The Secret Life of Numbers

What is herd immunity? How do individual choices affect population health? Can we eradicate infectious disease? Join Levannia and Lindsay as they wrap up our vaccine mini-series with a deep dive into herd immunity. Come learn how herd immunity is calculated and how it relates to the R naught of a virus. For a real world example of the magic of herd immunity, come learn about how the the world rid itself of smallpox.

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How well do vaccines work? How do we measure vaccine efficacy and effectiveness? What are some common vaccine myths? Join Levannia and Lindsay as they offer an evidence based overview of how vaccines work and how we gauge how well they work. If you've ever wondered why the percent effectiveness of a vaccine is lower in practice than it was in clinical trials this episode is for you. Even more, come learn about the real answers to some common vaccine myths including mercury content in vaccines, vaccines and autism, and whether the infant vaccine schedule is appropriate. 

Since the COVID 19 pandemic, epidemiology and virology terms have entered our everyday language, but what do they really mean? What’s the reproductive number of a virus and what can it tells us about disease dynamics? And why have we been following an arms race between rabbits in Australia and a virus for over 70 years now? Join Levannia and Lindsay as they dive into disease dynamics. Come learn the math behind the numbers we’ve heard all too often during the COVID-19 pandemic. We’ll explain how Rnaught is calculated and how we factor in transmissibility, contact rate, and more. For a real world example NOT related to the COVID-19 pandemic, we share the century long story of the arms race between rabbits in Australia and bio contral with the myxoma virus.

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How many times do you wear an item of clothing before letting it go? Can old clothing be recycled into new? Is renting clothing the secret to solving our craving for new style without destroying the environment? Join Levannia and Lindsay as they dive into fast fashion, textile recycling, and the true cost of fast fashion. Listen along to a lifecycle analysis of the different ways of buying and using clothing, including a comparison of the environmental impact of buying new versus thrifting versus renting clothes.

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In November 2021, The United Nations Climate Change conference was held in Glasgow, Scotland. Parties from all over the world descended on the conference with the goal of tackling climate change. Pledges were made. Agreements signed. But is it enough? Can the world avoid global warming of 1.5 degrees? Join Levannia and Lindsay for a deep dive into how we got into the climate crisis and where we go from here. You’ll hear about how we actually measure surface temperatures, weather, and climate. Come listen to the latest research offering opinions on the chance of limiting climate change. And finally, what does a 1.5 degree world look like?

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Are you ever confused by jargon? Does it sometimes feel like you are reading or listening to an alien language? How accessible is your own writing? In this episode we end our Science Communication Mini Series with a discussion of jargon and readability. If you’ve ever wondered what makes some writing accessible and other writing not so accessible, or if you find jargon to be the bane of your existence, you’ll find something new in this episode.

So you completed a research project… now what? Or are you curious about what the fuss is with publishing research? What is a journal’s impact factor and why does it matter? In this episode, Levannia and Lindsay dive into the research process further to share how we communicate scientific findings. If you’ve ever wondered what peer review is and why it is important for research integrity, or wondered why some scientific journals are regarded more highly then others, this episode is for you. Further, if you’re wondering what makes a journal trustworthy and what’s behind the rise of predatory journals, you will not want to miss this.

What’s the difference between qualitative and quantitative research? How can we achieve research rigor without testing for statistical significance? What can we learn from Brene Brown about the process of qualitative research? In this episode, Levannia and Lindsay pull back the curtain on the process of research. We share lots of different scientific articles and experiments, but now we share how scientists get those results and reach their conclusions. If you have ever wondered what methods are best to answer a question, or are curious about why a breadth of approaches is advantageous, this episode is for you. Follow along to hear examples from well known researchers, like Brene Brown, and more.

We hear a lot of back and forth about whether or not the gender pay gap is real. Can differences in earning between men and women be explained by differences in hours and productivity? Join Levannia and Lindsay for the season finale as they share what the gender pay gap is and what the latest numbers are for the gender pay gap in Canada. Come learn how to calculate the gender pay gap and an adjusted gender pay gap that accounts for hours worked, productivity, and more. Levannia shares about the gender pay gap and gender data gap in data science while Lindsay shares how medicine has one of the largest gender pay gaps of any field. If you’ve ever wondered about whether the gender pay gap exists and what we can do about it, you do not want to miss this episode.

Have a burning question about something we have covered on the podcast? Or have a suggestion of what we should cover next? Leave us a 5 star review on Apple Podcasts and we might answer your question in our post-season 2 burning questions episode.

Is a partridge in a pear tree on your Christmas list this year? What about 5 golden rings? Have you ever wondered what the true cost of the 12 days of Christmas is? This festive episode is for you! Join Levannia and Lindsay for an extra special holiday episode. If you’ve ever wondered how much it would cost to give your true love the gifts from 12 days of Christmas you do not want to miss this video. We break down the PNC Christmas Price Index and learn about the Consumer Price Index. Along the way, Levannia and Lindsay share some of their holiday traditions and funniest holiday stories.

Have a burning question about something we have covered on the podcast? Or have a suggestion of what we should cover next? Leave us a 5 star review on Apple Podcasts and we might answer your question in our post-season 2 burning questions episode.

Sometimes advice comes from the most unexpected of places... like in the case of the age old adage to drink 8 cups of water a day. Where did this advice come from and does it hold true for everyone? Join the hosts, Levannia and Lindsay, as they unpack how we ended up with the recommendation to drink 8 cups of water, share personal water anecdotes, and start a broader conversation of the availability of clean drinking water in Canada. If you have ever wondered whether you should drink to thirst or stick to schedule with your water intake, this episode is for you.

Have a burning question about something we have covered on the podcast? Or have a suggestion of what we should cover next? Leave us a 5 star review on Apple Podcasts and we might answer your question in our post-season 2 burning questions episode.

How many hours did you work today? Is your work part of your identity? Or are you feeling the pressure from the never-ending grind of hustle culture? This episode is for you. Join the hosts, Levannia and Lindsay as they discuss the origins of the 8 hour work day and the latest information on the Sweden 6 hour work day pilot project. If you’re feeling burnt out from the 9-5 grind, or wondering if our world is set up to benefit early birds over night owls, you’ll want to make sure to catch this episode… maybe even listen in the background while you work?

Have a burning question about something we have covered on the podcast? Or have a suggestion of what we should cover next? Leave us a 5 star review on Apple Podcasts and we might answer your question in our post-season 2 burning questions episode.

How much sleep did you get last night? Can you catch up on sleep? Is the world set up for early birds to succeed? Welcome to the first episode of our 8 x 8 x 8 series where we take a look at the “8”s of our lives. First up: 8 hours of sleep. The secret to good health or a time bank we can dip into when if feels like there aren’t enough hours in the day? If you’ve ever wondered why we need sleep, what could happen if we don’t sleep, or whether sleeping too much is just as bad as sleeping too little, this episode is for you.

Have a burning question about something we have covered on the podcast? Or have a suggestion of what we should cover next? Leave us a 5 star review on Apple Podcasts and we might answer your question in our post-season 2 burning questions episode.

Have you recently received a message from someone you barely remember from high school asking if you want to join their ~business opportunity~? Or have you seen people posting about how they are looking for 5 boss babes to join their tribe and work from anywhere? Are you confused about what the difference is between a multilevel marketing company, a pyramid scheme, and a Ponzi scheme? This episode is for you! Join the hosts as they share what a multilevel marketing company is, what a pyramid scheme is, and how the line between a legitimate multilevel marketing company and pyramid scheme can become blurred. In this episode, the hosts share the recommendations and advice from the Federal Trade Commission and dispel myths about what the differences are between a multilevel marketing company and a pyramid scheme.

Have a burning question about something we have covered on the podcast? Or have a suggestion of what we should cover next? Leave us a 5 star review on Apple Podcasts and we might answer your question in our post-season 2 burning questions episode.

Feeling anxious about the climate crisis? Are you wondering who is really responsible for greenhouse gas emissions? Does individual responsibility matter? This episode is for you! Welcome to the final episode of our sustainability mini-series where we talk about who is really responsible for the climate crisis. Come listen to us discuss the Carbon Majors report that led to this statistic and explain what it means for you. At the end of the episode, we also talk about the most recent climate change report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and what that might mean for us going forward.

Have a burning question about something we have covered on the podcast? Or have a suggestion of what we should cover next? Leave us a 5 star review on Apple Podcasts and we might answer your question in our post-season 2 burning questions episode.

Do you ever wonder what happens to plastic after you drop it in the blue recycling bin? Are you a little skeptical that recycling actually makes a difference? Do we really consume a credit card worth of plastic every week? Welcome to the second episode of our sustainability mini-series where we talk about some of the numbers floating around about the climate. This week we are tackling the statistic that only 9% of plastic is recycled. Is this statistic true? How do you calculate the fate of all plastics ever produced? In this episode we also talk about one of the hottest topics in plastic… microplastics! They are everywhere but are they harmful? Are we really eating credit cards weekly? We tackle some of the most current research, facts, and myths about this tiny plastic.

Have a burning question about something we have covered on the podcast? Or have a suggestion of what we should cover next? Leave us a 5 star review on Apple Podcasts and we might answer your question in our post-season 2 burning questions episode.

Have you ever wondered what the Zero in Zero waste really means? Is it possible to only produce a mason jar’s worth of trash annually? Are you feeling overwhelmed by the climate crisis? This episode is for you!  Welcome to the first episode of our sustainability mini-series. This week we are tackling what zero waste really means. We chat about definitions of zero waste and how the zero waste movement has changed over time, discuss the iconic zero waste trash jar, and learn about greenwashing.

Have a burning question about something we have covered on the podcast? Or have a suggestion of what we should cover next? Leave us a 5 star review on Apple Podcasts and we might answer your question in our post-season 2 burning questions episode.

Have you ever seen a ghost? Are you a ghost believer or skeptic? Or are you just looking to get into the Halloween spirit? This episode is for you! Welcome back to the first episode of Season 2 of The Secret Life of Numbers podcast where we dissect everyday numbers and statistics to find the stories behind them. This week we are tackling a stat we came across that 4/10 Americans believe in ghosts. Join the hosts, Levannia and Lindsay to hear about how this number came to be, why sampling matters, and why our brains want to believe in ghosts. Happy spooky season, listeners!

Have a burning question about something we have covered on the podcast? Or have a suggestion of what we should cover next? Leave us a 5 star review on Apple Podcasts and we might answer your question in our post-season 2 burning questions episode.

We’re back! Season 2 is coming this October and there are lots of exciting episodes to come. Listen to this bonus episode to get a taste for what is coming in Season 2 and have some of your burning questions from Season 1 answered. We chat about upcoming episode topics such as a spooky episode, a sustainability mini-series, and answering questions on the 8s of our lives. Join us to hear the answers to your burning questions from Season 1 like how to perfectly apply sunscreen and where the Tiger King Big Cat Safety Act bill is now.

Have a burning question about something we have covered on the podcast? Or have a suggestion of what we should cover next? Leave us a 5 star review on Apple Podcasts and we might answer your question in our post-season 2 burning questions episode.

What does Joe Exotic have to do with data science? Is your neighbour keeping a tiger in their apartment? Is captivity equivalent to conservation? This episode is inspired by a stat shared in the Netflix series Tiger King: there are more tigers in captivity in the United States than in the wild globally. Join us for a deep dive into all things tigers and Tiger King. We discuss where this statistic comes from, how it stacks up to the best available conservation data, and give an overview of how tigers are counted and what this means for exotic pet ownership in North America.

Have you ever wondered what all the fuss is about with flossing? Or are you curious whether anything bad would happen if you just… stopped flossing? Do you want to know about how your oral health contributes to your overall health? Welcome to the third and final episode of our oral hygiene mini-series where we discuss everything you have ever wanted to know about flossing. Join Levannia and Lindsay as they discuss why we floss, the evidence in favour of flossing, and discuss clinical versus statistical significance.

Are you curious about how toothpaste works? Wondering what all the fuss is about with fluoride? Or have you seen the trend of charcoal toothpaste and are wanting to know if it is legit? Welcome to the second episode of our oral hygiene mini-series where we discuss all things toothpaste. Join Levannia and Lindsay as they dive into the systematic reviews on toothbrushing, give an overview of different toothpaste ingredients, and share the most up-to-date evidence on some hot toothpaste topics.

Do ⅘ dentists REALLY recommend Colgate? Is this a marketing gimmick or a real study? What does the 5th dentist know that we don’t? Welcome to the first episode of our oral hygiene mini-series where we dig deep to find out how this statistic came to be so ubiquitous. Join Levannia and Lindsay as they share the real story of ⅘ dentists recommending Colgate, break down different types of sampling, and postulate on why companies use marketing gimmicks that bend the truth.

Did you get your 10,000 steps in today? Is this a marketing gimmick or the secret to good health? Is sitting REALLY the new smoking? Join Levannia and Lindsay as they take a run at where 10,000 steps a day came from, what the physical activity guidelines really say, and discuss their own journeys with maintaining personal fitness during a global pandemic.

Wondering what a debt-to-income ratio is? Or are you unsure about how it is used? Can money buy happiness? Welcome to the third and final episode of our financial mini-series where we dish all the details on debt-to-income ratio. Join Levannia and Lindsay as they discuss how to calculate a debt-to-income ratio, explore the relationship between money and happiness, and share what they have learned about different debt management strategies while researching for this episode.

What does Victoria’s Secret have to do with credit cards? Who are the transactors and revolvers? What is sticky debt? Welcome to the second episode of our financial mini-series where we discuss credit cards as a real-life example of compound interest in action. Join Levannia and Lindsay as they discuss how interest is calculated on credit cards, share the origin story of credit cards, and discuss consumer debt.

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Have you ever wondered how the interest on your student loan is calculated? Or are you curious about how much that house is REALLY going to cost once a 30 year mortgage is signed? Welcome to the first episode of our financial mini-series where we break down everything you have ever wanted to know about compound interest. Join Levannia Lildhar and Lindsay Booth as they discuss how to calculate simple versus compound interest and share how to make your money work for you using the principles of compound interest.

What do sunscreen and Star Trek have in common? Have you ever wondered what SPF really stands for? Are you unsure what all the fuss is about with chemical versus mineral sunscreen? Join Levannia Lildhar and Lindsay Booth as they do a deep dive into what the heck SPF even means, how SPF is determined for products, and what are the common ingredients (and consequences of those ingredients) found in chemical and mineral sunscreen.

For better or worse, we are all too familiar with hand sanitizer and disinfection nowadays. But have you ever read the label on your hand sanitizer? Does it REALLY kill 99.9% of germs? Who are the 0.1%? Welcome to the first full episode of The Secret Life of Numbers podcast. Join the hosts, Levannia Lildhar and Lindsay Booth, as they hunt down how we arrive at 99.9%, how disinfectants are tested for efficacy, and discuss whether soap and water is really better than hand sanitizer.

Welcome to The Secret Life of Numbers Podcast, the podcast where we dissect everyday numbers and statistics to uncover the stories behind them. During this extra special Episode Zero, join the hosts Levannia and Lindsay as they share their vision for the podcast. Come learn more about the podcast and the hosts before our first official episode is released.