Episodes

  • Radical 1880 Thesis: A Forgotten Case for Gender Equality
    May 19 2026

    Rick Post explores historical and modern examples illustrating the difference between equality and equity, from Teddy Roosevelt’s 1880 thesis advocating gender equality to stories of pioneers like Katalin Karikó, Ruth Law, and Clarence Gideon. The episode emphasizes that rights are won and highlights how diverse contributions have shaped progress.

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    17 mins
  • When Math Saved a Life: Gordon Cooper, the Stars, and Real-World Numbers
    Apr 15 2026

    Rick Post shows how mathematics shapes both dramatic moments—like Gordon Cooper using the stars to guide a dying spacecraft—and everyday decisions, from budgeting and cooking to navigation and technology.

    The episode covers the Monty Hall paradox, practical finance tips (including the 50-30-20 rule), uses of math in building, sports, weather modeling, and a quick word of the day plus an interesting health fact about leftover pasta.

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    19 mins
  • Civics Refresher: The Constitution Explained in Plain Terms
    Mar 18 2026

    Rick Post walks through the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights, explaining Articles, key sections, and the essential rights and responsibilities of citizens.

    The episode emphasizes active citizenship, separation of powers, and the importance of understanding how government works, plus a brief word of the day ("putative") and a surprising moon fact.

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    27 mins
  • Bacon, Blinkers and Common Sense: Ramblings with Rick
    Feb 11 2026

    Rick Post shares a casual, opinionated episode full of everyday tips and stories: his favorite way to cook and freeze bacon, a useful bacon-grease hack, driving pet peeves (please use blinkers and cruise control), and a plea for common sense and courtesy.

    Along the way he sprinkles in personal anecdotes—from watching classic Bugs Bunny to a quirky word of the day (apricity) and a brief look at drinking through history—wrapped up with a reminder to enjoy life.

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    20 mins
  • Adapt or Die: Why Homo Sapiens Outlasted the Rest
    Jan 21 2026

    Host Rick Post explores a NOVA episode on human species, arguing that Homo sapiens survived through superior adaptability and open-mindedness. He contrasts hunting strategies of Neanderthals with the flexible tools and behaviors of modern humans, and discusses how pooling skills led to larger societies.

    The episode also examines tribalism, the rise and fall of civilizations like Rome, and the dangers of willful ignorance. Rick ties these ideas to personal experiences in IT and lifelong learning, and shares a quick science fact about phagocytosis keeping the brain healthy.

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    20 mins
  • Why Trust Science? Debunking Myths and Understanding Research
    Dec 19 2025

    Rick Post explores what real research is, why scientific methods matter, and how biases and historical myths can distort our understanding. He discusses examples from history, medicine, and everyday science—explaining why replicability, peer review, and evidence are essential to trustworthy conclusions.

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    18 mins
  • The Fear of Learning: Why Knowledge Matters
    Dec 8 2025

    Rick Post introduces the Ramp Learning Center podcast and explores why learning matters in everyday life. He discusses fear as the primary barrier to learning, shares personal IT-training experiences, and emphasizes the value of curiosity and diverse skills in society.

    The episode includes a word of the day (“undauntable”) and a quick factoid on the five major personality traits (openness, conscientiousness, extroversion, agreeableness, neuroticism), and previews the next episode on research.

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    21 mins
  • RAMP Learning Center Trailer
    Dec 8 2025

    Introduction to RAMP Learning Center

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    Less than 1 minute