I welcome back Aidan Bailey, a close friend and first-year MD/PhD student at Wayne State University! Aidan shares his experiences in medical school, reflecting on his study strategies, dissecting cadavers, and balancing extensive coursework. He discusses the structure and goals of the MD/PhD program, the value of both degrees, & his future research plans. Our conversation also touches on life in Detroit, highlighting its vibrant culture and sports!

00:00 Intro and Guest Background

01:20 Med School Journey Begins

08:32 Anatomy Lab and Clinical Skills

15:38 Favorite Professors & Classes

18:50 Program Structure and Classmates

30:29 Choosing the Right Advisor

32:30 Benefits of an MD-PhD

37:40 Life in Detroit

• Disclaimer: all opinions are our own and not representative of any companies or organizations.
• Music: 368 by Dyalla

I interview Peter Sousounis, an atmospheric scientist who now works as a climate and catastrophe modeling consultant. We discuss the recent January 2025 Los Angeles, California Wildfires, global catastrophe modeling, and the rising impacts of secondary perils (like smoke damage). Peter explains the factors contributing to winter wildfires in California and highlights the broader implications on human health and insurance in the region.

00:53 Introducing Dr. Peter Sousounis

04:36 Catastrophe Modeling

08:46 Winter Wildfires

14:48 Mitigate and Prepare

22:15 Future Outlook

• Blog post discussed: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/peter-sousounis-b7b19133_la-wildfires-initial-thoughts-activity-7285042301372911617-VTRP?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop
• Disclaimer: all opinions are our own and not representative of any companies or organizations.
• Music: 368 by Dyalla.
• Photo: US Forest Service photo by Jason Benton/ Captain, SRF Engine 341. Accessed using Wikimedia.
• Photo Link: https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:2025_Southern_California_fires_and_the_United_States_Forest_Service_(USFS)_-_Eaton_Fire_Initial_Attack_(54263489694).jpg&oldid=984491561

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Danielle LeBlanc, a researcher at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Danielle and I discuss her journey from studying petroleum engineering to her PhD research on ocean sediments. Danielle explains why she studies sediment components to understand Earth's climate history, ice sheet dynamics, and ice-rafted debris. She also talks about the challenges of her research and offers advice for rising scientists.

If you like this episode, please subscribe and share it with friends!

04:30 Paleoclimate Research

08:14 Isotopes Explained

14:59 Laurentide Ice Sheet

26:42 Career Reflections and advice

32:34 Opportunities for Future Scientists

Note: the cosmic flux consists of high-energy particles originating from both our sun and other sources in space. Danielle also discusses "sun rays," which she uses here to refer to ultraviolet rays. Ultraviolet rays consist of lower energy particles relative to cosmic rays (or radiation), which consist of higher energy particles.

Music: 368 by Dyalla

Disclaimer: all opinions are our own and not representative of any companies or organizations.

In this episode of Rocks for Jocks, I explore the frequently asked question: “isn't the climate always changing?”. I break down the components of climate change, distinguishing between natural cycles and human-caused impacts. Learn about solar radiation, greenhouse gases, airborne particles, climate feedbacks, and tipping points! Very fun!

I also go into some details about Earth's orbital patterns, using animations from NASA to help understand long-term climate trends. Listen and subscribe for an in-depth discussion on driving our planet's climate!

00:00 Intro

01:29 Climate Forcings

03:24 Feedbacks and Tipping Points

04:38 Solar Radiation

06:59 Orbital changes

12:08 Human impacts

Sources:

• https://climate.nasa.gov/nasa_science/science/
• https://science.nasa.gov/science-research/earth-science/milankovitch-orbital-cycles-and-their-role-in-earths-climate/
• ⁠https://science.nasa.gov/science-research/earth-science/why-milankovitch-orbital-cycles-cant-explain-earths-current-warming/⁠
• http://www.climatedata.info/proxies/ice-cores/
• Cover art: https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Ocean_world_Earth.jpg&oldid=946589202

In this bonus episode of Rocks for Jocks, we leap into the world of MrBeast, the world’s most popular YouTuber. Alex and his guest, Colin Vergilio, discuss MrBeast's impressive rise, his business strategies, and the recent internal memo that reveals how his company operates. We cover his astonishing statistics, including over 50 billion views, 500 employees, and nearly $700 million in annual revenue. Wow! We also explore the ethical implications and challenges of running such a massive digital empire. Don't miss this inside scoop of one of the most influential media figures today!

• 00:00 Intro and Overview
• 07:25 MrBeast: The Phenomenon
• 16:14 The Leaked Memo
• 19:37 Metrics for YouTube Success
• 36:31 Engineered Randomness and Algorithm Manipulation
• 53:00 Philanthropy and Branding
• 58:42 The Risks and Rewards of Scaling
• 01:06:54 Final Thoughts on Mr. Beast's Impact

In this special episode of Rocks for Jocks, I discuss the recent volcanic eruptions in Iceland near the town of Grindavík! With live video streams and data from the Icelandic Meteorological Office, viewers get an in-depth look at magma flow, earthquake patterns, and the impact on local attractions like the Blue Lagoon. The video includes hazard maps, GPS data on ground deformation, and gas pollution trends. Despite massive disruptions, tourists can definitely keep visiting if they stay in the safe zones.

Perhaps more importantly, today I learned how to use a camera! While it can definitely be enjoyed with audio-only, the video should be available on Spotify and YouTube. If you’re listening on any other platforms and notice you’re able to see video as well, please let me know!

00:09 Recent Volcanic Eruptions

00:48 Impact on Iceland and the Blue Lagoon

04:11 Volcanic Defenses & Tourism

06:23 Analyzing Maps and Figures

11:01 Live Streams and Visuals

Sources:

• https://en.vedur.is/about-imo/news/eruption-begins-on-the-sundhnukur-fissure-swarm
• https://en.vedur.is/volcanoes/fagradalsfjall-eruption/volcanic-gases/
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCph8qQK3sc
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6LgRBuNNns

Welcome back to Rocks for Jocks! Today's episode is all about climate change, uncertainty, and the wild ride of asymmetric risks. Stick around to see why every tenth of a degree matters in this high-stakes climate game. Subscribe and join us on the journey towards a greener future!

Cover image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Polar_bear_watches_USCGC_Healy_230922-D-GO191-1035.jpg

Welcome to the latest episode of Rocks for Jocks! Today, we jump into the fascinating earth science discoveries I learned about during my trip to Iceland. I discuss Iceland's position on the mid-Atlantic Ridge, witness the breathtaking sights of a national park, and discover how magma, hot springs, and geysers interplay to create stunning natural features. Listen here!

00:00 Introduction and Iceland Trip Overview

01:43 Exploring Iceland's Tectonic Activity

03:23 The Formation of Iceland's Landscapes

06:13 Geysers and Their Mechanisms

09:17 Conclusion and Upcoming Topics