Wordsmith Lynne Franklin, author of " Getting Others To Do What You Want ," explains the psychology of persuasion on this episode of the Curiosity Podcast. As a consultant to executives and teams on persuasive communication, she studies how the brain affects our choices and behavior to help people solve their problems and get what they want. Additional resources discussed: Lynne Franklin Wordsmith "Getting Others To Do What You Want" All You Need to Know About the "Learning Styles" Myth, in Two ...
Nov 28, 2017•29 min
On this episode, we explore what you can learn about a person based on handwriting alone. A handwriting analyst for more than 30 years, Dale Roberts of Write Insights analyzed the handwriting of the Curiosity staff and joined us on the podcast to explain his process. Play along at home while you listen! Write the sentence "I'm truly happy to be here today at the party" in print and in cursive, then follow along during the episode to analyze your handwriting and decide for yourself how accurate i...
Nov 21, 2017•47 min
If you want to be comfortable in any situation, then you just need to know and remember how to behave. Manners and etiquette aren't just for snobs! Etiquette expert Jihan Murray-Smith joins the Curiosity Podcast this week to explain the guidelines behind proper etiquette in any situation. Whether you're at a family dinner, business lunch, or first date, you'll want to listen so you can act with confidence in any social situation. As founder of the etiquette and public speaking consulting firm Te...
Nov 14, 2017•54 min
Are hackers really a constant threat, or is hacking just another tool for media manipulation and fearmongering? To get definitive answers, the Curiosity Podcast sat down with the deputy chief of research at the Army Cyber Institute at West Point, Dr. Natalie Vanatta. She explains what government and corporate entities are doing to keep the average person safe online – and how people can protect themselves. Plus: learn where the international community draws the line between warfare and cyber-war...
Nov 07, 2017•54 min
CRISPR technology could change the world. Essentially, CRISPR is a technique that allows scientists to make precision edits to any DNA, whether bacterial or human. The potential for this technology is huge: if scientists have the accuracy to replace just a few faulty genes, it might be possible to cure genetic disorders as serious as cystic fibrosis and Huntington's disease and as common as lactose intolerance and color-blindness. Dr. Sam Sternberg, CRISPR expert and protein-RNA biochemist, join...
Oct 31, 2017•56 min
Modern medicine can do extraordinary things – but how? This week, the Curiosity Podcast welcomes Dr. Sliman Bensmaia to explain how scientists are able to develop prosthetic devices that some day may be able to transmit a realistic sense of touch to their owners. An assistant professor in the Department of Organismal Biology and Anatomy at the University of Chicago, Dr. Bensmaia discusses how lab is working on cutting edge technology, and what's in store for the future of prosthetics. The Bensma...
Oct 24, 2017•43 min
This week, the Curiosity Podcast welcomes the fascinating Bryan Davis to share his story. Davis owns and runs a distillery in Los Angeles, but it's not your typical distillery – he's found a way to change the chemical properties of rum to age it 20 years in just 6 days. And here's where things get interesting: he taught himself the science behind how to do it. Today's conversation isn't so much about what Bryan does as it is about how he got to where he is today. Listen to this episode to learn ...
Oct 17, 2017•1 hr 5 min
Comedy comes in many forms, each with its own history and style. And while it may be subjective, there's still some surprising science that makes comedy what it is today. This week on the Curiosity Podcast, we talk to long-time performer and teacher Lilly Allison, an expert with a firm grasp on the history and psychology of comedy. In this episode, she explains and demonstrates comedic devices in front of a live audience at the 2017 Chicago Podcast Festival. Lilly has been involved with comedy s...
Oct 10, 2017•50 min
Not all music is created equally. You may love the soundtrack of your favorite film, television show, or video game just as much as you enjoy Beethoven's 9th, but you may not know how deliberately the score from your favorite form of entertainment was composed. Elliot Callighan, independent composer and sound designer, joins the Curiosity Podcast to reveal how musicians in the 21st century write for media that didn't even exist when most of history's greatest composers were alive. Elliot Calliga...
Oct 03, 2017•46 min
Renowned skeptic Dr. Steven Novella, host of The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe and author of the NeuroLogica Blog, joins the Curiosity Podcast to explain how to tell the difference between reality and fantasy – and why it's sometimes hard to do so. He brings years of experience as a neuroscientist and researcher to take a look inside the minds of both skeptics and those who believe in pseudoscience and conspiracy theories. Dr. Novella is an academic neurologist at Yale University School of Med...
Sep 26, 2017•54 min
The institution of marriage in America appears to be struggling. Or is it? Dr. Eli Finkel's most recent research reveals that the best marriages today may in fact be the best marriages the world has ever known. A renowned relationship expert, Dr. Finkel joins the Curiosity Podcast to reveal the structure of successful marriages and explain the context needed to understand how to flourish in any serious long-term relationship. Dr. Eli Finkel, author of The All-or-Nothing Marriage , is a professor...
Sep 19, 2017•33 min
The dating world has radically transformed over the last few decades. Combine advances in technology with radical changes in social roles and a rise in non-traditional relationships and sexual preferences, and you end up with a pretty confusing dating environment. Dr. Eli Finkel joins the Curiosity Podcast to discuss everything from one-night stands to Tinder to pickup artists – and everything in-between. Dr. Finkel is a social psychology professor who studies interpersonal attraction, marriage,...
Sep 12, 2017•48 min
Research isn't always conducted in a laboratory. Dr. Brian T. Murphy runs a research program that takes him all around the world collecting aquatic microorganisms, en route to the discovery and development of new antibiotics. On this podcast, Dr. Murphy explains how antibiotics work and the importance of discovering new ones, as well as detailing some of the exotic underwater adventures involved in his line of work. Ongoing projects in Dr. Murphy's lab merge the identification of small molecules...
Sep 05, 2017•45 min
The human voice is the oldest musical instrument. But how exactly does it work? Voice training is a lot more complicated than you might think, and in this podcast, opera singer Matthan Ring Black discusses why. A baritone with decades of experience as a performer, Matthan gets into the science behind how the human voice works, with some bonus insights into the worlds of vocal pedagogy and opera. Matthan has performed in several Chicago premieres, including the world premiere of Gregory Spears’ J...
Aug 29, 2017•45 min
Astronomy isn't just about looking up at the sky. The Adler Planetarium 's Michelle Nichols delves deep into the lessons that astronomy can teach us about our own world and gives an update on when (and why) we're hoping to finish the "race to Mars." Plus: the surprising relationship many scientists have with religion. As Director of Public Observing, Michelle leads the Adler Planetarium's various telescope and sky observing efforts, including the 'Scopes in the City telescope outreach program, f...
Aug 22, 2017•42 min
Have you ever wanted to discover a long-lost magic spell or incantation? Well now is your chance! Experts from the Newberry Library in Chicago discuss how you can read and even help decipher unique medieval manuscripts from the comfort of your own home. They also take a closer look at how understanding magic in the Middle Ages can help us understand our world better. This week's guests include: Jill Gage, Custodian of the John M. Wing Foundation on the History of Printing and Bibliographer for B...
Aug 15, 2017•47 min
Why is the solar eclipse on August 21, 2017, going to be such a huge deal? Michelle Nichols, educator and astronomer at the Adler Planetarium in Chicago, joins us on a special episode of the Curiosity Podcast to explain everything from the science to the community surrounding this astronomical event. As Director of Public Observing, Michelle leads the Adler Planetarium’s various telescope and sky observing efforts, including the ‘Scopes in the City telescope outreach program, free nighttime obse...
Aug 10, 2017•41 min
Executive coach and happiness expert Stella Grizont explains exactly how happiness works, why it matters, and the steps a person can take to find it. Grizont was one of the first graduate students in the world to receive a Masters in Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. From speaking to consulting to coaching, Grizont designs immersive learning experiences for organizations like Google, Johnson & Johnson, and Columbia University. She has also coached more than 1,3...
Aug 08, 2017•55 min
The competitive landscape of eSports hasn't only spread to colleges and universities – it's now an activity that can land you a scholarship! Robert Morris University's Executive Director of eSports Kurt Melcher explains why his school was the first to offer a scholarship to League of Legends players, and why other schools are following suit. Having worked in both traditional athletics and in eSports, Kurt brings a unique point of view on why eSports athletes aren't so different from what a perso...
Aug 01, 2017•43 min
Mind reading tricks can be unnerving, but they don't have to be as scary as some people think they are. Mentalist Jonathan Pritchard explains how he convinces people he can read minds by using the same psychological techniques employed by sales, marketing, and other business leaders. Jonathan has appeared on America's Got Talent, entertained United States troops stationed overseas, and performed on main stages in Las Vegas. He discusses his 25 years of experience as a mentalist, what it's taught...
Jul 27, 2017•41 min
What gives a collectible item its value? Certified sports memorabilia expert Michael Osacky has been the official appraiser for athletes from the Chicago Bulls, New York Yankees, and other professional teams, and he sheds some light into the world of collecting. Lots of people own old books, ticket stubs, or baseball cards, but some of those items are valued at tens of thousands of dollars, while others aren't worth a penny. Michael digs into why there's such a discrepancy by getting into what c...
Jul 24, 2017•49 min
Your sense of smell is like a superpower. Dr. Alan Hirsch of the Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation explains how you can make the most of it. Your nose is always working, even when you're asleep. It can affect your mood, your ability to concentrate, and even your sense of time and space. The kicker? A lot of the time, you may not even know you're being affected! To learn more about smell, we sat down with Dr. Alan Hirsch, a neurologist and psychiatrist who specializes in the treat...
Jul 21, 2017•45 min
