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.
Apr 19, 2023•15 min
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
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.
Apr 18, 2023•54 min
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.
Apr 15, 2023•41 min
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.
Apr 13, 2023•45 min
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.
Apr 12, 2023•11 min
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.
Apr 11, 2023•51 min
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.
Apr 08, 2023•53 min
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.
Apr 06, 2023•47 min
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.
Apr 05, 2023•10 min
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.
Apr 04, 2023•48 min
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.
Apr 01, 2023•36 min
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.
Mar 30, 2023•45 min
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.
Mar 29, 2023•12 min
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.
Mar 28, 2023•49 min
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.
Mar 25, 2023•1 hr 8 min
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.
Mar 23, 2023•55 min
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.
Mar 22, 2023•12 min
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.
Mar 21, 2023•48 min
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.
Mar 18, 2023•19 min
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.
Mar 16, 2023•59 min
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.
Mar 15, 2023•13 min
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.
Mar 14, 2023•54 min
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.
Mar 11, 2023•56 min
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.
Mar 09, 2023•57 min
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.
Mar 08, 2023•9 min
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.
Mar 07, 2023•50 min
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.
Mar 04, 2023•1 hr 6 min
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.
Mar 02, 2023•54 min
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.
Mar 01, 2023•11 min
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.
Feb 28, 2023•54 min
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