Podcast

In this episode, Bali Daniels (Bryn Mawr ’23) explores how paced mating behavior in rats increases sexual reward. Join her as she explains what the “vaginal code” is in rats and how it may increase the likelihood of conception. This begs the question… do humans have a vaginal code? Tune in to learn about human … Continue reading Episode 1: Code Breakers

In this episode, Margaux Kelly (Bryn Mawr ’24) asks: Can you predict if someone will be gay? Is sexual orientation influenced by hormones during development? Or by birth order? Margaux reviews the evidence for these factors before tackling the controversial question of whether there is a “gay gene.” Listen to Margaux’s expert analysis of this … Continue reading Episode 2: The Gay Gene

It’s everyone’s favorite gossip podcast! Your host, Nora Gaby-Biegel (Haverford ’24), tackles the latest scandal at Rat Brain, Inc. As everyone knows, the world was shocked when one of Rat Brain’s star employees, Veni (short for Ventromedial Hypothalamus), stepped down from her position after their rat got pregnant! Why would Veni step down and leave … Continue reading Episode 3: Spilling the genes

In this episode, Haley Halvorson (Bryn Mawr ’24) tells us what is known (and not known!) about the neurobiology of sadism and masochism. Can rodent models of pain and pleasure inform our understanding of what is happening in the brains’ of people who enjoy pain during sex? Haley explores the relationship between pain and the … Continue reading Episode 4: Fifty Shades of Grey Matter

In this episode, Christine Wang (Bryn Mawr ’24) takes us on a journey through the world of rodent romance. Instead of swiping through photos on a dating app, rodents sniff out possible mating partners to tell whether they are a good match. But what role does experience play in the development of these preferences? And … Continue reading Episode 5: If rodents used Tinder, would they swipe or sniff?

In this episode, Olivia Taylor (Bryn Mawr ’24) considers how even a brief event early in life can have long-lasting consequences. Through interviews and anecdotes, Olivia engages us in a discussion about how early life stress can impact the development of psychiatric disorders later in life. As part of this, she tells us about how … Continue reading Episode 6: Have you seen my mother?

Have you ever wondered what’s happening in your fish tank after dark? In this episode, Jordan Denaver (Haverford ’24) takes a deep dive (get it?) into the secret sex lives of goldfish! Tune in to learn about fish courtship rituals, how fish use their sense of smell under water, and what happens if you experimentally … Continue reading Episode 7: The Secret Sex Lives of Goldfish

In this episode, Leah Barz-Snell (Bryn Mawr ’24) tells us about chronic pain, which is more prevalent in women than in men. Can this be explained by differences in the brain? To answer this question, Leah takes us on a journey through the literature: Do men and women experience pain differently? What about male and … Continue reading Episode 8: P is for pain and patriarchy

In this episode, Tiffany Mikulis (Haverford ’25) catches us up on the popular topic of same sex behavior in male field crickets. Is this an adaptation that has evolved to strengthen social bonds? Or is it a case of mistaken identity? Tiffany tells us about a recent study that uses crickets’ social environment as a … Continue reading Episode 9: The chirpy cricket pod

In this episode, Nikki Farrell (Haverford ’24) explores how experience shapes maternal behavior. To understand whether maternal behavior is innate or learned, Nikki interviews three different mammals: a rat, a rabbit, and a sheep. What happens when they are exposed to babies that aren’t their own? Nikki then does a deep dive into the hormonal … Continue reading Episode 10: Foster Moms