Stuff You Should Know

Latest Episodes:

Fallout Shelters: Probably Useless (Let’s Never Find Out) Oct 01, 2020

Show notes

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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Short Stuff: That's A Head Scratcher Sep 30, 2020

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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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Conjugal Visits: Not exactly what you think Sep 29, 2020

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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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SYSK Selects: How Rabies Works Sep 26, 2020

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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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At Long Last: Hawaiian Overthrow Episode Sep 24, 2020

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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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Short Stuff: Petticoat Rulers Sep 23, 2020

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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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How Sweepstakes Work Sep 22, 2020

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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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SYSK Selects: How White-collar Crime Works Sep 19, 2020

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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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How Election Polling Works and Doesn't Work Sep 17, 2020

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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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Short Stuff: Black Cowboys Sep 16, 2020

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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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