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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Dive into the subtle science of conversation analysis, a field that meticulously observes the patterns and structures of human talk without postulating theories. This episode unpacks how seemingly effortless conversations are governed by complex rules, from turn-taking units and adjacency pairs to repair mechanisms and cultural variations in interruption styles. Discover how this discipline sheds light on gender and generational differences in communication, and how its insights are applied in practical fields like customer service and medicine.
One of the last uncontacted people in the world live in the Bay of Bengal and they have made it clear they don’t want you to visit. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This episode celebrates James Harrison, "The Man with the Golden Arm," whose rare Rh-positive antibodies, developed after a childhood transfusion, enabled him to donate blood plasma over 1,100 times, saving 2.4 million babies from Rh incompatibility disease. The hosts explain Rh disease, the development of the anti-D treatment by Dr. John Gorman, and Harrison's incredible dedication despite his fear of needles. The episode also highlights global disparities in access to this life-saving treatment and calls for increased blood donations.
If you’ve ever found your blood pressure rising because some guy down the street doesn’t know how to keep the trigger on a leaf blower pulled all the way, then you’ve experienced noise pollution. Not only is it annoying, it turns out it’s deadly too! Learn all about it in this classic episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In the 1960s, America took stock of itself when scores of low-income cities broke out in riots. It found that racism was at the root of many social problems. Instead of addressing the underlying issues, the country decided instead to militarize the police. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Explore the amazing lives of dolphins, from their evolutionary journey from land mammals to their sophisticated communication, including signature whistles and baby talk. The hosts delve into their physical adaptations, sleep patterns, and incredible senses, while also addressing controversial topics such as intelligence studies, social dynamics, the ethical concerns of captivity, and the threats posed by hunting, bycatch, and naval programs. The episode concludes with a look at conservation efforts and a few listener corrections.
This episode delves into the infamous Bone Wars, a fierce 19th-century rivalry between paleontologists Othniel Charles Marsh and Edward Drinker Cope. Their intense competition to discover and name dinosaurs in the American West led to groundbreaking finds but also sabotage, academic feuds, and personal financial ruin. The discussion covers their distinct personalities, career paths, and the surprising impact their animosity had on the burgeoning field of paleontology.
Blue zones are areas where people supposedly have more 100+ year-olds than average. But is it all based on faulty records? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This episode delves into the famed 1561 Nuremberg celestial phenomenon, often mistaken today as an early UFO sighting. It explores how people during the Reformation era interpreted the aerial display as a religious omen, rather than an extraterrestrial event. The discussion then uncovers how Carl Jung's later work plucked this event from obscurity, leading to its modern misconception, and examines plausible scientific explanations like sundogs, early fireworks, and journalistic embellishment.
Crooked teeth have always been a thing, but it took us a long time to do something about it. Learn about the twisted history of orthodontics today! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In December 1900 three lighthouse keepers vanished without a trace from a deserted island in Scotland. To this day no one knows exactly what happened to them. Find out all about this strange situation in this classic episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This episode explores private equity, defining it as an alternative investment vehicle where firms buy and optimize companies for profit. It delves into the historical origins, key strategies like leveraged buyouts and asset stripping, and the significant impact on iconic brands, employees, and public services like healthcare and housing. While acknowledging some success stories, the discussion highlights the inherent unfairness, lack of transparency, and tax advantages enjoyed by PE managers, ultimately revealing why the practice often sparks controversy.
Why aren't there lemurs in Africa? That question created a whole theory about a lost continent. Turns out it's not true. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In 1922, a pastor and his mistress were murdered in New Jersey. Nobody was ever convicted of the crime even though it seems clear who did it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Rape kits are simple forensic evidence collection kits used when someone is sexually assaulted. But the story is deeper than this. Learn all about rape kits, the sad backlog problem, and what you can do to help, in this classic episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In part two of Heavy Metal Week Josh and Chuck break down how specialized heavy metal music has become, talk about some of the great album covers, look at how metal hits the brain, and explain the sad death of guitar great Randy Rhoads. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Metal fans have many ways to express themselves, but none are as metal as throwing the devil horns. But who did it first? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Some of the most talented musicians in the world play heavy metal, some of the hardest-hitting music ever made. In this episode Chuck and Josh wade into the history of the genre, and try to get to the bottom of where the name came from. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In the absence of an official explanation of why flight MH 370 disappeared in 2014, conjecture and conspiracy theories have filled the vacuum. Find out the current state of things in this classic episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In 2014, a Boeing 777 airliner disappeared. Despite two full years of searching an area of ocean covering more than 120,000 square kilometers, it has never been found. It is the only unexplained missing vessel in modern aviation history. Listen to this classic episode and find out more about what exactly happened. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What if we could take all the trash and waste we generate every year – gigatons worth – and used it again as raw materials. What we would have is a closed circle, one where we have everything we need without taking anything else from nature. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Marianne Bachmeier committed a shocking act of violence in court in Germany in 1981 to avenge the murder of her young daughter. Many people understood. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The VW Beetle is the best selling car of all time. The story behind its creation is a bit complicated though. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This episode delves into the fascinating world of child prodigies, differentiating them from geniuses and exploring their unique characteristics. It examines the interplay of nature and nurture, brain function, and the critical role parents play in their development. The hosts also discuss the challenges and outcomes for prodigies once they transition into adulthood.
The food we eat – especially the junk food – is a highly engineered technical marvel that’s designed to make you want nothing other than more! more! more! Learn about how food scientists make that possible by hijacking our brains. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Discover the intricate history of cigarettes, from their accidental birth in 16th-century Spain to becoming a globally mass-produced and engineered product. This episode examines how wars, ingenious marketing, and deliberate design made cigarettes profoundly addictive and ubiquitous. It also explores the eventual public health awakening that led to their decline and ongoing debates about targeted marketing and product variants like menthols.
The Church of the SubGenius is a religion, but really a parody of religion. Learn all about this group of weirdo outsiders in this classic episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
He’s been called the father of Pakistan’s nuclear bomb and a real-life Bond villain and depending on where you’re from, he’s a national hero or was the world’s most dangerous arms dealer - who made a career of selling his knowledge of nuclear weapons. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
