Jonestown pt. 1

One of the largest mass murders of American citizens in history took place in 1978 in Guyana at the hands of cult leader, Jim Jones. This discussion delves into the circumstances that gave rise to Jones' power and influence of hundreds of people that lead to a tragic mass death of hundreds of people young and old. This first episode chronicles Jones' life as he rose to prominence and eventually moved his congregation to South America. The next episode will unravel the tragedy that took place in 1978, as well as an discussion about how this cult was so influential, whether this could happen again, and what we can do about it. RecommendationsAbraham: Saosin by Saosin (https://open.spotify.com/album/2osTPStH5H7i4fMHS7eauR) Shane: The Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzi (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57693406-the-kaiju-preservation-society)Holidays (7/16/2025):Guinea Pig Appreciation DayHot Dog NightNational Corn Fritters DayNational Fresh Spinach DayNational Personal Chef’s DayTake Your Poet to Work DayWorld Snake DayCaptive Nations WeekCoral Reef Awareness WeekEvery Body Deserves a Massage WeekNational Baby Food WeekNational Ventriloquism WeekOperation Safe Driver WeekRabbit WeekSports Cliche WeekLinks and References: https://adst.org/2012/11/the-jonestown-massacre/https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/november-18/mass-suicide-at-jonestownhttps://www.annemergmed.com/article/S0196-0644(11)01340-0/fulltexthttps://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/nov/17/an-apocalyptic-cult-900-dead-remembering-the-jonestown-massacre-40-years-onhttps://www.britannica.com/event/Jonestownhttps://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?handle=hein.journals/yorklr2&div=6&id=&page=https://bpspsychub.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/bjso.12772https://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-events/jonestown.htm?s1sid=a48k3z9p1i7wvnlvcw1lrfbq&srch_tag=ben5nf7at4ksnp6j5hq3de3buxzfctat Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/why-we-do-what-we-do--3419521/support.

Do you bite your fingernails or know someone who does? Why do we do this weird, self-destructive thing? What can we do to stop it? We quickly explore the conditions under which we bite our fingernails and some strategies for reducing the frequency of this habit. Tell us your experiences with nail biting ([email protected]; ‪@wwdwwdpodcast.bsky.social‬)Join our supporter's club: patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcastLinks: https://www.news-medical.net/health/The-Psychology-Behind-Nail-Biting.aspxhttps://health.clevelandclinic.org/nail-biting-when-does-it-go-too-farhttps://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3004689/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/why-we-do-what-we-do--3419521/support.

Tipping is another oddly American tradition that we all pretty universally hate. Perhaps you did not know that the modern conception of tipping arose during reconstruction as a means to not have to pay black people for their labor. We explore the origins of this strange, uniquely American tradition, why it persists, and what is probably going to make this problem much, much worse. RecommendationsAbraham: Unconscious Mind (https://luckyduckgames.com/usa/?srsltid=AfmBOor3zWBbHAlhJyg2tsekDN2j6PpVGbsEfOw5nXwKAJYmT7PnPmJV)Shane: Hotline TNT - Raspberry Moon (https://open.spotify.com/album/3MVdeSmUl32TTzLy6dFFtZ?si=tD1AgdpJRkSxi6kRIekR6Q)Holidays (7/9/2025):Call of the HorizonFashion DayMartyrdom of the BabNational Don’t Put All your Eggs in One Omelet DayNational No Bra DayNational Sugar Cookie DayDurian Fruit DayNational Dimples DayArgentina’s Independence DayWimbledonRabbit WeekAir Conditioning Appreciation DaysBe Nice to New Jersey WeekDog Days of SummerFreedom WeekNational Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee WeekNational Farriers WeekShark WeekLinks and References: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/33170/33170-h/33170-h.htmhttps://www.7shifts.com/blog/history-of-tipping-restaurants/https://www.povertylaw.org/article/the-racist-history-behind-americas-tipping-culture/https://www.foodwoolf.com/2010/08/history-of-tipping.htmlhttps://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20230606-how-to-tip-around-the-worldhttps://www.westernunion.com/blog/en/global-tipping-guide/?cust_src=organic_searchhttps://time.com/5404475/history-tipping-american-restaurants-civil-war/ https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/tip-sheet/ https://www.paycor.com/resource-center/articles/minimum-wage-tipped-employees-by-state/https://www.dol.gov/general/topic/wages/minimumwage Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/why-we-do-what-we-do--3419521/support.

Some people use this term incorretly, some don't know it at all. To help get everyone on the same page, we are going to review the history of research that first described this phenomenon. Then, we will give examples of what this might look like in real-life scenarios. Get ad-free and bonus content: www.patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcastLinks and References: Cooper, J. O., Heron, T. E., & Heward, W. L. (2020). Applied Behavior Analysis, 3rd Ed. Pearson.Seligman, M. E., & Maier, S. F. (1967). Failure to escape traumatic shock. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 74(1), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0024514Maier, S.F., Seligman, M.E.P., & Solomon, R.L. (1969). Pavlovian fear conditioning and learned helplessness: Effects on escape and avoidance behavior of (a) the CS-US contingency, and (b) the independence of the US and voluntary responding. In: Campbell BA, Church RM, editors. Punishment. New York, NY: Appleton-Century-Crofts; pp. 299–342Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/why-we-do-what-we-do--3419521/support.

Special guests Jennifer Farris, Meg Solomon, and Dr. Mari Cerda join us to talk about their new book about developing a compassionate care model. They outline the critical elemtents of their discussion, and share personal stories to help illustrate their recommendations. At the end, they join us in giving their own recommendations for things that bring them joy. We could all use a little more joy. Find the Book Here:https://www.amazon.com/Reframe-Framework-Developing-Compassionate-Instructional/dp/1300540478?source=ps-sl-shoppingads-lpcontext&ref_=fplfs&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DERRecommendations:Dr. Mari Cerda: Mindful moments outside; Shrinking (TV show; Meg Solomon: Moody by Royel Otis (https://youtu.be/twM4KF99yd0?si=Z_BsmNfDJFd_amiT) and Murderbot (https://tv.apple.com/us/show/murderbot/umc.cmc.5owrzntj9v1gpg31wshflud03)Jennifer Farris: Wellfleet Oysters with Brut ChampagneShane: Talking to Strangers by Malcom Gladwell (https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/talking-to-strangers-malcolm-gladwell/1130509634)Abraham: The Things We Tell Ourselves in the Dark (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FdXmAPM8u4) Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/why-we-do-what-we-do--3419521/support.

Can you walk around being skeptical all day long? At what point do you need to let your guard down? We suggest that not only can you go about your day being skeptical, it is better if you do. We'll explain.Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcastLinks: https://www.theskepticsguide.org/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/why-we-do-what-we-do--3419521/support.

There is a unique type of brain trauma that destroys lives and cuts them short and we can't even tell that it has happened until after your death. Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy occurs when there is repeated head trauma, even if it is mild. The result can manifest as forgetfulness, impulsivity, violence, and an early death. Mercifully, it is relatively preventable. Unfortunately, few people care to prevent it. Protect Your Brain!Recommendations:Abraham: Mickey 17 (https://www.max.com/movies/mickey-17/fbe17356-9db7-4ab3-928e-32978e0cfbc7) Shane: 1908 Bakery (https://bakery1908.com/)Holidays (6/25/2025):Bourdain DayColor TV DayDay of the SeafarerGlobal Beatles DayNational Catfish DayNational Strawberry Parfait DaySchool Prayer Banned AnniversaryWorld Vitiligo DayAmateur Radio WeekBoys and Girls Club WeekFish are Friends, Not Food WeekNational Body Piercing WeekNational Insect WeekNational Lightning Safety Awareness WeekLinks and References: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/chronic-traumatic-encephalopathy/symptoms-causes/syc-20370921https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/chronic-traumatic-encephalopathy/https://medicine.iu.edu/expertise/traumatic-brain-injury/what-is-chronic-traumatic-encephalopathyhttps://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17686-chronic-traumatic-encephalopathy-ctehttps://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/what-is-dementia/related_conditions/chronic-traumatic-encephalopathyhttps://www.headstrongconcussion.com/history-of-ctehttps://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/260461https://academic.oup.com/brain/article/141/1/318/4774567https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277953619306835#:~:text=22,of%20their%20respective%20patient%20populations.https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acschemneuro.7b00291#:~:text=High%20Resolution%20Image,%2C%20extreme%20sports%2C%20etc.)https://steemit.com/steemiteducation/@cabbagepatch/an-american-tragedy-story-of-mike-webster-pro-hall-of-famer-and-cte https://www.massgeneralbrigham.org/en/about/newsroom/press-releases/study-finds-1-in-3-former-nfl-players-believe-they-have-cte https://www.ucs.org/resources/nfl-tried-intimidate-scientists-studying-link-between-pro-football-and-traumatic-brain Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/why-we-do-what-we-do--3419521/support.

Sometimes we have some random twitches that develop out of nowhere. What is going on with these? Why do they happen? And, what can we do about it? We explore the uncomfortable world of twitches. Fun fact, these are technically different from spasms. Become a member: Patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcastLinks and References: https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/symptoms/muscle-twitching#:~:text=Muscle%20twitching%20is%20caused%20by,of%20a%20nervous%20system%20disorder.https://www.webmd.com/brain/ss/slideshow-twitches-spasms-causeshttps://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324641Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/why-we-do-what-we-do--3419521/support.

Replacement theory is essentially a propaganda campaign engineered to scare gullible people into giving power to autocrats. Versions of this have been around for a long time. We review the history of replacement theory, explain how it works to trick people into voting against their interests (and the interests of everyone else), and what we can do about it. RecommendationsAbraham: Wool (https://hughhowey.com/books/wool/)Shane: Turnstile - NEVER ENOUGH (https://open.spotify.com/album/52yD51X7yDinwlg6tbCtpP?si=LoE11WYfRfygXQaUwd2Ceg)Holidays (06/18/25):Autistic Pride DayGo Fishing DayInternational Panic DayInternational Picnic DayInternational Sushi DayNational Cheesemaker’s DayNational Cherry Tart DayNational Splurge DayAnimal Rights Awareness WeekCarpenter Ant Awareness WeekLearning Disabilities WeekNational Roller Coaster WeekTake Your Dog to Work WeekWobbly WeekLinks and References: https://immigrationforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Replacement-Theory-Explainer-1122.pdfhttps://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/what-is-great-replacement-theory-and-how-does-it-fuel-racist-violencehttps://theconversation.com/what-is-the-great-replacement-theory-a-scholar-of-race-relations-explains-224835https://www.splcenter.org/resources/hatewatch/racist-great-replacement-conspiracy-theory-explained/https://www.ajc.org/translatehate/great-replacement https://www.adl.org/resources/backgrounder/great-replacement-explainer https://hias.org/news/deep-dive-great-replacement-theory/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jun/08/a-deadly-ideology-how-the-great-replacement-theory-went-mainstreamBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/why-we-do-what-we-do--3419521/support.

One of the most common strategies of current right-wing propaganda is to say something that sounds like reasonable words, but when you break it down it is misleading, misinformed, outright wrong, or even dangerous. One example of this is a recent suggestion that we start using placebo-controlled experimental arrangements for established vaccines. This is fairly simple to dismantle, so buckle in for a quick and dirty takedown of the placebo-controlled vaccine studies stupid nonsense. Support us on patreon: patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcastLinks and References: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4157320/https://www.statnews.com/2025/05/22/vaccines-placebo-controlled-trials-hhs-clinical-research-ethics/https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2025/05/placebo-testing-vaccines-is-unethical-a-waste-of-time-and-money-expert-says/?fj=1Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/why-we-do-what-we-do--3419521/support.