Best Running With Scissors Podcasts (2025)

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Episode 32: F*#% Rudolph 41:01

Play Pause

7d ago41:01

41:01

Listen in as Jordan and Meagan discuss the craziness of the holiday season and how apparently to children, m&m’s taste different depending on the color. Weird shit happens.

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When You Feel Behind in Life and Everyone Else Seems Ahead 27:19

23d ago27:19

27:19

We all know that feeling — when life feels slow, the spark is gone, and you start wondering if you’ve somehow fallen behind. This episode is for the in-between seasons — the ones where you’re still showing up, even when it doesn’t feel like much is happening. We’re talking about: The shame of “not being there yet” What to do when your motivation di…

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How Do Oceans Move? (And Is the Moon Just Stirring Soup?) 9:51

1d ago9:51

9:51

The oceans are always moving—rising, falling, swirling, and crashing—but what’s really making all that happen? In this episode of Explain It Like I’m 5, Alex explores how tides, currents, and waves work together to keep Earth’s waters in constant motion. You’ll learn how the moon’s gravity creates tides, how the Earth’s spin and temperature differe…

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Why Do People Fight Over Beliefs? (Can’t We Just Play Rock-Paper-Scissors?) 8:09

4d ago8:09

8:09

Why do people argue so fiercely over religion, politics, or even pizza toppings? In this episode of Explain It Like I’m 5, Alex breaks down why humans fight over beliefs—and why we sometimes take them so personally. You’ll learn what beliefs actually are, how they shape our identity, and why our brains treat challenges to beliefs like physical thre…

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457. Hillary Reynolds on Fleetwood Mac 'The Dance' (1997) 40:25

9d ago40:25

40:25

My guest today is Wisconsin-born, LA-based singer/songwriter Hillary Reynolds, who is one of the rare guests to bring a live album to this podcast in the form of Fleetwood Mac's 1997 live record 'The Dance'. Having discovered the album as a child in the backseat of her parents' car, Hillary shares her thoughts on the record, including how the passa…

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What Is Math? (And Who Decided Numbers Rule Everything?) 9:11

9d ago9:11

9:11

Math is everywhere—from counting change to launching rockets—but what is it really? In this episode of Explain It Like I’m 5, Alex explores one of humanity’s biggest brain-bending mysteries: what math actually is, where it came from, and why it seems to rule everything around us. You’ll learn how math evolved from tally marks and goat-counting to c…

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Why Do We Have Blood? (And Why Is It So Creepy Yet Important?) 8:42

11d ago8:42

8:42

Blood is strange. It’s inside us all the time, yet the moment we see it on the outside, we panic. It’s dramatic, a little scary, and completely essential to staying alive. In this episode of Explain It Like I’m 5, Alex dives into why we have blood, what it does, and why it freaks us out so much. You’ll learn how blood actually works—what’s in it, h…

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Innovation on Trial: Jack Nicastro on Empower’s Fight to Exist 54:08

14d ago54:08

54:08

Send us a text Why is D.C. trying to shut down a rideshare app that pays drivers more and charges riders less? Jack Nicastro of Reason joins to unpack Empower’s battle with regulators, what “innovation vs. permission” means in real life, and how markets—not mandates—keep people safe. Support the show Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update. Follow…

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How Do Volcanoes Work? (Are They Earth’s Angry Pimples?) 7:41

16d ago7:41

7:41

olcanoes are Earth’s ultimate drama queens—beautiful, terrifying, and totally unstoppable. But how do they actually work? And yes… are they basically the planet’s angry pimples? In this fiery episode of Explain It Like I’m 5, host Alex dives deep (but not too deep!) into the molten world of volcanoes—how they form, why they erupt, and how they’ve s…

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Why Do We Have Seasons? (And Does the Earth Just Like Spinning Fancy?) 8:54

18d ago8:54

8:54

Why does Earth have winter, summer, and everything in between—and does it just like spinning fancy while it orbits the sun? In this episode of Explain It Like I’m 5, host Alex unpacks the science (and silliness) behind seasons: why they exist, what causes them, and how they’ve shaped life, culture, and even our holidays. You’ll learn: Why Earth’s t…

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456. Peter Morén (Peter Bjorn and John, SunYears) on Stina Nordenstam 'And She Closed Her Eyes' (1994) 31:28

18d ago31:28

31:28

This week's guest is Swedish singer/songwriter Peter Morén, known for his work as guitarist and vocalist of indie rock trio Peter Bjorn and John and his solo project SunYears. Peter joins me to discuss the 1994 sophomore album by alternative Swedish artist Stina Nordenstam, 'And She Closed Her Eyes'. Peter and I chat about how this record represent…

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How Did Fire Happen? (And Who Was Brave Enough to Touch It First?) 9:22

23d ago9:22

9:22

Fire is terrifying—and yet, it’s the reason we’re here. From lightning strikes and volcanoes to campfires and stovetops, how did humans first discover fire? And who was the first brave (or foolish) soul to actually touch it? In this episode of Explain It Like I’m 5, host Alex dives into the wild story of how fire began, how early humans learned to …

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455. Dillon Warnek on Randy Newman 'The Randy Newman Songbook Vol. 1' (2003) 34:01

23d ago34:01

34:01

This week's guest is Nashville singer/songwriter Dillon Warnek, who joins me to discuss 'The Randy Newman Songbook Vol. 1', featuring revisited, stripped back versions of songs spanning 33 years of the musician's legendary catalogue. We discuss Newman's wry humor and use of sarcasm in his writing and how that stylistic approach has influenced Dillo…

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Cancel Culture Cure 24:35

24d ago24:35

24:35

By Second Baptist Church

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Why Do We Feel Pain? (And Could We Just Turn It Off Like Wi-Fi?) 8:26

25d ago8:26

8:26

Pain: everyone hates it, but none of us can live without it. From paper cuts to heartbreak, why does our body insist on sending us those “ouch” signals—and could we ever just switch them off like Wi-Fi? In this episode of Explain It Like I’m 5, host Alex unpacks the weird science of pain: how it works, why it exists, and what would happen if we did…

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Tech Panic, Then and Now: Judge Glock on AI, Regulation, and Real Harms 51:55

28d ago51:55

51:55

Send us a text Is tech panic new—or just history on repeat? Judge Glock (Manhattan Institute) walks through what past tech scares (lead gasoline, CFCs, TV) got right and wrong, why “externalities” matter more than vibes, and how to think about AI regulation today—transparency mandates, liability vs. preclearance, “AI pauses,” and realistic optimism…

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How Do Plants Eat Sunlight? (And Why Can’t I Do That?) 8:47

30d ago8:47

8:47

Plants have a secret superpower: they eat sunlight. Meanwhile, we humans can barely make toast without burning it. In this bright and leafy episode of Explain It Like I’m 5, host Alex breaks down the magic of photosynthesis—how plants turn light into lunch—and why we can’t do the same no matter how much sunbathing we try. You’ll learn: What photosy…

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454. Paulina Porizkova on ELO 'Out of the Blue' (1977) 41:11

1M ago41:11

41:11

Today, I finally get to talk about the Electric Light Orchestra as author, actor and iconic supermodel Paulina Porizkova joins me to talk about the classic ELO album 'Out of the Blue'. Paulina takes us back to moving to Paris as a 15 year old at the beginning of her career, and how this album soundtracked this chapter of her life, coming to the rec…

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Habits That Changed Our Lives 11:22

1M ago11:22

11:22

This week, we’re chatting about the habits that actually changed our lives — not in a “5 AM, green juice, gym girl” kind of way, but in a real way. From showing up as our authentic selves and setting small reminders that help us stay grounded, to romanticizing discipline and learning to find beauty in the mundane — these are the habits that have ge…

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Mentoring 26:39

1M ago26:39

26:39

By Second Baptist Church

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Why Do We Have Countries? (Couldn’t Earth Just Be One Big Clubhouse?) 9:01

1M ago9:01

9:01

Why do we have countries at all? Couldn’t Earth just be one big global clubhouse? 🌍 In this episode of Explain It Like I’m 5, host Alex unpacks one of humanity’s biggest—and strangest—ideas: borders. From ancient tribes and empires to the Treaty of Westphalia and modern nation-states, we’ll explore how humans went from “our cave vs. your cave” to n…

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How Do Computers Think? (And Do They Gossip About Us?) 9:25

1M ago9:25

9:25

How do computers “think”—and do they secretly gossip about us when we’re not looking? In this episode of Explain It Like I’m 5, Alex breaks down the hidden world of binary code, transistors, and logic gates, showing how machines turn 1s and 0s into everything from cat videos to space missions. We’ll explore the difference between processing and und…

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Why Do We Laugh? (And Can Tickling Actually Be a Superpower?) 9:13

1M ago9:13

9:13

Why do we laugh? And what’s really going on when someone tickles us into hysterics? In this episode of Explain It Like I’m 5, Alex explores the science and psychology of laughter: from ancient theories (superiority, relief, incongruity) to modern research showing laughter as a powerful social glue. You’ll learn why humans and even rats laugh, why w…

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Why Markets Run on Trust: Tawni Ferrarini on Honesty, Reputation, and Decentralization in the Information Age 47:17

1M ago47:17

47:17

Send us a text Markets don’t work without trust. Tawni Ferrarini joins Juliette Sellgren to explore how honesty and reputation make exchange possible — from medieval trade networks to blockchain and Amazon reviews — and why decentralized trust systems matter in today’s economy of polarization, misinformation, and weak institutions. Support the show…

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Why Is the Sky Blue? (And Who Decided Sunsets Should Be Pretty?) 6:52

1M ago6:52

6:52

Why is the sky blue? And why do sunsets look like nature’s daily art show? In this episode of Explain It Like I’m 5, Alex unpacks the physics of light and the atmosphere. From Rayleigh scattering (the reason blue dominates the sky) to why violet doesn’t win, and how sunsets filter into fiery reds and oranges, you’ll get the simple science behind on…

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453. Marshall Crenshaw on Bo Diddley '16 All-Time Greatest Hits' (1964) 28:53

1M ago28:53

28:53

The legendary singer-songwriter Marshall Crenshaw joins me to talk about an artist whose influence changed the sound of music forever. Marshall talks discovering the classic Diddley Greatest Hits record as a teenager growing up in suburban Michigan, the deceptive drone quality to some of the tracks, the origin of the Bo Diddley name, the other play…

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The Power of the Delulu Mindset 15:20

2M ago15:20

15:20

In today’s episode, we’re talking about the power of the “Delulu” mindset — that slightly unhinged, wildly confident energy that might just be the secret to success. We unpack what “delulu” really means (spoiler: it’s not denial), how belief before evidence can change everything, and why a little bit of “crazy” confidence might be exactly what you …

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How Did Money Start? (Did People Really Trade Goats for Shoes?) 9:55

2M ago9:55

9:55

How did money begin? And did people really swap goats for shoes? In this episode of Explain It Like I’m 5, Alex traces the quirky, creative, and sometimes downright strange history of money. From barter systems and cacao beans to cowrie shells, giant stone discs, gold coins, and paper bills, we’ll explore how humans went from trading goats to trust…

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Why Do We Get Sick? (And Is a Cold Just My Body Being Dramatic?) 9:09

2M ago9:09

9:09

Why do we get sick? And is a cold really just our body being overdramatic? In this episode of Explain It Like I’m 5, Alex dives into the sneezes, sniffles, and science of sickness. From bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites to the immune system’s dramatic defense strategies (fever, mucus, sneezing at 100 mph), we’ll explore why being sick often f…

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End Times | Ben Young 25:15

2M ago25:15

25:15

By Second Baptist Church

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452. Peter Ames Carlin on Bruce Springsteen 'Born to Run' (1975) 49:26

2M ago49:26

49:26

Author and journalist Peter Ames Carlin specialises in puncturing rock'n'roll myths while enriching the legends. His biographies of iconic musicians and bands from Springsteen to REM are often definitive and his latest is no exception, a high stakes page turning exploration of how Bruce Springsteen transformed himself, his career and fulfilled his …

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Being a Beginner Again, Without Shame 22:00

2M ago22:00

22:00

When was the last time you were really bad at something? This episode dives into the beauty of starting over—without shame. We unpack why we resist being beginners, how to reframe embarrassment, and why the awkward middle is actually where growth happens. It’s your reminder that courage matters more than perfection, and that being a beginner is a s…

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How Do Airplanes Fly? (And Why Don’t They Flap Like Birds?) 9:22

2M ago9:22

9:22

How do airplanes—giant metal tubes weighing hundreds of tons—somehow stay in the sky? And why don’t they just flap their wings like birds? In this episode of Explain It Like I’m 5, Alex unpacks the physics of flight in plain English. From the four forces of flying (lift, weight, thrust, drag) to how wings create lift through Bernoulli’s principle a…

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Is China Really a Threat? Derek Scissors on China’s Economic Reality 57:04

2M ago57:04

57:04

Send us a text AEI Economist Derek Scissors joins Juliette Sellgren to unpack the reality of China’s economy, U.S.–China relations, and whether China is truly a threat. From demographics to debt and political control, Scissors explains what’s really driving China’s trajectory, and why it matters for America’s future. Support the show Never miss ano…

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Episode 31: Products actually mean something to your hair 58:29

2M ago58:29

58:29

Listen in, as hosts Meagan and Jordan discuss why hair product is so important and why living in a spread out city is for the birds!

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451. Brian Dunne on Bruce Springsteen 'The River' (1980) 42:02

2M ago42:02

42:02

Rock'n'roll singer-songwriter Brian Dunne joins me to make a case for 'The River' as the ultimate Bruce Springsteen album. We talk about how it is rarely chosen as the best of Bruce's classic period, how the album was a response thematically and musically to 'Darkness on the Edge of Town', capturing the epic E Street Band live show in an album, the…

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Why Do We Get Old? (And Can I Pause It Like a Video?) 10:34

2M ago10:34

10:34

Why do we wrinkle, slow down, and creak with age, and is there any way to hit “pause”? In this episode of Explain It Like I’m 5, Alex breaks down the science of aging in the simplest terms possible: from the Hayflick limit and telomeres (your DNA’s shoelace caps), to oxidative stress, cellular “garbage,” and a tired immune system. We’ll explore why…

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Running with Scissors | Ben Young 26:44

2M ago26:44

26:44

By Second Baptist Church

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The Moment God Told Me to Wake Up 24:12

2M ago24:12

24:12

By Running with Scissors

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How Did Language Start? (Did Someone Just Make Up the First Word?) 10:43

2M ago10:43

10:43

By Alex

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Inside David Byrne's American Utopia: An Audio Documentary (remixed and remastered) 1:25:34

2M ago1:25:34

1:25:34

In honor of David Byrne being back on the road with a new and absolutely spellbinding show, we are bringing you a remixed and remastered edition of our 2021 audio documentary on Byrne's iconic American Utopia show, which redefined the boundaries of what live music can be.

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Why Do We Cry? (And Why Does My Nose Join In?) 10:39

2M ago10:39

10:39

Why do humans shed emotional tears, and why does our nose run when we cry? In this episode of Explain It Like I’m 5, Alex breaks down the science of crying: the three types of tears (basal, reflex, and emotional), why humans are the only species that cry from feelings, and how crying acts as an emotional release valve for your brain and body. Learn…