You're the Expert

Live from the Boston Comedy Festival! Harvard's Dr. Terrence Capellini tells us about the evolution of the human skeleton, how to spot a cave man, and why we all have "pelvic girdles." Featuring panelists Ted Alexandro, Myq Kaplan, and Jo Firestone. Hosted by Chris Duffy. Technical direction by Kevin Brunswick. With a musical interlude, "Caveman Mousetrap" from the album "Please Be Seated" by Micah Sherman and Myq Kaplan.

Direct download: Neanderthal_Bones.mp3
Category:Comedy -- posted at: 4:25pm EDT

It's a special Thanksgiving episode with Brown University's Dr. Thomas Roberts. He's the world's leading expert on turkey locomotion. Listen as Dr. Roberts talks turkeys on a treadmill, robot legs, and Thanksgiving with Zhubin Parang (writer for The Daily Show), Myq Kaplan (Netflix's "Small, Dork, and Handsome") and Jo Firestone (Broad City). Hosted by Chris Duffy. Technical direction by Kevin Brunswick.

Direct download: Turkey_Locomotion.mp3
Category:Comedy -- posted at: 12:03am EDT

Live from the Bay Area Science Festival! Dr. Claire Simeone works at the Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito, CA. She's the first scientist to study painkillers for dolphins and she helps comedians Myq Kaplan, Anna Drezen, and Nato Green learn all about her research on seals, whales, and other marine mammals. Hosted by Chris Duffy. Technical direction by Kevin Brunswick. This episode is sponsored by HotelTonight.

Direct download: Marine_Mammals_and_Dolphin_Drugs_2.mp3
Category:Comedy -- posted at: 10:24am EDT

Dr. Erika Ebbel Angle is a leading science educator and biochemist. She's also the 2004 winner of the Miss Massachusetts pageant. In this episode, panelists Ken Reid, Christine Cuddy, and Kelly MacFarland try to guess what Erika does and then learn about her work expanding public understanding of science (and what it's like to be the only MIT grad to have ever competed in Miss America). Hosted by Chris Duffy. Technical direction by Kevin Brunswick.

Direct download: 01_Science_Outreach_and_Beauty_Pageants.mp3
Category:Comedy -- posted at: 3:09pm EDT

Dr. Katie Hinde is the head of Harvard's Comparative Lactation Lab. That's a real thing. Panelists Eugene Mirman (Bob's Burgers), Wyatt Cenac (The Daily Show), and Sarah Vowell (This American Life) try to guess what Dr. Hinde studies and learn about her work. Don't miss this hilarious discussion of nurture, nutrition, and how to milk a bat. Hosted by Chris Duffy. Recorded at the Eugene Mirman Comedy Festival in Brooklyn, NY. Technical direction by Kevin Brunswick.

Direct download: Live_at_the_Eugene_Mirman_Comedy_Festival.mp3
Category:Comedy -- posted at: 11:42am EDT

Dr. Thomas Carroll (Tufts) is a voice doctor who takes care of famous singers and studies how to maintain a healthy voice. A panel of three hilarious comics tries to guess what Dr. Carroll studies and learns about vocal cords, voice boxes, and what's wrong with The Godfather. Featuring Myq Kaplan (Netflix's "Small, Dork, and Handsome"), Jo Firestone (Punderdome 3000), and Ken Reid (TV Guidance Counselor). Hosted by Chris Duffy. Technical direction by Kevin Brunswick.

Direct download: Vocal_Cords.mp3
Category:Comedy -- posted at: 12:30pm EDT

Dr. Colin Jerolmack (NYU) is a sociologist who studies pigeon-human interactions. He's traveled the world studying the ways that city dwellers interact with these ubiquitous birds. Comedians Anna Drezen, Emmy Blotnick, and Myq Kaplan learn about Colin's research, how pigeons attract a mate for life, and what lures some humans into the world of high-stakes pigeon races. Hosted by Chris Duffy. Technical direction by Kevin Brunswick.

Direct download: 01_Pigeon-Human_Interactions.mp3
Category:Comedy -- posted at: 5:13pm EDT

Dr. Jonathan Garlick is one of the world's leading experts on stem cells. In this episode, Dr. Garlick teaches comedians Myq Kaplan, Zach Sherwin, and Anna Drezen about the science behind stem cells and their potential uses, what most people get wrong in the stem cell debate, and the grossest way to wallpaper a room. This episode even features a rap about dentistry! Hosted by Chris Duffy. Technical direction by Kevin Brunswick. 

Direct download: Stem_Cells.mp3
Category:Comedy -- posted at: 1:37pm EDT

Dr. Pardis Sabeti has been called "the rollerblading, rock star scientist of Harvard." She invented an important new technique for genetic sequencing and looking at natural selection. Her research might even help cure Ebola. Comedians Josh Gondelman, Anna Drezen, and Emmy Blotnick learn about her work, diplotypes, and the future of genetics. Hosted by Chris Duffy. Technical direction by Kevin Brunswick.

Direct download: Natural_Selection.mp3
Category:Comedy -- posted at: 12:18pm EDT

Ross Perlin is the Assistant Director of the Endangered Language Alliance. He's a linguist who specializes in Yiddish and the languages of Southwest China. In this episode, he talks with host Chris Duffy about his work to save the world's languages. Comedians Christian Finnegan, Anna Drezen, and Rachel Rosenthal try to guess what Ross studies and learn how to speak Yiddish in the process. Technical direction by Kevin Brunswick.

Direct download: Endangered_Languages.mp3
Category:Comedy -- posted at: 8:27pm EDT

Dr. Richard Primack (Boston University) has spent his career studying the effects of climate change on Walden Pond, comparing modern conditions to those Thoreau observed. Comedians Myq Kaplan, Ken Reid, and Lori Strauss try to guess what Richard studies and then learn about the similarities between climate skeptics and people confused by the television show LOST, the effects of an earlier spring, and the history of "Where's Waldo?" Hosted by Chris Duffy. Technical direction by Kevin Brunswick. 

Direct download: Climate_Change.mp3
Category:Comedy -- posted at: 1:56pm EDT

Dr. Joy Reidenberg, the world's leading expert on whale blowholes, explains the secrets of cetology to comedians Christian Finnegan (Comedy Central), Anna Drezen (MTVu), and Harrison Greenbaum (ABC). What causes a whale to explode? How can you avoid picnicing on an ancient whale burial ground? What's the grossest way to get your own row on a plane? You'll find out in this episode of You're the Expert. Hosted by Chris Duffy. Technical direction by Kevin Brunswick.

Direct download: Exploding_Whales.mp3
Category:Comedy -- posted at: 3:45pm EDT

Comedians Maria Bamford, Jackie Kashian, and Myq Kaplan try to guess what professor Dr. Chris Tracy studies all day. Recorded in front of a live audience on the campus of California State University Fullerton, this episode answers age-old questions like : Can you drink a toad? What's the difference between a toad and a croissant? And how many toads should you bring to your next party? Hosted by Chris Duffy. Technical direction by Kevin Brunswick.

Direct download: 01_Poisonous_Toads.mp3
Category:Comedy -- posted at: 7:54am EDT

Live from the 2014 Cambridge Science Festival at the MIT Museum, this special episode features Dr. Sam Madden, co-director of MIT's Big Data Initiative. Trying to guess about Dr. Madden's work are comedians Nikki Glaser, Myq Kaplan, and Lori Strauss. Hosted by Chris Duffy. Technical Direction by Kevin Brunswick.

Direct download: 01_Big_Data.mp3
Category:Comedy -- posted at: 3:20pm EDT

Dr. Heather Berlin, a neuroscientist at Mt. Sinai, studies why we do the things that we do. Comedians Matt Koff (The Daily Show), Myq Kaplan (Comedy Central), and Rachel Rosenthal (North Coast) try to guess what Dr. Berlin studies and then learn about the neural basis of improvisation, what a sociopath looks like, and the downsides of owning an ice cream truck. Hosted by Chris Duffy and recorded in Brooklyn, NYC at Littlefield. Technical Production by Kevin Brunswick.

Direct download: Compulsivity_and_Impulsivity.mp3
Category:Comedy -- posted at: 8:17am EDT

Live from Caltech's campus in Pasadena, CA! This episode features Dr. Jose Andrade, a researcher who studies earthquakes and also works with NASA to understand the surface of Mars. Jose helps our comedians understand why the Mars rover is much more impressive than Bruno Mars, what happens during an earthquake, and why sand is way more complicated than you think. Featuring comedians Rory Scovel (TBS), Myq Kaplan (Comedy Central), and Anna Drezen (MTVu). Hosted by Chris Duffy. Technical direction by Kevin Brunswick.

Direct download: Granular_Materials.mp3
Category:Comedy -- posted at: 9:06am EDT

Dr. Phil Lobel, an ichthyologist at Boston University, studies the noises that fish make. He's also the most interesting man in the world. Hear about his battles with sharks, his discovery of a new "dinosaur," and his discoveries about the noises fish create while making love. Featuring comedians Myq Kaplan, Ken Reid, and Robert Woo. Hosted by Chris Duffy. Technical production by Kevin Brunswick.

Direct download: Fish_Noises.mp3
Category:Comedy -- posted at: 10:19am EDT

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