The Last Show with 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...
Obsession With Control Makes You Miserable: Radical Surrender Helps
In discussing her upcoming book Radical Surrender: Letting Go in a World Addicted to Control, professor of psychiatry and addiction medicine Anna Lembke explains why our obsession with controlling everything is making us miserable and how to get our lives back.
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Strange Triangular UFO Report Declassified with Avi Loeb
Professor of science and bestselling author Avi Loeb gives us his take on the strange triangular craft reported in the new US government UFO release.
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Football and an Alarming Study of Traumatic Brain Injuries
Biostatistics professor Yorghos Tripodis reveals that despite, earlier studies overstating the prevalence of brain disease in NFL players, the corrected numbers are still alarming.
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How ADHD Can Shorten Your Life
Psychiatry professor Dr. Margaret Sibley gives an overview of the sobering statistics surrounding life expectancy for people with ADHD.
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Will AI Make Mathematicians' Work Meaningless? Here's What Young People Who Study Math Say
Mathematician Dora Woodruff outlines the existential crisis AI is causing in mathematics and explains how AI is causing students and young researchers to rethink their careers in math.
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FULL EPISODE: Alien Triangles - November 5, 2026
Biostatistics professor Yorghos Tripodis reveals that despite, earlier studies overstating the prevalence of brain disease in NFL players, the corrected numbers are still alarming. Psychiatry professor Dr. Margaret Sibley gives an overview of the sobering statistics surrounding life expectancy for people with ADHD. In discussing her upcoming book Radical Surrender: Letting Go in a World Addicted to Control, professor of psychiatry and addiction medicine Anna Lembke explains why our obsession with controlling everything is making us miserable and how to get our lives back. Professor of science and bestselling author Avi Loeb gives us his take on the strange...
To Stand or Sit; Bee Immune Systems; Smart Crows
For science news, professor Jesse Rogerson covers the following:
A study has an answer to whether it matters if men pee sitting or standing; Beehives have built-in immune systems that protect the colony with layers of defense; A classic psychology test shows crows' decision-making skills leave humans in the dust; and NASA's Voyager 1 is about to reach a historic one-light-day milestone.
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When Middle-Schoolers Rely on AI Companions
Psychology and neuroscience professor Mitch Prinstein reveals the implications of middle-schoolers seeking out AI friends instead of real human ones.
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FULL EPISODE: How Long Is a Light Day? - November 4, 2026
For science news, professor Jesse Rogerson covers the following: A study has an answer to whether it matters if men pee sitting or standing; Beehives have built-in immune systems that protect the colony with layers of defense; A classic psychology test shows crows' decision-making skills leave humans in the dust; and NASA's Voyager 1 is about to reach a historic one-light-day milestone. Psychology and neuroscience professor Mitch Prinstein reveals the implications of middle-schoolers seeking out AI friends instead of real human ones. On Therapy Thursdays on a Wednesday, therapist and social worker Gary Direnfeld and David discuss how to break...
Opinion Dynamics and the Math of Polarization
Mathematician Emma Zajdela discusses polarization and opinion dynamics: the math behind how individual beliefs and public opinions change over time through social interaction.
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Duty Sex and Why We Have Sex When We Don't Want To
Evolutionary biologist/psychologist Sid Dougan outlines duty sex and explains why people have sex when they don't want to.
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What Happens After You Win the Lottery?; It's a Strange Job Market Out There
Economics professor Eric Kam covers a study showing that winning the lottery helps men marry but briefly raises divorce risk for women and the US having one of the strangest job markets ever seen – a low-hire, low-fire economy. Eric weighs in on a dilemma involving a newly purchased house that came with a bill for the neighbor's fence.
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When Your Senses Lie and the Phantom Airship Craze
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.
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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...
Patrick Stewart and Jean-Luc Picard's Impact on Trek and Beyond
Media personality Caitlin Green and David discuss the passing of Patrick Stewart and the impact of his portrayal of Jean-Luc Picard. (Listen to Caitlin co-host The Jann Arden Podcast here and Popcultured Podcast here.)
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How Pumpkins Shouldn't Exist and Why They Do
Paleontologist Kallie Moore – host of PBS Eons – reveals how pumpkins shouldn't exist and how they only survived thanks to an unlikely partnership they forged with us.
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How Napping Is Linked to Dementia Risk
Professor and sleep researcher Adam Spira and dementia researcher Kening Jiang outline how frequent and unintentional daytime napping is linked to higher dementia risk in older adults.
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Spotify's AI Slop Music Problem; Anthropic's IPO and CEO Warning
On It's Time for Technology Time, tech analyst Carmi Levy reports on the following:
Spotify says it removed 50 million 'slop' and spam AI tracks this year; Your phone could show the wrong time thanks to DST changes; Anthropic files for potentially the biggest IPO ever as CEO warns of risk to humanity from AI; and Some iPhone Duo screens are already failing, but Apple says only a "small number" are affected.Protect your privacy. Sign up for Incogni at https://incogni.com/cooper and get 60% off your first year.
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The Mysterious Mushroom That Makes You See Tiny Humans
Mycologist Colin Domnauer describes the mysterious mushroom that causes people to hallucinate hundreds of tiny humans.
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FULL EPISODE: Strange Pumpkins and Stranger Mushrooms - October 30, 2026
On It's Time for Technology Time, tech analyst Carmi Levy reports on the following: Spotify says it removed 50 million 'slop' and spam AI tracks this year; Your phone could show the wrong time thanks to DST changes; Anthropic files for potentially the biggest IPO ever as CEO warns of risk to humanity from AI; and Some iPhone Duo screens are already failing, but Apple says only a "small number" are affected. Paleontologist Kallie Moore – host of PBS Eons – reveals how pumpkins shouldn't exist and how they only survived thanks to an unlikely partnership they forged with us. Mycologist Colin Domn...
Is Love Actually Blind? Here's What the Science Says
Motivated by a popular television series, psychology professor Paul Eastwick – co-host of the Love Factually podcast – explores whether love is, in fact, blind.
Check out Paul's book Bonded by Evolution here.
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Halloween Between Separated Parents
With Halloween coming up, for Therapy Thursdays on a Wednesday (on a Thursday), therapist and social worker Gary Direnfeld goes over what happens on the holiday for children with separated parents, offering solutions for navigating that situation.
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There's Regular Gossip, Then There's Malicious Gossip
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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FULL EPISODE: Soup for Halloween?! - October 29, 2026
Motivated by a popular television series, psychology professor Paul Eastwick – co-host of the Love Factually podcast – explores whether love is, in fact, blind. (Check out Paul's book Bonded by Evolution here.) 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. With Halloween coming up, for Therapy Thursdays on a Wednesday (on a Thursday), therapist and social worker Gary Direnfeld goes over what happens on the holiday for children with separated parents, offering solutions for navigating that situation. Psychology professor Cynthia Pury explains why...
AI and the Trouble With Modern Online Dating
Media science professor Kathryn Coduto warns us to beware as AI has entered the chaotic world of online dating.
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New Dwarf Planet in Our Backyard; Asteroid That Hit the North Sea; "Bouba" and "Kiki"
For science news, professor Jesse Rogerson covers the following:
Astronomers discover a giant new dwarf planet candidate hiding beyond Pluto; Snakes roll because, apparently, slithering wasn't fast enough; A massive asteroid slammed into the North Sea and unleashed a 330-foot tsunami; and Dogs seem to agree with humans that "bouba" is round and "kiki" is spiky.Protect your privacy. Sign up for Incogni at https://incogni.com/cooper and get 60% off your first year.
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Math Says We're Not Alone. So Where Are the Aliens?
For Conspiracy Corner, political science professor Lee Kuhnle takes a stab at the Fermi paradox and reveals how to find (or not find) aliens using math and the Drake equation.
Find Lee's book Uncover Up: How to Think Clearly in an Age of Conspiracies here.
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Cats, You and Oxytocin; Letting Sleeping Dogs Lie (With You); Vets on a Plane
On Vet Talk or Pet Talk, veterinarian Dr. Cliff Redford reports on these stories from the animal world:
Cat hormones and owner moods appear to move together; Why farm animals haven't evolved against humans; and Is sleeping with your dog actually good for your sleep?Cliff shares a recent story where he acted as a "doctor" on an airplane.
Check out Cliff's book Far and Wild: Adventures of The Worldwide Vet here.
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FULL EPISODE: Pluto's New Best Friend - October 28, 2026
For science news, professor Jesse Rogerson covers the following: Astronomers discover a giant new dwarf planet candidate hiding beyond Pluto; Snakes roll because, apparently, slithering wasn't fast enough; A massive asteroid slammed into the North Sea and unleashed a 330-foot tsunami; and Dogs seem to agree with humans that "bouba" is round and "kiki" is spiky. Media science professor Kathryn Coduto warns us to beware as AI has entered the chaotic world of online dating. For Conspiracy Corner, political science professor Lee Kuhnle takes a stab at the Fermi paradox and reveals how to find (or not find) aliens...
AI Fiction Tells the Same Odd Story
AI researcher Sil Hamilton describes how large language models, when asked to generate a story, somehow all bring up Elias and the lighthouse keeper.
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AI Models and Their Converging Creativity
Electrical and computer engineering professor Emily Wenger reveals how she tested the creativity of AI models and found the results to be surprisingly homogeneous.
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Politician Who Said "Don't Vote for Me" and Won
Newly elected Kelowna city councillor Brady Rogers explains how he told people not to vote for him... and won.
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Your Job and Who You'd Pick as a Romantic Partner
Organizational behavior professor Jon Gruda outlines how your job says little about what you want in a romantic partner.
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FULL EPISODE: Elias and the Lighthouse - October 27, 2026
Newly elected Kelowna city councillor Brady Rogers explains how he told people not to vote for him... and won. Electrical and computer engineering professor Emily Wenger reveals how she tested the creativity of AI models and found the results to be surprisingly homogeneous. Organizational behavior professor Jon Gruda outlines how your job says little about what you want in a romantic partner. AI researcher Sil Hamilton describes how large language models, when asked to generate a story, somehow all bring up Elias and the lighthouse keeper. Media and literature professor Mathias Clasen goes over the psychology of horror movies...
"Metals" Surround Milky Way's Central Black Hole; Proof the Moon's Shrinking
With news from outer space, astrobiologist Sarah Rugheimer covers the following:
Study finds the gas around the Milky Way's central black hole is rich in metals; The moon is shrinking and 10,000 cracks on the lunar surface reveal by how much; and The giant object that likely collided with Earth to form the moon.Check out Sarah's course Experiencing James Webb on The Great Courses here.
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Why Do We Love Being Scared?
Psychology professor Cynthia Pury explains why we like being scared and the science behind Halloween.
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Halloween Economics; The Car Dealership Psychology Trick; Friendly Drinks Gone Wrong
Economics professor Eric Kam discusses the economics of Halloween – in particular, retailer Spirit Halloween – and the psychology of why we overpay for used cars. Eric weighs in on a dilemma involving purchasing drinks for friends, then demanding money for them the next day.
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Late-Night Scrolling Costs You Your Sleep
Family, population, and preventive medicine professor Lauren Hale reveals the toll late-night scrolling has on sleep.
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On Different Brains, Different Depressions and Different Treatments
Clinical neuroscientist Laura Bilbao outlines how the brain shows us depression is not one thing.
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FULL EPISODE: The Moon's Cracking Up - October 26, 2026
With news from outer space, astrobiologist Sarah Rugheimer covers the following: Study finds the gas around the Milky Way's central black hole is rich in metals; The moon is shrinking and 10,000 cracks on the lunar surface reveal by how much; and The giant object that likely collided with Earth to form the moon. (Check out Sarah's course Experiencing James Webb on The Great Courses here.) Psychology professor Cynthia Pury explains why we like being scared and the science behind Halloween. Family, population, and preventive medicine professor Lauren Hale reveals the toll late-night scrolling has on sleep. Economics professor Eric...
