Worth Wandering: Earth's Quandaries Examined

Brody hits us with the most common fears and phobias as well as the most RARE! Some of these you may have yourself, but others, you will not believe until you hear them! Join us for our second-to-last episode of the season! 

When the Brody is away, the Aussies come to play! This week, while Brody is camping in the Sequoias, Sarah brings in her Australian side of the family! In-laws Carolyn and David Jensen are in-house all the way from Melbourne and bringing a wealth of knowledge with them! 

Alongside Sarah's hunky husband Michael, the four of them discuss what makes Aussie language so unique and FUN AS HELL! We talk slang, colloquialisms and phrases and some random fun facts about the great country of Australia! 

Brody hits us with a DOUBLE feature! We talk about what it means to live a life of love, purpose and success as well as the happiest countries in the world! We talk the top countries rated for greatest life satisfaction, health score, stability, community, culture and more as we discuss how place matters when you think of a live worth living. 

Inspired by a real life glitch-in-the-matrix moment via "The Lemon Video" on TikTok, Sarah brings us real moments that made people think, "Are we living in a simulation?". 

Based off of the hit 1999 movie "The Matrix" in which the world was actually living within a computer simulation, we discuss not only real stories that people experienced but also the current science behind the possibility of living in a simulation AND what glitches would be and look like if that simulation were real!

Take a break and listen to story time in the MATRIX!

Brody bravely opens up about his and Holly's journey with infertility and what led them to IVF (In Vitro Fertilization). He talks about what IVF is, the costs, the hormones, the side effects, the mental load of such a journey and what he did and did not expect from this all-consuming time of life. 

While many routes of IVF exist, we focus on the IVF journey of those who have unexplained infertility: "When infertile couples or individuals have undergone all appropriate tests and no cause for their infertility is found". So while some couples may not have viable sperm or eggs to contribute to IVF, this episode discusses the journey a couple may experience if you do have those two components to contribute but still struggle to conceive. 

So many couples lives are upended by infertility. It is invasive and emotional and all-consuming of your time, energy and physical and emotional health. So take a listen and see what Brody has to say about staying hopeful through a decade of trying to conceive and how to keep your relationship strong as well. 

To those trying to conceive...baby dust! We hope you get your rainbow baby!

Sarah, in hopes of driving across country to Connecticut in the coming weeks, prepared for the trip by researching the weirdest and spookiest places to see in the great state of Connecticut, USA! 

We talk about paranormal locations like Seaside Sanitorium, the Jewett City Vampires, an abandoned fairy village in the forest, the birthplace of America's sweetheart: the Hamburger, lost treasure on the triple-cursed "Charles island" and more!

It will make you want to take a trip to Connecticut this weekend! 

Brody hits us with a banger of an episode on the importance of Gut health! We talk what is important for a healthy micro-biome, how your gut health relates to emotional well-being, better sleep, and more! We also shed light on our own gastrointestinal health issues and the tools and tricks of gaining a healthier micro-biome and thus, all-around healthier lifestyle. 

We also talk about poop. Like, a lot. Like, way to much information about poop. So, enjoy!

Brody and Sarah deep dive into the infamous Witch Trials that occurred in Salem, Massachusetts from 1692-1693. This small Puritan town became the site of one of America's first "mass hysteria" events called "Salem Panic," in which 150 people were jailed, and 20 people (mostly women), were hung on suspicion of dancing with the devil.

But what was the evidence of witchcraft that started this hysteria? The answers will surprise you! As will what current scientific theories exist about why women became "touched by the devil" AND some of the methods employed in the legal proceedings when the accused were subjected to "witch tests"! It's one for the history books!

Music over Mary Easton's Petition:  ZakharValaha from Pixabay

Brody and Sarah welcome Sarah's Grad school buddy Casey Mills, an up-and-coming actor, about the experience of budding actors in Hollywood. Our tall, dark and handsome, tattooed from neck-to-toe, vegan, straight-edge North Carolinian, gives us the inside scoop of acting: how long does it take to memorize lines? Did he have a stunt double in OZARK? What secret show is he working on with Donald Glover? How did he pretend to eat mushrooms on 'Nashville'  and play the bartender in the Post Malone/Jagermeister commercial whilst never having had alcohol or drugs in his life? What was it like having "sex" on screen? Has he been type-casted as a thug because of his tattoos? How did he get into acting? How did he lose 116 pounds for bigger, less stereotypical roles? What would and wouldn't he do to make it big? And of course, he rates famous actors in the business which will make you simultaneously MAD and AMUSED! You'll NEVER guess who is favorite Actor is!

Enjoy every minute of the fascinating escape into the world of becoming others on camera! You can follow Casey on social media at @hollywoodxmills
Casey's IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7308315/

HERE'S HOW! Sarah and Brody, infamous for their ADHD antics of excitedly speaking over one another and changing subjects before finishing sentences, have a doozy of an episode today! Go on a wild and non-linear journey with us, as we aim to discuss Personality traits, with a major focus on Introversion and Extroversion!

We talk about: what the traits are, what they mean for your self-awareness, self-love, relationship upkeep and care, empathy and more! We walk through the varieties of personalities, both the challenges and strengths, in asking Brody questions aimed to find out his Personality type (an adaptation of the Myers Briggs Test-16personalities.com)! We even get into LOVE LANGUAGES and how important they are for any strong relationship, romantic or otherwise!

And in a shocking turn of events, we find out our extroverted duo are actually and Introvert and Extrovert...can you guess which one is which? Enjoy! (Especially if you have ADHD because it won't seem like as much of a train wreck :)

To learn more about yourself (and others), take the test here: https://www.16personalities.com/

Sarah's hunky aussie husband, Michael FINALLY joins us for an episode! We use his scientific interest, engineering prowess and space film nerdery to help us navigate the fascinating yet murky water of scientific accuracy in Space Sci-Fi films and TV shows. We deep dive into Nasa's list of best and worst space films and shows, our own recommendations, and many more specific inquiries such as women in science not getting proper credit or recognition, and of course, Neil DeGrasse Tyson's hysterical twitter rant about "Gravity."

Join us as we pick apart space travel in Star Wars, high five the makers of "Contact" for bringing Carl Sagan's dreams to life and discuss the ever-important questions facing space travel today: do astronauts wear diapers? Can anyone hear you scream in space? Are Neutrinos harmful to humans? 

Enjoy!


Links: 
Gravity "Detach" Clip: https://youtu.be/C4pcg7bXgmU
Gravity "Matts Death" Clip: https://youtu.be/DYDaIyfitn8
https://youtu.be/8SIrVXr9hjA

Sarah takes Brody on a journey into the Documentary "Extraordinary: The Stan Romanek Story". Stan, (or as the aliens have called him, "Star Seed"), a registered sex offender for child pornography crimes, created the documentary himself claiming aliens have not only abducted him for several years but have implanted him with equipment, but took it out before he could get proof; beat him, yet healed him; threatened him, yet tell him he is a genius; and more amazingly, have used him to father 9 alien-human hybrid children. 

There is so much more to this wild and frankly, hysterical story. So tune in to this UNIQUE cringy "documentary" and enjoy!

Want to know where it is illegal to chew gum? To ride a cow drunk? To eat Ice Cream, kiss a mustached man, forget your wife's birthday, and clean your neighbors car? You also want to know where in the world it is REQUIRED by law to SMILE?? 

If any part of you is steeped in anticipation wondering what other creepy and weird laws exist OR why they exist OR how they even became laws in the first place, then this episode is for you!

In this episode we look into the world of Doomsday Preppers. Who are they? (Are men or women more likely to be Preppers? Are people with OCD or other mental health challenges more likely to prep? etc.) What are they motivated by?  What are they most afraid of in a post apocalyptic world?  What do they stock pile? More importantly, what can we LEARN from their survivalist mentality? Especially now, in a world plagued by natural disasters,  potential Nuclear threats, and war (Stay Strong Ukraine !), we want to be prepared.

Listen to Sarah's experience accepting death when, in Hawaii with her Husband, a Ballistic Missile threat was headed their way.  Brody and Sarah have researched it all in this episode! From how big a nuclear blast would be to the best methods for surviving not just the initial blast (hint: you don't within the initial blast radius) but the fallout hours to weeks afterward to what to bring with you if you have time to prepare shelter!

It all here, and it's a little weird, a little scary but a whole LOT interesting! 

Guidelines On how To stay Safe:
https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/radiation/emergencies/getinside.htm

To Help Ukraine:
https://www.npr.org/2022/02/25/1082992947/ukraine-support-help

Grab your drink of choice, a comfy space and sit down with Professor Sarah and ER Tech Brody as we investigate, ponder and examine a striking new topic about the world each week...
WHO invented the tampon?  
WHAT is micro-dosing? 
WHEN did companies stop putting Heroin in kids cough syrup? 
WHERE in the world is chewing gum illegal? 
WHY do people like ASMR (autonomous sensory meridian response)? 
HOW are cults a thing?
We have so many questions about the world, the humans in it and everything about LIFE! It is ALL worth wondering. So join us as we wander through life's quandaries and get some answers!

Last Season we  learned so much, and this season is even more enlightening, and FUNNY!

Grab your drink of choice, a comfy space and sit down with Professor Sarah and ER Tech Brody as we investigate, ponder and examine a striking new topic about the world each week...
WHO invented the tampon?  
WHAT is micro-dosing? 
WHEN did companies stop putting Heroin in kids cough syrup? 
WHERE in the world is chewing gum illegal? 
WHY do people like ASMR (autonomous sensory meridian response)? 
HOW are cults a thing?
We have so many questions about the world, the humans in it and everything about LIFE! It is ALL worth wondering. So join us as we wander through life's quandaries and get some answers!

A brief history of the worlds favorite cold sweet! Learn about where it originated, the first flavors, the WEIRDEST flavors and what murders and deaths have been associated with this summer treat!

From Bioluminescent Vanilla in Europe to "Horse Flesh" in Asia to Ghost Pepper (in which you have to sign a Wavier to order) in the United States, we cover all the fascinating extremes of the worlds favorite Icy Sweet! Also, find out how we got to talking about our illogical childhood fears like taking out the trash (knowing you were being stalked), or swimming in a pool in the middle of summer at least an hour from any beach (and knowing a Shark was after you)...it got weird. Enjoy!

National Ice Cream Death Museum: https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/welcome-to-the-national-ice-cream-death-museum-1169447.html

The Ice Cream Killer: https://www.ranker.com/list/estibaliz-carranza-facts/amandasedlakhevener

Sarah and Brody are BAAAAAACCCCCCCK...and with weirdly fascinating topics for Season 2! We kick off this season looking into some of the most bizarre, disgusting, mostly ineffective cures and medical techniques in history ranging from the 1600's to 2022! Cannibalism, Fecal transplants, Mans Grease and more shocking ancient cures await you as we learn about the past, and thank God for the present time of medical marvels in which we live!

All information in this episode was derived from:
Primary Source (not sponsored or paid for-we just dig this book): Quackery (A Brief History of the Worst Ways to Cure Everything)  by Lydia Kang and  Nate Pedersen 

Secondary Source: Healthline Article: "11 Old Medical Treatments That Will Make Your Stomach Turn. Including Heroin for Kids!"

TRIGGER WARNING: Around 35 minutes, we begin discussing the horrific origins of female genital mutilation. The conversation ends around 45 minutes. 

Have any weird, uncommon or unusual medical cures you have used/use? We want to hear about it! Post your story on our youtube, instagram or facebook page!

We made it to the Season Finale of Worth Wandering! This is a juicy one with an announcement about Worth Wanderings future in a redesign as well as the reason why we have been posting less episodes, and Sarah and Brody play 20 questions about how well they know each other. You do not want to miss what Sarah's most embarrassing moment was, what celebrity crush she would invite to dinner, Brody's worst fashion choices and more!

Thank you to all our incredible guests this season and all our dedicated listeners who have stuck with us! We can't wait to come back for Season 2 in August! 

For the NEW Wander BrewCOFFEE and surprise giveaway:
1. either leave a review on Apple podcasts or make an Instagram post with a topic like a who, what, when, where, why, how that you would like to hear next season with the hashtag #worthwanderingpodcast as well as @worthwanderingpodcast

2. And we will draw two winners on Tuesday, June 1st and post the winners on Instagram.!

Marci, owner and baker of Blackbirds cookies (a celebrated and award-winning company) based in San Diego California tells us about her  unexpected yet successful entry into the business of vegan cookie baking and decorating. Enjoy this yummy conversation :)


Insta: @Blackbirds_cookies
Tiktok: Blackbirds_cookies
to order cookies go through: 
her instagram: beacons.ai/blackbirdscookies
or facebook: @blackbirdscookies