The Re-engineered You

Cheerleaders, flight attendants, fitness instructors, models…what if we told you they’re smarter than the rest of us?

Cheerleaders are paid criminally low wages because they’re “dancing bimbos”...according to creeps online. Flight Attendants are attacked because they’re just dumb drink servers who know how to buckle belts and sling oxygen masks. And models are really, really ridiculously good looking people without any real life skills. At least, these are the bimbo stereotypes TV and social media have agreed upon. Fortunately for us those popular stereotypes are also all wrong in hilariously overstated ways.

On this episode Todd and Joe uncover the brainy origins of the NFL cheerleaders and discuss how they went from being seen as super-smart college grads who really love their sport, to looking like the burlesque dancers they were molded after by a sleazy NFL showman. We’ll also talk about the controversial connection between intelligence and looks, which is currently under debate among scientists. And we’ll compare the actual qualifications of our ‘bimbo professions’ to find out which dummy jobs require the highest training, testing, and college degree. Spoiler: there are cheerleaders on the field who could literally perform brain surgery on you, and sleazy romance writers who gave up prestigiously nerdy fields in academia to write smut.

Links:

https://ultimatecheerleaders.com/2015/01/will-this-cheerleader-be-the-smartest-person-at-the-super-bowl/

https://www.zippia.com/cheerleader-jobs/demographics/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXuNg60WYM8&ab_channel=Refinery29

https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2018/10/nfl-cheerleaders-history-scandal

https://ultimatecheerleaders.com/2015/01/will-this-cheerleader-be-the-smartest-person-at-the-super-bowl/

https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/hedy-lamarr

For one episode, Joe hijacks the show and tries to convince Todd to watch eagle “Nest Cams” on Youtube, and to revolt against robot pets like Pleo the Dinosaur and nursing home seals.

In a bizarre twist, Joe the Introvert takes over the narrator’s seat for one episode. He talks about watching live ‘nest cams’ during eagle hatching season. Which sounds like a pretty lame show, until the dying starts...and the chatroom explodes in rivalries, bans, and plots to rescue a starving baby eagle.

Joe also talks about Philip K Dick’s novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, and what sort of world we might soon live in. Meanwhile, Todd slogs through scientific studies about the connections we all share with animals, nature, and weather, and tries to make sense of them in real-time without a chance to prepare or read in advance.

Eagle Links: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cM9FS9iHM94

Science Links: https://beautifulnow.is/discover/wellness/new-studies-show-listening-to-birds-sing-reduces-stress-and-makes-people-happier https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/blue-light-has-a-dark-side https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090205142143.htm https://academic.oup.com/bioscience/article/68/2/134/4791430 https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/10/29/climate/coastal-cities-underwater.html https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/americans-increasingly-see-climate-change-as-a-crisis-poll-shows/2019/09/12/74234db0-cd2a-11e9-87fa-8501a456c003_story.html

https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2019/08/19/1903342/0/en/The-World-Market-for-Robotic-Pet-Dogs-2019-2023-Leading-Players-are-Ageless-Innovation-Hasbro-Sony-Spin-Master-and-Tekno-Robotics.html

It’s not what you know, it’s who you know. But if that’s true then how do we purposely cultivate extensive, valuable connections?

On today’s episode we’ll get advice from Chris Wilkes, a professional connector who’s worked in senior management for companies like Apple, eBay, and Nike. He’ll share some tips on how to turn rivals into friends and how to feed and nurture a network of skilled individuals - even when that network has expanded beyond your personal Dunbar Number.

Then we’ll compare our pro’s tips with some true stories and anecdotes from the life and autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, the original connector of connectors. We’ll talk about how ‘ol Ben managed to build the first public library in America while he was visiting France (a tough feat in an era without phones) and we’ll learn why he gave a town full of admirers a bunch of old books instead of a church bell (like they’d asked for.) We’ll also talk about Ben Franklin’s list of virtues, chiefly about humility, and how all of his virtues were secretly about being a better connector. Finally we’ll break down the “Benjamin Franklin Effect” and explore why asking your worst enemies to do minor favors for you might sound counter-intuitive, but is probably the best chance to transform foe into friend, without them suspecting they’re having their mind changed.

Links:

https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/franklin-massachusetts-first-public-library-in-america-it-happens-here-wbz-tv/

https://theobjectivestandard.com/2019/05/sense-being-preferable-to-sound/

https://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/benjamin-franklin

https://www.ushistory.org/franklin/philadelphia/library.htm

https://www.fastcompany.com/3023424/why-successful-people-have-so-many-groups-of-friends

They say opposites attract, but can they work together? How do you get the best results from an introvert and an extrovert? And what landmark, exactly, did Niccolò Machiavelle and Leonardo De Vinci team up to steal?

Show Notes:

A lot of lip service is paid to the differences between extroverts and introverts. But how do you identify a good polar-opposite partner? And, more importantly, how do you challenge your partner (or partners) when you see a project running off the rails?

In today’s episode we’ll discuss the necessity of disagreement in collaboration. How to challenge a product or process in a way that strengthens it. And how to identify a good partner, especially if they’re nothing like you. We’ll also explore the bizarre partnership that arose in the Italian court between Niccolò Machiavelle, history’s greatest schemer, and Leonardo De Vinci, history’s greatest painter. Two Florentines who weren’t content with changing the worlds of politics and art...but who sought to change the landscape of Italy, literally.

History Links:

https://www.cracked.com/article_19458_the-5-most-badass-teams-famous-people-to-ever-join-forces.html http://www.thathistorynerd.com/2017/10/the-time-da-vinci-and-machiavelli.html https://www.biography.com/scholar/niccolo-machiavelli https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_life_of_Leonardo_da_Vinci#Character https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Battle_of_Anghiari_(Leonardo) https://www.npr.org/2012/02/02/146288063/painting-sheds-new-light-on-the-mona-lisa

Science Links:

https://hbr.org/2014/04/the-problem-with-being-too-nice

https://hbr.org/2018/01/why-we-should-be-disagreeing-more-at-work

https://www.forbes.com/sites/kathycaprino/2015/09/07/can-introverts-and-extroverts-ever-work-well-together-how-opposites-can-collaborate-brilliantly/#1f6123d151ac

https://medium.com/teamwork-and-collaboration/10-top-qualities-of-a-great-collaborator-4c1fe0a06a2e#:~:text=The%20best%20collaborators%20always%20express,credit%20where%20credit%20is%20due.

When a child or elderly patient receives a terminal diagnosis, should the family withhold it from them? Is knowledge of one’s death in advance a relief, or pure dread?

Dive into a fascinating discussion on the relationship between death and knowledge of one’s impending death. Drawing from the 2019 movie, "The Farewell," we examine the cultural practice of not informing elderly individuals about their terminal illnesses—a practice prevalent in parts of Asia. This raises the intriguing question of whether ignorance truly is bliss, or if it adds to the existential crises when the end comes. After all, who would you lie to, to keep someone from learning about their terminal illness? A child? An elderly grandparent? A spouse?

Simultaneously, we delve into the equally gripping subject of death row inmates not knowing their execution date either, a practice common in Japan. Is this a form of mercy or an added punishment? How does this uncertainty impact the human psyche? We’ll also discuss genetic testing for incurable diseases, and ask the question: would you want to know if you have a high likelihood for Alzheimer's or Huntington's?

On today’s episode we share our personal insights and fears about knowing one's end and explore the societal and psychological aspects of such awareness. We’ll talk about resilience, the power of adversity, and the interplay between withholding awful truths, and sharing them for the sake of an informed decision.

Links:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iedtR1D1nso&ab_channel=YouTubeMovies

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8637428/

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-63791442

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/05/japan-death-row-inmates-sue-over-same-day-notification-of-execution-report

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34914723/

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2221673-the-farewell-explores-the-ethics-of-lying-about-a-cancer-diagnosis/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12542081/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21576638/

https://www.npr.org/2022/05/12/1097184110/death-row-inmates-execution-time

https://www.psychologicalscience.org/publications/observer/obsonline/memory-vibrancy-fades.html

https://www.apa.org/pubs/books/Living-on-Death-Row-Intro-Sample.pdf

Revenge is a dish best served cold. But in today’s episode, we’ll ask if it should be served at all. How healthy are grudges? What do we risk by harboring them? And why did two Frenchmen decide to settle their grudge over Paris, in air balloons, with blunderbusses?

Show Notes:

In the political world today, being able to stir up hatred and grudges can mean big business. Especially if you’re in the nightly news market. And if you’ve ever had an awful co-worker, planning your revenge can be both addictive, and entertaining. Which is why we’re focusing on grudges this episode. We’ll ask the question; how healthy is it to bear a grudge?

We’ll also explore if it’s human nature to plot revenge, and we’ll look at actionable tips on how to let go of your grudges. And, because it wouldn’t be the Re-Engineered You without a bit of wacky history, we’ll talk about the infamous 1808 balloon duel. An incident when two Parisian men picked a fight over a beautiful opera dancer, which led to a duel, in hot air balloons, with blunderbusses, half a mile over the city. This episode is the epitome of “Well, that escalated quickly…”

History Links:
https://www.geriwalton.com/a-french-balloon-due/
https://www.thevintagenews.com/2018/08/01/hot-air-balloon-duel/
Christian Quote about Resentment:
https://quoteinvestigator.com/2017/08/19/resentment/
Book of Days:
https://books.google.com.au/books?id=2LIMAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA809&dq=book+of+days+pique+grandpre&hl=en&sa=X&ei=hv-RT-H3HInsmAXUzITVAQ&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false
Irish Code Duello:
https://www.geriwalton.com/irish-dueling-code-or-irish-code-duello/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blunderbuss

Whether you got it from critical parents, a lackluster salary, or a physical defect—Low Self-Esteem is a growing issue in America today, and a booming industry. But could a tiny shift in values hyper-charge your feelings of worth?

From cosmetic surgery to trophies to health and age—we explore the vast landscape of self-esteem, both as an industry, and as a facet of our personality. It doesn’t matter how your self-esteem got wounded, because we’re going to help you build it back up. We’ll look at the peak age of self-esteem (spoiler: it’s older than you might think!) We’ll talk about money, and how big a role it actually plays in our happiness. And we’ll chat about exterior “fixes” that can trap you in low self-esteem cycles. And, as always, we’ll look at a figure from history who has lived every nightmare of self-worth imaginable. From drugs to depression, attempted suicide, and addiction, Rick Springfield has seen it all, and despite his chart-topping, earth-shattering success he says he still doubts his self-worth. What better model could we ask for?

History Links:

https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-05-19-ca-9588-story.html

https://nationalpost.com/afterword/worry-be-happy-rick-springfield-discusses-new-memoir-late-late-at-night

https://www.amazon.com/Late-at-Night-Rick-Springfield/dp/1439191158

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJI7C22UUZg

https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/954104/rick-springfield-addresses-suicide-attempt-facelift-in-new-memoir

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jessie%27s_Girl

https://www.loudersound.com/features/the-stories-behind-the-songs-rick-springfield-jessie-s-girl https://books.google.com/books?id=58whfHOwXd4C&pg=PA190&lpg=PA190&dq=rick+springfield+stole+buddhist+book+from+hotel&source=bl&ots=2U-LFOvohA&sig=ACfU3U3D3S49SWIbuKmzYN1FoT44otcGoQ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjlks342YDqAhUsRjABHS2VBDMQ6AEwAHoECAoQAQ#v=onepage&q=rick%20springfield%20stole%20buddhist%20book%20from%20hotel&f=false

Science Links: Trophy/Self Improvement/Plastic Surgery Figures:

https://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/25/opinion/losing-is-good-for-you.html?auth=login-google

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-market-for-self-improvement-products--services-289121641.html

https://www.plasticsurgery.org/news/press-releases/more-than-16-billion-spent-on-cosmetic-plastic-surgery Self-Esteem Studies

https://news.gallup.com/poll/9037/health-age-income-factor-into-americans-selfimage.aspx

https://time.com/5373095/self-esteem-highest-study/ https://www.apa.org/monitor/dec02/selfesteem

Local churches provide homeless outreach, school programs, and emergency aid. How much do Televangelists and Mega Churches give back to the public…?

America has a history of looking the other way where church money is involved. John Oliver of Last Week Tonight claimed the IRS has only audited two churches in two decades, and Christianity Today tells their congregants the IRS officially halted all tax audits on churches back in 2009. If true, this might explain why Mega Church pastors will not stop buying private jets with congregant money, and why so many of them live in multi-million-dollar mansions, totally tax free, under a loophole called the Parsonage Allowance.

What exactly do mega churches do with their money? Are mega church pastors little more than overpaid motivational speakers? Perhaps most importantly, how many of these mega churches spend more money on private jets than charity programs? The answers probably won’t shock you, but the stories and interview clips will.

Finally, we’ll discuss the elephant and the donkey in the room. If churches risk having their tax-free status revoked for backing a political candidate or encouraging members to vote red or blue…why are so many pastors turning political? How many of them have had their all-important 501 (c) (3) status revoked? And why did one evangelical preacher willingly dissolve his church’s tax exempt status?

Links:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LtF34MrsfI&ab_channel=InsideEdition

https://leadnet.org/salary-survey-now-closed-with-public-report-coming-in-august/

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/local/ozarks/now/2018/05/11/televangelist-jim-bakker-claims-ozarks-safest-during-apocalypse/596220002/

https://onlysky.media/hemant-mehta/preacher-claims-he-dissolved-his-churchs-tax-exemption-for-political-gain/

https://www.newsweek.com/evangelical-pastor-urges-christians-mobilize-fight-civil-war-against-left-wing-activists-1531827

https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/charitable-organizations/the-restriction-of-political-campaign-intervention-by-section-501c3-tax-exempt-organizations

Local churches provide homeless outreach, school programs, and emergency aid. How much do Televangelists and Mega Churches give back to the public…?

If you’re a tither then across denominations 10% of your annual income seems to be the standard for church donations. The Southern Baptist Convention, the Mormon Church, and the Catholic Link all say 10% off the top is just about right. Even the word ‘Tithe’ in Hebrew means 10% or “one tenth”. Baked into the word itself is the standard which churches think we should give. The tithe is also shockingly close to what Americans pay in taxes, apx 14%. So what do we get in return for our tithe? And why do the Mega Churches ask for so much more than 10%?

In our first half of the Mega Churches episode, we talk about a Washington University study that found the emotional secret sauce that kept Mega Church attendance high. Then we compare the “contagious” feeling the Mega Churchgoers experience to the slow, downhome experience of a local church. We’ll weed out the benefits of each, and put an economic value on the “peace of mind” provided by God’s house.

Does attending a Mega Church have the same psychological benefits of packing the pews at your local church? Would your 10% tithe be better spent on therapy? How much would we pay for the circus-and-concert feeling that a Sunday Mega Church gives us, if God wasn’t involved?

Links: https://www.reddit.com/r/mormon/comments/juqsig/i_stopped_paying_tithing_to_the_church_about_six/

https://www.reddit.com/r/Christianity/comments/vaqtsm/to_be_on_my_church_leadership_i_am_required_to/

https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/withheld-tithe-mormon-church-backlash-2022-3?op=1

https://religionnews.com/2020/12/23/why-i-stopped-tithing-to-the-lds-church/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/mormon-church-has-misled-members-on-100-billion-tax-exempt-investment-fund-whistleblower-alleges/2019/12/16/e3619bd2-2004-11ea-86f3-3b5019d451db_story.html

https://www.christianpost.com/news/churchome-forced-employees-to-tithe-10-lawsuit.html

https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/attending-religious-services-linked-to-longer-lives-study-shows

https://www.npr.org/2019/11/05/776270553/hidden-brain-does-going-to-church-improve-your-mental-health

https://medium.com/the-base-line/anxiety-among-the-church-26905d618933

Geniuses, creatives, and commoners can fall prey to alcoholism. But neuroscience may have found a uniting drive that pushes all mammals to pick up the bottle...a drive that writers have known about for decades.

Show Notes:

In 2018 The Atlantic published an article entitled A Landmark Study on the Origins of Alcoholism. For today’s episode we’ll dive into this study, and use it to start a conversation about how we perceive addiction in our society. Then we’ll use it as a lens to explore questions like; Does college drinking create alcoholics? Why are so many creative geniuses alcoholics? Why do scientists believe alcoholism has genetic links across all mammals? Am I an alcoholic? And does being an alcoholic make me fundamentally flawed?

We’ll also look at the dual image we share in America about alcoholics--the Troubled alcoholic vs the Good alcoholic--with interviews given by writer and recovered alcoholic, Stephen King.

History Links:

https://www.cracked.com/article_18786_the-5-most-inspiring-things-ever-accomplished-while-drunk.html

https://www.simplerecovery.com/stephen-kings-experience-with-alcoholism/

https://www.mamamia.com.au/stephen-king-books/

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/sep/21/stephen-king-shining-sequel-interview

Science Links:

https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2018/06/a-landmark-study-in-the-origins-of-alcoholism/563372/

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/alcoholic-cardiologist-prescribed-experimental-drug/

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/sep/21/stephen-king-shining-sequel-interview