Curious State

QuickAndDirtyTips.com, Doug Fraser

Could we have domesticated a T-Rex? Is the mafia really that violent? Haven't all the possible songs been written by now? Unexpected gems of knowledge are hidden all around us. Let’s dig them up, one offbeat question at a time.

Last refreshed: July 28th, 2025 at 12:26 AM ⓘ

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Episodes

Can animals break the law? | feat. Mary Roach

We humans love law and order. But what happens when non-humans go mucking around and chewing on our rules? Can animals actually break the law? Renowned science writer and raccoon super-fan Mary Roach has the answers. A few curiosities you’ll uncover in this episode: Do seagulls have it out for the pope? What are laws for, anyway? Laser scarecrows? Say what?? Did You Know? In 1451, a Swiss bishop took some leeches to court. His reason? There were too many of them in the local pond. Curious State ...

May 17, 2022•16 min•Ep. 9

Why's that crow living in the aquarium? | feat. The Virginia Aquarium

What do a crow and a glossy-eyed harbor seal named Monty have in common? Us. Oftentimes, human interaction with animals is for the worse. But when it comes to animal rehabbers, the interaction is meant to get the animal back on its feet—or paws or claws or flippers—and release them back into the wild. Chip Harshaw, VP of Animal Care at The Virginia Aquarium , takes us on a behind-the-scenes tour to meet Monty and dives into the good, the bad, and the downright heart-melting aspects of human/anim...

May 10, 2022•15 min•Ep. 8

Can you empathize with your internet haters? | feat. Dylan Marron

Five years ago, Dylan Marron (creator and host of Conversations with People Who Hate Me ) started engaging his internet detractors in long-form conversations over the phone. What started as a coping mechanism has turned into a hit podcast, lessons from which he’s shared in his new book . A few curiosities you’ll uncover in this episode: The four-word idea that’ll change how you approach all conversations How you can apply what Dylan’s learned from internet haters to any relationship in your life...

May 03, 2022•16 min•Ep. 7

Are celebrities more interesting than us? | feat. SuChin Pak

Journalist SuChin Pak (co-host of Add to Cart ) has been reporting on TV since she was 16 years old. If you watched MTV in the early 2000s, you saw her just about every day, interviewing the who's who of pop culture and music. Those celebrities, the ones who grace the silver screen and flood the airwaves with catchy tunes that burrow into your brain and never ever leave—are those people actually more interesting than the rest of us? A few curiosities you’ll uncover in this episode: What it’s rea...

Apr 26, 2022•15 min•Ep. 6

Why are there so few female psychopaths? | feat. Dr. Mark Freestone

Dr. Mark Freestone, author of Making a Psychopath: My Journey into Seven Dangerous Minds , takes us into the mind of an infamous female psychopath—and the finicky, outdated, and often untrustworthy system that attempts to diagnose women like her. A few curiosities you’ll uncover in this episode: The antiquated diagnosis process for psychopaths The differences between how psychopathy manifests in male and female patients Gritty details of the murder committed by Angela the Remorseless How a bias ...

Apr 19, 2022•18 min•Ep. 5

What's the point of regret? | feat. Daniel Pink

Regret is our constant companion, tugging at our ears to remind us of our mistakes. Our follies. The kind of stuff we shove to the back of our brain fridge and hope it doesn’t stink up the house. But what if regret isn’t what we think? What if it’s actually the way to a happier, more fulfilling life? Daniel Pink, the author of such insightful classics as To Sell is Human and A Whole New Mind , rolled up his sleeves and mined the deep, dingy trenches of regret. What he found just might change you...

Apr 12, 2022•20 min•Ep. 4

Is the mafia really that violent? | feat. Elie Honig

The mafia and violence go together like a fist and brass knuckles. But is the mafia really as violent as pop culture would have us believe? Or are we being conned? Nicknamed "organized crime's worst nightmare," former federal and state prosecutor Elie Honig earned his stripes through the prosecution of John Gotti Jr and other major mafia players. He’s here to set the record straight. A few curiosities you’ll discover in this episode: The mind games of mafia violence Why murder is bad for busines...

Apr 05, 2022•14 min•Ep. 3

Can we overcome our childhoods? | feat. Lori Gottlieb

Somewhere in the rows and rows of office cubicles that make up the emotional business of our brains, there’s one employee hellbent on burning the whole place down. Her name…is childhood. Is it possible to pry ourselves from her fiery grasp? Or are we destined to live with one hand on the fire extinguisher? Psychotherapist and bestselling author of Maybe You Should Talk to Someone , Lori Gottlieb, offers a way to set our childhoods free: changing the stories we tell ourselves. A few of the curios...

Mar 29, 2022•14 min•Ep. 2

Could we have domesticated a T-Rex? | feat. Dr. Richard Kissel

Ah, the T-Rex. King of the tyrant lizards. Ruler of children’s imaginations the world over. With its savagery and you-look-tasty-enough-to-eat smile…could we have domesticated it? Dr. Richard Kissel is here to help us figure it all out. He’s the VP of Education at The DoSeum in San Antonio, Texas, and a total T-Rex fanboy. A few of the curiosities you’ll uncover in this episode: The 3 questions to ask yourself before domesticating a T-Rex How much it would cost to feed a T-Rex over its lifetime ...

Mar 29, 2022•15 min•Ep. 1

Trailer

Can animals break the law? Why do some fonts just feel so good? Can a "friend with benefits" relationship last? Could we have domesticated a T-Rex? Dive into what you didn’t know you needed to know on Curious State with Doug Fraser. First two episodes drop on March 29. Curious State is a Quick and Dirty Tips podcast hosted and produced by Doug Fraser. Have a question you want Doug to find the answer to? Leave a voicemail at (757) 541-8471 or email us at curious@quickanddirtytips.com . Follow the...

Mar 15, 2022•2 min

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