You're the Expert

Dr. Carlota Batres studies the science of attraction. What makes you find some people sexy and others gross? Comedians Jo Firestone, Roy Wood Jr, and Hari Kondabolu get to the bottom of our evolutionary desires and find out why this research matters. Hosted by Chris Duffy. Produced by Pretty Good Friends.

Direct download: 01_What_Makes_You_Attractive__1.mp3
Category:Comedy -- posted at: 5:39pm EDT

Dr. Irene Pepperberg knows more about bird brains than just about anyone in the world. Her groundbreaking work with Alex, an African Gray Parrot who talked back and answered questions about abstract concepts, changed the way we think about consciousness. Comedians Ken Reid, Obehi Janice, and Julia Claire learned more. Hosted by Chris Duffy. Produced by Pretty Good Friends.

Direct download: Bird_Brains__Parrot_Talk.mp3
Category:Comedy -- posted at: 9:20am EDT

Harvard astrophysicist Alyssa Goodman studies the birth of stars and the many ways humans have tried to predict the future. Comedians Maeve Higgins, Ken Reid, and Steve Macone learn the secrets of the universe and why everyone is so afraid of stars. Hosted by Chris Duffy. Produced by Pretty Good Friends.

Direct download: Astrophysics_and_Predicting_the_Future.mp3
Category:Comedy -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Dr. Anne Churchland studies how your brain makes decisions. Comedians Jo Firestone, Zhubin Parang, and Roy Wood, Jr. learn how to make good choices and all about neuroscience. Hosted by Chris Duffy. Produced by Pretty Good Friends.

Direct download: Making_Decisions.mp3
Category:Comedy -- posted at: 11:01am EDT

Ray Madoff (BC Law) is a lawyer who specializes in the rights of the dead. What happens to your body? Who gets your stuff? Can the government clone you? Can dogs inherit money? Ray's the person to ask. She teaches SNL's Sasheer Zamata, Ken Reid, and Obehi Janice about her work as a lawyer for the dead. Hosted by Chris Duffy. Produced by Pretty Good Friends.

Direct download: Rights_of_the_Dead_with_intro.mp3
Category:Comedy -- posted at: 8:45am EDT

Primate Cognition

Dr. Alexandra Rosati is a Harvard scientist who studies primate cognition. How do chimps and bonobos understand the world? And what does that tell us about humans? Comedians Sasheer Zamata, Ken Reid, and Obehi Janice learn about everything from chimpanzee pool parties to why it's not a good idea to bring a monkey in your race car. Hosted by Chris Duffy. Produced by Pretty Good Friends.

Direct download: 01_Primate_Cognition.mp3
Category:Comedy -- posted at: 5:32pm EDT

Dr. Nicholas Dodman is the head of Tufts' Animal Behavior Clinic. He's the author of "The Dog Who Loved Too Much" and "The Cat Who Cried For Help."  Panelists Eugene Mirman, Ken Reid, and Obehi Janice learn about Nick's research. Also, we talk about how to sedate a polar bear. Hosted by Chris Duffy. Produced by Pretty Good Friends.

Direct download: Pet_Psychiatry.mp3
Category:Comedy -- posted at: 2:02pm EDT

Dreadnoughtus is the biggest dinosaur ever found. Dr. Ken Lacovara (Rowan University) is the paleontologist who discovered it. He tells comedians Aparna Nancherla, Hari Kondabolu, and Maeve Higgins all about tiny headed dinos, breaking rocks, and how he once intimidated Harrison Ford. Recorded at the Franklin Institute as part of the 2016 Philadelphia Science Festival. Hosted by Chris Duffy. Produced by Pretty Good Friends.

Direct download: Dinosaurs.mp3
Category:Comedy -- posted at: 3:43pm EDT

Dr. Tonia Hsieh (Temple University) is a biomechanist who discovered how geckos are able to stick to walls. She's using her findings to build better robots. Recorded live at the Philadelphia Science Festival, this episode features comedians Aparna Nancherla, Maeve Higgins, and Hari Kondabolu. Hosted by Chris Duffy. Produced by Pretty Good Friends.

Direct download: 01_Robot_Geckos.mp3
Category:Comedy -- posted at: 9:17am EDT

Dr. Angela Belcher is an MIT professor and a MacArthur genius. She teaches comedians Aparna Nancherla, Josh Sharp, and Bobby Smithney about how she uses viruses and bacteria to build next generation batteries, solar cells, and much more. She is literally a genius. Recorded at the 2016 Cambridge Science Festival with funding from MIT's de Florez Fund for Humor. Hosted by Chris Duffy. Produced by Pretty Good Friends.

Direct download: PL-01_Bacterial_Batteries_and_Viral_Solar_Cells.mp3
Category:Comedy -- posted at: 4:06pm EDT

Dr. Stefan France is a chemist at Georgia Tech working on synthesizing new molecules for medicine. He teaches comedians Josh Sharp, Amber Nash, and Shalewa Sharpe about the life of a chemist and why both chocolate and wine might be good for you. Recorded at the 2016 Atlanta Science Festival. Hosted by Chris Duffy. Produced by Pretty Good Friends.

Direct download: PL-01_Medicinal_Chemistry_at_the_Atlanta_Science_Festival.mp3
Category:Comedy -- posted at: 10:53pm EDT

Dr. Mande Holford studies venomous sea snails, the "assassins of the sea." Her research holds clues to treating Alzheimer's, solving opioid addiction, and much more. Panelists Tracy Clayton (Another Round), Zhubin Parang (head writer for The Daily Show), and author Maeve Higgins learn about the mysterious world of these underwater killers. Hosted by Chris Duffy. Produced by Pretty Good Friends.

Direct download: PL-01_Killer_Snails.mp3
Category:Comedy -- posted at: 9:48am EDT

Did you know that you're about 2% Neanderthal? Bridget Alex is a Harvard anthropologist and evolutionary biologist studying how/when our ancestors met and bred with Neanderthals. She teaches comedians Sam Ike, Kenice Mobley, and Steve Macone about the mysteries of evolution and a caveman's love life. Hosted by Chris Duffy. Produced by Pretty Good Friends.

Direct download: PL-Neanderthal-Human_Interbreeding.mp3
Category:Comedy -- posted at: 10:17am EDT

Dr. Noah Wilson-Rich is the chief scientific officer at the Best Bees Company. Comedians Bobby Smithney, Julia Claire, and Gary Petersen learn about Noah's research and dive into the secret lives of bees, what it's like to be stung 500 times, and why it's good to be the queen. Hosted by Chris Duffy. Produced by Pretty Good Friends.

Direct download: PL-Bees.mp3
Category:Comedy -- posted at: 9:31am EDT

Dr. Gary Fireman is the chair of Suffolk University's Psychology Department. He's an expert on nightmares and disturbed dreaming. Comedians Maeve Higgins, Charlie Hankin, and Matt Porter find out where nightmares come from, what they mean, and how they compare to an acid trip. Hosted by Chris Duffy. Produced by Pretty Good Friends.

Direct download: PL-01_The_Science_of_Nightmares.mp3
Category:Comedy -- posted at: 11:07am EDT

Natalie Reeder is the official wildlife biologist at San Francisco International Airport. Natalie helps comedians Kristen Schaal, Eugene Mirman, and James Adomian understand how to keep birds away from engines, when snakes actually do get out on planes, and why SFO is full of frogs. Recorded in front of a live audience at SF Sketchfest 2016. Hosted by Chris Duffy. Produced by Pretty Good Friends.

Direct download: PL-01_Airport_Biology_at_SF_Sketchfest.mp3
Category:Comedy -- posted at: 9:50pm EDT

Dr. Jean Alupay is an octopus expert at USC. Comedians Scott Adsit (30 Rock), Emily Maya Mills (Parks and Rec), and Josh Sharp (CBS) try to guess what Dr. Alupay studies and learn the mysteries of the deep. Whether you're a human or a three-hearted boneless sea creature, this episode is for you. Hosted by Chris Duffy. Produced by Pretty Good Friends. Recorded in front of a live audience at the Nerdist Showroom in Los Angeles, CA. 

Direct download: PL-Octopus_Defenses.mp3
Category:Comedy -- posted at: 6:37pm EDT

Eugene Mirman, Scott Adsit, and Maeve Higgins learn from Dr. Leslie Dewan, an MIT alum who developed a revolutionary new nuclear reactor that's powered by nuclear waste. It's environmentally friendly, cheaper than other reactors, and it can't meltdown. She's kind of a big deal. Along the way, we learn about the social life of nuclear engineers, why BP really needs some new recruiting videos, and Guy Fieri's cooking. Hosted by Chris Duffy. Produced by Pretty Good Friends.

Direct download: PL-01_Nuclear_Power_and_Molten_Salt.mp3
Category:Comedy -- posted at: 5:00am EDT

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