The Not So Scientific Method

Back by popular demand, we're talking all about celebrity blinds again this week! We took the time to discuss some topics from last week in more depth and try to stump each other by having to guess the celebrities in anonymous blinds. Play along with us and see if you can guess them too!

That's right folks... we're taking you down the conspiracy rabbit hole with us and talking about celebrity blind items. What is a blind? What would it mean if they were widely known by the public? Does the public already know about them? We'll answer all of your burning questions (or mostly just gossip about all of the ALLEGED crazy stuff celebs do behind closed doors). We guarantee you'll leave wanting to know more.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blind_itemhttps://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=2013-01-01%202022-03-06&geo=US&q=nina%20dobrev,nina%20dobrev%20yachtinghttps://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&geo=US&q=jennifer%20anniston%20marijuanahttps://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&geo=US&q=ariana%20grande%20drugshttps://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=2009-01-01%202022-03-06&geo=US&q=ariana%20grande%20cocainehttps://www.intouchweekly.com/posts/ariana-grande-recalls-taking-care-of-ex-mac-miller-amid-drug-issues/https://nypost.com/2015/11/01/is-jimmy-fallons-partying-getting-out-of-hand/https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/report-necklace-lindsay-lohan-steal-earrings/story?id=12880941https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&geo=US&q=lindsay%20lohan%20stealinghttps://www.elle.com/uk/life-and-culture/culture/a39088415/blake-lively-ryan-reynolds-valentines-day-photo/https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&geo=US&q=nick%20jonas%20gayhttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-blinds/id1577848888https://www.instagram.com/beyondtheblindspod/?hl=en

Shockingly Noreen made it back from Africa in one piece. She braved the baboons, ate an ostrich, and survived almost getting robbed for her luggage. So this week we're going over all the insider info so you can plan your next trip to the Serengeti. Join us as we bless the rains down in Africa on this week's episode.

We know our last episode left you anxious about the future of face recognition systems, but don't worry. This week we're going to tell you all about how to defeat a facial recognition system! Some methods may be a little crazy like 3D printed masks of another persons face... But others are much more simple like wearing a hoodie that zippers over your entire head. Either way we're just lucky we don't live in China where public restrooms have a limit on toilet paper...https://www.areyouyou.eu/https://www.wired.co.uk/article/avoid-facial-recognition-softwarehttp://www.urmesurveillance.com/urme-prosthetic/https://cvdazzle.com/https://www.facefirst.com/blog/amazing-uses-for-face-recognition-facial-recognition-use-cases/

No this isn't 1984... Not yet at least... This week we break down everything you need to know about face recognition technology, the possible dangers of it, and some of the pros. Maybe it will even make you think the next time you use that dog cartoon face filter on Snapchat.https://www.eff.org/pages/face-recognitionhttps://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2019/09/05/more-than-half-of-u-s-adults-trust-law-enforcement-to-use-facial-recognition-responsibly/https://www.csis.org/blogs/technology-policy-blog/how-accurate-are-facial-recognition-systems-%E2%80%93-and-why-does-it-matterhttps://www.npr.org/2021/01/05/953515627/facial-recognition-and-beyond-journalist-ventures-inside-chinas-surveillance-stahttps://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/to-board-a-plane-without-a-ticket-just-give-up-your-face-and-your-privacy/#:~:text=Business-,To%20board%20a%20plane%20without%20a%20ticket%2C%20just%20give,your%20face%20%E2%80%94%20and%20your%20privacy&text=NEW%20YORK%20%E2%80%93%20You%20won't,Put%20away%20your%20passport%2C%20toohttps://www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/jan/13/what-are-deepfakes-and-how-can-you-spot-them

We took our new NFT knowledge and put it to the test this week... We tried buying NFT's! And spoiler alert: we weren't as successful as we wanted to be. Listen in with us as we discuss the trials and tribulations of going to OpenSea and trying to buy an NFT!

I know you're all wondering.... what exactly is an NFT? We were wondering that too. And honestly, even after doing this whole episode, we're still not sure that we really understand what's going on. But come along for the ride with us as we explain the word fungible, discuss the similarities between baseball cards and NFTs, and basically just try to understand what all the hype is about.Article Referenced:https://www.theverge.com/22310188/nft-explainer-what-is-blockchain-crypto-art-faqhttps://www.reuters.com/article/us-fintech-nft-data-idCAKCN2EB1I8https://finbold.com/global-interest-in-nfts-soars-by-426-in-a-month-data-shows/https://capital.com/best-nft-projects-10-picks-to-watch-in-2021

That's right ladies and gents, we went to a Christmas market just to get the inside scoop for ya'll. We ate food, took in all the string lights, spent money on things we don't need, and pined over some hot chocolate. We'll break it all down for you and let you know if you should spend your hard earned free time to trek into the city and visit one yourself. Then we'll break it down even further with some insider info Jamie got from a German colleague who knows the ins and outs of authentic European Christmas markets.

Are you a fan of string lights, hot chocolate, and shopping for handmade items from small businesses? As with any basic millenial, us too. That's why this week we're talking about Christmas markets. You know, the ones that in your head are a stroll through a light snow fall with a warm drink in hand, but in reality are elbowing through a crowd to look at a lot of expensive things. Although, we are definitely willing to take a trip to an authentic market in Germany to see if these markets are just the cure to typical consumerism.... https://fiveminutehistory.com/a-brief-history-of-christmas-markets/https://www.german-way.com/history-and-culture/holidays-and-celebrations/christmas/christmas-markets-in-germany/https://visitcroatia.com/the-history-of-europes-christmas-markets/https://www.statista.com/statistics/1075514/preferred-purchase-locations-for-christmas-gifts-in-the-united-states/https://www.statista.com/statistics/1190640/christmas-gifts-internet-france-containment-shopping-preference-online-offline/https://www.statista.com/statistics/751223/christmas-markets-worldwide-by-country/https://www.statista.com/statistics/368784/christmas-markets-europe-sales-value-by-country/https://www.statista.com/statistics/503789/activities-planned-christmas-great-britain/https://www.statista.com/statistics/950366/leading-15-christmas-markets-in-europe/https://www.dangerous-business.com/german-christmas-market-musts/

How was your Black Friday? Kind of lame? Same here unfortunately... On this episode we talk about our Black Friday shopping experiences and determine whether or not the global supply chain ruined everything. Hint: the global supply chain has ruined Jamie's cat's diet.

You asked and we delivered… this week we're breaking down the microchip shortage and what kind of havoc it's wreaking on the auto industry. If you've looked into buying a car recently, you probably know that car prices are insane right now. But why is that? And when can we expect things to go back to normal? We'll break it all down for you right here.Articles Referenced:https://www.popsci.com/technology/global-chip-shortage/https://www.asml.com/en/technology/all-about-microchips/microchip-basicshttps://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-a-microchip-1991410https://www.freep.com/story/money/cars/2021/06/15/car-chip-shortage-2021/7688773002/https://www.erieinsurance.com/blog/car-chip-shortage-2021https://www.motorbiscuit.com/what-do-semiconductor-chips-do-in-cars/

Talking about food trucks all last week made us crave some good old fashioned food truck grub. So this week we went out and got some - and we're sharing all the details right here. Should you get a corndog covered in potato? We think you should. How about some craft ice cream? Definitely a good idea in our book. So grab a snack and come listen.

We know it's not really the season for outdoor dining... but honestly when is it not the season to eat everything... This week we're talking about food trucks! Jamie basically just wanted an excuse to talk about her favorite taco place again (Carlitos plz sponsor us). So take a listen and learn all about the history of food trucks and why it seems like they're everywhere these days.Articles Referenced:https://www.history.com/news/from-chuck-wagons-to-pushcarts-the-history-of-the-food-truckhttps://mobile-cuisine.com/business/history-of-american-food-trucks/https://prestigefoodtrucks.com/2020/03/history-of-food-trucks-and-how-theyve-shaped-america/https://www.6sqft.com/from-oysters-to-falafel-the-complete-history-of-street-vending-in-nyc/https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&geo=US&q=food%20truckhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/news/voraciously/wp/2019/12/31/why-fast-casual-restaurants-became-the-decades-most-important-food-trend/https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2020/09/food-trucks-one-way-to-eat-out-during-pandemic.htmlhttps://www.businessinsider.com/millennials-endanger-casual-dining-restaurants-2017-5https://restaurantengine.com/rise-food-truck/https://offthegrid.com/mobilefood/mobilefoodtrendsform/https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2020/09/food-trucks-one-way-to-eat-out-during-pandemic.htmlhttps://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-agenda-casual-dining-20170918-story.html

Here's a little extra treat and no tricks, kids -- although we (unfortunately) couldn't find a Spirit Halloween expert, we did find some celebrity Halloween costumes we want to talk about. Tune in to a special edition of NSSM, and see which costumes got us into the spooky spirit the most.https://pagesix.com/article/best-celebrity-halloween-costumes-2021/

We're bAaAaCk! But unlike a poltergeist, you want us around. Especially after we left you alone for so long. But, rest assured, in order to show how sorry we are... we're all treats, no tricks as we get back into the podcast swing of things talking about the true spirit of the spooky season: Spirit Halloween.Forbes.com - "Spirit Halloween's Scary-Good Strategy"TheList.com - "The Untold Truth Of Spirit Halloween"Indeed.com - "What does everyone do for a job after Halloween?"

We're back, all you inquiring minds, and we are so, so sorry to leave you on read for so long. To make up for it and (honestly) because we can't really pass up a chance to discuss it, we decided to go for the gold and talk about the Olympics. So stretch out those hamstrings, everyone, and get ready for some education on the Olympics' history, some hefty stats, and, of course, Noreen and Jamie's mildly strong opinions on the 2020 Tokyo Games.“The Olympic Games” - History.com article“Visual Analysis of Olympics Data” - TowardsDataScience.com graphs“Rio 2016: The greatest show on Earth in stats” - BBC.com graphs

With the breaking news of Britney Spears talking to the court about her conservatorship, we couldn't help but do a follow up episode! Listen now to hear our thoughts about Britney as well as follow ups on our episodes about the NCAA, the Supreme Court, and elections with ranked choice voting.

We know what you're thinking... those greedy colleges are at it again, taking all of our money -- and now they're even profiting off of us! But this week Noreen and Jamie are here to prove that isn't really the case. Although college athletes can make their universities a lot of money and definitely gain them notoriety, it's a complicated topic to consider if student athletes should be paid. What are the unintended consequences? Where is the money coming from? And why is the NCAA so adamant about keeping students from earning money even though they are the stars of the show? Deep dive into it all right here! 

This week we're taking a break -- but don't worry! We'll hit you with some more quality content next week. Until then, cheers!

We know you were all hoping for a peek behind the curtain, so this week we're talking to a very special guest -- Noreen's fiancé, Matt! He's the luckiest of all (not only because he gets to marry Noreen) but because he gets Friday off every week. We'll go over all the pros and cons of 4 day work weeks, working third shift, and what having a 3 day weekend means for vacation time.

Noreen has kind of an issue, guys -- her fiance has a 4-day work week and she doesn't. But, alas, stemming from this bitterness comes a whole new episode of "The Not-So-Scientific Method" in which she and Jamie take a closer look at a work week that's only four days long, and what kind of plus and minuses comes with it. The pluses? Extra day off for a weekend trip. Minuses? Well...they'll get back to you.Articles Referenced:TheConversation.com - "Economics of a four-day working week: research shows it can save businesses money"MedicalDaily.com - "Are There Health Benefits To A 4-Day Workweek?"News.OSU.edu - "Why a four-day workweek is not good for your health"WeWork.com - "The pros and cons of a four-day workweek"Today.YouGov.com - "Most Americans would prefer a four-day work week"

Keeping with the theme of theme parks (see what we did there), Noreen and Jamie talk to their friends, Danielle and Amanda, who have a ton of experience in the themed entertainment industry. Hear what they have to say about how they got into this kind of work -- and what exactly goes into making a theme park -- right here. Themed Entertainment Association: https://www.teaconnect.org/index.cfmIAAPA Conference: https://www.iaapa.org/expos/iaapa-expoAmanda's Twitch Stream: https://www.twitch.tv/starbornamanda

Jamie and Noreen are following-up their Disney data episode with this guest episode featuring their friend, Bri. Now, yes, Bri is a Disney fan, but her qualifications go beyond that; she actually used to work at Disney World on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride and as a skipper on the (world famous) Jungle Cruise. Listen to what kind of insights she has—and what she can tell the girls about Disney—right here.

Disney is one of the most magical places on this planet and don't even try to tell Jamie and Noreen that people past the age of 10 shouldn't still love it (it's kind of Jamie's hill to die on). It's their love of that media conglomerate and a Magic Kingdom that gets the ladies talking this week, although hot take: maybe the magic behind Disney's success is just flawless customer service and a heightened attention to detail? Full deets on that, right here. Articles Referenced:AmandaLui.com - "Imagineering Information"MagicGuides.com - "Disney World Statistics"DisneyNews.us - "Disney Parks Attendance"Forbes.com - "The Secrets Behind Disney's 2.2 billion Theme Park Profits"AllEars.net - "5 Things You Won't Believe About Disney Trash"Qualtrics.com - "6 Ways Disney World Delivers Top Customer Experiences"AllEars.net - "9 Reasons People Keep Going Back to Walt Disney World"BetterMarketing.pub - "The Secret of Disney's Brand"

We're back to the usual grind this week and we're talking to Fabian Chagoya from the Chaminger: Becoming Xceptional Podcast! We go into Fabian's personal journey to becoming an Apple stan and explore more in depth some reasons why people love Apple (and why that might not be such a bad thing). So make sure your iPhone, Apple Watch, and your AirPods are charged so you won't miss a second of this conversation.Chaminger website: https://chaminger.com/

College kids aren't the only ones who get to go on spring break! We're taking the week off from our normal content, but we wanted to drop into your feed with some bonus outtakes and bloopers from this season.  Come back next week to continue our chat about how much Apple sucks (including some fresh new rants from Jamie's recent Apple dilemma).

Noreen is of the opinion that Apple products are just a tad bit overrated: Everything they make is basically the same exact thing, only way more expensive. But this wasn't always so--Apple became explosively popular in the U.S. for a reason, right? This is exactly what the girls set out to understand--why people started to stan Apple in the first place, and what's so appealing about the brand--from what they sell to their store--in general.Articles Referenced:BusinessInsider.com - "Apple's iPhone revenue is bigger than any other tech company's total revenue"CNBC.com - "Here's why people keep buying Apple products"Forbes.com - "How Apple Neurologically Hooked Its Customers"Cloud.Army - "How The iPhone Design Appeals To Our Brains"BusinessInsider.com - "How Every Square Foot Of An Apple Store Is Designed To Make You Spend More Money"

This episode finds Jamie and Noreen chatting it up with Jared Bradley, the host of the "All Things Crime" podcast and all-around DNA collection expert. The three explore how that deoxyribonucleic acid can be used in solving crimes, how new advancements are allowing crimes to be solved with smaller amounts of material, and what that may imply for commercial genealogical DNA. Interested? Then hit that play button, baby. M-Vac DNA Collection SystemM-Vac News ClipsAll Things Crime Youtube ChannelAll Things Crime Facebook PageAll Things Crime Instagram

You can make a career out of anything these days--just watch one "House Hunter Internationals" episode and be shocked by the ridiculous careers some of those clowns have. But, anyway, speaking of weird careers, some folks got the bright idea to make a business out of commercial DNA testing and, boom, here we are. We're so deep in it, in fact, that decades-old cold cases are being solved, and they don't even need the actual perp to submit their DNA to identify them. So, yeah, while it's great that this new horizon of DNA testing potentially helps early diagnostics of diseases and can help lock up murderers... is there something more, shall we say, nefarious going on? Come down the rabbit hole in the Wonderland of DNA testing with us...Articles Referenced:Statista - “Consumer Genetic Testing is Gaining Momentum”PewResearch.org - "About half of Americans are OK with DNA testing companies sharing user data with law enforcement"PewResearch.org - "Americans and Privacy: Concerned, Confused and Feeling Lack of Control Over Their Personal Information"Popular Science - "DNA Evidence Is Not Foolproof"Vox.com - "How your third cousin's ancestry DNA test could jeopardize your privacy"OneZero.Medium.com - "The Era of DNA Database Hacks Is Here"GEDMatch.com Privacy PolicyDNADoeProject.orgNamUs.govInnocenceProject.orgThe-Scientist.com - "Opinion: Consumer DNA Testing Is Crossing into Unethical Territories"

This week we're diving even deeper into the world of everything St. Patrick's Day with the most Irish person we know (and one of our oldest friends), Margaret Moore! She'll explain what it means to her to be Irish and how to respectfully celebrate everyone's favorite day to drink (hint: it doesn't involve a Kiss Me I'm Irish t-shirt or shamrock sunglasses). We suggest you put on your Irish sweater, listen to some bagpipes, and truly get to know the reason for the season. And grab a Guinness while you're at it.Some articles to learn about Irish culture:PRAOH.org - The Forgotten Saint PatrickPRAOH.org - The Penal LawsTheIrishStory.com - The Easter Rising of 1916PRAOH.org - The First Bloody Sunday: Jim Larkin and the Dublin Lockout 1913Lohud.com - This St. Patrick's Day honors 'heroes of 1916'NYTimes.com - CITY LORE; For the Irish, Dancing Days Are Here AgainYouTube.com - Mary Holt Moore "I Am of Irish America"AOH.com - Wren Night

You thought we forgot... but we could never. We're breaking down everything you wanted to know about everyone's favorite day to pretend to be Irish, St. Patrick's Day. Learn everything you wanted to know about leprechauns, beer, shamrocks, corned beef and cabbage -- the works. So grab a Guinness and share in the craic as we discuss one of our favorite holidays, St Paddy's Day. Articles Referenced:History.com - "History of St. Patrick's Day"NationalGeographic.com - "Did St. Patrick Really Drive Snakes Out of Ireland?"Ash Brokerage - St Patrick's Day InfographicOprahMag.com - "The Most Popular St. Patrick's Day Traditions"FHNToday.com - "[Infographic] Saint Patrick's Day Myth Vs. Fact"

We know y'all haven't gotten enough Britney in your life... So this week we go even further into the Britney of it all and talk to a great guest, Kelly Jordan, who happens to be a retired celebrity photographer (and Noreen's cousin). She'll provide a different perspective on the interactions between photographers and celebs with a few good stories thrown in for good measure.  

Are you like everyone else and can't get over how much the world has screwed over Britney Spears? Us too. We're here to break down all the ins and outs of how the media has destroyed Britney from a young age to how she continues to be ruined by her own father, Jamie Spears.Articles Referenced:PewResearch.org - "Public Blames Media for Too Much Celebrity Coverage"RoperCenter.Cornell.edu - "Going All the Way: Public Opinion and Premarital Sex"Reuters.com - "Purity rings enter world of sex, drugs, rock'n' roll"Google Trends for Term Shaved HeadGoogle Trends for Term Purity RingsGoogle Trends for Britney Spears 

In this episode, we expand upon our previous theory regarding money's relationship to happiness (and Noreen's dwindling dream of getting a chauffeur) with special guest, Larry Sprung. He is the Founder and Wealth Advisor at Mitlin Financial so, yeah, he knows what's up. Listen in to hear what Larry has to say, and learn about the real relationship between cash and joy. Mitlin Financial Website: https://www.mitlinfinancial.com/Mitlin Money Podcast Website: https://mitlinmoneymindset.com/Our Website: https://nssmpod.wixsite.com/notsoscimethod

Listen, if you're a miserable person you're going to be miserable no matter what. But, from a living standpoint, having money does help along the way. In order to dive deep into this oft-discussed, very existential question, Noreen and Jamie look at stats regarding money's relation to happiness and overall life satisfaction, plus how that might change based on where you live in the U.S. So does mo' money, indeed, cause mo' problems? Find out right here.Articles referenced:CNBC.com article - “Here's how much money you need to be happy, according to a new analysis by wealth experts”Research article - “High income improves evaluation of life but not emotional well-beingBloomberg.com article - “It Seems Money Does Buy Happiness After All”Research article - “Experienced well-being rises with income, even above $75,000 per year”TownAndCountryMag.com - “Here's Exactly How Much Money You Need To Be Happy”Yahoo!.com article - “How Much You Need To Live Comfortably in 50 Major US Cities”

In this week's episode, Noreen and Jamie talk to psychic Victoria Shaw, and it's like she has ESPN or something. Kidding. But for real, she has pretty otherworldly abilities and has a psychology degree to boot. Victoria helps the girls expands on their discussion regarding having psychic abilities, and what delineates between having them and having a potential mental illness. And wait—we're sensing something. Are you going to press “play” in half a second? Yeah, baby!Victoria's Website: https://victoriashawintuitive.com/Intuitive Connection Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/IntuitiveconnectioncommunityOur Website: https://nssmpod.wixsite.com/notsoscimethod

Are you ~hearing voices~? Or is it just the 1 millionth day of quarantine talking? You honestly may never know but hopefully this episode will bring you some clarity. We're attempting to uncover all the data about how the brain works when speaking to the other side and un-blur the line between psychic ability and mental illness. Channel your spirit guides and listen up! Website: https://nssmpod.wixsite.com/notsoscimethodArticles Referenced:PsychologyToday.com - "Study Finds the Unexpected in the Brains of Spirit Mediums"ncbi.nlm.nih.gov -  “People reporting experiences of mediumship have higher dissociation symptom scores than non-mediums, but below thresholds for pathological dissociation”medicine.yale.edu - "When researchers listen to people who hear voices"News.yale.edu - "Psychics help psychiatrists understand the voices of psychosis"DoctorOz.com - "The Neuroscience of Psychic Experience”Koin.com - “Scientist Spends Years Proving Psychic Phenomena is Real”

This week we're continuing our conversation about having friends at work with Jason Wasser, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist & Certified Entrepreneur & Business Coach. We'll go over all kinds of interpersonal relationships and how they play out in the workplace. Learn how to set boundaries, define levels of friendship, and make the best out of your interpersonal relationshipsYou Winning Life Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/youwinninglife/Our Website: https://nssmpod.wixsite.com/notsoscimethod

Noreen and Jamie are pretty friendly folk, in case you couldn't tell. Talk to them for five minutes in the bathroom line at a bar and, baby, you're in for a couple of shots on them. But what about at work? In an environment where you have to be able to respect everyone around you, should you know about their weekend escapades? And although it may be critical to make connections with people to make it through the day, could it be more trouble than it's worth? The girls get into the pros and cons of having close coworkers, right here.Articles referenced:Olivet.edu study - “Research On Friends At Work”CNBC.com article - “Why work friendships are critical for long-term happiness”Marketwatch.com article - “Do we really need to be friends with our coworkers?”Website: https://nssmpod.wixsite.com/notsoscimethod

Join Jamie and Noreen, engineers by day and the hosts of The Not So Scientific Method Podcast by night, in a discussion about what it's like working as women in a field usually dominated by men. Learn some facts about women in technical careers, how to thrive in your role, and how pursuing a passion project can help balance your technical and creative side. BeFun BeKind Website: https://befunbekind.com/

Welcome to the new year and the new format everyone. This week we expand our discussion on student loan debt by talking to the hosts of Drive with Us Podcast. We'll get the scoop on repaying federal student loans and deciding whether or not the big price tag was worth it.Website: https://nssmpod.wixsite.com/notsoscimethodDrive With Us Podcast Website: https://drivewithuspodcast.com/

Welcome back for season 2! We know you missed hearing about all the hard hitting topics, so we're coming in hot with a big one with a large amount of principle and even more interest: student loans. Whether you have a ton or none, we venture to guess you've heard a lot about how much college costs have risen in recent years (along with basically everything). So sit back and try not to cry as we get to the bottom of student loans.BeFun BeKind Live Event: https://befunbekind.com/listing/how-to-thrive-as-a-woman-in-a-technical-field-maintain-creative-balance/Website: https://nssmpod.wixsite.com/notsoscimethodArticles Referenced:Student Aid.gov - “Student Loan Forgiveness”Forbes.com - “Why Joe Biden Won't Cancel Your Student Loans”Business Insider - “Why is College So ExpensiveFred.stlouisfed.org - "State Minimum Wage Rate for New Jersey"Marketplace.org - “A Little Known Reason Why Students Have So Much Debt”YouTube.com - "Responsible Borrowing"Credible.com - “Student Loan Limits: How Much in Student Loans Can You Get”American Progress.org - “Addressing the $1.5 Trillion in Federal Student Loan Debt”

Happy New Year, everyone! Not only is 2020 officially over, but we here at the Not So Scientific Method have a little bit of a gift for all of you to start 2021 off right: an entirely new format. That's right -- to start off season two next week, we'll be changing things up around here to make sure you're getting the facts straight about each subject we cover in a digestible, even more fun format. We're even having a virtual live event, hosted by our friends at BeFun BeKind. Before then, enjoy some bonus outtakes and bloopers from the recording so far, and thank you so much for listening to our first season (and making this podcast possible)!Our New Website! https://nssmpod.wixsite.com/notsoscimethod BeFun BeKind Live Event: https://befunbekind.com/listing/how-to-thrive-as-a-woman-in-a-technical-field-maintain-creative-balance/

It's the most wonderful time of the year, and not because 2020 is (finally) almost over. It's Christmas time, baby, the season of giving and getting gifts that we usually break bank on. In this episode, Jamie and Noreen give you the sweet, sugarplum facts on where Christmas came from, how it got to where it is today, all sprinkled in with a few little fun factoids and stats. But most importantly, happy holidays, and Happy incoming (and hopefully better) New Year!Articles Referenced:LearnReligions.com - "Enjoy the Complete Christmas Story of the Birth of Jesus"History.com - "History of Christmas"Statista.com - "Christmas Spending Estimates Fall"PNC.mediaroom.com - "It's A Silent Night For '12 Days of Christmas' Prices, According to PNC"Blog.likibu.com - "Christmas Infographic: The evolution of Santa Claus!"Visualistan.com - "12 Christmas Traditions Around the World"DisneyParks.disney.go.com - "Infographic: What Does It Take to Decorate Walt Disney World for the Holidays?"

BREAKING BREAKING -- read all about it! Noreen and Jamie are covering -- you guessed it -- news. Specifically, how frustrating and biased news can be, and just what people are doing to get the truth. They also have their friend Claudia on as the guest "expert" (she's a reporter and may or may not write these descriptions), so get ready for some wine-fueled commentary and cold hard facts. Articles Referenced:PBS.org - "Milestones in the History of Media and Politics"HowStuffWorks.com - “How have 24-hour news stations affected society?”Fas.org - "Fairness Doctrine: History and Constitutional Issues"ReutersInstitute - "Reuters Institute Digital News Report 2019"ReutersInstitute - "Reuters Institute Digital News Report 2020"BBC.com - “Clickbait: The changing face of online journalism”Journalism.org - "The Facebook News Experience"WhatsNewInPublishing.com - “Publishing it right”: The future of slow journalismGround NewsTechStuff podcast - "The Facebook Algorithm Problem"

We would like to invite you all to join our team of BOSS BABES on our mission to change the world! Make the most amazing change in your life and you too can stop being a cog in the corporate machine. Does this sound familiar?? Maybe we're trying to recruit you for our MLM… Take a listen this week to learn all about the scamminess of MLM's (you know like Young Living Essential Oils, Herbalife, Arbonne, or as we like to say more generally -- pyramid schemes) and find out just how much money people make from selling their products. Keep living that #blessed life folksArticles Referenced:FTC.gov - "Multi-Level Marketing Businesses and Pyramid Schemes"jstor.org - "Is Multi-Level Marketing Really Just a Pyramid Scheme?"prnewswire.com - "New Survey Reveals 73 Percent of People who Participate in Network Marketing Opportunities Lose Money or Make No Money"TheBalancesMB.com - "The Likelihood of MLM Success"MLMStatistics.org - "'Average' Income"BestLeap.com - "5 Great Advantages of Multi Level Marketing (MLM)"

There was a lot going on during the election. Like, a lot. For example -- did any of you notice how many states either legalized or decriminalized drugs (like that biddy Oregon, that made every drug decriminalized?)? Well, if you didn't, now you do! And also now you get to listen to us talk about the effects of this Portugal (which already decriminalized all drugs years ago), the effects of Colorado legalizing marijuana earlier this decade, and what the potential effects will be for the states that just approved them this year. Get high, get low, kids.Articles Referenced:CBCNews.com - "Oregon becomes the first state to decriminalize hard drugs like cocaine and heroin"adf.org.au - "Decriminalisation vs legalisation"PewResearch.org - "As fatal overdoses rise, many Americans see drug addiction as a major problem in their community"Worldometers.info - "World Population Portugal"Statista.com - "Key developments since Portugal Decriminalized Drugs"Mic.com - "14 Years After Decriminalizing All Drugs, Here's What Portugal Looks Like"rmhidta.org - "Marijuana Report 2020"Footprintstorecovery.com - "Effects of Legalized Marijuana"Britannica.procon.org - "Should Recreational Marijuana Be Legal?"FoundationsRecoveryNetwork.com - "Pros and Cons of Decriminalizing Drug Addiction"

Throw on your bonnets and harken back to first grade -- it's time to revisit the history of Thanksgiving. Jamie and Noreen go over the history of the worst day for turkeys in America, and sprinkle those mashed potatoes of knowledge with some spicy fun facts (know which side dish is number one in each state? Well, listen and find out, ya dingus). So press play, and a Happy Thanksgiving to all you butterballs out there.Articles Referenced:NY Times - Thanksgiving Myths Fact CheckNewsweek - Difference Between Pilgrim and PuritanHistory.com - Difference Between Pilgrim and PuritanHistory.com - PilgrimsIndianCountryToday.com - What Really Happened at the First ThanksgivingStatista - Popular Thanksgiving Meal TimesMagaMaps - Thanksgiving InfographicParade - Thanksgiving Side Dish by State

Jamie's spirit animal is actually a racoon because she loves trash -- TV, that is. The Marvel Cinematic Universe and Star Wars isn't really her thing, but start talking about "90 Day Fiancé" with all its spin-offs and, oh, baby, she's on it! Now, she and Noreen are trash TV-talking, mulling over how TLC (literally called "The Learning Channel") went from pure learning to absolute garbage. Is this bad for America's entertainment diets? Or is it the evasion from reality that keeps us sane? Take a listen, and see what you think.Articles Referenced:"How Reality TV Works" - HowStuffWorks.com"What is reality TV's influence on culture?" - HowStuffWorks.com"10 YEARS OF PRIMETIME THE RISE OF REALITY AND SPORTS PROGRAMMING" - Nielsen"Netflix is Now Bigger than Cable TV" - Forbes"My Reality TV Habit Isn't Trashy — It's Complicated" - Refinery29"Is Honesty Important In Marketing Today?" - SocialMediaWeek.org and YouGov"Viewer Beware: Watching Reality TV Can Impact Real-Life Behavior" - NPR"Cable Nets See 8% Viewing Declines In 2019 As Young Viewers Depart, Older Viewers Remain" - MediaPost.comTLC Programming - WikipediaVH1 Programming - WikipediaMTV Programming - Wikipedia

It's no secret that the Kardashians have plenty of haters. A lot of people think, okay, maybe it's a little bit much that they quote-on-quote "flaunt their privilege," like throwing huge birthday bashes during the coronavirus pandemic. However, people are still talking about them, which keeps the Kardashians relevant cultural presences. So--are they really just dumb socialites, or are they  secret marketing and business geniuses? We cover that on the latest episode of "Keeping up with the Not-So-Scientific-Method." Articles Referenced:“How Did the Kardashians Make Their Millions” - BBC“The Kardashian-Jenner Clan are Marketing Genius'” - TheMedium.com"How Kylie Jenner Turned Her Lip Obsession into a Near-Billion Dollar Business" - Good Morning America“Kris Jenner: The Marketing Mastermind You Never Expected” - TheMedium.com“Why a professor says we should all keep up with the Kardashians” - Independent.Co.UK“The Kardashians: Inspiring or Damaging to Women” - ThePerspective.com“Why I Unfollowed the Kardashians” - The Sydney Morning Herald 

Jamie has some beef with the elections. Not any specific elections, mind, but just how the American election system works in general. She thinks that there should be more fairness as to how much each individual vote counts, and wonders why some states don't even get the chance to vote in the primaries until one candidate remains. Also, what's the deal with that electoral college, anyway? She and Noreen tackle it all, right here.Articles Referenced:Stuff You Should Know Podcast - Swing StatesBrookings - Skewed Demographic in Democratic PrimariesBallotpedia - Candidates Over Time 2020NBC News - Clinton and Trump Battleground State TV Ad Spending270ToWin.com - 2016 Election ResultsWashington Post - How Fair is the Electoral CollegeHistoryHouse.gov - Electoral CollegeNational Geographic - Electoral CollegeVoteSmart.org - Primary ElectionsNPR - How Iowa Caucuses Work270ToWin.com - 2000 Election ResultInfoPlease.com - 2000 Election ResultsCBS News - 2016 Election ResultsFairVote.org - Ranked Choice VotingFairVote.org - Maine and Nebraska