that's what you found, you're probably correct. And I remember something funny. He was like, look, we have a long and storied spiritual tradition. It's not really science. And I was just like, thank you for. I mean, this guy. Why don't you, you should host Skeptical Sunday. Meanwhile, some esthetician who sells it to her clients and again, her great great grandfather was 1-80th Cherokee is, like, so deeply offended that we got a one star review and a scathing Instagram dm. I just. It's kind of a common story with Skeptical Sunday, actually.

[B]

Yeah. I don't share all the I get from listeners of Skeptical Sunday. Make my Sunday mornings start with a laugh, for sure.

[A]

So people find you even though we don't list your contact information. And they're like, I just want to tell you how wrong you are.

[B]

Yes, sometimes they're pleasant, but often it's, this is my understanding of it and your facts don't match my facts kind of thing.

[A]

Yeah, yeah. Your facts that you got from research don't match the facts that I have that I just know are true, even though I've done no research.

[B]

Yeah. Oh, well, can, like, I'm so interested to know when I'm wrong. Can you send me the citation and then you never hear from them again, usually?

[A]

Citation. No. My buddy told me about it and he's really smart. Yeah, yeah.

[B]

When I took Ayahua Hoska, they had ear candles.

[A]

Yeah. Yeah. So you're wrong. Trump card research scientist. Anyway, today we're talking about redheads, a group accused of everything from being temperamental to being tied to the devil, to not doing their research on Skeptical Sunday, to my favorite being witches who turn into vampires when they die. Allegedly. Dermatologists stress over their sunburn. South park mocks them, and yet they walk among us. So is it just about red hair? Are they magical? Are they cursed? Or are they just genetically spicy? To color in the facts, I'm joined by a redhead and friend of the show, writer and researcher Jessica Wynne. So, Jess, how long have you been a witch?

[B]

Well, I guess that depends on who you ask. But back in medieval Europe, it was absolutely believed that redheads are witches, but modern science says we're just genetic oddballs.

[A]

So the redhead stereotype goes deeper than drinking whiskey neat and having a bad temper.

[B]

Yeah, I mean, there is that, but there's a lot of cultural curiosity. Redhead, ginger. Take your pick. Though not every redhead loves being called a ginger. It can feel like a slur, depending how it's used. But you and I save space, right?

[A]

Safe space, no name calling. Except we've all heard redheads are crazy, soulless. Not me. South park did a whole episode about it.

[B]

My speech is entitled Ginger Kids, Children.

[A]

With red hair, Light skin, and Freckles. We've all seen them on the playground.

[B]

At the store, walking on the streets. They creep us out and make us feel sick to our stomachs.

[A]

I'm talking, of course, about ginger kids.

[B]

Oh, sick. Gross. Ginger kids are born with a disease which causes very light skin, red hair, and freckles. Ah, nasty.

[A]

Yuck.

[B]

This disease is called gingivitis, and it occurs because ginger kids have no souls. Kids who have gingivitis cannot be cured.

[A]

Gross.

[B]

Yuck. Because their skin is so light, ginger kids must avoid the sun, not unlike vampires. Some people have red hair, but not light skin and freckles. These people are called day walkers, like vampires. The ginger gene is a curse, and unless we work to rid the earth of that curse, the gingers could envelop.

[A]

Our lives in blackness for all time.

[B]

It is time that we all admit to ourselves that gingers are vile and disgusting. Yeah, and that episode. Hilarious. Really funny. But then TikTok piles on that idea. Ginger hunting became an actual thing. People were filming themselves harassing redheads. Instagram accounts mock redheads. There's entire Reddit threads debating whether gingers have souls. It's. It's a whole thing.

[A]

But ginger hunting sounds less like teasing and more like a hate crime.

[B]

Yeah, I mean, when. Thank God there wasn't social media when I was a kid, I don't know if I would have survived. But when I was a kid, I got called freckled freak and the devil spawn. And that was just in elementary school. Now it's viral. I mean, I've been teased, spit on, and hit on. Don't get me started on the bad pickup lines.

[A]

Which one do you prefer? No. Are you. Are you a firecracker in bed? Can I buy you a redheaded slut? Or. Oh, no, it's for sure. So does the carpet match the. Okay.

[B]

Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding. Yes.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

The. The answers are no, no, and please just stop talking. You know, redheads are cocktails or kinks. The assumptions about redheads are wild. I've actually been asked more than once if redheads are allowed to donate blood. Side note, we are.

[A]

Yeah, but just not during daylight or during the full moon.

[B]

Right, right, right, right. I mean, this folklore goes back centuries, though. During the witch trial days, redheads were found unlucky, untrustworthy, even demonic. The mentality was like, oh, no, our crops failed. Clearly. The problem is the woman with the red locks. Burn her.

[A]

All hair color still comes with personality stereotypes, though. Blondes are dumb, Brunettes are smart, Redheads are fiery. I don't know. What? Blue hair, Hate the government? I don't know.

[B]

Pret. Gingers get teased relentlessly. What Jessica Rabbit did to my formative years is I don't know. In middle school, I was given a nickname that stuck for years. Do you want to hear it?

[A]

Do I?

[B]

Firemuff.

[A]

Well, there goes the explicit rating or the not explicit rating of this episode. That's not a nickname. That's embarrassing. We're definitely not going to call you that on the show from now on or anything. Wow. As a kid, huh? Yikes.

[B]

Yeah. Try being 13 and explaining that to your mom.

[A]

Did she need it explained or did she just need to know what it was? Cause I feel like it's self explanatory. Is it not?

[B]

I guess. I don't know.

[A]

Depends how sheltered your mom is.

[B]

Moms like to spit everything, so. Oh, it's nice. Like, no, they're not. They're not being nice mom. But the teasing doesn't stop. It just hits different. As an adult, you'd be shocked at the number of times I've had women in locker rooms comment on my pubic hair. Like, excuse me, I'm just here to throw on my gym clothes, not do show and tell. Honestly.

[A]

Wow. I don't. So that's strange to me. I don't think guys would do that to each other. I'm trying to imagine how that even goes down. Hey, man. Wow, nice pubes on that dong there. Way too invasive. Way too invasive. I guess that answers for us. The whole carpet matching the curtains thing you didn't want to talk about before. So there's cultural trauma, but let's talk. I still can't believe women are that. I figured y' all ignored each other in there just like we do. I mean, you talk with guys, but like, the. It's sort of like, let's just all talk like we're not naked right now. That's kind of what happens in a locker room.

[B]

Yeah. These. Such an interesting observation.

[A]

The reality show to see the difference.

[B]

Yeah, the difference in locker room. What is locker room talk?

[A]

That's right. So, okay, let's talk genetics. Why do redheads even exist? What makes a redhead a redhead?

[B]

Well, it's about something. Everyone has a gene called the melanocortin 1 receptor, or the MC1R. It tells your cells what kind of pigment to make for your hair, skin, and eyes. In redheads, the MC1R gene mutations reroute the signals and tell the cells to make very little pigment. That means red hair, pale skin, and tragic sunburns.

[A]

Okay, so redheads are mutants then.

[B]

I think the more polite term is rare. And if you've got red hair and blue eyes, that's the Rarest combo on Earth. According to evolutionary biologists, the odds are 0.17%. That's only about 13 million people out of the 8 billion on Earth.

[A]

So, what color are your eyes?

[B]

Blue.

[A]

Wow. You are really a freak, then.

[B]

Yeah. Yeah, guilty.

[A]

So why is this combo so rare?

[B]

Because both traits are recessive.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

So statistically, it's just very unlikely. You need two sets of the redhead mutant gene, one from each parent for the trait to show up, and then they each have to pass it down. That's why two brunettes can still have a redheaded baby. They both just have to be carriers.

[A]

It's like a ginger lottery ticket.

[B]

Yeah, sort of. The pigmentation starts with melanin, the stuff that colors our skin and hair. There's cells called melanocytes that package pigment into melanosomes, which get delivered to your skin and hair cells. Humans make two different kinds of melanin. Eumelanin, which is the darker pigments, and pheomelanin, which are the lighter ones. Redheads just crank out way more pheomelanin.

[A]

Which is why every redhead I know is either hiding under a parasol or slather and. Or slathered in SPF 1000.

[B]

Yeah, I mean, and for good reason. Melanin isn't just your color. It's like your UV bodyguard. It absorbs radiation, protects from cellular damage, and it's like a shock absorber of ultraviolet light. So without enough eumelanin, you burn fast. The process is called apoptosis, where your skin gets inflamed, blood vessels expand, and boom, Sunburn. So the more pheomelanin, the faster you burn. And not only that, but this damage can lead to a lot of different skin cancers.

[A]

So now I guess I'm understanding the vampire comparison. But why is there such a wide spectrum of hair and skin tones? That's probably a dumb question, but whatever.

[B]

Yeah, I mean, and as far as the vampire thing, probably, you know, sunscreen's only been around since the 70s, so redheads probably did only come out at night, which sparked these rumors. Right, but the MC1R gene, it's not acting alone. So research suggests there are at least eight other genes that influence the red hair expressions. So it's not just like one switch being flipped. It's like a whole genetic circuit board.

[A]

Is there any way to know what traits people are likely to pass down?

[B]

There's no definitive way, but you can figure out the probability using what's called a punnett square. It's a diagram that maps possible Gene combinations from two parents, and there's so many combinations. That's why siblings don't look alike. You know, I had three siblings, but I'm the only redhead. My brother has brown hair but a red beard. Genes just express themselves in many different ways.

[A]

So I guess, what do you guys. Would you say the drapes don't match the carpet or. I don't know how that feels for him.

[B]

It.

[A]

Would it be ye. So you can. So gross.

[B]

Sorry, Joe.

[A]

Gross. Pickup line. So you can carry a genetic trait without showing it. Okay, yes, that makes sense. But does the whole thing with redheads go beyond skin and hair? I've actually heard redheads don't feel pain as much or something along those lines. Is that real? That sounds fake.

[B]

Yeah, I mean, this is where it definitely gets weird. So the MC1R gene isn't just about pigment. It's involved in a bunch of biological processes, including pain processing. And studies show redheads, they do feel pain, but they experience it differently than other people. So redheads produce lower levels of a protein called pomc. And that protein breaks down into two key hormones. One that boosts pain perception and another that blocks it. Redheads end up with more of the pain blocker and less of the pain booster. And there's even studies that show redheads tolerate more electric shocks and stabbing pains than those with different colored hair. But at the same time, redheads are. They're just. They're more sensitive to thermal pain, like heat and the cold.

[A]

That's so weird. So you'd shrug off a taser, but if somebody opens a window, you collapse.

[B]

I mean, that's pretty accurate. That's what the research says. A lot of more research needs to go into the MC1R gene. But that tracks with my behavior. And it's anecdotal, but I am always cold. But you could stitch my finger without numbing me, like I've done that. So a University of Louisville study suggests that MC1R gene, it over activates temperature detecting cells. So when a redhead says they're cold, grab them a blanket. They're feeling cold. But the relationship between red hair and pain perception, it's complex and it's not fully understood. And not every redhead has the same response. Right? So don't go punch your dick, ginger friend for fun.

[A]

Freaky. And I mean that in the best way possible.

[B]

Shop. Sure. And it doesn't stop there. Redhead's metabolism seems to work differently. Redheads appear to have a complicated relationship with anesthesia because the MC1R gene mutation, it messes with our opioid receptors that the MC1R gene carries.

[A]

I see. Wait, how are we figuring this out? Are researchers stabbing and shocking redheads? Are there ginger lab mice?

[B]

Yes, there are redheaded mice in experiments.

[A]

First of all, I demand a Pixar film Finding ginger. A feel good story about a mouse with self esteem issues who gets into the ibuprofen.

[B]

I love it. I love it. Give them Scottish accents and kilts, and I would definitely watch that for sure. But these mice, like redheads, have higher pain thresholds because of their mutated MC1R gene. And just like in people, the difference in pigment produced meant that redheaded mice produce more pain blockers and fewer pain boosters.

[A]

So it sounds like your pigment making cells are communicating with your nervous system somehow. Is that a thing?

[B]

It seems to be, yeah. And studies find that gender also plays a role. There's a lot more studies with female redheads, and women with red hair have a greater tolerance to pain than men with red hair.

[A]

But you said anesthesia affects redheads differently. Why is that?

[B]

Yeah, this research is a little messy. So back in 2004, there was a study that claimed redheaded women needed 19% more desflurane, which is a general anesthetic, than other hair colors.

[A]

Does that mean if you pick up a drug habit, it'll be 19% more expensive? Because that's a bummer, actually.

[B]

I don't think so.

[A]

You're like a biological. Choose your own adventure. That's so weird.

[B]

Yeah, I mean, kind of. The problem with that study, though, is that it was really, really tiny. Just 20 white women.

[A]

20. That's not a study, that's a book club. And I know people are like, well, the only redheads that there are are white women. And I hope we get into this. But that's not true. I've actually. My mom taught in a school that was mostly African American, and she said there were tons of kids with red hair.

[B]

Yeah, I mean, it's just a mutated gene. It happens for no matter how dark your. Your skin is, it can happen in your hair expression, for sure. Yeah, yeah.

[A]

It's super cool, actually. It's super cute on kids, as you might imagine. I know you get these two little African American kids with, like, bright red hair.

[B]

Yeah, it's adorable.

[A]

But yeah, 20. A sample size of 20, basically to your point. Not a lot going on there. That's kind of.

[B]

Yeah, not a lot. And then researchers scaled up the study in 2015, and they used over 6,000 patients. But that study found redhead Showed no significant difference in anesthesia needed. So I was surprised myself by this because my whole life I've believed anesthesia was tricky for us and that that was just conventional wisdom. But there's no scientific evidence. I definitely have had doctors tell me that, But I've only needed general anesthesia once.

[A]

So doctors told you that, but not anesthesiologists. So the. The big anesthesia conspiracy is a ginger urban legend. I'm actually surprised by how often doctors don't know anything about anesthesia. And I will tell you in their defense. I've got a buddy who's an anesthesiologist, close friend of mine. He also says, hey, frankly, we don't actually know how all of this stuff works at every level.

[B]

Anesthesia is so freaky. It really. Yeah, it's terrifying.

[A]

It's kind of like, like, okay, so you're an expert on this, and people put their lives in your hands. And he's like, correct. I know how to administer it. I know how to solve problems with it. But once you get into how it works deeply in the brain, at least your general everyday anesthesiologist at a hospital, he doesn't know how this stuff works. Like, maybe people who are really big in the scientific research end can explain it better, but he's like, I'm pretty sure there's just a lot of, like, we don't know exactly how this works when it comes to anesthesia.

[B]

I think that's just everything with our medicine, medicine especially our brains and genes and things. Yeah, but I mean, the thing with these studies focusing on specifically redheads is that they're just inconclusive at best. There just hasn't been enough solid research, though. The MC1R gene, it does mess with the body in interesting ways.

[A]

It sounds less like myth busting and it's myth mutating.

[B]

Yeah. I mean, for sure.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

The MC1R gene and therefore redheads are still a big, weird mystery. There was a 2021 mouse study that even linked the redheaded gene to higher pain thresholds. And the researchers concluded from that that the MC1R gene also influences how we process painkillers, drugs, and alcohol.

[A]

South park says gingers don't have souls. But you know who does? The amazing sponsors who support this show. Let's see what they got before we come back with more myths. Mutants, and maybe even a little witchcraft. We'll be right back. This episode is sponsored in part by Simplisafe. True story. Jen's cousin just got robbed. They had hardwired Cameras and an alarm system. But they did not have active monitor. When they came home one evening, the alarm was tripped, they got the alert, they called the cops. By the time the police showed up, the bad guys were long gone with their valuables. I told them, lock your back gates. And more importantly, you gotta get SimpliSafe's Liveguard protection. Here's the problem with most home security, it's reactive. The alarm goes off after somebody's already inside. That is way too late. Simplisafe, flip that script. They built a system designed to stop crime before it even starts. Here's how it works. Their Active Guard Outdoor protection uses AI powered cameras that don't just pick up random motion. They actually identify a person lurking around your property. The alert goes then to Simplisafe's monitoring agents in real time. And the agents step in right then they'll talk to the intruder over two way audio. Hey, we see you cops are on the way. They can blast a siren, they can flip on a spotlight, they can call 911 if needed. The intruder never even makes it inside. And that's the difference. Proactive versus reactive. And I trust Simplisafe because they back it up. No long term contracts, no hidden fees. You can cancel anytime. They've been named best home security system by U.S. news and World Report for five years straight. They've got a 60 day money back guarantee. So if you want real peace of mind and 50% off any new SimpliSafe system right now at SimpliSafe.com Jordan that's SimpliSafe.com Jordan. There's no safe like Simplisafe. This episode is sponsored in part by Airbnb. We just booked our very first cruise with the kids and we could not be more excited. Seriously, can spring break get here any faster? The kids are already bouncing off the walls. And honestly, I will too once I see those water slides and all the onboard activities. It's basically a floating adventure playground. And it feels like the perfect mix of relaxation for us and exploration for them. But here's the thing. While we're out at sea, our home back on land just sitting empty. And that's when it hit me. Why let it sit unused when I could actually have it work for us? By hosting it on Airbnb with their co host network. You can even hire a local pro to help take care of everything from guest messages to check ins so you're not trying to juggle it all from the middle of the ocean. And here's the best part. We get to enjoy the cruise, create these family memories and know that our place was earning a little extra while we were away. So if you've got a spot that just sits empty while you're away, why not let it work for you? Find a co [e-mail] host. Don't forget about our newsletter. It's called Wee Bit Wiser. It comes out just about every Wednesday. It's a very practical rubber meets the road bite from a past show. It's from us to you. It's a two minute read if that's and we love writing these things. Y' all love reading them. You can always hit reply and we get a lot of engagement on these. Would love to see you there. It's a great companion to the show. Jordanharbinger.com News is where you can find it. Now back to Skeptical Sunday. So this feels like evolution. Having a bit of fun with this MC1R gene almost?

[B]

Yeah, I think so. I mean, tell me about it. Opioids, for instance, in redheads, they work too well. They are more effective in redheads because smaller doses hit harder and less is needed to get the same relief or high than people with other hair types. But then the effect of that wears off quicker.

[A]

Ah, okay. So maybe the cheaper high that's also short lived cancels each other out. Disregard what I said above about saving 20% off your smack bill.

[B]

Yeah, I don't know. Hopefully I won't have to find out. But I think redheads, they just have to get high more often.

[A]

Yeah, that might actually explain why my redheaded friend slams this, you know, one white claw and goes from sober to karaoke in like 10 minutes.

[B]

It hits them fast.

[A]

Yeah, yeah.

[B]

I mean there's evidence that redheads do get tipsy faster, but then they can drink for longer periods of time. So personally, I once fell out of a dental chair because the gas hit me so fast. But anesthesia, that one time I had it, it took absolutely forever for me to wake up. And back when I used to drink, I could have a six pack at the pre party and then go out for martinis. So anecdotally, I mean, redheads seem to metabolize things differently, but it just isn't widely studied.

[A]

So medicine doesn't know if redheads are superhuman or just badly wired or maybe it's, maybe it's other things about you.

[B]

I mean, I guess that's the debate, right? But the MC1R gene definitely affects pigment. It also definitely interacts with brain pathways for pain. And some scientists even Argue the variants that affect pain aren't the same ones that make your hair red. So we just know so little. But we do know something is up with this MC1R gene.

[A]

Translation being you can't just look at a ginger and go, better double up the morphine, doc.

[B]

Right, and the medical consensus right now is don't treat redheads based on hair color alone. So anesthesiologists will tailor the dose to each patient anyway based on vitals and monitoring during surgery. It's just kind of another way redheads get the side eye.

[A]

I see. Okay, so you're like a super complicated lab rat. Okay, but do redheads actually drink more than those without the recessive gene, or is that another Irish based stereotype kind of thing?

[B]

I mean, the data points to redheads having a particular affinity for alcohol that others don't. It seems to be related to metabolism and pain sensitivity and less severe hangover symptoms. Ultimately, it's just important to understand that while genetics do play a role, tolerance to alcohol is determined by a variety of factors, not just genes. So lifestyle and body chemistry matter, too. The complex relationship between redheads and alcohol is still being sorted out. But heredity and the body's reaction to alcohol do seem to interact. But it's not like AA meetings or redhead conventions, right?

[A]

Yeah, that's true. So let me get this straight. Redheads might need more anesthesia, but less morphine, can tolerate electric shocks, but freeze under a snowflake. Do medical schools actually teach this stuff? I have to assume that they do.

[B]

Yeah, they do. Med students learn that redheads respond differently to certain drugs. So, for example, topical or injectable anesthetics like lidocaine, they often work less effectively. So higher doses probably needed for your redheaded patients. But then there's that. That paradox that they need lower doses of opioid painkillers like morphine.

[A]

So every anesthesiologist has some sort of secret ginger manual somewhere on their bookshelf?

[B]

I think so. I mean, they should have a manual for every patient, but yeah, research shows the MC1R gene influences receptors all over the body. And because it's mutated, redheads react oddly to so many substances. And by studying it, scientists might actually unlock new pain treatments for everyone, regardless of hair color.

[A]

So redheads are saving the world one lidocaine shot at a time? I guess.

[B]

Yeah. And it's not just humans, right? The MC1R mutation shows up across the animal kingdom. Like cats, for instance. Male ginger cats are far more common than female ones because the orange Fur gene sits on the X chromosome, meaning males only need one copy, but the females need two.

[A]

Ah, I came for hair trivia and I'm staying for cat genetics.

[B]

Yeah, female cats with the one orange gene, they're the ones that come out the patchy calico or tortoiseshell coats. But the MC1R, it's kind of like the weird gene. So overall, redheads have unusual reactions to numerous substances because that gene influences receptors all over our brain, and it makes redheads unusual in a whole bunch of ways.

[A]

Like all the sunscreen y' all use. So if you have red hair, sunblock is absolutely necessary. Correct, because of the MC1R light pigment thing.

[B]

Yeah, absolutely. I call it armor. And like I said before, sunscreen only showed up in the 70s. So our redheaded ancestors were basically toast. And I feel for all my generations of redheads that came before sunscreen that that could not have been pleasant. But redheads have very little protective melanin, which is why they are at a higher risk for melanoma. And too much sun kills melanocytes. And once they're gone, the cancer risk goes way up.

[A]

So this shows how much the MC1R's effects ripple out beyond hair color.

[B]

Yeah. And skin cancer risks may be one of the best known facts about redheads. Dermatology studies show over and over that there's no question that red haired individuals are at a much higher risk for skin cancer than non redheaded individuals. Gingers are just more susceptible to damage from the sun and burning just happens.

[A]

Yeah. Nature gave you flammable skin?

[B]

Yeah, pretty much. It certainly gives redheads pale skin, freckles, and sensitivity to the sun. It's like the ginger starter pack.

[A]

Yeah. So does that make redheads age faster?

[B]

Weirdly, yes.

[A]

Bummer.

[B]

Study in current biology found that people with the MC1R gene mutation, which means redheads, appear at least two years older than people who don't have it.

[A]

That's not bad.

[B]

And it isn't from sun damage. The gene itself seems to influence pathways tied to sagging skin and facial aging. So the studies of the MC1R gene are the first genetic evidence for perceived age.

[A]

So you look older and then you get more sun damage, which makes you look even older. So if you do everything right, you only look two years older, but if you do everything like a normal person, you look 12 years older.

[B]

Yeah, if you stay inside, you'll still look older.

[A]

Not a lot of upside to being a ginger so far.

[B]

Oh, well, on one bright side, there was a 2020 study that found redheads produce vitamin D faster and at higher levels than those without red hair.

[A]

Oh, good, because you can't get vitamin D anywhere else, Right?

[B]

Right. Hey, give it to me.

[A]

Yeah. It's $100 for a 10 year supply of vitamin D. Maybe less. I don't know.

[B]

Pale skin plus the ebzi1r means redheads have evolved to naturally make up for what they lack. So the level of D3 in someone also corresponds to how red the hair is. And the pale skin is actually an evolutionary advantage in cloudy places like where we associate red hair. Ireland and Scotland.

[A]

Basically, the redheaded body makes homemade natural supplements. So, like my kids, Fruit Loops. You're fortified with vitamin D. That's convenient.

[B]

I am. I am. Definitely. And there are more health quirks associated with red hair. According to a large review study published in 2017, female redheads have a higher risk of gynecological cancers like cervical, uterine, ovarian. And the redder the hair, the higher the risk. So one theory links it to prenatal estrogen exposure, but that hasn't been extensively tested. So, of course, you know, I think the problem here is there's no one shade of red. And these studies rely on women's own rating of how red her hair is, which is just so subjective. It's like it's gotta be hard to measure degrees of redheadedness.

[A]

So red hair might influence your biology before you're even born?

[B]

I think so, yeah.

[A]

This is all pretty heavy so far. Tell me something fun. Come on.

[B]

Well, red hair affects blushing, so redheads blush easier and brighter.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Evolutionary theory says redheads developed many abilities to survive where the sun rarely shines.

[A]

Insert joke about sunburned butts here. I guess.

[B]

I know. Well, in parts of the world with low intensity UVB rays, like central and northern parts of Europe, redheads may be seen more.

[A]

I guess it makes sense that there's more redheads in Ireland and Scotland because it's just not that sunny there like you said before.

[B]

Yeah, sure. But, you know, as we know, redheads do pop up everywhere. And right now it's estimated that redheads make up about 1 to 2% of the world population. That may seem like a very low number, but that's about 150 million redheads walking around the world. They're not all in Ireland, but you're right that sections of Ireland, Scotland and Wales have the highest concentration of redheads. It's about 10% there. And there used to be a huge redhead gathering once a year in the uk, but it stopped during the pandemic, and it hasn't come back. However, in the last week of August of 2025, there was a redhead days festival in the Netherlands.

[A]

Wow. So there really is a redhead festival. That's hilarious. Somehow. How does something like that even start? You gotta wonder.

[B]

Yeah, I mean, the one in the Dutch city of Tilburg has been happening for decades. In the 80s, Dutch artist Bart Roanhorst put out an ad in a local newspaper for 15 redheads for an art project. And he got 10 times the response he was expecting. But he just had everyone who responded join in on his group photo. And now it's just turned into this free festival open to all, with the exception of the scheduled official group photo, that's restricted to natural redheads. The 2013 gathering of this set a Guinness world record for the largest gathering of people with natural red hair, with almost 2,000 people posing for the one group photo.

[A]

Hilarious. Were you ever part of something like that?

[B]

No. And in fact, I'll say. I lived in Dublin for a year and I traveled all over the island. I was actually surprised at how few redheads I encountered.

[A]

Really?

[B]

Yeah, it just didn't seem to me to be overwhelming. But it appeared way more prevalent when I traveled around Scotland and Wales.

[A]

But redheads are not just restricted to Europeans. So where, like I mentioned before, there's African Americans with red hair. So where did this freaky gene originate? Is it like a Viking thing?

[B]

Yeah, I was convinced there was a Viking thing at one point too. But no, Vikings did not introduce red hair. Despite what every redhead Halloween costume has. You believe the redheaded gene mutation, it actually predates the Viking age by like tens of thousands of years.

[A]

I liked the idea that every redhead has a little bit of Thor blood. I thought every ginger was a little bit of an angry Norse God in the first place. They all have that rep. I'm frankly a little disappointed.

[B]

Yeah. Sorry to ruin the fantasy, but I mean, red hair is found among people of Viking descent, don't get me wrong. But it's not exclusive to them. Vikings were as genetically diverse as any society, which with early man buns in hair colors across the spectrum. Blonde, brown, red.

[A]

So where did the first redheads come from? Like, is there a ginger Eve somewhere on the books?

[B]

Not quite Eve, but yeah. Genetic mutation first popped up in Central Asia about 50,000 years ago.

[A]

Wow.

[B]

And as humans migrated to Europe, they just carried the gene with them. And then in sun starved places like Ireland and Scotland, the pale skin and red hair, it helped with that vitamin D production. And so that's what resulted in pockets of gingers thriving in the fog.

[A]

I wonder how they even found that. It popped up in Central Asia 50,000 years ago. Like, are they doing an archaeological dig? And they're like, wow, look at this guy. The carpet matches the curtains. This fossil.

[B]

It also seems like this information is somewhat new. I mean, I think it's just from how we can do genetic and DNA testing in fossils. Yeah.

[A]

So you mentioned that vitamin D production, early vitamin D production resulted in pockets of gingers thriving in the fog. So this was like a pre sunscreen hack to battle the sun. So it's a useful mutation. It's kept you. What does vitamin D prevent again? Is it rickets? There's a lot of hormone stuff related to it because I was deficient and I took it.

[B]

Yeah. I think there's just a lot of, a lot of balancing.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

I don't know specifically, but we definitely need it. That is for sure.

[A]

Yeah. Wow.

[B]

But yeah, I mean, definitely you find redheads all over. And it was the Celts who they started in Central Europe. They seem to have a big pocket of it and they help spread the gene all around because they had a nomadic lifestyle. Morocco, for example, has a much higher than average concentration of redheads. There's specific parts of Russia and even South America that have very high populations. Just redheads are found everywhere.

[A]

Yeah. I've actually seen people from Yemen and Afghanistan with bright red hair in their beards. And it's so bright that you think that's fake. But then you realize that a 60 year old Yemeni guy running a gas station is not dyeing his beard red. Right. He's just. It doesn't look like the type.

[B]

He's just a freak. Yeah, yeah.

[A]

And you see it enough where you're like, there's one place I go to that has amazing frigging shawarma in Castroville. And it's like a Rotten Robbie gas station with a falafel shawarma place in the back that is epic. And it's run by Yemenis and the dad has this bright red hair and he's the guy where I'm just like, yeah, that's not. Not fake. This guy's not. This guy's not dyeing his beard and walking around this place like that like he's not the guy. But it's very interesting to see that. And you see that in photos of people from Afghanistan. I've seen some Taliban photos where guys have bright red.

[B]

I've seen the Taliban photos too. My oh, that's. That's why they're covering up their head.

[A]

And you're thinking like, okay, the Taliban probably also not running to the pink dot to get beard dye. Right. So it's probably real. So all these old myths. I guess my point here is that all these old myths are even weirder because if redheads are everywhere and they've been around for thousands and thousands of years all over Central Asia and all over the continent of Europe, why the superstitions? It's not that rare. It's like being left handed. Well, I guess if you're left handed, we should do an episode on that because they. I think also we have. There are superstitions that people who are left handed are bad. In fact, I think you even say left in Italian, sinistra, which is like sinister, right? That's gotta be related to that.

[B]

Yeah, I know in the Catholic religion you couldn't be left handed if you were studying at the church. You had to write with your writer or some kind of connection with the devil, which. Who knows where all these things come from.

[A]

I mean, maybe. I don't know. That's sort of. I could see that checking out, at least in my case.

[B]

But. But humans love to just demonize what's weird and rare.

[A]

And rare, yeah. Yeah.

[B]

The comedian Anissa Nandala, she actually is a. A bit about how rare it is to see redheads in Uganda. It's hilarious. When I first came to Australia, I.

[A]

Didn'T know anything about you guys.

[B]

Like, when I saw my first redhead, I lost my shit because I didn't know that you guys came in this edition. The first time I saw Redhead, his name was Stuart. And I kept staring at him because.

[A]

In Uganda, redheads get kidnapped by witches and used for spell.

[B]

And I think he looked down on me because I was black. He was like, you must be so.

[A]

Happy that you don't live in Uganda.

[B]

I was like, no, you must be so happy you don't live in Uganda, they'd fuck you up. So, yeah, Redhead's just collected some truly bizarre folklore everywhere. Some flattering, some really not.

[A]

So give us the flattering first. Warm us up.

[B]

Okay. Well, in 1886, a French doctor, Augustine Galopin, he published a book declaring redheads were sexier smelling people. Literally. He thought they emitted a unique intoxicating body odor.

[A]

Not creepy at all. Perhaps that doctor was just. He maybe had a thing for redheads with Bo, which I guess back then in 1886 in France, everyone had Bo, so whatever. Is that science or is that just the musings of a horny French guy. I don't know.

[B]

I think everyone's guess here is the latter.

[A]

Yeah, that's the kind of rigorous, peer reviewed research we need more of on this podcast.

[B]

But his myth has carried on today. Some people still believe that because of specific skin biochemistry, redheads have a unique smell.

[A]

Okay, gross. Anyway, I don't believe that. I'm just.

[B]

That is some people's belief.

[A]

I'm just not convinced that that's specific to redheads. But I'm no horny French scientist, so what do I know?

[B]

I mean, I agree with you. So it's just another theory out there. But there is actually attraction data. So attraction is a really difficult thing to define, but it's real. And some people are just more attracted to redheads. Like, that's their type. And it seems people like Jason Momoa, they assume a lot of things about redheaded behavior. Do you know a Little Mermaid? That was her question in my office and I was like, ask him, Ariel.

[A]

Ariel's very sweet. She's very nice. She's also a redhead.

[B]

So, yeah, I'm gonna teach you about redhead someday.

[A]

They're very passionate, very passionate people.

[B]

Yeah. These little comments are so common and they can make me feel pretty misunderstood.

[A]

Stick around. These deals are hotter than a ginger's first sunburn. We'll be right back. This ad is brought to you by Veeve Healthcare, the makers of Aperitude Cabotegravi. You never skip your SPF and you carry hand sanitizer like an accessory. But what are you doing for HIV prevention? One way to help protect yourself from HIV is Apretude, a prescription medicine used to reduce the risk of getting HIV in adults and adolescents weighing at least 77 pounds. You must be HIV negative to receive Apretude and get tested before each injection. If you think you were exposed to HIV or have flu like symptoms, tell your doctor right away. More HIV testing may be needed. Apretude does not prevent other sexually transmitted infections. Practice safer sex to reduce your risk. Get Apretude as scheduled. Missing doses increases your HIV risk. Don't take aperitude if allergic to it or taking certain medicines that may interact. Tell your doctor about your medical conditions, liver problems and mental health. Serious side effects include allergic reactions, a rash, liver problems and depression. If these occur, get medical help right away. The most common side effect is injection site reaction. Bring your A game and talk to your doctor. Learn [e-mail] or call 1-888-2400340 this episode is also sponsored by Quilt Mind. If you're a professional, LinkedIn is one of the most valuable places you can invest your time and energy. Visibility creates opportunity. The more consistently you show up, the more often you're top of mind. For the right people, clients, partners, decision makers, credibility builds trust. Sharing insights and stories positions you as a leader in your space. Over a billion professionals with a B are on LinkedIn to learn, connect and do business. And yet most people with strong networks rarely post. It's not because they don't have valuable things to say. It's usually because of time. They don't know what to write. That's where quiltmind comes in. Their mission is to help Busy executives become LinkedIn famous, so to speak, for a couple of hours a month. For me, the process is really simple. I hop on a call, they pull out the stories and insights we're sharing. They turn those into polished posts that sound exactly like me. So the voice is mine, the ideas are mine, the stories are all mine. Quilt Mind just makes sure it actually gets posted out there consistently. So for me, success on LinkedIn means amplifying the lessons from our incredible podcast guests, sparking meaningful conversations. If you're curious, check out what I've been sharing lately. If you're ready to step up your own presence, you can reach out to me directly or connect with [e-mail] that's Q U I L T M I N D.com thank you for listening to and supporting the show. It is your support of our sponsors that keeps the lights on around here. All of the deals, discount codes and ways to support the podcast are searchable and clickable on the [e-mail] deals now for the rest of Skeptical Sunday. But the burning question is, are redheads having more sex? That's what everybody wants to know. That's what horny French doctors want to know.

[B]

That's what the horny French doctor is trying to figure out. I mean, studies show redheaded women report more sexual activity and partners. There was a 2022 study that found redheads become sexually active at an earlier age and report higher sexual desires. There's a German dating app researcher that claims redheads average at least one more hookup per week than blondes or brunettes. However you figure that out, I just, I want to point out these studies all suggest that redheaded women report more sexual activity and more sexual partners, and.

[A]

It'S because it's a fetish. For some those who are into redheads are just super into redheads. And there's, I don't know, less supply. Maybe because of the rarity.

[B]

I mean, maybe. I mean, I don't think that's exactly it. So researching this, I found a weird fact about redheads in the human body. So that 2022 study that looked at 110 women, 34% of them redheads, found that they scored higher on measures of sexual desire. They reported more sexual activity and more partners than all the non redheaded participants. But these studies are somewhat ridiculous. So it's not entirely clear why this is the case. And the authors of it speculate that it could be due to a partner's more frequent attempts to initiate sex rather than the women's desire. So perhaps it's like a exotic novelty factor. I'm not sure.

[A]

Or they just love getting down. Yeah, Redheaded sluts. Jessica.

[B]

Yeah, daddy, chill. But according to this study, the sex lives of women with red hair were clearly more active than those with other hair colors. With more partners having sex more often than the average. And the figures revealed that typically redheads have intercourse at least one more time per week than the rest of the population.

[A]

So does. There's so many questions I want to ask you, but here's the question I'm going to ask you. So does that mean redheads are having more babies as well?

[B]

These studies are also so bizarre because they actually show that redheaded women report more fertility issues but also end up having more children.

[A]

So they're having more sex and having more babies. And scientists are mystified. Okay, maybe. No surprise. Some of the science dorks can't figure this one out. I can't figure this one out. I don't know. You know, I'm something of a scientist myself. At least I was back in the day. Hopefully I've shaken that reputation. But I.

[B]

Anyway, I mean, this all makes me a gold star. Redhead. I have red hair, blue eyes, and no babies. So could be biology or maybe something more psychological. It's not data that has been collected enough. But not only do redheads have fertility issues, it's also reported redheads have higher rates of depression and anxiety.

[A]

Wow. Redheads are high anxiety and high functioning. Maybe that's a reason some people are so into them. You sexy, aromatic, freckly, neurotic mess. Bring that pale ass over here.

[B]

I will say, and I tried to find actual research about this, but as far as the depression goes, you know, in therapy, doctors like to throw you all kinds of medicine. I was prescribed at one point in my life, an ssri, which is like Wellbutrin and those kind of things. It did the opposite. It did so much damage, and I had to immediately be taken off of them. So when I was reading this, I thought, is okay if we have higher depression rates. Is it because the medications don't work on redheads? But I couldn't find any research. That's just my experience. But, you know, there's definitely a cultural fetish. So, yeah, some guys treat it like they're collecting rare Pokemon. Like, I've always wanted a redhead. Like it's not subtle. And I'm not interested in being the shiny Charizard. I don't know about my other redheaded sisters, but I don't want to be somebody's sexual conquest. And there are really specific studies that actually look at the rates. Different hair colors get hit on.

[A]

Did you say Charizard? Is that a Pokemon, by the way?

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Ah. I guess I always thought that was Charizard. But you can tell I don't play Pokemon. Oh, because it looks like it's. That's the one that's spelled Charizard, basically, right?

[B]

Yeah, like lizard. But I think they say it Charizard.

[A]

Charizard.

[B]

I mean, who knows?

[A]

I'll take your word for it.

[B]

Can tell me. My pronunciation might be off.

[A]

Yeah, that's going to be the one thing everybody emails me about this episode. Nothing else is going to be interesting. It's just going to be all pronunciations of Charizard. So tell me about the. You said different rates. Hair colors get hit on. Say more about that. What color should we all be dyeing our hair?

[B]

Well, it depends on the kind of attention you want. But it's true. The studies look at straight women with different hair colors, and they show blondes get the most male attention, redheads a little less so. But the same men interviewed later said redheads seem less approachable. So these studies, you know, they're a bit flimsy. And I'm sorry to my redheaded brothers, I didn't come across any similar experiments with men and hair color.

[A]

So redheads are bullied and fetishized. That's peak humanity right there, I suppose.

[B]

And bullied in the strangest ways. Just a couple weeks ago in Tucson, this guy went to a city council meeting and just went on this wild rant about how much he dislikes having gingers in town, how redheaded people shouldn't be allowed to have cameras. It's so wild.

[A]

We gotta choke every ginger in town. We can't have gingers running around Saraita.

[B]

You know, we can't have gingers.

[A]

We can't have people with a camera.

[B]

You put a ginger with a camera.

[A]

We need to get them out of here.

[B]

We can't have any of them gingers.

[A]

And that's basically all I got to say. All ginger should be thrown out of Sarah Vina Seravina is not the place for gingers. If we can throw out all the gingers and bring in more people, like Chief Nolan. He knows what to do with gingers. We saw. He knows how to handle gingers. That's how you got to handle gingers, is you put them in a headlock and you throw them to the ground and you break their camera. He had a 4K camera. None of us in Tucson can afford a 4K camera. We have to use 10, 80 or 720. But he had a 4K camera. You got to break that camera. You can't let anybody with nice cameras like that around Saravida, especially in the police department. I thank you for what your chief did. And we need more people like him. We need more people in Saravita to choke out gingers. Wow. Yeah, I saw that. I thought that. First of all, it looks like a scene out of Parks and Rec. We'll link it in the show notes. I thought it was a joke. I really thought that he was trolling because. Who the hell is so anti redhead that they speak at a town hall meeting? What the hell?

[B]

I was so hoping it was a joke, but this. Yeah, you know, I mean, what are.

[A]

The odds that this 65, 70 year old man is able to deliver something that dry and persuasive and be ironic and not serious?

[B]

Yeah, I'll definitely be avoiding the Tucson area. I mean, I just. I feel so targeted this. This vitriol.

[A]

Tucson's in Arizona. There should be no redheads there anyway, given what you just told me about the sun.

[B]

Yeah, exactly. Yeah.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

I mean, obviously this is a very extreme example. I'd like to think most people do not feel this way.

[A]

No. But there's also an extinction myth I've heard. By the way, is it true that redheads are slowly disappearing over time and they'll eventually go extinct?

[B]

Yeah, I have definitely heard that too. But like it or not, you're stuck with this world. It's just total nonsense. Redheads could go extinct because the MC1R gene, it's not going anywhere. There will always be some mutations, and it's recessive. So even if no ginger babies show up for a while, it will appear maybe even generations Later. So it's just a sneaky trait in the gene pool, and it can pop up anytime. Both parents are carriers.

[A]

Genetic roulette. It's like a genetic dating app matching you with a partner that is 98% compatible to make a child that has red hair.

[B]

Wow, you're joking. But there are ginger only dating sites.

[A]

No surprise.

[B]

Yeah, one's called redheaddates.com. clever.

[A]

Very clever.

[B]

There's a few others for people with that redhead fetish, which is just bizarre to me.

[A]

Ew.

[B]

Yeah, I will say, at least in my experience, you know, people who are into redheads are, like, enthusiastically into redheads. I don't think you need need a dating app. I think you just go to a bar, probably. But any dating site that defines people based on a single physical trait is gross.

[A]

I tend to agree. I should probably go ahead and cancel my subscription to third nipplesonly.com how do they see? You'd have to account for all the different shades of red hair, right? Like strawberry blonde, fiery red. The variables seem almost impossible to control. And then it's like, oh, I only want natural redheads. I would filter by natural or dye. Like, that's so weird, right?

[B]

And there's just so many different shades. And that's all about variations in the MC1R gene. And as I've aged, my hair shade has definitely changed. It's. It used to be so crazy bright when I was little. Now it's, you know, a bit dulled down. And however the pigment works, redheads skip the part of hair going gray, and they just fade to bright white. There's other redheaded statistics that might surprise you. Like, redheads are more likely to be in commercials.

[A]

What? That's a weird one, I suppose.

[B]

Yeah, I know. But a 2014 report found that 30% of TV commercials during prime time featured redheads, despite being only 2% of the population. And at one point, CBS showed a redhead every 106 seconds.

[A]

You gotta wonder who measured that. That is bananas. That's crazy. Were you ever in a commercial?

[B]

When I was a kid, I was.

[A]

Oh, wow.

[B]

Now that I work in the entertainment industry, I spend a lot of time on studio lots, and I get a surprising amount of extra work thrown out to me for someone not interested in being an actor. So I do pop up in the background on shows like that HBO show, the Pit I was in. There's a lot of studio audience shots I get pulled into.

[A]

They pull you into it. So they're like, we're filming the audience, but everyone has dark hair. Go Get Jessica.

[B]

Yeah, Pas will come. Be like, hey, do you want to sit in on this for a minute.

[A]

Just for these, you know, to pan across the audience.

[B]

Yeah, they pan across the audience, not in real time. So, yeah, you get pulled into it. It's hilarious. There's a show called Platonic that recently wanted all the redheads around for a wedding reception scene because the male character was a redhead. So they wanted to make it seem like the whole family was redheads, which not quite how it looks in the real world, but it was fun and it was cool to see on film. Just a whole room full of redheads.

[A]

I wonder if there's something red hair does for our senses. Does Wendy even have the Wendy the Fast food logo? Does she have red hair to entice me to buy a Frosty or a burger?

[B]

I mean, red is associated with appetite, so a lot of restaurant logos use the color red. That could explain the high rate of redheads in advertising. But so many cultural characters, you know, think about it. The Little Mermaid, Merida, the main character from Brave, Wilma Flintstone and her baby were redheads. And then of course, Jessica Rabbit, Strawberry Shortcake, the list just goes on. It makes the characters stand out, at least the female ones.

[A]

Not sure if that one is offensive or not. There's a lot of anime men with red hair, I think, you know, it doesn't have to all be women.

[B]

Yeah, for sure. And people just seem to like it more in a female. I'm not sure why Prince Charming in Beauty and the Beast was a redhead though. So. Good thing for redhead guys is that it's shown that redheads are funnier.

[A]

Well, clowns do tend to have red hair.

[B]

I actually, my nephew is a redhead. My sister and her husband, neither of them are redheads. And my brother in law definitely was uncomfortable with the fact that his son was a redhead. Like when he was little, just, oh, it'd be easier if it was a girl. I don't know why that stigma exists. Weird, but yeah, clowns have red hair. According to Professor Andrew Scott, who teaches the history of comedy at the University of Buffalo, we first began to see the circus clown as we know it, complete with face paint and brightly colored wigs. In the early 19th century, the wigs needed to be bright so that they could be seen from the backs of these large theaters. So red was just the obvious choice.

[A]

I see it is easy to keep track of my redheaded friends in crowds. You ever go to a rave or something, you're like, how am I going to find, oh, There he is.

[B]

Oh, yeah.

[A]

People always find there's 3,000 people, there's 10,000 people here. How am I going to find them? Well, there's three redheads.

[B]

I've never been lost. Yeah, yeah. I mean, we don't really blend in. And as clowns evolved, red hair just became symbolic. It reflects the cultural image of the influx of Irish immigrants in early American history.

[A]

Because.

[B]

Because, like Ronald McDonald, for example, that's spelled the Irish way, not the Scottish way.

[A]

So you're not a witch, you're just designed differently. Redheads aren't cursed. They're supercharged mutants with vitamin D skills and pain quirks.

[B]

Exactly. And maybe don't make fun of your redheaded coworker. She might live longer than you, but look older. She might look older, but she might feel less pain. She might be better in bed. So just be nice. We can't help it. It and the research that has been done on the world's gingers indicate that they do put up with a lot and could be considered genetic superheroes. So it might not be the type of thing Marvel would take an interest in, but the bodies of redheads are incredibly resilient as their altered genes give them different DNA and by extension, a host of other unique abilities. And we don't need a radioactive animal bite. We're just born this way.

[A]

Well, to all my ginger friends out there, may your sunscreen be thick and your MC1R jeans. Be proud. Thanks, Jess. Stay pasty. Thanks, everyone for listening. Topic suggestions for future episodes of Skeptical Sunday. To me. Jordanordanharbinger.com advertisers, deals, discounts, ways to support the show, [e-mail] deals I'm ordanharbinger on Twitter and Instagram. You can find Jessica on her substacks, plural, between the lines and where shadows linger. We'll link to that in the show notes. I guess you can't have just one substack. Jessica. God forbid. This show is created in association with Podcast One. My team is Jen Harbinger, Jay Sanderson, Tata Sidlowskis, Robert Fogarty, Ian Baird, and Gabriel Mizrahi. Our advice and opinions are our own. And yes, I'm a lawyer, but I'm not your lawyer. Of course we try to get these episodes as right as we can. Not everything is gospel, even if it might be fact checked. So consult a professional before applying anything you hear on the show, especially if it's about your health and well being. Remember, we rise by lifting others. Share the show with those you love. If you found this episode useful, please share it with somebody else who could use a good dose of the skepticism and knowledge we doled out today. Any redheaded friends or family would be good candidates for this one, I think. In the meantime, I hope you apply what you hear on the show so you can live what you learn and we'll see you next time. This episode is sponsored in part by what Was that Like? Podcast. What does it feel like to watch your house burn down, be attacked by an alligator, or learn that your spouse hired someone to kill you? If you're dying to know, then what Was That Like? Is the podcast for you? What Was that Like? Is filled with real stories about the most surreal experiences of people's lives on the show. Host Scott Johnson dives deep with his guests into the unbelievable situations they found themselves in animal attacks, plane crashes, winning, the Price is Right, and more. This show brings you tons of completely surreal, completely true stories, all told through the lens of the person who experienced it. Check out some of these wild and gripping stories to gain some insight on what it was like to lose a leg to a shark attack and what it was like to be a professional bridesmaid. Totally fascinating episodes. So if you want to hear some disturbing and inspiring firsthand stories, you need to check out what Was that Like? Every story is thoroughly researched and fact checked, so you know even the most bizarre tales are someone's reality. Listen to what Was that Like On Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Not great with finances.

[B]

That's okay.

[A]

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[B]

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[A]

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