The Brain Candy Podcast
The Brain Candy Podcast is hosted by Susie Meister, PhD, and Sarah Rice, MFT, who both appeared on MTV's The Challenge. They discuss psychology, pop culture, human interest, and science in an accessible way. Episodes range from reality TV topics like the Kardashians to broader scientific ideas such as quantum physics. The show aims to mix laughter with learning.
Episodes
1050: Ultramarathons, Siren, & the Wheel of Well-being
Sarah just started a therapy business, but she thinks she missed her calling as a redecorator for therapy offices. Someone who could use Sarah's therapy skills is the guy Susie saw at Oktoberfest who had a full-on 15-minute slur-filled rant, and the sheriff had to cart him away. Susie watched a documentary about ultramarathoners, and describes the teams of people who support these extreme
1049: Halloween Ideas, Fart Spray, & Last Meals
We're brainstorming Halloween costume ideas because, once again, we will be enjoying Spooky Season together. We've got so many good options. We discuss problems at a big festival causing people to evacuate, and we are starting to think there are too many festivals, and they're getting crazy with litter, consumerism, crowd control, etc... One thing is certain, pyrotechnics are almost alway
1048: Beach Brawl, Dumb Phones, & Longevity Fail
Sarah has a new enemy, and its electronic behemoth, Best Buy. Apparently they want to charge you to recycle your goods, and she ain't having it. Susie's having better luck with her appliances, and shares a hack for getting a free toaster (or something?). We hear about a brawl that broke out over a beach chair that left a man dead. Susie explains why Pittsburghers encourage "saving" your p
1047: Chocolate Rats, Snow Plow Parents, & Ice Cream
Sarah talks about restaurant owners who are sick of patrons letting their children run amok. Sarah learns about a study that determined a love for chocolate isn't just for humans. Turns out, rats can't get enough either and they scream (literally!) for it! Sarah is prepping for her next career as a shopping consultant to help us become smart shoppers. We learn why Ozempic has changed the
1046: Blind Driver, Smile Size, & Cat Talk
Sarah got her first mammogram, and it as both easier and harder than she expected. Susie has a shocking new poo story about an athlete who soiled herself in a competition, kept going, won, and then made everyone mad. We learn about a man who was pulled over for drunk driving, but in addition to being wasted, this guy was...BLIND. Hear how he managed to drive without sight. Scientists have
1045: Owl Ears, Hearing Impaired Acting, & Notebook Colors
Sarah's a horse whisperer, so when she goes riding she gets the naughty boys. We learn why a Utah lake is drying up. Sarah believes school notebook colors correspond with certain subjects, and even though it makes no sense, she's right. A new show, Not a Sound, about a hearing-impaired woman, cast an actress who is hearing, and some people aren't happy about it. Hear our thoughts. Sarah e
1044: Ig Nobel Prizes, Gas Station, & Wheel of Fortune Scandal
Sarah passed her therapy licensing test, and now she feels like a new woman. We discuss what personal life information influencers "owe" their followers, why some people believe the influencers lose their privacy in exchange for online success, and how the two of us navigate our personal lives in the public eye. We hear which achievements in science won Ig Nobel Prizes this year. We talk
1043: Thongs, Bananas, & Longevity
We're not blowing our whistles anymore, but if we were we would do it about thong underwear. Susie used to swear up and down that they were her preferred cut, but now she says that wasn't true. And she has a way to find out whether you think they're the most comfortable underwear as well. We discuss the problem with American bananas, and why a monocrop could lead to losing them altogether
1042: Pastor's Wife, Baby Jessica, & Lindsay Clancy
Today we're talking about the Death of a Pastor's Wife documentary, which, with it's religion, cyberstalking, and marital control themes, got us going down a dark path. We hear about the scammer, Daejon Love, who convinced 26 women he was the star player for the 49ers, and got them to give him $1.3M. We learn about "Baby Jessica's" recent run-in with the law, and while we don't condone he
1041: Wedding Wardrobe, Local Sleep, & Bear Attacks
Sarah wants people to stop with the obscure and niche wedding dress codes that make no sense. We learn about a study that showed how the brain scans of people can predict who they'll be friends with regardless of common interests and personality types. We hear about "local sleep," which allows you to "sleep" in tiny increments throughout the day when you are otherwise fully awake. Sarah e
1040: Peer Pressure, Aha Moments, & Primate Pets
Susie watched the Boeing documentary, Freefall, which exposes the company's negligence that likely led to many of the recent airplane crashes, malfunctions, and fatalities. We learn about a Titanic-themed slide a family installed on their farm, which infuriated residents who thought it was insensitive. We debate whether making light of the tragedy is inappropriate or people are being over
1039: Men's Underwear, Supermovers, & Killer Dana's Ice Cream
We learn what people think are the most romantic cities in the U.S. to go on a date, and we're just glad Vegas wasn't on the list. Sarah reveals the most disturbing fact Susie says we've ever learned on the show--it's a statistic about men's underwear and we are NOT OK (and clearly, neither are men). We find out about Matt Damon's (female!) stunt double, and why she is our badass bitch of
1038: Golf Cheater, Microwave Beeps, & Amanda Knox Comedy
There is a new documentary coming out about Olympic breakdancer and academic, Raygun, and we don't know how we're going to be able to wait for its release. In the meantime, we talk about Amanda Knox's decision to try her hand at comedy, and why we think maybe she should do literally anything else. We debate whether it's inappropriate for her to make light of a murder or whether being wron
1037: Brain Science, Big Chicken, & Reality TV Personalities
Susie spun the birthday wheel at her favorite dive bar, and she'll be riding that high for a while. Sarah watched a documentary called Big Chicken where a comedian looks into the health effects of fast food fried chicken for 28 days, and we learn what he experienced by eating a ton of fried chicken. We discuss the ways your personality can change if you want it to, and we consider how our
1036: Left-handedness, Monsters of God, & The Industry of Ice
Sarah got Susie amazing birthday gifts, and you all are going to be very jealous! We learn the science of left-handedness, why it's still so mysterious, and what makes it so exceptional among animals. We discuss the new Monsters of God docuseries, which covers the reptile and snake trade, smuggling, and the ways the criminals are in cahoots with zoos. We find out the history of the ice in
1035: Flight Nightmare, Fresno Airport, & Simon Says
Sarah is still in her Camp Era, and that includes giving us tips on nobody's-favorite-game, Simon Says. She is ruthless. We discuss why kids still get homesick sometimes when they're at camp, but now counselors are noticing that parents are "kid-sick," and have separation anxiety while their kids are away. Sarah offers an ADHD life hack that she created after becoming obsessed with the ca
1034: Usher Concerts, Impaled Hiker, & Super K Lottery
It's Susie's birthday and she joined AARP and is pretty stoked about her trunk organizer. Sarah is rolling the dice on eating lettuce when the stakes are pretty high these days. We learn why dogs do that weird circular positioning thing when they have to poop, and the reason researchers can't figure out why they do it. We discuss a Super K employee who was fired and sued by the company af
1033: Dopamine Sites, Elderly Parkour, & Skateboarding
Sarah's brainstorming her camp plans for this summer, and she just might solve climate change single-handedly. We learn about "dopamine sites" in Asia, where people can pretend to shop or order food to get a hit of dopamine, but they're not actually buying anything. And we have a theory that it's not what it seems (sPoOoOkY!). We discuss the trend in Singapore where seniors are learning p
1032: Moana Mania, Terminal Lucidity, & Eavesdropping
Sarah is headed off to camp, and she plans for her mission to fight littering and reminisces about the worst "plague" year at camp. We hear about terminal lucidity, where caregivers report dementia patients "returning" to their normal selves just before death, and how it relates to near-death experiences. We learn the science behind why Moana Mania is sweeping the nation, and the reasons
1031: Group Vacations, Kids Music, & Addiction
We discuss Sarah's algorithm and why it's feeding her lavender marriages, and we debate their merits. We discuss the Presbyterian church debating whether to let their clergy be in polyamorous relationships. Sarah names some of the rules and courtesies the Washington Post says apply to people going on group vacations. Susie seems to be mad about power banks for some reason, so we have to h
1030: Burning Man, Shell-less Shellfish, & Alpine Update
Sarah is back from the Windy City, and boy are her arms tired. Susie's whole body is tired because she had to lead a cat rescue operation. We discuss the Bang My Box documentary about Robin Byrd's New York cable access show in the 80s, and how she was a gay icon and advocate, but got spooked by the internet. We learn why Burning Man was in distress over Covid, why white people love the fe
1029: Adulthood Age, RSVP Rant, & The Last CD
Susie is throwing a party and would like you people to start RSVP-ing. Do people think that is optional?? We try to figure out why Sarah dated so many narcissists and we decide whether that's why she likes Susie (lol). We learn about a new job at a dating company that we think we would crush--Chief Break-up Officer, who breaks up with people on behalf of someone. What. Sarah asks a really
1028: Groupie Art, Kidz Bop, & Got Milk
Sarah renamed her dog, and we are so excited about our new mascot. Susie found out baseball stadiums and the playing field all have different dimensions and we hear which stadium is the hardest to be a batter. We learn about a woman who convinced rock musicians to let her make casts of their, uh, special instrument, if you know what I mean. We discuss the amazing two decade run of Kidz Bo
1027: Turtle Smuggling, Ranch Dressing, & Dog Tattoos
We discuss a woman who was caught by customs with 57 turtles taped to her body and the reasons one might do that. We find out why some people think all Cheez-Its are not created equal. Hear why poop might be the key to good health and metabolism might be the key to curing mental illnesses (all of them!). We hear about the green tattoo Sarah's dog has, why she has it, and why Sarah wants o
1026: Love Island, Crow Gifts, & Pink Paint
We revisit the most shared New York Times article by a woman who trains animals (and husbands). We discuss Sarah's new dog and her efforts to teach a new dog old tricks. Susie gives an update on her trivia night debacle where she was ROBBED (but it's FINE). We hear why Sarah is obsessed with Love Island. We learn why less than 50% off cultures mouth kiss romantically, but we're not buying
1025: Bushes Are Out, Maternal Instinct, & Hot Animals
Susie went off on people with misophonia out of nowhere. Sarah teaches us about "analog rules." We discuss the insane documentary, Maternal Instinct, where a woman pretended to be pregnant and then kills a pregnant woman and steals her baby. We learn how this happened and discuss how the medical professionals who knew she couldn't be pregnant claimed they couldn't alert anyone because of
1024: Into Thin Air, Pattie Gonia, & Mel Robbins' Idea
We're belatedly celebrating America's birthday, and reminiscing about the bicentennial furniture craze of 1976. Susie read the book Into Thin Air about the 1996 Everest tragedy where many climbers perished, and the unintended consequences of the book. We discuss the Mel Robbins' book, Let Them, and the allegations that the idea was "stolen" from a viral poem, and we find out why certain t
1023: Reality TV Time Warp, Andi the Whale, & Robot Tail
We're thinking about how when we do a reality tv show, we get suspended in time, and no matter how much we do in our lives we'll have to relive the same moments and have to defend ourselves over and over again. And we consider how that affects us. We get an update on the lady who married a *checks notes* ghost pirate (??). Apparently, things aren't going great. Sarah is excited all over a
1022: Earth, Wind, & Fire, Tyra's Lawsuit, & Tattoo Typo
We're talking about the Earth, Wind, & Fire documentary, and the wild story of this funky 70s band. We discuss the insane hypocrisy of Tyra Banks suing Netflix over the America's Next Top Model documentary in which she participated. Turns out, it's not fun to be at the mercy of editors trying to tell a particular story. A woman got a tattoo of her child's name, but there was a typo, a
1021: Hey Bear, Noise Festival, & Cursed Cursive
Sarah is hyped about her new look. We're calling it athletic chic. We learn about a religious festival where people compete to make the most noise, and in so doing, priceless art pieces were destroyed. We find out the details of the world's most expensive home, and Susie wishes the owner a lifetime of pain and agony. Susie's sister is fact checking Sarah about how to deal with a bear sigh
1020: Backrooms, ADHD Earworms, & Bird Cigarettes
Susie went for her eye appointment, so she's glowing, obviously. Hear what the inside of her eye looks like and how her doctor crush is going. Sarah reveals a statistic about women in movies, and it's not good news. We learn what kind of music animals like to get it on to and it makes us wonder if certain songs are more appealing to ADHD brains. We learn how they found out that pigeons we
1019: Red Panda, Drowning in Space, & Choking Signal
Susie talks about Red Panda, the half-time phenom, who rides a 7ft tall unicycle whilst throwing plates with her feet onto her head. It's a whole thing. We find out about an astronaut who almost drowned on a "routine" spacewalk, which has Sarah reeling. We find out how Sarah almost choked to death, but more importantly, Susie found out she does NOT know the international sign for choking.
1018: Famous Houses, Glamorous Priest, & Gifting Suite
Sarah is back from Vegas where she attended the Enhanced Games, which allow competitors to use any FDA substance they want. We celebrate that, but we mourn the loss of buffets. Bring back the buffet! Susie watched a documentary about houses featured in movies and TV shows and the people who live in them. We hear why some owners hate it and others embrace their famous residences. We learne
1017: Restored Bull Balls, Banana Art, & Lottery Luck
Susie is mad about birds and chipmunks and Sarah is mad about noise pollution, but it's clear they're both old ladies. Susie also had an e-bike accident, and it's a fun reminder to drive sober. Also, if you love data, get a keychain breathalyzer. Sarah talks about a mosaic of a bull at an Italian mall that needed some sprucing up, but apparently the artist who restored it sucked, well, ba
1016: Dolly & Judy, Pop Princess, & Wet Bias
Susie read Dolly Parton's biography, and has a conspiracy theory about her idol. We discuss the Kylie Minogue documentary, how she fought against the manic pixie dreamgirl, pop stereotype, and why Michael Hutchence from INXS lit her fire. We get mad about the men in Laos who got trapped in a cave because of the reason they went in there. We learn about the weather app "wet bias," and disc
1015: Let's Get Physical, Old Lady Fashion, & Netflix Lawsuit
Susie has another pretend enemy (pretenemy?), and despite the Hippocratic oath, she is claiming her doctor doing harm. Sarah wants to know what old ladies are supposed to wear these days because her cowboy chic situation isn't exactly couture, but she likes being comfy. We learn about a man who is suing Netflix for creating a movie that he claims is too similar to his life, even though th
1014: Amy Poehler Feud, Jeopardy Tips, & Richard Simmons
Susie is in a one-sided feud with Amy Poehler, which makes no sense, but is quite funny. Susie thinks Sarah should consider getting into the handyman business. We find out how to get on Jeopardy, why Brain Candy is basically the trashier, podcast version of Jeopardy. Susie watched the new Richard Simmons documentary about his amazing life and mysterious death, and we provide our theories
1013: Last Name Games, Celebrity Gardening, & Temple Grandin
Susie is moonlighting in the motion capture industry, and even though it's technically top secret. she shares the challenges of tech modeling and why she thinks her and Sarah's ability to follow instructions makes them succeed on the Challenge. Sarah describes an unconventional way some families are deciding what last name their baby gets, and Susie is mad about it (even though she thinks
1012: Gender Reveal, Martin Short, & The Crash
Sarah met a newborn baby, and she is still riding the high. We find out what it costs to get bodycam footage and why the government is so behind the times. Susie wants to know why no one is doing gender reveal parties anymore (not that we're complaining!). We discuss the Martin Short documentary, and think about why he is so positive and stable and how he is a comedic genius without the t
1011: Naming Cows, Fussy Babies, & Carnival Rides
Spring has sprung, but we don't understand why babies are born this time of year. Sarah explains what happens when you pass gas during surgery (and Susie is not happy). We hear why naming cows has an impact on their milk production. Susie says she always tells people in her life to be sweet to her when she's "fussy" and we debate whether she is infantilizing herself or whether it's proof
1010: Mountain Madness, African Runners, & Unwritten Rules
Susie describes why the man who popularized climbing Everest claims he never meant to do that, why he thinks people should climb in a different way, and why it's much easier to scale the highest mountain now than a few years ago. We find out what Sarah thinks is the number one horror film ever made. We discuss twins who don't share a father, and why it raises questions about identity and
1009: Cruise Quarantine, Connection Keeper, & Kentucky Derby
Sarah and Susie are disturbed by the Hantavirus outbreak on the cruise, and we reminisce about our introduction to the virus thanks to Susie's (unofficial) work on the Gene Hackman investigation. Sarah learned about a collaboration between Prego pasta sauce (??) and Story Corps that will allow you to record family conversations to preserve oral traditions, but we think these people clearl
1008: Dark Wizard, Urban Birds, & Crossword Crisis
Sarah is embracing her Spanish language learning, but she can only speak it with a deep, Buzz Lightyear voice, and we love it. Susie watched the Dark Wizard HBO docuseries about extreme sporting pioneer, free solo climber, and base-jumping enthusiast, Dean Potter, and we discuss why this is a hate-watch for us, how men will do anything instead of going to therapy, and why Susie hates extr
1007: Hulk Hogan, Horse Girl Scandal, & the History of Diapers
Susie watched the Hulk Hogan documentary, and explains why he reminds her of Johnny Bananas, why he is not the hero we hoped for, and the physical pain of being a "fake" wrestler. We learn about a scandal in the equestrian community where a horsegirl was shot by a trainer, and how, despite the odds, we're kind of on the man's side. What. We learn about the men who are upset that they were
1006: Future Farmers, Well-Being, & Haunted Houses
Sarah is getting excited for her farming future since she's decided to pivot away from snow (since there doesn't appear to be any in Denver anymore). We are comparing notes about the ridiculous pick-up lines we've heard recently, and Susie's theory that men are getting worse at lines designed to flirt. Susie is still trying to get Sarah to come up with her list of non-negotiable things th
1005: Matchmaking, Love, & Dating in the Digital Age
We have been threatening to be matchmakers with a listener for years, but we finally think we found the right candidate to set up on dates. Loyal Brainiac, Sarah's iPad, is going to be the perfect gal to set up. She's smart, funny, pretty, and nice, and we need you all to help us find a match. We also talk to Harvard-trained clinical psychologist and Hily Dating App expert, Dr. Sabrina Ro
1004: SkyKing, Cult Rescue, & WNBA's New Generation
Sarah is back from living that pura vida in Costa Rica. She had an incredible horse girl experience and now she's back to regular life. Susie is encouraging everyone to come up with a list of non-negotiables like she has with her "five W's." We're still working on Sarah's list, but it probably includes pot. We discuss the #SkyKing documentary about the man who stole a plane for seemingly
1003: Interstellar Aftermath, ADHD Curiosity, & Dogs are People Too
We completed the bit of Susie not watching Interstellar, and now we're hearing Sooz Review of the film. Sarah is still emotionally recovering from it. It was emotional! So we're getting existential, philosophical, and galactic! We hear why humans are the only animals with chins, and it turns out it's kinda wacky. We find out why one scientist thinks ADHD is best defined as a hypercuriosit
1002: Enhanced Games, Forest Bathing, & Weird Dreams
Sarah got an invite to attend the Enhanced Games (the competitive sports where anything goes in terms of performance enhancement). We find out how a crime was recently solved thanks to the nerdy expertise of a botanist. We hear why the Boston and Southern accents might become obsolete, and we're pretty sad about it. We lament the shallow nature of some online culture, and basically we wan
1001: Whale Birth, Chess Cheating, & Seagull Prevention
We are loving season two of Jury Duty, Company Retreat, and we talk about how the show does an amazing job at casting their unsuspecting foils. Susie has an update on the anal bead scandal that rocked the chess world, and why it turns out the rumor has an unlikely origin. We celebrate the incredible Artemis II crew, and their incredible mission to space (and also how hot they all are). We
1000: Mt. Everest Scandal, Lawn Chair Larry, & Everyday Superpowers
We did it! 1,000 episodes! Today we celebrate our achievement by talking about a scandal on Mt. Everest where we don't even know who the villain is. We find out what an everyday superpower is and we discuss what ours are. We learn about the woman who created the star categorization system that is still used. We hear why some people are getting exposed for their non-Christian attitudes thr
999: Cornhole Killer, Underwater Bees, & Tofu Controversy
Sarah won't quit talking about horses, and her love for them, but she explains why it turns out, we're not really meant to ride them. We hear about the quadruple amputee who is accused of committing murder, but wait, there's more, he's also a cornhole champion. He's full of surprises! Susie hooked on bowling ever since she got her own ball, and now she's watching the HBO docuseries, Born
998: Age of Attraction, Lion King Lyrics, & Afroman
We learn about a lawsuit a Lion King songwriter filed against a comedian for "misrepresenting" his song that made us furious. We delight in the defamation trial of one-hit-wonder and national treasure, Afroman, where he made fools of the police who wrongfully searched his home and destroyed his property. Sarah is watching the Age of Attraction dating reality show, which claims to fight ag
997: Lightning Strikes, Bucket List Bankruptcy, & Microcheating
Today we learn what happens to your body when you're struck by lightning, why some people don't feel anything, and why many victims believe they are human lightning rods. We find out about the one Minnesota town that is not on Google Earth, the reason they don't want to be included, and why we think they're hypocrites. We find out why some sick people who defy their terminal prognosis are
996: Mountaintop Art, Alpine Divorce, & Hype Aversion
We have a new sound effect--so brace yourself! We learn about an artist who stole the top one inch from a mountain summit, and we have to debate whether we hate the artist or the mountain climbers who are mad at him. Sarah shares why her new hobby is her destiny, and she is going full-hog into her equine lifestyle. Sarah explains the concept of an "alpine divorce," why she's experienced i
995: Sarah's Destiny, Scattergories Celebrities, & Banksy's Identity Revealed
Sarah had a near-death experience. Well, she had an experience. And we find out why a shopping cart became a sign to change her plans. We learn what her new hobby is, and why Susie is hoping it's less snobby and "white privilege" forward than snowboarding and skiing. Susie played Scattergories and would like the Brainiac community to settle a debate with her opponent. We discuss the Louis
994: Affair BnB, Gen Z Misogyny, & The Stripper Spending Index
Sarah tapped into her Horse Girl history during her vacation in Costa Rica. Hear about an AirBnB lawsuit where a man having an affair got caught because of his host's review. We get some very bleak news about Gen Z men/boys, why they're more misogynistic than older generations, and what we think is going to happen. We find out how men's stripper spending habits can predict a bad economy b
993: Fish Doorbell, Chimp Crystals, & The Traitors
Don't forget to come celebrate our 1000th episode with us because it's gonna be incredible! We learn about an online community that helps fish get to their spawning locations by ringing a "doorbell" that alerts locals to let them through a lock. We find out if chimps love crystals as much as people, and scientists theory for why humans are drawn to them. We discuss Punch the chimp who has
992: Jury Duty, Overcoming Friction, & Safe Men
Our girl Sarah was a good citizen and performed her civic duty of jury duty, so we hear about all the insanity, nonsense, and protocol she went through just to perform the thankless task of justice. Plus, she had a post-birthday snowboarding experience with a bunch of ladies, and she is riding the high of powder playtime. We hear why friction gets a bad rap when it's actually important to
991: Crisis Management, Sistine Chapel Sweat, & Slippery When Wet
Susie explains why nearly every human uses a blanket while other animals don't. We discuss the documentary Murder in Glitterball City about a gay couple accused of murdering a man and the ways kink and drugs obscured the crime. We find out why the Sistine Chapel is restoring Michelangelo's The Final Judgement and removing salt from the piece. Susie explains what a crisis manager claims ar
990: Lunge Marathon, Serial Pooper, & Gourmand Syndrome
Sarah's mom had to have surgery, and we find out how one of our recent episodes could've prevented this unfortunate incident. Let's just say: plank at your own risk. A man decided to do an entire marathon doing lunges instead of running like a normal person, and, spoiler alert, it didn't go well. Sarah talks about two ladies who got locked into a Scottish castle overnight. Susie has break
989: Tourette's Syndrome, Quad God, & The Queen of Chess
Sarah and Susie are participating in an unconventional macabre game when they predict which celebrities will die this year, but Sarah argues it's a "celebration of life." We debate the Tourette's Syndrome scandal at the BAFTAs and consider what the appropriate way to handle it was. Susie shares a story of a woman who's AI chatbot started claiming she would meet her soulmate at a particula
988: Love is Blind, Wife Swap, & Doctorate Bragging Rights
Is love truly blind? Just ask the Love is Blind contestant who accidentally glued her eyeball shut (we're not laughing, you are). Today, we're celebrating Sarah's birthday by hoping she gets to do what she loves most, sneaking food into the cinema. We also vent about a torturous hike ruined by unprompted motivational speeches from men on the trail. Then, we get into the science of attract
987: Triggering MTV Experience, America's Next Top Model Documentary, and EMDR Therapy
Lordy, lordy, Sarah is almost 40! In this episode, Susie shares a wild story she heard about the OJ Simpson case that has her questioning everything. We also dive into the America's Next Top Model documentary. As two women with reality TV backgrounds, we found it triggering, and discuss why people get so offended when we share negative experiences from our time on MTV.From the chaos of TV
986: The Amazon Mystery, Aspirational Clutter & The "Fresh Start" Effect
Is Sarah the victim of a "brushing scam," or does she have a secret admirer living down the street? This week, we are playing detective to solve the Amazon mystery box riddle. Sarah received a random assortment of items that suggests she either has a stalker or a crafting soulmate she hasn't met yet. Meanwhile, Susie learns the hard way that Facebook Marketplace is a lawless wasteland aft
985: Olympic Drama, The Lucy Letby Verdict, & The Ethics of "Arrest" YouTube
We are officially living the "O-head" Olympic lifestyle, but the podium isn’t all glory. This week, we’re debating Lindsey Vonn’s controversial decision to compete on a torn ACL. Was it a display of heart, or did she rob a healthy athlete of their shot at gold? Plus, we break down the most unhinged post-race interview in history: a Norwegian bronze medalist who decided a global broadcast
984: Friends, Communities, and Explosive Extractions
Love is in the air as Valentine’s Day approaches, but while Sarah and Amy are navigating a new romantic milestone, Susie is mostly just finding the whole shift deeply annoying. The duo dives into the social dynamics of the season by dissecting the functional differences between friendship and community, exploring why we need both even if they serve wildly different purposes in our lives.
983: LEGO Poop Study, Toxic Stadiums & The Susan Powter Story
On this episode of The Brain Candy Podcast, Sarah Rice and Susie Meister discuss the viral scientific study regarding LEGO digestion. We explore the pediatric research that determined exactly how long it takes for a swallowed LEGO brick to pass through the digestive system and the hilarious acronym scientists created for the process. The conversation then shifts to the rise and fall of 90
982: The Truth About Scurvy, Yogurtland Hacks, & A New Kingdom?
Is Alex Honnold a "bad dad" for scaling the Taipei skyscraper? Susie and Sarah react to his latest feat and debate where the line is between bravery and recklessness.In this episode, Sarah also reveals her secrets to becoming an all-time Yogurtland champion, including how to maximize toppings to get the absolute most bang for your buck. We also dive into some wild science news: what scurv
981: Elizabeth Smart, Secret Mall Apartment, & Pungent Food
We discuss the Elizabeth Smart documentary about her kidnapping and miraculous rescue, and the complicated nature of healing from that trauma. We learn about a graduate student who was offended when people in the department asked him to stop microwaving his "pungent" food, so he sued the school claiming he was discriminated against. We talk about the people who created a secret apartment
980: Case Closed, Umbrella Upgrade, & Exclamations
Sarah is all hot and bothered for the "gay hockey show," Heated Rivalry, and she explains why lesbians would enjoy male on male heat. Susie is all wound up about something totally different: umbrellas. To each their own. We learn about a practice that was created in the 1980s where people dying of AIDS would sell their life insurance policies to investors, and we debate the ethics of bett
979: Happiness in America, Spa Go Me, & Coed Sports
Sarah and Susie are reuniting in Denver again, and they are psyched. Sarah is talking about life hack's she's trying in the new year. So what, who cares. Sarah claims there are five "approved" lesbian haircuts and we learn what they are. There is some special nail polish that is going viral that is supposed to allow you to color coordinate by changing the color magically, but it ends up l
978: Grandma's Name, Service Dogs, & Switched at Birth
Sarah's outdoor adventures never stop, and this time she ended up in a ski parade! While Susie has resorted to wearing heated apparel inside. Susie shares the story of Andrea Yates, the woman who killed her five children, and the religious beliefs that made her think she should. Susie is worked up about how grandparents now insist on being called all kinds of weird names and Sarah's got a
977: Members Only, Tantrum Prevention, & Cher's Appendix
Sarah has a new guilty pleasure called Members Only, but she says it's more like Real Housewives of Mar-a-Lago. We hear why she is fascinated by these ladies (and their clothing). We debate the virtues of changing your last name when you get married, and how certificates and diplomas should be amendable if you change your name. We learn the benefits of pet ownership according to science,
976: Steve Martin Short, Taco Bell 5k, & Cognitive Dissonance
We're already getting all emotional about coming up on our 1000th episode, and enjoying the fact that all the naysayers were wrong about us being a "showmance." Susie watched the Chevy Chase documentary, and was hoping to find out if he is in fact the a-hole he is often accused of being. Spoiler: he kind of is. We discuss some big news in psychology research, and it turns out maybe everyt
975: Analog Bags, Leaf Littering, & Denmark's Lost Mail
We are pretty psyched about our New Year's resolution, and we highly recommend not giving a f*ck to everyone. We learn why Denmark has suspended mail delivery, and we consider whether this is news of progress or a dystopian future. Sarah is extolling the virtues of an "analog bag," and we discuss what we would keep in our bags. Sarah got tricked by AI and we're mad about it. We learn abou
974: Octomom, Diddy Doc, & Celebrity Birds
Sarah has a PSA for ladies thanks to Trivia Pursuit and her aging feet. Hear why you're probably wearing the wrong shoe size. We learn why we were wrong about Octomom, how she is a victim of an unethical system and why she should get more credit. Susie is worked up about the P Diddy documentary, how messed up he seems, and how the documentary made us love Fifty Cent even more. A woman who
973: Murder in Monaco, Monogamous Animals, & the Mother of Aviation
We landed on our theme for 2026, and it feels so right. It encapsulates our attitude for the year. Sarah got a good news/bad news situation about her lady parts, and she wants the world to know about it. We learn about a man who has been walking the globe for over 25 years and he is on our main nerve. Sarah watched the Murder in Monaco documentary, and it made her wonder whether you can l
972: Jellyfish Sting, Obituary Language, & Fabergé Egg Heist
Sarah is back from Mexico, and she has tales to tell! It was a White Lotus scenario with a little jellyfish run-in on the side. Susie watched The Stringer documentary about the Napalm Girl Pulitzer Prize winning photograph, and the recent controversy about who took the picture. We learn about a 30 year study on the language used in obituaries, and what it can teach us about societal value
971: LinkedIn Gender, Subway Batman, & Gigantic Jeans
We're discussing the feedback from Sooz Review of Jaws, and why people are real worked up about it. We learn about a woman who changed her gender on LinkedIn only to get a 400% increase in page views, so obviously we're mad about it. Sarah explains why drones are being used in warfare and it feels more dangerous than you'd think. Susie describes a study that had a man dressed as Batman en
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