Here We Are
by Shane Mauss
Globetrotting and mind exploring comedian Shane Mauss interviews scientists each week on journey to answer the biggest questions about the meanings of life (as well as a bunch of other random stuff you never imagined you would care about). Favorite topics include: psychology, biology, evolution, cognitive biases, behavioral economics, mating, animal behavior, neuroscience, and the subconscious
Episodes
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Hibernation w/ Frank van Breukelen
This episode comes from a conversation with the Director of Life Sciences here at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. His research focuses on hibernation! Why do animals do it? What's the difference between say... torpor and taking a nap? Could humans ever hibernate? Plus, we get to dive into…
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Astronomy and Planetariums w/ Andrew Kerr
Today, I sit down with Andrew Kerr, head of the Dale Etheridge Planetarium in Las Vegas! Andrew is an astronomer and physicist who received his PhD for his work on the Gravito-Electromagnetic Effect and the Cosmological Constant. In this episode, we talk about the state of planetariums, seek to...
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Dung Beetles! w/Kimberly Sheldon
Today I'm at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville speaking with Kimberly Sheldon all about dung beetles! Kim studies the patterns and processes that determine the distribution of species and use this information to predict impacts of anthropogenic change on species and ecological communities....
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Virtual Education w/Shalaunda Reeves
Today I'm learning about virtual education and how technology is helping teach students about otherwise complex topics. Shalaunda Reeves holds a PhD in curriculum and instruction and her research interests focus on how people learn in virtual environments. Learn more:...
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A (Very) Short History of Life on Earth w/Henry Gee
Henry Gee is the author of ‘A (Very) Short History of Life on Earth’ - winner Royal Society Science Book Award 2022 and more notably, one of Shane's favorite books :) Henry is a paleontologist, evolutionary biologist, and editor at Nature. He is also a hilarious, charming, wonderful guy who...
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Birdsong and City Noise
Birds, animal communication, evolution, environmental pressures, and human impacts. This conversation was very much in the Here We Are wheelhouse which made for a loose, funny, and fascinating episode! It was such a treat to talk with Associate Professor Elizabeth Derryberry in person at The...
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La Crosse Virus
I've got some major life updates including a residency in Vegas at https://area15.com/ Sundays starting April 23. Tickets and details should be available by the end of the month. Stay tuned for more soon! This week Rebecca Tiffany Trout Fryxell talks about the La Crosse Virus. What is it? What…
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Modeling a way out of Extinction
Today I'm at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville speaking with Dr. Paul Armsworth. Paul examines how conservation investment strategies and natural resource management policies can be made more effective by integrating ecological and socioeconomic models and data. Learn more about Paul's lab:...
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Modern Humans w/David and Douglas Kenrick
Today I'm speaking with David and Douglas Kenrick about their new book "Solving Modern Problems With a Stone-Age Brain: Human Evolution and the Seven Fundamental Motives". Douglas Kenrick is a professor of psychology at Arizona State University. His research and writing integrate three scientific...
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Horticultural Therapy w/Dr. Derrick Stowell
Today I'm at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville speaking with Dr. Derrick Stowell, who is the Education and Horticultural Therapy Program Administrator for the UT Gardens. Derrick is responsible for directing education programs and horticultural therapy programs for the UT Gardens…
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Transdisciplinary Synthesis w/Dr. Nina Fefferman
Nina Fefferman is back! Today, I'm at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. We talk about beauty and utility of math and how to get young learners excited about mathematic reasoning. We also discuss the incredible collaborative work being done at NIMBioS, which is a National Science…
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The Human Network w/Tamas David Barrett
Today I'm speaking with evolutionary behavioural scientist, Tamas David Barrett. His work focuses on how the structure of social networks change during falling fertility, urbanisation, and migration; as well as, how social networks vary over the human life-course. Tamás’s current projects include...
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Casual Apocalypse w/Athena Aktipis
This week I went Arizona State University to talk with Athena Aktipis about the potential of apocalyptic events, both natural and human-caused, and how we can prepare, respond, and prevent the end of the world. Athena is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at Arizona State...
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Counterfactual Thinking w/ Dr. Keith Markman
Today I'm hanging out with Dr. Keith Markman! Keith was one of the scientists that gave a talk at this year's Mind Under Matter Campout Festival. Keith's research focuses on “counterfactual thinking”, or how people imagine alternative realities, develop conspiracy theories, and connect…
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The Truth About the Middle Ages w/ Daniele Cybulskie
Today I'm speaking with Daniele Cybulskie, who is a historian, writer, and podcaster. Daniele has written several books about medieval history, which you can find here: http://www.danielecybulskie.com/books She is also the host of The Medieval Podcast:...
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Thriving in the End Times w/Athena Aktipis
This week I'm talking with Athena Aktipis about the gradients of apocalyptic events and how humans cope with the end times. Athena is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at Arizona State University and co-Director of The Cooperation Science Network and The Human Generosity...
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Phosphorus and The Environment w/ Dr. Jim Elser
Today we're talking phosphorus, from exploding stars to urine. Dr. Jim Elser is a limnologist, Director of Flathead Lake Biological Station at Yellow Bay, Bierman Professor of Ecology at the University of Montana, and the Director of Sustainable Phosphorus Alliance. Phosphorus is as essential as...
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Here We Are LIVE with Herman Pontzer
This episode of the Here We Are podcast was recorded live at the Mind Under Matter Campout Festival in Raleigh, NC at the beautiful Lakeside Retreats. I decided to invite one of my favorite guests and good friend, Herman Pontzer, to talk about some of the evolutionary underpinnings of why we come...
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Humility w/Daryl R. Van Tongeren
Today I'm speaking with Daryl R. Van Tongeren, who is an associate professor of psychology at Hope College. We discuss some of the topics he writes about in his new book, "Humble: Free Yourself From the Traps of a Narcissistic World." Learn more about Daryl's work here:...
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Human Productivity w/Tara Behrend
Today I'm speaking with Tara Behrend, who is an Assoc of Industrial-Organizational Psychology at Purdue University. We discuss productivity and efficiency in the work place, our cultural perception of time, the surprising and counterintuitive findings about employee privacy research, and online...
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Happier Hour w/Cassie Holmes
Today I'm speaking with Cassie Holmes, professor at UCLA’s Anderson School of Management. We talk about her new book "Happier Hour: How to Beat Distraction, Expand Your Time, and Focus on What Matters Most" How can we use our time more wisely and accomplish the tasks we care about most? What's…
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Human Factors w/Anne McLaughlin
Today I am speaking with Anne McLaughlin, who is a psychology professor at North Carolina State University. We discuss her book "All Too Human", which takes a look at applied Human Factors. Human Factors may be a lesser known field within psychology but its implications become obvious once...
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Emotional Intelligence w/Hillary Anger Elfenbein
Today I'm speaking with Hillary Anger Elfenbein, who is a professor at the Olin School of Washington University. We discuss the parallels between stand up comedy and teaching at a university, cross cultural analysis of emotional intelligence, being overly self-aware, and much more! Come and see…
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Set and Setting w/Cole Marta
Today I'm hanging out with my good friend, Cole Marta. Cole is the Co-founder, Medical Director, and Clinician at California Center for Psychedelic Therapy. We do a little catching up and discuss Cole's personal journey into psychedelic research and therapy as well as touch on ways you can get...
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Michael Garfield
In this episode, I catch up with my good friend, Michael Garfield. Michael is the host of the Future Fossils podcast and the Complexity podcast. In his 4th appearance on Here We Are, we discuss topics like fatherhood, lifestyle changes, and the ever-changing world we live in.
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Nature vs Nurture? w/ Marlene Zuk
Today I'm speaking with one of my very first guests on the Here We Are podcast, Marlene Zuk. Marlene is a Professor of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior at the University of Minnesota. We talk about common misconceptions about evolution and comparing humans to other animals. Check out Marlene's...
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Restrictive Mating Strategies w/Martie Haselton and Jaimie Krems
Today I'm speaking with Martie Haselton and Jaimie Krems. Martie is the world's leading researcher on how ovulatory cycles influence women's sexuality. She is a professor of psychology at UCLA and the Institute for Society and Genetics, and a really great friend of mine. Jaimie is a professor of...
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Ancestral Cousins w/Steven E. Churchill
In this first ever in-person video episode of Here We Are I talk with human paleontologist, Steven E. Churchill in his lab at Duke University. We talk about the lingering Neanderthal DNA in modern humans, genetic diversity, the recent discovery of Homo naledi, and the Rising Star Expedition which...
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Solo Travel w/ Peter McGraw
Today I'm talking with my very close friend, Peter McGraw. We talk about the pros and cons of being single vs being in a relationship, traveling as a single person, living with another person, and the strange, negative view society has on singlehood. Get tickets to the Mind Under Matter Campout...
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Special Announcements | Solo Episode
I have a couple special announcements and updates to share with you in this short solo episode. Check out the latest Mind Under Matter episode to hear Ramin and I share all the details about our campout/festival: https://youtu.be/z1gkwbUX2rg Get tickets before they run out:...
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Culture + Cognition w/ Helena Miton
Helena Miton is a cognitive anthropologist and complexity postdoctoral fellow at the Santa Fe Institute. She investigates how culture is maintained through time and what determines the shapes traditions take. She holds her Ph.D. in cognitive science from Central European University and previously...
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Internet Gurus w/ Dr. Chris Kavanagh
Today I'm speaking with Dr. Christopher Kavanagh, who is a postdoctoral researcher at the Institute of Cognitive & Evolutionary Anthropology. Chris is also the cohost of the Decoding the Gurus Podcast. We talk about the effect that internet gurus and thought leaders have on public perception of...
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Philosophy + Emotion w/Cecilea Mun
Today I am speaking with Cecilea Mun, who is a Visiting Assistant Professor of the Philosophy, Politics, and Economics program, with the Department of Philosophy, at the University of Louisville, KY, and the founding director of the Society for Philosophy of Emotion, and the founding...
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Sustainable Living W/ Dave Ader
This week I’m talking with Dave Ader, an interdisciplinary scholar in the fields of sustainable agriculture and rural development. He currently works as the Assistant Director and Research Assistant Professor in the Smith Center for International Sustainable Agriculture at the University of...
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Genetics + Evolution w/ Itai Yanai
This week I am talking with Itai Yanai, Director of the Institute for Computational Medicine and Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology at NYU. We discuss Richard Dawkin’s book: The Selfish Gene, Darwin’s work with Evolution and Itai’s Podcast: The Night Science Podcast. Throughout...
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Conversational Science w/ Susanna Harris
This week I’m talking all about science communication with Susanna L Harris. Susanna earned her PhD in microbiology at UNC-Chapel Hill and is now working to build better communication in Biotech. We chat about how to more effectively communicate scientific information by guiding conversations,...
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Robert Sapolsky
My biggest hero Robert Sapolsky returns to the show for an exceptionally important conversation about stress during a time where many of us have experienced the most in our life. This is an important conversation about how lack of predictability and control can lead to learned helplessness. This...
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Ayahuasca + The Rainforest w/ Sophia Rokhlin
This week I am talking with Sophia Rokhlin, co-author of the book “When Plants Dream”. Sophia Rokhlin is an author, speaker and nonprofit organizer dedicated to supporting the conservation of Indigenous wisdom and territories. She currently serves as Technical Secretariat of the Amazon Emergency...
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Amphibians w/ Matthew J. Gray
This week I’m talking with Matthew Gray, associate director of the University of Tennessee Knoxville, Center for Wildlife Health about amphibians. He is also a part of the One Health Initiative. Dr. Gray specializes in disease ecology. His interests include transmission dynamics of emerging...
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Covid-19 + Emergency Rooms w/Graham Walker
This week Shane is talking with Graham Walker, an Emergency Room Physician in San Francisco, CA. They discuss how Covid has effected hospitals and staff over the last 2 years. Graham runs down hospital checklists, decision making in the ER setting, and what he’s seen while working. They also go...
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Gurus Decoded w/ Matthew Browne
Today I'm speaking with Matthew Browne, who is a Professor of Psychology researching gambling in Australia. Matthew also cohosts the podcast "Decoding the Gurus" which examines alternative hot takes on science and politics. We discuss academic politics, the psychology behind conspiratorial...
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Child Rearing Across Cultures w/Melanie Martin
This week I’m talking with Melanie Martin, a biological anthropologist investigating evolutionary and ecological influences on growth and development, and the implications of those relationships for public health. Her research, conducted with two indigenous populations—the Tsimane of Bolivia and...
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Nutrition w/Hollie Raynor
This week Shane chats with Hollie Raynor, Professor in the Department of Nutrition at The University of Tennessee Knoxville. Hollie is the Director of the Healthy Eating and Activity Laboratory. She has training in the fields of nutrition and clinical psychology. Her research focuses on dietary...
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Diet + Evolution w/Herman Pontzer
Today I'm hanging out with returning guest, Herman Pontzer. Herman is the author of "Burn: New Research Blows the Lid Off How We Really Burn Calories, Lose Weight, and Stay Healthy". He investigates the physiology of humans and apes to understand how ecology, lifestyle, diet, and evolutionary...
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Butterflies! w/ Emilie Snell-Rood
This week I talk with Associate Professor of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior at The University of Minnesota, Emilie Snell-Rood. Emilie’s lab takes both a basic and applied approach to understanding insect responses to environmental change. Currently, a number of her projects consider roadsides as...
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Omicron? w/Jessica Brinkworth
Jessica Brinkworth returns to Here We Are for her 4th time to give us an update on COVID! We talk about the spread of misinformation, vaccine hesitancy, booster shots, the neurological and cardiac side effects of COVID, the danger in over-exercising while infected with COVID, the new Omicron...
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The Tailored Brain w/Emily J Willingham
Today I talk to returning guest, Emily J Willingham, about her book "The The Tailored Brain: From Ketamine, to Keto, to Companionship, A User's Guide to Feeling Better and Thinking Smarter". We talk about the neuroscience behind resilience, exercise, mindfulness practice, social interactions,...
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Science + Mysticism w/ Duncan Trussell
On a very special episode of Here We Are, I talk with wonderful friend and fellow comedian, Duncan Trussell. Check out Duncan’s Podcast, The Duncan Trussell Family Hour and his psychedelic animated series, The Midnight Gospel on Netflix. We chat about science and mysticism, tradition and rituals,...
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Peace Making w/Doug Noll
This week I am speaking with Douglas Noll, author of the book *De-Escalate: How to Calm an Angry Person in 90 Seconds or Less* which was the winner of the Book Excellence Award for 2017. Douglas E. Noll. is a full time peacemaker and mediator, specializing in difficult, complex, and intractable...
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Sleeping + Dreaming w/ Barrett Klein and Dr. Zlatan Krizan
This week, Shane is talking with Dr. Zlatan Križan, Professor of Psychology at Iowa State University, and Barrett Klein, Professor of Biology at UW-La Crosse who are meeting for the first time to film this incredible episode that crosses both their fields of research. Dr. Križan directs the…
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About this show
Globetrotting and mind exploring comedian Shane Mauss interviews scientists each week on journey to answer the biggest questions about the meanings of life (as well as a bunch of other random stuff you never imagined you would care about). Favorite topics include: psychology, biology, evolution, cognitive biases, behavioral economics, mating, animal behavior, neuroscience, and the subconscious
Hosted by
Shane Mauss
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