Should we ditch daylight saving time?

On November 1, daylight saving time ends in the United States. That means most of us will “fall back” to standard time for the following four months. But many states want to stop this twice-yearly clock change and instead stay on daylight saving time all year. One question is at the center of this …

Can you trust political polls?

In this episode we unpack what makes a poll reliable or not and how us regular people should be reading poll data, especially with the midterms coming up. Our guest is Scott Greenstone, politics reporter and host of KUOW's Sound Politics. He gives us some tips and tricks to make sure we're interpre…

How much should you tip?

We've all been there: Staring at a screen that prompts you to "leave a tip," and three options to press. How much should you tip for a meal these days? How about a coffee or a hot dog at a baseball game? In this episode, Clare and guest host Brandi Fullwood dig into the data on tipping, and how it …

Do Americans read books anymore?

When someone says “reading is dead,” is that really true? Reading for fun has taken a big hit, but what’s really going on here? Teo and guest co-host Katie Campbell look at the data on American reading habits to find the answer, and provide tips for aspiring book nerds to get more pages in. Katie C…

How did college get so expensive?

Getting a college degree is a lot more expensive than it used to be–30% more, after inflation. Everyone has a theory about why that is (Fancy amenities! Lack of state funding! Student loans!) but what does the data say? In this episode, Clare schools Teo on the forces driving college tuition higher…

Is home insurance worth it in the age of wildfires?

Over 2.5 million Americans were forced out of their homes by natural disasters in 2023. As wildfires, hurricanes, and windstorms become routine across the country, homeowners are seeing their insurance premiums skyrocket. This has left many wondering: Is homeowners insurance even worth it anymore? …

How are speed limits calculated?

Every road in the United States has a speed limit, but where do these numbers come from? Do they actually make people slow down? And do lower speed limits make roads safer? In this episode, Clare tells Teo about the origins of speed limits, the science and engineering behind them, and how they fit …

How do you predict how many visitors will travel for the FIFA World Cup?

Over a million international visitors were expected to come to the U.S. during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. But how did forecasters come up with that number almost a year ago? Teo tells Clare about the surprisingly straightforward math and how businesses use that information to (try to) prepare enough …

Are e-bikes safer than motorcycles?

Every year, millions of Americans choose to hop on e-bikes because of their affordability, convenience and speed. Motorcycles can take you farther, faster, and have been around longer; so has their dangerous reputation. When you look at the numbers, which is actually more dangerous? Teo explains to…

Should I worry about microplastics?

Plastic is extremely useful: lightweight, cheap, and flexible enough to make almost anything. That’s why global plastic production has been climbing for decades. All that plastic is making its way into our bodies via tiny particles, and that can’t be good for us…right? Clare tells Teo what we know…