Spellbound
105 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 4 years ago - ★★★★★ - 149 ratingsTwo guys with too many big questions! From the origins of written language to quantum mechanics, we’re out to make sense of it all. Spellbound is a weekly podcast hosted by Julian Smith (Director/Comedian) & Andrew Rader (MIT PhD, Canada’s Greatest Know-It-All).
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Episodes
#103 The Evolution of Memes & Ideas + TTFN
February 18, 2020 04:45 - 1 hourHow ideas evolve through cultural memes and inspire new ways of thinking. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
#102 Derek Johnson on Denuclearizing Earth by 2030
February 10, 2020 21:23 - 1 hourGlobal Zero CEO, Derek Johnson, on his organization's efforts to denuclearize Earth by 2030. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
#101 MAGA Friends on Trump w/ Tyler Torti
February 04, 2020 05:04 - 1 hourTyler Torti returns to talk Trump and the impeachment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
#100 Why Space Force Isn't News
January 27, 2020 23:41 - 54 minutesMisconceptions about Space Force and other related novelties. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
#099 A Brief History of War
January 20, 2020 18:40 - 1 hourWhat good and bad has come from war and how has it changed with time? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
#098 Beyond The Known Pt. 3
January 13, 2020 18:08 - 1 hourClosing the series on Andrew's book, we discuss the future of exploration into space. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
#097 Some Resolution on New Years
January 06, 2020 18:14 - 53 minutesThe origin of timekeeping and discrepancies between various calendars. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
#096 Afrofuturism w/ Ahmed Best
December 30, 2019 15:46 - 1 hourThe voice of Star Wars' Jar Jar Binks and host of The Afrofuturist podcast explains afrofuturism. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
#095 Why History Says Xmas
December 23, 2019 17:43 - 36 minutesA historical and linguistic case for Xmas > Christmas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
#094 Origins of Life w/ Michael Wong
December 16, 2019 21:28 - 59 minutesAstrobiologist Michael Wong on the origin of life as we know it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
#093 Chaos Theory w/ Derek Muller (Veritasium)
December 09, 2019 20:19 - 1 hourPhD physicist/engineer Derek Muller on randomness, free will, and realistic solutions to climate change. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
#092 Beyond The Known Pt. 2
December 02, 2019 18:23 - 1 hourPart 2 on Andrew's new book about the history of exploration, Beyond The Known. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
#091 Keeping the Doomsday Clock w/ Dr. Rachel Bronson
November 25, 2019 19:25 - 40 minutesThe Bulletin's President/CEO, Rachel Bronson, on existential risks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
#090 Is Community Exclusive by Default?
November 18, 2019 19:12 - 43 minutesIn part 3 of our rituals/community topic, we explore the basis of community and whether it's naturally exclusive. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
#089 Beyond The Known Pt. 1
November 11, 2019 18:13 - 52 minutesA timeline of human exploration and technology, per Andrew's new book. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
#088 Volcanoes & Climate Change w/ Jess Phoenix
November 04, 2019 18:32 - 46 minutesScientist/volcanologist Jess Phoenix on climate change policy and what to expect from potential natural threats. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
#087 Rituals Pt. II w/ David Moses Perez
October 28, 2019 18:32 - 1 hourDavid Perez on building his provocatively inclusive community in the bible belt. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
#086 Sasha Sagan on Rituals
October 21, 2019 22:44 - 1 hourSasha on Carl Sagan as a dad and her new book. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
#085 How NASA Defines Life w/ Morgan Cable
October 14, 2019 16:32 - 43 minutesNASA astrobiologist, Morgan Cable, on the search for life in space and what they hope to find. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
#084 Exoplanets w/ NASA's Dr. Jessie Christiansen
October 07, 2019 16:51 - 48 minutesNASA astrophysicist, Jessie Christiansen, on the search for life in space and other Earth-like worlds. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
#083 When It's Rude To Be Polite
September 30, 2019 18:32 - 47 minutesDo pleasantries complicate relationships? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
#082 A Brief History of Iran / US Relations
September 23, 2019 16:56 - 1 hourJulian fails the U.S. citizenship test + historical context for the Iran / US conflict. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
#081 The 6 Weirdest Scientific Studies of 2019
September 16, 2019 20:11 - 45 minutesWe discuss sphincter probes, a guy named Balzac, and why wombats poop cubes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
#80 Vacay Time :) :(
July 28, 2019 16:50 - 6 minutesWe'll be back after a short break! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
#079 Apollo 11, "Send Her Back!" & Iranian Oil Tanker Seizure
July 22, 2019 21:00 - 50 minutesIn this Week in Review episode, we cover several noteworthy topics and have some fun. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
#078 How Stories Change Our Minds
July 15, 2019 16:43 - 40 minutesCan characters, as shallow narrative vehicles, negatively impact our personality dynamics? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
#077 History's 10 Craziest Controversies
July 09, 2019 17:36 - 41 minutes"Did Jesus poop?" "Cadavers on trial?" This week we talk history's craziest debates and misconceptions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
#076 Veritas: Truth in Big Tech & The Media
July 01, 2019 19:05 - 1 hourThe perils of journalistic integrity in the digital landscape. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
#075 A Brief Briefing: NASA Finds Martian Signs of Life
June 24, 2019 16:44 - 10 minutesDue to Andrew's rocket launch and my move, this week's episode is a short one. We briefly discuss NASA's methane discovery on Mars. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
#074 The Art of Conversation w/ Tyler Torti
June 18, 2019 06:39 - 1 hourWhy more conversation-enders should be conversation-starters. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
#073 Biggest US Threat: China, Russia, Iran or N. Korea?
June 10, 2019 20:48 - 48 minutesWhich of these countries poses the biggest geopolitical threat to America, and why? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
#072 A Nuanced Look: Assange, Trump, Clinton & Wikileaks
June 03, 2019 17:54 - 48 minutesWhy it's not as simple as the media makes it out to be. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
#071 Why US Immigration is Challenging
May 28, 2019 16:51 - 52 minutesImmigration in the US compared to other countries. What constitutes a citizen? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
#070 Natural or Technological Selection? w/ Oded Galor
May 20, 2019 16:41 - 57 minutesBrown Univ. economist, Oded Galor on Unified Growth Theory + its affects on natural selection. Is evolution itself evolving? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
#069 Biggest Misconceptions: Israeli/Palestinian Conflict
May 13, 2019 15:32 - 51 minutesIt's not centuries-old, nor is it religious. So, WTF is going on? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
#068 The Fed Reserve For Dummies By Dummies
May 06, 2019 14:44 - 42 minutesWhy do we have a Federal Reserve? How did the economy function previously? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
#067 An Orientation on Orientation
April 29, 2019 16:22 - 34 minutesWhich genes determine sexual preference? Plus, a look at some progressive ancient societies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
#066 Where Nature Says No & God Says Yes
April 22, 2019 18:19 - 45 minutesA list of the biggest disputes between science and the Bible. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
#065 Does Patriotism Segregate?
April 15, 2019 15:43 - 43 minutesPatriotism is patriarchy but it's not all bad. Where is the line? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
#064 Would Monogamy Work on Mars? w/ Geoffrey Miller, PhD
April 08, 2019 14:44 - 57 minutesEvolutionary psychologist Geoffrey Miller, PhD, on sex differences/politics, monogamy on Earth vs. Mars, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
WTF Happened Yesterday?
April 02, 2019 23:04 - 2 minutesYeah, so about that.... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
#063 Ghandi's 7 Social Sins
March 26, 2019 19:57 - 47 minutesA history / comparison of the 7 Deadly Sins vs. Ghandi's 7 Social Sins. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
#062 Can Algorithms Change What We Like?
March 18, 2019 18:52 - 39 minutesCan the algorithms that streamline our lives and social feeds affect our personalities, goals and interests? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
#061 Vaccine History & Why They're Safe
March 12, 2019 01:49 - 37 minutesWhy inoculation/vaccines are vital and not a conspiracy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
#060 Bible Study: A Brief History of Evil
March 04, 2019 09:00 - 44 minutesHow the concept of evil has changed over time, beginning with the origins of the Bible. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
#059 Why You Hate Authority w/ CIA Analyst Martin Gurri
February 25, 2019 17:22 - 54 minutesThe problem with authority in the digital age + Former CIA Analyst/Manager Martin Gurri on his new book "Revolt of the Public." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
#058 The History & Future of Hygiene
February 18, 2019 17:53 - 40 minutesHygiene as a product of agriculture / civilization and how it will change in the future. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
#057 This is Our Worst Episode.
February 11, 2019 16:49 - 41 minutesOur worst episode for our worst problem (we bet you'll hate it). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
#056 Porn in History: 20 Fun Facts You Never Knew
February 04, 2019 17:26 - 33 minutesTrump's 11 boldest lies + 20 historical porn facts that'll make you laugh (and a few that won't). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
#055 Are You Smarter Than Your Grandparents? SPOILER: Nope
January 28, 2019 16:41 - 37 minutesAndrew and Julian discuss the history of IQ and the Flynn Effect. Are we getting smarter or dumber with time? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices