Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Episodes
Selects: The Great War of the Worlds Panic Myth
On Halloween 1938 young radio star Orson Welles scared the pants off of America with a fictional news bulletin claiming Martians had landed and were destroying the country. People across the nation ran wild with panic in the streets – or did they? Listen to this classic episode to find out.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
18/05/24•46m 33s
The Silurian Hypothesis
The idea that we aren’t the first advanced civilization to live on Earth sounds like a fringe theory, but it raises a good question: How can we be so sure that a civilization didn’t arise and die on Earth so long ago that any trace of it has been erased?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
16/05/24•49m 10s
Short Stuff: Zambonis!
Even the dullest hockey game is worth seeing when the Zamboni comes out to resurface the ice.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
15/05/24•13m 8s
NYC Trash: A study in persistence
Taking care of 12,000 tons of residential trash every day is a hard job. But how does that even work? Listen in to marvel at the NYC sanitation system.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
14/05/24•50m 29s
Selects: How Stuttering Works
Despite as much as one percent of the adult population having the condition, science doesn't actually know how stuttering works. The best it's come up with so far: there seems to be an issue between the physical process of speaking and the thought process that underlies it. Find out what science means by this in this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
11/05/24•50m 45s
10 - Yes, 10! - Dumb Criminals
Sometimes you just have to turn it off for a while – all the thinking, and overthinking, analyzing, and figuring out. Sometimes it’s nice to just breathe through your mouth and talk about dumb things criminals do for an episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
09/05/24•45m 49s
Short Stuff: Titanic Survivors!
We all know the story of the Titanic and the tragedy of lives lost. So hey, let's talk about the survivors for a change!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
08/05/24•16m 15s
Misophonia: More Than an Annoyance
Misophonia is a condition in which certain sounds trigger people in very negative ways that can really disrupt someone's life. Listen in today to learn all about this fairly recently recognized condition.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
07/05/24•47m 50s
Selects: The Legends of Lost Nazi Gold
As if being murdering SOBs weren’t enough, the Nazis were also thieving rats. During WWII, they stole billons in gold from countries they overran and moved it to Germany. But at the end of the war, only part of it was recovered. Where’s the rest? Find out the extent of our knowledge in this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
04/05/24•46m 34s
Atomic Clocks, Ahoy!
The only thing more complicated than an atomic clock is researching how they work and then figuring out how to explain it to other people. But believe us, they are fascinating. Even if you don’t care about clocks or atoms you’ll still like this episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
02/05/24•51m 59s
Short Stuff: Getting Winded
Getting the wind knocked out of you is scary, but passes quickly. Learn exactly what's happening with all that today.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
01/05/24•11m 53s
The Village People Episode
The Village People were a smash hit singing group that came and went in under two years. Then other people performed under that name for several decades. This is their story. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
30/04/24•54m 3s
Selects: How the Beagle Brigade Works
If you've ever been to an international airport, you've probably seen one of the keenest spotters of illegal contraband - The Beagle Brigade! These cute dogs aren't after drugs or bombs, they're carefully trained to sniff out agricultural products. Learn all about this furry group of crime stoppers in this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
27/04/24•48m 38s
The Awful Crimes of Georgia Tann
Georgia Tann was a bad human. We feel safe in saying that because she kidnapped babies from poor families to sell to wealthy ones. Listen in if you can stomach it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
25/04/24•46m 39s
Short Stuff: The Sad, Strange Tale of Margaret Schilling
Not too much is known about Margaret Schilling. She was the kind of person whose memory might have been lost to time had she not left behind an indelible reminder of her. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
24/04/24•13m 20s
The Power of the Wind
You probably know wind energy projects have been around since the 90s, but did you know they now provide 10% of America’s energy, and more than that in other countries? Learn about what’s ahead for wind and what it’ll need to become a real star like coal.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
23/04/24•51m 54s
Selects: Special Effects: A Short History
Special effects have been around since the first movies. In fact, the techniques the earliest filmmakers created are still around today, we just use computers to do them faster and cheaper. Hit play on this classic episode and then put on your beret and get ready for SYSK film class.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
20/04/24•55m 4s
Hitchhiking: Two thumbs out!
Today we go down the road a bit, thumbs out, to explore the rich history of hitchhiking. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
18/04/24•51m 18s
Short Stuff: The Amazing Tale of Juliane Koepcke
Few people have been more qualified to survive a plane crash alone in the Amazon for almost two weeks than Juliane Koepcke. Let’s hear her story.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
17/04/24•13m 25s
The Dubious Science of Arson Investigation
Arson investigation has changed a lot over the years. There is actual science available now, but the word still hasn't totally gotten out. Listen in today, and don't play with matches!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
16/04/24•46m 32s
Selects: How Famines Work
It's common knowledge that famines are usually caused by major droughts: Rain doesn't fall, crops don't grow, and people go hungry. But recent research suggests that while weather may trigger famines, they may actually be more of a human-made catastrophe. Find out more in this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
13/04/24•49m 2s
Testosterone and Estrogen: Wondrous Hormones
We think of estrogen and testosterone as the female and male sex hormones and they may seem kind of gross (is that just Josh?), but that simple understanding is way off. A magical biochemical dance between the two creates everything from bones to moods.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
11/04/24•48m 55s
Short Stuff: Straitjackets
Straitjackets aren't really a thing anymore unless you're watching a movie or TV show. Or in prison. That's the sad truth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
10/04/24•12m 55s
The 1977 Women's Conference That Changed America
The 70s were the decade of the woman in the US. America finally was coming around to the understanding women and men are equals and the government sponsored a conference to advance women’s rights. The opposition that arose changed the fabric of America.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
09/04/24•49m 32s
Selects: All the Gold In Fort Knox: Meh
When Fort Knox was built in the 1930s to house America’s gold supply, it was billed as an impenetrable, impregnable, don’t-even-think-of-trying vault. But as the world has moved further away from gold, the stockpile’s lost a bit of its luster. Learn all about it in this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
06/04/24•51m 59s
The Everglades: Wowee
One of America’s most important ecosystems takes up more than half the state of Florida. It’s a river of grass, a cactus desert, and a saltwater bay all rolled into one. And there are alligators and crocodiles. And that’s just the beginning.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
04/04/24•54m 18s
Short Stuff: Knock on Wood
What's the deal with knocking on wood? It's an action one takes to ensure good luck. Which doesn't exist. Yet we do it. Humans are funny that way.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
03/04/24•11m 25s
Greedflation Is Real
One of the things we rely on is for the companies who make the stuff we need to not stick it to us, the customer. But it’s become painfully clear that’s just what happened during the pandemic and that it’s still happening today. What can we do about it?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
02/04/24•55m 34s
Selects: Who is The Man of the Hole?
In 2018, there's a man from a lost tribe still living deep in the jungles of Brazil who has been all alone since the mid 1990s. He's referred to as the Man of the Hole, and has had no face-to-face with modern humans. Who is he? We'll answer that question as best we can in this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
30/03/24•37m 58s
The Pulitzer Prize: A major award!
It doesn't get much bigger than the Pulitzer Prize if you're a journalist. Or a novelist. Or really any kind of writer. They even give them to podcasts now. We're not holding our breath.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
28/03/24•48m 52s
Short Stuff: Ramree Island Crocodile Massacre
The strange thing about the story of the Ramree Island Crocodile Massacre is that it didn't happen. Yet the story lives on. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
27/03/24•11m 12s
Love Canal: Even Dirtier Than It Sounds
A man with an unfulfilled vision left a huge gash in the ground near Niagara Falls. Then a chemical company came along and filled it with toxic waste. Then people came along and built homes and an elementary school on top of it. Then things went badly.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
26/03/24•46m 45s
Selects: MOVE: Or When the Philly Police Dropped a Bomb on a Residential Neighborhood
Believe it or not, in 1985 the Philadelphia Police Department dropped a bomb from a helicopter onto a residential building in an African-American neighborhood. The fact that this story isn't more widely known says it all. Listen and learn about MOVE in this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
23/03/24•51m 31s
Peanuts (the comic) Part II
Today is part II of our tribute to one of the most iconic pieces of American culture.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
21/03/24•45m 23s
Short Stuff: Mariko Aoki Phenomenon
Ten percent of people – in Japan at least – get the urge to poop when they visit bookstores. But it wasn’t until a courageous woman stepped up and became the voice of the phenomenon now named after her that they realized they were part of a movement.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
20/03/24•11m 52s
Peanuts (the comic) Part I
Today we pay tribute to one of the most iconic pieces of American culture. Listen in to hear us gush about Charlie Brown, Lucy, Snoopy and the rest of the Peanuts gang. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
19/03/24•45m 21s
Selects: How Dyslexia Works
For a learning disability that everyone seems to know about, dyslexia is maybe the most commonly misunderstood and controversial cognitive difficulty there is. Some people think it’s a gift, some people think it doesn’t even exist. Learn more in this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
16/03/24•43m 23s
The Alien Abduction Phenomenon of the Mid-20th Century
It started with New Hampshire couple Betty and Barney Hill, who learned under hypnosis they’d been abducted and examined by aliens in 1962. Since then, possibly millions of people in the US alone came to believe they followed in the Hills’ footsteps. Why?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
14/03/24•51m 25s
Short Stuff: Skittles and TIO2
There’s an ingredient in Skittles and lots of other food that Dunkin Donuts stopped using it in their powdered donuts. Skittles said they were phasing it out too back in 2016 but still haven’t and now the lawsuits flow like The Spice.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
13/03/24•11m 37s
Leave Brutalism Alone!
The most reviled, hated, despised, no-good, low down, dirty rotten architectural style of all time is actually just the most misunderstood. Learn about this unfairly treated architectural movement and why it’s awesome. Learn to love brutalism.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
12/03/24•48m 54s
Selects: The Science of Break-Ups
Breaking up is hard to do. Your brain might even think you're getting over a cocaine addiction. Learn all about the science behind break-ups in this classic episode!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
09/03/24•50m 53s
The Smiley, Stubborn Llama
Llamas are pretty great. They smile! They also spit and if they feel overworked will just lay down. There's a lot to admire there.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
07/03/24•41m 26s
Short Stuff: Roly Poly...Bugs?
Roly Poly bugs go by many names. They look like tiny armadillos. They're great for your garden. And they're crustaceans. Yeah, you read that right. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
06/03/24•10m 59s
Multitasking: Working slower with worse results
Multitasking isn't really possible, because of the way the human brain works. We know you think you're getting more done, but you're really working slower and with worse results than working sequentially. We promise. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
05/03/24•46m 22s
Selects: The Case of Sacco and Vanzetti
The trial of Sacco and Vanzetti, two anarchists accused of murder, was one of the first "crimes of the century." But did they do it? To this day there is speculation that they did not. Learn all about this famous case in this classic episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
02/03/24•55m 49s
Wireless Electricity: When Can We Unplug Our TVs?
You know all of those cords and cables and wires that we use to connect our stuff to the electrical grid so they’ll, you know, work? Imagine a day when energy flies through the air like wifi, utterly cord-free. Well, imagine no more! That day is coming!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
29/02/24•47m 12s
Short Stuff: Smudging: Not just for hippies
Smudging is the process of wafting around the smoke of burning white sage. What is it good for? Listen in and find out.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
28/02/24•14m 30s
Haile Selassie: Statesman, Colonizer, God?
If you grew up outside of Africa, you might know Haile Selassie’s name from reggae music - the man who ruled Ethiopia is considered a god in Jamaica. In Ethiopia opinions are more varied. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
27/02/24•56m 55s
Selects: How Zero Population Growth Works
In 1968, Paul Erlich published The Population Bomb, predicting coming famine and mass death. Erlich's predictions didn't pan out but his ideas launched a debate still raging today. Learn all about it in this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
24/02/24•51m 53s
The Story of the Nuclear Boy Scout
David Hahn was a kid who was really into science. So much that he built a nuclear reactor in his mother's potting shed. And it worked. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
22/02/24•40m 39s
Short Stuff: Benin Bronzes
One of the world’s cultural treasure troves were created in West Africa. But for over a century they’ve been held in museums outside of Africa. In fact, an estimated 95 percent of Africa’s cultural heritage is kept in museums overseas.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
21/02/24•14m 38s
Ray and Charles Eames: More than Chairs
Charles and Ray Eames were superstar designers who dreamed up some of the most iconic pieces of furniture ever made. And they did much more than that.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
20/02/24•57m 12s
Selects: Geodesic Domes: The Wave of the Future That Wasn't
Sometimes a good idea doesn’t pan out in real life. Take Buckminster Fuller’s geodesic dome: It requires less energy to heat and cool, it’s cheap, and it’s durable enough to withstand a hurricane – but it’s also godawful ugly and that was its undoing. Learn more with Josh and Chuck in this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
17/02/24•50m 22s
Like, here's the episode on "like"
Like is a very divisive word. Purists think it's like, a filler word born in the 80s that's like, destroying the English language. Turns out none of these are like, true. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
15/02/24•38m 46s
Short Stuff: The Original Snake Oil Salesman
There’s a great origin story behind snake oil salesmen, and it has to do with just one guy who singlehandedly gave it a bad name.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
14/02/24•10m 42s
What Americans Ate When There Were No Food Laws
There was a brief period in America’s history – after people left the farm to work in the city and before the government started regulating it – when there was a total, lawless free-for-all in the food industry. Things were bad. Really, really bad.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
13/02/24•47m 41s
Selects: The Unabomber: Misguided to say the least
The Unabomber was one of the most notorious and longest lasting cases in the history of the FBI. Just because the manifesto reads like he was a fortune teller doesn't make his actions any less deplorable. Learn all about this fascinating case in this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
10/02/24•45m 22s
What's the Pygmalion Effect?
Do teachers and managers give special treatment to those who they're told have great academic or professional promise? Does this create a self-fulfilling prophecy, regardless of the truth? That's just part of the fascinating Pygmalion Effect.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
08/02/24•46m 44s
Short Stuff: School Bus Yellow
Why are all school buses the same color? Because one man made it so. This is that story. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
07/02/24•12m 23s
Clue(do): Third Best Board Game Ever
Whether you know it as Clue or Cluedo, the whodunnit mystery board game is one of the best of all time. Learn all about the history behind the game’s development, and strategies on how to crush your fellow players as soundly as Chuck’s wife crushes him.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
06/02/24•48m 59s
Selects: How Disgust Works
Disgust is an odd thing. It makes sense that we would feel a sense of revulsion at the thought of putting rotten meat in our mouths – that’s pure evolution. But why would we feel the same emotion at the thought of weird sex or from hearing a racist rant? Find out more in this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
03/02/24•54m 46s
The History of Las Vegas
How did the sleepy Nevada town of Las Vegas become LAS VEGAS? Well, we'll let you know over the course of about 45 minutes. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
01/02/24•49m 50s
Short Stuff: Wainscoting: When Half a Wall is Enough
Wainscoting is a beloved and time-tested decorative way to spruce up your walls. But what is it anyway? Listen in to find out.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
31/01/24•11m 53s
The Harrowing Story of the North Hollywood Shootout
Tune in today to listen to the story of when North Hollywood became a war zone after a brazen bank robbery. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
30/01/24•51m 52s
Selects: A List Of Games You Would Surely Lose to a Computer
We live in a time where computers can beat the best humans in the world at chess, checkers, poker and video games. But these games are really just demonstrations of how intelligent our machines are growing. They’re growing more intelligent by the hour. This classic episode features a special guest, Tech Stuff's Jonathan Strickland.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
27/01/24•56m 2s
Esperanto: Tre Mojosa
One thing you could do is create your own language. Some people do and for lots of different reasons. LL Zamenhof created Esperanto to try to bring about world peace. It worked, but on a less-than-global scale. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
25/01/24•48m 26s
Short Stuff: Hot Cold Plunge
Jumping into a cold pool after a long sauna or hot tub can be pretty great. Saunas have proven health benefits like lowering blood pressure; cold plunges are shown to reduce inflammation. Why not combine them? A bunch of safety reasons, bucko, that’s why.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
24/01/24•14m 7s
The Strange Unsolved Murder of Ken McElroy
The murder of Ken McElroy comes off like a story from a cheap paperback book you’d get to read on a plane. But this is a true crime story, set in Missouri in the early 80s. And boy does it pack a punch.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
23/01/24•46m 21s
Selects: Is yogurt a miracle food?
Yogurt has been touted as a health food, but is it? Maybe. If you eat it every day. We get into the rich and creamy history of this supposed miracle food in today's episode. Get an earful of the stuff in this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
20/01/24•46m 3s
Jonestown
We all know what happened at Jonestown, but who was Jim Jones before the tragedy at the People's Temple?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
18/01/24•57m 57s
Short Stuff: Frozen Dead Guy
Back in 1994, Nederland, Colorado found out it had a resident it hadn’t accounted for.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
17/01/24•12m 55s
Dry Cleaning: Not Really Dry(!)
Dry cleaning is one of those things that we’re all familiar with but don’t actually know much about. That will hold true no more! Learn about all the ins and outs of the dry cleaning biz, some of its toxic secrets, and some spot removal tips too!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
16/01/24•52m 20s
Selects: History's Greatest Traitors
The annals of history hold a special place for people who have carried out treachery and betrayed their own. Thousands of years later, their names are still synonymous with being a scoundrel around the world. From Marcus Brutus to Vidkun Quisling and more, in this classic episode Josh and Chuck examine some of the bigger turncoats to live -- and exonerate others.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
13/01/24•44m 17s
How Cranes Work
You’ve probably seen cranes moving elegantly in the sky, but did you know what an important role they play in their surroundings? Learn all about cranes in this episode on cranes.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
11/01/24•51m 4s
Short Stuff: NYT Bestseller List
What kind of black magic goes into deciding who makes the NYT Bestseller List? Well you probably don't know the whole story unless you work there.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
10/01/24•14m 29s
Kenton Grua: Grand Canyon Legend
Tune in today to listen to the amazing story of Colorado River guide Kenton Grua's wild 277 mile record-breaking speed run down the center of the Grand Canyon. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
09/01/24•51m 26s
Selects: Dr. Seuss: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
The Seuss is loose in this episode about legendary children's book author Ted Geisel. The funny thing is, he didn't ever want children of his own, and his past work was a bit problematic. Explore his entire legacy in this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
06/01/24•52m 4s
The 2000 Presidential Election: A Real Cluster
When George W Bush and Al Gore ran against one another, most pundits predicted a tight race. Absolutely zero of them predicted the election would come down to a few hundred votes. Today, we still don’t know who won.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
04/01/24•53m 10s
Short Stuff: Blueprints
The story of why blueprints were blue is more involved than you think. It involves a chemical process and the Prussian Army. Yeah you heard me right.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
03/01/24•11m 58s
SYSK Live in Nashville: The Biosphere II Experiment
Hello, friends! Join us today for our annual live show release, recorded in beautiful Nashville. On the docket? The Biosphere II Experiment!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
02/01/24•1h 6m
Selects: Nuclear Semiotics: How to Talk to Future Humans
The nuclear waste we produce will be dangerous for a very long time. We’ve figured out how to safely store it in the earth until it’s no longer a biohazard. Now we just have to figure out how to warn humans 10,000 years in the future to stay away from it. Find out about our best ideas in this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
30/12/23•53m 51s
How Primitive Will Our Descendants Find Us?
It’s all fun and games to think about how backwards and misguided some things people did in the past were until you realize we’ll be “the past” one day. What do we do now that will seem primitive then and how will they be better in the future?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
28/12/23•51m 42s
Short Stuff: Scheele's Green
Can you imagine a color so alluring that even though you know it’s toxic you’d still use it to your heart’s content? The Victorians certainly could.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
27/12/23•13m 18s
How Snails Work
They seem gross and bothersome at first, but once you get down to ground level and get to know snails, we’ll bet you’ll grow quite fond of them. They are living in a whole world we’re largely unaware of. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
26/12/23•53m 47s
Selects: How Fireplaces Work
They are dirty, harmful to your health, bad for the environment and utterly charming. Wood-burning fireplaces have been with us for centuries and, despite their many drawbacks, are sticking around. Learn more than you thought possible about the fireplace, in this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
23/12/23•56m 50s
The 2023 SYSK Ho-Ho-Holiday Spectacular!
Happy Holidays, friends! Tune in today to listen to our annual ad-free holiday extravaganza. There will be talk of merriment and joy!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
21/12/23•52m 42s
Short Stuff: Christmas Lights
Just three years after the lightbulb was invented a compadre of Thomas Edison thought to use them to decorate his Christmas tree. It set off a sensation that’s gotten more popular each year since.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
20/12/23•13m 5s
Beanie Babies: Reigning Toy Craze Champion
The world has seen a lot of weird investment bubbles in its time, but few of them rival the fever that gripped the world in the 90s after Beanie Babies took off. Let’s visit this strange chapter in toy history together.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
19/12/23•50m 6s
Selects: Star Wars Holiday Spectacular
Long ago, in a galaxy not so far away, George Lucas allowed the Star Wars Holiday Special to be made. What happened on the night of November 17, 1978 can never be fully explained, but we make our best effort in our annual special edition of SYSK. May the force be with us all.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
16/12/23•54m 20s
Selects: How Dictators Work
There are many types of dictators, from so called "benevolent" ones to the kind who rule with an iron fist. There are also many ways they can come into power, and they don't all include violence. Learn all about dictators past and present in this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
15/12/23•45m 56s
What was the Skeleton Army?
The Skeleton Army was a rowdy group of folks in England who battled, sometimes violently, with the Salvation Army - largely against their efforts to keep people from drinking and having a rowdy good time. Listen in today!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
14/12/23•48m 50s
Short Stuff: Pickles
Josh loves pickles but hates cucumbers. Chuck loves cucumbers but hates pickles. WHO WILL WIN?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
13/12/23•15m 26s
The Matewan Massacre
The Matewan Massacre was a pivotal moment for the US mining industry and the labor movement as a whole. Learn about what happened in this sleepy West Virginia town today.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
12/12/23•56m 9s
Selects: What were the Freedom Schools?
Freedom Schools were set up in Mississippi in the heart of the Civil Rights Movement, with the aim of giving young black school children agency and a future. They remain one of the more inspiring and progressive programs in American History, yet so few know about them. We're hoping to change that. Learn all about them in this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
09/12/23•46m 28s
The Murder of John Lennon
On December 8th, 1980, John Lennon was shot and killed outside his apartment building in New York City, by Mark David Chapman. Music history was altered forever. Listen in to this tragic story.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
07/12/23•51m 29s
Short Stuff: Boba Tea
Boba tea is bubble tea. But what are the bubbles? Tapioca pearls! Listen in today to learn about the disputed history of this trendy beverage.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
06/12/23•11m 43s
The Life and Works of J.D. Salinger
J.D. Salinger was a complicated and problematic human who stopped publishing soon after creating one of the great works of literature. Listen in today to learn the good, bad and ugly sides of the man who got famous, then dropped out.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
05/12/23•53m 52s
Selects: Beavers: Tail Slapping Fun
Beavers are in fact, very busy. They're builders and solid family members, husbands and wives. Learn all about N America's largest rodent in this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
02/12/23•42m 21s
You Down With OED?
The story of the Oxford English Dictionary is really something. From its origin to its crowd-sourced literary quotations. Dive in today to learn all about the best dictionary. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
30/11/23•47m 52s
Short Stuff: The Zipper Merge
When you switch lanes on the highway after noticing that the lane you’re in is ending up ahead, you are literally ruining the world.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
29/11/23•14m 42s
Plate Tectonics Are What Makes Earth Inhabitable
It’s time to get jazzed about Earth science again. It’s only been 60 or so years since we’ve known the continents move around and we’re still figuring out exactly how they do. But one thing is for sure, that super-slow movement is super important.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
28/11/23•48m 56s
Selects: NYC Water: An Engineering Marvel
Getting the rain and melted snow from upstate NY into the taps of every NYC resident and business is one of the great feats of engineering. Does it taste great and make perfect bagels and pizza crust? Sources say yes! Learn all about it in this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
25/11/23•47m 45s
The Wreck of the Costa Concordia
It’s astounding that with the exceptional navigational equipment aboard a cruise ship can run aground in the 21st century, and 32 passengers and crew can lose their lives within a thousand feet of land. Such is the power of incompetence and cowardice.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
23/11/23•50m 49s
Short Stuff: Magnetic Pole Switcheroo
Everyone once in a while, say a few hundred thousand years or so, the north and south poles of Earth’s magnetic field switch places. The result: Dogs and cats living together.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
22/11/23•12m 14s
Legs! Legs! Legs! (The Periodic Table)
If you’ve ever wanted to listen to two totally untrained, non-chemists who are fully unqualified to explain how the periodic table works nervously explain how the periodic table works, then this episode is for you. Chemistry majors, be warned.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
21/11/23•47m 30s
Selects: E.T.: Is It Really the Worst Video Game of All Time?
If you play video games you probably have an easy answer to worst game of all time: ET. But it turns out there are no easy answers, especially when you’re talking about a game so terrible it’s blamed for bringing the entire video game industry with it. Find out more in this classic episode.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
18/11/23•41m 54s
Diners: The Most American Establishment?
Diners may just be the most American establishment there is. They were born in the USA, thanks to European immigrants, and they only exist in the USA, unless it's a kitschy homage. So break open that 12-page menu and order up.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
16/11/23•46m 58s
Short Stuff: Liberty Bell
The story of the Liberty Bell is far more confusing than we imagined.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
15/11/23•11m 39s
The Tragic Death of Natalie Wood
Natalie Wood was Hollywood royalty who tragically drowned after a long night of partying with her husband, Robert Wagner, and actor Christopher Walken. Over the last 40 plus years, stories have changed and the investigation has moved from closed to open. Listen in to learn this tragic story. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
14/11/23•50m 29s
Selects: Who were the Buffalo Soldiers?
Josh and Chuck dive into history in this classic episode to tell the story of the Buffalo Soldiers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
11/11/23•51m 8s
How Scuba Works
It’s a good, old fashioned how it works episode where we break down all of the nuts and bolts and threats to safety that make scuba diving such a unique and thrilling hobby. Dive in feet first with Josh and Chuck on the undersea adventure of a lifetime!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
09/11/23•1h 2m
Short Stuff: Petrified Wood
Petrified wood isn't just hard wood. Listen in today to learn all about this unique process. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
08/11/23•10m 22s
Things We Believed Before the Scientific Method
It’s easy to think of people in the distant past as kinda dumb for believing things like that mice could spontaneously generate from old grain. But if you look a little deeper, you’ll find there was a sensibility to the odd beliefs that came before science.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
07/11/23•43m 43s
Selects: Are Election Laws Designed to Suppress Voting?
Are laws that are meant to protect the sanctity of the polling place in reality designed to make it harder for groups that traditionally vote Democrat to cast their ballots? Find out in this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
04/11/23•1h 9m
The Harlem Globetrotters: American Treasures
The Harlem Globetrotters are an American entertainment institution. Their story may not be quite what you think either. Hint, they didn't originate in Harlem. Tune in now to learn their fun, fascinating story. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
02/11/23•53m 56s
Short Stuff: White Dog Poop
If you grew up from the 70s to the 90s you know white dog poop. It’s the old, crusty – yes, white – phase that dog poop goes through as it ages on a lawn. Or it used to. Where has all the white poop gone?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
01/11/23•14m 8s
The 14th Annual Halloween Spooktacular!
As per tradition, today Josh and Chuck perform a spooky Halloween story reading to delight, amuse and FRIGHTEN YOU TO YOUR CORE. Will Meagle show up? Tune in to find out! Thanks to guest producer Ben Hackett for all the great sound effects.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
31/10/23•1h 4m
Selects: How Mummies Work
A mummy is a human being whose soft tissue has been preserved after death, and there are mummies around the world -- including natural mummies, as well as corpses that have been intentionally embalmed. Listen to this classic episode with Chuck and Josh to learn more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
28/10/23•40m 22s
Naked Mole Rats: A Face Only a Mother Could Love
Naked mole rats are funny looking to be sure, but neither moles nor rats. So what are they? You'll have to tune in to find out.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
26/10/23•46m 32s
Short Stuff: Bed Sheet Ghosts
The simple bed sheet has provided countless kids and adults with an easy go-to Halloween costume. But why do we associate white sheets with ghosts anyway?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
25/10/23•13m 15s
The Compton Cafeteria Riot
Three years before the riots at Stonewall, the LGBTQ community of San Francisco's Tenderloin rose up. And the story was almost lost to time. Learn how and why today. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
24/10/23•37m 51s
Selects: Where Did Trick-Or-Treating Come From?
We aren’t exactly sure who invented trick-or-treating – kids who realized they could extort adults for candy, or adults who bought off kids in exchange for laying off pranks? The bigger question is: Will trick-or-treating survive the 21st century? Learn more in this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
21/10/23•51m 34s
Kindness: Do It
In the tradition of our episodes on forgiveness and revenge, comes the third installment in the Emotional Roller Coaster trilogy. Kindness, it turns out, really does make the world go round.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
19/10/23•48m 21s
Short Stuff: Candy Corn
Is it vile? Is it delicious? It seems to be both! Hear all about the history of candy corn, how it’s made, and who likes it in this pre-Halloween episode!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
18/10/23•15m 19s
The Criminal Father of Criminology
Eugene Francois Vidocq is without a doubt one of the most interesting figures in modern history. He’s a former criminal turned undercover informant who went on to found the French national police force and the world’s first private detective agency. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
17/10/23•53m 34s
Selects: Pain Scales: Yeeeow!
Pain is subjective; it is whatever the person experiencing it says it is. But to effectively treat pain, it helps to quantify it, which is why medicine came up with pain scales. Learn all about them in this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
14/10/23•43m 55s
How Intellectual Property Works
Intellectual property sounds as dry as can be, but it’s actually very interesting. It’s at the heart of the global economy and the center of a dispute over what should belong to the people who create things, from poetry to pharmaceuticals.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
12/10/23•52m 33s
Short Stuff: Longyou Caves
What’s better than discovering a mysterious cavern? Discovering five!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
11/10/23•15m 30s
Parasocial Relationships: That Podcaster is Your Friend!
Parasocial relationships are fascinating and it turns out Chuck knows what it's like from both sides. Listen in today to your old friends. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
10/10/23•54m 17s
Selects: How Motion Sickness Works
Motion sickness is the worst and hits about 25 to 40 percent of humans when they ride in cars, boats, or simply watch the wrong 3-D movie. Join us as we break down the science behind this nausea-inducing affliction in this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
07/10/23•37m 11s
How Andy Warhol Worked
You know Andy Warhol from his quip on being famous for 15 minutes and paintings of soup cans, but even as far as artists go he was an eccentric and misunderstood person. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
05/10/23•51m 34s
Short Stuff: Rhodium
Rhodium is one of the most valuable precious metals on Earth, though it has dropped in value by about 80% in the last year. Learn why by clicking play.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
04/10/23•12m 3s
Night of the Grizzlies
Grizzly bears had never killed a person in Glacier National Park until the night of August 12, 1967. That's when everything changed for National Parks moving forward.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
03/10/23•48m 41s
Selects: Social Security Numbers: Less Boring Than You'd Think
Do you know that up until July 2011 an ambitious hacker with a good software program could deduce your social security number based on your date and place of birth? In this classic episode, the boys examine some of the lesser-known details of the Social Security system in the U.S.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
30/09/23•39m 3s
Revenge: Bitter, Not Sweet
Someone cuts you off in traffic or makes fun of your friend and all you can think of is how to get back at them and then some. But wait! Research has found that taking revenge actually makes you feel worse in the long run. Learn about what to do instead.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
28/09/23•45m 48s
Short Stuff: The Dakota
The Dakota is one of New York City's great buildings. And its backstory is pretty great to boot. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
27/09/23•12m 29s
The Amazing Life of Christine Granville
Christine Granville was about as James Bond as it gets. Stories of her life as a spy during World War II are legendary. Today we'll tell her story. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
26/09/23•49m 47s
Selects: Cockney Rhyming Slang: Beautiful Gibberish
What is Cockney Rhyming Slang? It's complicated and its origins are unclear. Learn everything we know about it today in this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
23/09/23•42m 45s
Kombucha: Fizzy Goodness
Kombucha is pretty popular right now. But what is it exactly and where did it come from? The answers await you!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
21/09/23•47m 4s
Short Stuff: Origin of Math Signs
Have you ever stopped mid-pencil mark and realized to your astonishment where the plus sign came from? Then this one’s for you.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
20/09/23•11m 57s
10ish Worst Business Decisions Ever
It’s easy (and kind of fun) to laugh at the misfortune of CEOs and other high up business types when they bring it on themselves – so let’s do that now. Herein lies some of the worst business decisions ever made, hindsight being 20/20, of course.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
19/09/23•51m 46s
Selects: How Floods Work
Floods happen when more water is introduced to an area than can be quickly removed. That's about it, but there's more to floods, what causes them and the havoc they can wreak. Join Josh and Chuck in this super-saturated classic episode of Stuff You Should Know.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
16/09/23•33m 49s
The Hyatt Regency Skywalk Disaster
In 1981 America suffered the worst accidental structural collapse in its history. Listen in today to the tragic story of the fast-tracked building disaster that stills haunts Kansas City. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
14/09/23•40m 37s
Short Stuff: Why Spilling Salt is Unlucky
Face it, when you spill salt your life goes totally off the rails, maybe even forever. Fortunately, we humans stumbled upon the one reliable way to counteract that bad luck by tossing some over our left shoulder.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
13/09/23•11m 18s
Axolotls: The Smiling Salamander from Mexico
It’s a listener request! Axolotls are one of the more amazing animals roaming the planet right now – they can regenerate parts of their brains, can fight off tumors, are found in the wild only in one single lake? And did we mention they smile all the time?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
12/09/23•48m 45s
Selects: How Space Stations Work
It seems like we largely take it for granted these days, but the fact that we have humans living in space is the realization of a scientific dream a century old. Visit the space stations orbiting Earth past, present and future in this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
09/09/23•48m 12s
Native American Reservations
Today we dive into the history and current state of Native American reservations. This serves as a nice follow-up to the Trail of Tears double-ep from 2017. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
07/09/23•52m 21s
Short Stuff: History of OK
Is OK the best word? It's certainly one of the most versatile. Check the interesting history of this weird contraction.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
06/09/23•14m 48s
The Made-up Disease of Syndrome K
In WWII, Italy went through its own Jewish Holocaust, terrible at first then horrific as the Nazis took over the country. In Rome, a group of doctors hid Jewish refugees in plain sight in their hospital by giving them a highly contagious, highly fictitious disease. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
05/09/23•41m 13s
Selects: Body Odor: You Stink
Chuck and Josh end up making reduxes of past episodes on things like sweating and deodorant in this all-new episode on the science beneath what makes people smell. Learn all about your odor in this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
02/09/23•46m 58s
Laurens Hammond: The Non-Musical Genius Who Changed Popular Music
Laurens Hammond invented the Hammond organ and in the process changed music history. But he was much more than that. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
31/08/23•50m 9s
Short Stuff: Evil Eye
You've seen the evil eye. Many Middle Eastern cultures have a long history with it. Learn how to thwart this curse today. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
30/08/23•11m 11s
Fordlandia: Brazil Isn't Michigan
Henry Ford tried to build a Midwestern American town in the Amazon rainforest in the 1920s. It's true. And yes, Chuck will say this should be a movie. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
29/08/23•46m 55s
Selects: How Toy Testing Works
It's every kid's dream - a job playing with toys that pays in toys. It's a real thing and has been around for a long time. Then there's the other side of the testing process, companies who ensure that toys are safe. It takes both of these testing techniques to successfully bring a toy to market these days. Dive into the ball pit with us today and learn all about toy testing in this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
26/08/23•47m 5s
Plant Migration
Climate change is having sweeping effects on our climate and this is changing the world, not just for humans and other animals, but plants too. Will the Earth’s flora manage to find safe refuge in time? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
24/08/23•45m 19s
Short Stuff: Saturn's Rings
Friends, treasure Saturn’s rings while they are young. They won’t be around forever.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
23/08/23•11m 44s
Farmer's Almanac: Literature to Poop To
The Farmer's Almanac has a long rich history that is more than just moon phases and long-term weather patterns. Tune in to learn all about it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
22/08/23•48m 3s
Selects: How Music Sampling Works
Today music sampling is a common practice, especially in electronic or hip-hop music. But how does it work? After all, other artists made the original music, and most of them would presumably like to be paid. Tune in to this classic episode to learn more about music sampling.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
19/08/23•44m 24s
The Mysterious Disappearance of the Franklin Expedition
One of the great Arctic mysteries was the disappearance of the ill-fated Franklin Expedition in search of a northwest passage between the Atlantic and Pacific. Not one man survived the trip, and they left precious little behind in the way of clues.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
17/08/23•50m 24s
Short Stuff: Edward Mordake
In the 19th century news spread of an unfortunate man who was born with an evil second face on the back of his head that spoke to him. The real story is that people keep falling for it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
16/08/23•12m 57s
How We’re Learning to Talk to Animals
If we could talk with the animals, grunt and squeak and squawk with the animals, what would we say? We’d better start thinking of something good because researchers are learning to speak sperm whale, prairie dog, and a bunch of other species' languages.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
15/08/23•53m 58s
Selects: How Magnets Work
You can stick them to the fridge or use them to transpose sound to tape, whatever they are used for magnets are surprisingly interesting. And knowing just exactly how and why magnets work will make you more interesting, which is why you should listen to this classic episode of SYSK.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
12/08/23•36m 15s
Xenobiotics
Science is just realizing the extent of the tiny pollutants that have entered ecosystems across Earth and inside all humans. We call them xenobiotics – substances foreign to our bodies – and what effects they have on us we’re only starting to learn.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
10/08/23•45m 28s
Short Stuff: History of English
Who spoke English first and what was it like? Nothing like it is today. Listen in to learn all about it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
09/08/23•12m 6s
Dear Diary...
Diaries have been around for a long time. There are many famous ones, and tens of millions that will never see the light of day. Learn about the history and benefits of journaling today.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
08/08/23•47m 45s
Selects: Rainbows: Delighting humanity since forever
Rainbows seem to defy nature, but they're really pretty simple when it comes down to it. Turns out it's just light reacting to water droplets in the air. But they sure do look cool. Learn all about how rainbows are formed in this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
05/08/23•30m 0s
The Last Meal Ritual
The last meal of the executed is a longstanding tradition. Listen in today to learn about the dark history and modern practice of this culinary curiosity. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
03/08/23•49m 46s
Short Stuff: NATO Alphabet
Alpha, Bravo, Charlie. This is the NATO alphabet. But where did it come from?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
02/08/23•13m 8s
BPD: The Worst Disorder or Not a Disorder at All?
Borderline Personality Disorder has been described as emotional “third degree burns over ninety percent of your body.” It’s as close to a curse as a personality disorder can be: deep fear of being abandoned creates behaviors that end up driving people off.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
01/08/23•50m 54s
Selects: What's the deal with Stradivarius violins?
The Strad violin is noted for its tonal qualities and superior craftsmanship. And for its price tag. There are many theories why the Strad sounds so great, from the wood to the lacquer, to the simple fact that Antonio Stradivari was really good at what he did. Rosin up your bow and take a listen to this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
29/07/23•40m 30s
MAD Magazine: A Tribute
Chuck and Josh grew up on MAD Magazine and we hope you did too. What started out as a comic book that spoofed comic books grew into the foundation of American satire and cultivated a healthy skepticism in generations of kids. Hail to the clods at MAD!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
27/07/23•1h
Short Stuff: Blue Highway Signs
In the US those ubiquitous blue highway signs that tell you which direction you’ll find a Burger King have an interesting backstory. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
26/07/23•14m 16s
Learning a Foreign Language
Today, Chuck and Josh dive into the ins and outs of language learning. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
25/07/23•47m 12s
Selects: Nirvana: Not The Band
Hinduism and Buddhism are closely related in a number of ways, including their vision of what comes after we exit this mortal coil. Learn about the religions' interesting interpretation of the state of existence outside space-time, in this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
22/07/23•32m 57s
Magic Eye Illusions
What became the Magic Eye illusion fad of the 1990s was born by way of the stereogram of the 1950s (and even before that). It's a winding story that you'll love!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
20/07/23•47m 17s
Short Stuff: Pie-In-The-Face Gag
Throwing a pie in someone’s face was groundbreaking comedy once upon a time.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
19/07/23•12m 38s
Insomnia: Why you can't sleep
Insomnia is rough stuff. Listen in and learn all about why you can't fall asleep and what you can do about that.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
18/07/23•50m 3s
Selects: How Police Lineups Work
Police lineups are something most people have never had any firsthand experience with. What you see on TV and in movies isn't so far off though. Learn about how these tropes work for real in this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
15/07/23•52m 42s
How PCP Works
There is probably no drug more mythologized than PCP. It drives users insane and has the unfortunate side effect of bestowing superhuman strength thus sending them on a rampage. But does it though?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
13/07/23•49m 42s
Short Stuff: Père-Lachaise Cemetery
The most famous cemetery in Paris has some of the most famous people in the world buried there. And it's quite lovely.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
12/07/23•12m 4s
Birth Order: So nice, we did it twice
This is a very special episode, the first one we've ever fully recorded a second time and decided to release. Why? Because it's good and a little different and we thought you'd enjoy this unheard of double dose. So enjoy!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
11/07/23•55m 4s
Selects: How Bats Work
They are creepy, sure, but they are also useful, cute and in great danger of extinction. Get a new lease on life from a new view of bats in this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
08/07/23•45m 26s
James Beard: Food Legend
James Beard is well-known now for the annual awards named in his honor. But he used to be the most famous chef in America, and set the standard for what makes a celebrity chef.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
06/07/23•55m 20s
Short Stuff: Hollywood Sign
The Hollywood sign is an iconic landmark that started out as a real estate billboard. Can you believe it?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
05/07/23•13m 48s
How Trucking Works
If truckers suddenly vanished the global economy would come to a grinding halt in a couple days. But as important as they are these highway heroes (mostly) are, they’re systematically mistreated by their industry. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
04/07/23•1h 1m
Selects: What Makes Lead So Poisonous?
The people of Flint, MI were horrified to find their drinking water was poisoned with lead. As we learn more about lead's effects and realize how persistent it is, the more worrying it becomes. What makes lead so toxic? Find out in this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
01/07/23•49m 35s
Butterflies: Caterpillars with Wings!
If you thought caterpillars were awesome, just wait until you see them with colorful, iridescent wings!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
29/06/23•51m 3s
Short Stuff: Fahrenheit or Celsius
Fahrenheit or Celsius? Why not both? If they can agree - exactly at -40 degrees - then it seems like we should all be able to agree they're both great as well.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
28/06/23•9m 24s
Caterpillars: Nature's Magicians
Caterpillars are simply the best. Don't think so? Well listen in and you'll soon agreeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
27/06/23•47m 9s
Selects: How Ocean Currents Work
It's easy to overlook the importance of ocean currents - they move along out at sea, while we stay mostly on land. But we are globally affected by them every day. Currents form the base of the food chain, drive weather and keep life as we know it going. Explore them with Josh and Chuck in this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
24/06/23•39m 0s
How Afrofuturism Works
Black sci-fi writers were shut out of their genre in the 20th century so they created their own vision of the future. That sentiment spread to music and film and today it’s so engrained in pop culture it doesn't need its own label. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
22/06/23•53m 18s
Short Stuff: Chia Pet
It has arrived, the most important podcast episode in the history of the world. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
21/06/23•12m 51s
Large Language Models and You
There is a good chance that in March of 2023, humans crossed a threshold into a transformative new era when a new, smarter type of AI was let loose in the wild and an AI arms race began. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
20/06/23•54m 15s
Selects: SYSK Live: Back When Ford Pintos Were Flaming Deathtraps
For this special live benefit episode recorded in Atlanta, Josh and Chuck go back to the 70s and look at the decidedly ungroovy course of events that led to Ford recalling its Pinto after people started burning up in them.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
17/06/23•1h 9m
How Alumin(i)um Works
Humans made it through the Bronze Age and Iron Age, then we dabbled in steel, and now we are living in the Aluminum Age. The metal is so ubiquitous it seems like it’s been around forever, but we’ve only been really using it since the 20th century.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
15/06/23•51m 54s
Short Stuff: Suicide Forest
The suicide forest in Japan is a beautiful place with a checkered reputation. Trigger Warning: This episode features a discussion of suicide. If you or anyone you know needs help, please call 988.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
14/06/23•11m 14s
The Stinky History of Human Hygiene
Ever wondered when and why people started caring about body odors and cleanliness? Well look no further than today's episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
13/06/23•57m 15s
Selects: How Audience Testing Works
Did you know some of our most beloved movies originally had different, sometimes better, endings? That is until they were tested in front of focus groups. Learn all about the how, what, and why of audience testing in this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
10/06/23•40m 46s
Is Reality Real?
Philosophers have been wondering whether we experience reality as it is for millennia now. They’ve pretty much settled on no, no we don’t. Now science has taken up the investigation and it’s proving the philosophers correct. So what is reality then?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
08/06/23•43m 4s
Short Stuff: DNA Data Storage
One of the more futuristic things around right now on Earth is research into encoding data into strings of genetic code.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
07/06/23•11m 50s
Why Manners?
Keeping your elbows off the table, keeping your fingers out of the gravy boat – at some point these became very important rules of etiquette. But what purpose do manners serve? It turns out they just may be the glue that prevents society from unraveling.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
06/06/23•47m 4s
Selects: Pterosaurs: Not Flying Dinosaurs
Almost everything you know about pterosaurs is wrong. They weren't birds, they weren't flying dinosaurs and they weren't all pterodactyls. Which makes this classic episode a great one for you to learn some new and amazing stuff about terrifying prehistoric beasts! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
03/06/23•38m 28s
What's the deal with intermittent fasting?
Could eating at only certain times of the day lead to weight loss? Possibly! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
01/06/23•44m 45s
Short Stuff: Rube Goldberg
Everyone knows what a Rube Goldberg machine is, but what do you know about the cartoonist who they're named after?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
31/05/23•14m 41s
The Saga of Milli Vanilli
For a moment Milli Vanilli was the hottest musical act in the world. Then came the news that it was just that, an act, and the fall came swiftly and humiliatingly. Now, 30 years on, a look back yields not so much a cautionary tale as a very sad story.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
30/05/23•53m 55s
Selects: How Color Works
Science doesn't have a good explanation for why we sense color, yet it is everywhere and affecting us all the time. But why should minutely different wavelengths of light have such an impact on our moods and motivations? Explore these questions and more with Josh and Chuck in this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
27/05/23•41m 39s
The Semi-Recent History of Exercise
Humans exercising for better health has not been around that long. Today we dive into this fun history as we cover why and when we started this now commonplace pastime. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
25/05/23•55m 16s
Short Stuff: Pollen Count
If you watch the news and hear the pollen count is high for some particular type of plant then it’s high time you learned how they do that.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
24/05/23•12m 41s
What is the Bechdel Test?
The Bechdel Test is a is a measure of the representation of women in film. You'd be surprised how many movies fail. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
23/05/23•42m 8s
Selects: How Dog Shows Work
You know those shows where people wearing sensible shoes jog dogs around in circles? They actually represent the pinnacle of a long and complex path to glory for dogs and their owners. Join Chuck and Josh as they peek inside the American dog show in this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
20/05/23•41m 35s
How Juries Work
It’s totally bonkers that in the US and other countries, the job of determining the guilt or innocence of an accused criminal – whose life may be at stake – is left not to experts in law but to a group of random citizens. Even crazier, it generally works!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
18/05/23•57m 20s
Short Stuff: Mood Rings
Mood Rings were all the rage in the 1970s. Then they went away, and fast. What's your color today?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
17/05/23•11m 52s
The Inflammation Theory of Disease
Not too long ago we thought that germs were the cause of most diseases, leading to germ theory. But when we look at maladies from heart disease to Alzheimer’s one commonality stands out: inflammation. Could it be we’ve found the root cause of all diseases?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
16/05/23•58m 48s
Selects: How Slinky Works
It has been called a "glorified spring", but Slinky is one of the best selling toys of all time. From accidental origins to an unlikely resurrection, Slinky has a pretty great back story. Learn all about it in this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
13/05/23•51m 8s
How TV Weathercasters Work
TV weather people can seem corny and maybe a little nerdy, but beneath that toothsome exterior lies the heart of a lonely warrior of science, one who is often overlooked as the hardest working member of the news team. Learn all about these unsung heroes. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
11/05/23•49m 29s
Short Stuff: Frances Kelsey: Hero of the FDA
Who is Frances Kelsey? Well, she's a semi-unsung hero of the FDA whose work helped save a lot of kids from congenital disorders and even death. Listen and learn!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
10/05/23•12m 12s
The Colosseum
It's funny how similar The Colosseum in Rome is to modern day arenas. They really had it figured out. Tune in today to learn all about this early entertainment venue. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
09/05/23•54m 37s
Selects: Does the body replace itself?
Does the human body really replace itself every few years? The answer is yes, but different parts of the body do so at different rates. Learn all about which parts of your body are the speediest, and which take the longest to regenerate, in this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
06/05/23•38m 11s
Introducing Smell-O-Vision!
Smell-O-Vision was a post-war movie theater gimmick that delivered well-timed scents to the noses of audiences to align with the movie. Did it work? Sort of. Did it ultimately fail? Yes. Does that mean it has gone away forever? No.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
04/05/23•38m 17s
Short Stuff: Dunbar's Number
There’s a theory that all of us have a maximum number of friendships that we can maintain – 150, to be exact. Suspiciously exact, really, if you think about it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
03/05/23•14m 38s
Nerf!
Another classic toys edition is at your collective feet. Today, we dive into the soft, padded world of NERF!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
02/05/23•38m 27s
Selects: How Manhunts Work
When a suspect or prisoner goes on the lam there are plenty of ways to hide: in plain sight, in the mountains, in another country. There are as many types of ways law enforcement uses to track wanted people as their are ways to go on the lam, but there are some founding principles to carrying out a successful manhunt and they actually include you. Learn about how the fuzz tracks down fugitives and how it's evolving in the age of social media in this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
29/04/23•34m 51s
Carbon Monoxide: Please Just Listen Anyway
It might not be the sexiest topic we’ve ever covered (and by “might”, we mean “definitely”), but there are some things you just need to learn about and this deadly and undetectable gas that’s part of our everyday lives is one of them. So buck up.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
27/04/23•47m 53s
Short Stuff: Botox Brain
Botox can chase away the lines on your face, apparently it can chase away your depression, borderline personality disorder, and anxiety too.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
26/04/23•13m 5s
Why does everyone love Dolly Parton?
Today we dive in to celebrate the international treasure that is Dolly Parton. Why is she nearly universally loved? Listen in to find out. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
25/04/23•53m 41s
Selects: Was There A Real Robin Hood?
Is it true that Robin Hood hung out in Sherwood Forest and stole from the rich to give to the poor? No. No, it’s not. Find out the real story in this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
22/04/23•49m 41s
METI: Existential Threat? Probably Yes
We've wanted to contact extraterrestrials for as long as we've suspected they're out there. But as we get better and locating potentially inhabited planets, beaming messages their way is suddenly posing a threat. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
20/04/23•43m 45s
Short Stuff: Routines
Routines are a key part of a successful life. Ask anybody about theirs and they'll be happy to share!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
19/04/23•15m 9s
Should Rich Countries Cancel Poor Countries’ Debt?
It sounds controversial, but there are persuasive arguments for the wealthy Global North to write off the debts lower-income nations have accrued. Some say the US and Europe actually owe it to them. This is one of those boring ones you shouldn’t skip.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
18/04/23•53m 41s
Selects: How Coffins Work
Sure, you've probably laid in one at the store or a funeral home, but how much do you know about receptacles used to bury the dead? We'll bet you'll learn plenty - like the difference between a coffin and a casket - in this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
15/04/23•41m 26s
John Brinkley: The Quackiest Quack in History?
John Brinkley was perhaps the biggest quack who ever claimed to be practicing medicine. Learn all about this not so good guy today!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
13/04/23•45m 4s
Short Stuff: Red Snow
Thanks to green algae, there's such a thing as red snow. And we've recently found it can accelerate global warming. Look out!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
12/04/23•11m 17s
How Skydiving Works
At 13,000 feet the ground is nothing but far-away squares of land, and you can even see some clouds below you. All of a sudden you find yourself plummeting downward. There are very few thrills like jumping out of a plane with a parachute.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
11/04/23•51m 12s
Selects: Some Nutso Fan Theories
It turns out that the characters in your favorite TV shows and the like are actually dead, dreaming, dying or don't exist. Explore some strange fan theories with Josh and Chuck in this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
08/04/23•53m 7s
Playing Cards? You Got That Right!
If you've ever wanted to learn more about playing cards, now is your big chance. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
06/04/23•46m 48s
Short Stuff: Beethoven’s DNA
It's been all over the news, Beethoven's DNA has revealed some interesting things about his health.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
05/04/23•9m 53s
What Caused the Late Bronze Age Collapse?
Humans’ first attempt at civilization went pretty well for the first thousand years. Important stuff like the wheel, writing, math, art, and diplomacy came out of it. But then, in the blink of an historical eye, it all mysteriously failed. What happened?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
04/04/23•47m 58s
Selects: How Jet Lag Works
It was only since 1958 that the Jet Age began, and jet lag became a real condition. Also known as desynchronosis, jet lag can lead to all manner of ailments, from sleeplessness to irritability to diabetes and cancer. In this classic episode, learn about how the body's natural clock runs normally and what happens when it gets out of whack when we cross time zones quickly.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
01/04/23•35m 38s
What's the deal with dowsing?
Dowsing, aka water-witching has been around a long time. And you might be surprised that's still a thing. We get into all the nitty gritty of this pseudo-science today. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
30/03/23•44m 37s
Short Stuff: Theme Park Cremations
There’s a little-discussed trend you might run into at your favorite theme park – people scattering the ashes of a loved one on rides. Here's hoping you don't literally run into it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
29/03/23•11m 52s
The First Road Trip
Back when cars were a brand new thing, before people even knew they'd stick around, two men and a dog drove from San Francisco to New York. This is their story. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
28/03/23•49m 11s
Selects: Is The Uncanny Valley Real?
In 1970, roboticist Masahiro Mori wrote an essay that said the closer robots come to lifelike, the more they unsettle humans. His theory became the Uncanny Valley, and science has been evaluating it – and what makes something creepy - in recent years. Learn all about it with Josh and Chuck in this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
25/03/23•1h 7m
An Interesting, Vastly Incomplete Look at Baseball Cards
One of the all-stars of the hobby world is collecting baseball cards. Over time it’s gone from a kids’ hobby to a major investment vehicle, complete with its own bubble that recently burst. But at the heart of it is something both engrossing and endearing.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
23/03/23•54m 56s
Short Stuff: Semantic Satiation
You know when you read a word over and over it starts to lose its meaning? There’s a term for that and why it happens is fascinating.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
22/03/23•12m 18s
The Tragic Tale of Floyd Collins
Floyd Collins was a natural-born caver who met a terrible fate, becoming stuck underground where no one could get him loose. His unlucky, slowly unfolding plight also turned out to be one of the first national media sensations of the 20th century.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
21/03/23•47m 32s
Selects: Do People Really Run Off to Join the French Foreign Legion?
Anyone who knows anything about Jean-Claude Van Damme knows he played a French legionnaire in the movies. He was just one of many actors to star in films that romanticized this mercenary force. Check out the details in this classic episode with Josh and Chuck.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
18/03/23•19m 27s
Arcades: Nostalgia Abounds
Chuck and Josh were around during the Golden Age of the arcade. And look how they turned out! Join them on a trip down memory lane. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
16/03/23•58m 44s
Short Stuff: John Cage's 639 Year Concert
John Cage was a unique artist to say the least. Learn all about this avant-garde composer today.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
15/03/23•13m 1s
That's Amaro!
Amaro is a delicious traditional liqueur, usually from Italy, that has delighted diners and drinkers for centuries. Tune in to learn all about this wonderful digestif. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
14/03/23•53m 52s
Selects: The Time Nazis Invaded Florida
During World War II, Nazis invaded the United States with saboteurs bent on fomenting chaos. Three times. Learn all about it in this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
11/03/23•55m 47s
Woodstock: The Festival for Stardust, Golden Hippies
You may have heard your parents or – gasp – grandparents prattle on about how amazing the original 1969 Woodstock Festival was. It turns out that, as much as people who lived through the 60s like to talk them up, Woodstock really was that amazing.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
09/03/23•56m 53s
Short Stuff: Paprika
Paprika is more than a smoky Hungarian spice. Actually, that's not true, that's exactly what it is. But it sure is delicious!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
08/03/23•8m 42s
Noncompete Agreements, Come On
A noncompete agreement, a pledge not to work for a competitor for a set amount of time, makes sense – when the worker is well compensated and privy to company secrets. But that doesn’t describe the vast majority of workers who’ve signed noncompetes.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
07/03/23•50m 0s
Selects: Live From San Francisco: How Malls Work
In this classic show recorded live on January 5, 2017 at San Francisco’s Castro Theatre, Josh and Chuck delve into the history and the heyday of the church of consumerism and what it means for local communities and our capitalist society at large when malls die.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
04/03/23•1h 6m
Crosswords episode, perhaps?
Crossword puzzles have an interesting history and are a lot of fun to do. Dive in today to learn about Chuck's latest obsession.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
02/03/23•54m 16s
Short Stuff: La Pascualita
In a bridal shop in Chihuahua, Mexico a mannequin has been standing in the window since the 1930s that’s so lifelike some say it’s actually a corpse.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
01/03/23•11m 6s
The Awe-Inspiring, Absolutely Crucial Amazon
If you’ve ever thought, “What’s the Amazon rainforest ever done for me? Nothin, that’s what,” then you’re dead wrong, friend. It covers 1 percent of the Earth’s surface but houses perhaps 30 percent of its species and it’s invaluable to all life on Earth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
28/02/23•54m 10s
Selects: Who Committed the 1912 Villisca Ax Murders?
In a small town in Iowa in 1912 eight people were murdered in the grisliest of ways while they slept. Local reputations were ruined when accusations flew, but could a drifting serial killer working across the Midwest have been behind it? Learn all about it with Josh and Chuck in this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
25/02/23•46m 17s
Naps: Chuck's Secret Talent
Naps are great if you can manage to find the space to take them. The trick is to do it for the right amount of time. We get into all in the ins and outs of Chuck's favorite time of day. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
23/02/23•44m 16s
Short Stuff: Sleeping On It
It’s pretty well known that if you wait to make a big decision until after you get some sleep, you’re likelier to make a good one. But why should that be? Why, we’ll explain if only you’d listen.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
22/02/23•14m 10s
The Mystery of the Lost Amber Room
Chuck and Josh turn into the Hardy Boys for one of the great unsolved mysteries of WWII, a work of art worth a king’s ransom that went missing in 1945.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
21/02/23•47m 25s
Selects: The Max Headroom Affair
In 1987, a very strange broadcast intrusion occurred in the city of Chicago. For just a couple of minutes, the odd TV character Max Headroom appeared onscreen in the middle of an episode of Dr. Who. He spoke in garbled tones, brandished a marital aid, and was spanked on the rear with a fly swatter by a person dressed in Annie Oakley garb. If this sounds weird, it is. It's the Max Headroom Incident. Find out all about it in this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
18/02/23•47m 52s
The Beverly Hills Supper Club Fire
The fire at the Beverly Hills Supper Club was not in Los Angeles, but Kentucky. Which happened to be Las Vegas before Vegas was Vegas. Confused? Listen in and all will be clear.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
16/02/23•52m 36s
Short Stuff: Beulah Mae Donald
In 1981 a Mobile mother of six was forced into the role of civil rights activist when the Klan murdered her son and she was moved to fight back.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
15/02/23•12m 27s
The Glorious Flamingo
Flamingos are much more than just pretty pink birds. They are in fact, quite remarkable! Listen and learn…See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
14/02/23•49m 8s
Selects: Cave Diving: Totally Nuts
There are extreme sports and then there is cave diving, the most extreme activity a person can engage in without leaving Earth. Cave divers stay underwater swimming miles into – that’s right – caves, where no human has ever been before. It’s pretty cool. Wade in with Josh and Chuck in this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
11/02/23•50m 39s
How (O)possums Work
Josh and Chuck take a listener’s suggestion – many, many suggestions – and learn that possums are pretty great and very much misunderstood. By the end of this episode you will too!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
09/02/23•49m 33s
Short Stuff: No Shirt, No Shoes, WTF
You can thank your parents and grandparents for the longstanding ban against dining shirtless and shoeless. While the concept was around, it mushroomed when hippies came along.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
08/02/23•13m 19s
Honey: Nature's Wonder Sugar
Honey is an amazing thing. Just ask any bee. They make a ton of it. So much that humans get what bees can't use and that's a lot of honey.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
07/02/23•53m 34s
Selects: How Easy Bake Ovens Work
Easy Bake Ovens are as iconic as a toy can get, as American as apple pie or baseball. Learn all about these light bulb cooking, working ovens that endanger children to this day, in this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
04/02/23•36m 29s
The Largely Equine History of Veterinary Medicine
Vets have been around for a long time, but mainly to care for horses. When horse travel went away, guess who saved the profession? Dogs!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
02/02/23•47m 18s
Short Stuff: Bird Migration
Where are all those birds flying anyway? How do they decide? When do they do it? All of these questions, and more, are answered in this week's ep.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
01/02/23•11m 19s
Must We Suffer Emotional Pain?
It’s part of the human condition, to feel the pain of sorrow, loss, embarrassment. But isn’t it kind of weird that an overwhelming emotion can cause you physical discomfort or even pain? Turns out that depends on how you think about the mind and the body.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
31/01/23•49m 19s
Selects: Elephants: The Best Animals?
Elephants are pretty much the best. Why? Josh and Chuck will let you know in great detail in this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
28/01/23•1h 1m
How Attachment Theory Works
A theory in the field of psychology has become so pervasive, it’s generally taken on faith that it’s true. It says that how your parents respond to you during a short window in your infancy has lifelong effects on your personality. Could this be correct?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
26/01/23•54m 35s
Short Stuff: Adam's Apples and Throat Lumps
This week's short stuff is all about throat lumps and Adam's apples.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
25/01/23•10m 5s
Let's Talk About John DeLorean
John DeLorean: visionary, car maker extraordinaire, buyer of large amounts of cocaine, provider of time machine chassis. There is a lot to understand about John DeLorean so let’s get busy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
24/01/23•56m 54s
Selects: How Game Shows Work
Join Josh and Chuck and a whole bunch of great people at the Gothic Theatre in Denver for this live show on game shows and their place in cultures around the world, recorded on June 28, 2018. You just come right on down, why don’t you?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
21/01/23•1h 8m
Toast: As in browned bread
Toast is bread that has been browned by heat. It's delicious. This is our ode to toast.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
19/01/23•53m 16s
Short Stuff: Women Pirates
The Golden Age of Pirates didn’t have just men floating on the high seas. Some women became very successful pirates and today you’ll learn about two of them.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
18/01/23•16m 11s
The Louisiana Purchase: Not a Purchase
Turns out the Louisiana Purchase was not so much a purchase, but the right to (steal) purchase it from indigenous peoples. But it did transform the United States as we know it. Listen and learn!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
17/01/23•46m 42s
Selects: How Therapeutic Hypothermia Works
Physicians noticed centuries ago that people exposed to cold temperatures often have amazing recoveries from serious medical emergencies. Now medicine is learning how to purposefully induce hypothermia in order to buy time to fix otherwise fatal trauma. Find out all about it in this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
14/01/23•49m 20s
How Tarot Works?
This is not a hit piece! Tarot helps plenty of people navigate their lives and reflect on their feelings – plus the art is unbelievable. We cover the backstory, real and imagined, and lure the innocent into tarot’s grip, er, offer basic tips for beginners.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
12/01/23•43m 15s
Short Stuff: Forest Lawn Memorial Park
Forest Lawn is no ordinary cemetery. Why? Listen in and find out.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
11/01/23•11m 36s
How Enron Fooled the World
Until the 2007, the largest single corporate bankruptcy was Enron, a $67 billion energy trading company. Its decline was breathtaking, and while it’s a fascinating story of corporate malfeasance and greed, it’s also about the lives of ruined workers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
10/01/23•59m 17s
Selects: How Perfume Works
Women consistently rate scent as the most important factor in a man's attractiveness and men have been manipulating that for centuries with scents of all sorts. Learn about the fascinating history -- and, well, art -- of making perfumes in this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
07/01/23•57m 57s
When Mount St. Helens Blew Its Top
Mount St. Helen's is a lovely sight to behold, but was a pretty scary thing to be around in the Spring of 1980. Listen in to the harrowing story today!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
05/01/23•48m 13s
Short Stuff: Dangers of Nose Picking
You don’t have to lie - everybody picks their nose. But did you know it can be life-threatening? It’s true and you can learn how in this episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
04/01/23•16m 26s
The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald (not the song)
Today Josh and Chuck delve into the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. Not the song, but the maritime accident. Though the song makes an appearance.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
03/01/23•54m 47s
Selects: Could There Be A Loch Ness Monster?
People have believed something strange lives in Loch Ness for at least 3500 years. Thousands of people have sighted the Loch Ness Monster and dozens of expeditions have been launched. But does the fact that nothing’s been found mean it’s not real? Find out in this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
31/12/22•1h 3m
The Rocky Horror Picture Show Podcast Episode
This one goes out to the SYSK Army as a special request. Let's do the time warp again!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
29/12/22•51m 30s
Short Stuff: Mesas: Flat
Mesas, buttes and plateaus are all very similar. We'll break down the differences in each one just to be sure.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
28/12/22•11m 48s
Juicy: The Fried Chicken Story
Fried chicken is Chuck’s favorite food, and Josh sure doesn’t dislike it. It is with this appreciation that SYSK plunges into the hot grease of fried chicken history – and there’s a lot to it!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
27/12/22•52m 51s
Selects: Star Wars Holiday Spectacular
Long ago, in a galaxy not so far away, George Lucas allowed the Star Wars Holiday Special to be made. What happened on the night of November 17, 1978 can never be fully explained, but we make our best effort in our annual special edition of SYSK. May the force be with us all.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
24/12/22•54m 24s
2022 Holiday Spectacular!
Another year comes to a close here at SYSK, which means our annual Holiday Spectacular is at hand. So light a fire, pour up a comforting beverage and gather the family for some good cheer!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
22/12/22•48m 56s
Who was Dorothy Parker, really?
She was known for her quick wit and sharp tongue. But she was also a poet, screenwriter and activist. Tune in today to learn what outside her "vicious circle."See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
20/12/22•47m 40s
Selects: Nostradamus: Predictor of the future? Not so much.
Nostradamus delighted us all in grade school, but it turns out the real guy wasn't quite as prescient as we were led to believe. In truth, he wrote a lot of purposefully confusing riddles that people have twisted into meaning exactly what they want them to mean. Learn all about Nostradamus in this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
17/12/22•38m 47s
Interesting Origins of Everyday Phrases
We don’t think about the words and phrases we use all the time - until Josh and Chuck look into them and tell everyone what they found. That’s the gist of this episode! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
15/12/22•49m 13s
Short Stuff: The Atlanta Washer Woman Strike
One of the very first union strikes in US history was mounted by a group of African American women in the deep South. Listen in and learn all about this little known slice of history.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
14/12/22•14m 25s
How the Nintendo Entertainment System Changed Gaming Forever
For the holidays in 1986 (and ’87) (and ’88) the most stupendous, most wanted, most amazing thing any kid could possibly get – outside of a pony, *maybe* – was the NES. That year, video games came back from the dead and changed forever.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
13/12/22•57m 34s
Selects: How Polar Bears Work
Polar bears are more than just lovable creatures that roam the ice in search of food. They're one of the most fascinating animals on planet Earth. Sadly, as ice shrinks, so does their habitat. Learn all about these huggable beasts in this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
10/12/22•46m 29s
True Crime: The Phantom of Heilbronn
After the murder of a cop in southwest Germany in 2007 a massive hunt was launched across Europe. The suspect was a female serial killer who had left DNA behind during a number of crimes. She was so slippery, she was known as The Phantom of Heilbronn.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
08/12/22•42m 38s
Short Stuff: Birthday Paradox
The Birthday Paradox involves math, so you know this one will go perfectly.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
07/12/22•11m 48s
How Face Blindness Works
It’s not that the person who can never remember meeting you is snobby or even absent-minded; they may have a fascinating – and often difficult – neurological condition called prosopagnosia, known more commonly as face blindness.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
06/12/22•47m 35s
Selects: The Rubik's Cube Episode
Rubik's Cubes. Ronald Reagan. Jerry Falwell. Just Say No. One of these things was awesome. Take a guess and hop on board this classic episode, aka the 80s train.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
03/12/22•48m 18s
How Down Syndrome Works
People with Down syndrome lead rich, complex lives like any other human, but it’s only been in the last few decades that everyone else stopped persecuting them long enough to notice this. As a result, both their IQ and their life expectancy skyrocketed.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
01/12/22•57m 3s
Short Stuff: Goosebumps
Goosebumps are a pretty cool evolutionary holdover from our earlier days as furry beasts. Don't believe us? Listen in. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
30/11/22•14m 50s
Peripersonal Space: Humans’ Got Talent
The space around you that you can reach with your arms is a very special place. It’s where we interact with reality. And although we are so good at using it we don’t give it a second thought, our ability to use it is one our most amazing abilities.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
29/11/22•54m 27s
Selects: How Umami Works!
For millennia humans have recognized four tastes, but in the 1980s a fifth taste first isolated in Japan gained worldwide acceptance - and took off like a rocket! Learn about meaty, musty, savory umami in this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
26/11/22•36m 14s
Roller Skating: Fun and Cool
The Victorians were the first to go bonkers for roller skating and since then the pastime has had bursts of popularity every few decades. Over the years skaters have come up with some amazing things to do on skates that go way beyond just going in circles.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
24/11/22•47m 47s
Short Stuff: Liquid Paper
Correction fluid goes by many names, but the OG was Liquid Paper. And it has a pretty cool origin story. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
23/11/22•12m 48s
Typewriters: Mechanical Brilliance
Chuck loves typewriters because he loves mechanical brilliance. Dive into the cool history of these amazing machines today. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
22/11/22•55m 49s
Selects: How Dark Money Works
Since the Supreme Court ruled in 2010 in the Citizens United case that political contributions are speech and should be protected, the floodgates of anonymous political contributions have opened. But does absolute funding corrupt absolutely? Find out in this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
19/11/22•48m 17s
Did Shakespeare really write all that stuff?
The question of Shakespeare's authorship has been around since at least the mid-1800s. Is there anything to it? We'll dig in to this dense topic to find out.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
17/11/22•55m 4s
Short Stuff: Incomplete Yawns
Is there anything – anything – worse than a yawn you can’t finish? It’s hard to think of anything else and as your obsession with yawning like a normal human being grows it only becomes more difficult. Why? Why?!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
16/11/22•10m 10s
The Sordid History of Bachelor/Bachelorette Parties
When it comes to pre-wedding festivities, bachelor and bachelorette parties take the penis-shaped cake. Learn all about these sordid affairs today. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
15/11/22•56m 36s
Selects: Finders Keepers: Real Law
You know that heartbreak of the schoolyard – finders keepers, losers weepers? That’s actual law in a great many grown up places. Enter the murky legal world of finding something that belongs to someone else, from buried treasure to a misplaced ring. Learn all about it in this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
12/11/22•38m 50s
How Owls Work
It’s time for another great animal episode and in this one we swoop into the world of owls – nature’s greatest silent predator who (hooo) also look very cute and intelligent. Not to mention they can turn their heads 270 degrees.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
10/11/22•51m 55s
Short Stuff: Dodleston Messages
It’s not everyday that a message from the 16th century appears on a computer from the 1980s, so when that happened it caught an English couple’s attention and launched a still-unresolved mystery - across tiiiiiiime!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
09/11/22•14m 13s
What's so important about legal precedent?
Legal precedent is an odd thing. It matters, but it isn't codified. There are advantages and disadvantages. Let's all dive in and take at STARE DECISIS today. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
08/11/22•51m 17s
Selects: What is an invasive species?
Invasive species can mean a lot of things, from fungus to feral pigs and European starlings to kudzu vines. Basically, it's anything brought to a place, either by humans or nature, that didn't originate there. They aren't always a problem, but many times they can wreak havoc on the local ecosystem. Learn all about these invaders in this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
05/11/22•50m 51s
Vaudeville: Step Right Up!
In today's episode, you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about vaudeville, whether you like it or not. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
03/11/22•51m 9s
Short Stuff: Birth Certificate Access
It’s unjust but true – if you are an adoptee in the US you may not have the same right to access your birth certificate that someone who wasn’t adopted does. The quest to access a birth certificate can be a legal rigamarole that may or may not work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
02/11/22•11m 2s
The Harvey's Casino Bombing of 1980
In August of 1980 a bomb containing 1,000 pounds of dynamite was quietly delivered to Harvey’s, a casino and resort at Lake Tahoe. This kicked off a whirlwind caper that lasted 30 hours and ended up nearly demolishing the 11-story resort.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
01/11/22•40m 24s
Selects: How Vampires Work
Out of obligation, Chuck and Josh mention Twilight, but it is the longstanding vampire lore that gets the most attention in this examination of how the bloodsucking undead evolved from baby-stealing demonesses to suave counts in our collective psyche. Explore the wild world of vampires in this spooky classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
29/10/22•50m 39s
The 13th Annual Halloween Spooktacular!
It's hard to believe, but this is our 13th edition of the Halloween Spooktacular! So pour up a creepy brew and gather the kids for a dramatic reading of two horror shorts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
27/10/22•50m 31s
Short Stuff: Robert the Doll
Robert the Doll is decidedly creepy. So is his story. Listen in to this spooky tale right now!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
26/10/22•14m 21s
The Tale of the Bloody Benders
Long before we knew what serial killers were, a family in remote Kansas was disposing of victims at their family farm. Listen in to the Tale of the Bloody Benders if you dare!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
25/10/22•48m 24s
Selects: 10ish Cases of Really Bad Luck
Some guys have all the luck, some guys have all the pain. So said Rod Stewart. And if this list is any indication, “guys” is gender neutral. Listen to this classic episode as Chuck and Josh cover some instances of amazingly bad fortune, most of it true!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
22/10/22•50m 11s
Fundamentalism: Menace II Society
Fundamentalism is usually thought of as a problem religions have to deal with, but not all fundamentalists are religious. And no matter what their belief system, fundamentalism is inherently antisocial and a problem for everyone.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
20/10/22•57m 54s
Short Stuff: Water Towers
Water towers are so ubiquitous you can look right past them, despite them being giant balls of water thrust triumphantly skyward. Learn about these surprisingly ingenious but simple inventions designed to keep you alive.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
19/10/22•11m 26s
The History of Fake Towns.
There have been a lot of fake towns built throughout history for a lot of different reasons. Tune in to learn about some of these bogus burgs. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
18/10/22•51m 3s
Selects: How Pompeii Worked
What must be one of the most famous natural disasters in history took place when Mt Vesuvius buried Pompeii in 79 CE. But when the town was resurrected 1700 years later, a new chapter in its history was written. Learn all about it in this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
15/10/22•50m 27s
10 Cases of Mistaken Identity
There’s a lot that can go wrong when your identity is at question. Charged with abandoning a baby? Check. Years in prison? That too. Accused of assassinating the head of Hamas? Why not. Learn about the travails of some unlucky saps in this episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
13/10/22•42m 34s
Short Stuff: Blaschko's Lines
Did you know you have stripes? It’s true, you just can’t see them. Learn all about these little-known lines today!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
12/10/22•12m 31s
Doppelgängers: Hey you, you're me!
Seeing your near twin is probably pretty weird. But could there be a genetic commonality as well? You bet there could! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
11/10/22•47m 37s
Selects: Josh and Chuck's List of Horror Movies that Changed the Genre
Once in a while a movie comes along that's so forward-thinking it changes the way that horror is done. A new subgenre is spawned, new tropes are established, and audiences are more terrified than ever. Hear about these pivotal works in this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
08/10/22•59m 26s
How License Plates Work
The first tags were required just a few years after the firs cars debuted, as a way to catch jerks scaring horses and running down pedestrians. A century on, they continue to protect both. Plus they’ve accrued some interesting history along the way.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
06/10/22•55m 56s
Short Stuff: Scratching
Listen in today as we salute turntablism, aka, record scratching.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
05/10/22•13m 46s
Vinyl Records: Black Magic at Work
Despite reading all about how vinyl records are recorded and made, it's still a bit like black magic to us. Dive in and learn all about the coolest music medium.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
04/10/22•59m 20s
Selects: How Clowns Work
Jesters of some sort have been around since ancient Egypt and China. Our modern clown was invented around 1800 and ever since they have been getting steadily creepier. Learn all about clowns in this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
01/10/22•46m 48s
How The Rosenhan Experiment Worked
In 1973 a study was published in Science where psychologist David Rosenhan revealed he had duped hundreds of psychiatric workers by planting perfectly sane pseudopatients within their hospitals and every last one went unnoticed.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
29/09/22•52m 56s
Short Stuff: Curse Tablets
Curse tablets are exactly what you think - tablets with curses inscribed on them. But what were they used for, and when did people do this? Hit play and those answers shall be revealed!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
28/09/22•10m 25s
Vasectomies: Stop Being A Wimp
You can uncross your legs you big babies. Getting a vasectomy isn’t bad at all – recovery time is a breeze, pain is minimal, and you can consider it a gift to your partner. Learn the real deal on vasectomies (and get 20% off with our code: STUFF).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
27/09/22•44m 25s
Selects: How LSD Works
In 1943 Swiss chemist Albert Hofman discovered he'd created what may be the most potent hallucinogen known to humankind. Then he took a bike ride. Learn about the chemistry, neurology, history and cultural impact of LSD-25 in this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
24/09/22•1h 16m
Sitcoms Part II
Listen in now for part II of our homage to sitcoms. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
22/09/22•36m 36s
Short Stuff: Laugh Tracks
Laugh tracks have been around since the early 1950s and it’s all thanks to one (reviled) sound engineer who invented them. But as much as people like to hate laugh tracks most shows wouldn’t be at all funny without them.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
21/09/22•15m 31s
Sitcoms Part I
Traditional multi-camera sitcoms have fallen out of style in recent years, but the golden age of the genre lives on with streaming services. Sitcom will never go away completely. Join us for part I.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
20/09/22•31m 10s
Selects: Frida Kahlo: Painter, Icon, Genius
Frida Kahlo was a painter who transcended her own work to became an icon. Learn all about her fascinating and inspiring life and work in this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
17/09/22•47m 36s
Pearls: Second Best Thing About Oysters
Pearls are super cool. And humans figuring out how to make them is even cooler. Learn all about the most interesting gemstone today!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
15/09/22•50m 19s
Short Stuff: Hangry?
When you’re hungry, you’re not yourself. So say the good people at Snickers and it turns out science backs it up. Being hangry is a verifiable thing, we’re just not quite sure yet what’s going on.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
14/09/22•12m 26s
The Georgia Guidestones: The Elite Have a Laugh
In 1980 the “rural as rural can be” town of Elberton, Georgia erected a granite monument with a bizarre set of instructions (commandments?) that touched on eugenics, population control, and living in harmony with nature. Conspiracy theorists went wild.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
13/09/22•53m 40s
Selects: What Happened to the Neanderthals?
As recently as 40,000 years ago we lived among humans from an entirely different species – Neanderthals. About the same time our species showed up, Neanderthals suddenly vanished. Just what happened to the other guys? Did our ancestors do something … bad? Find out in this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
10/09/22•50m 55s
Everything We Know About Squids
Squids are very closely related to our old friend the octopus, but there are some key differences. You can learn all of this and more by simply clicking the play button right now. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
08/09/22•43m 9s
Short Stuff: RIP Man of the Hole
The Man of the Hole has died and we're pretty sad to hear it. Listen in to our tribute to this solitary hero today.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
07/09/22•12m 19s
Did Mallory Make it to the Top of Everest First?
George Mallory was a member of the first three European expeditions to Everest, world’s tallest mountain. He wanted to summit it so badly, he gave his life trying. Since that fateful day in 1924, climbers have wondered – was Mallory the first to summit?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
06/09/22•52m 6s
Selects: How the Pony Express Worked
For as long a shadow as it casts across the history of the Old West, the Pony Express was a failed business venture, doomed from the start, that only lasted 18 months. But since the last rider headed out with his bag of mail, its legend has only grown. Learn all about it in this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
03/09/22•45m 1s
Rolling Stone Magazine
Part celebration and part take down, this episode on Rolling Stone magazine dives into the highs and lows of one of America's iconic rags.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
01/09/22•51m 39s
Short Stuff: Mason-Dixon Line
The dividing line between the North and South is purely political. But the story of its creation is pretty interesting.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
31/08/22•12m 36s
We Need More Sustainable Packaging, Like, Yesterday
Since the advent of single-use plastics, we’ve become awash in waste. Barrels of petroleum are extracted, turned into plastics that contain products, which are then opened and the containers thrown away. It’s a bonehead process start to finish.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
30/08/22•50m 36s
Selects: Knife Throwing: Super Cool
Sure knives can cut through a steak or slash through jungle vines, but probably the coolest thing you can do with a knife is throw it. At a person mounted to a wooden wheel. Spinning around. While you’re blindfolded. Learn all about the impalement arts in this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
27/08/22•41m 35s
Kissing Cousins: A History of Marrying Family
Despite the overall creepiness of it, marrying family members is way more common than you might think, both historically and today. Ewwww!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
25/08/22•49m 34s
Short Stuff: Marrying Up
The idea of "marrying up" is as old as the hills, but things are, and have been, changing for quite a while. And this episode explains it all.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
24/08/22•13m 13s
Introvert or Extravert: Which are you? (Probably both)
The world isn’t divided into cat people and dog people, or Beatles fans and Rolling Stones fans (or neither). What really divides us is introversion or extraversion, right? Turns out people just aren’t that binary and all of us are a little of both.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
23/08/22•47m 36s
Selects: How Gossip Works
You know what I heard? That Josh and Chuck hate each other and they're just faking being friends for the show. That's called gossip, folks and it can do serious damage. Learn all about it in this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
20/08/22•36m 58s
How Enemas Work
If you think about it, enemas are kind of gross. And if you don’t now you definitely will by the end of this wild ride of an episode. All who make it through the whole way earn SYSK bragging rights. We now wonder why we ever chose to record it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
18/08/22•40m 51s
Short Stuff: Selling the Brooklyn Bridge
You've heard the phrase "If you believe that I have a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you." But did you know it's based in truth?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
17/08/22•11m 24s
Mariachi: The Rodney Dangerfield of Music
Mariachi bands have a bad rap as nothing more than "restaurant music." But there is a rich and long cultural tradition many people are missing and the music deserves our respect. Listen in today!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
16/08/22•53m 46s
Selects: Desert Survival: Josh and Chuck Save Your Tookus
The chances are pretty low that you’ll find yourself lost in the desert, but on the off chance you do you’ll thank yourself that you listened to this classic episode, where we guide you to safety. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
13/08/22•45m 36s
The Origins of Breakfast Foods
Who doesn't love breakfast? But do you know where most of the typical breakfast foods come from? Well listen in to find out.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
11/08/22•53m 5s
Short Stuff: The Berners Street Hoax
A full 200 years on, we're still talking about one of the most sweeping hoaxes of all time. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
10/08/22•10m 57s
What's the deal with energy drinks?
Chuck hates them, Josh has flirted with them. Energy drinks. Listen in to learn all about this canned speed. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
09/08/22•47m 39s
Selects: How Droughts Work
Droughts can be an inevitable feature of a local climate or a catastrophic result of human meddling. In this classic episode, learn the ins and outs of droughts including the American mother of them all, the Dust Bowl.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
06/08/22•51m 39s
Thrill to the Stunning Bicameral Mind Hypothesis
Psychologist Julian Jaynes came up with a stunning hypothesis in 1976, that human consciousness only developed in the last 3000 years. And he seemed to have proof in ancient texts. Scholars have been picking it apart ever since and today we join the club.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
04/08/22•49m 46s
Short Stuff: Divorcing Your Parents
It really happens! But most people call it emancipation of a minor. Either way, there's some interesting legal stuff in here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
03/08/22•12m 12s
Silly String: Disaster in a Can
It's been a while since we tackled a classic toy, so here we go with all you ever wanted to know about Silly String.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
02/08/22•39m 23s
Selects: Some Movies That Changed Filmmaking
An estimated 50,000 films were made worldwide in 2009 alone. Many are surely clunkers, but in this episode Chuck and Josh talk about the ones that emerged throughout cinema history to change the course of all movies that followed. Get your popcorn and lean back while you enjoy this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
30/07/22•57m 8s
How Menstruation Works
Two dudes talking about menstruation? You bet! And there’s no way you could be any more nervous to listen than we were to record it. But give it a listen, we think you’ll find it enlightening – whether you menstruate or not.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
28/07/22•57m 38s
Short Stuff: The Mars Rock with Signs of Life?
In 1996, real-deal NASA scientists announced they had discovered signs of ancient microbial life in a rock that had broken off Mars and landed on Antarctica. The news set off a controversy still going today. Do we already have proof of alien life?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
27/07/22•15m 8s
Where Did Human Intelligence Come From?
We humans are smart, to be sure, but if we’re so smart then how come we can’t figure how we got so smart in the first place? Think about that! We sure did and we go over some theories in this super interesting episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
26/07/22•46m 8s
Selects: What's the misery index?
Economists love their data because somewhere in the numbers lies the answer to the ills of the country. They also love to frame data in a way people can relate to. Such is the case with the famous "misery index." Learn all about it in this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
23/07/22•44m 50s
Googie: The Architecture of the Space Age
You may not have heard of it, but you’ve definitely seen it before – 50s buildings with bright, loud colors, roofs at crazy angles, and space-age shapes like starbursts. It turns out that Googie architecture is as fun to look at as it is to say.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
21/07/22•55m 57s
Short Stuff: Death from Astral Projection
In 1975, yoga enthusiast Robert Antoszczyk retired to his room in a group house in Ann Arbor, MI to try a meditation technique that would allow him to astrally project his spirit. He died, never coming out of his meditative state. What happened?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
20/07/22•15m 33s
Supernovae: Best Around, Case Closed
Face it, supernovae are the most interesting phenomena in the universe. Black holes are cool, but did you know they sprout from a supernova? What could be cooler than a star exploding so powerfully, the flash it creates shines for months after?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
19/07/22•41m 45s
Selects: What Happens When the Government Thinks You're Dead?
It’s bad enough when the government knows you’re alive – there are taxes to pay, laws to be followed, all sorts of boring and unpleasant things. But each year, thousands of Americans find out life is far, far worse when the government thinks you are dead. Learn all about it in this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
16/07/22•39m 2s
Why Bowling is Awesome
Bowling is awesome. It just is. And if you don't think so, maybe take a listen to today's episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
14/07/22•59m 40s
Short Stuff: Catatumbo Lightning
Catatumbo lightning is one of nature's most amazing displays of showiness, with strikes occurring 28 times per minute for nine hours a day, 300 days a year. So take cover and take a listen.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
13/07/22•11m 24s
Mangroves: Nature's Best Tree?
Mangroves are incredible survivors and adapters. They're also amazing at lessening the impact of tropical storms and climate change. And heck, they're cool looking. So jump into the brackish waters and have a listen.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
12/07/22•44m 6s
Selects: How Ayahuasca Works
One day in the Amazon Basin, a shaman put together a plant containing DMT with a vine that allows the body to absorb DMT. The combination, a foul-tasting, wildly hallucinogenic brew called ayahuasca, has changed cultures throughout the Americas. Learn all about it in this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
09/07/22•45m 23s
The Maya Civilization
After inspiration from Chuck's recent trip to the Yucatan, the fellas dive into the Maya Civilization. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
07/07/22•53m 46s
Short Stuff: Alligator Gar
The alligator gar is one scary looking fish. Learn all about these monsters in today's episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
06/07/22•11m 2s
How Ultraprocessed Foods Work
Ultraprocessed is a new term for junk food, but it means much more than that – it’s also a cautionary tale for the way we’re supposed to cook and eat, using real food and sitting down with friends and family. But who has the time and money to do that?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
05/07/22•57m 20s
Selects: How Freak Shows Worked
Not too long ago, people would pay money to gawk and stare at a performer with a physical disformity. They were called freak shows and they began in large part thanks to P.T. Barnum, whose circus we still enjoy today. Sounds awful, but some of these performers became rich folks as a result. Exploitive? You decide, after taking in this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
02/07/22•48m 40s
A Dispassionate Review of Roe v Wade
Given the landmark undoing of Roe v Wade, Chuck and Josh lay out all the relevant facts of the 1973 case.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
30/06/22•59m 31s
Short Stuff: What did we use before infant formula?
There's an infant formula shortage. But infant formula is relatively new. So what did we do before it was perfected? Listen in and learn already!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
29/06/22•12m 41s
How Alien Contact Might Work
If we ever found evidence of intelligent alien life (or they found us) what would we say? Who would say it for us? These seemingly silly questions are vitally important depending on your view.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
28/06/22•50m 9s
Selects: Chiggers: The Phantom Menace
Chiggers are tiny little mites capable of making your life miserable. Worse than mosquitoes? Maybe. But they aren't insects - mites are actually part of the arachnid family and behave a little like ticks. Learn all about these nearly invisible pests in this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
25/06/22•32m 32s
What's up with bariatric surgery?
Bariatric surgery can also be called weight loss surgery. Some people think it's a highly underused tool to fight obesity. Others think it's a shortcut. We discuss all the ins and outs in this week's episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
23/06/22•48m 13s
Short Stuff: Do Fish Get Thirsty?
One of the greatest questions we’ve ever heard, answered (in a roundabout way).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
22/06/22•11m 45s