Explain This

Why are some babies born through surgery instead of by natural delivery? Is a Caesarean section better for the mum and baby? What is the dark history behind the C-section?Let's explore the miraculous and icky world of how we come into the world!Email: explainthiscast@gmail.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/explainthiscastBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/explainthiscast.bsky.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/explainthiscast/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@explainthiscast 

How does our economy work? What does it mean to seize the means of production? How is late stage capitalism ruining my life? And why did so many people lose their jobs in 2008?Jin takes you down the windy rabbit hole of the most prevalent economic system in the world, the history behind how it came about, and whether it's good or evil (or both).CAPITALISM · Céline TshikaKen Liu - The Perfect MatchIMDB - The Big ShortEmail: explainthiscast@gmail.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/explainthiscastBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/explainthiscast.bsky.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/explainthiscast/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@explainthiscast 

Did you know.... that many of your fun facts are just plain wrong? Come join us for a spirited session of "well, actually"s and learn about factoids: facts that aren't, in fact, facts!ThornKurzgesagt - We Fell For The Oldest Lie On The InternetJin's blog - Jineral KnowledgeEmail: explainthiscast@gmail.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/explainthiscastBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/explainthiscast.bsky.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/explainthiscast/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@explainthiscast 

Send us a textHow do you know which Chinese Zodiac animal's year is when? Why is there no Year of the Cat or Year of the Capybara? What's the sexagenary cycle?Let's learn about the Asian counterpart to the Western Zodiac, how it's related to the calendar, and the cute origin story of why the zodiac animals are in the order that they are!Photo of the twelve animals in anthropomorphised statue form at the National Folk Museum in Seoul, KoreaOrder of zodiac animals, along with the Twelve Earthly BranchesChart to correlate your birth year to your zodiac animalTen Heavenly StemsTwelve Earthly BranchesSexagenary cycleEmail: explainthiscast@gmail.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/explainthiscastBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/explainthiscast.bsky.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/explainthiscast/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@explainthiscast 

Send us a textWhy does cancer happen? How come chemotherapy kills cancer but not us? What does my doctor mean when he says I have a "lesion"?We learn all about the emperor of maladies in today's episode, what makes it terrifying, and some of the exciting new ways science has figured out how to fight against it.(Apologies for the shoddy audio quality - I've rearranged my office and my setup is still being optimised! Will try to fix some of the mic booming issues as well...)Email: explainthiscast@gmail.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/explainthiscastTwitter: https://twitter.com/ExplainThisCastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/explainthiscast/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@explainthiscast 

Send us a textWhat's the best anti-aging cream available? Which is better - physical or chemical sunscreen? Can you get sunburnt through a glass window? What does SPF even mean?Get ready for the coming summer by Slip Slop Slapping some knowledge about how sunscreen works and why you should use it!Electromagnetic radiation spectrumDiagram of UV absorption in sunscreen moleculesMore detailed explanation of how sunscreen works - Lab MuffinExample of photoaging on a truck driver's faceEmail: explainthiscast@gmail.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/explainthiscastTwitter: https://twitter.com/ExplainThisCastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/explainthiscast/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@explainthiscast 

Send us a textWhat is electricity made up of? How do power plants use magnets to generate electricity? What is the largest machine in the world? How can you make a mountain into a battery?Join us for our first one-hour-plus episode as we cover a lot of ground in helping you understand the complex and deep world of electrical physics!Basic circuitCurrent, voltage, resistance as garden hose courtesy of Freeing EnergyVoltaic pile - pictures courtesy of Ted-EdElectric eel electrocyte anatomyVeritasium video on electric field linesEmail: explainthiscast@gmail.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/explainthiscastTwitter: https://twitter.com/ExplainThisCastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/explainthiscast/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@explainthiscast 

Send us a textWhat does it mean to be functionally literate? How does reading help protect you from being manipulated and controlled? Why are books burned and banned in dystopias?Let's delve deep into understanding the sinister social threat of rising illiteracy rates, and why you should give a hoot about reading and writing!Email: explainthiscast@gmail.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/explainthiscastTwitter: https://twitter.com/ExplainThisCastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/explainthiscast/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@explainthiscast 

What is the REAL story behind penicillin? How do antibiotics treat infections? Should we be worried about superbugs taking over the world?Jin geeks out on one of his favourite medical topics and teaches you about our table-turning super weapons against humanity's bane - bacteria.Relevant XKCD comicAlexander Fleming's original petri dishes showing the effect of penicillinAnatomy of bacteriaBeta-lactam ring structureEmail: explainthiscast@gmail.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/explainthiscastTwitter: https://twitter.com/ExplainThisCastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/explainthiscast/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@explainthiscast 

How do you fly in the sky? What do swoll pecs have to do with flying? Is it true that physics says that bumblebees shouldn't be able to fly?We're back from our hiatus with an exciting episode on how planes, birds and bees take to the sky and soar freely!Airfoil, camber, angle of attack and how Newton's Third Law of Motion creates liftBernoulli's principle visualised with a wine bottleVideo of how various birds move their wings during flightDiagram of how leading edge vortices cling to an insect's wings to generate liftVisualisation of inferior mirageEmail: explainthiscast@gmail.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/explainthiscastTwitter: https://twitter.com/ExplainThisCastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/explainthiscast/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@explainthiscast 

How can you use the Sun, the stars, and time to measure your location on Earth? Why were clocks instrumental in conquering the seas? How can you use shadows and wells to prove that the Earth is round?Today, we learn all about the science of location, location, location! And the fascinating history of how sailors navigated the high seas before satellites and Google Maps.Latitude and longitude visualisedUsing latitude and longitude as coordinatesEratosthene's method for calculating Earth's circumferenceAstrolabeEmail: explainthiscast@gmail.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/explainthiscastTwitter: https://twitter.com/ExplainThisCastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/explainthiscast/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@explainthiscast 

How do infections kill us? What happens when my immune system overreacts? Why is horseshoe crab blood important in medicine?All these questions and more are answered in today's episode, covering the often misunderstoon topic of sepsis. Step inside my world of emergency medicine, and how we fight against infectious diseases!Email: explainthiscast@gmail.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/explainthiscastTwitter: https://twitter.com/ExplainThisCastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/explainthiscast/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@explainthiscast 

How can you split a supposedly indivisible atom to release a lot of energy? Why was this discovery so controversial in the context of history? What does Einstein have to do with nukes? Are nuclear reactors good or evil?We dive into the nature of the fundamental particles that make up everything in the world, and how we came to harness the awesome yet terrible power that is nuclear energy!Anatomy of an atomNuclear chain reaction visualisedGun-type vs implosion-type nuclear weapon designsHalf-Arsed History - Episode 197: The History of Nuclear WeaponsKurzgesagt - Nuclear Energy Explained Email: explainthiscast@gmail.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/explainthiscastTwitter: https://twitter.com/ExplainThisCastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/explainthiscast/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@explainthiscast 

What can star signs tell me about my personality and love life? (spoiler: nothing.) How did the Zodiac come about? Who is the mysterious, hidden thirteenth Zodiac sign?Let's kick off 2024 not with pseudoscience, but some real astronomical science and fascinating Greek mythololgy stories!Image of what the Zodiac band looks like, and each constellationRod of Asclepius vs CaduceusExample of The Mentalist cold readingEmail: explainthiscast@gmail.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/explainthiscastTwitter: https://twitter.com/ExplainThisCastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/explainthiscast/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@explainthiscast 

Why do smokers  live 10-18 years fewer on average than non-smokers? What is in cigarette tar and why is it deadly? How can smoking cause impotence? Should I vape?In today's episode, we do a deep dive and tackle the world's greatest cause of preventable death in human society: smoking tobacco! Graph showing relationship between smoking and lung cancer prevalenceDiagram of lung anatomyPhoto comparison of healthy vs smoker's lungsEmail: explainthiscast@gmail.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/explainthiscastTwitter: https://twitter.com/ExplainThisCastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/explainthiscast/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@explainthiscast 

How can you squeeze in infinite people into an already full hotel? Are some infinities bigger than others? What's the relationship between infinity and zero?Come explore the boundless, magical world of infinity with the help of some fantastical thought experiments!Zig zag method to convert a grid into a lineCantor's diagonal argument visualisedMöebius Strip II, 1964 - M.C. EscherOuroborosLemniscate symbol in Roman mosaicsEmail: explainthiscast@gmail.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/explainthiscastTwitter: https://twitter.com/ExplainThisCastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/explainthiscast/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@explainthiscast 

How do doctors put you to sleep for surgery? How do medicines and poison work on our body? What are the anaesthetic medications doing to your brain to keep your unconscious and paralysed? What do you mean we don't know???Today we continue on from our special 50th episode by talking about ANOTHER topic that you'd be surprised to know that we don't know fully about - the mechanism of general anaesthesia!Phospholipid bilayer diagramLipid bilayer expansion hypothesis diagramEmail: explainthiscast@gmail.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/explainthiscastTwitter: https://twitter.com/ExplainThisCastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/explainthiscast/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@explainthiscast 

Why do we sleep? How do bicycles stay upright? Why does gravity exist? Wait...what do you mean you don't know???For our 50th episode, we have a special topic - concepts that we don't fully understand yet! And why it's okay to say "I don't know".Thank you for being a patron of Explain This for so long! We're looking forward to continuing to explain complex concepts in simpler ways for people of all ages.

Why do people sometimes say things that they don't mean? What is the difference between irony and a coincidence? What is wrong with Alanis Morissette's hit song "Ironic"?Let's take a deep dive into irony - one of the most misunderstood concepts in English!Rene Magritte - The Treachery of ImagesAlanis Morissette - IronicEmail: explainthiscast@gmail.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/explainthiscastTwitter: https://twitter.com/ExplainThisCastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/explainthiscast/ 

How does Youflixbook know to recommend the perfect content for me, so I can continue doomscrolling and binging? What makes ChatGPT such a powerful, scary new piece of tech? Will AI kill us all?We're back with a fresh new topic! Come learn all about algorithms, neural networks and large language models, so you can stay informed in all the interesting party and water cooler discussions!ChatGPTEmail: explainthiscast@gmail.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/explainthiscastTwitter: https://twitter.com/ExplainThisCastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/explainthiscast/ 

How did Romans use calendars for political purposes? When do we have leap years? Where do the names of the months come from? Let's learn about the weirdly fascinating history of the Gregorian calendar, and what can go wrong when calendars aren't made accurately!Knuckle method for figuring out if a month has 30 or 31 daysEmail: explainthiscast@gmail.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/explainthiscastTwitter: https://twitter.com/ExplainThisCastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/explainthiscast/ 

How can I use a mirror to make a death ray? What is the colour of a mirror? Why do mirrors flip left and right, but not top and bottom?Let's step in through the looking-glass to learn about the simple yet amazing invention that is the mirror! Diagram showing light's angle of incidence and angle of reflection - MinutePhysicsEnantiomers - John Wiley and Sons IncHand with Reflecting Sphere by MC EscherHow a telescope worksEmail: explainthiscast@gmail.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/explainthiscastTwitter: https://twitter.com/ExplainThisCastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/explainthiscast/ 

How can I level up my gaming with mental shortcuts? Why do smart people make stupid mistakes and believe outrageous things? What the hell ARE vibes?Come learn about our amazing yet very imperfect brains, and how to know when to think fast and when to think slow.Email: explainthiscast@gmail.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/explainthiscastTwitter: https://twitter.com/ExplainThisCastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/explainthiscast/ 

What ARE electrolytes? Why do we need them, and do sports drinks give us enough of it? How do nerve cells conduct electricity? What do plants crave?Come get roasted as Jin calls you a meatbag full of salty water! And learn about how cells can waterbend.Sodium/Potassium pump in action - Crash CourseIdiocracy - Electrolytes, it's what plants crave sceneEmail: explainthiscast@gmail.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/explainthiscastTwitter: https://twitter.com/ExplainThisCastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/explainthiscast/ 

What does science have to say about the possibility of aliens existing? Why haven't we come across any aliens yet? What if we're truly alone? How significant are we in the grand scheme of things?All of these existential questions and more in today's episode about the strange paradox of how aliens SHOULD exist!Yearly Theme (Episode 4 - New Year's Resolution)Email: explainthiscast@gmail.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/explainthiscastTwitter: https://twitter.com/ExplainThisCastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/explainthiscast/ 

Why is everything getting pricier? Why did German bread cost billions of marks in the 1920's? What do interest rates have to do with inflation? How has COVID-19 affected the economy?It's time to learn some Economics 101 to understand all of the news posts about inflation and interest rates, and why everything seems to get more expensive each year!Email: explainthiscast@gmail.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/explainthiscastTwitter: https://twitter.com/ExplainThisCastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/explainthiscast/ 

What are the vital signs? Why is the nurse checking out my pecs, while choking my biceps with a very tight band? What can go wrong when your blood pressure is too low?All this and more as we learn about how physiological monitoring helps healthcare workers look out for dangerous, life-threatening events while caring for you!Lynn, L.A., Curry, J.P. Patterns of unexpected in-hospital deaths: a root cause analysis. Patient Saf Surg 5, 3 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1186/1754-9493-5-3Email: explainthiscast@gmail.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/explainthiscastTwitter: https://twitter.com/ExplainThisCastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/explainthiscast/ 

What is happening in the brain when someone is depressed? How can an electric shock to the brain treat depression? Why is ECT still used in medicine, when movies such as One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest show how horrible it is?Today we talk about a controversial medical treatment with a rather terrible public image. We'll discuss how it works, how effective and safe it is, and try debunk some widespread myths about ECT!Watch this video for a visual example of what ECT looks like nowadays!The ECT Journey - Gold Coast HealthEmail: explainthiscast@gmail.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/explainthiscastTwitter: https://twitter.com/ExplainThisCastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/explainthiscast/ 

How do magnets stick to metals? Why isn't the Iron Throne magnetic? How can we use magnets to record and play sound, or levitate a frog?Let's learn about one of the fundamental physical forces that glues the world together, by learning about how magnets work!Bar magnet field linesIron filing experimentEmail: explainthiscast@gmail.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/explainthiscastTwitter: https://twitter.com/ExplainThisCastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/explainthiscast/ 

What is DNA and how does it work? How can scientists tweak DNA with molecular scissors, and why would they want to? How could genetic engineering create an unfair society?All this and more on this episode of Explain This, where we learn about how this cool new technology has completely revolutionised the world of genetics!Email: explainthiscast@gmail.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/explainthiscastTwitter: https://twitter.com/ExplainThisCastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/explainthiscast/ 

Why does steak taste so much better grilled or seared, compared to boiled? What does the colour brown have to do with the taste of food? How can I up my cooking game to impress my date?Let's learn about the science of what makes cooked food delicious!Email: explainthiscast@gmail.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/explainthiscastTwitter: https://twitter.com/ExplainThisCastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/explainthiscast/ 

What happens to us after we die? What is the weirdest, sex-related death in history? How is Death personified in different parts of the world? Explain This is back from Jin's long exam study hiatus and we're coming strong out of the gates with the deep, fascinating topic of how we die! Come learn about all of the fascinating things that happen in your body as death overcomes you, and how death has been envisioned throughout the ages.Trigger warning: mentions of suicide, violent death, decay of human bodies in this episode. Listen at your own discretion please!Dumb Ways To Die - original videoExample of Dancing Death (Danse Macabre)Example of Memento Mori Email: explainthiscast@gmail.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/explainthiscastTwitter: https://twitter.com/ExplainThisCastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/explainthiscast/ 

Can people change? What can I do to improve my school grades, job performance and relationship? How does mindset affect success, learning, growth and happiness?For our last episode of the year, we explore a powerful mental tool that will change how you approach learning new skills, overcoming challenges, and becoming a happier, better you! Email: explainthiscast@gmail.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/explainthiscastTwitter: https://twitter.com/ExplainThisCastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/explainthiscast/ 

How does breathing and thinking work? What magic makes my body tick and keep me alive? Where in the Sistine Chapel can I find an anatomical painting of the human brain?Today's episode is a five-part rapid fire episode, covering the five "most important" organs in your body (the bias will be explained in the episode). Come learn about how YOU work!Heart anatomyLung anatomyKidney anatomyLiver anatomyBrain anatomyPrometheus Bound by Rubens The Creation of Adam by Michelangelo Comparison of The Creation of Adam with actual brain cross-section  Email: explainthiscast@gmail.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/explainthiscastTwitter: https://twitter.com/ExplainThisCastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/explainthiscast/

What is the scientific method? What do you mean that Power Pose is pseudoscience? How is the Replication Crisis invalidating my pop psychology knowledge base?We're back from our break to bring you more simplified explanations of complex concepts, like the Replication Crisis - one of the biggest crises to shake the academic world in modern times! Come learn how we (should) learn new things!Relevant xkcd comic - "Significant"Email: explainthiscast@gmail.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/explainthiscastTwitter: https://twitter.com/ExplainThisCastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/explainthiscast/

NB: This episode was reuploaded as the original upload had a corrupted audio file. Please enjoy and sorry for the interruption!Why does coffee make me feel so good and let me work harder, faster and longer? Why do I need to poop every time I drink coffee? How did caffeine start the greatest scientific revolution in European history?Let's learn about the world's most popular and most used psychoactive, performance-enhancing drug, and the various benefits of being hooked on it!Email: explainthiscast@gmail.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/explainthiscastTwitter: https://twitter.com/ExplainThisCastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/explainthiscast/

How can I use perspective to draw physical space more accurately? What was the Renaissance? How can learning about art history improve my Instagram influencer status?We're learning all about art today, by talking about how the technique of linear perspective completely revolutionised how we capture 3D space on 2D paper! Join us on a journey to 15th century Florence to see human ingenuity in action.Jin's beautiful beach drawing, or "Why Jin went to med school instead of art school"An example of beach photography with accurate perspectiveWile E. Coyote attempts to catch the Road Runner with perspectiveBrunelleschi's contraptionHoly Trinity by MasaccioExamples of paintings that don't use linear perspectiveExamples of paintings showing linear perspectiveV-J Day at Times Square by Alfred EisenstaedtEmail: explainthiscast@gmail.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/explainthiscastTwitter: https://twitter.com/ExplainThisCastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/explainthiscast/

Why am I so exhausted all the time? How can I be more resilient against work-related stress? What can I do to feel less burnt out?In this episode, we talk about a special topic that I'm particularly interested in learning and teaching about, because it's such a common source of stress and misery, yet many people don't know enough about it to fight against it.Hope this episode adds something to your life, or helps you make a step towards positive change!The Happiness LabEmail: explainthiscast@gmail.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/explainthiscastTwitter: https://twitter.com/ExplainThisCastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/explainthiscast/

Why is the sky blue and not yellow or tan? Did ancient Greek people see the same blue skies we do now? Why do Koreans call a green light on a traffic signal "blue"? How can language affect the colours that our brains see?Today we take a deep dive into the colour BLUE, along with all the fascinating history and science behind the colour! You'll be surprised that you can learn so much about a single colour, and it might even make you re-examine how you perceive the world.Bacchus and Ariadne by TitianBlue square amongst green squares (English-speakers can distinguish)Different shade green square amongst green squares (Himba tribe people can distinguish)Email: explainthiscast@gmail.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/explainthiscastTwitter: https://twitter.com/ExplainThisCastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/explainthiscast/

Are prime numbers sponsored by Amazon Prime? What do maths have to do with secure online messages and cicadas? How can I win $250,000 using maths?It's time to go back to elementary maths class and study the fundamental building blocks of numbers, while learning about how the weird and cool properties of prime numbers can be super useful! Turns out, maths CAN be fun.Numberphile - Lucas-Lehmer Primality TestNumberphile - Euclid's TheoremEmail: explainthiscast@gmail.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/explainthiscastTwitter: https://twitter.com/ExplainThisCastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/explainthiscast/

How do pain relief medications like paracetamol and morphine work? What should I take when I have a headache? Why do we curse when we hurt ourselves? Why is life pain?We go for a deep dive into Jin's specialty world that is medicine and learn all about pain and how we treat pain in the hospital! Learn how to manage your own pain at home with the right kind of medication.Pain scale from Allie Brosh's Hyperbole and a Half Email: explainthiscast@gmail.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/explainthiscastTwitter: https://twitter.com/ExplainThisCastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/explainthiscast/

What is game theory? What's the best strategy when you don't know if someone is a friend or foe? How can maths minimise the number of years I'll go to jail for?All this and more in today's episode about the infamous Prisoner's Dilemma - where two prisoners have to make a choice, while trying to figure out if they trust the other prisoner or not! It's about to get mathematical.Email: explainthiscast@gmail.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/explainthiscastTwitter: https://twitter.com/ExplainThisCastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/explainthiscast/

How can I turn lead into gold? Why did Lord Voldemort and the Elric brothers seek the Philosopher's Stone? How can I use alchemy to make my own Philosopher's Stone?In this episode, we explore the magical world of alchemy, while learning about the power of allegories and science!The Squared CircleRebisEmail: explainthiscast@gmail.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/explainthiscastTwitter: https://twitter.com/ExplainThisCastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/explainthiscast/

How do the new COVID-19 vaccines work? What happened to smallpox? What is the anti-vaccination movement about it? Why should my children and I be vaccinated?We learn all about the history and science behind vaccines and immmunisation, the scientific evidence supporting the safety of them, and the harrowing stories of how misinformation can literally kill people.John Green's The Anthropocene ReviewedRoald Dahl - Measles: A Dangerous DiseaseKurzgesagt video on The Side Effects of VaccinesOpisthotonus in a patient suffering from tetanus - Painting by Sir Charles BellEmail: explainthiscast@gmail.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/explainthiscastTwitter: https://twitter.com/ExplainThisCastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/explainthiscast/

Who was Sigmund Freud and why is he a big deal? What are ego and id, repression and Freduian slips? Why do I have deep, secret urges to sleep with my mother?Today, we go deep into the murky waters of the unconscious mind through the lens of one of the earliest theories on how our unconscious mind work. Along the way, we'll learn about the beginnings of psychotherapy, crazy theories on what drives us, and how our personalities are formed!Email: explainthiscast@gmail.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/explainthiscastTwitter: https://twitter.com/ExplainThisCastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/explainthiscast/

How does Bitcoin work? What is a blockchain? How can I make insane amounts of money through memes? We return from our hiatus with an exciting episode on the weird world of cryptocurrency - a type of money that only exists virtually!A small PSA: we're publishing every two weeks from now, but in exchange, each episode should be longer and more detailed than the first season of episodes. Hope you enjoy, and make sure to subscribe and share!Email: explainthiscast@gmail.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/explainthiscastTwitter: https://twitter.com/ExplainThisCastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/explainthiscast/

Why do people sometimes "overreact" to little things like losing their car keys? What can I do to to prevent myself from having a meltdown? What on earth is the Fork Theory, and how does it relate to the Spoon Theory?We continue our cutlery-themed episodes with a follow-up to last week's episode on Spoon Theory! Let's delve into the world of self-care.Email: explainthiscast@gmail.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/explainthiscastTwitter: https://twitter.com/ExplainThisCastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/explainthiscast/

Why am I tired and irritated all the time? What does it feel like to have a chronic health condition like lupus? What can cutlery teach us about being a functional adult with a balanced life?Today we explore the zany-sounding Spoon Theory, a cool analogy that explains how we need to mindful of our physical and emotional energy reserves, and how to balance our life to improve our mental health.Read the original essay by Christine Miserandino at https://butyoudontlooksick.com/articles/written-by-christine/the-spoon-theory/Email: explainthiscast@gmail.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/explainthiscastTwitter: https://twitter.com/ExplainThisCastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/explainthiscast/

If you inherit your grandfather's axe then replace both the blade and the handle, is it still the same axe? Is it true that our body is completely turned over every seven years? Why does the Ship of Theseus matter?Today, we delve deep into one of the oldest thought experiments in Western philosophy and discuss how pondering philosophy can help us resolve our quarter- and mid-life crises!Email: explainthiscast@gmail.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/explainthiscastTwitter: https://twitter.com/ExplainThisCastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/explainthiscast/

Can bacteria get infections too? How do the new mRNA vaccines against COVID-19 work? Why on Earth would doctors make you swallow a pill full of poop?Today we study a curious organism with a name that literally means "devourer of bacteria" and how we can harness the power of viruses in modern medicine.Email: explainthiscast@gmail.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/explainthiscastTwitter: https://twitter.com/ExplainThisCastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/explainthiscast/

What do cameras, eyes and TVs have in common? How do we see and detect colour? Can you imagine a colour you have never seen?Today's episode is a colourful exploration of how colour vision works...and when it doesn't.Email: explainthiscast@gmail.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/explainthiscastTwitter: https://twitter.com/ExplainThisCastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/explainthiscast/