Do you bite your fingernails or know someone who does? Why do we do this weird, self-destructive thing? What can we do to stop it? We quickly explore the conditions under which we bite our fingernails and some strategies for reducing the frequency of this habit. Tell us your experiences with nail biting ([email protected]; ‪@wwdwwdpodcast.bsky.social‬)

Join our supporter's club: patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast

Links: 

1. https://www.news-medical.net/health/The-Psychology-Behind-Nail-Biting.aspx
2. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/nail-biting-when-does-it-go-too-far
3. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3004689/

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/why-we-do-what-we-do--3419521/support.

Tipping is another oddly American tradition that we all pretty universally hate. Perhaps you did not know that the modern conception of tipping arose during reconstruction as a means to not have to pay black people for their labor. We explore the origins of this strange, uniquely American tradition, why it persists, and what is probably going to make this problem much, much worse. 

Recommendations

• Abraham: Unconscious Mind (https://luckyduckgames.com/usa/?srsltid=AfmBOor3zWBbHAlhJyg2tsekDN2j6PpVGbsEfOw5nXwKAJYmT7PnPmJV)
• Shane: Hotline TNT - Raspberry Moon (https://open.spotify.com/album/3MVdeSmUl32TTzLy6dFFtZ?si=tD1AgdpJRkSxi6kRIekR6Q)

Holidays (7/9/2025):

• Call of the Horizon
• Fashion Day
• Martyrdom of the Bab
• National Don’t Put All your Eggs in One Omelet Day
• National No Bra Day
• National Sugar Cookie Day
• Durian Fruit Day
• National Dimples Day
• Argentina’s Independence Day
• Wimbledon
• Rabbit Week
• Air Conditioning Appreciation Days
• Be Nice to New Jersey Week
• Dog Days of Summer
• Freedom Week
• National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee Week
• National Farriers Week
• Shark Week

Links and References: 

1. https://www.gutenberg.org/files/33170/33170-h/33170-h.htm
2. https://www.7shifts.com/blog/history-of-tipping-restaurants/
3. https://www.povertylaw.org/article/the-racist-history-behind-americas-tipping-culture/
4. https://www.foodwoolf.com/2010/08/history-of-tipping.html
5. https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20230606-how-to-tip-around-the-world
6. https://www.westernunion.com/blog/en/global-tipping-guide/?cust_src=organic_search
7. https://time.com/5404475/history-tipping-american-restaurants-civil-war/ 
8. https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/tip-sheet/ 
9. https://www.paycor.com/resource-center/articles/minimum-wage-tipped-employees-by-state/
10. https://www.dol.gov/general/topic/wages/minimumwage 

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/why-we-do-what-we-do--3419521/support.

Some people use this term incorretly, some don't know it at all. To help get everyone on the same page, we are going to review the history of research that first described this phenomenon. Then, we will give examples of what this might look like in real-life scenarios. 

Get ad-free and bonus content: www.patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast

Links and References: 

1. Cooper, J. O., Heron, T. E., & Heward, W. L. (2020). Applied Behavior Analysis, 3rd Ed. Pearson.
2. Seligman, M. E., & Maier, S. F. (1967). Failure to escape traumatic shock. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 74(1), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0024514
3. Maier, S.F., Seligman, M.E.P., & Solomon, R.L. (1969). Pavlovian fear conditioning and learned helplessness: Effects on escape and avoidance behavior of (a) the CS-US contingency, and (b) the independence of the US and voluntary responding. In: Campbell BA, Church RM, editors. Punishment. New York, NY: Appleton-Century-Crofts; pp. 299–342

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/why-we-do-what-we-do--3419521/support.

Special guests Jennifer Farris, Meg Solomon, and Dr. Mari Cerda join us to talk about their new book about developing a compassionate care model. They outline the critical elemtents of their discussion, and share personal stories to help illustrate their recommendations. At the end, they join us in giving their own recommendations for things that bring them joy. We could all use a little more joy. 

Find the Book Here:
https://www.amazon.com/Reframe-Framework-Developing-Compassionate-Instructional/dp/1300540478?source=ps-sl-shoppingads-lpcontext&ref_=fplfs&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

Recommendations:
Dr. Mari Cerda: Mindful moments outside; Shrinking (TV show; 
Meg Solomon: Moody by Royel Otis (https://youtu.be/twM4KF99yd0?si=Z_BsmNfDJFd_amiT) and Murderbot (https://tv.apple.com/us/show/murderbot/umc.cmc.5owrzntj9v1gpg31wshflud03)
Jennifer Farris: Wellfleet Oysters with Brut Champagne
Shane: Talking to Strangers by Malcom Gladwell (https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/talking-to-strangers-malcolm-gladwell/1130509634)
Abraham: The Things We Tell Ourselves in the Dark (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FdXmAPM8u4) 

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/why-we-do-what-we-do--3419521/support.

Can you walk around being skeptical all day long? At what point do you need to let your guard down? We suggest that not only can you go about your day being skeptical, it is better if you do. We'll explain.

Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast

Links: 

1. https://www.theskepticsguide.org/

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/why-we-do-what-we-do--3419521/support.

There is a unique type of brain trauma that destroys lives and cuts them short and we can't even tell that it has happened until after your death. Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy occurs when there is repeated head trauma, even if it is mild. The result can manifest as forgetfulness, impulsivity, violence, and an early death. Mercifully, it is relatively preventable. Unfortunately, few people care to prevent it. Protect Your Brain!

Recommendations:

• Abraham: Mickey 17 (https://www.max.com/movies/mickey-17/fbe17356-9db7-4ab3-928e-32978e0cfbc7) 
• Shane: 1908 Bakery (https://bakery1908.com/)

Holidays (6/25/2025):

• Bourdain Day
• Color TV Day
• Day of the Seafarer
• Global Beatles Day
• National Catfish Day
• National Strawberry Parfait Day
• School Prayer Banned Anniversary
• World Vitiligo Day
• Amateur Radio Week
• Boys and Girls Club Week
• Fish are Friends, Not Food Week
• National Body Piercing Week
• National Insect Week
• National Lightning Safety Awareness Week

Links and References: 

1. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/chronic-traumatic-encephalopathy/symptoms-causes/syc-20370921
2. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/chronic-traumatic-encephalopathy/
3. https://medicine.iu.edu/expertise/traumatic-brain-injury/what-is-chronic-traumatic-encephalopathy
4. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17686-chronic-traumatic-encephalopathy-cte
5. https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/what-is-dementia/related_conditions/chronic-traumatic-encephalopathy
6. https://www.headstrongconcussion.com/history-of-cte
7. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/260461
8. https://academic.oup.com/brain/article/141/1/318/4774567
9. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277953619306835#:~:text=22,of%20their%20respective%20patient%20populations.
10. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acschemneuro.7b00291#:~:text=High%20Resolution%20Image,%2C%20extreme%20sports%2C%20etc.)
11. https://steemit.com/steemiteducation/@cabbagepatch/an-american-tragedy-story-of-mike-webster-pro-hall-of-famer-and-cte 
12. https://www.massgeneralbrigham.org/en/about/newsroom/press-releases/study-finds-1-in-3-former-nfl-players-believe-they-have-cte 
13. https://www.ucs.org/resources/nfl-tried-intimidate-scientists-studying-link-between-pro-football-and-traumatic-brain 

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/why-we-do-what-we-do--3419521/support.

Sometimes we have some random twitches that develop out of nowhere. What is going on with these? Why do they happen? And, what can we do about it? We explore the uncomfortable world of twitches. Fun fact, these are technically different from spasms. 

Become a member: Patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast

Links and References: 

1. https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/symptoms/muscle-twitching#:~:text=Muscle%20twitching%20is%20caused%20by,of%20a%20nervous%20system%20disorder.
2. https://www.webmd.com/brain/ss/slideshow-twitches-spasms-causes
3. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324641

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/why-we-do-what-we-do--3419521/support.

Replacement theory is essentially a propaganda campaign engineered to scare gullible people into giving power to autocrats. Versions of this have been around for a long time. We review the history of replacement theory, explain how it works to trick people into voting against their interests (and the interests of everyone else), and what we can do about it. 

Recommendations

• Abraham: Wool (https://hughhowey.com/books/wool/)
• Shane: Turnstile - NEVER ENOUGH (https://open.spotify.com/album/52yD51X7yDinwlg6tbCtpP?si=LoE11WYfRfygXQaUwd2Ceg)

Holidays (06/18/25):

• Autistic Pride Day
• Go Fishing Day
• International Panic Day
• International Picnic Day
• International Sushi Day
• National Cheesemaker’s Day
• National Cherry Tart Day
• National Splurge Day
• Animal Rights Awareness Week
• Carpenter Ant Awareness Week
• Learning Disabilities Week
• National Roller Coaster Week
• Take Your Dog to Work Week
• Wobbly Week

Links and References: 

1. https://immigrationforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Replacement-Theory-Explainer-1122.pdf
2. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/what-is-great-replacement-theory-and-how-does-it-fuel-racist-violence
3. https://theconversation.com/what-is-the-great-replacement-theory-a-scholar-of-race-relations-explains-224835
4. https://www.splcenter.org/resources/hatewatch/racist-great-replacement-conspiracy-theory-explained/
5. https://www.ajc.org/translatehate/great-replacement 
6. https://www.adl.org/resources/backgrounder/great-replacement-explainer 
7. https://hias.org/news/deep-dive-great-replacement-theory/
8. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jun/08/a-deadly-ideology-how-the-great-replacement-theory-went-mainstream

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/why-we-do-what-we-do--3419521/support.

One of the most common strategies of current right-wing propaganda is to say something that sounds like reasonable words, but when you break it down it is misleading, misinformed, outright wrong, or even dangerous. One example of this is a recent suggestion that we start using placebo-controlled experimental arrangements for established vaccines. This is fairly simple to dismantle, so buckle in for a quick and dirty takedown of the placebo-controlled vaccine studies stupid nonsense. 

Support us on patreon: patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast

Links and References: 

1. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4157320/
2. https://www.statnews.com/2025/05/22/vaccines-placebo-controlled-trials-hhs-clinical-research-ethics/
3. https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2025/05/placebo-testing-vaccines-is-unethical-a-waste-of-time-and-money-expert-says/?fj=1

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/why-we-do-what-we-do--3419521/support.

Science is not perfect, because it is human. But it is strives for correction, unlike almost any other human institution or endeavor. Much of what science does at the basic level can feel absurd, esoteric, and pointless. Sometimes, it is. But funding basic scientific research is the reason we have made more progress in the last 150 years than the previous 3,000 years combined. Let's continue making strides forward with our values in mind: fund basic science research!

Recommendations

• Abraham: The Stormlight Archive: Wind and Truth (https://www.brandonsanderson.com/pages/the-stormlight-archive-series)
• Shane: Y: The Last Man (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Y:_The_Last_Man)

Holidays (6/11/2025):

• Corn on the Cob Day
• Cousteau Day
• Dirty Book Day
• International Yarn Bombing
• Kamehameha Day
• National Cotton Candy Day
• National German Chocolate Cake Day
• National Making Life Beautiful Day
• California State Parks Week
• Community Health Improvement Week (CHI)
• Meet a Mate Week
• National Clay Week
• National Little League Baseball Week
• National Pet Wedding Week
• Shampoo Week

Links and References: 

1. https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/minute/Senator_William_Proxmire.htm 
2. https://www.aei.org/economics/in-praise-of-science-investment-especially-basic-research/
3. https://www.goldengooseaward.org/our-gaggle
4. https://www.goldengooseaward.org/01awardees/nanopores
5. https://www.aau.edu/newsroom/leading-research-universities-report/new-research-suggests-returns-federal-investments-rd 
6. https://www.americanprogress.org/article/the-high-return-on-investment-for-publicly-funded-research/
7. https://www.goldengooseaward.org/01awardees/the-maser
8. https://www.goldengooseaward.org/01awardees/frog-skin-cholera 

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/why-we-do-what-we-do--3419521/support.