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#178 - Leigh Cowart on HURTS SO GOOD

The Sport of Life: Chats w/ Comedians, Filmmakers, Sports Figures, Musicians, & Intellectuals
The Sport of Life: Chats w/ Comedians, Filmmakers, Sports Figures, Musicians, & Intellectuals
Episode • Sep 28, 2021 • 30m

Science journalist Leigh Cowart chats with Trey Elling about HURTS SO GOOD: THE SCIENCE AND CULTURE OF PAIN ON PURPOSE. Questions include:

  • What is pain? (01:26)
  • Why do endorphins help explain why pain can feel good? (02:25)
  • How do fMRI scans differ between the brains of masochists and non when dealing with pain? (08:11)
  • What do people get wrong about capsaicin, the chemical that causes the hot spice in peppers? (15:24)
  • Why does she tend to notice how attention changes perception? (20:36)
  • Where is the line when purposeful pain goes from good to bad? (22:25)
  • Why is discomfort good for us? (25:11)