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You should probably be swearing more

SCOTT SIMON, HOST:

Next time you tell a child, come on now, use your words, maybe they won't be the tame ones you'd hoped for. CNN highlighted this week some studies from the past few years that insist swearing can be good for you. Yeah, bet your - whatever. Really - the headline message is that swearing helps you cope with pain, Richard Stephens, head of the psychobiology research lab at Keele University in Staffordshire, England, told CNN back in 2019. The professor - this is an effing professor, mind you - says that swearing, cursing, sets off a jolt of adrenaline, which reinforces the body's hallowed defense reflex. You're triggering an emotional response in yourself, this SOB, scholar of Britain, explains, which triggers a stress-induced reduction in pain.

Well, I feel better already. Sure glad our daughters aren't tuned in to hear this. A caution is attached - if you use a lot of curse words, they can lose their sting and power. So deploy them carefully, like telling people BJ Leiderman writes our [expletive] theme music.

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC) Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.

Scott Simon is one of America's most admired writers and broadcasters. He is the host of Weekend Edition Saturday and is one of the hosts of NPR's morning news podcast Up First. He has reported from all fifty states, five continents, and ten wars, from El Salvador to Sarajevo to Afghanistan and Iraq. His books have chronicled character and characters, in war and peace, sports and art, tragedy and comedy.

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SOMOS CONNECTICUT is an initiative from Connecticut Public, the state’s local NPR and PBS station, to elevate Latino stories and expand programming that uplifts and informs our Latino communities. Visit CTPublic.org/latino for more stories and resources. For updates, sign up for the SOMOS CONNECTICUT newsletter at ctpublic.org/newsletters.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.