Schauer Thoughts

Gather round my gaggle of geeks and gays, we’re tackling “womb envy” yet again! Huzzah! A commentary on the ills patriarchy has bestowed upon society, we are blessed to carry their cognitive loads to term and birth new stress-related ailments for all to acquire.  No but seriously, this week we’re discussing the new research I’m drooling at the faucet over as well as wrapping up our short series on “womb envy.” Make sure to wear sandals to this week’s communal Schauer, I mean it IS what Jesus would do. Nuance: I don’t actually think that researchers and writers at Scientific American are writing articles and doing studies just for me - that was a joke. Sometimes people who aren’t men can make jokes too. Information for New Book Club: https://substack.com/home/post/p-186705166 Immigration Resources Substack: https://substack.com/home/post/p-185913344  Includes free Ebooks from Haymarket Books Stay tuned for the magazine club!  Resources:  Scientists Cure Pancreatic Cancer Using New Therapy That Eliminated Tumors with No Major Side Effects https://dailygalaxy.com/2026/01/scientists-cure-pancreatic-cancer-breakthrough-treatment/ Selective Sound: Why Do Some People with Schizophrenia Hear Voices? https://static.scientificamerican.com/dam/m/5de541c65719ff73/original/SciAm_02_2026.pdf What Are Binaural Beats? https://www.webmd.com/balance/what-are-binaural-beats Detecting Dementia Using Lexical Analysis: Terry Prachett’s Discworld Tells a More Personal Story https://www.researchgate.net/publication/399826710_Detecting_Dementia_Using_Lexical_Analysis_Terry_Pratchett's_Discworld_Tells_a_More_Personal_Story  Cancer might protect against Alzheimer’s - this protein helps explain why https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-026-00222-7 Womb envy: The cause of misogyny and even male achievement?  https://www.researchgate.net/publication/251547431_Womb_envy_The_cause_of_misogyny_and_even_male_achievement Understanding the Characteristics of Envy and How to Grow Past It https://www.healthline.com/health/relationships/characteristics-of-an-envious-person Europe’s Journal of Psychology https://ejop.psychopen.eu/index.php/ejop/article/view/110/110.pdf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to the wonderful, winding world of Schauer Thoughts! This week we’re meandering through new research from MIT on the rest and digest system, as well as making a sharp turn into “womb envy.” Is the rest and digest system related to womb envy? Not really. I mean, potentially? There is definitely a glandular route through the endocrine system, but I’m not taking that road today! Today I’m just covering two separate topics because I wanted to! Huzzah. Tear. Pour. Live More. Go to https://LIQUIDIV.com and get 20% off your first order with code SCHAUER at checkout. “Wait, so what are today’s separate topics?” Rest & digest and then “womb envy.” Thank you again for joining me in the communal Schauer! There’s a joke to be made about “womb envy” and a “baby Schauer” - please let me know if you come up with anything solid! Enjoy the episode.  Nuance for why I “don’t want to get philosophical,” spoiler! It’s not because I don’t like philosophy, it’s because we’re going to get into “zero-sum” thinking and game theory and this is where people are going to argue about what economic systems are the “best” and people feel *compelled* to play devil’s advocate.  Resources:  Behave: The Biology of Humans at Our Best and Worst - Robert M. Sapolsky Could It Be ADHD or… Narcolepsy? - Discover Science, November/December 2025 Edition Cancer Spreads at Night - Lea Milling Korsholm, Exploring Science Squishy Math - Kelsey Houston-Edwards, Scientific American, Ultimate Math Edition, Fall/Winter 2025 The Denial of Death - Ernest Becker  Your brain does something surprising when you don’t sleep https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260119234937.htm Article from Jan. 20 Attentional failures after sleep deprivation are locked to joint neuromuscular, pupil and cerebrospinal fluid flow dynamics https://www.nature.com/articles/s41593-025-02098-8 Parietal alpha frequency shapes own-body perception by modulating the temporal integration of bodily signals  https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-67657-w Scientists Found the Brain Rhythm that Makes Your Body Feel Like Yours  https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260114080325.htm#:~:text=Researchers%20at%20Karolinska%20Institutet%20studied,sense%20of%20self%20is%20disturbed.%22 REM alpha rhythm: diagnostic for narcolepsy? (2006 - a bit dated) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16751726/  FDA Clears First Blood test Used in Diagnosing Alzheimer’s Disease https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-clears-first-blood-test-used-diagnosing-alzheimers-disease  Europe’s Journal of Psychology https://ejop.psychopen.eu/index.php/ejop/article/view/110/110.pdf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You know what they say, fall down seven times, pursue a class action lawsuit against the establishment. Just kidding but not really (see sources linked below) this week we’re learning about the neuroscience, psychology, and *personal* philosophy of rejection to manufacture some good ol’ fashion luck. This is not a guide on gambling nor a get rich quick scheme, this is a reframe to get you all to take a chance on some weird opportunities to flourish or at least establish a sizable amount of lore. As always, thank you for joining me in the communal Schauer, please know that I am not perceiving any of you. When I step into the weekly STEAM I can’t see anything beyond the computer in front of me. Wishing you all the best. Check out Gabbies1000nos aka the woman who inspired this episode!   https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZThRthGxf/ Gabbie, if you see this, you’ve inspired me and I’m wishing you nothing but luck on your journey! Resources:  Behave: The Biology of Humans at Our Best and Worst - Robert M. Sapolsky  Squares & Sharps, Suckers & Sharks: The Science, Psychology & Philosophy of Gambling - Joseph Buchdahl  Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience - Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi  What We Value: The Neuroscience of Choice and Change - Emily Falk Your brain learns from rejection – here’s how it becomes your compass for connection https://theconversation.com/your-brain-learns-from-rejection-heres-how-it-becomes-your-compass-for-connection-249124 Neural responses to social rejection reflect dissociable learning about relational value and reward https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2400022121 The Psychological Health Benefits of Accepting Negative Emotions and Thoughts: Laboratory, Diary, and Longitudinal Evidence https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5767148/ Strengthen Your Mind the Way You Strengthen Your Body https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/building-resilient-minds/202601/strengthen-your-mind-the-way-you-strengthen-your-body#:~:text=The%20Window%20of%20Tolerance:%20Whereand%20even%20grow%20from%20it. The Neuroplasticity of First Attempts https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/parenting-from-a-neuroscience-perspective/202509/the-neuroplasticity-of-first-attempts The Luck Field Manual - “How to Manufacture Luck” https://substack.com/@polymathinvestor/note/c-194112619 The Spirit of Hope - Byung Chul Han https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=2YMgEQAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PT2&ots=l4PW6LyQQ8&sig=bGGFu0gUVQv3hqfvSS0d0ZyBjP4#v=onepage&q&f=false — My Resources to Help You All Get Lucky! — On the Art and Craft of Doing Science - Kenneth Catania How to Find a Research Gap - https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZThrD8Q8L/  Nightshade - https://nightshade.cs.uchicago.edu/whatis.html Tool for artists :) Learn More About Adaptive Yoga - Mindbodysolutions.org Learn More About Class Action Lawsuits - ClassAction.org  Job Posting Websites to Check Out Hiring.cafe - https://hiring.cafe/ Welcome to the Jungle - https://us.welcometothejungle.com/?utm_source=foundation&utm_campaign=redirect_modal&utm_content=en  especially great if you work in tech! LinkedIn Job Search Hacks - https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZThryKvGR/  Check Out Audrey Gidman’s Substack On Art Residencies  A non-exhaustive list of writing (and art) residencies in the so-called US https://substack.com/home/post/p-162701566  Another non-exhaustive list of writing (and art) residencies in the so-called US https://audreygidman.substack.com/p/another-non-exhaustive-list-of-writing?r=1cyxix  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Well howdy my curious crew, today we’re taking somewhat of an insightful detour on our discussion of the rest and digest system! Our mode of transportation? Metaphor! We’re using figurative language to figure out what should already be widely known.  For anyone new here, we’ll be discussing neuroscience, math, fluid dynamics, lateral learning and inhibition - we cover a lot of ground. Feel free to trilateral my position on information silos and receive a high five when you get here. Apologies to those who aren’t mathematically inclined, sometimes you have to “take it there” to prove a point, coordinate frustration.  Also, please feel free to leave your favorite marching band performance! They’re so hypnotic and incredibly impressive, I’d be honored to have them in the communal Schauer. Make sure to rate my 5 stars on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, any place you get your podcasts! Resources: ‘Next Albert Einstein’ is 32-year-old woman who turned down $1.1m offer from university https://www.ladbible.com/news/science/next-albert-einstein-sabrina-gonzalez-pasterski-327566-20260112 I know, I never thought I’d cite LadBible either… Elusive Cures: Why Neuroscience Hasn’t Solved Brain Disorders and How We Can Change That - Nicole C. Rust  This Is What It Sounds Like - Susan Rogers & Ogi Ogas On the Art and Craft of Doing Science - Kenneth Catania  The Meaning of Proofs: Mathematics as Storytelling - Gabriele Lolli Against Technoableism: Rethinking Who Needs Improvement - Ashley Shew  Neurogastronomy: How the Brain Creates Flavor and Why It Matters - Gordon Shepherd Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to the first Schauer of 2026, this week we’re discussing “brain washing” (a function of cerebrospinal fluid during sleep states) and integrating some g-dang information on the rest and digest system! Get ready for a gut-load of neuroscience and gastroenterology as well as a crude but functional amount of chemistry. Make sure to take your fiber after the communal STEAM session as sudden, public motility is frowned upon in most cultures. I do apologize for mispronouncing molecules and neurological components, since I’m self-taught I don’t often get the experience to say these words out loud. Feel free to spell anything phonetically in the comments or DM me an *labeled* audio clip on Instagram.  Part two coming next Wednesday! Resources: This Is What It Sounds Like - Susan Rogers & Ogi Ogas Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams - Matthew Walker PhD The Mind Gut Connection: How the Hidden Conversation Within Our Bodies Impacts Our Mood, Our Choice, and Our Overall Health - Emeran Mayer, MD Fragmented: A Doctor’s Quest to Piece Together American Health Care - Ilana Yurkiewicz Elusive Cures: Why Neuroscience Hasn’t Solved Brain Disorders — And How We Can Change That - Nicole C. Rust The Beauty Molecule: Introducing Neurocerticals, the Breakthrough for Ageless Beauty - Nicholas Perricone, MD How Your Brain’s Nightly Cleanse Keeps It Healthy  https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-sleep-cleans-the-brain-and-keeps-you-healthy/ Reduced Brainstem Volume is Associated with Mobility Impairments in Youth with Cerebral Palsy https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9949252/#:~:text=The%20study%20also%20found%20that%20the%20reduced,Respiration%20*%20Cardiac%20function%20*%20Reflex%20control Sleep and the heart: Interoceptive differences linked to poor experiential sleep quality in anxiety and depression https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5606300/ Source: Slow-wave sleep, acetylcholine, and memory consolidation https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.0400237101#:~:text=These%20results%20suggest%20that%20the,1).  Additional source: How is Sleep Regulated? https://www.brainfacts.org/thinking-sensing-and-behaving/sleep/2012/how-is-sleep-regulated#:~:text=The%20balance%20of%20neurotransmitters%20in,external%20sensory%20stimuli%20produces%20dreams. Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 5: A Potential Target for Neuropathic Pain Treatment https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11808587/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome back to the communal Schauer! This week we’re doing a part two to how to make your new years resolutions actually stick and hint; we need to efficiently, effectively, and strategically utilize saliency. We want to find the most direct route, give ourselves guardrails, space expectations, and leave a little *rewarding* bread crumb trail so our brain and body (together) keep showing up! I’m wishing you all nothing but the absolute best, you can absolutely do this. Do not beat yourself up if you flub in January, just keep it pushing.  Thank you all for making this year an absolute delight! I cannot stress how much you all have made my learning and growth journey so incredibly worthwhile. Your belief in me, a somewhat total stranger, has been invaluable. Please absolutely utilize that with yourself and your goals. I have received but a fraction of your conviction and I can only imagine what you can achieve if you aim that power, that consistency, back at yourself.  That being said, I hope you all have a wonderful New Year’s, we’ll chat in 2026! Resources: The Science of Nutrition: Debunk the Diet Myths and Learn How to Eat Well for Health and Happiness - Rhiannon Lambert What We Value: The Neuroscience of Choice and Change - Emily Falk On Muscle : The Stuff That Moves Us and Why It Matters - Bonnie Tsui This Is What It Sounds Like - Susan Rogers & Ogi Ogas Reparenting: Seeking Healing for Your Inner Child https://positivepsychology.com/reparenting/ Difference between expectations and standards https://theeverymom.com/expectations-versus-standards-with-kids/ 5 Rules for Setting SMART goals https://us.humankinetics.com/blogs/excerpt/5-rules-for-setting-smart-goals#:~:text=You%20may%20have%20learned%20about,met%20in%20the%20time%20allotted  Substack Recommendations: Finding the Best (free) Resources for Your 2025 Self-Study Goals https://substack.com/home/post/p-171479150 Where to find media to consume instead of doomscrolling https://substack.com/home/post/p-168039199 Learn for Fun or Free or Fun & Free https://substack.com/home/post/p-175242020 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to the weekly communal Schauer, today we’re discussing the history of new year’s resolutions as well as the neuroscience of making them stick. You might be wondering “why is she taking so long on the phrasing of these goals?” That’s a wonderful question *hypothetical* listener and the answer to that is because how you speak to yourself does matter. Decisions are changes, they are pivots - pivots are a rapid change in direction that, if not taken carefully or under control, can cause significant strain and even injury. “But that’s muscle strain” - yes, however cognitive strain is also real and can cause you to fear pivots and change in the future. We’re taking this slow, step by step, because I’m talking about how to make things stick (grip) so the pivot feels solid and stable! Thank you all for making this year absolutely fabulous, I would not be where I am without all y’all’s (2nd person possessive plural pronoun btw) support and feedback. I’m wishing everyone a happy holidays, happy new year, and just a general sense of happiness as it’s very much needed. Go easy on yourselves, you got this. Free and affordable book and audiobook options (scroll down to bottom of Substack post)  https://substack.com/home/post/p-181291076  Resources:  What We Value: The Neuroscience of Choice and Change - Emily Falk The Science of Nutrition: Debunk the Diet Myths and Learn How to Eat Well for Health and Happiness - Rhiannon Lambert The History of New Year’s Resolutions https://www.history.com/articles/the-history-of-new-years-resolutions Millennials most likely to make 2026 resolutions over other generations: survey  https://nypost.com/2025/12/08/lifestyle/millennials-most-likely-to-make-2026-resolutions-over-other-generations-survey/ The Neuroscience of Goals & Behavior Change https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5854216/ How Does “Not” Affect What We Understand? Scientists Find Negation Mitigates Our Interpretation of Phrases https://www.nyu.edu/about/news-publications/news/2024/may/how-does--not--affect-what-we-understand--scientists-find-negati.html Acute Stress Impairs Inhibitory Control based on Individual Differences in Parasympathetic Nervous System Activity https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5448703/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Bring your waders, this week we’re wandering into the stagnant swamp of Earth’s abject “elite.” Feel free to breathe through your mouth as we discuss AI brain rot, the “culture” of the 1%, and the longstanding tradition of offloading labor no matter the cost. Don’t worry, before we lock eyes with the ethically bankrupt and cognitively forlorn, we’ll also be discussing neuroscience, psychology, and art across cultures! So fun! I hope you enjoy these Schauer Thoughts. Links to Substack:  Research Wrapped 2025: https://substack.com/home/post/p-181291076  My 2025 Reading List: https://substack.com/home/post/p-181265928  Resources: StudyTogether & Study Stream These are the apps I was talking about when wanting to find someone else to study abstract concepts with Generative AI: the risk of cognitive atrophy https://www.polytechnique-insights.com/en/columns/neuroscience/generative-ai-the-risk-of-cognitive-atrophy/ Art Across Cultures: A Tapestry of Diverse Expressions Exploring the impact of culture on artistic perception and creation. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/non-weird-science/202406/art-across-cultures-a-tapestry-of-diverse-expressions The language of absence. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18558956/#:~:text=The%20paper%20%22The%20language%20of%20absence%22%20by,tantalizing%20*%20Mental%2C%20physical%2C%20and%20sexual%20abuse ChatGPT May Be Eroding Critical Thinking Skills, According to a New MIT study https://time.com/7295195/ai-chatgpt-google-learning-school/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get ready for a strange mix of holiday cheer and fear, this week we’re serving up the science and psychology of generosity with a side of lore (my lore.) Don’t worry, things will be merry and bright… eventually. I’m just joshing, but make sure to check out the links below for sources, ideas, and much more. Hope to see you in the communal shower! Link to my substack: https://substack.com/@sarahschauer Full reading list will be posted tomorrow, Dec. 10, around noon PST - it is simply too long for this caption lol. Resources: Undoing Drugs: How Harm Reduction Is Changing the Future of Drugs and Addition - Maia Szalavitz Most Delicious Poison: The Story of Nature’s Toxins - from Spices to Vices - Noah Whiteman What We Value: The Neuroscience of Choice & Change - Emily Falk Give Well, Feel Great: The Science of Gift Giving and Receiving https://www.templeton.org/news/give-well-feel-great-the-science-of-gift-giving-and-receiving The Psychology Behind Perfect Gift-Giving https://swipegifts.com/blog/gift-psychology Gift Resources & Links: Scientific American’s Best Nonfiction of 2025 https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/scientific-americans-best-nonfiction-of-2025/ The Scientific American Staff’s Favorite Books of 2025 https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-scientific-american-staffs-favorite-books-of-2025/ Gifts for every kind of nerd https://www.morningbrew.com/stories/2025/10/24/gift-guide-nerd Craft Club https://www.craftclubco.com/pages/gift-guide?srsltid=AfmBOorxPL2GQZwm70XO8bEjQWQ03oM2MFEh4jgRFMYXqaJrtxXNtnbp Customer Stained Glass Piece https://www.etsy.com/market/custom_stained_glass Custom Vinyl Records https://www.freestyle-vinyl.com/collections Canva Magazines https://www.canva.com/magazines/ Custom Lego Figure https://www.lego.com/en-us/minifigure-factory Fibonacci Wall and Desk Clock https://www.etsy.com/listing/1576771073/fibonacci-wall-and-desk-clock-unusual Gifts for math lovers https://www.mathnasium.com/blog/great-gifts-math-lovers-2024 Educational Subscription Boxes for Kids https://www.cratejoy.com/collections/educational-subscription-boxes STEM Build Boxes https://coolsciencefinds.com/articles/stem-build-boxes Lighting for Lego Sets https://www.lightmybricks.com/blogs/learning-centre Science Art - Scientific Illustration Artworks and Wall Art https://cognitive-surplus.com/collections/wall-art Planet Bath bombs https://www.kiwico.com/us/store/dp/planet-bath-bombs/3205 Custom Star Map from special nights - jewelry, art, etc https://www.thenightsky.com/ They have star map lockets! Library Check Out Card Bookmark - Vintage https://www.etsy.com/listing/1081591959/library-check-out-card-bookmark-vintage Custom Book Embosser https://www.etsy.com/listing/840508076/book-embosser-personalized-custom-ex?ls=s&ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=ex%20libris&ref=sr_gallery-1-35&sr_prefetch=1&pro=1&frs=1&pop=1&content_source=5d442138550e8a17059979d09cb92cbabcd17809%3A840508076&search_preloaded_img=1&organic_search_click=1&logging_key=5d442138550e8a17059979d09cb92cbabcd17809:840508076&source=aw&utm_source=affiliate_window&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=us_location_buyer&utm_content=740219&sv1=affiliate&sv_campaign_id=740219&awc=6220_1764911312_c63edd94bc322514623e5c6d663ea839 Jane Eyre Embroidery Kit https://www.etsy.com/listing/1008531760/jane-eyre-embroidery-kit?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=jane+eyre+embroidery&ref=sr_gallery-1-2&organic_search_click=1&utm_source=affiliate_window&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=uk_location_buyer&utm_content=1266099&sv1=affiliate&sv_campaign_id=1266099&awc=6091_1764911520_293ebbe0bc58c5494c72236acc01f8ad Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Here we are, the third and final installment on how to be more creative! What a wild and winding journey it’s been, hopefully everyone is forever changed. Just a reminder: the essence (aka timbre - a unique quality of a sound that distinguishes it from other sounds) of a shower thought is a rambling (divergent) musing while in the shower - an environment where sound and heat are taking ego (fixedness) offline and allowing you to make more fluid connections. Water is also a fluid, which is a substance that can flow and take the shape of it’s container aka your body, your brain - which btw are constantly changing so best to keep a lot of things fluid, moving, lest some solids clog flow. Anywho, I hope you enjoy the neuroscience, the lateral movements, the abstractions, the improv, but most of all… I hope you dance. To the beat of your own drum.  Don’t fall in line, or do, it’s up to you! Talk again soon, toodles! Edit: I meant to say “IAF does RC circuits, not currents” - I was speaking so fast that I flubbed that. Also, second edit: for an electrical fire, always disconnect the power source first.  Third edit at the end: Delight is surprise + happiness, not happiness + sadness - I was speaking too fast.  For more information on book club, visit my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/posts/new-book-for-143088045  Resources: This Is What It Sounds Like - Susan Rogers and Ogi Ogas Scent: A Natural History of Fragrance - Elise Vernon Pearlstine  Plant Lore and Legend - Ruth Binney The Botany of Desire - Michael Pollan  Most Delicious Poison - Noah Whiteman The Catalyst: RNA and the Quest to Unlock Life’s Deepest Secrets - Thomas R. Cech The Mind-Gut Connection - Emeran Mayer, MD On Muscle: The Stuff That Moves Us and Why It Matters - Bonnie Tsui The Beauty Molecule - Nicholas Perricone, MD A neurocomputational model of creative processes  https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0149763422001452#bbib49 Lateral Thinking: A Textbook of Creativity https://d1wqtxts1xzle7.cloudfront.net/34623410/Lateral_thinking-libre.pdf?1409804461=&response-content-disposition=inline%3B+filename%3DL_AT_ERAL_T_HINKING.pdf&Expires=1764634187&Signature=gNaugtGh5fV5tq9C76US8IlQFXrqcrkaQ8UfxyvUsb~UM2YhbJJB-9PQOD4gjmHvFVaHfBNuIWsr9a~eVOHZuveFrUdxx-zZJdmh3DDxosekQ2OoHM2trx2ixYlWitsqpWY5CfobdDM0aQVICGCb00--EUfzJJq0-gIrySw388J4EI8MvqHtWJaGEIXWJx7gwpYvhfF3xTJ12GFhUK4pvrmz8qoLYTmLLjs3AwFZ-EWPRRfcCh8M6-eELduwJaTfi05edifhH6duN9qzmVUe7Nc-egIYIxcYWzIbFvwbDqseOpBDa2vD42DEZrU9eL4vW3XiYOobx6RD31QGEEvnpQ__&Key-Pair-Id=APKAJLOHF5GGSLRBV4ZA Play It As It Lies | What Does This Mean? https://cattailcrossing.ca/blog/play-it-as-it-lies-what-does-this-mean/  Improv Games for Collaboration https://www.theatrefolk.com/blog/improv-games-for-collaboration Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Prepare to get meta, I’m going to walk you through my creative, divergent thinking process while explaining the neuroscience of creativity and divergent thinking! We do need our brains and bodies to be in sync for this to be meaningful, illuminating, give you (and I) an “aha!” moment. Please note, divergent thinking means you think in a way that is not typical or standard, so I apologize if I’m hard to follow, however it is necessary to illustrate the point I’m making. I want you to know that you don’t have to understand every single detail, however you should focus on the actual “route” my mind is taking - the “figure 8.” Thank you so much to The Allen Institute for inviting me to Neuroscience 2025 in San Diego, I am beyond grateful and appreciative for the experience. I encourage everyone to check out their website, as well as their mission, because science (and creativity) truly are for everyone. The Allen Institute: https://alleninstitute.org/  New Book Club Information: https://www.patreon.com/posts/new-book-for-143088045  Resources: This Is What It Sounds Like - Susan Rogers and Ogi Ogas  Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us - Susan Magsamen & Ivy Ross Horror in Architecture: The Reanimated Edition - Joshua Comaroff + One Ker-Shing Future Tense: Why Anxiety Is Good for You (Even Though It Feels Bad) - Tracy Dennis-Tiwary, PhD This is the book I recommended on arousal state splitting off into excitement or anxiety. A neurocomputational model of creative process https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0149763422001452 Functional Fixedness: When We Stick to What We Know https://nesslabs.com/functional-fixedness This is not the Time Magazine article but it also covers functional fixedness and how it impacts creativity Sensorimotor experience and verb-category mapping in human sensory, motor and parietal neurons https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0010945217301491 Mental time travel, language, and evolution https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0028393219302441 Isometric Handgrip Exercise Speeds Working Memory Responses in Younger and Older Adults https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10238670/ This article does include hand exercises for younger adults, most however are focused on improving working memory for older populations Analogy: Definition, Examples, and Usage https://www.grammarly.com/blog/literary-devices/analogy/ Learning from the Double Diamond: How Divergent and Convergent Thinking Can Improve Collaboration and Problem-Solving in Museums https://www.aam-us.org/2024/04/05/learning-from-the-double-diamond-how-divergent-and-convergent-thinking-can-improve-collaboration-and-problem-solving-in-museums/ On the emergence of interdisciplinary scientific fields: (how) does it relate to science convergence? https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048733324000751 A Global Map of Science Based on the ISI Subject Categories https://www.leydesdorff.net/map06/texts/index.htm The Brain Science of Elusive ‘Aha! Moments’ https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-elusive-brain-science-of-aha-moments/ Recommended Books: The Geometry of Grief - Michael Frame The Tao of Physics - Fritjof Capra  The Gentrification of the Mind - Sarah Schulman  On the Art and Craft of Doing Science - Kenneth Catania  The Meaning of Proofs: Mathematics as Storytelling - Gabriele Lolli The Botany of Desire - Michael Pollan  The Story Grid: What Good Editors Know - Shawn Coyne  When Narcissism Comes to Church - Chuck DeGroat Humour - Terry Eagleton The Knowledge Illusion: Why We Never Think Alone - Philip Fernbach & Steven A. Sloman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I heard you wanted to get creative, so here is my *almost painfully*detailed breakdown of that process. If you’d like my resume when it comes to creative thinking, Google my name.  (Before appearing too self-righteous to prospective listeners, we will be discussing the fundamental use of first person and first person possessive pronouns when it comes to creativity.) This is part one to my new mini-series on how to be more creative where we’re exploring the fields of neuroscience, linguistics, metalinguistics, musculature, childhood development and much more! It’s time to brace yourself because the communal Schauer this week is loosening some pretty big knots. Resources: What We Value: The Neuroscience of Choice and Change - Emily Falk A neurocomputational model of creative process https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0149763422001452 The Seven Functional Movement Patterns + Video Demonstrations https://www.opexfit.com/blog/seven-functional-movement-patterns Advertising: how it influences children and teenagers https://raisingchildren.net.au/toddlers/play-learning/screen-time-media/advertising-children#:~:text=At%207%2D11%20years%2C%20children,overstate%20how%20good%20products%20are. Describing Skeletal Muscles: A Review of Muscle Attachments and Actions https://www.visiblebody.com/learn/muscular/muscle-movements#:~:text=3.,muscles%20play%20in%20each%20movement.&text=The%20prime%20mover%2C%20sometimes%20called,are%20keeping%20your%20posture%20sturdy Behavioral energetics in human locomotion: how energy use influences how we move https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11993254/ “I” versus “the author”: The power of first-person voice when writing about science https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11145200/#:~:text=Writing%20in%20the%20first%20person,that's%20something%20most%20scientists%20want.  Using “I”: The First Person in Academic Writing https://www.brandeis.edu/writing-program/resources/faculty/handouts/first-person.html Please everyone read this to understand how to apply “I” statements in academic writing OR AT LEAST when studying and trying to retain the information - there is clearly a benefit to using 3rd person, but using first person *strategically and with nuanced understanding* will make knowledge more relative and rewarding to self, as well as make concepts easier to apply. Why Metalinguistic Awareness Matters https://www.gemmlearning.com/blog/learning-issues/why-are-metalinguistic-skills-important/#:~:text=Metalinguistic%20awareness%20is%20the%20ability%20to:%20*,your%20understanding%20as%20you%20listen%20and%20read  Epithelium  https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22062-epithelium  Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Development https://www.verywellmind.com/kohlbergs-theory-of-moral-development-2795071 For sources from a previous podcast episode, please visit that episode for the full source list in the caption! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on Schauer Thoughts we have a special guest - please give a warm welcome to Mina Neuberg, CEO of WonderMath! Also, this episode is NOT an ad, I am not being paid, I just really love math and wanted to discuss learning and executive functioning with the executive putting the “fun” in functional learning. No but seriously, math is incredibly important and I appreciate y’all listening and *hopefully* expanding the communal comfort zone! Learn More About WonderMath: https://www.wondermath.com/  Where to Reach Mina: mina@wondermath.com  New Book Club Information: https://www.patreon.com/posts/new-book-for-143088045  Resources: What We Value: The Neuroscience of Choice & Change - Emily Falk The Power of Fun - Catherine Price Mathematics for Human Flourishing - Francis Su Is Math Real? - Eugenia Cheng  The Knowledge Illusion: Why We Never Think Alone - Philip Fernbach  Neural correlates of hate https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18958169/ What Is Hate and Where Does It Live in the Brain? https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/your-brain-on-food/202208/what-is-hate-and-where-does-it-live-in-the-brain The premotor cortex https://www.physio-pedia.com/Premotor_Cortex#:~:text=The%20premotor%20cortex%20is%20a,of%20the%20contralateral%20hemisphere%20alone. Behavioral energetics in human locomotion: how energy use influences how we move https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11993254/  Demonstration and Pantomime in the Evolution of Teaching https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5361109/ Total Physical Response (TPR) - Teaching Method https://www.researchgate.net/publication/392376539_Total_Physical_Response_TPR Screen Apnea  https://www.npr.org/2024/06/10/1247296780/screen-apnea-why-screens-cause-shallow-breathing  Olfactory Enrichment to Improve Memory https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10405466/ What the Thalamus Does https://teachersinstitute.yale.edu/curriculum/units/2012/3/12.03.02/4#:~:text=In%20this%20way%2C%20the%20thalamus%20is%20screening,matters%20of%20value%20and%20filtering%20out%20distractions.  This is How the Brain Filters Out Unimportant Details https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/brain-babble/201502/is-how-the-brain-filters-out-unimportant-details#:~:text=This%20%E2%80%9Creciprocal%E2%80%9D%20connectivity%20can%20be,popcorn%2C%20and%20air%20conditioning). Movement-Based Learning: Students Need to Use Their Bodies to Learn  https://www.teachhub.com/teaching-strategies/2025/03/movement-based-learning-students-need-to-use-their-bodies-to-learn/  Math Has Its Own Language. How Can Students Learn to Speak It? https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/math-has-its-own-language-how-can-students-learn-to-speak-it/2024/09 Conceived linearities in mathematics education and how to disrupt them https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14794802.2025.2579307?src=#d1e125 How Did You Solve It? Metacognition in Mathematics  https://www.ascd.org/el/articles/how-did-you-solve-it-metacognition-in-mathematics Writing Problems in Possessive Form https://www.ef.edu/english-resources/english-grammar/forming-possessive/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week we’re tackling brain rot, brain fog, social media addiction, and stopping to smell the roses! Join me on a cognitive journey to the land of untapped and undervalued sensory input, the nose. Remember, this is about a harm reduction method, it alone will not “cure” you - also feel free to run absolutely all of this by a licensed medical professional and thoroughly review the resources for yourself. As always, it’s been a pleasure having you in the communal Schauer, I hope my STEAM (du-dun-tss) of consciousness (and extended research) provides some refreshing mental clarity. For more information on my book club visit: Substack: https://sarahschauer.substack.com/p/schauer-thoughts-book-club-additional?utm_source=activity_item Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/sarahschauer/membership Books: Horror on the Brain: The Neuroscience Behind Science Fiction - Austin Lim, PhD Attention: Beyond Mindfulness - Gay Watson Scent: A Natural History of Fragrance - Elise Vernon Pearlstine  Plant Lore and Legend: The Wisdom and Wonder of Plants and Flowers Revealed - Ruth Binney Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience - Mihály Csizkszentmihalyi Articles:  Demystifying the New Dilemma of Brain Rot in the Digital Era: A Review  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11939997/ The Psychological Conditioning of Brainrot  https://www.fau.edu/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/psychological_conditioning_brainrot/brainrot/ Defining brain fog across medical conditions https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0166223625000177 Does Exposure to Air Pollution Cause “Brain Fog”? https://hudsonvalleypress.com/2025/08/13/does-exposure-to-air-pollution-cause-brain-fog/ Screen Apnea: What happens to our breath when we type, tap, and scroll https://www.npr.org/2024/06/10/1247296780/screen-apnea-why-screens-cause-shallow-breathing A New Reason to Stop and Smell the Roses https://www.bottomlineinc.com/health/mental-health/a-new-reason-to-stop-and-smell-the-roses/ Memory Air Research Page https://memoryair.com/pages/science Nasal Respiration Entrains Human Limbic Oscillations and Modulated Cognitive Function https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5148230/ To smell the immune system: olfaction, autoimmunity and brain involvement  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17110318/ The Connections Between smell, memory, and health https://magazine.hms.harvard.edu/articles/connections-between-smell-memory-and-health Transforming the understanding of brain immunity  https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abo7649 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Make sure to stretch, drink water, and break out a pencil and paper for this week’s episode of Schauer Thoughts because it will require active attention (you don’t have to do anything I say, this is just a word of warning that there will be math in this episode and it’s cruel to make someone listen to math without being able to write it down) because we’re getting into working memory! If you have any difficulties with math, please do not be hard on yourself, it’s had some wickedly bad instruction and PR, but I promise math is not the enemy! It’s how we’ve all evolved to this point! Fun little resource before the resource list, if you like literature and you’re math-curious, you should check out: The Meaning of Proofs: Mathematics as Storytelling by Gabriele Lolli. Also, good news for my fiction readers! Due to my lack of internal monologue I’m realizing I genuinely don’t understand the flow of people’s thoughts, so if you’d like to comment your favorite fiction book with an omniscient POV, I’d really appreciate it! I love sapphic romance, academia(?), appreciate a good classic, female lead, dark but also enlightening, anything in that general vicinity. Excited to pick up some recommendations! Thank you all for listening in on this week’s communal Schauer! Resources: The Data Detective: Ten Easy Rules to Make Sense of Statistics - Tim Harford What We Value: The Neuroscience of Choice and Change - Emily Falk Infinite Powers: How Calculus Reveals the Secrets of the Universe - Steven Strogatz Connections Over Compliance: Rewiring Our Perceptions of Discipline- Lori L. Desautels, Ph.D. On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons From the Twentieth Century - Timothy Snyder Teaching Absolute Value of a Number in Math https://www.hmhco.com/blog/teaching-absolute-value-of-a-number-in-math#:~:text=What%20does%20absolute%20value%20mean,is%20neither%20negative%20nor%20positive.) A Brief Overview of Working Memory https://www.learningscientists.org/blog/2019/4/25-1 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Schauer Thoughts? More like Schauer Cognitive Labor! Kidding, we have fun here. Welcome to part two of my mini-series on cognitive labor! Remember, not everyone is out to use you, discernment is a skill, and always do your own research. Thank you all for listening and as always, please feel free to run the episode and resources by your therapist. Make sure to like and subscribe on YouTube, and rate me five stars wherever you get your podcasts! For more information on my book club visit: Substack: https://sarahschauer.substack.com/p/schauer-thoughts-book-club-additional?utm_source=activity_item Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/sarahschauer/membership Resources: The Power of Fun: How to Feel Alive Again - Catherine Price  What We Value: The Neuroscience of Choice and Change - Emily Falk Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism - Amanda Montell  Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism - Robert Jay Lifton What We Value: The Neuroscience of Choice & Change - Emily Falk https://penntoday.upenn.edu/news/annenberg-emily-falk-book-what-we-value Thought terminating cliches: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thought-terminating_clich%C3%A9 The Power of Silence: Unpacking Thought-Terminating Cliches https://desireebstephens.substack.com/p/the-power-of-silence-unpacking-thought Entertrained  https://entertrained.app Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on Schauer Thoughts we’re discussing cognitive labor: what it is and isn’t, situations you use it in, and how to tell when someone is using you for your cognitive labor via thought-terminating cliches! Sit back, relax, and enjoy the discussion. Also, I do want to apologize for how disorganized this episode is, I forgot to take my ADHD medication that day and I was really struggling to order my thoughts. I have also received some feedback that my podcast is unpolished and a bit of a “burden” and I completely understand the intention behind those comments. I really do appreciate feedback and I feel so bad that this is the episode going out with those comments in mind. I have ordered a couple books on how to polish your research, I’m currently reading Polish Your Academic Writing by Helen Coleman and I also signed up for a *free* seven week online course on scientific communication. (If you’d also like to take the class here’s a link: https://sciencecommunicationlab.org/research-skills/presentation-on-science/ - you don’t have to, it’s just to share!) It will take me a few weeks for you all to see these new skills in the podcast, so thank you for your patience and hopefully you see that effort payoff soon. I am talking about neuroscience and more technical things but I want to do so in a way that’s more easily understood and accessible so I am working on that! I do genuinely want to share what I’m learning and while I love research I love connecting with my audience more and that’s not really possible if I don’t make more of an active effort to structure and translate concepts in a more accessible way. I promise I am working on it, I deeply appreciate the feedback. There will be a part two to this episode and I am making sure that it’s more cohesive, organized, and delivered in a more accessible way! Links: How I Met Your Masi Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/howimetyourmasi/?hl=en Where to Stream: https://www.dynasty.tv/products/how-i-met-your-masi-premiere Sounds Like a Cult Podcast: Website: https://www.soundslikeacult.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soundslikeacultpod/ Reese’s Instagram: (adore her) https://www.instagram.com/reesaronii/ For more information on my book club visit: Substack: https://sarahschauer.substack.com/p/schauer-thoughts-book-club-additional?utm_source=activity_item Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/sarahschauer/membership Resources: Future Tense: Why Anxiety is Good for You (Even Though It Feels Bad) - Tracy Dennis-Tiwary, PhD How To Make Your Brain Your Best Friend: A Neuroscientists Guide to a Healthier, Happier Life - Rachel Barr - Guys! This is the book I’ve talked about from the neuroscientist on “microdosing delight!” Go pick it up! Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience - Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism - Amanda Montell Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism: A Study of “Brainwashing” in China - Robert Jay Lifton Why We Sleep - Matthew Walker PhD The Difference Between Mental Load and Emotional Labor https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/equal-partners/202508/the-difference-between-mental-load-and-emotional-labor Anticipatory feelings: Neural correlates and linguistic markers https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0149763419300570#:~:text=A%20new%20feeling%20construct%20related,role%20in%20future%20oriented%20feelings. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week in the communal Schauer we’re discussing the actual, neurological, downside of intentionally (not accidentally) misunderstanding others! Now I do want y’all to know that there is a difference between genuine debate and being an obtuse pr*ck, so please don’t assume I’m saying “never disagree again.” You can understand (comprehend) someone but you do not have to validate their augment (apply positive or negative moral judgement) because those are two separate processes in the brain. Other than that, please enjoy this episode, have an amazing week, and I hope you feel *a moderate to intense* experience of delight with this new information! Please like and subscribe on YouTube, rate me five stars on Apple Podcasts and Spotify! I greatly appreciate it. Please always feel free to send Schauer Thoughts episodes to your therapist or mental health provider :) For more information on my book club visit: Substack: https://sarahschauer.substack.com/p/schauer-thoughts-book-club-additional?utm_source=activity_item Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/sarahschauer/membership Resources: Olivia Unplugged Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@olivia.unplugged?_t=ZT-90APwzxxDNG&_r=1 Such an incredible creator and account, definitely recommend following her! Life In Three Dimensions: How Curiosity, Exploration, and Experience Make a Fuller, Better Life - Shigehiro Oishi, PhD Why We Sleep - Matthew Walker PhD Use Powerful Intentions to Become Your Authentic Best  https://newayscenter.com/powerful-intentions-authentic-best/ Helpful resource for positively framing intentions The influence of intentions on dream content  https://academic.oup.com/sleepadvances/article/5/1/zpae088/7912101 How the Little-Known Zeigarnik Effect Impacts Everyone Daily https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/natural-order/202209/how-the-little-known-zeigarnik-effect-impacts-everyone-daily The Art of Sustainable Performance: The Zeigarnik Effect https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-46463-9_10 Dreaming and offline memory processing https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(10)01360-6?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS0960982210013606%3Fshowall%3Dtrue The Neuroscience of Goals and Behavior Change https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5854216/#:~:text=This%20habit%20learning%20process%20also,with%20in%20the%20first%20place. The neural bases of feeling understood and not understood https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4249470/#nst191-B33 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Here it is! Part three to why AI will never truly replace humans - it can’t “afford” to. This weeks episode is a bit long and rambly and for the sake of y’alls likely waning interest in AI, I’m going to include some additional reading on how AI is effecting the environment and what can be done to stop as well as mitigate the damage. Next week I’ll be moving onto another topic, another Schauer filled with long-winded musings and hopefully hotter water (and takes.) Thank you so much for hanging in there, I hope you and your brains leave a little bit more pruny (wrinkles in your brain are a good thing lol.) For more information on my book club visit: Substack: https://sarahschauer.substack.com/p/schauer-thoughts-book-club-additional?utm_source=activity_item Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/sarahschauer/membership Stand up show to benefit Pal Humanity! https://www.instagram.com/share/BBEsWrfoDb Please come if you’re in LA! Resources: Life in Three Dimensions: How Curiosity, Exploration, and Experience Make a Fuller, Better Life - Shigehiro Oishi, PhD James J. Gibson The Ecological Approach to Visual Perception Chapter 8 - The Theory of Affordances https://cs.brown.edu/courses/cs137/2017/readings/Gibson-AFF.pdf Lectures on Tap https://lecturesontap.com/ The session I attended was hosted by Drew McClellan who spoke about the Art & Science of Color Design in Cinema (absolutely incredible lecture, he is so knowledgeable and fun) Please check out his website - he has online courses! https://www.drwmcc.com/about The Visual Story - Bruce A. Block This is the book that Mr. McClellan recommended during his lecture, the book was actually written by his mentor and I will be picking it up. Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams - Matthew Walker, PhD I cannot recommend this book enough, it is SO good, absolutely masterfully written. This Is What It Sounds Like - Susan Rogers and Ogi Ogas An eco-political economy of AI to understand the complexities of its environmental costs https://cepr.org/voxeu/columns/eco-political-economy-ai-understand-complexities-its-environmental-costs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week we’re doing a part two to why AI will never truly replace human beings - we’ll discuss neuroscience, opinions from accredited experts, as well as go on several explanatory tangents about how the brain *actually* works and how AI does not work like that. Please enjoy this week’s communal Schauer and I hope (a type of wonder -> happiness + fear) to see you all join my book club, starting September 21 & 22nd! More information linked below. Book Club Info: Sunday & Monday dates available! Substack: https://sarahschauer.substack.com/p/schauer-thoughts-book-club-additional?utm_source=activity_item Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/sarahschauer/membership Resources: The Human Brain Doesn’t Learn, Think or Recall Like an AI. Embrace the difference https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2025-07-09/human-brain-artificial-intelligence-model Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience - Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi Life in Three Dimensions: How Curiosity, Exploration, and Experience Make a Fuller, Better Life - Shigehiro Oishi, PhD The Order of Time - Carlo Rovelli  This Is What It Sounds Like - Susan Rogers and Ogi Ogas The Nature and Technique of Understanding: Some Fundamentals of Semantics - Hugh Woodworth  - Book I talked about having feelings, sensations, etc. outlined - pg. 26 & 27 Epistemic Injustice: Power & the Ethics of Knowing - Miranda Fricker  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices