FULL EPISODE: Yes, Mix Politics and Math - November 3, 2026

Economics professor Eric Kam covers a study showing that winning the lottery helps men marry but briefly raises divorce risk for women. Mathematician Emma Zajdela discusses polarization and opinion dynamics: the math behind how individual beliefs and public opinions change over time through social interaction. For Conspiracy Corner, professor of conspiracy studies Nathan Radke explores how our perception of reality is subjective and our senses aren't always reliable, and how that likely led to the late 1800s phantom airship craze. (Listen to Nathan on The Strange Machine Podcast here.) Eric Kam returns to report on the US having one of the strangest job markets ever seen – a low-hire, low-fire economy, and then weighs in on a dilemma involving a newly purchased house that came with a bill for the neighbor's fence. Evolutionary biologist/psychologist Sid Dougan outlines duty sex and explains why people have sex when they don't want to. Psychology professor Adam Davis gives a rundown of the benefits of mild gossip, but warns that psychopathy is the strongest predictor of frequent and malicious gossip.

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Segments:

(00:00) Introduction

(01:00) Eric Kam pt. 1

(10:00) Emma Zajdela

(20:00) Nathan Radke pt. 1

(30:00) Nathan Radke pt. 2

(39:50) Eric Kam pt. 2

(49:50) Sid Dougan

(59:50) Adam Davis pt. 1

(1:09:50) Adam Davis pt. 2