Skeptical Thinker Podcast

We're Back Baby!

So, we've been gone for a while. It's nothing personal, except that it was. We were dealing with some health issues, but everything is slowly getting back to normal. Leah and I decided it was time to jump back in. Today's episode is not our best work, but a friendly discussion that ranges a bit, but we did touch on the SAVE act, and a book that Leah is reading about Homophobia. We'll try to get back on track next week, but remember, we're just trying to have fun and be our own best people.

Science Smorgasbord

Welcome back! This week, Leah and Jamie dive into some science topics that you might have missed because of the news cycle's constant barrage of negative stuff! Jamie has an online subscription to National Geographic, so some of the links in the show notes may not open up, but he did find some alternative links you can go to to read some more about the topics today! Enjoy! Citations: * Landau, E. (2025, September 18). This is the best evidence yet for ancient life on Mars. Science. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/mars-rock-alien-life-microbes-chemistry * NASA. (2025, September 10). NASA says Mars Rover discovered potential biosignature last year - NASA. https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-says-mars-rover-discovered-potential-biosignature-last-year/ * Qader, S. A. (2025, September 13). Doomscrolling and the Dopamine Loop: How endless scrolling is rewiring our brains. MedReport Foundation. https://www.medreport.foundation/post/doomscrolling-and-the-dopamine-loop-how-endless-scrolling-is-rewiring-our-brains * Rosen, M. (2025, September 19). Staying on the keto diet long term could carry health risks. Science News. https://www.sciencenews.org/article/keto-diet-health-risk-glucose-high-fat?et_rid=1076472799&et_cid=5739009 * Wexler, J. R. (2025, September 19). The surprising way doomscrolling rewires your brain. Health. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/health/article/how-news-affects-your-brain-and-body?rid=18C5F3C8000430FA93B55AE508ED0886&cmpid=org%3Dngp%3A%3Amc%3Dcrm-email%3A%3Asrc%3Dngp%3A%3Acmp%3Deditorial%3A%3Aadd%3DDaily_NL_Tuesday_Health_20250916_US&loggedin=true&rnd=1758113813183

The Gender Binary is a Big Lie

After a summer hiatus, Leah and Jamie are back with a discussion of Lee Wind's excellent book, "The Gender Binary is a Big Lie [https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-gender-binary-is-a-big-lie-infinite-identities-around-the-world-lee-wind/a01ec5a96dcd7705?ean=9781728414546&next=t]." While we both start talking about the book, we end up in some interesting personal stories and repartee about gender. For those listening who are not sure how to feel about those of us who are outside the gender binary, you may find this discussion interesting. We've added some resources here for you in case you want more. Thanks for listening! Resources: Gender & Sexuality Resources UC Santa Barbara [https://wellbeing.ucsb.edu/gender-sexuality-resources] Kirkus Review of Book [https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/lee-wind/the-gender-binary-is-a-big-lie/] This is an awesome resource for anyone who has a loved one going through gender transition/questioning. [https://mhanational.org/resources/affirming-your-loved-ones-gender-exploration-and-identity/] We talked about Gender Euphoria near the end. This resource is good. [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9255216/] Citation: Wind, L. (2023). The Gender Binary is a Big Lie: Infinite Identities and Expressions.

Complex Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome

This episode has us looking at Complex Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome (CPTSD). While not officially in the DSM-5, CPTSD has gotten a lot of notice in recent years. We look at the book "What My Bones Know," by Stephanie Foo. Citations: 1. Admin. (2025, March 5). PTSD hotline - Free 24/7 | 866-903-3787. Mental Health Hotline. https://mentalhealthhotline.org/ptsd-hotline/ 2. Center for Complex Trauma (CCT) | Icahn School of Medicine. (n.d.). Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. https://icahn.mssm.edu/research/center-complex-trauma 3. Davis, S. (2019, September 30). A closer look at the symptoms of Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder | CPTSDfoundation.org. https://cptsdfoundation.org/2019/09/30/a-closer-look-at-the-symptoms-of-complex-post-traumatic-stress-disorder/ 4. Ham, J. (2025, January 17). Revisiting the fractal nature of relationships and the therapeutic process — Jacob Ham, PhD. Jacob Ham, PhD. https://drjacobham.com/blog/2015/3/21/revisiting-the-fractal-nature-of-relationships-and-the-therapeutic-process 5. IDHS: 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. (n.d.). https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=145089 6. Jacob Ham, PhD. (2025, April 21). Jacob Ham, PhD. https://drjacobham.com/ 7. Jess. (2024, September 8). Home - Traumatized motherfuckers. Traumatized Motherfuckers. https://t-mfrs.com/ 8. Staker, P. (2025, June 22). The Healing Cycle: Dealing with Conflict in Relationships Through Rupture & Repair Therapy - SpringSource. SpringSource. https://springsourcecenter.com/dealing-with-conflict-rupture-and-repair-therapy-and-attachment-theory/ 9. What My Bones Know | Random House Publishing Group. (n.d.). https://www.randomhousebooks.com/books/658389/ 10. What really helps trauma? | Dr. Jacob Ham, Being Well podcast (F. Hanson, Interviewer). (2023, November 20). YouTube. Retrieved June 25, 2025, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXBJeHz7tsY 11. Wikipedia contributors. (2025, June 24). Complex post-traumatic stress disorder. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Complex_post-traumatic_stress_disorder

Enlightenment

Welcome Back! This week's episode has had a few technical difficulties. After loosing the whole show, we tried to re-record the episode, but it sounds like Jamie had some issues with the transmission and so, the sound work will need to continue. We appreciate you listening, and hope you will stick with us as we learn more about how to work this podcast while being in two different locations! Enjoy the episode! This week we talk about a book on Enlightenment that Leah read called, How Enlightenment Changes Your Brain, by Mike Waldmen and Andrew Newburg. resources: 1. Andrew Newberg. (n.d.). Andrew Newberg. https://www.andrewnewberg.com/ 2. Insight Network, Inc. (n.d.). Insight Timer - #1 free meditation app for sleep, relax & more. Insight Network, Inc. Copyright (C) 2021. https://insighttimer.com/ 3. Lovering, C. (2022, March 31). How to practice Loving-Kindness Meditation. Psych Central. https://psychcentral.com/health/loving-kindness-meditation#definition 4. NeuroWisdom – Control your mind with neuroscience. (n.d.). https://www.markrobertwaldman.com/ 5. Newberg, A., & Waldman, M. R. (2016). How enlightenment changes your brain: The New Science of Transformation. Penguin.