Serious Inquiries Only
758 episodes - English - Latest episode: 25 days ago - ★★★★★ - 978 ratingsJoin Thomas for some critical thinking on questions of science, philosophy, skepticism and politics. These serious topics are discussed with some serious guests, but in an entertaining and engaging way! This is not your typical interview podcast; it’s a friendly dialogue, conducted thoughtfully and with plenty of humor. It's Serious Inquiries Only; but like, not boring or anything.
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Episodes
Little Update
February 10, 2023 06:05 - 15 minutes - 19.2 MBAndrew Torrez, Thomas's 50/50 partner in Opening Arguments Media, LLC has been accused of sexual misconduct and unwanted/uncomfortable behavior by many women and 1 Thomas. Thomas's allegations are here, major content warning. Here's Since then Andrew has gone off the deep end and completely stolen control of the show and company assets. Here's a drive link with tons of info. I talk about all that, how you can support me if you choose, and give a heartbreaking update: Lindsey Osterman ha...
SIO347: Does Microdosing Work? Recorded LIVE at QED!
November 17, 2022 05:55 - 50 minutes - 63.5 MBScience person and apparent druggy drug person Lindsey Osterman took us through what the science says on microdosing! Links: Cavanna et al (2022) Microdosing with Psilocybin Mushrooms, Lea et al (2020) Microdosing Psychedelics: Motivations, Subjective Effects and Harm Reduction, Goldberg et al (2021) Post-Acute Psychological Effects of Classical Serotonergic Psychedelics, Yu et al (2021) Psilocybin for End-of-Life Anxiety Symptoms Mason et al (2021) Spontaneous and Deliberate Creativ...
SIO346: Even More Reasons To Never Let Republicans Have Power
November 08, 2022 21:26 - 47 minutes - 59.7 MBThis is perhaps the final part in our series on the Turnaway Studies. The last part focuses on what happens when women are made to undergo an unneccesary ultrasound as a condition to get an abortion. And also, another perhaps under-covered way that abortion care is even more unaffordable for many people. These are all things that are perpetrated on uterus havers by Republicans. So... I guess what I'm saying is VOTE THEM OUT Links: Kimport et al (2014) Beyond Political Claims: Women's Inter...
SIO345: The Effects of Counseling and Protestors on People Who Get Abortions
November 01, 2022 05:46 - 47 minutes - 60.8 MBIt's a 3rd edition of turnaway studies! Links: Gould et al. (2012) Patient Education and Emotional Support Practices in Abortion Care Facilities in the United States, Gould et al. (2013) Predictors of Abortion Counseling Receipt and Helpfulness in the United States, Foster et al (2013) Effect of Abortion Protesters on Women’s Emotional Response to Abortion, National Abortion Federation Releases 2020 Violence & Disruption Statistics
October QnA!
October 29, 2022 07:47 - 53 minutes - 63 MBWould I go so far to call this qna spooktacular? I don't know. We report, you decide.
SIO344: Is There More Perceived Consensus on the Right or the Left?
October 25, 2022 07:17 - 50 minutes - 63.5 MBAnother very fascinating science thingy, in the realm of politics. This one is about how the right and the left perceive political consensus among their ranks and among the other side. It always feels harder to organize on the left... but should it? Links: Stern et al. (2014) Ditto Heads: Do Conservatives Perceive Greater Consensus Within Their Ranks Than Liberals?, Ondish & Stern (2018) Liberals Possess More National Consensus on Political Attitudes in the US: An Examination Across 40 Yea...
SIO343: Excess Republican COVID Deaths Are Massive. But Not Surprising.
October 18, 2022 07:46 - 47 minutes - 60.3 MBScience denialism kills. Anti-vax conspiracy theory kills. This was obvious. But what are the numbers? How many more Republicans died of COVID than might have anyway? A new study has done a rigorous job answering that question, and the answer is grim. Very grim. Links: Wallace et al. (2022) Excess Death Rates for Republicans and Democrats During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Pink et al. (2021) Vaccine endorsement from Republican leaders increases vaccine intentions in Republicans, Allcott et al ...
SIO342: New Study on Sedentary Lifestyle and Health
October 12, 2022 22:05 - 54 minutes - 68.2 MBSo many of us in this day and age are stuck at our desks, or at our homes, or both, and not getting enough movement. It doesn't take a certified science thingy person to know that's probably not great. But how bad is it? And what levels of exercise or movement make a difference? Find out! Links: Farrahi et al. (2022) Joint Profiles of Sedentary Time and Physical Activity in Adults and their Associations with Cardiometabolic Health, Matthews et al. (2021) Sedentary Behavior in US Adults: F...
September QnA!
October 04, 2022 18:39 - 58 minutes - 72.5 MBThanks so much for the questions! Lots of personal ones, plus some behind the scenes stuff.
SIO341: Does Belief in Astrology Correlate with Narcissism?
October 01, 2022 06:37 - 47 minutes - 59.8 MBIt's a science thingy, but more fun! A recently published study claims that belief in Astrology correlates with some negative personality traits, like narcissism. But, is it a Good Science Thingy(tm)? Or did Mars being in retrograde cause the researchers to overstate their conclusions? It's definitely one or the other! Links: Andersson et al (2022) Even the stars think that I am superior: Personality, intelligence, and belief in astrology, Pew Report (2018) "New Age' Beliefs Common Among...
SIO340: Are Most Late Term Abortions for Health Reasons? Actually... No
September 15, 2022 06:58 - 50 minutes - 63.7 MBIt's an often cited statistic that a high percentage of late term abortions are to protect the health of the mother, or due to some complication. As it turns out... this is one example of a left wing talking point that just... isn't substantiated. But importantly, it does not matter. In part 2 of our series on The Turnaway Studies, Lindsey takes us through the data on later term abortions. If you plan on trying to change the minds of pro-lifers, this is a great episode to prepare you. Learn...
SIO339: The Turnaway Studies, Part 1
September 08, 2022 08:31 - 50 minutes - 63.8 MBWhat happens to people who seek abortions but cannot get them? I imagine listeners to this show know the outcomes aren't good. But the Turnaway Studies put real, tangible data into the picture. Your arguments for abortion access will be made much sharper by listening to Lindsey break down the science. Links: The Turnaway Study overview, Annotated bibliography of The Turnaway Study publications, The Turnaway Study Book info, Biggs, Gould, & Foster (2013) Understanding why women seek abor...
SIO338: Is Depression 'Just a Chemical Imbalance?' with Dr. Dean Burnett
September 01, 2022 06:08 - 47 minutes - 59.9 MBRecently a study made the rounds that sought to cast doubt on the efficacy of antidepressants. At the core of this misleading study was a real truth – that depression isn't merely a question of "not enough serotonin." But what exactly does that mean? Is this a new discovery? And why doesn't that mean that medication focused on serotonin doesn't work? Explaining this brilliantly and with singular charm is Dr. Dean Burnett!
SIO337: Major Announcement! Academia Has Lost a Science Person...
August 28, 2022 00:26 - 46 minutes - 59.6 MBBut SIO has gained one! That's right, Lindsey has left her job as a professor and has entered our hearts as (hopefully) a full time science communicator person! We discuss the change and the reasons for Lindsey's departure. Pretty please help the show afford to pay Lindsey! patreon.com/seriouspod!
SIO336: How Night People Suffer in a Morning Person World
July 31, 2022 06:36 - 54 minutes - 68.3 MBIt's part 2! This time we talk about melatonin, and then go on through the many negative outcomes associated with being a night person in this horrible morning person world. It's a lot. But there's like one good thing so that's cool. Links: Li et al (2019) - Melatonin to treat secondary sleep disorders, Brzezinski et al (2005) - Melatonin and sleep, Schrire (2021) - Safety of high dose melatonin in adults, Wei et al (2020) - Safety and efficacy of melatonin for children, Grigg-Damberger...
SIO335: Are There Morning People and Night People? What the Science Says
July 30, 2022 02:55 - 1 hour - 92.4 MBDay man! Fighter of the night man! As someone who has never been able to wake up in the morning, I've always been curious how much of that was determined and how much I might have control over it. What does the science say? Dr. Lindsey Osterman is here to teach us! There are a lot of interesting factors that go into it. Links: Bear, Wolf, Lion, & Dolphin Sleep Types, Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire, Adan & Almirall (1991) Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire: A reduced scale, Mun...
SIO334: ‘Under the Banner of Heaven’ with the Glass Box Podcast, Part 2!
June 29, 2022 15:30 - 48 minutes - 60.8 MBWe continue our descent into Mormon Madness with Bryce and Shannon! If you haven't listened to part 1, STOP and go back! Check out the Glass Box Podcast!
SIO333: 'Under the Banner of Heaven' and the Lafferty Murders, with The Glass Box Podcast
June 27, 2022 01:06 - 56 minutes - 70.8 MBWhen I started watching Under the Banner of Heaven, I honestly had no idea it was a: true crime and b: MORMON AS HELL. (I had just wanted to watch Andrew Garfield in a thing...) Well, if you were left a little confused by the Mormon lore in this true-crime thriller, have we got the show for you! Bryce Blankenagel and Shannon Grover help us understand this very... bizarre religious history. And Shannon has a personal connection to the real case! Check out the excellent Glass Box Podcast!
SIO332: Science Says Stop Spanking Your Kids, A-Holes! – Dear Old Dads Crossover
June 09, 2022 02:58 - 49 minutes - 62.5 MBThat's right, it's a crossover spectacular! Tom and Eli (and I) from Dear Old Dads are here to learn from Lindsey why no the f you should not spank your kids you a-hole! Science is clear. Don't do it. But Lindsey breaks it down and we make lottttts of jokes and hear more amazing dad stories! Subscribe to Dear Old Dads! Links: 2019 APA Resolution on Physical Discipline of Children by Parents, Gershoff and colleagues (2018) - Review on physical punishment and detrimental outcomes
SIO331: Study Shows Privileged People Perceive Equality as Unfair
June 01, 2022 06:22 - 1 hour - 80 MBIt's another science thingy subjected to the Lindsey treatment! A study purports to show that people in a position of privilege view any effort to promote equality as an attack on them. Does the study hold up? Will Lindsey talk methods to us? Find out! Stay tuned after for a special message from Andrew Torrez. Links: New Scientist Article, Brown et al study 2022
SIO330: Does Meditation Reduce Prosocial Behavior?
May 19, 2022 04:42 - 54 minutes - 67.8 MBBy popular request, Lindsey will be taking us through this fascinating science-thingy! Certain kinds of meditation can reduce feelings like guilt, sadness, etc. But is that good? Does it make people less likely to help others in different ways? Find out! Links: Mindfulness Meditation Reduces Guilt and Prosocial Reparation, popular coverage
SIO329: Lindsey Shares Her Abortion Story
May 05, 2022 04:23 - 49 minutes - 62.7 MBOur own Dr. Lindsey Osterman has had an abortion, does not regret it, and wants to tell us why this basic healthcare right matters not just for those in extreme circumstances. Then, we discuss the political situation and what can actually be done about it. Yelling may be involved.
SIO328: Making Sense of Sensemaking with Aaron Rabinowitz
April 30, 2022 20:19 - 1 hour - 79.1 MBThere's possibly a new brand of centrist-IDW-know-it-all online, and it's called a "sensemaker." Or, is it a totally normal good thing? I don't know. So I brought in way-too-online-person Aaron Rabinowitz to explain just wtf is going on here. We ended up having a wide ranging discussion on the centristy-IDW manosphere and what makes it tick. And why Elon Musk blows.
SIO327: Does Paying Fox News Viewers to Watch CNN Pull Them Back Into Reality?
April 14, 2022 19:58 - 1 hour - 78.6 MBYou've likely seen this study covered across the interwebs. Well, does it hold up to the SIO-Osterman treatment? Find out!
SIO325: How to Be Persuasive, According to Science - Part 2
March 13, 2022 23:08 - 50 minutes - 63.2 MBDr. Lindsey Osterman explains the rest of the persuasion review paper. This episode has a lot of good, practical info if you're wanting to try to change minds, for real! Links: Hussein & Tormala (2021) Undermining Your Case to Enhance Your Impact, Jost et al (2003) Political Conservatism as Motivated Social Cognition, Jost et al (2007) Are Needs to Manage Uncertainty and Threat Associated With Political Conservatism or Ideological Extremity?
SIO324: How To Be Persuasive, According to Science
March 09, 2022 08:09 - 45 minutes - 57.4 MBWith so many people in our country seemingly living in an alternate universe of facts, persuading people to change their mind has never been more important. But... how can we actually do that? What actually works? Dr. Lindsey Osterman is here to science us about it! Hussein & Tormala (2021) Undermining Your Case to Enhance Your Impact
SIO323: Did COVID Precautions Increase Adolescent Suicide Risk?
February 19, 2022 03:45 - 56 minutes - 71.1 MBThat's the claim made by many right wing anti COVID restriction people. What's more, it seems to be based on a CDC report. So is there anything to it? Find out! Links: Yard et al (2021) CDC report, Popular press coverage of report 1, 2, 2020 CDC report (claiming that adolescent ED visits for mental health increased by 31% in 2020 compared to 2019), CDC Reports on decline in total ED visits for March/April 2020, Through March 2021, Timing of State and Territorial COVID-19 Response, CDC...
SIO322: Again with the Garbage Free Speech Arguments
February 10, 2022 08:40 - 46 minutes - 59.9 MBYeah it's some commentary about the Joe Rogan controversy. I couldn't help it. People are being too wrong on the internet.
SIO321: Does Giving Money to Mothers Boost Baby Brain Activity?
February 05, 2022 07:55 - 49 minutes - 62.5 MBYou might have seen the coverage recently of a study that claims to show that giving poor mothers cash payments changed their babies’ brain activity in ways associated with stronger cognitive development. So what is the study, and does it hold up to SIO science thingy scrutiny courtesy of Dr. Lindsey Osterman? Find out! Links: NYT write-up, Troller-Renfree and colleagues (2022) The Impact of a Poverty Reduction Intervention on Infant Brain Activity, Other publications from Baby’s First Ye...
SIO320: Patreon QnA 8!
February 03, 2022 07:29 - 50 minutes - 63.5 MBWe had a number of questions from the November QnA that never happened to get to, as well as some new ones for January. Here's to getting back to regular on these!
SIO319: The Rise (and Fall?) of r/antiwork
January 27, 2022 06:57 - 1 hour - 78 MBWhat the saga around the subreddit r/antiwork says about our society and capitalism's death grip on us.
SIO318: Study Says the People Have 'Near-Zero' Influence on Policy. Does it Hold Up?
January 21, 2022 00:08 - 59 minutes - 73.4 MBIt's time to give another viral thingy the Dr. Lindsey Osterman treatment! A viral tweet summarizing the findings of a political science study alleges that the people have "near-zero" impact on public policy. What is this study, what did it find, and was it good science? Find out! Links: Gilens & Page (2014) - Testing Theories of American Politics: Elites, Interest Groups, and Average Citizens, Vox article on Gilens and Page and rebuttals, Bashir (2015) – Response to Gilens and Page, En...
SIO317: Is Instagram Bad for Mental Health? What the Science Says Might Surprise You
November 11, 2021 08:42 - 1 hour - 65.6 MBThe Facebook Whistleblower's testimony and interviews have made some alarming claims about social media and the harms it may cause. But do all of those claims hold up to scrutiny? Maybe not! Let's see what psychologist Dr. Lindsey Osterman has to say! Lindsay's billion links: Internal Report 1, Teen Mental Health Deep Dive, Internal Report 2, Hard Life Moments: Mental Health Deep Dive, Whistleblower Full Senate Hearing Transcript, Body image dissatisfaction in preadolescent children, D...
SIO316: Spooktacular October Patreon QnA!
October 31, 2021 21:35 - 54 minutes - 56 MBIs it ghosts? Dave Chappelle's boring unoriginal transphobia, rat jacket fetishes, Democratic party bashing, and more! Here's that Grandpa Joe blackface post.
SIO315: Lisa Littman's Latest Trans Study is Garbage
October 29, 2021 06:54 - 1 hour - 71.4 MBIt's part 2 of our Littman breakdown, find out what her latest junk study says. This time it's about detransitioning and it suffers from many of the same problems as her first study we covered in part 1. Also, friend of the show Aaron Rabinowitz, host of Embrace the Void, dug up some of the questions Littman asked. Which ones were and were not included says a ton about what the answers must have been. Links: MacKinnon (2021), Littman (2021), Turban (2021)
SIO314: Lisa Littman's Bogus Trans Studies, Part 1
October 26, 2021 20:29 - 55 minutes - 56.9 MBRecently, a study by Lisa Littman has been making the rounds among the anti-woke. You may remember Littman mentioned in the amazing 2 part series debunking The End of Gender. She is the inventor of the transphobic bull shit concept "rapid onset gender dysphoria" which is science words for "kids these days." In this two part series, Dr. Lindsey Osterman breaks down both of her bogus studies and why they are terrible science thingies.
SIO313: US Police Killings Undercounted by More than Half, According to New Study
October 07, 2021 08:14 - 43 minutes - 45.5 MBIn a vital follow up to our police bias episodes, today we break down a new study that shows police killings were undercounted by MORE THAN HALF. This confirms what many of us have suspected about the "official data" on police violence, and it's only the tip of the iceberg. Links: Lancet article, Fatal Encounters, Mapping Police Violence, The Counted
SIO312: September Patreon QnA!
September 30, 2021 08:05 - 48 minutes - 50.5 MBWe've got some great questions as always! This time we start with some personal slash whimsical stuff including what song lyrics we have been wrong about. Other great segments include sex stuff and why Jordan Peterson is wrong about evo-psych. Or just... everything. Links: Dwulit & Rzymski (2019) - Associations of Porn Use with Sexual Dysfunctions
SIO311: What the Science Actually Says on Porn Consumption
September 26, 2021 02:27 - 56 minutes - 57.3 MBIt's part 2 of our sex stuff series. Dr. Lindsey Osterman did a deep dive into porn related research. Either that or I caught her looking at porn and she proposed this series as an elaborate cover. But either way you're getting some great stuff! Does the anti-porn side of the argument have the weight of evidence on their side? Is porn actually totally fine? Find out! Links: Michael Hobbes, Human Trafficking, Cyber Civil Rights Initiative, Revenge porn laws by state, Fisher & Kohut (2017) P...
SIO310: Banning Sex Work and Sex Work Websites Is Bad and We Should Stop Doing It
September 16, 2021 06:10 - 52 minutes - 54.4 MBBut don't take my word for it, Dr. Lindsey Osterman is here to break down the social science for us! And guess what, SURPRISE SURPRISE, it doesn't support the conservative war on porn and sex work. And it's not just conservatives, it's NYT's Nicholas D. Kristof, and prominent anti-porn feminists like Catharine MacKinnon. Listen as Lindsey explains why the war against sex work is bad for everyone. You're Wrong About: Sex Trafficking, The Butterfly Effect, Perry (2021) "Scientific authorit...
SIO309: A Veterinarian Answers our Ivermectin Questions
September 09, 2021 07:16 - 46 minutes - 48.6 MBTherese Chan, an actual vet (though not a horse doctor) is here to talk about Ivermectin. What is it, what does it do, what does it not do, why are so many people taking it, will it turn you into a horse, will it turn you back from a horse to a human, is this a simulation, no really is it, how is any of this real, and more!
SIO308: August Patreon QnA!
September 01, 2021 05:41 - 1 hour - 63.1 MBIt's that time again! Patrons asked some fantastic questions. Like, what's our favorite piece of visual art? Is Bari Weiss right about Amy Cooper? What are Lindsey's thoughts on tenure? Are morals taught or learned? When should people resign in protest vs. staying and fighting? And more!
SIO307: Newly Published Study Shows Atheists are Prejudiced...
August 26, 2021 08:03 - 1 hour - 65.8 MB... AGAINST ANTI GAY ACTIVISTS. Yeah. It's a bad science thingy. But bad science thingies are a bat signal for Dr. Lindsey Osterman, who is here to break down this study for us! What does the study prove? What does it definitely not prove? Find out! Uzarevic et al. (2021) "Are Atheists Unprejudiced?", Uzarevic et al. (2017) "Are Atheists Undogmatic?", Speed & Brewster (2021) "Christians, but not Atheists, Show High In-Group Favoritism"
SIO306: What Does the Massachusetts Outbreak Say About Vaccine Effectiveness?
August 12, 2021 05:22 - 47 minutes - 49.8 MBYou might have seen the very scary headlines about a Massachusetts outbreak in which 74% of those infected were vaccinated. That sounds terrifying! But is it? What does actual science person Dr. Lindsey Osterman make of these numbers? The news is actually far better than you might think! Find out why! In a quick first segment, Lindsey gives us a hilarious recap of how thoroughly Sam Harris accidentally parodied the hell out of himself! Links: WaPo article on Provincetown Outbreak, Origi...
SIO305: July Patreon QnA!
August 05, 2021 04:00 - 59 minutes - 60.7 MBAfter some thrilling haircut talk, we get to this month's questions! Topics this time include: choosing government by sortition, Manchin and Sinema ruining the country, who was the best movie president, vaccinating yourself vs. your children, a general strike, and neoliberalism!
SIO304: Are the Woke Left and Alt-Right Alike? Part 2: The Study So Bad It Made Quillette Look Good
July 30, 2021 04:00 - 1 hour - 64.7 MBContinuing from the last episode, Lindsey backs up her claim that the bulk of the terrible science was yet to come. WOW. This study was complete garbage. You really ought to hear how terrible it is. Lindsey, as usual, did other people's homework for them. She got a hold of some of the data and did her own work with it, which revealed some interesting stuff. Here is the doc. Links: the study, the article, Moss & O’Connor (2020b; origin of White Identitarianism Scale), Pew Poll, Politic...
SIO303: Are the Woke Left and Alt-Right Alike? AKA Debunking a Garbage Quillette Article About a Garbage Study
July 22, 2021 06:06 - 51 minutes - 53.3 MBHoly both sides, Batman! Yeah no suspense on this one, Quillette is garbage and the study this article references is garbage. But how garbage and why exactly? Is there any truth to it? As usual, Lindsey is here to give us the breakdown! This is a part 1. In order to grab part 2 early, make sure to pledge on patreon! Links: Moss & O’Connor (2020b; origin of White Identitarianism Scale), Pew Poll, Political Polarization in the American Public, Master’s thesis (origin of the PC scales)
SIO302: Are Boomers Narcissistic? Are Millennials Entitled? What a Large Narcissism Study Does and Doesn't Tell Us
July 15, 2021 04:58 - 54 minutes - 55.7 MBThis episode was inspired by this Insider article, Baby Boomers Are More Sensitive Than Millennials. Science is often butchered by the media, so I sent it along to our own Dr. Lindsey Osterman to see if the study backs up the article. As it turns out... not really. But it does say some interesting things. Listen in and find out! Wetzel and colleagues (2017), The Narcissism Epidemic is Dead; Long Live the Narcissism Epidemic
SIO301: Evidence Based Mental Healthcare, with Dr. Caleb Lack
July 08, 2021 17:06 - 59 minutes - 60.1 MBToday Lindsey and I are joined by Dr. Caleb Lack. Caleb is a full professor of psychology at the University of Central Oklahoma, and he's here to talk about evidence based mental healthcare. When it comes to treatment, what is actually evidence based and what is unsupported at best and pseudoscience at worst? Also, find out how Caleb trolled a predatory academic journal! Check out Caleb's book, Critical Thinking, Science, and Pseudoscience. Leave Thomas a voicemail! (916) 750-4746, short...
SIO300: June Patreon QnA!
July 01, 2021 05:57 - 1 hour - 60.8 MBIt's episode 300! And also the June patreon QnA! Topics covered include: moral panics – does the left engage in them too? Syria and an old SIO guest. Are we close to full institutional breakdown? How f*cked are we in 2022 and 2024? Who would we root for in a war against America? Christian socialists, critical race theory, people on the left wanting to lift mask mandates. And, what episodes are good for reachable right wing people?