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Call for questions: FUN! (Patreon)

Published:
2024-07-01 22:29:28
Imported:
2026-06

Content

Let's talk FUN! How do our brains identify fun? What are the benefits of fun? When do we first experience fun? Leave your questions below for a future episode on that playful, joyous, light-hearted feeling of fun.

Deadline: Friday, July 5 at noon PST

Comments

Timmy H.

How does WHERE we live affect our ability to PERCEIVE JOY?

Maria Whamond

Does the ologist reckon that they have more fun because they study it?

Sikwani Dana

Why do we enjoy different things? Like some people like to play video games, some don’t. Some like to paint, and some people don’t.

Chris Bulock

Can fun be measured in science? 🤪🔬

Andrea Levinson

How are some ways adults can incorporate Play into our lives? Playing was such a big part of childhood, how do we bring that joy back in?

Nicole Kleinman

How do humans differentiate “fun” ? Like one person thinks skiing is fun, but others do not.

Greg Walloch

Are some people more predispositioned to have fun than others?

mish the fish

can you talk about anhedonia? causes, coping mechanisms, why it happens, etc

Sarah king

Difference between all the types of fun (type 1,2, and crazy people 3)

Scott Hanley

Sounds like a fun ology what is its ology handle?

Sarah king

Can fun ever feel bad in the brain or does it just release positive brain chemicals? What happens in the brain during fun?

Rebecca Roehm

How do you find fun when you are experiencing depression?

Stefanie Wenninger

Why do the things we think are fun change over time? Even as an adult I’ll think one thing is fun for a while and then a year later wouldn’t ever do that thing… what’s the dealio?!

Sarah king

How do you keep fun alive as you get older? And what does the science say about how important it is?

Harper

Why do some of the things that feel fun change over short periods, like days or weeks, rather than gradually as we age? I’ve had the experience of playing a game every day for 2 months because it’s really fun and then one day opening it and getting nothing. Why did my brain abruptly change interest?

Eil Be Gone

Do you ever get the F.U.N. song from SpongeBob Squarepants stuck in your head? Why is it fun to sing?

Claire Richie

What should we do if we’ve maybe forgotten how to have fun? Capitalism has convinced us we have to to be producing all the time- how do I teach myself to just enjoy things again?

Elta Sparks

Why does not having fun feel physically painful for ADHD/neurodivergent people?

James Nance

Why do some people seem to experience fun more easily than others? I imagine it's tied to personalities and a host of other factors, but I feel like it's a lot harder for me to feel like something is fun compared to others in my social groups. Any insight would be appreciated! Thanks!!

Lizzy Martinez

When we're babies/toddlers developing, how do we know something is fun and then how do we remember how to do the fun thing again? (I took some childhood psychology classes in college but don't remember much so hope to hear about this haha).

Tabitha Dell’Angelo

I have been researching fun and play! If you have not read it yet, check out The Power of Fun by Catherine Price!

Elta Sparks

Is there a scientific formula to maximize fun?

Leah Lasarte

Do species other than mammals have fun?

Jennifer Froh

Why do some people find abhorent things fun? Like bullying and bigotry... some people making fun of people as fun. Why???? Is this qctually a brain difference or are those people just awful?

Jen A.

Is there a certain amount we should have per day to be happy, healthy? Does fun and health actually have a connection? What can we do to make BORING TASKS IN LIFE more fun? And lastly why can't people just BE more fun??? I like to laugh a lot at life, stupid stuff that happens, if I trip or spill or if something like that happens but other people get MAD. Life sucks, but fun comes from just making things funny, no??? 🤪

Terena

Speaking purely scientifically, what is the evolutionary purpose of fun?

Jennifer Froh

Do blondes actually have more fun? 🤣

Adam Foote

How and why does what we consider fun change as we age? And in what ways does it not change? I mean, a really satisfying button is still fun to press after 30 years of pressing buttons so there's definitely some things that never change!

Gracefully Davis

First time question asker here! Why do humans have generational phases of stereotypical 'fun' things? i.e., going out in early adulthood, or going to bed early in later life? Do you attribute this mostly to societal structure or to changes in what activities are rewarding throughout life (or both??)

Jen A.

She/her, if it matters. 😄

Seán Thomas Kane

Seven of Nine had a great line in "Star Trek: Voyager": "Fun will now commence!" What's the etymology of fun? It seems like such a ubiquitous word.

Alannah Wood

Why are some things fun for some people and not fun or like the worst thing they can think of for others? And is there a difference between like an adrenaline rush from jumping out of a plane kinda fun to idk playing a good board game? Also why when we are depressed do we loose interest in things that used to be fun to us?

Nicole S

Do you have to be happy to have fun or vice versa?

Samantha Randolph

Have there been studies that analyze people having fun solo versus people having fun with friends/in community and any noticeable differences?

Brenden O'Donnell

Is mandatory fun (ie work events) the same fun as the kind of fun you have when you’re free to choose the activity? In to other words, can you tell someone to have fun?

Lauren Taracka

How much do your experiences growing up affect your idea of “fun”? For example, I am a herpetologist and have the most fun looking for and seeing snakes. But I know that is NOT the case for everyone. Does our perception of fun get built into us in early development?

Cecily Templeton

What are the effects of fun while learning? My son's kindergarten teachers go to great lengths to make school fun for him. What's the point? 🙂

Christina Johnson

Cool Topic! :) What is the history of the association of fun and laziness.. like if you're having fun, you're probably not working hard, or that fun is just for kids . Are there cultures or generations that have put a greater emphasis on fun and enjoyment in life while others tend to negate it. Are there ways to change that within the workplace? And throughout everyday life? :) Here's to being a lot happier in this short amount of time we have!

Kelly Dooling

How much of what we consider to be fun is determined by society vs genetics? Is there any research on nature/nurture in fun?

Jamie Alexander

When I think of fun I think of motion and going fast, swimming when it feels like flying ;) surfing, skating, swings, jumping off a diving board, maybe that has to do with the thrill of it. I wonder why. Why does it feel fun to move fast?

Katie Hammond

Similar to this: I do martial arts and getting thrown around is really fun, despite it being dangerous and having been injured. Why is dangerous stuff so fun for some people?

Heather Dykes

Why do so many’s perceptions of “fun” change as we age? Like why is something super fun as a kid but ends up being a let-down as an adult? For me this was swimming/going to the pool. And the opposite, where something that is sooooo boring and not fun as a kid becomes super fun as an adult? (For me these are art museums and cooking)

Aeriel Belk

Why do fear and fun get linked in our brains? Like, why do we find adrenaline inducing things fun? My hypothesis is that it’s actually the relief of not dying that we interpret as fun, is that even a little accurate?

Amanda Regan

Are there physiological benefits to having certain types of fun?

Brenden O'Donnell

Are you interviewing Dr. Charles E. Cheese for this one?

Nicole Story

Why are adrenline-fueled activities like riding roller coasters or skydiving fun for some (me) and nightmarish for others (my S.O.)? What makes going to haunted houses and getting scared fun?

Aeriel Belk

I’ve been told that babies laugh at peekaboo because they don’t have object permanence yet and so are relieved every time they realize you still exist. Is that true?

Kate E

How do we tell fun from joy? Does fun require a certain level of play? Are there hormonal or electrical tests that show this individual is having some FUN!? (Now this is sounding a little scary)

Aeriel Belk

What’s the difference between fun and relaxed? Can relaxing things be fun or does it have to be exciting to count as fun?

Harper

Do we develop neurological pathways based on the ways we find joy? It seems like adults develop habits around what we enjoy and how. Are young kids able to enjoy/find fun in a wider variety of things because of neuroplasticity?

ConnieConnieBoBonnie

Lots of people enjoy haunted houses, rollercoasters, and scary movies - are those things fun for them or is that a different kind of experience?

Sydonie S.

How can I make things that feel unfun fun? Like washing the dishes and doing chores.

ConnieConnieBoBonnie

Does being competitive increase or decrease the amount of fun you can have?

Dawn Smolczyk (pronounced small-check)

How do our brains end up thinking roller coasters and similarly scary activities are fun? Is there an evolutionary benefit to enjoying these activities?

Tyler Bates

Why is it hard to let yourself have fun sometimes as an adult? Sometimes it feels like no matter how hard you try to relax and enjoy the moment, you just can’t.

Michelle Lavoie

FTQA: why am I sad and anxious after having a day of fun?

Julie Noble

The gamification of learning has been a hot topic in education over the past few+ years—Does more learning take place when fun is involved? Is recall/retention improved?

Hudson Wachowicz

Do people all around the world find the same things & activities fun.

Paulina Krasińska-Sroka

Fun vs. ADHD! Is hyperfocus really fun for my brain or does it process dopamine hits delivered that way differently than, for example, from watching a really good movie? And on an broader spectrum: What chemicals show up or neurons light up when we're having fun? Is it simply dopamine for everyone or does fun look different to different brains?

cash.ruska

Why do some people find something fun and others find it completely arduous?

Bassist Ex Machina

To what extent is fun connected to choice? In other words, if you did the same exact activity would you enjoy it more if you chose to do it than if you were told to do it?

Julie Noble

Wondering if there have been any studies that look into why some people find something fun that isn’t inherently supposed to be (making a color coded spreadsheet or mowing their lawn, for example)?

cash.ruska

Instructional designer here to second this question!

Josephine Murdoch

How long have humans been taking substances for fun (e.g. alcohol, drugs)? And why do we do it?!

Julie Noble

Is it more fun to be amusingly bad at something—or to be really good at it? I love my adult ballet class, but I’m not very good at it. Why has more fun—me or Misty Copeland? 😂

Josephine Murdoch

Is there a relationship between fun and flow state?

Julie Noble

I love this question! Is fun just a matter of intrinsic motivation vs. extrinsic motivation? 🤯

Lucy McGuffie

I came here to ask this same question!

KirjoM

How can you find out what your version of fun is?

Claire Maurer

Fun isn’t just for humans (proven by my poodle, Prince) but how do we see fun in the animal kingdom? Is there a purpose? Or are we all just out here having fun for fun??

Julie Noble

This was listening to NPR for me. I cringed as a teen when my dad would put it on in the car, but 5 years later it was programmed as my #1 spot and most of what I listened to!

Emily Woodland

How can I trick my brain into thinking that something I previously perceived as scary, boring or unpleasant is actually fun? How can I help other people around me have more fun in situations where they otherwise wouldn’t be enjoying themselves? To what extent is having fun a choice?

Katrina Renee

ftqa - any recommendations on how to tap into your fun/playful side if you’re a person who didn’t get to experience much of it as a kid? - what’s the difference between fun and play (if any)? - how can we trick our brains into thinking things that aren’t fun are, so we’re more likely to do them (like is there a way to help make my brain think doing dishes is fun)?

Julie Noble

How important is it to have a variety of types of fun?

Sam

At the risk of sounding super edgy, why do some people find binge drinking fun? I just graduated college and I just couldn’t understand how overconsumption to the point of getting sick was so popular?

Diana Teeter

Why do I find things like organizing my closet or tabulating data fun? Shouldn't I find this stuff boring?

Devyn

Can I trick my brain into having fun? Why are tedious or boring things fun to me? Can fun be learned or is it inherently in our noggins from the begining?

Erin Everton

Do more social species tend to get more value from fun?

Julie Noble

How do the words used for “fun” in different languages and cultures differ?

Kayla Anley

Why do we stop playing pretend for fun? Why do we stop playing with toys?

Justin Bowen

Are there activities, things, or sensations that almost everyone in the world considers fun?

Waylo

Is there a defined spectrum of Fun?

Mr. Weevil

how does the idea of fun differ from person to person, especially in neurodivergent vs neurotypical brains?

Maria Andrus

Is fun a mindset? I know that when I'm grouchy things that are normally fun or funny to me don't hit the same.

Ann Hanlin

Sorry I have a lot of questions on this one lol Can fun still be fun if it’s contrived? Kind of like that thing where if you make yourself smile it supposedly makes you happier regardless of what your mood actually is. Also this might be a stupid question for a smart person, but why does time fly while we’re having fun? Is it just that we’re not paying attention to the time passing? Is there any way we can slow down whilst having fun so we can maximize our fun intake? Why does it feel like something isn’t productive enough if I’m having fun while doing it? Does that happen to anyone else? If you’re having fun with a task, it feels less worth while? (For example, if I enjoy vacuuming, but hate doing the dishes, and both need done, I’ll do the dishes first and push off the vacuuming because it’s the less important of the two—purely because it’s the one I want to do). What’s the interviewees’ favorite study they’ve done or found on Fun? I’m excited for this episode!

Lauren Cooper

Why are scary things fun? Like horror movies or roller coasters? And why do some people like them and some hate them?

Sam

Love this question! This may depend on where you live, but I highly recommend going to a trampoline park or snow tubing down a mountain. Two of the most joyful activities ever!!

Emma Henson

Is their a chemical associated with fun?

Lainie McKeating

For me fun is making things, fun and joy are completely connected to creativity. Is it that way for others? Fun = creativity?

Cat Lady

What happens in a developing brain of a child who was not allowed to have fun, or was allowed very minimal fun? I ask because when I was a child, my parents never bought me toys, and I was not allowed to go to friends' houses or have sleepovers, etc. I was also not allowed to do dramatic play because they thought it was stupid for me to act like something/someone else. If we looked compared the brain of young me and that of a child who has lots and lots of fun, what - if anything - would we see?

Suzen Baxter

How do depression and anxiety block fun? Things that we used to enjoy stop being fun.

rocky_ racoon

First time question asker here, is there a time limit to having fun? Why does fun abate after a time? Is it built into the nature of fun that it cannot last for more than a couple hours at most? Can I increase my stamina for having fun or is there a natural drop-off?

Riley M

Long time listener, FTQA! As a person with ADHD, something that I find fun one day can completely consume my life, to the point of neglecting my physical and mental needs, and a week later the idea of doing that fun thing makes me feel physically nauseous and I simply can't convince myself to do it. How do the pathways for "fun" differ in neurodivergent brains? Why do we have that big on/off switch? Also, when people are depressed, why is fun so much more muted? Are we unable to process the positive emotions in the same way, or are the negative feelings just overwhelming the positive ones?

Staci Pinkowitz

Heehee I giggled when I saw this notification and that means I’m having fun???

S D Lennox

Some people perceive fear as fun and others perceive it as a legit reason to have a panic attack/experience extreme anxiety (ie horror films, thrill seeking activities, petting lions, etc.)... Which mode is best for a 'healthy' sense of fun?

Staci Pinkowitz

Fun vs pleasure??? Where do we draw those lines? Like having a delicious bite of food is pleasurable and can be fun too but what is what there

RJ Doidge

Probably too far down the list now but: Neurologically speaking, what does our brain perceive as “fun?” How is this response different from another excitable emotion, or is it simply a different part of the brain is activated?

Caro Young

Why does it seem like we loose our ability to have fun as we get older? And what can we do to get the fun back?

Yuri

Why is it so hard for me to have fun????? 😭 My brain is so serious but I really like fun (Yuri - like beauty without the b)

Shelby Reardon

What are the different types of fun? I'm very aware of Type 2 fun, but are there others? Also, it seems to take me and my fiance some repetition before we realize something isn't fun or is type 2 fun. Is that normal? What are some of the absolute most fun things? Like things that have gotten the biggest positive reaction study-wise or are widely considered fun across a great variety of people?

Caro Young

Why is everyone’s sense of what is fun so different?

Shelby Reardon

Do other species have fun? Like, when we look at cows running around each other and say, "Oh they're playing," are they actually? or are we assigning them human traits?

Victoria Sauter

We find fun socially, physically (not just pleasure but running or skipping, etc.), intellectually, and in all these different modes and places - are there types that are healthier in the long run or have side benefits that might not be obvious?

Mark Hewlette

There was a skit on SNL where Adam Sandler was a tour operator. He was selling a Greek vacation - "come you will have the time of your life! But if you're not having fun now where you live, don't bother coming 'cause you won't have fun here either". Seems fun is a decision to make all the time. It's a funny skit but I believe it is true. What do you think?

Kim G

First time question asker here! Historically speaking, when did humans first start to conceptualize “fun”? What are the first mentions of people doing things only for their own amusement? What were those things?

Paul S. R. Chisholm

We had "mandatory fun" (sarcastically named by employees) days at one job. Some people had more fun than others. Also, "Mandatory Fun" is a good Weird Al album.

Miranda Panda

Why do we all have such differing ideas of what is and is not fun?

Robin Stumbo

omg please please please talk about how play helps us learn faster!!! and also how it's important for our wellbeing regardless of our age 😁

Rebecca Morrison

FTQA: can you explain the entomology: fun / funny when fun means usually joyous and uplifting and funny often means silly or humorous

NJ Baker

What can we do to choose to have “good clean fun” rather than crazy self-destructive “fun”? I’m in my sixties now so it’s a wee bit easier, but when I think back to my misspent youth, I’m kinda appalled. How can I help my grandkids with this?

Paul S. R. Chisholm

"I can call the spirits from the vasty deep." "Why, so can I, or so can any man; But will they come, when you do call for them?"

Jessica Chance

Ooh ooh! Can you talk about the right balance of Type 1 fun and Type 2 fun? How many spa days should I take after I climb a mountain to optimize my fun?

Miranda Panda

Are you familiar with the fun scale? I was an adventure sport instructor for many years and we would rate fun on a scale. Type 1 fun is something fun in the moment. Type 2 fun is something you only think of as fun after some time has passed, even though you may have been a bit miserable in the moment. Type 3 fun wasn't fun at all, and retrospectively you would never do it again, yet for some reason you still sort of have fond memories of the event, and you know deep down you'll probably do something just as horribly miserable again.

Paul S. R. Chisholm

LTL/FTQA: How does fun in groups compare with fun with one other person compare with solo fun?

Cat Kessler

What are some good ways/practices for reconnecting with fun when we’re feeling blah or burned out?

Timmi Yu

FTQA: What makes uncomfortable things fun? For example, Tough Mudder, IronMan, etc. are fun, but doing the same type of physical labor for a job would not be considered fun.

Jackie G

How come it seems like when you're tired nothing sounds fun, even things that aren't physically active? Does fun always use a lot of energy? And is this why we don't pursue fun as much as we age?

Chris Curious

Does fun change as we get older?

Vanessa Adams

What exactly is happening to our brains when we have fun? What neurotransmitters and chemicals are involved?

Vanessa Adams

Is having fun an evolutionarily advantageous trait? I see animals are able to experience (or what we perceive them to experience) fun. Cats playing, dogs chasing balls, cows frolicking, horses running in fields, otters rolling on river banks. Does this serve a purpose?

Gail Starr

First timer here, why do so many people find scary activities fun (I.e. skydiving, roller coasters) while others dread them?

Samwise

Is fun learned by seeing someone else have fun? Or does fun spontaneously evolve in each individual?

Helen Langille

Why is it that depression makes me not want to have fun even thought that fun might help manage my depression better?

Emmett

Why does time fly by when we’re having fun?

Jackie G

same question!

Marc Rubin

Is it possible to force people to have fun? What can we do to maximize the likelihood that people will have fun at functions that are supposed to be "fun". I'm looking at you, corporate social events, elementary school square dancing, improv workshops, jigsaw puzzling, board gaming, etc.

Adam Weaver

Why do I keep having to start ✨ new✨ things to be happy? Is it my ADHD? I'm happiest when I start new shows, new books, new projects but the enjoyment always drops off and I rarely finish anything. It all becomes a chore even when it's something I enjoy.

Anjali Himali

How do you measure fun? Is there a scale? A chart?

Wren

Why do I sometimes not want to do things I know will be fun? E.g. reading, going out with friends, going for a hike

Sarah

Are some people more naturally prone to having fun? Any scientific guesses as to why that might be? I feel like I'm always having more fun than the people around me, who might get tired faster, bored faster, or are just less exuberant about expressing their enjoyment. I laugh easier, longer, harder at everything compared to my friends and partner. People always tell me that I always seem like I have so much fun and ask for my secret, but I don't have an answer.

Shannon Bartels

FTQA- do we have any studies or proof that animals who appear to be playing are having fun? Is there something we can point to in the brain and say “that blip right there is fun!”

Luke LaFemina

Why is type 2 fun still fun? I run this race every year that makes me puke but I do it year after year.

Mark McPhillips

Why does time fly when you're having fun?

Olivia jm

✨ftqa✨- Why does what we determine as fun change as we age and mature? I feel like every decade I’m alive I have a completely different definition of fun. Thank you!❤️

Paul Hoffman

We try not to anthropomorphize "fun" onto other animals, but how do we prevent ourselves from claiming that we know what other humans would or should be considered fun?

Christine Wenzel

How does being "silly" relate to fun? Is silliness and fun part of our personalities? Even when I was a kid I wasn't as "silly" as the other kids and now as an adult I don't feel super playful/silly/fun around little kids. And is there a way I can have more fun when I'm with little kids and tap into that silly and playful side?

Average_pi

Why are empty boxes more fun to play with than toys?

Chrysalis Ashton

I have the same question! Shouldn’t the fun day have created good feelings and not bad ones if it was truly fun?

Robin F.

For doing dishes, I tend to do all of one kind of something (usually utensils), and/or I chain properties of the things I’m washing. For example, “things with plastic” or “vessels” (cups and bowls)—and switching from one to the next by some other shared property. So maybe a drinking glass, then a plastic cup, then a plastic container, then a bowl…

Robin F.

I think that tricking your brain into thinking that things that aren’t fun are, may actually be finding the fun in something that typically isn’t.

Jenna Congdon

Why are some things fun for some people and not for others? Some people think roller coasters are fun- I've always hated them. But I think that things like going camping for days on end (even without a shower) are fun, and other people do not enjoy that.

Jenna Congdon

Also!! How do different cultures understand and enjoy fun differently? Some cultures may have activities that are deemed "fun" that might be considered strange or "not fun" in other places. Some cultures are loud and exuberant, while others are quiet and serious. Does fun always relate to the amount of laughter and smiles in the room? Can fun be had with a (relatively) straight face? Is there any benefit to living in a culture that highly values playfulness?

Jenna Congdon

I love this question and second it! And Sarah, as a secretly silly/weird person who loves to have fun but needs a push to lighten up, your personality type is always a favorite to be around!

Jenna Congdon

Does everybody really stop thinking that things like going down the slides at the playground is fun, or are we all just secretly pretending not to care? My husband and I make a point of going to playgrounds after dark so that we can play on everything without pushing kids out of the way, lol. Why do we insist that adulthood requires seriousness?!

Kimberly

FTQA - How can I add more fun to my life when I am feeling down? I’m going through a difficult breakup right now and I feel like all of the joy has been sucked out of my life. Thank you in advance. 💛

Olivier Calas

Nowadays hyper-consumerism seems to dictate younger generations what constitute fun..As a kid when visiting my grandmother every Sunday I used to play for hours with a tin box filled with hundreds of buttons. That’s all there was and it was fun, I never got tired of it. Isn’t the concept of fun something you learn at home according to what’s at hand without having to buy it on the web because it is being promoted as the coolest thing you ought to have or do?

Zoe Litton

Why do my brother and my mom have fun doing scary stuff, but I don't? How can I have more fun doing scary things?

Ruby

I think fun for me is freedom from masking (41 yr old ADHD diagnosis, now 43), from thinking, it's a moment of letting go of cares, worries, responsibliities. Fun shared is 1 + 1 = 3, it can be a beautifully quiet moment of joy (what is the difference between fun and joy?) sitting on the floor throwing a ball for the pups, and it can be the elbows up mosh pit of a huge festival. Fun is deeply personal and yet has the ability to transcend culture, be nostalgic and novel. Love me some fun.

LightBrownPillow

Have there been studies on the memories of fun? Does recalling a fun experience activate similar neurons/dopamine to when we actively experienced it?

Eliot

First question. What are the differences between fun and enjoyment? Is it a matter of degree, or are there different parts of the brain involved?

Alice Rubin

Why does fun give me anxiety? Why do we think hard (and painful) things are fun? Why is something that is total torture while we are in the middle of it seem like fun once in the rear-view? WHY ARE WE LIKE THIS?!?!

Ani Gee

How is it possible that you can have fun while in depression? Super depressed, do something fun with someone you care about maybe and then as soon as it's over your immediately super depressed again... Asking for a friend. 🙃🫣 And this is in regards to having depression not just being depressed one day

Chelsea and her dog Charlie

Yes this! First time question asker - why do I immediately avoid things that are “supposed” to be fun? Anything that feels like forced fun (I.e. amusement parks, board games) feels like there’s this expectation that I should have more fun than I am capable of having

Chelsea and her dog Charlie

First time - what about the fear that creeps up during a good time, that you’ll never have this much fun again? Am I just depressed, or is that a thing?

Jennifer Lemon

First time - how much does culture influence what we find fun and what if anything is universally fun for humans?

Ry_ofthetiger

How would you describe the relationship between fun and addiction? Things like video games, gambling, certain substances all seem to start with that initial fun feeling, and then they become habitual. Are all fun things bound to be repeated until the fun is gone?

Madeline DLC

Does a job have to be fun in order to be rewarding?

Ashton McCall

First timer!! ^_^ I'm sure we've all had these moments where everything is groovin' and vibin' and you're having a grand 'ol time.. until SOMETHING happens that just sucks the life out of your soul and nothing can pull you back out of that funk and back into the FUN again? Why is it so hard to return to such a joyous feeling from something so small sometimes, like, stubbing a toe? It's almost like there is this layer of invisible stubborness to be happy again that is in my way. Orrrr maybe it's my depression, but either way.. seems so difficult to get back to happy!

Ashton McCall

"forced fun" is an interesting thing to think about - I totally resonate with those feels!

Elizabeth Mena

Are we innately wired to have fun? Very young babies love to play, and their infectious giggles signal their enjoyment of the activity. Has anyone studied what happens to babies who have not been exposed to games such as peek-a-boo or other similar activities that normally elicit laughter? Perhaps babies in those old orphanages, where they were completely neglected.

Esohn

How can we tell when animals are having fun and why they do it? Im thinking about dogs, dolphins, monkeys and elephants?

Cat Baklarz

And what ruins fun? The things that come to mind are competition, need to do something because you need money, loss of community, depression and expectations. A lot like burnout? But maybe that's just my list. Can we predict when we will no longer find a thing fun (and how do we make it fun again?)

Corey

FTQA-- why does it seem we forget the importance of fun for our well-being? Like, when Im having fun, I also tend to be a better human (kinder, more motivated, more flexible) and it definitely affects my relationships and job performance, and perceived stress, so that's GOT to be good forme (us?) But it's seems like its just less socially acceptable as we become "adults" and it makes me kinda sad. We all deserve to have fun.

Cat Baklarz

Is fun a 'muscle?' in that we can get better at it? Does it require creativity? Mindfulness?

Katie Bauer

What are some cultural differences around the idea of fun?

Diana Staresinic-Deane

Where in the evolutionary process did we start doing things that we don't fun? Do all living creatures have done sense or fun/joy?

maryellen chaney

How is it that children seem to be able to have so much fun? Why does that seem to go away as we get older? Is there anything adults can do to feel that same carefree level of fun we have as children?

Cat Baklarz

Wait yeah I've always heard something along the lines of "the puritans hates fun and that's why we have many socio-political problems in America today." Is there any truth to that?

Ivelisse Sanchez

Yess! So excited for this! Are some people naturally “programmed” or drawn to having or finding the fun in things? Also, is there a fine line between wanting to have fun, and say ADHD where you’re frequently looking for a stimulation boost?

Cat Baklarz

When did it become expected for kids to have fun? Was there a point where adults were socially allowed to have more fun? From anecdotal experience, I'm seeing a lot more "dopamine dressing" where adults wear dinosaur overalls or bright colors or whatever makes them feel their best.

Bob bobberson

There is fun, and there is joy, and there is happiness - and although on quick glance they seem to flow into one another, it's possible to have them in any combination or lack thereof. What's actually different in the brain between the three? Is it just the duration are there different chemicals involved?

ChickenChomper

What a FUN episode :) (and a nice break from the not-so-fun shit that's happening in world)! This is kind of a not-so-funny story to preface my question, but on Guam there are dog fighting operations that happen and so I had a neighbour dog (German shepherd) that was kept in a 2m by 2m cage its entire life (very sad) and the dog always seemed sad because of it. I remember one day that a stray chicken fell into his cage and I swear this dog seemed to be the happiest I've ever seen an animal (sadly there was nothing i could do for the chicken). My question is, what brings joy/fun to organisms? Can it be just a break from routine? or is it simply being able to express/put-into-action an innate desire that an organism has? And if this is the case... can organisms like insects find tiny joys in life??

Ashley Adair

Is FUN the same across primates? Can other animals that aren't primates have fun like we do?

ChickenChomper

I also realise that my Patron name is incredibly inappropriate for this post - for that I am sorry (nervous sweat face emoji)!

Marshmallow

Can you talk about type 1 and type 2 fun?

Liane Steely

Why do some people, like my kids and I find people falling or walking into things initially funny...until we realize its socially inappropriate to laugh and we don't want anyone to get hurt.

Liane Steely

Why does laughter extend your life?

Miranda Panda

Why are some people able to find more things fun than others? You know, those people who can find the fun in anything, but others who can't seem to have fun no matter what? Is this hard wired into us or learned?

Miranda Panda

How do our ideas of fun change as we age? And does our brain look different while having fun as we age?

Beebatsy

FTQA!!!😃 Yes! My oldest daughter and I love spooky scary stuff and my oldest son absolutely hated it. Like, turning the cart down the Halloween isle was sh&t eating grins on one side and frantic screaming (literal) on the other. Are their varying degrees of instincts left in some of us? Is fun attached to survival in some way? Or is it what we have gotten by not having to “survive” every moment?

Sky Fiolleau

FTQA how does the idea of FUN change when you are alone versus with friends? I find it MUCH easier to have the type of fun where I lose track of time when I'm with friends. But when I am alone I find my fun is more slow paced and peaceful.

Sky Fiolleau

I neeeeed someone to explain the intersection between fun and adrenaline. Danger seeking and getting out of ones comfort zone are often driven my the endorphin rush one seeks to get like when having fun. I find when I do something dangerous or unwise it Is driven by the craving for fun when it seems counterintuitive.

Kimberly Halloran

First time question asker... I have been loving your show for YEARS! I have also recommended it so mamy others. Any time 'podcasts' come up in conversation, I struggle to contain my excitment at telling them about Ologies! I joined Patreon today... I don't know what has taken me so long to take part and officially support the show and take part in question asking, but so happy to be here now. So my questions... what other species take part in fun? How similar is it to How humans enjoy fun? I love watching my fur babies [dogs and cats] having fun... but is that what they are doing? Playing with toys because it's fun? Or is this just our human interpretation of hunting instincts or something similar? Do they have similar hormonal responses as we do?

Anna Dylan

First time question asker here- What is up with thrill-seekers? Why do some people find stuff fun that would make me shit my pants? (bungee jumping, big rollercoasters etc)

Anna Dylan

First time question asker- why are certain people more fun to be around or seem to have more fun and how can I be the person who finds fun in everything!

Anna Dylan

First time question asker- What’s up with FOMO? Why am I so terrified of missing out on things that I probably wouldn’t find fun anyways?

Emily Krieger

what kinds of fun are cross-cultural? cross-species? what makes something fun even? what is...FUN????!!!!

Sam

What is the difference between a fun activity and satisfying activity? Is there a difference?

Sam

Why are some things fun for a while before getting boring or tedious? What causes that transition? Why do I never get that transition for some things?

Dylan V

What brain chemicals are involved with fun? Are there any regions of the brain specific to fun?

Sam

Can people get addicted? Is that what phone scrolling or adrenaline rushes are?

Apollonia Piña

why does it seem harder to have fun as we get older?

Emily Krieger

is it fun being a funologist? how ironic if it isn't, but also, would track b/c paradoxes

Ess

What accounts for the diversity in what some people find fun, but others don’t?

Richard

We have seen organisms as "simple" as bees playing and having fun. Is there a real lower limit to goofing around in life forms? How would we tell if an Amoeba or Paramecium is having a good time playing?

Caroleena

So much is created to make “fun” (amusement parks etc.). Why do we need these things? Did we have fun before they were created?

Hunter Roberts

Are there any tricks to make your brain think you are having fun while performing tasks you wouldn't normally associate with fun or find dull or boring?

Bevearlea

I’ve heard that referred to as dopamining and can 100% confirm!

Bevearlea

Why do some people feel guilty when having fun? Sadly, not asking for a friend.

Alli B

I have a hard time having fun but I get into a flow state when I’m lost in something I enjoy doing. Is this the same as fun? Or does fun need to be letting go and not so focused? What’s the difference in the brain between the two?

zombot

How does fun differ from enjoyment? For example, I can brew a simple cup of coffee or tea and enjoy it, but when I make a cocktail and especially if I shake it with ice, it's an actual fun process; plus the end product is enjoyable. Is it the more involved physical process?

zombot

Question for the Ologist (and for Alie, and whoever would like to reply to this post): What was the most fun you've ever had in your life?

Elizabeth

Are there any hacks to amplify fun while trying to drink less or not at all? We love the silliness, we do not love hang-xiety!

Hope J 🏳️‍🌈

Scientifically, what daily task is the most and least fun to accomplish? When is the earliest that a human can experience fun, as in, can they experience fun as young as a week old or when do humans recognize something is fun? What is the difference between fun and happiness or how do they interact? How can fun benefit one’s mental health or how does fun stimulate the brain?

Deanna DePietro

*in general* Kids seem to be having fun a whole lot of the time- what happens to us as we age that makes fun seem…less accessible? Is it just that kids are more outwardly expressive when enjoying themselves?

Björn Fredberg

Is there anything, any activity, that is considered universally fun? Jokes are often culturally bound, but is there something that transcends that barrier?

Teresa Gleason

Why is it that some people find rollercoasters and such things fun, while others find them terrifying? Is fun a mental or physical experience? I’m guessing it’s some of each.

Björn Fredberg

What jokes do we consider fun? Is it only what we grow up with? Thinking nature vs nurture 🤔

Björn Fredberg

Is fun just a state of mind or does something physically actually happen in your body?

Maureen

FTQA. How is our sense of fun connected to our culture?

Rineil Mandre

Fun and the gamification of things like crypto and language learning apps.

Rineil Mandre

Jennifer Simon asks why it's harder to have fun as an adult/as we get older?

Euan Munro

Af what point up the tree of life do organisms stop having fun - it's not just humans or even primates that have fun, but is it only mammals? Or is it higher than that - do plants have fun?

Gemma

how has capitalism affected how we have fun and what we consider fun?

Gemma

how does fun affect autistic people? as an autistic person, my idea of fun as a kid was lining up my toys in a categorized line and looking at them. to others that’s the definition of boring!

Gemma

what is parallel play?

Theodwyn6137

This, and does our need for fun actually "go down" as we get older? Or do we just get our "fun" in ways that are not as easily recognizable? Do kids and adults have different needs when it comes to "fun?"

Theodwyn6137

Do we, in fact, NEED fun? I feel strongly that we do, but I don't know why I believe that so strongly.

Gwen Hughes

First-time question-asker: why do I find cleaning fun when most people find it boring as hell? Am I wired wrong?

Tea Danilović

A very ADHD question: how do I make things more fun so I can focus on them?

Tea Danilović

THIS IS SUCH AN AMAZING QUESTION OMG

Gemma

why is risky play important?

Gemma

could you talk a bit about Article 24 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, AKA, the Right to Play? how does one monitor the quality of the play in a given area, and how would such monitorization work in relation to the article?

geo.sassie

Why is my definition of a fun time based around adrenaline or being out in nature, whereas my friend's idea of fun is movies, sewing etc? How can people have hobbies that make our brains happy but they're so wildly different!?

Olga Kolesnikova

Is there a way to encourage myself to crave less instant gratification fun (e.g. video games) and more enriching fun such as writing, embroidery, and other hobbies? I want to do more of my hobbies but I often end up slumping on the sofa to watch TV or something instead and then feel bad!

Dave Cannon

Let's say there are 2 people. 1 says, "I love exercise, it's fun to me." The other person doesn't agree. Why do we perceive differences in the fun level of the activity? Also, why would a healthy thing be fun for some but not for all, if it benefits overall health? Seems as though that should be fun across the board. Or maybe I'm thinking of some other emotional response. Guess which of the 2, I am...

floraandthefaun

omj! ologies is my number one source for "fun facts"! and now we'll get fun facts about fun?! amazing!! so: what makes a fun fact fun? and what's the experts favourite fun fact about fun? ..also where does the word "fun" stem from? typing it this often just now made it sound all weird in my ears 😅😂

Jason Lowenthal

What's happening when anger shuts down fun, like when my 4 y/o is an a$$hole and suddenly I just can't anymore, or you have a fight in the middle of a game with friends and it's just over. Or why are things fun with your kids because you know THEY are having fun? It's fun just perception?

Casey Daigle

ftqa: have there ever been / could there be fun-promoting campaigns led by a government or organization? Are there specific conditions someone can advocate for in hopes of creating more fun cultural environments?

Sarah B

First-time question-asker: as someone with ADHD or just generally a brain that's wired a lil differently, why do we sometimes find things fun that others don't like doing at all? Why is our taste in fun so different both on like a general individual level, but also between people who may be "neurotypical" vs. "neurodivergend" or even on a cultural level?

Jason Lowenthal

Also curious about the instant gratification thing, as I've seen others ask here, but also how that ties in with alcohol/alcoholism and/or drugs and addiction.

judith ritchie

First time question asker..... actually 2 questions. I call them joy triggers and am keeping track of mine.....Wondering if someone has done research to identify the top ten fun/joy triggers for adults verses children?

Zinc

how can we define fun in other animals, and which other animals have fun, and what do they do for fun?

Tania Magic Fingers

Why is it that when someone says “let’s go or let’s do it, it will be fun”. It never is? Why do some cultures (British) think you can only have fun if alcohol is involved? If you’re having fun as an adult (without alcohol) you’re considered to be immature? Why are children encouraged to have fun but adults are only allowed to have fun if it’s a paid for activity? Why I can I only do what I consider boring tasks, if I make them fun to do and yet other tasks, which clearly aren’t fun either, I just do them without having to add a fun element to them? Yes, I have ADHD :) Why are adults socially forced to not have fun things/decorations in their homes? Only children are allowed to and then as they become adults they are pressured/forced to let them go. Why are intellectual pursuits/learning as an adult, not considered fun? Why do non nerds/geeks think we can’t have fun? Why do people feel threatened by others having fun?

Deviancy

Why does “work fun” feel like torture? I genuinely enjoy my work and the people I work with but spending off work hours to do “work fun” things was always something I dreaded. Am I a monster?

Ro Land

Some animals seem like they can have fun. Is this the same as when humans have fun, or is it coming from a different place? And why do we recognise some animals having fun and not others? We know that cats and dogs play, do fish? Slugs? House spiders?

Ro Land

And, how does anhedonia work? Why do we sometimes lose the ability to have fun?

mariia k

does fomo have anything to do with fun? if so why does our brain make us have fomo and how do we stop it?

ALopez

What kinds of things are universally perceived as fun? Why do different people find different things fun? Do fun things and funny things impact the brain in different ways? Is there a difference in how different cultures define or experience fun? Is there an opposite to anhedonia where people find mundane everyday tasks to be fun?

Leah Anderson

Those of us who are (recovering) addicts often found (or mistook) fun in some dangerous and destructive ways, often well before we started using drugs and alcohol. Do brains with trauma perceive fun differently than other less traumatized brains? Does a constant exposure to fear eventually lead some of us to seek it out because it feels normal?

Organic Free-Range Lily

How complex does an organism have to be in order to have fun? (Or something that might be charitably interpreted as fun.) For example, mice like playing with toys, but the amoeba don't have such inclinations. Is there a cut-off line? Is anybody researching different species' capacity for having fun? :)

Arwen

Why is it that we look forward to something thinking it will be fun, but back out last minute?

Arwen

Why do some things people consider fun, like skydiving, scary for others? Or how some people enjoy chores and others don't?

Rebekah Fitchett

What other animals besides us hairless apes, engage in Fun?

Deborah Gray

Do all animals feel dopamine?

Sam Danielle

Yes! Or know that you have found something fun to do in the last but can't necessarily motivate yourself to do it again

Timothy Nolan

What is happening when something we used to find fun stops being as enjoyable?

Timothy Nolan

Is there a difference in fun had in groups, and that we enjoy solo?

Sam Danielle

Why is it that sometimes things we found fun when we were younger are no longer fun as we get older?

Timothy Nolan

Is play as a child different than as an adult?

Julia Hutton

My friends and I often talk about "Type B fun," which is what we call really bizarre or dangerous adventures that turn out to be fun months later (when we're talking about it and remembering it), but are terrible or terrifying in the moment. Did we invent this, or is this a real thing?

Autumn Knol

"Fun" has been observed in both humans and animals. Do we know how these behaviors are beneficial evolution-wise? And how old is fun? Where there lil bacteria sliding across a puddle going "weeee!"?

William Ganschinietz

I equate fun with humor, so why some people have no sense of humor?

Tilly's mom

How can we keep experiencing fun as we age? First time question!

Renee K.

Many of the activities that I consider fun involve experiencing a flow state. Recently, I have had trouble focusing or really staying in the flow state. Any tips for experiencing flow more often or more deeply?

Lauren Galerio

Does the brain perceive fun the same throughout all the years/ stages of our life? Is it the same for more passive activities vs more active ones?

Susan Singley

I came here to ask this exact question !

Susan Singley

Is there a difference between the feeling that something is 'fun' and the feeling that something is 'satisfying'

Magsaroni

FTQA: What are the different ways we can experience fun, and is there a genetic component to it, or is it mostly related to what we grow up experiencing? Why do some people find roller coasters fun, and others like horror movies? Is there a line between when something is merely enjoyable and it crosses over into fun? Can you die from having too much fun?

PopsicleEmperor

What is the difference in the brain between bordem and fun? Like is there a distinct difference between what is activated?

Trevor Ogborn

Does "too much of a good thing" apply to fun? Does having too much fun habituate us to it, and make our sources of fun mundane? How do we avoid fun things from becoming just "things."

Lindsey Bartholomew

Are there any surprising animals that engage in play behavior, and is there evidence to suggest that they experience ‘fun’ like we do?

Lindsey Bartholomew

Can we trick ourselves into thinking that something that actually sucks is fun to help endure the experience? If so, is this even beneficial?

Daniel Opdahl

Why are so many things that are consistently frustrating also fun? Things like golf or videogames that are very challenging. Even if I fail at them more than I succeed I'd still say they're fun. Why???

Andy Pepper

FTQA! What's the Venn diagram between fun and novelty and risk? Trying something new often feels risky, and the whole experience is heightened. Is it adrenaline? Is that why risky doings that WEREN'T fun in the moment always makes for fun storytelling later?

Val Vanderlip

What is it about depression that seems to take the fun out of life? Maybe this doesn’t fit here? This is something around the idea of how fun can be effortless with the right mindset but next to impossible if we’re down emotionally.

Jojo Emerson

FTQA! Does how we experience fun change over the course of our life? I feel like pure fun was easier to identify in childhood, became more muddy into teenage years, and as an adult can be hard to notice - like sometimes I don't even realize something was really fun until after the fact.

Mooney

What exactly is the link experienced by some folks that causes dangerous stimuli to be registered as “fun”? Does it have to do with inhibitors? Nature vs. Nurture? Or something entirely different??

Grey

What happens chemically in the brain when people have fun? Chemicals like dopamine or adrenaline or something?

Josh Grimes

Is there a way to actually quantify how much fun someone is experiencing physiologically?

6-1-49er-Joe

Oh, fun! Here’s a question: did people we evolved make time for fun? And if they did, what did they consider fun (fun, natural fun?)

Em McG

FTQA! Why is fun so difficult to feel with depression?

bizanthymum

FTQA: There’s a lot of discussion these days about how humans need boredom, for a variety of reasons, and yet boredom has become so rarified (in both adults and kids) with our culture that both increasingly glorifies and necessitates busy-ness. I’m curious for you to explore with the -ologist the relationship between boredom and fun . . . like, do people who report fewer feelings of “boredom” (ie those who are constantly busy and stimulated) less likely to be able to access feelings of “fun / play”? Do people who report having regularly moments of boredom more likely to access fun? Does meditation help us find more fun moments in our day to day?

bizanthymum

This is a thing! Google “fun scale” — usually classified as type 1, type 2, and type 3. Type 1: fun in the moment, fun to remember, would do again. Type 2: not fun in the moment, fun to remember, would do again. Type 3: not fun in the moment, not fun in retrospect, wouldn’t do again — usually results in a good story. I’m really interested to hear the -ologist’s take on this scale!

bizanthymum

Yes, and also on the ADHD topic: I know this was covered a bit in the ADHD episode, but I’d love a different perspective on why some brains cannot be fucked to do or care about X unless it’s perceived as enjoyable or interesting.

bizanthymum

No, you’re perfect — please come clean my house.

jen baker

Why do things we find fun change? It feels like diminishing returns sometimes… which is a bummer?

H Magario

This makes me think about things like roller coasters and those ridiculous drop-tower rides. They're fun because they FEEL risky even though they aren't. So ... is it the perceived risk that makes it fun or is it fun because your limbic system thought you might die and then you didn't? yay! You survived!

SusanM

Perhaps being self conscious ruins opportunity for fun. I've definitely seen that happen.

decimals and more

What causes an activity that was once considered fun to be fun no longer? Is it developmental changes, depression, familiarity not driving a positive chemical association? Also super curious about the history of the word(s) for fun. Like what’s the oldest written example? What was going on?

H Magario

It seems like there might be different categories to the things that me and people I know find fun. Categories like: - mastery/challenge - it's fun to practice something and get better at it. Even more fun if it's hard (but not too hard!) - novelty - it's fun to do something new - play/creativity -- just messing about .. that's fun! - social connection - it's fun to be with people.. some people I wonder if these are universal. Are there cultures where more people find mastery/challenge to be fun? Or cultures where play just SUCKS? Oh .. satisfaction vs fun. It can be satisfying to complete something very challenging but that doesn't always mean it was fun. Like, yeah I solved that payroll problem. Go me. I'm satisfied. But I did not enjoy solving it (or like, did I? A little?)

Jesse

How does perception/perspective drive what we think is fun? Can we control that?

Kait

FTQA ✨ What is memory’s relationship to our experience of fun? I’m thinking of how trauma can affect our memories.

Kait

FTQA ✨ also curious to learn if this ologist’s work brought up anything about wonder, whimsy and/or the the concept of an inner child (this might fit into the categories of other questions on age/childhood?)

Hezy Anholt

Tell me about type 1 fun vs type 2 fun! (Type 1 fun is experienced as fun while you are doing it, but type 2 fun is only fun in retrospect. Like hiking. And type 3 fun is only fun several years later through the rose-tinged glasses of nostalgia.) Does fun-ology recognize versions of types 1-3 of fun??

Striving to thrive

I've heard that a species' intelligence is considered higher if they have/experience play behaviors. So would it be like: play = fun -> higher intelligence?

Reuben Eadon

FTQA: Is it possible for species of cephalopods to have their own concept of fun? Is it recorded for octopuses to have "fun"?

Brie Stewart

For those of us who feel sometimes like we don’t know how to have fun anymore, what is the best way to figure out/relearn what we find fun?

Sarah Mabel

Why do so many adults stop having fun in the way kids do? I assume it’s cultural but…is it?

Tom Boodry

Is there a reason we tend to have more fun when we are with people we like? Are our minds more at ease and more receptive to that type of experience?

The Bag Lady

What happens to our brain if we deprive ourselves of fun?

TJ McKenna

Is fun contagious? If so, is it species specific or is it also contagious between human or non-human animals?

Sheepan

FTQA. Where is the line that separates “I’m doing this activity because it’s fun” and “I’m doing this activity because I have an addiction”? As someone with addictive tendencies, it can feel blurry sometimes.

KJ

Do other animals experience fun? What part of the brain is responsible, and evolutionarily, how far back can we trace that (do we know?). For instance, I’m certain my dog knows fun, but do fish? Bugs?

Rick T

Do we know if animals perceive fun as we do, physiologically?

Lyrebird

Why doesn’t society generally place more value on fun? Are there cultural differences in how fun is valued or perceived around the world?

Mariko

Why does our sense of fun change as we age? Playground, sleepovers, clubbing, dinner parties, and now board games... Did my body just become lazy with middle age, or does our brain redefine fun with time?

Caro Young

Difference between having fun and being happy?

Bob B

Why do babies find everything funny then grow up into curmudgeons like me. Seriously, there are videos on the interweb of babies laughing uncontrollably when someone tears a piece of paper. At 62 years of age it does nothing for me. Does the pressure of life and adulting squeeze the fun out of us? Why?

Emily Simmons

FTQA. As a high school teacher, I've heard coaches talk about "type 2 fun" where something isn't fun at the time but it feels like it was fun later. Is this a real phenomenon?

Scarlet P

Why do some people value fun more than others? Is there something those people have in common (i.e. biologically, psychologically, culturally, etc.)?

Morgan

This episodes coming at a perfect time, as the last month or so I’ve been struggling to feel…fun, I guess. Not to get too deep in the comments section, but I hope this can maybe shed some light on why I’m having such a hard time right now. Love the show, thanks for all you do!!

Mouse Paxton

How many species do we know have 'fun'? How do we quantify that? Do you have a favourite example of an animal having fun? What are your thoughts on the FUN song from Spongebob? Why do some people enjoy things like D&D while others find it extremely boring?

Mick Allen

Why did I think it was super fun to stand up and spin around on the front lawn until I was so dizzy I couldn’t stand? I don’t really like being dizzy now.

EssieRoo

FTQA Hi, been listening for a long while, but finally decided to "cut my bangs and text my crush." why do we perceive fun differently as we age?

Will_Br

Can long-term drug use alter our ability to experience fun without substances?

Amanda McClendon

Why are some activities not fun at all when you do them alone and actually fun when you do them with other people?

Rebecca Jackson

FTQA Oh heyyy. How come we separate out kinds of fun with age? Why is it ok for kids to have fun but often adults are told not to be silly when really I think fun (and learning) should be for any age.

Mer H

Or like purposely squinting towards the sun or tickling the inside of your nose to sneeze on purpose 🤔 why?

Earl of Greymalkin

1) How does fun and a sense of humor interact? Do people with more humor have more fun? 2) What kind of brain chemicals are we talking? Regions of the brain? Are people doing experiments sticking people into MRIs and telling Dad jokes to see what having fun looks like on a brain scan? Are there different types of 'having fun' that can be described? 3) Some domesticated dogs seem to be very fun driven individuals. Are they basically just like human toddlers or are they hardwired to be more fun? What about other animals? Some corvids for example seem to enjoy playing jokes and messing with other animals (ex. tail pulling). What do we know about how other animals have fun? Do plants have fun??? 4) Why do some people find scary things like horror movies and haunted houses fun? Is it only fun immediately after being terrifying? Or is it possible to have fun at the same time? 5) If you put on a therapist hat for a second, are there recommended ways for people to try to inject more fun into their lives in order to improve mental health? Like random acts of kindness? Maybe a little shenanigan once a day? Get a cute lil' pet? 6) How much does fun factor into why we enjoy playing games versus competitive spirit or the drive to complete a task? Are video games substantially different from sports or pub games? 7) What about when fun things are also cruel? Is it only fun if the cruelty of it is ignored or is it possible to actually enjoy being mean? 8) If you work at having more fun every day, does it have measurable effects on overall happiness or quality of life, etc? 9) How fun is doing fun research? What kind of psychological experiments do you get to do? How fun is it to design them? 10) How much does novelty factor into how to have fun? Do we enjoy having fun because it it related to learning new things? (Which is part of why this podcast is so fun!) 11) What is your favorite way to have fun? Got a favorite Dad joke we should all know? Omg how fun is it to write questions! :D

Matt Hirschl

What brain cocktail of chemicals is happening when we have fun? Dopamine on the Beach?

GhoulNextDoor

Is there a way to make ourselves more inclined to fun? So that our brains will read typically un-fun tasks as being little better? Can we get to the point of “taxes!? Yay! Oh boy!!”

GhoulNextDoor

Should we be prioritizing fun more as adults than we are now generally? I took some classes about outdoor recreation in collage time where we discussed the importance of play even as adults. Should we all be getting out there to make mud pies and climb trees (safely) a little more?

Lyrebird

from my dad: how does the NEED for fun change as we get older?

Madison Woofter

How many brain chemicals are involved in our perception of fun? Are they all the same every time or do they differ?

TwoStonesWithOneČech

From my wife: “How do you make old hobbies fun again, especially after depression?” From me: “Are there different academic categories of fun in the literature? I enjoy what I do for work, but it feels fundamentally different from the way I enjoy what I do to relax at home.”

Between Dumplings

What are the links between fun and curiosity? What parts of the brain/chemistry light up with fun and are they different from the ones that light up with chemicals like booze? Do our brains actually recognize fun or is it more like satisfaction and we put the overlay on it called "fun". Is "fun" something different in our bodies/brain than satisfaction? Who decided only toddlers get to laugh from the their toes to the top of their heads? (BTW highly recommend rolling around with laughing toddlers when you get a chance.)

Heather Mardis

FTQA. What's the difference between fun and pleasure???

Wells Howe

What is the distinction between how our brains (maybe chemicals/electrical) process fun and process fulfillment? Is there a difference between fun and happiness?

Quincy J Byrne

Is the feeling of fun evolutionarily adaptive? How many other animals have evolved to experience fun?

Sam Danielle

Coming from the experience of a substitute teacher, what are some strategies to combat 'sore loser' feelings. In other words, how can I help encourage kids to enjoy the fun of the game itself, not just winning?

Ellie Snowden

When you’re forced to do a ‘fun’ activity (eg work bonding games) vs the same activity but by your own choice/spontaneously, what is it that makes the second more enjoyable and actually feel fun, given it’s the same activity on paper ? Do you have to be in a certain mindset to be able to get to ‘fun’?

Meagan Walker

How much does novelty or familiarity contribute to feeling fun?

Stephanie Rosso

FTQA: How do we quantify fun? Is it comparable to humor like a chuckle vs a belly laugh? Is it only "in the moment"? I might find something really challenging while I'm doing it, but look back on it as being fun (like a 10k or a Sunday NYT crossword).

Casa Reed-Dean

FTQA: Can you describe the difference between fun and excitement?

Casa Reed-Dean

Also, how did you get into studying emotions and feelings? How do you feel about Inside Out as a reflection of how we experience and process our emotions?

kate

FTQA: how is fun expressed in non-humans? Is it something that has been studied well? What can we learn from them?

Wetland Warrior

I’ve heard of types one, two, and three fun addressing how challenging the “fun” is. Can they elaborate on this at all and if this system is bogus or not?

Linden

Do different animals express fun in different ways? If so how does the neurochemicals of fun in animals vary from humans?

Anastasia Doherty

I've always had a hard time having what I think others identify as "fun". Even as a little kid, I didn't really like just playing or would prefer working on something or helping out. When I had my own kids, being silly with them, playing or having fun for funs sake was an effort. Do people have a set point for their ability to have fun? Is this something that can be learned? What are the potential benefits of lightening up and having more "fun" if it's more effort for the potential fun-haver?

Papa Curry Sauce

How can we deal with anxiety and have fun? Asking for a friend…also first time question asker!

Larissa

Why did we evolve to want to have fun? What is the evolutionary benefit? Was it because we are social and somehow it helps to create bonds maybe?

-e-

Could the exhilarating euphoria of fun be a state of brainstew in which the neuro-naive child is innately free of fictional fears, & full of wonder? And as we age, is Fun the resilient ability to summon our more joyful (unwounded) juvenile selves? *first time question* --eric

Alyssa Arguijo

FTQA: What does our brain look like when we're having fun? Does it light up? Are there certain parts that light up? Do animals' brains have a similar reaction to experiencing fun?

Carleen DH

FTQA: How does fun change as we age? Do adults tend to have less fun than children and are there brainhacks that allow us to enjoy ourselves more or find new things that are fun to us?

Toni Carlton

Is fun universal? What are the cultural and contextual implications of fun?

Leah Eckstein

FTQA (Lee-Uh): (Kind of Sad Question) Why did life seem like so much fun when we were little? Why do the same things that brought us so much joy as kids become mundane as adults? Can we fix this?