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.
May 24, 2023•13 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
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.
May 23, 2023•42 min
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.
May 20, 2023•42 min
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.
May 18, 2023•57 min
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.
May 17, 2023•12 min
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.
May 16, 2023•59 min
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.
May 13, 2023•51 min
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.
May 11, 2023•49 min
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.
May 10, 2023•12 min
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.
May 09, 2023•55 min
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.
May 06, 2023•38 min
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.
May 04, 2023•38 min
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, 2023•15 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, 2023•38 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, 2023•35 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, 2023•48 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, 2023•13 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, 2023•54 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, 2023•50 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, 2023•44 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, 2023•15 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, 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