1. EachPod

Chemistry For Your Life - Podcast

Chemistry For Your Life

A podcast that helps you understand the fascinating chemistry hidden in your everyday life.

Have you ever wondered why onions make you cry? Or how soap gets your hands clean? What really is margarine, or why do trees change colors in the fall? Melissa is a chemist, and to answer these questions she started a podcast, called Chemistry for your life!

In each episode Melissa explains the chemistry behind one of life’s mysteries to Jam, who is definitely not a chemist, but she explains it in a way that is easy to understand, and totally fascinating.

If you’re someone who loves learning new things, or who wonders about the way the world works, then give us a listen.

Science Story Chemistry Lifestyle Humor Education Storytelling Learning
Update frequency
every 6 days
Average duration
33 minutes
Episodes
359
Years Active
2019 - 2025
Share to:
What’s up with foil?

What’s up with foil?

#018

This week Melissa and Jam explore the chemistry of aluminum foil. Why doesn’t it feel hot when we take it out of the oven? How does it cool down so quickly? We harken back to a previous episode …

00:30:06  |   Thu 21 Nov 2019
Why do foods brown when we cook them?

Why do foods brown when we cook them?

#017

This week Melissa and Jam explore some of the chemistry behind cooking. What happens when you sear a steak? What's going on when you toast toast? Why do so many foods turn golden-brown when coo…

00:33:48  |   Thu 14 Nov 2019
Why do onions make you cry?

Why do onions make you cry?

#016

This week Melissa and Jam explore the chemistry of onion tears, the emotional reaction we all have, against our will, when cutting onions. Grab some tissues, this one's gonna burn.

References fr…

00:32:56  |   Thu 07 Nov 2019
Green fire?!

Green fire?!

#015

This week Melissa and Jam explore a Halloween-themed topic, perfectly-timed for the fact that our episode air date happened to land on Halloween exactly! Can you change the color of fire using o…

00:24:03  |   Thu 31 Oct 2019
What makes artificial sweeteners artificial?

What makes artificial sweeteners artificial?

This week Melissa and Jam explore the chemistry of artificial/alternative sweeteners. What are artificial sweeteners? How can something be sweet but not packed with calories? Are we cheating? Did we …

00:27:14  |   Thu 24 Oct 2019
What even is sunscreen and how does it screen the sun?

What even is sunscreen and how does it screen the sun?

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, radi…

00:29:01  |   Thu 17 Oct 2019
How do geckos stick to walls?

How do geckos stick to walls?

This week Melissa and Jam continue in the category of "sticky" things by exploring how geckos stick to walls. How do they do it? Is it magic? Is it like spider-man? Is it intermolecular forces?

Refer…

00:29:58  |   Thu 10 Oct 2019
What's the scientific word for sticky?

What's the scientific word for sticky?

In this episode, Melissa and Jam explore the complex, but highly familiar and relatable concept of stickiness. It started as a lighthearted question from the end of "Why didn't Jam's pot ever boil?" …

00:32:22  |   Thu 03 Oct 2019
You got more questions?

You got more questions?

Question and Response #02

We've received even more questions! Melissa and Jam take more listener questions regarding topics from across the first 9 episodes, attempting to clarify some things and div…

00:31:26  |   Thu 26 Sep 2019
Baking soda and baking powder: what’s the difference?

Baking soda and baking powder: what’s the difference?

Baking powder? Baking soda? I mean they're both white powders with the word "baking" in it. How different could they be? Well, one can cause miniature kitchen volcanos and the other does what? Listen…

00:36:16  |   Thu 19 Sep 2019
Why didn't Jam's pot of water ever boil?

Why didn't Jam's pot of water ever boil?

Remember that one time (in episode 6 "Why do we put lids on pots to boil water") when Jam had a situation where his big pot of water would never boil? And he (quite ironically) took a lot of heat for…

00:24:17  |   Thu 12 Sep 2019
What the heck is going on inside microwaves?

What the heck is going on inside microwaves?

Melissa finally explains to Jam how microwaves work after making him wait for an entire week. What the heck is going on inside microwaves? How does it do it's thing and make our food tasty? Is it mag…

00:22:22  |   Thu 05 Sep 2019
Why do we put lids on pots to boil water?

Why do we put lids on pots to boil water?

Melissa and Jam discuss the curious habit of putting a lid on a pot in order to boil water. Does it help? Does it speed things up? If so, why?

Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChemForYour…

00:21:33  |   Thu 29 Aug 2019
You got questions?

You got questions?

Question and Response #01

Melissa and Jam take listener questions regarding the topics from episodes 1 and 2, Soap and Specific Heat, attempting to clarify some things and dive a little bit deeper. T…

00:24:59  |   Thu 22 Aug 2019
What are trans fats and are they evil?

What are trans fats and are they evil?

Continuing the conversation from last week's margarine episode, Melissa and Jam talk about some of the possible unexpected results of hydrogenation, including trans fats.

We also announce the winners…

00:20:56  |   Thu 15 Aug 2019
What is margarine? How is it different from butter?

What is margarine? How is it different from butter?

Melissa and Jam discuss margarine and what the heck it is, and how it's different from butter, and if it is actually made in the "country" in a "crock" or not.

Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Face…

00:28:37  |   Thu 08 Aug 2019
Why are sand and water different temperatures at the beach?

Why are sand and water different temperatures at the beach?

Melissa and Jam discuss the difference of temperatures, aka specific heat.

Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChemForYourLife.
Email us at [email protected]
And check out our chill,…

00:17:05  |   Thu 01 Aug 2019
How does soap get things clean?

How does soap get things clean?

Today Melissa and Jam talk about the chemistry of soap, and how it does its magical work.

Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChemForYourLife.
Email us at [email protected]
And check…

00:32:25  |   Thu 01 Aug 2019
What is Chemistry For Your Life?

What is Chemistry For Your Life?

A podcast that helps you understand the fascinating chemistry hidden in your everyday life.


Thanks to our monthly supporters

  • Ciara Linville
  • J0HNTR0Y
  • Jeannette Napoleon
  • Cullyn R
  • Erica Bee
00:00:30  |   Tue 09 Jul 2019
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are the property of Bleav + For Your Life. This content is not affiliated with or endorsed by eachpod.com.