Circle of Willis

Episode 12: Jay Van Bavel

Apr 19, 2018

Welcome to Episode 12, where JAY VAN BAVEL and I discuss the effect of moralizing language on political debates, how scientists--how we all--use social media to settle disputes, and how a kid from Fox Creek, Alberta manages to become a renowned social scientist at New York University.

Jay is an Associate Professor...

Preview: Jay Van Bavel

Apr 9, 2018

Hi Everyone!

The JAY VAN BAVEL episode--Episode 12--is coming soon, but it isn't quite ready for release yet. In the meantime, here's a short clip from our conversation about what Jay discovered when he used data from Twitter to analyze the effect of what he calls "moralizing language."

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Episode 11: Nicole Prause

Mar 19, 2018

Welcome to Episode 11, where NICOLE PRAUSE and I discuss, among other things, the scientific study of orgasm, the pernicious effects of social discomfort about sex on those trying to study it, and her journey from sleepy little Beaumont, Texas to sparkly, cutting-edge Los Angeles. Life hasn’t always been easy for...

Preview: Nicole Prause

Mar 9, 2018

Hi Everyone!

The NICOLE PRAUSE episode--Episode 11--is coming soon, but it isn't quite ready for release yet. In the meantime, here's a short clip from our conversation about how Nicole actually, literally, stimulates research participants to orgasm in her laboratory.

A warning:this preview contains a lot of genital...

Remembering John Cacioppo

Mar 7, 2018

John Cacioppo has died. I went through some of the material that got cut from our original conversation, and found this gem, which I wanted to share with everyone. Among other things, it includes this:

"You want to be able to contribute a brick to the temple of science...but recognize that, whether you know it or not,...