243 episodes

There are a lot of fads, blogs and strong opinions, but then there’s SCIENCE. Science Vs is the show from Gimlet that finds out what’s fact, what’s not, and what’s somewhere in between. We do the hard work of sifting through all the science so you don't have to and cover everything from 5G and Pandemics, to Vaping and Fasting Diets.

Science Vs Spotify Podcasts

    • Science
    • 4.6 • 2.1K Ratings

There are a lot of fads, blogs and strong opinions, but then there’s SCIENCE. Science Vs is the show from Gimlet that finds out what’s fact, what’s not, and what’s somewhere in between. We do the hard work of sifting through all the science so you don't have to and cover everything from 5G and Pandemics, to Vaping and Fasting Diets.

    Ozempic: Is It Scarier Than We Thought?

    Ozempic: Is It Scarier Than We Thought?

    We looked at this class of weight loss drugs a year ago, and they've only gotten more popular — and more controversial. We’re hearing that these kinds of drugs can be tough on your stomach, and that the weight loss comes with worrisome loss of muscle. We’ve also heard claims that they might increase your risk of suicide. So — should we be freaking out here?? We talk to endocrinologist Dr. Vibha Singhal, neuroscientist Dr. Nora Volkow, and gastroenterologist Dr. Michael Camilleri.  

    This episode does deal with depression and suicidal thoughts. Here are some crisis hotlines: 
    United States: US National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Dial 988 (Online chat available); US Crisis Text Line Text “HOME” to 741741
    Australia: Lifeline 13 11 14 (Online chat available)
    Canada: Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention (See link for phone numbers listed by province)
    United Kingdom: Samaritans 116 123 (UK and ROI)
    Full list of international hotlines here 

    Find our transcript here: https://bit.ly/ScienceVsOzempic2Scarier 

    Chapters:
    In this episode, we cover:

    (00:00) What are the fears around these weight loss drugs? 
    (04:46) Do these drugs melt your muscles?
    (11:49) Do these drugs increase the risk of suicidal thoughts? 
    (16:15) Can they really paralyze your stomach?
    (30:25) Some good news!
    (33:36) How Did You Find the Bezoar?

    CREDITS
    This episode was produced by Rose Rimler, with help from Wendy Zukerman, Meryl Horn, Michelle Dang, and Joel Werner. We’re edited by Blythe Terrell. Fact checking by Erica Akiko Howard. Recording assistance from Selena Seay-Reynolds. Mix and sound design by Bobby Lord and Peter Leonard. Music written by Bumi Hidaka, Emma Munger, Peter Leonard, So Wylie and Bobby Lord. Thanks to all of the researchers we spoke to for this episode, including Dr. Kristen Beavers, Dr. Ellen Fallows, Dr. Joseph Henson, Dr. Dimitrios Papamargaritis, Prof. Roger McIntyre, Prof. Russ Waitman, Dr. Sahib Khalsa,, Dr. Travis Masterson, and Dr. Etienne Wang. Thanks also to Bryant Smith and Lori Segal. And special thanks to the listeners on these medications who checked back in with us.   

    A special thanks to the Zukerman Family and Joseph Lavelle Wilson.

    Science Vs is a Spotify Studios Original. Listen for free on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Follow us and tap the bell for episode notifications.

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    • 40 min
    Anti-Aging: Can We Be Forever Young?

    Anti-Aging: Can We Be Forever Young?

    We’ve been hunting for the fountain of youth for millennia, but if you go online, it looks like the search is over! So we’re looking at some of the buzziest anti-aging hacks out there: the potential powers of young blood, the latest supplements, and a drug that has some scientists really pumped. We talk to researchers Dr. Jim White, Dr. Melanie McReynolds and Prof. Nir Barzilai. 

    Find our transcript here: https://bit.ly/ScienceVsAnti-Aging

    In this episode, we cover:
    (00:00) The Hunt for the Fountain of Youth
    (03:07) Can Young Blood Keep Us Sprightly?
    (13:05) Do NAD Boosters Work? 
    (21:25) Is Metformin a Game-Changer?
    (27:50) How the Nerds Stay Young

    This episode was produced by Michelle Dang and Wendy Zukerman, with help from Meryl Horn, Rose Rimler, and Joel Werner. We’re edited by Blythe Terrell. Research help from Timmy Broderick. Fact checking by Eva Dasher. Mix and sound design by Bobby Lord. Music written by Bumi Hidaka, Emma Munger, Peter Leonard, So Wylie and Bobby Lord. A special thanks to all of the researchers we spoke to for this episode, including Dr. Janet Choi, Dr. Gideon Meyerowitz-Katz, and Dr. Xue Li. A special thanks to the Zukerman Family and Joseph Lavelle Wilson.

    Science Vs is a Spotify Studios Original. Listen for free on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Follow us and tap the bell for episode notifications. 
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    • 35 min
    Get Ready for Our BIGGEST SEASON EVER

    Get Ready for Our BIGGEST SEASON EVER

    Strap in, nerds: New Science Vs episodes are coming! This season, we’re diving into the science of longevity, cannabis, hormone balancing, dreams, menopause, squirting, protein and MUCH more. New episodes start March 7!
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    • 3 min
    Ayahuasca: WTF is up with DMT?

    Ayahuasca: WTF is up with DMT?

    DMT might be the weirdest drug in the already weird world of psychedelics. It’s the active ingredient in ayahuasca, but on its own, DMT can give you what’s nicknamed “the businessman’s trip” — a psychedelic journey that can be done and dusted inside 15 minutes. So what is this drug doing to our brains? And could it help people with depression? We catch up with Dr Chris Timmermann, Dr Graham Campbell, Michelle Baker Jones and Dr David Olson to find out.

    Find our transcript here: https://bit.ly/ScienceVsDMT 

    Listeners, we need you! Tell us: What should we versus in 2024? Also, we’re looking for your questions on topics including sex, diet and menopause! In the U.S., leave us a voicemail at 774-481-1238 or send an email or voice memo to sciencevs@gimletmedia.com.

    Find us on Social Media! Instagram: @science_vs / TikTok: @wendyzukerman / Twitter: @sciencevs

    In this episode, we cover:
    (00:00) WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!
    (00:59) Celebs love ayahuasca
    (04:58) DMT
    (08:06) The ‘Rick and Morty’ Trip
    (13:30) Is DMT a portal?
    (15:42) DMT in our brains
    (21:53) DMT for depression?
    (29:33) Plastic psychedelics
    (36:10) Risks of DMT and ayahuasca
    (39:09) Where do we land on DMT?

    This episode was produced by Joel Werner, with help from Wendy Zukerman, Michelle Dang, Rose Rimler, and Nick DelRose. We’re edited by Blythe Terrell. Fact checking by Diane Kelly. Mix and sound design by Bumi Hidaka. Music written by Bumi Hidaka, Peter Leonard, and Bobby Lord. Thanks to all the researchers we spoke to including Dr Rick Strassman, Dr David Erritzoe, Dr Jimo Borjigin, Dr. Steven Barker, Dr Brandon Weiss, Dr Pascal Michael, Dr Michael Gatch, Professor Jerome Sarris, Professor Deepak Dsouza, Sean Chiddy, and David Nickles. Special thanks to Jack Weinstein and Hunter, Katie Vines, Finn and Jules, Christian Darío Vásquez, Valentina Powers, Zac Schmidt, the Zukerman Family and Joseph Lavelle Wilson. 

    Science Vs is a Spotify Studios Original. Listen for free on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Follow us and tap the bell for episode notifications. 
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    • 48 min
    Personality Tests: Who Are You Really?

    Personality Tests: Who Are You Really?

    Personality tests like the MBTI are all over the internet, the workplace, and dating apps — but some say it’s all a bunch of baloney. So are any of these tests legit? And what can science actually tell us about personality? We talk to psychologists Dr. Alexander Swan, Dr. Emorie Beck, and Dr. Ted Schwaba.

    Find our transcript here: https://bit.ly/ScienceVsPersonalityTests


    In this episode, we cover:
    (00:00) Chapter 1: Personality tests and their impact
    (05:49) Chapter 2: Personality and the MBTI
    (13:21) Chapter 3: Why personality ‘types’ flop
    (24:52) Chapter 4: The scientist’s personality test
    (30:05) Chapter 5: What personality can predict
    (33:24) Chapter 6: Can you change your personality?


    This episode was produced by Michelle Dang, with help from Wendy Zukerman, Nick DelRose, Rose Rimler, and Joel Werner. We’re edited by Blythe Terrell. Fact checking by Eva Dasher. Mix and sound design by Bumi Hidaka. Music written by Bumi Hidaka, Emma Munger, Peter Leonard, So Wylie and Bobby Lord. Special thanks to all the researchers we spoke to for this episode, including Dr. Nicholas Turiano, Prof. Howard Friedman, and Prof. Paul Duberstein. And special thanks to the Zukerman Family and Joseph Lavelle Wilson. 

    Science Vs is a Spotify Studios Original. Listen for free on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Follow us and tap the bell for episode notifications.
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    • 44 min
    Caffeine: How Much is Too Much?

    Caffeine: How Much is Too Much?

    Caffeine is a drug that tons of us take every day. But is that a bad thing? And if we get it in the form of energy drinks, is that super dangerous? We talk to Dr. Astrid Nehlig, Prof. Gregory Marcus, and Prof. Sachin Shah. 

    Find our transcript here: https://bit.ly/ScienceVsCaffeineEnergyDrinks

    In this episode, we cover:
    (00:00) Chapter 1: We love/hate caffeine
    (02:12) Chapter 2: Coffee and our guts
    (07:12) Chapter 3: Coffee and our brains
    (12:40) Chapter 4: Coffee and our zzzzzzs
    (17:42) Chapter 5: Coffee makes us go vroom vroom vroom!
    (20:30) Chapter 6: Are we caffeine addicts? 
    (28:04) Chapter 7: Are energy drinks dangerous?

    This episode was produced by Rose Rimler, with help from Wendy Zukerman, as well as Nick DelRose, Joel Werner, and Michelle Dang. We’re edited by Blythe Terrell. Fact checking by Sarah Baum. Mix and sound design by Bumi Hidaka. Music written by Bobby Lord, Bumi Hidaka, Emma Munger and Peter Leonard. Special thanks to all the researchers we spoke to for this episode – including Dr. Bryan Saunders, Dr. Sergi Ferré, Prof. Andreas Heinz, Prof. Christine Curran, Dr. Erikka Loftfield, Dr. Felix Oberhoffer, Dr. Alan Wayne Jones, and Dr. Vijay Yadav. Extra special thanks to Jason Vytlacil and the Zukerman family.

    Science Vs is a Spotify Studios Original. Listen for free on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. We are everywhere that podcasts are! If you are listening on Spotify, follow us and tap the bell for episode notifications. And if you like us, give a five star review! 
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    • 42 min

Customer Reviews

4.6 out of 5
2.1K Ratings

2.1K Ratings

Britttaetz ,

Adderall Episode

This episode approximately 2 minutes of it completely changed my boyfriends daily life.
He was diagnosed with depression and was on meds for 5+ years with the meds really not helping much. After listening to this episode where they talk about the brain disconnect with dopamine I decided to ask his family if he was ever diagnosed with ADHD. Turns out he was at a young age but his family never told him. He started ADHD meds today, and said he finally feels “normal”. Your podcast matters, thank you❤️

carmtay ,

one of my all-time faves

I absolutely love this podcast. It’s the perfect blend of entertaining (it’s really funny and find myself laughing out loud while listening!) and informative. It’s evidence based and I really like that they always share how many citations each episode has. Wendy & crew cover a wide range of topics in a balanced and unbiased way. I recommend this pod to everyone. Thanks so much for accompanying me on many commutes and while doing chores around the house!

ErikaDawnMo ,

One of the best podcasts ever!

Thank you Wendy and team

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