Podcast
Why We Do What We Do
Hosted by Abraham · EN
We explain popular and weird, little-known ideas in psychology. Whether you are a little curious about psychology, or a student, or even a professional, we have something for everyone.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/why-we-do-what-we-do--3419521/support.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/why-we-do-what-we-do--3419521/support.
47episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
How to Kill Science
1w ago00:53:59Tap to summarizeHow to kill science is also how to kill humans. The incompetent "leadership" in the United States is racing toward dictatorship in their desire to kill all humans. They are proposing to rewrite science so that any government funding that pays for research gets to dictate what that research is and how it is interpreted. Either you say what the government wants, or else you don't get any research funding. It is an unprecedented move that no president has ever tried in history, becuase it is a terrible, horrible, stupid, counterproductive idea. But, that's what happens when you get a bunch of republicans in charge. We'll break down the details of this incredible stupidity and provide some guidance on what you can do about it. See the first link where you can register your complaints. Note that, in a rare event, we are going to tell you that next week's mini is all about how to craft public comment for maximum effect. Let your voice be heard!COMMENT ON THIS ISSUE HERE: Abraham: Ghosts (season 5; https://www.cbs.com/shows/ghosts/)Shane: The Mandalorian and Grogu (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt30825738/)Holidays (6/10/2026):Ball Point Pen DayHerbs & Spices DayNational Black Cow DayNational Iced Tea DayAmerica The Beautiful WeekBedbug Awareness WeekMeet a Mate WeekNational Automotive Service Professional WeekNational Body Piercing WeekNational Frozen Yogurt WeekNational Little League Baseball WeekPet Appreciation WeekShampoo WeekLinks and References: https://www.science.org/content/article/white-house-seeks-tighten-political-oversight-grantmakinghttps://www.statnews.com/2026/05/29/nih-grants-uniform-guidance-proposal-political-control/https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/white-house-proposes-new-rules-giving-political-appointees-final-say-on-research-grants/https://blog.carnegieinvest.com/the-u.s.-governments-growing-role-in-the-private-sector https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/nvidia-us-government-to-boost-ai-infrastructure-and-rd-investments/ https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/15/trump-stock-trade-tech-oge.htmlhttps://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2026-10817.pdfBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/why-we-do-what-we-do--3419521/support.Support our podcast: www.patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast
Transcribe →Mini: Mosh Pits
1w ago00:16:25Tap to summarizeMosh pits are the rough-house style dancing/bopping that people do at music concerts. But where and why did this start? And why are they called mosh pits? We'll describe what is happening in mosh pits and what it all means. Join us on Patreon!Links and References: https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/3aptcw/what_are_the_origins_of_mosh_pits_and_how_did/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moshinghttps://www.facebook.com/EricAlperPR/posts/the-term-mosh-pit-originated-in-1979-when-bad-brains-hr-yelled-mash-it-during-a-/1164248955370779/https://metal.fandom.com/wiki/Moshinghttps://wknc.org/2018/08/20/shut-up-mosh-moshing-101/https://thenubianmessage.com/12033/opinion/the-dangerous-history-of-moshing/https://globalnews.ca/news/11727325/history-of-mosh-pits/https://www.councilofthelost.com/2021/03/01/history-of-moshpit/ https://abcnews.com/Health/story?id=4804513&page=1 Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/why-we-do-what-we-do--3419521/support.Support our podcast: www.patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast
Transcribe →Faith Healing
2w ago00:59:37Tap to summarizeProfessional magicians tell you that they are tricking you for entertainment. Charlatan, con artist magicians tell you that they are performing real magic that will cure you of your ails. Cynical grifters, faith healers perform theatrical stunts to convince people to give them money. They'd cyphon off someone's last dime if given the chance. We explain how faith healers perform their tricks and to the best of our ability, why people fall for it. RecommendationsAbraham: Fallout (Season 2; https://www.amazon.com/Fallout-Season-2/dp/B0FLSZBRZJ)Shane: Project Hail Mary (the movie)Holidays (6/3/2026):Chimborazo DayGlobal Running DayImpersonate Authority DayLove Conquers All DayNational Chocolate Macaroon DayNational Egg DayNational Itch DayRepeat DayWorld Bicycle DayWorld Clubfoot DayCanadian Environment WeekNational CPR and AED Awareness WeekStepparents WeekLinks and References: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RE21g91Heh8https://www.businessinsider.com/scam-everlasting-after-25-years-debunked-faith-healer-still-preaching-debt-relief-scam-2011-9https://www.motherjones.com/politics/1997/11/faith-healing-hoax/https://evidenceunseen.com/theology/practical-theology-ethics/faith-healershttps://www.heraldnet.com/2006/08/04/dont-fall-for-prayer-rug-watchdog-group-urges/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-leicestershire-31057337https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faith_healinghttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24301874/ https://www.gq.com/story/peter-popoff-born-again-scoundrel https://www.nytimes.com/1989/10/06/us/bakker-is-convicted-on-all-counts-first-felon-among-tv-evangelists.html https://roysreport.com/disgraced-televangelist-jim-bakker-pleads-for-1-million/ https://www.businessinsider.com/scam-everlasting-after-25-years-debunked-faith-healer-still-preaching-debt-relief-scam-2011-9 https://wng.org/articles/same-old-scam-1620660664 https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=307493253281642 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNwHG6kIO0g https://newhumanist.org.uk/2013/07/26/getting-tough-on-the-faith-healing-scammers/https://abc13.com/post/bogus-faith-healer-scams-hispanic-women/1128229/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/why-we-do-what-we-do--3419521/support.Support our podcast: www.patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast
Transcribe →Mini: Three-Card Monte
2w ago00:15:28Tap to summarizeThis old sleight of hand card trick is designed to steal your money. Be warned, you cannot win this game. It is rigged and 100% unwinable. We explain how the three-card Monte grift works so you can avoid being scammed. Join our Patreon CommunityLinks and References: https://www.wikihow.com/3-Card-Montehttps://zelmanow.medium.com/three-card-monte-a-lesson-in-spotting-rigged-games-in-life-05d74d47c57chttps://youtu.be/p4f9LWCwBFM?si=mBxHQymz8fCfre1Xhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three-card_montehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_-u94l7wegBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/why-we-do-what-we-do--3419521/support.Support our podcast: www.patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast
Transcribe →Nostalgia: Speed Reading
3w ago01:04:54Tap to summarizeYears ago, we looked into the research on speed reading. What we found raised difficult questions about how viable this strategy really is. As we reviewed recent research for this re-release, we discovered that a) you can read at extremely speeds, you just won't actually read anything or remember any of it, and b) you can't actually read at extremely high speeds. Tell us your thoughts!RecommendationsAbraham: Animal Control (season 4; https://www.hulu.com/series/animal-control-451af77e-25c4-4992-abc8-a313cbd2a2b7)Shane: Hum - Inlet (https://open.spotify.com/album/6SfnjkSphtKowg3tt7azDi?si=AjVsX0kzQpeOX_yYm5Chow)Holidays (5/27/2026):Cellophane Tape DayNational Grape Popsicle DayNational Gray DayNational Sunscreen DayNothing to Fear DayOld Time Player Piano DayWorld Otter DayHair Stylist Mental Health DayEid-al-AdhaOlder Americans Mental Health WeekPrepare Tomorrow’s Parents MonthScripps National Spelling BeeWeek of Solidarity with the Peoples of Non-Self-Governing TerritoriesNew links and references:https://bigthink.com/smart-skills/neuroscience-speed-reading-bullshit/\Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/why-we-do-what-we-do--3419521/support.Support our podcast: www.patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast
Transcribe →Mini: Car-Sick
3w ago00:15:51Tap to summarizeSometimes we get nauseaus when riding around in or on vehicles. What is going on with this? We explore motion sickness and what you can do about it... if anything.Support us on Patreon!Links and References: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/12782-motion-sicknesshttps://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-does-reading-in-a-mov/https://www.cdc.gov/yellow-book/hcp/travel-air-sea/motion-sickness.htmlhttps://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4112051/https://health.ucdavis.edu/blog/cultivating-health/motion-sickness-how-you-can-prevent-symptoms-and-enjoy-travel/2024/05 Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/why-we-do-what-we-do--3419521/support.Support our podcast: www.patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast
Transcribe →Antimetabole and Chiasmus
4w ago00:52:44Tap to summarizeThere is a form of rhetoric that is suprrisingly effective at persuading people to adopt beliefs regardless of their accuracy. These are called "antimetabole." They are not necessarily inherently wrong, but we'll explain how to spot them and determine how they are trying to manipulate you. RecommendationsAbraham: Learn ASL! (lifeprint.com; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6w1ZDaE-whc&list=PLMN7QCuj6dfaUwmtdkdKhINGZzyGwp7Q1) Shane: Mortal Kombat II (https://www.warnerbros.com/movies/mortal-kombat-ii)Holidays (5/20/2026):Eliza Doolittle DayEmancipation Day (Florida)Emergency Medical Services DayFlower DayInternational Clinical Trials DayNational Juice Slush DayNational Quiche Lorraine DayNational Rescue Dog DayPick Strawberries DayWeights and Measure DayWorld Bee DayWorld Metrology DayInternational Pickle WeekBand director’s dayNational Foul Ball WeekLinks and References: https://mralancooper.medium.com/antimetabole-1d95057c9658https://rhetoric.byu.edu/Figures/A/antimetabole.htmhttps://www.americanrhetoric.com/figures/antimetabole.htmhttps://www.southfloridawriters.org/post/antimetaboles-and-chiasmuses-and-expletives-oh-myhttps://www.litcharts.com/literary-devices-and-terms/antimetabolehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antimetabole https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/digital-humanities/articles/10.3389/fdigh.2018.00010/full https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6050388/ https://gretchenschmelzer.com/blog-1/2015/1/11/understanding-learning-and-memory-the-neuroscience-of-repetition Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/why-we-do-what-we-do--3419521/support.Support our podcast: www.patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast
Transcribe →Mini: Evidence of Bigfoot?
May 1800:13:49Tap to summarizeIn several interviews, Jane Goodall explained why she believed there was evidence of Bigfoot. While she was a wonderful natural scientist, a good science communicator, and radically changed the way we think about animals, she also had some biases that prevented a healthy skepticism from driving her perspective. We explain the "evidence" and why it is not evidence. Support us on Patreonhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ukvQfUlAogmichigansthumb.com/opinion/article/Jane-Goodall-making-monkey-out-of-average-Bigfoot-17018324.phpBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/why-we-do-what-we-do--3419521/support.Support our podcast: www.patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast
Transcribe →English Accents
May 1300:56:33Tap to summarizeWhy do American and UK Accents sound so dissimilar? Could a couple hundred years of infrequent communciation result in that much drift? Did the Americans change or did the English change? Back in the 1700s, American English and British English sounded basically identical to.... American English today! We dive into the divergence of the various UK accents, as well as unique American accents. Language is weird. RecommendationsAbraham: Big Mistakes (season 1; https://www.netflix.com/title/81734605) Shane: Goldentone Studios (https://www.discogs.com/label/281800-Goldentone-Studios?srsltid=AfmBOop0QkSpSlHdHzsHVnu6F6Z1dX_20fCHQ0iE_ai_cXXo2tZa1QCl)Holidays (5/13/2026):Cough Drop DayDonate a Day’s Wages to CharityFrog Jumping DayInternational Hummus DayNational Apple Pie DayNational Leprechaun DayNational Root Canal Appreciation DayTop Gun DayTulip DayWorld Orienteering DayFood Allergy Awareness WeekInternational Coaching WeekNational Bike WeekLinks and References: https://youtu.be/vnkOFZKN0Dk?si=IPeNuwtYoU_m86uehttps://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-24703-3_6 https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20180207-how-americans-preserved-british-englishhttps://www.voices.com/blog/mid-atlantic-accent/https://beelinguapp.com/blog/the-transatlantic-accent:-what-is-it-&-how-do-you-talk-in-ithttps://www.cmdnyc.com/blog/2016/5/3/what-happened-to-the-mid-atlantic-accenthttps://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-the-international-phonetic-association/article/abs/effects-of-dialect-on-vowel-acoustics-and-intelligibility/EE3A72D1A6D39C5216EDA4F5D337538Ahttps://www.studiocambridge.co.uk/a-brief-guide-to-british-accents-and-dialects/https://www.ef.edu/blog/language/why-us-and-uk-english-sound-so-different/ Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/why-we-do-what-we-do--3419521/support.Support our podcast: www.patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast
Transcribe →Mini: Designer Genes
May 1100:18:07Tap to summarizeThere are pros and cons to the trajectory of genetic engineering research. Eventually, we will be confronted by a systemic drive to apply these interventions to human beings. On the one hand, genetic engineering could alleviate a tremendous amount of suffering for people with horrible genetic diseases. On the other, we don't understand these processes well enough to anticipated the unintended consequences of manipulating something as complex as a genome. What do you think about the future of genetic engineering in humans? Email us at info@wwdwwdpodcast.comBlue Sky@wwdwwdpodcast.bsky.socialFacebookhttps://www.facebook.com/wwdwwdpodcastSupport us on PatreonLinks and References: https://www.leopoldina.org/en/topics/genome-editing/the-pros-and-cons-of-genome-editinghttps://theweek.com/news/science-health/959606/pros-and-cons-of-gene-editing-babiesBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/why-we-do-what-we-do--3419521/support.Support our podcast: www.patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast
Transcribe →