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Chemistry For Your Life

Melissa and Jam, Bleav
  • 4.6 (300)
  • Chemistry
  • Updated Weekly

A podcast that helps you understand the fascinating chemistry hidden in your everyday life. Have you ever wondered why onions make you cry? Or how soap gets your hands clean? What really is margarine, or why do trees change colors in the fall? Melissa is a chemist, and to answer these questions she started a podcast, called Chemistry for your life! In each episode Melissa explains the chemistry behind one of life’s mysteries to Jam, who is definitely not a chemist, but she explains it in a way that is easy to understand, and totally fascinating. If you’re someone who loves learning new things, or who wonders about the way the world works, then give us a listen.

  1. 1d ago

    How does a pencil eraser remove graphite?

    How can the same element make both pencil lead and diamonds? This week we wrap up our pencil chemistry mini-series by answering a surprisingly tricky question: how do erasers actually erase? Then we dive into one of chemistry’s coolest ideas. Graphite and diamond are both made entirely of carbon, but one is soft enough to write with and the other is the hardest natural material we know. What changed? The answer reveals something remarkable about chemistry, structure, and the hidden world of atoms. Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChemForYourLife 0:00 – Intro: diamonds, carbon, and the hardest natural material 2:25 – How erasers actually erase pencil marks 6:50 – Why erasers get old, crumbly, and less effective 9:50 – Graphite vs. diamond: same element, completely different materials 13:50 – Why diamonds are so hard (and why they sparkle) 15:30 – Allotropes: how carbon can become radically different substances 17:00 – Melissa’s carbon epiphany: appreciating chemistry in a new way 20:20 – Things we didn’t appreciate until later in life (birds, coffee, and more) 25:20 – Father’s Day advice for dads and families 31:50 – Wrap-up + your carbon questions Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChemForYourLife References from the Episode: Thanks to our monthly supporters Sara Hull Dog Day Dan Bri . Summer Alden Amanda Raymond Kyle McCray Justine Ash Vince W Julie S. Heather Ragusa Autoclave Dorien VD Scott Beyer Jessie Reder J0HNTR0Y Cullyn R Erica Bee Elizabeth P Rachel Reina Letila Katrina Barnum-Huckins Suzanne Phillips Venus Rebholz Jacob Taber Brian Kimball Kristina Gotfredsen Timothy Parker Steven Boyles Chris Skupien Chelsea B Avishai Barnoy Hunter Reardon Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChemForYourLife     Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    35 min

  2. May 28

    How do gemstones get their color?

    #158 Rebroadcast Gemstones come in all sorts of colors, but how do they get them? Are different stones super different at the molecular level? How do these different colors happen naturally? And how can those colors be replicated in lab-made gemstones? Let's get into it. References from this episode https://www.acs.org/education/students/highschool/chemistryclubs/activities/jewelry-science.html Thanks to our monthly supporters Ciara Linville J0HNTR0Y Jeannette Napoleon Cullyn R Erica Bee Elizabeth P Sarah Moar Rachel Reina Letila Katrina Barnum-Huckins Suzanne Phillips Nelly Silva Venus Rebholz Lyn Stubblefield Jacob Taber Brian Kimball Emerson Woodhall Kristina Gotfredsen Timothy Parker Steven Boyles Chris Skupien Chelsea B Bri McAllister Avishai Barnoy Hunter Reardon Support this podcast on Patreon Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChemForYourLife.   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    45 min

  3. May 28 ·  Bonus • Subscribers Only

    Chemmunity: Bikes and birds and learning cool things as grownups

    Welcome back to an exclusive bonus episode ONLY for members of the Chemmunity. This time we're talking about new bike adventures, bird adventures, and forcing yourself to learn cool new things as an adult. Chemmunity is the secret podcast for Chemistry For Your Life Patrons, Supporters, and Subscribers. Members of the Chemmunity get ad-free versions of the podcast PLUS monthly exclusive bonus episodes where Melissa and Jam talk about whatever they want... EXCEPT chemistry. For the most part. Welcome to the Chemmunity!

    26 min

  4. May 21

    How do pencils write on paper?

    Why does a pencil work so perfectly? Why does graphite leave marks on paper instead of just crumbling apart? And what do pancakes, honeycombs, geckos, and intermolecular forces have to do with any of it? This week we follow a simple pencil all the way down to carbon atoms, graphene sheets, and the weirdly satisfying chemistry that makes writing possible. Plus: final exam horror stories, missed alarms, and why reading the syllabus might save your GPA. Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChemForYourLife Timestamps 0:00 – The strangely satisfying feeling of fresh pencils 1:03 – So… how do pencils actually work? 2:07 – A “polymer eraser” sparks this whole episode 3:10 – Are pencils disappearing for Gen Alpha? 4:35 – Graphite, graphene, and carbon structures 6:20 – What graphene actually looks like 7:10 – Carbon bonding and tetrahedral shapes 8:10 – Double bonds and flat molecular structures 9:40 – Electron highways and conductivity 10:20 – Melissa’s graphene model demonstration 13:10 – Why graphene could replace silicon chips 13:30 – Carbon nanotubes explained 14:40 – What holds graphite layers together? 15:00 – Intermolecular forces return 17:10 – Quick refresher on intermolecular forces 18:50 – London dispersion forces and temporary dipoles 19:30 – Why graphite is brittle 20:00 – How pencils leave marks on paper 21:20 – Why graphite is basically perfectly designed for writing 22:00 – A detour into paper, parchment, and writing history 24:00 – Pencil hardness and clay mixtures 26:30 – Jam attempts a chemistry-heavy recap 33:20 – Cliffhanger: how erasers work 34:00 – Final exam disaster stories 36:50 – Oversleeping a college final 39:10 – Melissa’s sprint across campus in pajamas 41:00 – Read the syllabus. Seriously. 43:10 – Teasing next episode: erasers and other forms of carbon Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChemForYourLife References from the Episode: Thanks to our monthly supporters Kelly D. Bri Summer Alden Amanda Raymond Kyle McCray Justine Ash Vince W Julie S. Heather Ragusa Autoclave Dorien VD Scott Beyer Jessie Reder J0HNTR0Y Jeannette Napoleon Cullyn R Erica Bee Elizabeth P Rachel Reina Letila Katrina Barnum-Huckins Suzanne Phillips Venus Rebholz Jacob Taber Brian Kimball Kristina Gotfredsen Timothy Parker Steven Boyles Chris Skupien Chelsea B Avishai Barnoy Hunter Reardon Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChemForYourLife Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    47 min

  5. May 14 ·  Bonus

    Ask a Chemist: What things should you never mix? (and other questions)

    What happens when you mix bleach and ammonia? Why does perfume smell amazing on one person and weird on another? And why is getting a job so hard right now? This week we’re answering a huge batch of listener questions about chemistry, sunscreen, scents, books, careers, birds, and somehow even British accents. Plus, we accidentally brainstorm several new podcast ideas along the way. Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChemForYourLife Timestamps 0:00 – Listener question extravaganza begins 1:00 – What ingredients should NEVER be mixed together? 1:30 – Bleach + ammonia and dangerous chloramine gas 2:40 – Food combinations that actually are bad 3:30 – How SPF and sunscreen work 5:00 – Why perfumes smell different on different people 6:30 – Body chemistry, temperature, and scent longevity 8:00 – “Why is it so hard to get a job?” 9:00 – Post-graduation job hunting advice 10:15 – Treating job searching like a full-time job 11:00 – Using chemistry skills in unexpected careers 12:00 – Certifications, courses, and standing out 14:15 – Book recommendations from listeners and hosts 15:50 – Narnia, Lord of the Rings, and classic books 17:00 – “Phoebe Reads a Mystery” and audiobook-style podcasts 18:20 – Human similarities to elements and chemical bonding 19:45 – Why chemistry analogies help us learn 22:00 – Are American accents annoying to British listeners? 23:45 – Melissa considers starting a reading podcast 25:00 – Listener suggestion: chemistry changes that impacted real life 25:45 – Podcast-inspired life changes: sunscreen and Teflon 27:00 – Shoutouts to listeners, friends, and good coffee 29:20 – The missing bird fact mystery 30:20 – “Please don’t stop uploading” 31:00 – Reflecting on nearly 7 years of the podcast 31:45 – Patreon, merch, and intermolecular forces merch talk 33:45 – Chemmunity thank-yous and outro Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChemForYourLife References from the Episode: Thanks to our monthly supporters Kelly D. Bri Summer Alden Amanda Raymond Kyle McCray Justine Ash Vince W Julie S. Heather Ragusa Autoclave Dorien VD Scott Beyer Jessie Reder J0HNTR0Y Jeannette Napoleon Cullyn R Erica Bee Elizabeth P Rachel Reina Letila Katrina Barnum-Huckins Suzanne Phillips Venus Rebholz Jacob Taber Brian Kimball Kristina Gotfredsen Timothy Parker Steven Boyles Chris Skupien Chelsea B Avishai Barnoy Hunter Reardon Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChemForYourLife Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    35 min

  6. May 7

    How was kevlar accidentally invented?

    How do you turn a weird cloudy liquid into something stronger than steel? This week we’re telling the story of Kevlar: the chemistry breakthrough that led to bulletproof vests, firefighter gear, reinforced tires, and so much more. Along the way we talk polymers, hydrogen bonding, accidental discoveries, and the chemist who almost went to medical school instead. Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChemForYourLife Timestamps 0:00 – Story time setup: bulletproof gear and the chemistry behind it 1:30 – Meet Stephanie Kwolek, the chemist behind Kevlar 4:00 – DuPont, polymers, and the early days of synthetic fibers 6:30 – Why Stephanie stayed in chemistry instead of medical school 8:30 – The gas shortage problem that sparked the search for Kevlar 9:50 – What polymers actually are 10:20 – Benzene rings, resonance, and rigid molecular structures 11:30 – The strange watery solution that almost got ignored 13:30 – The accidental breakthrough that created Kevlar fibers 14:20 – Why Kevlar is so unusually strong 16:30 – Hydrogen bonding and “molecular Velcro” 18:40 – How Kevlar chains organize into massive strong sheets 21:30 – Why Kevlar behaves almost like a metal 24:00 – Stronger than steel, lighter than steel 26:30 – Melissa’s theory about the mysterious cloudy solution 27:00 – How Kevlar became bulletproof vests 28:00 – Why “detours” in life aren’t always failures 32:30 – Other surprising uses for Kevlar 35:00 – “Mistakes” that turned into good things (personal stories) 44:00 – Wrap-up + chemistry storytime appreciation Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChemForYourLife References from the Episode: Thanks to our monthly supporters Kelly D. Bri Summer Alden Amanda Raymond Kyle McCray Justine Ash Vince W Julie S. Heather Ragusa Autoclave Dorien VD Scott Beyer Jessie Reder J0HNTR0Y Jeannette Napoleon Cullyn R Erica Bee Elizabeth P Rachel Reina Letila Katrina Barnum-Huckins Suzanne Phillips Venus Rebholz Jacob Taber Brian Kimball Kristina Gotfredsen Timothy Parker Steven Boyles Chris Skupien Chelsea B Avishai Barnoy Hunter Reardon Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChemForYourLife Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    48 min

  7. Apr 30

    Is there a helium shortage?

    #038 Rebroadcast Helium is all fun and games right? High voice, super funny, no worries right? Or is there a serious shortage of helium? This week, Melissa and Jam answer this question. References from this episode Helium: Its Discovery and Applications – Locker We Discovered Helium 150 Years Ago. Are We Running Out? - Greshko Introductory Physics I - Brown Helium beer: prank or possible? - American Chemical Society Organic Chemistry, Edition 11 - Solomon Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChemForYourLife. Email us at chemforyourlife@gmail.com And check out our chill, simple little website at https://chemforyourlife.transistor.fm/ Thanks to our monthly supporters Ciara Linville J0HNTR0Y Jeannette Napoleon Cullyn R Erica Bee Elizabeth P Sarah Moar Rachel Reina Letila Katrina Barnum-Huckins Suzanne Phillips Nelly Silva Venus Rebholz Lyn Stubblefield Jacob Taber Brian Kimball Emerson Woodhall Kristina Gotfredsen Timothy Parker Steven Boyles Chris Skupien Chelsea B Bri McAllister Avishai Barnoy Hunter Reardon Support this podcast on Patreon Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    39 min

  8. Apr 30 ·  Bonus • Subscribers Only

    Chemmunity: Documentary Media Swap

    Welcome back to an exclusive bonus episode ONLY for members of the Chemmunity. This time we're finally getting to hear the results of the Documentary Media Swap between Melissa and Jam. Chemmunity is the secret podcast for Chemistry For Your Life Patrons, Supporters, and Subscribers. Members of the Chemmunity get ad-free versions of the podcast PLUS monthly exclusive bonus episodes where Melissa and Jam talk about whatever they want... EXCEPT chemistry. For the most part. Welcome to the Chemmunity!

    25 min
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Trailer

4.6
out of 5
300 Ratings

About

A podcast that helps you understand the fascinating chemistry hidden in your everyday life. Have you ever wondered why onions make you cry? Or how soap gets your hands clean? What really is margarine, or why do trees change colors in the fall? Melissa is a chemist, and to answer these questions she started a podcast, called Chemistry for your life! In each episode Melissa explains the chemistry behind one of life’s mysteries to Jam, who is definitely not a chemist, but she explains it in a way that is easy to understand, and totally fascinating. If you’re someone who loves learning new things, or who wonders about the way the world works, then give us a listen.

Information

  • Creator
    Melissa and Jam, Bleav
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    432
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © For Your Life 2023, All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Chemistry For Your Life
  • Provider
    Jam Robinson

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