Simple Questions Podcast

Dylan Carnahan
  • 5.0 (6)
  • EDUCATION
  • UPDATED DAILY

Simple Questions Podcast is a monthly podcast by Dylan Carnahan featuring experts answering simple questions.

  1. How Do You Survive Solitary Confinement?

    FEB 3

    How Do You Survive Solitary Confinement?

    Episode 56: How Do You Survive Solitary Confinement? – features Leon Benson, who shares his journey from wrongful conviction and 10 consecutive years in solitary confinement to eventual exoneration. Episode Summary: This episode of The Simple Questions Podcast features a conversation between Dylan Carnahan and Leon Benson, the Director of the Solitary Justice Project, who was wrongfully convicted and spent 12 years in solitary confinement. Listen as Leon shares his story of being wrongfully incarcerated, what it was like surviving years inside for a crime he did not commit, and the psychological toll of losing time, freedom, and identity. In this episode we discuss: 00:30 – Introducing Leon Benson01:34 – Wrongful arrest and murder conviction03:47 – Eyewitness misidentification and flawed evidence07:13 – 60-year sentence, entering prison young19:23 – False accusation, sent to solitary20:53 – Solitary confinement conditions and isolation23:29 – Personal loss, appeals denied, breaking point33:13 – Indefinite isolation, “existential purgatory”37:21 – Finding meaning through philosophy, mindset42:49 – Turning isolation into mental survival59:24 – Advocacy, growth, release from solitary1:07:07 – Mentorship, leadership, prison programs1:18:58 – Clemency effort leads to legal help1:22:00 – Conviction Integrity Unit takes case1:23:10 – Exoneration and release in 20231:23:45 – Reentry advice and mental wellness1:31:10 – ConclusionResources: ⁠Exoneration RegistryLeon's WritingThis episode includes the track 'RSPN' by Blank & Kytt. The song is used under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License. You can find more of Blank & Kytt's music ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here.⁠

    1h 38m
  2. What Is Good Design?

    JAN 6

    What Is Good Design?

    Episode 55: What Is Good Design? – features Debbie Millman, breaking down good design as intention, effortlessness, and respect for the human experience. Episode Summary: This episode of The Simple Questions Podcast features a conversation with Debbie Millman, a designer, author, educator, and host of the Design Matters podcast. Listen as Debbie breaks down what good design really is, how design shows up in everyday life, why intention and effortlessness matter, how taste evolves, and what separates good design from great design. In this episode we discuss: 00:27 – Introducing Debbie Millman03:00 – Where design exists in everyday life04:00 – Design as intention-making05:30 – What good design feels like (effortlessness, comfort, safety)09:20 – Common design challenges and constraints13:10 – What separates good design from great22:30 – How design has evolved with technology24:30 – AI-generated design 26:30 – How taste changes over time29:40 – Advice for aspiring designers30:40 – Learning more31:10 – ConclusionResources: Debbie's WebsiteDesign Matters PodcastThis episode includes the track 'RSPN' by Blank & Kytt. The song is used under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License. You can find more of Blank & Kytt's music ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here.⁠

    33 min
  3. What Is Dermatology?

    12/02/2025

    What Is Dermatology?

    Episode 54: What Is Dermatology? – features board-certified dermatologist Dr. Edidiong Kaminska as she breaks down the most common skin issues, the biggest myths in skin care, and how to build an effective routine backed by science. Episode Summary: This episode of The Simple Questions Podcast features a conversation with Dr. Edidiong Kaminska, a board-certified medical and surgical dermatologist, published author, and reviewer for the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. Listen as Dr. Kaminska explains what dermatology really is, the most frequent skin concerns people face, the science behind proper skin care, and the misconceptions that often lead people astray. In this episode we discuss: 00:27 - Introducing Dr. Edidiong Kaminska08:41 - Common Dermatology Visits19:07 - Skin Care Product Selection22:56 - Common Skin Conditions by Age Group27:14 - Dermatology Misunderstandings35:42 - How to Select a Provider39:19 - Learning More40:21 - ConclusionResources: ⁠⁠⁠Kaminska DermatologyLinkedInThis episode includes the track 'RSPN' by Blank & Kytt. The song is used under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License. You can find more of Blank & Kytt's music ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here.⁠

    41 min
  4. What Is Creatine?

    11/04/2025

    What Is Creatine?

    Episode 53: What Is Creatine? – features one of the world’s most published creatine researchers Dr. Richard B. Kreider as he breaks down how creatine actually works, what the research shows, and who benefits most. Episode Summary: This episode of The Simple Questions Podcast features a conversation with Dr. Richard B. Kreider, a leading authority in exercise and sport nutrition with 300+ peer-reviewed studies and 29,000+ citations. Listen as Dr. Kreider breaks down what creatine really is, how it works in the body, the research-backed benefits across age groups, and the biggest myths surrounding one of the most studied supplements in the world. In this episode we discuss: 00:27 - Introducing Dr. Richard B. Kreider08:26 - Where is Creatine found?10:20 - Advice on Creatine Products15:41 - Creatine Onboarding22:13 - Creatine Benefits25:51 - People New to Creatine30:01 - Creatine Side Effects32:44 - Addressing Misconceptions 44:00 - What can we still learn?48:36 - Advice for Curious Listeners50:24 - ConclusionResources: ⁠⁠Google ScholarLinkedInThis episode includes the track 'RSPN' by Blank & Kytt. The song is used under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License. You can find more of Blank & Kytt's music ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here.

    51 min
  5. Episodes 40-52: Highlights

    10/07/2025

    Episodes 40-52: Highlights

    Episodes 40-52: Highlights features our best moments from the past year, featuring a world-class expert in behavioral economics, an exoneree, a UFC fighter, a voice actor, a homicide detective, and an open-source creator. Episode Summary: This episode of the Simple Questions Podcast brings you the best moments from the last 13 episodes. We've condensed insightful highlights on topics like competitive eating, UFC, and Rett Syndrome. Whether you're a new listener or a loyal fan, this episode offers a perfect snapshot of what our podcast is all about. In this episode we discuss: 00:00 - Introduction00:37 - Episode 40: International Rett Syndrome Foundation (IRSF) Family & Community Engagement Manager, Samantha Brant03:17 - Episode 41: Intellectual Property Rights Lawyer, Karin Coger04:44 - Episode 42: Taekwondo Grandmaster, Jinsue Park08:42 - Episode 43: Exoneree, Dr. Marvin Cotton Jr.11:33 - Episode 44: Competitive Eater, George Chiger13:18 - Episode 45: UFC Fighter, Angela “Overkill” Hill14:55 - Episode 46: Psychiatrist, Dr. Tahir Rahman15:54 - Episode 47: Bluetooth & Wireless Expert, Nick Hunn17:32 - Episode 48: Speedcuber, Tommy Cherry18:54 - Episode 49: Homicide Detective, Sgt. Dave Walker20:03 - Episode 50: Voice Actor, Billy West22:07 - Episode 51: Behavioral Economist, Dan Ariely23:35 - Episode 52: Peppermint OS Co-Founder, Shane Remington25:56 - Conclusion & Closing RemarksThis episode includes the track 'RSPN' by Blank & Kytt. The song is used under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License. You can find more of Blank & Kytt's music ⁠here⁠.

    26 min
  6. What Is Peppermint OS?

    09/02/2025

    What Is Peppermint OS?

    Episode 52: What Is Peppermint OS? – features Peppermint OS Co-Founder Shane Remington as he shares the story behind building an open source Linux distribution. Episode Summary: This episode of The Simple Questions Podcast features a conversation with Shane Remington, co-founder and former COO of Peppermint OS, the innovative Linux distribution that blends cloud computing with the desktop experience. Listen as Shane shares the story of building Peppermint OS from the ground up, the challenges of launching and sustaining an open-source operating system, and the future of Linux and community-driven software. In this episode we discuss: 00:29 - Introducing Shane Remington01:56 - Learning about Open Source software 11:59 - What is Linux?13:09 - Different Types of Software16:33 - Creation of Peppermint OS25:39 - Challenges Faced27:38 - Evolution of Peppermint OS31:38 - Advice for Others33:37 - Learning More36:04 - ConclusionResources: ⁠Peppermint OS⁠Peppermint OS Reddit⁠⁠Shane's LinkedInThis episode includes the track 'RSPN' by Blank & Kytt. The song is used under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License. You can find more of Blank & Kytt's music ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here.

    37 min
  7. What Is Behavioral Economics?

    08/05/2025

    What Is Behavioral Economics?

    Episode 51: What Is Behavioral Economics? - features renowned behavioral economist Dan Ariely as he unpacks the forces behind our purchasing choices and personal decisions. Episode Summary: This episode of The Simple Questions Podcast features a conversation with Dan Ariely, the celebrated behavioral economist and three-time New York Times–bestselling author of Predictably Irrational, The Upside of Irrationality, and The Honest Truth About Dishonesty. Listen as Dan shares captivating stories from his Duke University research lab, practical strategies for applying behavioral economics in business and personal life. In this episode we discuss: 00:29 - Introducing Dan Ariely01:32 - Becoming a Behavioral Economist05:11 - Behavioral Economics vs Classic Economics 10:33 - Psychological Factors That Impact Decision Making21:01 - Strategies Businesses Use26:49 - Personal Beliefs37:18 - Voting for Politicians 43:07 - Advice for Others47:31 - Learning More48:35 - ConclusionResources: TED Talks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon Page⁠Dan's Website⁠This episode includes the track 'RSPN' by Blank & Kytt. The song is used under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License. You can find more of Blank & Kytt's music ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here

    49 min
  8. How Do You Voice Act?

    07/01/2025

    How Do You Voice Act?

    Episode 50: How Do You Voice Act? - features legendary voice actor Billy West as he shares how he brings animated characters to life, from Fry, Dr. Zoidberg, and Professor Farnsworth in Futurama to Bugs Bunny in the original Space Jam. Episode Summary: This episode of The Simple Questions Podcast features a candid conversation with Billy West, the legendary voice actor behind some of animation’s most beloved shows. With a career spanning Futurama, The Ren & Stimpy Show, Doug, Looney Tunes, and countless commercials, Billy opens up about how voice acting really works—what happens behind the mic, how actors shape characters, and why the voices we hear can leave a lasting impact on our emotions and identity. Listen as Billy also shares heartfelt stories from decades in the industry, advice for aspiring voice actors, and a reminder that behind every cartoon is a human voice shaped by experience, humor, and resilience. In this episode we discuss: 00:27- Introducing Billy West01:29 - Becoming a Voice Actor18:23 - Voice Acting Industry22:26 - Creating a Voice26:15 - Impact on Health31:20 - Recording Process34:33 - Replicating a Voice36:33 - Advice for Others41:31 - Evolution of the Industry45:50 - Learning More53:31 - ConclusionResources: ⁠⁠⁠⁠IMDB Billy's WebsiteThis episode includes the track 'RSPN' by Blank & Kytt. The song is used under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License. You can find more of Blank & Kytt's music ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here

    54 min
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About

Simple Questions Podcast is a monthly podcast by Dylan Carnahan featuring experts answering simple questions.

Information

  • Creator
    Dylan Carnahan
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    61
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Dylan Carnahan
  • Show Website
    Simple Questions Podcast