{"podcast":{"title":"Normal Curves: Sexy Science, Serious Statistics","slug":"normal-curves-sexy-science-serious-statistics-7212156","podcast_index_feed_id":7212156,"rss_url":"https://feeds.transistor.fm/normal-curves","website_url":"https://www.normalcurves.com/","image_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/3nh-QbnGiyC0kG4tQRWb4fTYyDh5wonK_KZjqlkFNSY/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9hYmEw/YmE3N2JmMDhmNjli/YTg2MjhlOTQ0OGU4/Yzg2OC5wbmc.jpg","author":"Regina Nuzzo","episode_count":38,"summary":"Normal Curves is a podcast about sexy science & serious statistics. Ever try to make sense of a scientific study and the numbers behind it? Listen in to a lively conversation between two stats-savvy friends who break it all down with humor and clarity. Professors Regina Nuzzo of Gallaudet University and Kristin Sainani of Stanford University discuss academic papers journal club-style — except with more fun, less jargon, and some irreverent, PG-13 content sprinkled in. Join Kristin and Regina as they dissect the data, challenge the claims, and arm you with tools to assess scientific studies on your own.","last_synced_at":"2026-06-30T00:19:09.554623+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/normal-curves-sexy-science-serious-statistics-7212156"},"episode":{"title":"Bonus: Pheromones with commentary","slug":"bonus-pheromones-with-commentary","published_at":"2026-01-26T12:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/normal-curves-sexy-science-serious-statistics-7212156/bonus-pheromones-with-commentary","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/normal-curves-sexy-science-serious-statistics-7212156","url":"https://www.normalcurves.com/bonus-pheromones-with-commentary/","audio_url":"https://op3.dev/e/media.transistor.fm/d7605037/15dac6bb.mp3","summary":"While we’re on a short break between seasons, we’re revisiting some of our favorite episodes from Season 1. This week, we’re re-releasing our debut episode on pheromones and sexy sweat, with some added commentary up front.. Sweaty t-shirt dating parties, sex pheromone dating sites, choosing your dating partner by sniffing them up — wacko fringe fads or evidence-based mating strategies? And what does your armpit stain have to do with your kids’ immune systems, or hormonal contraceptive pills, or divorce rates? In this episode, we reach back into the 1990s and revisit the scientific paper that started it all: The Sweaty T-Shirt Study. They bring a sharp eye and open mind, critically examining the study and following the line of research to today. Along the way, they encounter interesting statistical topics – including correlated observations, within-person study design, and bar chart blasphemy – with a short, surprising detour into Neanderthal sex. Statistical topics Bar charts Correlated observations Cherry-picking Data and methodological transparency Multiple testing Post-hoc analyses Unit of observation / unit of anaysis Within-person study design Methodological morals “Repeat after me: Bar charts are not for numerical data.” “Those who ignore dependencies in their data are destined for flawed conclusions.” References Nuzzo, R. Ah, Love at first whiff . Los Angeles Times . May 19, 2008. Papamarko, S. Pheromone parties attempt to match singles by scent . Yahoo!life . April 12, 2012. Sainani, K. Stone Age Gene Swap . Stanford Magazine . November/December 2011. Aldhous, P. Darling, You Smell Wonderfully Different . New Scientist . 6 May 1995. Wedekind C, Seebeck T, Bettens F, Paepke AJ. MHC-dependent mate preferences in humans . Proc Biol Sci . 1995; 260(1359):245-249. d…","meta_description":"While we’re on a short break between seasons, we’re revisiting some of our favorite episodes from Season 1. This week, we’re re-releasing our debut episod…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":3474,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/normal-curves-sexy-science-serious-statistics-7212156/episodes/bonus-pheromones-with-commentary/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/normal-curves-sexy-science-serious-statistics-7212156/bonus-pheromones-with-commentary.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}