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
Selects: How the Negro Leagues Worked
A decade before the U.S. officially segregated in 1896, baseball banned black players. A decade before the US integrated, baseball broke the color barrier…
- Stuff You Should Know
Inner Dialogues, Monologues and Stone Cold Silence
Does everyone have an inner monologue? What purpose do they serve? What if you don't have one? Listen in to find out these answers and MORE. See…
Stuff You Should KnowShort Stuff: Waffle House Index
The 24/7 short order restaurant Waffle House is known for staying open during natural disasters, so much so that federal agencies gauge where to start helping…
- Stuff You Should Know
Harry Belafonte: The Real Deal
Harry Belafonte is most famous for introducing America to calypso music, with hits like Day-O and Jump In the Line. But he was also one of the most earnest and…
- Stuff You Should Know
Selects: The Collar Bomb Heist
The collar bomb heist is the crime caper that keeps on giving. Every time the story seemed like it was figured out, another layer appeared. Tune in to this…
- Stuff You Should Know
D'oh! Operation Flagship
Operation Flagship was undertaken at a time when the U.S. Marshals performed their jobs with a lot of flair. What other agency would throw a football party in…
Stuff You Should KnowShort Stuff: Yakhchāls - Ancient Fridges
If you lived in ancient Persia, you could do a lot worse in trying to cool things down than by building a yakhchāl. Today we break down how the early fridges…
- Stuff You Should Know
The History of Refrigeration
Keeping things cold with electricity changed the world as we know it. In more ways than you might expect. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
- Stuff You Should Know
Selects: Robber Barons!
The robber barons were not a group of evil super villains. OR WERE THEY? Learn all about these titans of industry from the Gilded Age in this classic episode…
- Stuff You Should Know
The Tragedy of the Commons
Since it was introduced in the 60s, the Tragedy of the Commons, the idea that humans will inevitably ruin any resource we all share, has had sweeping effects…
Stuff You Should KnowShort Stuff: The Death of Charles Morgan
One of the lesser-known cases of American true crime is also a very sad one. Meet Charles Morgan, a man who got in over his head with organized crime. See…
- Stuff You Should Know
The Catacombs of Paris
Beneath Paris lies the bones of more than 6 million people. And you can walk among them for 31 euros. These are the Paris catacombs. See…
- Stuff You Should Know
Selects: How Itching Works
It was only in the last few decades that science became aware that itches aren't just low-level pain. And in that time, the mystery of how we itch and why we…
- Stuff You Should Know
10ish Instances of People Doing Things Out Of Spite
You want payback don’t you? Sure, we all do. We all want it so bad. So bad. Sometimes people do things to get payback against someone who’s wronged…
Stuff You Should KnowShort Stuff: The Guinness Widget
Guiness beer is famous for its smooth and creamy texture, thanks in part to nitrogen, and also a simplistically brilliant little device called the Guinness…
- Stuff You Should Know
The Gullibility Episode
Being gullible is a weird thing. But are you born with it? Is it learned? Can you be trusting and not gullible? Listen in to find out. See…
- Stuff You Should Know
Selects: When Mount St. Helens Blew Its Top
Mount St. Helen's is a lovely sight to behold, but was a pretty scary thing to be around in the Spring of 1980. Listen in to the harrowing story in this…
- Stuff You Should Know
How Automats Worked
Once upon a time no visit to New York was complete without eating at an automat. Putting a nickel in a slot and pulling your own ham sandwich from a lit glass…
Stuff You Should KnowShort Stuff: The Best Episode Since Sliced Bread
Bread is about 30,000 years old. Sliced bread is less than 100. What gives? Listen in to find out. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
- Stuff You Should Know
The Ballad of High Times Magazine
Whether you’re 20.5 or 50, if you love pot then High Times was the magazine for you. With ton of photos of marijuana, tips for how to grow it yourself…
- Stuff You Should Know
Selects: How Foreign Accent Syndrome Works
Foreign accent syndrome isn't when your mom talks funny when she goes abroad. It's an actual condition where people wake up one day with an entirely different…
- Stuff You Should Know
The Barkley Marathons
Every Spring in northeastern Tennessee, roughly 40 people compete in a marathon they are very unlikely to finish. This is the Barkley Marathons. See…
Stuff You Should KnowShort Stuff: Bourgeoisie
Bourgeoisie is more than a word. It means something different depending on when and where it's being used. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
- Stuff You Should Know
WWII Sabotage Spotlight: Operation Gunnerside
During WWII a perfectly-executed sabotage operation by British Special Operations and the Norwegian Resistance put a dent in the Nazi’s quest for an…
- Stuff You Should Know
Selects: 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 Know
The Mysterious Story of Larry Bader
Larry Bader disappeared in 1957 and reappeared a few days later with a new identity. Was it a brain injury or a scam? To this day, nobody knows. See…
Stuff You Should KnowShort Stuff: The Mad Trapper of Rat River
Join us today to learn the story of The Mad Trapper of Rat River, Canada's largest and most intense manhunt. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy…
- Stuff You Should Know
GONG: The Chuck Barris Story
Chuck Barris was a TV visionary, developing shows in the 70s that were decades ahead of their time. But was he also a covert assassin for the CIA? See…
- Stuff You Should Know
Selects: The Quinoa Revolution!
Quinoa is a trendy food, right alongside kale and anything else farm to table. But it's really an ancient grain. Although it's not exactly a grain at all…
- Stuff You Should Know
How Saturn Works
Saturn is the fanciest planet thanks to its prominent rings, cocked jauntily to the side. But this showy gem of the solar system has a lot of substance in…
Stuff You Should KnowShort Stuff: Watch Night
Watch Night has been observed on New Year’s Eve by African-American Methodists in the US since 1862, to mark the passage of the Emancipation Act. But this…
- Stuff You Should Know
The Filthy Magic of Studio 54
Studio 54 was a nightclub, but really much more than that. It became a symbol of the times as much as anything else in the 1970s. Strap on your platform heels…
- Stuff You Should Know
Selects: The Three Christs of Ypsilanti Experiment
In the early 1960s, one of the most unethical experiments in psychology’s history was quietly conducted in a state hospital in Michigan. It sought to upend the…
- Stuff You Should Know
Forensic Dentistry
We've all heard it - local news reports identifying a body from dental records. But how does this work? Well, that's our job! See omnystudio.com/listener for…
Stuff You Should KnowShort Stuff: Captain Santa
Herman Scheunemann wasn’t the only captain carrying Christmas trees across Lake Michigan to Chicago at the turn of the last century, but he was the most…
- Stuff You Should Know
The 2024 SYSK Christmas Extravaganza!
Welcome to the end of 2024 and our annual Christmas Extravaganza episode, brought to you ad-free for you listening pleasure. Please pour a hot toddy and enjoy…
- Stuff You Should Know
Selects: Frances Perkins: Influential and Unknown
Frances Perkins was an incredibly influential American yet is virtually unknown. What did she do? A lot! For instance, Social Security was her brainchild. And…
- Stuff You Should Know
The Trivial Pursuit Trivia Edition
For our annual pre-Holiday-Special-holiday-episode-about-a-holiday-toy we are jumping into one of the greatest games of all time, Trivial Pursuit (and we’re…
Stuff You Should KnowShort Stuff: Feed A Cold, Starve a Fever
You know that old adage that you should feed a cold but starve a fever? It’s an ancient idea and what’s surprising is that it’s kind of correct. See…
- Stuff You Should Know
Taylorism: Work Faster!
If you’ve ever lost your job thanks to a management consultant coming through your company or been timed for how fast you work, you can thank Frederick Winslow…
- Stuff You Should Know
Selects: The Texas City Disaster of 1947
In 1947 the port town of Texas City, Texas became the site of the largest industrial disaster in American history. An enormous explosion blew ships out of the…
- Stuff You Should Know
Tugboats: Pushing Their Way Around Since 1803
Tugboats are amazing because they do the dirty work without much recognition. Well that's changing today - ALL HAIL THE MIGHTY TUG! See omnystudio.com/listener…
Stuff You Should KnowShort Stuff: Joro Spiders
These invasive spiders are everywhere these days. But how did they get to the USA and are they harmful? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
- Stuff You Should Know
Ba-Gawk! How Peacocks Work
If you’ve ever wanted to know why peacocks have such amazing feathers, why they’re not all called peacocks, and plenty of other neat stuff about peacocks, then…
- Stuff You Should Know
Selects: How The Pill Changed the World
When the birth control pill hit the market in 1960 it landed like a social bomb. Almost overnight, women gained the ability to separate sex from pregnancy and…
- Stuff You Should Know
The Ruby Ridge Standoff
The Ruby Ridge standoff still lingers after more than 30 years. But who was at fault for the lives lost? Listen in today to learn all about this dark spot in…
Stuff You Should KnowShort Stuff: Franca Viola
One of the world’s unsung heroes – at least outside of Italy – is a brave woman who stood up to an insidious and longstanding custom and made her country a…
- Stuff You Should Know
Solipsism: This Is All In My Mind?
As the philosophical holds, there’s a chance you don’t exist, that not only you, but this episode, the podcast, and the entire universe are only projections of…
- Stuff You Should Know
Selects: Star Wars Holiday Spectacular
Long ago, in a galaxy not so far away, George Lucas allowed the Star Wars Holiday Special to be made. What happened on the night of November 17, 1978 can never…
- Stuff You Should Know
LIVE: Minneapolis - The Madd Gasser of Mattoon
Please enjoy our 2024 live show about the wild tale of the Madd Gasser of Mattoon. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Stuff You Should KnowShort Stuff: Erfurt Latrine Disaster
A terrible thing happened in Germany in the summer of 1184. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
- Stuff You Should Know
The Wild History of Tetris
Tetris is an iconic game with a fascinating history. Dive in today to learn all about this classic puzzle game. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy…
- Stuff You Should Know
Selects: How the Stanford Prison Experiment Worked
The infamous Stanford Prison Experiment wasn't really much of an experiment as it turns out. It was more like a poorly thought out exercise conducted by a…
- Stuff You Should Know
The Story of Tavern on the Green
Tavern on the Green is a legendary NY eatery that has never rated particularly well with food critics. Despite that, it's been a NYC mainstay for decades. See…
Stuff You Should KnowShort Stuff: The Gaslighting of Martha Mitchell
Martha Mitchell, the wife of Nixon's Attorney General, was well-known to spread a juicy rumor. That's why when Watergate unfolded, she was held captive in a…
- Stuff You Should Know
The Saga of Silk Road
The US government took a thumb in the eye with the creation of the Silk Road website. Right there on the internet you could anonymously buy drugs and various…
- Stuff You Should Know
Selects: The Cleveland Torso Murders
During the depths of the Great Depression, Cleveland’s most vulnerable and destitute residents were prey for one of history’s most horrific serial killers. The…
- Stuff You Should Know
The Fascinating History of Dandelions
Dandelions are way more interesting than you think. Trust us and click play. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Stuff You Should KnowShort Stuff: The wAve
It’s a thrill to stand and, raise your arms, maybe give a woo! then sit down again, especially if you’re in a sports stadium. And especially if you’re doing it…
- Stuff You Should Know
Kids' Chemistry Sets: KABOOM!
A surprising number of Nobel Prize winners credit their childhood chemistry set for sparking their interest in science. But most kids just used them to make…