Many Western countries, most notably the US, had a major decline in their crime rate in the 1990s. About 20 years earlier, the US had banned the use of lead in gasoline. Perhaps you wouldn’t think those two facts are related - but many researchers think this wasn’t a coincidence. After getting distracted and doing a whole episode on lead and IQ a c…

Johann Hari is a journalist with an interesting past who has now written four very popular books on scientific topics (addiction, depression, attention, and obesity). Are those books any good? In this paid-subscriber-only episode of The Studies Show, Tom and Stuart—who have both written reviews of Hari’s books—discuss Hari’s career, his sudden emer…

Petrol, pipes, paint: they made a whole generation duller. That’s if you believe the research on the effects of lead on IQ. By interfering with neurological development, the lead that we used to encounter routinely has left hundreds of millions of us with a tiny bit of brain damage. In this episode of The Studies Show, Tom and Stuart look at the to…

Preventing cancer. Curing depression. Single-handedly ending the COVID-19 pandemic. Oh, and something to do with your bones. Is there anything Vitamin D can’t do? Maybe the answer is “quite a lot”. In this episode of The Studies Show, Tom and Stuart look into the claims about the wondrous powers of Vitamin D supplements - and whether any of them ha…

We can all agree that being lonely is bad. But apparently, science shows it’s really, really bad. Indeed, being lonely is so dangerous to your health that its equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. And it gets worse: we’re in the middle of a loneliness epidemic, meaning that the health of millions is at risk. In this episode of The Studies Show…

The evidence for puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones for young people with gender dysphoria is “remarkably weak”. That’s according to the Cass Review, a new in-depth report commissioned by NHS England. As you might imagine, the report’s conclusions have been somewhat controversial. In this paid-subscriber-only episode of The Studies Show, Tom a…

Several previous episodes of The Studies Show have covered depression and treatments for it, but none have really considered what depression is. It’s time to do that. It turns out that some scientists have made serious critiques of the standard way of thinking about depression, and argue that we need a revolution in the way we measure it. In this e…

Everything is Predictable: How Bayes' Remarkable Theorem Explains the World. That’s the new book—out on April 25 in the UK and May 7 in the US—by our very own Tom Chivers! In this episode of The Studies Show, Tom and Stuart cover some of the historical sections of the book, and talk about where some of our basic ideas about probability come from (i…

Microplastics are everywhere: there are teeny-tiny plastic particles in your drinking water, your food, your air - and perhaps even in your internal organs. How worried should you be? In this episode of The Studies Show, Tom and Stuart look into the research on microplastics, covering all the reasons that the health effects of microscopic particles…

As an extra way of thanking our paid subscribers, we’re going to post some shorter episodes in addition to the usual weekly hour-long ones. This first short episode (available to everyone for free; after this they’re paid-only) is about the idea of Emotional Intelligence. Does your “EQ” matter as much as your “IQ”? How can you even test that, anywa…

Most people think it’s obvious that you should wear a helmet when cycling. It might save your life if you fall off and hit your head. Duh. But over the years, many contrarian arguments have pushed back against this seemingly-obvious point. What if people engage in “risk compensation”, where they cycle more dangerously because they know they’re wear…

We all love to cite meta-analyses. They’re the review studies where scientists take every single piece of research ever published on a particular question, and then calculate the overall “true” effect across all of them. Putting together all those studies is a much better way to get to the truth… isn’t it? In this episode of The Studies Show, Tom a…

Don’t worry, it’s nothing important this week - only the origin of all life on planet Earth. No biggie. Sure, life evolved by natural selection, but to get evolution going, you need to have life in the first place. So where did it come from? Scientists have theories about “abiogenesis” - the moment around 3.5 billion years ago when, having never ex…

The discourse has once again turned to a feverish discussion of cognitive decline. Which 2024 US Presidential candidate has it worse? What does that mean for the campaign and for the Presidency in general? In this episode of The Studies Show, your rapidly-ageing hosts look at some of the research on cognitive ageing and cognitive decline. What happ…

Mistakes were made. By us. In this Mea Culpa episode we discuss several of them, big and small, from multiple previous episodes. If you’ve noticed us make a mistake on The Studies Show, please do get in touch on thestudiesshowpod@substack.com, and we’ll include it in a future Mea Culpa! Subscribe now Show notes Eiko Fried’s research on the definiti…

Remember when the airwaves were full of people questioning the idea of man-made climate change? You don’t hear much from them any more - in large part becuase the evidence that our CO2 emissions are altering the climate has become so overwhelming. After a recap on how we know that carbon warms the climate, Tom and Stuart use this episode of The Stu…

Hans Eysenck was one of the biggest names in psychology. Was he also a scientific fraudster? Long after his death, allegations resurfaced about his late-career studies, which either contained some of the most impressive findings in medical history, were a terrible mistake… or were the result of something much more sinister. In this paid-only episod…

Okay, whether exercise is good isn’t really in question. But there are so many pseudoscientific myths surrounding sports and exercise that it’s always worth looking more closely at some of the claims. In this episode of The Studies Show, Tom and Stuart look into two widely-believed claims about exercise. First, does stretching your muscles before e…

Welcome to another exciting episode of the Social Studies show! Today, we are thrilled to introduce our special guest, Fred Sands IV, an exceptionally talented Art Director and Graphic Designer hailing from the vibrant city of New York. Fred Sands, IV has an impressive background, having served as the Design & Production Coordinator at PAPER Magazi…

In this episode, we're thrilled to introduce you to Reggie Casagrande, an integrated marketing powerhouse whose expertise in brand development, strategy, and digital communications is nothing short of awe-inspiring. With over a decade of experience under her belt, Reggie has carved a unique path in the industry, leaving an indelible mark on culture…

The second part of Amy V. Cooper's Social Studies Show dives into the details of the photography business. She gives a window to the perspective of creatives looking to get their work out to brands as well as working through the ethics of finding the right clients and partners. Amy brings over 25 years of experience in the photography industry to t…

On this episode of the Social Studies Show we have AMY V. Cooper. Amy is a photography consultant, creative business mentor, marketing strategist, thought partner, and mindset coach with over 25 years of experience in the photography industry. She has worked as a photographer agent, advertising agency art buyer, and entertainment & magazine photo e…

On this episode of the Social Studies Show we have Samira Jackson - Account Executive at Art Machine in Hollywood, - Samira has made her way through the ranks working on award winning campaigns Like BlackKKKLansman with Gravillis and taking insights from Spike Lee. On her rise in the entertainment industry she navigated the career path at Leroy and…

On this episode of the Social Studies Show we have Toby Kaufmann - The Creative Director of the Facebook App. She is also the Creative Director of Pur·suit, a digital archive and deck of playing cards re-imagining Catherine Opie’s seminal work from the 90’s, in collaboration with artist Naima Green. In 2020, she curated a show of Naima’s work at Fo…

Keith Hodges' journey to fitness was an unusual one . He got his start by experimenting on himself and transitioned to working with weight loss clients. In this episode of the Social Studies Show he talks about the effects of advertising health within diverse communities and bringing that process to action through procedure in unique training metho…

SANJA KOMLJENOVIC Founder & CEO of ONA CREATIVE began her career in digital marketing with the Los Angeles Clippers and was recruited by Nike.The day after leaving Nike, they hired her as a contractor. This “accidentally” led to more collaborative work and the launch of her creative agency, ONA, developed with a focus on initiatives that move the w…

Terence Lester is a storyteller, public scholar, speaker, community activist, and author who is the founder and Executive Director at Love Beyond Walls a nonprofit organization focused on raising poverty and homelessness awareness and community mobilization. He’s known for nationwide campaigns that bring awareness to homelessness, poverty, and econ…

As Winter approaches we have an appropriate guest to discuss winter fashion and diversity in the marketplace. For this episode of the Social Studies Show we have Eric Tung CEO of Fera Ski Brand. A minority owned, female founded, LGBTQ+ led apparel company that is extremely rare in the outdoor space. Sharing a love of fashion and winter sports Eric …

Val Harvey shares her journey into the entertainment industry as a Hair and Makeup Artist working in Hollywood. Her clients are a who's who of the studios - Disney, ABC, FOX TV and HBO have her on speed dial. Her career in makeup ten years ago starting out at Neiman Marcus in Beverly Hills. Early on, Val has been sought out by celebrities, photogra…

Kortel Autrey is a Hollywood Stuntman that is on the rise! You’ve seen his work in Straight out of Compton, Bad Boys for Life, Gemini Man, Charm City Kings, Fast and Furious - Hobbies and Shaw, commercials, awards shows and music videos. This all comes from humble beginnings and the desire to create a better life. In this episode we discuss his jou…

Karin Kildow has spent her career focused on helping professional athletes and mission-based brands leverage their social platforms to change the world and impact the causes they care about. Over the last 10 years, she has created social strategies for brands including Beyond Meat, UNINTERRUPTED/The Springhill Company, More Than A Vote, HBO’s The S…

Andrew Alexander King is an African American Explorer but beyond climbing, surfing and diving he is investigating culture, business and philosophy in a unique way through his Between Worlds project. Fresh off his climb to Denali and our first in person interview for The Social Studies Show since the pandemic hit, Andrew shares his perspective of wh…

Jeff Staple is the latest guest on the Social Studies Show. A creative visionary with work encompassing creative direction, fashion design, footwear design, and brand marketing. He has been a driving force in defining what streetwear is. If you aren’t aware of his podcast The Business of Hype you should be, it's one of the best marketing assets on …

Big mountain skiing icon Angel Collinson talks to our host Stan Evans about redefining boundaries and finding serenity in unexpected places. Her journey into the unknown goes beyond exploring remote slopes and venturing into being a catalyst, changing how women in winter sports are perceived and marketed. To round out all the excitement and adventu…

This session will examine the importance of creating content that reflects and connects with diverse communities and how to build stronger connections through content. Moderator: Stan Evans, Stan Evans Photography and Social Studies Show Evans is a portrait photographer that has a deep passion for lifestyle, athletic and motorized imagery. He also …

When you look up OG of climbing Conrad Anker’s picture is the dictionary. He’s been to the mountaintop as many times as MLK’s speech has been repeated. His accolades are fascinating and people really should Google them all, he was the team leader of The North Face climbing team for 26 years until 2018. In 1999, he located George Mallory's body on E…

After the cover portrait session with Russell Winfield, the First Black Professional Snowboarder, I sat down to have a frank discussion on the origins of my photo career and what it took to become the First Black Professional Snowboard Photographer. Some stories take place behind the lens and while I have spent so much of my time documenting winter…

In this episode we have Peter Stark, Executive Creative Director of A/V PRINT, the new print division at A/V SQUAD. Beneath the laid back exterior of one of my favorite spiritual gurus and a great mentor lies the heart of a creative powerhouse. Peter’s vision has driven print campaigns for movies and shows such as Game of Thrones, Joker, Wonder Wom…

In this episode we talk with Brendon Ayanbadejo, Super Bowl Champ, 3 time Pro Bowler and former Baltimore Raven. As an NFL player, Brendon wasted no time in establishing himself as a leader in the locker room, through his role as Team Captain and NFL Players Union representative yet his tenacity off the field possibly eclipses his goals on the grid…

Over the past week I’ve had more phone calls, emails, texts, and DMs from friends, acquaintances and colleagues, than ever before in my life…. The overwhelming theme of these conversations was the difficulty of white America to understand the depth and severity of Racism. This is nothing new to me, as I have dealt with it my whole life. However, fo…

Over the past week I’ve had more phone calls, emails, texts, and DMs from friends, acquaintances and colleagues, than ever before in my life…. The overwhelming theme of these conversations was the difficulty of white America to understand the depth and severity of Racism. This is nothing new to me, as I have dealt with it my whole life. However, fo…

"In this episode of the Social Studies Show, Arturo Nunez of AIE creative returns to discuss brands and collabs that can provoke social awareness and authenticity. Engaging with customers, lending a voice to the causes and a positive way to monetize. He discusses why Bryan Stevenson is his hero and the humanity of his TED Talk inspired his own abou…

Tony has been honored as a History Shaker by Coca Cola, A Barrier Breaker by Marriott International, and received the Generation Titan Prize from Google.His work has been featured by NBC, Forbes 30 under 30, The Huffington Post, Inc. MAGAZINE, HelloBeautiful, EdSurge, and Quartz.He’s shared his message at SXSW, Columbia University, and San Diego Co…

In this episode we talk with Rebecca Feaman Williams VP, Group Creative Director at Burrell Communications She has been creating award-winning, campaigns for variety of products and services for over 20 years. Her adaptive and energetic style has garnered numerous awards from the Association of National Advertisers, Ad Age as well as the Telly and …

In this episode we meet with Colonel Stanley Evans –(Ret) in his current job as Assistant Dean of Students at the University of Oklahoma. As a career soldier and an educator we discuss the impact of Colin Kaepernick kneeling from a military service point of view and what ARMY as a brand means in the realm of marketing for someone who served over 30…

A podcast exploring the relationship between advertising and activism. Using both methods to influence change in culture, mindfulness, and profitability. In this episode we explore advertising, activism and the impact of global brands with a rare inside view from Arturo Nunez, who previously was CMO Apple Latin America and Vice President Global Mar…

We discuss representations of love in the media, heteronormative dating apps, and the algorithms behind the technology which more and more people are using to find "love." What does the data show? What are the limits of our free will in modern dating - are our decisions being invisibly guided?Articles discussed: "How AI Can Help You Find a Date"htt…

We sit down with Samara Mejia Hernandez, Senior Associate at MATH Venture Partners, and Sabrina Mutukisna, co-founder and CEO of The Town Kitchen, to discuss bias and discrimination in tech. More about Sabrina and The Town Kitchen: https://thetownkitchen.com/about/ More about Samara and MATH Venture Partners: http://www.mathventurepartners.com/sama…

After a few weeks away, we're getting back into Studies Show and recording new episodes. Here's a brief update on what we've been up to, and look for another new post very soon!Af Studies Show

We discuss the New York Times op-ed, "Do Millenial Men What Stay-at-Home Wives?": https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/31/opinion/sunday/do-millennial-men-want-stay-at-home-wives.htmlPepin and Cotter research: https://contemporaryfamilies.org/2-pepin-cotter-traditionalism/Fate-Dixon research: https://contemporaryfamilies.org/7-fate-dixon-millennials-ret…