x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

Taboo Science

Ashley Hamer Pritchard

AMBIE NOMINATED FOR BEST INDIE PODCAST 2026 | Taboo Science is a podcast that answers the questions you"re not allowed to ask. It"s hosted by Ashley Hamer Pritchard, a science writer and podcaster. Every episode dives into a different societal taboo to understand the science that makes it tick, the reasons we don"t talk about it, and the impact that has on society at large. Why don"t we eat people? Why are my swear words different than my parents"? And what makes porn, porn? It"s science class if

science social sciences

All Episodes

35:04

Childbirth (with Tina Cassidy)

Taboo Science ·

2021/02/25

Why do we keep early pregnancy a secret? How long have we been giving birth in hospitals? And why is childbirth so painful? Today's guest is Tina Cassidy, author of the book “Birth: The Surprising History of How We Are Born.”Click here to see citations for this episode!Follow Taboo Science on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts.Suggest a taboo topic via ashley@tabooscience.show.Visit tabooscience.show for more.Taboo Science is written and

en

33:41

Lying (with Judi Ketteler)

Taboo Science ·

2021/02/11

Is honesty really the best policy? What's the difference between a good lie and a bad lie? And how much do we lie to ourselves? Today's guest is Judi Ketteler, author of the book “Would I Lie to You?: The Amazing Power of Being Honest in a World That Lies.” You can download a preview of the book right here. Click here to see citations for this episode! Follow Taboo Science on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts. Suggest a taboo topic via

en

31:44

Necrophilia (with Dr. Victoria Sullivan & Dr. Jens...

Taboo Science ·

2021/01/28

Where does necrophilia come from? What makes people desecrate corpses? And do you have to be a serial killer to have a death fetish? Today's guests are Dr. Victoria Hartmann, a clinical psychology researcher and executive director of the Erotic Heritage Museum in Las Vegas, and neuroscientist and science communicator Dr. Jens Foell. Click here to see citations for this episode! Follow Taboo Science on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts

en

38:15

Infidelity (with Lucia O'Sullivan)

Taboo Science ·

2021/01/14

It's the #1 cause of breakup and divorce. What if we're approaching infidelity all wrong? Today's guest is Dr. Lucia O'Sullivan, a social psychologist and professor in the department of psychology at the University of New Brunswick in Canada. Click here to see citations for this episode! Follow Taboo Science on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts. Suggest a taboo topic via ashley@tabooscience.show. Visit tabooscience.show for more. Taboo

en

39:06

Vaginas (with Rachel E. Gross)

Taboo Science ·

2020/12/31

Why do we know so little about female anatomy? Why are so many of women's reproductive organs named after dudes? And hold up, the clitoris looks like THAT?! Today's guest is Rachel E. Gross, an award-winning science journalist who's writing a book about the female reproductive system. Click here to see citations for this episode! You can follow and review Taboo Science on Podchaser right here. Follow Taboo Science on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and

en

27:20

Acne (with Dr. Alexa Shipman)

Taboo Science ·

2020/12/17

Why are we so grossed out by acne? What is it that makes popping pimples so satisfying? And why doesn't acne go away after adolescence? Today's guest is Dr. Alexa Shipman, a consultant dermatologist for the NHS in the United Kingdom. Click here to see citations for this episode! Taboo Science made Discover Pods' list of the Best Podcasts of 2020! Follow Taboo Science on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts. Suggest a taboo topic via

en

40:00

Obesity (with Dr. Yoni Freedhoff)

Taboo Science ·

2020/12/03

What do we get wrong about weight? Where did BMI even come from? And is there really an obesity "epidemic"? Today's guest is Dr. Yoni Freedhoff, an Associate Professor of Family Medicine at the University of Ottawa and Medical Director of Ottawa's Bariatric Medical Institute who's known as Canada's most outspoken obesity expert. He's also the author of "The Diet Fix: Why Diets Fail and How to Make Yours Work." See citations and a transcript here: https://www.tabooscience.show/005-obesity/ Other

en

33:54

Cannibalism (with Bill Schutt)

Taboo Science ·

2020/11/19

Why do humans have such an aversion to eating each other? How many cultures really practice cannibalism? And does cannibalism happen in the Western world anymore? (Yes. The answer is yes.) Today's guest is Bill Schutt, zoologist and research associate at the American Museum of Natural History. He's also the author of the book "Cannibalism: A Perfectly Natural History." Bill Schutt is also the author of the nonfiction book "Dark Banquet: Blood and the Curious Lives of Blood-Feeding Creatures" and

en

30:12

Penises (with Emily Willingham)

Taboo Science ·

2020/11/05

How does the human penis measure up to the rest of the animal kingdom? What can the shape of the penis tell us about human mating? And what is up with society's obsession with the penis? Today's guest is Emily Willingham, science journalist and author of the book "Phallacy: Life Lessons from the Animal Penis." See citations and a transcript here: https://www.tabooscience.show/003-penises/ Other episodes you'll enjoy:' Vaginas: https://www.tabooscience.show/007-vaginas/ Pornography:

en

31:28

Pornography (with Joshua Grubbs)

Taboo Science ·

2020/10/22

What makes porn, porn? Why is a Playboy centerfold porn when the Venus de Milo isn't? How long have we been making porn? And importantly, is porn addictive? Today's guest is Dr. Joshua Grubbs, professor of psychology at Bowling Green State University. Taboo Science is written and produced by Ashley Hamer. Theme music by Danny Lopatka of DLC Music. Quotations read by Jonathan Pritchard of the podcast Mind Reader University. See citations and a transcript here:

en

22:52

Profanity (with Benjamin K. Bergen)

Taboo Science ·

2020/10/08

What makes a word profane? Why are my swear words different from my parents'? If swearing is so bad, why do we do it? And what can a culture's swear words tell us about the things they hold taboo? "The way that words become powerful is by the taboos against using them." Dr. Ben Bergen is a professor of cognitive science at UC San Diego and author of "What the F? What Swearing Reveals About Our Language, Our Brains and Ourselves". He is an expert on the cultural and neurological aspects of

en

02:37

Introducing: Taboo Science

Taboo Science ·

2020/09/28

Taboo Science is a podcast that answers the questions you're not allowed to ask. It's hosted by Ashley Hamer, a science writer and podcaster. Every episode dives into a different societal taboo to understand the science that makes it tick, the reasons we don't talk about it, and the impact that has on society at large. Why don't we eat people? Why are my swear words different than my parents'? And what makes porn, porn? It's science class if science class had one of those anonymous question boxes

en

72 results

Similar Podcasts

Classic Radio Science Fiction

solgoodmedia.com

Mission to Mars

Inception Point Ai

The 365 Days of Astronomy

365DaysOfAstronomy.org

Creek Devil

william Jevning

UFO Chronicles Podcast

Nik Hunter