Ever thought “I could be an artist” or “I should be a rum runner”? Well you can! Just fake someone else’s art or learn the ins and outs of international waters. Luckily Bryan and Alex are here to guide us through both worlds. They even entertain the idea of combining them!.
Read moreWandering Barycenter EP31 - NCA4 & Big Data
Did you miss the quiet release of the latest climate assessment? Not to worry! Alex covers the basics of what you need to know. Bryan untangles the complicated web of big data and machine learning.
Read moreWandering Barycenter EP27 - Cereal & Truffles
Alex takes a nostalgic walk down the cereal isle to examine the current state of the market and relive some of cereal’s greatest moments. Bryan investigates the highly competitive and sometimes dangerous world of the truffle trade.
Read moreWandering Barycenter EP26 - Weather Manipulation & Left vs Right Brain
Bryan hails the modern history of man’s attempt to control the weather. Has our desire to dominate our surroundings (and others) resulted in successfully manipulating the weather on command? Equally questionable is the potential left/right bias of the human brain. Do you feel you’re more analytical or creative? Alex splits this user suggested theory in half for the second topic this week.
Read moreWandering Barycenter EP25 - Venice Beach & Generations
Alex takes us on a walk down Venice Beach while recounting a recent visit to the iconic stretch of sand. Bryan lays out the contrast between recent American generations and the tensions that exist between them. He makes uneducated guesses at what might be the root of these differences.
Read moreWandering Barycenter EP24 - Volcanoes & Chicken
Bryan examines the unpredictable and powerful nature of volcanoes. Krakatoa features as the main antagonist as we explore some of the impacts a major eruption can have. Alex goes beyond the coop with a fan requested topic to find out which chicken to buy and why.
Read moreWandering Barycenter EP22 - Silk & Don Aronow
The coveted secrets of producing raw silk are explored with Bryan. Alex brings us to 1980s Miami to tell the story of Don Aronow.
Read moreWandering Barycenter EP17 - Zero Waste & Rare Earth Metals
We all have something to learn from the small city (read: town) of Kamikatsu. Bryan outlines how this small Japanese town has gone to great lengths to become zero-waste. Alex delves into the elemental makeup of our favorite modern day gadgets and the questionable ways some of the materials are mined. This is the closest we’ve come to preparing the same topic!
Read moreWandering Barycenter EP16 - Surgeon General & Car Culture
In a unashamed display of ignorance Alex shares what he now knows about the Surgeon General. Who (or what) is this and what exactly are their responsibilities? Bryan uncovers the barycenter and the artwork for this episode as he shifts the conversation to the diverse world of car culture both inside and outside of the United States.
Read moreWandering Barycenter EP15 - Traditions & CAFE Standards
Think about the traditions that you subscribe to in your own life. What keeps you coming back to them year after year?Bryan questions the significance of traditions personally and throughout the human timeline. In order for traditions to continue long into the future, Alex argues that regulations on vehicle efficiency play a critical role. He explains the details of how the standards are set and what that means for vehicle owners in the US.
Read moreWandering Barycenter EP13 - Cognitive Biases & The 9 to 5 Job
Bryan invites us to postulate the purposes and reasonings behind the curiously long list of cognitive biases. Alex dives into the 9 to 5 work life and what that means from a personal and societal perspective. The Barycenter is strong this week!
Read moreWandering Barycenter EP12 - Placebo Effect & Stuff in the Ocean
Alex scratches the surface on explaining the Placebo Effect and tries to look at it for both its positives and negatives. Bryan talks about some of the interesting things you can find in the ocean that aren’t fish…
Read moreWandering Barycenter EP11 - Neurotransmitters & Potholes
Despite the physically small nature of neurons and neurotransmitters, Bryan explains just how complex this human system is. Alex uses the podcast this week to vent about the current state of potholes in the Midwest.
Read moreWandering Barycenter EP10 - Olympic Misfortunes & Racing Obscurities
Episode 10 marks our next milestone! Both Bryan and Alex decided this meant fun topics. In light of the 2018 winter olympics, Alex learned about some ridiculous events in Olympic history. Bryan looked into some of the most obscure forms of racing found around the world. Despite all the options Bryan aspires to race push lawn mowers on foot.
Read moreWandering Barycenter EP9 - High Frequency Trading & Binaural Beats
Bryan introduces the wild west of the stock market world, high frequency trading. Alex explains the details of binaural beats and brain entrainment.
Read moreWandering Barycenter EP8 - Formula E Race 3 & Float Tanks
"Tune in" as Bryan and Alex discuss their individual first-time experiences with sensory deprivation tanks as well as intresting highlights from the third formula E race.
Read moreWandering Barycenter EP6 - Auto Shows & Prohibition
Prior to this episode, Alex visited the Detroit Auto show. He fills us in on details from the event as well as the history of automotive shows in general. An HBO show regarding American prohibition peaks Bryan's interest in the subject.
Read moreWandering Barycenter EP5 - The Name
Episode 5! The podcast gets its name and a little bit of rhythm. Its called Wandering Barycenter and some semblance of format is found when the hosts decide to prepare one topic ahead of time, but do not disclose what the topic is until recording! Bryan brings up black holes, while Alex investigates water quality of a major city using information they provide (fools!).
Read moreWandering Barycenter EP4 - Eggs & Sugar
Episode 4 the health episode! Alex and Bryan begin by talking about Alex's foray into the Keto world as well as his workout habits. Later, Alex provides morning shake recipe. Bryan trys to contribute by dispelling the idea that "eggs are bad". Moral of the story, dont eat a lot of sugar.
Read moreWandering Barycenter EP3 - North Korea & Entropy
Alex and Bryan discuss North Korea, Brexit, entropy and the general health of humanity.
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