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Normal Curves: Sexy Science, Serious Statistics

by Regina Nuzzo and Kristin Sainani

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Latest episodes

  • Statistical Sleuthing: Can you spot a problem?

    October 5, 2026 · 1 hr 12 min

    Can you spot problems in a scientific study just by reading the published paper? We put our statistical sleuthing skills to the test with a famous study on procrastination and deadlines that was retracted more than 20 years after it was…

  • Ctrl-Z Awards: Will retracting your paper ruin your career?

    September 21, 2026 · 1 hr 16 min

    What happens when you discover that your published paper is wrong? Does retracting it ruin your reputation—or could owning the mistake actually make things better? In this episode, we meet the inaugural winners of the Ctrl-Z Awards, which…

  • Statistical Power: When is it useful?

    September 7, 2026 · 55 min

    Statistical power is one of the most important ideas in statistics—and one of the most misunderstood. In this episode, we explain what statistical power really means, why researchers need to think about it before they collect their data…

  • Cannabis and Brain Aging: Can weed keep your brain young?

    August 24, 2026 · 49 min

    Can weed protect your brain as you get older? We unpack a study linking lifetime cannabis use to larger brain volumes and better cognitive test scores in older adults—and investigate how those findings became headlines urging readers to…

  • Double Duty: Can the meningitis vaccine also protect against gonorrhea?

    August 10, 2026 · 40 min

    Can the meningitis vaccine do double duty against gonorrhea? We examine a fascinating randomized trial inspired by years of encouraging observational studies—and what happened when those earlier results were finally put to the test. Along…

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  • Hot Tubbing: Can soaking in hot water help you run faster?

    July 27, 2026 · 44 min

    Can you improve your endurance by sitting in a hot tub instead of doing another hard workout? We dig into a study that put elite runners through five weeks of what we affectionately call “endurance hot tubbing” to see whether heat alone…

  • Exercise Snacks: Can just four minutes of exercise a day improve blood sugar?

    July 13, 2026 · 48 min

    Could four one-minute bursts of exercise really improve blood sugar? We try “exercise snacks” ourselves before taking a close look at the clinical trial that inspired headlines. We explain why the study’s main result wasn’t statistically…

  • Cancer Blood Tests Part 2: The clinical trial

    June 29, 2026 · 58 min

    How do you decide whether a clinical trial “worked”? In Part 2 of our Galleri series, we examine the landmark randomized trial of a blood test designed to detect more than 50 cancers. We explore why different outcome measures led to…

  • Cancer Blood Tests: Are they ready for primetime? Part 1

    June 15, 2026 · 43 min

    Can a single tube of blood really detect dozens of cancers before symptoms appear? We dive into the science behind Galleri, a blood test that claims to detect more than 50 types of cancer from a simple blood draw. Recent headlines about…

  • Odds Ratios: Do most people get them wrong?

    June 1, 2026 · 54 min

    Odds ratios show up everywhere in medical research—but do readers, journalists, and even researchers always know what they mean? In this episode, we tackle one of the most common statistical misunderstandings in science: treating odds…

  • Coffee and the Heart: Is caffeine a trigger for AFib?

    May 18, 2026 · 57 min

    Does coffee trigger atrial fibrillation — or have doctors been warning people away from caffeine without strong evidence? We dig into two recent randomized clinical trials testing whether caffeinated coffee causes dangerous heart rhythm…

  • Sleep and Exercise: Does working out on too little sleep speed up aging?

    May 4, 2026 · 1 hr 5 min

    Can exercise actually be bad for you if you don’t get enough sleep? A widely shared claim says yes—that working out while sleep deprived may speed up aging. In this episode, we put that claim under the microscope. We examine the study…

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About the show

Normal Curves is a podcast about sexy science & serious statistics. Ever try to make sense of a scientific study and the numbers behind it? Listen in to a lively conversation between two stats-savvy friends who break it all down with humor and clarity. Professors Regina Nuzzo of Gallaudet University and Kristin Sainani of Stanford University discuss academic papers journal club-style — except with more fun, less jargon, and some irreverent, PG-13 content sprinkled in. Join Kristin and Regina as they dissect the data, challenge the claims, and arm you with tools to assess scientific studies on your own.