Episodes

  • Mini: Learned Helplessness

    Mini: Learned Helplessness
    Jul 7 2025
    Some people use this term incorretly, some don't know it at all. To help get everyone on the same page, we are going to review the history of research that first described this phenomenon. Then, we will give examples of what this might look like in real-life scenarios.

    Get ad-free and bonus content: www.patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast

    Links and References:
    1. Cooper, J. O., Heron, T. E., & Heward, W. L. (2020). Applied Behavior Analysis, 3rd Ed. Pearson.
    2. Seligman, M. E., & Maier, S. F. (1967). Failure to escape traumatic shock. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 74(1), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0024514
    3. Maier, S.F., Seligman, M.E.P., & Solomon, R.L. (1969). Pavlovian fear conditioning and learned helplessness: Effects on escape and avoidance behavior of (a) the CS-US contingency, and (b) the independence of the US and voluntary responding. In: Campbell BA, Church RM, editors. Punishment. New York, NY: Appleton-Century-Crofts; pp. 299–342


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    12 mins
  • Reframe: A Framework to Developing a Compassionate Care Instructional Model (With Special Guests)

    Reframe: A Framework to Developing a Compassionate Care Instructional Model (With Special Guests)
    Jul 2 2025
    Special guests Jennifer Farris, Meg Solomon, and Dr. Mari Cerda join us to talk about their new book about developing a compassionate care model. They outline the critical elemtents of their discussion, and share personal stories to help illustrate their recommendations. At the end, they join us in giving their own recommendations for things that bring them joy. We could all use a little more joy.

    Find the Book Here:
    https://www.amazon.com/Reframe-Framework-Developing-Compassionate-Instructional/dp/1300540478?source=ps-sl-shoppingads-lpcontext&ref_=fplfs&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

    Recommendations:
    Dr. Mari Cerda: Mindful moments outside; Shrinking (TV show;
    Meg Solomon: Moody by Royel Otis (https://youtu.be/twM4KF99yd0?si=Z_BsmNfDJFd_amiT) and Murderbot (https://tv.apple.com/us/show/murderbot/umc.cmc.5owrzntj9v1gpg31wshflud03)
    Jennifer Farris: Wellfleet Oysters with Brut Champagne
    Shane: Talking to Strangers by Malcom Gladwell (https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/talking-to-strangers-malcolm-gladwell/1130509634)
    Abraham: The Things We Tell Ourselves in the Dark (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FdXmAPM8u4)

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/why-we-do-what-we-do--3419521/support.
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    1 hr and 28 mins
  • Skeptical All Day

    Skeptical All Day
    Jun 30 2025
    Can you walk around being skeptical all day long? At what point do you need to let your guard down? We suggest that not only can you go about your day being skeptical, it is better if you do. We'll explain.

    Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast

    Links:
    1. https://www.theskepticsguide.org/


    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/why-we-do-what-we-do--3419521/support.
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    11 mins
  • Head Go Bonk: Bad

    Head Go Bonk: Bad
    Jun 25 2025
    There is a unique type of brain trauma that destroys lives and cuts them short and we can't even tell that it has happened until after your death. Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy occurs when there is repeated head trauma, even if it is mild. The result can manifest as forgetfulness, impulsivity, violence, and an early death. Mercifully, it is relatively preventable. Unfortunately, few people care to prevent it. Protect Your Brain!Recommendations:Abraham: Mickey 17 (https://www.max.com/movies/mickey-17/fbe17356-9db7-4ab3-928e-32978e0cfbc7) Shane: 1908 Bakery (https://bakery1908.com/)Holidays (6/25/2025):Bourdain DayColor TV DayDay of the SeafarerGlobal Beatles DayNational Catfish DayNational Strawberry Parfait DaySchool Prayer Banned AnniversaryWorld Vitiligo DayAmateur Radio WeekBoys and Girls Club WeekFish are Friends, Not Food WeekNational Body Piercing WeekNational Insect WeekNational Lightning Safety Awareness WeekLinks and References: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/chronic-traumatic-encephalopathy/symptoms-causes/syc-20370921https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/chronic-traumatic-encephalopathy/https://medicine.iu.edu/expertise/traumatic-brain-injury/what-is-chronic-traumatic-encephalopathyhttps://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17686-chronic-traumatic-encephalopathy-ctehttps://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/what-is-dementia/related_conditions/chronic-traumatic-encephalopathyhttps://www.headstrongconcussion.com/history-of-ctehttps://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/260461https://academic.oup.com/brain/article/141/1/318/4774567https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277953619306835#:~:text=22,of%20their%20respective%20patient%20populations.https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acschemneuro.7b00291#:~:text=High%20Resolution%20Image,%2C%20extreme%20sports%2C%20etc.)https://steemit.com/steemiteducation/@cabbagepatch/an-american-tragedy-story-of-mike-webster-pro-hall-of-famer-and-cte https://www.massgeneralbrigham.org/en/about/newsroom/press-releases/study-finds-1-in-3-former-nfl-players-believe-they-have-cte https://www.ucs.org/resources/nfl-tried-intimidate-scientists-studying-link-between-pro-football-and-traumatic-brain Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/why-we-do-what-we-do--3419521/support.
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    1 hr and 1 min
  • Mini: Why We Twitch

    Mini: Why We Twitch
    Jun 23 2025
    Sometimes we have some random twitches that develop out of nowhere. What is going on with these? Why do they happen? And, what can we do about it? We explore the uncomfortable world of twitches. Fun fact, these are technically different from spasms.

    Become a member: Patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast

    Links and References:
    1. https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/symptoms/muscle-twitching#:~:text=Muscle%20twitching%20is%20caused%20by,of%20a%20nervous%20system%20disorder.
    2. https://www.webmd.com/brain/ss/slideshow-twitches-spasms-causes
    3. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324641


    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/why-we-do-what-we-do--3419521/support.
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    12 mins
  • Replacement Theory

    Replacement Theory
    Jun 18 2025
    Replacement theory is essentially a propaganda campaign engineered to scare gullible people into giving power to autocrats. Versions of this have been around for a long time. We review the history of replacement theory, explain how it works to trick people into voting against their interests (and the interests of everyone else), and what we can do about it.

    Recommendations
    • Abraham: Wool (https://hughhowey.com/books/wool/)
    • Shane: Turnstile - NEVER ENOUGH (https://open.spotify.com/album/52yD51X7yDinwlg6tbCtpP?si=LoE11WYfRfygXQaUwd2Ceg)
    Holidays (06/18/25):
    • Autistic Pride Day
    • Go Fishing Day
    • International Panic Day
    • International Picnic Day
    • International Sushi Day
    • National Cheesemaker’s Day
    • National Cherry Tart Day
    • National Splurge Day
    • Animal Rights Awareness Week
    • Carpenter Ant Awareness Week
    • Learning Disabilities Week
    • National Roller Coaster Week
    • Take Your Dog to Work Week
    • Wobbly Week
    Links and References:
    1. https://immigrationforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Replacement-Theory-Explainer-1122.pdf
    2. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/what-is-great-replacement-theory-and-how-does-it-fuel-racist-violence
    3. https://theconversation.com/what-is-the-great-replacement-theory-a-scholar-of-race-relations-explains-224835
    4. https://www.splcenter.org/resources/hatewatch/racist-great-replacement-conspiracy-theory-explained/
    5. https://www.ajc.org/translatehate/great-replacement
    6. https://www.adl.org/resources/backgrounder/great-replacement-explainer
    7. https://hias.org/news/deep-dive-great-replacement-theory/
    8. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jun/08/a-deadly-ideology-how-the-great-replacement-theory-went-mainstream




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    1 hr and 1 min
  • Mini: Placebo Controls for Vaccines

    Mini: Placebo Controls for Vaccines
    Jun 16 2025
    One of the most common strategies of current right-wing propaganda is to say something that sounds like reasonable words, but when you break it down it is misleading, misinformed, outright wrong, or even dangerous. One example of this is a recent suggestion that we start using placebo-controlled experimental arrangements for established vaccines. This is fairly simple to dismantle, so buckle in for a quick and dirty takedown of the placebo-controlled vaccine studies stupid nonsense.

    Support us on patreon: patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast

    Links and References:
    1. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4157320/
    2. https://www.statnews.com/2025/05/22/vaccines-placebo-controlled-trials-hhs-clinical-research-ethics/
    3. https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2025/05/placebo-testing-vaccines-is-unethical-a-waste-of-time-and-money-expert-says/?fj=1


    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/why-we-do-what-we-do--3419521/support.
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    15 mins
  • Golden Goose Awards

    Golden Goose Awards
    Jun 11 2025
    Science is not perfect, because it is human. But it is strives for correction, unlike almost any other human institution or endeavor. Much of what science does at the basic level can feel absurd, esoteric, and pointless. Sometimes, it is. But funding basic scientific research is the reason we have made more progress in the last 150 years than the previous 3,000 years combined. Let's continue making strides forward with our values in mind: fund basic science research!

    Recommendations
    • Abraham: The Stormlight Archive: Wind and Truth (https://www.brandonsanderson.com/pages/the-stormlight-archive-series)
    • Shane: Y: The Last Man (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Y:_The_Last_Man)
    Holidays (6/11/2025):
    • Corn on the Cob Day
    • Cousteau Day
    • Dirty Book Day
    • International Yarn Bombing
    • Kamehameha Day
    • National Cotton Candy Day
    • National German Chocolate Cake Day
    • National Making Life Beautiful Day
    • California State Parks Week
    • Community Health Improvement Week (CHI)
    • Meet a Mate Week
    • National Clay Week
    • National Little League Baseball Week
    • National Pet Wedding Week
    • Shampoo Week

    Links and References:
    1. https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/minute/Senator_William_Proxmire.htm
    2. https://www.aei.org/economics/in-praise-of-science-investment-especially-basic-research/
    3. https://www.goldengooseaward.org/our-gaggle
    4. https://www.goldengooseaward.org/01awardees/nanopores
    5. https://www.aau.edu/newsroom/leading-research-universities-report/new-research-suggests-returns-federal-investments-rd
    6. https://www.americanprogress.org/article/the-high-return-on-investment-for-publicly-funded-research/
    7. https://www.goldengooseaward.org/01awardees/the-maser
    8. https://www.goldengooseaward.org/01awardees/frog-skin-cholera




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    52 mins