The Battle of the Sexes
Back in 1973 a male chauvinist played tennis against champion Billie Jean King. This is that story. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Feb 26, 2026•50 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.
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Episodes
Short Stuff: MacGuffins
What’s a MacGuffin? We don’t know. No one knows. But it has to do with movies and that’s fun to talk about. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Feb 25, 2026•14 min
The Murder of Jane Stanford
Stanford University was co-founded by Jane Stanford. Not long after she was murdered and it was covered up. We'll probably never know what really happened. Listen in today. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Feb 24, 2026•43 min
Selects: How Free Range Parenting Works
Free range parenting is all about giving your child the freedom to play and explore life on their own. Are there benefits? Sure. Do some people hate the concept? Yes! Listen to this classic episode and learn right here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Feb 21, 2026•51 min
How the Flexner Report Changed Medicine
The 1910 Flexner Report fundamentally transformed medical education in the U.S., establishing rigorous standards and a scientific, hospital-based model inspired by Johns Hopkins. While it dramatically improved the quality of medical care and contributed to longer lifespans, the report also led to the closure of over half of existing medical schools, including most Black and women's institutions, and effectively eliminated alternative and holistic medical practices for decades. Its legacy is a complex mix of progress and controversial social consequences.
Feb 19, 2026•38 min
Short Stuff: Safety Coffins
Back in the 1800s, people had an outsized fear of being buried alive. Enter... THE SAFETY COFFIN! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Feb 18, 2026•14 min
How Crowds Work
If you’ve ever been out of your house you’ve probably been in a crowd before. They can be as mundane as an elevator full of people or as consequential as a mass of protesters. But did you know there’s psychology to crowds? And they follow fluid dynamics? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Feb 17, 2026•46 min
Selects: How Charles Darwin Worked
Charles Darwin wasn't the first or only scientist to grasp the theory of evolution through natural selection, but he became its father and icon. In this classic episode, learn about the man who reluctantly but bravely became the source of the divide between religion and science. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Feb 14, 2026•50 min
How Lasers Work
It turns out that lasers are even cooler than they look. And as far as acronyms go, they’re pretty solid in that respect too. There’s way too much cool stuff about lasers to tease here so listen to this old school SYSK episode and let lasers blow away. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Feb 12, 2026•47 min
Short Stuff: Aztec Death Whistle
In the late 90s, a strange musical instrument was excavated under the streets of CDMX. Listen in to learn all about the Aztec Death Whistle. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Feb 11, 2026•12 min
How Cognitive Biases Work
Humans have all sorts of weird quirks that cause us to do silly things and make bad decisions. It’s not our fault though. Our brains are wired that way. Learn about the psychology of cognitive biases in this episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Feb 10, 2026•56 min
Selects: Why Do Great Flood Myths Seem To Be Universal?
If look into the mythology of just about any culture in the world, you will find a myth about a great flood that destroyed humanity and submerged the Earth in the distant past. Does this mean that a great flood actually happened? Listen to this classic episode to explore the possibilities with Josh and Chuck. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Feb 07, 2026•44 min
The Cajun Navy: Heroes or Liability?
The Cajun Navy was formed after Hurricane Katrina and really got its legs after the Louisiana flood of 2016. They save a lot of lives, but some fear the pitfalls of "vigilante heroism." Learn all about this group of do-gooders today. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Feb 05, 2026•39 min
Short Stuff: Color Psychology
Have you ever cried way longer than usual when you were in a yellow room? You’ve been smacked by color psychology my friend and it’s got your number. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Feb 04, 2026•12 min
Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan: Miracle is Right
Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan were one of the most amazing non-magical duos in history. Imagine living trapped in your own mind – unable to see or hear – and then imagine learning to read, traveling the world, and becoming an ambassador of peace. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Feb 03, 2026•44 min
Selects: Operation Mincemeat: How A Corpse Fooled the Nazis
In World War II, a secret department of British 'corkscrew thinkers' hatched a plan to use the cadaver of an unclaimed homeless man to turn the tide of the war in the Allies' favor. It worked. Listen to this classic episode as Josh and Chuck take you through the real life tale. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jan 31, 2026•45 min
The Magnificent Golden Gate Bridge
If you think the Golden Gate Bridge is named because of its color then you are wrong. That name proceeds the bridge by a long time. But that’s just one interesting fact about this amazing structure. Tune in today. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jan 29, 2026•51 min
Short Stuff: Magic 8 Ball
The Magic 8 Ball, the mystical fortune telling pool ball started out as a piece of customer swag for the Brunswick Billiard Company. Since then, it has changed the course of history and shaped nations. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jan 28, 2026•13 min
The Charge of the Light Brigade
Josh and Chuck explore the Crimean War, focusing on the Charge of the Light Brigade, a pivotal military action immortalized by Alfred Tennyson's poem. They detail the war's origins, key figures like Florence Nightingale, and the Battle of Balaklava's strategic blunders. The discussion highlights the cavalry's roles, the incompetent leadership, and the critical miscommunication that led to the Light Brigade's devastating yet surprisingly successful charge into the "Valley of Death." The hosts also examine its legacy of courage despite folly, post-war veteran neglect, and cinematic interpretations.
Jan 27, 2026•43 min
Selects: The Truth Behind Cage-Free and Free-Range
You’d think terms like cage-free and free-range means the chickens we eat are frolicking happily in the fresh air under the shining sun, but you’d be so, so wrong. Cage-free is a huge improvement but free-range is lacking and both have a long way to go. Find out all about both in this classic episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jan 24, 2026•54 min
The Ballad of Biggie and Tupac
Biggie Smalls and Tupac Shakur had a famous beef with one another in the mid-90s. It was so intense, it sparked an even wider rivalry between the East and West Coasts. In just a few years, both men had been murdered and the music world was changed forever. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jan 22, 2026•51 min
Short Stuff: The S7VEN Deadly Sins
The Seven Deadly Sins are tied to religion, but not really in the Bible. So where did this naughty list come from? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jan 21, 2026•12 min
Keeping Time
Josh and Chuck explore the fascinating history of timekeeping, beginning with rudimentary sun-based techniques like gnomons and shadow clocks used for seasonal tracking, and progressing through the ingenuity of water, incense, and candle clocks. They delve into the invention of mechanical clocks, the transformative impact of the pendulum on accuracy, and the development of portable spring-driven timepieces. The discussion culminates with modern marvels like quartz and atomic clocks that power GPS, and the evolution of watches from fashionable accessories to essential military gear, highlighting how timekeeping profoundly shaped human society.
Jan 20, 2026•51 min
Selects: 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. Learn all about it in this classic episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jan 17, 2026•51 min
Data Centers: Can't Live With Em, Can't Live Without Em
Data centers are the backbone of our digital world. All the sites you visit and social media you post happen there. A boom in huge data centers to support AI is underway, and they’re taking a big toll on the environment and life for the people around them. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jan 15, 2026•48 min
Short Stuff: Did a vampire legend help win the Cold War?
During the Cold War, the CIA used the legend of a vampire named Aswang to scare locals into not helping the communists. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jan 14, 2026•13 min
Doin’ Science in the National Radio Quiet Zone
West Virginia is home to sensitive radio telescopes that could easily pick up your cell phone’s signal on Mars. And the cell reception on Mars is about as good as it is in the NRQZ, since cell towers are banned in the interest of furthering astronomy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jan 13, 2026•51 min
Selects: How Forgiveness Works
For most of history, forgiveness fell under the domain of religion. But in the 1980s science started investigating it and found that forgiving someone is really, really good for you. Learn how anybody can be the better person in this classic, and really great, episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jan 10, 2026•59 min
The SAD Episode
Seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, is much more than the winter blues. It's a serious subset of depression. Learn all about it and what to do if you suffer from it today. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jan 08, 2026•51 min
Short Stuff: Neighborhood Watch
Since 1972 neighborhoods have been officially banding together to prevent crime together. Does it work? It seems to. Does it go too far? It often does, yes. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jan 07, 2026•13 min
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