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Artwork for Normal Curves: Sexy Science, Serious Statistics

Normal Curves: Sexy Science, Serious Statistics

Regina Nuzzo and Kristin Sainani
Vitamin D
Depression
Alcohol
Observational Studies
Bone Health
Cold and Hot Beverage Consumption
Michael Holick
Randomized Trials
Statistical Adjustment
Type 2 Diabetes
Vaccine Hesitancy
Statistics
Institute Of Medicine
Epidemiological Studies
Health Outcomes
Hookworm Therapy
Language Learning
Psychology
Cancer
Immunity

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

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes45Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ScienceSociety & Culture

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Artwork for Normal Curves: Sexy Science, Serious Statistics

Latest Episodes

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 We put our statistical sleuthing skills to the test with a famous study on procrastination and deadlines that was retracted more than 20 years after it was published. Bu... more

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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 recognize s... more

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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, and what goe... more

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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 “pass the pot... more

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Recent Guests

Kate Laskowski
Associate professor at UC Davis in Evolution and Ecology; behavioral ecologist
UC Davis
Episode: Ctrl-Z Awards: Will retracting your paper ruin your career?
Alyssa Smith
Assistant professor in Mathematics and Computer Science; network scientist
College of the Holy Cross
Episode: Ctrl-Z Awards: Will retracting your paper ruin your career?
Andrew Althouse
Distinguished statistician
Medtronic
Episode: Statistical Power: When is it useful?
Mark Robeson
Outside expert invited to provide perspective on the NHS Galleri trial
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Episode: Cancer Blood Tests Part 2: The clinical trial
Laura Dattaro
Science journalist covering neuroscience and health policy
Spectrum (now part of The Transmitter)
Episode: Epidurals: Are labor epidurals really linked to autism?

Hosts

Kristin Sainani
Host of Normal Curves; professor at Stanford University; statistics educator and communicator
Regina Nuzzo
Co-host; professor focused on statistics education and scientific communication

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 156 ratings
  • Favorite podcast ever!

    As a stats student I really appreciate the hilarious episodes on useful statistical techniques and deep dives into scientific literature! The one on p-values was super interesting and I just listened to it again for the second time. And the hookworms episode was another favorite :)

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    takethesardines
    United States8 months ago
  • Fun for your inner nerd

    I love nerding out with this dynamic duo. They make learning fun with their unique blend of stories and science. As a scientist and communicator, I’m grateful to brush up my stats and applaud their efforts boost media and science literacy.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Chana Davis
    Canadaa year ago
  • Accessible and fun science and stats!

    I love this podcast! It’s both fun and educational, and the hosts have a great rapport.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    KT0574
    United Statesa year ago
  • Love this!

    This podcast is so well done. It’s entertaining and enlightening and I love the topics, especially the vitamin D topic. So good!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Greentea cupz
    United Statesa year ago
  • This is my nerdy dream podcast

    I absolutely love this podcast! As a researcher, the deep dives into the data and methodological considerations are so informative and important. I would love to see more discussion of reproductive health studies on the pod (particularly some of the poorly done and often cited anti-abortion studies)

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Mal B 123
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Fans note the PG-13, humorous style keeps complex topics approachable.
Favorite podcast for stats nerds who like accessible critique of studies.
Listeners praise clear explanations, engaging hosts, and practical takeaway.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#165
Canada/Science
Apple Podcasts
#188
Ukraine/Science
Apple Podcasts
#249
Colombia/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Ctrl-Z Awards: Will retracting your paper ruin your career?
Q: How did the community react to your public acknowledgment of error?
The response was overwhelmingly supportive; colleagues expressed trust in her honesty, sent kind messages, and the community rallied to protect those who needed it while they investigated the extent of the issue.
Ctrl-Z Awards: Will retracting your paper ruin your career?
Q: What was the turning point that pushed you to retract the papers?
The discovery of repeated identical values in the same animals and later in the Sheet 2 wide format made the issue undeniable; after considering the block design explanation and failing to find a solid justification, she chose to retract to preserve scientific integrity.
Ctrl-Z Awards: Will retracting your paper ruin your career?
Q: Could you briefly describe how you first noticed something was wrong with the data?
Kate explains that a mentor alerted her to odd patterns in a publicly available dataset; her initial thought was a simple data processing error, but further sleuthing revealed duplicated values and patterns that could not be explained by the experimental design.
Falling in Love: Do the 36 Questions Actually Work?
Q: So, Regina, what are these magic 36 questions?
The 36 Questions are meant to guide participants through a structured series of questions that gradually become more intimate to foster closeness, not necessarily love.
Holiday Survival Guide: How to talk about scientific studies around the dinner table
Q: What should you consider when evaluating a study?
You should look at the study's hypotheses, whether it's a randomized trial or observational study, and apply frameworks like PCOT and SMART to understand study design and results.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Two statistics educators break down scientific findings with rigorous critique, humor, and clear explanations. Episodes center on study design, data interpretation, and how media framing can distort results—from exercise physiology and cancer screening to sleep, aging, and behavioral studies. Taught-through analysis blends demonstrations with practical takeaways about preregistration, bias, and the difference between correlation and causation, often peppered with personal anecdotes and accessible visuals. A notable strength is the duo's ability to translate complex methods into actionable insights for researchers, journalists, and curious listeners alike, while maintaining a lively, PG-13 friendly tone. The format frequently includes though... more

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1. Science Friday
2. This Is Uncomfortable
3. Freakonomics Radio
4. Hidden Brain
5. Throughline

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this podcast launched 2 years ago and published 45 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Kate Laskowski
2. Alyssa Smith
3. Andrew Althouse
4. Mark Robeson
5. Laura Dattaro

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