Episode Transcript
 
Welcome back to sort of sophisticated. Which Amanda? Uh, well you already know this, but do you remember when this was called super sophisticated when we started this whole podcast?
'cause we thought we were gonna like, really make people like smart. Maybe you did. And then
I always remember it being sort of
No. So, so my idea originally was super sophisticated and then two things happened. One, um, I didn't know nearly as much shit as I thought I did.
Okay,
sure. And two, as soon as I walked in the studio and turned on the microphone, I realized, being drunk is fun.
So,
ah, here we are.
Yeah. We had to change it from super sophisticated to sort of sophisticated.
Is this also like drunk history? Is that where you got the idea from?
No, no, no, no, no. I've, I've actually never seen Drunk History.
Oh, okay.
Maybe I'll look that up.
It's like, uh, you invite people to a bar
Okay.
To learn something.
Yeah.
So it's like sort of sophisticated on the road.
Yeah. Yeah, yeah. I think we should do that. I think we would be good at being at a bar, trying to be sophisticated. But wait, we're allowed to drink with all the people?
Yeah.
Oh yeah.
Oh, I'm in.
Yeah. Yeah.
I'm totally in. Um, but let me just start by saying, I'm happy. It's just fall and like November and everything.
Did you say happy?
I am.
I'm happy. Oh, I thought I said happy.
No, I wasn't
sure
what? Well, I'm a little happy. I'm happy and I'm happy because I can wear this nice sweater.
Oh, in, is this a new one from your stylist?
This is not, this is just a No, this is, no, no, no. Actually no. But thank you for now. Did
you pick this out?
I did. I
picked it. Oh, good job. I
picked it up myself. Um,
that's impressive.
But here's the deal.
Nords.
No. Somewhere in South Coast Plaza, I don't know where. Oh, uh,
what was I gonna say? Oh, I was gonna say, oh my God. It's great because you don't even need the air conditioning on in the studio.
Like, oh, it's true. It's chilly,
right? Because it's chill.
I have a jacket. You have shorts,
right? We're chilling out. No, but I got a sweater.
It's not a sweater.
It's totally a sweater.
It's not a sweater.
Look at It's just a short sleeve sweater. But it's a sweater.
I can see through it. It has holes.
Can you see my nips?
No. 'cause you have a shirt underneath. I
do.
But you can see your arm. So if you didn't have a shirt, you'd see your nips.
Would you like that would
be, I don't, I don't,
I think I'm gonna wear this. I'm gonna, I'm gonna wear this where you can see my nips next
time. So you can be like a Kylie Jenner.
Yeah. I'm gonna do this.
Right on. No more like a Sydney Sweeney,
I think. Is
that her name?
Well, she looks, her nips look better than my nips
probably
Like, we're not gonna lie.
Probably.
I, but I honestly, for like, for, I think I have pretty good nips.
Oh.
Like I'm just. Throwing that out there. That's fun. Fact,
you should, fun fact, you should, next summer, do a wet t-shirt contest. Okay. And
see if you win. Let's get into it. Um,
why are we talking about sweaters and being warm
'Cause today, 'cause I'm getting you in the mood.
This is what's happening. We are talking about comfort today. Basically. Comfort, yes. Why? Humans are obsessed with being cozy. Oh, cozy. Let's go. Is
Huggie here?
Especially the ladies. What?
Huggie, isn't that what it's called? Hug
huggie. Isnt that Yeah, huggie. You're right. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Gabby was totally like, like she loved fall, like autumn fall, like, well, 'cause her birthday was November 2nd too, so she was like crazy about that whole thing. Um, yeah, she, you know what
would've been great?
What
is, if my pumpkin cold brew latte from Starbucks
mm-hmm.
Made it to the studio. But instead that would've been great.
'cause it would've be right on theme.
Damnit. Yeah, let's get one ordered. DoorDash, that shit. Let's get you one. It would go, it would go good for like our, like
Yeah. It's cozy.
The vibe right now, because that's what we're gonna be talking about, right?
Missed opportunity.
This is not just some feel good episode. This is like, oh, there's like
science
behind it. This is science, this is history. This is history. Psychology being
cozy.
There's history there. I always find history about
everything. I know you do. I know, I know.
Yes. It's kind of insane how much shit is behind this.
Yes.
Like in theory maybe it's taking it a step further from our daily lives than what we just kind of live to realize that there's more to everything.
We're doing it. We're going, we're going back in time. So here's official title. The chemistry behind Cozy.
Why We crave Comfort.
Oh,
because chemistry counts as science. Right. So, okay. And like, I didn't,
is this how it makes us curious?
I didn't really wanna do science of cozy as science. 'cause that wouldn't sound like I like, I like the alliterations. You know? Me and my, yeah. Um.
Well, I mean, I get the, the curious part, right? Yeah. Because you mentioned science and blah, blah, blah. How does it being cozy make us cultured?
Okay, first of all, um, let me say, I would say that I would say number one, it's international, right? Like, which I know on the surface you're like, huh, of course it is.
But my point is, is anything about culture to me means like international, it's worldwide. It's not American, it's worldwide, right? So you just said, oh, you're just saying how it relates toe. Okay, so this relates to fair, fair faire that all over the world, Huey right in, in Japan it's called Icky Guy, Denmark.
We have the hue, right? So, um,
oh,
and then this, it's the
vibe.
It's a vibe, right?
In other countries,
this is my point. It's a whole vibe.
Our pumpkin spice latte vibe is a vibe.
It is somewhere else. Okay. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. Um, and then I would do, I'd say the chemistry and science part. So if we can find chemistry and science in something.
, Any kind of science, I don't care what kind of science. I mean, in this case we're saying chemistry of cozy 'cause alliteration. Sure, sure. But then I would argue that like, we're learning something that has real substance. 'cause I mean, I'm a science guy, you're a math girl. Like, that shit matters to me.
So I would say those are the two reasons why it's gonna make us cultured. Okay. All right.
Here we go.
It's happening.
I'm on board, but
Oh, also, by the way, I'm actually gonna give you like a five step process hack.
Oh, okay. On like how to make sure you get cozy if you don't know how.
Oh,
okay. So like, there's a little bit of that too.
Doesn't
involve. So, so stay tuned.
Okay. Okay.
Right.
So you gotta listen to the episode to get to the hack.
Yes. Listen and oh, don't fast
forward
and also while I'm at it, 'cause I have Monster a d, d today.
Listeners, I gotta tell you, like, shout out, but I really don't think you texted three of your friends. 'cause theoretically if you did, uh, Amanda and I would see our numbers going up and I don't
Wow. Way to call people up.
Right? I see our numbers being the same.
Well, I mean, I would say thank you for all the ones who continue to listen.
Okay,
Peter. So if you appreciate Amanda for being kind, then text three of your friends and if you appreciate the kick in the ass by Peter, then text three of your friends. So, so either way, either way, the game is the same. , And like, honestly, like this episode would be a good episode to do that with.
'cause the whole idea, it's true of cozy and comfort. You'd be sitting on your couch and your blanket with your little sleepies and jammies on anyway. So it's like, how easy is it to like
text speaking like slips and jammies? Have you seen the new trendy thing?
What
it's like these slippers? No. And then you have a, it's like a slipper party.
So you get plain slippers and there's a bunch of patches and then you're get to make like your slippers unique to yourself.
Oh. Oh my God. Oh, when you said slipper party got nervous, I thought we were gonna try on other people's slippers and I was like, no, I'm out.
Oh
no. That is the grossest thing ever.
The brand slippers
feet are gross.
Then they're brand new slippers.
Okay. That is kind of cute.
That cozy.
Should we have a slipper party?
We should.
Okay. That's on the list.
If they like share it with three friends, they should let us know and we'll invite them to a sper party.
There it is. Done and done.
If you're local,
yes.
Everybody
we'll have a party
of We are, we are putting on an event that you are invited to, but you have to show us that you sent this to three. There you go. Why three friends? Why not like their whole friend community. Why are we stopping at three?
Why don't you just start. Okay.
The episode. All right, fine.
Um, are we gonna do Word of the Day and it can't be Huey and it can't be the Japanese one.
Okay. Icky guy.
Do you know we did Huey as a word of the day? Do you remember that? No,
we didn't.
Yes, we did.
No. Oh, you was, was it? I mean, it's been like a year, so, you know, my brain is,
we did, we did.
Huh?
Yes. That's why we can't do it. Okay. Well, for two reasons now, because obviously we can't because it's this episode, but yes.
Okay. Um, word of the day today is strate
to Strate.
Yes. I like
to stride. Julie. Uh, yes. To graduate would be. To level up
strate.
So do I level up my strides, my walking ability?
Yes. That's it. You level up your walking ability. No. Okay. It's from the Latin strate, from the Latin, str, which means to make a shrill or creaking sound. Yeah, I know.
It first showed up in the English language, uh, in the early 19th century. Mostly used in biology, and it meant to creak, hiss, or make a harsh noise. Okay. So specifically describing crickets or other insects that made noises by rubbing their body parts together.
That shrill noise they make you with me. We're gonna have fun. So Peter's gonna have some fun with the word of the day today. Stride. I'm St. Ululating right now. Oh
my
God. I can't
actually, no, guys, don't strate girls Strate.
But like, would you say like, when you're walking and you're shafing, is that Ululating?
If you have jeans on and you're making that cool noise.
Yeah.
Oh, you're ululating baby. Huh?
There's lots of ways you can
ululate. I strate. Okay.
Oh, man.
Yeah. Okay. This is what's happening.
That's a very, a very interesting
word. Yeah. And so we're gonna use Creek or shrill, whatever we need to do to like, get to Strate today.
All right. It's gonna be a good one.
Where did you find this word?
Because I just, I can't, it's so good.
I find I look,
it's so,
so I'm, I'm not gonna lie to you. I look up in a very special sex dictionary. I look up as many terrible words as I can find. And Strate came out.
Are you being 100% serious right now?
No. I'm level 10 line. Oh my god. No, it's a regular word.
It's in like Webster's dictionary. Just relax, dude.
That's amazing. I can't,
Okay. Fair enough. Well, why don't we start on some history, okay. About like,
we'll go history. We
want to be cozy,
history of cozy. We're
cozy or like
we, we cozy because we had to be cozy.
Is it like, ooh, blowout?
Oh yeah. Hello family. For all of you who don't know, that was from Frozen and our friend, what was his name? Oken Correct. Yep. OK's trading Post.
Yep.
Let's go. Okay. So, , where did Cozy start? We had to go way back, like caveman.
Times like so far back,
but like just starting a fire in the cave. Stop
it and
wanting it to
be warm.
Nope, that's not cozy.
Stop it. This is how it's happening a million years ago. Just relax. Let me go.
Okay, go ahead.
Let me get in my, my groove. I gotta get groove in here. So a few caveman geniuses, rub a few sticks together.
They, they strategizing.
Yeah. Let's High five. You just did that. They totally were Ululating right there. Done and done. We just killed that. Oh
my
right. And at first you're absolutely right, we made the fire and it had nothing to do with being cozy. 'cause you gotta remember like it was life or death ship back then.
Like fire was used to not die, right?
Well, yes. I mean
life source, they needed it to keep warm and they needed it to
cook and
like, like. Keep monsters away, I guess. Like d well, not dinosaurs, but you know what I mean, like animals, like they were scared of fire. Yeah. So it was like they just didn't wanna get eaten.
Yes.
The whole job of caveman was not get eaten.
Okay.
So that's how this starts. But then once they realized how awesome it was and how they could cook with it and huddle around it tell stories, hang out. Right. Shit Got real fun.
Fact. Dude, I'm starting with fun facts. Like, let's go. This is second fun fact already, like I'm so early in this app. Okay.
The first one doesn't count.
The first one kind of counted. Okay. Archeologists in the early two thousands uncovered what they called central hearths in Paleolithic caves in France and Israel and other places in Africa, which were basically just prehistoric versions of living rooms.
Like all the way back in caveman times. They already like, in part of their cave, carved out a living room. How do you like that? Right. They already had, they already had their little suite. Okay. And also I have a question like, why do they say prehistoric?
Like why isn't that just still historic? Like why isn't everything just historic? Like what
you're getting too, too, too stupid.
But like, when did hit, like we should do a podcast on when history started, like, oh, okay. Fair. Why do we have something called prehistory if everything's history, like would you say.
Caveman somehow made it to prehistoric times. But like, history's only started like when we started writing shit down on papyrus. When did history start?
Okay. Fair.
I think we need an app on history, just in general.
I don't if we need a full app. Okay. Maybe we should do like one of those fun apps.
Like a five minute app on Yeah, yeah,
yeah.
Here's the etymology of history. Okay. Alright, fine.
We're starting there. Right. So that's sort of like the beginning of history.
Okay.
Of like cozy.
Okay. So we're saying that originally the cavemen had fire. Yeah. They would gather around the fire and then they carved their caves to resemble that of living spaces of hearts for communal
living spaces.
Yes. You're absolutely right.
Okay, so we're gonna fast forward.
I'm fast forwarding, preparing to fast
forward. Now we're going to historic, not pre-historic.
We're going way past, we're going to medieval Europe because I always skip from like prehistoric time. Somehow Medieval Europe had everything. You know why?
'cause medieval Europe was long. It like medieval. Medieval was like, but
but is it also like possibly because it was most documented.
It's also like 800 year. People don't realize how long we count medieval times to be. Was it, I dunno, when it was like 600 to like 1300 or 1400 and then like whatever happens.
Right? The, the, the Renaissance, blah, blah, whatever. I don't know. Okay. That's Ford. Okay. Sorry.
Focus.
Okay, so this is when like the hearth, we're back to the hearth. This becomes the center of life, like literally and symbolically. So this is where,
so fire hearth becomes center of
life.
Yeah. This is, this is now medieval Europe. Everybody would gather together, tell the stories, make music, whatever they did, without a phone back then, you know, all the classes, like the commoners, the peasants, like the rich people, it didn't matter. Like everybody had
fire,
like fire. And this concept of like a living room and a hearth and a home.
You with me so far? Okay, sure. All safety, all comfort, all then 500 years later, so now we're in the Victorian era, eight 18 hundreds, like Bridger 10, right around that time. Yeah. You know Bridger, right? Yeah. Yeah. Things shifted a little, so like every home still had the fireplace, but cozy started being a status symbol, right?
They had fireplaces in every room, and if you had money right then you had the servants always tending to the fires and taking care of the fires. It was sort of like plush sofas, thick carpets, like,
but when does electricity come into play?
Uh, that's a hella question. , Like right around there.
Late 18 hundreds, early 19 hundreds. Late hundred. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. So not the Victorian air was like what? 19, 18, 10, 18 20, what? Whatever. Right? Up to the 1850s. Yeah, we didn't have that yet. You with me? Yep. So like, everybody's getting cozy, but like cozy moved from, let's call it safety to like a luxury in like Victorian times.
Okay. That makes sense so far.
Yep,
yep, yep.
All right. So then 1823, something happens. Something crazy. I could say fun fact here. The
electricity.
I'm gonna say fun fact here, but I don't wanna say fun fact here. Okay. Because I just don't wanna upset you with a fourth fun fact. Okay. This massive hit song gets created.
Yeah, I know, right? What was it? What just happened? Right? I just 180, like you just freaked out on me. No, it's song, right? Elvis Presley comes up. Just kidding. That was 1823. That's not even, okay, bear with me. This song called Home Sweet Home, gets written and released in 1823. Some guy named John Howard Payne wrote the song who I guess was an American actor living in London at the time.
And as soon as it was released, it basically blew up. People lost their minds over home. Sweet home. Every family had sheet music because back, back then you didn't have like record players and shit, like it was just no radio, right? Right. Yep. So you would just play it on the piano in your parlor after dinner and everyone was hanging out, huh?
And like. That dropped at the perfect time because at that time, cities were being created Industrial Revolution. Okay. We were moving away from all the farming and agriculture communities. Everybody was getting like all crowded and together and life was happening. I know. This is crazy. Okay. Huh. And all of a sudden this idea of like home started becoming this emotional safe space.
And so the song Home, sweet Home was like, like, what would you call that? The cherry on top of the The sundae. Right. The icing on the cake, so to speak. All
right.
You with me?
It like brought everything together.
Absolutely.
Okay.
Right. So we're in full coziness already.
Okay. So then we basically are saying that home became not just a place,
home is where the heart is,
but now it's more like emotional. Yes. And communal. And. Um, it's connected amongst a broader range of people because of said songs.
C
Okay.
Correct.
Okay.
Yeah.
So then what's the next step?
And, and you didn't think there was any history?
I didn't, I'm actually kind of blown away by that.
This is a fascinating history. That was
fascinating. That was
a good one. I leave it up to me to dig 20 rock layers deep to come up with a history true of cozy, true, fair, right.
Fair, fair. Okay. Alright, so then, then Denmark. Right? That whole idea of huggie, which by the way, I just looked up and we're saying it wrong. Um, it's,
of course
we are, we are. Because
Florida,
right, because, thank you. Because we're only sort of, and I'm already drunk people.
Um, it's Huga. Oh,
Huga.
It's Huga. I, I, 'cause I wasn't sure, so I just looked this up. Okay. Fair. It's Huga. So we're correcting ourselves. People don't be getting mad at us for saying Hughey. So Huga, okay. And if you remember what Huga meant? Wellbeing through thoughtfulness. Okay. It's all about the three C's.
Candles. Coffee and connection.
Oh,
C. CC. I love
it.
Three C's. Wha wha. Okay. Gotta love all your
alliteration.
Then after World War ii, if you remember our whole episode on Iceland, right?
Okay.
Denmark was just glad they didn't blow up. Yeah. I dunno if you remember this Denmark thing. And they were just glad that like Hitler wasn't trying to kill, so they were like, oh yeah, have Iceland.
That whole thing. So they decide to rebuild their whole cozy culture. So they ditched the idea of, of wellbeing through thoughtfulness and said, we're resilient because we came outta World War ii, we're alive, we made it. And they started rebuilding their country.
And that's where Huga landed like today.
Okay.
Right. So the day like, like
I feel like today Huga is like all about,
they cornered the market
on shit cozy like fireplace and scarves and
it boomeranged back.
Okay. Okay.
But like you have to understand it was a rallying cry in Denmark. Okay. It was massive.
It's like, I don't know, it's like apple pie and fricking like, you know, whatever we have here in America, baseball, it's like baseball, đź“Ť
so then in the 1950s, comfort and cozy finally get commercialized. Thank through the invention of.
The tv.
The television.
I'm surprised that electricity didn't do something.
I'm sure it did. Maybe I skipped that part. Not that sophisticated.
It's fine.
Okay.
So television.
Right, right, right. So after World War ii, here in America, anyway, the whole idea of being cozy started like centering around, like staying home, sitting in your lazy boy, eating the, what did we have?
The tv, TV dinner. Right. Wearing the slippers. Not having the slipper party, but wearing the slippers. Right. Um, and oh, and Central , uh, heating. Oh, okay. Air conditioning and heating. Yeah. That was like a big thing. So that also helped. So the fireplace not as important anymore, but still the idea of cozy was like landing hardcore.
Got it. So progressing big time. So it went from safety in the olden days to like comfort in like, what is this? The modern days?
Yeah, yeah.
We were Modern. Is modern. Yeah.
I think
when are, when are we not modern?
I think so. I dunno.
Like, is 1980 not modern anymore?
Like modern, just like right now, or is like,
you can throw this into our five minute app about prehistoric and historic.
Okay. So get back on track.
We just need to do like a timeline thing.
Okay, fine. , Maybe
it's a full up now.
So I'm, I'm there, I'm done.
Like now we have Comfort Food, we have Comfort tv, we have comfort clothes.
So like Cozy was already like a brand, not brand, right. So
it became a thing.
It became a Yeah. A whole. Entity of its own
an absolute entity.
Hmm.
Living and breathing entity. Okay. And now, shit, don't even get me started. Like, global comfort, Amanda. Global comfort.
How's it global
Pinterest?
Total aesthetic, right? Oh,
fair.
Oh my gosh.
Is this why I'm redoing my bathroom?
Yeah. This is like
you with green
clean curl aesthetic yes. Clean lines. Yeah. Right. Like muted colors. Yes. You said um, Starbucks right at the beginning. Oh. Like you had your right Starbucks.
That's true.
They is all, they literally have a brand around it. Pottery Barn, brand around it, Lululemon brand around it. They all do this.
Right? And thanks to the pandemic, oh my God. I swear to God. It's like a whole mental health diagnose. What? Oh, whoa.
Hold on, hold on my question,
right? What
Is it during winter time or cold season that we crave this comfort, but we also, because it's cold, maybe we're in and we do more spending.
Is this at all tied into the psychology of why we spend more in the winter time?
Well, uh, it helps that we have an entire section where we're gonna talk about how, we've commercialized the shit outta this. Okay. Okay. Okay. See, okay. Um, but I would say the weather it, it does go back.
It's like the weather, the psychology, it does go back to being warm.
Okay.
So, we may have the whole concept. Well, safety is still in there too. 'cause we're gonna chat a little bit about that with like the science part of this whole thing because safety and warmth is still an underlying component of cozy.
Okay. Okay. So that's why when the season changes,
it does matter. And then we commercialize the shit out of it. And Yes.
Then we spend more money
goes. Okay
okay. Well then can we talk about the chemistry and the science then?
Oh, yeah. We don't have to talk about history anymore. That was it.
Let's go chemistry.
I mean, you said it all kind of comes together,
so It does, except I'm not gonna lie, it's not really chemistry, it's really psychology, but like Well, that's
what I was
asking.
I
but like, psychology or science sounds so dumb. The psychology so well, so we're gonna say it's chemistry.
Okay.
Okay. Whatever.
We we're gonna start with this. It's not random, right? Okay. I mean, this is biological. It's actually totally in our DNA.
To want cozy
wan cozy. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Be
safe.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
And the warmth.
Yeah. There's actually a name for it.
Not strate,
no notate. Although that might work. Psychologist called it territorial optimization. How do you like that?
Territorial optimization. Huh? It's just a fancy way of saying how your nervous system takes over and helps you make your environment feel safer.
Okay. Right.
Do you remember our true crime episode?
Yes.
Why we crave listening to the true, okay. So same thing. Our nervous systems like they want predictable things to happen. Right? Okay. That's the response mechanism. So same thing's happening here.
Calm, organized stuff. So it's nervous system wants our brain in a relaxed mode.
Okay.
And rearranging our home decor Oh. Is just a modern way of exercising. No,
this shit's stressing me out.
No, it's, that's how we exert, it's how we exert control over our environment.
Okay. You're fair.
What do you want me
to say?
You're absolutely right. It is how you control your environment.
It's totally right. Like if,
but now you, no, it's because I painted a wall.
Okay.
To be green.
Yeah.
But in order for the green to work, right? I had to change all the hardware.
Right.
From black to gold.
Okay. That's fine.
Not all the gold matches.
Uhhuh,
not all gold is made equally. So
that's diff that's a different problem.
And then I have to change the faucet.
Right?
And then the valve doesn't work. And then I take the mirror down.
So,
and the old paint from the last time is now showing, and I can't find the paint that's currently on the wall, so I have to go paint the whole room while a different color on the wall is beautiful.
So this is very stressful.
This is, no, this is beautiful. So you
at the end it'll be so cozy.
Yeah. So your problem is not cozy. Okay. You have a number of disorders that need to be diagnosed that you need medication for. Don't look at me like that. . Actually I looked that up because I knew you were gonna go down this weird rabbit hole of like your whole OCD thing, and you're like, oh no, just kidding. It's cozy. So I Oh, oh, no, no. I did research.
Okay.
I researched in advance of what my co-host was about to do, and I got it right. Okay. 10 outta 10 for me. And what,
what is it?
Let's go. Okay. It's all based on intent. So it states, here we are. This is research. People pay attention. Doctors wrote this. I didn't come up with this myself.
When you chase control out of anxiety, that's considered a compulsion. Yeah. Yeah. Amanda.
Yeah.
But when you create calm on purpose. That's chemistry
but how do I really know this? Because I'm pretty sure my brain's gonna trick me one way or another, and I feel like I, I am looking for the calm. I am the calm. That's what I'm trying to do.
Are you?
Yes.
Are you?
Yes.
I didn't just decide to like, I wanna do this so I can have 10 other projects.
All right.
Here we go. Dr. Pete. Look this up too. Oh
God.
We're good. We're good. We're good.
Dr. Google,
right? Let's doc Dr. Cha, GPT. All right. So the difference actually shows up after the fact. This whole idea of intent. Bear with me. Okay. It's like when you're done, like when you're done painting a room. Yeah. Okay. Sure.
When the whole thing starts. So when it's chemistry. When we're talking about like that it's actually working appropriately, like cozy. It's chemistry cozy,
like in my brain.
Yeah. When you're really, it's like satisfying and soothing your nervous system. Okay. Okay. You feel relaxed after the entire project is complete, you feel caught?
Yeah,
sure. Okay.
Like your Netflix and chilling. Yeah,
sure.
You will. In my case, just netflixing and in your case, conflicts and chilling. Oh god. Yeah. Physically, physically you're relaxed. Like now when you walk into that room, like your shoulders, you breathe differently, your shoulders are, I mean,
that's why you go through the crazy OCG
stuff to get it there.
Get
Yeah, yeah, yeah. You like feel better about it.
Okay.
Right. But when it's compulsion or being obsessive, you still have this like low level of tension that you can't get rid of. And then as soon as you're done with that project, your brain immediately starts to go, okay, what's my next project?
Oh, I
see.
Now you're on the hamster wheel. Now you're not taking advantage of the cozy. So you do have a problem with, not you specifically, I'm just saying then someone has a problem with anxiety or OCD or whatever. It's Oh, okay. No. So if you can complete, I've
not reached that part
yet. Yes. If you can complete said project whenever that's gonna be done at home, I don't know, in a few weeks, whatever you're done.
Or a few days?
No, it's gonna be done in like a few days. I'll
report back. Okay. A few days I'll report back. Report back,
okay.
Because I wanna know next
week.
Right. Okay.
I'll let you know.
My instinct says you're gonna move on to next project.
No, I don't think so.
We will
see. 'cause you start something and it like snowballs to another and I don't want that.
Crazy. Alright,
here's what I think you should want. You
know,
here's what I think you should do When the project is completed, I want you to go into that room.
Okay?
Sit down Strate a little bit, see how it feels, just for a few minutes and see what happens. Who knows? It might be beautiful. Okay. Okay, here we go.
I love
this shit. Okay,
here we go.
So you're challenged for me to like go and sit in the room and see how da da is you insinuating that there is something that's gonna happen psychologically within my brain and all the chemicals Yes.
Where I'm either gonna go, Whoah, this is so lovely and I'm content.
Yes.
Or I'm gonna go, this is so nice, I wanna do something else.
Correct. But what's Hua?
It's like Hua.
Oh, okay. Is that, is that like, like
calm
yourself? Is that like huga or is that something completely different?
No,
Hua, it's, is that different?
It'sa, Hua. Ssaa.
Oh, okay. Let's use that as a word of the day. Is that a real word or is that just sort of you? I don't know.
It's what Trent tells me when I'm being too extra. So
probably says that what I don't know, every 15 minutes. Um, all right. Listen. Yes. So
I'm sorry. My eyes are stuck in the back of my head.
What?
So do you remember psychology episode?
Yes.
1 0 1 We talked all about like neurotransmitters and stuff. Yes. So absolute like chemical shit is going on in your brain.
Chemistry, chemical stuff. So we have the, um, dopamine.
Okay.
Right. We have the oxytocin. Yes. We got the serotonin. We got all those pieces. Okay. So the whole idea is we are trying to reduce the amount of oxytocin.
That's the whole like feelgood chemical.
Okay.
We're trying to reduce the cortisol. Okay. That's the stress hormone that goes crazy. Right. Which is mine's probably off the fucking chart. Are we kidding? And then ultimately balance out our serotonin.
Okay.
The serotonin is the calm guy. He's the, he's the one that's like, Hey, everybody. Let's chill out for a little bit.
Everybody just get on the couch. Just chill. Let's go. Okay. And then if we can do all those things right, and our brain plays appropriately, we start to feel relaxed instead of distracted. Like you. Okay, so I'm sorry. I gotta say I know, but I think that's you so
attacking.
I am, , I'm a little attacking
But you know what distracts me?
What
is when you muck bang
is when I muck. Bang.
Yes.
What, what? Why are you making fun of the way I eat you? That's
a, is that when you eat,
that's a u issue.
It is. When you are snacking, I think you are such a muck banger. I, so I have a question.
Yes. I love muck banging.
Do you also love asmr? I love Are you like totally into that?
Like does that soothe you? All of the weird noises.
Everything. F first of all, this is you're, oh my God, that's excellent. You know what you're doing right now? Yeah. You're ululating the microphone. Oh my god. Amanda's ululating. You guys right now? I cannot on air. I cannot. It's gross. I cannot, so gross.
I cannot, I cannot. Can you clean the microphone? Okay. Alright. Listen, I'm glad you're throwing up dude. As SMR, that whole thing, the whole muck bagging thing. No, you were onto something completely and totally no joke. That is absolutely like our version of cozy. In like what? I don't know, what is this?
The digital era? So cleaning videos, you know how you like watch tiktoks? They're all about like clean. They like clean the sidewalks really fast or mow the lawn really fast or asmr. Oh, okay, okay. All that shit.
Right? That is our brain just telling us, give me something. Repetitive. Gimme something gentle soothe me. So you just played into it, huh? Completely. That is the digital transformation of how we don't kill ourselves today versus like years ago when it was like caveman, just like rearranging rocks.
So like the animals couldn't get in the cave. Does this make sense?
Okay.
I mean,
kind of,
it's insane, right?
But like,
psychologists call, I have a, I have like a scientific factor. Rights psychologists call it 'cause they have all the cool names for it. They call it self-regulation. Okay. , It quote, define it as the ability to manage our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors in ways that help us stay balanced and aligned with our goals. Okay. Self-regulation.
Is it like when you suck your thumb?
Yes. It's at.
I'm just kidding.
That's exactly what it is. Did your kids suck your thumb? No,
my kids did not suck their thumbs.
Oh, I had thumb suckers.
Oh, really?
Yeah. Emma was a total thumb sucker. Oh yeah, yeah, yeah. And then they all had es or like, uh, what do you call 'em? Pacifiers. Yes, pacifier. Sorry. That was No, my
kids didn't have that either.
Really?
Mm-hmm.
You have such good kids. They're so good. They're gonna, they're gonna grow up with no issues at all.
Or like a ton.
It's fine. And four's fine. My kids are like insane. No, they're not. Do everything okay. Whatever. Yeah. , Same, same. Yes. Sure. I was just, that's my pass by yourself. Okay. Okay. And like you, you know what, you talk about it with the whole vision. What do you mood board or vision board? I don't know what you've talked, you've talked to me about this before, Yes. You have like your, your whole like where you put all your ideas.
Yeah.
Yes. Same concept, right? Mm-hmm. That's, that's our brains trying to like, figure out ways to trick ourselves, like with the clean.
Okay.
The clean lines. The clean ideas, the muting colors I talked about the making calming playlists, all that stuff. Like just generally unfollowing chaos Studies show that organizing.
Our digital spaces, quote unquote is the same as if we're organizing our physical spaces and it actually decreases our cortisol levels 10 to 20%. So like, you know when you're awake at midnight, doing all your computer shit and doing work? Sure, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. You can just tell Trent like,
that's cool. Like I'm getting cozy right now. Like relax.
Oh yeah. Oh. So there's a reason why my brain needs to brain dump and finish all the things
you are digitally nesting.
Oh, there we
go. That is exactly what you're doing. There we go. Yes,
because I do feel much better after that.
So I like that one. I like how it gives me an out. Um,
oh, you got an out,
but how about these like hacks that you mentioned earlier?
Oh, the hack. Oh yeah. Totally. Totally. Yeah. The five hacks. The five senses Ritual. That's what it's called.
Like to smell. Feel
the five
senses here?
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
What, what? Can you see? What? Can you
sound, sight, smell, touch, taste.
Yeah. Yeah. Okay.
Sound, sight, smell, touch, taste. Yeah. Yeah. Yes. Okay. Here it is.
So for sound soft music. Like you said earlier, oh, it's
so funny. I thought you were going a totally different way.
What?
Because like there No,
I'm trying to help
us relax. When you're, when Yeah. No, so when you're trying to deescalate yourself. Yep. You're supposed to stop and whatever is like
stop, drop and roll.
No. That's
something completely
different. No,
you're, no. Um, you're supposed to stop and you're supposed to
collaborate and listen.
No, no,
no. Ice is back with a brand new invention. No. Alright, Peter, be quiet. Go.
That you're supposed to go. Okay. What can I hear? And you stop and focus on when you can hear, what can I see?
You stop and you focus. I can see a cup. Okay. Uh, what can I touch? What can I,
beautiful. Yes.
And it helps deregulate yourself. Yes. But you're saying I can use the same technique
you're Yes. Or
something else.
You already know. Shit. I don't even know. You're already like a guru with this. So Correct. This is same, same, sound, turn on soft music in your home, white noise, anything red
you saying. But
create the environment. You're creating the environment on purpose, right? For sight, soft, warm, light, low clutter, no screens, no, no phones, anything like that, right?
For smell a candle or just fresh air. Okay. Just open a window, right. Whatever. For touch. It would be a blanket, a mug or your slippers we were talking about. Got it. And then for taste, a cup of tea.
Okay.
Uh, maybe soup. Just something super simple. It can, it doesn't have to be warm necessarily, it's just that warm goes with the touch as well.
Oh, I like it. Um, but you're creating the environment. And then of course, right, if you do all these things, your body basically has an orgasm. Here we go. 'Cause you're tri and
you're in huga,
you're, you're, yeah. Yeah. That's it. But basically it just says, we can relax now. We're safe now.
Unless, of course you're Amanda, and I know you think that I'm making fun of you, but realistically, um, you probably just look at a window sill and realize, oh shit, I better get up and start cleaning that, or fixing that or painting that part of the house. Again, don't
act like you know me.
Well I do because
that's so true.
Absolutely. I think, I think this this episode is challenging for you because you have to go figure out if you really can
hug,
get co. Yes.
Yeah. I don't know.
Yeah. I
dunno.
You're doing it right now though. You're looking a little like you're chilling.
Yeah, it's 'cause I have my comfy pants. Yeah.
You're chilling.
Let's go. When
I'm not in work. Clothes and like sweat pants. That's all good. Get all cozy. Okay, so I think we covered the chemistry. Um, or I guess really what we should say is like psychology behind Yeah, you're right. Fine. I, but like it's chemistry of the brain. It's, yes. So I'm on board with that. Yes. . 
But how does that work within like our culture?
Because I feel like when you are cozy and wanna be home, you're perceived as lazy because you're supposed to be doing and busy and all the things
busy. Yes, absolutely. That's the American culture, man. That's what we, that's what we, that's capitalism, dude.
Sure.
If I'm not busy. And I'm not being productive.
I'm less something's wrong. You're absolutely right. Right. Which I like, first of all, I think is total bullshit. Like, I'm, I'm with you. I fundamentally understand this. , But my brain still gets hijacked and still wants to do shit all the time and stay busy. Well, in my case, probably, because I don't wanna think about other shit.
But you get the idea. But the idea of busy in America, certainly in America is like a badge of honor. Like think about
Sure. I mean everyone, when somebody asks how you're doing, oh, I'm
so busy, I'm busy. Right? Like, what, what does that even mean? Like what is that bullshit? Right.
Okay. So that's true because I know like if I'm trying to relax, there's always like a million things that are going on in my brain and I've gotta do blah, blah, blah, blah.
Right?
And then we only have 10 minutes to relax, then it's time ready, set, go for the next thing, right? Um,
hurry up, light the candle, let's go do it. Finish, get warm, catch your blanket, right? You have 10 minutes. Literally it sucks.
But then rest is important, right? So should we just lean more into this huga thing, or,
Right. Like we make relaxing like it's its own project. I guess I shouldn't say we, like I do anyway. I suck at this. Not like it's a necessity.
Like, I literally am hurrying through the idea of getting cozy because I have a certain amount of time to be cozy so I can move on to my next thing. So I, absolutely suck at it. The concept is we're supposed to make it like maintenance. It's not about being lazy, I think I'm being lazy and I shouldn't do that.
Okay.
This is about maintenance. This is like, same way you do car maintenance, right? We gotta do body maintenance. I mean, I work out, I go running, but I don't do. This part really well.
Okay.
At all. . Okay. It is a trip though. And I don't know if it's because of how I was raised or whatever it was, but like other countries don't have a problem with this.
Like this is, I think this is I, so I'm told,
so
other countries embrace more. I'm
speculating,
relaxing,
I'm speculating. And I'm speculating. Okay. Wait, what did you say? What? What?
Oh, I was just saying, do other countries do
well? Like so
the relaxing
better Think of, think of Denmark. Well, we just talked about den, right?
Yeah. Yeah. Okay. So you got them right. But then Spain, right. Way better at it. They'd have the Siesta Italy. Oh, that's true. Has that version of their, Greece has it? I don't know the names. Portugal does it. They have another name for it, for sure. So they're all doing it. Japan, they do it. We talked about it earlier.
They have something called un. They take these short naps at work, huh? Like actually at work. So they can be more productive. The Chinese do it.
Okay.
Even in places like North Africa, in sections of India. Like I was looking all this up. So like everybody does this in some capacity except the United States, like America kind of just sucks at this.
Well,
and I think we would do it like after we do our work week or whatever we have to get done. So what you're saying is, is other countries embrace it more throughout their day than just,
I think we see home. I think we see it as a weakness. Yes. Agree. I think America's disagree with that. Agree. literally we worship a culture of productivity and exhaustion and I think we can learn from like the other countries
Okay. We need to like, America needs to think of rest like fuel
fair. Okay.
Like fuel. That's what other countries look at. We look at rest like it's failure. And I think America would end up being way more productive if they listen to what other countries did
I think this goes back to kind of like us having four day work weeks instead of five day work weeks and just like toning everything down and not making your life center around work.
But like, we also have an industry that is monetized on cozy. Oh, totally. And so like, in order to be a part of that, you have to make money. So it's kind of like a vicious cycle. And I, I suppose it's probably mostly just an American thing.
dude, it is. It is.
So it's just a bunch of capitalism, which I know isn't like bad, but it's kind of bad because
it, this is why I love, I don't know, we're getting deep here, listen, like the whole economy of this culture in America for sure.
Home goods. Just think of home goods. You walk into home Goods. That's right. Yeah.
I
mean just the name in and of
itself,
they're built around cozy. Right? Here's the whole thing Amanda. This is why it works. It's not just physical goods. They are marketing safety. Go back to the brain chemistry.
They're nesting. The nesting. That's what they're doing. That's the whole reason this thing works. Emotional regulation, weighted blankets, $200, throw pillows, nostalgic sense, and candles. They're hacking our nervous system to make us feel calm enough to put the shit in our cart. That's how it works,
I mean, retail therapy is a real thing.
Totally. It is. When I was doing all my research, I found out that global self-care is now worth over $500 billion. That's a lot. In 2025, 500 billion. Right. Okay. And home decor pulls in another 700 billion.
Wow. On top of five. Right. Thank you very much.
That's a lot.
It's insane.
1.2 trillion.
All because our brains demand. We find things that help us not to panic. Huh?
All right. So I'm just gonna like. Every time I buy something new for the house. Well, Peter said it was okay. Yes, because my brain needs it.
I'm just
kidding. Whatever you gotta tell yourself, I don't really care.
I mean, I don't know. I
mean, high five capitalism, I guess.
Let's go high five. Woo hoo.
Okay.
So, do you have any more fun facts or did you already lay it on us earlier?
Oh, đź“Ť no, no, no. I got fun facts. I always make sure I have separate fun facts. So if I lay fun facts on early, I got extra fun facts.
Okay, let's go.
I got, I got,
you got cozy.
I got fun. Facts on cozy.
Okay, here we
go. And it wasn't, and it wasn't that easy.
Fair?
I spent You dug
deep.
Oh, I dug. Okay, let's go. And here. And by the way, you know what I had to do to do that?
I'm ready.
I had to put on my weighted blanket. I had to light my candle. I had to meditate for a half hour. And all these fun facts started coming to me one by one. Okay. All right, here we go. Number one, weighted blankets actually mimic hugs. Yeah,
we know that.
Yeah. Okay. Okay. So I guess the pressure from the blanket releases, the oxytocin, the feel good chemical, which is the same hormone that gets released when you cuddle.
đź“Ť Except In my case, there's a whole nother hormone that like gets released when you cuddle. Oh my God. You know what I mean? Okay, , sorry. Number two, the word cozy comes from the old Norse for cosa, which literally means to be snug. Huh? It eventually made its way into English through Scottish dialects in the 17th century, always keeping the same sense of warmth and shelter.
Let's go. The Vikings weren't just murdering and raping people, apparently they laid you down with a pillow and a blanket first, then did their business.
What is going on in the head,
if you know what I mean?
Oh my God.
Right? That's what they did.
You just took such a dark turn.
But that's what the Vikings did. Oh my God. They were murdering and plundering and
rap. I take away that one's off. Fun fact.
But they did it with a blanket and a pillow.
Wasn't, wasn't fun too far.
Alright, fine. Um, number three, did you know candles actually calm your brain? Like scientifically? Yes. The flicker.
Of a candlelight gives off something called low frequency. Light waves, that slow brain activity and help you unwind. Oh, that's why starting a fire can feel hypnotic.
Interesting.
Interesting. Yes. Interesting. It's nature's form of mindfulness.
Huh?
Low. And there's, okay. Okay. And there's like an actual frequency that it flickers at.
I went so sophisticated down this way. You have no idea what it, it was crazy.
Okay.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Well, now I'm just gonna say that I'm meditating and I'm just gonna stare at a candle.
Fine.
Is that, just
do that? Yes.
Is that acceptable?
Absolutely. I do it. Okay. I do it all the time. I say I like the fireplace, stare at the fire all the time.
Oh. '
cause I'm a pyromaniac. Interesting. That's not here nor there. Okay. Next one. Uh, soft textures activate something called the insula. The part of your brain tied to emotional safety and empathy, which explains why people bond faster in cozy sweaters. Than in sort of hard metal chairs.
Right. Are we kidding? And this is probably why you pull your covers up to your nose. Oh. Like when you get scared? I do. At night. Right? Like somehow those covers are gonna save you. They're not gonna save you. That's bullshit.
Oh,
it makes me a cocoon.
Whatever you say.
I like a cocoon
Who doesn't like a cocoon.
Okay. Number five.
Why the Snuggy did so well. I'm sure
it is. Oh, total. Thank you. Right, capitalism. Okay, number five. People in warm rooms rate others in the same room. More trustworthy.
Studies in social psychology, check this out.
Found that physical warmth actually increases feelings of interpersonal warmth. Like why holding a hot cup of coffee can literally make you judge someone as kinder and more generous,
huh?
Okay.
So I have a question then.
Interesting.
So when I looked that one up, I was like, okay, that's all fascinating and everything, but then why are operating rooms so cold?
Because you would think
bacteria, duh. They
control ness. Nevermind. Yeah, that's a good point. I was thinking 'cause like doctors would want you to have like a trusting safe environment. So she making warmth. No. That's why when they do their rounds, they have a Okay. Yeah, yeah, you're right. You're right. I didn't, okay.
I didn't go that far. You're a genius. Okay, fine. Um, finally, last one. Cozy culture spikes when our world feels unstable during recessions wars Pandemics.
Okay.
Comfort becomes our currency. Companies and marketing firms have data that tracks the rising candle blanket and baking sales during a national crisis.
Crises, crises, whatever. It's society's collective way of telling each other that we're in self-soothing mode.
Hmm.
It's fascinating.
I love how like our activities create trends.
They do
that you're able to like. Deduce what's happening and what people are thinking and feeling. Kinda like the pizza trend.
Mm-hmm. When something bad's gonna happen in Washington. Mm-hmm. And all the pizza sales strike. I mean it's kind of the same thing but with cozy. So anyways, that's all fascinating.
That's it. Comfort cozy. Let's go.
Alright, so why don't you go ahead and like, and condense it and break it down.
Do it into like our little. You know,
I'm wrapping it up. Okay.
If you want to just know what the end of this episode is all
about, if you, if you wanna dig a little deeper and, and listen.
I like more things. Yeah. If you wanna
research more. Okay. I'm gonna do a little bit more. Here we go. We got a few reads.
Uh, and then some must watch tv. So try the little book of Huga.
Oh, there's a book.
Yeah. By Make Viking, I dunno if I said that right. Oh,
okay.
That don't kill me.
Um, it's basically the Danish manual for mastering warmth and calm. Okay. Or Joyful by inin ly, which gets into how design and color back to your room that you're painting. Okay. Affect your emotions. Uh, and then if you're more of a watcher, like a voyeur like I am. Okay. The Netflix series, Headspace Guide to Meditation, uh, or Tidying Up with Marie Kondo Bow Tap into the whole psychology behind.
Does it bring you joy, right? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay. You won't feel like a head case. Okay. Or honestly, just start small like what you were saying earlier, just notice what makes you feel calm. Like specifically to help you in your environment. Okay? Because it's not the same for everybody, right?
That's different. Like light a candle, clean your desks, sit still for five minutes, pay attention to how your body reacts, let your daily routine be a little like pilot laboratory for your comfort. 'cause you might find out something about yourself that doesn't necessarily work for everybody else.
Yeah, right? Yeah. And then of course, if you have to go to Denmark, just go to Denmark and just get all, you know, get all Huga.
There you go.
Right? Do whatever you gotta do.
Here we are.
Uh, okay. And finally, just remember these takeaways to sound super sophisticated.
So
sophisticated,
not really super sophisticated, sort.
It's sophisticated, okay? Comfort isn't random, it's biological. When we reach for warmth, soft textures or familiar routines, our brains release oxytocin, serotonin, and dopamine. The feel good chemicals that signal safety and calm, cozy isn't laziness, it's chemistry doing maintenance. Number two, our environment shapes our emotion.
Lighting, texture, color, and order. All influence how safe or stressed we feel from candlelight to clean spaces. The way we design our surroundings can either trigger our nervous system or help it unwind. Number three. Comfort is cultural, not just personal.
From the Danish huga to the Dutch Gaz ha. Every country defines cozy in its own way, but the goal is the same Connection and contentment. Even our modern self-care culture is just the latest version of that human need for control and calm.
Number four, cozy is both a cure and a coping mechanism. Sometimes we reach for comfort, to restore balance, and sometimes to avoid discomfort. Knowing the difference between regulation and distraction is how you turn cozy from a reflex into a ritual. And finally, Amanda, here we are. The chemistry of Cozy Teaches awareness all the way back to the beginning.
How is this gonna make us more cultured? It teaches awareness. When you understand why you crave warmth, softness, or a particular routine, you start to recognize what your body's actually asking for safety or stability or connection. And that is the ultimate of self-awareness. That is real sophistication.
Am I right?
I guess you are.
Let's go.
Well, there you have it dear listeners. Hopefully not too sleepy. Deep dive into the chemistry of cozy. From prehistoric campfires to Victorian fireplaces and pandemic bread, baking comfort has always been our way of saying we're safe.
Now. It's not just candles and blankets, it's biology, psychology, and a little bit of history all working together to help us feel human again.
You're welcome.
đź“Ť If we did our job today, we're leaving a little more curious, a little more aware, and maybe ready to look at your favorite cozy rituals as something deeper than decor, whether it's your nightly tea, clean kitchen, or your obsession with fall candles.
The big takeaway is this, comfort isn't weakness, it's wisdom. It's how we regulate, reconnect, and reset. And as always, if you like this episode, hit subscribe. Leave a review and share it with your favorite homebody or homebodies,
So until next time, stay curious, stay comfortable. And remember, being sophisticated isn't about knowing everything. It's about knowing what calms your soul.
