Stuff You Should Know
Episodes
SYSK Selects: Research tips from SYSK
20 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 st...
The Manhattan Grid
18 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Short Stuff: Haint Blue
17 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
The War on Fat: The Seven Countries Study
16 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 l...
SYSK Selects: How Flamethrowers Work
13 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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, hi...
Can You Eat A Tapeworm To Lose Weight?
11 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Short Stuff: Foie Gras
10 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Foie gras means “fatty liver” in French, which makes sense because it’s made from the overripe livers of force-fed ducks and geese. Learn mor...
How Project Star Gate Worked
09 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 rem...
SYSK Selects: How The Black Panther Party Worked
06 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
The Massacre at Tiananmen Square
04 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 leadin...
Short Stuff: Disappearing Dirty Dancing Lake
03 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Heroin: The Drug
02 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We've covered a lot of drugs in our history, and today we tackle heroin, one of the most dangerous of all. Learn more about your ad-choices at https:...
SYSK Selects: How Jackhammers Work
30 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
It’s likely that without the invention of the pneumatic jackhammer, the Industrial Revolution wouldn’t have hummed along quite so smoothly. Certai...
How Narcolepsy Works
28 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Narcolepsy is one of those amazing rare disorders that everyone thinks they understand – people just fall asleep at random times, even in the middle...
Short Stuff: Lawn Darts
27 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
There was a time when kids had to look out for flying darts that could pierce their skulls when they played in the backyard. Learn more about your ad...
Hummingbirds: Ornery Helicopters of the Animal Kingdom
26 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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, the...
SYSK Selects: How The Enlightenment Works
23 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 episod...
Josh Clark's Speech from Commencement: Speeches for the Class of 2020
22 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Hi listeners, in case you haven't heard already, iHeartRadio just released a brand new podcast called Commencement: Speeches for the Class of 2020, wh...
How Bras Work
21 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 contraptio...
Short Stuff: Mary Had A Little Lamb
20 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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)...
How Spiritualism Works
19 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Chuck Bryant's Speech from Commencement: Speeches for the Class of 2020
18 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Hi listeners, in case you haven't heard already, iHeartRadio just released a brand new podcast called Commencement: Speeches for the Class of 2020, wh...
SYSK Selects: How Fire Works
16 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 chemist...
How Peanut Butter Works
14 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Short Stuff: Charley Horse
13 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
You know those terrible leg cramps that come out of nowhere? They may be named after a drunken baseball pitcher. Learn more about your ad-choices at ...
How Herd Immunity Works
12 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 i...
SYSK Selects: How Caving Works
09 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Zippers: Humans’ Greatest Invention? No, But Still Good
07 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 bu...
Short Stuff: Gibtown: Sideshow Central
06 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
There was a glorious time in American history when circus sideshow performers lived together in a small town in Florida. Learn about the fascinating h...
I'm Spartacus!
05 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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. Learn mor...
SYSK Selects: How do dogs perceive time?
02 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 dif...
Agatha Christie: Queen of the Murder Mystery
30 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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. ...
Short Stuff: Mullets: 'Nuff Said
29 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Business in the front, you know the rest. Listen in as we discuss the lifestyle choice that is the mullet. Learn more about your ad-choices at https:...
How Existential Risks Work
28 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 th...
SYSK Selects: How the U.S. Postal Service Works
25 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 a...
How the Voyager Golden Records Work
23 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Short Stuff: The NY Times Crossword
22 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Today Chuck and Josh take a shallow dive in the warm pool that is the NY Times Crossword Puzzle. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.ihea...
The Soul Train Episode
21 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Today, Chuck and Josh dive into the funky, cool world of the classic TV show, Sooooooooul Train. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.ihea...
SYSK Selects: How Labor Unions Work
18 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Yes, it's true: Unions have a shady mob-related past and were originally championed by anarchists. Born from medieval trade guilds, these organization...
How Wastewater Treatment Works
16 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 en...
Short Stuff: Turning Down the Radio When You're Lost
15 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 – ...
Bidets: Now More Than Ever
14 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We all know the benefits of bidets. But with toilet paper in short supply, they're more important than ever before. Learn more about your ad-choices ...
SYSK Selects: How Dissociative Identity Disorder Works
11 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Dissociative Identity Disorder was known as multiple personality disorder until a case of mass hysteria brought on by the movie-mad public and unscrup...
Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell, Feminist Physician
09 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Becoming the first licensed woman physician in America was tough, convincing male surgeons to wash their hands between patients was even tougher. Toda...
Short Stuff: AAirpass
08 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 did...
The Legends of Lost Nazi Gold
07 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 an...
SYSK Selects: How the Deep Web Works
04 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 sea...
Student Loans: UGH!
02 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Student loans can be pretty complicated. Luckily Chuck and Josh are here to wade through the financial muck for you. Learn more about your ad-choices...
Short Stuff: 666
01 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Today, Chuck and Josh dive into that scary number...666. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/l...
How Dog Training Works
31 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 brea...
SYSK Selects: Can Nuclear Fusion Reactors Save The World?
28 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 clima...
How COVID-19 Works
26 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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. Learn more about your ad...
Short Stuff: Dagen H
25 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
One day in 1967, Sweden changed what side of the road its citizens drive on. It went surprisingly well, considering. Learn more about your ad-choices...
Could A Robot Tax Win the War on Poverty?
24 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
SYSK Selects: Virus Talk with Josh and Chuck
21 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 kno...
SYSK Distraction Playlist: How Jim Henson Worked
20 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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...
SYSK Distraction Playlist: SYSK Live: How Bars Work
20 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
SYSK Distraction Playlist: How Grass Works? Yes, How Grass Works
20 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 s...
SYSK Distraction Playlist: How Terraforming Will Work
20 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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, o...
SYSK Distraction Playlist: How Rogue Waves Work
20 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
SYSK Distraction Playlist: Was there a real King Arthur?
20 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 wa...
SYSK Distraction Playlist: The Amazing History of Soda
20 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 exp...
SYSK Distraction Playlist: How Rodney Dangerfield Worked, Live From LA
20 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 5...
SYSK Distraction Playlist: How Pinball Works
20 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
SYSK Distraction Playlist: Sugar: It Powers the Earth
20 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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...
What was the Falkland Islands War all about anyway?
19 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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! Learn...
Short Stuff: The Pledge of Allegiance
18 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The American Pledge of Allegiance is much more interesting than you might think. Give us 12 minutes and we'll fill you in. Learn more about your ad-c...
Chopsticks > Forks
17 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Today Chuck and Josh sit and converse on the simple, elegant chopstick. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee...
SYSK Selects: How Monopoly Works
14 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 origi...
How Ice Climbing Works
12 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 cl...
Short Stuff: Teresita Basa
11 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 poss...
How Coyotes Work
10 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 s...
SYSK Selects: How Gold Works
07 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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, t...
Mardi Gras! One month late
05 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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. Learn more ...
Short Stuff: Exclamation Points!
04 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We all use them! But did we always? NO!! Learn all about everyone's favorite punctuation mark today! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www....
How Morphic Fields Work?
03 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Biologist and science historian Rupert Sheldrake is known as a heretic of science, mostly for his deeply strange ideas about what connects all living ...
SYSK Selects: Your limb is torn off - now what?
29 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 a...
Sammy Davis Jr: National Treasure
27 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Today Josh and Chuck sit down and detail the complicated life of the late, great Sammy Davis Jr. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.ihea...
Short Stuff: Hawaiian Night Marchers
26 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Get ready for some Hawaiian folklore, people. Today we discuss the Night Marchers. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwo...
What's the deal with indigo?
25 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Indigo is a color with a rich past. Learn all about it today. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudi...
SYSK Selects: How Cult Deprogramming Works
22 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Birthmarks: Probably Not the Mark of the Devil
20 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 wa...
Short Stuff: Mexican Jumping Beans
19 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Mexican jumping beans are a real thing and they really do move around. It’s not magic, it’s nature! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://w...
The Unsolved Indiana Dunes Disappearances
18 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 d...
SYSK Selects: A Podcast on Zoot Suits? Yes
15 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Few riots can be attributed to passing fashions, but zoot suits are top among them. After originating among the Harlem Renaissance crowd, the zoot sui...
911 Is Not a Joke
13 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Josh and Chuck delve into the world of 911 in today's episode. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystud...
Short Stuff: Body Under The Bed
12 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
A couple unknowingly spending the night above a dead body stuffed under their bed is a longstanding urban legend. And a true one. Learn more about yo...
Optogenetics: Controlling Your Genes with Light
11 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 a...
SYSK Selects: How Bonsai Works
08 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 eng...
Why are Pentecostals growing so rapidly?
06 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Short Stuff: The Iowa Caucus
05 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Iowa Caucus is super important. But not really. Find out why. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnys...
How AI Facial Recognition Works
04 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
With the development of increasingly smart artificial intelligence and lots more cameras spread around than ever before, we have reached a critical po...
SYSK Selects: How Maglev Trains Work
01 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Thanks to the amazing properties of magnets, clever engineers have figured out how to make entire trains levitate above their tracks, letting them mov...
Who were the Buffalo Soldiers?
30 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Josh and Chuck dive into history today to tell the story of the Buffalo Soldiers. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetw...
Short Stuff: The O.K. Corral
29 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Listen in as we detail, in short, the legendary shootout at the O.K. Corral. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com...
Amazing Animal Stories!
28 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Regular animal stories are wonderful enough, but when animals lead amazing lives the stories become almost unbearably wonderful. You’ve been warned!...
SYSK Selects: How the Scientific Method Works
25 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
It evolved over centuries to become the gold standard for conducting scientific inquiry. Yet many people - including some scientists - don't fully und...
Barefoot Running: The Best Podcast Episode in History
23 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
What is barefoot running? I think you know. But we'll detail all of the ins and outs. Listen and learn! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://w...
Short Stuff: Byford Dolphin Incident
22 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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, instant...
Why Postal Employees Go Postal
21 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 answer...