FULL EPISODE: Flirting For Favors - January 6, 2026

Foreign correspondent Tony Five reports on the controversy surrounding a McDonald's McRib meat lawsuit and what psychology says about people who clean as they cook. Experimental psychology researcher Braden Hall reveals how dark personality traits are linked to flirting for personal gain. Animal welfare consultant Dr. Holly Molinaro explains how most people overestimate their ability to read their pets' emotions. Recreation and leisure studies professor Troy Glover suggests improving your social fitness as a New Year's resolution. Author and psychotherapist Dr. Stephanie Sarkis proposes that time blindness could be responsible for some people being chronically late. (Find Dr. Sarkis's book Healing From Toxic Relationships here.) NYU Professor Panos Ipeirotis walks David through how he fought fire with fire, using AI oral exams to combat AI assignment submissions from students. History lecturer Dr. Garritt (Chip) Van Dyk gives us the inside scoop: the 2,500-year history of ice-cream. Lecturer in social psychology ⁠Mariel Marcano-Olivier⁠ shares ⁠why romantic couples are more likely to be diagnosed with the same mental health conditions⁠. Segments: (00:00) Introduction (01:20) Tony Five (10:00) Braden Hall (20:00) Dr. Holly Molinaro (30:00) Troy Glover (39:50) Dr. Stephanie Sarkis (49:50) Panos Ipeirotis (59:50) Dr. Garritt Van Dyk (1:09:50) Mariel Marcano-Olivier (1:19:15) Sign-off Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices