Nature Boy: The Podcast

Large groups of related organisms occasionally behave in ways similar to single multicellular organisms. This phenomenon is especially prevalent in insects, especially in the order Hymenoptera. If this order is ever split it will be unable to wear white at its wedding. The fearsome threesome of Michael, Marschal and Jon tackle this phenomenon as well as some current science news. Link to video podcast: https://youtu.be/V2WzbwvpRDY

Nothing tastes as good as being fit feels, except for candy, ice cream, butter, steak, onion rings, french fries, beer, bacon, pie, cake, bagels with cream cheese, empanadas, tortas, grilled cheese sandwiches, french toast, pancakes, marmalade, chili, cheesecake, lard, milk, etc.  The Nature Boy crew tackles some popular methods for dropping that quarantine weight and generally has a lovely time together in this thrilling episode! Video podcast can be found here: https://youtu.be/N1UDmKvoX90

The Nature Boy crew assembles sans-Marschal for a discussion of genomics. Not to be confused with gnomics, or the study of gnomes. Link to video version of podcast: https://youtu.be/Uc_ywmn40O4

Jess misses this one as she completes her PhD program and officially becomes Dr. Toth! Please send all gifts to Jonathan Montgomery, cash is preferred. Michael, Marschal and Jon lead you through a discussion of the phylum Arthropoda in general with a focus on the class Insecta, specifically focusing on the role they play in pollination. Fun is had, things are learned, and haters are consistently dabbed on.

Following a string of episodes relating to current events, the Nature Boy crew snatches at the low-hanging fruit that is 'vaccines' for this episode's topic. In their longest episode to date the dream team diverts down various tangential paths, but as a great poet once said, "What's wrong with taking the back streets?". You never know if you don't go, so go ahead and listen in! Link to video: https://youtu.be/XY2Xve-wDp4

The Nature Boy crew keeps it light with a discussion of death. Everyone does it, but what makes it so popular? Tune in and find out! Link to video: https://youtu.be/E14_F82Xz6Y

The Nature Boy crew assembles once again to discuss a real bummer of a year. Science news is reviewed, hearts are broken, and as always, hair and teeth look flawless. Sit back with your old chums and enjoy the review of the latest year of Nature Boy's podcast dominance! Link to YouTube video of episode: https://youtu.be/72yqBmxxFe4

The Nature Boy crew goes head to head to head in this one! Who will win the ultimate showdown of current science news and peer-reviewed articles? Whoever wins, so do you as a listener! Link to video: https://youtu.be/PugFldzRO1c

What's up you epic gamers out there! This week the Nature Boy crew discusses video games, their impact on cognition, and has a wonderful time in general! That along with a roundup of science news makes this an episode you don't want to miss. So snag a mushroom, stomp a goomba and join us! A video recording of this episode is available here: https://youtu.be/VlCPc3sKhI8

Three plant biologists finally speak about plant biology! Video of this podcast can be found at this YouTube link: https://youtu.be/D5e5yujYp_I

In the first remote episode since closure of the KCHUNG studio, the Nature Boy crew sets up Zoom, catches up on good times, and even talks about virology occasionally. Join us, won't you?

This episode was recorded remotely via Zoom. Video can be found at https://youtu.be/67-Q6cHbeck. Jon returns to the show, supplanting Marschal and reigning supreme with his superior microphone quality! The three amigos ramble about old times, enjoy each others company, and for brief moments manage to stay on topic! In this episode we discuss epidemiology, 'nuff said.

This episode was originally recorded in March, as individuals began taking the Coronavirus seriously. As such, a large portion of the show is dedicated to no longer topical subjects. But stick around for this time capsule of a simpler age and enjoy some spooky subjects as well!

It's a two-hander this episode, with your favorite lone rangers Michael and Marschal! This episode covers your covering, skin! And who better to deal with this topic than our resident masters of the skin flute, M&M! Sit back, enjoy, and give thanks that a thin covering of deal cells lies between you and a myriad of microorganisms intent on turning your internal organs to goo!

Had this been uploaded when originally recorded, we would be ringing in the new year with a review of the scientific advancements made in the last decade. As it stands, this episode is uploaded in April. But like a fine wine the Nature Boy crew only gets better with age! Marvel at their slightly out of date references and stand in awe at their coverage of the most important discoveries of 2010-2020!

I did not have time to listen to this phat episode, but I can assure all you faithful readers of my captions that this one is a winner! In the very first two-parter in Nature Boy history, I assume those sweet M&M's (Michael and Marschal) continue their informed discussion of obesity, its spread, and it's negative impacts on health along with a similar discussion of diabetes. This one starts off with two, and I can not be sure if everyone's favorite gal pal Jess shows up, but regardless all listeners should make the time to consume this content!

Michael and Marschal start out alone on this one, lamenting the loss of their good friend Jon. Somehow they manage to carry on as a dynamic duo, delivering a heaping helping of heterogeneous h-words. Sit down with a pile of leftover candy and lament your widening waist with the greatest podcasting trio this side of any and all rivers!

Jon is very busy with his fancy new teaching job, and unfortunately he is writing this with very little information. However, rest assured that if you do not listen to this episode you are an even bigger fool than he is! Previous episodes were sadly lost from the archive and can not be recovered, but the Nature Boy crew still persists and has been releasing broadcasts. Though Jon is gone, the team lives on and we will keep him in our hearts and prayers!

With the recent increase in products promising probiotic benefits and awareness of the importance of human microbial interactions it is only fitting that Nature Boy tackles the topic. On this month's episode you can discover the meaning and importance of the microbiome, some important nuances of microbial organisms' impact on our everyday life, and catch up on your science news. The Nature Boy crew continues to provide essential services to the community and all we ask is that you sit back, pop open a kombucha and enjoy!

As of this episode's posting, we have apparently lost last month's recording. If the episode (on pain) is found, it will be published in the near future. With that out of the way, enjoy this month's episode on taste. It is widely known that listeners of this podcast have some of the best taste on the planet, so it only makes sense to provide some information relating to the perception of taste. So don't be bitter and don't get salty, sit back and enjoy this sweet episode, you bunch of sour-pusses! Ooh-mommy, it's good!

Fermentation touches our lives in more ways than most acknowledge. Beer, bread and booze are the most familiar examples, but why does this process occur? Which organisms can carry it out? What makes a house a home? The two former questions and more will be addressed in this blockbuster episode of Nature Boy!

Take your eyes off your phone or computer and listen to this podcast on your phone or computer! The Nature Boy crew is back to tell you why the things you enjoy should be eschewed, unlike the gum you enjoy which should just be chewed. Hear insights and excerpts from recent research along with that classic chemistry between hosts which you know and love!

What does the new year hold for you? Some turn to the stars for answers, so listen to the 4 biggest stars in podcasting on Nature Boy! Jon returns to the studio to join in a discussion of astrology including its critics, history, and validity. 

This episode, Nature Boy gets hot and heavy! Drawing our listeners like a moth to the flame, we really can not be matched! Let us inspire in you a spark of inspiration! Get off Tinder and listen to our podcast! Fire puns!

With the current popularity of direct to consumer genetic testing, it was only a matter of time until the Nature Boy crew came along to spoil the fun. Learn along with the gang as they discuss the technologies and ethical dilemmas involved in this industry!

When the human race ends, will it be with a whimper or a bang? This question as well as many others will not be discussed in this episode of Nature Boy. Rather, the group gets excited for the holidays, delves into politics, and avoids the topic of extinction for the vast majority of the episode. However, Jon does make his triumphant return via Skype and that classic Nature Boy chemistry is as charming as ever! So come in here boy, have a cigar, you're gonna go fart.

Bank on this episode being the brightest part of your week! The Nature Boy crew discusses those defenders of diversity, those sanctums of seeds, those guardians of genetics, seed banks. Additional alliteration includes: Bastions of bulbs, caretakers of creation, shepherds of stems, friends of flowers, arbiters of achenes, saviors of samaras, root revolutionaries, stockpilers of stolons, fighters for fronds, etc. Make learning time fun time by coming up with your own!

This episode represents one of the rare topics falling in line with your hosts' field of study. Flowers, they're pretty, listen to us talk about them.

Another episode without Jon, meaning that this description comes from a completely uninformed place as I am he and I write publish the podcast. Apparently the fabulous 3 discuss a lot of Easter-related topics, so dive on in and discover where they go with it!

Our listeners are well acquainted with addiction, constantly needing a fix of the Nature Boy crew. Irregular posting may lead to some withdrawal symptoms, but this new batch is pure, uncut gold. So sit back, close the blinds and squander your future with the latest episode Nature Boy!

Originally recorded February 4, 2018. Never one to avoid a challenge, Nature Boy steps well outside of its area of expertise to discuss neuroscience. However, as all hosts possess brains as well as nervous systems, they can be considered well qualified to tackle this subject. This episode provides an overview of the many disciplines which fall under this field, as well as some interesting research investigating the workings of the mind. Save yourself the time it would take to look this up on Wikipedia, and simply listen to four people who already have!

Originally recorded January 7, 2018. Veteran fans may be aware that all hosts of the Nature Boy podcast are PhD students at UC Riverside, specifically in the department of plant biology. Often when explaining our work, the question of marijuana is brought up; mostly relating to either breeding, mechanisms of action in the body, or our future career aspirations as producers of the plant. While none of the crew plans on working in the field, it is such an interesting economic crop that we all have some familiarity with it. With recent legislation allowing for the commercial production and sale of marijuana in California, Nature Boy has taken it upon itself to explain some of the misunderstandings surrounding the plant and the current state of marijuana research, as well as providing an introduction to the new regulations surrounding use. So turn on, tune in, and drop out with us as we get groovy in this episode of Gnarly Boy!

This episode was originally recorded December 3, 2017. The Nature Boy podcast has been scientifically demonstrated to improve mood, reduce anxious behavior, and increase attention from potential romantic partners. These statements have not been approved by the FDA and may, in fact, be lies. Anxiety and depression affect many people at some point in their life. Coping strategies often focus on psychological approaches, but what do scientists know about the causes and potential treatments of these disorders? Find out in this surprisingly uplifting episode! 

Oops! This episode was recorded in July of 2017, but was never posted for reasons of pure ineptitude. Many apologies, but enjoy this discussion of synthetic biology. Your favorite fabulous foursome goes beyond genetic modification of plants, and explores this complex field which involves the modification of living organisms. Many apologies for the ongoing issues with the upload schedule, we appreciate all of our amazing fans who have stuck with us and look forward to many great episodes to come!

Hey all! Jon here, your occasional co-host and creator of podcast descriptions, to let you know that I was not present for this week's episode. From what I understand, the mighty 3 discussed bioremediation. The resilience of natural systems to disruption by human action is well established, but what do we do when the system is pushed too far and becomes disrupted? Often the same mechanisms by which the natural state is maintained can be exploited to address environmental concerns. What do these efforts look like in the real world? Are they a viable solution to pollution? Or does bioremediation sound to go to be true because it is? Personally, I haven't listened to the episode, so your guess is as good as mine!

After a September hiatus, the Nature Boy crew returns to brighten your day! Our heartfelt thanks go out to those of you who continue to be patient with this erratic release schedule, rest assured we will continue to post these episodes until the inevitable water wars require us to flee California. This month, your intrepid hosts eschew the cliché 'Why are we here?' and instead ask 'How are we here?'. Come with us now on a journey through time and space, to answer these and other questions! Plus, beauty tips to keep you looking cool all winter long!

Jon and Jess, everyone's favorite feuding philanderers, were blessed with this episode. Usually this show is considered as a service to our blessed listeners, but this one is just for us! Listen as their excitement grows through discussions of blood tubes, semen, and grizzly murder. Apologies to their parents, as well as any listeners with delicate sensibilities, but we should always find joy in the pleasure of others if we aim to become actualized human beings. This description may come off as less polished than most, but they have been holding back the upload schedule so Jon, in addition to currently speaking in the 3rd person, has decided to dedicate a little less effort to get our lovely content into the also lovely hands of our audience, whom we love.

Jon's incredible powers of procrastination cause exasperation when the podcast nation can't hear this station! Apologies for the delayed upload, and for the absence of your favorite co-host and composer of episode descriptions, the J Train! The geneclock genetics and genetocs, and this episode focuses on the former. Can genetic research save us from starvation? Will it rid us of disease? Or will it be leveraged by powerful corporations to impose claims of ownership on entire species? Maybe these questions are addressed in this episode, I was not there, but surely the Nature Boy crew will bring the noise and deliver the answers you crave!

Open your ears and we'll speak of the smells, like freshly baked pie or the sulfur in hell. Such wonderful senses help put up some fences to keep us from things that will make us unwell. And who can you count on to shine a bright light on the sense that serves as an animal's sight? Why, it's your faithful friends from the Nature Boy show, whose names don't fit easily into this poem.

It has been said that the most important difference between a beast and human is the comprehension of one's own mortality. An awareness of death and its inevitability, along with the fear it engenders, has resulted in the creation of religions and empires. God takes the place of the parent, and death represents the first betrayal by that trusted provider. People seek some form of immortality either by denying the reality of death, or through the creation of some legacy. In spite of its influence, modern society often treats death as a taboo subject. Luckily you, fair listener, are with the Nature Boy crew, where nothing is off limits until we get sponsors, after which those sponsors' products will be very much off limits.

Whoosh! Boom! Blam-Oh! The Nature Boy crew becomes death, the destroyer of worlds, to discuss military technology and the wonderful things it brings and takes! In a surprise appearance Jon, number one bad-boy and author of episode descriptions, calls in to discuss lasers and domes! Truly, if you are going to miss one episode of a podcast this summer, do not make it this one!

We are sincerely honored to have this week''s episode featured in the KCHUNG radio residency at the J. Paul Getty Museum. Information regarding the residency as well as links to this and other featured KCHUNG programs can be found at http://www.getty.edu/museum/programs/performances/kchung_radio.html. This week, we address questions and concerns regarding recently inaugurated President Trump and his attitude towards scientific research. What views on this topic did Mr. Trump express during his candidacy? Is basic government research and international collaboration to solve worldwide problems in peril? And how does this president differ in the ways he communicates and achieves his goals? The indefatigable crew of your favorite podcast will explore these questions and more on this week's fabulous, glamorous, and topical Nature Boy!

As a listener of Nature Boy: The Podcast you know that genetic modification is the way of the future, and that all critics of genetic engineering are misinformed, backwards luddites dragging us back from the precipice of a golden age of food security. You may also be aware that two of your hosts conduct research using the most modern gene editing techniques. THRILL as the biase-free three (and Jon) introduce you to the intricacies of genetic research! WATCH as Jon introduces a hilarious crisper drawer bit! CRINGE as Jess and Marschal get totally served with a Kurt Vonnegut quote!  

In celebration of Labor Day the Nature Boy crew profiles some of their favorite American scientists. We all know that America is the best country and that only her peoples are worthy of discovering the great truths, but just how great are those chosen few advancing the cause of American exceptionalism? Find out in this episode. Also, learn why love is dead according to our charming co-host.

The gang's all here again and life couldn't be better. Or could it? Is this the best of all worlds as Voltaire's Pangloss would say, or is evolution as an engineer not a perfectionist but an opportunist, as according to Stanislaw Lem? Listen close, listen hard, and learn the specificities of natural selection on this week's Nature Boy: The Podcast!! *fanfare*

Jon doesn't show up for this one, I'd probably just skip it. If unwary travellers do not heed these words, they shall find within a trove of wonders not of this world, phantasmagoric visions which will drive you to the brink of madness. DREAMS!

Nature Boy panders, throwing all scientific integrity out the window and bending to the will of the inebriated masses. Drugs are the topic of discussion bro, making Nature Boy the hippest, most with it podcast in town!

Birth, from the Latin Big Bertha, meaning an obese sideshow woman at ancient carnivals. Enjoy this in-depth discussion of birth, the beginning of beginnings, the bloody painful emergence into a world which promises nothing more than blood and pain.

In celebration of Valentine's Day the Nature Boy crew discusses the biggest lie we joyfully tell our children about besides Santa Claus. Love. Jon was unable to attend this episode, and is replaced by Jess Toth, our second female guest and expert on matters of the heart. Jon writes these descriptions, and didn't bother listening to this episode prior to writing this, but I'm aware that there is no mention of my absence. But that's love for you. Go choke on a chocolate.

Jon runs late today, throwing the broadcast into a tumultuous frenzy of panic. How will the remaining pioneers of podcasting handle this greatest of injustices? And what about colors and the hosts' favorite races? Listen close and listen hard, for all this and more awaits you in this month's Nature Boy!

In the most ironically titled episode of Nature Boy technical issues abound! This month's episode is shorter than usual due to technical difficulties, but so packed with fun you'll hardly notice the difference! Come along with us under butterflies and bees, and see how the Nature Boy crew deals with stresses of their own. Scientific topics are also discussed.