Best Statistical Significance Podcasts (2025)

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Choosing a College in the Era of Polarization | Stats + Stories Episode 373 27:23

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18h ago27:23

27:23

Fall is admissions season at universities across the United States. As colleges work to recruit a new class, a new working paper suggests that politics might impact where students decide to go to school. That’s the focus of this episode of Stats and Stories, with guest Riley Acton. Riley Acton is an assistant professor of economics at Miami Univers…

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Ultramarathons: Can vitamin D protect your bones? 58:50

6d ago58:50

58:50

Ultramarathoners push their bodies to the limit, but can a giant pre-race dose of vitamin D really keep their bones from breaking down? In this episode, we dig into a trial that tested this claim – and found a statistical endurance event of its own: six highly interchangeable papers sliced from one small study. Expect missing runners, recycled figu…

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WE'RE HAVING A BABY! | Ep 13 27:21

16d ago27:21

27:21

Yes, a LOT has happened since the last episode. Sasha's preggers and married - not to Nebulous, though (for now). Highlights: - Should Sasha have a December baby or a January baby? Debate starts now! - Being 40 and pregnant: decidedly different than the last time round - OBJECTIVE differences between the UK and Singapore healthcare systems. - Sasha…

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Intl Prize Stat Winner Grace Wahba Legendary, Statistician & Mentor | Stats + Stories Episode 372 29:47

17d ago29:47

29:47

The international prize in statistics is awarded every two years by a collaboration among five leading international statistics organizations: the American Statistical Association, the Institute of Mathematical Statistics, the International Biometric Society, the International Statistical Institute, and the Royal Statistical Society. The prize reco…

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P-Values: Are we using a flawed statistical tool? 1:13:26

20d ago1:13:26

1:13:26

P-values show up in almost every scientific paper, yet they’re one of the most misunderstood ideas in statistics. In this episode, we break from our usual journal-club format to unpack what a p-value really is, why researchers have fought about it for a century, and how that famous 0.05 cutoff became enshrined in science. Along the way, we share st…

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Viral Statistical Capacity Building | Stats + Stories Episode 293 (REPOST) 27:56

24d ago27:56

27:56

Matthew Shearing is a private sector consultant working globally in partnership with the public, private and not-for-profit sectors on improving official statistics and other data systems, Monitoring and Evaluation, and embedding official statistics standards in wider international development.David Stern is a Mathematical Scientist and Educator. H…

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Reading Racy Research | Stats + Stories Episode 371 28:29

1M ago28:29

28:29

Have you ever wondered if what you eat is aging you, or whether women in red really are sexier? In addition to turning to Reddit for the answers to those questions, you can now tune into a new podcast. Normal Curves focuses on sexy science and serious statistics, and it's the focus of this episode of Stats and Stories with guests Regina Nuzzo and K…

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Exercise and Cancer: Does physical activity improve colon cancer survival? 49:04

1M ago49:04

49:04

Exercise has long been hailed as cancer-fighting magic, but is there hard evidence behind the hype? In this episode, we tackle the CHALLENGE trial, a large phase III study of colon cancer patients that tested whether prescribed exercise could improve cancer-free survival. We translate clinical jargon into plain English, show why ratio statistics ma…

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Comedy, Art, and ... Statistics? | Stats + Stories: Episode 370 26:44

1M ago26:44

26:44

A statistician walks into a bar, and a comedy and art show begins. Creative work for scholars can extend beyond novel research and application. In today's episode of stats and stories, we see how the intersection between interest in statistics and art, as well as the intersection of statistics and comedy, with Dr Greg Matthews.Dr. Matthews is Assoc…

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Age Gaps: How much does age matter in dating? 49:42

2M ago49:42

49:42

Are we all secretly ageist when it comes to dating? We put the stereotype that older men prefer younger women under the microscope using data from thousands of blind dates. What we found surprised us: the “age penalty” was real but microscopic, women wanted younger partners too, and hard age cutoffs weren’t so hard after all. Along the way, we unpa…

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Communicating Statistics Effectively | Stats and Stories at JSM (REPOST) 20:43

2M ago20:43

20:43

John Bailer is “the stats guy” and co-creator of Stats+Stories. He is also University Distinguished Professor and chair of the Department of Statistics at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. He is currently President-elect of the International Statistical Institute and previously served on the previously on the ASA Board of Directors. His scholarly i…

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Stat Significant | Stats + Stories Episode 369 29:47

2M ago29:47

29:47

Have you ever wondered if people actually hate Coldplay? Do you want statistical proof that Game of Thrones did not stick the landing in its finale? Have you wondered whether you’re actually seeing Nicholas Cage in more movies? Well, you’re in luck there’s a newsletter for that, and it’s the focus of this episode of Stats and Stories with guest Dan…

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Your Brain on AI: Is ChatGPT making us mentally lazy? 1:14:07

2M ago1:14:07

1:14:07

ChatGPT is melting our brainpower, killing creativity, and making us soulless — or so the headlines imply. We dig into the study behind the claims, starting with quirky bar charts and mysterious sample sizes, then winding through hairball-like brain diagrams and tens of thousands of statistical tests. Our statistical sleuthing leaves us with questi…

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Signing Statistics | Stats + Stories Episode 239 (REPOST) 27:56

2M ago27:56

27:56

What is a median? How about an interquartile range? Don’t even get me started on how to define a p-value. These statistical concepts are hard to grasp for your average statistics student, but imagining how these types of definitions translate into American Sign Language is a whole other ballgame. That is the focus of this episode of Stats+Stories w…

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The Backfire Effect: Can fact-checking make false beliefs stronger? 58:26

3M ago58:26

58:26

Can correcting misinformation make it worse? The “backfire effect” claims that debunking myths can actually make false beliefs stronger. We dig into the evidence — from ghost studies to headline-making experiments — to see if this psychological plot twist really holds up. Along the way, we unpack interaction effects, randomization red flags, and wh…

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Excellence in Statistical Reporting | Stats + Stories Episode 368 54:43

3M ago54:43

54:43

The National Association of science writers has about 2000 members, even as the field of science journalism has been experiencing a contraction. In her 2025 Nieman lab prediction for journalism, Siri Carpenter suggested that, given the challenges the world faces, it might be time that newsrooms embrace "science as a thread that runs through every b…

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Melbourne Madness & Boyfriend Revelations | Ep 12 20:17

3M ago20:17

20:17

Sasha and Nebulous are back from the Melbourne Comedy Festival, and they're spilling all the beans! From heartwarming moments with their partners to eye-opening comedy sets, they share their very different, but equally inspiring, festival experiences. Highlights: Sasha's emotional festival highlight: a truly special moment with her closest friends …

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The Ocean Health Index | Stats + Stories Episode 203 (REPOST) 27:14

3M ago27:14

27:14

The health of the world's oceans is a growing concern but measuring ocean health is a complicated undertaking. Some people studying the issue focus on pollution, while others look at the health of corals or marine mammals. One project attempts to take a comprehensive picture of the health of oceans in order to provide information about Oceanic vita…

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Dating Wishlists: Are we happier when we get what we want in a mate? 1:05:31

3M ago1:05:31

1:05:31

Loyal, funny, hot — you’ve probably got a wish list for your dream partner. But does checking all your boxes actually lead to happily ever after? In this episode, we dive into a massive global study that put the “ideal partner” hypothesis to the test. Do people really know what they want, and does getting it actually make them happier? We explore s…

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Amazonian Ancient Earthworks | Stats + Stories Episode 367 27:23

3M ago27:23

27:23

The Amazon has been imagined as a pristine wilderness, one in need of protection from development. This framing has often treated the Amazon as a place without history, practically untouched before the arrival of colonizers in South America. Statistics is helping show the history is much more complicated than that and it’s the focus of this episode…

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Stats Reunion: What have we learned so far? 56:00

3M ago56:00

56:00

It’s our first stats reunion! In this special review episode, we revisit favorite concepts from past episodes—p-values, multiple testing, regression adjustment—and give them fresh personalities as characters. Meet the seductive false positive, the clingy post hoc ex, and Charlotte, the well-meaning but overfitting idealist. Statistical topics Bar c…

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Days of R COVID Lives | Stats + Stories Episode 366 30:25

4M ago30:25

30:25

Early in the COVID pandemic, as we figured out how to live our lives solely at home, news stories began to be filled with stories about COVID’s spread and reproduction rates. Soon, social media were filled with amateur epidemiologists trying to make sense of those rates and sometimes making a mess of it. A series of articles in Significance examine…

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Is the Patriarchy Skibidi? (And Other Gen Z Musings) | Ep 11 23:33

4M ago23:33

23:33

In this listener Q&A episode, Sasha and Nebulous dive into a fascinating question about the stigma of being a self-sufficient woman. They veer off into hilarious tangents about modern dating, the wonders of Gen Z, and even the mysterious meaning of "skibidi." Highlights: Debunking the negative connotations of "spinster" and embracing single mum pri…

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Measuring the Impact of Universal Basic Income | Stats + Stories Episode 287 (REPOST) 28:38

4M ago28:38

28:38

What is the best way to support people living in extreme poverty? Could unconditional cash transfers and universal basic income be viable options? How can we know if such programs will work? Today's episode of stats and stories focuses on addressing the needs of people living in extreme poverty with Miriam Laker.Dr. Miriam Laker is the Global Direc…

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HPV Vaccine: How close are we to wiping out cervical cancer? 1:15:57

4M ago1:15:57

1:15:57

Could a preteen vaccine wipe out a global cancer? In this episode, we examine the bold claim that cervical cancer could be eradicated in much of the world by the end of the century—thanks to the highly effective HPV vaccine. We unpack statistical modeling, microsimulations, and how Markov chains make good date-night conversation. We also explore wh…

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Fair Play on the Fairway | Stats + Stories Episode 365 28:58

4M ago28:58

28:58

Rory McIlroy was leading the 2025 U.S. Masters golf tournament by two strokes after three rounds. So was his ultimate victory a sure thing? How predictive is a lead after three rounds of a golf tournament for victory after the 4th round? In today's episode of stats and stories, we hit the links to explore outcomes in professional golf tournaments, …

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Fried Chicken Flu & Antelope Horn Medicine | Ep 10 26:00

4M ago26:00

26:00

Sasha and Nebulous dive into the fascinating (and sometimes bewildering) world of cultural differences, from Singaporean greetings to perplexing health beliefs. Highlights: Nebulous's hilarious struggles with the "unnaturally good" service and baffling literal interpretations of Chinese medicine at Hai Di Lao. Sasha's boyfriend's belief that fried …

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Equipment Size: What is average? 54:20

4M ago54:20

54:20

Today’s deep dive: the surprisingly serious science of penis size. Using self-report surveys, objective measurements, and a healthy dose of old-school statistics, we ask: How do you get clean data on gentlemen’s goods?Along the way, we explore social desirability bias, survey design tricks, and what happens when science meets insecurity. You’ll nev…

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Statistical Summer Transportation Safety | Stats + Short Stories Episode 146 (REPOST) 7:15

5M ago7:15

7:15

What comes to mind at the start of summer? Backyard barbecues, quality time spent, and long drive. Transportation safety is the topic of this episode of Stats+Stories with guest Joel Greenhouse.By The Stats + Stories Team

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Statistical Literacy | Stats + Stories Episode 364 49:34

5M ago49:34

49:34

Every year, statistics classes are filled with math averse students who white knuckle it to the end of the semester in the hopes of getting a passing grade. And the dream of forgetting about math and statistics for a little while. But what if it didn’t have to be that way? What if instead of white knuckling it, students were actually excited about …

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Sugar Sag: Is Your Diet Aging You? 1:08:27

5M ago1:08:27

1:08:27

Wrinkles and sagging skin—just normal aging, or can you blame your sweet tooth? We dive into “sugar sag,” exploring how sugar, processed foods, and even your crispy breakfast toast might be making you look older than if you’d said no to chocolate cake and yes to broccoli. Along the way, we encounter statistical adjustment, training and test data se…

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What is Nutrition Science | Stats + Stories Episode 214 (REPOST) 25:48

5M ago25:48

25:48

An entire industry has grown up around nutrition and health. People pushing everything from shakes, to meal kits, to special diets. While some of the claims surrounding such products can be questionable at best, the field of nutrition science is growing. Filled with researchers who are working to truly understand the science of food that is a focus…

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The Birds, The Bees, and The Roblox | Ep 9 26:21

5M ago26:21

26:21

Sasha and Nebulous tackle the often awkward and hilarious world of talking to their kids about sex, contrasting their own very different upbringings. Highlights: - Nebulous's surprisingly laissez-faire upbringing regarding sex on TV despite having Asian parents. - Sasha's self-imposed role as the household angel while she was growing up. - The surp…