Remedial Polymath cover art

Remedial Polymath

Remedial Polymath

Written by: Sean Brna
Listen for free

About this listen

 You have found Remedial Polymath. So let’s explain this show… In case you weren’t yet aware, a polymath is someone who is well versed in many areas of study. Remedial of course means you’re not so great in a field of study. The resulting quasi-corny play-on-words of a title means that this podcast will be an informal approach to wide learning with the aim of making you rethink your world just a little bit. Because when one digs a bit deeper, and a bit differently, into what they thought they know or don’t know - they often find their knowledge is just a practice in mental regurgitation. There is a substantial difference between thinking, believing in, or knowing something. Beliefs should be rare, and claiming knowledge of something even rarer. And we have to realize that feeling we believe in, or “know” something, not only leads to a lot of avoidable trouble in the human experience but when too liberally applied to one’s life can stifle the ability to question, to change, and to wonder. It has often been correctly said that, “the more you learn the less you know.” At Remedial Polymath we’d like to add, “the less you know the wiser you are.” So, let’s try to get wiser, at an average and fun pace. At least that’s the idea for now. Thing could most definitely change along the way... Welcome to Remedial Polymath.Copyright 2022 All rights reserved. Social Sciences World
Episodes
  • A Fire Born Anthem That Ends With A Question (Star Spangled Banner Pt II)

    A Fire Born Anthem That Ends With A Question (Star Spangled Banner Pt II)
    Dec 6 2025

    How & why was the Star Spangled Banner written, why does it end with a question, what was the battle like, and why does it still contain so much meaning for Americans today? It's a pretty good story... For 25 straight hours in 1814, British rockets and mortars hammered Fort McHenry—while a young nation waited to see if its flag, and its future, would survive the night. In part two of our Star-Spangled Banner series, the British march on Baltimore, and the 25-hour bombardment that lit up the sky over the harbor.

    From inside the fort, citizen-soldiers endured an unending storm of shells and rockets. Out in the bay, a Georgetown lawyer named Francis Scott Key watched it all (under-guard) from a British ship, unsure whether the flag he saw by bomb-light would still be flying at dawn. Because if it was lowered, then the American troops surrendered. Out of that fear and exhaustion came a private poem that, over a century later, became America’s national anthem.

    This episode explores not just the battle, but what the flag meant that night—and what perseverance has to do with the American experiment now. The anthem, Key’s question, and our politics today all meet on that rampart in Baltimore.

    Please consider supporting the show on Patreon! It would take so little from you but mean so much for the show. Head to: https://www.patreon.com/c/RemedialPolymath

    Full article + picture + maps + custom episode music: Star Spangled Banner Pt II

    If you missed part one on the origins of the war and the road to Baltimore, start there—then come back for the night the anthem was born. Click here for part one!
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr
  • Star-Spangled Origins: America’s Anthem and the War of 1812 (Pt 1)

    Star-Spangled Origins: America’s Anthem and the War of 1812 (Pt 1)
    May 3 2025

    Why does The Star-Spangled Banner open with a question? Who wrote it—and during what war? In Part 1 of this two-part series, we uncover the wild, overlooked origins of America’s national anthem. From attempted invasions of Canada to the burning of Washington, D.C., this episode explores how a strange and nearly forgotten war—the War of 1812—gave birth to the Stars and Stripes’ most famous tribute. Whether you’re American or not, you’ll never hear the anthem the same way again.

    PLEASE PLEASE subscribe to Remedial Polymath and share this episode (and/or the others) with others on your social media, or just tell your friends about it!

    To read the article for this episode replete with images, the complete song from this episode, resource links, etc. just click here!

    Chapter Markers

    3:34 Introduction to The War of 1812 and how it led to the Star Spangled Banner

    7:22 Loose basics about the war

    10:46 The lead up to the war and the "other war" (The Napoleonic Wars)

    15:26 Impressment and Anglo-American tensions on the high seas

    23:16 The Canadian theater of war

    36:17 The American theater of war

    46:30 The battles on the Atlantic

    52:22 Conclusion and preview of part 2
    Show More Show Less
    56 mins
  • Water: You Don't Know S&!T About It

    Water: You Don't Know S&!T About It
    Jun 25 2024
    Welcome to Episode 8 of Remedial Polymath, Water: You Don't Know S&!T About It Would you believe that the most common liquid on Earth is still magical and mysterious, that scientists still argue about its many odd traits, and that those traits are central to life on Earth? In this podcast episode, we delve into the fascinating properties of water, exploring its origins, molecular structure, and unique characteristics such as surface tension, density, and incompressibility. It may confuse you or instill wonder surrounding this substance you interact with each and every day. The episode highlights the Mpemba effect, discovered by a Tanzanian high school student, where hot water freezes faster than cold water. We discuss water's role as a universal solvent, its unheard-of heat retention, and its impact on Earth's climate. The episode also examines scientific debates on water's behavior at lower temperatures and the two-phase model of liquid water, blending scientific insights with philosophical reflections on water's enigmatic nature. To read the article for this episode (with images and sources) just head to Remedial Polymath's Water Episode Chapters & Times of Interest: Introduction/The Mysterious Beauty of Water (00:00:36) We introduce the episode, discussing the ordinary yet mysterious nature of water and the need to approach it with a beginner's mind. The Mpemba Effect (00:02:49) The story of Erastus Mpemba, a Tanzanian high school student who observed the Mpemba effect, where hot water freezes faster than cold water. Water's Origins (11:38) Exploration of the origins of Earth's water, including the role of comets and asteroids in delivering water to the planet. Molecular Structure of Water (00:17:53) An explanation of the covalent bonding and hydrogen bonds in water, and the unique shape and behavior of water molecules. Surface Tension, Density, and Incompressibility (00:23:25) The impact of water's high surface tension, density, and incompressibility on various aspects of life, including its role in sustaining life and its practical applications. Water as a Universal Solvent (00:25:55) Water's properties as a universal solvent and its crucial role in dissolving compounds for life and transportation. Water's Impact on DNA (00:27:33) Water's influence on DNA's structure and the crucial role it plays in maintaining the geometry of DNA. Water's Heat Retention and Climate Moderation (00:30:08) Water's ability to retain heat, its impact on climate moderation, and the role of oceanic currents in regulating temperature. Water's Expansion when Freezing (00:35:18) The mystery of water's expansion when freezing, its implications for life on Earth, and the potential consequences if ice didn't float. Supercooled Water and Crystallization (00:37:48) The unique behavior of supercooled water, its crystallization process, and the implications of water's unusual freezing properties. Ice's Impact on Climate and Life (00:41:10) The potential effects of ice sinking instead of floating, including its impact on global climate, freshwater systems, and life evolution. Water's Philosophical Significance (00:45:00) The philosophical implications of water's unique properties and its potential role in creating conditions for intelligent life. The Debate on Water's Behavior (00:47:19) The disagreement among scientists about the reasons behind water's behavior, particularly its hydrogen bonding and structural organization. The two-phase model of liquid water (00:51:16) Discussion of the two-phase model of liquid water, including the arrangement of water molecules and their densities. Computing power and the odd behavior of water (00:52:28) The impact of computing power on studying the odd behavior of water and the changes in water molecules to replicate its behavior. Hypothesis about water's density and anomalies (00:53:40) Hypothesis about the proportion of orderly and chaotic water molecules, its relationship with temperature, and the disagreement among scientists. Philosophy behind the science of water (00:54:51) The host's philosophical view on the chaos and order theory in understanding water's properties and its significance for life. Plato's tetrahedron and its symbolism (00:57:23) Discussion of the tetrahedron, its association with fire, and its interpretation in various cultures, including its representation of balance and harmony. Sacred geometry and the tetrahedron (00:59:59) The significance of the tetrahedron in sacred geometry, its representation of balance and transformation, and its connection to the duality of chaos and order. Conclusion (01:01:15) The host's reflection on the fascination with water, its magic, and the fulfillment of being intertwined with this essential molecule.
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 3 mins
No reviews yet