What happens when what’s good for me is bad for us?

In this episode, we’re talking about collective action problems: situations where we would all benefit from cooperation but each of us has an incentive to let someone else do the work.

From free riders and the Public Goods Game to the Tragedy of the Commons, we explore why cooperation is so difficult and why the answer isn’t simply that “people are selfish.” Trust, communication, incentives, and institutions can completely change how we behave.

And finally: Is maximizing our immediate individual benefit really rational if, in the long run, we all end up worse off?

#collectiveaction #tragedyofthecommons #publicpolicy #publicgoods #selfish

Every year, millions of people gather to celebrate national holidays. But have you ever wondered why these rituals are so powerful? In this episode, I explore what political science, sociology, and psychology can teach us about holidays and national identity.We'll discuss terms like imagined communities, collective effervescence, and social capital as well as experiments that quantify the effect of 4th of July rituals on political attitudes.Whether you love fireworks, history, or simply enjoy asking why we do the things we do, this episode is for you.#imaginedcommunities #socialcapital #BenedictAnderson #RobertPutnam #EmileDurkheim #4thofJuly #LiveLikeaScientist #sciencepodcast

How many meaningful relationships can one person maintain? Is there a limit to the size of our social world? Dr. Dunbar says "yes" and calculates that number. In this episode, I explore Dunbar's Number. Can you guess the number before I reveal it? Leave your guess in the comments.I also discuss the Strength of Weak Ties theory which suggests that some of our most valuable connections are not our closest friends but the acquaintances who introduce us to new ideas.This episode is also a small shout-out to my friends. Reviewing the research on friendship reminded me how fortunate I am to have such thoughtful, supportive, and fun people in my corner.

#Dunbar #Dunbarsnumber #friendships #friends #sociallife

In this episode, I talk about the error term (the part of every scientific model that cannot be fully explained) and why it might have something to teach us about life.
What if uncertainty isn't a flaw to eliminate but a reality to understand?
What if many of the things we call discipline, preparation, and wisdom are really our attempts to reduce life's error term?
This episode explores why life was never meant to behave like a perfect equation and why that's okay.

On the anniversary of receiving my PhD, I finally talk about the journey that shaped me into a scientist.

In this first episode, I reflect on the highs and lows of PhD process: mentorship, immigration, self-doubt, ambition, (un)supportive relationships, failure, and the emotional reality behind pursuing a dream.

I also answer the question I’ve been asked countless times:
Would I do it all over again?