Best Normal Curves Podcasts (2025)

1
Holiday Survival Guide Part 2: The survey study edition 1:04:01

2d ago1:04:01

1:04:01

Does the temperature of your coffee six months ago really predict whether you feel gassy today? This week we dissect a new nutrition survey study on hot and cold beverage habits that claims to connect drink temperature with gut symptoms, anxiety, and more—despite relying on year-old memories and a blizzard of statistical tests. It’s the perfect cas…

1
Windy City ThunderBolts 58:58

4h ago58:58

58:58

The Windy City ThunderBolts have played on Chicago's Southside for two decades, and just recently unveiled an electric new brand. Guests include: Mike VerSchave, Windy City ThunderBolts, wcthunderbolts.com Jay Becker, BLDG Design, www.bldgbrands.com Dr. Chris Mayer, folksy Chicago native Dan Simon, Studio Simon: www.studiosimon.net, Insta @studio_s…

1
Baseball, Logos, and Ice Cream with SABR's Chicago Chapter 1:11:41

4d ago1:11:41

1:11:41

Baseball By Design host Paul Caputo was invited to be a guest on a meeting of Chicago chapter of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR). The meeting was hosted by John Racanelli, vice chair for the Emil Rothe (Chicago) SABR Chapter, founder and co-chair of the SABR Baseball Landmarks Research Committee, and the world’s foremost photograp…

1
Richmond Flying Mummies 50:41

10d ago50:41

50:41

The Richmond Flying Mummies are the newest team in the collegiate summer level Northwoods League. Their brand plays off the aviation heritage and two of the town's most famous 3,000-year-old residents. Guests include: Guests this week include: Trevor Amerson, General Manager, Richmond Flying Mummies John Worthen, Worthen Design Dan Simon, Studio Si…

1
Holiday Survival Guide: How to talk about scientific studies around the dinner table 1:01:46

17d ago1:01:46

1:01:46

Does a little alcohol really make you speak a foreign language better? This week we unpack a quirky randomized trial that tested Dutch pronunciation after a modest buzz—and came to the opposite conclusion the researchers expected. We use it as the perfect holiday case study: instead of arguing with Uncle Joe at the dinner table, we’ll show you how …

1
Altoona Curve 44:39

21d ago44:39

44:39

The Altoona Curve's brand is based on a railroad engineering marvel—the tightest hairpin turn in North America. Guests this week include: Nate Bowen, General Manager, Pensacola Blue Wahoos Jason Klein, Brandiose, brandiose.com Dan Simon, Studio Simon: www.studiosimon.net, Insta @studio_simon Find the Baseball By Design podcast online: Instagram @ba…

1
Food-Based Baseball Logos with Stadium Food Girl 52:20

30d ago52:20

52:20

Minor league baseball is full of alternate brands based on local foods. Stadium Food Girl stops by to discuss a few favorites! Guests include: Valerie Ruiz, Stadium Food Girl, Insta @stadiumfoodgirl Dan Simon, Studio Simon: www.studiosimon.net, Insta @studio_simon Find the Baseball By Design podcast online: Instagram @baseballbydesign Threads @base…

1
Shingles Shot and Dementia: Could one vaccine protect your brain? 1:12:58

1M ago1:12:58

1:12:58

What do chickenpox and shingles have to do with your brain? This week, we dig into two 2025 headline-grabbing studies that link the shingles shot to lower dementia rates. We start in Wales, where a birthday cutoff turned into the perfect natural experiment, and end in the U.S. with a multi-million-person megastudy. Featuring bias-variance Goldilock…

1
Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp 47:39

14d ago47:39

47:39

The Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp, a collegiate summer-level team in the Prospect League, made headlines with their first-ever alternate identity. Just in time for Halloween, the team announced they'll play as the Illinois Valley Radioactive Shrimp—a wink and a nod to a recent viral news event. Guests include: Lucas Burris, Assistant GM/Broadcaster…

1
Normal CornBelters 42:45

1M ago42:45

42:45

The independent Normal CornBelters pay tribute to an iconic crop in their home state of Illinois. Their logo, equal parts ear of corn and Bill the Cat from Bloom County, has been around for almost two decades. Guests include: Jarrett Rodgers, GM, Illinois CornBelters Lynn Smith, MiLB super fan, Insta @iaskiheho Dan Simon, Studio Simon: www.studiosi…

1
Scary Bridge Study: Can fear make you horny? 1:04:33

1M ago1:04:33

1:04:33

What if a haunted house makes your date look hotter? This week we dive into the infamous Scary Bridge Study — the 1970s classic that launched a thousand pop-psych takes on fear and lust. It’s the one with the swaying bridge, pretty “research assistant,” and phone number scrawled on torn paper. The study became legend, but how sturdy were its stats?…

1
Ontario Tower Buzzers 54:08

2M ago54:08

54:08

Ontario, California, will play host to a new minor league baseball team beginning in 2026. The Ontario Tower Buzzers pay tribute to their local 100-year-old airport with their bee-based brand. Guests include: Allan Benavides, GM, Ontario Tower Buzzers Dan Simon, Studio Simon: www.studiosimon.net, Insta @studio_simon Ranger Amy Burnett, Insta @there…

1
Greenville Drive 52:08

2M ago52:08

52:08

By Paul Caputo

1
Ultramarathons: Can vitamin D protect your bones? 58:50

2M ago58:50

58:50

Ultramarathoners push their bodies to the limit, but can a giant pre-race dose of vitamin D really keep their bones from breaking down? In this episode, we dig into a trial that tested this claim – and found a statistical endurance event of its own: six highly interchangeable papers sliced from one small study. Expect missing runners, recycled figu…

1
Vote for Marc(k)! Marks, Mentors and Making Normal Happen 36:28

2M ago36:28

36:28

Two Marks trade friendly jabs while making a serious case for APWA: vote, get involved, and mentor the next generation. Join Mark Ray and me, Marc Culver, as we walk through the Minnesota chapter ballot, unpack what the board actually does, and share practical ways to lead well and care for yourself. • APWA Minnesota election overview and why turno…

1
Episode 200: Logos that Listeners Love 1:02:54

2M ago1:02:54

1:02:54

We're celebrating 200 episodes of Baseball By Design by celebrating the logos that you love! We invited listeners to tell us what minor league baseball logos you love, and you responded. Find the Baseball By Design podcast online: Instagram @baseballbydesign Threads @baseballbydesign Bluesky @baseballbydesign.bsky.social linktr.ee/BaseballByDesign…

1
Gary SouthShore RailCats 39:17

2M ago39:17

39:17

The Gary SouthShore RailCats play in a unique corner of northwest Indiana where baseball, railroads, and Lake Michigan merge, and where they exist in a time zone different from the rest of their state. Their scrappy cat-based identity reflects the region and the realities of independent baseball. Guests include: Andrew Mild, broadcaster, Gary South…

1
P-Values: Are we using a flawed statistical tool? 1:14:21

2M ago1:14:21

1:14:21

P-values show up in almost every scientific paper, yet they’re one of the most misunderstood ideas in statistics. In this episode, we break from our usual journal-club format to unpack what a p-value really is, why researchers have fought about it for a century, and how that famous 0.05 cutoff became enshrined in science. Along the way, we share st…

1
Québec Capitales 38:49

3M ago38:49

38:49

The Québec Capitales are carrying on a storied tradition of baseball in Canada's French-speaking province. The independent team has been around for more than a quarter century with a brand that has come to represent the entire region. Guests include: Michel LaPlante, former player, manager, GM, and owner, Québec Capitales Dan Simon, Studio Simon: w…

1
Lincoln Saltdogs 43:05

3M ago43:05

43:05

The Lincoln Saltdogs, an independent professional team in the American Association, are named for a unique feature in the landscape of Nebraska—which used to be a vast inland sea. Guests include: Elijah Herbel, Lead Producer, Lincoln Saltdogs, Insta @herbel_essences Dan Simon, Studio Simon: www.studiosimon.net, Insta @studio_simon Find the Baseball…

1
Exercise and Cancer: Does physical activity improve colon cancer survival? 49:59

3M ago49:59

49:59

Exercise has long been hailed as cancer-fighting magic, but is there hard evidence behind the hype? In this episode, we tackle the CHALLENGE trial, a large phase III study of colon cancer patients that tested whether prescribed exercise could improve cancer-free survival. We translate clinical jargon into plain English, show why ratio statistics ma…

1
NoCo Prospectors 42:54

3M ago42:54

42:54

The collegiate summer-level NoCo Prospectors are named for the traditional sense of prospectors—mining for gold—as well as the fact that the team is made up of younger players, or prospects. Guests include: Preston Munsch & Rochelle Reynolds, NoCo Prospectors, website Matt West, Designer, Black Box Merch Dan Simon, Studio Simon: www.studiosimon.net…

1
Bradenton Marauders 52:56

3M ago52:56

52:56

The Florida State League's Bradenton Marauders pay tribute to their parent club in Pittsburgh with a pirate-themed brand, but make no mistake, the identity is completely their own. Guests include: Craig Warzecha, GM, Bradenton Marauders Dan Simon, Studio Simon: www.studiosimon.net, Insta @studio_simon Matt Frick, Curator, St. Augustine Pirate and T…

1
Age Gaps: How much does age matter in dating? 50:37

3M ago50:37

50:37

Are we all secretly ageist when it comes to dating? We put the stereotype that older men prefer younger women under the microscope using data from thousands of blind dates. What we found surprised us: the “age penalty” was real but microscopic, women wanted younger partners too, and hard age cutoffs weren’t so hard after all. Along the way, we unpa…

1
Baseballpalooza Ride Along: The Gang Goes to Michigan 58:53

3M ago58:53

58:53

It's that most wonderful time of year: the Baseballpalooza ride along! This year the gang visited the Malmo Oat Milkers of South Bend, Great Lakes Loons, West Michigan Whitecaps, and Joliet Slammers. Join Fish, Scuba, Ron, Mealey, Pearlman, Jon, Shady, Hirte, Zim, and your host Paul on a wondrous four-day adventure! Plus Dan Simon with a Studio Sim…

1
Schaumburg Boomers 56:11

4M ago56:11

56:11

The Schaumburg Boomers are named for prairie chickens, a distinctive bird that once dominated the landscape of the midwest. The Curved Brim Media meetup included a stop in Schaumburg, so we'll check in live from the game. Guests include: Michael Larson, GM, Schaumburg Boomer Dan Simon, Studio Simon: www.studiosimon.net, Insta @studio_simon Ranger A…

1
Your Brain on AI: Is ChatGPT making us mentally lazy? 1:15:02

4M ago1:15:02

1:15:02

ChatGPT is melting our brainpower, killing creativity, and making us soulless — or so the headlines imply. We dig into the study behind the claims, starting with quirky bar charts and mysterious sample sizes, then winding through hairball-like brain diagrams and tens of thousands of statistical tests. Our statistical sleuthing leaves us with questi…

1
Keene Swamp Bats 54:25

3M ago54:25

54:25

The Keene Swamp Bats play in the New England Collegiate Baseball League. Their name derives from the bats who feast on mosquitoes found in the swamplands adjacent to the team's ballpark. Guests include: Kevin Watterson, President/GM, Keene Swamp Bats Joe Tolman, Bulldog Design, website Dan Simon, Studio Simon: www.studiosimon.net, Insta @studio_sim…

1
Boulder 64s 42:53

4M ago42:53

42:53

The collegiate summer-level Boulder 64s were founded as the Boulder Collegians in 1964. Under new management and in a new league, the team has a new brand. Guests include: Preston Munsch & Rochelle Reynolds, Boulder 64s, website Matt West, Designer, Black Box Merch Dan Simon, Studio Simon: www.studiosimon.net, Insta @studio_simon Find the Baseball …

1
The Backfire Effect: Can fact-checking make false beliefs stronger? 59:20

4M ago59:20

59:20

Can correcting misinformation make it worse? The “backfire effect” claims that debunking myths can actually make false beliefs stronger. We dig into the evidence — from ghost studies to headline-making experiments — to see if this psychological plot twist really holds up. Along the way, we unpack interaction effects, randomization red flags, and wh…

1
Gastonia Ghost Peppers 58:49

4M ago58:49

58:49

The Gastonia Ghost Peppers, an independent professional team in the Atlantic League, played with seven different identities in 2024, then let fans vote on which one should be the permanent brand. Guests include: Nick Matarese, The Barn Creative Ed Currie, PuckerButt Pepper Company, puckerbuttpeppercompany.com Dan Simon, Studio Simon: www.studiosimo…

1
Erie Moon Mammoths 50:18

5M ago50:18

50:18

When John's Oliver's HBO show Last Week Tonight offered to rebrand one minor league baseball team, 47 clubs volunteered for the honor with very little idea what they were signing up for. The Erie SeaWolves were selected, and just weeks later, the Erie Moon Mammoths were born. The name is a tribute to a mammoth skeleton discovered by diver George Mo…

1
Dating Wishlists: Are we happier when we get what we want in a mate? 1:06:25

5M ago1:06:25

1:06:25

Loyal, funny, hot — you’ve probably got a wish list for your dream partner. But does checking all your boxes actually lead to happily ever after? In this episode, we dive into a massive global study that put the “ideal partner” hypothesis to the test. Do people really know what they want, and does getting it actually make them happier? We explore s…

1
Great Lakes Loons 50:29

5M ago50:29

50:29

The Great Lakes Loons, High-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers, play just above the ball of the thumb on the Michigan mitten. They're named for a bird that has creepy red eyes and is known for a mournful call that is often heard in movies. Guests include: Chris Munkdhenk, GM, Great Lakes Loons AJ Chlebnik, naturalist & Michigan native Dan Simon…

1
A Day in Denver with Erik the Peanut Guy 53:22

5M ago53:22

53:22

Minor League Baseball royalty Erik "the Peanut Guy" Mertens visited Colorado, and we spent the day checking out the Denver Bears defunct ballpark, a Colorado Rockies game, the National Ballpark Museum, and the Sundae Helmet Hall of Fame! Erik "The Peanut Guy" Mertens, Tri-City Dust Devils, Twitter @ItsErikMertens National Ballpark Museum, ballparkm…

1
Stats Reunion: What have we learned so far? 56:54

5M ago56:54

56:54

It’s our first stats reunion! In this special review episode, we revisit favorite concepts from past episodes—p-values, multiple testing, regression adjustment—and give them fresh personalities as characters. Meet the seductive false positive, the clingy post hoc ex, and Charlotte, the well-meaning but overfitting idealist. Statistical topics Bar c…

1
Hudson Valley Renegades 56:22

5M ago56:22

56:22

The Hudson Valley Renegades, High-A affiliate of the New York Yankees, have had a brand based on a raccoon for more than three decades. Guests this week include: Will Young, Assistant GM, Hudson Valley Renegades Dan Simon, Studio Simon: www.studiosimon.net, Insta @studio_simon Ranger Amy Burnett, Insta @therealrangeramy Find the Baseball By Design …

1
Storm Warriors: Managing Private Stormwater Infrastructure with Ryan Johnson from the City of Roseville, MN 1:08:28

5M ago1:08:28

1:08:28

I'm excited to welcome my good friend and former colleague Ryan Johnson to the show. Ryan is the Environmental Manager for the City of Roseville in Minnesota and is my favorite storm water and water resources guru. Ryan joins me in this episode to talk about the underappreciated role of making sure that private stormwater BMP's are properly maintai…

1
Crystal Coast Booty Divers 59:11

6M ago59:11

59:11

The collegiate summer level Morehead City Marlins having been pushing boundaries for a few years, with the latest entry in a parade of double entendres being the Crystal Coast Booty Divers. Guests include: Buddy Bengel, Owner, Morehead City Marlins Brian Begley, Designer, iambrianbegley.com Matt Frick, Curator, St. Augustine Pirate and Treasurer Mu…

1
HPV Vaccine: How close are we to wiping out cervical cancer? 1:16:52

6M ago1:16:52

1:16:52

Could a preteen vaccine wipe out a global cancer? In this episode, we examine the bold claim that cervical cancer could be eradicated in much of the world by the end of the century—thanks to the highly effective HPV vaccine. We unpack statistical modeling, microsimulations, and how Markov chains make good date-night conversation. We also explore wh…

1
Delmarva Shorebirds 51:56

6M ago51:56

51:56

The Delmarva Shorebirds, Single-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, play in a part of the country named for three states. Guests this week include: Chris Bitters, GM, Delmarva Shorebirds Dan Simon, Studio Simon: www.studiosimon.net, Insta @studio_simon Ranger Amy Burnett, Insta @therealrangeramy Find the Baseball By Design podcast online: Instagr…

1
Fill It Up Regulars (Sussex County Miners) 52:08

6M ago52:08

52:08

The Sussex County Miners, an independent professional team in the Frontier League, unveiled an alternate identity that honors one of New Jersey's quirkiest quirks—it's the only state in the union where it's illegal to pump your own gas. The team will play select games as the Fill it Up Regulars. Guests include: Christian Suk, Assistant GM, Sussex C…

1
Equipment Size: What is average? 55:14

6M ago55:14

55:14

Today’s deep dive: the surprisingly serious science of penis size. Using self-report surveys, objective measurements, and a healthy dose of old-school statistics, we ask: How do you get clean data on gentlemen’s goods?Along the way, we explore social desirability bias, survey design tricks, and what happens when science meets insecurity. You’ll nev…

1
York Revolution 48:18

6M ago48:18

48:18

The independent York Revolution play in a central Pennsylvania town that lays claim to the title of the nation's first capital—but their identity is more about industry than patriotism. Guests this week include: Eric Menzer, Vice Chairman, York Revolution Phil Broder, Kite Maker, Facebook Dan Simon, Studio Simon: www.studiosimon.net, Insta @studio_…

1
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 53:48

6M ago53:48

53:48

The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers have a classic name and a brand that they have expanded with a number of recent alternate identities. Guests this week include: Rob Zerjav, President/CEO Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Howard Aprill, Naturalist, Wehr Nature Center Dan Simon, Studio Simon: www.studiosimon.net, Insta @studio_simon Find the Baseball By Design …

1
Sugar Sag: Is Your Diet Aging You? 1:09:21

7M ago1:09:21

1:09:21

Wrinkles and sagging skin—just normal aging, or can you blame your sweet tooth? We dive into “sugar sag,” exploring how sugar, processed foods, and even your crispy breakfast toast might be making you look older than if you’d said no to chocolate cake and yes to broccoli. Along the way, we encounter statistical adjustment, training and test data se…

1
Marion Hungry Mothers 54:56

7M ago54:56

54:56

The brand-new collegiate summer level Marion Hungry Mothers are name for an almost definitely apocryphal legend of a mom and her child running for their lives. Guests include: Terry Hindle, Managing Partner, Marion Hungry Mothers Brittain Peck, Illustrator Kevin Mcdonald, Hungry Mother State Park Dan Simon, Studio Simon: www.studiosimon.net, Insta …

1
Talking Asset Management: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow with Jon Kremer from OpenGov 59:32

7M ago59:32

59:32

This episode a great deep dive into asset management with arguably the premier asset management system on the market today. I've been working with Cartegraph since 2010 and have been very impressed with their software and vision for constant improvement. Join me as I welcome Jon Kremer, self proclaimed Product CEO for the Cartegraph Asset Managemen…

1
Live from Georgia with Dan Simon, Anna DiTommaso, and Ranger Amy 53:11

6M ago53:11

53:11

Ride along with designer Dan Simon, host of the Baseball Bucket List podcast Anna DiTommaso, and Ranger Amy on the annual road trip affectionately known as AnnaDannaPalooza. This year we dodge Georgia raindrops in Atlanta, Columbus, and Rome to sneak in four games (and a trip to the Georgia Aquarium) in 48 hours. Guests include: Dan Simon, Studio S…

1
Hookworms: Can parasites improve your health? 1:08:55

7M ago1:08:55

1:08:55

What if you could treat your prediabetes with . . . worms? Regina and Kristin dive into a surprising early-phase clinical trial on hookworm therapy—that’s right, intentionally infecting yourself with parasitic worms—to treat metabolic conditions. They dig into the biological rationale (inflammation, abdominal fat, and gut immunology), the clever st…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Normal Curves Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

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