Renowned science communicator Alan Alda talks to Curiosity Daily hosts Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer about curiosity inspires him — and how you can let your curiosity guide you, too. Plus, learn how toilets actually work.

In this podcast, Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer discuss the following stories from Curiosity.com to help you get smarter and learn something new in just a few minutes:

Learn how to get better at talking to strangers; and how Red Dead Redemption 2 turns gamers into naturalists. Trivia too!

Learn about some surprising overlaps in time that’ll make you question your history skills; why keeping your bedroom door closed could save your life; and why vacation time is good for a company’s bottom line.

Learn about the shocking prevalence of torture scenes in movies; why durian, the world’s smelliest fruit, smells so bad; and where mold comes from.

Learn about the impact of keeping employees available 24/7; a theologian who made plans to go to the moon in the 1600s; and new research into how being hungover can be just as dangerous as being drunk.

Learn about whether people think in words or in pictures; why brussels sprouts really are tastier than they used to be; and why buying luxury items might make you feel like an impostor.

Bestselling author and CBS news correspondent David Pogue discusses why preparing for climate change is just as important as fighting it, with. Then, you’ll learn why you can make someone less defensive by making them feel validated

Sharks are the least of your problems according to these statistics.

Learn about the physics of hitting a baseball; a productivity hack to stop procrastination; and, how viruses and medicines know where to go in your body.

Forrest Galante, host of “Extinct or Alive” on Animal Planet, explains why sharks are so important to their ecosystems. You’ll also learn about giant prehistoric sea scorpions called Eurypterids who used to rule the sea and how cats affect online dating.

Learn about a research-backed way to make dad jokes funnier with canned laughter; how animals use principles of economics in the wild; and how quickly an AI taught itself to solve a Rubik’s cube.

Learn about why meteorites probably aren’t hot when they land; why babies hardly ever blink; and why couples have such a hard time breaking up.

In this podcast, Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer discuss the following stories from Curiosity.com to help you get smarter and learn something new in just a few minutes:

Learn about how children led their own research project into what they really think of adults, how painting eyes on cow butts could help solve a wildlife conservation problem, and whether it’s a good idea to rinse out your recycling.