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.
Jun 22, 2022•12 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
The Appalachian Trail: A Heckuva Hike
A few short years after the hiking trails from Maine to Georgia were connected into the world’s longest hiking-only footpath, a WWII vet walked the whole thing in one go. He kicked off a challenge that’s still taken on by thousands of people each year. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jun 21, 2022•51 min
Selects: How Steadicams Work
There have been many inventions that have advanced filmmaking, but maybe none as important as the steadicam. Invented in the mid-70s, it literally changed the way movie making happened, and made the impossible possible. Learn about the fascinating history behind this amazing technology, in this classic episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jun 18, 2022•35 min
What were the IRA hunger strikes?
In the early 1980s, imprisoned IRA members went on a prolonged hunger strike, leading to the death of ten men. This is their story. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jun 16, 2022•50 min
Short Stuff: HR8 Gun Legislation
Today we dive into HR8, a gun bill supported by 90% of Americans that will likely never get through the Senate. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jun 15, 2022•15 min
How Wind Works
Beloved egghead Buckminster Fuller said the wind doesn’t blow, it sucks. And he was pretty much right, depending on your perspective. Find out how everything from the hurricane to summer breeze makes life on Earth possible. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jun 14, 2022•43 min
Selects: How Drowning Works
Hundreds of thousands of people drown around the world every year, and yet it can be easily prevented and is widely misunderstood – like how you can officially drown but live to tell the tale, or how you can drown but die days later. Learn all about it in this classic episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jun 11, 2022•52 min
The 4-minute Mile: Greatest Sports Story?
Nobody thought the 4-minute mile was humanly possible, until it was. The story of how it happened is remarkable. So sit back and take a listen. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jun 09, 2022•50 min
Short Stuff: Cleveland’s Infamous 10-Cent Beer Night
In 1974, the Cleveland (then Indians) baseball club held an unlimited 10 cent beer promotion to attract fans to the game. An actual riot broke out. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jun 08, 2022•14 min
How Freedom of the Press Works
Countries around the world – capitalist democracies to communist unitary states – guarantee a free press in their constitutions. It turns out, though, that there is a galaxy of methods for subverting a free press. Find out why that matters in this episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jun 07, 2022•49 min
Selects: How Satanism Works
Satanism may be the most misunderstood "religion" in the world. Part of that is because there are, and have been, many offshoots of Satanism, from The Church of Satan to The Satanic Temple. One thing is sure though, none of them are filled with evil humans who perform ritual blood sacrifice and worship a cloven-hoofed devil. Learn all about Satanism in this classic episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jun 04, 2022•53 min
Kidney Donation: You Could Be A Saint!
Kidneys are one of the few organs that you can donate while you’re alive. And the vast majority of donors experience no complications and their remaining kidney functions just fine. Yet thousands of people die each year waiting for a donated kidney. Why? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jun 02, 2022•47 min
Short Stuff: Happy Foods!
Some foods make you happy. But they aren't necessarily comfort foods. You know what they call that? SCIENCE! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jun 01, 2022•14 min
The Scintillating World of Interest Rates
When the Fed raises interest rates a half point, the world market reacts. But why does this tiny percentage make such a difference? Listen and learn! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 31, 2022•45 min
Selects: Waterbeds: The Sexiest Bed?
Waterbeds came and went pretty quickly in the United States, but despite their marketing as sex beds, they were actually invented to deliver a great night's sleep. Learn all about these super 70's beds in this classic episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 28, 2022•39 min
The Myth of Absinthe
Absinthe makes you hallucinate and possibly even have a seizure, right? Nope. It's all a part of the myth of absinthe, which is really just a bitter tasting liquor with a bad reputation. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 26, 2022•50 min
Short Stuff: Do people move in predictable directions?
Depending on where you are in the world, you either have an instinct to go left or right when entering a place. Learn all about this today. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 25, 2022•13 min
Cats: Invasive Species?
Josh and Chuck wade into dangerous waters with the debate over just how destructive cats are for local ecosystems (turns out it’s pretty bad) and some ideas on what to do about that (you may not want to know). Tune in and tense up! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 24, 2022•46 min
Selects: The Disappearance of the Yuba County Five
In 1978, five friends set out for home from a basketball game. The next day, their car was discovered in a lonely mountain road. The next spring, their bodies began to turn up. What happened that night remains a mystery to this day. Explore what we know with Josh and Chuck in this classic episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 21, 2022•50 min
What's in a surname?
Surnames are way more interesting that you think, trust us. Just hit play and prepare to be wowed. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 19, 2022•43 min
Short Stuff: Artificial Banana Flavor
In the Watermelon episode, Chuck and Josh stumbled into a bit of little-known history about why artificial banana flavor doesn’t taste like bananas. Turns out it does; it just tastes like a banana you’ve probably never eaten. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 18, 2022•13 min
Squirrels, Ahoy!
Squirrels are rodents, sure, but they’re rodents with personalities the size of Las Vegas and Detroit put together. Get to know your bushy-tailed (and sometimes not so bushy) neighbors who live interesting hidden lives right out in the open. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 17, 2022•52 min
Selects: How Lizzie Borden Worked
Everybody knows how many whacks Lizzie Borden gave her mother and father with that axe, but there is plenty about the infamous double homicide that remains unresolved, like who actually did it. Travel into the mystery of Lizzie Borden in this classic episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 14, 2022•43 min
Rhinoplasty, aka Nose Jobs
Nose jobs have been around a lot longer than you think. And the process is pretty interesting. Tune in for all things rhinoplasty. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 12, 2022•58 min
Short Stuff: Fainting At The Sight Of Blood
As many as 15% of people faint when they see blood! And it’s not just blood that gets them. It can be an injury or even a needle. Learn about this fascinating phobia in this episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 11, 2022•13 min
What are land acknowledgments?
Land acknowledgements are all the rage in some parts of the world. But they also open a can of worms if not done properly. Learn all about this increasingly common practice today. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 10, 2022•45 min
Selects: How Champagne Works
Sure we can all agree that champagne is probably the greatest thing humans have or ever will invent, but how much do we understand how it's made? Learn all about it in this classic episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 07, 2022•1 hr
Marcus Garvey: Black Moses
One of the more controversial black leaders, Marcus Garvey divided black and white Americans with his assertion of black pride, and sowed division in the black community as well. Yet, possibly no one has had more global impact on black lives than him. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 05, 2022•55 min
Short Stuff: Shar Pei
Today we dive into the lovable folds of the Shar Pei. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 04, 2022•11 min
The Mystery of Coal
There’s a mystery afoot! Almost all of the coal we use around the world was created in the same 60 million year period. Before or after that relatively short window of time, not so much. Just what exactly explains this geological mystery? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 03, 2022•40 min
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