We are kicking off this spooky season with a discussion about the spectres of the ocean: ghost ships! We tell a few of the both lesser and more well-known stories of ghost ships. We also talk about why they happen and how they influence our behavior. Have you seen a ghost ship? Recommendations - Abraham: Saosin (Just Be Honest; https://saosin.com/) - Shane: Hellboy comics (Mike Mignola) Holidays (10/5/2026): - Blue Shirt Day World Day of Bullying Prevention - Chic Spy Day - Child health Day - Day of Unity - Do Something Nice Day - Global James Bond Day - International Day of No Prostitution - National Apple Betty Day - National Consignment Day - National Kiss a Wrestler Day - National Storytelling Day - World Day of Architecture - World Habitat Day - World Teacher’s Day - Active Aging Week - Animal Welfare Week - Banned Books Week - Death Penalty Focus Week - Mystery Series Week - National Vegetarian Week - National Chili Week Links:  - https://explorersweb.com/exploration-mysteries-ghost-ships/ - https://www.surfline.com/surf-news/ocean-oddities-ghost-ships/78374 - https://www.hms-resolute.co.uk/the-nutshell/ - https://www.adn.com/alaska-life/2023/10/29/the-mysterious-fate-of-the-baychimo-the-ghost-ship-that-haunted-the-arctic-for-decades/  - https://www.worldofcruising.co.uk/editors-corner/mv-lyubov-orlova-ghostship-sunk  - https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/abandoned-ship-the-mary-celeste-174488104/  - https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/horrifying-final-voyage-cruise-boat-22044077  - https://skybrary.aero/articles/fata-morgana 

We are kicking off this year's spooky seasons mini with a brief history of the town on fire. This is a real place in the United States that has become unlivable since the town accidentally set a gigantic, subterranean coal reserve. This inspired the video game and movie franchise, "Silent Hill." Have you been to Centralia?  Links: https://www.abc27.com/digital-originals/history-of-centralia-a-pennsylvania-ghost-town/ https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/centralia-pennsylvania-rebirth https://www.history.com/articles/mine-fire-burning-more-50-years-ghost-town Tell us your favorite memories of the show: info@wwdwwdpodcast.com Links and References:  - https://www.abc27.com/digital-originals/history-of-centralia-a-pennsylvania-ghost-town/ - https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/centralia-pennsylvania-rebirth - https://www.history.com/articles/mine-fire-burning-more-50-years-ghost-town

One of the most enduring values, mottos, or goals is the pursuit of happiness. We strive for it implicitly or explicitly for much of our lives. So, what is happiness? How do we achieve it? Why can't you just be happy? Because it depends :D  Recommendations - Abraham: Fix My Frankenhouse (seasons 1-2; https://www.hgtv.com/shows/fix-my-frankenhouse) - Shane: A Short Stay In Hell by Steven Peck  Holidays (9/30/2026): - My mom’s birthday! Happy birthday, P-Nut! - Banned Websites Awareness Day - Blasphemy Day - Chewing Gum Day - Extra Virgin Olive Oil Day - International Podcast Day - International Translation Day - National Hot Mulled Cider Day - National Love People Day - National Microcephaly Awareness Day - National Mud Pack Day - National Women’s Health and Fitness Day - Orange Shirt Day - Time for Yoga - Thunderbirds Day - World School Milk Day - National Chimney Safety Week - National Dog Week - National Fall Foliage Week Links and References:  - Harris, R. (2022). The happiness trap: Stop struggling, start living (2nd ed.). Robinson - https://ndpr.nd.edu/reviews/the-quest-for-the-good-life-ancient-philosophers-on-happiness/ - https://www.weforum.org/stories/leadership/13-great-philosophers-on-the-secret-of-happiness/  - https://www.researchgate.net/publication/278667273_EMOTIONS_AND_EMOTIONAL_BEHAVIOR_A_CONSTRUCTIONAL_APPROACH_TO_UNDERSTANDING_SOME_SOCIAL_BENEFITS_OF_AGGRESSION  - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3160511/ - https://arnoldspumpclub.com/blogs/newsletter/why-chasing-happiness-makes-you-miserable-and-what-science-says-to-do-instead?srsltid=AfmBOornkPKnjN9wQWbXZB8QQh_5fHqMbgEbdpiVJkW6kGlSi9jONIuM - https://ls.berkeley.edu/news/stop-worrying-about-being-happy-new-berkeley-psychology-research-suggests-doing-so-makes-people - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10224953/ - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3546638/ - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1279874/ - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1284106/

An important announce and brief explanation.

The title maybe a little misleading. This is about how we delude ourselves into adopting information as factual becuase it is presented using real math. Math is extremely important and valuable and a necessity for most sciences. However, like any other tool, math can give the illusion of knowledge while actually tricking us into believing things that are not correct. We primarily focus on averages and how problematic this concept can be, but extrapolate this into other forms of math that can be used to lie and mislead even the ones who are executing the computations.  Recommendations - Abraham: Cross Purposes: Christianity’s Broken Bargain With Democracy (Jonathan Rauch (https://yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300273540/cross-purposes/) - Shane: Chat Pile - Who Loves The Sun (https://open.spotify.com/album/2ITnf8HOokOJxjv483Dszk?si=3v175T9iRP2BY8aTU8XPqw) Holidays (9/23/2026): - Celebrate Bi-Sexuality Day - Dogs in Politics Day - International Day of Sign Languages - National Checkers Day - National Great American Pot Pie Day - National Snack Stick Day - Restless Legs Syndrome Awareness Day - See You at the Pole - Teal Talk Day - Child Passenger Safety Awareness Week - Constitution Week - Deaf Dog Awareness Week - International Clean Hands Week - International Deaf Awareness Week - International Interpreters and Translators Week - National Adult Day Services Week https://patreon.com/wwdwwpodcast Links and References:  - https://www.toddrose.com/endofaverage - https://99percentinvisible.org/episode/on-average/  - https://www.anecdote.com/2023/03/179-there-is-no-average/ - https://austraffic.com.au/aba/us-air-force-finds-averages-can-kill 

We have many mechanisms in place to protect our privacy. Some people care less about this and some people have taken this to tremendous extremes. Of course, many want unambiguous rules about privacy, but there is a lot of room for nuance. So, we ask the question about whether or not we need privacy and share some of the reasons people have given. The short answer is: until we can trust each other, we need privacy.  https://patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast Links and References:  - https://www.scu.edu/ethics/focus-areas/internet-ethics/resources/why-we-care-about-privacy/ - https://www.privacyguides.org/en/basics/why-privacy-matters/ - https://www.teamim.com/insights/why-privacy-matters-even-if-you-have-nothing-to-hide 

Creating content can be very effortful. Particularly when that creating entails a lot of writing. And in pursuit of that endeavor, writers sometimes find themselves stuck and unable to produce ideas to further their writing task. What is going on behaviorally and psychologically? We'll discuss some of the research behind writer's block and what you can do to get over the block. Do you have any tricks to overcome writer's block?  Recommendations - Abraham: A Short Stay in Hell (Steven Peck: https://www.strandbooks.com/a-short-stay-in-hell-9780983748427.html) - Shane: The Pleasures of the Damned by Charles Bukowski (https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-pleasures-of-the-damned-charles-bukowski?variant=32130591162402) Holidays (9/16/2026): - Ann Bradstreet Day - National Guacamole Day - Trail of Tears Commemoration Day - National GED Day - International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer - National Cinnamon Raison Bread Day - National Collect Rocks Day - National Day of Prayer and Remembrance for the Victims of Hurricane Katrina - National Play-Doh Day - National Rehabilitation Day - National Stay Away from Seattle Day - National Stepfamily Day - National Tattoo Story Day - Teenager Workout Day - Working Parents Day - Wrinkled Raincoat Day - World Barber Day Links and References:  - https://centerforfiction.org/writing-tools/the-truth-about-writers-block/ - https://girlspring.com/4-ways-to-combat-writers-block/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22638809757&gbraid=0AAAAADRYq5RcbP7MWvHMjjH7eQosNAYwC&gclid=Cj0KCQjwv4XUBhDBARIsAE6bQUSaMqun3ksA9P5BQfl2c-2ajwULeR_gv3rCLRMQhPcIEN-r7zMv9xsaAlYAEALw_wcB - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7965145/ - https://writers.com/writers-block-what-causes-writers-block-and-how-to-overcome-it - https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.2190/69g4-6ycm-n11h-eeew - https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/psychology-yesterday/202001/a-brief-history-of-writers-block - https://www.laurenpalphreyman.com/post/4-types-of-writer-s-block-and-how-to-combat-them - https://escholarship.org/uc/item/50t6h6kd - https://www.mentalfloss.com/literature/authors/10-cases-extreme-writers-block - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1311997/ - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2277565/ - https://www.emerald.com/et/article-abstract/59/6/605/91658/A-phenomenological-research-study-on-writer-s?redirectedFrom=fulltext

We use the term snake oil to refer any fradulant product, service, or claim that is not what it says it is and lies or misconstrues what it does. You might already know that this comes from a real product that had those exact qualities. You might not know what that product was actuallly based on. We discuss the history of snake oil and why that term stuck around.  https://patreon.com/wwdwwdpldcast Links and Refrences:  - https://pharmaceutical-journal.com/article/opinion/the-history-of-snake-oil - https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2013/08/26/215761377/a-history-of-snake-oil-salesmen - https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/how-snake-oil-became-a-symbol-of-fraud-and-deception-180985300/ - https://www.si.edu/object/clark-stanleys-snake-oil-liniment%3Anmah_1298331 - https://www.historytoday.com/archive/history-matters/rise-and-fall-snake-oil  - https://www.natepedersen.com/quackery 

This is the final discussion in which we "break our silence" as the click-bait headlines like to call it, on our final thoughts about diagnoses and why we believe that they have caused more harm than good. Due to the nature of separating an entire discussion into two parts after the fact, this episode jumps into the discussion pretty quickly.  Recommendations (Part 2) - Abraham: Flip 7 (https://theop.games/products/flip-7?srsltid=AfmBOope-f-q_QElBRFFD56xiHxlsBbWULVkkXJHpef6OiYa02WlmfZW)  - Shane: Show Me the Body - Alone Together (https://open.spotify.com/album/2itfvUrApVCygurzgNzXJg?si=miioVowrRBSO26h1soi8lw) - Stu: https://www.youtube.com/@jetlagthegame, Call out Purple Hat DBT theses and dissertations, The Orphans of Davenport (https://wwnorton.com/books/9781631494680), genArete (https://genarete.org/) Holidays (09/09/26): - Teddy Bear Day - Sudoku Day - Wienerschnitzel Day - Weirdos Day - Falsely Accused Day - International Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Spectrum Awareness Day - International Box Wine Day - Day to Protect Education From Attack - Emergency Services Day References: - Barlow, D. H., & Nock, M. K. (2009). Why can’t we be more idiographic in our research? Perspectives on Psychological Science, 4(1), 19–21. - Beck, A. T., & Alford, B. A. (2009). Depression: Causes and treatment. University of Pennsylvania Press. - Beck, A. T., Davis, D. D., & Freeman, A. (Eds.). (2015). Cognitive therapy of personality disorders. Guilford Publications. - Beck, A. T., Emery, G., & Greenberg, R. L. (2005). Anxiety disorders and phobias: A cognitive perspective. Basic Books. - Beltz, A. M., & Gates, K. M. (2017). Network mapping with GIMME. Multivariate behavioral research, 52(6), 789-804. - Birkhoff, G. D. (1931). Proof of the ergodic theorem. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 17, 656-660. - Brown, T. A., Campbell, L. A., Lehman, C. L., Grisham, J. R., & Mancill, R. B. (2001). Current and lifetime comorbidity of the DSM-IV anxiety and mood disorders in a large clinical sample. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 110(4), 585–599. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-843X.110.4.585 - Clark, L. A., Watson, D., & Reynolds, S. (1995). Diagnosis and classification of psychopathology: Challenges to the current system and future directions. Annual Review of Psychology, 46, 121–153. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.ps.46.020195.001005 - Fried, E. I. (2015). Problematic assumptions have slowed down depression research: why symptoms, not syndromes are the way forward. Frontiers in psychology, 6, 309. - Fried, E. I., & Cramer, A. O. (2017). Moving forward: challenges and directions for psychopathological network theory and methodology. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 12(6), 999-1020. - Galizio, A., Frye, C. C., Haynes, J. M., Friedel, J. E., Smith, B. M., & Odum, A. L. (2018). Persistence and relapse of reinforced behavioral variability. Journal of the experimental analysis of behavior, 109(1), 210-237. - Galatzer-Levy, I. R., & Bryant, R. A. (2013). 636,120 Ways to Have Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 8(6), 651-662. - Glick, I. D., Murray, S. R., Vasudevan, P., Marder, S. R., & Hu, R. J. (2001). Treatment with atypical antipsychotics: New indications and new populations. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 35(3), 187–191. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-3956(01)00020-6. - Hayes, S. C., Wilson, K. W., Gifford, E. V., Follette, V. M., & Strosahl, K. (1996). Experiential avoidance and behavioral disorders: A functional dimensional approach to diagnosis and treatment. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 64(6), 1152-1168. - Hofmann, S. G., Curtiss, J., & McNally, R. J. (2016). A complex network perspective on clinical science. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 11(5), 597-605. - Hofmann, S. G., & Hayes, S. C. (2019). The future of intervention science: Process-based therapy. Clinical Psychological Science, 7(1), 37-50. - Hofmann, S. G., Meuret, A. E., Rosenfield, D., Suvak, M. K., Barlow, D. H., Gorman, J. M., ... & Woods, S. W. (2007). Preliminary evidence for cognitive mediation during cognitive-behavioral therapy of panic disorder. Journal of consulting and clinical psychology, 75(3), 374. - Kessler, R. C., Chiu, W. T., Demler, O., Merikangas, K. R., & Walters, E. E. (2005). Prevalence, severity, and comorbidity of 12-month DSM-IV disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication. Archives of General Psychiatry, 62(6), 617–627. https://doi.org/10.1001/archpsyc.62.6.617. - Newman, C. F., Leahy, R. L., Beck, A. T., Reilly-Harrington, N. A., & Gyulai, L. (2002). Bipolar disorder: A cognitive therapy approach. American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/10442-000. - Lenzenweger, M. F., Lane, M. C., Loranger, A. W., & Kessler, R. C. (2007). DSM-IV personality disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication. Biological Psychiatry, 62(6), 553–564. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2006.09.019 - Molenaar, P. C. (2004). A manifesto on psychology as idiographic science: Bringing the person back into scientific psychology, this time forever. Measurement, 2(4), 201-218. - Molenaar, P. C., & Campbell, C. G. (2009). The new person-specific paradigm in psychology. Current directions in psychological science, 18(2), 112-117. - Meehl, P. E. (1978). Theoretical risks and tabular asterisks: Sir Karl, Sir Ronald, and the slow progress of soft psychology. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 46(4), 806–834. - McNally, R. J. (2012). The ontology of posttraumatic stress disorder: Natural kind, social construction, or causal system? Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 19, 220–228. - Piccirillo, M. L., & Rodebaugh, T. L. (2019). Foundations of idiographic methods in psychology and applications for psychotherapy. Clinical psychology review. - Popa, A., & McDowell, J. J. (2016). Behavioral variability in an evolutionary theory of behavior dynamics. Journal of the experimental analysis of behavior, 105(2), 270-290. - Sidman, M. (1952). A note on functional relations obtained from group data. Psychological Bulletin, 49(3), 263 - Volkovysskii, R. L. & Sinai, Y. G. (1971). Ergodic properties of an ideal gas with an infinite number of degrees of freedom. Functional Analysis and Its Applications (Funktsional'nyi Analiz i Ego Prilozheniya), 5(3), 185-185.

How we understand, talk about, and think about life expectancy is sometimes misunderstood by some flukes of math. Understanding how numbers work can illuminate a clearer picture of history and mortality. Long story short, (or short story shorter, this is a mini afterall), there have been old people who lived to be old (very old) for most or all of human history.  https://patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast Links:  - https://ourworldindata.org/life-expectancy - https://www.macrotrends.net/global-metrics/countries/usa/united-states/life-expectancy#google_vignette - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4861644/ - https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/lifeexpectancies/articles/howhaslifeexpectancychangedovertime/2015-09-09 

This continues our discussion with Dr. Stu Law. We further elaborate on the issues with a diagnostic system for mental health and what the pitfalls are, including faulty underlying assumptions. After recording, we had enough content in this discussion for two separate episodes. So, we awkwardly added a post-hoc conclusion in this discussion and a similar intro to the next episode.  Recommendations Part 2 - Abraham: Rick & Morty Season 9 (https://www.hbomax.com/?utm_id=sa|22393148778|180575663513|297385727722&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22393148778&gbraid=0AAAAApH9fnpTr6yDijXdlc51psz-wvFmK&gclid=CjwKCAjwtKrUBhAhEiwAr77ZosVPKgR3u_fZCszdZHzumdiOcQNAKwT0a7Nf_f0fizQrw8F_yunqPBoC2nAQAvD_BwE) - Shane: Unwed Sailor - High Remembrance (https://open.spotify.com/album/0U5ebcuEkgaH7nYtQ01puI?si=TJaLAOzySAS6YynsVxegoA) Holidays (9/2/2026): - Bison-Ten Yell Day - Calendar Adjustment Day - Global Talent Acquisition Day - National Blueberry Popsicle Day - National No Patrick Day - Pierce Your Ears Day - Spalding Baseball Day - V-J Day - World Coconut Day References: - Barlow, D. H., & Nock, M. K. (2009). Why can’t we be more idiographic in our research? Perspectives on Psychological Science, 4(1), 19–21. - Beck, A. T., & Alford, B. A. (2009). Depression: Causes and treatment. University of Pennsylvania Press. - Beck, A. T., Davis, D. D., & Freeman, A. (Eds.). (2015). Cognitive therapy of personality disorders. Guilford Publications. - Beck, A. T., Emery, G., & Greenberg, R. L. (2005). Anxiety disorders and phobias: A cognitive perspective. Basic Books. - Beltz, A. M., & Gates, K. M. (2017). Network mapping with GIMME. Multivariate behavioral research, 52(6), 789-804. - Birkhoff, G. D. (1931). Proof of the ergodic theorem. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 17, 656-660. - Brown, T. A., Campbell, L. A., Lehman, C. L., Grisham, J. R., & Mancill, R. B. (2001). Current and lifetime comorbidity of the DSM-IV anxiety and mood disorders in a large clinical sample. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 110(4), 585–599. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-843X.110.4.585 - Clark, L. A., Watson, D., & Reynolds, S. (1995). Diagnosis and classification of psychopathology: Challenges to the current system and future directions. Annual Review of Psychology, 46, 121–153. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.ps.46.020195.001005 - Fried, E. I. (2015). Problematic assumptions have slowed down depression research: why symptoms, not syndromes are the way forward. Frontiers in psychology, 6, 309. - Fried, E. I., & Cramer, A. O. (2017). Moving forward: challenges and directions for psychopathological network theory and methodology. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 12(6), 999-1020. - Galizio, A., Frye, C. C., Haynes, J. M., Friedel, J. E., Smith, B. M., & Odum, A. L. (2018). Persistence and relapse of reinforced behavioral variability. Journal of the experimental analysis of behavior, 109(1), 210-237. - Galatzer-Levy, I. R., & Bryant, R. A. (2013). 636,120 Ways to Have Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 8(6), 651-662. - Glick, I. D., Murray, S. R., Vasudevan, P., Marder, S. R., & Hu, R. J. (2001). Treatment with atypical antipsychotics: New indications and new populations. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 35(3), 187–191. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-3956(01)00020-6. - Hayes, S. C., Wilson, K. W., Gifford, E. V., Follette, V. M., & Strosahl, K. (1996). Experiential avoidance and behavioral disorders: A functional dimensional approach to diagnosis and treatment. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 64(6), 1152-1168. - Hofmann, S. G., Curtiss, J., & McNally, R. J. (2016). A complex network perspective on clinical science. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 11(5), 597-605. - Hofmann, S. G., & Hayes, S. C. (2019). The future of intervention science: Process-based therapy. Clinical Psychological Science, 7(1), 37-50. - Hofmann, S. G., Meuret, A. E., Rosenfield, D., Suvak, M. K., Barlow, D. H., Gorman, J. M., ... & Woods, S. W. (2007). Preliminary evidence for cognitive mediation during cognitive-behavioral therapy of panic disorder. Journal of consulting and clinical psychology, 75(3), 374. - Kessler, R. C., Chiu, W. T., Demler, O., Merikangas, K. R., & Walters, E. E. (2005). Prevalence, severity, and comorbidity of 12-month DSM-IV disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication. Archives of General Psychiatry, 62(6), 617–627. https://doi.org/10.1001/archpsyc.62.6.617. - Newman, C. F., Leahy, R. L., Beck, A. T., Reilly-Harrington, N. A., & Gyulai, L. (2002). Bipolar disorder: A cognitive therapy approach. American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/10442-000. - Lenzenweger, M. F., Lane, M. C., Loranger, A. W., & Kessler, R. C. (2007). DSM-IV personality disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication. Biological Psychiatry, 62(6), 553–564. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2006.09.019 - Molenaar, P. C. (2004). A manifesto on psychology as idiographic science: Bringing the person back into scientific psychology, this time forever. Measurement, 2(4), 201-218. - Molenaar, P. C., & Campbell, C. G. (2009). The new person-specific paradigm in psychology. Current directions in psychological science, 18(2), 112-117. - Meehl, P. E. (1978). Theoretical risks and tabular asterisks: Sir Karl, Sir Ronald, and the slow progress of soft psychology. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 46(4), 806–834. - McNally, R. J. (2012). The ontology of posttraumatic stress disorder: Natural kind, social construction, or causal system? Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 19, 220–228. - Piccirillo, M. L., & Rodebaugh, T. L. (2019). Foundations of idiographic methods in psychology and applications for psychotherapy. Clinical psychology review. - Popa, A., & McDowell, J. J. (2016). Behavioral variability in an evolutionary theory of behavior dynamics. Journal of the experimental analysis of behavior, 105(2), 270-290. - Sidman, M. (1952). A note on functional relations obtained from group data. Psychological Bulletin, 49(3), 263 - Volkovysskii, R. L. & Sinai, Y. G. (1971). Ergodic properties of an ideal gas with an infinite number of degrees of freedom. Functional Analysis and Its Applications (Funktsional'nyi Analiz i Ego Prilozheniya), 5(3), 185-185.

You've probably noticed people talking to themselves and had some thought or comment about that. Perhaps something along the lines of: "That person might be crazy." Well, turns out it is much more normal than you might think. What do you talk to yourself about? https://patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast Links and References:  - https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/talking-to-yourself - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5986836/ - https://lsa.umich.edu/psych/news-events/all-news/faculty-news/is-it-normal-to-talk-to-yourself--what-it-could-really-mean.html - https://elemental.medium.com/why-talking-to-yourself-is-a-secret-superpower-5eff091b896c - https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/defining-memories/202502/7-benefits-of-talking-to-ourselves-aloud - https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-22647-2 - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11274574/  - https://academic.oup.com/edited-volume/62246/chapter-abstract/550947980?redirectedFrom=fulltext#550947980  - https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1080/17470218.2011.647039

Diagnosing mental health has dramatically shaped how we think about and appraoch our thinking and treatment of mental health conditions. In some ways, this effect has had a profoundly helpful impact for many people. However, in many ways, this system has had a profoundly adverse impact. This episode kicks of a three-part series arguing that diagnoses for mental health have ultimately caused more harm than good. Dr. Stu Law is a special guest helping us understand what we gain and lose in the current system of diagnostic criteria used for taxonomizing mental health.  Recommendations - Abraham: Within by Protest the Hero (https://protestthehero.bandcamp.com/album/within) - Shane: Akai MPK Mini MK3 MIDI Board (https://www.akaipro.com/mpk-mini-mk3/) - Stu: Learning Process Based Therapy, The Anatomy of an Epidemic, Beyond the DSM, The Emperor’s New Drugs Holidays (8/26/2026): - Congressional Startup Day - Make Your Own Luck Day - Musical Yoga Day - National Cherry Popsicle Day - National Dog Day - National Toilet Paper Day - Tug of War Day - Willing to Lend a Hand Wednesday - Women’s Equality Day - Be Kind to Humankind Week - Brake Safety Week - National Safe at Home Week - World Water Week

There have been some advocates to reduce or eliminate homework altogether. It begs the question of what is the purpose of homework anyway? What would we lose by eliminating it? What do we gain by keeping it. We briefly explore the science and recommendations with respect to what is gained or lost by requiring homework. What are your thoughts? https://patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast Links and References:  - https://onlinedegrees.sandiego.edu/education-inequity-and-homework/ - https://www.healthline.com/health-news/children-more-homework-means-more-stress-031114#Pressure-to-work-as-hard-as-adults-takes-a-toll - https://time.com/4740297/homework-should-be-banned-from-schools/ - https://news.stanford.edu/stories/2014/03/too-much-homework-031014 - https://www.edutopia.org/visual-essay/the-pros-and-cons-of-homework-in-6-charts/ - https://www.hmhco.com/blog/benefits-of-no-homework?srsltid=AfmBOopoMq0OQcXz8KJUHLGU2FowSkNoJG2gxZV9RNB0ZM-Jf5Gk6TDW - https://hub.jhu.edu/2024/01/17/are-we-assigning-too-much-homework/ - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11409198/ - https://www.forbes.com/sites/yassprize/2025/10/23/no-homework-no-barriers/ - https://www.ascd.org/el/articles/the-case-for-and-against-homework 

In the fourth and final installment of our series on Functional Analyses, we finally discuss some of the controversies and disagreements among practitioners. We also offer our own hot takes and personal opinions to bring further nuance, critique, and skepticism to the conversation. Let us know if you agree or disagree! Recommendations pt. 4 - Abraham: Wingspan Pocket (https://stonemaiergames.com/games/wingspan/wingspan-pocket/) - Shane: The Odyssey (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt33764258/) Holidays (8/19/2026) - International Bow Day - International Orangutan Day - National Aviation Day - National Hot and Spicy Food Day - National Medical Dosimetrist Day - National Root Beer Float Day - National Sandcastle and Sculpture Day - National Soft Ice Cream Day - Potato Day - World Humanitarian Day - World Photography Day - Minority Enterprise Development Week Links and References:  - https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1901/jaba.1994.27-197?sid=nlm%3Apubmed - https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1901/jaba.1985.18-111?sid=nlm%3Apubmed - https://scubed.io/blog/aba-data-collection-methods-explained-frequency-duration-and-interval-recording - https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1901/jaba.1999.32-175  - https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/jaba.7  - https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1901/jaba.2011.44-51  - https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1901/jaba.2008.41-97  - https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/07263869500035621  - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4841258/  - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3546636/#s2  - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1284147/  - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11317985/  - https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jaba.106 

In a totally unscripted, candid conversation, we ask one another: what is the weirdest thing you believe? It's a conversation bound to leave you a little surprised, confused, and maybe disappointed. Or maybe thinking about things a little differntly. What's the weirdest thing you believe? We did not use any references for this! https://www.patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast

This is the third installment in what will turn out to be a four-part series on the functional anlaysis technology employed by behavior analysts to identify casues and motivations for challenging behavior, particularly among those with disabilities who lack strategies to communicate their needs. That was a very long sentence. This discussion breaks down some of the innovations that were developed in Functional Analysis (FA) implementation strategies.  Recommendations pt. 3 - Abraham: Spider-man: Brand New Day (https://www.marvel.com/movies/spider-man-brand-new-day) - Shane: Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary (https://www.bonorong.com.au/) Holidays (8/12/2026): - Baseball Fans Day - IBM PC Day - International Youth Day - Julienne Fries Day - Middle Child Day - National Sewing Machine Day - Truck Driver Day - Vinyl Record Day - World Calligraphy Day - World Elephant Day - Elvis Week - National Bargain Hunting Week - National Resurrect Romance Week - Safe + Sound Week Links and References:  - https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1901/jaba.1994.27-197?sid=nlm%3Apubmed - https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1901/jaba.1985.18-111?sid=nlm%3Apubmed - https://scubed.io/blog/aba-data-collection-methods-explained-frequency-duration-and-interval-recording - https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1901/jaba.1999.32-175  - https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/jaba.7  - https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1901/jaba.2011.44-51  - https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1901/jaba.2008.41-97  - https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/07263869500035621  - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4841258/  - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3546636/#s2  - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1284147/  - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11317985/  - https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jaba.106 

Are you already skeptical? Do you think you know? Are you a true believer? We take a scientific lens to the idea of the midlife crisis. Consider that this might be cultural, which would indicate that it is not inevitable or inherent. This further leads us to the conclusion that it is circumstantial... if it even exists at all. We'll explain the research and understanding behind the commonly accepted idea that many people experience a dramatic shift as they enter their middle years.  https://patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast Links and References:  - https://www.helpguide.org/aging/healthy-aging/midlife-crisis - https://www.meawisdom.com/midlife-crisis-men/ - https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/health-and-medicine/midlife-crisis-psychology - https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/14/health/midlife-crisis-the-conversation-wellness - https://www.psu.edu/news/research/story/probing-question-mid-life-crisis-myth - https://www.apa.org/monitor/apr03/researchers - https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/midlife-reimagined/202310/the-7-biggest-myths-about-midlife 

In our ongoing discussion about the tool used to determine why we do what we do, the functional analysis, we explore more about the various research initiatives that pioneered ways to improve on the functionality of this tool. This discussion focuses on the methodological developments and refinements that evolved over a couple of decades of research.  Recommendations - Abraham: Tzolk’in (board game; https://www.czechgames.com/games/tzolkin-the-mayan-calendar) - Shane: Dungeon Crawler Carl (Books 1-4; Ongoing Recommendation) Holidays (8/5/2026): - Green Peppers Day - International Albarino Day - International Traffic Light Day - National Oyster Day - National Psychiatric Technician Appreciation Day - National Underwear Day - Work Like a Dog Day Links and References:  - https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1901/jaba.1994.27-197?sid=nlm%3Apubmed - https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1901/jaba.1985.18-111?sid=nlm%3Apubmed - https://scubed.io/blog/aba-data-collection-methods-explained-frequency-duration-and-interval-recording - https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1901/jaba.1999.32-175  - https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/jaba.7  - https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1901/jaba.2011.44-51  - https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1901/jaba.2008.41-97  - https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/07263869500035621  - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4841258/  - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3546636/#s2  - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1284147/  - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11317985/  - https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jaba.106   

What are one-hit wonders? Why do one-hit wonders happen? Is this a real thing? What about no-hit wonders? We'll get into some of the reasons and misconceptions around one-hit wonders and answer some of those questions in this mini. What's your favoriate one-hit wonder? https://patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast Links and References:  - https://rocknheavy.net/the-history-of-the-one-hit-wonder-a126b2f86dc2

Experimental Functional Analyses (FAs) are one of the most foundational practices in contemporary behavior analysis. It emerged as a more conceptual exercise, but has since come to specifically describe a practice for experimentally evaluating the conditions that give rise to and maintain the occurence of certaing (usually challenging) behavior patterns. Over the next few weeks, we'll unpack the history and science of FAs as well as some of the arguments, criticisms, and controversies therein. Tell us your thoughts and experiences with FAs! Recommendations - Abraham: The Bear (Season 5; https://www.disneyplus.com/explore/articles/the-bear-season-5) - Shane: Fiddlehead - Baby, I’ll Change (https://open.spotify.com/album/1mWHUOXoulUP3q8ReXTAkM?si=WpihrG5CTWKPByLCi6WkyQ) Holidays (7/29/2026): - Anniversary of the Army Chaplain Corps - Cheese Sacrifice Purchase Day - International Tiger Day - National Lasagna Day - National Lipstick Day - Rain Day - Hepatitis Awareness Week Links and References:  - https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1901/jaba.1994.27-197?sid=nlm%3Apubmed - https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1901/jaba.1985.18-111?sid=nlm%3Apubmed - https://scubed.io/blog/aba-data-collection-methods-explained-frequency-duration-and-interval-recording - https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1901/jaba.1999.32-175  - https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/jaba.7  - https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1901/jaba.2011.44-51  - https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1901/jaba.2008.41-97  - https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/07263869500035621 

We did a full episode on chiropractic, but we didn't get into the application for animals. Given the questionable nature of chiropractic in the first place, applying to animals seems pretty audacious. Enough so that we thought we could unpack it fairly comprehensively in a mini format. And we did. Enjoy! https://patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast Links and References:  - https://skeptvet.com/2013/04/from-science-based-medicine-veterinary-chiropractic/ - https://www.reddit.com/r/VetTech/comments/1ojt29c/chiropractic_skeptic/  - https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/chiropractic-vertebral-subluxations-science-vs-pseudoscience/

Tens of millions of people in the United States and likely hundreds of millions around the world have a shared interest in our avian friends. Birding is a hobby ranging from casual observation to expert documenting rare and common birds out in the wild. We'll describe how the hobby works, why people do, and how to get involved. Tell us your birding stories! Recommendations - Abraham: “Season of Surrender” by August Burns Red - Shane: Jackass - Best and Last (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt39316472/) Holidays (7/22/2026): - Casual Pi Day - Fragile X Awareness Day - Lion’s Share Day - Mango Day - National Hammock Day - National Penuche Fudge Day - Rat Catcher’s Day - Spooners (Spoonerism) Day - Summer Leisure Day - Captive Nations Week - Coral Reef Awareness Week - Hemingway Look Alike Days - Massage is for Every Body Week - National Moth Week - National Triathlon Week - National Zookeeper Week Links and References:  - https://magazine.avocadogreenmattress.com/birding-bird-watching/ - https://www.fws.gov/story/2024-12/birdwatching-america - https://www.aba.org/aba-area-big-year-rules/ - https://www.audubon.org/birding - https://www.nps.gov/articles/birding-for-beginners.htm - https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/sex-murder-and-the-meaning-of-life/202601/seven-reasons-you-should-take-up-birdwatching-this - https://www.10000birds.com/reasonstobecomeabirdwatcher - https://www.theguardian.com/environment/commentisfree/2024/jan/08/why-do-middle-aged-people-love-birds-so-much  - Ratcliff et al. (2008) https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0013916518806952?__cf_chl_f_tk=VXtBzZ9XKT46gHdh.rztYMOeSy8BlGcd00oA2ldf9BE-1783235319-1.0.1.1-WV4Rf6a9p_VxCL6LqTTGD2WHvAhJd1GWviF4cZHvkf0 - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34646931/

It seems like an obvious answer to a silly question. But try to answer it and you find it can kind of spiral into more difficult conundrums. This doesn't mean that we don't value science. On the contrary, it may mean that it means science is a value unto itself and hence elusive in its aspirational origins. We'll review some old philospohical arguments and make some of our own. What do you think the point of science is? https://patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast Links and References:  - https://isciencemag.co.uk/features/dear-science-students-five-philosophers-of-science-you-need-to-know-about-and-why-you-should-care/ - https://undsci.berkeley.edu/the-philosophy-of-science/ 

An all truism about altruism. We are reflecting on this earlier episode with a more nuanced view than the first time around. When it comes to matters of philosophy, definitions are important (and, some might argue, not important at all). So, we are replaying this past episode and adding a bit of an updated discussion at the end, plus some new recommendations. Tell us what you think about altruism! Recommendations - Abraham: Ready or Not 2: Here I Come (https://www.searchlightpictures.com/ready-or-not-2-here-i-come) - Shane: The Bear (Season 5) and the Gary episode (https://www.hulu.com/series/gary-8c779d24-233d-4453-a22d-455a1862f913) Holidays (7/15/2026): - Be A Dork Day - I Love Horses Day - National Give Something Away Day - Developmental Disability Professional Day - National Stamp Out Spiking Day - National Gummi Worm Day - National Hot Dog Day - National Pet Fire Safety Day - National Respect Canada Day - National Tapioca Pudding Day - Take Your Poet to Work Day - National Baby Food Week - National Ventriloquism Week - Operation Safe Driver Week - Rabbit Week Links and References: - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33705185/2.      - https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-62652-13.  - https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13504851.2022.20366784.      - https://pubsonline.informs.org/doi/10.1287/isre.2020.09495.      - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37751434/6.    - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38748709/

How many senses do we have? Like so many things, it depends entirely on how you define "senses." If the question is how many distinct things can we sense? Then, we have a number of sense so large it doesn't make any sense (pun intended). But, we'll get into some of the senses that can be reasonably argued to exist to paint a picture of how many potentially overlooked "senses" we might have. https://www.patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast Links and References:  - https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260208233832.htm - https://www.sciencealert.com/humans-may-actually-have-over-30-senses-scientists-say - https://dornsife.usc.edu/news/stories/how-many-senses-do-we-have/ - https://www.sensorytrust.org.uk/blog/how-many-senses-do-we-have

In this discussion, we get into the grammar and structure of ASL. We also talk about non-manual markers and their importance in communication for ASL speakers. We describe how to do several signs and get into a functional analysis of sign language. Of course, we get into some various interesting tidbits (tidboints, as we sometimes like to call them) and some things to know about deaf culture.  Recommendations (Part 2) - Abraham: Widow’s Bay (https://tv.apple.com/us/show/widows-bay/umc.cmc.1zzly0vah46bnvnwf0qkrjhh2) - Shane: GOD//MAN - LOVES YOU EP  Holidays (7/8/2026) - Be a Kid Again Day - Coca Cola Day - Math 2.0 Day - National Freezer Pop Day - National Ice Cream Sundae Day - National Milk Chocolate with Almonds Day - SCUD Day (Savor the Comic, Unplug the Drama) - Air Conditioning Appreciation Days - Be Nice to New Jersey Week - National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee Weeks - Nude Recreation Weekend - Blueberry Day - World Allergy Day - Shark Week Links and References:  - https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/statistics/quick-statistics-hearing - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congenital_hearing_loss - https://www.bridgesfordeafandhh.org/deaf-history - https://www.historytoday.com/archive/history-matters/no-longer-deaf-past - https://sk.sagepub.com/ency/edvol/the-sage-deaf-studies-encyclopedia/chpt/deaf-history-antiquity#_  - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cy3mD7rH1aY  - https://www.northwestschool.com/programs/s-e-e-classes/  - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVNSrGy8lIw  - https://www.tactilecommunications.org/Resources/ProTactile

In our strange decision to record a two-part mini, we are following up last week's mini with more information about the recent Iran "deal." Of course, we recorded this well before the cease-fire broke again. And who knows what will happen between scheduling this episode and its publication. Check out this discussion for the discussion around the contents of the actual recent agreement and how incredibly incompetent it is.  https://patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast Links and References:  - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zqiTJDmddg - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tehYRuem0A - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/middle-east-experts-weigh-terms-of-u-s-iran-deal-and-who-came-out-ahead  - https://2009-2017.state.gov/p/nea/p5/index.htm - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vp8HrM0hEH8&t=17s  - https://www.cbsnews.com/news/why-us-attack-iran-trump-administration/ 

There are an estimated 70 million deaf, hard of hearing, or hearing impaired people in world. Given that language globably developed through auditory communication using speech, deaf people in history were often mistreated. At least, in western and European countries. American Sign Language (ASL) developed from French Sign Language, Martha's Vineyard Sign Language and other regional signs. This discussion will largely expore the history of deaf people and the development of sign language.  Recommendations (Part 1) - Abraham: The Sheep Detectives (https://letterboxd.com/film/the-sheep-detectives/) - Shane: Toy Story 5 (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt29355505/) Holidays (7/1/2026): - American Zoo Day - Blink 182 Day - Canada Day - Creative Ice Cream Flavor Day - Early Bird Day - Gingersnap Day - Second half of the year day - Television Heritage Day - International Joke Day - International Reggae Day - National Financial Freedom Day - National Postal Workers Day - US Postage Stamp Day - Zip Code Day - Clean Beaches Week - Hellen Keller - Blind Awareness Week - National Prevention of Eye Injuries Awareness Links and References:  - https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/statistics/quick-statistics-hearing - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congenital_hearing_loss - https://www.bridgesfordeafandhh.org/deaf-history - https://www.historytoday.com/archive/history-matters/no-longer-deaf-past - https://sk.sagepub.com/ency/edvol/the-sage-deaf-studies-encyclopedia/chpt/deaf-history-antiquity#_  - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cy3mD7rH1aY  - https://www.northwestschool.com/programs/s-e-e-classes/  - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVNSrGy8lIw  - https://www.tactilecommunications.org/Resources/ProTactile

Every once in a while, something so monumental happens, we decide to release a topical episode rather than a timeless one. The recent Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), perhaps better known as the Iran deal, is a catostrophic failure and will cost the US a jaw-dropping amount of money. But you don't even have to take our word for it, we'll just give you the facts and let you decide on your own. In a rare move, we are releasing a two-part mini to cover these events.  https://www.patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast Links and References:  - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zqiTJDmddg - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tehYRuem0A - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/middle-east-experts-weigh-terms-of-u-s-iran-deal-and-who-came-out-ahead  - https://2009-2017.state.gov/p/nea/p5/index.htm - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vp8HrM0hEH8&t=17s  - https://www.cbsnews.com/news/why-us-attack-iran-trump-administration/

This follow-up discussion gets into the grammar mechanics and and cultural, structural aspects of AAVE. We add our own interpretation and philosophical discussion to bring some additional understanding to this topic. Tell us your thoughts and experiences with AAVE! Recommendations (Part 2) - Abraham: Zevo (https://zevoinsect.com/) - Shane: Absolute Batman Holidays (6/24/2026) - Celebration of the Senses - International Fairy Day - Museum Comes to Life Day - National Parchment Cooking Day - Nationale Pralines Day - Swim a Lap Day - Amateur Radio Week - Carpenter Ant Awareness Week - Fish are Friends, Not Food Week - National Forgiveness Week Links and References:  - https://www.pbs.org/speak/seatosea/americanvarieties/AAVE/hooked/ - https://www.pbs.org/speak/seatosea/americanvarieties/AAVE/timeline/ - https://www.hawaii.edu/satocenter/langnet/definitions/aave.html - https://commonwealthtimes.org/2021/02/18/aave-is-not-your-internet-slang-it-is-black-culture/ - https://certifiedlanguages.com/blog/african-american-vernacular-english-is-a-legitimate-dialect/ - https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/00957984970233002 - https://academic.oup.com/edited-volume/61882/chapter-abstract/547712638?redirectedFrom=fulltext#547712638 - https://www.garfieldmessenger.org/6418/articles/news/a-brief-history-of-aave/ - https://academic.oup.com/edited-volume/28056/chapter-abstract/212002865?redirectedFrom=fulltext - https://scholarworks.utrgv.edu/wls_fac/70/ - https://www.mentalfloss.com/language/african-american-language-facts - https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/language/article/abs/language-and-linguistics-on-trial-hearing-rachel-jeantel-and-other-vernacular-speakers-in-the-courtroom-and-beyond/7DCD0B43230E3D17A2C4B43936341A48 - https://globalvoices.org/2019/06/25/language-is-also-a-form-of-resistance/

With the increased awareness of neurodivergence in humans, we find many people turning to one of our favorite pasttimes: superimposing human emotions and experiences onto animals around us. So, there have been efforts to identify the extent to which our pets may be autistic. To what end to people do this? Great question. We'll explain how this has been approached and what there may or may not be to learn about this.  Join on https://patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast Links and References:  - https://theconversation.com/autistic-dogs-neurodiversity-in-our-pets-and-what-it-might-mean-for-us-265888 - https://www.advancedautism.com/post/can-animals-have-autism - https://www.hiddengemsaba.com/articles/can-animals-have-autism - https://www.hiddengemsaba.com/articles/what-animals-can-have-autism - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3088489/  - https://www.nature.com/articles/nrn.2016.183 

AAVE is a dialect of English that is often derided by racists. However, linguists have shown that this is a fully realized dialect like any dialect of any language. We explain the history and current understanding of African American Vernacular English and some court cases that sparked controversy around it. This is only a part one as we will get into the mechanics of the dialect in the next episode.  Recommendations (Part 1) - Abraham: Hailey Williams “Ego Death at Bachelorette Party” (https://music.apple.com/us/album/ego-death-at-a-bachelorette-party/1850011909) - Shane: David Sedaris “Holidays on Ice” (https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/david-sedaris/holidays-on-ice/9780316073639/?lens=little-brown) Holidays (6/17/2026): - Bunker Hill Day - Eat All Your Veggies Day - Global Garbage Man Day - LGBTQIA+ Equal Pay Awareness Day - National Apple Strudel Day - Stewarts Root Beer Day - World Croc Day - World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought - Animal Rights Awareness Week - Islamic New Year - Learning Disabilities Week - National Clay Week - National Flag Week - National Hermit Week - National Water Safety Week Links and References:  - https://www.pbs.org/speak/seatosea/americanvarieties/AAVE/hooked/ - https://www.pbs.org/speak/seatosea/americanvarieties/AAVE/timeline/ - https://www.hawaii.edu/satocenter/langnet/definitions/aave.html - https://commonwealthtimes.org/2021/02/18/aave-is-not-your-internet-slang-it-is-black-culture/ - https://certifiedlanguages.com/blog/african-american-vernacular-english-is-a-legitimate-dialect/ - https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/00957984970233002 - https://academic.oup.com/edited-volume/61882/chapter-abstract/547712638?redirectedFrom=fulltext#547712638 - https://www.garfieldmessenger.org/6418/articles/news/a-brief-history-of-aave/ - https://academic.oup.com/edited-volume/28056/chapter-abstract/212002865?redirectedFrom=fulltext - https://scholarworks.utrgv.edu/wls_fac/70/ - https://www.mentalfloss.com/language/african-american-language-facts - https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/language/article/abs/language-and-linguistics-on-trial-hearing-rachel-jeantel-and-other-vernacular-speakers-in-the-courtroom-and-beyond/7DCD0B43230E3D17A2C4B43936341A48 - https://globalvoices.org/2019/06/25/language-is-also-a-form-of-resistance/

Last week, we released an episode dsicussing the rise of authoritarian takeover of science by controlling what science can be conducted and how it can be interpreted. We put out a call to action to respond to their proposal. However, it is important to craft the message so that it is effectively received. So, in this mini, we explain how to create feedback for responding to this horrible proposal.  Support us onhttps://patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast Links and References:  - Submit your feedback here: https://www.regulations.gov/document/OMB-2026-0034-0001  - https://www.cogr.edu/blog/tips-submitting-effective-comments-regulationsgov - https://federalstrategy.jhu.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/Tips-for-Submitting-Effective-Comments-1.pdf  - https://bestpractices.nokidhungry.org/sites/default/files/2023-05/How%20to%20Comment%20on%20Federal%20Regulations%20Final.pdf - https://publichealth.jhu.edu/sites/default/files/2024-02/comment-vid-tipsheet.pdf

How to kill science is also how to kill humans. The incompetent "leadership" in the United States is racing toward dictatorship in their desire to kill all humans. They are proposing to rewrite science so that any government funding that pays for research gets to dictate what that research is and how it is interpreted. Either you say what the government wants, or else you don't get any research funding. It is an unprecedented move that no president has ever tried in history, becuase it is a terrible, horrible, stupid, counterproductive idea. But, that's what happens when you get a bunch of republicans in charge. We'll break down the details of this incredible stupidity and provide some guidance on what you can do about it. See the first link where you can register your complaints. Note that, in a rare event, we are going to tell you that next week's mini is all about how to craft public comment for maximum effect. Let your voice be heard! https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/05/29/2026-10817/regulation-for-federal-financial-assistance%20Recommendations: - Abraham: Ghosts (season 5; https://www.cbs.com/shows/ghosts/) - Shane: The Mandalorian and Grogu (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt30825738/) Holidays (6/10/2026): - Ball Point Pen Day - Herbs & Spices Day - National Black Cow Day - National Iced Tea Day - America The Beautiful Week - Bedbug Awareness Week - Meet a Mate Week - National Automotive Service Professional Week - National Body Piercing Week - National Frozen Yogurt Week - National Little League Baseball Week - Pet Appreciation Week - Shampoo Week Links and References:  - https://www.science.org/content/article/white-house-seeks-tighten-political-oversight-grantmaking - https://www.statnews.com/2026/05/29/nih-grants-uniform-guidance-proposal-political-control/ - https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/white-house-proposes-new-rules-giving-political-appointees-final-say-on-research-grants/ - https://blog.carnegieinvest.com/the-u.s.-governments-growing-role-in-the-private-sector  - https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/nvidia-us-government-to-boost-ai-infrastructure-and-rd-investments/  - https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/15/trump-stock-trade-tech-oge.html - https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2026-10817.pdf

Mosh pits are the rough-house style dancing/bopping that people do at music concerts. But where and why did this start? And why are they called mosh pits? We'll describe what is happening in mosh pits and what it all means.  Join us on https://www.patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast! Links and References:  - https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/3aptcw/what_are_the_origins_of_mosh_pits_and_how_did/ - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moshing - https://www.facebook.com/EricAlperPR/posts/the-term-mosh-pit-originated-in-1979-when-bad-brains-hr-yelled-mash-it-during-a-/1164248955370779/ - https://metal.fandom.com/wiki/Moshing - https://wknc.org/2018/08/20/shut-up-mosh-moshing-101/ - https://thenubianmessage.com/12033/opinion/the-dangerous-history-of-moshing/ - https://globalnews.ca/news/11727325/history-of-mosh-pits/ - https://www.councilofthelost.com/2021/03/01/history-of-moshpit/  - https://abcnews.com/Health/story?id=4804513&page=1 

Professional magicians tell you that they are tricking you for entertainment. Charlatan, con artist magicians tell you that they are performing real magic that will cure you of your ails. Cynical grifters, faith healers perform theatrical stunts to convince people to give them money. They'd cyphon off someone's last dime if given the chance. We explain how faith healers perform their tricks and to the best of our ability, why people fall for it.  Recommendations - Abraham: Fallout (Season 2; https://www.amazon.com/Fallout-Season-2/dp/B0FLSZBRZJ) - Shane: Project Hail Mary (the movie) Holidays (6/3/2026): - Chimborazo Day - Global Running Day - Impersonate Authority Day - Love Conquers All Day - National Chocolate Macaroon Day - National Egg Day - National Itch Day - Repeat Day - World Bicycle Day - World Clubfoot Day - Canadian Environment Week - National CPR and AED Awareness Week - Stepparents Week Links and References:  - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RE21g91Heh8 - https://www.businessinsider.com/scam-everlasting-after-25-years-debunked-faith-healer-still-preaching-debt-relief-scam-2011-9 - https://www.motherjones.com/politics/1997/11/faith-healing-hoax/ - https://evidenceunseen.com/theology/practical-theology-ethics/faith-healers - https://www.heraldnet.com/2006/08/04/dont-fall-for-prayer-rug-watchdog-group-urges/ - https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-leicestershire-31057337 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faith_healing - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24301874/  - https://www.gq.com/story/peter-popoff-born-again-scoundrel  - https://www.nytimes.com/1989/10/06/us/bakker-is-convicted-on-all-counts-first-felon-among-tv-evangelists.html  - https://roysreport.com/disgraced-televangelist-jim-bakker-pleads-for-1-million/  - https://www.businessinsider.com/scam-everlasting-after-25-years-debunked-faith-healer-still-preaching-debt-relief-scam-2011-9  - https://wng.org/articles/same-old-scam-1620660664  - https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=307493253281642  - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNwHG6kIO0g  - https://newhumanist.org.uk/2013/07/26/getting-tough-on-the-faith-healing-scammers/ - https://abc13.com/post/bogus-faith-healer-scams-hispanic-women/1128229/

This old sleight of hand card trick is designed to steal your money. Be warned, you cannot win this game. It is rigged and 100% unwinable. We explain how the three-card Monte grift works so you can avoid being scammed.  Join our https://patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast Links and References:  - https://www.wikihow.com/3-Card-Monte - https://zelmanow.medium.com/three-card-monte-a-lesson-in-spotting-rigged-games-in-life-05d74d47c57c - https://youtu.be/p4f9LWCwBFM?si=mBxHQymz8fCfre1X - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three-card_monte - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_-u94l7weg

Years ago, we looked into the research on speed reading. What we found raised difficult questions about how viable this strategy really is. As we reviewed recent research for this re-release, we discovered that a) you can read at extremely speeds, you just won't actually read anything or remember any of it, and b) you can't actually read at extremely high speeds. Tell us your thoughts! Recommendations - Abraham: Animal Control (season 4;  https://www.hulu.com/series/animal-control-451af77e-25c4-4992-abc8-a313cbd2a2b7) - Shane: Hum - Inlet (https://open.spotify.com/album/6SfnjkSphtKowg3tt7azDi?si=AjVsX0kzQpeOX_yYm5Chow) Holidays (5/27/2026): - Cellophane Tape Day - National Grape Popsicle Day - National Gray Day - National Sunscreen Day - Nothing to Fear Day - Old Time Player Piano Day - World Otter Day - Hair Stylist Mental Health Day - Eid-al-Adha - Older Americans Mental Health Week - Prepare Tomorrow’s Parents Month - Scripps National Spelling Bee - Week of Solidarity with the Peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories New links and references: - https://bigthink.com/smart-skills/neuroscience-speed-reading-bullshit/

Sometimes we get nauseaus when riding around in or on vehicles. What is going on with this? We explore motion sickness and what you can do about it... if anything. Support us on https://www.patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast Links and References:  - https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/12782-motion-sickness - https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-does-reading-in-a-mov/ - https://www.cdc.gov/yellow-book/hcp/travel-air-sea/motion-sickness.html - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4112051/ - https://health.ucdavis.edu/blog/cultivating-health/motion-sickness-how-you-can-prevent-symptoms-and-enjoy-travel/2024/05 

There is a form of rhetoric that is suprrisingly effective at persuading people to adopt beliefs regardless of their accuracy. These are called "antimetabole." They are not necessarily inherently wrong, but we'll explain how to spot them and determine how they are trying to manipulate you.  Recommendations - Abraham: Learn ASL! (http://lifeprint.com; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6w1ZDaE-whc&list=PLMN7QCuj6dfaUwmtdkdKhINGZzyGwp7Q1)   - Shane: Mortal Kombat II (https://www.warnerbros.com/movies/mortal-kombat-ii) Holidays (5/20/2026): - Eliza Doolittle Day - Emancipation Day (Florida) - Emergency Medical Services Day - Flower Day - International Clinical Trials Day - National Juice Slush Day - National Quiche Lorraine Day - National Rescue Dog Day - Pick Strawberries Day - Weights and Measure Day - World Bee Day - World Metrology Day - International Pickle Week - Band director’s day - National Foul Ball Week Links and References:  - https://mralancooper.medium.com/antimetabole-1d95057c9658 - https://rhetoric.byu.edu/Figures/A/antimetabole.htm - https://www.americanrhetoric.com/figures/antimetabole.htm - https://www.southfloridawriters.org/post/antimetaboles-and-chiasmuses-and-expletives-oh-my - https://www.litcharts.com/literary-devices-and-terms/antimetabole - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antimetabole  - https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/digital-humanities/articles/10.3389/fdigh.2018.00010/full  - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6050388/  - https://gretchenschmelzer.com/blog-1/2015/1/11/understanding-learning-and-memory-the-neuroscience-of-repetition 

In several interviews, Jane Goodall explained why she believed there was evidence of Bigfoot. While she was a wonderful natural scientist, a good science communicator, and radically changed the way we think about animals, she also had some biases that prevented a healthy skepticism from driving her perspective. We explain the "evidence" and why it is not evidence.  Support us on https://www.patreon.com/wwdwwpodcast - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ukvQfUlAog - http://michigansthumb.com/opinion/article/Jane-Goodall-making-monkey-out-of-average-Bigfoot-17018324.php

Why do American and UK Accents sound so dissimilar? Could a couple hundred years of infrequent communciation result in that much drift? Did the Americans change or did the English change? Back in the 1700s, American English and British English sounded basically identical to.... American English today! We dive into the divergence of the various UK accents, as well as unique American accents. Language is weird.  Recommendations - Abraham: Big Mistakes (season 1; https://www.netflix.com/title/81734605)  - Shane: Goldentone Studios  (https://www.discogs.com/label/281800-Goldentone-Studios?srsltid=AfmBOop0QkSpSlHdHzsHVnu6F6Z1dX_20fCHQ0iE_ai_cXXo2tZa1QCl) Holidays (5/13/2026): - Cough Drop Day - Donate a Day’s Wages to Charity - Frog Jumping Day - International Hummus Day - National Apple Pie Day - National Leprechaun Day - National Root Canal Appreciation Day - Top Gun Day - Tulip Day - World Orienteering Day - Food Allergy Awareness Week - International Coaching Week - National Bike Week Links and References:  - https://youtu.be/vnkOFZKN0Dk?si=IPeNuwtYoU_m86ue - https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-24703-3_6  - https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20180207-how-americans-preserved-british-english - https://www.voices.com/blog/mid-atlantic-accent/ - https://beelinguapp.com/blog/the-transatlantic-accent:-what-is-it-&-how-do-you-talk-in-it - https://www.cmdnyc.com/blog/2016/5/3/what-happened-to-the-mid-atlantic-accent - https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-the-international-phonetic-association/article/abs/effects-of-dialect-on-vowel-acoustics-and-intelligibility/EE3A72D1A6D39C5216EDA4F5D337538A - https://www.studiocambridge.co.uk/a-brief-guide-to-british-accents-and-dialects/ - https://www.ef.edu/blog/language/why-us-and-uk-english-sound-so-different/ 

There are pros and cons to the trajectory of genetic engineering research. Eventually, we will be confronted by a systemic drive to apply these interventions to human beings. On the one hand, genetic engineering could alleviate a tremendous amount of suffering for people with horrible genetic diseases. On the other, we don't understand these processes well enough to anticipated the unintended consequences of manipulating something as complex as a genome. What do you think about the future of genetic engineering in humans? Email us at info@wwdwwdpodcast.com https://wwdwwdpodcast.bsky.social @wwdwwdpodcast.bsky.social https://www.facebook.com/wwdwwdpodcast https://www.facebook.com/wwdwwdpodcast Support us onhttps://patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast Links and References:  - https://www.leopoldina.org/en/topics/genome-editing/the-pros-and-cons-of-genome-editing - https://theweek.com/news/science-health/959606/pros-and-cons-of-gene-editing-babies

This fascinating and yet entirely expected piece of Americana has shaped the music industry for better or worse (probably worse). But, why does it exist at all? We explore how the Billboard Hot 100 came to be, what it was intended to do, and how it has affected musicianship around the world. Do you follow the Hot 100? Recommendations - Abraham: The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins (https://www.peacocktv.com/stream-tv/the-fall-and-rise-of-reggie-dinkins) - Shane: Project Hail Mary (https://www.penguinrandomhouseretail.com/book/?isbn=9780593135204) Holidays (5/6/2026): - Great American Grump Out - International No Diet Day - National Anxiety Disorders Screening Day - National Beverage Day - National Crepes Suzette Day - National Day to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy - National (Deaf) Interpreter Day - National Nurses Day - National Tourist Appreciation Day - Air Quality Awareness Week - Arson Awareness Week - Be Kind to Animals Week Links and References:  - https://www.npr.org/sections/therecord/2013/08/16/207879695/how-the-hot-100-became-americas-hit-barometer - https://www.scribd.com/document/670560817/Billboard-Hot-100-2 - https://www.edmsauce.com/what-is-the-billboard-hot-100/ - https://sites.psu.edu/noahpassion/2019/10/25/the-evolution-of-billboard-and-birth-of-the-hot-100/ - https://www.billboard.com/pro/how-global-new-global-billboard-charts/ - https://www.billboard.com/charts/genre/hits-of-the-world/ - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billboard_charts  - https://www.billboard.com/pro/billboard-chart-history-evolution-milestones/#:~:text=now%20Nielsen%20Music.)-,Nov.,singles%20sales%20data%20from%20SoundScan.  - https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/683851-longest-song-to-reach-no-1-on-the-billboard-hot-100 

Recent research has evaluated the effect of changes made to the national suicide hotline in 2022 in the US. Scientists analyzed the success of this program by comparing projected trends to actual data. This underscores the importance of prcevention strategies, and support for vulnerable populations. If live in the US and you are someone you know is in crisis, call 988. https://www.patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast Links and References:  - https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/988-crisis-hotline-linked-to-drop-in-young-adult-suicide-rates/#:~:text=Since%20July%202022%2C%20people%20in,those%20numbers%20with%20actual%20deaths. - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/books/NBK604162/#:~:text=In%20July%202022%2C%20the%20United,suicide%20prevention%20training%20in%20schools. - https://behavioralhealthlink.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/988-History-Journal-Article_JohnDraper.pdf#:~:text=In%202004%2C%20SAMHSA%20awarded%20the%20hotline%20grant,with%20109%20network%20members%20in%20January%202005.

In the last discussion, we covered the history of CBT and the cognitive aspects of the intervention. In this segment, we'll review the behavioral components, some research evaluating the most effective components, and some final thoughts. In short, the behavioral components are commonly found to be the most effective, although, there is more nuance to it than that. Tell us your thoughts, distorted or otherwise! Recommendations - Abraham: The Miniature Wife (TV series; https://www.peacocktv.com/stream-tv/the-miniature-wife) - Shane: Performing Live Holidays (4/29/2026): - Day of Remembrance for all Victims of Chemical Warfare - Denim Day - International Dance Day - International Guide Dog Day - International Noise Awareness Day - Peace Rose Day - Poem in your Pocket Day - Stop Food Waste Day - We Jump the World Day - World Wish Day - Zipper Day - Go Diaper Free Week - International Mariachi Week - National Auctioneers Week - National Scoop the Poop Week Links and References:  - https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/cognitive-behavioral-therapy/about/pac-20384610 - https://www.apa.org/ptsd-guideline/patients-and-families/cognitive-behavioral - Jacobson, N. S., Dobson, K. S., Truax, P. A., Addis, M. E., Koerner, K., Gollan, J. K., Gortner, E., & Prince, S. E. (1996). A component analysis of cognitive-behavioral treatment for depression. Journal of consulting and clinical psychology, 64(2), 295–304. https://doi.org/10.1037//0022-006x.64.2.295 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8871414/ - Borkovec, T. D., Newman, M. G., Pincus, A. L., & Lytle, R. (2002). A component analysis of cognitive-behavioral therapy for generalized anxiety disorder and the role of interpersonal problems. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 70(2), 288–298. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1037/0022-006X.70.2.288 https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2002-02267-003 - Arora PG, Baker CN, Marchette LK, Stark KD. Components Analyses of a School-Based Cognitive Behavioral Treatment for Youth Depression. J Clin Child Adolesc Psychol. 2019;48(sup1):S180-S193. doi: 10.1080/15374416.2017.1280800. Epub 2017 Feb 16. PMID: 28278602; PMCID: PMC6131063. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6131063/#:~:text=Results%20indicated%20that%20higher%20quality,behavioral%20and%20relational%20intervention%20components.  - https://utswmed-ir.tdl.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/0784677c-19b5-4163-aac7-08bec804219d/content - Arco, L. (2024). Toward a synthesis of cognitive behaviour therapy via component analysis of self‐regulation. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, 31(1), Article e2918. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1002/cpp.2918 - https://www.cognbehavther.com/expert-consensus-components-cbt/ - https://aquila.usm.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1264&context=masters_theses - Chand SP, Kuckel DP, Huecker MR. Cognitive Behavior Therapy. [Updated 2023 May 23]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2026 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470241/ - Taylor, A., Tallon, D., Kessler, D., Peters, T. J., Shafran, R., Williams, C., & Wiles, N. (2020). An expert consensus on the most effective components of cognitive behavioural therapy for adults with depression: a modified Delphi study. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, 49(3), 242–255. https://doi.org/10.1080/16506073.2019.1641146 https://cpdonline.co.uk/knowledge-base/mental-health/transformational-stories-cbt/

In 1935 John Ridley Stroop published an article with a new experiment showing that people struggle to name things when there is a conflicting word corresponding with those things. While mostly a novelty, this test has found relevance in diagnostic testing such as for ADHD. We'll explain the test and how it works.  Get ad-free episodes by joining us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast Links for the Stroop Test: - https://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/java/ready.html - https://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/java/readyd.html - https://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/java/readyn.html - https://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/java/readya.html - https://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/pdf/shape_stroop.pdf Other references: - https://www.focusaur.com/pages/stroop-effect-test - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stroop_effect  - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1988818/ - https://www.apa.org/research-practice/conduct-research/stroop-effect - https://psychclassics.yorku.ca/Stroop/

The most well-recognized psychotherapy in the world is also the most widely researched. You've likely heard that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is the evidence-based intervention for... pretty much every mental health condition. But, do you know how it works? We will spend the next couple of episodes dissecting the components of CBT and reviewing some of the research. If you like this episode, the next one is going to be even better! Recommendations - Abraham: The Pitt (season 2; https://www.hbomax.com/shows/pitt-2024/e6e7bad9-d48d-4434-b334-7c651ffc4bdf)  - Shane: Chew (https://imagecomics.com/comics/series/chew) Holidays (4/22/2026): - Administrative Professionals Day - April Showers Day - Chemists Celebrate the Earth Day - Earth Day - Global Selfie Earth Day - International Mother Earth Day - National Jelly Bean Day - National Library Outreach Day - Bedbug Awareness Week - Cleaning for a Reason Week - Every Healthy Kid Week - National Coin Week - National Infertility Awareness Week - National Lingerie Week - National Pet ID Week Links and References:  - https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/cognitive-behavioral-therapy/about/pac-20384610 - https://www.apa.org/ptsd-guideline/patients-and-families/cognitive-behavioral - Jacobson, N. S., Dobson, K. S., Truax, P. A., Addis, M. E., Koerner, K., Gollan, J. K., Gortner, E., & Prince, S. E. (1996). A component analysis of cognitive-behavioral treatment for depression. Journal of consulting and clinical psychology, 64(2), 295–304. https://doi.org/10.1037//0022-006x.64.2.295 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8871414/ - Borkovec, T. D., Newman, M. G., Pincus, A. L., & Lytle, R. (2002). A component analysis of cognitive-behavioral therapy for generalized anxiety disorder and the role of interpersonal problems. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 70(2), 288–298. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1037/0022-006X.70.2.288 https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2002-02267-003 - Arora PG, Baker CN, Marchette LK, Stark KD. Components Analyses of a School-Based Cognitive Behavioral Treatment for Youth Depression. J Clin Child Adolesc Psychol. 2019;48(sup1):S180-S193. doi: 10.1080/15374416.2017.1280800. Epub 2017 Feb 16. PMID: 28278602; PMCID: PMC6131063. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6131063/#:~:text=Results%20indicated%20that%20higher%20quality,behavioral%20and%20relational%20intervention%20components.  - https://utswmed-ir.tdl.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/0784677c-19b5-4163-aac7-08bec804219d/content - Arco, L. (2024). Toward a synthesis of cognitive behaviour therapy via component analysis of self‐regulation. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, 31(1), Article e2918. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1002/cpp.2918 - https://www.cognbehavther.com/expert-consensus-components-cbt/ - https://aquila.usm.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1264&context=masters_theses - Chand SP, Kuckel DP, Huecker MR. Cognitive Behavior Therapy. [Updated 2023 May 23]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2026 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470241/ - Taylor, A., Tallon, D., Kessler, D., Peters, T. J., Shafran, R., Williams, C., & Wiles, N. (2020). An expert consensus on the most effective components of cognitive behavioural therapy for adults with depression: a modified Delphi study. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, 49(3), 242–255. https://doi.org/10.1080/16506073.2019.1641146 https://cpdonline.co.uk/knowledge-base/mental-health/transformational-stories-cbt/

This ambiguously titled discussion is about the practice of stretching piercings to become large holes. We talk about the history of this practice, how it's done, and why it's done. This practice is commonly called "gauging," and although it looks painful, it is actually a slow process that uses the natural flexibility of skin to gradually increase the size of the piercing. Do you have gauged piercings or know someone who does? Tell us your story! Support us on https://www.patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast! Links and References - https://www.urbanbodyjewelry.com/pages/the-history-of-ear-stretching?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=11380961953&gbraid=0AAAAADwwbrcORN3qttYF1gi9XVew8HF_m&gclid=CjwKCAjwhe3OBhABEiwA6392zLNzwcrsTvbtoKkAm1tLySYDM8AVclOrTVieusNu0f9OlyImRJu97hoCo9sQAvD_BwE - https://www.customplugs.com/pages/history-of-plugs-and-ear-stretching?srsltid=AfmBOooV2p2Kn1JMFHL6PBqSFSIbYeRo1C5XAqTknLH8Alc7hyFKliI9 - https://bodyartforms.com/blog/the-history-of-piercing-stretching?srsltid=AfmBOop15v2qWinlXdokX2bjQMfeX37U3Nh9fW9U9RI5Ojeo-2ZI7YVQ - https://openurl.ebsco.com/EPDB%3Agcd%3A12%3A11230828/detailv2?sid=ebsco%3Aplink%3Ascholar&id=ebsco%3Agcd%3A149338166&crl=c&link_origin=scholar.google.com