In this week's episode, hosts Liam Clifford and Bruno Mesquita interview Niki Sinha (they/them), a PhD candidate in Neuroscience. Niki's research delves into the processes by which, when we read, we connect letters with sound and words with meanings. As an example, the word "lead" has a very different meaning (and a very different pronunciation!) in the context of "lead singer," as opposed to "lead pipe." These cognitive processes are so quick as to almost appear automatic. In this interview, we learn, from Niki, that making connections between visual information and language isn't something that our brain is programmed to do by itself (unlike recognizing faces for instance), but it is something almost all of us learn to do anyways. Do tune in for a very erudite and engaging conversation!

Recorded on Mark 4, 2025 Produced by Mark Ambrogio

Theme song provided by FreeBeats.io (Produced by White Hot).

Hosts Maris Schneider and Meghan Voll welcome Sarah Bidinosti to discuss her research on adapting traditional bone analysis methods for the digital age using CT scans. Sarah explains how techniques for estimating age, biological sex, and stature—commonly used in forensic and archaeological studies—must be refined when applied to digital scans. By creating a standardized methodology, she aims to improve accuracy and repeatability in osteobiography, the process of identifying unknown individuals based on skeletal characteristics.

Our conversation explores the advantages of CT scans, which allow researchers to study bones non-invasively, preserving remains in forensic cases and with cultural artifacts like mummies. Sarah highlights challenges in translating physical bone analysis to the digital realm, as scan parameters and software algorithms can alter bone appearances. Sarah’s work bridges archaeology, forensic science, and medical imaging, offering applications across cultures and time periods.

Recorded on February 25, 2025 Produced by Scott Walters

Theme song provided by FreeBeats.io (Produced by White Hot).

Hosts Mark Ambrogio and Meghan Voll welcome Alanna Acchione, a PhD student in Media Studies at Western University, to discuss her research on data harms and the role of algorithms in curating hate engagement on social media. Alanna explores how platforms intentionally foster ideological clashes by amplifying content that triggers emotional responses, ultimately driving user engagement and platform profitability.

Drawing from Wendy Chun’s "Discriminating Data", Alanna explains how users are categorized into marketable groups, often pushed into ideological echo chambers that reinforce extreme narratives. She shares how these algorithmic structures fuel anti-feminist and anti-minority rhetoric, shaping online discourse in ways that can have real-world consequences.

The conversation also delves into rhetorical silence—the act of disengaging from online debates—as a potential resistance strategy. Alanna discusses the effectiveness of "feed cleansing" to disrupt harmful engagement patterns and considers whether quitting social media entirely is the only true form of protest against these platforms’ exploitative models.

Recorded on February 25, 2025 Produced by Mohammad Zeraati Theme song provided by FreeBeats.io (Produced by White Hot).