Lab Coat Optional

Arizona State University
  • 4.6 (14)
  • Science

Lab Coat Optional is the show where research is made relatable. Each episode, we dive into the research, the people behind it and why it matters. Tune in for smart, accessible conversations on the latest research from Arizona State University. We are a production of Knowledge Enterprise at ASU. Learn more at research.asu.edu.

  1. 6d ago

    Halloween special: What is Gen Z afraid of?

    Listener discretion advised: This episode contains discussion of horror films and sexuality. The things filmmakers choose to make scary can reveal something about us. Film scholar April Miller joins the show to explore what Gen Z horror reveals about their generation’s anxieties — and what today’s cultural and social climate might tell us about monsters lurking around the corner. Become a horror scholar! Men, Women, and Chain Saws by Carol CloverFilm Bodies: Gender, Genre, and Excess by Linda WilliamsApril’s movie picks for spooky season: The ShiningThe Slumber Party MassacreHalloweenAlienLearn more about Barrett, the Honors College at ASU. Lab Coat Optional is a production of the Strategic Marketing and Communications team at Arizona State University’s Knowledge Enterprise. Learn more about research and discovery at ASU on Instagram and LinkedIn or visit us at research.asu.edu. Love the show? Give us a five star review on the podcast app of your choice! Get in touch with us at ke.podcast@asu.edu. Episode credits Executive produced by Kate Howells Produced by Alexander Chapin and Pete Zrioka Hosted and reported by Pete Zrioka Shot by Alexander Chapin Edited by Quinton Kendall and Alexander Chapin Original music from Patrick Cheung Motion graphics by Andy Ramos Art by Andy Keena and Sophia Franz Editorial support from Diane Boudreau Social media management by Lauren Hebing and Kyler Litson Disclosure: Opinions expressed on this show reflect the views of the individuals only, not the policy or opinion of Arizona State University. Arizona State University is committed to the ethical and humane treatment of animals in advancing research that benefits humans, animals and the environment. Learn more about ASU’s Animal Care and Use Program.

    Halloween special: What is Gen Z afraid of?

  2. Oct 21

    Everyone is a doomsday prepper

    You’re probably more of a doomsday prepper than you realize — and the roots of the practice in America run much deeper than emergency kits and fallout shelters. Political scientist Robert Kirsch, co-author of Be Prepared: Doomsday Prepping in the United States, joins the show to explore how American history shaped our individualistic approach to preparedness. He explains “bunkerization,” why preparing for disaster has become a personal responsibility, and what that means for government policy, our connections to our neighbors and how we envision tomorrow. Further reading: Be Prepared: Doomsday Prepping in the United States by Robert Kirsch and Emily RayShopping Our Way to Safety by Andrew SzaszWe Are All Preppers Now by Tom DoigHot Mess by Sarah WiebeBunker by Jenny PerlinLearn more about the College of Integrative Sciences and Arts at ASU and the Käte Hamburger Centre for Apocalyptic and Post-Apocalyptic Studies at Heidelberg University. Lab Coat Optional is a production of the Strategic Marketing and Communications team at Arizona State University’s Knowledge Enterprise. Learn more about research and discovery at ASU on Instagram and LinkedIn or visit us at research.asu.edu. Love the show? Give us a five star review on the podcast app of your choice! Get in touch with us at ke.podcast@asu.edu. Episode credits Special thanks to Rick Pretzman and the Central Plant staff Executive produced by Kate Howells Produced by Alexander Chapin and Pete Zrioka Hosted and reported by Pete Zrioka Shot by Alexander Chapin Edited by Christian Van Bebber Original music from Patrick Cheung Motion graphics by Andy Ramos Art by Andy Keena and Sophia Franz Editorial support from Diane Boudreau Social media management by Lauren Hebing and Kyler Litson Disclosure: Opinions expressed on this show reflect the views of the individuals only, not the policy or opinion of Arizona State University.

    Everyone is a doomsday prepper

  3. Oct 16

    Help us win a Community Voice award!

    We've been nominated for an Anthem Award! While judges will ultimately decide the winners in our category, we're also up for a Community Voice award, and we'd appreciate your help. Head over to celebrate.anthemawards.com, and look for "Lab Coat Optional" in the Education, Art & Culture category. Thanks for your support, and we'll be back in your feed next week, asking some important questions: How prepared are you for the end of the world? How many cans of beans do you currently own? Find out what we're on about next week! Lab Coat Optional is a production of the Strategic Marketing and Communications team at Arizona State University’s Knowledge Enterprise. Learn more about research and discovery at ASU on Instagram and LinkedIn or visit us at research.asu.edu. Love the show? Give us a five star review on the podcast app of your choice! Get in touch with us at ke.podcast@asu.edu. Episode credits Executive produced by Kate Howells Produced by Alexander Chapin and Pete Zrioka Hosted and reported by Pete Zrioka Shot by Alexander Chapin Edited by Quinton Kendall Original music from Patrick Cheung Motion graphics by Andy Ramos Art by Andy Keena Social media management by Lauren Hebing and Kyler Litson

  4. Oct 7

    Inside the complicated system keeping elections secure

    American elections are secure, extensively scrutinized and protected by layers of safeguards. So why is public trust in them declining? Bill Gates, director of Arizona State University’s Mechanics of Democracy Laboratory and former Maricopa County Supervisor, explains how elections actually work, what makes them secure and why understanding the process may be key to rebuilding trust. Learn more about: Mechanics of Democracy Laboratory at ASUMIT Election Data and Science LabBecome a poll worker in Maricopa County… or elsewhere in Arizona… or somewhere else in the U.S.! Lab Coat Optional is a production of the Strategic Marketing and Communications team at Arizona State University’s Knowledge Enterprise. Learn more about research and discovery at ASU on Instagram and LinkedIn or visit us at research.asu.edu. Love the show? Give us a five star review on the podcast app of your choice! Get in touch with us at ke.podcast@asu.edu. Episode credits Special thanks to Alejandra Espinoza at the Maricopa County Elections Department Executive produced by Kate Howells Produced by Alexander Chapin and Pete Zrioka Hosted and reported by Pete Zrioka Shot by Alexander Chapin Edited by Quinton Kendall Original music from Patrick Cheung Motion graphics by Andy Ramos Art by Andy Keena and Sophia Franz Editorial support from Diane Boudreau Social media management by Lauren Hebing and Kyler Litson Disclosure: Opinions expressed on this show reflect the views of the individuals only, not the policy or opinion of Arizona State University.

    Inside the complicated system keeping elections secure

  5. Sep 23

    What happens when AI teaches us how to love?

    Teen AI use goes far beyond homework. Young people are increasingly turning to chatbots with deeply personal questions about love, relationships and body image. So what happens when teenagers start turning to machines for the advice they once sought from other people? Arizona State University developmental psychologist Thao Ha explains why adolescence is such an important period for learning healthy relationship skills and explores the potential dangers of replacing messy human interactions with artificial ones. Learn more about Thao's work: Check out the HEART Lab on InstagramParticipate in the CIELO StudyLearn more about the Department of Psychology and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at ASU. Lab Coat Optional is a production of the Strategic Marketing and Communications team at Arizona State University’s Knowledge Enterprise. Learn more about research and discovery at ASU on Instagram and LinkedIn or visit us at research.asu.edu. Love the show? Give us a five star review on the podcast app of your choice! Get in touch with us at ke.podcast@asu.edu. Episode credits Executive produced by Kate Howells Produced by Alexander Chapin and Pete Zrioka Hosted and reported by Pete Zrioka Shot and edited by Alexander Chapin Original music from Patrick Cheung Motion graphics by Andy Ramos Art by Andy Keena and Sophia Franz Editorial support from Diane Boudreau Social media management by Lauren Hebing and Kyler Litson Disclosure: Lab Coat Optional is intended for general knowledge and informational purposes only, and does not constitute medical advice. This show does not create a doctor-patient relationship, and the information provided is not a substitute for professional medical diagnosis or treatment. Consult with a qualified healthcare professional for any health concerns or before making any decisions related to your health. In case of a medical emergency, please call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. Opinions expressed on this show reflect the views of the individuals only, not the policy or opinion of Arizona State University.

    What happens when AI teaches us how to love?

  6. Jun 24 ·  Bonus

    LCO presents: The Ongoing Transformation

    Something a little different this week! While we're busy getting our next season ready, we're bringing you an episode of a podcast we all enjoy: The Ongoing Transformation. The Ongoing Transformation is a show from Issues in Science and Technology, a quarterly journal published by the National Academy of Sciences and Arizona State University. Find the Ongoing Transformation on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

  7. Jun 10 ·  Bonus

    LCO presents: Ten Across Conversations

    As a summer treat, we are sharing an episode of Ten Across Conversations, another podcast from Arizona State University. This episode features two ASU researchers on the frontlines of a growing problem: extreme heat. Find more Ten Across Conversations on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

  8. May 27

    Building "large Earth models" with Hannah Kerner

    ASU computer scientist Hannah Kerner explains how the combination of machine learning and satellite data help map farms, monitor disasters and understand climate impacts — turning decades of Earth observation data into tools. Further listening and reading: Listen to Hannah on the Satellite and Deep Learning podcast with Robin ColeCheck out Applied Geospatial by Christopher Ren Read Empire of AI by Karen HaoLearn more about the School of Computing and Augmented Intelligence in the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University. Lab Coat Optional is a production of the Strategic Marketing and Communications team at Arizona State University’s Knowledge Enterprise. Learn more about research and discovery at ASU on Instagram, LinkedIn and Bluesky or visit us at research.asu.edu. Love the show? Give us a five star review on the podcast app of your choice! Get in touch with us at ke.podcast@asu.edu. Episode credits Hosted and reported by Pete Zrioka Executive produced by Kate Howells Produced by Alexander Chapin and Pete Zrioka Shot by Alexander Chapin Edited by Alexander Chapin and Quinton Kendall Original music from Patrick Cheung Motion graphics by Andy Ramos Art by Andy Keena Editorial support from Diane Boudreau Reporting from Kelly DeVos and Gary Werner was foundational to this episode Social media management by Lauren Hebing and Kyler Litson

    Building "large Earth models" with Hannah Kerner
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Trailer

4.6
out of 5
14 Ratings

About

Lab Coat Optional is the show where research is made relatable. Each episode, we dive into the research, the people behind it and why it matters. Tune in for smart, accessible conversations on the latest research from Arizona State University. We are a production of Knowledge Enterprise at ASU. Learn more at research.asu.edu.

Information

  • Creator
    Arizona State University
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    30
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Arizona State University
  • Show Website
    Lab Coat Optional

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