Could Shame Be an Evolution-Based Defense Mechanism?

FULL EPISODE: The Math Says to Bluff - June 23, 2026

Nutrition professor Vasanti Malik [https://nutrisci.med.utoronto.ca/faculty/vasanti-malik] reveals how drinking juice and soda during childhood may increase the risk of high blood pressure later in life [https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-juice-soda-childhood-high-blood.html]. Mathematician Emma Zajdela [https://sites.northwestern.edu/emmazajdela/] goes over the mathematics of poker and how bluffing is an essential part of a winning strategy [https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/0025570X.2021.1908785]. Emily the Recruiter [https://www.instagram.com/emily.the.recruiter/] (Emily Durham) explains why so many people aren't taking their paid time off, and why "unlimited" vacation policies are a bit of a scam. (Check out Emily's book Clock In: No-BS Advice for Getting Ahead in Your Career (Without Losing Your Mind) here [https://emilydurham.org/clock-in].) Cognitive neuroscience professor Effie Pereira [https://effiejpereira.github.io/] outlines how attractive faces draw our gaze but fail to hijack our peripheral attention [https://www.psypost.org/attractive-faces-draw-our-gaze-but-fail-to-hijack-our-hidden-attention/]. Sociologist Jessie Ford [https://www.publichealth.columbia.edu/profile/jessie-v-ford-phd] discusses resilience among gender and sexually fluid people [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41180917/], straight men as a vulnerable sexual health population, and how sexual pleasure is overlooked and important for our health. Sleep neurologist Dr. Rachel Salas [https://profiles.hopkinsmedicine.org/provider/rachel-salas/2708380] chats about when you should have your last cup of coffee for a better night's sleep [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2026/06/08/love-coffee-have-last-cup-this-time-better-nights-sleep/] and the importance of a good mattress [https://nationalpost.com/life/self-care-mattresses]. Psychology professor Eva Pomerantz [https://psychology.illinois.edu/directory/profile/pomerntz] illustrates how parents helping kids enjoy math may boost achievement as much as content support [https://phys.org/news/2026-06-parents-kids-enjoy-math-boost.html]. Segments: * (00:00) Introduction * (01:09) Vasanti Malik * (10:00) Emma Zajdela * (20:00) Emily the Recruiter * (30:00) Effie Pereira * (39:50) Jessie Ford pt. 1 * (49:50) Jessie Ford pt. 2 * (59:50) Dr. Rachel Salas * (1:09:50) Eva Pomerantz * (1:19:04) Sign-off Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Munchies, Stoned Rats and Help With Eating Disorders

Neuroscientist ⁠Matt Hill⁠ [http://www.hill-lab.ca/matt.html] reveals how ⁠rats stoned on cannabis get the munchies, and what that means for people with eating disorders and appetite loss⁠ [https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/calgary-washington-research-rat-rodent-weed-9.7234652]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Could Shame Be an Evolution-Based Defense Mechanism?

Psychology professor ⁠Daniel Sznycer⁠ [https://experts.okstate.edu/daniel.sznycer] illustrates ⁠why shame is an evolution-based defense mechanism⁠ [https://phys.org/news/2026-06-shame-evolution-based-defense-mechanism.html]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

How Psilocybin Can Ease Depression, Dementia, Addiction and More

Clinical psychologist ⁠Dr. Dominique Morisano⁠ [https://drmorisano.com/] chats about the positives and negatives of psilocybin use and other psychoactive substances in mental health treatment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Why Writing With AI May Demand More From Students

Professors ⁠Abram Anders⁠ [https://engl.iastate.edu/profiles/abram-anders/] and ⁠Emily Dux Speltz⁠ [https://erau.edu/faculty/Emily.DuxSpeltz] share ⁠how writing with AI demands more thought from students, not less⁠ [https://phys.org/news/2026-06-ai-demands-thought-students.html]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]