Why We Do What We Do

Abraham
  • 4.5 (86)
  • SOCIAL SCIENCES
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

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.

  1. 19H AGO

    Nostalgia: Speed Reading

    Years 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! Recommendations Abraham: 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-b******t/\ 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

    1h 5m

  2. 2D AGO

    Mini: Car-Sick

    Sometimes 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

    16 min

  3. MAY 20

    Antimetabole and Chiasmus

    There 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 Week Links 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

    53 min

  4. MAY 18

    Mini: Evidence of Bigfoot?

    In 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 Patreon https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ukvQfUlAogmichigansthumb.com/opinion/article/Jane-Goodall-making-monkey-out-of-average-Bigfoot-17018324.php 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

    14 min

  5. MAY 13

    English Accents

    Why 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.  Recommendations Abraham: 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 Week Links 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

    57 min

  6. MAY 11

    Mini: Designer Genes

    There 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.com Blue Sky @wwdwwdpodcast.bsky.social Facebook https://www.facebook.com/wwdwwdpodcast Support us on Patreon Links 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-babies 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

    18 min

  7. MAY 6

    Billboard Hot 100

    This fascinating and yet entirely expected piece of Americana has shaped the music industry for better or worse (probably worse). But, why does it exist at all? We explore how the Billboard Hot 100 came to be, what it was intended to do, and how it has affected musicianship around the world. Do you follow the Hot 100? Recommendations Abraham: The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins (https://www.peacocktv.com/stream-tv/the-fall-and-rise-of-reggie-dinkins)Shane: Project Hail Mary (https://www.penguinrandomhouseretail.com/book/?isbn=9780593135204) Holidays (5/6/2026): Great American Grump OutInternational No Diet DayNational Anxiety Disorders Screening DayNational Beverage DayNational Crepes Suzette DayNational Day to Prevent Teen and Unplanned PregnancyNational (Deaf) Interpreter DayNational Nurses DayNational Tourist Appreciation DayAir Quality Awareness WeekArson Awareness WeekBe Kind to Animals Week Links and References:  https://www.npr.org/sections/therecord/2013/08/16/207879695/how-the-hot-100-became-americas-hit-barometerhttps://www.scribd.com/document/670560817/Billboard-Hot-100-2https://www.edmsauce.com/what-is-the-billboard-hot-100/https://sites.psu.edu/noahpassion/2019/10/25/the-evolution-of-billboard-and-birth-of-the-hot-100/https://www.billboard.com/pro/how-global-new-global-billboard-charts/https://www.billboard.com/charts/genre/hits-of-the-world/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billboard_charts https://www.billboard.com/pro/billboard-chart-history-evolution-milestones/#:~:text=now%20Nielsen%20Music.)-,Nov.,singles%20sales%20data%20from%20SoundScan. https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/683851-longest-song-to-reach-no-1-on-the-billboard-hot-100  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

    1h 6m

  8. MAY 4

    Mini: Suicide Hotline (988)

    Recent research has evaluated the effect of changes made to the national suicide hotline in 2022 in the US. Scientists analyzed the success of this program by comparing projected trends to actual data. This underscores the importance of prcevention strategies, and support for vulnerable populations. If live in the US and you are someone you know is in crisis, call 988. Join our membership Links and References:  https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/988-crisis-hotline-linked-to-drop-in-young-adult-suicide-rates/#:~:text=Since%20July%202022%2C%20people%20in,those%20numbers%20with%20actual%20deaths.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/books/NBK604162/#:~:text=In%20July%202022%2C%20the%20United,suicide%20prevention%20training%20in%20schools.https://behavioralhealthlink.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/988-History-Journal-Article_JohnDraper.pdf#:~:text=In%202004%2C%20SAMHSA%20awarded%20the%20hotline%20grant,with%20109%20network%20members%20in%20January%202005. 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

    15 min
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About

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.

Information

  • Creator
    Abraham
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2026
  • Episodes
    585
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright Context Media
  • Show Website
    Why We Do What We Do

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