Shows
Season 5SSRIs and Sex: More than a Mind GameSelective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, or SSRIs, are class of medications commonly used to treat depression and anxiety. However, some people who take these medications experience sexual side effects. In this episode, Nora Williamson ’25 tackles the question of how and why SSRIs can affect sexual function, and what can be done about it.
2025-11-1708 minSeason 5Why do humans kiss?When you think about it, kissing is kinda gross. Why would people mash their lips together, risking exchanging germs? Is it instinct? A weird social habit? Or is there a neurobiological underpinning to kissing? Join Rosa Cochran ’25 as she answers this fascinating question with a tour de force review of what we know about …
2025-11-1708 minSeason 5UnLeashing AggressionAre certain dog breeds more aggressive? If so, are there differences in their brains? In this episode, Alina Schechtman-Taylor ’26 explores a study of androgen receptor density in the brains of dogs and how it correlates to their aggression. Tune in to find out how this study challenges dog breed stereotypes about agression and even …
2025-11-1706 minSeason 5Make Love Not WarThe “Free Love” movement of the 1960s advocated for sexual liberation and challenged existing norms about monogamy. In this episode, Valerie Heredia Piñeiro ’25 reminds us that humans weren’t the first species to come up with this groovy concept! Join her as she explores the behavior and neurobiology of Bonobos, non-human primates who live in …
2025-11-1708 minSeason 5Let’s Talk About ItWhat is sexual desire, and what does it look like in the brain? In this episode, Amuthini Arivazhagan ’25 tackles these big questions. Listen in as she fields questions from her listeners about the neurobiology of desire and unpacks how the stigma associated with sexual desire, particularly in women, has influenced the progression of research …
2025-11-1709 minPsyc 328 PodcastsFrom Bird Song to R&BIn this episode, Ilani Lark ’26, explores the role of auditory processing in sexual selection. Ilani starts off by telling us about the neurobiology of songbirds. When a male bird sings a song to a potential mate, how does their brain produce the complex courtship songs? And how does the female brain respond to it? …
2025-11-1707 minPsyc 328 PodcastsFrom Bird Song to R&BIn this episode, Ilani Lark ’26, explores the role of auditory processing in sexual selection. Ilani starts off by telling us about the neurobiology of songbirds. When a male bird sings a song to a potential mate, how does their brain produce the complex courtship songs? And how does the female brain respond to it? …
2025-11-1707 minSeason 5From Bird Song to R&BIn this episode, Ilani Lark ’26, explores the role of auditory processing in sexual selection. Ilani starts off by telling us about the neurobiology of songbirds. When a male bird sings a song to a potential mate, how does their brain produce the complex courtship songs? And how does the female brain respond to it? …
2025-11-1707 minSeason 5Can Scientists Create Gay Mice?In this episode, Charlotte Murrell ’25 discusses a 2011 study in which the authors genetically manipulated female mice to alter their brain serotonin neurons and found that these manipulations caused the mice to display social and sexual behaviors that were more male-typical. Does this mean that the scientists made the mice gay? Charlotte scored an …
2025-11-1008 minSeason 5Call Her Gonad-yIf you like the “Call Her Daddy” podcast, you’ll love “Call Her Gonad-y” hosted by Hannah Fisher ’26! In this episode, “The Sexy Serotonin Showdown,” Hannah interviews two experts on serotonin to ask the question: Can altering serotonin neurotransmission in mice make them gay? You won’t want to miss this one, Gonady Gang!
2025-11-1007 minPsyc 328 PodcastsEpisode 1: Code BreakersIn this episode, Bali Daniels (Bryn Mawr ’23) explores how paced mating behavior in rats increases sexual reward. Join her as she explains what the “vaginal code” is in rats and how it may increase the likelihood of conception. This begs the question… do humans have a vaginal code? Tune in to learn about human …
2024-01-0507 minPsyc 328 PodcastsEpisode 1: Code BreakersIn this episode, Bali Daniels (Bryn Mawr ’23) explores how paced mating behavior in rats increases sexual reward. Join her as she explains what the “vaginal code” is in rats and how it may increase the likelihood of conception. This begs the question… do humans have a vaginal code? Tune in to learn about human …
2024-01-0507 minSeason 4Episode 1: Code BreakersIn this episode, Bali Daniels (Bryn Mawr ’23) explores how paced mating behavior in rats increases sexual reward. Join her as she explains what the “vaginal code” is in rats and how it may increase the likelihood of conception. This begs the question… do humans have a vaginal code? Tune in to learn about human …
2024-01-0507 minSeason 4Debate ClubIn this episode, Adjoa Acquaah (Bryn Mawr '24) tackles the question: Do humans have sex pheromones? To answer this question, Adjoa tells us about research on estratetraenol, or EST, a hormone that is a putative candidate for a human sex pheromone. But what does a human sex pheromone even do? To unpack this question, Adjoa hosts a lively debate between animal sex pheromones and human sex pheromones. Tune in to hear who wins their heated (but informative) argument!
2024-01-0508 minPsyc 328 PodcastsDebate ClubIn this episode, Adjoa Acquaah (Bryn Mawr ’24) tackles the question: Do humans have sex pheromones? To answer this question, Adjoa tells us about research on estratetraenol, or EST, a hormone that is a putative candidate for a human sex pheromone. But what does a human sex pheromone even do? To unpack this question, Adjoa …
2024-01-0508 minPsyc 328 PodcastsEpisode 2: The Gay GeneIn this episode, Margaux Kelly (Bryn Mawr ’24) asks: Can you predict if someone will be gay? Is sexual orientation influenced by hormones during development? Or by birth order? Margaux reviews the evidence for these factors before tackling the controversial question of whether there is a “gay gene.” Listen to Margaux’s expert analysis of this …
2024-01-0508 minPsyc 328 PodcastsEpisode 2: The Gay GeneIn this episode, Margaux Kelly (Bryn Mawr ’24) asks: Can you predict if someone will be gay? Is sexual orientation influenced by hormones during development? Or by birth order? Margaux reviews the evidence for these factors before tackling the controversial question of whether there is a “gay gene.” Listen to Margaux’s expert analysis of this …
2024-01-0508 minSeason 4Episode 2: The Gay GeneIn this episode, Margaux Kelly (Bryn Mawr ’24) asks: Can you predict if someone will be gay? Is sexual orientation influenced by hormones during development? Or by birth order? Margaux reviews the evidence for these factors before tackling the controversial question of whether there is a “gay gene.” Listen to Margaux’s expert analysis of this …
2024-01-0508 minPsyc 328 PodcastsEpisode 3: Spilling the genesIt’s everyone’s favorite gossip podcast! Your host, Nora Gaby-Biegel (Haverford ’24), tackles the latest scandal at Rat Brain, Inc. As everyone knows, the world was shocked when one of Rat Brain’s star employees, Veni (short for Ventromedial Hypothalamus), stepped down from her position after their rat got pregnant! Why would Veni step down and leave …
2024-01-0507 minPsyc 328 PodcastsEpisode 3: Spilling the genesIt’s everyone’s favorite gossip podcast! Your host, Nora Gaby-Biegel (Haverford ’24), tackles the latest scandal at Rat Brain, Inc. As everyone knows, the world was shocked when one of Rat Brain’s star employees, Veni (short for Ventromedial Hypothalamus), stepped down from her position after their rat got pregnant! Why would Veni step down and leave …
2024-01-0507 minSeason 4Episode 3: Spilling the genesIt’s everyone’s favorite gossip podcast! Your host, Nora Gaby-Biegel (Haverford ’24), tackles the latest scandal at Rat Brain, Inc. As everyone knows, the world was shocked when one of Rat Brain’s star employees, Veni (short for Ventromedial Hypothalamus), stepped down from her position after their rat got pregnant! Why would Veni step down and leave …
2024-01-0507 minPsyc 328 PodcastsEpisode 4: Fifty Shades of Grey MatterIn this episode, Haley Halvorson (Bryn Mawr ’24) tells us what is known (and not known!) about the neurobiology of sadism and masochism. Can rodent models of pain and pleasure inform our understanding of what is happening in the brains’ of people who enjoy pain during sex? Haley explores the relationship between pain and the …
2024-01-0506 minSeason 4Episode 4: Fifty Shades of Grey MatterIn this episode, Haley Halvorson (Bryn Mawr ’24) tells us what is known (and not known!) about the neurobiology of sadism and masochism. Can rodent models of pain and pleasure inform our understanding of what is happening in the brains’ of people who enjoy pain during sex? Haley explores the relationship between pain and the …
2024-01-0506 minPsyc 328 PodcastsEpisode 4: Fifty Shades of Grey MatterIn this episode, Haley Halvorson (Bryn Mawr ’24) tells us what is known (and not known!) about the neurobiology of sadism and masochism. Can rodent models of pain and pleasure inform our understanding of what is happening in the brains’ of people who enjoy pain during sex? Haley explores the relationship between pain and the …
2024-01-0506 minSeason 4Episode 5: If rodents used Tinder, would they swipe or sniff?In this episode, Christine Wang (Bryn Mawr ’24) takes us on a journey through the world of rodent romance. Instead of swiping through photos on a dating app, rodents sniff out possible mating partners to tell whether they are a good match. But what role does experience play in the development of these preferences? And …
2024-01-0509 minPsyc 328 PodcastsEpisode 5: If rodents used Tinder, would they swipe or sniff?In this episode, Christine Wang (Bryn Mawr ’24) takes us on a journey through the world of rodent romance. Instead of swiping through photos on a dating app, rodents sniff out possible mating partners to tell whether they are a good match. But what role does experience play in the development of these preferences? And …
2024-01-0509 minPsyc 328 PodcastsEpisode 5: If rodents used Tinder, would they swipe or sniff?In this episode, Christine Wang (Bryn Mawr ’24) takes us on a journey through the world of rodent romance. Instead of swiping through photos on a dating app, rodents sniff out possible mating partners to tell whether they are a good match. But what role does experience play in the development of these preferences? And …
2024-01-0509 minPsyc 328 PodcastsEpisode 6: Have you seen my mother?In this episode, Olivia Taylor (Bryn Mawr ’24) considers how even a brief event early in life can have long-lasting consequences. Through interviews and anecdotes, Olivia engages us in a discussion about how early life stress can impact the development of psychiatric disorders later in life. As part of this, she tells us about how …
2024-01-0506 minPsyc 328 PodcastsEpisode 6: Have you seen my mother?In this episode, Olivia Taylor (Bryn Mawr ’24) considers how even a brief event early in life can have long-lasting consequences. Through interviews and anecdotes, Olivia engages us in a discussion about how early life stress can impact the development of psychiatric disorders later in life. As part of this, she tells us about how …
2024-01-0506 minSeason 4Episode 6: Have you seen my mother?In this episode, Olivia Taylor (Bryn Mawr ’24) considers how even a brief event early in life can have long-lasting consequences. Through interviews and anecdotes, Olivia engages us in a discussion about how early life stress can impact the development of psychiatric disorders later in life. As part of this, she tells us about how …
2024-01-0506 minSeason 4Episode 7: The Secret Sex Lives of GoldfishHave you ever wondered what’s happening in your fish tank after dark? In this episode, Jordan Denaver (Haverford ’24) takes a deep dive (get it?) into the secret sex lives of goldfish! Tune in to learn about fish courtship rituals, how fish use their sense of smell under water, and what happens if you experimentally …
2024-01-0506 minPsyc 328 PodcastsEpisode 7: The Secret Sex Lives of GoldfishHave you ever wondered what’s happening in your fish tank after dark? In this episode, Jordan Denaver (Haverford ’24) takes a deep dive (get it?) into the secret sex lives of goldfish! Tune in to learn about fish courtship rituals, how fish use their sense of smell under water, and what happens if you experimentally …
2024-01-0506 minPsyc 328 PodcastsEpisode 7: The Secret Sex Lives of GoldfishHave you ever wondered what’s happening in your fish tank after dark? In this episode, Jordan Denaver (Haverford ’24) takes a deep dive (get it?) into the secret sex lives of goldfish! Tune in to learn about fish courtship rituals, how fish use their sense of smell under water, and what happens if you experimentally …
2024-01-0506 minPsyc 328 PodcastsEpisode 8: P is for pain and patriarchyIn this episode, Leah Barz-Snell (Bryn Mawr ’24) tells us about chronic pain, which is more prevalent in women than in men. Can this be explained by differences in the brain? To answer this question, Leah takes us on a journey through the literature: Do men and women experience pain differently? What about male and …
2024-01-0508 minPsyc 328 PodcastsEpisode 8: P is for pain and patriarchyIn this episode, Leah Barz-Snell (Bryn Mawr ’24) tells us about chronic pain, which is more prevalent in women than in men. Can this be explained by differences in the brain? To answer this question, Leah takes us on a journey through the literature: Do men and women experience pain differently? What about male and …
2024-01-0508 minSeason 4Episode 8: P is for pain and patriarchyIn this episode, Leah Barz-Snell (Bryn Mawr ’24) tells us about chronic pain, which is more prevalent in women than in men. Can this be explained by differences in the brain? To answer this question, Leah takes us on a journey through the literature: Do men and women experience pain differently? What about male and …
2024-01-0508 minPsyc 328 PodcastsEpisode 9: The chirpy cricket podIn this episode, Tiffany Mikulis (Haverford ’25) catches us up on the popular topic of same sex behavior in male field crickets. Is this an adaptation that has evolved to strengthen social bonds? Or is it a case of mistaken identity? Tiffany tells us about a recent study that uses crickets’ social environment as a …
2024-01-0508 minPsyc 328 PodcastsEpisode 9: The chirpy cricket podIn this episode, Tiffany Mikulis (Haverford ’25) catches us up on the popular topic of same sex behavior in male field crickets. Is this an adaptation that has evolved to strengthen social bonds? Or is it a case of mistaken identity? Tiffany tells us about a recent study that uses crickets’ social environment as a …
2024-01-0508 minSeason 4Episode 9: The chirpy cricket podIn this episode, Tiffany Mikulis (Haverford ’25) catches us up on the popular topic of same sex behavior in male field crickets. Is this an adaptation that has evolved to strengthen social bonds? Or is it a case of mistaken identity? Tiffany tells us about a recent study that uses crickets’ social environment as a …
2024-01-0508 minSeason 4Episode 10: Foster MomsIn this episode, Nikki Farrell (Haverford ’24) explores how experience shapes maternal behavior. To understand whether maternal behavior is innate or learned, Nikki interviews three different mammals: a rat, a rabbit, and a sheep. What happens when they are exposed to babies that aren’t their own? Nikki then does a deep dive into the hormonal …
2024-01-0506 minSeason 4This has been a testIn this episode, Alex Abramenko (Haverford '24) puts his science communication skills to test by inviting his friend, Rishi, onto the podcast and teaching him about how olfactory communication influences sexual behavior in goldfish. As part of this, Alex tells Rishi about a complicated series of experiments involving sex pheromones, goldfish mating behavior, and brain surgeries. Will Rishi understand the ideas Alex is explaining? What can Alex learn about science communication from this experience? Listen and learn along with Rishi and Alex to find out more!
2024-01-0506 minSeason 4And how do you feel about that?In this episode, Joshwai Nevarez Sharp (Haverford '25) asks: Do women and men process pain differently? First, Josh walks us through the factors that might influence the answer to this question in humans. Then, Josh interviews Fifi, a laboratory rat who is participating in a pre-clinical study on pain processing that might have implications for multiple sclerosis. Things take a dark turn at the end, but don't let that dissuade you from listening in!
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