Using Social Media to Combat Youth Loneliness

Age, Artificial Intelligence and Prejudice

Cybersecurity expert ⁠Francis Syms⁠ [https://francissyms.com/] explains ⁠how researchers discovered an age bias in a commonly used AI tool⁠ [https://phys.org/news/2026-06-age-bias-ai.html]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Heatwaves and A/C

Pediatric emergency medicine physician ⁠Dr. Danielle Mercurio-Porter⁠ [https://www.chrichmond.org/find-a-provider/profile/danielle-mercurio-porter] discusses the potential dangers of heat waves, the importance of A/C during one, and who's most at risk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Using Social Media to Combat Youth Loneliness

Health communication researcher and professor ⁠Allison Lazard⁠ [https://hussman.unc.edu/people/allison-lazard] outlines how certain ⁠social media messages may help counter the youth loneliness epidemic by encouraging real-world connection⁠ [https://phys.org/news/2026-06-social-media-messages-counter-youth.html]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Why Shoppers Avoid Plant-Based Proteins

Marketing, health, and sustainability researcher ⁠Cameron McRae⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/cameronmarcmcrae/] goes over ⁠his study explaining why shoppers avoid plant-based proteins⁠ [https://www.sfu.ca/sfunews/media/media-releases/2026/06/got-beef-with-beans--sfu-study-explains-why-shoppers-don-t-buy-m.html]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

FULL EPISODE: Beware the Cold Blob - July 2, 2026

Astrophysics professor Jesse Rogerson [https://www.jesserogerson.com/about] brings science news to the show with the following stories: Physicists reveal there is a universal law hidden in the shape of all poop [https://www.sciencealert.com/there-is-a-universal-law-in-the-shape-of-all-poop-physicists-reveal]; Humans in the Andes seem to have evolved a strange genetic ability [https://www.sciencealert.com/humans-in-the-andes-seem-to-have-evolved-a-strange-genetic-ability]; Scientists just found a planet that got a second life after its star died [https://www.sciencealert.com/discovery-of-post-apocalyptic-planet-suggests-earth-may-survive-the-suns-death]; and A strange 'cold blob' in the Atlantic signals we're almost at a tipping point [https://www.sciencealert.com/a-strange-cold-blob-in-the-atlantic-signals-were-almost-at-a-tipping-point]. Health communication researcher and professor Allison Lazard [https://hussman.unc.edu/people/allison-lazard] outlines how certain social media messages may help counter the youth loneliness epidemic by encouraging real-world connection [https://phys.org/news/2026-06-social-media-messages-counter-youth.html]. Marketing, health, and sustainability researcher Cameron McRae [https://www.linkedin.com/in/cameronmarcmcrae/] goes over his study explaining why shoppers avoid plant-based proteins [https://www.sfu.ca/sfunews/media/media-releases/2026/06/got-beef-with-beans--sfu-study-explains-why-shoppers-don-t-buy-m.html]. Cybersecurity expert Francis Syms [https://francissyms.com/] explains how researchers discovered an age bias in a commonly used AI tool [https://phys.org/news/2026-06-age-bias-ai.html]. Pediatric emergency medicine physician Dr. Danielle Mercurio-Porter [https://www.chrichmond.org/find-a-provider/profile/danielle-mercurio-porter] discusses the potential dangers of heat waves, the importance of A/C during one, and who's most at risk. Social psychology professor Daryl Van Tongeren [https://www.darylvantongeren.com/] reveals how everyone wants to think they're open-minded, but why most people are not [https://theconversation.com/everyone-wants-to-think-theyre-open-minded-heres-why-most-people-arent-282807]. Segments: * (00:00) Introduction * (01:09) Jesse Rogerson pt. 1 * (10:00) Jesse Rogerson pt. 2 * (20:00) Allison Lazard * (30:00) Cameron McRae * (39:50) Francis Syms * (49:50) Dr. Danielle Mercurio-Porter * (59:50) Daryl Van Tongeren pt. 1 * (1:09:50) Daryl Van Tongeren pt. 2 * (1:19:03) Sign-off Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]