The Last Show with David Cooper

40 Episodes
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By: David Cooper

Welcome to The Last Show with David Cooper, We are the final word for the curious mind. We sit at the intersection of "need-to-know" and "can’t-believe-it," delivering high-res talk for a low-def world. Join David Cooper as he explores #sex, #science and #society. Of course there's a large slice of absurdity, providing the info you didn't know you needed. What to Expect: • Intelligent Banter: No scripts, just honest conversation. • Eclectic Guests: Thought Leaders and eccentrics. • Useful Info: Practical wisdom for the modern skeptic. Dinner party! • Total Transparency: Raw confessions and relatability. Have a story or something to say? Leave a comment...

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How to Think Clearly in an Age of Conspiracies
#1234
Today at 6:00 PM

For Conspiracy Book Corner, Professors ⁠Lee Kuhnle⁠ and ⁠Nathan Radke⁠ discuss their upcoming book ⁠Uncover Up: How to Think Clearly in an Age of Conspiracies⁠ and provide a roadmap to working out what's true and what's not these days.

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Why People Make Strange Money Decisions
#1233
Today at 3:30 PM

Risk management professor ⁠Lisa Posey⁠ makes risk management fun, revealing that ⁠people avoid loss and regret rather than rely on a 'risk-return' financial strategy⁠.

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Apple Raising Prices; Impossible Home Listings; White House App You Can't Remove
#1232
Today at 1:00 PM

On It's Time For Technology Time, tech analyst ⁠Carmi Levy⁠ covers the following stories:

Tim Cooks says Apple to raise prices due to memory chip crunch⁠; Federal workers can't get the White House's app off their phones⁠; AI is cursing renters with the promise of impossible homes⁠; A space telescope is falling to Earth and NASA is racing to rescue it⁠; and Uber's board sued over alleged failure to address sexual abuse by drivers⁠.

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What's the Internet Without Teens?
#1231
Today at 10:30 AM

Technology and culture correspondent ⁠Katie Notopoulos⁠ ponders whether ⁠banning teens from social media would change the internet forever⁠.

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FULL EPISODE: Space Telescope Rescue - June 25, 2026
#1230
Today at 8:00 AM

On It's Time For Technology Time, tech analyst Carmi Levy covers the following stories: Tim Cooks says Apple to raise prices due to memory chip crunch; Federal workers can't get the White House's app off their phones; AI is cursing renters with the promise of impossible homes; A space telescope is falling to Earth and NASA is racing to rescue it; and Uber's board sued over alleged failure to address sexual abuse by drivers. Technology and culture correspondent Katie Notopoulos ponders whether banning teens from social media would change the internet forever. Coach, speaker, and author Lewis Raymond Taylor – a...


Solving the Dark Matter Mystery; Catapulting Spider
#1229
Yesterday at 8:00 PM

Professor ⁠Jesse Rogerson⁠ arrives on the scene with the following science news stories:

New galaxy found with no dark matter may solve an epic mystery⁠; Spider discovered that catapults prey into its web at a brutal 140 g-force⁠; and Whales appear to be evolving a new dialect in the Mediterranean Sea⁠.

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Broken Heart Syndrome
#1228
Yesterday at 6:00 PM

Psychologist ⁠Philip Leissner⁠ explains what ⁠broken-heart syndrome is and how online therapy helps ease stress and anxiety associated with it⁠.

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Gentle Parenting and Raising Emotionally Mature Children
#1227
Yesterday at 4:00 PM

Senior health reporter ⁠Julia Pugachevsky⁠ discusses ⁠gentle parenting and how to raise an emotionally mature child⁠.

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T-Maxxing: The Overprescription of Testosterone
#1226
Yesterday at 2:00 PM

Health, nutrition, and fitness reporter ⁠Gabby Landsverk⁠ reveals what ⁠T-maxxing is and how testosterone is now being overprescribed to men⁠.

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Regret and the Fear of Not Trying vs. Failure
#1225
Yesterday at 12:00 PM

For Therapy Thursdays on a Wednesday, David talks to therapist and social worker ⁠Gary Direnfeld⁠ about regret and the fear of not trying something compared to the fear of trying it and failing.

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How Ozempic Might Reduce Violent Crime
#1224
Yesterday at 10:00 AM

Criminologist ⁠Dan Semenza⁠ outlines how ⁠GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic might reduce violent crime risk by dampening impulsivity⁠.

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FULL EPISODE: Whales Have Dialects Too - June 24, 2026
#1223
Yesterday at 8:00 AM

Professor Jesse Rogerson arrives on the scene with the following science news stories: New galaxy found with no dark matter may solve an epic mystery; Spider discovered that catapults prey into its web at a brutal 140 g-force; and Whales appear to be evolving a new dialect in the Mediterranean Sea. Psychologist Philip Leissner explains what broken-heart syndrome is and how online therapy helps ease stress and anxiety associated with it. Health, nutrition, and fitness reporter Gabby Landsverk reveals what T-maxxing is and how testosterone is now being overprescribed to men. For Therapy Thursdays on a Wednesday, David talks to...


Poker: The Mathematics of Playing Well
#1222
Last Wednesday at 8:00 PM

Mathematician ⁠Emma Zajdela⁠ goes over the mathematics of poker and how ⁠bluffing is an essential part of a winning strategy⁠.

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Resilience; Hetero Men as a Sexual Health Risk Group; Pleasure Matters
#1221
Last Wednesday at 6:00 PM

Sociologist ⁠Jessie Ford⁠ discusses ⁠resilience among gender and sexually fluid people⁠, straight men as a vulnerable sexual health population, and how sexual pleasure is overlooked and important for our health.

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Why Attractive People Capture Our Eye
#1220
Last Wednesday at 3:30 PM

Cognitive neuroscience professor ⁠Effie Pereira⁠ outlines how ⁠attractive faces draw our gaze but fail to hijack our peripheral attention⁠.

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Juice for Kids Today, High Blood Pressure Tomorrow
#1219
Last Wednesday at 1:00 PM

Nutrition professor ⁠Vasanti Malik⁠ reveals how ⁠drinking juice and soda during childhood may increase the risk of high blood pressure later in life⁠.

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Vacation Guilt: Why We're Bad at Taking Time Off
#1218
Last Wednesday at 10:30 AM

Emily the Recruiter⁠ (Emily Durham) explains why so many people aren't taking their paid time off, and why "unlimited" vacation policies are a bit of a scam.

Check out Emily's book Clock In: No-BS Advice for Getting Ahead in Your Career (Without Losing Your Mind) here⁠.

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FULL EPISODE: The Math Says to Bluff - June 23, 2026
#1217
Last Wednesday at 8:00 AM

Nutrition professor Vasanti Malik reveals how drinking juice and soda during childhood may increase the risk of high blood pressure later in life. Mathematician Emma Zajdela goes over the mathematics of poker and how bluffing is an essential part of a winning strategy. Emily the Recruiter (Emily Durham) explains why so many people aren't taking their paid time off, and why "unlimited" vacation policies are a bit of a scam. (Check out Emily's book Clock In: No-BS Advice for Getting Ahead in Your Career (Without Losing Your Mind) here.) Cognitive neuroscience professor Effie Pereira outlines how attractive faces draw...


Munchies, Stoned Rats and Help With Eating Disorders
#1216
Last Tuesday at 8:00 PM

Neuroscientist ⁠Matt Hill⁠ reveals how ⁠rats stoned on cannabis get the munchies, and what that means for people with eating disorders and appetite loss⁠.

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Could Shame Be an Evolution-Based Defense Mechanism?
#1215
Last Tuesday at 6:15 PM

Psychology professor ⁠Daniel Sznycer⁠ illustrates ⁠why shame is an evolution-based defense mechanism⁠.

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How Psilocybin Can Ease Depression, Dementia, Addiction and More
#1214
Last Tuesday at 4:30 PM

Clinical psychologist ⁠Dr. Dominique Morisano⁠ chats about the positives and negatives of psilocybin use and other psychoactive substances in mental health treatment.

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Why Writing With AI May Demand More From Students
#1213
Last Tuesday at 3:00 PM

Professors ⁠Abram Anders⁠ and ⁠Emily Dux Speltz⁠ share ⁠how writing with AI demands more thought from students, not less⁠.

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Cracking Wordle With Math
#1212
Last Tuesday at 1:15 PM

Industrial and systems engineering professor ⁠Congyu "Peter" Wu⁠ outlines how ⁠his team used information theory to solve Wordle with a 99% success rate⁠.

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How Slime Mold Makes Decisions Without a Brain
#1211
Last Tuesday at 11:30 AM

Biological physicist ⁠Lisa Schick⁠ discusses ⁠how slime mold makes decisions despite not having a brain or nervous system⁠.

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Kids Who Lie and Their Adult Outcomes
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Last Tuesday at 9:45 AM

Psychologist ⁠Victoria Talwar⁠ goes over ⁠her study showing how childhood lying patterns predict adult outcomes⁠.

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FULL EPISODE: Mushrooms and Mental Health - June 22, 2026
#1209
Last Tuesday at 8:00 AM

Industrial and systems engineering professor Congyu "Peter" Wu outlines how his team used information theory to solve Wordle with a 99% success rate. Neuroscientist Matt Hill reveals how rats stoned on cannabis get the munchies, and what that means for people with eating disorders and appetite loss. Psychologist Victoria Talwar goes over her study showing how childhood lying patterns predict adult outcomes. Biological physicist Lisa Schick discusses how slime mold makes decisions despite not having a brain or nervous system. Professors Abram Anders and Emily Dux Speltz share how writing with AI demands more thought from students, not less. Psychology...


Supersonic Jets; Got a Pacemaker? Skip the AirPods.
#1208
Last Saturday at 8:00 PM

Technology analyst ⁠Carmi Levy⁠ wishes David a happy 40th birthday on It's Time For Technology Time and then covers the following:

NASA's X-59 reaches speed and altitude milestones ahead of first quiet supersonic flights⁠; Commodore's newest gadget is a flip phone that blocks social media and browsers⁠; and Why your cardiologist might tell you to skip AirPods⁠.

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How Board Games Build Connection and Reduce Stress
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Last Saturday at 5:00 PM

Psychology professors ⁠Gray Atherton and Liam Cross⁠ outline how ⁠board games aren't just a fun hobby as they can help build connections and reduce stress⁠.

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Kid's Afternoon Restlessness Predicts University Success
#1206
Last Saturday at 2:00 PM

Psychology professor ⁠Andrew Koepp⁠ reveals ⁠how a third grader's afternoon restlessness predicts their chances of finishing college⁠.

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Beauty Standards For Models: Everyone's Included (Sort Of)
#1205
Last Saturday at 11:00 AM

Network science researcher ⁠Sagar Kumar⁠ goes over ⁠their research showing that fashion's "plus-size" models are still smaller than the average American woman⁠.

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FULL EPISODE: What's Better Than a Commodore 64? - June 19, 2026
#1204
Last Saturday at 8:00 AM

Technology analyst Carmi Levy wishes David a happy 40th birthday on It's Time For Technology Time and then covers the following: NASA's X-59 reaches speed and altitude milestones ahead of first quiet supersonic flights; Commodore's newest gadget is a flip phone that blocks social media and browsers; and Why your cardiologist might tell you to skip AirPods. Network science researcher Sagar Kumar goes over their research showing that fashion's "plus-size" models are still smaller than the average American woman. Psychology professor Andrew Koepp reveals how a third grader's afternoon restlessness predicts their chances of finishing college. Psychology professors Gray...


The Strange Way Humans Walk; Why Mosquitos Bite Some More Than Others
#1203
06/18/2026

Professor ⁠Jesse Rogerson⁠ brings the following science news stories to the show:

Scientists discover a strange global pattern in the way humans walk⁠; Earliest flickering quasar ever seen could explain monster black holes⁠; Researchers finally discover how Venus flytraps snap shut so fast⁠; and Why mosquitoes bite some people more than others⁠.

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Do Police Body Cams Prevent Excessive Force?
#1202
06/18/2026

Lecturer in criminology ⁠Michael Cain⁠ explores whether ⁠mandatory body cameras actually reduce police brutality⁠.

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On Aging Gracefully
#1201
06/18/2026

Given that David is turning the big four-oh tomorrow, for Therapy Thursdays on a Wednesday, therapist and social worker ⁠Gary Direnfeld⁠ walks us through why getting older freaks us out, and what the upsides of aging are.

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Men's Careers Benefit From Parental Leave. Women's Do Not.
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06/18/2026

Management professors ⁠Anja Krstić⁠ and ⁠Ivona Hideg⁠ explain that ⁠when men take parental leave, their careers may benefit, but women's do not⁠.

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Most Say They're Open-Minded. They're (Probably) Not.
#1199
06/18/2026

Social psychology professor ⁠Daryl Van Tongeren⁠ reveals how ⁠everyone wants to think they're open-minded, but why most people are not⁠.

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FULL EPISODE: Flickering Quasars, Monster Black Holes - June 17, 2026
#1198
06/18/2026

Professor Jesse Rogerson brings the following science news stories to the show: Scientists discover a strange global pattern in the way humans walk; Earliest flickering quasar ever seen could explain monster black holes; Researchers finally discover how Venus flytraps snap shut so fast; and Why mosquitoes bite some people more than others. Social psychology professor Daryl Van Tongeren reveals how everyone wants to think they're open-minded, but why most people are not. Lecturer in criminology Michael Cain explores whether mandatory body cameras actually reduce police brutality. Management professors Anja Krstić and Ivona Hideg explain that when men take parental l...


Cryptid Roundup: Freakish Frog, Three-Legged Terror and More!
#1197
06/17/2026

For Conspiracy Corner, professor of conspiracy studies ⁠Nathan Radke⁠ does a cryptid roundup, telling David about the ⁠Loveland Frog⁠, the ⁠Flatwoods Monster⁠, and the ⁠Enfield Horror⁠.

Pre-order Nathan's upcoming book Uncover Up: How to Think Clearly in an Age of Conspiracies here⁠.

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The Antisocial Workplace
#1196
06/17/2026

⁠Aki Ito⁠ from Business Insider explains the rise of ⁠the antisocial workplace⁠ due to AI.

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Taking a Vacation vs. Attending a Wedding: Messy Money Matters
#1195
06/17/2026

Economics professor ⁠Eric Kam⁠ goes over a messy money matter involving ⁠potentially canceling a trip over a sibling's wedding⁠.

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