Fun Facts: Japanese Myths
In this bonus episode, Alice runs through two Japanese myths: the kitsune and the Shining Princess. Find our sources on twitter @nerdhourspod.
Nov 20, 2021•6 min
Nerd Hours
Follow hosts Dan and Alice as we explore the weird and wonderful. From technology to history, each episode delves into a new topic that's sure to fascinate!
New episodes are released every Friday at 12pm PST (unless otherwise specified). Follow us on Twitter @nerdhourspod or email us at nerdhourspodcast@gmail.com.
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Episodes
The History of Whack Nitrogen Discoveries
From caffeine to morphine to the air we breathe, nitrogen is present in many vital--and sometimes dangerous--substances. In this episode, Alice walks Dan through some of the most hilarious (and deadly) discoveries of nitrogenous substances. You might even come out of the discussion with an entirely different view on the origins of the Nobel Prize. Find our sources on twitter @nerdhourspod.
Nov 19, 2021•21 min•Season 1Ep. 19
Creation Story Episode VII: Wiccan
Dan and Alice look into some of the beliefs of the Wiccan religion. We discuss some of the elements of this branch of neo-paganism and how there are so many different branches. We only go over a bare summary of the beliefs of the Wicca so if you want to know more, you can find our sources on Twitter @nerdhourspod.
Nov 12, 2021•11 min•Season 1Ep. 18
Milk
Dan and Alice discuss the importance of milk in Europe and the development of lactose tolerance in adults. In addition, we look a bit into lactose intolerance and casein intolerance. Find our sources on twitter @nerdhourspod.
Nov 05, 2021•14 min•Season 1Ep. 17
Creation Story VI: Celtic
Alice and Dan cover the longest creation story from Celtic Mythology. We make some comparisons to other creation stories we have already discussed and briefly review two other Celtic creation myths. Find our sources on twitter @nerdhourspod.
Oct 22, 2021•21 min•Season 1Ep. 16
Fun Facts: Halloween
Over airways lost to time, Dan quickly explains the origins of Halloween.
Oct 16, 2021•4 min
LGBTQ+: A Summary
In this episode, Alice and Dan review 11 of the more common gender identities and 15 of the more common sexual identities. We briefly define each of these identities, as well as give some examples from popular media. Find our sources on twitter @nerdhourspod.
Oct 15, 2021•38 min•Season 1Ep. 15
Creation Story V: Ancient Norse
Dan and Alice cover the creation story from Norse Mythology. We make some comparisons to other creation stories that we have already discussed. Find our sources on twitter @nerdhourspod.
Oct 08, 2021•10 min•Season 1Ep. 14
Artificial Intelligence in Astronomy
Dan explains to Alice some of the basics of artificial intelligence and machine learning, as well as some of the potential applications of this technology in the field of astronomy. Find our sources on twitter @nerdhourspod.
Oct 01, 2021•14 min•Season 1Ep. 13
Theories of Consciousness Part II
In the final part of this series, Alice and Dan cover the final two theories of consciousness, the Integrated Information Theory and the Higher Order Theory. We also discuss the takeaways from each theory and answer the question “what is consciousness and why do we have it?” Find our sources on twitter @nerdhourspod.
Sep 27, 2021•28 min•Season 1Ep. 12
Bonus Fun Facts: The Terrestrial Planets
In this month's bonus episode, Alice quickly covers NASA’s origins and the first four planets in our solar system--often called the terrestrial (or rocky) planets.
Sep 18, 2021•7 min
Theories of Consciousness Part I
In the first part of this series, Alice and Dan review some of the most popular theories of consciousness in the world of cognitive science. We cover the Global Neuronal Workspace Theory and Recurrent Processing Theory. Find our sources on twitter @nerdhourspod.
Sep 17, 2021•18 min•Season 1Ep. 11
Creation Story Episode IV: Ancient Egypt
In the final episode of creation stories in the Middle East, Dan and Alice discuss an Ancient Egyptian story of creation. This is just one of dozens of retellings of this story, so some details may vary from what you've heard before. Find our sources on twitter @nerdhourspod.
Sep 10, 2021•14 min•Season 1Ep. 10
LGBTQ+ Discussion: Aromantic & Asexuality
In something of a different format than usual, Dan describes what it is to be aromantic and asexual and discuss what it’s like in modern society to identify as such to Alice. We give an overview of what these terms are, anecdotal experiences, and common questions. Feel free to send any questions about being aro/ace to our twitter @nerdhourspod!
Sep 03, 2021•45 min•Season 1Ep. 9
Creation Story Episode III: Enuma Elish
Dan and Alice explore the Babylonian myth of creation as told in the poem Enuma Elish. We discuss some of the parallels to the Ancient Greek story, as well as Genesis throughout the explanation. Find our sources on twitter @nerdhourspod. Warning: themes of violence - the Babylonians didn’t care about “sanitization”
Aug 27, 2021•11 min•Season 1Ep. 8
Bonus Fun Facts: Hummingbirds
Dan goes through some fun facts about hummingbirds in a quick bonus episode!
Aug 21, 2021•3 min
The Many Forms of Depression
Alice and Dan explore the many diagnoses that fall under unipolar depression and the many misconceptions of the mental disorder. We also talk a bit about the effects of social media and other diagnoses commonly paired with depressive disorders. Find our sources on twitter @nerdhourspod. Warning: This episode contains brief mentions of suicide, self-harm, and other serious symptoms of depression. Please watch at your discretion.
Aug 20, 2021•49 min•Season 1Ep. 7
Creation Story Anthology II: Ancient Greece
Dan and Alice continue their tour of creation stories with the one from Ancient Greece. We review some of the common elements of creation stories and spend some time discussing the succession aspect with regards to the quality of the successor. Find our sources on twitter @nerdhourspod. Warning: Mild swearing and themes of violence--the Greek creation story isn’t exactly “war-free”
Aug 13, 2021•11 min•Season 1Ep. 6
Caesar Cipher: The Beginning of Cryptography
Dan, with the help of Alice, delves into the history of one of the most commonly known cipher - the caesar cipher. We discuss what type of code it is, the origins, and how it’s been broken. We also talk a bit about the vigenère cipher and how it works. Find our sources on twitter @nerdhourspod.
Aug 06, 2021•14 min•Season 1Ep. 5
Creation Story Anthology I: Genesis
Dan and Alice start looking into world-wide creation stories with the well known creation story in Genesis. We discuss some of the common elements of creation stories, as well as some of the differences in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Find our sources on twitter @nerdhourspod.
Jul 23, 2021•22 min•Season 1Ep. 4
Extraterrestrial Life Part II
In Part II, Alice and Dan delve into the wacky world of extremophiles, the possibility of life on Jupiter’s ice moon Europa, and some upcoming missions searching for extraterrestrial life. Small segues into Antarctica’s ozone hole and life on Mars and Jupiter’s other moons are also present. Find our sources on twitter @nerdhourspod.
Jul 09, 2021•19 min•Season 1Ep. 3
Extraterrestrial Life Part I
In Part I, Alice and Dan explore the likelihood of extraterrestrial life. We discuss what it means to be “alive”, what alien life might actually look like, and one of the more prominent scientific theories about how life could spread from planet to planet. Find our sources on twitter @nerdhourspod.
Jul 02, 2021•13 min•Season 1Ep. 2
Code Talkers: The Most Prominent US Codes in WWII
Dan and Alice discuss the Native Americans who were pivotal in WW2, predominantly on the Pacific front. The people who spoke their native languages over the radios to encrypt messages quickly and effectively. Find our sources on twitter @nerdhourspod.
Jun 19, 2021•11 min•Season 1Ep. 1
Introduction
If you’re new, start here! We explain the basis of our podcast and what to expect. Follow us on twitter @nerdhourspod or email us at nerdhourspodcast@gmail.com.
Jun 19, 2021•2 min
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