Stuff You Should Know

By iHeartPodcasts

If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

Episodes

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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
46 min
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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
56 min
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!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
47 min
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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
15 min
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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
57 min
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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
52 min
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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
41 min
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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
15 min
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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
57 min
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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
50 min
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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
39 min
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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
11 min
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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
48 min
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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
45 min
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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
47 min
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 privacy information.
12 min
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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
49 min
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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
55 min
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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
50 min
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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
12 min

Stuff You Should Know

Episodes

Multitasking: Working slower with worse results

Selects: The Case of Sacco and Vanzetti

Wireless Electricity: When Can We Unplug Our TVs?

Short Stuff: Smudging: Not just for hippies

Haile Selassie: Statesman, Colonizer, God?

Selects: How Zero Population Growth Works

The Story of the Nuclear Boy Scout

Short Stuff: Benin Bronzes

Ray and Charles Eames: More than Chairs

Selects: Geodesic Domes: The Wave of the Future That Wasn't

Like, here's the episode on "like"

Short Stuff: The Original Snake Oil Salesman

What Americans Ate When There Were No Food Laws

Selects: The Unabomber: Misguided to say the least

What's the Pygmalion Effect?

Short Stuff: School Bus Yellow

Clue(do): Third Best Board Game Ever

Selects: How Disgust Works

The History of Las Vegas

Short Stuff: Wainscoting: When Half a Wall is Enough

No Straight Answers

This American Life

Rosebud with Gyles Brandreth

How To Fail With Elizabeth Day

Modern Wisdom

The Ezra Klein Show

Mamamia Out Loud

THE MORNING SHIFT

Episodes

Multitasking: Working slower with worse results

Selects: The Case of Sacco and Vanzetti

Wireless Electricity: When Can We Unplug Our TVs?

Short Stuff: Smudging: Not just for hippies

Haile Selassie: Statesman, Colonizer, God?

Selects: How Zero Population Growth Works

The Story of the Nuclear Boy Scout

Short Stuff: Benin Bronzes

Ray and Charles Eames: More than Chairs

Selects: Geodesic Domes: The Wave of the Future That Wasn't

Like, here's the episode on "like"

Short Stuff: The Original Snake Oil Salesman

What Americans Ate When There Were No Food Laws

Selects: The Unabomber: Misguided to say the least

What's the Pygmalion Effect?

Short Stuff: School Bus Yellow

Clue(do): Third Best Board Game Ever

Selects: How Disgust Works

The History of Las Vegas

Short Stuff: Wainscoting: When Half a Wall is Enough

Similar podcasts

No Straight Answers

This American Life

Rosebud with Gyles Brandreth

How To Fail With Elizabeth Day

Modern Wisdom

The Ezra Klein Show

Mamamia Out Loud

THE MORNING SHIFT