Ep. 208: Dr. Justin Schmidt on Why It Hurts So Bad

Published: 2020-02-17 11:00:00

Description Show ▼

Steven Rinella talks to Dr. Justin Schmidt, Li Schmidt, Corinne Schneider, Ryan Callaghan, and Phil Taylor.

Topics discussed: A quick Chinese love song; developing the Schmidt Pain Index; lying down on an ant hill; camouflage in the animal world; what Steve thought when he got stung by a bullet ant; poisonous defense systems; hitching a ride on a mosquito; how science progresses one coffin at a time; bot flies; having a furry proboscis; hell hath no fury like a horsefly; the big 5 of ants; the relativity of pain; the cold-blooded and nasty cruelty of a tarantula hawk; a good junior high school science project idea; what the hell does aposematic mean, anyway?; and so much more.

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Referenced Books

The Sting of the Wild

by Justin O. Schmidt

Steve Rinella mentions reading Dr. Schmidt's book multiple times throughout the interview. He explicitly states 'I have just read your book The Sting of the Wild' and references specific content from it, such as discussions about young scientists asking original questions. At the end of the podcast, he gives the full title and author: 'The Sting of the Wild by Justin O. Schmidt, creator of, among many other things, the Schmidt Pain Index.'

Referenced at 00:00:03

In the Heart of the Sea

by Nathaniel Philbrick

Steve asks Dr. Schmidt 'Have you read a book, uh, in the Heart of the Sea' and describes it as 'a book about the whale ship Essex.' He discusses the book's content, mentioning how whalers would stock tortoises by flipping them on their backs in the ship's hold, keeping them alive for months. He praises the book saying 'it's a great book' but warns 'The movie, man, do not waste your time.' He also quotes his favorite line from the book about cannibalism among the survivors.

Referenced at 00:00:03