Why We Do What We Do

Conventional wisdom is often wrong One maxim in particular asserts that past behavior is the best predictor of future behavior. Given that every opportunity to do anything is a learning opportunity, the implication of this saying is that no one ever learns anything. We'll tackle this saying, why people believe it, and what is really going on. 

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Links: 

1. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/witness/201301/the-best-predictor-future-behavior-is-past-behavior

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We all just endured slogging through yet another ritual of the mysterious tradition of "daylight saving time." This unloved, uniquely bitartisan practice has been excused as energy savings or just fun. You might be surprised at how recent this actually is to be so firmly established throughout all of our society's systems and even across continents. Learn about where daylight saving time comes from and how it affects us psychologically. 

Recommendations

• Abraham: What We Do In The Shadows (https://www.fxnetworks.com/shows/what-we-do-in-the-shadows; TV show)
• Shane: Wanderlust Creamery (https://wanderlustcreamery.com)

Holidays (3/19/2025):

• Certified Nurses Day
• Client’s Day
• International Read to Me Day
• Kick Butts Day
• Let’s Laugh Day
• National Automatic Door Day
• National Backyard Day
• National Chocolate Caramel Day
• National Poultry Day
• National Stretch Mark Day
• Swallows Return to San Juan Capistrano Day
• Act Happy Week
• American Chocolate Week
• Clutter Awareness Week
• Down’s Syndrome Awareness Week
• Endometriosis Awareness Week
• English Tourism Week
• International Goof Off Week
• National Green Week
• Sunshine Week
• World Folktales and Fables Week

Links and References: 

1. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/daylight-saving-time-health/#:~:text=A%20brief%20history%20of%20daylight,the%20need%20for%20electric%20lighting.
2. https://www.timeanddate.com/time/dst/history.html
3. https://aa.usno.navy.mil/faq/daylight_time
4. https://www.bts.gov/explore-topics-and-geography/geography/geospatial-portal/history-time-zones-and-daylight-saving
5. https://www.colorado.edu/coloradan/2022/11/07/history-daylight-saving-time
6. https://blogs.loc.gov/teachers/2017/03/world-war-i-and-daylight-savings-time/ 
7. https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20160310-the-builder-who-changed-how-the-world-keeps-time 
8. https://www.ncsl.org/state-legislatures-news/details/a-bugologist-and-a-golfer-sparked-the-push-for-daylight-saving-time#:~:text=George%20Hudson%20wanted%20more%20sunshine,fall%20time%20skirmishes%20ever%20since. 
9. https://www.timeanddate.com/time/europe/daylight-saving-history.html 
10. https://www.washingtonian.com/2022/03/15/the-us-tried-permanent-daylight-saving-time-in-the-70s-people-hated-it/ 
11. https://news.gallup.com/poll/657584/half-daylight-saving-time-sunsetted.aspx 
12. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0167268114000821?via%3Dihub 
13. https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/daylight-saving-time-fall-back-origin-story-farmers-energy-conservation/#:~:text=But%20the%20farmers%20didn't,Farm%20Operations%20Manager%20Jay%20Mofenson. 

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Do you impulsively consume smoothies, slushies, or ice cream at a speed that gives you a cold headache? We do. We were wondering what is going on with sphenopalatine ganglioneuralgia (brain freeze). We explain why this happens and what you can do about it. Go forth and eat cold stuff to your heart's content!

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Links and References: 

1. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21478-brain-freeze
2. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/244458

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We originally published this episode February 26, 2020. Today we revisit with some updated research. Listen in to brush up on your imposter syndrome knowledge with some fresh insights into what we have learned in the last five years. 

Recommendations

• Abraham: Meati (https://www.meati.com/)
• Shane: Grave Conversations with Dave Dastmalchian (https://www.instagram.com/graveconversationsshow/?hl=en)

Holidays (3/12/2025):

• Aztec New Year
• Girl Scouts Day
• National Alfred Hitchcock Day
• National Baked Scallops Day
• National Working Mom’s Day
• Plant a Flower Day
• Registered Dietitian Day
• World Glaucoma Day
• Brain Awareness Week
• Endometriosis Awareness Week
• National Bubble Gum Week
• National Green Week
• National Older Workers Employment Week
• National Science & Engineering Week
• National Sleep Awareness Week

Links and References: 

1. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/58940a9eb3db2ba58e28231f/t/62e83bbc5f6cdd7ea8b86300/1659386812743/Stop+Telling+Women+They+Have+Imposter+Syndrome.pdf
2. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/10398562211036121
3. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40136-023-00456-3
4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK585058/
5. https://www.mentalhealthjournal.org/articles/commentary-prevalence-predictors-and-treatment-of-imposter-syndrome-a-systematic-review.html

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Support our podcast: www.patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast

A mini episode seems like th perfect venue for this mini food. This is a very elite/priviliged way to think about food as it is supposed to relate to food themes and presentation styles. We'll talk a little about its history, what it is, and why we do it. 

Support us on Patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast

Links and References: 

1. https://guide.michelin.com/us/en/article/features/kitchen-language-what-is-amuse-bouche#:~:text=The%20Science%20Behind%20It,nuggets%20packed%20with%20umami%20goodness.

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The paradox of tolerance is a philosphical thought experiment inspired in part by a curiosity about what gave rise to Hitler. The inquiry extrapolates what happens when allowing in ideas includes allowing in ideas that demand shutting out ideas. More directly, when you tolerate intolerance, you end up with no tolerance, but you must be intolerant to allow tolerance... paradoxically. Be prepared to hear the word "toleranace." Despite being an argument from logic, it may offer some pragmatic future directions for humanity. 

Recommendations

• Abraham: Severance (season 2; https://tv.apple.com/us/show/severance/umc.cmc.1srk2goyh2q2zdxcx605w8vtx)
• Shane: The Blacktongue Thief (https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250621191/theblacktonguethief/)

Holidays (3/5/2025):

• Discover What Your Name Means Day
• Equal Pay Day
• International Open Data Day
• National Absinthe Day
• National Cheese Doodle Day
• National Multiple Personality Day
• National Potty Dance Day
• National Poutine Day
• National Scott Day
• Pasty Day
• Reel Film Day
• British Pie Week
• Chocolate Chip Cookie Week
• Dental Assistant Week
• Hearing Awareness Week
• National Aardvark Week
• National Consumer Protection Week
• National Ghostwriters Week
• National Invest in Veteran’s Week
• Ramadan

Links: 

1. https://medium.com/@parkermolloy/deconstructing-the-tolerance-paradox-why-conservatives-go-to-line-is-garbage-666a1bf04a65
2. https://markmanson.net/the-paradox-of-tolerance
3. https://nicolagriffith.com/2024/10/30/the-paradox-of-tolerance/
4. https://www.freiheit.org/mexico/limits-tolerance-poppers-paradox
5. https://academy4sc.org/video/paradox-of-tolerance-to-tolerate-or-not-to-tolerate/
6. https://www.thefire.org/news/so-you-think-youre-tolerant-paradox-tolerance
7. https://www.usj.edu.lb/news.php?id=9643
8. https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/popper/
9. https://iep.utm.edu/pop-sci/#:~:text=In%20contrast%20to%20such%20paradigmatically,compatible%20with%20every%20possible%20observation.

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Do thoughts cause behavior? A common question about behavior is how we understand the variables of behavior to be external if we can observe our own internal behavior. That is, how do we umderstand the relation between thoughts and behavior? We explain a concept called the "locus of control" as it relates to unerstanding how behavior is shaped. 

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Link and References: 

1. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10698268/#:~:text=Locus%20of%20control%20describes%20the,control%20(Rotter%2C%201966).

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

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The current trend to discontinue and dismantle DEI motivated us to look into this suddently controversial issue. DEI will be another corpse on the pile of convenient corpses that were easy targets. But, what does Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion mean? What are the impacts it has had? What will happen when it's gone? The implications are further reaching than you might think.

Recommendations

• Abraham: Put “DEI” into everything
• Shane: Captain America: Brave New World (https://www.marvel.com/movies/captain-america-brave-new-world)

Holidays (2/26/2025):

• Black Lives Matter
• Carnival Day
• Carpe Diem Day
• For Pete’s Sake Day
• Inconvenience Yourself Day
• Maha Shivaratri
• National Customized Wheel and Tire Day
• National Letter to an Elder Day
• National Personal Chef’s Day
• National Pistachio Day
• Pink Shirt Day
• Tell a Fairy Tell Day
• Thermos Bottle Day
• International Energy Week
• National Chip Week (UK)
• National Eating Disorders Awareness Week
• National Green Week
• National Invasive Species Awareness Week

Links and References: 

1. https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2023/05/17/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-in-the-workplace/
2. https://online.hbs.edu/blog/post/what-is-dei
3. https://builtin.com/diversity-inclusion/what-does-dei-mean-in-the-workplace
4. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/dc-plane-crash-black-hawk-crew-order-plane-investigation/
5. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/using-dei-strengthen-infrastructure-rural-areas-michele-heyward-eit-clauc/
6. https://dailyyonder.com/commentary-eliminating-dei-hurts-everyone-rural-people-included/2025/02/03/
7. https://www.forbes.com/sites/juliekratz/2024/12/29/history-of-dei-why-it-matters-for-the-future/
8. https://www.cnn.com/2025/01/22/us/dei-diversity-equity-inclusion-explained/index.html
9. https://hub.jhu.edu/2023/11/22/affirmative-action-debate/
10. https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffraikes/2023/01/27/the-court-is-coming-for-affirmative-action-that-would-be-a-terrible-mistake/
11. https://edtrust.org/blog/a-brief-history-of-affirmative-action-and-the-assault-on-race-conscious-admissions/
12. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/1/31/did-trumps-firing-of-aviation-officials-increase-likelihood-of-dc-crash#:~:text=Meanwhile%2C%20The%20Associated%20Press%20reported,Baird%20contributed%20to%20this%20report. 
13. Zeynep Arsel, David Crockett, Maura L Scott, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in the Journal of Consumer Research: A Curation and Research Agenda, Journal of Consumer Research, Volume 48, Issue 5, February 2022, Pages 920–933, https://doi.org/10.1093/jcr/ucab057
14. https://compass.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/spc3.12666
15. https://www.nber.org/papers/w31215 
16. https://journals.healio.com/doi/full/10.3928/01484834-20191021-04
17. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2213219822010492
18. https://academic.oup.com/tbm/article/14/3/156/7324745
19. https://gizmodo.com/the-list-of-trumps-forbidden-words-that-will-get-your-paper-flagged-at-nsf-2000559661 

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Yet another check-in with the nightmare fuel that is the news. We consider the ramifications of cutting programs that prevent disease from spreading and keep many American businesses and farms afloat. Who needs weight-loss drugs when you can just not have food be available? Should we shorten the name of these to M&P? 

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

Links and References: 

1. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/02/06/trump-usaid-money-american-farms/
2. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-00385-9

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

This classic episode revisits some old "research" attempting to assess the inherent morality of humans found in the gaze of babies looking at puppets. If that sounds silly, it's because it is. Updated research further debunks this claim, indicating that the original studies were either flawed or fraud. Check it out with us!

Recommendations

• Abraham: Stamp Swap (https://store.stonemaiergames.com/products/stamp-swap?srsltid=AfmBOooiSGaFABDded13WGAuRsBhIQfMioQhfLInfjolangZWXPwLlre) 
• Shane: SexABA Conference (https://www.sexaba.com/) 

Holidays (2/19/2025)

• Best Friends Day
• Coast Guard Reserves Birthday
• International Tug-of-War Day
• Iwo Jima Day
• National Airboat Day
• National Arabian Horse Day
• National Chocolate Mint Day
• National Lashes Day
• Prevent Plagiarism Day
• Vet Girls Rock Day
• Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Staff Education Week
• Bird Health Awareness Week
• Love Teaching Week
• Make Mine Chocolate
• National Condom Week
• National Pancake Week
• National Sauna Week

Links and References: 

1. Obiols-Suari, N., & Marco-Pallarés, J. (2021). Does It Look Good or Evil? Children's Recognition of Moral Identities in Illustrations of Characters in Stories. Frontiers in psychology, 12, 552387. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.552387
2. Hanesová D. Young Children’s Concepts of Good and Evil before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Qualitative Research Study. Religions. 2021; 12(9):714. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel12090714
3. https://bigthink.com/thinking/are-we-born-evil/
4. Dahl, A., & Killen, M. (2018). A Developmental Perspective on the Origins of Morality in Infancy and Early Childhood. Frontiers in psychology, 9, 1736. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01736
5. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/desc.13581

https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.191795

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