Listen. Sometimes we like to shake it up. So while we’re finishing up next week’s episode, I decided to open a sound file and spilled only secrets. This was an exercise in just chilling with you, and not editing a thing. Think of it as my exposure therapy + life advice and embarrassing tales from me, your actual biological father from the internet. Is it too ... Show More
May 6
Meleagrology (TURKEYS) with Cyler Conrad
Wattles. Snoods. Struts. Vibes. It’s not November, which is exactly why we’re putting this episode out. All day every day, turkeys are out there like beanbags with stick legs. Let’s take a moment, or 90 minutes, with Archaeologist, Meleagrologist, and turkey researcher, Dr. Cyler ... Show More
1h 25m
Apr 29
Antarcticology (ANTARCTIC RESEARCH) with Ariel Waldman
Mile-thick ice. Dry, rocky valleys. Tiny creatures. Red parkas. Seal mummies. We’re going to Antarctica with National Geographic Explorer, microscopic photographer, and Antarcticologist Ariel Waldman. She hosts the gorgeous PBS series “Life Unearthed” and answers a blizzard of qu ... Show More
1h 13m
Apr 22
Dolorology (PAIN) Encore with Rachel Zoffness
In an encore of one of our top episodes ever, Dr. Zoffness is back to chat about her brand new book, Tell Me Where It Hurts. PAIN. What is it? Where does it come from? And how can we hurt less? Which hurts more, a kidney stone or heartache? Why does chronic pain persist? Can we t ... Show More
1h 42m
Jun 2024
The crossword craze — now and then — with Ben Zimmer
992. What began as a simple word game in 1913 sparked a nationwide craze just a decade later, causing a moral panic and changing American publishing forever. This week, Ben Zimmer, a prolific crossword constructor and language commentator, takes us through the crossword puzzle's ... Show More
27m 11s
Oct 2024
"Hocus Pocus" w/ David Kwong
<p>Hello, Puzzlers! Puzzling with us today: magician and puzzle creator, <a href="https://www.davidkwongmagic.com/" target="_blank">David Kwong</a>!</p> <p>Join host A.J. Jacobs and his guests as they puzzle–and laugh–their way through new spins on old favorites, like anagrams an ... Show More
21m 28s
Jun 2023
95. Puzzles in a Castle, with Roxanne and George Miller
For years, puzzle enthusiasts Roxanne and George Miller filled their Florida home with their world-class array of puzzles of all kinds — but they recently moved into an Italian castle, where they have grand plans to showcase and share their collection of more than 80,000 puzzles. ... Show More
36m 48s
Feb 2025
523. Why We Dream, Learn, and Adapt Faster Than Any Other Species | Dr. David Eagleman
Dr. Jordan B. Peterson sits down with neuroscientist, bestselling author, and PBS presenter Dr. David Eagleman. They discuss brain plasticity, how perception works, whether free will exists (and if it’s superordinate), how willingness to engage with higher entropy indicates sophi ... Show More
1h 35m
Apr 2025
David Blaine (magician and mentalist)
<p>David Blaine (Do Not Attempt, Buried Alive, Above the Below) is a magician, mentalist, and endurance performer. David joins the Armchair Expert to discuss the deck of cards his mom gave him as a kid in Brooklyn, keeping his magic secret when he was young because other children ... Show More
1h 37m