QAnon, Prisoners Learn Magic, Avocado History

What Exactly is QAnon? (0:30) Guest: Travis View, Co-host, “QAnon Anonymous” Podcast Facebook removed hundreds of accounts related to the far-right conspiracy theory QAnon last week, following the example of other social media platforms. The FBI listed QAnon as a potential domestic terror threat last year. And yet, the movement has been gaining a lot of traction recently. More than a dozen Congressional candidates have openly supported QAnon. An adjunct professor at a community college in Arizona even promoted the movement in class. QAnon shirts and hoodies are sold on Amazon and worn by all kinds of Trump supporters at rallies. If it has so many followers, but is also a domestic terror threat, what’s going on? Community of Prisoners Turn to Magic (22:28) Guest:  Joshua Jay, Magician, Co-Owner of Vanishing Inc. Magic Some prison inmates use their time to get a GED, bulk up, or read. Others do magic. Nearly 20 years ago, professional magician Joshua Jay started receiving letters from prisoners asking for tips and tricks. A community of magician inmates has formed, and they teach other magic through mail. Proposed Dam Near Grand Canyon Would Flood Sacred Tribal Land (36:52) Guest: Sarana Riggs, Grand Canyon Program Manager, Grand Canyon Trust Developers want to build a series of dams near the Grand Canyon that could be financially beneficial to the Navajo Nation. The company has submitted a preliminary permit application, but has faced a huge backlash from environmentalists and the Native American community. The project would flood Big Canyon, which is part of sacred Navajo land and connects to animal habitats in the Little Colorado River. Exercise Makes You Smarter (52:49) Guest: Charles Hillman, Professor of Psychology, Co-Director of the Center for Cognitive and Brain Health, Northeastern University It's strange that the stereotype for athletes is “dumb jock” because they exercise a lot, and a growing body of research shows that working outmakes you smarter. Our brains function better after exercise. IQ Loss from Pesticides and Flame Retardants (1:06:47) Guest: Leonardo Trasande, Professor of Pediatrics, Environmental Medicine and Population Health, New York University Good news: new research shows that crackdowns on toxic chemicals in the last couple decades are paying off. Childhood brain damage numbers are down. But the bad news is that researchers are now worried about which chemicals are still causing IQ loss. It used to be primarily lead and mercury, but now it’s flame retardants and pesticides, which aren’t as strictly regulated. Why We’re Obsessed with Avocados (1:25:05) Guest: Jeffrey Miller, Author of “Avocado: A Global History,” Professor of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Colorado State University We’re in an avocado craze right now. From guacamole to sandwiches and salads, we love it. And now the green fruit has become a sarcastic joke about millennials: apparently we all love avocado toast. But why is the avocado so popular? Without the help of ancient animals and some clever marketing, it could have very easily turned out differently. You wouldn’t have ever tasted an avocado or even heard of it.