Here We Are

Return guest Joel Suss is so interesting and does really unique work. His research interests focus on understanding and improving perceptual-cognitive performance (e.g., anticipation, decision making) in complex and challenging operational settings (e.g., law enforcement, security, military command and control, aviation, and emergency medicine). For example, he investigates ways to train police officers to make better decision in stressful situations. Another project, in conjunction with...

I had this conversation with Dr. Beth A. Livingston last September and I'm finally releasing it today. We talk about gender norms and biases and how they impact career growth and perpetuate limiting beliefs for both men and women. This was a very enlightening discussion and it was a pleasure to learn from someone with such a vast understanding of these topics. Dr. Beth A. Livingston is an Assistant Professor in Management and Entrepreneurship at the University of Iowa's Tippie College of...

Wearables can do so much more than count your steps. They can also be used for detecting abnormalities caused by Covid up to 10 days before symptoms arise. In this episode, Dr. Michael Snyder explores the many uses of wearable health monitoring technology Michael Snyder is a genomicist, systems biologist, and entrepreneur. He is the Stanford B. Ascherman Professor and Chair of Genetics and Director of Genomics and Personalized Medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine. Years ago he...

Authors of ‘The Courage to Suffer: A New Clinical Framework for Life's Greatest Crises’ join me to talk about mental health, spirituality, what happens when a crisis makes you rethink the coherence of the very narratives that used to keep you going. Rather than trying to dismiss and escape suffering we can find ways to accept and thrive within it. Sara A. Showalter Van Tongeren has more than twelve years of clinical social work experience in settings such as private practice, foster care,...

This week I talk with my good friend and multi-talented Pete Holmes! I wanted to have a spiritual conversation with someone outside of academia for a change. Pete and I always have really great philosophical discussions and I really appreciate his take on a lot of things. Check out Pete's philosophical/spiritual autobiography "Comedy Sex God" on Amazon or wherever you get your books! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Covid update with my favorite guest on the subject! Nina Fefferman has spent her career modeling future pandemics. Because of Covid, she’s gone from a theoretical to an applied mathematician. Her interdisciplinary makes her one of the most knowledgeable people at the intersection of mathematics and evolutionary biology. She consistently takes us on a path through the either/or fallacies of health VS economy which have become so politicized and guides us through an exploration of nuance and...

Take a peek inside the life of the people who get to peek inside the lives of others. This week I talk with two anthropologists about what it's like to go and live in an extremely different culture. We talk about shamanism, leadership, witchcraft and what past health care and court systems might have looked like. Zach Garfield is an evolutionary anthropologist who investigates how behaviors such as leadership and followership, decision-making, and economic strategies are related to...

On this episode, we chat about biodiversity loss as a key issue in our modern world. We emphasize the impact it has on increasing of disease in our modern environment which isn’t something normally addressed in public discourse. This doesn’t just impact humans, but the majority of wildlife has lost habitat and the space needed to avoid pathogen spread. Additionally, globalization has introduced invasive viruses to novel environments which lack defense to them. Dr. Debra Miller is Professor...

In this rare solo episode, I explore what it's like as a comedian, show producer, and science communicator trying to navigate Covid, the economy, public perception, regulations, and marketing while considering the many additional variables and challenges that come along with planning a tour. Thank you for watching and being an inquisitive being. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Professor Sarah Hill of the Hill Evolutionary Social Psychology Lab at Texas Christian University returns to the show to talk about her new book ‘This Is Your Brain on Birth Control: The Surprising Science of Women, Hormones, and the Law of Unintended Consequences’ Sarah is such a dream guest. In addition to being very funny and not afraid to talk about social taboos, her work is also not just really unique and mind-blowing but is also incredibly important information for anyone and an...

David Hanscom is author of the book ‘Do You Really Need Spine Surgery?’. He is a renowned complex deformity spinal surgeon of 30 years and his experiences both in the medical industry and with his own health gave him a new perspective on chronic pain, the medical industry, and mental health that is a fresh perspective in a world where questionable surgeries and treatments can often be overprescribed. His pioneering book, ‘Back in Control: A Surgeon’s Roadmap Out of Chronic Pain’ showed...

Volcanic activity, submarine adventures, and scallop porn are on today’s menu. If that is somehow not enticing enough, you’re also going to find out what percentage of a scallop’s body weight is gametes. Guess high as it may be nature’s most impressive money shot. Skylar Bayer is a marine ecologist who studies population dynamics and marine conservation. She’s also does a ton of science communication including producing the science storytelling show The Story Collider. She even shares a fun...

Shane talks with personality expert, William Keith Campbell. He is an American social psychologist known for his research on narcissism. He is a professor in the Department of Psychology in the University of Georgia's Franklin College of Arts and Sciences. Thank you for watching and being an inquisitive being. 𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐖𝐞 𝐀𝐫𝐞: Stand-up comedian, adventurer and science enthusiast Shane Mauss has been interviewing scientists each week since 2014. Originally from La Crosse,...

Technology is amazing. But it also comes with a number of concerns. How much should we worry and about what? Did you know that there used to be similar concerns about books? Socrates believed that writing was not an effective means of communicating knowledge and now we know he said that over two thousand years ago because of writing. But maybe this time the threat is real. What does the research have to say? Ken Reid – Comedian, TV nerd, and host of the fantastic podcast ‘TV Guidance...

I am pleased to welcome back the most enthusiastic guest I've had, Barrett Klein, along with first time guest, Lyric Bartholomay. We discuss genetically modified flies, what could cause some people to be more attractive to mosquitoes and other buggers, and why you should save bugs from your shower drain! Entomologist, Barrett Klein is an Associate Professor of Biology at the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse. Lyric Bartholomay is a vector biologist from the University of Wisconsin–Madison....

On this special episode I talk all about DMT with neurobiologist, pharmacologist, chemist, writer, Dr. Andrew Gallimore. What in the world is going on with this crazy chemical? What's at the bottom of reality? Can DMT somehow help us answer the deep questions we have about reality? Learn more about Andrew's work here: http://www.buildingalienworlds.com/ https://twitter.com/alieninsect https://www.instagram.com/alieninsect/ Thank you for watching and being an inquisitive being. 𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭...

Shane learns about volcanoes and finds out what it's like to live in a submarine talking with Associate Professor of Geology at The University at Buffalo, Tracy Gregg. Outro music by Jake The Hawk https://jakethehawk.bandcamp.com/ Thank you for watching and being an inquisitive being. 𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐖𝐞 𝐀𝐫𝐞: Stand-up comedian, adventurer and science enthusiast Shane Mauss has been interviewing scientists each week since 2014. Originally from La Crosse, Wisconsin this former factory...

Shane has returned guest, Joe Reddin, on the podcast. They talk about boredom during this odd time for humans. Joseph P. Redden is a Professor of Marketing at the Carlson School of Management. He received his Ph. D. in Marketing from the Wharton Business School, University of Pennsylvania. He is currently focused on how to help consumers extract more enjoyment without changing the product, how to reduce consumer boredom, and how to encourage (and enjoy) healthier eating. Thank you for...

Today on the Here We Are podcast, I'm joined by Corina Newsome, who is an American ornithologist, birder, science communicator, and graduate student at Georgia Southern University. We talked about the racism that exists within the birding community. I explain why I think the bowerbird is the most ridiculous bird. Follow Corina: https://twitter.com/hood_naturalist https://corinanewsome.wixsite.com/hoodnaturalist https://www.instagram.com/hood__naturalist Thank you for watching and being an...

Shane talks with Biology professor, Dr. Nipun Chopra, about link between Alzheimer's disease and various environmental factors. Dr. Nipun Chopra is a graduate of DePauw University ('06) and received his PhD training from the Indiana University school of Medicine, with a focus on Medical Neuroscience. During his PhD work, his research focused on identifying microRNA that regulate key proteins involved in Alzheimer's disease. Nipun's Twitter: https://twitter.com/NipunChopra7 Thank you for...