Who Smarted? – "Why Are You Afraid of the Dark?" (January 14, 2026)

Episode Overview

This episode of Who Smarted? dives into a relatable and sometimes giggle-worthy topic: the fear of the dark. With their signature humor and interactive approach, the podcast hosts Trusty Narrator and Chet Nickerson unpack why so many kids (and even some adults) feel afraid when the lights go out, what’s really hiding in our imaginations versus our rooms, the science behind the fear, and practical tips for overcoming nyctophobia. It’s an enlightening and funny journey touching on psychology, history, biology, and bedtime routines—perfect for curious minds who want to understand (and maybe conquer) their nighttime jitters.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Scene: Fear of the Dark is Normal

• Trusty Narrator admits to being afraid of the dark, sparking friendly teasing from Chet but also offering reassurance to listeners that they're not alone.

  • Quote: “The truth is, smarty pants, when it comes to the dark, I'm a bit of a scaredy pants.” (00:54)

• Chet Nickerson: “Let me just say, the dark is nothing to be afraid of.” (01:36)
  Yet, Trusty disagreements illustrate how fear can persist despite logic.

2. Why the Dark is Scary: Imagination & Evolution

• Chet explains it's not what’s in the dark, but what we imagine:

  • Quote: “The reason why the dark seems scary isn't because of what's hiding in the dark. It's because of what's hiding in your mind.” (03:16)

• Children’s imaginations are stronger, making them more susceptible to fear when they can't distinguish fantasy from reality (03:39–04:06).

• Evolutionary tie-in: Fear of darkness stems from ancient times when humans had to be cautious of predators at night.

  • Quote: “Some researchers believe the fear of the dark dates way, way back to our earliest ancestors.” (06:34)

3. The Science of Nyctophobia

• Fear of the dark has a scientific name:

  • Nyctophobia – from Greek for “night” (04:41–04:49).
  • Less common terms: “scotophobia” & “lygophobia.”
  • Chet: “It's believed three out of every four kids between the ages of three and 12 are afraid of the dark.” (04:49–05:00)

• Physical signs of severe fear (nyctophobia or lygophobia) include difficulty swallowing, dry mouth, dizziness, sweating, increased heart rate, and nausea (07:21–07:41).

4. What Makes Fear Worse or Better

• Triggers for fear: Family history of phobias, anxiety, exposure to scary movies/games/stories, bad weather (05:56–06:23).

• Tips for Coping:

  • Nightlights can make the dark less intimidating (True or False? True!) (08:17–08:19).
  • Avoid screens before bed; blue light can be too energizing (13:16–13:24).
  • Sleeping with lights on or avoiding sleep doesn’t help; positive routines do (08:37–09:09).
  • Positive affirmations (like “I will be okay in the dark”) help retrain the brain (09:19–09:47).
  • Deep breathing exercises offer calm and control (09:47–10:27).

5. Adults Fear Too!

• The hosts normalize that fear of the dark isn’t just for kids.
  • Quote: “Fear of the dark can affect anyone at any time in their life. And believe it or not, the number of adults who claim to be afraid of the dark have actually increased in recent years.” (10:49–11:02)

6. Fun Stuff in the Dark

• Flip the narrative: The dark is home to awesome things:
  • Fireflies (11:28)
  • Constellations: “Constellations are pictures in the sky made by groups of stars.” (11:34–11:54)
  • Holidays like Hanukkah & Christmas use light to brighten the darkest seasons (12:25–12:38).
  • Cuddling with a stuffed animal, playing with glow sticks, or a whispered bedtime story (12:50–13:16).

7. How Our Eyes See in the Dark

• Human eyes adapt gradually thanks to rods (more light-sensitive) and cones (color/detail sensors).

  • Trusty: “The cones and rods in your eyes work together to help you see if there is some level of light to work with.” (16:18–16:26)
  • Quiz: Rods have more light sensitivity than cones (16:32–16:40).

• Fun science trivia:

  • Best animal night vision: Deer!
    • Quote: “Deer have the best night vision.” (17:14–17:22)
  • Deer are “crepuscular”—active at dusk and night (17:25).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Setting up the humor and relatability:

  • Trusty Narrator: “I see. Or rather, I don't see because I'm in the dark." (02:10)
  • Chet Nickerson, cracking jokes about monsters and dirty underwear: “When you're a kid, you can imagine all kinds of things living under your bed, but in reality, it's just a pair of dirty underwear. Eugh. Now that's scary.” (04:11–04:23)

• Practical advice for kids (and adults):

  • Chet: “A nightlight is a great way to help with the fear of the dark. And, quite frankly, it's not a bad idea to have even if you're not scared of the dark, so you can see where you're going in case you have to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night.” (08:18–08:37)
  • Trusty Narrator on affirmations: "If you repeat something like, I will be okay in the dark, your brain will actually start to believe it." (09:19–09:47)
  • Chet: “Deep breathing is also a great way to cope with being in the dark … breathe in through your nose … hold … then breathe out slowly through your mouth as if you're blowing on some hot soup.” (09:47–10:27)

• Inclusion of relatable rituals:

  • Trusty: "Cuddling with a stuffy can also make it much easier to go to sleep in the dark." (13:02–13:09)

• Science trivia delight:

  • Chet: “Nope. Smarty pants. Any idea which animal has the best night vision and why?... You said oh Dear, oh, dear. Deer have the best night vision.” (17:00–17:22)

Important Segment Timestamps

• Introduction and admission of bedtime fear: 00:30 – 01:21
• Imagination vs. reality in the dark: 03:16 – 04:23
• Definitions of nyctophobia & lygophobia: 04:41 – 05:00
• Why some people are more afraid of the dark: 05:56 – 06:23
• Historical/evolutionary reasons: 06:34 – 06:58
• Signs and symptoms of true nyctophobia: 07:21 – 07:41
• Nightlight and coping mechanisms: 08:17 – 10:27
• Adults and fear of the dark: 10:44 – 11:02
• Looking for positive things in the dark: 11:17 – 13:16
• How eyes adapt to darkness (biology): 15:37 – 16:46
• Animals with best night vision (deer): 17:00 – 17:25

Conclusion

Who Smarted? wraps up its look at darkness with reassurance that fear is normal, manageable, and sometimes even a little bit funny. By understanding the science behind our fears and developing positive bedtime habits, listeners can turn darkness into a source of wonder—not worry. The episode’s blend of humor, science, and actionable advice makes the topic engaging and non-threatening, leaving kids feeling much smarter and safer after lights out.

Sample Closing Quote:
Chet Nickerson: “And best of all, Trusty is no longer afraid of the dark. So lights out. Ah. What was that?” (17:36–17:48)

For further listening: Check out episodes on fireflies, stuffed animals, and constellations mentioned during the show!