FULL EPISODE: A Steamy, Heated Rivalry - January 26, 2026

Media personality Caitlin Green touches on pop culture topics: Climber dad Alex Honnold successfully scales 101-story building without ropes or harnesses; Heated Rivalry stars Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie carry the Olympic torch in Italy; and The 2026 Oscar nominations. (Hear Caitlin co-hosting The Jann Arden Podcast.) Cognitive science professor Sam Johnson shares research revealing how dread shapes your decision-making. Writer and community facilitator Jess Janz goes over the finding that 27% of US adults reported eating all their most recent meals alone. Professor Tin D. Vo gives a deep dive into what the romance show Heated Rivalry means for queer inclusion and representation. Economics, behavior, and policy professor Jana Vyrastekova reveals how encouraging students to socialize at an early stage can prevent loneliness. Will Douglas Heaven⁠, a senior editor for AI from ⁠MIT Technology Review⁠, introduces us to ⁠the ways certain scientists are treating AI models like aliens⁠. Segments: (00:00) Introduction (01:23) Caitlin Green pt. 1 (10:00) Caitlin Green pt. 2 (20:00) Sam Johnson (30:00) Jess Janz (39:50) Tin D. Vo (49:50) Jana Vyrastekova (59:50) Will Douglas Heaven pt. 1 (1:09:50) Will Douglas Heaven pt. 2 (1:19:07) Sign-off Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices