Best ACID FOR SQUARES Podcasts (2025)

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#48 Dr. Laura Berman: Sex vs Sex Magic 1:12:51

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5d ago1:12:51

1:12:51

Dr. Laura Berman, New York Times bestselling author and sex therapist to Oprah and Dr. Oz, joins Cody Blue and Tanya Dahl to explore the sacred art of sex magic. In this intimate and mind-expanding conversation, they unpack the difference between sex and sex magic, revealing how ritual, intention, and energy can transform intimacy into a powerful f…

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Move Over Fireworks—Drone Shows Are Taking to the Skies 16:06

3d ago16:06

16:06

Drone shows are replacing fireworks for summer celebrations. They’re safer and more environmentally friendly but complicated to program and run. A recent preprint paper proposes an algorithmic solution that can take some technical challenges out of drone operators’ hands and give engineers more creative control. Host Rachel Feltman speaks with rese…

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Talking to the Host of Drilled about the Legal Battles around Standing Rock 13:06

5d ago13:06

13:06

Protests around the construction of the now complete Dakota Access Pipeline brought national attention to Energy Transfer, the company that built and owns the pipeline and funded private security against the protestors. Energy Transfer sued the nonprofit Greenpeace for hundreds of millions of dollars. The company claimed that the Standing Rock move…

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How to Fight Bird Flu If It Becomes the Next Human Pandemic (Part 3) 32:51

8d ago32:51

32:51

Creating a bird flu vaccine requires several layers of bioprotective clothing and typically a whole lot of eggs. H5N1 avian influenza infections have gone from flocks of chickens to herds of cattle and humans. Scientists at the Texas Biomedical Research Institute are taking their best guess at the strains of the virus that could spread and are crea…

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Bird Flu’s Jump to Cattle Took Dairy Farmers by Surprise (Part 2) 22:58

10d ago22:58

22:58

Dairy cattle have become an intermediary between avian influenza found in wild birds and the handful of recorded H5N1 bird flu cases in humans. Senior news reporter Meghan Bartels took a trip upstate to Cornell University’s Teaching Dairy Barn. Early last year Texas dairy farmers noticed lethargic cows producing off-color milk. One of them sent Cor…

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How Bird Flu Went from an Isolated Avian Illness to a Human Pandemic Threat (Part 1) 31:17

12d ago31:17

31:17

Bird flu outbreaks in poultry and cattle have caused concern for public health officials. There have been few reported cases of human transmission, but the growing risks of H5N1 avian influenza have virologists on alert. Researchers at the St. Jude Center of Excellence for Influenza Research and Response take an annual visit to Delaware Bay to coll…

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#47 Sarah Lawrence : Comedian Cures Herself In The Most Unexpected Way 1:02:43

12d ago1:02:43

1:02:43

On this episode of Acid For Squares, Tanya Dhal & Cody Blue sit down with comedian Sarah Lawrence, whose Olympic dreams were shattered by a sudden injury, but instead of healing, she built her entire identity around being “the broken girl.” For years, phantom pains and self-sabotage followed her everywhere, until a plant medicine retreat forced her…

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What No One Tells You about Testosterone Replacement Therapy 12:14

15d ago12:14

12:14

Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) is exploding in popularity among men. TRT has been touted online as a cure-all for everything from low energy to poor mood and even as a way to increase masculinity itself. But how much of the buzz is backed by science? Host Rachel Feltman talks with journalist Stephanie Pappas about the realities behind the t…

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Why Your Gut Loves a Good Workout 9:51

17d ago9:51

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Host Rachel Feltman explores the surprising connection between exercise and the gut microbiome with Scientific American contributing editor Lydia Denworth. Drawing from her latest reporting, Denworth explains how aerobic activity can influence the microbial ecosystems in our digestive tract—boosting diversity, reducing inflammation, and even suppor…

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CDC Vaccine Panel Fired by RFK, Jr., Oceans Grow More Acidic, and Pangolins Threatened by Hunting 10:14

19d ago10:14

10:14

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., has fired the experts on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s vaccine advisory panel, sparking concern among public health officials. Ocean acidification has crossed a critical threshold, posing serious risks to marine life around the globe. And pangolins face growing threats from increased hunting, complicating …

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#46 Psychic Hacker: He Rewires Your Spirit & Brain | Christopher LaPrath 47:12

20d ago47:12

47:12

In this episode of the Acid For Squares podcast, hosts Cody Blue and Tanya Dahl interview Psychic medium and spiritual healer Christopher LaPrath. Christopher’s life began in darkness, raised by a psychopathic father in a haunted home deep in the wilderness, he witnessed terrifying paranormal phenomena from a young age. His psychic awakening began …

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These Adorable Hamster Dads Take Fatherhood Seriously 13:22

22d ago13:22

13:22

Most mammalian dads are pretty absent from their offspring’s lives. That sets the Djungarian hamster apart from its fellow fathers. These hamster dads are involved in the birth of their pups, care for them in infancy and even provide food during weaning. They also let the mother hamster go on cooldown walks outside of the burrow, which professor of…

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What ‘Immortal’ Jellyfish and Famously Old Tortoises Tell Us about Aging 14:27

24d ago14:27

14:27

Animals’ lifespans can be far shorter or much longer than those of humans. Scientists are researching creatures such as “immortal” jellyfish and long-lived tortoises and digging deep into genetic codes to figure out why animals age—and what we can do to improve longevity in humans. João Pedro de Magalhães, chair of molecular biogerontology at the U…

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Cosmic Coin Toss, Record Heat in the North Atlantic and Living Worm Towers 8:51

26d ago8:51

8:51

New simulations suggest the Milky Way’s long-predicted collision with Andromeda might be less of a cosmic certainty than we thought. A massive marine heat wave in 2023 sent North Atlantic temperatures soaring—equal to two decades’ worth of typical warming—with weak winds and climate change largely to blame. And researchers reveal that the planet’s …

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#45 Dr. Stacey Simmons: Therapy Meets Witchcraft: Inside the Mind of a Modern Witch Doctor 1:00:52

27d ago1:00:52

1:00:52

This week on Acid for Squares, Tanya Dahl and Cody Blue sit down with a true modern-day witch doctor — Dr. Stacey Simmons, a Psychotherapist and Wiccan high priestess. Returning to the show, Dr. Simmons pulls back the curtain on the real history behind witch hunts and the centuries of fear and control that fueled them. She shares her personal journ…

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Is the National Weather Service Ready for an Extreme Summer? 14:21

29d ago14:21

14:21

The dedicated staff of the National Weather Service are responsible for the data that underpin your weather forecast and emergency alerts. DOGE Service cuts to the NWS are putting the collection and communication of those data at risk right as we enter a dangerous season of hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires and extreme heat in the U.S. Senior sustai…

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Megalodon Diets, Teeth Sensitivity and a Bunch of Vaccine News 8:00

1M ago8:00

8:00

The measles outbreak in West Texas is slowing. Health officials think an increase in vaccination rates contributed to the slowdown, but Texas lawmakers have pushed a new bill to make it even quicker and easier for parents to exempt their children from vaccines. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention goes counter to the American College of O…

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#44 The First Legal Ayahuasca Church That Teaches Mediumship | Kai Karrel 1:07:06

1M ago1:07:06

1:07:06

Tanya Dahl and Cody Blue welcome back ayahuascaro and medium Kai Karrel for a powerful conversation about the launch of Celestial Heart — the first legal independent ayahuasca church in the U.S. Kai shares how his unique ceremonies go beyond traditional plant medicine work by weaving in teachings of mediumship, offering participants a rare path to …

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Are You Flourishing? This Global Study Has Surprising Takeaways 18:16

1M ago18:16

18:16

Are you flourishing? It’s a more understated metric than happiness, but it can provide a multidimensional assessment of our quality of life. Victor Counted, an associate professor of psychology at Regent University and a member of the Human Flourishing Program at Harvard University, joins host Rachel Feltman to review the first wave of results from…

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Diagnosing Male Infertility with a Mechanical Engineering Twist 10:39

1M ago10:39

10:39

Male infertility is undercovered and underdiscussed. If a couple is struggling to conceive, there’s a 50–50 chance that sperm health is a contributing factor. Diagnosing male infertility is getting easier with at-home tests—and a new study suggests a method for testing at home that would be more accurate. Study co-author Sushanta Mitra, a professor…

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#43 Savior Of The Strays: Nathan the Cat Lady 1:12:01

1M ago1:12:01

1:12:01

Episode 43 of the Acid For Squares Podcast, hosts Tanya Dahl & Cody Blue sit down with their dear friend Nathan Kehn, known to millions as Nathan the Cat Lady. But behind the viral cat videos is a deeply compassionate soul on a mission to rescue more than just cats.Nathan opens up about his work with the Beagle Freedom Project, saving Galgo dogs fr…

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Could We Speak to Dolphins? A Promising LLM Makes That a Possibility 19:07

1M ago19:07

19:07

Dolphins have a broad vocabulary. They vocalize with whistles, clicks and “burst pulses.”This varied communication makes it challenging for scientists to decode dolphin speech. Artificial intelligence can help researchers process audio and find the slight patterns that human ears may not be able to identify. Reporter Melissa Hobson took a look at D…

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Do Mitochondria Talk to Each Other? A New Look at the Cell’s Powerhouse 27:04

2M ago27:04

27:04

Mitochondria are known as the powerhouse of the cell—but new research suggests they might be far more complex. Columbia University’s Martin Picard joins Scientific American’s Rachel Feltman to explore how these tiny organelles could be communicating and what that might mean for everything from metabolism to mental health. Check out Martin Picard’s …

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How to Make Gold, Flamingo Food Tornado, and Kosmos-482 Lands 8:09

2M ago8:09

8:09

Soviet-era spacecraft Kosmos-482 lands, though no one is certain where. Physicists turn lead into gold. Overdose deaths are down, in part thanks to the availability of naloxone. Flamingos make underwater food tornadoes. Chimps use leaves as a multi-tool. Recommended reading: A New, Deadly Era of Space Junk Is Dawning, and No One Is Ready https://ww…

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#42 Alien Code: Is Reality a Program? | Danny Goler & David Carter 1:06:08

2M ago1:06:08

1:06:08

In this episode of Acid For Squares, hosts Tanya Dahl and Cody Blue dive back into the work of Danny Goler, experimental physicist and founder of Code of Reality Inc., alongside his business partner and team builder David Carter.Goler shares the latest developments from his consciousness-laser experiment, a setup that may be piercing the veil betwe…

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Could Freezing Arctic Sea Ice Combat Climate Change? 25:29

2M ago25:29

25:29

The year-round sea ice in the Arctic is melting and has shrunk by nearly 40 percent over the past four decades. Geoengineering companies such as Real Ice are betting big on refreezing it. That may sound ridiculous, impractical or risky—but proponents say we have to try. The U.K. government seems to agree, investing millions into experimental approa…

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How a West Texas Outbreak Threatens Measles Elimination Status 10:00

2M ago10:00

10:00

Measles was technically “eliminated” in the U.S. in 2000 thanks to high measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination rates. While prior outbreaks have made headlines, a slew of cases in West Texas is more than just newsworthy—it could cause the U.S. to lose elimination status. Associate health and medicine editor Lauren Young explains what eliminat…

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Sinking Cities, Waving Cuttlefish and Falling Spacecraft 8:17

2M ago8:17

8:17

A 1970s Soviet spacecraft is hurtling down from space—and no one knows where it will land. All 28 of the most populous cities in the U.S. are slowly sinking. Investments and overconsumption make the wealthiest 10 percent of the global population responsible for two thirds of climate-change-related warming. Recommended reading: Cuttlefish May Commun…

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#41 This Experiment Proves We're In A Simulation | Danny Goler & Aaron Vanden 56:26

2M ago56:26

56:26

What if reality isn’t what it seems — but a high-level simulation running on alien code? In this episode of Acid For Squares podcast, Tanya Dahl and Cody Blue interview documentary filmmaker Aaron Vanden and experimental researcher Danny Goler who reveals the shocking results of his latest experiment using laser beams and consciousness probes. His …

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This Podcast Was Recorded Inside a Particle Collider 18:11

2M ago18:11

18:11

We’re taking a field trip to the U.S.’s only particle collider, the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC), housed at Brookhaven National Laboratory. Staff scientist Alex Jentsch takes listeners through some basic terminology and interconnected technologies that help Brookhaven researchers probe questions about our unseen universe. The RHIC is wind…

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Rejecting Toxic Fitness Culture with Casey Johnston 17:56

2M ago17:56

17:56

Casey Johnston is not your typical health and fitness influencer. She joins host Rachel Feltman to discuss how finding joy in strength training changed her relationship to fitness, food and body image. Johnston’s new book, A Physical Education, reflects on engaging with exercise in a balanced way. Recommended reading: You can get Johnston’s book A …

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Jupiter’s Cyclones, Amazon’s Satellites and T. rex Collagen 9:01

2M ago9:01

9:01

The congressionally mandated National Climate Assessment grinds to a halt. Amazon launches its first round of Internet satellites. The European Space Agency launches a satellite to measure the biomass of Earth’s trees. New data from NASA’s Juno spacecraft offer insights into Jupiter and Io. Claims of Tyrannosaurus rex leather are, predictably, misl…

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#40 Cody Blue & Tanya Dahl: Leaving Los Angeles 47:59

2M ago47:59

47:59

In this special solo episode of Acid For Squares, Tanya and Cody get real about their decision to leave Los Angeles after 15+ years and move to North Carolina. No guests, no filters — just truth.They break down why LA was draining their souls, how the industry has become toxic, and what finally pushed them to make the leap. They also reveal what’s …

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The Fungi Facing Extinction and the Conservationists Working Hard to Protect Them 12:07

2M ago12:07

12:07

Conservationists are ringing the alarm about the fungi facing extinction. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List features vulnerable pandas and endangered tortoises, but it also highlights more than 400 fungi species that are under threat. Gregory Mueller, chief scientist emeritus at the Chicago Botanic Garden and coordi…

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Griefbots Offer AI Connections with Deceased Loved Ones 16:18

2M ago16:18

16:18

Griefbots, artificial intelligence chatbots that mimic deceased loved ones, are increasingly in popularity. Researcher Katarzyna Nowaczyk-Basińska reflects on what death, grief and immortality look like in the digital age. She shares insights from a project that she is leading as a AI2050 Early Career Fellow: Imaginaries of Immortality in the Age o…

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Scientific American in 1925: Solar Eclipses, Seances and Some Strange Inventions 9:26

2M ago9:26

9:26

We’re taking a break from our usual weekly news roundup to do a little time travel. In 1925 Scientific American covered a total solar eclipse that featured some surprising solar shadow play and a prediction about today’s eclipses. Plus, we review some long-gone sections of the magazine that tried to verify mediums and show off zany inventions! Reco…

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#39 Jimmy Bluff: Surgery Without The Knife 46:26

2M ago46:26

46:26

In this episode of Acid For Squares, Cody Blue & Tanya Dahl sit down with renowned bodywork healer Jimmy Bluff, creator of the revolutionary "Surgery Without the Knife" method. Jimmy shares how years of personal experience, intuition, and deep study of the body's energetic systems led him to develop his groundbreaking approach to releasing trauma, …

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How to Become an Urban Naturalist 25:05

2M ago25:05

25:05

Wild NYC author Ryan Mandelbaum takes host Rachel Feltman through New York City’s Prospect Park to find urban wildlife. They explore the city’s many birds, surprising salamanders and unexpected urban oases. Plus, they discuss what the rules of engagement with wildlife are and how you can find wildlife in your own urban or suburban environment. Reco…

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Our Fear and Fascination around Snakes 16:15

2M ago16:15

16:15

When writer Stephen S. Hall was a child, he would capture snakes—much to his mother’s chagrin. Now the science journalist is returning to his early fascination In his latest book, Slither: How Nature’s Most Maligned Creatures Illuminate Our World. The book explores our long, complicated relationship with snakes. Plus, Hall chats about humans’ and o…

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Childhood Illnesses Surge, Magnetic Poles Wandered, and a Colossal Squid Is Found 8:15

3M ago8:15

8:15

Measles cases are going up—and a federal scientist has warned that case counts have probably been underreported. Another vaccine-preventable illness, whooping cough, sees a troubling increase in cases. Ancient humans found sun-protection solutions when Earth’s magnetic poles wandered. A colossal squid has been captured on video in its natural habit…

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#38 Jessimae Peluso | The Comedy Death Doula 1:41:39

3M ago1:41:39

1:41:39

On this powerful episode of Acid For Squares, hosts Tanya Dahl and Cody Blue sit down with comedian and podcast host Jessimae Peluso to explore the raw and real terrain of grief. Known for her sharp wit and deep heart, Jessimae shares how the loss of both her parents transformed her life—and her podcast. Formerly Sharp Tongue, her show is now being…

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From the Internet’s Beginnings to Our Understanding of Consciousness, This Editor Has Seen It All 20:15

3M ago20:15

20:15

Senior mind and brain editor Gary Stix has covered the breadth of science and technology over the past 35 years at Scientific American. He joins host Rachel Feltman to take us through the rise of the Internet and the acceleration of advancement in neuroscience that he’s covered throughout his time here. Stix retired earlier this month, and we’d lik…

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A Disinfectant That’s More Powerful Than Bleach—And Safe for Your Skin 14:25

3M ago14:25

14:25

Hypochlorous acid is a promising disinfectant that is difficult to commercialize because it is not very shelf-stable. Senior features editor Jen Schwartz takes us through what the science of this nontoxic disinfectant is and explains why its popularity in the beauty aisle is only the beginning. Recommended reading: The Nontoxic Cleaner That Kills G…

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A Long Day on Uranus, a Better Method of Making Coffee and Dinos Fossils in Decline 8:51

3M ago8:51

8:51

Caffeine-motivated researchers find that pour height may be the key to a perfect cup of coffee. A new study of plastics finds that less than 10 percent of such products are made with recycled materials. And once the plastics are used, only 28 percent of them make it to the sorting stage—and only half of that plastic is actually recycled. Data from …

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#37 Actor Thomas Jane: Aliens, UFOs & the Truth Hidden in Plain Sight 1:16:55

3M ago1:16:55

1:16:55

Actor and director Thomas Jane (The Punisher, The Expanse, The Mist) joins Acid for Squares for a raw and powerful conversation about the moment humanity finds itself in. We talk UFO disclosure, government coverups, and the truth behind “first contact.” Thomas opens up about his own beliefs, the role of storytelling in awakening the masses, and why…

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How Are Prenatal Blood Tests Detecting Cancer? 20:55

3M ago20:55

20:55

Noninvasive prenatal blood testing, or NIPT, is a routine screening that is offered during pregnancy and looks for placental DNA to diagnose chromosomal disorders in a fetus. But in some cases, these tests can also find cancer in the pregnant person. How do the tests work, and why are they uncovering cancer? Genetic counselor and writer Laura Hersc…

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Treating Bacterial Vaginosis as an STI Could Improve Outcomes 19:29

3M ago19:29

19:29

Bacterial vaginosis (BV), an overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria in the vagina, affects nearly one in three people with a vagina. While you can get BV without ever having sex, a new study has found that, in some cases, it could be functioning more like a sexually transmitted infection. That’s in part because of the increased risk of BV after sex with…

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How the Science of Safety Helps Tackle Global Risks [Sponsored] 16:23

3M ago16:23

16:23

We're surrounded by risks of all sizes, every day. Some people might be risk-takers, while others do whatever they can to avoid them. But how can we tackle the risks that impact society on a global scale, like those linked to sustainable energy, societal health and digital technology? Science journalist Izzie Clarke explores this question in the la…

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Yodeling Monkeys, Increasing Measles Cases and Stressed Out Americans 8:44

3M ago8:44

8:44

The Trump administration continues to make cuts to U.S. science and health agencies. Now some states are fighting back, suing the Department of Health and Human Services for slashing $11 billion in public health funds. A study finds that Americans live shorter lives than Europeans with the same income—stress and other systemic issues could be to bl…

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#36 Comedian Sebastian Scales: Modern Alchemist - Healing Through Humor 1:27:57

3M ago1:27:57

1:27:57

On this episode of Acid For Squares podcast hosts by Tanya Dahl and Cody Blue, welcome comedian, influencer, and modern-day alchemist Sebastian Scales for a raw, hilarious, and deeply healing conversation. Known for his bold honesty and viral content that tackles taboo topics with humor, Sebastian shares how he has transmuted his own trauma into a …