Stuff You Should Know - podcast cover

Stuff You Should Know

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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: 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.

May 03, 202315 min

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.

May 02, 202338 min

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 f...

Apr 29, 202335 min

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.

Apr 27, 202348 min

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.

Apr 26, 202313 min

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.

Apr 25, 202354 min

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.

Apr 22, 202350 min

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.

Apr 20, 202344 min

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, 202315 min

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, 202354 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, 202341 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, 202345 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, 202311 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, 202351 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, 202353 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, 202347 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, 202310 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, 202348 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, 202336 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, 202345 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, 202312 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, 202349 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, 20231 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, 202355 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, 202312 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, 202348 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, 202319 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, 202359 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, 202313 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, 202354 min
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