Point of Interest

About Point of Interest

An informational podcast hosted by James and Noah. The goal is for two friends to dive into an interesting topic and teach each other and their listeners about our fascinating world! There is no set subject for what is discussed and the episode topics should vary. James and Noah both have a bachelor’s degree in the sciences, with James studying chemical engineering and Noah studying biology. Topics might include science, history, agriculture, food preservation, self-sufficiency, and big systems.

Publisher

James and Noah

Category

education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

7 Aug 2024

Latest episode

16 Mar 2025

Latest episodes

5 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   16 Mar 2025

   How music got its notes: Intonation and Tuning

   Have you ever wondered how the musical notes came to be? The way instruments can be differently tuned? Or what even is music, mathematically speaking? Join us today with special guest Noah A. to learn about the history of the musical scale from the Greeks to the harpsichord, to Jazz! We get into the math, but also the deeply human beauty of the sometimes messy way we make meaningful art! Point of Interest is a new podcast hosted by James and Noah. The goal is for two friends to dive into an interesting topic and teach each other and their listeners about our fascinating world! There is no set subject for what is discussed and the episode topics should vary. James and Noah both have a bachelor’s degree in the sciences, with James studying chemical engineering and Noah studying biology. Now James is pursuing his PhD and Noah has transitioned into healthcare. While the topics of discussion can be anything, their interests often lie in science, history, agriculture, food preservation, self-sufficiency, and big systems.

2. 

   16 Mar 2025

   Earth's Coldest Desert: Antarctica

   When you think about deserts Antarctica probably doesn't come to mind, but it is one: Earth's coldest. Perhaps the least talked about content it is undoubtedly the least populated, with only a little over 1000 people staying the winter. Despite this Antarctica has many interesting facts buried in its ice and snow. From fern-like trees, millions of years extinct to slimy fish, swarming birds to highly advanced physics labs. Listen to learn about this weird continent's geologic and natural history, its plants and animals, and its exploration and study. Point of Interest is a new podcast hosted by James and Noah. The goal is for two friends to dive into an interesting topic and teach each other and their listeners about our fascinating world! There is no set subject for what is discussed and the episode topics should vary. James and Noah both have a bachelor’s degree in the sciences, with James studying chemical engineering and Noah studying biology. Now James is pursuing his PhD and Noah has transitioned into healthcare. While the topics of discussion can be anything, their interests often lie in science, history, agriculture, food preservation, self-sufficiency, and big systems.

3. 

   8 Oct 2024

   The Fifth Horseman of the Apocalypse

   Today James and Noah discuss nuclear weapons, science, history, and danger! While they try to keep things upbeat, this hits on some scary topics. Ultimately they end in a place of hope. While nukes have a certain reputation in the media, maybe we don’t talk about their reality enough anymore. From their history of tragic uses to near misses to awe inducing innovation the history of harnessing the atom is fascinating. We must also acknowledge the devastation even a small nuclear exchange would bring and work to avoid it. Stap in because for 2+ hours of conversation on how humanity melts physics to harness a tremendous power that could be the undoing of civilization. xkcd degree-off: https://xkcd.com/1520/ Point of Interest is a new podcast hosted by James and Noah. The goal is for two friends to dive into an interesting topic and teach each other and their listeners about our fascinating world! There is no set subject for what is discussed and the episode topics should vary. James and Noah both have a bachelor’s degree in the sciences, with James studying chemical engineering and Noah studying biology. Now James is pursuing his PhD and Noah has transitioned into healthcare. While the topics of discussion can be anything, their interests often lie in science, history, agriculture, food preservation, self-sufficiency, and big systems.

4. 

   17 Sept 2024

   Why am I Itchy?

   A primer on the science of itching from two itchy boys! Featuring “the two sides of the midwestern itch coin: mosquitoes and poison ivy” as well as many other causes of that pesky desire to scratch. This episode is all about itch, how we define it, what the chemical/cellular mechanism behind it is, what causes itch, and the different ways that it can be treated. Noah and James explore the science of itch (Pruritus), the medical side of things, and have some good laughs! Point of Interest is a new podcast hosted by James and Noah. The goal is for two friends to dive into an interesting topic and teach each other and their listeners about our fascinating world! There is no set subject for what is discussed and the episode topics should vary. James and Noah both have a bachelor’s degree in the sciences, with James studying chemical engineering and Noah studying biology. Now James is pursuing his PhD and Noah has transitioned into healthcare. While the topics of discussion can be anything, their interests often lie in science, history, agriculture, food preservation, self-sufficiency, and big systems. ------------------- Sources: Items listed [KEY SOURCE] are great places to start reading if you want to gain a deeper understanding of itch Forgive my inconsistant formatting and copious use of Wikipedia. Itch - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Itch#Treatment) (8/9/2024) [KEY SOURCE] Antipruritic - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antipruritic) (8/9/2024) [KEY SOURCE] An Itch Is Not a Low-Level Form of Pain | Scientific American (https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/an-itch-not-low-level-form-pain/) Itchy skin (pruritus) - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic (https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/itchy-skin/symptoms-causes/syc-20355006) [KEY SOURCE] El Mulla, Khaled F.a; Khalifa, Doaa E.a; Gawish, Rasha I.b; Eldeeb, Marwa E.a,. Phototherapy versus pregabalin in treatment of chronic kidney disease associated pruritus: randomized controlled study. Journal of the Egyptian Women's Dermatologic Society 20(2):p 81-89, May–Aug 2023. | DOI: 10.4103/jewd.jewd_50_22 Badwy M, Baart SJ, Thio HB, Huygen FJPM, de Vos CC. Electrical neurostimulation for the treatment of chronic pruritus: A systematic review. Exp Dermatol. 2022 Mar;31(3):280-289. doi: 10.1111/exd.14468. Epub 2021 Dec 7. PMID: 34637585; PMCID: PMC9299998. Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV): Types Symptoms, & Treatment (clevelandclinic.org) (https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22855-herpes-simplex) PRURITUS Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com (https://www.dictionary.com/browse/pruritus) NIOSH Fast Facts: Protecting Yourself from Poisonous Plants | NIOSH | CDC (https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2010-118/default.html) Itchy skin (pruritus) - Diagnosis and treatment - Mayo Clinic (https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/itchy-skin/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20355010) About Lice | Lice | CDC (https://www.cdc.gov/lice/about/index.html) Swimmer's itch - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic (https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/swimmers-itch/symptoms-causes/syc-20355043) CDC - DPDx - Cercarial Dermatitis (https://www.cdc.gov/dpdx/cercarialDermatitis/index.html) Varicella zoster virus - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varicella_zoster_virus) Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV): Infection & Diseases (clevelandclinic.org) (https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/varicella-zoster-virus) Folliculitis - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folliculitis) Folliculitis - Symptoms & causes - Mayo Clinic (https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/folliculitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20361634) Why Wounds Itch During Healing and How to Stop It (westcoastwound.com) (https://westcoastwound.com/why-wounds-itch-during-healing/) [KEY SOURCE] Dermatophytosis - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dermatophytosis) Tinea Infections (Ringworm) | Johns Hopkins Medicine (https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/tinea-infections-ringworm) Dermatitis - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dermatitis) Atopic dermatitis (eczema) - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic (https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/atopic-dermatitis-eczema/symptoms-causes/syc-20353273) Basic mechanisms of itch - ScienceDirect (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0091674923006024) (Full Text (https://www.jacionline.org/article/S0091-6749(23)00602-4/fulltext#secsectitle0025)) [KEY SOURCE] What Is Histamine? (clevelandclinic.org) (https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/24854-histamine) [KEY SOURCE] Histamine - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Histamine) Mast Cells: Anatomy, Function & Diseases (clevelandclinic.org) (https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/mast-cells) Basophils: Function & Ranges (clevelandclinic.org) (https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/23256-basophils) Photodermatitis - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photodermatitis) Heracleum mantegazzianum - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heracleum_mantegazzianum) Corticosteroid - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corticosteroid) Hydrocortisone - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrocortisone) Antihistamine - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antihistamine) H1 antagonist - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H1_antagonist#Second-generation) Mosquito bite allergy - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosquito_bite_allergy) Mosquito - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosquito) Skeeter syndrome - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skeeter_syndrome) Poison ivy - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poison_ivy) Urushiol-induced contact dermatitis - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urushiol-induced_contact_dermatitis)

5. 

   7 Aug 2024

   The most important chemical reaction in human history

   In this first episode of Point of Interest, James and Noah explore the history of nitrogen fixation and its impacts on history. The Haber-Bosch Process revolutionized how nitrate is produced, making it arguably the most important chemical reaction in human history. While not a common topic of discussion, nitrogen is and has been a critical component of agriculture and industry. In this episode, James takes the lead in explaining the importance of nitrogen, how it was sourced before the Haber-Bosch Process, the Haber-Bosch Process itself, and its impacts on the world. While Noah was expecting to talk a fair bit about agriculture, he was surprised by how much they discussed urine and explosives! This episode should be interesting and entertaining for those with a science background and those who haven’t thought about chemistry since high school! Point of Interest is a new podcast hosted by James and Noah. The goal is for two friends to dive into an interesting topic and teach each other and their listeners about our fascinating world! There is no set subject for what is discussed and the episode topics should vary. James and Noah both have a bachelor’s degree in the sciences, with James studying chemical engineering and Noah studying biology. Now James is pursuing his PhD and Noah has transitioned into healthcare. While the topics of discussion can be anything, their interests often lie in science, history, agriculture, food preservation, self-sufficiency, and big systems. Send questions and comments to: podcastpointofinterest@gmail.com

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 11 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

22

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

0

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Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.