Wandering Barycenter

Do our dogs really understand us when we talk to them? Or do they just hear us and think “that is a terrible sounding bark”? Alex gets us indistinguishably closer to the answer by discussing methods used by researchers to study the cognitive abilities of animals. Bryan tries to convince everyone that Göbekli Tepe represents a lost human civilization that if true, would upend the currently accepted timeline of our ancestors.

Lyric edition episode 4! Alex and Bryan have a go at deciphering Weigh and Mound by the band Phish.

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you were required to call upon your instinctual will to survive? Us either but join us for some stories of people who have! For the second half we look at the jagged lines of distinction between natural and man-made, as well as new vs. original.

Alex explains how the nutrition facts panel attempts to guide and inform consumers about the nutritional composition of packaged foods. However, there are also suspicious aspects of this critical re$ource. Bryan tells of conspiracy theories that are fun, weird, or sometimes both!

It’s Wandering Barycenter’s 1 Year Anniversary! Join hosts Alex and Bryan as they reflect on the past year and look forward to year number 2. Bryan finally talks about Electromagnetic fields, a topic that was sitting in the wings for quite some time. Alex takes us on another nostalgic journey by exploring a few 90s era cartoons and how they came to be.

Bryan and Alex get a little silly this week as they briefly discuss the practice of hypnosis as well as a number of dangerous social fads and ideas people have engage in throughout modern history. Find out how hypnosis is used for both entertainment and therapy and why letting your kids play with radioactive material is no longer recommended.

What if we all got got 50k a year for nothing? Well not all of us, only a few. Think that would go over well? Bryan and Alex suspect not so much. Alex explores what drives us to keep a such a wide variety of pets and how those relationships might have come to be… what’s the deal with keeping fish anyway?

Ever wonder “Do fish know how to run a small cleaning business?”. Alex gives us a glimpse into the world of inter-species symbiosis and the answer appears to be yes. Bryan floats us along a slightly more abstract relationship between man and bird with some early attempts at flight

Ever thought “I could be an artist” or “I should be a rum runner”? Well you can! Just fake someone else’s art or learn the ins and outs of international waters. Luckily Bryan and Alex are here to guide us through both worlds. They even entertain the idea of combining them!.

Lyric edition episode 3! Alex and Bryan have a go at deciphering Tessellate and Taro by the band Alt-J.

Did you miss the quiet release of the latest climate assessment? Not to worry! Alex covers the basics of what you need to know. Bryan untangles the complicated web of big data and machine learning.

Buckle up with Bryan this week as we explore the activism and presidential aspirations of Ralph Nader. Next, set those public safety minded advances to the side and hop on a Micro Mobility Scooter with Alex… where did that scooter even come from?

Keys up on the table? Alex and Bryan tackle a set of classic System of a Down songs in the second lyric edition episode of the Wandering Barycenter podcast.

Given their increasing relevance, Alex takes us through the eye of a hurricane, or cyclone, or typhoon? Bryan ponders what could have been if the Library of Alexandria had survived. Apologies for any audio quality issues this time, tried something new and will have it fixed soon!

Bryan updates us on recent space news! Planet 9, landing on asteroids (or are they meteors?), and impending doom! In the spirit of Columbus day Alex looks at the true story of who this infamous colonist was and why we celebrate him.

This week we try out something a little different! Listen along as we interpret the lyrics of some of our favorite songs. Keeping with the Wandering Barycenter style we analyze the songs separately and then get together to discuss. Let us know what you think and if we should (or should not) do this again!

Alex takes a nostalgic walk down the cereal isle to examine the current state of the market and relive some of cereal’s greatest moments. Bryan investigates the highly competitive and sometimes dangerous world of the truffle trade.

Bryan hails the modern history of man’s attempt to control the weather. Has our desire to dominate our surroundings (and others) resulted in successfully manipulating the weather on command? Equally questionable is the potential left/right bias of the human brain. Do you feel you’re more analytical or creative? Alex splits this user suggested theory in half for the second topic this week.

Alex takes us on a walk down Venice Beach while recounting a recent visit to the iconic stretch of sand. Bryan lays out the contrast between recent American generations and the tensions that exist between them. He makes uneducated guesses at what might be the root of these differences.

Bryan examines the unpredictable and powerful nature of volcanoes. Krakatoa features as the main antagonist as we explore some of the impacts a major eruption can have. Alex goes beyond the coop with a fan requested topic to find out which chicken to buy and why.

Alex talks invasive species and what makes them such a problem. The topic strikes a chord with the co-host. Said co-host Bryan attempts to make sense of the rules of war. The Geneva Conventions are explored trying to understand the logic behind mans’ attempts to rationalize conflict.

The coveted secrets of producing raw silk are explored with Bryan. Alex brings us to 1980s Miami to tell the story of Don Aronow.

This week Alex takes us into the dubious world of Badge Engineering. Was that a Jimmy or a Blazer? Bryan explores the increasingly relevant threat of wildfires and what tactics are used to control them.

Bryan examines a recent trip to Italy and some observations about driving culture, bottle shapes and more! Alex brings the first user requested topic to the table with a look at units of measurement.

Bryan, Alex, their father Rick and older brother Mike are in Indianapolis attending the Mecum car auction. They discuss attending a large auction for the first time and recap personal highlights from the weekend. This episode is full of firsts! Bryan and Alex are recording in the same location and also hosting their first guests.

Following up on coffee in Episode 7, Alex fills us in on the world’s other favorite caffeinated beverage. Bryan opens the door to gaming on mobile devices and quickly closes it. He won’t be tricked into paying to win! Join us for some lighter topics this week!

We all have something to learn from the small city (read: town) of Kamikatsu. Bryan outlines how this small Japanese town has gone to great lengths to become zero-waste. Alex delves into the elemental makeup of our favorite modern day gadgets and the questionable ways some of the materials are mined. This is the closest we’ve come to preparing the same topic!

In a unashamed display of ignorance Alex shares what he now knows about the Surgeon General. Who (or what) is this and what exactly are their responsibilities? Bryan uncovers the barycenter and the artwork for this episode as he shifts the conversation to the diverse world of car culture both inside and outside of the United States.

Think about the traditions that you subscribe to in your own life. What keeps you coming back to them year after year?Bryan questions the significance of traditions personally and throughout the human timeline. In order for traditions to continue long into the future, Alex argues that regulations on vehicle efficiency play a critical role. He explains the details of how the standards are set and what that means for vehicle owners in the US.

Corn? You are either surprised Alex is able to find something interesting about corn or you rolled your eyes because you have come to expect this kind of thing. This is part 1 where part 2 will come later. Unconventional theories of human evolution make for a more abstract second half of the show.

Bryan invites us to postulate the purposes and reasonings behind the curiously long list of cognitive biases. Alex dives into the 9 to 5 work life and what that means from a personal and societal perspective. The Barycenter is strong this week!

Alex scratches the surface on explaining the Placebo Effect and tries to look at it for both its positives and negatives. Bryan talks about some of the interesting things you can find in the ocean that aren’t fish…

Despite the physically small nature of neurons and neurotransmitters, Bryan explains just how complex this human system is. Alex uses the podcast this week to vent about the current state of potholes in the Midwest. 

Episode 10 marks our next milestone! Both Bryan and Alex decided this meant fun topics. In light of the 2018 winter olympics, Alex learned about some ridiculous events in Olympic history. Bryan looked into some of the most obscure forms of racing found around the world. Despite all the options Bryan aspires to race push lawn mowers on foot.

Bryan introduces the wild west of the stock market world, high frequency trading. Alex explains the details of binaural beats and brain entertainment (sorry for the poor audio)

Sorry about the poor audio quality

Don't be shy and downplay your love for coffee. Make your favorite cup and take a seat while Alex explains the details of one of Americas favorite beverages. After you have that caffeine buzz (and may no longer be seated), Bryan will give a rundown on Bitcoin, the friendliest cryptocurrency around.

Prior to this episode, Alex visited the Detroit Auto show. He fills us in on details from the event as well as the history of automotive shows in general. An HBO show regarding American prohibition peaks Bryan's interest in the subject. 

Episode 5! the one where we name it all and finally find a rhythm. In this episode Bryan and Alex pick a name for the podcast, Wandering Barycenter. In this episode some semblance of format is found when the hosts decide to prepare one topic ahead of time, but do not disclose what the topic is until recording! In this episode Bryan brings up black holes, while Alex investigates water quality of a major city using information they provide (fools!).

In episode 4 the health episode!, Alex and Bryan begin by talking about Alex's foray into the Keto world as well as his work out habits. Later Alex provides morning shake recipe. Bryan trys to contribute by dispelling the idea that "eggs are bad". Moral of the story, dont eat a lot of sugar.

EP3! Join hosts Alex and Bryan as they find the flow of the podcast. In this episode they cover too many topics including North Korea, Brexit, entropy, and the general health of humanity.The host are still figuring out the formula in this one.

Episode 2! Hosts Bryan and Alex talk about the new Ford GT and how cool it is. As well as covering the planets food production and what that means for the future. Bryan and Alex are still finding their way in this one as they figure out what works and what does not.

Our first episode! The Wandering Barycenter podcast is hosted by two brothers Alex and Bryan. Each week we explore topics that interest us as we attempt to find the barycenter.