Penis Evolution, Magic Mushrooms & Influenza Transmission
Tue Feb 03 2026
This week, we bounce between sex, psychedelics, and infectious disease, and somehow it all hangs together by the end. We unpack research on porn use that suggests the real issue is not how often people watch it, but why they are watching in the first place, with motivation shaping the impact on emotional and sexual wellbeing.
Then we head into the world of magic mushrooms, where psilocybin is being studied for potential health effects that go beyond the trip. From possible links to ageing markers like telomeres, to broader associations with physical health, the science is early but intriguing. We also explore research suggesting psychedelics may influence sexual arousal and satisfaction, including for people dealing with depression and antidepressant side effects.
Finally, we tackle an influenza study with a bizarre result: healthy volunteers spent time around flu sufferers and nobody caught it. Was it luck, immunity, or a sign we still do not fully understand how flu spreads in real world settings.
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Introduction to Pornography Concerns
00:40 Science Steps In: Quality Over Quantity
03:52 Exploring the Concept of Gooning
06:55 Research on Pornography Usage
12:44 Human Anatomy Compared to Great Apes
19:39 Life Hacks and Psychedelic Drugs
19:46 Health Benefits of Psychedelics
21:26 Anti-Aging Properties of Psilocybin
23:36 Survival Skills and Psychedelics
27:27 Flu Transmission Study
33:57 Sexual Benefits of Magic Mushrooms
37:49 Listener Contributions
SOURCES:
https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.3003595
https://journals.plos.org/plospathogens/article?id=10.1371/journal.ppat.1013153
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
More
This week, we bounce between sex, psychedelics, and infectious disease, and somehow it all hangs together by the end. We unpack research on porn use that suggests the real issue is not how often people watch it, but why they are watching in the first place, with motivation shaping the impact on emotional and sexual wellbeing. Then we head into the world of magic mushrooms, where psilocybin is being studied for potential health effects that go beyond the trip. From possible links to ageing markers like telomeres, to broader associations with physical health, the science is early but intriguing. We also explore research suggesting psychedelics may influence sexual arousal and satisfaction, including for people dealing with depression and antidepressant side effects. Finally, we tackle an influenza study with a bizarre result: healthy volunteers spent time around flu sufferers and nobody caught it. Was it luck, immunity, or a sign we still do not fully understand how flu spreads in real world settings. CHAPTERS: 00:00 Introduction to Pornography Concerns 00:40 Science Steps In: Quality Over Quantity 03:52 Exploring the Concept of Gooning 06:55 Research on Pornography Usage 12:44 Human Anatomy Compared to Great Apes 19:39 Life Hacks and Psychedelic Drugs 19:46 Health Benefits of Psychedelics 21:26 Anti-Aging Properties of Psilocybin 23:36 Survival Skills and Psychedelics 27:27 Flu Transmission Study 33:57 Sexual Benefits of Magic Mushrooms 37:49 Listener Contributions SOURCES: https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.3003595 https://journals.plos.org/plospathogens/article?id=10.1371/journal.ppat.1013153 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.