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.
Available episodes
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2 days ago
Selects: How the Beagle Brigade Works
If you've ever been to an international airport, you've probably seen one of the keenest spotters of illegal contraband - The Beagle Brigade! These cute dogs aren't after drugs or bombs, they're carefully trained to sniff out agricultural products. Learn all about this furry group of crime stoppers in this classic episode.
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4 days ago
The Awful Crimes of Georgia Tann
Georgia Tann was a bad human. We feel safe in saying that because she kidnapped babies from poor families to sell to wealthy ones. Listen in if you can stomach it.
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5 days ago
Short Stuff: The Sad, Strange Tale of Margaret Schilling
Not too much is known about Margaret Schilling. She was the kind of person whose memory might have been lost to time had she not left behind an indelible reminder of her.
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6 days ago
The Power of the Wind
You probably know wind energy projects have been around since the 90s, but did you know they now provide 10% of America’s energy, and more than that in other countries? Learn about what’s ahead for wind and what it’ll need to become a real star like coal.
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Apr 20, 2024
Selects: Special Effects: A Short History
Special effects have been around since the first movies. In fact, the techniques the earliest filmmakers created are still around today, we just use computers to do them faster and cheaper. Hit play on this classic episode and then put on your beret and get ready for SYSK film class.
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Apr 18, 2024
Hitchhiking: Two thumbs out!
Today we go down the road a bit, thumbs out, to explore the rich history of hitchhiking.
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Apr 17, 2024
Short Stuff: The Amazing Tale of Juliane Koepcke
Few people have been more qualified to survive a plane crash alone in the Amazon for almost two weeks than Juliane Koepcke. Let’s hear her story.
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Apr 16, 2024
The Dubious Science of Arson Investigation
Arson investigation has changed a lot over the years. There is actual science available now, but the word still hasn't totally gotten out. Listen in today, and don't play with matches!
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Apr 13, 2024
Selects: How Famines Work
It's common knowledge that famines are usually caused by major droughts: Rain doesn't fall, crops don't grow, and people go hungry. But recent research suggests that while weather may trigger famines, they may actually be more of a human-made catastrophe. Find out more in this classic episode.
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Apr 11, 2024
Testosterone and Estrogen: Wondrous Hormones
We think of estrogen and testosterone as the female and male sex hormones and they may seem kind of gross (is that just Josh?), but that simple understanding is way off. A magical biochemical dance between the two creates everything from bones to moods.
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Apr 10, 2024
Short Stuff: Straitjackets
Straitjackets aren't really a thing anymore unless you're watching a movie or TV show. Or in prison. That's the sad truth.
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Apr 9, 2024
The 1977 Women's Conference That Changed America
The 70s were the decade of the woman in the US. America finally was coming around to the understanding women and men are equals and the government sponsored a conference to advance women’s rights. The opposition that arose changed the fabric of America.
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Apr 6, 2024
Selects: All the Gold In Fort Knox: Meh
When Fort Knox was built in the 1930s to house America’s gold supply, it was billed as an impenetrable, impregnable, don’t-even-think-of-trying vault. But as the world has moved further away from gold, the stockpile’s lost a bit of its luster. Learn all about it in this classic episode.
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Apr 4, 2024
The Everglades: Wowee
One of America’s most important ecosystems takes up more than half the state of Florida. It’s a river of grass, a cactus desert, and a saltwater bay all rolled into one. And there are alligators and crocodiles. And that’s just the beginning.
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Apr 3, 2024
Short Stuff: Knock on Wood
What's the deal with knocking on wood? It's an action one takes to ensure good luck. Which doesn't exist. Yet we do it. Humans are funny that way.
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Apr 2, 2024
Greedflation Is Real
One of the things we rely on is for the companies who make the stuff we need to not stick it to us, the customer. But it’s become painfully clear that’s just what happened during the pandemic and that it’s still happening today. What can we do about it?
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Mar 30, 2024
Selects: Who is The Man of the Hole?
In 2018, there's a man from a lost tribe still living deep in the jungles of Brazil who has been all alone since the mid 1990s. He's referred to as the Man of the Hole, and has had no face-to-face with modern humans. Who is he? We'll answer that question as best we can in this classic episode.
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Mar 28, 2024
The Pulitzer Prize: A major award!
It doesn't get much bigger than the Pulitzer Prize if you're a journalist. Or a novelist. Or really any kind of writer. They even give them to podcasts now. We're not holding our breath.
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Mar 27, 2024
Short Stuff: Ramree Island Crocodile Massacre
The strange thing about the story of the Ramree Island Crocodile Massacre is that it didn't happen. Yet the story lives on.
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Mar 26, 2024
Love Canal: Even Dirtier Than It Sounds
A man with an unfulfilled vision left a huge gash in the ground near Niagara Falls. Then a chemical company came along and filled it with toxic waste. Then people came along and built homes and an elementary school on top of it. Then things went badly.
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Mar 23, 2024
Selects: MOVE: Or When the Philly Police Dropped a Bomb on a Residential Neighborhood
Believe it or not, in 1985 the Philadelphia Police Department dropped a bomb from a helicopter onto a residential building in an African-American neighborhood. The fact that this story isn't more widely known says it all. Listen and learn about MOVE in this classic episode.
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Mar 21, 2024
Peanuts (the comic) Part II
Today is part II of our tribute to one of the most iconic pieces of American culture.
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Mar 20, 2024
Short Stuff: Mariko Aoki Phenomenon
Ten percent of people – in Japan at least – get the urge to poop when they visit bookstores. But it wasn’t until a courageous woman stepped up and became the voice of the phenomenon now named after her that they realized they were part of a movement.
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Mar 19, 2024
Peanuts (the comic) Part I
Today we pay tribute to one of the most iconic pieces of American culture. Listen in to hear us gush about Charlie Brown, Lucy, Snoopy and the rest of the Peanuts gang.
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Mar 16, 2024
Selects: How Dyslexia Works
For a learning disability that everyone seems to know about, dyslexia is maybe the most commonly misunderstood and controversial cognitive difficulty there is. Some people think it’s a gift, some people think it doesn’t even exist. Learn more in this classic episode.
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Mar 14, 2024
The Alien Abduction Phenomenon of the Mid-20th Century
It started with New Hampshire couple Betty and Barney Hill, who learned under hypnosis they’d been abducted and examined by aliens in 1962. Since then, possibly millions of people in the US alone came to believe they followed in the Hills’ footsteps. Why?
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Mar 13, 2024
Short Stuff: Skittles and TIO2
There’s an ingredient in Skittles and lots of other food that Dunkin Donuts stopped using it in their powdered donuts. Skittles said they were phasing it out too back in 2016 but still haven’t and now the lawsuits flow like The Spice.
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Mar 12, 2024
Leave Brutalism Alone!
The most reviled, hated, despised, no-good, low down, dirty rotten architectural style of all time is actually just the most misunderstood. Learn about this unfairly treated architectural movement and why it’s awesome. Learn to love brutalism.
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Mar 9, 2024
Selects: The Science of Break-Ups
Breaking up is hard to do. Your brain might even think you're getting over a cocaine addiction. Learn all about the science behind break-ups in this classic episode!
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Mar 7, 2024
The Smiley, Stubborn Llama
Llamas are pretty great. They smile! They also spit and if they feel overworked will just lay down. There's a lot to admire there.
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Mar 6, 2024
Short Stuff: Roly Poly...Bugs?
Roly Poly bugs go by many names. They look like tiny armadillos. They're great for your garden. And they're crustaceans. Yeah, you read that right.
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Mar 5, 2024
Multitasking: Working slower with worse results
Multitasking isn't really possible, because of the way the human brain works. We know you think you're getting more done, but you're really working slower and with worse results than working sequentially. We promise.
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Mar 2, 2024
Selects: The Case of Sacco and Vanzetti
The trial of Sacco and Vanzetti, two anarchists accused of murder, was one of the first "crimes of the century." But did they do it? To this day there is speculation that they did not. Learn all about this famous case in this classic episode.
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Feb 29, 2024
Wireless Electricity: When Can We Unplug Our TVs?
You know all of those cords and cables and wires that we use to connect our stuff to the electrical grid so they’ll, you know, work? Imagine a day when energy flies through the air like wifi, utterly cord-free. Well, imagine no more! That day is coming!
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Feb 28, 2024
Short Stuff: Smudging: Not just for hippies
Smudging is the process of wafting around the smoke of burning white sage. What is it good for? Listen in and find out.
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Feb 27, 2024
Haile Selassie: Statesman, Colonizer, God?
If you grew up outside of Africa, you might know Haile Selassie’s name from reggae music - the man who ruled Ethiopia is considered a god in Jamaica. In Ethiopia opinions are more varied.
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Feb 24, 2024
Selects: How Zero Population Growth Works
In 1968, Paul Erlich published The Population Bomb, predicting coming famine and mass death. Erlich's predictions didn't pan out but his ideas launched a debate still raging today. Learn all about it in this classic episode.
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Feb 22, 2024
The Story of the Nuclear Boy Scout
David Hahn was a kid who was really into science. So much that he built a nuclear reactor in his mother's potting shed. And it worked.
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Feb 21, 2024
Short Stuff: Benin Bronzes
One of the world’s cultural treasure troves were created in West Africa. But for over a century they’ve been held in museums outside of Africa. In fact, an estimated 95 percent of Africa’s cultural heritage is kept in museums overseas.
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Feb 20, 2024
Ray and Charles Eames: More than Chairs
Charles and Ray Eames were superstar designers who dreamed up some of the most iconic pieces of furniture ever made. And they did much more than that.
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Feb 17, 2024
Selects: Geodesic Domes: The Wave of the Future That Wasn't
Sometimes a good idea doesn’t pan out in real life. Take Buckminster Fuller’s geodesic dome: It requires less energy to heat and cool, it’s cheap, and it’s durable enough to withstand a hurricane – but it’s also godawful ugly and that was its undoing. Learn more with Josh and Chuck in this classic episode.
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Feb 15, 2024
Like, here's the episode on "like"
Like is a very divisive word. Purists think it's like, a filler word born in the 80s that's like, destroying the English language. Turns out none of these are like, true.
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Feb 14, 2024
Short Stuff: The Original Snake Oil Salesman
There’s a great origin story behind snake oil salesmen, and it has to do with just one guy who singlehandedly gave it a bad name.
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Feb 13, 2024
What Americans Ate When There Were No Food Laws
There was a brief period in America’s history – after people left the farm to work in the city and before the government started regulating it – when there was a total, lawless free-for-all in the food industry. Things were bad. Really, really bad.
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Feb 10, 2024
Selects: The Unabomber: Misguided to say the least
The Unabomber was one of the most notorious and longest lasting cases in the history of the FBI. Just because the manifesto reads like he was a fortune teller doesn't make his actions any less deplorable. Learn all about this fascinating case in this classic episode.
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Feb 8, 2024
What's the Pygmalion Effect?
Do teachers and managers give special treatment to those who they're told have great academic or professional promise? Does this create a self-fulfilling prophecy, regardless of the truth? That's just part of the fascinating Pygmalion Effect.
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Feb 7, 2024
Short Stuff: School Bus Yellow
Why are all school buses the same color? Because one man made it so. This is that story.
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Feb 6, 2024
Clue(do): Third Best Board Game Ever
Whether you know it as Clue or Cluedo, the whodunnit mystery board game is one of the best of all time. Learn all about the history behind the game’s development, and strategies on how to crush your fellow players as soundly as Chuck’s wife crushes him.
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Feb 3, 2024
Selects: How Disgust Works
Disgust is an odd thing. It makes sense that we would feel a sense of revulsion at the thought of putting rotten meat in our mouths – that’s pure evolution. But why would we feel the same emotion at the thought of weird sex or from hearing a racist rant? Find out more in this classic episode.
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Feb 1, 2024
The History of Las Vegas
How did the sleepy Nevada town of Las Vegas become LAS VEGAS? Well, we'll let you know over the course of about 45 minutes.
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Jan 31, 2024
Short Stuff: Wainscoting: When Half a Wall is Enough
Wainscoting is a beloved and time-tested decorative way to spruce up your walls. But what is it anyway? Listen in to find out.
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Jan 30, 2024
The Harrowing Story of the North Hollywood Shootout
Tune in today to listen to the story of when North Hollywood became a war zone after a brazen bank robbery.
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Jan 27, 2024
Selects: A List Of Games You Would Surely Lose to a Computer
We live in a time where computers can beat the best humans in the world at chess, checkers, poker and video games. But these games are really just demonstrations of how intelligent our machines are growing. They’re growing more intelligent by the hour. This classic episode features a special guest, Tech Stuff's Jonathan Strickland.
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Jan 25, 2024
Esperanto: Tre Mojosa
One thing you could do is create your own language. Some people do and for lots of different reasons. LL Zamenhof created Esperanto to try to bring about world peace. It worked, but on a less-than-global scale.
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Jan 24, 2024
Short Stuff: Hot Cold Plunge
Jumping into a cold pool after a long sauna or hot tub can be pretty great. Saunas have proven health benefits like lowering blood pressure; cold plunges are shown to reduce inflammation. Why not combine them? A bunch of safety reasons, bucko, that’s why.
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Jan 23, 2024
The Strange Unsolved Murder of Ken McElroy
The murder of Ken McElroy comes off like a story from a cheap paperback book you’d get to read on a plane. But this is a true crime story, set in Missouri in the early 80s. And boy does it pack a punch.
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Jan 20, 2024
Selects: Is yogurt a miracle food?
Yogurt has been touted as a health food, but is it? Maybe. If you eat it every day. We get into the rich and creamy history of this supposed miracle food in today's episode. Get an earful of the stuff in this classic episode.
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Jan 18, 2024
Jonestown
We all know what happened at Jonestown, but who was Jim Jones before the tragedy at the People's Temple?
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Jan 17, 2024
Short Stuff: Frozen Dead Guy
Back in 1994, Nederland, Colorado found out it had a resident it hadn’t accounted for.
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Jan 16, 2024
Dry Cleaning: Not Really Dry(!)
Dry cleaning is one of those things that we’re all familiar with but don’t actually know much about. That will hold true no more! Learn about all the ins and outs of the dry cleaning biz, some of its toxic secrets, and some spot removal tips too!
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Jan 13, 2024
Selects: History's Greatest Traitors
The annals of history hold a special place for people who have carried out treachery and betrayed their own. Thousands of years later, their names are still synonymous with being a scoundrel around the world. From Marcus Brutus to Vidkun Quisling and more, in this classic episode Josh and Chuck examine some of the bigger turncoats to live -- and exonerate others.
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Jan 11, 2024
How Cranes Work
You’ve probably seen cranes moving elegantly in the sky, but did you know what an important role they play in their surroundings? Learn all about cranes in this episode on cranes.
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Jan 10, 2024
Short Stuff: NYT Bestseller List
What kind of black magic goes into deciding who makes the NYT Bestseller List? Well you probably don't know the whole story unless you work there.
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Jan 9, 2024
Kenton Grua: Grand Canyon Legend
Tune in today to listen to the amazing story of Colorado River guide Kenton Grua's wild 277 mile record-breaking speed run down the center of the Grand Canyon.
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Jan 6, 2024
Selects: Dr. Seuss: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
The Seuss is loose in this episode about legendary children's book author Ted Geisel. The funny thing is, he didn't ever want children of his own, and his past work was a bit problematic. Explore his entire legacy in this classic episode.
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Jan 4, 2024
The 2000 Presidential Election: A Real Cluster
When George W Bush and Al Gore ran against one another, most pundits predicted a tight race. Absolutely zero of them predicted the election would come down to a few hundred votes. Today, we still don’t know who won.
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Jan 3, 2024
Short Stuff: Blueprints
The story of why blueprints were blue is more involved than you think. It involves a chemical process and the Prussian Army. Yeah you heard me right.
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Jan 2, 2024
SYSK Live in Nashville: The Biosphere II Experiment
Hello, friends! Join us today for our annual live show release, recorded in beautiful Nashville. On the docket? The Biosphere II Experiment!
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Dec 30, 2023
Selects: Nuclear Semiotics: How to Talk to Future Humans
The nuclear waste we produce will be dangerous for a very long time. We’ve figured out how to safely store it in the earth until it’s no longer a biohazard. Now we just have to figure out how to warn humans 10,000 years in the future to stay away from it. Find out about our best ideas in this classic episode.
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Dec 28, 2023
How Primitive Will Our Descendants Find Us?
It’s all fun and games to think about how backwards and misguided some things people did in the past were until you realize we’ll be “the past” one day. What do we do now that will seem primitive then and how will they be better in the future?
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Dec 27, 2023
Short Stuff: Scheele's Green
Can you imagine a color so alluring that even though you know it’s toxic you’d still use it to your heart’s content? The Victorians certainly could.
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Dec 26, 2023
How Snails Work
They seem gross and bothersome at first, but once you get down to ground level and get to know snails, we’ll bet you’ll grow quite fond of them. They are living in a whole world we’re largely unaware of.
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Dec 23, 2023
Selects: How Fireplaces Work
They are dirty, harmful to your health, bad for the environment and utterly charming. Wood-burning fireplaces have been with us for centuries and, despite their many drawbacks, are sticking around. Learn more than you thought possible about the fireplace, in this classic episode.
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Dec 21, 2023
The 2023 SYSK Ho-Ho-Holiday Spectacular!
Happy Holidays, friends! Tune in today to listen to our annual ad-free holiday extravaganza. There will be talk of merriment and joy!
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Dec 20, 2023
Short Stuff: Christmas Lights
Just three years after the lightbulb was invented a compadre of Thomas Edison thought to use them to decorate his Christmas tree. It set off a sensation that’s gotten more popular each year since.
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Dec 19, 2023
Beanie Babies: Reigning Toy Craze Champion
The world has seen a lot of weird investment bubbles in its time, but few of them rival the fever that gripped the world in the 90s after Beanie Babies took off. Let’s visit this strange chapter in toy history together.
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Dec 16, 2023
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 be fully explained, but we make our best effort in our annual special edition of SYSK. May the force be with us all.
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Dec 15, 2023
Selects: How Dictators Work
There are many types of dictators, from so called "benevolent" ones to the kind who rule with an iron fist. There are also many ways they can come into power, and they don't all include violence. Learn all about dictators past and present in this classic episode.
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Dec 14, 2023
What was the Skeleton Army?
The Skeleton Army was a rowdy group of folks in England who battled, sometimes violently, with the Salvation Army - largely against their efforts to keep people from drinking and having a rowdy good time. Listen in today!
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Dec 13, 2023
Short Stuff: Pickles
Josh loves pickles but hates cucumbers. Chuck loves cucumbers but hates pickles. WHO WILL WIN?
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Dec 12, 2023
The Matewan Massacre
The Matewan Massacre was a pivotal moment for the US mining industry and the labor movement as a whole. Learn about what happened in this sleepy West Virginia town today.
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Dec 9, 2023
Selects: What were the Freedom Schools?
Freedom Schools were set up in Mississippi in the heart of the Civil Rights Movement, with the aim of giving young black school children agency and a future. They remain one of the more inspiring and progressive programs in American History, yet so few know about them. We're hoping to change that. Learn all about them in this classic episode.
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Dec 7, 2023
The Murder of John Lennon
On December 8th, 1980, John Lennon was shot and killed outside his apartment building in New York City, by Mark David Chapman. Music history was altered forever. Listen in to this tragic story.
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Dec 6, 2023
Short Stuff: Boba Tea
Boba tea is bubble tea. But what are the bubbles? Tapioca pearls! Listen in today to learn about the disputed history of this trendy beverage.
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Dec 5, 2023
The Life and Works of J.D. Salinger
J.D. Salinger was a complicated and problematic human who stopped publishing soon after creating one of the great works of literature. Listen in today to learn the good, bad and ugly sides of the man who got famous, then dropped out.
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Dec 2, 2023
Selects: Beavers: Tail Slapping Fun
Beavers are in fact, very busy. They're builders and solid family members, husbands and wives. Learn all about N America's largest rodent in this classic episode.
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Nov 30, 2023
You Down With OED?
The story of the Oxford English Dictionary is really something. From its origin to its crowd-sourced literary quotations. Dive in today to learn all about the best dictionary.
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Nov 29, 2023
Short Stuff: The Zipper Merge
When you switch lanes on the highway after noticing that the lane you’re in is ending up ahead, you are literally ruining the world.
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Nov 28, 2023
Plate Tectonics Are What Makes Earth Inhabitable
It’s time to get jazzed about Earth science again. It’s only been 60 or so years since we’ve known the continents move around and we’re still figuring out exactly how they do. But one thing is for sure, that super-slow movement is super important.
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Nov 25, 2023
Selects: NYC Water: An Engineering Marvel
Getting the rain and melted snow from upstate NY into the taps of every NYC resident and business is one of the great feats of engineering. Does it taste great and make perfect bagels and pizza crust? Sources say yes! Learn all about it in this classic episode.
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Nov 23, 2023
The Wreck of the Costa Concordia
It’s astounding that with the exceptional navigational equipment aboard a cruise ship can run aground in the 21st century, and 32 passengers and crew can lose their lives within a thousand feet of land. Such is the power of incompetence and cowardice.
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Nov 22, 2023
Short Stuff: Magnetic Pole Switcheroo
Everyone once in a while, say a few hundred thousand years or so, the north and south poles of Earth’s magnetic field switch places. The result: Dogs and cats living together.
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Nov 21, 2023
Legs! Legs! Legs! (The Periodic Table)
If you’ve ever wanted to listen to two totally untrained, non-chemists who are fully unqualified to explain how the periodic table works nervously explain how the periodic table works, then this episode is for you. Chemistry majors, be warned.
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Nov 18, 2023
Selects: E.T.: Is It Really the Worst Video Game of All Time?
If you play video games you probably have an easy answer to worst game of all time: ET. But it turns out there are no easy answers, especially when you’re talking about a game so terrible it’s blamed for bringing the entire video game industry with it. Find out more in this classic episode.
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Nov 16, 2023
Diners: The Most American Establishment?
Diners may just be the most American establishment there is. They were born in the USA, thanks to European immigrants, and they only exist in the USA, unless it's a kitschy homage. So break open that 12-page menu and order up.
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Nov 15, 2023
Short Stuff: Liberty Bell
The story of the Liberty Bell is far more confusing than we imagined.
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Nov 14, 2023
The Tragic Death of Natalie Wood
Natalie Wood was Hollywood royalty who tragically drowned after a long night of partying with her husband, Robert Wagner, and actor Christopher Walken. Over the last 40 plus years, stories have changed and the investigation has moved from closed to open. Listen in to learn this tragic story.
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Nov 11, 2023
Selects: Who were the Buffalo Soldiers?
Josh and Chuck dive into history in this classic episode to tell the story of the Buffalo Soldiers.
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Nov 9, 2023
How Scuba Works
It’s a good, old fashioned how it works episode where we break down all of the nuts and bolts and threats to safety that make scuba diving such a unique and thrilling hobby. Dive in feet first with Josh and Chuck on the undersea adventure of a lifetime!
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Nov 8, 2023
Short Stuff: Petrified Wood
Petrified wood isn't just hard wood. Listen in today to learn all about this unique process.
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Nov 7, 2023
Things We Believed Before the Scientific Method
It’s easy to think of people in the distant past as kinda dumb for believing things like that mice could spontaneously generate from old grain. But if you look a little deeper, you’ll find there was a sensibility to the odd beliefs that came before science.
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Nov 4, 2023
Selects: Are Election Laws Designed to Suppress Voting?
Are laws that are meant to protect the sanctity of the polling place in reality designed to make it harder for groups that traditionally vote Democrat to cast their ballots? Find out in this classic episode.
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Nov 2, 2023
The Harlem Globetrotters: American Treasures
The Harlem Globetrotters are an American entertainment institution. Their story may not be quite what you think either. Hint, they didn't originate in Harlem. Tune in now to learn their fun, fascinating story.
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Nov 1, 2023
Short Stuff: White Dog Poop
If you grew up from the 70s to the 90s you know white dog poop. It’s the old, crusty – yes, white – phase that dog poop goes through as it ages on a lawn. Or it used to. Where has all the white poop gone?
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Oct 31, 2023
The 14th Annual Halloween Spooktacular!
As per tradition, today Josh and Chuck perform a spooky Halloween story reading to delight, amuse and FRIGHTEN YOU TO YOUR CORE. Will Meagle show up? Tune in to find out! Thanks to guest producer Ben Hackett for all the great sound effects.
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Oct 28, 2023
Selects: How Mummies Work
A mummy is a human being whose soft tissue has been preserved after death, and there are mummies around the world -- including natural mummies, as well as corpses that have been intentionally embalmed. Listen to this classic episode with Chuck and Josh to learn more.
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Oct 26, 2023
Naked Mole Rats: A Face Only a Mother Could Love
Naked mole rats are funny looking to be sure, but neither moles nor rats. So what are they? You'll have to tune in to find out.
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Oct 25, 2023
Short Stuff: Bed Sheet Ghosts
The simple bed sheet has provided countless kids and adults with an easy go-to Halloween costume. But why do we associate white sheets with ghosts anyway?
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Oct 24, 2023
The Compton Cafeteria Riot
Three years before the riots at Stonewall, the LGBTQ community of San Francisco's Tenderloin rose up. And the story was almost lost to time. Learn how and why today.
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Oct 21, 2023
Selects: Where Did Trick-Or-Treating Come From?
We aren’t exactly sure who invented trick-or-treating – kids who realized they could extort adults for candy, or adults who bought off kids in exchange for laying off pranks? The bigger question is: Will trick-or-treating survive the 21st century? Learn more in this classic episode.
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Oct 19, 2023
Kindness: Do It
In the tradition of our episodes on forgiveness and revenge, comes the third installment in the Emotional Roller Coaster trilogy. Kindness, it turns out, really does make the world go round.
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Oct 18, 2023
Short Stuff: Candy Corn
Is it vile? Is it delicious? It seems to be both! Hear all about the history of candy corn, how it’s made, and who likes it in this pre-Halloween episode!
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Oct 17, 2023
The Criminal Father of Criminology
Eugene Francois Vidocq is without a doubt one of the most interesting figures in modern history. He’s a former criminal turned undercover informant who went on to found the French national police force and the world’s first private detective agency.
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Oct 14, 2023
Selects: Pain Scales: Yeeeow!
Pain is subjective; it is whatever the person experiencing it says it is. But to effectively treat pain, it helps to quantify it, which is why medicine came up with pain scales. Learn all about them in this classic episode.
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Oct 12, 2023
How Intellectual Property Works
Intellectual property sounds as dry as can be, but it’s actually very interesting. It’s at the heart of the global economy and the center of a dispute over what should belong to the people who create things, from poetry to pharmaceuticals.
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Oct 11, 2023
Short Stuff: Longyou Caves
What’s better than discovering a mysterious cavern? Discovering five!
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Oct 10, 2023
Parasocial Relationships: That Podcaster is Your Friend!
Parasocial relationships are fascinating and it turns out Chuck knows what it's like from both sides. Listen in today to your old friends.
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Oct 7, 2023
Selects: How Motion Sickness Works
Motion sickness is the worst and hits about 25 to 40 percent of humans when they ride in cars, boats, or simply watch the wrong 3-D movie. Join us as we break down the science behind this nausea-inducing affliction in this classic episode.
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Oct 5, 2023
How Andy Warhol Worked
You know Andy Warhol from his quip on being famous for 15 minutes and paintings of soup cans, but even as far as artists go he was an eccentric and misunderstood person.
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Oct 4, 2023
Short Stuff: Rhodium
Rhodium is one of the most valuable precious metals on Earth, though it has dropped in value by about 80% in the last year. Learn why by clicking play.
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Oct 3, 2023
Night of the Grizzlies
Grizzly bears had never killed a person in Glacier National Park until the night of August 12, 1967. That's when everything changed for National Parks moving forward.
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Sep 30, 2023
Selects: Social Security Numbers: Less Boring Than You'd Think
Do you know that up until July 2011 an ambitious hacker with a good software program could deduce your social security number based on your date and place of birth? In this classic episode, the boys examine some of the lesser-known details of the Social Security system in the U.S.
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Sep 28, 2023
Revenge: Bitter, Not Sweet
Someone cuts you off in traffic or makes fun of your friend and all you can think of is how to get back at them and then some. But wait! Research has found that taking revenge actually makes you feel worse in the long run. Learn about what to do instead.
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Sep 27, 2023
Short Stuff: The Dakota
The Dakota is one of New York City's great buildings. And its backstory is pretty great to boot.
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Sep 26, 2023
The Amazing Life of Christine Granville
Christine Granville was about as James Bond as it gets. Stories of her life as a spy during World War II are legendary. Today we'll tell her story.
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Sep 23, 2023
Selects: Cockney Rhyming Slang: Beautiful Gibberish
What is Cockney Rhyming Slang? It's complicated and its origins are unclear. Learn everything we know about it today in this classic episode.
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Sep 21, 2023
Kombucha: Fizzy Goodness
Kombucha is pretty popular right now. But what is it exactly and where did it come from? The answers await you!
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Sep 20, 2023
Short Stuff: Origin of Math Signs
Have you ever stopped mid-pencil mark and realized to your astonishment where the plus sign came from? Then this one’s for you.
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Sep 19, 2023
10ish Worst Business Decisions Ever
It’s easy (and kind of fun) to laugh at the misfortune of CEOs and other high up business types when they bring it on themselves – so let’s do that now. Herein lies some of the worst business decisions ever made, hindsight being 20/20, of course.
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Sep 16, 2023
Selects: How Floods Work
Floods happen when more water is introduced to an area than can be quickly removed. That's about it, but there's more to floods, what causes them and the havoc they can wreak. Join Josh and Chuck in this super-saturated classic episode of Stuff You Should Know.
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Sep 14, 2023
The Hyatt Regency Skywalk Disaster
In 1981 America suffered the worst accidental structural collapse in its history. Listen in today to the tragic story of the fast-tracked building disaster that stills haunts Kansas City.
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Sep 13, 2023
Short Stuff: Why Spilling Salt is Unlucky
Face it, when you spill salt your life goes totally off the rails, maybe even forever. Fortunately, we humans stumbled upon the one reliable way to counteract that bad luck by tossing some over our left shoulder.
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Sep 12, 2023
Axolotls: The Smiling Salamander from Mexico
It’s a listener request! Axolotls are one of the more amazing animals roaming the planet right now – they can regenerate parts of their brains, can fight off tumors, are found in the wild only in one single lake? And did we mention they smile all the time?
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Sep 9, 2023
Selects: How Space Stations Work
It seems like we largely take it for granted these days, but the fact that we have humans living in space is the realization of a scientific dream a century old. Visit the space stations orbiting Earth past, present and future in this classic episode.
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Sep 7, 2023
Native American Reservations
Today we dive into the history and current state of Native American reservations. This serves as a nice follow-up to the Trail of Tears double-ep from 2017.
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Sep 6, 2023
Short Stuff: History of OK
Is OK the best word? It's certainly one of the most versatile. Check the interesting history of this weird contraction.
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Sep 5, 2023
The Made-up Disease of Syndrome K
In WWII, Italy went through its own Jewish Holocaust, terrible at first then horrific as the Nazis took over the country. In Rome, a group of doctors hid Jewish refugees in plain sight in their hospital by giving them a highly contagious, highly fictitious disease.
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Sep 2, 2023
Selects: Body Odor: You Stink
Chuck and Josh end up making reduxes of past episodes on things like sweating and deodorant in this all-new episode on the science beneath what makes people smell. Learn all about your odor in this classic episode.
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Aug 31, 2023
Laurens Hammond: The Non-Musical Genius Who Changed Popular Music
Laurens Hammond invented the Hammond organ and in the process changed music history. But he was much more than that.
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Aug 30, 2023
Short Stuff: Evil Eye
You've seen the evil eye. Many Middle Eastern cultures have a long history with it. Learn how to thwart this curse today.
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Aug 29, 2023
Fordlandia: Brazil Isn't Michigan
Henry Ford tried to build a Midwestern American town in the Amazon rainforest in the 1920s. It's true. And yes, Chuck will say this should be a movie.
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Aug 26, 2023
Selects: How Toy Testing Works
It's every kid's dream - a job playing with toys that pays in toys. It's a real thing and has been around for a long time. Then there's the other side of the testing process, companies who ensure that toys are safe. It takes both of these testing techniques to successfully bring a toy to market these days. Dive into the ball pit with us today and learn all about toy testing in this classic episode.
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Aug 24, 2023
Plant Migration
Climate change is having sweeping effects on our climate and this is changing the world, not just for humans and other animals, but plants too. Will the Earth’s flora manage to find safe refuge in time?
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Aug 23, 2023
Short Stuff: Saturn's Rings
Friends, treasure Saturn’s rings while they are young. They won’t be around forever.
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Aug 22, 2023
Farmer's Almanac: Literature to Poop To
The Farmer's Almanac has a long rich history that is more than just moon phases and long-term weather patterns. Tune in to learn all about it.
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Aug 19, 2023
Selects: How Music Sampling Works
Today music sampling is a common practice, especially in electronic or hip-hop music. But how does it work? After all, other artists made the original music, and most of them would presumably like to be paid. Tune in to this classic episode to learn more about music sampling.
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Aug 17, 2023
The Mysterious Disappearance of the Franklin Expedition
One of the great Arctic mysteries was the disappearance of the ill-fated Franklin Expedition in search of a northwest passage between the Atlantic and Pacific. Not one man survived the trip, and they left precious little behind in the way of clues.
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Aug 16, 2023
Short Stuff: Edward Mordake
In the 19th century news spread of an unfortunate man who was born with an evil second face on the back of his head that spoke to him. The real story is that people keep falling for it.
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Aug 15, 2023
How We’re Learning to Talk to Animals
If we could talk with the animals, grunt and squeak and squawk with the animals, what would we say? We’d better start thinking of something good because researchers are learning to speak sperm whale, prairie dog, and a bunch of other species' languages.
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Aug 12, 2023
Selects: How Magnets Work
You can stick them to the fridge or use them to transpose sound to tape, whatever they are used for magnets are surprisingly interesting. And knowing just exactly how and why magnets work will make you more interesting, which is why you should listen to this classic episode of SYSK.
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Aug 10, 2023
Xenobiotics
Science is just realizing the extent of the tiny pollutants that have entered ecosystems across Earth and inside all humans. We call them xenobiotics – substances foreign to our bodies – and what effects they have on us we’re only starting to learn.
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Aug 9, 2023
Short Stuff: History of English
Who spoke English first and what was it like? Nothing like it is today. Listen in to learn all about it.
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Aug 8, 2023
Dear Diary...
Diaries have been around for a long time. There are many famous ones, and tens of millions that will never see the light of day. Learn about the history and benefits of journaling today.
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Aug 5, 2023
Selects: Rainbows: Delighting humanity since forever
Rainbows seem to defy nature, but they're really pretty simple when it comes down to it. Turns out it's just light reacting to water droplets in the air. But they sure do look cool. Learn all about how rainbows are formed in this classic episode.
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Aug 3, 2023
The Last Meal Ritual
The last meal of the executed is a longstanding tradition. Listen in today to learn about the dark history and modern practice of this culinary curiosity.
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Aug 2, 2023
Short Stuff: NATO Alphabet
Alpha, Bravo, Charlie. This is the NATO alphabet. But where did it come from?
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Aug 1, 2023
BPD: The Worst Disorder or Not a Disorder at All?
Borderline Personality Disorder has been described as emotional “third degree burns over ninety percent of your body.” It’s as close to a curse as a personality disorder can be: deep fear of being abandoned creates behaviors that end up driving people off.
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Jul 29, 2023
Selects: What's the deal with Stradivarius violins?
The Strad violin is noted for its tonal qualities and superior craftsmanship. And for its price tag. There are many theories why the Strad sounds so great, from the wood to the lacquer, to the simple fact that Antonio Stradivari was really good at what he did. Rosin up your bow and take a listen to this classic episode.
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Jul 27, 2023
MAD Magazine: A Tribute
Chuck and Josh grew up on MAD Magazine and we hope you did too. What started out as a comic book that spoofed comic books grew into the foundation of American satire and cultivated a healthy skepticism in generations of kids. Hail to the clods at MAD!
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Jul 26, 2023
Short Stuff: Blue Highway Signs
In the US those ubiquitous blue highway signs that tell you which direction you’ll find a Burger King have an interesting backstory.
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Jul 25, 2023
Learning a Foreign Language
Today, Chuck and Josh dive into the ins and outs of language learning.
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Jul 22, 2023
Selects: Nirvana: Not The Band
Hinduism and Buddhism are closely related in a number of ways, including their vision of what comes after we exit this mortal coil. Learn about the religions' interesting interpretation of the state of existence outside space-time, in this classic episode.
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Jul 20, 2023
Magic Eye Illusions
What became the Magic Eye illusion fad of the 1990s was born by way of the stereogram of the 1950s (and even before that). It's a winding story that you'll love!
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Jul 19, 2023
Short Stuff: Pie-In-The-Face Gag
Throwing a pie in someone’s face was groundbreaking comedy once upon a time.
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Jul 18, 2023
Insomnia: Why you can't sleep
Insomnia is rough stuff. Listen in and learn all about why you can't fall asleep and what you can do about that.
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Jul 15, 2023
Selects: How Police Lineups Work
Police lineups are something most people have never had any firsthand experience with. What you see on TV and in movies isn't so far off though. Learn about how these tropes work for real in this classic episode.
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Jul 13, 2023
How PCP Works
There is probably no drug more mythologized than PCP. It drives users insane and has the unfortunate side effect of bestowing superhuman strength thus sending them on a rampage. But does it though?
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Jul 12, 2023
Short Stuff: Père-Lachaise Cemetery
The most famous cemetery in Paris has some of the most famous people in the world buried there. And it's quite lovely.
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Jul 11, 2023
Birth Order: So nice, we did it twice
This is a very special episode, the first one we've ever fully recorded a second time and decided to release. Why? Because it's good and a little different and we thought you'd enjoy this unheard of double dose. So enjoy!
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Jul 8, 2023
Selects: How Bats Work
They are creepy, sure, but they are also useful, cute and in great danger of extinction. Get a new lease on life from a new view of bats in this classic episode.
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Jul 6, 2023
James Beard: Food Legend
James Beard is well-known now for the annual awards named in his honor. But he used to be the most famous chef in America, and set the standard for what makes a celebrity chef.
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Jul 5, 2023
Short Stuff: Hollywood Sign
The Hollywood sign is an iconic landmark that started out as a real estate billboard. Can you believe it?
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Jul 4, 2023
How Trucking Works
If truckers suddenly vanished the global economy would come to a grinding halt in a couple days. But as important as they are these highway heroes (mostly) are, they’re systematically mistreated by their industry.
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Jul 1, 2023
Selects: What Makes Lead So Poisonous?
The people of Flint, MI were horrified to find their drinking water was poisoned with lead. As we learn more about lead's effects and realize how persistent it is, the more worrying it becomes. What makes lead so toxic? Find out in this classic episode.
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Jun 29, 2023
Butterflies: Caterpillars with Wings!
If you thought caterpillars were awesome, just wait until you see them with colorful, iridescent wings!
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Jun 28, 2023
Short Stuff: Fahrenheit or Celsius
Fahrenheit or Celsius? Why not both? If they can agree - exactly at -40 degrees - then it seems like we should all be able to agree they're both great as well.
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Jun 27, 2023
Caterpillars: Nature's Magicians
Caterpillars are simply the best. Don't think so? Well listen in and you'll soon agree
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Jun 24, 2023
Selects: How Ocean Currents Work
It's easy to overlook the importance of ocean currents - they move along out at sea, while we stay mostly on land. But we are globally affected by them every day. Currents form the base of the food chain, drive weather and keep life as we know it going. Explore them with Josh and Chuck in this classic episode.
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Jun 22, 2023
How Afrofuturism Works
Black sci-fi writers were shut out of their genre in the 20th century so they created their own vision of the future. That sentiment spread to music and film and today it’s so engrained in pop culture it doesn't need its own label.
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Jun 21, 2023
Short Stuff: Chia Pet
It has arrived, the most important podcast episode in the history of the world.
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Jun 20, 2023
Large Language Models and You
There is a good chance that in March of 2023, humans crossed a threshold into a transformative new era when a new, smarter type of AI was let loose in the wild and an AI arms race began.
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Jun 17, 2023
Selects: SYSK Live: Back When Ford Pintos Were Flaming Deathtraps
For this special live benefit episode recorded in Atlanta, Josh and Chuck go back to the 70s and look at the decidedly ungroovy course of events that led to Ford recalling its Pinto after people started burning up in them.
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Jun 15, 2023
How Alumin(i)um Works
Humans made it through the Bronze Age and Iron Age, then we dabbled in steel, and now we are living in the Aluminum Age. The metal is so ubiquitous it seems like it’s been around forever, but we’ve only been really using it since the 20th century.
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Jun 14, 2023
Short Stuff: Suicide Forest
The suicide forest in Japan is a beautiful place with a checkered reputation. Trigger Warning: This episode features a discussion of suicide. If you or anyone you know needs help, please call 988.
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Jun 13, 2023
The Stinky History of Human Hygiene
Ever wondered when and why people started caring about body odors and cleanliness? Well look no further than today's episode.
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Jun 10, 2023
Selects: How Audience Testing Works
Did you know some of our most beloved movies originally had different, sometimes better, endings? That is until they were tested in front of focus groups. Learn all about the how, what, and why of audience testing in this classic episode.
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Jun 8, 2023
Is Reality Real?
Philosophers have been wondering whether we experience reality as it is for millennia now. They’ve pretty much settled on no, no we don’t. Now science has taken up the investigation and it’s proving the philosophers correct. So what is reality then?
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Jun 7, 2023
Short Stuff: DNA Data Storage
One of the more futuristic things around right now on Earth is research into encoding data into strings of genetic code.
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Jun 6, 2023
Why Manners?
Keeping your elbows off the table, keeping your fingers out of the gravy boat – at some point these became very important rules of etiquette. But what purpose do manners serve? It turns out they just may be the glue that prevents society from unraveling.
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Jun 3, 2023
Selects: Pterosaurs: Not Flying Dinosaurs
Almost everything you know about pterosaurs is wrong. They weren't birds, they weren't flying dinosaurs and they weren't all pterodactyls. Which makes this classic episode a great one for you to learn some new and amazing stuff about terrifying prehistoric beasts!
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Jun 1, 2023
What's the deal with intermittent fasting?
Could eating at only certain times of the day lead to weight loss? Possibly!
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May 31, 2023
Short Stuff: Rube Goldberg
Everyone knows what a Rube Goldberg machine is, but what do you know about the cartoonist who they're named after?
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May 30, 2023
The Saga of Milli Vanilli
For a moment Milli Vanilli was the hottest musical act in the world. Then came the news that it was just that, an act, and the fall came swiftly and humiliatingly. Now, 30 years on, a look back yields not so much a cautionary tale as a very sad story.
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May 27, 2023
Selects: How Color Works
Science doesn't have a good explanation for why we sense color, yet it is everywhere and affecting us all the time. But why should minutely different wavelengths of light have such an impact on our moods and motivations? Explore these questions and more with Josh and Chuck in this classic episode.
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May 25, 2023
The Semi-Recent History of Exercise
Humans exercising for better health has not been around that long. Today we dive into this fun history as we cover why and when we started this now commonplace pastime.
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May 24, 2023
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.
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May 23, 2023
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.
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May 20, 2023
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.
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May 18, 2023
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!
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May 17, 2023
Short Stuff: Mood Rings
Mood Rings were all the rage in the 1970s. Then they went away, and fast. What's your color today?
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May 16, 2023
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?
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May 13, 2023
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.
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May 11, 2023
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.
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May 10, 2023
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!
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May 9, 2023
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.
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May 6, 2023
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.
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May 4, 2023
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.
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May 3, 2023
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.
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May 2, 2023
Nerf!
Another classic toys edition is at your collective feet. Today, we dive into the soft, padded world of NERF!
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Apr 29, 2023
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.
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Apr 27, 2023
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.
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Apr 26, 2023
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.
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Apr 25, 2023
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.
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Apr 22, 2023
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.
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Apr 20, 2023
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.
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Apr 19, 2023
Short Stuff: Routines
Routines are a key part of a successful life. Ask anybody about theirs and they'll be happy to share!
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Apr 18, 2023
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.
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Apr 15, 2023
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.
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Apr 13, 2023
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!
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Apr 12, 2023
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!
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Apr 11, 2023
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.
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Apr 8, 2023
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.
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Apr 6, 2023
Playing Cards? You Got That Right!
If you've ever wanted to learn more about playing cards, now is your big chance.
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Apr 5, 2023
Short Stuff: Beethoven’s DNA
It's been all over the news, Beethoven's DNA has revealed some interesting things about his health.
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Apr 4, 2023
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?
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Apr 1, 2023
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.
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Mar 30, 2023
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.
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Mar 29, 2023
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.
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Mar 28, 2023
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.
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Mar 25, 2023
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.
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Mar 23, 2023
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.
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Mar 22, 2023
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.
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Mar 21, 2023
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.
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Mar 18, 2023
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.
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Mar 16, 2023
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.
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Mar 15, 2023
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.
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Mar 14, 2023
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.
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Mar 11, 2023
Selects: The Time Nazis Invaded Florida
During World War II, Nazis invaded the United States with saboteurs bent on fomenting chaos. Three times. Learn all about it in this classic episode.
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Mar 9, 2023
Woodstock: The Festival for Stardust, Golden Hippies
You may have heard your parents or – gasp – grandparents prattle on about how amazing the original 1969 Woodstock Festival was. It turns out that, as much as people who lived through the 60s like to talk them up, Woodstock really was that amazing.
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Mar 8, 2023
Short Stuff: Paprika
Paprika is more than a smoky Hungarian spice. Actually, that's not true, that's exactly what it is. But it sure is delicious!
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Mar 7, 2023
Noncompete Agreements, Come On
A noncompete agreement, a pledge not to work for a competitor for a set amount of time, makes sense – when the worker is well compensated and privy to company secrets. But that doesn’t describe the vast majority of workers who’ve signed noncompetes.
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Mar 4, 2023
Selects: Live From San Francisco: How Malls Work
In this classic show recorded live on January 5, 2017 at San Francisco’s Castro Theatre, Josh and Chuck delve into the history and the heyday of the church of consumerism and what it means for local communities and our capitalist society at large when malls die.
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Mar 2, 2023
Crosswords episode, perhaps?
Crossword puzzles have an interesting history and are a lot of fun to do. Dive in today to learn about Chuck's latest obsession.
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Mar 1, 2023
Short Stuff: La Pascualita
In a bridal shop in Chihuahua, Mexico a mannequin has been standing in the window since the 1930s that’s so lifelike some say it’s actually a corpse.
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Feb 28, 2023
The Awe-Inspiring, Absolutely Crucial Amazon
If you’ve ever thought, “What’s the Amazon rainforest ever done for me? Nothin, that’s what,” then you’re dead wrong, friend. It covers 1 percent of the Earth’s surface but houses perhaps 30 percent of its species and it’s invaluable to all life on Earth.
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Feb 25, 2023
Selects: Who Committed the 1912 Villisca Ax Murders?
In a small town in Iowa in 1912 eight people were murdered in the grisliest of ways while they slept. Local reputations were ruined when accusations flew, but could a drifting serial killer working across the Midwest have been behind it? Learn all about it with Josh and Chuck in this classic episode.
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Feb 23, 2023
Naps: Chuck's Secret Talent
Naps are great if you can manage to find the space to take them. The trick is to do it for the right amount of time. We get into all in the ins and outs of Chuck's favorite time of day.
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Feb 22, 2023
Short Stuff: Sleeping On It
It’s pretty well known that if you wait to make a big decision until after you get some sleep, you’re likelier to make a good one. But why should that be? Why, we’ll explain if only you’d listen.
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Feb 21, 2023
The Mystery of the Lost Amber Room
Chuck and Josh turn into the Hardy Boys for one of the great unsolved mysteries of WWII, a work of art worth a king’s ransom that went missing in 1945.
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Feb 18, 2023
Selects: The Max Headroom Affair
In 1987, a very strange broadcast intrusion occurred in the city of Chicago. For just a couple of minutes, the odd TV character Max Headroom appeared onscreen in the middle of an episode of Dr. Who. He spoke in garbled tones, brandished a marital aid, and was spanked on the rear with a fly swatter by a person dressed in Annie Oakley garb. If this sounds weird, it is. It's the Max Headroom Incident. Find out all about it in this classic episode.
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Feb 16, 2023
The Beverly Hills Supper Club Fire
The fire at the Beverly Hills Supper Club was not in Los Angeles, but Kentucky. Which happened to be Las Vegas before Vegas was Vegas. Confused? Listen in and all will be clear.
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Feb 15, 2023
Short Stuff: Beulah Mae Donald
In 1981 a Mobile mother of six was forced into the role of civil rights activist when the Klan murdered her son and she was moved to fight back.
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Feb 14, 2023
The Glorious Flamingo
Flamingos are much more than just pretty pink birds. They are in fact, quite remarkable! Listen and learn…
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Feb 11, 2023
Selects: Cave Diving: Totally Nuts
There are extreme sports and then there is cave diving, the most extreme activity a person can engage in without leaving Earth. Cave divers stay underwater swimming miles into – that’s right – caves, where no human has ever been before. It’s pretty cool. Wade in with Josh and Chuck in this classic episode.
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Feb 9, 2023
How (O)possums Work
Josh and Chuck take a listener’s suggestion – many, many suggestions – and learn that possums are pretty great and very much misunderstood. By the end of this episode you will too!
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Feb 8, 2023
Short Stuff: No Shirt, No Shoes, WTF
You can thank your parents and grandparents for the longstanding ban against dining shirtless and shoeless. While the concept was around, it mushroomed when hippies came along.
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Feb 7, 2023
Honey: Nature's Wonder Sugar
Honey is an amazing thing. Just ask any bee. They make a ton of it. So much that humans get what bees can't use and that's a lot of honey.
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Feb 4, 2023
Selects: How Easy Bake Ovens Work
Easy Bake Ovens are as iconic as a toy can get, as American as apple pie or baseball. Learn all about these light bulb cooking, working ovens that endanger children to this day, in this classic episode.
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Feb 2, 2023
The Largely Equine History of Veterinary Medicine
Vets have been around for a long time, but mainly to care for horses. When horse travel went away, guess who saved the profession? Dogs!
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Feb 1, 2023
Short Stuff: Bird Migration
Where are all those birds flying anyway? How do they decide? When do they do it? All of these questions, and more, are answered in this week's ep.
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Jan 31, 2023
Must We Suffer Emotional Pain?
It’s part of the human condition, to feel the pain of sorrow, loss, embarrassment. But isn’t it kind of weird that an overwhelming emotion can cause you physical discomfort or even pain? Turns out that depends on how you think about the mind and the body.
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Jan 28, 2023
Selects: Elephants: The Best Animals?
Elephants are pretty much the best. Why? Josh and Chuck will let you know in great detail in this classic episode.
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Jan 26, 2023
How Attachment Theory Works
A theory in the field of psychology has become so pervasive, it’s generally taken on faith that it’s true. It says that how your parents respond to you during a short window in your infancy has lifelong effects on your personality. Could this be correct?
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Jan 25, 2023
Short Stuff: Adam's Apples and Throat Lumps
This week's short stuff is all about throat lumps and Adam's apples.
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Jan 24, 2023
Let's Talk About John DeLorean
John DeLorean: visionary, car maker extraordinaire, buyer of large amounts of cocaine, provider of time machine chassis. There is a lot to understand about John DeLorean so let’s get busy.
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Jan 21, 2023
Selects: How Game Shows Work
Join Josh and Chuck and a whole bunch of great people at the Gothic Theatre in Denver for this live show on game shows and their place in cultures around the world, recorded on June 28, 2018. You just come right on down, why don’t you?
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Jan 19, 2023
Toast: As in browned bread
Toast is bread that has been browned by heat. It's delicious. This is our ode to toast.
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Jan 18, 2023
Short Stuff: Women Pirates
The Golden Age of Pirates didn’t have just men floating on the high seas. Some women became very successful pirates and today you’ll learn about two of them.
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Jan 17, 2023
The Louisiana Purchase: Not a Purchase
Turns out the Louisiana Purchase was not so much a purchase, but the right to (steal) purchase it from indigenous peoples. But it did transform the United States as we know it. Listen and learn!
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Jan 14, 2023
Selects: How Therapeutic Hypothermia Works
Physicians noticed centuries ago that people exposed to cold temperatures often have amazing recoveries from serious medical emergencies. Now medicine is learning how to purposefully induce hypothermia in order to buy time to fix otherwise fatal trauma. Find out all about it in this classic episode.
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Jan 12, 2023
How Tarot Works?
This is not a hit piece! Tarot helps plenty of people navigate their lives and reflect on their feelings – plus the art is unbelievable. We cover the backstory, real and imagined, and lure the innocent into tarot’s grip, er, offer basic tips for beginners.
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Jan 11, 2023
Short Stuff: Forest Lawn Memorial Park
Forest Lawn is no ordinary cemetery. Why? Listen in and find out.
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Jan 10, 2023
How Enron Fooled the World
Until the 2007, the largest single corporate bankruptcy was Enron, a $67 billion energy trading company. Its decline was breathtaking, and while it’s a fascinating story of corporate malfeasance and greed, it’s also about the lives of ruined workers.
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Jan 7, 2023
Selects: How Perfume Works
Women consistently rate scent as the most important factor in a man's attractiveness and men have been manipulating that for centuries with scents of all sorts. Learn about the fascinating history -- and, well, art -- of making perfumes in this classic episode.
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Jan 5, 2023
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 today!
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Jan 4, 2023
Short Stuff: Dangers of Nose Picking
You don’t have to lie - everybody picks their nose. But did you know it can be life-threatening? It’s true and you can learn how in this episode.
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Jan 3, 2023
The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald (not the song)
Today Josh and Chuck delve into the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. Not the song, but the maritime accident. Though the song makes an appearance.
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Dec 31, 2022
Selects: Could There Be A Loch Ness Monster?
People have believed something strange lives in Loch Ness for at least 3500 years. Thousands of people have sighted the Loch Ness Monster and dozens of expeditions have been launched. But does the fact that nothing’s been found mean it’s not real? Find out in this classic episode.
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Dec 29, 2022
The Rocky Horror Picture Show Podcast Episode
This one goes out to the SYSK Army as a special request. Let's do the time warp again!
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Dec 28, 2022
Short Stuff: Mesas: Flat
Mesas, buttes and plateaus are all very similar. We'll break down the differences in each one just to be sure.
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Dec 27, 2022
Juicy: The Fried Chicken Story
Fried chicken is Chuck’s favorite food, and Josh sure doesn’t dislike it. It is with this appreciation that SYSK plunges into the hot grease of fried chicken history – and there’s a lot to it!
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Dec 24, 2022
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 be fully explained, but we make our best effort in our annual special edition of SYSK. May the force be with us all.
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Dec 22, 2022
2022 Holiday Spectacular!
Another year comes to a close here at SYSK, which means our annual Holiday Spectacular is at hand. So light a fire, pour up a comforting beverage and gather the family for some good cheer!
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Dec 21, 2022
Short Stuff: Snow Globes
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Dec 20, 2022
Who was Dorothy Parker, really?
She was known for her quick wit and sharp tongue. But she was also a poet, screenwriter and activist. Tune in today to learn what outside her "vicious circle."
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Dec 17, 2022
Selects: Nostradamus: Predictor of the future? Not so much.
Nostradamus delighted us all in grade school, but it turns out the real guy wasn't quite as prescient as we were led to believe. In truth, he wrote a lot of purposefully confusing riddles that people have twisted into meaning exactly what they want them to mean. Learn all about Nostradamus in this classic episode.
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Dec 15, 2022
Interesting Origins of Everyday Phrases
We don’t think about the words and phrases we use all the time - until Josh and Chuck look into them and tell everyone what they found. That’s the gist of this episode!
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Dec 14, 2022
Short Stuff: The Atlanta Washer Woman Strike
One of the very first union strikes in US history was mounted by a group of African American women in the deep South. Listen in and learn all about this little known slice of history.
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Dec 13, 2022
How the Nintendo Entertainment System Changed Gaming Forever
For the holidays in 1986 (and ’87) (and ’88) the most stupendous, most wanted, most amazing thing any kid could possibly get – outside of a pony, *maybe* – was the NES. That year, video games came back from the dead and changed forever.
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Dec 10, 2022
Selects: How Polar Bears Work
Polar bears are more than just lovable creatures that roam the ice in search of food. They're one of the most fascinating animals on planet Earth. Sadly, as ice shrinks, so does their habitat. Learn all about these huggable beasts in this classic episode.
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Dec 8, 2022
True Crime: The Phantom of Heilbronn
After the murder of a cop in southwest Germany in 2007 a massive hunt was launched across Europe. The suspect was a female serial killer who had left DNA behind during a number of crimes. She was so slippery, she was known as The Phantom of Heilbronn.
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Dec 7, 2022
Short Stuff: Birthday Paradox
The Birthday Paradox involves math, so you know this one will go perfectly.
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Dec 6, 2022
How Face Blindness Works
It’s not that the person who can never remember meeting you is snobby or even absent-minded; they may have a fascinating – and often difficult – neurological condition called prosopagnosia, known more commonly as face blindness.
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Dec 3, 2022
Selects: The Rubik's Cube Episode
Rubik's Cubes. Ronald Reagan. Jerry Falwell. Just Say No. One of these things was awesome. Take a guess and hop on board this classic episode, aka the 80s train.
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Dec 1, 2022
How Down Syndrome Works
People with Down syndrome lead rich, complex lives like any other human, but it’s only been in the last few decades that everyone else stopped persecuting them long enough to notice this. As a result, both their IQ and their life expectancy skyrocketed.
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Nov 30, 2022
Short Stuff: Goosebumps
Goosebumps are a pretty cool evolutionary holdover from our earlier days as furry beasts. Don't believe us? Listen in.
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Nov 29, 2022
Peripersonal Space: Humans’ Got Talent
The space around you that you can reach with your arms is a very special place. It’s where we interact with reality. And although we are so good at using it we don’t give it a second thought, our ability to use it is one our most amazing abilities.
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Nov 26, 2022
Selects: How Umami Works!
For millennia humans have recognized four tastes, but in the 1980s a fifth taste first isolated in Japan gained worldwide acceptance - and took off like a rocket! Learn about meaty, musty, savory umami in this classic episode.
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Nov 24, 2022
Roller Skating: Fun and Cool
The Victorians were the first to go bonkers for roller skating and since then the pastime has had bursts of popularity every few decades. Over the years skaters have come up with some amazing things to do on skates that go way beyond just going in circles.
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Nov 23, 2022
Short Stuff: Liquid Paper
Correction fluid goes by many names, but the OG was Liquid Paper. And it has a pretty cool origin story.
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Nov 22, 2022
Typewriters: Mechanical Brilliance
Chuck loves typewriters because he loves mechanical brilliance. Dive into the cool history of these amazing machines today.
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Nov 19, 2022
Selects: How Dark Money Works
Since the Supreme Court ruled in 2010 in the Citizens United case that political contributions are speech and should be protected, the floodgates of anonymous political contributions have opened. But does absolute funding corrupt absolutely? Find out in this classic episode.
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Nov 17, 2022
Did Shakespeare really write all that stuff?
The question of Shakespeare's authorship has been around since at least the mid-1800s. Is there anything to it? We'll dig in to this dense topic to find out.
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Nov 16, 2022
Short Stuff: Incomplete Yawns
Is there anything – anything – worse than a yawn you can’t finish? It’s hard to think of anything else and as your obsession with yawning like a normal human being grows it only becomes more difficult. Why? Why?!
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Nov 15, 2022
The Sordid History of Bachelor/Bachelorette Parties
When it comes to pre-wedding festivities, bachelor and bachelorette parties take the penis-shaped cake. Learn all about these sordid affairs today.
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Nov 12, 2022
Selects: Finders Keepers: Real Law
You know that heartbreak of the schoolyard – finders keepers, losers weepers? That’s actual law in a great many grown up places. Enter the murky legal world of finding something that belongs to someone else, from buried treasure to a misplaced ring. Learn all about it in this classic episode.
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Nov 10, 2022
How Owls Work
It’s time for another great animal episode and in this one we swoop into the world of owls – nature’s greatest silent predator who (hooo) also look very cute and intelligent. Not to mention they can turn their heads 270 degrees.
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Nov 9, 2022
Short Stuff: Dodleston Messages
It’s not everyday that a message from the 16th century appears on a computer from the 1980s, so when that happened it caught an English couple’s attention and launched a still-unresolved mystery - across tiiiiiiime!
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Nov 8, 2022
What's so important about legal precedent?
Legal precedent is an odd thing. It matters, but it isn't codified. There are advantages and disadvantages. Let's all dive in and take at STARE DECISIS today.
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Nov 5, 2022
Selects: What is an invasive species?
Invasive species can mean a lot of things, from fungus to feral pigs and European starlings to kudzu vines. Basically, it's anything brought to a place, either by humans or nature, that didn't originate there. They aren't always a problem, but many times they can wreak havoc on the local ecosystem. Learn all about these invaders in this classic episode.
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Nov 3, 2022
Vaudeville: Step Right Up!
In today's episode, you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about vaudeville, whether you like it or not.
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Nov 2, 2022
Short Stuff: Birth Certificate Access
It’s unjust but true – if you are an adoptee in the US you may not have the same right to access your birth certificate that someone who wasn’t adopted does. The quest to access a birth certificate can be a legal rigamarole that may or may not work.
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Nov 1, 2022
The Harvey's Casino Bombing of 1980
In August of 1980 a bomb containing 1,000 pounds of dynamite was quietly delivered to Harvey’s, a casino and resort at Lake Tahoe. This kicked off a whirlwind caper that lasted 30 hours and ended up nearly demolishing the 11-story resort.
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Oct 29, 2022
Selects: How Vampires Work
Out of obligation, Chuck and Josh mention Twilight, but it is the longstanding vampire lore that gets the most attention in this examination of how the bloodsucking undead evolved from baby-stealing demonesses to suave counts in our collective psyche. Explore the wild world of vampires in this spooky classic episode.
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Oct 27, 2022
The 13th Annual Halloween Spooktacular!
It's hard to believe, but this is our 13th edition of the Halloween Spooktacular! So pour up a creepy brew and gather the kids for a dramatic reading of two horror shorts.
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Oct 26, 2022
Short Stuff: Robert the Doll
Robert the Doll is decidedly creepy. So is his story. Listen in to this spooky tale right now!
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Oct 25, 2022
The Tale of the Bloody Benders
Long before we knew what serial killers were, a family in remote Kansas was disposing of victims at their family farm. Listen in to the Tale of the Bloody Benders if you dare!
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Oct 22, 2022
Selects: 10ish Cases of Really Bad Luck
Some guys have all the luck, some guys have all the pain. So said Rod Stewart. And if this list is any indication, “guys” is gender neutral. Listen to this classic episode as Chuck and Josh cover some instances of amazingly bad fortune, most of it true!
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Oct 20, 2022
Fundamentalism: Menace II Society
Fundamentalism is usually thought of as a problem religions have to deal with, but not all fundamentalists are religious. And no matter what their belief system, fundamentalism is inherently antisocial and a problem for everyone.
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Oct 19, 2022
Short Stuff: Water Towers
Water towers are so ubiquitous you can look right past them, despite them being giant balls of water thrust triumphantly skyward. Learn about these surprisingly ingenious but simple inventions designed to keep you alive.
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Oct 18, 2022
The History of Fake Towns.
There have been a lot of fake towns built throughout history for a lot of different reasons. Tune in to learn about some of these bogus burgs.
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Oct 15, 2022
Selects: How Pompeii Worked
What must be one of the most famous natural disasters in history took place when Mt Vesuvius buried Pompeii in 79 CE. But when the town was resurrected 1700 years later, a new chapter in its history was written. Learn all about it in this classic episode.
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Oct 13, 2022
10 Cases of Mistaken Identity
There’s a lot that can go wrong when your identity is at question. Charged with abandoning a baby? Check. Years in prison? That too. Accused of assassinating the head of Hamas? Why not. Learn about the travails of some unlucky saps in this episode.
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Oct 12, 2022
Short Stuff: Blaschko's Lines
Did you know you have stripes? It’s true, you just can’t see them. Learn all about these little-known lines today!
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Oct 11, 2022
Doppelgängers: Hey you, you're me!
Seeing your near twin is probably pretty weird. But could there be a genetic commonality as well? You bet there could!
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Oct 8, 2022
Selects: Josh and Chuck's List of Horror Movies that Changed the Genre
Once in a while a movie comes along that's so forward-thinking it changes the way that horror is done. A new subgenre is spawned, new tropes are established, and audiences are more terrified than ever. Hear about these pivotal works in this classic episode.
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Oct 6, 2022
How License Plates Work
The first tags were required just a few years after the firs cars debuted, as a way to catch jerks scaring horses and running down pedestrians. A century on, they continue to protect both. Plus they’ve accrued some interesting history along the way.
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Oct 5, 2022
Short Stuff: Scratching
Listen in today as we salute turntablism, aka, record scratching.
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Oct 4, 2022
Vinyl Records: Black Magic at Work
Despite reading all about how vinyl records are recorded and made, it's still a bit like black magic to us. Dive in and learn all about the coolest music medium.
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Oct 1, 2022
Selects: How Clowns Work
Jesters of some sort have been around since ancient Egypt and China. Our modern clown was invented around 1800 and ever since they have been getting steadily creepier. Learn all about clowns in this classic episode.
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Sep 29, 2022
How The Rosenhan Experiment Worked
In 1973 a study was published in Science where psychologist David Rosenhan revealed he had duped hundreds of psychiatric workers by planting perfectly sane pseudopatients within their hospitals and every last one went unnoticed.
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Sep 28, 2022
Short Stuff: Curse Tablets
Curse tablets are exactly what you think - tablets with curses inscribed on them. But what were they used for, and when did people do this? Hit play and those answers shall be revealed!
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Sep 27, 2022
Vasectomies: Stop Being A Wimp
You can uncross your legs you big babies. Getting a vasectomy isn’t bad at all – recovery time is a breeze, pain is minimal, and you can consider it a gift to your partner. Learn the real deal on vasectomies (and get 20% off with our code: STUFF).
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Sep 24, 2022
Selects: How LSD Works
In 1943 Swiss chemist Albert Hofman discovered he'd created what may be the most potent hallucinogen known to humankind. Then he took a bike ride. Learn about the chemistry, neurology, history and cultural impact of LSD-25 in this classic episode.
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Sep 22, 2022
Sitcoms Part II
Listen in now for part II of our homage to sitcoms.
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Sep 21, 2022
Short Stuff: Laugh Tracks
Laugh tracks have been around since the early 1950s and it’s all thanks to one (reviled) sound engineer who invented them. But as much as people like to hate laugh tracks most shows wouldn’t be at all funny without them.
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Sep 20, 2022
Sitcoms Part I
Traditional multi-camera sitcoms have fallen out of style in recent years, but the golden age of the genre lives on with streaming services. Sitcom will never go away completely. Join us for part I.
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Sep 17, 2022
Selects: Frida Kahlo: Painter, Icon, Genius
Frida Kahlo was a painter who transcended her own work to became an icon. Learn all about her fascinating and inspiring life and work in this classic episode.
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Sep 15, 2022
Pearls: Second Best Thing About Oysters
Pearls are super cool. And humans figuring out how to make them is even cooler. Learn all about the most interesting gemstone today!
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Sep 14, 2022
Short Stuff: Hangry?
When you’re hungry, you’re not yourself. So say the good people at Snickers and it turns out science backs it up. Being hangry is a verifiable thing, we’re just not quite sure yet what’s going on.
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Sep 13, 2022
The Georgia Guidestones: The Elite Have a Laugh
In 1980 the “rural as rural can be” town of Elberton, Georgia erected a granite monument with a bizarre set of instructions (commandments?) that touched on eugenics, population control, and living in harmony with nature. Conspiracy theorists went wild.
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Sep 10, 2022
Selects: What Happened to the Neanderthals?
As recently as 40,000 years ago we lived among humans from an entirely different species – Neanderthals. About the same time our species showed up, Neanderthals suddenly vanished. Just what happened to the other guys? Did our ancestors do something … bad? Find out in this classic episode.
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Sep 8, 2022
Everything We Know About Squids
Squids are very closely related to our old friend the octopus, but there are some key differences. You can learn all of this and more by simply clicking the play button right now.
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Sep 7, 2022
Short Stuff: RIP Man of the Hole
The Man of the Hole has died and we're pretty sad to hear it. Listen in to our tribute to this solitary hero today.
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Sep 6, 2022
Did Mallory Make it to the Top of Everest First?
George Mallory was a member of the first three European expeditions to Everest, world’s tallest mountain. He wanted to summit it so badly, he gave his life trying. Since that fateful day in 1924, climbers have wondered – was Mallory the first to summit?
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Sep 3, 2022
Selects: How the Pony Express Worked
For as long a shadow as it casts across the history of the Old West, the Pony Express was a failed business venture, doomed from the start, that only lasted 18 months. But since the last rider headed out with his bag of mail, its legend has only grown. Learn all about it in this classic episode.
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Sep 1, 2022
Rolling Stone Magazine
Part celebration and part take down, this episode on Rolling Stone magazine dives into the highs and lows of one of America's iconic rags.
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Aug 31, 2022
Short Stuff: Mason-Dixon Line
The dividing line between the North and South is purely political. But the story of its creation is pretty interesting.
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Aug 30, 2022
We Need More Sustainable Packaging, Like, Yesterday
Since the advent of single-use plastics, we’ve become awash in waste. Barrels of petroleum are extracted, turned into plastics that contain products, which are then opened and the containers thrown away. It’s a bonehead process start to finish.
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Aug 27, 2022
Selects: Knife Throwing: Super Cool
Sure knives can cut through a steak or slash through jungle vines, but probably the coolest thing you can do with a knife is throw it. At a person mounted to a wooden wheel. Spinning around. While you’re blindfolded. Learn all about the impalement arts in this classic episode.
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Aug 25, 2022
Kissing Cousins: A History of Marrying Family
Despite the overall creepiness of it, marrying family members is way more common than you might think, both historically and today. Ewwww!
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Aug 24, 2022
Short Stuff: Marrying Up
The idea of "marrying up" is as old as the hills, but things are, and have been, changing for quite a while. And this episode explains it all.
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Aug 23, 2022
Introvert or Extravert: Which are you? (Probably both)
The world isn’t divided into cat people and dog people, or Beatles fans and Rolling Stones fans (or neither). What really divides us is introversion or extraversion, right? Turns out people just aren’t that binary and all of us are a little of both.
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Aug 20, 2022
Selects: How Gossip Works
You know what I heard? That Josh and Chuck hate each other and they're just faking being friends for the show. That's called gossip, folks and it can do serious damage. Learn all about it in this classic episode.
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Aug 18, 2022
How Enemas Work
If you think about it, enemas are kind of gross. And if you don’t now you definitely will by the end of this wild ride of an episode. All who make it through the whole way earn SYSK bragging rights. We now wonder why we ever chose to record it.
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Aug 17, 2022
Short Stuff: Selling the Brooklyn Bridge
You've heard the phrase "If you believe that I have a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you." But did you know it's based in truth?
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Aug 16, 2022
Mariachi: The Rodney Dangerfield of Music
Mariachi bands have a bad rap as nothing more than "restaurant music." But there is a rich and long cultural tradition many people are missing and the music deserves our respect. Listen in today!
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Aug 13, 2022
Selects: Desert Survival: Josh and Chuck Save Your Tookus
The chances are pretty low that you’ll find yourself lost in the desert, but on the off chance you do you’ll thank yourself that you listened to this classic episode, where we guide you to safety.
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Aug 11, 2022
The Origins of Breakfast Foods
Who doesn't love breakfast? But do you know where most of the typical breakfast foods come from? Well listen in to find out.
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Aug 10, 2022
Short Stuff: The Berners Street Hoax
A full 200 years on, we're still talking about one of the most sweeping hoaxes of all time.
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Aug 9, 2022
What's the deal with energy drinks?
Chuck hates them, Josh has flirted with them. Energy drinks. Listen in to learn all about this canned speed.
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Aug 6, 2022
Selects: How Droughts Work
Droughts can be an inevitable feature of a local climate or a catastrophic result of human meddling. In this classic episode, learn the ins and outs of droughts including the American mother of them all, the Dust Bowl.
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Aug 4, 2022
Thrill to the Stunning Bicameral Mind Hypothesis
Psychologist Julian Jaynes came up with a stunning hypothesis in 1976, that human consciousness only developed in the last 3000 years. And he seemed to have proof in ancient texts. Scholars have been picking it apart ever since and today we join the club.
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Aug 3, 2022
Short Stuff: Divorcing Your Parents
It really happens! But most people call it emancipation of a minor. Either way, there's some interesting legal stuff in here.
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Aug 2, 2022
Silly String: Disaster in a Can
It's been a while since we tackled a classic toy, so here we go with all you ever wanted to know about Silly String.
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Jul 30, 2022
Selects: Some Movies That Changed Filmmaking
An estimated 50,000 films were made worldwide in 2009 alone. Many are surely clunkers, but in this episode Chuck and Josh talk about the ones that emerged throughout cinema history to change the course of all movies that followed. Get your popcorn and lean back while you enjoy this classic episode.
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Jul 28, 2022
How Menstruation Works
Two dudes talking about menstruation? You bet! And there’s no way you could be any more nervous to listen than we were to record it. But give it a listen, we think you’ll find it enlightening – whether you menstruate or not.
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Jul 27, 2022
Short Stuff: The Mars Rock with Signs of Life?
In 1996, real-deal NASA scientists announced they had discovered signs of ancient microbial life in a rock that had broken off Mars and landed on Antarctica. The news set off a controversy still going today. Do we already have proof of alien life?
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Jul 26, 2022
Where Did Human Intelligence Come From?
We humans are smart, to be sure, but if we’re so smart then how come we can’t figure how we got so smart in the first place? Think about that! We sure did and we go over some theories in this super interesting episode.
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Jul 23, 2022
Selects: What's the misery index?
Economists love their data because somewhere in the numbers lies the answer to the ills of the country. They also love to frame data in a way people can relate to. Such is the case with the famous "misery index." Learn all about it in this classic episode.
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Jul 21, 2022
Googie: The Architecture of the Space Age
You may not have heard of it, but you’ve definitely seen it before – 50s buildings with bright, loud colors, roofs at crazy angles, and space-age shapes like starbursts. It turns out that Googie architecture is as fun to look at as it is to say.
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Jul 20, 2022
Short Stuff: Death from Astral Projection
In 1975, yoga enthusiast Robert Antoszczyk retired to his room in a group house in Ann Arbor, MI to try a meditation technique that would allow him to astrally project his spirit. He died, never coming out of his meditative state. What happened?
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Jul 19, 2022
Supernovae: Best Around, Case Closed
Face it, supernovae are the most interesting phenomena in the universe. Black holes are cool, but did you know they sprout from a supernova? What could be cooler than a star exploding so powerfully, the flash it creates shines for months after?
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Jul 16, 2022
Selects: What Happens When the Government Thinks You're Dead?
It’s bad enough when the government knows you’re alive – there are taxes to pay, laws to be followed, all sorts of boring and unpleasant things. But each year, thousands of Americans find out life is far, far worse when the government thinks you are dead. Learn all about it in this classic episode.
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Jul 14, 2022
Why Bowling is Awesome
Bowling is awesome. It just is. And if you don't think so, maybe take a listen to today's episode.
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Jul 13, 2022
Short Stuff: Catatumbo Lightning
Catatumbo lightning is one of nature's most amazing displays of showiness, with strikes occurring 28 times per minute for nine hours a day, 300 days a year. So take cover and take a listen.
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Jul 12, 2022
Mangroves: Nature's Best Tree?
Mangroves are incredible survivors and adapters. They're also amazing at lessening the impact of tropical storms and climate change. And heck, they're cool looking. So jump into the brackish waters and have a listen.
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Jul 9, 2022
Selects: How Ayahuasca Works
One day in the Amazon Basin, a shaman put together a plant containing DMT with a vine that allows the body to absorb DMT. The combination, a foul-tasting, wildly hallucinogenic brew called ayahuasca, has changed cultures throughout the Americas. Learn all about it in this classic episode.
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Jul 7, 2022
The Maya Civilization
After inspiration from Chuck's recent trip to the Yucatan, the fellas dive into the Maya Civilization.
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Jul 6, 2022
Short Stuff: Alligator Gar
The alligator gar is one scary looking fish. Learn all about these monsters in today's episode.
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Jul 5, 2022
How Ultraprocessed Foods Work
Ultraprocessed is a new term for junk food, but it means much more than that – it’s also a cautionary tale for the way we’re supposed to cook and eat, using real food and sitting down with friends and family. But who has the time and money to do that?
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Jul 2, 2022
Selects: How Freak Shows Worked
Not too long ago, people would pay money to gawk and stare at a performer with a physical disformity. They were called freak shows and they began in large part thanks to P.T. Barnum, whose circus we still enjoy today. Sounds awful, but some of these performers became rich folks as a result. Exploitive? You decide, after taking in this classic episode.
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Jun 30, 2022
A Dispassionate Review of Roe v Wade
Given the landmark undoing of Roe v Wade, Chuck and Josh lay out all the relevant facts of the 1973 case.
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Jun 29, 2022
Short Stuff: What did we use before infant formula?
There's an infant formula shortage. But infant formula is relatively new. So what did we do before it was perfected? Listen in and learn already!
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Jun 28, 2022
How Alien Contact Might Work
If we ever found evidence of intelligent alien life (or they found us) what would we say? Who would say it for us? These seemingly silly questions are vitally important depending on your view.
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Jun 25, 2022
Selects: Chiggers: The Phantom Menace
Chiggers are tiny little mites capable of making your life miserable. Worse than mosquitoes? Maybe. But they aren't insects - mites are actually part of the arachnid family and behave a little like ticks. Learn all about these nearly invisible pests in this classic episode.
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Jun 23, 2022
What's up with bariatric surgery?
Bariatric surgery can also be called weight loss surgery. Some people think it's a highly underused tool to fight obesity. Others think it's a shortcut. We discuss all the ins and outs in this week's episode.
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Jun 22, 2022
Short Stuff: Do Fish Get Thirsty?
One of the greatest questions we’ve ever heard, answered (in a roundabout way).
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Jun 21, 2022
The Appalachian Trail: A Heckuva Hike
A few short years after the hiking trails from Maine to Georgia were connected into the world’s longest hiking-only footpath, a WWII vet walked the whole thing in one go. He kicked off a challenge that’s still taken on by thousands of people each year.
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Jun 18, 2022
Selects: How Steadicams Work
There have been many inventions that have advanced filmmaking, but maybe none as important as the steadicam. Invented in the mid-70s, it literally changed the way movie making happened, and made the impossible possible. Learn about the fascinating history behind this amazing technology, in this classic episode.
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Jun 16, 2022
What were the IRA hunger strikes?
In the early 1980s, imprisoned IRA members went on a prolonged hunger strike, leading to the death of ten men. This is their story.
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Jun 15, 2022
Short Stuff: HR8 Gun Legislation
Today we dive into HR8, a gun bill supported by 90% of Americans that will likely never get through the Senate.
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Jun 14, 2022
How Wind Works
Beloved egghead Buckminster Fuller said the wind doesn’t blow, it sucks. And he was pretty much right, depending on your perspective. Find out how everything from the hurricane to summer breeze makes life on Earth possible.
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Jun 11, 2022
Selects: How Drowning Works
Hundreds of thousands of people drown around the world every year, and yet it can be easily prevented and is widely misunderstood – like how you can officially drown but live to tell the tale, or how you can drown but die days later. Learn all about it in this classic episode.
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Jun 9, 2022
The 4-minute Mile: Greatest Sports Story?
Nobody thought the 4-minute mile was humanly possible, until it was. The story of how it happened is remarkable. So sit back and take a listen.
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Jun 8, 2022
Short Stuff: Cleveland’s Infamous 10-Cent Beer Night
In 1974, the Cleveland (then Indians) baseball club held an unlimited 10 cent beer promotion to attract fans to the game. An actual riot broke out.
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Jun 7, 2022
How Freedom of the Press Works
Countries around the world – capitalist democracies to communist unitary states – guarantee a free press in their constitutions. It turns out, though, that there is a galaxy of methods for subverting a free press. Find out why that matters in this episode.
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Jun 4, 2022
Selects: How Satanism Works
Satanism may be the most misunderstood "religion" in the world. Part of that is because there are, and have been, many offshoots of Satanism, from The Church of Satan to The Satanic Temple. One thing is sure though, none of them are filled with evil humans who perform ritual blood sacrifice and worship a cloven-hoofed devil. Learn all about Satanism in this classic episode.
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Jun 2, 2022
Kidney Donation: You Could Be A Saint!
Kidneys are one of the few organs that you can donate while you’re alive. And the vast majority of donors experience no complications and their remaining kidney functions just fine. Yet thousands of people die each year waiting for a donated kidney. Why?
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Jun 1, 2022
Short Stuff: Happy Foods!
Some foods make you happy. But they aren't necessarily comfort foods. You know what they call that? SCIENCE!
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May 31, 2022
The Scintillating World of Interest Rates
When the Fed raises interest rates a half point, the world market reacts. But why does this tiny percentage make such a difference? Listen and learn!
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May 28, 2022
Selects: Waterbeds: The Sexiest Bed?
Waterbeds came and went pretty quickly in the United States, but despite their marketing as sex beds, they were actually invented to deliver a great night's sleep. Learn all about these super 70's beds in this classic episode.
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May 26, 2022
The Myth of Absinthe
Absinthe makes you hallucinate and possibly even have a seizure, right? Nope. It's all a part of the myth of absinthe, which is really just a bitter tasting liquor with a bad reputation.
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May 25, 2022
Short Stuff: Do people move in predictable directions?
Depending on where you are in the world, you either have an instinct to go left or right when entering a place. Learn all about this today.
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May 24, 2022
Cats: Invasive Species?
Josh and Chuck wade into dangerous waters with the debate over just how destructive cats are for local ecosystems (turns out it’s pretty bad) and some ideas on what to do about that (you may not want to know). Tune in and tense up!
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May 21, 2022
Selects: The Disappearance of the Yuba County Five
In 1978, five friends set out for home from a basketball game. The next day, their car was discovered in a lonely mountain road. The next spring, their bodies began to turn up. What happened that night remains a mystery to this day. Explore what we know with Josh and Chuck in this classic episode.
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May 19, 2022
What's in a surname?
Surnames are way more interesting that you think, trust us. Just hit play and prepare to be wowed.
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May 18, 2022
Short Stuff: Artificial Banana Flavor
In the Watermelon episode, Chuck and Josh stumbled into a bit of little-known history about why artificial banana flavor doesn’t taste like bananas. Turns out it does; it just tastes like a banana you’ve probably never eaten.
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May 17, 2022
Squirrels, Ahoy!
Squirrels are rodents, sure, but they’re rodents with personalities the size of Las Vegas and Detroit put together. Get to know your bushy-tailed (and sometimes not so bushy) neighbors who live interesting hidden lives right out in the open.
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May 14, 2022
Selects: How Lizzie Borden Worked
Everybody knows how many whacks Lizzie Borden gave her mother and father with that axe, but there is plenty about the infamous double homicide that remains unresolved, like who actually did it. Travel into the mystery of Lizzie Borden in this classic episode.
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May 12, 2022
Rhinoplasty, aka Nose Jobs
Nose jobs have been around a lot longer than you think. And the process is pretty interesting. Tune in for all things rhinoplasty.
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May 11, 2022
Short Stuff: Fainting At The Sight Of Blood
As many as 15% of people faint when they see blood! And it’s not just blood that gets them. It can be an injury or even a needle. Learn about this fascinating phobia in this episode.
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May 10, 2022
What are land acknowledgments?
Land acknowledgements are all the rage in some parts of the world. But they also open a can of worms if not done properly. Learn all about this increasingly common practice today.
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May 7, 2022
Selects: How Champagne Works
Sure we can all agree that champagne is probably the greatest thing humans have or ever will invent, but how much do we understand how it's made? Learn all about it in this classic episode.
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May 5, 2022
Marcus Garvey: Black Moses
One of the more controversial black leaders, Marcus Garvey divided black and white Americans with his assertion of black pride, and sowed division in the black community as well. Yet, possibly no one has had more global impact on black lives than him.
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May 4, 2022
Short Stuff: Shar Pei
Today we dive into the lovable folds of the Shar Pei.
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May 3, 2022
The Mystery of Coal
There’s a mystery afoot! Almost all of the coal we use around the world was created in the same 60 million year period. Before or after that relatively short window of time, not so much. Just what exactly explains this geological mystery?
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Apr 30, 2022
Selects: How Rodney Dangerfield Worked, Live From LA
Other comedians cry on the inside, but Rodney Dangerfield built his entire act around his sad life. Get to know this legendary comic who was nearing 50 when he got his break, in this classic episode recorded live in LA.
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Apr 28, 2022
Understudies: Hardest Workers on Broadway?
Being an understudy is far more challenging than simply learning the lines of a lead actor in case of emergency. Learn all about these unsung stage heroes today.
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Apr 27, 2022
Short Stuff: Smelly Homes
Does your house smell? No? What if we told you it’s impossible for you to know whether it does or not?
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Apr 26, 2022
“Postmodernism:”
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Apr 23, 2022
Selects: The Baffling Case of the Body On Somerton Beach
Since his corpse was found in 1948, wearing a nice suit in summer on an Australian beach, an unidentified man has refused to fade into obscurity, gripping the imagination of sleuths around the world. Learn all about the mystery in this classic episode.
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Apr 21, 2022
Just Say No to... Bottled Water
Bottled water is huge business, and terrible for the environment. But where did this all start? Listen in and learn.
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Apr 20, 2022
Short Stuff: Salute the Grilled Cheese
Today we pay tribute to the comfiest of comfort food, the grilled cheese sandwich.
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Apr 19, 2022
The Christine Collins Story
When Christine Collins' son disappeared in 1928, she thought that was the worst that could happen. What followed was more upsetting than any parent could imagine.
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Apr 16, 2022
Selects: What happens to abandoned mines?
Did you know there are as many as 500,000 abandoned mines in the US, but the federal government knows where only 30,000 of them are? Learn about how these places go from money pit to death trap when mine companies simply walk away, in this classic episode.
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Apr 14, 2022
How Mensa Works
Most of us know Mensa’s a smart people club. And that Geena Davis is a member. But did you know it was originally intended as a rolodex when the government needed the UK’s most intelligent minds? And that the Kansas City chapter staged a revolt in the 60s?
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Apr 13, 2022
Short Stuff: Animal Politicians
Small towns around the world have a longstanding tradition of nominating – and voting for – animals in elected positions like mayor and some animals have made it to being nominated for president.
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Apr 12, 2022
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 installations, and who is doing it? Listen in to find out.
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Apr 9, 2022
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 hearts and minds of children everywhere. Learn all about the partial history of action figures in this classic episode.
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Apr 7, 2022
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.
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Apr 6, 2022
Short 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.
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Apr 5, 2022
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.
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Apr 2, 2022
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. But it was only the 1990s that the first one was enacted and they've only be used twice more since then. Learn about this peculiar military tool with Chuck and Josh in this classic episode.
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Mar 31, 2022
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 back to business as usual and NATO has found its purpose again, protecting peace in Europe.
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Mar 30, 2022
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 fascinating short stuff today!
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Mar 29, 2022
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 are affected by our propensity to light up everything we can. Learn what you – YOU! – can do to help.
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Mar 26, 2022
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 ever been charged with the murders. It remains unsolved to this day. Find out the extent of what we know in this classic episode.
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Mar 26, 2022
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 of Extra-Strength Tylenol, one of the most trusted and widely-used products in America. Learn all about it in this classic episode.
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Mar 25, 2022
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 be so, so wrong. Cage-free is a huge improvement but free-range is lacking and both have a long way to go.
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Mar 23, 2022
Short Stuff: Magnet Fishing
Magnet fishing has nothing to do with fish. It's more like metal detecting in waterways. Please enjoy our take!
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Mar 22, 2022
Why 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 this infamous doc.
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Mar 19, 2022
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 Josh and Chuck in this classic episode as they dig into the nature of hate.
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Mar 17, 2022
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 course.
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Mar 16, 2022
Short Stuff: Nose Breathing
Nose breathing > mouth breathing for many reasons. Listen and learn!
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Mar 15, 2022
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 the light of day was the memo that called for faked attacks on the US to justify invading Cuba.
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Mar 12, 2022
Selects: 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.
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Mar 10, 2022
Aleister Crowley: Blowhard Narcissist?
Aleister Crowley was known as the "wickedest man in the world." But was he really just a blowhard narcissist? You decide!
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Mar 9, 2022
Short 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.
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Mar 8, 2022
Behold, 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.
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Mar 5, 2022
Selects: 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 world's guilty pleasure. Learn more about the fascinating history of tabloids with Chuck and Josh in this classic episode.
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Mar 3, 2022
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, but it can be tough to hear it also means your donations to local charities are kind of a waste.
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Mar 2, 2022
Short 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?
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Mar 1, 2022
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.
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Feb 26, 2022
Selects: 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 those two details, the event is cloaked in mystery. What about the Pied Piper fairy tale is real? Find out in this classic episode.
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Feb 24, 2022
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 method of moving through life and dealing with the suffering that inevitably comes along with it.
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Feb 23, 2022
Short 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 find out for yourself.
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Feb 22, 2022
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 cement the legend surrounding him that we’re talking about him still today, 450 years later.
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Feb 19, 2022
Selects: 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 ancient and important plants on the planet.
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Feb 17, 2022
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.
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Feb 16, 2022
Short 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? Of course it is!
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Feb 15, 2022
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.
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Feb 12, 2022
Selects: 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.
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Feb 10, 2022
Littering: Not Cool
The history of litter is in lock step with the history of disposable packaging. Learn all about this nasty habit today.
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Feb 9, 2022
Short 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 of entomologist Justin O. Schmidt.
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Feb 8, 2022
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.
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Feb 5, 2022
Selects: 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 we stare - and why we're so good at knowing when we're being stared at. Learn all about it in this classic episode.
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Feb 3, 2022
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 so honored? And how did the guy who invented dynamite end up creating a peace award?
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Feb 2, 2022
Short 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.
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Feb 1, 2022
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 tacos for granted and just what a debt we owe our friends in Mexico for inventing them.
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Jan 29, 2022
Selects: 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 might be an adaptation that protects them from predators? Sloths are awesome and we prove it in this classic episode.
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Jan 27, 2022
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 really, really good for you. Learn how anybody can be the better person in this really great episode.
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Jan 26, 2022
Short 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 today!
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Jan 25, 2022
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.
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Jan 22, 2022
Selects: 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. In this classic spaced-out episode, Josh and Chuck explore the origin, aims and challenges facing SETI.
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Jan 20, 2022
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.
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Jan 19, 2022
Short Stuff: Jaywalking
Jaywalking is a crime. Sort of. But why? Learn all about this weird law today.
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Jan 18, 2022
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.
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Jan 15, 2022
Selects: 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 the noses of the Russian Navy. With the help of billionaire recluse Howard Hughes, obviously. Learn all about it in this classic episode.
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Jan 13, 2022
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 shadow of those codes still exist today.
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Jan 12, 2022
Short Stuff: Fortune Cookies
Everything you thought you knew about fortune cookies is wrong. Learn all the right stuff in this episode.
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Jan 11, 2022
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 – which revealed terrible secrets – had claimed a life and sent a possibly innocent man to prison.
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Jan 8, 2022
Selects: 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? Billions and billions of great ideas. Explore his life and legacy with Josh and Chuck in this classic episode.
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Jan 6, 2022
Ants! Part 2!
The exciting conclusion of Ants Part 2!
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Jan 5, 2022
Short Stuff: The Casket Racket
And you thought we were done with talking about funeral homes. Well guess again!
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Jan 4, 2022
Ants! Part 1!
Ants are pretty much amazing. So we're gonna spend two episodes talking all about them. Please enjoy!
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Jan 1, 2022
Selects: 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 accuracy. Learn all about horoscopes today in this classic episode.
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Dec 30, 2021
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. Are they even better than cakes? It’s up to you to listen and decide!
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Dec 29, 2021
Short Stuff: Traffic Signals
The history of traffic signals is way more interesting than you might think. Trust us.
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Dec 28, 2021
Unsung Heroes of the Court
Attorneys and judges get all the press. What about bailiffs, court reporters and sketch artists? Yeah, let's give them their due.
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Dec 25, 2021
Selects: How Tipping Works
Tipping is commonly expected in some places, such as U.S. restaurants. Yet this practice varies across cultures. Join trivia gurus (and former waiters) Josh and Chuck in this classic episode as they take a closer look at the history, practice and controversy surrounding tipping.
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Dec 23, 2021
SYSK’s 2021 Glad Tidings Bonanza Holiday Special
Josh and Chuck’s holiday mojo has returned and they’re back in the saddle to rustle up some holiday cheer. So put on your comfiest sweater, ugly or otherwise, grab a mug of whatever makes you happy, gather round with your favorite people, and listen in.
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Dec 22, 2021
Short Stuff: Christmas Cards
You ever thought about where those cards you send out during the holidays came from? Prepare to do just that!
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Dec 21, 2021
How Snowmen (And Snowwomen) Work
The details may vary but building snowmen is pretty much universal where there’s snow. Humans have probably been making them for tens of thousands of years. But it wasn’t until the last century or two that they have become the winter icon they are today.
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Dec 18, 2021
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 be fully explained, but we make our best effort in our annual special edition of SYSK. May the force be with us all.
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Dec 16, 2021
Kidney Stones: No! Please, NO!
Kidney stones are widely considered the most painful affliction a person can endure, even worse than labor. And in rare cases they can even kill. Learn all about how these things you really, really don’t want form and pass in this faint-inducing episode.
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Dec 15, 2021
Short Stuff: Charity Tips
It's the end of the year so we thought we might give you some advice on how to better pick out a charity, Short Stuff style.
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Dec 14, 2021
Palm Trees: Technically, Giant Plants
Palm trees. You see them all over the world and for good reason. There are more than 2,500 varieties. Learn all about these giant plants today.
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Dec 11, 2021
Selects: How the Terracotta Army Works
In 1974, Chinese farmers discovered the first of what would number 7,000 terracotta soldiers meant to protect China's first emperor in the afterlife. Learn all about them in this classic episode.
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Dec 9, 2021
What's the deal with blue people?
The famous blue people of Kentucky are no longer blue. But why were they like that in the first place?
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Dec 8, 2021
Short Stuff: Funny Bone
Hitting your funny bone doesn’t just hurt, it feels really weird too. That’s because you’re not hitting a bone at all, but instead the most vulnerable nerve in your body.
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Dec 7, 2021
Why Do Great Flood Myths Seem To Be Universal?
If look into the mythology of just about any culture in the world, you will find a myth about a great flood that destroyed humanity and submerged the Earth in the distant past. Does this mean that a great flood actually happened?
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Dec 4, 2021
Selects: What Is Collective Hysteria?
Throughout the history of the world, there have been many cases of what is known as collective hysteria - groups of people, usually young women, who all exhibit the same physical symptoms of non-existent conditions. Is it psychosomatic? Is it group think? Find out in this classic episode.
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Dec 2, 2021
Your Gut Is Also A Brain
Your gut – not your spare tire, but your digestive tract – is deceptively smart. Not only does it handle processing food and nutrients, but the hundreds of trillions of bacteria that live in your gut may actually be telling your brain what to do too.
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Dec 1, 2021
Short Stuff: SINA
In the 1950s a group dedicated to clothing animals out of a sense or morality gained momentum. “A nude horse is a rude horse!” was their battle cry.
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Nov 30, 2021
The Twisted History of Dentistry
If you think going to the dentist now is not fun, just wait until you hear about what they did in the Middle Ages.
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Nov 27, 2021
Selects: Why Do Lefties Exist?
For at least the last 200,000 years, between 10-15% of the human population are left-handed and this fact has utterly left science baffled. In searching to explain handedness, all sorts of contradictory evidence has emerged, creating a fascinating mystery. Learn all about it in this classic episode.
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Nov 25, 2021
Python-a-palooza!
Pythons are big snakes. Really big. But there's more to them than their size. Learn all about these big daddies in today's episode.
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Nov 24, 2021
Short Stuff: Mayday!
Say it three times and help may arrive. But where did "Mayday!" come from? Listen in to find out.
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Nov 23, 2021
The Apache Wars
America’s longest-running war was between the US government and the loosely-confederated groups we know as the Apache. As their lands were encroached upon, the Apache pushed back with disastrous consequences, nearly becoming exterminated.
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Nov 20, 2021
Selects: How Hoarding Works
You may be familiar with compulsive hoarding from TV, but something that’s often missing from those shows and the news is the deep and overwhelming shame that this disorder creates in its victims who are neurologically incapable of parting with their stuff. Find out all about it in this classic episode.
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Nov 18, 2021
Why Is DC Not A State?
The residents of Washington, D.C., the capital of the oldest democracy in the world, are not allowed to pass their own laws without the federal government agreeing with them first. That’s because DC is not a state, something DC residents want to change.
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Nov 17, 2021
Short Stuff: The Paper Dress Fad
There was a brief period when it was highly on trend to wear a super short dress made out of paper. Learn why right now!
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Nov 16, 2021
Hot Dog!(s)
No, there aren’t snouts and anuses in your hot dogs, so go ahead and chow down. There are, however, plenty of other things that may give you pause so listen to this episode where we dissect the beloved hot dog and poke around inside.
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Nov 13, 2021
Selects: How Feng Shui Works
Feng Shui is an Asian concept that strives to unlock your chi by how your home or office is arranged. Or at least that's the simplified "Western" version. It's a little more complicated than that in reality. We'll unlock your chi by explaining how feng shui works in this classic episode.
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Nov 11, 2021
The Flannan Isles Mystery
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.
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Nov 10, 2021
Short Stuff: Your Dirty Bed
Is your bed dirty? You bet it is. Are chimpanzee beds dirty? Not as dirty as yours!
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Nov 9, 2021
What are blue laws?
Blue laws are laws that restrict certain activities on certain days. Are they antiquated? Yes! Are they still around? In some places, yes!
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Nov 6, 2021
Selects: The Stories Behind A Few Food Fads
America loves to go nuts over new food trends and it turns out that the 20th century was a boon time for them. Revisit them with Josh and Chuck in this classic episode.
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Nov 4, 2021
The Rock Ampersand Roll Hall of Fame
Cleveland rocks! So said the city of Cleveland when they lobbied for the "Rock Hall" way back in 1985. Since then the museum has grown and evolved amidst great support and controversy.
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Nov 3, 2021
Short Stuff: Friendly Floatees
In 1992 more than 28,000 rubber ducks got loose in the ocean and began a decades-long experiment in oceanography.
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Nov 2, 2021
How mRNA Vaccines Work
The two mRNA Covid vaccines are the first vaccines to come out of a new field of immunology and represent such an amazing leap forward that they are taking us into a new era of medicine. Learn all about them so you can set your uncle straight.
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Oct 30, 2021
Selects: What is folklore?
What is folklore? Turns out it's just about anything you can think of that's shared by more than two people. Art, literature, stories, dance, music, traditions, even those family heirlooms qualify. Turns out folklore is pretty neat. Learn all about it in this classic episode.
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Oct 28, 2021
2021 Halloween Spooktacular!
Dim the lights and join Josh and Chuck for their annual spooky Halloween story reading.
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Oct 27, 2021
Short Stuff: Most Haunted House in England
In the 1930s paranormal investigator declared Borley Rectory the “most haunted house in England” – and with good cause!
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Oct 26, 2021
Salem Witchcraft Trials: More Bonkers Than You Know
Looking back 300 years on, it’s easy to overgeneralize why the Salem Villagers decided to persecute (and execute) their neighbors. But as much as this story has become an American history chestnut, we still don’t understand why Salem lost its mind.
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Oct 23, 2021
Selects: Will We Find Evidence of Aliens by Their Engineering Projects?
In 1960 physicist Freeman Dyson suggested that in the hunt for alien life, we should search for evidence of massive engineering projects that encapsulate stars with solar arrays to harness their energy. Could we humans ever make one ourselves? Find out in this classic episode.
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Oct 21, 2021
Harry Houdini: More than Magic
Harry Houdini was a master magician. He was also a movie star. And an inventor. And an aviator. Listen and learn all about the late great illusionist.
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Oct 20, 2021
Short Stuff: Bloody Mary
In this edition of Short Stuff we may accidentally conjure a deadly spirt, so look out!
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Oct 19, 2021
Heat Waves!
Heat waves are one of the easiest natural disasters to overlook yet they kill more people in the US than any other natural disaster (and maybe all others combined). And if climate predictions prove correct, they’re going to get longer and hotter.
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Oct 16, 2021
Selects: Why is Venice so wet?
Venice, Italy has a problem. It's sinking, and the water around it is rising. Thankfully, some engineers are working hard on the MOSE project - huge gates that keep high tide from happening. Learn all about Venice in this classic episode.
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Oct 14, 2021
Noise Pollution: Arrrgh!
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!
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Oct 13, 2021
Short Stuff: Jack O'Lanterns and Sleepy Hollow
We launch our spooky October episodes with a little bit on Jack O' Lanterns and Sleepy Hollow.
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Oct 12, 2021
Venus Flytraps: Plant or Monster?
After looking into the Venus Flytrap, we quickly moved it to the top of our favorite plant list. Part plant, part monster? What's not to love?
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Oct 9, 2021
Selects: How X-Rays Work
Like many huge discoveries, X-rays were accidentally stumbled upon. That serendipity led to a medical breakthrough still in use today. Learn about how X-rays are created and why they make such delightful images of our bones, in this classic episode.
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Oct 7, 2021
The Tale of the Church of the SubGenius
The Church of the SubGenius is a religion, but really a parody of religion. Learn all about this group of weirdo outsiders in today's episode.
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Oct 6, 2021
Short Stuff: Dingoes!
Are dingoes dogs? Not really? Then what are they? Listen in to find out.
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Oct 5, 2021
Research Bias: Sort It Out, Science
There’s a sticky issue scientists have to deal with – science is carried out by humans. We humans have flaws (and how) and they can end up in our work. Fortunately, science is waking up to research bias. In the meantime, here’s what to look out for.
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Oct 2, 2021
Selects: How Empathy Works
Empathy can often be confused with sympathy and regular old compassion. But it's not exactly either one of those. Some say a lack of empathy can indicate sociopathic tendencies, but that's not always true either. So what is empathy and what makes someone prone to empathize? Listen in to this classic episode to find out.
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Sep 30, 2021
All About Alligators
Here at SYSK, we love alligators? Why? Because they're basically living dinosaurs. Dive in (metaphorically) and swim with these beasts today!
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Sep 29, 2021
Short Stuff: Exploring Irish Monk
There’s a long-standing legend that an Irish monk was the first European to sail to America - in 500 CE! Is there any evidence?
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Sep 28, 2021
How Numerology Works
The premise of numerology - that numbers are responsible for our destinies and personalities - is plainly nuts, but the history and thinking behind it is too interesting to skip.
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Sep 25, 2021
Selects: Planned Obsolescence: Engine of the Consumer Economy
If you’ve ever heard an old timer gripe that things aren’t built like they used to be, that old timer was right! In this classic episode, learn about the nefarious, possibly mythical, mechanism that’s responsible for the cruddy products and waste our consumer society is based on.
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Sep 23, 2021
The Statue of Liberty
You've seen her there in NY Harbor, standing tall. But do you know the story of how she came to be? Learn all about the Statue of Liberty today.
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Sep 22, 2021
Short Stuff: Lake Erie's Rights
The good people of Toledo, OH are leading the environmental pack by giving legal rights to Lake Erie to fight off polluters.
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Sep 21, 2021
How Mail Order Marriages Work
Everybody knows mail order marriages are at best a last resort for jerks looking to boss a foreign spouse around or, at worst, a front for human trafficking. Or are they? Yes and no. Mail order marriage comes with nuance and a surprisingly long history.
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Sep 18, 2021
Selects: How Free Speech Works
Freedom of speech and the press are values vital to American democracy. But the First Amendment doesn't really define free speech, and plenty of expressions are restricted. Learn all about the ins and outs of this cherished right in this classic episode.
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Sep 16, 2021
What's the deal with crash testing?
Crash testing has been around since the 1930s, but only got serious in the 1970s. Today we dive in and learn all about why companies and the U.S. government purposefully wreck cars.
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Sep 15, 2021
Short Stuff: The Javelina
Pigs, hogs, boars and javelinas. What's the difference? Tune in to find out.
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Sep 14, 2021
How Embalming Works
The Death Suite continues! In this installment, Josh and Chuck go over what it takes to preserve a human body using chemicals and whether that’s such a good thing to do as far as the environment is concerned.
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Sep 11, 2021
Selects: Southerners Aren't Lazy and Dumb, They Just Had Hookworm
There was a time when the lower classes of the American South were considered lazy and dimwitted, a stereotype that still somewhat survives today. But this stereotype was rooted in fact. Hookworms, it turns out, were sapping Southerners’ life force. Find out all about it in this classic episode.
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Sep 9, 2021
How the Magna Carta Worked
In 1215 at Runnymede (doo dah, doo dah) the nobles and the king agreed to end a rebellion against the power of the English throne. While the treaty that emerged contained all sorts of arcane Medieval details, it also contained the seeds of Western liberty and civil rights.
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Sep 8, 2021
Short Stuff: Chameleons
In today's short stuff, we bust a few myths about cute little chameleons.
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Sep 7, 2021
The Creepy Legacy of the Hotel Cecil
The Hotel Cecil in downtown Los Angeles has had no less than 16 unnatural deaths, from suicides to murders and everything in between. Listen in to the history of this decidedly creepy hotel.
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Sep 4, 2021
Selects: How Temper Tantrums Work
When your kid boils over in the grocery store, it can be tough to stay calm and ignore it, but that's precisely what experts prescribe parents do to deal with temper tantrums. Learn about the anatomy of a tantrum and the best way to deal in this classic episode.
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Sep 2, 2021
Criminal Records: No Thanks!
And you thought our crime and punishment suite was finished. Not yet it isn't! Not before we cover criminal records.
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Sep 1, 2021
Short Stuff: Handwashing vs Dishwashers
Josh and Chuck finally put to rest the age old debate over which is better – and learn a little about themselves along the way.
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Aug 31, 2021
How Trepanation Worked
One of the oldest medical procedures in human history is also one of the riskiest. For thousands of years humans carried a type of proto brain surgery where a hole would be cut into the skull. And they were pretty good at it too.
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Aug 28, 2021
Selects: Composting: Nature's Most Interesting Process
You may think composting is just a bunch of old banana peels rotting away into dirt but, friend, you're not looking closely enough. Inside that compost pile is a microcosmic universe doing some magical stuff. Learn all about it in this classic episode.
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Aug 26, 2021
Les Paul & Leo Fender Part II
Today we continue the story of Les Paul and Leo Fender, inventors, innovators and rivals.
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Aug 25, 2021
Short Stuff: Jackalope
Jackalopes aren’t real, right? Wouldn’t you like to know, city slicker.
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Aug 24, 2021
Les Paul & Leo Fender Part I
The story of Les Paul and Leo Fender defines rock and roll music. Listen in to part one of the tale of these two musical rivals.
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Aug 21, 2021
Selects: How Pet Psychics Work
In the early 21st century a trend of people who claim to be able to telepathically and clairvoyantly communicate with animals has grown. Today, the concept of visiting a pet psychic to find a lost pet, find out why a pet is behaving badly or even to learn if a pet is ready to be put to sleep is becoming more commonplace, but is there any basis to pet psychics' abilities? Join Josh and Chuck as they investigate the pet psychic phenomenon, in this classic episode.
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Aug 19, 2021
Y2K: Much Ado About Something
Y2K was a special time when we all thought nothing bad would really happen at the stroke of midnight, but secretly worried the world would end. Turns out the mitigation efforts worked and we hardly noticed.
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Aug 18, 2021
Short Stuff: 5 Lazarus Species
Lazarus species were thought to be gone, but had something else in mind. Today we talk about 5 of them.
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Aug 17, 2021
How MRI Works
At long last Chuck and Josh dive into the nuts and bolts of what makes the Wonder Machine so wondrous and find it actually lives up to the years-long hype they’ve given it.
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Aug 14, 2021
Selects: How Animal Domestication Works
It's strange to hear, but the transition from hunting-gathering to agriculture, including the domestication of wild animals, is the single biggest thing to ever happen to humanity. You can thank it for everything from kingdoms to Ebola. Learn all about it in this classic episode.
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Aug 12, 2021
How Fireflies and Lightning Bugs Work
Whether called fireflies, lightning bugs, or glow worms, the tiny, bioluminescent bugs that light up the evening are universally beloved. Which makes their sudden and swift decline very distressing. Listen to find out how you – YOU – can save the firefly.
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Aug 11, 2021
Short Stuff: Humpty Dumpty
Humpty Dumpty is not a good nursery rhyme. And what was Humpty anyway? Listen in to find out.
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Aug 10, 2021
Child Labor: Not Funny
Child labor is no laughing matter. Even though we've taken care of it in the USA (mostly), it's still an issue around the globe. Listen and learn!
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Aug 7, 2021
Selects: How Landslides Work
Landslides are a form of mass movement of the Earth, and with the amount of death and destruction they wreak on the people and towns they cover, their toll can be massive. Learn all about landslides with Josh and Chuck in this classic episode.
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Aug 5, 2021
How Transcendentalism Works
Every teenager in America knows the transcendentalists were a handful of goofy 19th century philosophers who were into walking in the woods, but they were also so much more. Anyone who focuses on the beauty and the good in the world can’t be too wrong.
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Aug 4, 2021
Short Stuff: Calamity Jane
Calamity Jane is group with the legends of the Wild West. Who was she really? A tough woman who made her way in a tough world from the age of 12.
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Aug 3, 2021
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 delusions of the three patients involved, but ultimately disabused the experimenter of his own.
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Jul 31, 2021
Selects: How Police Interrogation Works
Every year, police across the U.S. get thousands of criminals to confess to their crimes. The trouble is, the procedure that almost all departments use is grounded in bad science and can produce false confessions. Learn about ways of making you talk in this classic episode.
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Jul 29, 2021
How Sarcasm Works
In this episode, we get to the bottom of why people sometimes talk like jerks some and how sarcasm isn’t all bad. Stand back everybody, this one is just soooo great.
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Jul 28, 2021
Short Stuff: Space Hurricanes
Space hurricanes are officially a thing. What does that mean for us here on Earth? Probably not much.
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Jul 27, 2021
Conservatorships: #freebritney
Britney Spears has made a lot of noise lately in her bid to nullify her conservatorship. But what are they even? Listen in to find out!
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Jul 24, 2021
Selects: How Mars Works
Sure today Mars would kill you with its thin, toxic atmosphere and cold desert temperature swings of 100 degrees,but early on it and Earth were practically twins. Find out how the two planets diverged and if there might be life on the Red Planet, in this classic episode.
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Jul 22, 2021
The Origins of Some Everyday Superstitions
Why exactly do we avoid walking under a ladder? Why is stepping on a crack in the sidewalk such a big deal? What kind of monster carries a rabbit’s foot in their pocket? The answers to these questions and more lie in wait ahead in this episode. Look out!
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Jul 21, 2021
Short Stuff: RICO Act
If you’re even passingly interested in mobsters you’ve heard of the RICO Act, but most people don’t know how it actually works. Make your Goodfellas fandom more well-rounded with this explainer episode.
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Jul 20, 2021
Stranger Danger!
If you grew up in the 1980s, you thought you had a 50% chance of getting kidnapped every time you left your house. But like with the Satanic Panic and other 80s hysteria, it was much ado about (almost) nothing.
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Jul 17, 2021
Selects: How Ketchup Works
Little-known fact: Ketchup, possibly the most all-American of condiments, evolved from fermented fish sauce people in Southeast Asia have been making for more than a thousand years. Learn more in this classic episode.
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Jul 15, 2021
How Reverse Osmosis Will Save the World
Can we save the future of the human race with some thin membranes riddled with ultra-tiny holes? Science says yes! Thanks to reverse osmosis filtration, we can turn saltwater to fresh and finally say, Water, water everywhere so let’s all have a drink!
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Jul 14, 2021
Short Stuff: Hanged, Drawn and Quartered
The words "hanged, drawn and quartered" are an accurate description of the grizzly execution process. They're just not in the right order.
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Jul 13, 2021
The Radium Girls
The Radium Girls painted watched with glow-in-the-dark radium in the 1920s and '30s. Most got sick, many died. This is their story.
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Jul 10, 2021
Selects: How Historic Districts Work
A fascinating thing about Americans is that we can disagree on anything. Such is the case with historic districts – areas of historic importance protected by local laws. Seems innocuous, but are they also to blame for the affordable housing crisis? Learn all about it in this classic episode.
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Jul 8, 2021
SYSK Live: Koko, the Gorilla Who Talked
Recorded live before the pandemic in January 2020 at the Castro Theatre for San Francisco Sketchfest, Josh and Chuck explore the 70s movement that attempted to teach apes human language and the Ape Language Wars that erupted from it.
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Jul 7, 2021
Short Stuff: Sulfanilamide Disaster
In the 1920s, before the era of consumer protection, a poison entered the medicine supply and killed more than 100 people before the pubic health disaster could be stopped.
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Jul 6, 2021
The Sad Story of William James Sidis
Are geniuses made or born? Listen in today to the story of child prodigy William James Sidis.
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Jul 3, 2021
Selects: Are good samaritan laws effective?
Good samaritan laws have been around for many years, helping to provide legal protections for people who try to help other people. But do they work? Listen to this classic episode and decide for yourself today!
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Jul 1, 2021
The Grand Ole Opry Cast
Josh and Chuck take a virtual walk through country music's legendary music venue.
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Jun 30, 2021
Short Stuff: Beast of Gevaudan
The first truly international news story covered a beast that terrorized the French countryside, eviscerating dozens of villagers for three years in the 1760s. How about that?
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Jun 29, 2021
Poison Control Centers: A Good Thing
Poison control centers are one of those things you don’t think about until you need it. With all the poisons in our homes you very well may someday. When you do there is a cadre of toxicological specialists ready to oversee the process of saving your life.
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Jun 26, 2021
Selects: How Royalty Works
In some nations royals are so ingrained in the national fabric they are considered part of the country. In this classic episode, Josh and Chuck take a look backward in time at the ancient tradition of despotism and unbridled privilege.
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Jun 24, 2021
How Faraday Cages Work
Faraday cages are one of those peculiar miracles of nature that we can actually explain – not to mention, they save us from potentially fatal electrocutions and electronic eavesdropping which are bonuses. Learn about this amazing hidden technology here.
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Jun 23, 2021
Short Stuff: Chastity Belts
Were chastity belts real? Sort of. But not in the way you might think. Tune in to hear the real story.
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Jun 22, 2021
The Mystery of Damascus Steel
Damascus steel and the recipe behind it remained a mystery for many years. But it turns out the key was a bygone ingredient. Listen in to this medieval mystery to learn all about it.
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Jun 19, 2021
Selects: Operation Mincemeat: How A Corpse Fooled the Nazis
In World War II, a secret department of British ‘corkscrew thinkers’ hatched a plan to use the cadaver of an unclaimed homeless man to turn the tide of the war in the Allies’ favor. It worked. Learn all about it in this classic episode.
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Jun 17, 2021
How Venus Works
Venus is so hot lead would melt on the planet’s surface. It spins backwards. Its year is shorter than its day. Venus is amazingly awesome.
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Jun 16, 2021
Short Stuff: Mojave Megaphone
What is the Mojave Megaphone? Well, nobody really knows. Listen in today to learn about this desert mystery.
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Jun 15, 2021
Seven - No, Wait, Five - Mysteries of the Art World
When you get a bunch of artistic types together into a community – aka, the art world – some intrigue and mystery are bound to arise. Listen in as Chuck and Josh cover strangeness around Van Gogh, Caravaggio, Raphael, and Vermeer – plus don’t miss Hilter!
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Jun 12, 2021
Selects: How Sea Monsters Work
Legends of sea monsters are as old as humanity, and some ancient cultures even credited them with creating the universe. Learn more about humanity's attachment to seeing monsters in the deep in this classic episode.
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Jun 10, 2021
POGs: The 90s in a Bottle Cap
Today, Chuck and Josh go down a 90s rabbit hole with another in their classic toy series. This time, they tackle the odd sensation that was POGs.
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Jun 9, 2021
Short Stuff: Chinatowns
If you live in a major city in the USA, you probably have a Chinatown. Listen in and learn all about these unique cultural staples today.
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Jun 8, 2021
Slime Mold: 0% Mold, 100% Amazing
If you’ve ever wandered past what looked like a pile of dog barf on a log during a hike in the woods, you’d just seen slime mold - one of the most perplexing organisms on Earth.
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Jun 5, 2021
Selects: Who was America's first murderer?
John Billington didn't just sign the Mayflower Compact -- he was also the colony's first criminal, and had the dubious honor of being the first European to be convicted of murder in this new place. But how did it happen? Tune in to this classic episode to find out.
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Jun 3, 2021
John Muir: Outdoor Enthusiast
John Muir loved being outside. So much so that he dedicated his life to helping preserve it, but not without some controversy. Listen in to this decidedly nature-centric episode today!
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Jun 2, 2021
Short Stuff: Runner's High
Listen in to today's short stuff to learn if a runner's high is really a thing.
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Jun 1, 2021
What Causes Inflation?
Inflation seems super boring, but if you know how it works (important point: no one really does) you can exist as a functioning human being in a modern economy.
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May 29, 2021
Selects: How Nitrous Oxide Works
For about 175 years people have been huffing nitrous oxide for everything from vision quests to anesthetic to get plain old high. And after all that time we are only now beginning to understand how it works on our brains. Get the scoop in this classic episode.
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May 27, 2021
Night Trap: The Video Game Failure that Changed the Industry
In the early 90s a video game was released that changed the industry, despite poor sales and bad game play. That game was Night Trap. This is that story.
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May 26, 2021
Short Stuff: Parachute Emergency!
Your parachute won’t open – now what?! Listen up to Josh and Chuck and you may make it out of this in one piece.
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May 25, 2021
How Cleft Lips and Palates Work
Cleft lips and palates are common birth defects, but for the kids who have them (and their parents), its no small matter: Years of surgeries, therapy, and possibly lifelong health issues, not to mention the teasing that comes along with looking different.
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May 22, 2021
Selects: How Hot Wheels Work
If you're an American who had a childhood, you probably have some nostalgia for Hot Wheels. Get your engines revved for this trip down memory lane as we discuss these fun and iconic toys in this classic episode.
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May 20, 2021
Girl Scouts: More than cookie sellers
We put our research to the test and it turns out the Girl Scouts is a great organization.
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May 19, 2021
Short Stuff: Speed Reading
Back in the 60s and 70s, a speed reading craze broke out. Tough luck that speed reading is bunk.
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May 18, 2021
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 killer’s identity remains a mystery to this day.
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May 15, 2021
Selects: How Limousines Work
The first limousines weren’t even cars! Learn all about the history of limousines, how they’re made and some of the most creative and expensive amenities you can find inside them in this classic episode with Josh and Chuck.
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May 13, 2021
How Monster Trucks Work
If you’ve never seen a huge truck with gigantic tires do backflips or roll backward perched only on its two front tires, you haven’t lived yet. Chuck and Josh are here to ignite your interest.
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May 12, 2021
Short Stuff: Garter Snakes
Garter snakes aren’t scary, they’re pretty great! Learn all the reasons why in this episode!
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May 11, 2021
The Ivy League
The Ivy League is technically a sports conference, but it's much more than that. Enjoy this special 3D episode with your earbuds on and learn all about these revered, elite universities.
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May 8, 2021
Selects: How Snake Handlers Work
Snake handling ranges from professional snake milkers for antivenin to religious handlers who tend to get bitten and sometimes die from it. Either way, it can be a dangerous business. Learn all about snake handling in this classic episode.
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May 6, 2021
How Uranium Mining Works
Mining uranium is dangerous work. Not only does it involve mining, which is dangerous itself, uranium is also found alongside some very radioactive stuff. Learn the ins and outs of this thrilling endeavor in this episode of SYSK.
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May 5, 2021
Short Stuff: Squarer Than Wombat Poop
One of the cutest animals on the planet is also the only one that squeezes out cube-shaped poop. Find out why today.
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May 4, 2021
The Appendix: No Respect
The poor appendix. Despite findings that it serves a purpose, many people still cast it off as a second rate organ and the Rodney Dangerfield of organs. We aim to correct that notion.
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May 1, 2021
Selects: How Cave Dwellers Work
You know the cavemen, a race of human cousins who lived exclusively in caves? They didn’t exist. Sure prehistoric hominids used caves sometimes but they lived in other places too. Luckily the time they spent in caves has given us a glance at their culture thanks to the protective environments of caves. Learn all about it in this classic episode.
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Apr 29, 2021
How Corporate Taxes Work
There are lots of reasons to tax corporations: as a check on their power, to help pay for infrastructure, as a wealth tax. But the biggest reason economists cite for why they've stuck around is that everyday people think companies should have to pay them too.
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Apr 28, 2021
Short Stuff: Ivar The Boneless
Was Ivar the Boneless a real Viking warrior? Probably. Did he really have no bones? Probably not.
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Apr 27, 2021
Truffles: Underground Treasures
Truffles are rare, expensive and apparently delicious. Learn all about these earthy fungi today.
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Apr 24, 2021
Selects: How Profiling Works
At its base, criminal profiling is a legitimate investigatory tool. The Supreme Court has drawn a clear line that bans profiling when it includes race. So why do we still do it? Take a closer look with Josh and Chuck in this classic episode.
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Apr 22, 2021
How Stamp Collecting Works
Over the last two centuries philatelists – stamp collectors – have learned just about everything there is to know about every stamp ever printed. You won’t by the end of this episode, but you might be interested enough to start yourself.
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Apr 21, 2021
Short Stuff: Madam C.J. Walker
Join us today as we dive into the story of the first female self-made millionaire, Madam C.J. Walker.
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Apr 20, 2021
Mechanical Bulls!
Mechanical bulls are kind of weird, but they have certainly made a place in American pop culture over the years. Largely due to one movie, Urban Cowboy.
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Apr 17, 2021
Selects: How Tupperware Works
Tupperware won immediate design acclaim when it was released in 1947, but it took a pioneering female executive to make a line of plastic food storage into an icon of the American postwar boom. Learn about the surprisingly intriguing history of Tupperware, in this classic episode.
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Apr 15, 2021
Hair Loss: The Pits
Losing your hair is a situation that seems to be universally considered to absolutely stink. Unsurprisingly, humans have been trying all sorts of weird stuff to combat hair loss for millennia, but we’re only just now starting to get a handle on it.
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Apr 14, 2021
Short Stuff: Palindromes
Chuck loves palindromes. So much that his very name is one. Oh wait...
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Apr 13, 2021
How the Electrical Grid Works
The electrical grid that provides power to the US is one of those things you don’t give a second thought to until it stops working – then it’s tough to think about anything else. Learn why this engineering marvel is past its prime and how to update it.
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Apr 10, 2021
Selects: The Unsolved Mystery Disappearance of the Sodder Children
In 1945 a house fire took the lives of five children - except that their bodies were never found. In this classic episode, dive into the longstanding mystery of the odd circumstances surrounding the disappearance of the Sodder children.
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Apr 8, 2021
Muzak: Easy Listening Goodness
Muzak got a bad reputation as bland garbage music. We aim to set the record straight.
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Apr 7, 2021
Short Stuff: Venus de Milo
Step into today's short stuff to learn all about the armless wonder!
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Apr 6, 2021
Havana Syndrome: ¿Qué Diablos?
In 2016, diplomats at the American embassy in Cuba began suffering weird neurological symptoms after hearing strange noises. Some say it was a sonic attack using a secret weapon, but the Havana Syndrome remains a baffling scientific mystery to this day.
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Apr 3, 2021
Selects: How Circus Families Work
Don't be confused - this one is about actual circus acts made of family members, not the controversial comic strip. Step right up to this classic episode.
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Apr 1, 2021
How the Titanic Worked: Part Two
After the Titanic sank recriminations and blame followed, sometimes ruining careers unjustifiably. As the decades wore on and she was found almost 2.5 miles down, history rehabilitated some people. The question still remains how to preserve the ship.
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Mar 31, 2021
Short Stuff: What's the oldest book?
In order to figure out what the oldest book is, one has to define what a book actually is. Listen in as we discuss this debatable topic.
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Mar 30, 2021
How the Titanic Worked: Part One
When the Titanic set sail on her maiden voyage in April 1912, the world was divided into two types of people: those who considered her unsinkable and those who weren’t so sure about that. Both types were aboard when she went down with 1500 souls.
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Mar 27, 2021
Selects: What was the Philadelphia Experiment?
The Philadelphia Experiment is a bad movie from the 1980s, and also the conpiracy theory that refuses to die, despite virtually zero evidence of its occurance. Learn all about this strange non-event in this classic episode.
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Mar 25, 2021
Space Junk, Ahoy!
The orbits hundreds to thousands of miles above Earth are littered with garbage. Space garbage, sure, but it’s still garbage. Littering in space is bad enough but it poses practical problems too – like space junk crashing into satellites or astronauts.
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Mar 24, 2021
Short Stuff: Cellphones on Airplanes
Are we finally at the place where we can make cell phone calls on airplanes? PLEASE NO! Listen in to find out.
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Mar 23, 2021
What is biophilic design?
Biophilic design is all about bringing the outside in. But it's also much more than that. Open your windows and have a listen!
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Mar 20, 2021
Selects: How Lighthouses Work
People have been burning fires on cliffs as long as other people have used boats, but after the Age of Exploration, lighthouses took their unmistakable form and the great stories of the people who kept the lights around the world began. Learn all about them in this classic episode.
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Mar 18, 2021
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 water, created a tidal wave that flooded the town, and killed hundreds of people instantly.
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Mar 17, 2021
Short Stuff: Brazilian Jars
In the 1970s big news was made when some underwater artifacts were found in a bay by Rio de Janeiro that would have rewritten history. Then it just kind of petered out.
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Mar 16, 2021
The Parrot Episode
If you think parrots are simply mimics that fly, you're wrong. Tune in and learn about these colorful friends today.
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Mar 13, 2021
Selects: Please Listen to How Plasma Waste Convertors Work
There is a way to not only sustainably get rid of our household waste, but also produce enough energy from it to power the process and even create electricity for the grid. The future is here. Learn all about it in this classic episode.
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Mar 11, 2021
Karaoke: Tuesday Night Fever
Listen in and learn all about the fascinating history of everybody's favorite pastime... karaoke!
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Mar 10, 2021
Short Stuff: Tooth Fairy: Not Real
Today we break down the history of everyone's favorite home invader, the tooth fairy.
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Mar 9, 2021
Dragons: As Real as Mermaids
Dragons are like mermaids in that they're not real. And that's about where the comparison ends. Learn all about dragons today.
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Mar 6, 2021
Selects: Mermaids: Not a real thing
Mermaids aren't real. That much we know. But the history and lore of these magical and sometimes menacing creatures of the sea is pretty interesting stuff. Learn all about these half women/half fish in this classic episode.
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Mar 4, 2021
Why is the Equal Rights Amendment still not ratified?
The United States is one of only 28 countries in the world that doesn’t have equal protection for women under the law enshrined in its constitution. There was a moment in the 70s where it came very close, but then the conservative movement was born.
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Mar 3, 2021
Short Stuff: Dog Suicide Bridge
A bridge at the town of Dumbarton in Scotland has a terrible reputation as a site where dogs inexplicably leap to their death on the rocks 50 feet below. There is no shortage of theories why, but none fully explain it.
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Mar 2, 2021
Is the Free Radical Theory of Aging Wrong?
In the 1990s we thought we’d identified the root cause of aging: nasty molecules called free radicals that wreaked havoc on our cells. Even better, we’d figured out how to counteract them with loads of antioxidants. Then science started raising questions.
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Feb 27, 2021
Selects: Bridges: Nature Abhors Them
From prehistoric logs across streams to the 102-mile Kunshan Grand Bridge, nature works ceaselessly to take down spans. In this classic episode, learn about the fascinating ins and outs of bridge design and building and the mind-boggling challenges structural engineers face.
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Feb 25, 2021
How Bruce Lee Worked
Bruce Lee may have introduced more Westerners to Asian culture than any person in history. And, because he died young just as he became an international superstar, he’s become a legend. Josh and Chuck try to uncover the man underneath.
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Feb 24, 2021
Short Stuff: The Body in the Cylinder
In 1945, residents of a Liverpool neighborhood found a desiccated body in a long cylinder they’d been using for years using as a bench. It launched a mystery that’s still alive today.
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Feb 23, 2021
What Will Farming 4.0 Look Like?
The human population is expected to increase by a couple billion people in the next 30 years and those who are paying attention are wondering exactly how we’ll feed all those extra mouths. Will going high tech or getting back to nature save us?
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Feb 20, 2021
Selects: How Chili Peppers Work
Born and raised in South America, chilis were the earliest crop domesticated in the continent and among the first items brought back to Europe by Columbus. Today people are really, really into them. Find out all about 'em in this classic episode.
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Feb 18, 2021
How Blue Holes Work
Geologists and biologists have recently realized that the planet’s oceans and coasts are littered with a unique type of ecosystem called blue holes, submerged sinkholes that were once dry caves. They are turning out to be weird and amazing places.
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Feb 17, 2021
Short Stuff: Freedom House Ambulance Services
As part of Black History Month, we wanted to share the little known story of the Freedom House Ambulance Service. Listen in to learn all about this seminal group of EMTs.
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Feb 16, 2021
The Disappearance of Lars Mittank
In 2014, a young German man walked into an airport in Bulgaria with a flight booked, then suddenly ran out leaving all his posessions behind, never to be heard from again. This is the story of Lars Mittank.
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Feb 13, 2021
Selects: Why Are So Many Disembodied Feet Washing Ashore In British Columbia?
Between 2007 and 2016, 17 disembodied feet - still wearing shoes - have washed ashore between Washington and British Columbia. What's behind the sudden influx of Vancouver's mystery feet? Find out in this classic episode.
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Feb 11, 2021
How Housing Discrimination Works
Owning a home in the US is a way to pass wealth down from one generation to the next and lift families into a comfortable life down the road. But there have been barriers to buying homes that Black Americans have faced from the time of slavery to today.
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Feb 10, 2021
Short Stuff: How California Got Its Name
California is a pretty cool name. And the story about where it came from is even cooler.
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Feb 9, 2021
Sacagawea: Impressive Teen
Sacagawea was only 16 when she joined the Corps of Discovery. That is one seriously impressive teenager.
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Feb 6, 2021
Selects: Earwax: Live With It
Despite tons of people using cotton swabs each day to clean the earwax from their ears, cerumen (as earwax is clinically known) is actually quite beneficial to the health of your ears - and even kind of ingenious as your body's defense goes. Learn more in this classic episode.
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Feb 4, 2021
The NAACP
The NAACP has long been one of the most robust and effective non-profits in the USA. And while it has faded a bit from its glory days, it still remains a vital cog in the battle for equality.
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Feb 3, 2021
Short Stuff: Balloonfest
In 1986 Cleveland released more than a million helium balloons at once! It didn’t go at all according to plan!
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Feb 2, 2021
How Groundhog Day Works
You know Groundhog Day – the holiday on February 2 when you wake up and have to go through the same day over and over again. It turns out the holiday has deep roots in a pagan past, and has survived in a surprisingly similar form.
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Jan 30, 2021
Selects: Maggots: Good For Healing Wounds, Turns Out
Cultures around the world over the years have been inspired by, then repulsed, then inspired by maggots' ability to heal persistent wounds. We are in an inspired-by phase right now. Learn more in this classic episode.
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Jan 28, 2021
How Hydropower Works
Humans have been stealing energy from flowing water for at least two thousand years. It wasn’t until the advent of electricity that things really got cookin’. All we need to do now is to work out the harmful environmental impacts of this green energy.
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Jan 27, 2021
Short Stuff: Vantablack
How black is vantablack? About as black as you could imagine.
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Jan 26, 2021
The KKK: Loathsome Cosplay Rednecks
The history of the KKK is rooted in hatred and racism, and it still is today. Learn all about these loathsome rednecks today.
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Jan 23, 2021
Selects: How Blimps Work
After newsreels captured the Hindenburg erupting in fire in 1937, the promising development of airship aviation was cut short. Today companies and militaries are taking another look at blimps and the unique qualities that may revive them. Learn all about it in this classic episode.
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Jan 21, 2021
Finding the Fenn Treasure
In 2010 an eccentric art dealer hid a treasure chest with $2 million in valuables somewhere in the Rocky Mountains and published a poem with clues on where to find it. Hence began the most famous treasure hunt in modern times.
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Jan 20, 2021
Short Stuff: Necco
If you think Necco Wafers are the most disgusting candy on the planet, you are not alone. But it turns out there’s a rich history behind those chalky discs that make them fascinating, if horrible.
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Jan 19, 2021
What does a tire company know about food?
The Michelin Guide is an institution. But why does the famous tire manufacturer even put this restaurant guide out? Listen in to find out.
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Jan 16, 2021
Selects: What Was the Deal With the Hatfields and McCoys?
It was America's most famous family feud, but the history of the Hatfields vs the McCoys is fraught with bias and inaccuracies. Dig into a disagreement in 19th-century Appalachia that became a very big deal around the world, in this classic episode.
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Jan 14, 2021
The Science of Cute
If you took our advice and looked up baby beavers a few episodes back, you probably found them sooooo cute you couldn’t stand it. Or you just wanted to eat them up, which is weird if you think about it. Friend, prepare for the science on that!
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Jan 13, 2021
Short Stuff: Silverfish
Should you be afraid of these creepy little creatures you find in your basement? Only one way to find out.
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Jan 12, 2021
Hell! Hell! Hell!
What is Hell? It's complicated and depends on which religion you're talking about. We dive into this fiery mess and do our best to explain it.
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Jan 9, 2021
Selects: How Skateboarding Works
Skateboarding started out as something bored surfers did when the waves weren't breaking, but after a few improvements to the design, it took off like a rocket to become its own cultural phenomenon. Come gleam the cube with Josh and Chuck as you ollie over this classic episode.
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Jan 7, 2021
The Wright Brothers
Orville and Wilbur Wright were not trained professionals, but they were rigorous experimenters who ended up changing the world.
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Jan 6, 2021
Short Stuff: Is It Theater or Theatre?
Have you ever noticed sometimes theaters – we mean, theatres – oh, forget it – places where you see movies or plays – are sometimes spelled two different ways? You can thank Noah Webster, author of the first American dictionary, for that.
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Jan 5, 2021
Space Weather - What's That?!
Did you know space has weather? It’s true! In our solar system, tons – literal tons – of highly charged gas and magnetized particles spew from the surface constantly, causing all sorts of weird stuff here on Earth. So far, nothing too bad has happened.
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Jan 2, 2021
Selects: How Auto-Tune Works
What began as a challenge to an oil engineer to make a terrible singer into a pitch-perfect one, Auto-Tune has become a ubiquitous (and, to many, obnoxious) part of the musical soundscape. Learn more in this classic episode.
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Dec 31, 2020
La Dame de Fer (Eiffel Tower)
The Eiffel Tower is one of the top destinations on Planet Earth. It turns out to be a pretty cool feat of engineering as well.
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Dec 30, 2020
Short Stuff: Ig-pay Atin-lay (Sorry)
Turns out we have little kids from the 19th century, the Three Stooges, and an odd musical composer named Arthur Fields to thank for pig latin.
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Dec 29, 2020
Theremins: World's First Electronic Music
In 1919 a brilliant Russian scientist accidentally stumbled onto the first electronic musical instrument in history – the theremin – which you play not by strings, keys, or even percussion, but by moving your hand in the air around it. Prepare to science!
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Dec 26, 2020
SYSK Selects: Sugar: It Powers the Earth
Since sugar spread from Polynesia a few thousand years ago, the world has been crazy for it. Insanely high prices, wars and even slavery couldn't undo world's need for a sugar fix. Today that fix is responsible for the obesity epidemic facing the West. Learn all about it in this classic episode.
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Dec 24, 2020
The SYSK 2020 Holly Jolly Extravaganza!
It's here again! Our annual ad-free holiday spectacular. So pour up a hot toddy, throw a log on the fire and listen with the whole family!
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Dec 23, 2020
Short Stuff: Chinese Food on Christmas
What started out as a tradition among Jewish people on the Lower East Side at the turn of the last century has become a full-blown American holiday custom.
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Dec 22, 2020
How Buffets Work
Buffets are every kid’s dream – until they grow up enough to realize how gross communal spreads of food shared with strangers actually are. Then the dream is dashed, for most of us at least. Learn about the golden age of buffets and more right here!
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Dec 19, 2020
SYSK Selects: The Star Wars Holiday Special of 1978
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 be fully explained, but we make our best effort in our annual special edition of SYSK. May the force be with us all.
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Dec 17, 2020
Aspirin: The Wonder Drug
Humans have been using a form of aspirin for pain relief since at least the Sumerians. But in recent years we’ve come to learn the wonder drug is indeed awe-inspiring, from preventing heart attacks to possibly protecting humans from cancer.
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Dec 16, 2020
Short Stuff: Modern Funerals
The way we deal with our dead has changed a lot over the past 50 years. Learn all about it in 12-15 minutes right here.
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Dec 15, 2020
Joseph Merrick, aka "The Elephant Man"
Joseph Merrick was known as The Elephant Man because of his suffering from what we now know was Proteus Synrome. Learn all about this brave man in today's episode.
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Dec 12, 2020
SYSK Selects: What is a hangover, really?
After a night of heavy boozing, many partygoers find themselves the victim of a hangover. But what exactly is a hangover, and what causes it? Join Chuck and Josh as they break down the science behind hangovers -- and how to avoid them, in this classic episode.
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Dec 10, 2020
The Taliesin Massacre
Everyone knows who Frank Lloyd Wright is, but did you know there was a grisly massacre at his home in 1914?
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Dec 9, 2020
Short Stuff: Cramming
Cramming is no way to study. Learn why in today's short stuff.
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Dec 8, 2020
How Class Action Lawsuits Work
Class action lawsuits seem a little odd – a bunch of people get together for a sue-fest against somebody – but in the legal world they’re a practical way of handing huge wrongs. And! They keep justice just in their way. Learn all about them today.
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Dec 5, 2020
SYSK Selects: How Chaos Theory Changed the Universe
Since the age of Descartes, science has put all of its eggs in the basket of determinism, the idea that with accurate enough measurements any aspect of the universe could be predicted. But the universe, it turns out, is not so tidy. Explore the final frontier with Josh and Chuck in this classic episode.
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Dec 3, 2020
John Lennon and the FBI
Did you know that Richard Nixon had a FBI case file open on Beatle John Lennon? Well he did! Why? Listen in to find out.
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Dec 2, 2020
Short Stuff: Pimento Cheese!
Pimento cheese was originally nothing like it is now: It was mass produced, it was made from cream cheese and it was conceived in New York. Today it’s something much better, thanks to the South!
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Dec 1, 2020
Cabbage Patch Kids: Must-Have Toy of the Century
Surprisingly, Cabbage Patch Kids have turned up on SYSK almost as much as the Nazis or Seinfeld. It’s finally time to dive all the way into CPKs, from their controversial origins to the Christmas craze of ‘83 to their alter egos, Garbage Pail Kids.
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Nov 28, 2020
SYSK Selects: How Tea Works
Legend has it that tea was discovered by a curious Chinese emperor after leaves blew into his boiled water. Now tea is the second only to water in popularity worldwide. And despite the varieties of tea, they all come from a single species of plant. Learn all about it in this classic episode.
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Nov 26, 2020
Gobble Gobble: Turkeys!
Turkeys are a very interesting bird as it turns out. Which may be why many people are leaving it off their Thanksgiving table this year. Learn all about them right now!
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Nov 25, 2020
Short Stuff: How Eyes In a Painting Follow You
Ever noticed how eyes in a painting sometimes follow you around the room? It’s weird! But it’s also fully explainable and Josh and Chuck do just that here.
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Nov 24, 2020
Patty Hearst: Brainwashed or Bandit?
Patty Hearst was a young heiress living a quiet life studying art history at college when one Monday evening her home was invaded, she was kidnapped, and her life took a totally unforeseen turn that she would have trouble explaining for years to come.
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Nov 21, 2020
SYSK Selects: Whatever happened to acid rain?
Along with the hole in the ozone layer, acid rain was one of the first international environmental threats. It's fallen to the wayside in the face of climate change, but we have yet to lick it. Join Chuck and Josh as they revive the 80s drumbeat in this classic episode.
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Nov 19, 2020
The Great War of the Worlds Panic Myth
On Halloween 1938 young radio star Orson Welles scared the pants off of America with a fictional news bulletin claiming Martians had landed and were destroying the country. People across the nation ran wild with panic in the streets – or did they?
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Nov 18, 2020
Short Stuff: Squirrel Nuts
We know squirrels hide nuts. But it's actually more complex a system than you think.
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Nov 17, 2020
How Pain Works
In recent decades we’ve come to understand that there’s a lot more to pain than: touch hot stove/feel burning hand. Pain is a far more sophisticated experience and, unfortunately, a system that can often go haywire, with terrible effects.
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Nov 14, 2020
SYSK Selects: Who Gets to Name Continents?
America is named after Amerigo Vespucci, right? Maybe not. And who named Australia? Find out the unusually uncertain origins of the continents and other interesting stuff in this classic episode.
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Nov 12, 2020
How Macy's Thanksgiving Parade Works
For almost a century, Macy’s department store has kicked off the holidays in America with a grand parade. And when you march thousands of clowns, lip synching celebrities, bands, and giant balloons through New York things get remarkable.
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Nov 11, 2020
Short Stuff: Plastic Pink Flamingos
Plastic flamingos started out as innocent yard art, transformed into folk art, and have become a (kind of mean) symbol of high campiness. There’s a lot to this particular plastic yard art.
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Nov 10, 2020
The Bay of Pigs Disaster
The Bay of Pigs is one of the blackest of eyes on American foreign policy. Learn all about this dark spot of American history today.
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Nov 8, 2020
SYSK Selects: Geysers: Nature's Innuendo
The spectacular eruptions of steam and water we call geysers are only the tip of the proverbial iceberg, the result of thousands of years of specific natural conditions and physical processes. Learn the Stuff You Should Know about geysers in this classic episode.
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Nov 5, 2020
All the Gold In Fort Knox: Meh
When Fort Knox was built in the 1930s to house America’s gold supply, it was billed as an impenetrable, impregnable, don’t-even-think-of-trying vault. But as the world has moved further away from gold, the stockpile’s lost a bit of its luster.
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Nov 4, 2020
Short Stuff: Fruit Flies, Why?
Have you ever wondered why we do so much scientific testing on fruit flies? Turns out they make better models for humans than you’d think.
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Nov 3, 2020
The Amazing Roberto Clemente
Roberto Clemente was what’s called a “complete” baseball player – he could hit, run and, man could he throw, so it’s no surprise he was made a Hall of Famer. But he was also a humanitarian, a civil rights icon, and a fiercely proud son of Puerto Rico.
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Oct 31, 2020
SYSK Selects: How Ghosts Work
According to a 2009 poll, more Americans believe in ghosts than don't. But what are ghosts exactly? If they do exist, what are they made of and why are they hanging around? In this classic episode airing for Halloween, Josh and Chuck explore both sides of the divide between belief and skepticism on the topic of ghosts and look at some pretty cool explanations for hauntings.
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Oct 29, 2020
SYSK’s Scare Your Pants Off (and Back On) Halloween Spooktacular
It’s that time of year again! So turn down the lights, pull the sheets over your eyes and prepare to be thrilled and frightened with two great Halloween stories from Philip K. Dick and M.R. James.
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Oct 28, 2020
Short Stuff: Poe Toaster
For at least sixty years a mysterious person (or persons) showed up at Edgar Allen Poe’s grave to toast the master on his birthday. No one ever found out who this legendary figure was.
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Oct 27, 2020
A History of Nursing Homes
In America, we've treated our senior citizens in very different ways over the years. Tune in to hear about how we've tackled compassionate care.
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Oct 25, 2020
Chuck Bryant On The Why I’m Voting Podcast
Hey, SYSK listeners! We wanted to make sure you heard Chuck on iHeartRadio’s Why I’m Voting podcast. Check it out and don’t forget to vote on November 3rd!
If you want to change, preserve, or build a better America, there’s one easy way to make your voice heard: Vote. This year, iHeartRadio is teaming up with over 20 incredible celebrities (plus a handful of our most popular podcasters) to get the country excited to go vote, broadcasting the personal, emotional and heartfelt stories behind why showing up to the ballot box means so much-- not just as individuals, but for our entire nation.
Thank you to our partners AXE, Knorr® & Seventh Generation
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Oct 24, 2020
SYSK Selects: How Book Banning Works
If you want to control the masses, control what they read. After all, books are seeds that germinate new points of view. As a result, the struggle against banning books is contentious and continual. Learn more about banning books in this classic episode.
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Oct 22, 2020
Beavers: Tail Slapping Fun
Beavers are in fact, very busy. They're builders and solid family members, husbands and wives. Learn all about N America's largest rodent today.
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Oct 21, 2020
Short Stuff: Haunted Real Estate
Do you have to disclose the notion that your house may be haunted upon sale? Listen in to find out.
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Oct 20, 2020
10 Voter Suppression Methods
Voter suppression in the USA is as old as voting itself. Listen in to hear about 10 ways we stifle the vote.
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Oct 17, 2020
SYSK Selects: How Sushi Works
Sushi grew out of a way to ferment fish a couple thousand years ago and in the late 20th century began to take the world by storm. What began as traditional, rigid food has come to evolve with new delicious innovations being added to the original canon. Learn all about it in this classic episode.
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Oct 15, 2020
Porcupines: Little Stabby Cutie Pies
We love animals. A lot. Especially underrated ones like the darling porcupine. Listen in today to learn all about these stabby little boogers.
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Oct 14, 2020
Short Stuff: What is Latinx anyway?
We love to keep up with the current terminology for groups of people. Learn about the origin of Latinx today.
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Oct 13, 2020
Wind Tunnels: More Important Than You Realize
Without wind tunnels we may not have airplanes right now. Early aviationists built them to puzzle out how to get and stay airborne. But wind tunnels are used for so much more than flight – from microchips to wind turbines. Enjoy this breezy episode.
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Oct 10, 2020
SYSK Selects: How Bigfoot Works
For centuries North American tribes have told stories of a hairy wild giant in the wilderness, and once Europeans arrived they claimed to see it, too. Chuck and Josh examine the claims of believers and the rebuttals of skeptics in this evenhanded episode from the SYSK archives.
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Oct 8, 2020
Printing press? Big deal!
Was the printing press a big deal? You bet it was. One of the biggest. Learn all about the early history of printing today.
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Oct 7, 2020
Short Stuff: Lying in State
After RBG passed away she had the honor of lying in state. Who decides this? Listen and you'll know.
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Oct 6, 2020
What's the deal with swing states?
Swing states are all the rage once again this election season, but the makeup has changed a bit. Learn all about what makes a swing state a swing state right now.
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Oct 3, 2020
SYSK Selects: How the Electoral College Works
When you vote in an American presidential election, you're not voting for your candidate - you're voting for a group of people you hope will in turn vote for your candidate. Listen in to learn more about the strange process for electing the president, in this classic episode.
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Oct 1, 2020
Fallout Shelters: Probably Useless (Let’s Never Find Out)
The advent of nuclear weapons and the Cold War kicked off a craze in the US for building rec rooms with foot-thick reinforced walls and outfitted with survival rations and board games. Would they work? Probably not.
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Sep 30, 2020
Short Stuff: That's A Head Scratcher
It’s actually really strange that scratching your head is a widely understood sign that you’re puzzling over something. No one’s exactly sure why we do that, so interesting theories abound!
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Sep 29, 2020
Conjugal Visits: Not exactly what you think
After reaching their peak, conjugal prison visits are all but gone in the U.S. Learn all about these frisky visits in today's episode.
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Sep 26, 2020
SYSK Selects: How Rabies Works
Rabies may have gotten a lot of attention in the U.S. in the 70s and 80s, but it's still an issue in developing countries. Learn all about this nasty virus in this classic episode. And stay away from raccoons and bats.
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Sep 24, 2020
At Long Last: Hawaiian Overthrow Episode
By longstanding listener request, we look at how Hawaii was basically stolen by the United States in the 19th century. Rather than reverse this bit of geopolitical fraud, the US ended up making Hawaii a state instead.
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Sep 23, 2020
Short Stuff: Petticoat Rulers
Petticoat rulers were women who ran the show long before anyone thought they could. We’re talking mayors and entire city councils comprised of women in the Old West. What happened since then? Listen to find out.
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Sep 22, 2020
How Sweepstakes Work
Sweepstakes were invented as marketing tools to drum up interest for a product or sales. But winning them can be fun and as they’ve proliferated an entire subculture of people who enter hundreds of them a day. Enter the fascinating world of sweepstakes today!
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Sep 19, 2020
SYSK Selects: How White-collar Crime Works
White-collar crime often involves fraud and other nonviolent acts. For most people, the term "white-collar crime" conjures up images of CEOs conniving their way to fortune. But what is it, really? Listen in as Josh and Chuck break down the facts in this classic episode.
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Sep 17, 2020
How Election Polling Works and Doesn't Work
Election polling had a pretty good rep until 2016. But it turns out they weren't far off even then. It's really the media driving the narrative. Learn all about how election polling works today.
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Sep 16, 2020
Short Stuff: Black Cowboys
Most people don't realize that around a quarter of the cowboys found in the Old West during the golden age cattle driving were African American. Let's meet some of them, shall we?
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Sep 15, 2020
Origami: Folding Goodness
Origami is an amazing art that consists of making folds in paper to create something beautiful. Learn all about it today.
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Sep 12, 2020
SYSK Selects: How Porta-Potties Work
Despite our lengthy history of evacuating our bowels and bladders, it wasn’t until the relatively recent 1940s that we began to construct portable, self-contained toilets to accept our waste. Dive into the world of porta-potties in this classic episode.
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Sep 10, 2020
Wetlands! Wetlands! Wetlands!
It’s time to get jazzed up for some Earth science of the waterlogged variety. Join Chuck and Josh as they tour some of the most interesting ecosystems on the planet and learn why we need to stop destroying them post haste.
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Sep 9, 2020
Short Stuff: Streisand Effect
What does Barbra Streisand have to do with the internet? Listen and learn!
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Sep 8, 2020
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 that's just the tip of the old iceberg.
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Sep 5, 2020
SYSK Selects: How Police Chases Work
Entire TV shows are dedicated to them and Americans love to watch a live one, but police chases aren't as routine as they seem. While police assert chases are important tools, critics say cops engage in chases too often and too easily. Learn all about the what, how, and why in this classic episode.
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Sep 3, 2020
The Disturbing Disappearance of Tara Calico
When Tara Calico mysteriously vanished in 1988, suspected to be the victim of foul play, her case may have gotten lost with the countless other missing person cases in the US, were it not for the discovery of an alarming Polaroid photo in a parking lot 1500 miles away.
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Sep 2, 2020
Short Stuff: More Phrase Origins
We're back with another handful of phrase origins.
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Sep 1, 2020
How the Escape from Alcatraz Worked
In 1962, three ordinary criminals transcended into folk heroes when they crawled out of their cells in Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary took to the water in a homemade raft and were never heard from again. Could they have possibly survived?
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Aug 29, 2020
SYSK Selects: Polyamory: When two just won't do
In this classic episode of Stuff You Should Know, Josh and Chuck dive into the world of polyamory. Turns out polyamorists aren't aren't weirdos and deviants, they're just regular folks looking for love from more than one person. Learn all you ever needed to know about this unique, but not so modern arrangement.
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Aug 27, 2020
Blacksmiths? You got that right!
Blacksmiths? You got that right. Learn all about this age old occupation in today's episode.
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Aug 26, 2020
Short Stuff: Carrots and Your Eyes
Join Chuck and Josh as they learn that one of the great childhood truths – that carrots help you see better in the dark was totally made up!
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Aug 25, 2020
How Sneezing Works
Unless you have an arcane disorder from a lesion on a very specific spot on our medulla, the chances are you sneeze. Turns out most animals do it, even lizards! Learn the whys and hows of this most interesting involuntary reflex.
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Aug 22, 2020
SYSK Selects: How Panic Attacks Work
Almost three percent of Americans suffer from a debilitating disorder that causes them to suffer intense fear seemingly without reason and science hasn’t yet figured out what causes it. Join Josh and Chuck in this classic episode as they get to the bottom of panic attacks.
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Aug 20, 2020
1-800-PODCAST
Chuck and Josh dive into the wacky world of 800 and 900 phone numbers.
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Aug 19, 2020
Short Stuff: The Great American Coin Shortage of 2020
In addition to all the lousy things that’s come out of the Coronavirus pandemic, the U.S. is also experiencing a coin shortage thanks to a stalled-out economic system that normally circulates coins.
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Aug 18, 2020
How Anti-Dieting Works
There’s a movement afoot that says we should all stop thinking about our weight and just enjoy food. No, it doesn’t help you lose weight…No, it’s not a diet…No, - just listen to the episode, okay?
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Aug 15, 2020
SYSK Selects: How The Human Microbiome Project Works
If it was possible to take a full scan of all of the DNA of every cell in and on your body the results would be startling: Only 1 percent would be human. The other 99 percent comprises all of the bacteria, fungi, viruses and other microbes you literally cannot live without. Learn more in this classic episode.
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Aug 13, 2020
Olympic Torches: Remember Those?
Back in the pre-pandemic days we had a sporting event called The Olympic Games. And at those games there was an opening ceremony that featured the lighting of a cauldron from a torch. Let's chat about that, eh?
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Aug 12, 2020
Short Stuff: The Return of Bill Gates!
Our old pal Bill Gates is back for a very special short stuff where we talk all about Covid vaccines and therapeutics.
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Aug 11, 2020
Pirate Radio: Mavericks on the High Seas
Pirate radio started out in England as a way to sidestep the regulations of Big Radio. While outlawed, it still exists today in the UK and America. Learn all about it today.
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Aug 8, 2020
SYSK Selects: How The Moonwalk Works
When Michael Jackson debuted the moonwalk in 1983 the world was enrapt. The dance goes back farther, to the 1930s, and pops up again in the 50s, before reappearing via mimes and West Coast poppers in the 70s. Follow the circuitous route of an iconic move in this classic episode.
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Aug 6, 2020
How Miniature Golf Works
Playing miniature golf is a very fun thing to do and, you’re about to find, learning about its origin and history is very fun as well. Join Josh and Chuck as they tee off on the mini golf story!
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Aug 5, 2020
Short Stuff: Jigsaw Puzzles
Who doesn't love a good puzzle? Tune in to learn a few facts and figures about jigsaw puzzles right now.
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Aug 4, 2020
Wasps: Not as cute as bees
Wasps have a bad rap. Because their sting really hurts and they don't make honey like their cousins. But they are super cool and you shouldn't kill them. Listen and learn!
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Aug 1, 2020
SYSK Selects: How the Rosetta Stone Works
Sometimes providence smiles on historians. Thus is the case with the Rosetta stone, an ancient Egyptian tablet that served as the key for unlocking hieroglyphics, lost to time for a millennia. In this classic episode, learn about the international intrigue, rivalry to translate it and the luck that led to the founding of Egyptology.
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Jul 30, 2020
How Soap Works
Soap is a miraculous substance – and mysterious too: we have no idea how humans first figured out to make it. We lived with soap for millennia before we thought to use it to wash ourselves with it, but once we did a love affair with cleanliness was born.
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Jul 29, 2020
Short Stuff: Habsburg Jaw
The Habsburg Jaw is the result of inbreeding. But what is it? Click play and learn!
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Jul 28, 2020
How Hurricanes Work
Hurricanes are perhaps the most destructive force of nature we have to deal with here on Earth. When a mind-boggling number of factors all fall into place just right, the outcome can be an enormous system of storms that is as awesome as it is powerful.
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Jul 25, 2020
SYSK Selects: How Lobbying Works
Lobbying is an entrenched part of American politics and one that many people think is breaking government. But petitioning the government is protected in the Constitution. How can this system be fixed? join Josh and Chuck as they explore the topic in this classic episode.
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Jul 23, 2020
Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Mobile Phones
Today we deep dive on mobile phones, wonders of the modern world!
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Jul 22, 2020
Short Stuff: The Death of Billy the Kid
Sure, together Young Guns and Young Guns II form an exhaustive biography of Billy the Kid’s life. But did you know they also contain misleading information? Billy the Kid may not have lived to 100 under an alias after all!
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Jul 21, 2020
How We Almost Got Rid of Polio
For more than half of the 20th century parents in the industrialized world were freaked out by an unseen waster of youth, the poliovirus. It spread easily and could paralyze children for life or even kill them. Its effects were so horrible that humanity set about ridding if from the Earth.
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Jul 18, 2020
SYSK Selects: How a Flea Circus Works
If you've ever seen a flea circus, then count yourself among the few. It's a dying art, but back in the day they thrilled and delighted young and old alike. Learn all about the tiny big tops in this classic episode.
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Jul 16, 2020
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 today's episode.
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Jul 15, 2020
Short Stuff: Centralia Coal Fire
An old coal mine in Pennsylvania caught fire one day in the 60s and it’s been burning ever since. What’s crazy is this happens all the time.
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Jul 14, 2020
Flagpole Sitting: A Real Fad
The 1920s were just absolutely nuts. People got into weird fads really intensely and one of the strangest of all was flagpole sitting. It’s just what it sounds like – sitting on top of a flagpole for as long as you can. One man sat above them all.
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Jul 11, 2020
SYSK Selects: How Landfills Work
Well-planned landfills have only recently come into widespread use. Recently, waste managers have found that they work a little too well and now the landfill is being reinvented.
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Jul 9, 2020
Essential Oils: Nature's Cure?
Essential oils are from plants and they can help the human body in a lot of ways. There are also many false medical claims. Learn all the ins and outs today.
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Jul 8, 2020
Short Stuff: The @ Symbol
You know the at symbol? This thing: @? There’s a name for it, just not in English. We just call it the at symbol. But other countries – stand back!
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Jul 7, 2020
What was the KGB?
The KGB was the notorious strong arm of the Kremlin. Run afoul and you died. Learn all about them today.
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Jul 4, 2020
SYSK Selects: All We Know About Guessing
Guessing is a weird thing. For millennia, it could have meant the difference between life and death. Now it's not as vital, but we still do it every day, whether behind the wheel of a car, or judging what another person might be feeling. In this classic episode, learn everything we know about the brain and how it manages this odd, very human act.
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Jul 2, 2020
Oh Yes, How Soil Works
There is maybe nothing that sounds more boring than hearing two people talk about soil, but friend, prepare to be amazed at the details of what makes this amazing substance the life blood of Earth itself!
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Jul 1, 2020
Short Stuff: The Science of Funny Words
Why are some words funnier than others? Well, one man has sought to figure that out. We'll tell you all about him and his project in today's episode.
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Jun 30, 2020
Bruxism: Grinding Your Teeth Is the Pits
Researchers have noticed that as incidence of anger increases so too has teeth grinding, known clinically as bruxism. That’s a problem because when people grind their teeth, especially when they’re sleeping, they can wear them down to nubs.
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Jun 27, 2020
SYSK Selects: Juggling: What the Heck
There is a lot – A LOT – to juggling and Chuck and Josh go over the lion’s share of it in this classic episode. Delve into the deep history, physics, how-tos and different types of juggling in this surprisingly sweeping look at a putatively innocuous pastime.
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Jun 25, 2020
Matcha: That Ain't Just Tea
Matcha is something else, healthy and delicious and all the rage. Learn all about this trendy beverage today.
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Jun 24, 2020
Short Stuff: Nouns of assemblage... assemble!
A gaggle of geese. A murder of crows. Nouns of assemblage are awesome and we talk about them for about 12 minutes in today's Short Stuff installment.
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Jun 23, 2020
How Ultrasound Works
Sure you know all about ultrasound. You can see pictures of little babies right there cozy in the womb just by waving a magic plastic stick over the mom’s tummy. And magic is basically right. Believe us.
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Jun 20, 2020
SYSK Selects: Research tips from SYSK
People often ask us how we do our research. We're not going to disclose all of our secrets, but we'll give you some tips on how to root out the bad studies from the good ones. Learn all about shady studies and reporting in this classic episode!
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Jun 18, 2020
The Manhattan Grid
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Jun 17, 2020
Short Stuff: Haint Blue
Haint Blue is a kind of robin's egg color that you might commonly find on porches of the low country of the Southeastern United States. But what does it have to do with ghouls and ghosts? Listen and learn!
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Jun 16, 2020
The War on Fat: The Seven Countries Study
The Seven Countries Study was a fairly impressive, long-term study on the effects of fat in our diet, among other things. But it was very flawed and launched the misguided "War on fat." Learn all about today, then make up your own mind.
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Jun 13, 2020
SYSK Selects: How Flamethrowers Work
Who first decided that it would be a great idea to shoot flame at other people from a distance? Josh and Chuck talk about the (very) early origins, history and technology of the flamethrower in this classic episode.
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Jun 11, 2020
Can You Eat A Tapeworm To Lose Weight?
There’s a persistent insistence that you can ingest a tapeworm and as the parasite hijacks a lot of the calories you eat, the pounds will fall right off. In theory this could be true, but it’s also extremely dangerous. And has anyone ever really done it?
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Jun 10, 2020
Short Stuff: Foie Gras
Foie gras means “fatty liver” in French, which makes sense because it’s made from the overripe livers of force-fed ducks and geese.
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Jun 9, 2020
How Project Star Gate Worked
In yet another testament to how amazingly great the 70s were, in 1975 the US started a program that tried to harness the powers of clairvoyance to remotely spy on the Soviet Union. Since clairvoyance doesn’t seem to exist, it wasn’t super successful.
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Jun 6, 2020
SYSK Selects: How The Black Panther Party Worked
The Black Panther Party was a complex political movement that was unfairly painted as a militant group who hated white people. Far from it, they were actually men and women trying to affect change in their community. Their history is one of the more interesting American stories, from the early stages of policing the police to their community service efforts to their inevitable fall. Learn all about the Black Panther Party in this classic episode.
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Jun 4, 2020
The Massacre at Tiananmen Square
Tank Man. An indelible image burned in our brains. But what led to this extraordinary event? Chuck and Josh walk you through the days and weeks leading up to the massacre at Tiananmen Square, which is more of a cautionary tale than we realized.
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Jun 3, 2020
Short Stuff: Disappearing Dirty Dancing Lake
The lake from one of the all-time great movies (search your feelings, you’ll find that it’s true) is turning into a dried up mudhole. Turns out it has some unusual features.
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Jun 2, 2020
Heroin: The Drug
We've covered a lot of drugs in our history, and today we tackle heroin, one of the most dangerous of all.
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May 30, 2020
SYSK Selects: How Jackhammers Work
It’s likely that without the invention of the pneumatic jackhammer, the Industrial Revolution wouldn’t have hummed along quite so smoothly. Certainly a lot more trains would go around mountains than through them. Learn about this essential tool in this classic episode.
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May 28, 2020
How Narcolepsy Works
Narcolepsy is one of those amazing rare disorders that everyone thinks they understand – people just fall asleep at random times, even in the middle of doing something. But there’s a lot more to it and – even better – we actually may be able to explain it.
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May 27, 2020
Short Stuff: Lawn Darts
There was a time when kids had to look out for flying darts that could pierce their skulls when they played in the backyard.
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May 26, 2020
Hummingbirds: Ornery Helicopters of the Animal Kingdom
If you didn’t already know how amazing hummingbirds are, prepare to learn. Not only do they count among their numbers the smallest bird species, they are also lightning fast and have the endurance of a marathoner and a telethoner put together.
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May 23, 2020
SYSK Selects: How The Enlightenment Works
The Enlightenment stands as the moment the West withdrew from superstition and found its faith in reason. Did it shift too far? In this classic episode, learn about this massive shift in thinking which we are still sorting through and coming to understand today.
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May 22, 2020
Josh Clark's Speech from Commencement: Speeches for the Class of 2020
Hi listeners, in case you haven't heard already, iHeartRadio just released a brand new podcast called Commencement: Speeches for the Class of 2020, where we collected speeches from notable folks all over and asked them to give their best advice, thoughts and words of wisdom to graduating seniors.
In this episode of Commencement: Speeches for the Class of 2020, Josh Clark, co-host of the Stuff You Should Know podcast, divulges secrets to graduates that their parents and teachers may have neglected to tell them.
If you'd like to hear the other speeches, including ones from John Legend, Bill & Melinda Gates, Tim Cook, Katie Couric, Ryan Seacrest, Abby Wambach, and more, just search "Commencement: Speeches for the Class of 2020" in your podcasting app of choice!
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May 21, 2020
How Bras Work
Bras are loved and hated, sometimes at the same time. But as difficult and restrictive as they can be, they rescued women from a much cruel contraption: corsets. The question remains, though, do women need bras at all?
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May 20, 2020
Short Stuff: Mary Had A Little Lamb
Did you know the little nursery rhyme is controversial? It’s true: Two towns in New England can barely stand to see one another on the map (kind of).
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May 19, 2020
How Spiritualism Works
Something spooky was born on the American frontier in the mid-19th century: the idea that people’s personalities survive death and that some gifted individuals can communicate with them. It developed into a religion that some still practice today.
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May 19, 2020
Chuck Bryant's Speech from Commencement: Speeches for the Class of 2020
Hi listeners, in case you haven't heard already, iHeartRadio just released a brand new podcast called Commencement: Speeches for the Class of 2020, where we collected speeches from notable folks all over and asked them to give their best advice, thoughts and words of wisdom to graduating seniors.
In this episode, our very own Chuck Bryant reminds graduates to not let this season define them, reminding them the world believes in their ability to craft a better future for themselves.
If you'd like to hear the other speeches, including ones from John Legend, Bill & Melinda Gates, Tim Cook, Katie Couric, Ryan Seacrest, Abby Wambach, and more, just search "Commencement: Speeches for the Class of 2020" in your podcasting app of choice!
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May 16, 2020
SYSK Selects: How Fire Works
Creating fire was possibly the most important human discovery, but it's easy to take for granted. But. Josh and Chuck get to the bottom of the chemistry of fire in their quest to explain everything in the universe, in this classic episode.
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May 14, 2020
How Peanut Butter Works
No food is more all-American than peanut butter – 80 percent of homes in the country have a jar of it in the pantry right now. And while the rest of the world might find peanut butter peculiar, maybe even gross, the rest of the world is wrong.
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May 13, 2020
Short Stuff: Charley Horse
You know those terrible leg cramps that come out of nowhere? They may be named after a drunken baseball pitcher.
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May 12, 2020
How Herd Immunity Works
Herd immunity is an epidemiological concept that if enough people are inoculated against a disease the rest of us won’t get it. It’s been useful in holding back diseases like polio and measles, but we have vaccines for them. We don’t have one for Covid-19.
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May 9, 2020
SYSK Selects: How Caving Works
Entrances to the underworld have been places of wonder for eons, and humans have ventured into caves to sleep, hunt, create art and explore. Thanks to the hobby of caving, that tradition continues today. Get all this plus Chuck discussing his caving experience, in this classic episode.
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May 7, 2020
Zippers: Humans’ Greatest Invention? No, But Still Good
The zipper may be the most unsung invention we humans have ever come up with. Prior to zippers, everyone walked around like idiots with nothing but buttons to hold their clothes together. The zipper changed all that. The zipper changed everything.
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May 6, 2020
Short Stuff: Gibtown: Sideshow Central
There was a glorious time in American history when circus sideshow performers lived together in a small town in Florida. Learn about the fascinating history of Gibtown today!
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May 5, 2020
I'm Spartacus!
Spartacus was a real dude. He led a slave revolt, and was pretty successful to boot. I'm Spartacus. You're Spartacus. We are all Spartacus.
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May 2, 2020
SYSK Selects: How do dogs perceive time?
A dog that knows exactly when its owners will arrive home every day seems to have a human perception of time, but in fact, they perceive time very differently than we do. Find out more about how dogs view time in this classic episode.
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Apr 30, 2020
Agatha Christie: Queen of the Murder Mystery
Agatha Christie was a great writer of murder mystery novels and is probably the best selling author of all time. Listen in today to learn her story.
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Apr 29, 2020
Short Stuff: Mullets: 'Nuff Said
Business in the front, you know the rest. Listen in as we discuss the lifestyle choice that is the mullet.
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Apr 28, 2020
How Existential Risks Work
An existential risk is a special kind of threat that are different from other types of risks in that if one of them ever befalls us, it would spell the permanent end of humanity. It just so happens we seem to be headed for just such a kind of catastrophe.
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Apr 25, 2020
SYSK Selects: How the U.S. Postal Service Works
Back when this episode aired, the USPS was teetering on the edge of going under and there were a lot of plans on the table to save it. With the USPS again at risk now for different reasons, join Chuck and Josh as they explore the history and future of the postal service in this classic episode.
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Apr 23, 2020
How the Voyager Golden Records Work
As part of a super 70s push to get Earth to a seat at the table of the Galactic Federation (in case there is, in fact, such a thing), astronomer Carl Sagan oversaw an ambitious project to launch a compilation of Earth’s greatest hits into deep space.
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Apr 22, 2020
Short Stuff: The NY Times Crossword
Today Chuck and Josh take a shallow dive in the warm pool that is the NY Times Crossword Puzzle.
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Apr 21, 2020
The Soul Train Episode
Today, Chuck and Josh dive into the funky, cool world of the classic TV show, Sooooooooul Train.
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Apr 18, 2020
SYSK Selects: How Labor Unions Work
Yes, it's true: Unions have a shady mob-related past and were originally championed by anarchists. Born from medieval trade guilds, these organizations also helped grow the American economy, and not only protected but established workers' rights.
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Apr 16, 2020
How Wastewater Treatment Works
All that gross stuff we humans put in the water that gets flushed down the sewers has to be taken back out before that water is reintroduced to the environment. That’s the ideal, and it’s essential to staving off the imbalance people bring to the planet.
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Apr 15, 2020
Short Stuff: Turning Down the Radio When You're Lost
It’s a typical human reaction: When you’re driving and you realize that you’re lost, you turn down the radio. On its face it makes no sense – or does it? (It does.)
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Apr 14, 2020
Bidets: Now More Than Ever
We all know the benefits of bidets. But with toilet paper in short supply, they're more important than ever before.
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Apr 11, 2020
SYSK Selects: How Dissociative Identity Disorder Works
Dissociative Identity Disorder was known as multiple personality disorder until a case of mass hysteria brought on by the movie-mad public and unscrupulous psychiatrists led to a stigma over the term. Now psychiatry has gotten serious about the condition. Learn more in this classic episode.
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Apr 9, 2020
Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell, Feminist Physician
Becoming the first licensed woman physician in America was tough, convincing male surgeons to wash their hands between patients was even tougher. Today Josh and Chuck pay tribute to a genuine pioneer in medicine and society.
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Apr 8, 2020
Short Stuff: AAirpass
In the go-go 80s and 90s, American Airlines offered the AAirpass, a lifetime pass for unlimited first class travel. It was an amazing deal, but AA didn’t predict just how much some travelers would use it. They played with fire, they got burned.
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Apr 7, 2020
The Legends of Lost Nazi Gold
As if being murdering SOBs weren’t enough, the Nazis were also thieving rats. During WWII, they stole billons in gold from countries they overran and moved it to Germany. But at the end of the war, only part of it was recovered. Where’s the rest?
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Apr 4, 2020
SYSK Selects: How the Deep Web Works
Perhaps you didn’t realize that when you search the web you’re only skimming the surface. In fact, the types of web pages that turn up in your search engine results represent only a mere fraction of the total web. Immerse yourself in the Deep web and its dark corners in this classic episode.
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Apr 2, 2020
Student Loans: UGH!
Student loans can be pretty complicated. Luckily Chuck and Josh are here to wade through the financial muck for you.
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Apr 1, 2020
Short Stuff: 666
Today, Chuck and Josh dive into that scary number...666.
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Mar 31, 2020
How Dog Training Works
Chuck and Josh explore the age-old question: Should you train your dog by treating it like a living, feeling being or should you beat them up and break their spirit?
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Mar 28, 2020
SYSK Selects: Can Nuclear Fusion Reactors Save The World?
The world’s energy consumption is ruining the planet but for decades physicists have been working on what could solve the world’s energy and climate change woes for centuries to come – nuclear fusion. Learn about building stars on Earth in this classic episode.
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Mar 26, 2020
How COVID-19 Works
We’re in the middle of an odd, tense time and Josh and Chuck are here to explain what’s going on and how to stay safe.
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Mar 25, 2020
Short Stuff: Dagen H
One day in 1967, Sweden changed what side of the road its citizens drive on. It went surprisingly well, considering.
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Mar 24, 2020
Could A Robot Tax Win the War on Poverty?
An old idea – giving every resident of a country a set amount of money every month with no strings attached – became a hot item in Silicon Valley and on the 2020 campaign trail. Could it alleviate the impending job loss coming from automation?
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Mar 21, 2020
SYSK Selects: Virus Talk with Josh and Chuck
Viruses are big jerks that invade regular cells and hold them hostage, making you sick while they're doing it. Learn everything you ever needed to know about viruses, including how the common cold works, in this classic episode.
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Mar 20, 2020
SYSK Distraction Playlist: How Jim Henson Worked
We’ve already recorded an episode on The Muppets, but Jim Henson was such a neat guy we delved into him even further. Learn all about the man behind the Muppets who was so much more than just a master puppeteer in this episode.
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Mar 20, 2020
SYSK Distraction Playlist: SYSK Live: How Bars Work
Join Josh and Chuck live from Vancouver as they dive in to the ins and outs of one of the oldest businesses in the world – the bar! Learn about the history of bars, cocktails and the good people who put them together in new and amazing ways.
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Mar 20, 2020
SYSK Distraction Playlist: How Grass Works? Yes, How Grass Works
There’s nothing more boring than watching grass grow, which is why Josh and Chuck aren’t asking you to do that. Instead, you can learn about all sorts of neat things about grass - like how American became obsessed with perfect lawns - in this episode.
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Mar 20, 2020
SYSK Distraction Playlist: How Terraforming Will Work
A lot of great thinkers are warning that if humans are to survive as a species we are going to have to find another planet to live on. Terraforming, or engineering a planet to maintain all of the ingredients to sustain life, seems to be the answer.
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Mar 20, 2020
SYSK Distraction Playlist: How Rogue Waves Work
Rogue waves come out of nowhere and tower as much as 100 feet over hapless ships they encounter, breaking across the boat and frequently breaking the boat and its inhabitants. Investigate the mystery of rouge waves in this episode.
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Mar 20, 2020
SYSK Distraction Playlist: Was there a real King Arthur?
The legend of King Arthur is very old and very established. By the time the king who saved Britain and united it was first written about, his story was already hundreds of years old. And while many of the details of his life and adventures, from the Lady of the Lake to Merlin the Magician, seem fictional some archaeologists believe that Arthur -- and much of his life -- was real.
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Mar 20, 2020
SYSK Distraction Playlist: The Amazing History of Soda
The soda we get instantly mixed at a fast-food joint owes a lot to a rich history going back to the Roman baths, that features drugs, diseases and explosions. Learn all about soda and soda fountains in this surprisingly interesting episode.
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Mar 20, 2020
SYSK Distraction Playlist: How Rodney Dangerfield Worked, Live From LA
Other comedians cry on the inside, but Rodney Dangerfield built his entire act around his sad life. Get to know this legendary comic who was nearing 50 when he got his break.
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Mar 20, 2020
SYSK Distraction Playlist: How Pinball Works
Pinball was actually illegal until the 1970s in NY and other cities, hidden in the backs of pornography shops. The game was finally legalized, thanks to a Babe Ruth-style shot by the best player in the world. Learn all about it with Josh and Chuck.
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Mar 20, 2020
SYSK Distraction Playlist: Sugar: It Powers the Earth
Since sugar spread from Polynesia a few thousand years ago, the world has been crazy for it. Insanely high prices, wars and even slavery couldn't undo world's need for a sugar fix. Today that fix is responsible for the obesity epidemic facing the West.
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Mar 19, 2020
What was the Falkland Islands War all about anyway?
The battle between Britain and Argentina over the rocky, cold Falkland Islands is one of the weirder wars in history. Learn all about it today!
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Mar 18, 2020
Short Stuff: The Pledge of Allegiance
The American Pledge of Allegiance is much more interesting than you might think. Give us 12 minutes and we'll fill you in.
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Mar 17, 2020
Chopsticks > Forks
Today Chuck and Josh sit and converse on the simple, elegant chopstick.
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Mar 14, 2020
SYSK Selects: How Monopoly Works
Since more than 1 billion people have played it, you’re probably familiar with the board game Monopoly, but we bet you don’t know its secret origins as a left-wing socialist teaching tool. Join Josh and Chuck as they chase it down in this classic episode.
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Mar 12, 2020
How Ice Climbing Works
A few decades ago, some people who liked to climb mountains decided they wanted to make it even harder and ice climbing was born. If you think rock climbing is difficult, put on your base layer and join Josh and Chuck on the glacier.
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Mar 11, 2020
Short Stuff: Teresita Basa
In the annals of American justice there is a 1977 case where the police were tipped off to the identity of a murderer by a woman who said she was possessed by the victim.
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Mar 10, 2020
How Coyotes Work
The coyote truly is wily. Even after a century-long attempt to drive them to extinction, this close relative of domesticated dogs not only hung onto survival, but actually doubled its range and expanded its population. Coyotes are here to stay.
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Mar 7, 2020
SYSK Selects: How Gold Works
As of early 2013, only 161,00 metric tons of gold had been mined in the entire history of the world. Considering about 85 percent of it is recycled, there's a decent chance your jewelry may once have been part of an Incan headdress or Mycenaean face mask. Dive in to gold in this classic episode.
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Mar 5, 2020
Mardi Gras! One month late
In true SYSK fashion, Josh and Chuck are late to the game. But never fear, they will still detail Mardi Gras in all its colorful glory.
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Mar 4, 2020
Short Stuff: Exclamation Points!
We all use them! But did we always? NO!! Learn all about everyone's favorite punctuation mark today!
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Mar 3, 2020
How Morphic Fields Work?
Biologist and science historian Rupert Sheldrake is known as a heretic of science, mostly for his deeply strange ideas about what connects all living things. But his pokes at science help keep the field from growing dogmatic and for that we salute him.
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Feb 29, 2020
SYSK Selects: Your limb is torn off - now what?
Were you to be the unfortunate victim of a limb removal of any sort, you could take hope. Here in the 21st century, doctors have gotten pretty handy at reattaching arms and legs, replacing thumbs with toes, rebuilding breasts, all to great success thanks to microsurgery techniques.
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Feb 27, 2020
Sammy Davis Jr: National Treasure
Today Josh and Chuck sit down and detail the complicated life of the late, great Sammy Davis Jr.
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Feb 26, 2020
Short Stuff: Hawaiian Night Marchers
Get ready for some Hawaiian folklore, people. Today we discuss the Night Marchers.
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Feb 25, 2020
What's the deal with indigo?
Indigo is a color with a rich past. Learn all about it today.
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Feb 22, 2020
SYSK Selects: How Cult Deprogramming Works
The fear of cults in the 1970s drove Americans to look the other way on kidnappings, abuse and torture of cult members by deprogrammers – but did it even work? Find out in this classic episode.
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Feb 20, 2020
Birthmarks: Probably Not the Mark of the Devil
It’s a pretty safe assumption that people have been born with birthmarks since humanity began, and between then and now we’ve come up with some wacky, even dangerous, explanations for them – even a few that survive still today.
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Feb 19, 2020
Short Stuff: Mexican Jumping Beans
Mexican jumping beans are a real thing and they really do move around. It’s not magic, it’s nature!
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Feb 18, 2020
The Unsolved Indiana Dunes Disappearances
In July 1966, three women out for a day at the beach waded into the water of Lake Michigan, got onto a boat and were never heard from again. To this day, not a trace of them has ever turned up and theories of what became of them abound.
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Feb 15, 2020
SYSK Selects: A Podcast on Zoot Suits? Yes
Few riots can be attributed to passing fashions, but zoot suits are top among them. After originating among the Harlem Renaissance crowd, the zoot suit came to symbolize political defiance. Find out why it's still illegal to wear a zoot suit in L.A. in this classic episode.
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Feb 13, 2020
911 Is Not a Joke
Josh and Chuck delve into the world of 911 in today's episode.
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Feb 12, 2020
Short Stuff: Body Under The Bed
A couple unknowingly spending the night above a dead body stuffed under their bed is a longstanding urban legend. And a true one.
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Feb 11, 2020
Optogenetics: Controlling Your Genes with Light
What if a genetic brain disease could be turned off simply by flashing a light in your eyes? What if your depression could be cured that way? Sounds amazingly wonderful, true, but what if your behavior could be controlled that way too?
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Feb 8, 2020
SYSK Selects: How Bonsai Works
For thousands of years people have been taking normal trees and forcing them into miniature. Learn all about the history and art of this strangely engrossing pastime in this classic episode.
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Feb 6, 2020
Why are Pentecostals growing so rapidly?
Pentecostals are seemingly taking over the world. Or at least they're making up a larger section of Christianity than every before. Why? We'll dig in on that in today's episode.
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Feb 5, 2020
Short Stuff: The Iowa Caucus
The Iowa Caucus is super important. But not really. Find out why.
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Feb 4, 2020
How AI Facial Recognition Works
With the development of increasingly smart artificial intelligence and lots more cameras spread around than ever before, we have reached a critical point in the US and other countries where governments can easily track everyone, everywhere, all the time.
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Feb 1, 2020
SYSK Selects: How Maglev Trains Work
Thanks to the amazing properties of magnets, clever engineers have figured out how to make entire trains levitate above their tracks, letting them move frictionlessly and allowing them to reach incredible speeds. Learn about how maglev trains work and what's taking so long for us to get aboard in this classic episode.
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Jan 30, 2020
Who were the Buffalo Soldiers?
Josh and Chuck dive into history today to tell the story of the Buffalo Soldiers.
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Jan 29, 2020
Short Stuff: The O.K. Corral
Listen in as we detail, in short, the legendary shootout at the O.K. Corral.
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Jan 28, 2020
Amazing Animal Stories!
Regular animal stories are wonderful enough, but when animals lead amazing lives the stories become almost unbearably wonderful. You’ve been warned!
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Jan 25, 2020
SYSK Selects: How the Scientific Method Works
It evolved over centuries to become the gold standard for conducting scientific inquiry. Yet many people - including some scientists - don't fully understand it. Learn about the basis of how we explore our world in this classic episode.
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Jan 23, 2020
Barefoot Running: The Best Podcast Episode in History
What is barefoot running? I think you know. But we'll detail all of the ins and outs. Listen and learn!
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Jan 22, 2020
Short Stuff: Byford Dolphin Incident
In 1983, what may be the worst diving catastrophe in the history of deep sea oil exploration took place when a pressurized chamber was opened, instantly killing four divers inside.
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Jan 21, 2020
Why Postal Employees Go Postal
1993 was known as the peak of a disturbing trend in America: post office shootings, carried out by postal workers. A stunned country looked for answers and turned up a toxic workplace that seemed to be driving some workers past their breaking point.
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Jan 18, 2020
SYSK Selects: How the Placebo Effect Works
For centuries, doctors have prescribed drugs they knew weren't real – but that still somehow worked. It wasn't until the 1980s that the placebo effect was studied. Learn all about how an inert substance can have a genuine impact on a patient's recovery, in this classic episode.
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Jan 16, 2020
The Tulsa 'Race Riots'
In reality, the Tulsa "race riots" of 1921 was more like a massacre. Yet it was almost lost to history until 1997, and still not widely known outside of Oklahoma until HBO's The Watchmen put it on the cultural map. Learn all about this dark chapter in American history today.
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Jan 15, 2020
Short Stuff: The Mona Lisa
The Mona Lisa is a captivating work of art. But why? We'll try and figure it out in today's short stuff.
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Jan 14, 2020
Transdermal Implants: Body Art or Nightmare Fuel?
Transdermal implants are just one in a number of procedures under the banner of extreme body modification. We don't like to yuk yums, so we'll offer a fairly straightforward look at this niche art form.
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Jan 11, 2020
SYSK Selects: Jellyfish - Even Cooler Than Octopi?
Jellyfish are among the most adaptable, competitive organisms on the planet. They can grow back into their juvenile stage when resources are scarce, reproduce in massive groups and kill an adult human, among lots of other neat stuff. Learn all about em in this classic episode!
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Jan 9, 2020
The Disappearance of Flight MH370, Part II
In the absence of an official explanation of why flight MH 370 disappeared in 2014, conjecture and conspiracy theories have filled the vacuum.
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Jan 8, 2020
Short Stuff: Corduroy
Learn 12 minutes worth of stuff about corduroy today!
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Jan 7, 2020
The Disappearance of Flight MH370, Part I
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.
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Jan 4, 2020
SYSK Selects: Will Computers Replace Doctors?
With savvy and health-conscious people taking control of their wellbeing through apps and sites, technology is meeting the desire for individuals' responsibility for their health. But is the day coming soon when doctors will be obsolete, replaced by computers that read our health-related data to treat us? We explore these questions and more in this classic episode.
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Jan 2, 2020
How Safecracking Works
Burglars have come up with a whole range of ways to get into a safe. There’s lock manipulation – methodically testing the dial to coax the combination from it – and if that fails you can always blow it open with nitroglycerin. Both count as safecracking.
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Jan 1, 2020
Short Stuff: Why Does Time Speed Up As You Age?
It’s not just you – time really does seem to pass faster for people as we age. But exactly why remains a mystery, though some of the theories for why life passes by so quickly are make a lot of sense.
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Dec 31, 2019
Are broken arrows a problem?
Are broken arrows are a problem? After all, they are incidents and accidents involving nuclear warheads. Like, sometimes they go missing. But it hasn't happened much since the 50s and 60s. OR HAS IT? Learn all about them today.
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Dec 28, 2019
SYSK Selects: How Wine Fraud Works
Wine fraud may be a case of rich con artists tricking wealthy people into parting with money, but it's still a crime. Learn all about this weird, widespread practice in this classic episode.
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Dec 26, 2019
SYSK Live: Andre the Giant
Andre the Giant was a giant both figuratively and literally. Sure he was a wrestler, but more than that he was a human being who left a great legacy behind. Even if you're not a wrestling fan, you can appreciate his story. Join us for this very special live edition of the story of Andre the Giant.
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Dec 25, 2019
Short Stuff: The Santa Claus Association
If a con man manages to make needy Christmas wishes come true is he still a con man? (Also, Merry Christmas!)
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Dec 24, 2019
The SYSK Holiday Spectacular
It's an annual treat, folks. Our holiday special is back and better than ever, and as always, brought to you ad-free. It's the least we can do.
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Dec 21, 2019
SYSK Selects: The Star Wars Holiday Special of 1978
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 be fully explained, but we make our best effort in a very special edition of SYSK. May the force be with us all.
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Dec 19, 2019
Cave Diving: Totally Nuts
There are extreme sports and then there is cave diving, the most extreme activity a person can engage in without leaving Earth. Cave divers stay underwater swimming miles into – that’s right – caves, where no human has ever been before. It’s pretty cool.
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Dec 18, 2019
Short Stuff: Obituaries
Learn everything we know about obituaries in 12 minutes!
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Dec 17, 2019
MC Escher and His Trippy Art
We love us some MC Escher. Turns out his story is pretty fascinating too. Tune in today.
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Dec 14, 2019
SYSK Selects: How Currency Works
Even if you entirely eschew the concept of money, we'll bet you'd be hard pressed not to trade in some form of currency. Learn how everything from cows to cacao beans to tiny shells from Maldives have served as currency at some time or another.
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Dec 12, 2019
How Anorexia and Bulimia Work
Anorexia and bulimia - those twin eating disorders that seem so common and maybe even just a phase for a teenage girl – are actually the deadliest mental illnesses in America. Cultivating an eating disorder can create issues that can last a lifetime.
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Dec 11, 2019
Short Stuff: Whisky or Bourbon?
What's the difference between whisky and bourbon? We'll tell you if you care to listen.
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Dec 10, 2019
Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Gin
If there's one thing we've learned about Chuck over the years it's that he loves his gin. And he loves it even more now that understands it. Pour yourself a martini and cozy up to the gin-cast.
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Dec 7, 2019
SYSK Selects: How Amnesia Works
Those movies where someone gets hit on the head and can't remember who they are anymore? They're actually not too far off from the reality of amnesia. Learn everything about this bizarre and life-robbing condition with Josh and Chuck in this classic episode.
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Dec 5, 2019
What's a gap year anyway?
Chuck thought a gap year was post college. Turns out, it's a post high school year off from academics, where you travel the world, help others, and find yourself. Should you do it? We say "yes!" If you can afford it that is.
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Dec 4, 2019
Short Stuff: Macadamia Nuts
Macadamia nuts aren't nuts! They're seeds! And they are delicious. And good for you in the right amount. Learn all about them today.
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Dec 3, 2019
Did Climate Cause the Collapse of the Maya?
After millennia of development, the Maya culture suddenly collapsed at its peak. Why is one of the biggest mysteries of history. One theory says catastrophic climate change was the cause. And it may have happened to other cultures too.
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Nov 30, 2019
SYSK Selects: Fractals - Whoa
In the 1980s, IBM mathematician Benoit Mandelbrot gazed for the first time upon his famous fractal. What resulted was a revolution in math and geometry and our understanding of the infinite, not to mention how we see Star Trek II. Get blown away by fractals in this classic episode.
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Nov 28, 2019
How Conversion Therapy Doesn't Work
Conversion therapy is a misguided attempt by religious zealots to convert people from gay to straight. News flash - it doesn't work. Learn all about this abhorrent practice today.
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Nov 27, 2019
Short Stuff: Niagara Falls Dewatered
In 1969, the Army Corps of Engineers turned off one of the main waterfalls at Niagara Falls to see what could be done to preserve it. They found two corpses, one carcass and lots of pennies.
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Nov 26, 2019
How Carbon-14 Dating Works
Some of the carbon dioxide in your body is radioactive! Don’t worry, it won’t harm you (not sure why we used an exclamation point there). Instead, it might someday be detected by future archaeologists to determine how long ago you walked the Earth.
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Nov 23, 2019
SYSK Selects: Have all the good ideas already been discovered?
It's no secret that human beings have an obsession with innovation -- but has our species already found every good idea? As Josh and Chuck break down the continuing search for the next great idea, they touch on everything from hand tools to cancer cures.
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Nov 21, 2019
What Makes a Must-Have Christmas Toy?
Ever since Cabbage Patch Kids came along in 1983, there’s been an annual holiday frenzy around one particular toy – the must-have Christmas toy of the year. But what makes a toy a must-have toy? Josh and Chuck investigate (and kick off the holidays).
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Nov 20, 2019
Short Stuff: Backyard Burials
Time was that you’d bury a deceased relative in your yard; now it’s just weird. But it’s still legal – and if you want to do it, here’s how!
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Nov 19, 2019
The Murder Mystery of Ötzi the Iceman
About 5,300 years ago a Copper Age shepherd was murdered. He just happened to die in a place where his body was so well preserved that gave researchers an actual shot at determining the course of his final day on Earth.
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Nov 16, 2019
SYSK Selects: How Salt Works
A Roman senator once said, "Mankind can live without gold, but not without salt." Right he was. The human body needs salt so much we have developed a taste for it specifically. But too much salt can be toxic. Learn about salt's role in human history and how we get it from the Earth in this classic episode.
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Nov 14, 2019
NYC Water: An Engineering Marvel
Getting the rain and melted snow from upstate NY into the taps of every NYC resident and business is one of the great feats of engineering. Does it taste great and make perfect bagels and pizza crust? Sources say yes!
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Nov 13, 2019
Short Stuff: The Conch Republic
Back in 1982, Key West seceded from the United States. Don’t believe us? It’s true! Just listen to the episode, will you?
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Nov 12, 2019
Augmented Reality: Coming Soon?
Augmented reality adds a digital layer over the real world and soon it will revolutionize how we live. Ultra-tailored information will be everywhere we look, creating a richer, more personalized experience in everything from surgery to walking down the street.
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Nov 9, 2019
SYSK Selects: Can you Treat Mental Illness with Psychedelics?
Hallucinogenic drugs are currently illegal, but they were once commonly used in psychological treatment. In this classic episode, Josh and Chuck discuss the rise and fall of psychedelics in treating mood disorders -- and why they're starting to gain favor again.
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Nov 7, 2019
Cockney Rhyming Slang: Beautiful Gibberish
What is Cockney Rhyming Slang? It's complicated and its origins are unclear. Learn everything we know about it today.
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Nov 6, 2019
How Ironman Triathlons Work
Sure, you could train for months to finish a marathon, but why not make things interesting? Ironman triathlons add a 2.4-mile swim and a 112-mile bike race before the marathon leg. It’s as grueling as it sounds.
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Nov 6, 2019
Short Stuff: The History of Paternity Testing
Paternity testing. It wasn't science for many years, yet they still tried to do it. Learn all about it in 12 minutes.
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Nov 2, 2019
SYSK Selects: Halitosis - Worst Smell Ever?
Occasional bad breath is one thing, halitosis is another. Or is it? From its odd origins as a marketing ploy to modern weight loss diets that can induce this embarrassing condition, you can learn all about bad breath in this classic episode.
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Oct 31, 2019
SYSK’s Scare Your Socks Off Halloween Spooktacular 2019
Josh and Chuck chose a truly unsettling story by one of the greatest science fiction authors of all time – Philip K Dick. Join the boys as they read “The Hanging Stranger,” complete with scary sound effects by the Extraordinary Jeri!
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Oct 30, 2019
Short Stuff: Our Shortie Halloween Spooktacular
Join us today as we read three short horror selections from Ambrose Bierce.
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Oct 29, 2019
Where Did Trick-Or-Treating Come From?
We aren’t exactly sure who invented trick-or-treating – kids who realized they could extort adults for candy, or adults who bought off kids in exchange for laying off pranks? The bigger question is: Will trick-or-treating survive the 21st century?
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Oct 26, 2019
SYSK Selects: How Haunted House Attractions Work
Ever since the Egyptians, humans have been evolving toward haunted house attractions. The level of sophistication in the scares and gore effects continues to rise over time, but the purpose remains the same: to scare the pants off you.
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Oct 24, 2019
How Historic Districts Work
A fascinating thing about Americans is that we can disagree on anything. Such is the case with historic districts – areas of historic importance protected by local laws. Seems innocuous, but are they also to blame for the affordable housing crisis?
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Oct 23, 2019
Short Stuff: The Toxic Death of Gloria Ramirez
In 1994 the body of a woman who died in a California ER somehow became toxic and sickened 24 people. To this day, no one is sure what happened.
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Oct 22, 2019
What's the deal with subpoenas?
Subpoenas are all the rage. But what do they even mean if someone can just ignore it? Learn this and a lot more in today's episode.
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Oct 19, 2019
SYSK Selects: The 'Satanic Panic' of the 1980s
In the late 1980s, the United States experienced a "Satanic Panic," leading parents to fear for the safety of their children. But were there any real examples of Satanic ritual abuse? Find out this and more in this classic episode.
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Oct 17, 2019
How Project Blue Book Worked, Pt II
A rash of UFO sightings kicks off a new spike in America’s UFO fever and new headaches for the Air Force, which continues to reluctantly investigate. After becoming a laughingstock for its limp explanations, the Air Force looks for an exit from the UFO biz.
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Oct 16, 2019
Short Stuff: The Disappearance of Ambrose Bierce
Ambrose Bierce was a journalist and writer of short stories. He also disappeared rather mysteriously. Listen in and learn of the various theories on what happened to him.
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Oct 15, 2019
How Project Blue Book Worked, Pt I
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Oct 12, 2019
SYSK Selects: How Black Boxes Work
Black boxes are designed to be the only survivor of plane crashes so they can live to tell the tale of what went wrong to prevent future accidents. Sit in with Josh and Chuck and learn about how these grim devices are made, how they're tested and the tales they've told, in this classic episode.
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Oct 10, 2019
The Ins and Outs of Beekeeping
Who wants fresh honey? We do! Learn all about the ancient art of beekeeping today.
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Oct 9, 2019
Short Stuff: The Devil's Den
The Devil's Den is the sight of one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War. Is it haunted? Nope. But still creepy.
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Oct 8, 2019
How Environmental Psychology Works
In the 60s, psychology expanded from exploring inside the mind to exploring the inside of buildings. Environmental psychology looks at how our spaces affect us – from how a busy mall can create a panic attack to how looking at nature can speed recovery from surgery.
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Oct 5, 2019
SYSK Selects: How Pez Works
PEZ began in Vienna as a mint meant to help people quit smoking. But once American kids got ahold of it, the candy took off and a symbol of childhood - and healthy secondary market among collectors - was born. Explore Pez history and culture with Josh and Chuck in this classic episode.
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Oct 3, 2019
What were the Freedom Schools?
Freedom Schools were set up in Mississippi in the heart of the Civil Rights Movement, with the aim of giving young black school children agency and a future. They remain one of the more inspiring and progressive programs in American History, yet so few know about them. We're hoping to change that.
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Oct 2, 2019
Short Stuff: Fish n' Chips
How did these two wonderful strangers meet up and become best friends? The answers lie within today's short stuff.
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Oct 1, 2019
Guardian Angels: Behind the Red Beret
If you grew up in the 1980s, then you know who the Guardian Angels are. If you don't then you're in for quite a story. Listen in!
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Sep 28, 2019
SYSK Selects: What Happened at Kent State?
On May 4, 1970, four days of anti-war protests at Kent State University in Ohio culminated in the unthinkable when Ohio guardsmen opened fire on protesters, killing four students. How could this tragedy take place? Learn more in this classic episode.
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Sep 26, 2019
What are paraphilias?
Josh and Chuck dive into the world of paraphilias so you can get the skinny in 45 minutes or less.
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Sep 25, 2019
Short Stuff: Dare Stones
What happened to the Lost Colonists who disappeared from Roanoke Island in the 1580s remains a mystery to this day. But it’s possible a carved stone a man vacationing in North Carolina found in the 1930s may have solved it – if the stone isn’t a hoax.
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Sep 24, 2019
We Are Running Out of Sand and That Actually Matters
Sand, we’re beginning to realize, is a non-renewable resource - and we are consuming it at a voracious pace. We use it in every construction project around the world and to create new land. And we’re wrecking the ecosystems we mine sand from.
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Sep 21, 2019
SYSK Selects: Could You Live Without a Refrigerator?
Do you know that hulking refrigerator in your kitchen emits CO2 thanks to the electricity it uses each year? It's a comparatively small amount, in truth, but enough that some people have foresworn their fridge and adopted a life without one. See how they do it in this classic episode.
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Sep 19, 2019
How the US Interstate System Works
Wait! This is actually a good episode! It turns out that America’s 48,000 miles of superhighways – possibly the largest civil works project in the history of humanity – may have also ruined what made America a cool place.
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Sep 18, 2019
Short Stuff: Scurvy
Scurvy seems like a terrible way to go: Your gums swell so you can’t eat, your teeth fall out and your brain and/or heart hemorrhages. Fortunately, all you need is an orange to cure you. Or some – blech – broccoli.
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Sep 17, 2019
The Skinny on Lyme Disease
If you live in the Northeastern U.S. then you may know someone who has had Lyme disease. But it's spreading all over the country and parts of the world. Learn all about this tick-borne disease today.
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Sep 14, 2019
SYSK Selects: How Wills Work
Whether it's oral, scrawled in blood or signed on a deathbed everyone should have a will. But how do they actually work? Join Chuck and Josh as they explain that "of sound mind" thing in this classic episode.
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Sep 12, 2019
Special Effects: A Short History
Special effects have been around since the first movies. In fact, the techniques the earliest filmmakers created are still around today, we just use computers to do them faster and cheaper. Put on your beret and get ready for SYSK film class.
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Sep 11, 2019
Short Stuff: Papasan Chairs
Oh, the papasan. What a chair! But where did it come from? And what does the name mean? The answers lie within.
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Sep 10, 2019
How Government Shutdowns Work
Every year Congress decides how the federal government will spend money. Simple enough, but in practice politics tend to mess it up. Sometimes it gets so messy the budget doesn’t get passed and parts of the government shut down. Then the hurting begins.
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Sep 7, 2019
SYSK Selects: How Ouija Boards Work
Although most people who've used Ouija boards don't think they're communicating with the beyond, there is something mysterious about how it works. Learn the ins and outs of the popular parlor game that sprang directly from the 19th-century spiritualism movement in this classic episode.
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Sep 5, 2019
What's the deal with MSG?
MSG got a bad rap in the 70s and 80s. But what is it exactly and how bad is it for you? The answers to those questions lie within.
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Sep 4, 2019
Short Stuff: Barbed Wire
Barbed wire changed the Western US as much as the railroad and the six-shooter. Before barbed wire arrived, the West was free and open; after, the West became concentrated in the hands of a few big ranchers. No wonder it was called “devil’s rope.”
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Sep 3, 2019
Ed Gein: The Serial Killer's Serial Killer
Any movie featuring a deranged killer who’s perversely devoted to his mother and makes things out of human skin has a real-life person named Ed Gein to thank for inspiration. He was Buffalo Bill, Norman Bates, and Leatherface all rolled into one.
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Aug 31, 2019
SYSK Selects: How Icebergs Work
Icebergs: floating chunks of ice. True, but whoa there. Scientists are learning that there's a lot more to icebergs. Appropriately enough, we've only come to understand the tip of the iceberg and recent research shows there's plenty more to uncover.
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Aug 29, 2019
The Rubik's Cube Episode
Rubik's Cubes. Ronald Reagan. Jerry Falwell. Just Say No. One of these things was awesome. Take a guess and hop on board the 80s train.
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Aug 28, 2019
Short Stuff: Dead Bodies and Airline Codes
Did you know there are airline codes for pilots and flight attendants? And some of them have to do with dead bodies on board? Learn all about it today!
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Aug 27, 2019
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.
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Aug 24, 2019
SYSK Selects: How Sleepwalking Works
Sleep behaviors are pretty fascinating. Some people snore, some grind their teeth -- and some take a little stroll, or perhaps a drive. In this classic episode, Josh and Chuck investigate how sleepwalking, or somnambulism, works.
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Aug 22, 2019
How Ventriloquism Works
Ventriloquism – where a skilled performer “throws” their voice, making it seem like a dummy on their knee is talking – has taken a long, circuitous road from early prophets, to witches, then finally to the stage. Get to the bottom of this uncanny trick.
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Aug 21, 2019
Short Stuff: Horseshoe Crab Blood
Perhaps the most expensive liquid on the planet is the blue blood that comes from horseshoe crabs. Researchers realized that horseshoe crab blood could indicate the presence of pathogens and the massive, ongoing horseshoe crab harvest began.
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Aug 20, 2019
Nuclear Semiotics: How to Talk to Future Humans
The nuclear waste we produce will be dangerous for a very long time. We’ve figured out how to safely store it in the earth until it’s no longer a biohazard. Now we just have to figure out how to warn humans 10,000 years in the future to stay away from it.
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Aug 17, 2019
SYSK Selects: Are We in a Cyberwar?
There's a secret war going on around us, and it's happening on a daily basis. The Air Force has a unit specifically designed to carry out and defend against cyberwar. Go deep into this alarming type of war in this classic episode.
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Aug 15, 2019
How Peyote Works
Josh and Chuck have tackled a lot of drugs on the show, but peyote has loomed like a bad Jim Morrison poem. Learn all about this plant today.
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Aug 14, 2019
Short Stuff: Petrichor
You know that amazing smell when it rains? Kind of clean, kind of earthy, one of a kind? It turns out that a miracle of nature produces it.
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Aug 13, 2019
Solar Power: The Future or What?
We’ve been promised solar energy for a while now – where is it? Turns out, it’s been quietly and steadily growing across the world. And with a few breakthroughs, we just may be able to say goodbye to fossil fuels. Learn about sun-based energy in this episode.
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Aug 10, 2019
SYSK Selects: What Is a Shotgun House?
Shotgun houses are iconic pieces of American architecture: they're long, narrow, and filled with artistic flourishes. But where did they come from? Join Chuck and Josh and explore the mysterious origins of shotgun houses.
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Aug 8, 2019
Iran-Contra Affair: Shady in the 80s, Part 2
As the operation expands it also begins to unravel. Word starts to leak out of the illegal stuff the Reagan administration was up to, Congress and the press investigate and people start to point fingers. Spoiler alert – they all got off scot free.
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Aug 7, 2019
Short Stuff: Time Zones
Time zones are a pain. Let's get rid of them! Can we? Sure!
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Aug 6, 2019
Iran-Contra Affair: Shady in the 80s, Part 1
When Ronald Reagan was president, America got involved in some deeply shady stuff, not the least of which was the Iran-Contra scandal – a convoluted operation that managed to combine an illegal covert war in Nicaragua with secretly selling arms to Iran.
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Aug 3, 2019
SYSK Selects: How the Black Death Worked
The Black Death was gruesome: Symptoms included tumors, purple splotches, fevers and vomiting. But how did this disease manage to spread from the Gobi desert and kill approximately one-third of the population of 14th-century Europe? Find out in this classic episode.
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Aug 1, 2019
What Were the BONE WARS?
A pair of old timey fossil hunters had a rootin’ tootin’ rivalry that spilled from academic journals into the American Wild West - where fossils were dynamited and employees turned double agent. Learn about the two-fisted origins of American paleontology.
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Jul 31, 2019
Short Stuff: The Man Who Didn’t Eat for a Year
In 1965, a 456-pound man walked into a hospital in Scotland and asked for help with a fast. That was the last day he ate for more than a year. Learn about the medical marvel that was Angus Barbieri.
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Jul 30, 2019
Will Deepfakes Ruin the World?
Very recently, thanks to a new type of AI, it’s gotten much easier to create convincingly realistic videos of people saying and doing things they’ve never said or done. Will fake videos undermine our shared sense of reality and lead to the death of truth?
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Jul 27, 2019
SYSK Selects: How Human Cannonballs Work
There's no question that human cannonballs are daredevils. They pack themselves into the confines of huge cannons, which shoot them into the air. But how does it work? Join Josh and Chuck to learn more about the bizarre performances of human cannonballs.
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Jul 25, 2019
How Eyewitness Testimony Works(?)
Few things are more compelling than a witness pointing out a defendant in the courtroom as the perpetrator. But few things are also more unreliable than eyewitness testimony. Our memories can be pretty terrible, which matters when you’re facing death row.
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Jul 24, 2019
Short Stuff: Aristides de Sousa Mendes
This week we highlight another little known historical hero. In this case, a Portuguese diplomat who rescued people from Nazi Germany, at his own peril. Dig in and spread the word of Aristides de Sousa Mendes.
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Jul 23, 2019
MOVE: Or When the Philly Police Dropped a Bomb on a Residential Neighborhood
Believe it or not, in 1985 the Philadelphia Police Department dropped a bomb from a helicopter onto a residential building in an African-American neighborhood. The fact that this story isn't more widely known says it all. Listen and learn about MOVE today.
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Jul 20, 2019
SYSK Selects: How Crack Works
Back in the mid-1980s a new and extremely potent drug hit the scene: crack cocaine. In short order, America was in the grip of both a sweeping addiction and a state of hysteria over use of the drug and the social consequences of crack, like crack babies. Let's take a look back at the receding wave of the crack epidemic and its lasting legacy on America in this classic episode.
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Jul 18, 2019
Sand Dunes: They Are What You Think They Are
Sand dunes are exactly what you think they are. But still pretty interesting. Learn all about them right now!
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Jul 17, 2019
Short Stuff: Yellow Rain
After the Vietnam War, the Hmong people told the world a toxic weapon was being used on them. Thus began a mystery that still remains today, which might have been solved when it was chalked up to bee poop.
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Jul 16, 2019
How Going to the Moon Works
Fifty years ago, the first humans stepped onto the moon. After going back a few more times, humanity lost its taste for moon travel. But it’s being revived again. NASA is planning to send humans back to the moon by 2024 and build a moon base by 2028.
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Jul 13, 2019
SYSK Selects: Duels - A Guide to Throwing Down the Gauntlet
Pretty much everything you know about duels is true - it's a challenge to violence to defend honor. But did you know the U.S. Navy used to publish detailed guidelines in its midshipmen's handbook? Learn all there is to know about dueling in this classic episode.
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Jul 11, 2019
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 might be an adaptation that protects them from predators? Sloths are awesome and we prove it.
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Jul 10, 2019
Short Stuff: The Coconut Cult
Why we love short stuff - because we can tell stories like this one. A man goes to an island to start a commune of sorts that subsists entirely on coconuts. It didn't go well.
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Jul 9, 2019
Cleopatra: Ms. Understood
One of the great misunderstood figures in history was the last pharaoh of Egypt. Cleopatra’s story is almost always told along with the men in her life, and from the view of the Romans who were threatened by her. Unsurprisingly, there was lot more to her.
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Jul 6, 2019
SYSK Selects: What Makes us Yawn?
What is it that makes us suddenly draw in a deep breath through a wide-open mouth? The beautiful thing about yawning is that researchers really don't know. Whether the answer is physical, mental or even contagious there is pretty much no chance you won't yawn during this classic episode.
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Jul 4, 2019
How the Fairness Doctrine Worked
Back in the day, broadcasters were bound by law to provide contrasting opinions on political matters. Why? Because of the Fairness Doctrine. What happened to it? Listen in and find out.
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Jul 3, 2019
Short Stuff: Mitsuye Endo
In today's short stuff, we look at another amazing woman who has all but been ignored by history. The story of Mitsuye Endo.
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Jul 2, 2019
Is photographic memory a real thing?
Photographic memory is the stuff of movies and TV, but is it real? Sort of. But not really. But kind of. It's a little bit a matter of semantics. Listen in and this will all make sense.
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Jun 29, 2019
SYSK Selects: What Makes a One-hit Wonder?
The term "one-hit wonder" gets thrown around a lot, and - yes - you probably are using it correctly, but Chuck Bryant went to the trouble to really define what makes a one-hit wonder in the article this classic episode is based on. Join him and Josh as they get to the bottom of this disparaging term.
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Jun 27, 2019
What is the Civil Air Patrol?
The Civil Air Patrol is a civilian group of pilots and plane enthusiasts who do a lot of things, namely help out in search and rescue missions. But their history is a bit more colorful. Listen in today!
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Jun 26, 2019
Short Stuff: Prison Food
Prison food is kind of a joke, like airplane food. But there are real consequences involved. Let's get into it in today's short stuff.
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Jun 25, 2019
Planned Obsolescence: Engine of the Consumer Economy
If you’ve ever heard an old timer gripe that things aren’t built like they used to be, that old timer was right! Learn about the nefarious, possibly mythical, mechanism that’s responsible for the cruddy products and waste our consumer society is based on.
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Jun 22, 2019
SYSK Selects: How the Donner Party Worked
Did they or didn't they? There is plenty of written evidence that the ill-fated Donner Party resorted to cannibalism - except there are no bones. Learn the details of one of the worst disasters of the early West in this classic episode of Stuff You Should Know.
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Jun 20, 2019
What happened to the Neanderthals?
As recently as 40,000 years ago we lived among humans from an entirely different species – Neanderthals. About the same time our species showed up, Neanderthals suddenly vanished. Just what happened to the other guys? Did our ancestors do something … bad?
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Jun 19, 2019
Short Stuff: Emperor Norton
After a San Francisco real estate mogul went bankrupt, he reinvented himself as the Emperor of the United States – and became the city’s most celebrated resident.
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Jun 18, 2019
How the Hygiene Hypothesis Works
In the early 90s, a new study that found that kids who are exposed to more germs early in life are less likely to develop allergies later. With the West in the grip of a full-blown immunity crisis (still going on today), this was an interesting thought.
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Jun 15, 2019
SYSK Selects: What's the Deal with Crop Circles?
For a while in the 1980s, people were fascinated and confused about what exactly crop circles were. Now we know that they aren't signs left from aliens, but art made by humans. Learn all about these stunning, large form art installations in today's episode.
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Jun 13, 2019
How Area 51 Works
The secret military base Area 51 is inextricably linked to every secret, shady project the US government is rumored to be involved in – from reverse-engineering alien technology to coordinating a one-world government. The truth is much more mundane.
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Jun 12, 2019
Short Stuff: Smoke Signals
Were smoke signals real or a Hollywood invention? Turns out, they were indeed a thing and invented by the Chinese, even.
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Jun 11, 2019
What's the gig economy?
The gig economy is not new, but it's bigger than ever. Is that a good thing? We'll discuss that today!
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Jun 8, 2019
SYSK Selects: How Capgras Syndrome Works
There is an extremely rare condition where the sufferer is convinced that everyone around him is an impostor posing as their friends and family. Learn about the neurology behind this strange and sad mental disorder in this episode.
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Jun 6, 2019
What is perfect pitch?
Perfect pitch, or absolute pitch, is when you can sing a note with no reference from other notes, perfectly on key. Is it an asset? Chuck says yes. Learn all about this musical rarity today.
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Jun 5, 2019
Short Stuff: Robert Johnson and the Devil
Did the legendary blues singer really sell his soul to the devil in exchange for amazing musical skills? Probably not! But there’s still an interesting story there and it features the Coen Brothers.
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Jun 4, 2019
How Barcodes Work
Barcodes are everywhere. Those little lines and numbers that make up one of the most recognizable barcodes, the UPC, was designed to make going to the grocery a lot less miserable. It ended up becoming the central symbol of the global economy.
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Jun 1, 2019
SYSK Selects: How TV Ratings Work
Ever wonder why some great shows go off the air after a season or less? Blame it on the Nielsen company, which has for more than 60 years been the almost exclusive decider of what goes and what stays on TV.
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May 30, 2019
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 ever been charged with the murders. It remains unsolved to this day.
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May 29, 2019
Short Stuff: Look-Alike Old Couples
You know how some older married couples (sorry, senior adult married couples) start to look alike over time? That’s a really weird phenomenon if you think about it. So science has looked into it and they think they kind of have it figured out.
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May 28, 2019
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 of Extra-Strength Tylenol, one of the most trusted and widely-used products in America.
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May 25, 2019
SYSK Selects: How Acne Works
Over the course of our lives, 80 percent of us will experience acne. Ultimately, acne comes down to one thing, a blockage in the sebaceous gland. Learn what makes a blackhead black, and everything else about zits, in this pus-filled episode of SYSK.
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May 23, 2019
What was Tin Pan Alley?
Tin Pan Alley was an area of New York around the beginning of the 20th Century that served as ground zero for the earliest iterations of the music publishing industry. Learn all about this unique place and time right now.
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May 22, 2019
Short Stuff: James Polk, Disinterred
Did you know that former president James Polk had his final resting place moved twice? It's true! And almost a third time even. Let's go listen to some short stuff.
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May 21, 2019
How Crystals Work
In a new age shop or on display at the Smithsonian, there are varying interpretations of what crystals can be used for. But at their base, they are a thumb in the eye to entropy, a perfectly ordered piece of matter.
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May 18, 2019
SYSK Selects: How Dying Works
Chuck and Josh have covered just about every aspect of death except dying itself. Here, they fulfill the death suite of podcasts with an in-depth look at just how people die, what happens to the body during the dying process and how people accept death -- and what they regret not having done while they lived.
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May 16, 2019
10ish Cases of Really Bad Luck
Some guys have all the luck, some guys have all the pain. So said Rod Stewart. And if this list is any indication, “guys” is gender neutral. Listen to this episode as Chuck and Josh cover some instances of amazingly bad fortune, most of it true!
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May 15, 2019
Short Stuff: Honorary Degrees
Honorary degrees are not real degrees. They are marketing opportunities for universities. They make us mad, but we want one. Learn all about them in the next 12-15 minutes.
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May 14, 2019
How Trampolines Work
The world’s loved trampolines since they were invented by a pair of acrobats in Iowa in the 30s – so much so, trampolining is now an Olympic event. What people don’t love about trampolines is their propensity to cause paralysis, brain injuries and death.
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May 11, 2019
SYSK Selects: How Lie Detectors Work
Instead of actually detecting lies, polygraph machines sense physiological variations, ostensibly brought on by guilt. The results are subject to interpretation, and therefore controversial. Join Josh and Chuck as they investigate the polygraph.
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May 9, 2019
Do Dietary Supplements Work?
The world takes $40 billion of dietary supplements – from vitamin A to yohimbe bark – every year. Yet, the jury is still out on whether most of them work. In America, the FDA isn’t allowed to approve supplements, and no one can say what is in your pills.
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May 8, 2019
Short Stuff: Nicknames
What's in a nickname? Sometimes they make sense, sometimes they don't. Let's get our shorty on and find out the deal.
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May 7, 2019
Remembering Live Aid
Live Aid was a revolutionary concert event in two countries in 1985 that spanned the world via satellite. The brainchild of musician Bob Geldof, it really did help change the world in many ways, but its direct impact on Ethiopian famine relief remains in question. Listen and learn today!
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May 4, 2019
SYSK Selects: How Does a Diving Bell Work?
About 2,400 years ago Aristotle mentions the use of diving bells, apparatuses that convey divers to the bottom of the sea -- or at least below the surface of the water -- and allows them to breathe -- at least until the air runs out. Learn about the physics of this clever and ancient invention and how it's been used to sabotage enemy boats and build the Brooklyn Bridge.
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May 2, 2019
What Happens When the Government Thinks You're Dead?
It’s bad enough when the government knows you’re alive – there are taxes to pay, laws to be followed, all sorts of boring and unpleasant things. But each year, thousands of Americans find out life is far, far worse when the government thinks you are dead.
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May 1, 2019
Short Stuff: The Number 23
There are people out there who believe that there’s something special about the number 23. Exactly what? Who knows. Exactly why? Because it pops up a lot. But does it? Who knows.
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Apr 30, 2019
Michael Dillon: Trans Pioneer
Michael Dillon was a lot of things - author, doctor, and most importantly, trans pioneer. Learn all about his story in today's episode.
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Apr 27, 2019
SYSK Selects: How Zero Works
Few numbers have as storied a past as zero. Even fewer have had as great an impact on our ability to understand our universe. Yet zero is a relatively recent arrival in math. Find out all about this surprisingly fascinating number with Chuck and Josh.
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Apr 25, 2019
What Were Human Zoos?
One of the off-putting byproducts of 19th century European colonialism were human zoos, living dioramas of people from far-away places made to be gawked at. Listen in to what the deeper meaning of humans zoos held people on both sides of the glass.
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Apr 24, 2019
Short Stuff: Fear of Public Speaking
Speaking in public is frequently cited as people’s number one fear, even more fearful than death. Most people go through life avoiding public speaking, but it turns out that only makes things worse. The best medicine? Public speaking.
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Apr 23, 2019
Is birth order important?
There have been a lot of studies over the years regarding birth order. Some conclude that it's a big deal, while others more or less discount its importance. Learn all about it today.
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Apr 20, 2019
SYSK Selects: How Marijuana Works
For millennia people used marijuana for fun and medicine. Not until the 20th century that was it vilified, unfairly say many. Weed has done lots of good things, from alleviating cancer symptoms to unlocking secrets of the brain. Learn all about pot here.
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Apr 18, 2019
How the Hoover Dam Works, Part II
And now for something completely different. Just kidding – tune in to hear the thrilling conclusion of America’s most amazing public works project in the 20th century.
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Apr 17, 2019
Short Stuff: Emu Wars
Did Australians really wage war on a group of emus? YES. Learn all about it in today's short stuff.
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Apr 16, 2019
How the Hoover Dam Works, Part I
It’s one of America’s biggest accomplishments in the 20th century, a slab of concrete holding back one of the country’s most finicky rivers, providing water and electricity to a swath of majors cities that otherwise couldn’t exist.
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Apr 13, 2019
SYSK Selects: How Yo-Yos Work
You may have played with a yo-yo before -- perhaps you've even walked the dog -- but do you know about the physics behind what makes a yo-yo sleep and wake up? Learn all about inertia, angular momentum and the history of the yo-yo in this episode of SYSK.
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Apr 11, 2019
How the Electric Chair Works
The electric chair is an all-American invention. It spread almost nowhere else in the world as a capital punishment but worked overtime in the States. Despite the terrible sights and sounds an electrocution produces, it was created out of humaneness.
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Apr 10, 2019
Short Stuff: Lake Peigneur
In 1980 something catastrophic happened to the quiet town of New Iberia, Louisiana. Their wide, shallow lake grew much deeper after it underwent an apocalyptic transformation.
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Apr 9, 2019
How Free Range Parenting Works
Free range parenting is all about giving your child the freedom to play and explore life on their own. Are there benefits? Sure. Do some people hate the concept? Yes! Listen and learn right here.
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Apr 6, 2019
SYSK Selects: How Pollen Works
For about 375 million years, plants have been using pollen (aka plant sperm) to propagate their species. And the technique has stuck around because it works. Join Chuck and Josh for a cozy look at the ins and outs of plant reproduction.
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Apr 4, 2019
Were Nazis Drug-Fueled Crankheads?
Nazis were bad people. And it turns out a lot of them were high as kites on speed. Was this a recipe for disaster? Yes it was.
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Apr 3, 2019
Short Stuff: Unspent Campaign Money
Have you ever wondered what happens to all those campaign donations when a political campaign goes belly up? Or, even worse, is in debt! Wonder no more!
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Apr 2, 2019
How Rape Kits Work
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 today's episode.
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Mar 30, 2019
SYSK Selects: How Immigration Works
Immigration systems regulate the flow of foreign immigrants into any given country. But why is immigration such a controversial topic, especially in the United States? In this episode, Josh and Chuck delve into the details and debate behind immigration.
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Mar 28, 2019
Etch A Sketch!
The Etch A Sketch is yet another classic toy that Josh and Chuck love and respect. Learn all about this Hall of Fame entry today.
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Mar 27, 2019
Short Stuff: When Elvis Met Nixon
Elvis really did meet with Richard Nixon. Because Elvis wanted to help fight the drug trade. True story. Hear about it in today's short stuff.
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Mar 26, 2019
How Druids Worked
Anyone who likes Led Zeppelin, plays Dungeons & Dragons, or worships the rising sun at Stonehenge on the vernal equinox can tell you druids are cool. But archaeologists will tell you we can’t even be certain druids existed. Buckle in for a history mystery!
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Mar 23, 2019
SYSK Selects: How Sign Language Works
It wasn't until the was developed and despite its co-existence alongside English, a user would be hard-pressed to sign with a British person. Find out about the independent evolution of sign language in the U.S. and how intuitively sensible it is.
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Mar 21, 2019
How Disgust Works
Disgust is an odd thing. It makes sense that we would feel a sense of revulsion at the thought of putting rotten meat in our mouths – that’s pure evolution. But why would we feel the same emotion at the thought of weird sex or from hearing a racist rant?
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Mar 20, 2019
Short Stuff: The Sandman
Mr. Sandman, bring me a dream! But who is the sandman? We'll tell you in today's edition of short stuff.
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Mar 19, 2019
Desert Survival: Josh and Chuck Save Your Tookus
The chances are pretty low that you’ll find yourself lost in the desert, but on the off chance you do you’ll thank yourself that you listened to this episode, where we guide you to safety.
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Mar 16, 2019
SYSK Selects: Was Atlantis A Real Place?
While the search for Atlantis has been pushed to the fringes since the 19th century, archaeologists have quietly pursued cities that may have inspired Plato to fabricate the mythical city. It looks like a team in Greece has found it.
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Mar 14, 2019
The Great Stink: The Stench So Bad They Gave It A Name
In the summer of 1858, a heatwave dried up the Thames River to a trickle in London. As centuries’ worth of human waste, animal carcasses and other nasty things cooked in the sun, a stench arose that was so horrific it got its own name: The Great Stink.
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Mar 13, 2019
Short Stuff: Bedbugs
We eradicated bedbugs so thoroughly in the 50s that generations who came later suspected they weren’t anymore real than jackalopes and snipes. But since we banned DDT, the pesticide that kills bedbugs best, they’re back again. And they’re terrible.
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Mar 12, 2019
The Case of Sacco and Vanzetti
The trial of Sacco and Vanzetti, two anarchists accused of murder, was one of the first "crimes of the century." But did they do it? To this day there is speculation that they did not. Learn all about this famous case in today's episode.
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Mar 9, 2019
SYSK Selects: How Wildfires Work
Wildfires consume an annual average of 5 million acres in the US. But what causes wildfires? How do they become so powerful? More importantly, how do we fight them? Join Josh and Chuck as they take you to the frontlines of the fight against wildfires.
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Mar 7, 2019
How Dyslexia Works
For a learning disability that everyone seems to know about, dyslexia is maybe the most commonly misunderstood and controversial cognitive difficulty there is. Some people think it’s a gift, some people think it doesn’t even exist.
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Mar 6, 2019
Short Stuff: Wigs in English Court
What's the deal with the wigs in the English court system? Learn all about it in today's short stuff.
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Mar 5, 2019
What's the deal with ASMR?
ASMR is soothing to some, maddening to others. Learn all about these whisper tones in today's episode.
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Mar 2, 2019
SYSK Selects: How the Panama Canal Works
It's on more than one list of the Seven Wonders of the World and for good reason - the Panama Canal is one of the great feats of engineering ever undertaken. First conceived of in the 1580s and finally completed in 1914, the canal has a fascinating history (including a stint where it was considered U.S. soil). Learn all about it on this episode.
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Feb 28, 2019
Tuskegee Airmen: American Heroes
The Tuskegee Airmen braved racism and brutally tough training in order to secure their spot in American history as the first African-American military pilots. Listen in today to the story of their determination and heroism.
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Feb 27, 2019
Short Stuff: Black Loyalists
The Black Loyalists were a group of Colonial slaves who fought for their freedom alongside the British. Learn all about this nearly forgotten group in today's Short Stuff.
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Feb 26, 2019
The Science of Break-Ups
Breaking up is hard to do. Your brain might even think you're getting over a cocaine addiction. Learn all about the science behind break-ups today!
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Feb 23, 2019
SYSK Selects: How Lewis and Clark Worked
They may be the most famous explorers in U.S. history, but there are plenty of interesting details to the Lewis and Clark expedition that history has allowed to fade. Learn about the origin and the aftermath of America's first early push Westward in this episode.
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Feb 21, 2019
How Galaxies Work
In the universe things tend to cluster. This means there’s a coherent structure to the universe and learning about clusters of stars – galaxies - helps us figure out what that structure is. Join Chuck and Josh on an amazing space voyage!
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Feb 20, 2019
Short Stuff: Turbulence
If you’ve ever had a bumpy airplane ride, you know it’s nothing fun. But have you ever noticed that the pilots sometimes tell you ahead of time to buckle in? How do they know turbulence is ahead? Are they some kind of fortune teller? How can anyone see wind?
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Feb 19, 2019
Yeti: The Asian Bigfoot
We've covered Nessie and Bigfoot, so why not tackle the Yeti? Listen in today and Josh and Chuck cover what used to be known as the Abominable Snowman.
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Feb 16, 2019
SYSK Selects: Interpol: World Police
Interpol is an international police agency that helps other law-enforcement agencies track criminals who operate across national borders -- but how does it work, exactly? Join the guys as they delve into the world of global law enforcement.
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Feb 14, 2019
Elephants: The Best Animals?
Elephants are pretty much the best. Why? Josh and Chuck will let you know in great detail in today's episode.
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Feb 13, 2019
Short Stuff: War of Jenkins' Ear
In the 18th century, Spain and England fought each other in the colonies of Georgia and Florida, a war kicked off by an English sea captain who was mad his ear had been perhaps unfairly lopped off.
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Feb 12, 2019
Could There Be A Loch Ness Monster?
People have believed something strange lives in Loch Ness for at least 3500 years. Thousands of people have sighted the Loch Ness Monster and dozens of expeditions have been launched. But does the fact that nothing’s been found mean it’s not real?
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Feb 9, 2019
SYSK Selects: How Coral Reefs Work
Coral reefs are the largest organic structures on Earth, yet they're created through a symbiotic relationship between creatures about 3 millimeters long. Learn more about the the world's coral reefs (and how to protect them) in this episode.
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Feb 7, 2019
The True Story of BlacKkKlansman
In 2018, director Spike Lee brought the story of Ron Stallworth to the big screen to great effect. Today, Josh and Chuck discuss the true story behind the Oscar nominated film.
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Feb 6, 2019
Short Stuff: Ellen Richards
Who is Ellen Richards? One of the most unsung scientists of all time, that's who. Her contribution? Bringing real science into the household and forcing the world to take "home-ec" seriously. We celebrate her today on Short Stuff.
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Feb 5, 2019
The Insidious Abuse of Stalking
Stalking has only recently been recognized for what it is – a profound form of psychological abuse where the victim’s life is “infected” by the stalker, as one survivor put it. Stalking can go on for years, and in some cases may be the prelude to murder.
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Feb 2, 2019
SYSK Selects: Saunas: More Interesting Than You Think!
Although they seem pretty mundane, saunas are surprisingly fascinating inventions. Josh and Chuck break out all sorts of sweaty, sauna-related trivia, from the Finnish affinity for saunas to sauna etiquette, in this episode.
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Jan 31, 2019
How Central Park Works
Central Park in Manhattan was America’s first landscaped public park, built at a time when New Yorkers’ only option for getting some fresh air was hanging around cemeteries. Get all the info about this beautiful icon and how it’s served as a landscape for class struggles over three centuries.
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Jan 30, 2019
Short Stuff: Johnny Appleseed
Johnny Appleseed was real! And he was about as amazing as the legend paints him. He really did plant apple trees all over America and if the feds hadn’t chopped them down during Prohibition, they’d still be around. Learn what we mean in this episode.
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Jan 29, 2019
How Ping Pong Works
While Asia is well-known for being cuckoo for Ping Pong, the game was actually invented by bored British Victorian aristocrats. Go back and forth about Ping Pong’s place in the world with Chuck and Josh.
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Jan 26, 2019
SYSK Selects: Bioluminescence: A Bright and Shiny Fish
Science has a handle on fireflies and glowworms, but most bioluminescent animals live in the ocean and are tough to study. Today, researchers are still figuring out why some animals produce light. Dive with Josh and Chuck into this illuminating topic.
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Jan 24, 2019
The Legend of Betsy Ross
Betsy Ross is an American icon to many, the seamstress who sewed the first U.S. flag because of a personal commission from George Washington. But is it true? Sort of. Learn all about this fascinating story today.
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Jan 23, 2019
Short Stuff: Thread Count
Is thread count all it's cracked up to be? Listen in and find out in today's edition of Short Stuff!
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Jan 22, 2019
SYSK Live: The Kellogg Brothers’ Wacky World of Health
There’s no way you haven’t had one of their breakfast cereals, but we bet you don’t know the story behind the two brothers who brought the world corn flakes. Buckle in for a lot of talk about poop, religion and masturbation, live from Sydney, Australia.
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Jan 19, 2019
SYSK Selects: How Lobotomies Work
Lobotomies -- brain surgeries to relieve psychiatric problems -- are rarely performed today, but they were once fairly common. Tune in to learn more about the controversial history and practice of lobotomies.
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Jan 17, 2019
The July 20th Plot to Assassinate Hitler
A lot of people in Hitler's inner circle wanted him dead toward the end of the war. But he proved impossible to kill from within. Listen in today as Josh and Chuck dig into the infamous July 20th plot to blow up Der Führer.
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Jan 16, 2019
Short Stuff: Olestra
In the 90s a fat free miracle food came out that promised we could eat all we wanted and not gain weight. But there was a caveat: it could also make your bowels unpleasantly loose.
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Jan 15, 2019
How Airbags Work
It turns out that the inflatable bag of air that shoots out of your steering wheel or dashboard is the result of a controlled explosion of solid fuel, just like in a rocket – aimed for your face.
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Jan 12, 2019
SYSK Selects: How Schizophrenia Works
Up to 24 million people worldwide have schizophrenia. Despite the vast amounts of research, the disorder remains mysterious. In this episode, Josh and Chuck delve into the nature of schizophrenia, from the history of the disorder to the latest research.
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Jan 10, 2019
The Great Finger in the Wendy’s Chili Caper
In 2005 a woman named Anna Alaya discovered a length of human finger – nail and all – in her Wendy’s chili. Her cries of disgust would set off a media firestorm, a criminal investigation and a prison sentence for her and her husband.
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Jan 9, 2019
Short Stuff: How Often Do You Need To Change Your Oil?
First things, first: Take that oil change reminder sticker off your windshield and throw it away forever and never look back!
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Jan 8, 2019
How the Spanish Flu Worked
The Spanish Flu killed anywhere from 20-100 million or more people over 1918/1919. All of this played out with World War I in the foreground, one big reason why the flu spread so far, so fast. Learn all about this devastating pandemic in today's episode.
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Jan 5, 2019
SYSK Selects: How Munchausen Syndrome Works
Why would someone fake an illness? Here's an even better question: Why would someone repeatedly make themselves sick? Join Josh and Chuck as they separate the facts from fiction and give you the scoop on Munchausen syndrome.
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Jan 3, 2019
What was the Tunguska event?
In 1908, the most powerful meteoroid explosion in recorded history happened over a remote area of Siberia. But the weird thing is there was no impact crater and no asteroid to be found – so was it an asteroid? (Yes.)
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Jan 2, 2019
Short Stuff: Khipu
Listen in to learn all about the fascinating "language" of the Incan khipu knotted ropes.
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Jan 1, 2019
Rockettes: Still Kicking After All These Years
Tune in today to learn all about the legendary NYC Rockettes, who actually got their start in Missouri.
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Dec 29, 2018
SYSK Selects: How Fossils Work
A fossil is a piece of once-living organic material that has undergone a transition from an organic state to an inorganic state. But what exactly is fossilization? Listen in as Josh and Chuck break down the process of fossilization.
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Dec 27, 2018
Dr. Seuss: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
The Seuss is loose in this episode about legendary children's book author Ted Geisel. The funny thing is, he didn't ever want children of his own, and his past work was a bit problematic.
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Dec 26, 2018
Short Stuff: The Brain-Bladder Connection
How much do you know about the brain-bladder connection? In about 15 minutes, it'll be a lot more.
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Dec 25, 2018
SYSK Live Christmas Spectacular!
This year, Josh and Chuck go live for their annual Christmas Spectacular. Recorded from the Center Stage Theater in Atlanta, pour up some eggnog, light a fire and enjoy this live show with the whole family.
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Dec 22, 2018
SYSK Selects: The Star Wars Holiday Special of 1978
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 be fully explained, but we make our best effort in a very special edition of SYSK. May the force be with us all.
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Dec 20, 2018
E.T.: Is It Really the Worst Video Game of All Time?
If you play video games you probably have an easy answer to worst game of all time: ET. But it turns out there are no easy answers, especially when you’re talking about a game so terrible it’s blamed for bringing the entire video game industry with it.
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Dec 19, 2018
Short Stuff: Unique Snowflakes
Amazingly, it turns out that every snowflake truly is unique. Math backs it up.
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Dec 18, 2018
Geodesic Domes: The Wave of the Future That Wasn't
Sometimes a good idea doesn’t pan out in real life. Take Buckminster Fuller’s geodesic dome: It requires less energy to heat and cool, it’s cheap, and it’s durable enough to withstand a hurricane – but it’s also godawful ugly and that was its undoing.
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Dec 15, 2018
SYSK Selects: How Igloos Work
Igloos were traditionally used by Inuit Indians as temporary shelter while on hunting and fishing trips. In this episode, Josh and Chuck look at the design of igloos, from their impressive heat-catching properties to their ingenious construction.
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Dec 13, 2018
Are good samaritan laws effective?
Good samaritan laws have been around for many years, helping to provide legal protections for people who try to help other people. But do they work? Decide for yourself today!
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Dec 12, 2018
Short Stuff: Laughing Buddha
Did you know that the friendly, smiling Buddha we all know from bars and restaurants isn't really Buddha?
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Dec 11, 2018
How Ayahuasca Works
One day in the Amazon Basin, a shaman put together a plant containing DMT with a vine that allows the body to absorb DMT. The combination, a foul-tasting, wildly hallucinogenic brew called ayahuasca, has changed cultures throughout the Americas.
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Dec 8, 2018
SYSK Selects: That Dang-old Goat Fell Over
Due to a condition known as Thomsen's disease, the muscles of fainting goats tense up whenever the animal is startled. In this episode, Josh and Chuck break down the science behind this bizarre condition.
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Dec 6, 2018
Was the PMRC censorship in disguise?
The Parents Music Resource Center in the 1980s was really just censorship in disguise. But it kind of backfired. Learn all about Tipper Gore's crusade in today's episode.
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Dec 5, 2018
Short Stuff: Dolphin Detectors
They don’t actually disarm mines, but navies around the world use dolphins to find and tag sea mines so humans can disarm the mines themselves. But even if it’s safe, is it ethical?
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Dec 4, 2018
How Search and Rescue Dogs Work
All dogs are great, but some dogs work harder than others. Or play harder, depending on your view. Learn all about the good boys and girls who find lost people and recover bodies to bring humans peace and closure.
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Dec 1, 2018
SYSK Selects: Can Your Grandfather's Diet Shorten Your Life?
Epigenetics is a fascinating field of genetics that studies how the epigenome and environmental, nutritional and social factors affect gene expression. Josh and Chuck explain how epigenetics works in this episode.
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Nov 29, 2018
Adidas v. Puma: A Sibling Rivalry
Join Josh and Chuck today as they go down the sport shoe rabbit hole, detailing the strange tail of the brothers who brought Puma and Adidas to the world. Sibling rivalry, Nazis, shoes - there's a lot to unpack here.
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Nov 28, 2018
Short Stuff: iSmell
Two men once had a dream - to add smell to the internet. And they almost gave it to us.
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Nov 27, 2018
How the Navajo Code Talkers Worked
In WWII the US Marines devised an unbreakable code-within-a-code made from Navajo, one of the most linguistically difficult languages in the world. A handful of Navajos sent messages on the frontlines in a language they’d been forbidden to speak as school kids.
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Nov 24, 2018
SYSK Selects: How Black Friday Works
On the day after Thanksgiving, Americans go kind of crazy for the deep discount sales that kick off the holiday shopping season in stores. So crazy, in fact, at least four people have lost their lives and as many as 63 others have been injured during Black Friday sales. But as profitable as Black Friday is, some retailers are thinking about discontinuing the tradition to find ways to make even more money. Learn all about this bizarre, uniquely American holiday custom in this episode.
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Nov 22, 2018
Fire twucks! Fire twucks! (sic)
Who doesn't love fire engines? We certainly do. So much that we geeked out on this one in a big way. Enjoy!
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Nov 21, 2018
Short Stuff: Safety Pins
Safety pins are so ubiquitous, we take them for granted. But that’s the genius of their design – they work so intuitively they might as well have come from nature. Instead, they were invented by a man who never went to the trouble of patenting them.
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Nov 20, 2018
Finders Keepers: Real Law
You know that heartbreak of the schoolyard – finders keepers, losers weepers? That’s actual law in a great many grown up places. Enter the murky legal world of finding something that belongs to someone else, from buried treasure to a misplaced ring.
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Nov 17, 2018
SYSK Selects: How Kleptomania Works
In this episode of Stuff You Should Know, Josh and Chuck discuss kleptomania, a disorder in which people have an overwhelming impulse to steal unnecessary items.
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Nov 15, 2018
Olive Oil: Mother Nature's Gift
Olive oil is one of Mother Nature's greatest gifts to humanity. Learn everything you ever wanted to know about the NUMBER ONE OIL, right here, right now.
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Nov 14, 2018
Short Stuff: Lemonade
Ever wonder where lemonade came from? Let’s up the stakes a little, what about pink lemonade? Well wonder no more! Join Josh and Chuck as they (briefly) cover the history of putting lemons together with sugar and water and coming up with something great.
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Nov 13, 2018
Pando: Earth’s Oldest, Hugest Organism Is Trees!
In Utah, lives a 106-acre stand of Quaking Aspen trees that are all genetically identical because they are all growing from the same massive root system. It’s Pando, the most massive, and almost certainly oldest (by far) organism on Earth.
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Nov 10, 2018
SYSK Selects: How Pizza Works
Sure it's everywhere and there's a more-than-90-percent chance you eat it once a month. But we'll bet you don't know the full history of that pizza (or tomato pie) you're about to chow down on. Join Chuck and Josh as they explain it to you, bite by bite.
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Nov 8, 2018
Is yogurt a miracle food?
Yogurt has been touted as a health food, but is it? Maybe. If you eat it every day. We get into the rich and creamy history of this supposed miracle food in today's episode. Take a listen!
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Nov 7, 2018
Short Stuff: Vomitoria
A vomitorium was a place where ancient Romans went to make themselves throw up after gorging themselves at a sumptuous banquet. Everybody knows that. Except that’s not true at all. Learn about what vomitoria were in this episode and impress your friends.
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Nov 6, 2018
What were war masks?
War masks were made for soldiers in WWI who had horrible accidents that left their faces sometimes unrecognizable. Though it may seem rudimentary today, they went a long way in restoring their dignity. Learn all about them today.
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Nov 3, 2018
SYSK Selects: How Grief Works
You can probably name the five stages of grief - from denial to acceptance - they've become pretty well known since being proposed in 1969. But later researchers are finding that grief is rarely that cut and dried, and it may not be as widely experienced as we once thought. Join Josh and Chuck as they look at the sad science of grief.
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Nov 1, 2018
How Easy Bake Ovens Work
Easy Bake Ovens are as iconic as a toy can get, as American as apple pie or baseball. Learn all about these light bulb cooking, working ovens that endanger children to this day.
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Oct 31, 2018
Short Stuff: Labor Day
Labor Day, the day when most people in America paradoxically take off work, is actually rooted in some deeply radical and anarchistic thinking. Learn all about this most subversive of American holidays in this episode of Short Stuff.
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Oct 30, 2018
SYSK’s 2018 Super Spooktacular
It’s Halloween again and Chuck and Josh want to creep you out. Listen to two great classic horror stories, dripping with Jeri’s creeptastic audio stylings. Guaranteed to put you in the holiday spirit.
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Oct 27, 2018
SYSK Selects: What's with the Winchester Mystery House?
After her daughter and husband died, heiress Sarah Winchester became obsessed with the idea that spirits haunted her and to appease them she had to have a house continuously built for them. So she did - 24 hours a day for 38 years.
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Oct 25, 2018
How the Amityville Horror Worked
In early 1975, the world was introduced to George and Kathy Lutz, a couple who had fled their home in Amityville, NY to escape a powerful, evil supernatural presence living there. And this being the 70s, the world went nuts for their story.
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Oct 24, 2018
Short Stuff: Exploding Manholes
If you live in a big city in a cold climate, you should keep an eye out for 100-pound cast-iron manhole covers suddenly launching 50 feet into the air. It’s unnervingly common and we’ll tell you why.
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Oct 23, 2018
How Epilepsy Works
A seizure is like an electrical overload in the brain – when it gets overwhelmed, it just shuts down and resets itself. But imagine being susceptible to these overloads, where one could come at any time with little or no warning. That is epilepsy.
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Oct 20, 2018
SYSK Selects: How Aphrodisiacs Work
For thousands of years humankind has pursued the enhancement of sexual pleasure and performance through a plethora of medicines and practices -- but how many aphrodisiacs actually work?
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Oct 18, 2018
Waterbeds: The Sexiest Bed?
Waterbeds came and went pretty quickly in the United States, but despite their marketing as sex beds, they were actually invented to deliver a great night's sleep. Learn all about these super 70's beds in today's episode.
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Oct 17, 2018
Short Stuff: Korean Fan Death
There’s a commonly-held belief in Korea that if you fall asleep with a fan blowing on your face you may die in your sleep from it. And while this idea is found nowhere else in the world, Korean culture has come up with some interesting explanations.
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Oct 16, 2018
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 episode.
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Oct 13, 2018
SYSK Selects: How Homelessness Works
Today, millions of people around the world are homeless. In this classic episode, Josh and Chuck take a look at homelessness in the United States, discussing everything from the factors that lead to homelessness to what you can do to help alleviate the situation.
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Oct 11, 2018
When inventions kill!
Few things are more ironic than an invention killing its creator. The stories behind real life cases of death-by-invention are pretty interesting too. Pull up a chair and hear about a few from Josh and Chuck.
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Oct 10, 2018
Short Stuff: William King
Did you know that the United States has had one Vice-President who was sworn in on foreign soil? Well it turns out that may be the least interesting part of the story of William Rufus King.
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Oct 9, 2018
How Marathons Work
You’d have to be crazy to try to run 26.2 miles in a single stretch, right? Right. But people still try it anyway. And a lot of them even survive! Find out all about the pitfalls of marathons and the obsession they can inspire in this episode.
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Oct 6, 2018
SYSK Selects: Is lethal injection humane?
Since the Supreme Court's ban on capital punishment was reversed, states have sought a humane method of killing sentenced criminals. They settled on lethal injection, but is this quasi-medical means of killing as quick and painless as we think?
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Oct 4, 2018
Algae: Food, Fuel, What?
Just a couple years ago, algae was touted as the green, plentiful biofuel of the future. But that didn’t pan out. Why? And is algae down for the count? Don’t bet on it. Only a fool would bet against green water.
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Oct 3, 2018
Short Stuff: Grandfather Clocks
If you've ever wondered why a grandfather clock is called a grandfather clock and you have 12 minutes to spare, this is your lucky day. Listen in to the brand new Short Stuff series. It's everything you want from Josh and Chuck, and less!
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Oct 2, 2018
How the Concorde Worked
The concorde was a wonderful thing, a super fast commerical airliner that got you across the pond in half the time. But it was small and cramped, noisy and a big money loser. Climb aboard and get ready for Mach 1.
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Sep 29, 2018
SYSK Selects: Does the five-second rule work?
You know when you drop a piece of food and if you pick it up within five seconds it's still good to eat? Researchers have studied whether that's true or not and in doing so have inadvertently shone a light on how utterly covered our world is with bacteria and germs. Prepare to shudder in this episode of Stuff You Should Know.
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Sep 27, 2018
Seriously, What Is Dark Matter?
Chuck and Josh take on astrophysics again and this time it pans out well. It turns out that there simply isn’t enough matter in the universe to account for its mass. Which is super weird. What is this missing matter? Does it even exist?
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Sep 25, 2018
What is colorblindness?
Being colorblind doesn't mean you see in black and white, although in severe cases it can look a bit like that. The condition is on a spectrum ranging from dulled colors to shades of grey. Learn all about what colorblindness means in today's episode.
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Sep 22, 2018
SYSK Selects: Was Malthus right about carrying capacity?
Thomas Malthus concluded that humanity is bound to outgrow Earth's carrying capacity. The prediction was based on humanity's exponential growth and the linear growth of the food supply -- but was he correct? Tune in to this classic episode to find out.
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Sep 20, 2018
How Ranked Choice Voting Works
In the US, winner-take-all voting has created A LOT of political polarization. But what if rather than voting for one candidate, you could rank all of them so if your first choice doesn’t win, your vote goes to your second choice? So long, polarization!
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Sep 18, 2018
Roundabouts: The Problem Is You
They’re as American as Washington, DC yet most people in the US are terrified of them, hate them or both. What is it about traffic circles and roundabouts - which do nothing but safely, inexpensively and greenly direct traffic – that America can’t stand?
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Sep 15, 2018
SYSK Selects: How Commercial Jingles Work
You probably can recite five right now. Commercial jingles are designed to hijack your working memory and implant a product or service and they really work. In this classic episode, learn about the history of these insidious and catchy advertising vehicles with Chuck and Josh.
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Sep 13, 2018
What are think tanks all about?
Think tanks? More like stink tanks! We're kidding. Think tanks do valuable work, when they operate in a non-partisan way of course. Learn all about the history of these heady institutions today.
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Sep 11, 2018
SYSK Live: How Game Shows Work
Join Josh and Chuck and a whole bunch of great people at the Gothic Theatre in Denver for this live show on game shows and their place in cultures around the world, recorded on June 28, 2018. You just come right on down, why don’t you?
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Sep 8, 2018
SYSK Selects: How Circumcision Works
Circumcision is a common practice in which the foreskin of a male's penis is removed, typically as a baby. In this classic episode, Josh and Chuck take a look at the origins, practices, and arguments for and against circumcision in this episode.
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Sep 6, 2018
The Lava Lamp: Goes Great With Acid
What started out as an egg timer at a London pub became a furnishing for bachelor pads before it took its rightful place as the most recognizable icon of psychedelia. The lava lamp became popular with people on LSD not once, but twice, decades apart.
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Sep 4, 2018
How Police Lineups Work
Police lineups are something most people have never had any firsthand experience with. What you see on TV and in movies isn't so far off though. Learn about how these tropes work for real in today's episode.
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Sep 1, 2018
SYSK Selects: How Patents Work
What was originally designed to encourage innovation by rewarding the people who create technological advances, the U.S. patent system has become a big mess. Wade into this surprisingly interesting mire to learn how to save this important institution.
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Aug 30, 2018
How Elimination Diets Work
Elimination diets are all about whittling down what you eat, then building it back up again in order to identify foods that don't work for your body. Is it safe? It can be. Learn all about this process in today's episode.
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Aug 28, 2018
Why There Aren't So Many Hotel Fires Anymore
1946 was a particularly deadly year for hotel fires in the US. Fires killed hundreds of people in Chicago, Dubuque, Dallas and, in Atlanta, the worst hotel fire in American history broke out. Find out how they made staying in hotels safe.
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Aug 25, 2018
SYSK Selects: What's the deal with Voodoo?
Voodoo is a religion found in parts of Africa and Haiti that's often misunderstood. In this episode, Josh and Chuck separate the faction from the fiction as they explore how Voodoo really works.
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Aug 23, 2018
Pterosaurs: Not Flying Dinosaurs
Almost everything you know about pterosaurs is wrong. They weren't birds, they weren't flying dinosaurs and they weren't all pterodactyls. Which makes this a great episode for you to learn some new and amazing stuff about terrifying prehistoric beasts!
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Aug 21, 2018
Ballpoint pens? Heck yes, ballpoint pens!
Get ready, folks. The ballpoint pen is far more interesting than you could ever imagine. For real. Brilliant in its simplicity. Took the world by storm. We love our ballpoint pens and you should too. Listen in today!
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Aug 18, 2018
SYSK Selects: How Electroconvulsive Therapy Works
With the exception of lobotomies, no other psychological treatment has a worse reputation. But thanks to some thoughtful tweaks, ECT has lately emerged from the dark ages and toward the respectable forefront of treatment for major depression.
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Aug 16, 2018
Who is The Man of the Hole?
In 2018, there's a man from a lost tribe still living deep in the jungles of Brazil who has been all alone since the mid 1990s. He's referred to as the Man of the Hole, and has had no face-to-face with modern humans. Who is he? We'll answer that question as best we can in today's episode.
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Aug 14, 2018
How Board Breaking Works
If you’ve ever seen someone break a stack of boards or concrete blocks with a single karate chop you know what it means to experience awe. Board breaking is indeed cool but there’s also a lot of physics to help it along. Learn all about this secret art.
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Aug 11, 2018
SYSK Selects: How Traffic Works
Whether you've been stuck in a traffic jam or forced to merge and avoid road construction, everyone's had a few bad experiences with traffic. But how does traffic actually work? In this episode, Chuck and Josh take a look at traffic waves (and bubbles).
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Aug 9, 2018
How Attila the Hun Worked
If you go to the Internet you'll see a few people championed as all-time greatest conquerors - Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan and Atilla the Hun. Listen in today as Josh and Chuck dive into number three on this list, Atilla the Hun.
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Aug 7, 2018
How Search and Rescue Works
There are thankfully about as many ways to look for someone as there are ways to get lost. And the people who dedicate themselves to saving the lives of people who are missing take their job seriously. Learn about this fascinating world in this episode.
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Aug 4, 2018
SYSK Selects: How Miranda Rights Work
Back in 1966, the Supreme Court decided that suspects in criminal cases had the right to be reminded that they didn't have to talk to the fuzz if they didn't want to, as stated in the 5th amendment. Since that ruling, scores of other cases have shaped and defined the ruling that created a staple of police procedural dramas.
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Aug 2, 2018
How the U.S. Military Draft Works
The U.S. military draft is far more interesting than you'd think. The process of conscription can get quite complicated, but we're here to clear it up for you. We'll also talk a bit about whether or not this could ever happen again.
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Jul 31, 2018
How the Pony Express Worked
For as long a shadow as it casts across the history of the Old West, the Pony Express was a failed business venture, doomed from the start, that only lasted 18 months. But since the last rider headed out with his bag of mail, its legend has only grown.
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Jul 28, 2018
SYSK Selects: How the Cannonball Run Worked
The Cannon Ball Run is a cross-country car race famously portrayed in the campy 1981 movie "Cannon Ball Run." But it isn't fictional. Tune in as Josh and Chuck take you on a wild ride through the real (and colorful) history of this infamous race.
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Jul 26, 2018
The Dyatlov Pass Mystery
The incident at Dyatlov Pass is one of the more enduring wilderness mysteries of all time. Russian hikers found in various states of undress, frozen. What happened to them? Why were there weird internal injuries and no outward signs of distress? We'll delve into all the questions in today's episode.
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Jul 24, 2018
Recycling Update: How’s It Going?
It’s been about a decade since Josh and Chuck last checked in on recycling and since then a lot has changed. A global commodities market dealing in recyclables has developed and recently crashed. Jump back into the fascinating world of recycling.
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Jul 21, 2018
SYSK Selects: How Foot Binding Worked
Once in a while, all the necessary factors converge to produce a peculiar nationalized sexual fetish. In China, that fetish was foot binding and over a millennia three billion Chinese women's feet were brutally disfigured for men's pleasure.
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Jul 19, 2018
How Attorney-Client Privilege Works
One of the oldest protected forms of speech comes from when a lawyer speaks with their client. Over centuries, this legal privilege has been protected and defined and still stands stronger than ever. Find out why a person’s ability to speak freely to their counselor is so highly prized and protected.
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Jul 17, 2018
Jobs of Bygone Eras
Join Josh and Chuck today as they take a fun look at some of the strange jobs that our ancestors did. It's a SYSK top 10, meaning there will only be eight or so.
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Jul 14, 2018
SYSK Selects: How Twinkies Work
Twinkies have a reputation for being so processed that they can last for years and years, but they're not as hardy as you'd expect. Uncover the sweet story of Twinkies in this classic SYSK.
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Jul 12, 2018
Gerrymandering: How to Stifle Democracy
No matter which side of the political spectrum you fall on, you should be outraged about the practice of gerrymandering. Redrawing voter district maps to ensure political dominance is about as undemocratic as it gets. Please enjoy Josh and Chuck getting unusually worked up about this abhorrent practice.
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Jul 10, 2018
The Disappearance of the Yuba County Five
In 1978, five friends set out for home from a basketball game. The next day, their car was discovered in a lonely mountain road. The next spring, their bodies began to turn up. What happened that night remains a mystery to this day.
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Jul 7, 2018
SYSK Selects: Did Reagan's Star Wars program win the Cold War?
Putting lasers in space to blast Soviet missiles out of the air was a very real part of Ronald Reagan's defense policy. While his "Star Wars" program was derided at home and abroad, historians are beginning to wonder if it didn't help win the Cold War after all.
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Jul 5, 2018
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 professor who didn't dot the i's and cross the t's. Listen in as Josh and Chuck give this experiment some harsh treatment of their own.
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Jul 3, 2018
How Diabetes Works
Diabetes is one of the biggest killers of people on the planet. And yet, it also seems to be tied to diet and exercise, which makes it preventable. Learn about the fascinating mechanisms that can make your body go haywire and lead to this disease.
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Jun 30, 2018
SYSK Selects: How Ponzi Schemes Work
Ponzi schemes. How do they work? And who's Ponzi? Join Josh and Chuck in this classic episode to discover how an Italian immigrant created a classic con that's still fleecing investors today.
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Jun 28, 2018
Narwhals: Unicorns of the Sea
Narwhals are the unicorns of the sea. They're also whales with tusks. The tusks are really long tooths. Are you confused? Let us guide you!
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Jun 26, 2018
Can Anarchism Work?
Teenage punks going through a phase probably come to mind when you think of anarchists, but anarchism is a legitimate political philosophy based on the idea that governments are unnecessary and do more harm than good. Could we actually live without them?
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Jun 23, 2018
SYSK Selects: How Condoms Work
The earliest depiction of a condom is found in a 15,000-year-old cave painting. Ever since humans realized sex led to children, we've been using condoms to prevent pregnancy. Join Josh and Chuck for this comprehensive tour of all things condom.
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Jun 21, 2018
Genghis Khan: Madman or Genius?
Depending on who you talk to, Genghis Khan was either a sadistic madman or one of the great leaders in world history. One thing is sure, he was one of the most advanced military minds of all time.
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Jun 19, 2018
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 everything from feminism to patients’ rights centered on it.
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Jun 16, 2018
SYSK Selects: How Bullfighting Works
When the Visigoths ruled Spain, they introduced the idea of battling bulls at festivals. Today matadors get paid $100,000 and perform in front of 50,000 fans. But is bullfighting an antiquated, abusive relic or a cultural tradition above reproach?
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Jun 14, 2018
Skyscrapers: 'Scuse me while I kiss the sky
Skyscrapers are much more than tall buildings. They're world wonders as far as we're concerned. From design to construction, these babies are beautifully simplistic in all the best ways. Listen in today!
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Jun 12, 2018
How Tsunamis Work
Tsunamis are amazingly devastating natural disasters. They're miles tall and wide, travel as fast as a commercial airliner and can wipe out entire coastal towns. And if the last couple decades are any indication, they seem to be getting worse.
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Jun 9, 2018
SYSK Selects: How The Hum Works
There is a mysterious droning sound often described as like a diesel engine idling that is severely impacting the quality of life of 2 percent of people in places around the world. The thing is, no one knows what's causing it - or if it actually exists.
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Jun 7, 2018
Frida Kahlo: Painter, Icon, Genius
Frida Kahlo was a painter who transcended her own work to became an icon. Learn all about her fascinating and inspiring life and work in today’s episode.
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Jun 5, 2018
The Max Headroom Incident
In 1987, a very strange broadcast intrusion occurred in the city of Chicago. For just a couple of minutes, the odd TV character Max Headroom appeared onscreen in the middle of an episode of Dr. Who. He spoke in garbled tones, brandished a marital aid, and was spanked on the rear with a fly swatter by a person dressed in Annie Oakley garb. If this sounds weird, it is. It's the Max Headroom Incident.
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Jun 2, 2018
SYSK Selects: Was there a real King Arthur?
The legend of King Arthur is very old and very established. By the time the king who saved Britain and united it was first written about, his story was already hundreds of years old. And while many of the details of his life and adventures, from the Lady of the Lake to Merlin the Magician, seem fictional some archaeologists believe that Arthur -- and much of his life -- was real.
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May 31, 2018
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 those two details, the event is cloaked in mystery. What about the Pied Piper fairy tale is real?
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May 29, 2018
How Drug Courts Work
If you aren't in the know, you may think drug courts are set up to quickly prosecute drug users and get them into prison in short order. Turns out it's just the opposite - they're empathetic courts set up to give people a second and sometimes third chance to kick addiction. Learn all about these courts today.
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May 26, 2018
SYSK Selects: How Pinball Works
Pinball was actually illegal until the 1970s in NY and other cities, hidden in the backs of pornography shops. The game was finally legalized, thanks to a Babe Ruth-style shot by the best player in the world. Learn all about it with Josh and Chuck.
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May 24, 2018
How Occam's Razor Works
You know the rule that says the simplest explanation is probably the correct one? That’s called a razor and it’s meant to guide logic. But over time it’s become a broadsword used to disprove opposing arguments. Learn how to spot a faux skeptic in this episode.
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May 22, 2018
A List Of Games You Would Surely Lose to a Computer
We live in a time where computers can beat the best humans in the world at chess, checkers, poker and video games. But these games are really just demonstrations of how intelligent our machines are growing. They’re growing more intelligent by the hour. With special guest, Tech Stuff's Jonathan Strickland.
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May 19, 2018
SYSK Selects: Is brain size related to intelligence?
The idea that the larger the brain, the higher the intelligence is an old one, but it's pretty much utterly false. Modern investigation into how the brain works suggests there's a lot more to take into account when comparing brain biology to intellect.
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May 18, 2018
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 today to hear Josh and Chuck detail this very odd and twisty story.
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May 15, 2018
What's a quinceañera anyway?
A quinceañera is the celebration of a girl of Hispanic heritage becoming a young woman on her 15th birthday. It involves family, friends, music and a lot of great food. Join Josh and Chuck as they don their favorite pink dresses and go over this wonderful tradition.
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May 12, 2018
SYSK Selects: How Cremation Works
Cremation is a burial process practiced around the world, but how exactly does it work? Josh and Chuckers take a detailed look at cremation's history, practices and controversies in this episode.
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May 10, 2018
How Drowning Works
Hundreds of thousands of people drown around the world every year, and yet it can be easily prevented and is widely misunderstood – like how you can officially drown but live to tell the tale, or how you can drown but die days later.
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May 8, 2018
PT Barnum: More Complicated Than You've Heard
When your life is as outsized as the World’s Greatest Showman PT Barnum it’s pretty easy to - you know - gloss over the grimmer aspects when you turn it into an uplifting musical movie. But the way to understand a person is to look at them, warts and all.
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May 5, 2018
SYSK Selects: Are there undiscovered people?
In this classic episode, Josh and Chuck discuss whether there are any truly "undiscovered" groups of people left on the planet, the definition of undiscovered -- and why groups might want to avoid modern civilization.
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May 3, 2018
North Korea: What's the Deal?
For almost 70 years, North Korea has been the bane of South Korea, Japan and the US or has stood as the sole defenders of the Korean homeland from the American hordes, depending on who you ask.
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May 1, 2018
Nepotism: When Hiring the Best Just Won't Do
Nepotism is something that is very hard to avoid, and very hard to resist, even if you know it may be the wrong thing to do. We all love helping out families get ahead, but you're also costing someone else an opportunity when you play ball. Learn all about nepotism in today's episode.
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Apr 28, 2018
SYSK Selects: Who killed JFK?
For the 50th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in Dallas, Josh and Chuck delve into the killing, the investigations and the conspiracy theories to get to the bottom of an enduring national question.
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Apr 26, 2018
Does Pyromania Actually Exist?
A fascination with fire is part of every kid’s childhood, but it’s meant to be passing. For some people, fire becomes the central focus of life, and the urge to set a fire becomes an irresistible impulse. We think.
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Apr 24, 2018
Emojis: A New Language? Nah.
Believe it or not, there's a lot more to Emojis than meets the eye. Turns out their history is pretty interesting stuff. Join Josh and Chuck today as they tell the tale of the little faces that we all love to hate.
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Apr 21, 2018
SYSK Selects: How Mirrors Work
Whether using polished metal surfaces or clear glass, human beings have enjoyed admiring their reflections for centuries. In this episode, Josh and Chuck reflect on the types, mind-melting physics, superstitions and rather interesting history of mirrors.
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Apr 19, 2018
Two Times In the 70s When People Buried Ferraris
Not once, but twice in the 1970s people buried amazingly valuable Ferraris, arguably the greatest sports cars ever built. One was dug up after being secretly buried; the other was put in the ground forever. These are their stories.
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Apr 17, 2018
The Unabomber: Misguided to say the least
The Unabomber was one of the most notorious and longest lasting cases in the history of the FBI. Just because the manifesto reads like he was a fortune teller doesn't make his actions any less deplorable. Learn all about this fascinating case in today's episode.
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Apr 14, 2018
SYSK Selects: What happens in the brain during an orgasm?
In this classic episode, Chuck and Josh test the limits of their decorum as they explore the physiology of an orgasm. Learn all about this inexplicably taboo subject (including how even women who are paralyzed can experience orgasms).
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Apr 12, 2018
How Paramedics Work
Paramedics are not EMTs. Or fire fighters. Or cops. But they do ride around in ambulances (and drive) to help to save lives. It's a stressful job and we're here to shine a light on this noble profession.
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Apr 10, 2018
Why Landmines Are The Deadliest Legacy Of War
One of the worst legacies of war are the millions of landmines left behind. They hide for decades after a conflict is over, exploding beneath unsuspecting civilians and children. To many, removing mines and banning new ones is of paramount importance.
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Apr 7, 2018
SYSK Selects: Sherpas: Warm, Friendly Living
Pop quiz: What word denotes a nation of people, a last name and an occupation? If you guessed 'Sherpa,' then congratulations: You're correct. But what exactly is a Sherpa? Tune in and learn more as Chuck and Josh explore the culture of the Sherpa people.
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Apr 5, 2018
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 the noses of the Russian Navy. With the help of billionaire recluse Howard Hughes, obviously.
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Apr 3, 2018
When Words Take on New Meanings
Historical words often morph and change to take on new meanings. Today on the podcast, Josh and Chuck sit down and talk about a handful of them, their original meanings, and how they changed over the years to reflect almost nothing about their original use.
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Mar 31, 2018
SYSK Selects: How Guide Dogs Work
You know how when you see a guide dog leading a blind person to their destination and you think, "There goes a truly great dog?" It turns out you are absolutely correct. Guide dogs are about as special as dogs can get and it's through years of hard work. Learn about the ins and outs of guide dogs in this episode.
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Mar 29, 2018
What are false positives?
When getting a medical diagnosis, it's important to understand the terms. Negative is good, positive is bad, false positive is great in a way, but false negative is the worst. Learn all about false positives, when your tests indicate you have a disease of some kind when you don't, and what this means in the medical community at large.
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Mar 27, 2018
How Meals on Wheels Works
Meals on Wheels is one of the great charitable organizations in the world, providing much-needed nutrition for elderly people in need. It also has a pretty interesting backstory, starting in multiple places in different countries almost simultaneously. Learn all about this great group of folks in today's episode.
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Mar 24, 2018
SYSK Selects: Subways: HUH! What are they good for?
As ubiquitous as they've become, it's easy to overlook the marvels of engineering that are subways. Chuck and Josh go boring as they explore these systems of tubes that must circumnavigate rock, rivers, cables and more to get you where you're going.
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Mar 22, 2018
How the Framingham Heart Study Works
In the 1940s, a tiny town outside Boston volunteered to be test subjects in a study that would become one of the longest and broadest in the history of medicine. Originally designed to study heart disease, it's revealed things about plenty else too: everything from evolution to selecting a spouse.
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Mar 20, 2018
How the New England Vampire Panics Worked
In the 19th century, in isolated villages and godforsaken towns in rural New England, people began to suspect their deceased family members had become undead. Thus began everything we know today about killing vampires.
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Mar 17, 2018
SYSK Selects: How Trickle-Down Economics Works
The concept of trickle-down economics is tied to Ronald Reagan, but the idea's been around and in use since the 20s. It's simple: Give more money to the wealthy and they can use it to rev up an economy. But is the whole thing just a scam?
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Mar 15, 2018
Is Vaping Really Bad For You?
E-cigs, vapes, whatever you call them they have been touted as a safer alternative to tobacco and even a way for people to quit smoking. But recent studies have found that perhaps they’re not so harmless after all. So who’s right?
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Mar 13, 2018
The Huggable, Lovable Walrus
When it comes to the animal kingdom, SYSK has covered a wide range. This week, the guys dive into the frigid waters of the Arctic to delight in everything that is the huggable, lovable walrus. From their tendency to sticking together in tough times, to the strange noises they make to attract a mating partner, the walrus is now in the running as one of Josh and Chuck's favorites.
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Mar 10, 2018
SYSK Selects: How Cockroaches Work
You've seen them in your home and probably squealed in terror, but now it's time to learn all about cockroaches. From their ability to run incredibly fast to the appendage that alerts them when you're about to whack them with your shoe, cockroaches are fascinating creatures that deserve your respect.
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Mar 8, 2018
Why Do People Believe In Faith Healing?
Since a 1906 revival in Los Angeles, people around the world say they’ve been cured by the Holy Spirit after preachers with the Gift of Healing laid their hands on them. Skeptics scoff, but science’s explanations are kind of vague. So what’s going on here?
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Mar 6, 2018
The Strange Story of Sea Monkeys
Anyone who ever picked up a comic book as a kid probably marveled at the ads for the mysterious Sea Monkeys. In reality, they are just brine shrimp, not fantastical beings with magical powers. But the story behind the invention of the Sea Monkey is tale all its own. Listen in today.
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Mar 3, 2018
SYSK Selects: Is there treasure on Oak Island?
Off Nova Scotia, the tiny spit of land called Oak Island has been host to waves of treasure hunters for more than 200 years. Some of them lost their lives in the search for a treasure reputedly buried in a deep pit. But is anything really there?
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Mar 1, 2018
SYSK Live: Back When Ford Pintos Were Flaming Deathtraps
For this special live benefit episode recorded in Atlanta, Josh and Chuck go back to the 70s and look at the decidedly ungroovy course of events that led to Ford recalling its Pinto after people started burning up in them.
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Feb 27, 2018
Knife Throwing: Super Cool
Sure knives can cut through a steak or slash through jungle vines, but probably the coolest thing you can do with a knife is throw it. At a person mounted to a wooden wheel. Spinning around. While you’re blindfolded. Learn all about the impalement arts in this episode.
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Feb 24, 2018
SYSK Selects: How the MPAA Works
You may be surprised to learn those ubiquitous ratings, from G to NC-17, put on movies in America are actually handed down by anonymous employees of a secretive organization that serves as a lobbying firm for Hollywood's six biggest studios.
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Feb 22, 2018
Rosa Parks: Agent of Change
Rosa Parks finishes out our Black History Month episodes in grand fashion. While most know her from that fateful day on the Montgomery city bus, she actually had a long life as an advocate, protestor and agent of change. Join us today as we celebrate one of America's great history makers.
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Feb 20, 2018
Are Feral Children Real?
For millennia people have been amazed by legends of wild children found in the forest or jungle, sometimes raised by animals like wolves or apes. But it turns out these stories may actually be true in some cases and may actually have been children with cognitive impairments who were abandoned by their parents.
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Feb 17, 2018
SYSK Selects: How the Underground Railroad Worked
As early as 1786, groups assembled to help slaves escape lives of bondage. And, as the 19th century progressed, the emergent Underground Railroad grew more sophisticated in aiding escaped slaves. But how did it work? Join Josh and Chuck to learn more.
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Feb 15, 2018
The Harriet Tubman Story
Harriet Tubman is a legendary figure in history, but the details of her life are even more remarkable than what you may have learned in school. Listen in today as Josh and Chuck pay tribute to a true icon of African-American history.
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Feb 13, 2018
How Pompeii Worked
What must be one of the most famous natural disasters in history took place when Mt Vesuvius buried Pompeii in 79 CE. But when the town was resurrected 1700 years later, a new chapter in its history was written.
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Feb 10, 2018
SYSK Selects: How Narco States Work
In this episode of Stuff You Should Know, Josh and Chuck discuss Narco States, places where illegal drugs are traded openly with government support -- or without government interference.
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Feb 8, 2018
The Mystery of The Grand Canyon Newlyweds
In 1928 Bessie and Glen Hyde attempted to navigate their way through the belly of the Grand Canyon in a homemade boat. They disappeared without a trace and their mystery endures all these years later. Listen in today to hear all about the tragic and mysterious disappearance of the Grand Canyon Newlyweds.
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Feb 6, 2018
What is a Mold-A-Rama?
In the 1960s, a very cool machine debuted at the Seattle World's Fair - the Mold-A-Rama. It made real plastic toys on-demand from melted plastic pellets, to the delight of children and adults alike. They didn't last too long, but can still be found at various locations all over the United States and their retro-cool stylings are still a hit. Learn all about these cool machines today.
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Feb 3, 2018
SYSK Selects: How Lion Taming Works
Bossing a lion around in front of a crowd at a circus has been an attraction for 200 years, but exactly how lion tamers get their captive wild animals to comply has evolved over time. Take a peek in the jaws of this odd profession with Josh and Chuck.
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Feb 1, 2018
Marijuana Vs. Alcohol: Which Is Worse For You?
It's been the subject of teenage conversation for decades already, but now you can join Josh and Chuck as they dive into the science of how pot and booze affect your body, mind and behavior and learn which one comes out on top.
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Jan 30, 2018
The Manson Family Murders Part II
Listen in today for the conclusion of the story of the Manson Family Murders.
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