Long Form (multi topic, hourly/full show)

On this week's Offbites, Chris and Lauren get into whether or not they're afraid of shark attacks, a diet consisting strictly of baby food, and companies offering unique Valentine's Day gifts.

On this week's Offbites, Chris and Lauren get into whether or not they're afraid of shark attacks, a diet consisting strictly of baby food, and companies offering unique Valentine's Day gifts.

What’s the deeper story behind that weird headline you forwarded to your friends or shared at the watercooler? We ask questions to gain grounded insight into the stranger news of the week.

What&rsquo;s the deeper story behind that weird headline you forwarded to your friends or shared at the watercooler? We ask questions to gain grounded insight into the stranger news of the week.

Something Offbeat

Offbites' Valentine's Day gift guide: Breakup pizzas and zoo poo

We love spicy food here at “Something Offbeat”. Sometimes, when the heat is intense, things can get scary. In one case, a spicy chip social media challenge has even been linked to the death of a teen. This week, we talked with Dr. Paul Terry, a professor of epidemiology at the University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine. He helped us explore the risks and benefits of eating food with lots of spice.

We love spicy food here at “Something Offbeat”. Sometimes, when the heat is intense, things can get scary. In one case, a spicy chip social media challenge <a href="https://www.audacy.com/wbbm780/news/national/teen-who-died-eating-chip-for-social-media-had-heart-defect">has even been linked</a> to the death of a teen. This week, we talked with <a href="https://gsm.utmck.edu/internalmed/faculty/terry.cfm">Dr. Paul Terry</a>, a professor of epidemiology at the University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine. He helped us explore the risks and benefits of eating food with lots of spice.

How risky is spice? We asked an expert

The Catholic church decided earlier this summer it would canonize the first Millennial saint. Carlos Acutis, an Italian teenager who died in 2006, was credited with a second miracle in May by Pope Francis.

To learn more about the canonization process, the novelty of such a young saint, and saints from the United States, Something Offbeat welcomed Dr. Kathleen Cummings, a professor of American studies and history and Notre Dame and the author of the book – A Saint of Our Own: How the Quest for a Holy Hero Helped Catholics Become American.

The Catholic church decided earlier this summer it would canonize the first Millennial saint. Carlos Acutis, an Italian teenager who died in 2006, was credited with a second miracle in May by Pope Francis.
To learn more about the canonization process, the novelty of such a young saint, and saints from the United States, Something Offbeat welcomed Dr. Kathleen Cummings, a professor of American studies and history and Notre Dame and the author of the book – A Saint of Our Own: How the Quest for a Holy Hero Helped Catholics Become American.

One thing Millennials aren't ruining? Sainthood. Meet the 'gamer saint'

Elon Musk’s project Neuralink has been bringing a concept that seems out of science fiction, brain implants that allow users to control tech, into reality. So far, the company has implanted the device into a subject with quadriplegia. While he was able to do things like play online chess, he then lost some of the ability when parts of the device slipped out of place. This all begs questions about safety, ethics and the future of the human relationship with technology. Our team at “Something Offbeat” reached out to two experts – L. Syd M. Johnson, associate professor of bioethics and humanities at SUNY Upstate Medical University, and science journalist Faye Flam – to dive into them.

Elon Musk’s project Neuralink has been bringing a concept that seems out of science fiction, brain implants that allow users to control tech, into reality. So far, the company has implanted the device into a subject with quadriplegia. While he was able to do things like play online chess, he then lost some of the ability when <a href="https://www.audacy.com/kcbsradio/news/national/elon-musks-brain-chip-has-sudden-setback">parts of the device slipped out of place</a>. This all begs questions about safety, ethics and the future of the human relationship with technology. Our team at “Something Offbeat” reached out to two experts – <a href="https://fayeflamwriter.com/">L. Syd M. Johnson, associate professor of bioethics and humanities at SUNY Upstate Medical University,</a> and <a href="https://fayeflamwriter.com/">science journalist Faye Flam</a> – to dive into them.

Offbites' Valentine's Day gift guide: Breakup pizzas and zoo poo

In 1 playlist(s)

Something Offbeat

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips