Why We Do What We Do

How many names do you have? In America, it is very common to have three names, with the second name, called the "middle name," being a way to honor family, or just sound cool. We explain the history and uses of middle names. Listen in and support us if you can: www.patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast

Links and Reference: 

1. https://blog.myheritage.com/2024/10/exploring-the-diverse-origins-of-middle-names-from-tradition-to-trend/
2. https://www.plansponsor.com/trivial-pursuits-middle-names-first-used/
3. https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/why-no-middle-names.htm

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We are giving away the secret sauce. This is how to teach reading in Enlighs and how to do it efficiently. It's the rare trifecta of quick, cheap, and good. This first discussion needs to first carefully explain what reading is so that it is clear how teaching it works. Come back for part two to hear the builk of the sequence of curriculum. 

Recommendations

• Metal Lords: https://www.netflix.com/title/81207588
• Shane: Bon Iver - SABLE,fABLE (https://open.spotify.com/album/3L3UjpXtom6T0Plt1j6l1T?si=8mIX_zWwTia7NCex2xq67g)

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

Holidays (4/23/2025):

• Administrative Professional’s Day
• Canada Book Day
• English Language Day
• Impossible Astronaut Day
• International Pixel-stained Technopeasant Day
• Lover’s Day
• Movie Theatre Day
• National Cherry Cheesecake Day
• National Lost Dog Awareness Day
• National Picnic Day
• Slay a Dragon Day
• Take a Chance Day
• Spanish Language Day
• Talk Like Shakespeare Day
• American Quilters Society Week
• Chemists Celebrate Earth Day
• Every Kid Healthy Week
• International Mariachi Week
• National Karaoke Week
• Holocaust Remembrance Week

Links and References: 

1. https://www.mheducation.com/prek-12/resources/science-of-literacy.html#:~:text=Let's%20start%20thinking%20in%20terms,readers%2C%20writers%2C%20and%20thinkers.
2. https://www.thereadingleague.org/what-is-the-science-of-reading/#:~:text=The%20science%20of%20reading%20is%20a%20vast%2C%20interdisciplinary%20body%20of,School%20Psychology
3. https://www.reallygreatreading.com/blog/scarboroughs-reading-rope?srsltid=AfmBOopp-Hyjo_pG4GWpfCGsXJJgUgy2ca7hHNWZn8coyLQYFY3hytah 

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Support our podcast: www.patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast

The idea of holding someone hostage had to start somewhere. Actually, it started much more peacefully than what it evolved into. This episode is an exploration of the history of a word by reviewing Norse mythology. It is a blast, if we do say so ourselves. You're welcome.

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Links: 

1. https://norse-mythology.org/tales/the-aesir-vanir-war/#:~:text=The%20Aesir%20fought%20by%20the,cheated%20in%20the%20hostage%20exchange.
2. https://www.etymonline.com/word/hostage
3. https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/hostage#:~:text=Definitions%20of%20hostage,captive%2C%20prisoner
4. https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/short-reads/article/3244331/how-word-hostage-used-mean-something-quite-different-its-modern-definition-israel-gaza-war-rumbles

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Support our podcast: www.patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast

Special guest, journalist Ben Miller, joins us to talk about journalism compared to other forms of "news" and the importance of journalism to a functioning democracy. What do we do to combat the slew of misinformation propogated by real and false "journalists?" Ben has some ideas. Listen in and share your thoughts with us. 

Recommendations

• A Complete Unknown (https://www.searchlightpictures.com/a-complete-unknown)
• Doctor Sleep by Stephen King (https://stephenking.com/works/novel/doctor-sleep.html) 

Join our membership program: www.patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast

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

Support our podcast: www.patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast

Everyone knows these squishly, novelty door prizes. Stress balls are touted as being able to help reduce your stress via the mechanical action of squeezing. Do they work to this end? Maybe! We'll explain in this brief, Monday mini. 

Join our membership: www.patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast

Links: 

1. Yüksel & Güneş (2024). The Effect of Stress Ball on Anxiety and Pain Levels in Angiography: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Cardiovascular Therapeutics. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1155/2024/5049092
2. https://www.paperstone.co.uk/News/articles/stress_ball#:~:text=In%201988%20Carswell%20patented%20the,the%20palm%20of%20the%20hand.
3. Srivarsan, R. and Sridevi, G. and Preetha, S. (2021) An Evaluation on Use of Stress Ball Exercise on Stress Management among Student Population – A Cross Section Study. Journal of Pharmaceutical Research International, 33 (47B). pp. 506-514. ISSN 2456-9119
4. https://minds.wisconsin.edu/handle/1793/80293
5. Kasar, Erzincanli, & Akbas (2020). The effect of a stress ball on stress, vital signs and patient comfort in hemodialysis patients: A randomized controlled trial. Complimentary Therapies in Clinical Practice.
6. Nurdina, G., Anggraini, D. ., Herdiman, & Hilda Novyanda. (2022). Effect of Stress Ball on Stress and Anxiety in Hemodialysis Patients . Jurnal Keperawatan Komprehensif (Comprehensive Nursing Journal), 8(Special Edition). Retrieved from https://journal.stikep-ppnijabar.ac.id/index.php/jkk/article/view/385
7. https://www.healthline.com/health/stress/do-stress-balls-work#effectiveness
8. https://www.calm.com/blog/stress-balls
9. https://www.brownmed.com/uncategorized/do-stress-balls-really-work/ 

Ozen, N., Berse, S., & Tosun, B. (2023). Effects of using a stress ball on anxiety and depression in patients undergoing hemodialysis: A prospective, balanced, single-blind, crossover study. Hemodialysis international. International Symposium on Home Hemodialysis, 27(4), 411–418. https://doi.org/10.1111/hdi.13102

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Support our podcast: www.patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast

A lot is made of the potential benefits of massage. Unfortunately, the camp has established firm roots to a lot of other pseudoscience. There seems to be legitimate benefits to getting massage, even beyond the fact that they make us feel good. Let's do the good science to see how we can leverage massage to help the people who would benefit from it the most. And booooo pseudoscience.

Recommendations

• Abraham: My Old Ass (https://www.mgm.com/movies/my-old-ass)
• Shane: Whiplash (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2582802/) 

Holidays (04/09/25):

• Appomattox Day
• Chinese Almond Cookie Day
• Day of the Finnish Language
• International ASRM Day
• International Day of Pink
• Jenkins Ear Day
• Jumbo Day
• Name Yourself Day
• National Cherish an Antique Day
• National Chicken Little Awareness Day
• National Dive Bar Day
• National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day
• National Gin and Tonic Day
• National Unicorn Day
• Winston Churchill Day
• Bat Appreciation Week
• Be Kind to Spiders Week
• Explore Your Career Options Week
• International Trombone Week
• National Bake Week
• National Dental Hygienist Week
• National Oral, Head, and Neck Cancer Awareness Week
• National Robotics Week

Links and References:

• https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/lifespan-perspectives/202201/massage-therapy-mental-health
• https://www.nuhs.edu/4-mental-benefits-of-massage-therapy/
• https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/massage-for-depression-anxiety-and-stress
• https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6715325/
• https://www.apa.org/monitor/julaug02/massage
• https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Qais-Gasibat/publication/318929943_Determining_the_Benefits_of_Massage_Mechanisms_A_Review_of_Literature/links/59862ea5aca27266ad9f7178/Determining-the-Benefits-of-Massage-Mechanisms-A-Review-of-Literature.pdf?_sg%5B0%5D=started_experiment_milestone&origin=journalDetail
• https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1836955315000582
• https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/acm.2011.0643
• https://www.painscience.com/articles/massage-therapy-side-effects.php
• https://www.grandeprairiephysiotherapy.com/what-are-the-cons-and-pros-of-massage-therapy
• https://www.benimassage.com/risks-of-massage/
• https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/deep-tissue-massage-benefits
• https://massageluxe.com/franchise_blog/spa-owner-salary/#:~:text=Recent%20research%20indicates%20massage%20therapy%20is%20an,industry%20projections%20that%20were%20set%20in%202005. 
• https://www.concorde.edu/blog/rich-history-massage-therapy 
• https://www.healthline.com/health/how-to-increase-oxytocin#massage 
• Rapaport, M. H., Schettler, P. J., Larson, E. R., Carroll, D., Sharenko, M., Nettles, J., & Kinkead, B. (2018). Massage Therapy for Psychiatric Disorders. Focus (American Psychiatric Publishing), 16(1), 24–31. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.focus.20170043
• Müller-Oerlinghausen, B., & Eggart, M. (2020). Touch Research-Quo Vadis? A Plea for High-Quality Clinical Trials. Brain sciences, 11(1), 25. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11010025

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Support our podcast: www.patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast

A signed copy of a first edition book might fetch you a high price down the road. But why? How does a signature increase the resale value of a book when it doesn't even increase the MSRP of a book? Is it even worth it for authors to spend dozens or even hundreds of hours signing books? We talk about the effect of authors signatures on books and why it increases the value and desirability. 

Join our supporter group!
www.patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast

Links and References: 

1. https://www.thebarefootwriter.com/map-your-book-blog/is-a-book-signing-worth-it#:~:text=Book%20signings%20help%20grow%20public,formal%20events%2C%20like%20speaking%20engagements.
2. https://goldsborobooks.com/blogs/news/what-makes-a-signed-first-edition-valuable 

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

Support our podcast: www.patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast

Our second discussion regarding houselessness we finish our review of some of the myths of houselessness as well as some potential solutions. It is a complicated issue, but this means that it will require nuanced, and idiosyncratic solutions. Let's remember our humanity and compassion when considering the people who have the least, and use our best tool, science, to help us resolve the issue. 

Recommendations:

• Abraham: Finspan (https://store.stonemaiergames.com/products/finspan?srsltid=AfmBOordNx6Zp2EQyajI3Av2WWtwa8tw5OlC7kkS1c7YJkgLUibO1XOf)
• Shane: Saturday Night (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27657135/)

Holidays (for Part 2) (4/2/2025)

• Global Day of the Engineer
• International Fact-Checking Day
• National Day of Hope
• National Ferret Day
• National Love your Produce Manager Day
• National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day
• National Walking Day
• Paraprofessional Appreciation Day
• Pascua Florida Day
• Reconciliation Day
• World Autism Awareness Day
• American Crossword Puzzle Week
• APAWS International Pooper Scooper Week
• Golden Rule Week
• Laugh at Work Week
• Medication Safety Week
• Testicular Cancer Awareness Week
• National Pickleball Month
• Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month
• National Brunch Month
• National Child Abuse Prevention Month
• National Humor Month
• National Autism Awareness Month (or Acceptance Month)

Links and References: 

1. https://backpackbed.org/us/facts-about-homelessness/?gad_source=1
2. https://nvhs.org/myths-and-misconceptions-about-homelessness/?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAlbW-BhCMARIsADnwaspyqcN1vZDUaPMEUJK_aJ5y-CZOfcxzLGKP8w4abkuy8Ia3Y3uc2v0aAm3jEALw_wcB
3. https://community.solutions/research-posts/the-truth-about-homelessness/?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAlbW-BhCMARIsADnwaspZN_1FeneY5XoIx2bpTFpH-NEo5Kzkyz5z0v6WZriZtTclugiYoKoaApoHEALw_wcB
4. https://blanchethouse.org/homeless-houseless-unhoused-glossary-about-homelessness/
5. https://www.councilforthehomeless.org/myths-facts-about-homelessness/
6. https://www.operationtinyhome.org/
7. https://www.samhsa.gov/blog/addressing-social-determinants-health-among-individuals-experiencing-homelessness
8. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/jaba.60
9. https://psycnet.apa.org/buy/2018-47965-001
10. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/casp.2863
11. https://endhomelessness.org/homelessness-in-america/homelessness-statistics/state-of-homelessness/
12. https://brushwiththelaw.org/brush-with-the-law-hoboglyphs-art-and-learning-class-homeless-shelter/
13. https://www.nsa.gov/History/National-Cryptologic-Museum/Exhibits-Artifacts/Exhibit-View/Article/2718897/hobo-communications-a-brief-history-of-hobos-and-their-signs/#:~:text=The%20origins%20of%20the%20term,the%20highest%20of%20the%20handsome.

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

Support our podcast: www.patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast

Fake news is a triple threat for manipulating an audience. Boiled down, it is essentially a propaganda technique. We quickly expoore fake news, how it works, and the dangers it poses. 

Support us on Patreon
www.patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast

Links and References: 

1. https://guides.lib.umich.edu/fakenews
2. https://www.webwise.ie/teachers/what-is-fake-news/

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

Support our podcast: www.patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast

There are a lot of ideas, hypothesis, opinions, and judgements about the issue of houselessness (formerly known as homelessness, sorry RV dwellers). However, there is logic, understanding, and science in this space. We'll explore the turbulent world of the unhoused, what people get wrong, and in the next episode, what we can do about it. Check out the first part of this two-part series. 

Recommendations

• Abraham: Heat: Pedal to the Metal (https://www.daysofwonder.com/game/heat/)
• Shane: The Boys (Comic Series) by Garth Ennis

Holidays (3/26/2025):

• American Red Cross Giving Day
• Good Hair Day
• Legal Assistants Day
• Little Red Wagon Day
• Live Long and Prosper Day
• Make Up Your Own Holiday Day
• Manatee Appreciation Day
• National Nougat Day
• Purple Day
• Solitude Day
• Spinach Day
• Wear a Hat Day
• Autism Acceptance Week
• International Phace Syndrome Awareness
• National Cleaning Week
• National Green Week
• National Physicians Week
• National Second-Hand Shopping Week
• National Tsunami Awareness Week
• Tick Bite Prevention Week
• Week of Solidarity with the Peoples Struggling Against Racism and Racial Discrimination

Links and References: 

1. https://backpackbed.org/us/facts-about-homelessness/?gad_source=1
2. https://nvhs.org/myths-and-misconceptions-about-homelessness/?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAlbW-BhCMARIsADnwaspyqcN1vZDUaPMEUJK_aJ5y-CZOfcxzLGKP8w4abkuy8Ia3Y3uc2v0aAm3jEALw_wcB
3. https://community.solutions/research-posts/the-truth-about-homelessness/?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAlbW-BhCMARIsADnwaspZN_1FeneY5XoIx2bpTFpH-NEo5Kzkyz5z0v6WZriZtTclugiYoKoaApoHEALw_wcB
4. https://blanchethouse.org/homeless-houseless-unhoused-glossary-about-homelessness/
5. https://www.councilforthehomeless.org/myths-facts-about-homelessness/
6. https://www.operationtinyhome.org/
7. https://www.samhsa.gov/blog/addressing-social-determinants-health-among-individuals-experiencing-homelessness
8. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/jaba.60
9. https://psycnet.apa.org/buy/2018-47965-001
10. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/casp.2863
11. https://endhomelessness.org/homelessness-in-america/homelessness-statistics/state-of-homelessness/
12. https://brushwiththelaw.org/brush-with-the-law-hoboglyphs-art-and-learning-class-homeless-shelter/
13. https://www.nsa.gov/History/National-Cryptologic-Museum/Exhibits-Artifacts/Exhibit-View/Article/2718897/hobo-communications-a-brief-history-of-hobos-and-their-signs/#:~:text=The%20origins%20of%20the%20term,the%20highest%20of%20the%20handsome.

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

Support our podcast: www.patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast