Untold

Nicolas Vaca

0.0 (0)
Society & Culture
Updated Weekly

Stuff you should know

23h ago

Why AI Is Developing Human Bias - Will Cong - #25

Will Cong is a finance professor and researcher at NTU Singapore and a former professor at Cornell University, where he founded the FinTech Initiative. Currently he studies the intersection of finance, AI, digital assets, and the digital economy. In this episode we discuss at length his latest article on the Behavioral Economics of AI where he and his co-authors evaluate if AI models, particularly large language models (LLMs), exhibit systematic behavioral biases in economic and financial decisions. An interesting topic. Worth the listen
Oct 18

Love: What It Is & When It Lasts - Harry Reis - #24

Harry Reis is a researcher, author, and, professor of psychology at the University of Rochester whose research focuses on close relationships and interpersonal connection. He co-authored How to Feel Loved which explores the psychology behind how people experience and express love. In our conversation we delve into the meaning of love, how one can make love last, why people hold back when it relates to love, and much much more
Oct 10

The Existential Issue No One Wants to Talk About - Mads Larsen - #23

Mads Larsen is a Norwegian author and journalist whose research focuses on the history of human mating ideologies. He is most known for his work on evolutionary psychology, human mating dynamics, and the global fertility crisis Are we supposed to stay in loving relationships for life? Why does it seem people are struggling to pair bond? What is the issue with low fertility rates? In this podcast, expect to learn about: how pair bonding and monogamy shaped society, why contraception changed the dating game, how dating apps may affect relationships and fertility, why birth rates are falling, even when people want families, and what the future of love, dating, and family life might look like.
Oct 4

Sadness: Why It Evolved & How It Benefits Us - George Slavich - #22

Why did sadness evolve into our behavior? How much of depression is genetically determined? Does acetaminophen/paracetamol actually aid mend a broken heart? Dr. George M. Slavich is a Professor of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at UCLA and the Founding Director of the UCLA Laboratory for Stress Assessment and Research, where he leads cutting-edge work on how life stress shapes mental and physical health. He formulated the first fully integrated, multi-level theory of depression and pioneered research showing how social experiences (like rejection and loss) reach deep inside the body to affect the brain, immune system, and gene expression. His recent work on Social Safety Theory explains why sadness can be an adaptive response designed by nature for our benefit. During this episode expect to learn why sadness is a normal, adaptive response to loss, how social rejection can affect the brain, body, and immune system, why genetics, life experiences, and beliefs shape resilience, and practical ways to improve our responses and bounce back from difficult times.
Sep 27

How Shifting Priorities Explain Falling Birthrates - Phillip Levine - #21

Why do most families overestimate the cost of college? How does financial aid change what students actually pay? And what can falling birth rates tell us about changing priorities?Philip Levine is an economist and college pricing expert whose research focuses on affordability and student decision-making. In this episode, he explains why college sticker prices are misleading, how families can better understand financial aid, and when borrowing for school makes sense. He also explores falling birth rates, shifting priorities, and the long-term effects of demographic change on education, work, and society.
Sep 20

Q&A - Success, Matthew McConaughey & Foot Fetishes - #20

Second ever Q&A episode. Once again great questions. I truly enjoy this format. Expect to learn about what I believe success really is, why foot fetishes are not as weird as we might think, my take on how one should live one's twenties, and much more. If you have an interesting question or topic for me to go over in my next Q&A do not hesitate to send it over to my personal instagram @nicolasvacagr, the podcast comments section, or wherever else you can find me.
Sep 12

Love Bombing, Gaslighting & How to Recognize Red Flags - David Kosson - #19

What are signs someone will manipulate or hurt us emotionally? Why do people struggle to catch unhealthy partnerships early on? This episode with David Kosson dives into the psychology of manipulation: how traits like love bombing, gaslighting, and isolation from friends and family show up in real relationships, and why no single behavior is ever proof on its own. We unpack how these dynamics erode a person's trust in themselves, why victims often feel guilt or confusion long after the relationship ends, and what makes boundary-pushing so easy to miss in the moment. Kosson, who has spent decades researching psychopathy, brings a clinical and deeply human perspective to a topic most people only encounter through movies and headlines. Along the way, we explore how families get pulled into these dynamics without realizing it, and the work of the Aftermath Foundation in offering education, therapist referrals, and survivor support; including an upcoming anniversary conference. A great episode with a lot of things worth learning about.
Sep 5

Understanding the Decline in Male Labor Force Participation - Daniela Vidart - #18

Do our beliefs about the labor market shape our decision to work as much as wages do? Why did male and female labor force participation diverge in the past 50 years? And is AI really the next internet, or something closer to electricity? In this episode with Daniela Vidart, you'll learn how lived experience during past economic shocks quietly rewires what an entire generation believes about work, risk, and opportunity, long after the shock itself is gone. We get into the hidden belief-driven mechanics behind the "boy crisis," the changing meaning of a university degree, and why participation collapses when people stop believing the effort will pay off. Lots of insights ready for you to learn about.

Stuff you should know

Creator

Nicolas Vaca
Years Active

2026
Episodes

26
Rating

Explicit
Copyright

© Nicolas Vaca
Show Website

Untold