Episodes

  • Ep. 35: You Down with NLP? Guess we'll see……
    Mar 17 2025

    Ever wanted to Jedi mind-trick your way through life? This episode, we check out the world of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP)—a psychological toolkit that promises to help you persuade, influence, and maybe even convince you that banana flavored whiskey is next on your "try" list. But does it actually work, or is it just a fancy way to say, "gaslighting, but make it self-improvement"?

    To put our minds (and taste buds) to the test, we also crack open a bottle of Howler Head Banana Whiskey—because nothing screams "cutting-edge psychology" like a questionable booze experiment. Will it be a delightful tropical escape or just regret in a glass?

    In this episode, we cover:

    • What NLP is (and why it sounds like either a superpower or a scam)
    • How banana-flavored whiskey makes us question our life choices
    • The inevitable moment when we wonder, "Who actually asked for this drink?"

    Tune in for a mix of mind games, monkey business, and questionable drinking decisions 😆 🍌 🥃

    The whisky: https://howlerhead.com/products/howler-head-bourbon

    The facts and stuffs: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapy-types/neuro-linguistic-programming-therapy

    https://www.nlpcourses.com/cult-of-nlp-is-neuro-linguistic-programming-nlp-a-cult/

    https://www.npr.org/2022/10/17/1128808224/the-vow-part-2-cult-nxivm-keith-raniere-nancy-salzman

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    46 mins
  • Ep. 34 What the Eff-ect?
    Mar 3 2025

    Ep. 34: What the Eff-ect?!


    Buckle up, folks, because this episode is about to get a little...strange. Join us as we delve into some fascinating psychological effects and phenomena, all while sipping and savoring the rich, peaty goodness of Laphroaig Lore whiskey.

    First up, the autokinetic effect - the trippy illusion that a stationary point of light in the dark appears to be moving. We'll discuss how researchers have used this effect in their studies, and how it might just make your Laphroaig glass seem like it's dancing across the table. Don't worry, it's all in your head (we think).

    Next, we tackle the Baader-Meinhof phenomenon, also known as frequency illusion. This is when something you just learned about suddenly starts popping up everywhere. Like how the Laphroaig Lore bottle design is now all you can see, even in your dreams. Is the whisky controlling your mind? Probably.

    Finally, we laugh about the Coolidge effect - the tendency for sexual interest to be revived by new partners, even after satiety with a previous one. We'll explore the evolutionary origins of this effect and how it manifests in the animal kingdom (and occasionally, human behavior). Just don't go trying to test this theory after a few too many drams, mmkay?


    Throughout our discussion, we'll be sipping and savoring the complex flavors of Laphroaig Lore. From its smoky, peaty notes to its hints of vanilla and spice, we'll dissect how this unique whisky perfectly complements the psychological topics at hand. Or is it the other way around? The lines may start to blur after a while.

    So pour yourself a dram, get cozy, and join us as we explore the intriguing (and occasionally mind-bending) world of human behavior and perception - all while enjoying the exceptional Laphroaig Lore. Just try not to get too distracted by any moving lights or sudden urges. We've got a podcast to record!

    The whisky: https://www.laphroaig.com/whiskies/laphroaig-lore-single-malt-scotch-whisky?srsltid=AfmBOoouN1pLze74PKFqkjfTOiLqOQ4e3XpfKSDtSa06VdOz-dQnSLQa

    Our info sources: https://www.psichi.org/page/292JNSummer2024-Revisiting-The-Birthday-Number-Effect

    https://www.scribbr.com/research-bias/baader-meinhof-phenomenon/#:~:text=The%20Baader–Meinhof%20phenomenon%20refers,that%20aren't%20actually%20there.

    https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0303720717304938

    https://blogs.cornell.edu/info2040/2015/11/20/autokinetic-effect-and-social-norms

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    38 mins
  • Ep 33: Three Woods, Half a Brain
    Feb 18 2025

    The Flask at Hand is back and kicking this episode off with a tasting of Auchentoshan Three Wood, a Lowland single malt aged in bourbon, Oloroso, and Pedro Ximénez casks. We break down its soft, marshmallowy mouth feel and dark cherry flavors pondering just how much whiskey is too much before discussing bizarre science.

    From there, we dive into the fascinating world of dolphins and how unihemispheric sleep is necessary for their survival. Then, we take an unexpected turn into the surprising uses of poop as medicine (some not AS useful as others). We then delve into some early hypnosis tales that lead to experiments suggesting that plants might "respond" to stressors under polygraph testing. Can plants feel our thoughts?

    A dram in hand, a mind full of weird facts—just another night with The Flask at Hand. Thanks for listening!

    The Whiskey: https://www.auchentoshan.com/whiskies

    Sources of our info:

    https://us.whales.org/whales-dolphins/how-do-dolphins-sleep/#:~:text=This%20type%20of%20sleep%20is,need%20without%20ever%20losing%20consciousness.

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    46 mins
  • Ep 32: Save the Potatoes!
    Feb 2 2025

    Welcome to The Flask at Hand, the only show where we go deep—both into the ocean and into our whisky glasses (sometimes deeper than intended). Tonight, we raise a glass of Compass Box Oak Cross, a whisky so good they had to discontinue it—probably to keep us from getting too powerful.

    While we sip, we'll be diving into some deep-sea madness: a secret mission to raise a Russian submarine (because everyone loves a good Cold War heist), the eerie glow of bioluminescent creatures (nature's own rave party), and the mind-blowing ways marine medicine is saving lives—possibly including yours after this pour. And, of course, we'll stir up some controversy with deep-sea mining, where humans do what we do best: argue about whether we're ruining the planet or not.

    So grab a drink, hold your breath, and join us as we explore the ocean's strangest secrets—preferably before the whisky kicks in.

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    1 hr and 3 mins
  • Ep 31: What is Antimatter and why the f@#k does it..... matter?
    Mar 12 2023

    Tonight on the flask at hand podcast we taste some interesting whiskey distilled from 100% oats. Koval from Chicago. It is surprisingly delicious. Antimatter is the the topic tonight and holy shit, physics and fun ensue. Join us for a really fun night of bosons, fermions and photons as we delve into a world of physics and annihilation. The most expensive and rare substance in the world and why and how it could be the answer to all the earth's problems. Sit back and open your mind because the knowledge wilst flow. And as always thanks for listening! Sip, listen and laugh with us. Cheers!

    The whiskey:

    https://www.koval-distillery.com/newsite/

    song:

    Antimatter by NOWAVE

    https://open.spotify.com/track/2RdXvzQPLq9pdjR3yD9twC?si=83650f67ccad4382

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    1 hr and 48 mins
  • Ep.30: Crab Whiskey? Strange And Funny News Stories.
    Aug 28 2022

    On this episode of The Flask At Hand Podcast we welcome back Blake Feece who is joining us in the studio before he heads out on deployment. He brings with him a special whisk(e)y, Heritage Distilling's "Christmas In July" special release. We keep it light and have some fun with some funny and or strange news stories that include whiskey made from crabs, insects named after a pop music star, the Goonies ship wreck found! And dogs sneaking into random people's homes. Enjoy this episode with all the goofball banter and all the laughing. Sip, listen, learn and laugh with us! Thanks for listening. Cheers.

    The Whiskey:

    https://heritagedistilling.com/

    Where we got our info:

    https://www.npr.org/2022/05/16/1098839121/dog-stranger-in-bed-tennessee-couple

    https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/new-hampshire-distillery-makes-whiskey-out-of-invasive-crabs-180980414/

    https://www.npr.org/2022/04/20/1093577980/taylor-swift-was-the-inspiration-for-the-name-of-a-new-millipede-species

    https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/26/world/goonies-shipwreck-oregon-discovery-scn/index.html

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    1 hr and 6 mins
  • Ep 29: Strange, Mysterious and Funny Deaths
    Jun 5 2022

    On this episode of The Flask At Hand Podcast we begin by tasting and reviewing George Remus bourbon and are pleasantly surprised by what we experience. After the whiskey we dive into strange, mysterious and funny deaths. from the dancing plagues in Europe to some real life final destination type deaths. We bring a little light to a dark subject and hope to not only give you awesome interesting information from history but make you die laughing too. As always, thank you for your support dear listeners and enjoy the show. Cheers!

    https://www.theflaskathandpodcast.com/

    The Whiskey:

    https://georgeremus.com/the-pickup/

    The American Whiskey Glass:

    https://www.whiskeywhisdom.com/

    Where We Got Our Info:

    https://dying.lovetoknow.com/what-is-death-like/strange-deaths-stories-stats-that-are-bizarre-true

    https://www.history.com/news/what-was-the-dancing-plague-of-1518

    https://www.britannica.com/science/ergot

    Sponsors:

    https://funkyshotsaucefactory.com/

    https://www.etsy.com/shop/AMHCustomCraft

    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2BTNnLZYjPYNNy9dmDjebw

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    51 mins
  • Mini Episode: How To Read Whiskey Labels Without Embarrassing Yourself
    May 28 2022

    Join us for this mini episode of The Flask At hand Podcast where I, Jake tell you how to read and understand the many different whisk(e)y bottle labels. If you're new to the whiskey world and needing a crash course on the whats and whys then give this episode a listen! This short guide will surely help you choose your next favorite bottle. Cheers friends and thanks for listening!

    https://www.theflaskathandpodcast.com/

    https://www.etsy.com/shop/AMHCustomCraft

    https://funkyshotsaucefactory.com/

    https://www.whiskeywhisdom.com/

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    13 mins