Professor Angus Fletcher - Why Creativity Beats Anxiety
Parents of children with anxiety would try just about anything to help their kids feel better. Many approaches for therapists and educators seem to emphasize calming the overactive mind to give them relief from these intense emotions. In contrast to this conventional wisdom, Our guest today is a researcher who has found that activating the brain through creativity and imagination-based play might be better to unlock the brain’s natural ability to regulate itself. This leads to a broader exploration of all the ways that creativity may be one of the brain’s best ways of helping us to thrive.
--------
34:12
--------
34:12
Dr. Bradley Cannon - Friends with Money Benefits
Do you discuss financial planning with your friends? To many, talking about money is taboo. But our guest today researched the social connections of high-income individuals to learn more about the effect of our friendships on our finances. His results suggest that it pays to be friends with wealthy people, and especially to talk with them about money matters.
--------
20:10
--------
20:10
Dr. Megan Buning - How to Be Mentally Tough
Exceptional athletic performance is optimized by mental toughness. Some people develop this naturally, but the good news is that it can also be taught. Whether it’s a high-stakes athletic contest or an important boardroom presentation, our guest today knows the science behind staying cool under pressure. A former pro softball pitcher herself, she knows what it’s like to get “into the zone.” Her insights could help anyone perform better in their careers and in life.
--------
33:51
--------
33:51
Dr. Leda Kobziar - How Wildfires Spread Bacteria
Last January, as heavily populated parts of Los Angeles burned, images of the disaster brought the destructive power of wildfires into the public consciousness more than ever. Today, as thousands of acres burn in the Pacific Northwest and in Canada, wildfire smoke is causing hazy skies and air quality warnings all the way to the Great Lakes and even Florida. But beyond the danger of flames and pollution, what if there’s more in that smoke than we realized—something alive?Our guest is professor of wildland fire science at the University of Idaho and a pyroaerobiologist, where she is working to uncover a surprising and little-known dimension of wildfire: living microbes, bacteria and fungi. These tiny organisms, pulled from burning forests and soils, are hitching a ride through the air, affecting ecosystems, agriculture, and human health hundreds of miles away.
--------
20:07
--------
20:07
Dr. Phoebe Hughes - What Taylor Swift’s Music Really Tells Us
Taylor Swift is one of the biggest musicians of our time, but why?Our guest today is the author of Cranking Up Taylor Swift: Her Musical Journey in 11 Songs, and dives deep into the music, not to simply celebrate her success, but to ask why her work resonates, how it reflects larger cultural shifts, and what it reveals about the evolving sound of country and pop in the 21st century.
Welcome to Curious by Nature, presented by Newswise—the podcast for curious people.
In each episode, listeners can travel briefly into the fascinating world that comes with years of dedication to one field of study. Be inspired by the many amazing things that are going on right now, some may have a major effect on our lives.
Enjoy this concentrated knowledge from experts. We hope you can take inspiration from glimpses of innovation, dedication, and discovery.
USA