Who would ever think that 'rumors' would have such a well-documented history? Well, I guess that actually does makes sense. The spreading of these weightless truths seem to be a natural extension of communication itself. There's a science behind everything and today we'll dive into the science of rumors.  Merriam-Webster defines rumor as "talk or opinion widely disseminated with no discernible source," or, "a statement or report current without known authority for its truth." Research revealed historic practice of rumor-spreading, dating all the way to the ancient romans and their goddess of rumors, Fame. "This goddess was represented as a woman always in motion, constantly shouting and spreading good and bad news," writes Crescimbene et al (2012). "This winged monster allegorically represented rumors that arise, spread, gain credibility, do not distinguish between truth and falsity, and amplify and distort the facts at will." Centuries later, we find ourselves still tongue-tied with half truths. We used to play a game in school named 'Telephone', which practically prepared us for the swarm of rumor-spreading that awaited us in adulthood. It was an innocent game of whispering down the line but rumormongering as an adult and professional can be dangerous. They can cause mass-hysteria and in fact, rumors have fueled wars. In 1942, the American government saw the risks of these rumors and spearheaded rumor research under the "Rumor Project".  Crescimbene et al continues, "To fight rumors that were deemed dangerous to civil morality and national security, the U.S. government decided to set up institutional committees; at the same time, social scientists began to study the phenomenon of rumors."  Rumors are the fabric of various public relations tactics, also. I often re-visit one of my favorite campaigns, The Torches of Freedom. It's the brainchild of PR-Guru and legend, Edward L. Bernays. He used the power of rumor to change the narrative surrounding women who smoke and turned the habit into a sign of equality for women (to men). It spread like wildfire and powered the tobacco industry. Recent research separates the different types of rumors in an effort to focus on what's most important: the dangerous and deadly ones. Sure, we may spend a Friday night at the local pub, sharing a sports rumor, or two. That's nothing compared to sharing a rumor that causes public health emergencies, terrorist behavior, or war. "We should distinguish between rumor and gossip, as each appears to function differently in its pure state," writes Rosnow and Foster for the American Psychological Association. Gordon Allport and Leo Postman are hailed as two prominent rumor researchers and they took an early attempt at distinguishing the importance of rumors. They created the 'basic law of rumor', an equation that sounds promising (pretty sturdy title, you know?) but proved to be ineffective as researchers in the common-era discovered that the law ignored the emotional context of rumor.  Today, researchers spend their time understanding the different types of rumors by the person sharing it and the world around them. There are all sorts of clues in why they spread. Let's get to the bottom of it on Episode 174 and pledge to fight the deadly and dangerous ones.  --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/livebw/support

I enjoy moments like these. They remind me of finding a gem buried in the sand. Or, reaching into your pocket and being surprised with 20 bucks. It's an exciting time when you get the call that a superstar is on the way for an interview. Even better when they're as open and warm as Ne-Yo.  His talent is just the beginning of what makes him great. His glowing spirit introduced himself before he even sat down and it reminded me of what it takes to authentically smile. Peace covered him and it was contagious. I felt the need to let go of the past. He was in town for Baltimore's AFRAM celebration and in promotion for his 8th studio album, Self Explanatory. He shared that this project was the longest he's ever spent creating and he speaks of the self-reflection he had to endure to make it.  "I had to kinda find myself again," Ne-Yo began, "when I first got into the game, it didn't look the way it looks now. It didn't sound the way it sounds now. Things have changed and I was really trying to figure out where I fit in this primarily hip-hop, secondarily R&B type of situation that we in right now. What I had to realize is that, man, at the end of the day, my job is to make music. My job is to make art; and that's the only real obligation that I have to this whole thing, is to be genuine and honest with my art. And, make it come from the heart." I appreciated his transparency. It was especially refreshing to hear that from someone who has been the places he's been and seen the things he's seen. The multi-platinum, Grammy award winning singer/songwriter spoke on the power of re-invention and what it's done for his career. It's why he's been able to work with such a wide range of artists, spanning multiple generations.  We think these people don't face any issues but he introduced us to some of his demons and shared what he learned from them. This conversation was a refreshing reminder that your best work is on the other side of the best you. I hope you get the same vibe. Stick around for some commentary at the end and connect with me on Instagram and Twitter. Would love to hear your thoughts.  --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/livebw/support

Our timelines were rocked by the news of the richest man in the world, Elon Musk, striking a deal to purchase Twitter for $54.20 a share — valuing the firm at roughly $44 billion, according to CNBC. In a statement to announce the deal, Musk called Twitter “the digital town square where matters vital to the future of humanity are debated” and shared that he looks forward to unwrapping the company’s “tremendous potential.” I'd call the reactions somewhat of a panic. Some seem fearful of what it could spell for the future of the social media network. Musk has vowed to fight for the idea of true free speech and suggests that Twitter (currently) engages in "censorship". “I hope that even my worst critics remain on Twitter,” he tweeted Monday. “Because that is what free speech means.” People are worried that in a fight to open the door for free speech, Twitter will welcome back users who some feel were rightfully banned for hateful tweets and misinformation. "It's a bit concerning when you think about what Musk's ideas mean in practice," said Eric Jensen, a sociologist from the University of Warwick. "If you try to pull the existing efforts to try to reduce the amount of abusive speech on Twitter, the amount of disinformation around COVID 19 [...] that doesn't mean there is better free speech," Jensen told DW. "If the people with the loudest voices can abuse others into not participating, that's not really free speech." His purchase almost guarantees that the company will also become private, opening the door for changes to be made without the hoops of shareholders. Musk believes "the changes that need to be made to the platform can only be done if it’s a private company," writes CNBC's Nicolas Vega. It's an idea that former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey supports, too. "I don’t believe anyone should own or run Twitter. It wants to be a public good at a protocol level, not a company," he tweeted. "Solving for the problem of it being a company however, Elon is the singular solution I trust. I trust his mission to extend the light of consciousness."  This is my favorite part from Dorsey: "Twitter as a company has always been my sole issue and my biggest regret. It has been owned by Wall Street and the ad model. Taking it back from Wall Street is the correct first step."  It's no doubt that the social media platform is on the verge of undergoing a heavy shipment of changes. Question is, will you be a part of them? --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/livebw/support

We've been swamped with all sorts of shocking and historical headlines in recent years. There was one that wasn't necessarily puzzling, more like intriguing. Society really lended it's attention to it, you know? That headline was titled, "The Great Resignation". It sounds like a movie and it may very well become one. It highlights an unprecedented time in American history where a record number of workers walked out of their jobs.  According to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, over 47 million Americans quit their jobs in 2021. This wave of resignations was spurred by the strains of the pandemic but studies show that it was a ticking time bomb all along. A 2022 Pew Research survey exposed the truths about the American labor force and the harsh, sometimes exhausting, environments that our industries have created. Recently resigned workers point to 'quality of work' fallacies like unfair pay, stagnation, disrespect (towards the employee), and limited flexibility as reasons they left their jobs. Some were pointing to the more obvious concerns that the pandemic brought about like needing to be home with their children during virtual learning. A very small percentage of people were concerned about the COVID-19 vaccine requirements that was implemented during the height of the pandemic. As highlighted by Joseph Fuller and William Kerr in the Harvard Business Review, "what we are living through is not just short-term turbulence provoked by the pandemic but rather the continuation of a long-term trend." You see, I believe that we are entering a new state of workforce here in the states. A moment in history that I believe will be healthy for us all as it serves as a reminder to employers to value the employees and curate healthy environments for them to work in. Greg Iacurci from CNBC feels the same way. In fact, in his article from last week (Apr. 11), he wrote, "These workers will likely account for a good deal of churn in the labor market as the so-called Great Resignation continues, and this suggests employers may need to reconsider pay, benefits and other workplace issues." “The power is going to the employee right now,” said Tim Glowa, who leads Grant Thornton’s employee listening and human capital services team. “They are in the driver’s seat.” The driver's seat, the vehicle, and the journey; I believe the labor market has set its sights for brighter days. The power has returned to the talent and employers are being held accountable for greed. Let's investigate what's behind the "Great Resignation" and see where we stand in all of this. No policy, just facts.  Let's get into all on Episode 171. Connect on Instagram, Twitter, or by email at [email protected]. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/livebw/support

On March 13th 2022, we were robbed of an hour of sleep. It's called the "spring forward" and it's the kickoff of Daylight Savings time (DST) here in the United States of America. According to National Geographic, about 70 countries practice DST. It was initially implemented in Port Arthur, Ontario in 1908 but it's biggest implementation came in Germany during World War I, 1916. We've come a long way since then and recent research has put a strain on our century-old habit of playing with the clocks. There's new legislation coming out of Capitol Hill that could make Daylight Savings Time the permanent measure of time in the United States of America beginning in 2023. They call it the Sunshine Protection Act of 2022. It passed with unanimous votes in the Senate and must now pass in the House. Then, President Biden can sign it into law. It's brought up some heavy discussion about the cause & effect of making such a change. There's been conversation about what it can do to our bodies and the benefits (& negatives) of both standard and daylight savings time changes. If you ask me, the problem is in the changes, in general.  You see, many researchers are critical of Daylight Savings because of what it does to the circadian rhythm. “Daylight saving time feels kind of like jetlag from traveling across time zones," Dr. Angela Holliday-Bell told ABC News last month. She's a pediatrician and certified clinical sleep specialist. “Your body needs time to readjust to a new light/dark cycle, so it can be hard on the body and hard on sleep," Holliday-Bell continued. That 'cycle' she refers to is the Circadian Rhythm. “It dictates all the processes that occur in your body -- including sleep, wake and digestion,” said Holliday-Bell. Even the immune system is controlled by your circadian rhythm, meaning "when you lose an hour, you’re losing some immune function as well," she explains. DST is considered a 'deadly weekend' by many experts because of the strain that losing an hour of sleep puts on us. Many point to the uptick in deadly car wrecks as evidence of how abrasive the change can be. Others focus on the risks of heart attack, stroke, and other complications during the weekend of spring forward. "According to the American Heart Association, in addition to the fatigue, the transition can also affect your heart and brain. Hospital admissions for an irregular heartbeat pattern known as atrial fibrillation, as well as heart attacks and strokes, increase in the first few days of daylight saving time," writes Dr. Acholonu for ABC News. It's worth noting that this charade with our circadian rhythm could be the actual issue - not DST itself. Let's explore what a permanent Daylight Savings Time could spell for us and then decide if it's something we need, let alone want.  Episode 170! Enjoy. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/livebw/support

It started as just a night out with the homies -- it became a rabbit hole about America's history with marijuana. The green plant has bent some legislation halls and is a topic of conversation among many of us. It's mostly about the legalization of cannabis and the never-ending war about whether it's harmful to consume. We're drowning in a cesspool of misinformation (as a society) on many subjects, including marijuana. It's easy to get lost trying to disseminate facts from myths. "Marijuana has been illegal at the federal level since 1937," writes Michigan Attorney Bruce Allen Block. Individual states approach the conversation differently but federal guidance has been shaky, at best. It's classified as a, "Schedule 1 controlled substance, alongside hallucinogens​, LSD, peyote, heroin, most opiates, methaqualone, and ecstasy." It's interesting that it's been illegal for longer than it's been understood. Recent research, including this article by Healthline, investigates the negatives and positives of using marijuana. It's clear that it has some power as the medical field has embraced it's health benefits for centuries. A sad view of the conversation is when I stop to think about the 40,000(+) inmates who are currently still serving time for marijuana possession (even though -- it's practically everywhere now). That's a wee-bit more political than I think we'll get on this journey but it's mentioned. I definitely came out of this one with a greater understanding of Marijuana's broken relationship with the American government. Let's explore on Episode 169. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/livebw/support

After a 7 month hiatus, the Brian's World Live podcast returns for Season 7 as LiveBW. The first episode of our new journey ventures into Brian's world and  meets up with the social anxiety that turned a 2 week break into a long a** time. You'll hear from experts in the mental health field who share their opinions and research on social anxiety disorder. Hear the in-depth story of crippling moments in time that millions face yearly. According to Mental Health America, fifteen million Americans are battling social anxiety disorder. Some estimates are far greater. "Social Anxiety Disorder, sometimes called social phobia, is an anxiety disorder characterized by extreme fear or anxiety in one or more social settings," writes MHA. "Going to a party or even having a one-on-one conversation with a new person can result in increased heart rate, sweating, and racing thoughts for someone with social anxiety. When social anxiety gets significant, it’s common for individuals to isolate and feel very alone, making recovery harder." They continue, "ultimately, it can make it difficult for a person to live the life they want: the excessive fear of humiliation and rejection can limit them in work, school, and relationships. While most people have concerns about acceptance and embarrassment, the extreme anxiety and dread that accompany social anxiety disorder are so overwhelming that a person may find it hard to function in daily life and may avoid the anxiety-inducing situations altogether." This episode is a story of how all of that relates to Brian and the 7 month 'see-ya-later'. If you, or someone you know, is dealing with mental health concerns and are in need of help, visit the NIH website for tips and outreach contacts. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/livebw/support

It's been... Much longer than a one week break. But my mind has been working and I know yours has, too. In Season 7, everything changes. It's about us growing together, peeling back the layers of life and finding our paths - together. Season 7 begins March 7th.  --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/livebw/support

What better way to end Season 6 than on top of the world?  The last two weeks have been historic for mankind. We've seen two billionaires take advantage of the recently privatized industry of space exploration, publicly reaching for the stars. On July 11th, Virgin Group CEO Richard Branson took his Virgin Galactic team into space, making them the first civilians to do so. Then, Amazon Founder Jeff Bezos soared to the stars yesterday (July 20th), making his Blue Origin team the second to do so. Elon Musk's SpaceX is expected to launch an all-civilian crew into the cosmos later this year.  For a kid who has always looked up at the stars with wonder, this civilian space race has been a joy to watch. As someone who looks for the deeper story in the moment, it's been inspirational. It's easy to ignore the inspiration because they are filthy rich. You know how people treat the filthy rich. But if we look past the money, we see three guys who are achieving the impossible. We learn a valuable lesson of how determination can take you to the stars. We also learn that getting to the moon is actually bigger than ourselves.  --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/livebw/support

The blue light is on! Welcome to another 2AM episode inside Brian's World. Today, we'll travel to Cincinnati to link up with Sincerely VO. He's fresh off of a big release with Hitman Holla and Tee Grizzley entitled "Control Da Room".  I appreciate him and his humility as he wasn't shy about his story. He left his hometown in 2018 for Atlanta in pursuit of his dream. On today's episode, he talked about the fears he felt while making that tough decision and the challenges he faced while living in Atlanta. His story is one of perseverance and determination, things that we could all benefit from hearing.  "I really just had to let it fuel the fire," VO said about struggling in Atlanta. "Well, we here now. I'm not going home empty handed." Hear more of VO's story on Episode 166.  --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/livebw/support