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

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." 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

Kirkus Review of Book

This is an awesome resource for anyone who has a loved one going through gender transition/questioning.

We talked about Gender Euphoria near the end. This resource is good.

Citation:

Wind, L. (2023). The Gender Binary is a Big Lie: Infinite Identities and Expressions.

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

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.

Hi there! Today, Jamie and Leah are discussing a class that Jamie is taking on DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) in science education. Particularly, how to get students to develop a STEM Identity. We are discussing a book by Dr. Christopher Emdin, an amazing advocate and visionary in the field of education. Join us as we dig deeper into science education and how students today need to identify and feel competent in everything science.

Citations:

1. D, C. E. P. (2022). Stem, steam, make, dream: Reimagining the Culture of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. International Center for Leadership in Education.
2. Davis, T., PhD. (2024, May 29). Want to increase your chances of success? Then develop your growth mindset. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/click-here-for-happiness/201904/15-ways-to-build-a-growth-mindset
3. Notre Dame Deloitte Center for Ethical Leadership | Mendoza College of Business | University of Notre Dame. (n.d.). The Notre Dame Deloitte Center for Ethical Leadership. https://ethicalleadership.nd.edu/thought-leadership/how-to-stop-the-spreadof-misinformation
4. Promoting Identity and Equity in STEM: Messages from the Learning. (n.d.). NAEYC. https://www.naeyc.org/resources/pubs/tyc/winter-2025/promoting-identity-equity-stem
5. Psychology, P. (2022, July 4). Fixed vs. Growth Mindset: Thinking and Examples. Practical Psychology. https://practicalpie.com/fixed-vs-growth-mindset-thinking-and-examples/
6. Romero, C. & MASTER, A. (2015). WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT GROWTH MINDSET FROM SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH. https://studentexperiencenetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/What-We-Know-About-Growth-Mindset.pdf
7. Shaping positive STEM identity for Student success | ASM.org. (n.d.). ASM.org. https://asm.org/articles/2023/september/shaping-positive-stem-identity-for-student-success
8. Teaching current events. (2019, August 2). Facing History & Ourselves. https://www.facinghistory.org/resource-library/teaching-current-events
9. Three mindset shifts that can help students succeed. (n.d.). Greater Good. https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/three_mindset_shifts_that_can_help_students_succeed

Jamie finally finished the book, "How To Talk to a Science Denier." Join Jamie and Leah as they discuss the difficult process of unpacking denial mentality and the arduous process of trying to talk to deniers.

Citations:

1. Author Lee McIntyre. (n.d.). https://leemcintyrebooks.com/
2. Gwazi Magnum. (2014, November 23). Vaccines cause Autism - If Google Was A Guy [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77GGn-E607E
3. Kahan, D. M. (2017). Misconceptions, misinformation, and the logic of Identity-Protective Cognition. SSRN Electronic Journal. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2973067
4. McIntyre, L. (2021). How to Talk to a Science Denier: Conversations with Flat Earthers, Climate Deniers, and Others Who Defy Reason. https://direct.mit.edu/books/book/5169/How-to-Talk-to-a-Science-DenierConversations-with

Hi there! In today's episode, Leah and Jamie discuss the need to change the way science communicators show how they all agree on the data. It may seem like just semantics, but the word consensus has been confusing the general public for a long time, and it is easy to manipulate this confusion to sway public opinion. This will lead us to the next episode where we will discuss a 2021 book: How To Talk to a Science Denier. Enjoy today's episode!

Citations:

1. Hawks, J. (2025, April 27). Consilience, convergence, and consensus. John Hawks. https://www.johnhawks.net/p/consilience-convergence-and-consensus
2. Podcast: Scientific Consensus: A concept past its expiration date? (2025, May 21). American Council on Science and Health. https://www.acsh.org/news/2025/05/21/podcast-scientific-consensus-concept-past-its-expiration-date-49497
3. Starling, M. (2025, May 19). Monkeys are kidnapping babies of another species on a Panamanian island, perplexing scientists. CNN Science. Retrieved May 24, 2025, from https://www.cnn.com/2025/05/19/science/monkey-kidnappings-jicaron-island-panama
4. Thomas, L. (2020, July 10). Single, Double & Triple Blind Study | Definition & Examples. skribbr.com. Retrieved May 20, 2025, from https://www.scribbr.com/methodology/double-blind-study/
5. Thorp, H. H. (2025). Convergence and consensus. Science, 388(6745), 339. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.ady3211

This week's episode was a little late in getting out, but here it is: the second part of the State of the Heart Report, from 6seconds.org. Leah and Jamie discuss the idea of Emotional Intelligence and how there appears to be a downward trend in EQ (Emotional Quotient) in the world, especially in certain demographics. Check out the citations if you want to access the complete report.

Citations:

1. Affordable Counseling | Affordable Therapy | Open Path Collective. (n.d.). Open Path Collective. https://openpathcollective.org/
2. Emotional Intelligence Test. (2025, April 10). Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/tests/personality/emotional-intelligence-test
3. Freedman, J. (2024). State of the heart. In https://6sec.org/soh.
4. FunkyFrogBait. (2025, May 2). How to be a MAN (According to Instagram reels) [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TV8RfJVwaoE
5. Six Seconds. (2022, February 2). Interactive Wellbeing Balancing Scale • Six seconds. https://www.6seconds.org/scale/

Today's episode comes from an article that Jamie and Leah read about urgency and the power of emotional intelligence. This led us to an even bigger report on the State of the Heart, a report of the state of EQ, or Emotional Intelligence. While this week we discuss mainly the first article, we will circle back to the bigger article next week. Enjoy!

Citations:

Tanon-Olsson, A. (2025, May 7). Overcoming Urgency: How emotional intelligence helps you slow down and focus on what truly matters. Six Seconds. https://www.6seconds.org/2025/05/06/overcoming-urgency-how-emotional-intelligence-helps/

This week, Leah and Jamie discuss a short article that summarizes a longer article from the Proceedings of the National Academies of Science (PNAS). Both articles are found in the citations listed below, but the longer article is behind a paywall. Jamie gives a pretty good review of both articles, and they both discuss how white matter can be affected by the stability of the environment in which children live. A sobering and crucial discussion that has significant impact on children of color and those who live in struggling family environments.

Citations:

1. Black, R. (2025, April 14). Is this really a dire wolf? Here’s how the ‘de-extinct’ pups compare to the real thing. Science. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/dire-wolf-deextinction-colossal-paleontology
2. Early experiences shape the brain’s ‘communication superhighways’ to affect cognition. (2025, April 7). American Academy of Applied Science. Retrieved April 29, 2025, from https://www.science.org/content/article/early-experiences-shape-brain-s-communication-superhighways-affect-cognition
3. Ghosh, P. (2025, April 17). Scientists find promising hints of life on distant planet K2-18b. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c39jj9vkr34o
4. Wikipedia contributors. (2025, February 16). Timeline of the James Webb Space Telescope. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_James_Webb_Space_Telescope

Hi there! Jamie and Leah took the week off last week to get some personal things done. Hope you didn't miss us too much. This week, we re-recorded an episode that didn't work out because of bad audio. We focused on an article of the 50 things women couldn't do before 1970. It's quite a list. Hope you enjoy!

Citations:

1. 40 basic rights women did not have until the 1970s - History collection. (n.d.). History Collection. https://historycollection.com/40-basic-rights-women-did-not-have-until-the-1970s/
2. Erber, E. (2025, March 26). The real Story - Kathrine Switzer - Marathon Woman. Kathrine Switzer - Marathon Woman. https://kathrineswitzer.com/1967-boston-marathon-the-real-story/

It's getting trickier than ever to be a skeptical thinker. This week's episode wades into the turbid waters of genetics and the views coming from the fringe that there are real genetic differences between races - in particular the idea that white genetics are superior to any other race. While this is preposterous, there appears to be groups who are feeling more emboldened to push these false narratives using pseudoscience. Leah and Jamie try to debunk without giving voice to the platform. Check out our show citations below. Also, like us on any of the platforms. We don't do this for any monetary gain, but it would be great to hear if you are out there listening. you can email us at this link: email. You can also like us on our Facebook Page.

Citations:

1. Smart, A. (2025, March 26). In genetics, a tense coexistence of mainstream and fringe views. Undark Magazine. https://undark.org/2025/03/26/unleashed-genetics-intelligence/?et_cid=5575266
2. Smithsonian Natural Museum of American History. (n.d.). Homepage The Bias inside Us. https://biasinsideus.si.edu/
3. Staff, H. B. (2025, April 2). The Moments that Change Us | Hidden Brain Media. Hidden Brain Media. https://hiddenbrain.org/podcast/the-moments-that-change-us/
4. Wikipedia contributors. (2025a, March 14). Human Genome Project - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_Genome_Project
5. Wikipedia contributors. (2025b, March 22). Mankind quarterly. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mankind_Quarterly

This week Jamie and Leah try to tackle an article that discusses the need for better representation of transgender and gender nonconforming people in the STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine) Fields. We try really hard to stay on topic, but the Transgender issues are so large, that we tend to struggle with focus. No doubt, we will be covering this issue and gender issues again. We do think that this is a great episode - and one that will get you thinking different about gender. Check out the original article here, and check out all the interesting sources in the show notes below.

Sources:

1. Adamczeski, R. (2024, June 28). Gender-affirming care is primarily used by cisgender people. Advocate.com. https://www.advocate.com/health/gender-affirming-surgery-minors-rate
2. Honoring Nex Benedict, a 16-Year-Old Non-Binary Oklahoma High School. . . (2024, April 18). HRC. https://www.hrc.org/news/honoring-nex-benedict-16-year-old-non-binary-high-school-student-who-tragically-died-after-school-beating
3. Jacobs, P. (n.d.). ‘We’re hurting.’ Trans scientists call for recognition and support from research community. https://www.science.org. https://www.science.org/content/article/we-re-hurting-trans-scientists-call-recognition-and-support-research-community?et_cid=5575266
4. Krisha Et Al., A. (n.d.). Rigorous science demands support of transgender scientists. Cell, 6, 1327–1334. https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(24)00187-9
5. Sex and gender in science. (n.d.). https://www.nature.com/immersive/sex-and-gender-in-science/index.html
6. The Hastings Center. (2023, June 14). Gender-Affirming Care for Cisgender People: Q&A with Theodore Schall and Jacob Moses - The Hastings Center. https://www.thehastingscenter.org/news/gender-affirming-care-for-cisgender-people-qa-with-theodore-schall-and-jacob-moses/
7. Turban, J. (2024, February 20). The Disturbing History of Research into Transgender Identity. Scientific American. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-disturbing-history-of-research-into-transgender-identity/
8. Why it’s essential to study sex and gender, even as tensions rise. (2024). Nature, 629(8010), 7–8. https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-024-01207-0

This week Leah and Jamie discuss a newsletter link that Jamie's representative sent him. This link took us to the conservative publication: The Federalist. The article alleges that colleges are selling student data to the Get Out The Vote groups for nefarious leftist - leaning voter registration drives. See the sources below for a link to the article and a couple of other places we were looking to verify the information!

Give us a like! We also have an email address now! Send us a message! Let us know if there is anything you want us to research and discuss on future episodes!

Reach us at: SkepticalThinker99@gmail.com

Check out our Facebook Page Too!

Hope you like the cozy picture of Leah's cat Ciel!

Sources:

1. ALL IN Challenge - about. (2025, March 5). ALL IN Challenge. https://allinchallenge.org/about/
2. Fleetwood, S. (2023, April 4). Texas Bill models how to stop DEMs’ exploitation of colleges for partisan Get-Out-The-Vote OPs. The Federalist. https://thefederalist.com/2023/04/04/texas-bill-models-how-to-stop-dems-exploitation-of-colleges-for-partisan-get-out-the-vote-ops/
3. Fleetwood, S. (2025, March 21). Legal complaint asks Education Department to probe alleged Left-Wing GOTV scheme at colleges. The Federalist. https://thefederalist.com/2025/03/21/legal-complaint-asks-education-department-to-probe-alleged-left-wing-gotv-scheme-at-colleges/
4. Influence Watch. (2024, May 17). ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge (ALL IN) - InfluenceWatch. InfluenceWatch. https://www.influencewatch.org/organization/all-in-campus-democracy-challenge-all-in/
5. Kittle, M. (2024, March 4). Wisconsin complaint exposes Leftist-Led vote drives on college campuses. The Federalist. https://thefederalist.com/2024/03/05/wisconsin-complaint-exposes-leftist-led-vote-drives-on-college-campuses/
6. Oconnell, L. (2025, January 15). Universities sharing student records: What you need to know. ShunStudent. https://shunstudent.com/article/are-student-records-shared-between-universities

Hi there! In this episode, we talk about an article (and some other sources) that links how we eat with mental health. I have linked all the sources below. Take good care of yourself!

Sources:

1. Colino, S. (2025, March 14). Scientists are uncovering surprising connections between diet and mental health. Health. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/health/article/diet-mental-health-foods?rid=18C5F3C8000430FA93B55AE508ED0886&loggedin=true&rnd=1742336980879
2. Lane, M. M., Gamage, E., Du, S., Ashtree, D. N., McGuinness, A. J., Gauci, S., Baker, P., Lawrence, M., Rebholz, C. M., Srour, B., Touvier, M., Jacka, F. N., O’Neil, A., Segasby, T., & Marx, W. (2024). Ultra-processed food exposure and adverse health outcomes: umbrella review of epidemiological meta-analyses. BMJ, e077310. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj-2023-077310
3. McKeever, A. (2024, October 10). 9 simple ways to boost your mental health, according to science. Premium. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/premium/article/mental-health-boost-science-tips
4. Professional, C. C. M. (2024a, May 1). Aerobic exercise. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/7050-aerobic-exercise
5. Professional, C. C. M. (2024b, December 19). Serotonin. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22572-serotonin

Ignorance, what more do I have to say? This episode, Leah and Jamie try to understand the myriad of ways ignorance wreaks havoc in our world.

We had some technical difficulties with the recording of this episode, which required some new technical skills stitching two audio files together - We think it worked out, but you may hear some slight background noises while listening. Sorry for the inconvenience.

In this episode, Leah and Jamie are just trying to keep up with the speed of change happening in the United States. We spend some time looking at the things we can control and the things we can't.

Welcome to our third season of The Skeptical Thinker Podcast! Leah and Jamie are excited to share our thoughts and discuss things we are thinking about and reading about.

In this episode, we discuss our feelings shortly after the inauguration - and try to sort out our feelings while we discuss ways to move forward. I can say that this is not our happiest episode, but it is an important way that many people are processing and and trying to forge a path into the future!

In today's episode, Leah and Jamie discuss Artificial Intelligence. An interesting topic where they wrestle with the idea that AI as we know it today may not be as "intelligent" as it has been billed as. Hopefully you will come to your own conclusions about A.I., and we encourage you to do that! We've even offered some great links here in the show notes!

Japanese bread recognition

10 reasons why A.I. may be overrated

A.I. Uses SO MUCH energy!

Why A.I. is making your energy worse

Oh, and FYI, Jamie and Leah are going to take a little break for the month of January. We will be back with season three (we can't believe we've come this far!) in February. Hope you and your loved ones have had a wonderful holiday season!

Hi there...

Today, Leah and I discuss a book called "Here I Am." A book by Dr. Leonard Felder. The extended title for his book is, "Using Jewish Spiritual Wisdom to Become More Present, Centered, and Available For Life."

While we do spend a lot of our time discussing some of the parts of the book, our discussion ranges from strategies found in Felder's book to discussions of how to navigate the current world's climate.

Leah and I are in the process of completing our first season together, and we have enjoyed working on this podcast. Our next season starts in 2025, and we hope to have some more deep and thoughtful conversations in the new year! Join us!

Also, look for us on Blue Sky. I will give more details when I get the account set up, but we should be able to share details on this in a few weeks!

And...Great News! I've just started a Facebook Page too! Check us out!