

Taboo Science
Ashley Hamer Pritchard
AMBIE NOMINATED FOR BEST INDIE PODCAST 2026 | Taboo Science is a podcast that answers the questions you're not allowed to ask. It's hosted by Ashley Hamer Pritchard, a science writer and podcaster. Every episode dives into a different societal taboo to understand the science that makes it tick, the reasons we don't talk about it, and the impact that has on society at large. Why don't we eat people? Why are my swear words different than my parents'? And what makes porn, porn? It's science class if science class had one of those anonymous question boxes. It's Taboo Science.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jul 29, 2021 • 40min
Hormones (with Randi Hutter Epstein, M.D.)
They're complex, mysterious, and easy to blame for everything from unexplained symptoms to seemingly superhuman abilities. Find out how we discovered hormones, what they do inside of us, and who's really controlling who. Featuring Randi Hutter Epstein author of "Aroused, the History of Hormones and How They Control Just About Everything." Pick it up here: https://amzn.to/3f93P3l See citations for this episode: https://www.tabooscience.show/s2e8-hormones/ Follow Taboo Science: https://twitter.com/tabooscience https://www.instagram.com/tabooscience/ Visit tabooscience.show for more. Taboo Science is written and produced by Ashley Hamer. Theme music by Danny Lopatka of DLC Music.Connect with the show:Join the Patreon: https://patreon.com/tabooscienceLeave me a voice memo: https://podline.fm/tabooscienceInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/tabooscienceYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tabooscienceWebsite: https://www.tabooscience.show/ Loved this episode? Leave a review and rating here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/taboo-science/id1533606473

Jul 15, 2021 • 38min
Critical Race Theory (with Janel George)
Are kids really learning critical race theory in class? What IS critical race theory, anyway? And why is it so uncomfortable to talk about race? Featuring Janel George, associate professor of law at Georgetown University Law Center and founding director of the Racial Equity in Education Policy Clinic. Click here to see citations for this episode! Follow Taboo Science on Twitter and Instagram. Visit tabooscience.show for more. Taboo Science is written and produced by Ashley Hamer. Theme music by Danny Lopatka of DLC Music.Connect with the show:Join the Patreon: https://patreon.com/tabooscienceLeave me a voice memo: https://podline.fm/tabooscienceInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/tabooscienceYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tabooscienceWebsite: https://www.tabooscience.show/ Loved this episode? Leave a review and rating here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/taboo-science/id1533606473

8 snips
Jul 1, 2021 • 35min
Money (with Ted Klontz, Ph.D.)
Ted Klontz, Ph.D., discusses the taboo of talking about money, emphasizing the significance of financial transparency and navigating relationships within families. The podcast explores enhancing savings rates through sensory visualization, parental influence on financial beliefs, and understanding personal beliefs and behaviors surrounding money.

Jun 17, 2021 • 40min
Head Transplants (with Dr. Brandy Schillace)
Dr. Brandy Schillace discusses the taboo topic of head transplants, exploring the history, challenges, and ethical considerations involved. Topics include the difficulties of spinal cord reattachment, the evolution of organ transplants, defining death, controversial experiments on monkeys, and the complexities of transferring consciousness.

Jun 3, 2021 • 39min
STIs (with Ina Park, MD)
How long have STIs been around? Why don't we have anything higher-tech than the condom? And when did we stop saying "STD," anyway? Featuring Ina Park, MD, associate professor at the UC San Francisco School of Medicine and author of the book "Strange Bedfellows: Adventures in the Science, History, and Surprising Secrets of STDs." Pick it up here: https://amzn.to/3uGrs8h See citations for this episode: https://www.tabooscience.show/s2e4-stis/ Follow Taboo Science: https://twitter.com/tabooscience https://www.instagram.com/tabooscience/ Visit tabooscience.show for more. Taboo Science is written and produced by Ashley Hamer. Theme music by Danny Lopatka of DLC Music.Connect with the show:Join the Patreon: https://patreon.com/tabooscienceLeave me a voice memo: https://podline.fm/tabooscienceInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/tabooscienceYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tabooscienceWebsite: https://www.tabooscience.show/ Loved this episode? Leave a review and rating here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/taboo-science/id1533606473

May 20, 2021 • 36min
Bodily Fluids (with Erika Engelhaupt)
Erika Engelhaupt, science writer, delves into the world of bodily fluids like earwax, saliva, and urine. Debunking myths about sweating and urine, she explores the importance of these fluids for our health. From fecal transplants to gut microbiome, this podcast challenges taboos and reveals the fascinating science behind our bodily excretions.

May 6, 2021 • 39min
Ageism (with Dr. Hannah Swift)
Dr. Hannah Swift discusses ageism, societal norms, and discrimination based on age. Topics include age-related jokes, age-imposed restrictions, gender and race biases in aging, and fostering intergenerational friendships to combat ageism.

Apr 22, 2021 • 33min
Eating Animals (with Dr. Melanie Joy)
Why do we treat some animals as food and others as family? Is animal agriculture really as bad as vegans say it is? And if I want to change things, is veganism my only option? Featuring Melanie Joy, social psychologist, founding president of the NGO Beyond Carnism, and author of "Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows." Click here to see citations for this episode! Follow Taboo Science on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts. Suggest a taboo topic via ashley@tabooscience.show. Visit tabooscience.show for more. Taboo Science is written and produced by Ashley Hamer. Theme music by Danny Lopatka of DLC Music. Connect with the show:Join the Patreon: https://patreon.com/tabooscienceLeave me a voice memo: https://podline.fm/tabooscienceInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/tabooscienceYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tabooscienceWebsite: https://www.tabooscience.show/ Loved this episode? Leave a review and rating here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/taboo-science/id1533606473

Mar 25, 2021 • 40min
Marriage (with Stephanie Coontz)
What was the original purpose of marriage? What's up with all those wedding traditions? And what makes a marriage last? Featuring Stephanie Coontz, researcher and author of Marriage, a History: How Love Conquered Marriage. Click here to see citations for this episode! Follow Taboo Science on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts. Suggest a taboo topic via ashley@tabooscience.show. Visit tabooscience.show for more. Taboo Science is written and produced by Ashley Hamer. Theme music by Danny Lopatka of DLC Music.Connect with the show:Join the Patreon: https://patreon.com/tabooscienceLeave me a voice memo: https://podline.fm/tabooscienceInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/tabooscienceYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tabooscienceWebsite: https://www.tabooscience.show/ Loved this episode? Leave a review and rating here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/taboo-science/id1533606473

Mar 11, 2021 • 38min
Dying (with Jennie Dear)
How will most of us die? How do our expectations of death go wrong? How can we all have a good death? Featuring Jennie Dear, author of “What Does It Feel Like to Die?: Inspiring New Insights into the Experience of Dying."Click here to see citations for this episode! Follow Taboo Science on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts.Suggest a taboo topic via ashley@tabooscience.show.Visit tabooscience.show for more. Taboo Science is written and produced by Ashley Hamer. Theme music by Danny Lopatka of DLC Music.Connect with the show:Join the Patreon: https://patreon.com/tabooscienceLeave me a voice memo: https://podline.fm/tabooscienceInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/tabooscienceYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tabooscienceWebsite: https://www.tabooscience.show/ Loved this episode? Leave a review and rating here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/taboo-science/id1533606473


