What is the economy, really? In this episode, we discuss the intricate maneuvering of goods, services, and decisions that shape our world. We'll unravel the myths, explore how government policies influence markets, and examine why inflation and wage growth often leave us feeling conflicted. Along the way, you'll discover that economics isn’t simple math—it’s human behavior, culture, and choices all rolled into one big, fascinating puzzle. Tune in to see how your morning coffee connects to the vast web of economic activity!

Recommendations

• Abraham: Alien: Romulus (https://www.20thcenturystudios.com/movies/alien-romulus) 
• Shane: The Shining (Book; https://stephenking.com/works/novel/shining.html)

Holidays for 12/18/24:

• Arabic Language Day
• Bake Cookies Day
• Flake Appreciation Day
• International Answer the Telephone Like Buddy the Elf Day
• International Migrants Day
• National Ham Salad Day
• National Twin Day
• National Wear a Plunger on Your Head Day
• Christmas Bird Count Week
• Cookie Exchange Week
• Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over (Winter Enforcement)
• Gluten-Free Baking Week
• Saturnalia

Links and References: 

1. https://www.investopedia.com/terms/e/economy.asp
2. https://youtu.be/2YULdjmg3o0?si=B_SvNG8vMFDkddML
3. https://www.investopedia.com/economy-4689801
4. https://globalpeoservices.com/top-15-countries-by-gdp-in-2024/
5. https://www.investopedia.com/gdp-growth-by-president-8604042
6. https://youtu.be/2YULdjmg3o0?si=8ohYgtoD73w1fQQO
7. https://ocw.mit.edu/courses/14-03-microeconomic-theory-and-public-policy-fall-2016/pages/instructor-insights/common-misconceptions-about-economics/
8. https://www.sbsun.com/2021/10/20/the-3-indicators-of-economic-well-being-and-what-they-really-tell-us/
9. https://www.npr.org/transcripts/1197965022

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This discussion is a brief follow up to our episode reacting to the recent, 2024 US election (likely a series of minis we will continue as things unfold). We attempt peer into the crystal ball to forecast how the next administration might employ dangerous, sweeping censorship tactics, leaving us all guessing what’s really happening at home and abroad. From transparency to misinformation, we unpack what could be a wild ride for free speech and global awareness—with just a dash of humor to keep it bearable.

Join our members! www.patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast

We are now on BlueSky @wwdwwdpodcast.bsky.social

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

Cutting to the chase... we discuss vasectomies: what they are, why they work, and why some folks say they’re the best thing since sliced… tubes. With myth-busting, fun facts, and a dash of humor, it’s a snippy conversation you won’t want to miss :) 

Recommendations

• Abraham: “Randomize” by Andy Weir (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49661162-randomize)
• Shane: Gideon’s Bakehouse (https://gideonsbakehouse.com/)

Holidays 12/11/24:

• Holiday Food Drive for Needy Animals Day
• International Mountain Day
• Kaleidoscope Day
• Magnum P.I. Day
• National App Day
• National Have a Bagel Day
• National Noodle Ring Day
• UNICEF Birthday
• Computer Science Education Week
• Human Rights Week
• Lager Beer Week
• National Groundwater Awareness Week

Links and References: 

1. https://www.urologyhealth.org/urology-a-z/v/vasectomy
2. https://www.nm.org/healthbeat/healthy-tips/Surprising-Facts-About-Vasectomies
3. https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/birth-control/vasectomy
4. https://www.uchicagomedicine.org/forefront/surgery-articles/vasectomy-trends-research
5. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9972380/
6. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nsfg/key_statistics/v.htm
7. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/4423-vasectomy
8. https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/vasectomy/about/pac-20384580
9. https://www.yalemedicine.org/conditions/vasectomy#:~:text=About%20500%2C000%20men%20a%20year,a%20partner's%20vasectomy%20surgery%2C%20Dr.
10. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4274458/

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Some people have a real problem with buts. Many of the popular airmchair psychologists love to delivery quick, simple heuristics as panacea and life-coaching advice. The idea that we shouldn't use "but" in our language is an unfortunately and non-functional tool in their arsenal. We explain why it is both conceptually and practically incorrect, and still offer that these hucksters recommendations aren't all bad, just misguided. 

Join our membership program! www.patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast
Listen to our podcast on spreaker!
https://www.spreaker.com/episode/mini-035-i-m-sorry-but--63230377
Or download it here: 
https://api.spreaker.com/v2/episodes/63230377/download.mp3

Talk to us on social media
@wwdwwdpodcast
@wwdwwdpodcast.bsky.social


Links and references from this episode: 

1. https://medium.com/@mcpflug/using-the-word-but-a-brief-guide-to-sincerity-clarity-ab311a2af6a6#:~:text=to%20sincerity%20&%20clarity-,Mary%20Catherine%20Pflug,afford%20one%2C%20but%20not%20both.
2. https://anchorlighttherapy.com/avoid-but-in-communication-use-and-instead/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CI%20know%20you%20are%20tired,things%20are%20moving%20too%20fast.%E2%80%9D
3. https://anchorlighttherapy.com/avoid-but-in-communication-use-and-instead/

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

Welcome to the new dictatorship! In this discussion, we reflect on the recent US election and the factors that contributed to the surprising shift in the electorate. We also speculate about the future given the proposed policies of the incoming administration. Prepare for doom and gloom with as much skeptical critical thinking as we can bring to this kind of activity.

Recommendations

• Abraham: Boycott bad people and businesses
• Shane: Pod Save America ( https://crooked.com/podcast-series/pod-save-america/)

Holidays (12/04/24)

• Cabernet Franc Day
• Extraordinary Work Team Recognition Day
• International Cheetah Day
• National Cookie Day
• National Dice Day
• National Package Protection Day
• National Sock Day
• Santa’s List Day
• Wear Brown Shoes Day
• Women Wednesday
• World Wildlife Conservation Day
• Cookie Cutter Week
• National Hand Washing Awareness Week
• National Influenza Vaccination Week
• National Older Driver Safety Awareness Week
• National Car Donation Month
• National Pear Month
• National Tie Month
• Root Vegetables and Exotic Fruits Month

Links and References: 

1. https://navigatorresearch.org/2024-post-election-survey-the-reasons-for-voting-for-trump-and-harris/
2. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/much-grocery-prices-increased-since-140029491.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAACJYI_G5bXmqGia5OeGDdwx9t1lJQQfLw_Pnj6hmbzUA2ALHnjQ5zLTuySR43KU1fVoG5TJM0nBbw2a792cvwRzh2GCd0I27apGiiuLwB0A6GJkAS0MAAW7qVHbDYuuyBHryp_mM8Wt_ECtFK8sDBC2lol__C9JI0N-QQ6d6Gmhj
3. https://www.theglobalist.com/united-states-donald-trump-germany-adolf-hitler-dictatorship-propaganda-politics/
4. https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-how-change-vote-election-day-1984939

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A lot of people like to share what they believe is the definition of insanity. What the definition of insanity is NOT is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. That is logically incoherent and also just not the definition of insanity. We'll explore where that saying comes from and what the actual definition of insanity is.

Support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast

Links and References: 

1. https://www.businessinsider.com/misattributed-quotes-2013-10
2. https://www.history.com/news/here-are-6-things-albert-einstein-never-said

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

How do filmmakers manipulate our emotions and perceptions with just a few cuts? This episode unpacks the Kuleshov Effect, a groundbreaking discovery that revolutionized editing and storytelling in cinema. From Brad Pitt’s infamous “What’s in the box?!” scene in Seven to Pixar’s emotional masterwork Inside Out, we explore how juxtaposing shots creates meaning, evokes emotion, and shapes narrative. We also delve into modern critiques and surprising insights, proving that even the simplest edits can wield extraordinary power—or maybe just leave us scratching our heads.

Recommendations

• Abraham: Crime Scene Kitchen (season 3; https://www.fox.com/crime-scene-kitchen/)
• Shane:  The Art Thief by Michael Finkel (https://www.michaelfinkel.com/books/the-art-thief/)

Holidays (11/27/24):

• Thanksgiving tomorrow!
• Blackout Wednesday
• National Bavarian Cream Pie Day
• National Craft Jerky Day
• National Electric Guitar Day
• National Jukebox Day
• National Pins and Needles Day
• Pie in the Face Day
• Spitegiving
• Tie One On Day
• Turtle Adoption Day
• What Do you Love About America Day
• Better Conversation Week
• Church/State Separation Week
• GERD Awareness Week
• National Adoption Week
• National Deal Week
• National Family Week
• National Farm-City Week
• National Game & Puzzle Week

Links and References: 

1. https://nofilmschool.com/Kuleshov-effect-definition
2. Emotion Recognition and ASD:
   • Baron-Cohen, S., Wheelwright, S., & Jolliffe, T. (1997). Is there a "Language of the Eyes"? Cognitive Science, 21(1), 67-93.
   • Harms, M. B., Minshew, N. J., & Behrmann, M. (2010). Toward a Selective Social Cognition Profile in Autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 40(7), 949-958.
3. Perspective-Taking and Theory of Mind:
   • Happe, F., & Frith, U. (1996). The cognitive analysis of social behaviour. Cognition, 50(1-2), 115-129.
   • Saxe, R., & Kanwisher, N. (2003). People thinking about thinking people: The role of the temporoparietal junction in "theory of mind." NeuroImage, 19(4), 1835-1842.
4. Visual Processing in ASD:
   • Plaisted, K., O'Riordan, M., & Baron-Cohen, S. (1998). Enhanced discrimination of novel, but not familiar, stimuli by individuals with autism. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 39(5), 765-775.
   • Wang, A. T., & Lu, H. (2016). Visual Processing in Autism: A Review of the Literature. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 70, 83-93.
5. Social Learning and Media Exposure:
   • Moore, C., & Dunham, P. J. (1995). Joint Attention: Its Origins and Role in Development. Psychology Press.
   • Solomon, M., & Bruckner, C. (2012). Media and Social Learning in Autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 42(12), 2617-2626.
6. Psychology:
   • McHugo, G. J., et al. (2013). The Role of Context in Emotion Recognition: A Review of the Literature. Emotion, 13(2), 236-249.
   • Beck, J. S. (2011). Cognitive Behavior Therapy: Basics and Beyond. Guilford Press.
   • Baird, A. A., & Gernsbacher, M. A. (2003). The Role of Emotion in Communicative Context. Cognitive Science, 27(4), 581-600.
   • Sussman, A. L., et al. (2003). The Influence of Context on Emotion Recognition: A Review. Emotion, 3(4), 399-411.
   • Goleman, D. (1995). Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ. Bantam Books.
7. ABA:
   • Carr, E. G., & Durand, V. M. (1985). Reducing Behavior Problems Through Functional Communication Training. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 18(2), 111-126.
   • Smith, T. (2001). Discrete Trial Training in the Treatment of Autism. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 16(2), 86-92.
   • Leaf, J. B., et al. (2016). Social Skills Assessment and Training for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Behavioral Interventions, 31(4), 461-475.
   • Cooper, J. O., Heron, T. E., & Heward, W. L. (2007). Applied Behavior Analysis. Pearson.
   • Odom, S. L., et al. (2010). Evidence-Based Practices in Interventions for Children and Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 25(3), 158-169.
8. Kuleshov, L. (1970). "The Principles of Film Form." In Film Theory and Criticism: Introductory Readings (p. 43-46). New York: Oxford University Press.
9. https://omny.fm/shows/stuff-to-blow-your-mind/from-the-vault-the-kuleshov-effect-part-2

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

It's these silly little questions that we don't think about, but are curious to hear the answer. We can estimate how many books someone reads by figuring out how long books are, how fast people read, how many books they tend to read in a year, and how many years they are likely to live. Depending on who you are, that number yields a pretty big range. But probably less than you might have thought..? Listen in and find out!

Become a member: www.patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast

Links and References: 

1. https://lithub.com/how-many-books-will-you-read-before-you-die/
2. https://www.ssa.gov/OACT/population/longevity.html
3. https://scholarwithin.com/average-reading-speed#:~:text=read%2020%20pages.-,Adult%20Average%20Reading%20Speed,of%20300%20words%20per%20minute.
4. https://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/dec/10/are-books-getting-longer-survey-marlon-james-hanya-yanagihara
5. https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2016/09/01/book-reading-2016-appendix-a/
6. https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/average-books-read-per-year-by-country

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

Some arguments are so bad that if even they were right, they'd be wrong. In this discussion, we unpack a specific example of criminally poor arguments. We take a couple of paragraphs and dismantal each argument. Perhaps this will even give you some ideas for how to take apart weak arguments that you encounter. 

Recommendations

• Abraham: Inside Out 2  (https://movies.disney.com/inside-out-2)
• Shane: Upgrade by Blake Crouch (https://blakecrouch.com/books/upgrade/)

Holidays 11/20/24:

• African Industrialization Day
• Beautiful Day
• Future Teachers of America Day
• Globally Organized Hug a Runner Day (G.O.H.A.R.D.)
• Name your PC Day
• National Absurdity Day
• National Peanut Butter Fudge Day
• Transgender Day of Remembrance
• Universal Children’s Day
• American Education Week
• International Fraud Awareness Week
• International Restorative Justice Week
• National Geography Awareness Week
• World Antimicrobial Awareness Week

Links and References: 

1. https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/animals/animals-a-to-z/deep-sea-anglerfish#:~:text=At%20the%20end%20of%20the,bioluminescence%20in%20the%20deep%20sea.
2. https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Lophius_piscatorius/#:~:text=Anglerfish%20inhabit%20the%20ocean%20at,low%20as%20the%20continental%20shelf.
3. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022098119304836
4. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/hurricanes-make-lizards-evolve-bigger-toe-pads-180974772/
5. https://www.caltech.edu/about/news/a-beetle-gland-illustrates-how-new-organs-evolve#:~:text=An%20ideal%20organism%20to%20address,spray%20predators%20with%20toxic%20chemicals.
6. https://www.bbc.com/news/health-61045950
7. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/human-sea-nomads-may-have-evolved-to-be-the-worlds-elite-divers/

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

What is the deal with revolving doors? How are they trying to control us? Who's behind the cabal of big revolving doors? Just kidding :) There are some very practical reasons for revolving doors, and it's a thing we made as a species, so it's a thing we talk about as a podcast. 

Become a member at patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast

Links: 

1. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/computer-science/revolving-door#:~:text=Revolving%20doors%20consist%20of%20three,be%20manually%20or%20automatically%20operated.
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revolving_door#:~:text=In%20right%2Dhand%20traffic%20countries,rotations%20are%20mixed%20in%20Britain.
3. https://godoors.com.au/blog/purpose-of-revolving-doors/#:~:text=As%20the%20doors%20rotate%2C%20this,with%20heating%20and%20air%20conditioning.

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