Food insecurity is an internationally pressing issue. As climate change continues to progress, headlines discussing failed harvests, natural disasters, and clean water shortages leave us concerned about the current and future impacts of climate change on food accessibility. Today we have Kfesteryga on to give clarity on the how climate change influences both food policy and accessibility.
Katherine Festeryga holds nearly a decade of experience in both the public and private sector, helping to shape policy and advocate for policy priorities in Canada. Katherine recently launched agricultural technology startup, Edie Farming, building Ontario’s first commercial rooftop greenhouses which won the City of Toronto’s Women4Climate award in 2024. Previously, Katherine was on the policy and communications team at Sidewalk Labs - a landmark Google company that applied forward-thinking urban design and cutting edge technology to the world’s biggest challenges. Prior to Sidewalk Labs, Katherine led legislative and strategic policy communications for NAFTA negotiations and Buy American tariffs for the Province of Ontario at the Ministry of Economic Development and Growth. Katherine holds her Master’s of Public Policy, specializing in climate impacts on food supply at Northwestern University and is a University of Western Ontario graduate with a BA in History and double major in Political Science, as well, she currently sits on the board of North York Harvest Food Bank. You can find Katherine on TikTok educating millions about the intersection of climate, food and culture.
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Contact Us: bspodcast79@gmail.com
Music: William Pleasant
Design: Matheus Lago
Required Reading:
Hunger numbers stubbornly high for three consecutive years as global crises deepen: UN report
Climate Change Impacts on Agriculture and Food Supply
Where does our food come from? Here’s why we need to know | World Economic Forum
Reducing risks to food security from climate change - ScienceDirect
Severe climate change risks to food security and nutrition - ScienceDirect
Climate Change Regulatory Actions and Initiatives | US EPA
How Americans View Climate Change and Policies in 2024 | Pew Research Center
Global Climate Agreements: Successes and Failures | Council on Foreign Relations
The Trump Administration Rolled Back More Than 100 Environmental Rules. Here’s the Full List
FDA to Revoke 52 Obsolete Standards of Identity for Food Products
One of the most unique things about humans as species is our ability to communicate through language. Previously non-human primates have been thought to not have complex communication, however a new finding on the communication style of marmoset monkeys has us reevaluating that claim. Follow Gold and Ilyana as they discuss the new research on monkey communication!
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Contact Us: bspodcast79@gmail.com
Music: William Pleasant
Design: Matheus Lago
Required Reading:
Vocal labeling of others by nonhuman primates | Science
https://www.britannica.com/science/taxonomy
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-44576449
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/communication
https://www.bonobos.org/blog/how-apes-communicate/#jeannette-wyze
https://geographical.co.uk/news/monkeys-communicate-like-humans-dolphins-study-finds
The last 6 months in the Department of Health and Human Services have been filled with misinformation, anti-scientific rhetoric, and a whole lot of confusion, the antithesis of their mission. Ever since RFK Jr. became secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, it has been in shambles. Who is the man behind the madness, and what does this mean for the future of public health? Follow Gold and Ilyana as they wade through the B.S. to discover the truth about the state of the CDC.
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Contact Us: bspodcast79@gmail.com
Music: William Pleasant
Design: Matheus Lago
Required Reading:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention | CDC
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. | HHS.gov
Fact Sheet: HHS’ Transformation to Make America Healthy Again | HHS.gov
What does the health and human services secretary do? | PBS News
Department of Health and Human Services will lay off 10,000 workers | AP News
Exclusive: ex-CDC director talks about why she was fired
Volunteer scientists work ‘nights and weekends’ to guide vaccine advice in US
CDC drops universal COVID vaccine recommendations, suggests separate MMRV shots - ABC News
https://time.com/7289404/trump-taco-acronyms-meaning-dei-doge-maha-fafo-tds/
https://perspectives.ushmm.org/collection/public-health-under-the-third-reich
https://www.whitehouse.gov/maha/
https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2024/guns-remain-leading-cause-of-death-for-children-and-teens
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/covid19/index.htm
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/aug/28/cdc-leaders-quit-susan-monarez-firing
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crrj1znp0pyo
https://www.aamc.org/news/why-do-so-many-americans-distrust-science
Assessing the impact of misinformation during the spread of infectious diseases | Scientific Reports
How to Combat Misinformation - FactCheck.org
In a society with an ever-growing market for data-tracking and personalized tech, concerns about privacy and the security of this information are incredibly high. Combining this with ongoing anxieties about the role of large corporations in the U.S. government, Oura Ring’s partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense has raised many eyebrows, especially considering the DOD’s association with Palantir, an elusive software company. Follow Gold and Ilyana as they lay out how Oura’s technology works and if this partnership should breed concern.
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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5Bf6Gk-SuKnWK0zI0i3M3Q
Contact Us: bspodcast79@gmail.com
Music: William Pleasant
Design: Matheus Lago
Required Reading:
Oura Enterprise Solution for Department of Defense
Oura’s Ongoing Commitment to Health Data Privacy and Security - The Pulse Blog
https://athletechnews.com/oura-smart-ring-sales-surge-amid-rumored-11b-valuation/
PALANTIR TECHNOLOGIES INC. | Federal Award Recipient Profile | USAspending
What Does Palantir Actually Do? | WIRED
What Is Palantir? The Company Behind Government AI Tools | Built In
Oura Ring Privacy Policy Oura Health
https://www.americanpartisan.org/2025/09/tracking-your-steps-and-privacy/
https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/oura-ring-sleep-tracker/
U.S. Data Privacy Protection Laws: A Comprehensive Guide
Which States Have Consumer Data Privacy Laws? - Bloomberg Law
Digital Diagnosis: Health Data Privacy in the U.S. - Law and Biosciences Blog - Stanford Law School
CRISPR Cas-9 is one of the biggest scientific breakthroughs to happen in our lifetime, and it has the capacity to completely revolutionize medical treatment options. Today we have on Dr.Cal Ur Science Pal on to help explain the fascinating mechanisms behind CRISPR and the ethical concerns that come with its introduction to the scientific community and the field of medicine.
Dr.Cal (dr.cal.ur.science.pal on Instagram and TikTok) is a science communicator specialising in genetics and cellular/molecular biology. She completed her BSc in molecular biology in Florida before spending two years as a research fellow at the US National Institute of Health. She then moved to London to complete a PhD project on CRISPR DNA editing and question lipid-based nanoparticles for a human disease treatment. She’s currently a postdoctoral researcher in genetic medicine at a hospital in London.
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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5Bf6Gk-SuKnWK0zI0i3M3Q
Contact Us: bspodcast79@gmail.com
Music: William Pleasant
Design: Matheus Lago
Required Reading:
Gene editing - Applications, Controversies | Britannica
Genome Editing with CRISPR-Cas9
Humans are communal creatures and our desire to fit in and feel understood is why our species exists today. But how does this evolutionary urge impact our modern-day social interactions? In this episode we take a deep dive behind the sociology of microtrends and the roles of social media, capitalism, and marketing in their creation.
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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5Bf6Gk-SuKnWK0zI0i3M3Q
Contact Us: bspodcast79@gmail.com
Music: William Pleasant
Design: Matheus Lago
Required Reading:
The Psychology Behind the Rises and Falls of Trends
The Psychology Of Trends: Why We Love, Adopt, and Leave Them
Social Proof | The Psychology Behind Why We Follow Others
Do you have ‘eyebrow blindness’? Here’s what’s behind the trend | National GeographicPure Novelty Spurs The Brain
Why We Fall for Social Media Trends | Psychology Today
Consumption in the Great Recession
The Persuasive Power of Social Media Influencers in Brand Credibility and Purchase Intention
The Excessive Nature of Overconsumption in American Culture
People Perceive Parasocial Relationships to be Effective at Fulfilling Emotional Needs
With over 50 years in the making, the male birth control pill is beginning to see some incredibly promising strides. This new non-hormonal male birth control is the first of its kind to reach human studies. Gold and Ilyana seek to answer their questions and yours about the science behind this novel medication and discuss its implications of it hitting the market.
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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5Bf6Gk-SuKnWK0zI0i3M3Q
Contact Us: bspodcast79@gmail.com
Music: William Pleasant
Design: Matheus Lago
Required Reading:
First hormone-free male birth control pill clears another milestone | University of Minnesota
YourChoice Therapeutics Begins Second Human Study for Hormone-Free Male Birth Control Pill
College Students Attitudes Towards Male Birth Control
Male Hormonal Contraception: Where Are We Now? - PMC
Male Birth Control Pill YCT-529 Passes Human Safety Test | Scientific American
Addressing inequalities in women's health research
B.S. is back, and even better! Ilyana and Gold discuss the new interesting things that are coming to Season 2, as well as some fun facts about scientific discovery. Syllabus Week will get you warmed up and excited for Season 2, with our first episode of the season dropping September 13 @ 9 EST!
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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5Bf6Gk-SuKnWK0zI0i3M3Q
Contact Us: bspodcast79@gmail.com
Music: William Pleasant
Design: Matheus Lago
Required Reading:
More than 100,000 people in the U.S. sit on an organ donor list awaiting life-saving transplants, with thousands dying each year before being able to receive a donor organ. These numbers grow massively when we consider the number of organs needed worldwide. With such a unique resource and limited supply, how would being able to create organs impact this medical crisis, numerous other health issues, and the societal view of health, ownership, and medical inequities? In this episode of B.S., we discuss the current developments in 3D bioprinting and its contribution to large treatment advancements in the medical field. Tune in to learn more about how 3D bioprinting is changing the scientific landscape!
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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5Bf6Gk-SuKnWK0zI0i3M3Q
Contact Us: bspodcast79@gmail.com
Music: William Pleasant
Design: Matheus Lago
Required Reading:
3D Bioprinting of Human Tissues: Biofabrication, Bioinks, and Bioreactors - PMC
Software for Bioprinting - PMC
3D bioprinting of tissues and organs | Nature Biotechnology
3D bioprinting: transforming medical images into human tissue
What are the types of 3D bioprinting technologies?
Biomaterials for extrusion-based bioprinting and biomedical applications
Organ Donation Statistics | organdonor.gov
Bioethical and Legal Issues in 3D Bioprinting
New bioprinting technique creates functional tissue 10x faster
Opportunities and challenges of translational 3D bioprinting | Nature Biomedical Engineering
A review on four-dimensional (4D) bioprinting in pursuit of advanced tissue engineering applications
Stimuli-responsive polymers and their applications
As beauty standards rise, and the pressure to assign importance to one’s physical characteristics strengthens, it’s no surprise that new ways have emerged to distinguish the haves from the have-nots, the beauty from the beasts. But is there a history behind these tactics, and as we emphasize looks in a persons’ worth, does it begin to spill into more dangerous places- how we view their character and how they should be treated? In this episode of B.S., Ilyana and Gold tackle the infamous “angel skull and witch skull” trend and how phrenology and physiognomy have crept into our current landscape. Listen in to learn about how pseudoscience has staked a claim in beauty spaces!
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Contact Us:
Music: William Pleasant
Design: Matheus Lago
Required Reading:
Phrenology | History, Theory, & Pseudoscience | Britannica
Phrenology: The Study of Skull Shape and Behavior
Obeying the laws of hereditary descent: phrenological views on inheritance and eugenics - PubMed
Phrenology: What is it, and how did it contribute to neuroscience?
2024 was the year aesthetic pseudoscience made an ugly comeback | Dazed
Meet Your Master - Getting to Know Your Brain: Crash Course Psychology #4
Encyclopedia of the History of Science: Phrenology
Racialising civilisation: Phrenology, scientific naturalism and the colonist’s dilemma
Disrupting Ableism and Racism in the Classroom
The Journal of American History
Technological advancements may be the most pervasive force in the 21st century, and the historical unifier of sports is no exception. Athleticwear has evolved to make us faster, stronger, and more efficient in our game play, but are these supersuits turning us superhuman? In this episode of B.S., join us in discussing technodoping, athleticwear advancements, and how we navigate egalitarianism with these new emerging innovations. Tune in to see if these athletic accomplishments are due to breakthroughs or just batsuits!
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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5Bf6Gk-SuKnWK0zI0i3M3Q
Contact Us: bspodcast79@gmail.com
Music: William Pleasant
Design: Matheus Lago
Required Reading:
Winning Skin | Science History Institute
Space Age Swimsuit Reduces Drag, Breaks Records | NASA Spinoff
Olympics Flashbacks: How a NASA-designed swimsuit rocked the 2008 games
One Decade Later, Do We Miss the Full-body Tech Suit? - Swimming World
‘Fast suits’ and Olympic swimming: a tale of reduced drag and broken records
Who We Are | World Anti Doping Agency
BREAKING DOWN DECADES OF NON-CONTACT INJURY RESEARCH
Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injury or Tear
Jack Rasmussen - Decreasing ACL Injuries with a Revoluntary Cleat
Swimming at the 1972 Summer Olympics
Gender Expectations and Dress Codes in Sports
Team USA Women’s Olympic Track Uniforms Slammed As Sexist
Paris Olympics: The gender-specific rules that regulate athletes' uniforms
Aesthetic: concerned with beauty or the appreciation of beauty. A concept constantly taking space in the youth’s photo dumps, Pinterest boards, and minds. While it's nice to be trendy, what are the results of a constant pressure to always have it put together? This episode we’ll be introducing a new series: The Kids Are Not Alright! We’ll be discussing issues that have been arising in Gen-Z, what we make of them, and how we even got here. Our first episode will cover self-surveillance - the act of consistently commodifying oneself. Tune in and find out how vloggers and lifestyle influencers have you looking over your own shoulder, even when you don’t realize it.
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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5Bf6Gk-SuKnWK0zI0i3M3Q
Contact Us: bspodcast79@gmail.com
Music: William Pleasant
Design: Matheus Lago
Required Reading:
Self-Surveillance - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics
Law Journal Library - HeinOnline.org
The Paris Review - Self-Surveillance in the Internet Age - The Paris Review
Snap Inc. - Investor Relations
https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2022/08/10/teens-and-tech-acknowledgments/
Rising egg prices, worrying news headlines, and post-COVID scars have all drawn eyes towards H5N1, a virus currently on the rise in chicken, cattle, and even humans. To cull anxieties regarding the unknown, we’re prioritizing staying informed on what H5N1 is, and its impact on public health and the economy. In this episode of B.S., Gold and Ilyana demystify the current spiking strain of the avian flu and analyze how the recent COVID pandemic has impacted future public health measures. Before you grab your toilet paper and canned goods… grab some headphones and join us in discovering what we’re dealing with.
Staying Informed:
Our information was based on research done on January 17th. For now, due to policy changes by the current administration, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has been ordered to halt all external communications. When updated tracking becomes available, we will be sure to update it here. Stay safe and stay informed!
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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5Bf6Gk-SuKnWK0zI0i3M3Q
Contact Us: bspodcast79@gmail.com
Music: William Pleasant
Design: Matheus Lago
Required Reading:
About Bird Flu | Bird Flu | CDC
2022–2024 Detections of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza
Bird flu H5N1 claims first human life in U.S. | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Bird flu (avian influenza) - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic
Avian Influenza in Birds: Causes and How It Spreads | Bird Flu | CDC
Signs and Symptoms of Bird Flu in People | Bird Flu | CDC
Moderna awarded $590M to help accelerate development of mRNA-based bird flu vaccine: HHS - ABC News
H5 Bird Flu: Current Situation | Bird Flu | CDC
$200M from federal government aims to stop spread of H5N1 among dairy cows
FSU experts available for comment on economic and medical aspects of H5N1 bird flu
How America lost control of the bird flu and raised the risk of another pandemic
H5N1: Do we need to worry about the latest bird flu outbreaks? | The BMJ
This holiday season we’re bringing to you a special episode of B.S.: A Snow Day! In this episode we take a break from The Classroom and instead slip into cozy sweaters and even cozier conversations. Learn a little bit about winter science and mull over incredibly pressing questions about some of our favorite seasonal classics. Enjoy, well wishes, and we’ll see you guys next year!
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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5Bf6Gk-SuKnWK0zI0i3M3Q
Contact Us: bspodcast79@gmail.com
Music: William Pleasant
Design: Matheus Lago
Required Reading:
Blood Viscosity - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics
What is a species, and how many species are there? | Natural History Museum
The neuroprotective effects of cocoa flavanol and its influence on cognitive performance - PMC
Imagine explaining to your guests at dinner that the chicken on their plate never clucked, the beef never moo-ed, and the fish… never even swam? Well, that reality may be fast approaching, as cultivated meat AKA “lab-grown meat” continues to break barriers in getting regulatory approval in the West. However, this move of agriculture from bustling farms to bioreactors has aroused mixed reviews from all stakeholders including the current meat industry, local governments, and even the everyday consumer. Tune in to this episode of B.S. to learn more about this food innovation and what effects it could actually have on our current state of food production. And remember, it’s all just food for thought! ;)
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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5Bf6Gk-SuKnWK0zI0i3M3Q
Contact Us: bspodcast79@gmail.com
Music: William Pleasant
Design: Matheus Lago
Required Reading:
What is lab-grown meat? How it's made, environmental impact and more
Human Food Made with Cultured Animal Cells | FDA
Cultured meat from stem cells: Challenges and prospects - ScienceDirect
In-vitro meat: a promising solution for sustainability of meat sector - PMC
Lab-Grown Meat Approved for Sale: What You Need to Know | Scientific American
'Intense flavor': The $330,000 burger that was built in a lab hits the spot
Meat without slaughter: Here’s everything you need to know about lab-grown meat | CNN Business
Inside the Quest to Make Lab Grown Meat | WIRED
Meet the new meat | Mark Post | TEDxHaarlem - YouTube
The idea for lab-grown meat was born in a prisoner of war camp
Lab-grown meat isn't on store shelves yet, but some states have already banned it | AP News
The Shortsighted Effort to Ban Lab-Grown Meat in Some States | TIME
Consumer Acceptance of Cultured Meat: An Updated Review (2018–2020)
The Myth of Cultured Meat: A Review - PMC
Attitudes to in vitro meat: A survey of potential consumers in the United States | PLOS ONE
From flexing your Lunchables in grade school to the annual Thanksgiving post-your-plate, it’s no surprise that Americans use food as a status symbol. But one has to wonder, what is the history behind this phenomenon and how has the recent spike in grocery prices altered our relationship with food? In this episode of B.S., Gold and Ilyana discuss the modern perception of food as a luxury and how it’s showing up in areas where we least expect it. Grab your popcorn, or Erewhon smoothie, and tune in!
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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5Bf6Gk-SuKnWK0zI0i3M3Q
Contact Us: bspodcast79@gmail.com
Music: William Pleasant
Design: Matheus Lago
Required Reading:
Food Insecurity and Bullying Victimization Among 170,618 Adolescents in 59 Countries - PMCChildren and Youth Perceptions of Family Food Insecurity and Bullying | School Mental HealthWhen did Lobster Become Popular? The Strange History of Lobster | by Bruce Wilson Jr. | MediumUSDA ERS - Food Prices and SpendingUSDA ERS - Key Statistics & GraphicsUSDA ERS - Chart DetailThe food deserts of Memphis: inside America's hunger capital | Divided Cities - YouTubeFast-Flation: Fast Food Restaurant Prices Surge, Even as Inflation Wanes - The Food InstitutePrices at these fast food restaurants increased the most in 10 yearsThe Definition Of Luxury Is Expanding And ChangingThe psychology of luxury consumption - ScienceDirectTo Gen Z, food is the new luxury. What does that mean for fashion? | Vogue Business
He has his mother's eyes... and his father's surgeon! In the era of endless hair transplant transformations, gym bros, and male influencers, follow us in our deep dive to figure out what's driving men to these newfound beauty standards, and how far they'll go to actually achieve them. With discussions on cosmetic tourism, a resurgence of testosterone use, double standards, and, unsurprisingly, Vinnie Hacker- this episode of B.S. provides a humorous yet informative outlook on the rejuvenation of the male beauty standard. Sit down and grab your headphones- this will be an interesting one!
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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5Bf6Gk-SuKnWK0zI0i3M3Q
Contact Us: bspodcast79@gmail.com
Music: William Pleasant
Design: Matheus Lago
Required Reading:
Setting the bar: divergent sociocultural norms for women's and men's ideal appearance in real-world contexts - PubMed Frontiers | Gender Differences in Body Evaluation: Do Men Show More Self-Serving Double Standards Than Women? Why Istanbul Is The Place to Get Your Hair Back Donor Harvesting: Follicular Unit Excision - PMC A hair transplant can give you permanent, natural-looking results Exploring the prevalence of anabolic steroid use among men and women resistance training practitioners after the COVID-19 pandemic - PMC
Ever wonder if your gut has a secret life? Join us this week as we dive into the fascinating world of the gut microbiome! From probiotics that promise to make you feel like a superhero to the myths that have us craving our fermented foods, we’re here to separate the science from the sensational. So, grab your kombucha and tune in—because it’s time to find out what’s really brewing in your belly!
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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5Bf6Gk-SuKnWK0zI0i3M3Q
Contact Us: bspodcast79@gmail.com
Music: William Pleasant
Design: Matheus Lago
Required Reading:
Gut Microbiome: What We Do and Don't Know - PubMed (nih.gov)Introduction to the human gut microbiota - PMC (nih.gov)U.S. immigration westernizes the human gut microbiome - PMC (nih.gov)Misinformation About the Human Gut Microbiome in YouTube Videos: Cross-sectional Study - PMC (nih.gov)Poppi Faces Class-Action Lawsuit Over Soda's Gut Health Claims (today.com)
Join Ilyana and Gold for Syllabus Week: the introduction to their new podcast, B.S., covering topics ranging from biological discoveries to engineering innovations to sociological issues and sometimes even simple things like "What is a gene?!!!"
In this episode, they tell you a little bit about themselves and what to be excited about in the coming episodes! Come for the ride with these 2 college students as they wade through the B.S. to get to their B.S. (Bachelors of Science).
Listen To Us Anywhere:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5Bf6Gk-SuKnWK0zI0i3M3Q
Contact Us: bspodcast79@gmail.com
Music: William Pleasant
Design: Matheus Lago