
Chemistry For Your Life
Melissa and Jam, Bleav

1 Creator

1 Creator

1 Listener
All episodes
Best episodes
Top 10 Chemistry For Your Life Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Chemistry For Your Life episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Chemistry For Your Life for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Chemistry For Your Life episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

Ask a Chemist: Why do chemicals smell "chemically?" (And other questions)
Chemistry For Your Life
06/27/24 • 24 min
Question and Response 57
In this bonus episode of 'Chemistry For Your Life,' hosts Melissa Collini and Jam Robinson answer listener-submitted questions about various chemistry topics. They discuss the distinction between 'chemical' and 'natural' smells, plant poisons, and the mechanisms behind face scrubs and soaps. The episode also features insights from a listener working in the beauty industry and addresses the challenges of avoiding fast food in the context of food deserts. Additionally, the hosts express gratitude for their supportive listeners and patrons.
00:00 Introduction and Greetings
00:58 Listener Questions: Chemical Smells
06:02 Insights from the Beauty Industry
08:33 Plant Poisons and Refrigerants
12:01 Face Scrubs and Soap Science
14:33 Fast Food and Food Deserts
19:46 Listener Shoutouts and Reviews
22:31 Conclusion and Thank Yous
Thanks to our monthly supporters
- Jessie Reder
- Ciara Linville
- J0HNTR0Y
- Jeannette Napoleon
- Cullyn R
- Erica Bee
- Elizabeth P
- Sarah Moar
- Rachel Reina
- Letila
- Katrina Barnum-Huckins
- Suzanne Phillips
- Venus Rebholz
- Lyn Stubblefield
- Jacob Taber
- Brian Kimball
- Emerson Woodhall
- Kristina Gotfredsen
- Timothy Parker
- Steven Boyles
- Chris Skupien
- Chelsea B
- Bri McAllister
- Avishai Barnoy
- Hunter Reardon
Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com
Watch our episodes on YouTube
Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChemForYourLife

1 Listener

What even is sunscreen and how does it screen the sun?
Chemistry For Your Life
10/13/22 • 29 min
#013 Rebroadcast
This week Melissa and Jam explore the chemistry of not being burned by the big, ominous, flaming ball of radioactive insanity that lights up our skies each day. Did you know that to some people, radiation burns are no big deal? ̄_(ツ)_/ ̄ It's actually a very big deal and the sun is constantly trying to kill us all. Save yourselves.
References from this episode
- Organic Chemistry Textbook, Edition 11 - T.W. Graham Solomons
- Chemistry, Edition 2, Openstax - Paul Flowers, Klaus Theopold, Richard Langley, and William R. Robinson
- Wikipedia references for SPF
- American Academy of Dermatology FAQs
Thanks to our monthly supporters
- Ciara Linville
- J0HNTR0Y
- Jeannette Napoleon
- Cullyn R
- Erica Bee
- Elizabeth P
- Sarah Moar
- Rachel Reina
- Letila
- Katrina Barnum-Huckins
- Suzanne Phillips
- Nelly Silva
- Venus Rebholz
- Lyn Stubblefield
- Jacob Taber
- Brian Kimball
- Emerson Woodhall
- Kristina Gotfredsen
- Timothy Parker
- Steven Boyles
- Chris Skupien
- Chelsea B
- Bri McAllister
- Avishai Barnoy
- Hunter Reardon

How do ADHD and Adderall™ change the chemistry in our brains?
Chemistry For Your Life
05/05/22 • 61 min
#134
Well newsflash, the brain is complicated. And a surprising amount of what's going on in our brains is chemistry. But what about ADHD? What's happening in the chemistry of someone's brain who has ADHD, and then what happens when ADHD medication is introduced? Let's find the heck out!
How to start a podcast. <- Check this out if you've got a podcast idea you want to make happen!
References from this episode
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3666194/
- https://youtu.be/MeJRBsghMt8
- https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/molecule-of-the-week/archive/a/amphetamine.html
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0149763417308072
Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChemForYourLife.
Email us at [email protected]
And check out our chill, simple little website at https://chemforyourlife.transistor.fm/
And seriously, we love using Transistor. Check it out to be sure your podcast makes a bang.
Thanks to our monthly supporters
- Ciara Linville
- J0HNTR0Y
- Jeannette Napoleon
- Cullyn R
- Erica Bee
- Elizabeth P
- Sarah Moar
- Rachel Reina
- Letila
- Katrina Barnum-Huckins
- Suzanne Phillips
- Nelly Silva
- Venus Rebholz
- Lyn Stubblefield
- Jacob Taber
- Brian Kimball
- Emerson Woodhall
- Kristina Gotfredsen
- Timothy Parker
- Steven Boyles
- Chris Skupien
- Chelsea B
- Bri McAllister
- Avishai Barnoy
- Hunter Reardon

What is the chemistry of volcanoes?
Chemistry For Your Life
07/14/22 • 48 min
#139
The crazy, insane, scary, fascinating world of volcanoes is fully of chemistry! What is lava/magma? Why do some volcanoes ooze and others erupt? What causes the magma to start rising to the surface? Let's get into this hot topic?
How to start a podcast. <- Check this out if you've got a podcast idea you want to make happen!
References from this episode
- http://www2.tulane.edu/~sanelson/Natural_Disasters/volcan&magma.htm
- https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/cascades-volcano-observatory/information-about-volcanologists
- https://nap.nationalacademies.org/read/24650/chapter/6
- https://edu-rsc-org.libproxy.library.unt.edu/feature/eruption/3009796.article
- Natural Disasters - Patrick L. Abbott
Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChemForYourLife.
Email us at [email protected]
And check out our chill, simple little website at https://chemforyourlife.transistor.fm/
And seriously, we love using Transistor. Check it out to be sure your podcast makes a bang.
Thanks to our monthly supporters
- Ciara Linville
- J0HNTR0Y
- Jeannette Napoleon
- Cullyn R
- Erica Bee
- Elizabeth P
- Sarah Moar
- Rachel Reina
- Letila
- Katrina Barnum-Huckins
- Suzanne Phillips
- Nelly Silva
- Venus Rebholz
- Lyn Stubblefield
- Jacob Taber
- Brian Kimball
- Emerson Woodhall
- Kristina Gotfredsen
- Timothy Parker
- Steven Boyles
- Chris Skupien
- Chelsea B
- Bri McAllister
- Avishai Barnoy
- Hunter Reardon

Why are sand and water different temperatures at the beach?
Chemistry For Your Life
07/07/22 • 17 min
#002
Many of us have been in a situation where we are near a body of water (lake, ocean, pool etc), and you may have noticed that no matter what the temperature is outside, the water and the land can feel like super different temperatures, like the sand being hot and the ocean being cold. Why is that? Well it's because of something called specific heat, and we're going to talk about it right now.
How to start a podcast. <- Check this out if you've got a podcast idea you want to make happen!
Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChemForYourLife.
Email us at [email protected]
And check out our chill, simple little website at https://chemforyourlife.transistor.fm/
And seriously, we love using Transistor. Check it out to be sure your podcast makes a bang.
Thanks to our monthly supporters
- Ciara Linville
- J0HNTR0Y
- Jeannette Napoleon
- Cullyn R
- Erica Bee
- Elizabeth P
- Sarah Moar
- Rachel Reina
- Letila
- Katrina Barnum-Huckins
- Suzanne Phillips
- Nelly Silva
- Venus Rebholz
- Lyn Stubblefield
- Jacob Taber
- Brian Kimball
- Emerson Woodhall
- Kristina Gotfredsen
- Timothy Parker
- Steven Boyles
- Chris Skupien
- Chelsea B
- Bri McAllister
- Avishai Barnoy
- Hunter Reardon

How can sunlight turn into electricity?
Chemistry For Your Life
05/12/22 • 31 min
#021 Rebroadcast
This week, Melissa and Jam explore the chemistry of solar energy. How do we capture energy from the sun and turn it into electricity? Is it as super insanely cool as it seems? Are we living in the future already?
How to start a podcast. <- Check this out if you've got a podcast idea you want to make happen!
References from this episode
- Drawdown: The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming - Paul Hawken
- Melissa's Prior Knowledge and Thesis
- Beyond the Messy Truth- Van Jones
Thanks to our monthly supporters
- Ciara Linville
- J0HNTR0Y
- Jeannette Napoleon
- Cullyn R
- Erica Bee
- Elizabeth P
- Sarah Moar
- Rachel Reina
- Letila
- Katrina Barnum-Huckins
- Suzanne Phillips
- Nelly Silva
- Venus Rebholz
- Lyn Stubblefield
- Jacob Taber
- Brian Kimball
- Emerson Woodhall
- Kristina Gotfredsen
- Timothy Parker
- Steven Boyles
- Chris Skupien
- Chelsea B
- Bri McAllister
- Avishai Barnoy
- Hunter Reardon

What's up with alcohol(s)?
Chemistry For Your Life
09/15/22 • 33 min
#057 Rebroadcast
So we all know what we think of when we hear the word "alcohol," but what if that's not really the whole picture? There's actually many kinds of alcohol, most of which we cannot drink. So what's up with all those alcohols? What makes them different? What makes them similar enough to all be called alcohol? Let's find out.
Want to start your own podcast? Use Transistor and you'll have the best podcast platform available. We use it and we are totally in love with it.
References from this episode
- https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/ershdb/emergencyresponsecard_29750029.html
- https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/pressroom/newsreleases/2015/march/food-additive-could-serve-as-a-safer-more-environmentally-friendly-antifreeze.html
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1306022/
- https://fscimage.fishersci.com/msds/14280.htm
- https://fscimage.fishersci.com/msds/89308.htm
- https://fscimage.fishersci.com/msds/89530.htm
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4811046/
- https://www.fishersci.com/msdsproxy%3FproductName%3DE1774%26productDescription%3DETHYLENE%2BGLYCOL%2BLABORATORY%2B4L%26catNo%3DE177-4%2B%26vendorId%3DVN00033897%26storeId%3D10652
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482121/
- https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/ammonium-nitrate-beirut-explosion-what-blast-lebanon-latest-a9654861.html
Thanks to our monthly supporters
- Ciara Linville
- J0HNTR0Y
- Jeannette Napoleon
- Cullyn R
- Erica Bee
- Elizabeth P
- Sarah Moar
- Rachel Reina
- Letila
- Katrina Barnum-Huckins
- Suzanne Phillips
- Nelly Silva
- Venus Rebholz
- Lyn Stubblefield
- Jacob Taber
- Brian Kimball
- Emerson Woodhall
- Kristina Gotfredsen
- Timothy Parker
- Steven Boyles
- Chris Skupien
- Chelsea B
- Bri McAllister
- Avishai Barnoy
- Hunter Reardon

Is crying chemistry? (the fascinating science of tears)
Chemistry For Your Life
04/21/22 • 38 min
#133
Have you ever wondered what tears are? If not, is it because you think you already know? Chances are, you don't actually know what tears are! It's probably more complex than you'd expect. Grab some tissues, let's get into it!
How to start a podcast. <- Check this out if you've got a podcast idea you want to make happen!
References from this episode
- https://cen.acs.org/articles/89/i2/Sad-Tears-Carry-Chemical-Signals.html
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6060216/
- https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/pr0497576
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5898890/
- https://journals-sagepub-com.libproxy.library.unt.edu/doi/10.1177/147470490900700302
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7294117/
- https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=iJ5r8SQ4NRUC&oi=fnd&pg=PA19&dq=emotional+tears+vs.+irritant+tear&ots=DEM0UZQ6iA&sig=T6CAwGAXSIJPMyIjnpJ9502QaIw#v=onepage&q=emotional%20tears%20vs.%20irritant%20tear&f=false
Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChemForYourLife.
Email us at [email protected]
And check out our chill, simple little website at https://chemforyourlife.transistor.fm/
And seriously, we love using Transistor. Check it out to be sure your podcast makes a bang.
Thanks to our monthly supporters
- Ciara Linville
- J0HNTR0Y
- Jeannette Napoleon
- Cullyn R
- Erica Bee
- Elizabeth P
- Sarah Moar
- Rachel Reina
- Letila
- Katrina Barnum-Huckins
- Suzanne Phillips
- Nelly Silva
- Venus Rebholz
- Lyn Stubblefield
- Jacob Taber
- Brian Kimball
- Emerson Woodhall
- Kristina Gotfredsen
- Timothy Parker
- Steven Boyles
- Chris Skupien
- Chelsea B
- Bri McAllister
- Avishai Barnoy
- Hunter Reardon

Why do lobsters turn red? (when we cook them)
Chemistry For Your Life
04/07/22 • 44 min
#132
When you think of lobsters, you probably always imagine them being red. But they're only actually red after they die, or more specifically, after we cook them. Why? Is it because being cooked is really embarrassing? That's what I thought too but the real explanation is more complicated and very chemical. Let's find out.
How to start a podcast. <- Check this out if you've got a podcast idea you want to make happen!
References from this episode
- https://ocean.si.edu/ocean-life/invertebrates/rainbow-colorful-lobsters#:~:text=But%20when%20a%20lobster%20is,in%20the%20Northeastern%20U.S.%20ocean.
- https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/pressroom/newsreleases/2013/august/the-chemistry-behind-lobster-color-and-shell-disease-new-acs-vid.html
- http://news.neaq.org/2013/08/the-colorful-chemistry-of-lobster-shells.html
- https://www.nature.com/articles/news050214-4#:~:text=When%20a%20lobster%20is%20boiled,lobster%20its%20freshly%2Dcooked%20colour.
- https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/jp401873k
- https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.152088999
- https://www.pnas.org/doi/pdf/10.1073/pnas.152088999
- https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/ja045049%2B
Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChemForYourLife.
Email us at [email protected]
And check out our chill, simple little website at https://chemforyourlife.transistor.fm/
And seriously, we love using Transistor. Check it out to be sure your podcast makes a bang.
Thanks to our monthly supporters
- Ciara Linville
- J0HNTR0Y
- Jeannette Napoleon
- Cullyn R
- Erica Bee
- Elizabeth P
- Sarah Moar
- Rachel Reina
- Letila
- Katrina Barnum-Huckins
- Suzanne Phillips
- Nelly Silva
- Venus Rebholz
- Lyn Stubblefield
- Jacob Taber
- Brian Kimball
- Emerson Woodhall
- Kristina Gotfredsen
- Timothy Parker
- Steven Boyles
- Chris Skupien
- Chelsea B
- Bri McAllister
- Avishai Barnoy
- Hunter Reardon

Do nasal decongestants even work?
Chemistry For Your Life
10/20/22 • 43 min
#146
When we are sick and super congested, many of us go to the store to pick up a decongestant. But what if some decongestants DON'T EVEN WORK, like at all? Wouldn't that be frustrating? Well we're sorry to say, it's true. Some "decongestants" are essentially ineffective against congestion? Why? Why are they even sold? Why are they even called decongestants then? Let's talk about this big mess.
How to start a podcast. <- Check this out if you've got a podcast idea you want to make happen!
References from this episode
- https://www-science-org.libproxy.library.unt.edu/content/blog-post/uselessness-phenylephrine
- https://extension.usu.edu/rangeplants/shrubs-and-trees/EphedraGreen
- https://www-sciencedirect-com.libproxy.library.unt.edu/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/ephedra-plant
- https://www.compoundchem.com/2015/01/06/decongestants/
- https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/molecule-of-the-week/archive/p/pseudoephedrine.html
- https://www-sciencedirect-com.libproxy.library.unt.edu/science/article/abs/pii/S0065291108601642?via%3Dihub
- https://pharmacy.ufl.edu/2015/10/14/uf-researchers-ask-fda-to-remove-non-prescription-decongestant-from-the-market/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK534801/#:~:text=The%20FDA%2Dapproved%20indication%20for,as%20septic%20shock%20or%20anesthesia.
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8174445/
- https://www.regulations.gov/docket/FDA-2015-P-4131/document
- https://extension.usu.edu/rangeplants/shrubs-and-trees/EphedraGreen
- https://www-ncbi-nlm-nih-gov.libproxy.library.unt.edu/pmc/articles/PMC8152226/
- https://www.jacionline.org/article/S0091-6749(06)00633-6/fulltext
Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChemForYourLife.
Email us at [email protected]
And check out our chill, simple little website at https://chemforyourlife.transistor.fm/
And seriously, we love using Transistor. Check it out to be sure your podcast makes a bang.
Thanks to our monthly supporters
- Ciara Linville
- J0HNTR0Y
- Jeannette Napoleon
- Cullyn R
- Erica Bee
- Elizabeth P
- Sarah Moar
- Rachel Reina
- Letila
- Katrina Barnum-Huckins
- Suzanne Phillips
- Nelly Silva
- Venus Rebholz
- Lyn Stubblefield
- Jacob Taber
- Brian Kimball
- Emerson Woodhall
- Kristina Gotfredsen
- Timothy Parker
- Steven Boyles
- Chris Skupien
- Chelsea B
- Bri McAllister
- Avishai Barnoy
- Hunter Reardon
Show more best episodes

Show more best episodes
Featured in these lists
FAQ
How many episodes does Chemistry For Your Life have?
Chemistry For Your Life currently has 342 episodes available.
What topics does Chemistry For Your Life cover?
The podcast is about Everyday, Learning, Story, Chemistry, Storytelling, Humor, Podcast, Podcasts, Education and Science.
What is the most popular episode on Chemistry For Your Life?
The episode title 'Ask a Chemist: Why do chemicals smell "chemically?" (And other questions)' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on Chemistry For Your Life?
The average episode length on Chemistry For Your Life is 33 minutes.
How often are episodes of Chemistry For Your Life released?
Episodes of Chemistry For Your Life are typically released every 6 days, 23 hours.
When was the first episode of Chemistry For Your Life?
The first episode of Chemistry For Your Life was released on Jul 9, 2019.
Show more FAQ

Show more FAQ