Shows / Stuff You Should Know
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
- Stuff You Should Know
The Mystery of the Toynbee Tiles
If you've ever been to Philadelphia then you've probably walked right by a Toynbee Tile embedded in the street. But what's the meaning on these mysterious…
- Stuff You Should Know
Selects: A Partial History of Action Figures
Action figures have a long and glorious history. From GI Joes to Star Wars figures, these offshoots of dolls came along at just the right time to capture the…
- Stuff You Should Know
The Delightful History of Pubs
In today's episode, Chuck and Josh dive into the wonderful history of the public house. So pull up a stool, grab a pint and have a listen. See…
Stuff You Should KnowShort Stuff: The Church Choir That Didn't Explode
Perhaps the most amazing coincidence ever documented took place when a church in a tiny town in Nebraska exploded in 1950. See omnystudio.com/listener for…
- Stuff You Should Know
Watermelons: Nature's Gift to the World
Turns out most people love watermelons. Why? Because they're delicious. And they also have a pretty interesting history. Check it out. See…
- Stuff You Should Know
Selects: How No-fly Zones Work
They have become such a ubiquitous tool used by the UN and NATO to intervene in international crises, that it seems like no-fly zones have been around forever…
- Stuff You Should Know
What’s NATO All About?
NATO formed at a time when Russia threatened Europe as a potential invader. Then the Soviet Union broke up and NATO lost its way for a bit. Now Russia’s…
- Stuff You Should Know
Short Stuff: Greenbrier Bunker
The Greenbrier Bunker was a secret nuclear hideout for Congress, until it wasn't. Once it was exposed as a thing, it ceased to be a thing. Listen in to a…
- Stuff You Should Know
How Light Pollution Works
Artificial light at night, aka light pollution, affects almost everyone on Earth. And not just people – trees, plants, animals, insects, and marine life…
- Stuff You Should Know
Selects: The Tylenol Murders, Part II
The panic that began in Chicago spreads and begins to change the world. The investigation into the murders turns up leads and suspects, but still no one has…
- Stuff You Should Know
Selects: The Tylenol Murders, Part I
On one terrible day in Chicago in 1982, seven people died suddenly and mysteriously. In just a matter of hours, it becomes clear, someone has poisoned bottles…
- Stuff You Should Know
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…
- Stuff You Should Know
Short Stuff: Magnet Fishing
Magnet fishing has nothing to do with fish. It's more like metal detecting in waterways. Please enjoy our take! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy…
Stuff You Should KnowWhy was Titicut Follies banned?
Titicut Follies is a documentary made famous by its banning. But why was it banned? And what was it even about? Listen in to learn all you need to know about…
- Stuff You Should Know
Selects: How Hate Works
Hate is generally defined as an extreme hostility to something or someone, usually stemming from fear, anger or a sense of injury. But how does it work? Join…
- Stuff You Should Know
How Rewilding Works
A big new push toward nature conservation (and saving the planet) is based on a simple premise: remove humans from the equation and let nature take its own…
Stuff You Should KnowShort Stuff: Nose Breathing
Nose breathing > mouth breathing for many reasons. Listen and learn! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
- Stuff You Should Know
Operation Northwoods: The False Flag Op That Never Was
There is presumably some very dark, very depressing stuff in the annals of America’s secret history. But perhaps the darkest classified document to see…
Stuff You Should KnowSelects: A Brief Overview of Punk Rock
Punk rock really needs about 10 episodes to do it justice, but we'll try and tackle anyway. Learn all about this movement right now in this classic episode…
Stuff You Should KnowAleister Crowley: Blowhard Narcissist?
Aleister Crowley was known as the "wickedest man in the world." But was he really just a blowhard narcissist? You decide! Learn more about your ad-choices at…
Stuff You Should KnowShort Stuff: Great Smog of London
In 1952 London was gripped by a acrid smog that settled throughout the city so thickly residents couldn’t see their own feet on the sidewalk. Learn more about…
Stuff You Should KnowBehold, National Parks!
The National Park system is one of America's great achievements. We'll take you on a journey, from sea to shining sea, in today's episode. Learn more about…
Stuff You Should KnowSelects: How Tabloids Work
Having started as an egalitarian answer to 19th-century newspapers, tabloids came to peddle shock and sleaze. They've cleaned up a bit, but they remain the…
- Stuff You Should Know
How Effective Altruism Works
A branch of philanthropy led by philosophers is dedicated to finding the most impactful ways to help humans survive and thrive. Anyone can find that agreeable…
Stuff You Should KnowShort Stuff: Friends of Dorothy
The gay community had to use code not too many years ago and one way they identified was as “Friends of Dorothy.” So who was Dorothy? Learn more about your…
- Stuff You Should Know
What's the deal with phantom pain?
Phantom pain is when you sense pain from a lost limb. We don't entirely know how why, but we have some ideas. Listen in to find out. Learn more about your…
Stuff You Should KnowSelects: Is the Pied Piper About a Real Historic Tragedy?
In the German town of Hameln a tragedy that took place on a specific date in 1284 and befell specifically 130 children is commemorated every year. Aside from…
- Stuff You Should Know
How Mindfulness Works
What has become a buzz word for corporate retreats and a way to get a discount on your health insurance is, at its core, a powerful, centuries-old Buddhist…
Stuff You Should KnowShort Stuff: Commensalism
What's commensalism? Sort of nature's way of sponging off something, but that something doesn't mind. If that doesn't make sense, take 12 minutes to listen and…
- Stuff You Should Know
The Improbable Story of Martin Guerre
Like most 16th-century French peasants, Martin Guerre’s life seemed likely to be lost to history. But a strange series of events took place that would so…
Stuff You Should KnowSelects: How Moss Works
Think you have moss figured out? You probably don't. Join Josh and Chuck in this classic episode as they explore some of the surprising aspects of these most…
- Stuff You Should Know
The Ins and Outs of Albinism
Today we dive into the science behind the genetic condition albinism, which is not pronounced how you think it is. Learn more about your ad-choices at…
Stuff You Should KnowShort Stuff: Cassowary
Australia is home to a kind of bird that is the second largest in the world and can kill a human being, making it the closest living version of a velociraptor?…
- Stuff You Should Know
Leeches: Oh Hell No!
Leeches are pretty creepy. They feed on blood, they stick to you body. We get it. But they're also pretty fascinating and worthy of discussion. Learn more…
Stuff You Should KnowSelects: The Ins and Outs of Beekeeping
Who wants fresh honey? We do! Learn all about the ancient art of beekeeping today in this classic episode. Learn more about your ad-choices at…
- Stuff You Should Know
Littering: Not Cool
The history of litter is in lock step with the history of disposable packaging. Learn all about this nasty habit today. Learn more about your ad-choices at…
Stuff You Should KnowShort Stuff: Schmidt Stinging Pain Index
If you want to know how the pain from that yellowjacket sting on your arm compares to stings from other insects, you need look no further than the body of work…
- Stuff You Should Know
The Chowchilla Bus Kidnapping
The largest ever kidnapping case in the United States went down in the small town of Chowchilla, CA. Learn all about it today. Learn more about your ad-choices…
Stuff You Should KnowSelects: What's the Deal With Staring?
Gazing too long upon another person is almost universally viewed as anywhere from impolite to hostile, which is odd considering science isn't fully certain why…
- Stuff You Should Know
How the Nobel Peace Prize Works
The Nobel Peace Prize is perhaps the most prestigious award in the world, yet there are plenty of other similar awards. What is it about this one that makes it…
Stuff You Should KnowShort Stuff: Firewalking
It’s pretty amazing to see a human walk over a bed of hot coals – until you learn the physics beneath it. Then it’s just fairly impressive. Learn more about…
- Stuff You Should Know
How Tacos Work
It’s Taco Tuesday! If you like eating tacos, you’re going to love learning all about them in this delectable episode. You’ll realize how much you’ve taken…
Stuff You Should KnowSelects: How Sloths Work
Everyone knows sloths are super slow, but do you know they’re slow because their bodies produce an astoundingly small amount of energy? And did you know that…
- Stuff You Should Know
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…
Stuff You Should KnowShort Stuff: Arctic Fox
The Arctic Fox is one of the cutest critters on the planet. It also has an amazing ability to survive the coldest temps on Earth. Dive into the snow and listen…
- Stuff You Should Know
Tug of War
Tug of War is a simple display of strength, but is there more to it than that? Listen in to find out. Learn more about your ad-choices at…
Stuff You Should KnowSelects: How SETI Works
SETI stands for 'search for extraterrestrial intelligence,' and the term is used to describe both the SETI institute and the search for alien life in general…
- Stuff You Should Know
How Classified Information Works
The government loves to mark just about any information as secret, which wouldn’t be a big deal if it wasn’t so contrary to running a healthy democracy. Learn…
Stuff You Should KnowShort Stuff: Jaywalking
Jaywalking is a crime. Sort of. But why? Learn all about this weird law today. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See…
- Stuff You Should Know
Rock Paper Scissors: Decider of Things
Rock Paper Scissors is a child's game. But it's more than that if you can believe it, and it has a pretty cool history as well. Learn more about your…
Stuff You Should KnowSelects: Project Azorian: The CIA's Super 70s Mission To Steal A Sunken Soviet Sub
In 1974 the CIA undertook one of its most brazen operations – secretly raising a sunken Soviet submarine lost in the middle of the Pacific Ocean right under…
- Stuff You Should Know
What were the black codes?
The black codes were proposed laws that basically tried to keep a form of slavery alive and well after the end of the Civil War. It didn't last long but the…
Stuff You Should KnowShort Stuff: Fortune Cookies
Everything you thought you knew about fortune cookies is wrong. Learn all the right stuff in this episode. Learn more about your ad-choices at…
- Stuff You Should Know
The Circleville Poison Pen Letters Mystery
For 20 years, a tiny town in Ohio was held enrapt by the prolific author of a series of unhinged letters. By the time they abruptly stopped, the letters –…
Stuff You Should KnowSelects: Carl Sagan: American Hero
Carl Sagan was the world's first mainstream media super scientist, capapble of breaking down complex ideas for the common folk. But what made him tick?…
- Stuff You Should Know
Ants! Part 2!
The exciting conclusion of Ants Part 2! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy…
Stuff You Should KnowShort Stuff: The Casket Racket
And you thought we were done with talking about funeral homes. Well guess again! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See…
- Stuff You Should Know
Ants! Part 1!
Ants are pretty much amazing. So we're gonna spend two episodes talking all about them. Please enjoy! Learn more about your ad-choices at…
Stuff You Should KnowSelects: Horoscopes: Written in the Stars?
A lot of people read their daily horoscopes, but does anyone really take stock in them? Turns out the answer is yes, even though there is no evidence of their…
- Stuff You Should Know
Cookies! Cookies! Cookies!
No, we didn’t find another international distress signal we forgot to mention in our Mayday! Short Stuff, we’re just that jazzed about our episode on cookies…