Skepticast
Two students at a small university in Cambridge, MA want to help you get smart! Each week we provide a succinct, humorous overview of some of the most interesting topics of the day including universal basic income, the history of the electoral college and the invention of white people.
Episodes
14 episodes
The Invention of "White People"
Ah, the age old question... where do "White people" come from? We interview Professor Marco Tabellini of Harvard Business School to understand how an influx of racial minorities affects our acceptance of who is "White". Plus: a bonus for Lion K...
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Season 2
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Episode 4
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17:53
Maternal Health
We interview Dr. Fleda Mask Jackson, a public health expert, on racial disparities in maternal health. Dr. Jackson has served as an advisor to the CDC and as Professor of Applied Public Health at Emory University and a Visiting Scholar at Spelm...
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Season 2
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Episode 3
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26:05
Wildfires
The world is on fire -- for once, we're not talking about politics. Find out more about what causes wildfires, what you can do about them, and what Cooper really thinks about gender reveal parties.
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Season 2
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Episode 2
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15:20
History of the Electoral College
In this episode, we interview Professor Alexander Keyssar of Harvard, author of the new book "Why Do We Still Have the Electoral College?" Find out how the electoral college was devised, why it has survived several (bipartisan) efforts for refo...
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Season 2
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Episode 1
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31:26
The Postal Service & Mail-In Voting
The USPS is the center of attention these days, but do you know which president started it? In our last episode of the season, find out the truth about mail-in voting, and what happened to names like Ebenezer Hazard.
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Season 1
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Episode 10
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18:48
Special Episode: TikTok and Privacy
Influencer tweens, algorithms, and geopolitics -- oh my! Listen to Cooper and Mimi give their personal takes on TikTok and security, and find out why Cooper hates his social credit score.
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Season 1
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Episode 9
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19:07
Political Polling
If the name “Nate Silver” triggers your PTSD, this is the episode for you! Learn about political polling 101, wtf happened with the 2016 polls, and what they have to say about the 2020 election today.
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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19:53
Joe Biden: Climate Policies
Papa Joe decided he wants to keep Miami above water, and released a new Climate Change plan on how to do it. Learn about his $2 trillion plan, why Biden’s breaking “rules” of campaigning, and why Cooper was traumatized by a campaign website.
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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18:04
Universal Basic Income
Bernie Sanders and Milton Friedman agree? No, it’s not a rupture in the space-time continuum, it’s just universal basic income. Listen to how UBI works, the evidence for and against, and Mimi’s transformation into an angry Siri.
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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19:47
Meat Processing Plants
The CDC warns we are creating a ninja-warrior training gym for viruses. Find out why factory farms will kill us all, and why Cooper doesn't want an Ostrich farm.
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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17:48
University Endowments
Harvard, Yale and Stanford have endowments in the 10s of billions...so why can't they afford nice things in a crisis? Find out why universities' endowments are messy, and why $40bn just isn't what it used to be.
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Season 1
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Episode 4
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11:04
Special Episode: Stonewall & Pride
Drag queens, trash fires and cops...oh my! Find out why the Stonewall Riots didn't start the gay rights movement...and why it did.
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Season 1
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Episode 3
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27:19
