The Last Show with David Cooper

Psychiatry professor ⁠Steven Marwaha⁠ explains how ⁠laughing gas may offer rapid relief for treatment-resistant depression⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Much to David's dismay, sex and relationships psychotherapist ⁠Gigi Engle⁠ breaks down the finer points of having a sexy Santa kink. (Pre-order Gigi's book Kink Curious here.) Professor of criminology Adam Lankford reveals how the thought processes of cheaters closely resemble those of criminals. Psychiatry professor Steven Marwaha explains how laughing gas may offer rapid relief for treatment-resistant depression. Foreign correspondent Tony Five reports live from the Vatican's 2025 Jubilee. Psychology researcher Nina Dours shares details of her study on household labor dynamics for women partnered with women vs. women partnered with men. Vet Dr. Cliff Redford goes over the top 2025 stories as rated by veterinarians. (⁠Listen to Cliff's podcast Vet Life here⁠⁠⁠⁠.) Economist ⁠Moshe Lander⁠ tackles some 'am I the a-hole?' dilemmas. Segments: (00:00) Introduction (01:51) Gigi Engle (10:00) Adam Lankford (20:00) Steven Marwaha (30:00) Tony Five (39:50) Nina Dours (49:50) Dr. Cliff Redford pt. 1 (59:50) Dr. Cliff Redford pt. 2 (1:09:50) Moshe Lander (1:19:07) Sign-off Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tony Five⁠ from London, England reports on ⁠a woman kicked by a camel during a Christmas performance⁠. Motivated by ⁠fundraising for Australia's Bondi hero⁠, Tony discusses heroic acts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tony Five from London, England reports on a woman kicked by a camel during a Christmas performance. Motivated by fundraising for Australia's Bondi hero, Tony discusses heroic acts. Charlie Keil from The Cinema Studies Institute explains how the Oscars are moving to Youtube. Political science researcher Wilson Merrell reveals how people who show off luxury vacations come off better than those who show off material possessions. Professor Esme Fuller-Thomson shares how parental divorce is linked to higher stroke risk in older adults. Professor of information science, marketing, and psychology ⁠⁠David Rand⁠⁠ explains ⁠⁠how AI chatbots can effectively sway voters in either direction⁠⁠. David is joined by ⁠Brian Stever⁠, ⁠Jeremie Saunders⁠, and ⁠Taylor MacGillivary⁠ – hosts of the ⁠podcast Sickboy⁠ – to discuss how to find humor in even the darkest stories. Social sciences researcher Roman Althans answers whether there is a 'beauty is beastly' effect in German elections. Segments: (00:00) Introduction (01:21) Tony Five (10:00) Charlie Keil (20:00) Wilson Merrell (30:00) Esme Fuller-Thomson (39:50) Dave Rand (49:50) Sickboy Podcast pt. 1 (59:50) Sickboy Podcast pt. 2 (1:09:50) Roman Althans (1:17:45) Sign-off Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Behavioral economist ⁠Kate Whitman⁠ reveals ⁠how to get survey participants to be more honest about morally questionable behavior by asking about good deeds first⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Neurologist ⁠Dr. Kenneth Lee⁠ explains what happens to your brain as the days get shorter and sleep quality lowers and stress levels rise. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Veterinarian ⁠Dr. Cliff Redford⁠ warns of potential holiday issues for your pets (read: avoid tinsel). Cliff covers the following veterinary medicine stories: Canine parvo preventative gets full USDA approval⁠; and New study finds combined therapy promising for feline infectious peritonitis⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Motivated by ⁠Dawn O'Porter getting an absurd tattoo in tribute to her husband Chris O'Dowd⁠, foreign correspondent ⁠Tony Five⁠ and David discuss regrettable tattoos. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On It's Time For Technology Time, tech analyst ⁠Carmi Levy⁠ covers: The Oscars will exclusively air on YouTube starting in 2029⁠; Merriam-Webster's word of the year delivers a dismissive verdict on junk AI content⁠; The future of long-term data storage is clear and will last 14 billion years⁠; and Age verification causes problems for social media in Australia⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Motivated by Dawn O'Porter getting an absurd tattoo in tribute to her husband Chris O'Dowd, foreign correspondent Tony Five and David discuss regrettable tattoos. Behavioral economist Kate Whitman reveals how to get survey participants to be more honest about morally questionable behavior by asking about good deeds first. Neurologist Dr. Kenneth Lee explains what happens to your brain as the days get shorter and sleep quality lowers and stress levels rise. On It's Time For Technology Time, tech analyst Carmi Levy covers: The Oscars will exclusively air on YouTube starting in 2029; Merriam-Webster's word of the year delivers a dismissive verdict on junk AI content; The future of long-term data storage is clear and will last 14 billion years; and Age verification causes problems for social media in Australia. Veterinarian Dr. Cliff Redford warns of potential holiday issues for your pets (read: avoid tinsel). Cliff covers the following veterinary medicine stories: Canine parvo preventative gets full USDA approval; and New study finds combined therapy promising for feline infectious peritonitis. Economics professor ⁠⁠⁠Dr. Eric Kam⁠ gives his opinion on two 'am I the a-hole?' dilemmas. (No, don't pitch in to buy your boss a present.) Segments: (00:00) Introduction (01:26) Tony Five (10:00) Kate Whitman (20:00) Dr. Kenneth Lee (30:00) Carmi Levy pt. 1 (39:50) Carmi Levy pt. 2 (49:50) Dr. Cliff Redford pt. 1 (59:50) Dr. Cliff Redford pt. 2 (1:09:50) Dr. Eric Kam (1:19:19) Sign-off Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

York University professor ⁠Jesse Rogerson⁠⁠ joins the program for science news covering: Count someone's blinks to know if they're truly listening⁠; A new study reveals whether working from home is good for you⁠; and Polar bears may be evolving to survive in a warmer world⁠. Jesse answers a listener question about fish oil. Got a general science question for the show? Leave a voicemail at ⁠⁠1-888-505-6644⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Professor of addiction intervention ⁠Matthijs Blankers⁠ and drug monitoring and addiction expert ⁠Ruben van Beek⁠ shares details of ⁠their study into the three-day drop in mental well-being after MDMA use⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Law professor ⁠Adam Hofri-Winogradow⁠ gives surprisingly serious answers to ⁠farcical holiday legal dilemmas⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Marketing professor ⁠Bryce Pyrah⁠ answers ⁠whether or not companies should use slang in their marketing⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Therapy Thursdays on a Wednesday, therapist and social worker ⁠Gary Direnfeld⁠ discusses how to handle family turbulence during the holidays. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

York University professor Jesse Rogerson⁠ joins the program for science news covering: Count someone's blinks to know if they're truly listening; A new study reveals whether working from home is good for you; and Polar bears may be evolving to survive in a warmer world. Jesse answers a listener question about fish oil. (Got a general science question for the show? Leave a voicemail at ⁠1-888-505-6644⁠.) Law professor Adam Hofri-Winogradow gives surprisingly serious answers to farcical holiday legal dilemmas. Marketing professor Bryce Pyrah answers whether or not companies should use slang in their marketing. On Therapy Thursdays on a Wednesday, therapist and social worker Gary Direnfeld discusses how to handle family turbulence during the holidays. Professor of addiction intervention Matthijs Blankers and drug monitoring and addiction expert Ruben van Beek shares details of their study into the three-day drop in mental well-being after MDMA use. Foreign correspondent Tony Five brings up his favorite scientific finding of the year: poop doping. Segments: (00:00) Introduction (01:18) Jesse Rogerson pt. 1 (10:00) Jesse Rogerson pt. 2 (20:00) Adam Hofri-Winogradow (30:00) Bryce Pyrah (39:50) Gary Direnfeld pt. 1 (49:50) Gary Direnfeld pt. 2 (59:50) Matthijs Blankers & Ruben van Beek (1:09:50) Tony Five (1:18:57) Sign-off Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Author ⁠Cory Doctorow⁠ tells us how and why the Internet is getting worse – through a bleak process he calls ensh*ttification – and says what we can do about it. Check out Cory's book of the same name here⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Addictions counselor ⁠⁠Yonah Budd⁠⁠ and David discuss how to deal with the discomfort of dating without alcohol. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Psychology researcher ⁠Carmen Surariu⁠ explains how ⁠online sharing can push us apart, but also when it's authentic it can bring us together⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Future-of-work reporter ⁠Tim Paradis⁠ ⁠welcomes us all to the golden age of employee monitoring⁠, and it's as dystopian as it sounds! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Future-of-work reporter Tim Paradis welcomes us all to the golden age of employee monitoring, and it's as dystopian as it sounds! Author Cory Doctorow tells us how and why the Internet is getting worse – through a bleak process he calls ensh*ttification – and says what we can do about it. (Check out Cory's book of the same name here.) Psychology researcher Carmen Surariu explains how online sharing can push us apart, but also when it's authentic it can bring us together. Addictions counselor ⁠Yonah Budd⁠ and David discuss how to deal with the discomfort of dating without alcohol. Lighting technology researcher Jae Yong Suk and human-building interaction researcher Dongwoo (Jason) Yeom reveal that lighting strongly influences people's experience while listening to music. PhD researcher in sociology ⁠Elise 't Hoen⁠ explains that ⁠singlehood isn't a static state, but an evolving personal journey⁠. Segments: (00:00) Introduction (01:27) Tim Paradis (10:00) Cory Doctorow pt. 1 (20:00) Cory Doctorow pt. 2 (30:00) Carmen Surariu (39:50) Yonah Budd pt. 1 (49:50) Yonah Budd pt. 2 (59:50) Jae Yong Suk & Dongwoo Yeom (1:09:50) Elise d' Hoen (1:18:42) Sign-off Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

David and foreign correspondent ⁠Tony Five⁠ are joined by resident doctor in psychiatry Nikolaos Statharakos to discuss ⁠his research into the neurobiology of grief⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lecturer in criminology and sociology ⁠Chris Waugh⁠ explains ⁠how metal bands maximize the emotional punch of their music⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Psychology professor ⁠Jamie Ward⁠ describes ⁠what synesthesia is, and how it's more frequent in musicians⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Associate professor of psychology ⁠Amie Gordon⁠ reveals that ⁠political differences predict lower romantic relationship quality⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Social psychologist ⁠⁠Lucia O'Sullivan⁠⁠ shares details of her studies on ⁠mate poaching⁠ and ⁠'sugar' arrangements⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The show opens with economist ⁠Moshe Lander, who questions whether it was wise that a 20 year-old lottery winner decided against a $1M lump sum, instead opting for a lifetime of weekly $1000 payments. Associate professor of psychology Amie Gordon reveals that political differences predict lower romantic relationship quality. Social psychologist ⁠Lucia O'Sullivan⁠ shares details of her studies on mate poaching and 'sugar' arrangements. Psychology professor Jamie Ward describes what synesthesia is, and how it's more frequent in musicians. Lecturer in criminology and sociology Chris Waugh explains how metal bands maximize the emotional punch of their music. David and foreign correspondent Tony Five are joined by resident doctor in psychiatry Nikolaos Statharakos to discuss his research into the neurobiology of grief. Instructor at the University of Guelph-Humber Nitin Deckha goes over how Gen Z are burning out at work more than any other generation. Segments: (00:00) Introduction (01:16) Mosher Lander (10:00) Amie Gordon (20:00) Lucia O'Sullivan pt. 1 (30:00) Lucia O'Sullivan pt. 2 (39:50) Jamie Ward (49:50) Chris Waugh (59:50) Nikolaos Statharakos & Tony Five (1:09:50) Nitin Deckha (1:19:07) Sign-off Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Biomed professor ⁠Dr. Josh Kellogg⁠ warns how ⁠the growing fad of legally gray mushroom edibles is leading to poison control center calls and emergency room visits⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Psychology professor ⁠Rachel Dinero⁠ describes how ⁠psychedelics may enhance emotional closeness and relationship satisfaction when used therapeutically⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Clinical psychology researcher ⁠Sarafina Métellus⁠ cautions how ⁠jealousy fueled by social media can erode young couples' satisfaction with their relationships over time⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Motivated by her upcoming book ⁠Kink Curious⁠, sex and relationships psychotherapist ⁠Gigi Engle⁠ tells us how to safely explore our kinks without shame. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Astrobiologist ⁠⁠Dr. Sarah Rugheimer⁠⁠ explains how to observe ⁠the Geminid meteor shower this weekend⁠ – and tells David that comet 3I/ATLAS still isn't aliens. Check out Sarah's Audible Original Searching for Extraterrestrial Life here⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tony Five⁠ – our foreign correspondent – crashes into the show revealing new technology while reporting on the following stories: Florida man claims he 'teleported' into a stolen car⁠; and Hundreds of Canada goose deaths in Manitoba leave wildlife experts perplexed⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Therapist ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Laurel van der Toorn⁠⁠ unpacks how to deal with ⁠holiday regression: slipping back into old behaviors that resemble our younger selves⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tony Five – our foreign correspondent – crashes into the show revealing new technology while reporting on the following stories: Florida man claims he 'teleported' into a stolen car; and Hundreds of Canada goose deaths in Manitoba leave wildlife experts perplexed. Psychology professor Rachel Dinero describes how psychedelics may enhance emotional closeness and relationship satisfaction when used therapeutically. Therapist ⁠⁠⁠⁠Laurel van der Toorn⁠ unpacks how to deal with holiday regression: slipping back into old behaviors that resemble our younger selves. Astrobiologist ⁠Dr. Sarah Rugheimer⁠ explains how to observe the Geminid meteor shower this weekend – and tells David that comet 3I/ATLAS still isn't aliens. (⁠⁠Check out Sarah's Audible Original Searching for Extraterrestrial Life here⁠⁠.) Biomed professor Dr. Josh Kellogg warns how the growing fad of legally gray mushroom edibles is leading to poison control center calls and emergency room visits. Motivated by her upcoming book Kink Curious, sex and relationships psychotherapist Gigi Engle tells us how to safely explore our kinks without shame. Clinical psychology researcher Sarafina Métellus cautions how jealousy fueled by social media can erode young couples' satisfaction with their relationships over time. Reporter Matt Alston ponders the AI slop of things to come. Segments: (00:00) Introduction (01:36) Tony Five (00:00) Rachel Dinero (00:00) Laurel van der Toorn (00:00) Dr. Sarah Rugheimer (39:50) Dr. Josh Kellogg (49:50) Gigi Engle (59:50) Sarafina Métellus (1:09:50) Matt Alston (1:19:07) Sign-off Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

University of Saskatchewan professor ⁠Ekaterina (Kate) Dadachova⁠ and lab manager Mackenzie Malo explain how ⁠a mysterious black fungus grows near Chernobyl that may eat radiation⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For Pet Talk (or Vet Talk), veterinarian ⁠Dr. Cliff Redford⁠ talks about his recent trip to Jamaica, helping people with their animals after the devastation of hurricane Melissa. Cliff addresses ⁠the recent study showing that cats meow more at men⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Foreign correspondent ⁠Tony Five⁠ blasts into the show covering: Woman accused of placing googly eyes on sculpture to begin negotiating with prosecution⁠; and Person hospitalized after Pluribus TV ad on smart fridge triggers psychotic episode⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On It's Time For Technology Time, tech analyst ⁠Carmi Levy⁠ goes over the following stories: Woman hailed as hero for smashing man's Meta smart glasses on subway⁠; Operation Bluebird wants to relaunch 'Twitter,' says Musk abandoned the name and logo⁠; Waymo's robotaxi fleet is being recalled again, this time for failing to stop for school buses⁠; and Facebook and Instagram have a new hub to help get hijacked accounts back⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Foreign correspondent Tony Five blasts into the show covering: Woman accused of placing googly eyes on sculpture to begin negotiating with prosecution; and Person hospitalized after Pluribus TV ad on smart fridge triggers psychotic episode. On It's Time For Technology Time, tech analyst Carmi Levy goes over the following stories: Woman hailed as hero for smashing man's Meta smart glasses on subway; Operation Bluebird wants to relaunch 'Twitter,' says Musk abandoned the name and logo; Waymo's robotaxi fleet is being recalled again, this time for failing to stop for school buses; and Facebook and Instagram have a new hub to help get hijacked accounts back. University of Saskatchewan professor Ekaterina (Kate) Dadachova and lab manager Mackenzie Malo explain how a mysterious black fungus grows near Chernobyl that may eat radiation. For Pet Talk (or Vet Talk), veterinarian Dr. Cliff Redford talks about his recent trip to Jamaica, helping people with their animals after the devastation of hurricane Melissa. Cliff addresses the recent study showing that cats meow more at men. Comedian Annick Adelle chats about launching his podcast Stacking Chairs where he addresses creative struggles with (of all people) co-host David Cooper – yes, the very same. Psychology of education professor ⁠Neil Humphrey⁠ reveals that creative arts programs boost teen well-being, and drive economic gains. Segments: (00:00) Introduction (01:29) Tony Five (10:00) Carmi Levy pt. 1 (20:00) Carmi Levy pt. 2 (30:00) Ekaterina Dadachova & Mackenzie Malo (39:50) Dr. Cliff Redford pt. 1 (49:50) Dr. Cliff Redford pt. 2 (59:50) Annick Adelle (1:09:50) Neil Humphrey (1:19:13) Sign-off Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you thought with weapons that could destroy the world, there would've been only a small number of accidents over the years: You'd be wrong. On Conspiracy Corner, political science professor Dr. Lee Kuhnle unpacks the numerous accidents that have occurred with nuclear weapons. ⁠ Check out Lee's podcast The Uncover Up here⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For Therapy Thursdays on a Wednesday, therapist and social worker ⁠Gary Direnfeld⁠ is joined by David and foreign correspondent ⁠Tony Five⁠ to have a frank discussion about grief and loss. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Astrophysicist ⁠Jesse Rogerson⁠ joins us for science news with the following: Voyager 2 may have caught Uranus at a bad time, solving a 40-year mystery⁠; NASA spacecraft were vulnerable to hacking for 3 years, AI found and fixed the flaw in 4 days⁠; and Cats meow more than twice as much at men⁠. Jesse fields listener science questions. Got a general science question? Call in and record it at ⁠1-888-505-6644⁠! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Editor at ⁠The Point⁠ and philosophy professor ⁠Anastasia Berg⁠ opines on ⁠why AI use is so bad for us⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Astrophysicist Jesse Rogerson joins us for science news with the following: Voyager 2 may have caught Uranus at a bad time, solving a 40-year mystery; NASA spacecraft were vulnerable to hacking for 3 years, AI found and fixed the flaw in 4 days; and Cats meow more than twice as much at men. Jesse fields listener science questions. (Got a general science question? Call in and record it at 1-888-505-6644!) Editor at The Point and philosophy professor Anastasia Berg opines on why AI use is so bad for us. Then, if you thought with weapons that could destroy the world, there would've been only a small number of accidents over the years: You'd be wrong. On Conspiracy Corner, political science professor Dr. Lee Kuhnle unpacks the numerous accidents that have occurred with nuclear weapons. ⁠(Check out Lee's podcast The Uncover Up here⁠.) For Therapy Thursdays on a Wednesday, therapist and social worker Gary Direnfeld is joined by David and foreign correspondent Tony Five to have a frank discussion about grief and loss. Assistant professor of marketing Jin Ho Yun shares details of his study showing that learning via ChatGPT leads to shallower knowledge than using Google search. Segments: (00:00) Introduction (01:04) Jesse Rogerson pt. 1 (10:00) Jesse Rogerson pt. 2 (20:00) Anastasia Berg (30:00) Dr. Lee Kuhnle pt. 1 (39:50) Dr. Lee Kuhnle pt. 2 (49:50) Gary Direnfeld & Tony Five pt. 1 (59:50) Gary Direnfeld & Tony Five pt. 2 (1:09:50) Jin Ho Yun (1:19:16) Sign-off Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Psychotherapist ⁠Kat Kova⁠ walks us through ⁠how to support a partner experiencing a dip in sexual desire⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Psychology researcher ⁠Wim De Neys⁠ explains how he found that ⁠both humans and AI both rate deliberate thinkers as smarter than intuitive ones⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices