Today Sophie and Steven helm the pod without Shannon, and lean hard into the self-care side of things (sorry Shan!). We welcome our first-ever podcast guest, comedian and writer Alex Song, to discuss the ways we take care of ourselves mentally and emotionally. We cover the ups and downs of therapy, the ocean as a metaphor for life, and how to best support the people around you. #jumpwhenthewavescome

Follow us on Instagram @thescienceofselfcare and if you want to reach out, send us an email at [email protected]

Hold onto your dunkaccinos—it's the coffee episode! Shannon embraces her maternal instincts and guides us through the science-backed pros and cons of caffeine as self-care. Steven brags about his work's coffee provisions and Sophie brags about finally being able to stomach it without...repercussions. We also fall in love with whatever "cafestol" is and do surprisingly well at guessing coffee facts.

Donate to our patreon! It's patreon.com/scienceofselfcare, and if you've got a self-care question you want answered on the pod, shoot us an email at [email protected].

You've asked and we've answered: all things CBD you need to know! It's Sophie's favorite desk buddy at work and Steven's go-to for "straight-to-mouth" time ;) Shannon gives us the lowdown plus some sage words of advice for all the CBD heads out there.

Chill out with us and donate to our Patreon at patreon.com/scienceofselfcare for just $1 a month! Then hit follow on Instagram, we're @thescienceofselfcare.

It's finally here—our crystals episode! We learn all the science-backed reasons why we're attracted to crystals, what they do for us, and how many ways we encounter them every day. Shannon and Steven's friendship is tested, Sophie searches for confidence, and we all fight over the validity of a saltine-themed study (but like, in a fun way).

Get sparkly with us at our Patreon page, patreon.com/scienceofselfcare and we'll reward you with extra episodes!

Music — ever heard of it? This week we learn all about the ways music can regulate our emotions, physically affect our bodies, and yes, arouse us. Steven gives us some incredible Madonna recommendations, Sophie tells a story about a woman in a hat, and Shannon makes us question whether playing music = being *into* music. We also conclude hospitals should come with sound booths for pumping up the jams (if that's what people want) and "Extreme Country" is a very real yet unofficial music genre.

Check out the Spotify playlist that comes with this episode! And while you're there, follow us!

We learn SO much in this episode! Shannon offers a deep dive on cupping—its types, benefits, nuances, and surprising connection to bloodletting (yikes!). Then we cup ourselves LIVE on the air for you! Don't worry, we offer a running commentary and hear even more about Steven's pain tolerance. Other things we learn: Sophie is related to Meredith Brooks and Shannon once had a "mealy" upper lip.

In this episode, we consider all the different parts of nature, from plants to sun to trees—and learn about how and why they affect us. Steven the plant king tends to his plants, Sophie the nature girl walks through the woods, and Shannon works undercover for big forest (or is it big highways?). We also create our own catchphrase and continue to refuse to Google anything.

What does our skin have in common with bagels? Listen to find out! Sophie and Steven discuss their forays into hydration with Shannon, who gives the 411 on the effect water has on everything from weight to wrinkles. We also chat about what you can do at home to stay #hydrated 24/7 without going overboard. Splish splash!

Was child-aged Shannon correct in thinking meditation was just drugs? Honestly, YEAH 100%. In this episode we learn about the effects of meditation on our brains and Steven and Sophie experiment with apps and in-person classes. Bottom line: get thicc (telomeres)!

Do we *really* need to sleep as much as we think? The answer is YES! Neuroscientist (and hardboiled egg) Shannon Odell joins wellness-obsessed comedians Steven Polletta and Sophie Yalkezian to crack open the science behind our sleep and the many reasons why we find ourselves awake at night. We also reveal the truth that Pixar's Inside Out is actually a documentary.

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