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Stuff You Should Know
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,... more

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Episodes

Selects: How the Stanford Prison Experiment Worked

The infamous Stanford Prison Experiment wasn't really much of an experiment as it turns out. It was more like a... more

23 Nov 2024 · 46 minutes
The Story of Tavern on the Green

Tavern on the Green is a legendary NY eatery that has never rated particularly well with food critics. Despite that,... more

21 Nov 2024 · 44 minutes
Short Stuff: The Gaslighting of Martha Mitchell

Martha Mitchell, the wife of Nixon's Attorney General, was well-known to spread a juicy rumor. That's why when Watergate unfolded,... more

20 Nov 2024 · 13 minutes
The Saga of Silk Road

The US government took a thumb in the eye with the creation of the Silk Road website. Right there on... more

19 Nov 2024 · 48 minutes
Selects: The Cleveland Torso Murders

During the depths of the Great Depression, Cleveland’s most vulnerable and destitute residents were prey for one of history’s most... more

16 Nov 2024 · 49 minutes
The Fascinating History of Dandelions

Dandelions are way more interesting than you think. Trust us and click play. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

14 Nov 2024 · 42 minutes
Short Stuff: The wAve

It’s a thrill to stand and, raise your arms, maybe give a woo! then sit down again, especially if you’re... more

13 Nov 2024 · 15 minutes
Kids' Chemistry Sets: KABOOM!

A surprising number of Nobel Prize winners credit their childhood chemistry set for sparking their interest in science. But most... more

12 Nov 2024 · 43 minutes
Selects: 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... more

09 Nov 2024 · 39 minutes
ADHD pt 2

Today, the conclusion of the two-part episode on ADHD.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

07 Nov 2024 · 49 minutes
Short Stuff: Tornado Alley

North America gets as many as 1400 tornadoes a year. The place with the next highest is the UK at... more

06 Nov 2024 · 11 minutes
ADHD pt 1

Today, Josh and Chuck dive into part one of their two-part suite on ADHD.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

05 Nov 2024 · 45 minutes
Selects: 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... more

02 Nov 2024 · 52 minutes
15th Annual SYSK Halloween Spooktacular!

Buckle up folks, it's time for another of our favorite traditions, the SYSK Halloween Spooktacular! So sit down, dim the... more

31 Oct 2024 · 1 hour,
Short Stuff: Two Scary True Shorties!

Josh and Chuck dive into two spooky true stories in today's Short Stuff.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

30 Oct 2024 · 18 minutes
The Mystery of the Skeletons of Roopkund Lake

One of the greatest unsolved historic mysteries is found in a lake atop a mountain glacier high up in the... more

29 Oct 2024 · 43 minutes
Selects: 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... more

26 Oct 2024 · 51 minutes
Spend Some Time with Fairies

Most people think of Tinkerbell when we think of fairies, but the Disney versions capture only the last century or... more

24 Oct 2024 · 46 minutes
Short Stuff: The Story of Spirit Halloween

Every August, abandoned storefronts across America are filled with the spirit of Halloween, by way of the store, Spirit Halloween.... more

23 Oct 2024 · 14 minutes
Q Anon: When Wild Conspiracy Went (sort of) Mainstream

Q Anon believes many things, including that Tom Hanks is a Satan-worshipping, child-eating pedophile. Yeah. We'll just leave our "drop"... more

22 Oct 2024 · 48 minutes
Selects: Porcupines: Little Stabby Cutie Pies

We love animals. A lot. Especially underrated ones like the darling porcupine. Listen in to this classic episode to learn... more

19 Oct 2024 · 40 minutes
Kudzu: The Vine That Just Won't Stop

If you're from the American South, then kudzu is something that cannot be avoided. But how did this invasive species... more

17 Oct 2024 · 39 minutes
Short Stuff: Redacted!

The process of redacting sensitive information is long and storied. But are there even any rules that apply to when... more

16 Oct 2024 · 12 minutes
The Anarchist Cookbook: Funny but Dangerous

You might have owned the Anarchist Cookbook once, but you probably didn’t use it to turn a shotgun into a... more

15 Oct 2024 · 41 minutes
Selects: How Paramedics Work

Paramedics are not EMTs. Or fire fighters. Or cops. But they do ride around in ambulances (and drive) to help... more

12 Oct 2024 · 48 minutes
Swatches!

The story of the Swatch is super cool and one of the great retail successes. Listen in today to find... more

10 Oct 2024 · 44 minutes
Short Stuff: Mystery of the Sarah Jo

In another chapter of our continuing mysteries of the sea theme, we deliver a truly baffling mystery involving a ship... more

09 Oct 2024 · 10 minutes
Gobekli Tepe

Gobekli Tepe is a profoundly ancient spiritual site that shouldn’t exist, according to conventional wisdom. The massive site of columns... more

08 Oct 2024 · 46 minutes
Selects: 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... more

05 Oct 2024 · 54 minutes
The Strange Story of Lysol

The Lysol we know now is sold as disinfectant only. But at one time it was also marketed as a... more

03 Oct 2024 · 43 minutes
Short Stuff: Flower Power

What we equate with acid, hippies, and garish polyester prints actually began as a theatrical way of protesting bans on... more

02 Oct 2024 · 11 minutes
The Shadow Biosphere: Is There Other Life on Earth?

As far as we know life evolved once in the universe – here on Earth in the form of life... more

01 Oct 2024 · 42 minutes
Selects: 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... more

28 Sep 2024 · 50 minutes
The Judas Priest Suicide Trial

A greatest hit of the Satanic Panic of the 1980s came when the metal band Judas Priest was put on... more

26 Sep 2024 · 48 minutes
Short Stuff: The SS Ourang Medang

We love our ghost ships here at SYSK and this is one of the better ones. But did it really... more

25 Sep 2024 · 11 minutes
Four Eyes Good: The History of Glasses

Glasses as we know them have only been around for a few hundred years. So what did people do before... more

24 Sep 2024 · 50 minutes
Selects: How Government Shutdowns Work

Every year Congress decides how the federal government will spend money. Simple enough, but in practice politics tend to mess... more

21 Sep 2024 · 52 minutes
Tom Slick: Not the Cartoon

There's a good chance that if you don't live in San Antonio, Texas, you may not know who scientist/adventurer Tom... more

19 Sep 2024 · 48 minutes
Short Stuff: The Killing Stone

The Killing Stone looms large in Japanese folklore, so when it split in half in March 2022, people were worried... more

18 Sep 2024 · 9 minutes
Would A Love Drug Be Ethical?

What if science could create a drug that made you connect with people more deeply, let your emotions flow more... more

17 Sep 2024 · 39 minutes
Selects: The Manson Family Murders Part 2

Listen in to this classic episode for the conclusion of the story of the Manson Family Murders.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy... more

14 Sep 2024 · 40 minutes
Celebration Florida: The Story of a Utopia that Never Was

The town of Celebration, Florida was supposed to be a utopia. What it ended up as is a mediocre neighborhood... more

12 Sep 2024 · 52 minutes
Short Stuff: Uncle Sam Wants YOU!

Who is Uncle Sam anyway? Was it a real person or just a marketing exercise? And why does he refuse... more

11 Sep 2024 · 13 minutes
Henry Ford: The Good, Bad and Ugly

Henry Ford was an odd guy, but one who had a vision for America that centered around a populist, affordable... more

10 Sep 2024 · 45 minutes
Selects: How Futurology Works

Science fiction writers have made some amazingly accurate predictions over the years, but in 1945 the pace of technological change... more

07 Sep 2024 · 39 minutes
Ludwig II: The Only Real King of the 19th Century

Outside of Germany, King Ludwig II is relatively unknown. And, yet, he is one of history’s most tragic and romantic... more

05 Sep 2024 · 47 minutes
Short Stuff: Rescuing Mistreated Pets

You – yes, you! – can be a hero to neglected and abused animals. But there’s a right way to... more

04 Sep 2024 · 13 minutes
The History of Streaming Music

When Napster reared its head in 1999, it marked the beginning of the end of the compact disc era. Today,... more

03 Sep 2024 · 49 minutes
Selects: The Manson Family Murders Part 1

The '60s ended with a lot of turbulence, not the least of which was the Manson Family Murders. What made... more

31 Aug 2024 · 46 minutes
How Bomb Disposal Works

Out of all the jobs a person can have, few are as overtly dangerous as making sure bombs don’t go... more

29 Aug 2024 · 47 minutes
Short Stuff: Skid Row (not the band)

How did a large section of downtown Los Angeles become a permanent fixture of unhoused individuals? Will it always be... more

28 Aug 2024 · 12 minutes
The Strange Story of the 1904 Olympic Marathon

The Olympic marathon of 1904 is an incredible story filled with wacky characters, cheating, heat and humidity, dust and dirt,... more

27 Aug 2024 · 40 minutes
Selects: 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... more

24 Aug 2024 · 46 minutes
The Luddites: Misunderstood Working Class Heroes

Today we think of Luddites as people who don’t know how to use technology or are maybe even afraid of... more

22 Aug 2024 · 41 minutes
Short Stuff: Chupacabra

What in the world is a chupacabra? Is it even real or is it the stuff of legend? Listen in... more

21 Aug 2024 · 12 minutes
True Mysteries of the Internet

There is A LOT of made-up stuff on the internet that gets passed off as true. But once in a... more

20 Aug 2024 · 47 minutes
Selects: Body Language!

Body language is how you communicate without words. Some say it bears more impact in communication than speaking words. In... more

17 Aug 2024 · 37 minutes
The Cher Episode

Cher is an icon, with hits spanning an unbelievable SEVEN decades. So kick back as we laud the singer/actress/legend. See omnystudio.com/listener... more

15 Aug 2024 · 51 minutes
Short Stuff: Tarring and Feathering

Being tarred and feathered is an old trope in America, but the actuality of it was pretty brutal, not the... more

14 Aug 2024 · 12 minutes
Minecraft! Minecraft! Minecraft!

It’s so simple, yet so compelling: you mine blocks and cut down trees to put things together to make cool... more

13 Aug 2024 · 54 minutes
Selects: 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... more

10 Aug 2024 · 49 minutes
The Call of the Void: Don’t Pick Up!

Many of us have experienced the odd sensation that we shouldn’t trust ourselves not to simply jump from a high... more

08 Aug 2024 · 41 minutes
Short Stuff: Pruney Skin

We know how our skin prunes, but we don't know for sure why. Chuck likes the leading theory, Josh does... more

07 Aug 2024 · 12 minutes
The Story of Rudolf Diesel

Rudolf Diesel was a game changing inventor, though his most famous product was not used how he envisioned it. Listen... more

06 Aug 2024 · 43 minutes
Selects: Timber! How Timber Works

Throughout much of the world, the forests are being managed through sustainable timber harvesting practices. This has come at the... more

03 Aug 2024 · 1 hour, 5 minutes
The One About Car Washes

The car wash you get to ride through on a journey to sparklingness is made of a handful of different... more

01 Aug 2024 · 48 minutes
Short Stuff: ZIP Codes!

ZIP codes are pretty self-explanatory, but there are all kinds of fun facts around the topic. Listen in to find... more

31 Jul 2024 · 14 minutes
Who was Dr. Bronner?

You may have his soap in your shower, but what do you know about the man himself? Buckle up, here... more

30 Jul 2024 · 40 minutes
Selects: The Tulsa 'Race Riots'

In reality, the Tulsa "race riots" of 1921 was more like a massacre. Yet it was almost lost to history... more

27 Jul 2024 · 46 minutes
The KILLDOZER Rampage

The Killdozer rampage is one of those stories you just couldn't make up. Yet it happened. And we're here to... more

25 Jul 2024 · 50 minutes
Short Stuff: The Ritchie Boys

Who were the Ritchie Boys? Listen in to find out. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

24 Jul 2024 · 12 minutes
Phone Phreaking: The Advent of Hacking

Years ago the telephone network was like the internet is to us today: a vast, interconnected means of communicating and... more

23 Jul 2024 · 48 minutes
Selects: The Duality of Caffeine

Caffeine is a heck of a drug - at the same time it's both good and bad for you. Learn... more

20 Jul 2024 · 46 minutes
HPV and You

Human papilloma virus, HPV, is an unusually common bug among humans. Most of the time it’s benign and your body... more

18 Jul 2024 · 44 minutes
Short Stuff: Sitzpinklers Unite

Sitzpinklers - men who sit down to pee - is a big thing in Germany, and a handful of other... more

17 Jul 2024 · 15 minutes
The Puritans in America

The founding of New England by the Puritans is quite a story. Today, we dive into who those people were.See... more

16 Jul 2024 · 50 minutes
Selects: 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... more

13 Jul 2024 · 49 minutes
Salsa: NOT THE DANCE

Salsa is one of the great inventions of the culinary world. Here in the USA it's mainly a vehicle for... more

11 Jul 2024 · 45 minutes
Short Stuff: Milk Wars

If you’re a mobster and you can’t make money off of booze any longer what should you move to next?... more

10 Jul 2024 · 14 minutes
Jane Goodall: All Good

There aren’t too many people walking around today who get a pass from the entire world for anything remotely negative... more

09 Jul 2024 · 46 minutes
Selects: How the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World Work, Part II

In this classic episode, we finish revisiting our 2017 tour of the best sights of the ancient world when we... more

06 Jul 2024 · 44 minutes
Salute to Women Inventors

Women inventors have always had a tough time, for obvious reasons. So we're here today to pay tribute to those... more

04 Jul 2024 · 41 minutes
Short Stuff: POW Olympics

While it sounds like something out of a movie, some POWs in WWII really held an Olympics. And it happened... more

03 Jul 2024 · 10 minutes
How Dopamine Works

Dopamine is perhaps the most talked-about, most misunderstood biochemical in our bodies. It’s linked to not only addiction and depravity,... more

02 Jul 2024 · 45 minutes
Selects: How Restaurant Health Inspections Work

If you've ever worked in a restaurant, you know the feeling that occurs when the health inspector pays a visit.... more

29 Jun 2024 · 51 minutes
EXTRA! EXTRA! The Newsboy Strike Episode!

When paperboys stopped delivering a couple of very big newspapers in 1899 it was a big deal. Big enough that... more

27 Jun 2024 · 49 minutes
Short Stuff: James Dean's Car

The story of what happened to the car that James Dean crashed.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

26 Jun 2024 · 13 minutes
Whistling!

Whistling is pretty cool when you think about it because it can mean many things, from simple happy tunes to... more

25 Jun 2024 · 50 minutes
Selects: How the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World Work, Part I

Long before slide rulers and pocket protectors, civilizations across the world used their noggins to build some impressive structures. Almost... more

22 Jun 2024 · 42 minutes
The Big Episode on Wikipedia

Wikipedia changed the world. Before it came along, you had to go to the library to get the answers you... more

20 Jun 2024 · 46 minutes
Short Stuff: Hostile Architecture

Those armrests in the middle of benches aren’t just for your comfort, they’re intended to keep the homeless from laying... more

19 Jun 2024 · 14 minutes
Why Must Widowhood Be So Difficult?

In almost every part of the world, in some form or fashion, widows have things harder than they did when... more

18 Jun 2024 · 46 minutes
Selects: 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... more

15 Jun 2024 · 53 minutes
A Brief History of Air Travel

Today we take to the friendly skies to detail the fascinating history of air travel. From planes with piano bars... more

13 Jun 2024 · 58 minutes
Short Stuff: Peace Sign

The peace sign is one of the most globally recognized symbols around today, but it’s only a few decades old.... more

12 Jun 2024 · 11 minutes
Coercive Control, the Invisible Basis of Abuse

When we think of an abused spouse we tend to think of horrific physical or emotional violence. But over the... more

11 Jun 2024 · 54 minutes
Selects: Sunburn, Suntans and Sunscreen

It's pretty obvious something's gone wrong when you get a sunburn, but did you know a tan means you've damaged... more

08 Jun 2024 · 47 minutes
The Ballad of Grit

In the last decade American schools became enrapt by a new psychological concept centered on persevering. Things went south when... more

06 Jun 2024 · 50 minutes
Short Stuff: Amber Alerts

Learn all about the saddest phone notification in today's episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

05 Jun 2024 · 12 minutes
Conductors: What the heck is going on there?

You've probably been to a symphony performance and wondered, what in the heck are conductors doing up there anyway? Well... more

04 Jun 2024 · 50 minutes
Selects: 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... more

01 Jun 2024 · 45 minutes
The Guinness Book of Records

If you grew up in the 70s and 80s in America, you probably have the image of your tattered Guinness... more

30 May 2024 · 51 minutes
Short Stuff: What's a mudlarker?

Mudlarking is a uniquely British hobby, though you can dig through river mud anywhere there's a river. But the Thames... more

29 May 2024 · 14 minutes
The shameful and harrowing story Unit 731

Unit 731 was a secret group within the Japanese Army in WWII that committed unspeakable atrocities against humans in the... more

28 May 2024 · 48 minutes
Selects: How Vomit Phobia Works

No one - no one - likes to vomit, but there are some people who would prefer to die rather... more

25 May 2024 · 29 minutes
J. Edgar Hoover: Evil G-Man Pt. 2

In the exciting conclusion of our two-part episode on Hoover, we come in at the Cold War and end on... more

23 May 2024 · 45 minutes
Short Stuff: Hobo Signs

By definition hobos are people who travel from town to town taking odd jobs as they go. But some towns... more

22 May 2024 · 14 minutes
J. Edgar Hoover: Evil G-Man Pt. 1

It wouldn’t be an overstatement to say that J. Edgar Hoover was perhaps the most powerful American of the 20th... more

21 May 2024 · 40 minutes
Selects: 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... more

18 May 2024 · 46 minutes
The Silurian Hypothesis

The idea that we aren’t the first advanced civilization to live on Earth sounds like a fringe theory, but it... more

16 May 2024 · 49 minutes
Short Stuff: Zambonis!

Even the dullest hockey game is worth seeing when the Zamboni comes out to resurface the ice.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy... more

15 May 2024 · 13 minutes
NYC Trash: A study in persistence

Taking care of 12,000 tons of residential trash every day is a hard job. But how does that even work?... more

14 May 2024 · 50 minutes
Selects: How Stuttering Works

Despite as much as one percent of the adult population having the condition, science doesn't actually know how stuttering works.... more

11 May 2024 · 50 minutes
10 - Yes, 10! - Dumb Criminals

Sometimes you just have to turn it off for a while – all the thinking, and overthinking, analyzing, and figuring... more

09 May 2024 · 45 minutes
Short Stuff: Titanic Survivors!

We all know the story of the Titanic and the tragedy of lives lost. So hey, let's talk about the... more

08 May 2024 · 16 minutes
Misophonia: More Than an Annoyance

Misophonia is a condition in which certain sounds trigger people in very negative ways that can really disrupt someone's life.... more

07 May 2024 · 47 minutes
Selects: 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... more

04 May 2024 · 46 minutes
Atomic Clocks, Ahoy!

The only thing more complicated than an atomic clock is researching how they work and then figuring out how to... more

02 May 2024 · 51 minutes
Short Stuff: Getting Winded

Getting the wind knocked out of you is scary, but passes quickly. Learn exactly what's happening with all that today.See... more

01 May 2024 · 11 minutes
The Village People Episode

The Village People were a smash hit singing group that came and went in under two years. Then other people... more

30 Apr 2024 · 54 minutes
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 -... more

27 Apr 2024 · 48 minutes
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... more

25 Apr 2024 · 46 minutes
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... more

24 Apr 2024 · 13 minutes
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%... more

23 Apr 2024 · 51 minutes
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... more

20 Apr 2024 · 55 minutes
Hitchhiking: Two thumbs out!

Today we go down the road a bit, thumbs out, to explore the rich history of hitchhiking. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy... more

18 Apr 2024 · 51 minutes
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... more

17 Apr 2024 · 13 minutes
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... more

16 Apr 2024 · 46 minutes
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.... more

13 Apr 2024 · 49 minutes
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... more

11 Apr 2024 · 48 minutes
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... more

10 Apr 2024 · 12 minutes
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... more

09 Apr 2024 · 49 minutes
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,... more

06 Apr 2024 · 51 minutes
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,... more

04 Apr 2024 · 54 minutes
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... more

03 Apr 2024 · 11 minutes
Greedflation Is Real

One of the things we rely on is for the companies who make the stuff we need to not stick... more

02 Apr 2024 · 55 minutes
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... more

30 Mar 2024 · 37 minutes
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... more

28 Mar 2024 · 48 minutes
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... more

27 Mar 2024 · 11 minutes
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... more

26 Mar 2024 · 46 minutes
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... more

23 Mar 2024 · 51 minutes
Peanuts (the comic) Part II

Today is part II of our tribute to one of the most iconic pieces of American culture.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy... more

21 Mar 2024 · 45 minutes
Short Stuff: Mariko Aoki Phenomenon

Ten percent of people – in Japan at least – get the urge to poop when they visit bookstores. But... more

20 Mar 2024 · 11 minutes
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... more

19 Mar 2024 · 45 minutes
Selects: How Dyslexia Works

For a learning disability that everyone seems to know about, dyslexia is maybe the most commonly misunderstood and controversial cognitive... more

16 Mar 2024 · 43 minutes
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... more

14 Mar 2024 · 51 minutes
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.... more

13 Mar 2024 · 11 minutes
Leave Brutalism Alone!

The most reviled, hated, despised, no-good, low down, dirty rotten architectural style of all time is actually just the most... more

12 Mar 2024 · 48 minutes
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... more

09 Mar 2024 · 50 minutes
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... more

07 Mar 2024 · 41 minutes
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.... more

06 Mar 2024 · 10 minutes
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,... more

05 Mar 2024 · 46 minutes
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."... more

02 Mar 2024 · 55 minutes
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... more

29 Feb 2024 · 47 minutes
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... more

28 Feb 2024 · 14 minutes
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... more

27 Feb 2024 · 56 minutes
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... more

24 Feb 2024 · 51 minutes
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... more

22 Feb 2024 · 40 minutes
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... more

21 Feb 2024 · 14 minutes
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.... more

20 Feb 2024 · 57 minutes
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... more

17 Feb 2024 · 50 minutes
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... more

15 Feb 2024 · 38 minutes
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... more

14 Feb 2024 · 10 minutes
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... more

13 Feb 2024 · 47 minutes
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... more

10 Feb 2024 · 45 minutes
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... more

08 Feb 2024 · 46 minutes
Short Stuff: School Bus Yellow

Why are all school buses the same color? Because one man made it so. This is that story. See omnystudio.com/listener for... more

07 Feb 2024 · 12 minutes
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... more

06 Feb 2024 · 48 minutes
Selects: How Disgust Works

Disgust is an odd thing. It makes sense that we would feel a sense of revulsion at the thought of... more

03 Feb 2024 · 54 minutes
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... more

01 Feb 2024 · 49 minutes
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... more

31 Jan 2024 · 11 minutes
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... more

30 Jan 2024 · 51 minutes
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... more

27 Jan 2024 · 56 minutes
Esperanto: Tre Mojosa

One thing you could do is create your own language. Some people do and for lots of different reasons. LL... more

25 Jan 2024 · 48 minutes
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... more

24 Jan 2024 · 14 minutes
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... more

23 Jan 2024 · 46 minutes
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... more

20 Jan 2024 · 46 minutes
Jonestown

We all know what happened at Jonestown, but who was Jim Jones before the tragedy at the People's Temple?See omnystudio.com/listener... more

18 Jan 2024 · 57 minutes
Short Stuff: Frozen Dead Guy

Back in 1994, Nederland, Colorado found out it had a resident it hadn’t accounted for.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

17 Jan 2024 · 12 minutes
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... more

16 Jan 2024 · 52 minutes
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... more

13 Jan 2024 · 44 minutes
How Cranes Work

You’ve probably seen cranes moving elegantly in the sky, but did you know what an important role they play in... more

11 Jan 2024 · 51 minutes
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... more

10 Jan 2024 · 14 minutes
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... more

09 Jan 2024 · 51 minutes
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... more

06 Jan 2024 · 52 minutes
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... more

04 Jan 2024 · 53 minutes
Short Stuff: Blueprints

The story of why blueprints were blue is more involved than you think. It involves a chemical process and the... more

03 Jan 2024 · 11 minutes
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... more

02 Jan 2024 · 1 hour, 6 minutes
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... more

30 Dec 2023 · 53 minutes
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... more

28 Dec 2023 · 51 minutes
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... more

27 Dec 2023 · 13 minutes
How Snails Work

They seem gross and bothersome at first, but once you get down to ground level and get to know snails,... more

26 Dec 2023 · 53 minutes
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... more

23 Dec 2023 · 56 minutes
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... more

21 Dec 2023 · 52 minutes
Short Stuff: Christmas Lights

Just three years after the lightbulb was invented a compadre of Thomas Edison thought to use them to decorate his... more

20 Dec 2023 · 13 minutes
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... more

19 Dec 2023 · 50 minutes
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.... more

16 Dec 2023 · 54 minutes
Selects: How Dictators Work

There are many types of dictators, from so called "benevolent" ones to the kind who rule with an iron fist.... more

15 Dec 2023 · 45 minutes
What was the Skeleton Army?

The Skeleton Army was a rowdy group of folks in England who battled, sometimes violently, with the Salvation Army -... more

14 Dec 2023 · 48 minutes
Short Stuff: Pickles

Josh loves pickles but hates cucumbers. Chuck loves cucumbers but hates pickles. WHO WILL WIN?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

13 Dec 2023 · 15 minutes
The Matewan Massacre

The Matewan Massacre was a pivotal moment for the US mining industry and the labor movement as a whole. Learn... more

12 Dec 2023 · 56 minutes
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... more

09 Dec 2023 · 46 minutes
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... more

07 Dec 2023 · 51 minutes
Short Stuff: Boba Tea

Boba tea is bubble tea. But what are the bubbles? Tapioca pearls! Listen in today to learn about the disputed... more

06 Dec 2023 · 11 minutes
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... more

05 Dec 2023 · 53 minutes
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... more

02 Dec 2023 · 42 minutes
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... more

30 Nov 2023 · 47 minutes
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... more

29 Nov 2023 · 14 minutes
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... more

28 Nov 2023 · 48 minutes
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... more

25 Nov 2023 · 47 minutes
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... more

23 Nov 2023 · 50 minutes
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... more

22 Nov 2023 · 12 minutes
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... more

21 Nov 2023 · 47 minutes
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... more

18 Nov 2023 · 41 minutes
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,... more

16 Nov 2023 · 46 minutes
Short Stuff: Liberty Bell

The story of the Liberty Bell is far more confusing than we imagined.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

15 Nov 2023 · 11 minutes
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... more

14 Nov 2023 · 50 minutes
Selects: Who were the Buffalo Soldiers?

Josh and Chuck dive into history in this classic episode to tell the story of the Buffalo Soldiers.See omnystudio.com/listener for... more

11 Nov 2023 · 51 minutes
How Scuba Works

It’s a good, old fashioned how it works episode where we break down all of the nuts and bolts and... more

09 Nov 2023 · 1 hour, 2 minutes
Short Stuff: Petrified Wood

Petrified wood isn't just hard wood. Listen in today to learn all about this unique process. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

08 Nov 2023 · 10 minutes
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... more

07 Nov 2023 · 43 minutes
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... more

04 Nov 2023 · 1 hour, 9 minutes
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... more

02 Nov 2023 · 53 minutes
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 –... more

01 Nov 2023 · 14 minutes
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... more

31 Oct 2023 · 1 hour, 4 minutes
Selects: How Mummies Work

A mummy is a human being whose soft tissue has been preserved after death, and there are mummies around the... more

28 Oct 2023 · 40 minutes
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... more

26 Oct 2023 · 46 minutes
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... more

25 Oct 2023 · 13 minutes
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... more

24 Oct 2023 · 37 minutes
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... more

21 Oct 2023 · 51 minutes
Kindness: Do It

In the tradition of our episodes on forgiveness and revenge, comes the third installment in the Emotional Roller Coaster trilogy.... more

19 Oct 2023 · 48 minutes
Short Stuff: Candy Corn

Is it vile? Is it delicious? It seems to be both! Hear all about the history of candy corn, how... more

18 Oct 2023 · 15 minutes
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... more

17 Oct 2023 · 53 minutes
Selects: Pain Scales: Yeeeow!

Pain is subjective; it is whatever the person experiencing it says it is. But to effectively treat pain, it helps... more

14 Oct 2023 · 43 minutes
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... more

12 Oct 2023 · 52 minutes
Short Stuff: Longyou Caves

What’s better than discovering a mysterious cavern? Discovering five!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

11 Oct 2023 · 15 minutes
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... more

10 Oct 2023 · 54 minutes
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,... more

07 Oct 2023 · 37 minutes
How Andy Warhol Worked

You know Andy Warhol from his quip on being famous for 15 minutes and paintings of soup cans, but even... more

05 Oct 2023 · 51 minutes
Short Stuff: Rhodium

Rhodium is one of the most valuable precious metals on Earth, though it has dropped in value by about 80%... more

04 Oct 2023 · 12 minutes
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... more

03 Oct 2023 · 48 minutes
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... more

30 Sep 2023 · 39 minutes
Revenge: Bitter, Not Sweet

Someone cuts you off in traffic or makes fun of your friend and all you can think of is how... more

28 Sep 2023 · 45 minutes
Short Stuff: The Dakota

The Dakota is one of New York City's great buildings. And its backstory is pretty great to boot. See omnystudio.com/listener for... more

27 Sep 2023 · 12 minutes
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... more

26 Sep 2023 · 49 minutes
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... more

23 Sep 2023 · 42 minutes
Kombucha: Fizzy Goodness

Kombucha is pretty popular right now. But what is it exactly and where did it come from? The answers await... more

21 Sep 2023 · 47 minutes
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... more

20 Sep 2023 · 11 minutes
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... more

19 Sep 2023 · 51 minutes
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

16 Sep 2023 · 33 minutes
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... more

14 Sep 2023 · 40 minutes
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... more

13 Sep 2023 · 11 minutes
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... more

12 Sep 2023 · 48 minutes
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... more

09 Sep 2023 · 48 minutes
Native American Reservations

Today we dive into the history and current state of Native American reservations. This serves as a nice follow-up to... more

07 Sep 2023 · 52 minutes
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.See... more

06 Sep 2023 · 14 minutes
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... more

05 Sep 2023 · 41 minutes
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... more

02 Sep 2023 · 46 minutes
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. See... more

31 Aug 2023 · 50 minutes
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... more

30 Aug 2023 · 11 minutes
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,... more

29 Aug 2023 · 46 minutes
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... more

26 Aug 2023 · 47 minutes
Plant Migration

Climate change is having sweeping effects on our climate and this is changing the world, not just for humans and... more

24 Aug 2023 · 45 minutes
Short Stuff: Saturn's Rings

Friends, treasure Saturn’s rings while they are young. They won’t be around forever.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

23 Aug 2023 · 11 minutes
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... more

22 Aug 2023 · 48 minutes
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,... more

19 Aug 2023 · 44 minutes
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... more

17 Aug 2023 · 50 minutes
Short Stuff: Edward Mordake

In the 19th century news spread of an unfortunate man who was born with an evil second face on the... more

16 Aug 2023 · 12 minutes
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... more

15 Aug 2023 · 53 minutes
Selects: How Magnets Work

You can stick them to the fridge or use them to transpose sound to tape, whatever they are used for... more

12 Aug 2023 · 36 minutes
Stuff You Should Know
Fordlandia: Brazil Isn't Michigan
Stuff You Should Know
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Description

Henry Ford tried to build a Midwestern American town in the Amazon rainforest in the 1920s. It's true. And yes, Chuck will... more