Stuff You Should Know

What's the deal with intermittent fasting? Jun 01, 2023

Could eating at only certain times of the day lead to weight loss? Possibly!

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Short Stuff: Rube Goldberg May 31, 2023

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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The Saga of Milli Vanilli May 30, 2023

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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Selects: How Color Works May 27, 2023

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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The Semi-Recent History of Exercise May 25, 2023

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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Short Stuff: Pollen Count May 24, 2023

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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What is the Bechdel Test? May 23, 2023

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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Selects: How Dog Shows Work May 20, 2023

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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How Juries Work May 18, 2023

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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Short Stuff: Mood Rings May 17, 2023

Mood Rings were all the rage in the 1970s. Then they went away, and fast. What's your color today?

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The Inflammation Theory of Disease May 16, 2023

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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Selects: How Slinky Works May 13, 2023

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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How TV Weathercasters Work May 11, 2023

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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Short Stuff: Frances Kelsey: Hero of the FDA May 10, 2023

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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The Colosseum May 09, 2023

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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Selects: Does the body replace itself? May 06, 2023

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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Introducing Smell-O-Vision! May 04, 2023

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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Short Stuff: Dunbar's Number May 03, 2023

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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Nerf! May 02, 2023

Another classic toys edition is at your collective feet. Today, we dive into the soft, padded world of NERF!

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Selects: How Manhunts Work Apr 29, 2023

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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Carbon Monoxide: Please Just Listen Anyway Apr 27, 2023

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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Short Stuff: Botox Brain Apr 26, 2023

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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Why does everyone love Dolly Parton? Apr 25, 2023

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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Selects: Was There A Real Robin Hood? Apr 22, 2023

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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METI: Existential Threat? Probably Yes Apr 20, 2023

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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Short Stuff: Routines Apr 19, 2023

Routines are a key part of a successful life. Ask anybody about theirs and they'll be happy to share!

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Should Rich Countries Cancel Poor Countries’ Debt? Apr 18, 2023

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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Selects: How Coffins Work Apr 15, 2023

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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John Brinkley: The Quackiest Quack in History? Apr 13, 2023

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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Short Stuff: Red Snow Apr 12, 2023

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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How Skydiving Works Apr 11, 2023

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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Selects: Some Nutso Fan Theories Apr 08, 2023

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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Playing Cards? You Got That Right! Apr 06, 2023

If you've ever wanted to learn more about playing cards, now is your big chance.

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Short Stuff: Beethoven’s DNA Apr 05, 2023

It's been all over the news, Beethoven's DNA has revealed some interesting things about his health.

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What Caused the Late Bronze Age Collapse? Apr 04, 2023

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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Selects: How Jet Lag Works Apr 01, 2023

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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What's the deal with dowsing? Mar 30, 2023

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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Short Stuff: Theme Park Cremations Mar 29, 2023

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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The First Road Trip Mar 28, 2023

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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Selects: Is The Uncanny Valley Real? Mar 25, 2023

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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An Interesting, Vastly Incomplete Look at Baseball Cards Mar 23, 2023

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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Short Stuff: Semantic Satiation Mar 22, 2023

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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The Tragic Tale of Floyd Collins Mar 21, 2023

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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Selects: Do People Really Run Off to Join the French Foreign Legion? Mar 18, 2023

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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Arcades: Nostalgia Abounds Mar 16, 2023

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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Short Stuff: John Cage's 639 Year Concert Mar 15, 2023

John Cage was a unique artist to say the least. Learn all about this avant-garde composer today.

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That's Amaro! Mar 14, 2023

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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Selects: The Time Nazis Invaded Florida Mar 11, 2023

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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Woodstock: The Festival for Stardust, Golden Hippies Mar 09, 2023

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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Short Stuff: Paprika Mar 08, 2023

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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Noncompete Agreements, Come On Mar 07, 2023

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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Selects: Live From San Francisco: How Malls Work Mar 04, 2023

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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Crosswords episode, perhaps? Mar 02, 2023

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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Short Stuff: La Pascualita Mar 01, 2023

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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The Awe-Inspiring, Absolutely Crucial Amazon Feb 28, 2023

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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Selects: Who Committed the 1912 Villisca Ax Murders? Feb 25, 2023

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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Naps: Chuck's Secret Talent Feb 23, 2023

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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Short Stuff: Sleeping On It Feb 22, 2023

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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The Mystery of the Lost Amber Room Feb 21, 2023

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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Selects: The Max Headroom Affair Feb 18, 2023

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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The Beverly Hills Supper Club Fire Feb 16, 2023

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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Short Stuff: Beulah Mae Donald Feb 15, 2023

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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The Glorious Flamingo Feb 14, 2023

Flamingos are much more than just pretty pink birds. They are in fact, quite remarkable! Listen and learn…

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Selects: Cave Diving: Totally Nuts Feb 11, 2023

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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How (O)possums Work Feb 09, 2023

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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Short Stuff: No Shirt, No Shoes, WTF Feb 08, 2023

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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Honey: Nature's Wonder Sugar Feb 07, 2023

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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Selects: How Easy Bake Ovens Work Feb 04, 2023

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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The Largely Equine History of Veterinary Medicine Feb 02, 2023

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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Short Stuff: Bird Migration Feb 01, 2023

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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Must We Suffer Emotional Pain? Jan 31, 2023

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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Selects: Elephants: The Best Animals? Jan 28, 2023

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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How Attachment Theory Works Jan 26, 2023

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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Short Stuff: Adam's Apples and Throat Lumps Jan 25, 2023

This week's short stuff is all about throat lumps and Adam's apples.

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Let's Talk About John DeLorean Jan 24, 2023

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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Selects: How Game Shows Work Jan 21, 2023

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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Toast: As in browned bread Jan 19, 2023

Toast is bread that has been browned by heat. It's delicious. This is our ode to toast.

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Short Stuff: Women Pirates Jan 18, 2023

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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The Louisiana Purchase: Not a Purchase Jan 17, 2023

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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Selects: How Therapeutic Hypothermia Works Jan 14, 2023

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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How Tarot Works? Jan 12, 2023

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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Short Stuff: Forest Lawn Memorial Park Jan 11, 2023

Forest Lawn is no ordinary cemetery. Why? Listen in and find out.

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How Enron Fooled the World Jan 10, 2023

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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Selects: How Perfume Works Jan 07, 2023

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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When Mount St. Helens Blew Its Top Jan 05, 2023

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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Short Stuff: Dangers of Nose Picking Jan 04, 2023

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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The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald (not the song) Jan 03, 2023

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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Selects: Could There Be A Loch Ness Monster? Dec 31, 2022

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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The Rocky Horror Picture Show Podcast Episode Dec 29, 2022

This one goes out to the SYSK Army as a special request. Let's do the time warp again!

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Short Stuff: Mesas: Flat Dec 28, 2022

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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Juicy: The Fried Chicken Story Dec 27, 2022

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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Selects: Star Wars Holiday Spectacular Dec 24, 2022

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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2022 Holiday Spectacular! Dec 22, 2022

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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Short Stuff: Snow Globes Dec 21, 2022

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Who was Dorothy Parker, really? Dec 20, 2022

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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Selects: Nostradamus: Predictor of the future? Not so much. Dec 17, 2022

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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Interesting Origins of Everyday Phrases Dec 15, 2022

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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Short Stuff: The Atlanta Washer Woman Strike Dec 14, 2022

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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How the Nintendo Entertainment System Changed Gaming Forever Dec 13, 2022

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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Selects: How Polar Bears Work Dec 10, 2022

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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True Crime: The Phantom of Heilbronn Dec 08, 2022

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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Short Stuff: Birthday Paradox Dec 07, 2022

The Birthday Paradox involves math, so you know this one will go perfectly.

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How Face Blindness Works Dec 06, 2022

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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Selects: The Rubik's Cube Episode Dec 03, 2022

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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How Down Syndrome Works Dec 01, 2022

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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Short Stuff: Goosebumps Nov 30, 2022

Goosebumps are a pretty cool evolutionary holdover from our earlier days as furry beasts. Don't believe us? Listen in.

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Peripersonal Space: Humans’ Got Talent Nov 29, 2022

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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Selects: How Umami Works! Nov 26, 2022

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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Roller Skating: Fun and Cool Nov 24, 2022

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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Short Stuff: Liquid Paper Nov 23, 2022

Correction fluid goes by many names, but the OG was Liquid Paper. And it has a pretty cool origin story.

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Typewriters: Mechanical Brilliance Nov 22, 2022

Chuck loves typewriters because he loves mechanical brilliance. Dive into the cool history of these amazing machines today.

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Selects: How Dark Money Works Nov 19, 2022

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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Did Shakespeare really write all that stuff? Nov 17, 2022

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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Short Stuff: Incomplete Yawns Nov 16, 2022

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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The Sordid History of Bachelor/Bachelorette Parties Nov 15, 2022

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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Selects: Finders Keepers: Real Law Nov 12, 2022

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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How Owls Work Nov 10, 2022

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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Short Stuff: Dodleston Messages Nov 09, 2022

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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What's so important about legal precedent? Nov 08, 2022

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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Selects: What is an invasive species? Nov 05, 2022

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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Vaudeville: Step Right Up! Nov 03, 2022

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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Short Stuff: Birth Certificate Access Nov 02, 2022

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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The Harvey's Casino Bombing of 1980 Nov 01, 2022

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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Selects: How Vampires Work Oct 29, 2022

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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The 13th Annual Halloween Spooktacular! Oct 27, 2022

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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Short Stuff: Robert the Doll Oct 26, 2022

Robert the Doll is decidedly creepy. So is his story. Listen in to this spooky tale right now!

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The Tale of the Bloody Benders Oct 25, 2022

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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Selects: 10ish Cases of Really Bad Luck Oct 22, 2022

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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Fundamentalism: Menace II Society Oct 20, 2022

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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Short Stuff: Water Towers Oct 19, 2022

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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The History of Fake Towns. Oct 18, 2022

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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Selects: How Pompeii Worked Oct 15, 2022

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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10 Cases of Mistaken Identity Oct 13, 2022

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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Short Stuff: Blaschko's Lines Oct 12, 2022

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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Doppelgängers: Hey you, you're me! Oct 11, 2022

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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Selects: Josh and Chuck's List of Horror Movies that Changed the Genre Oct 08, 2022

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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How License Plates Work Oct 06, 2022

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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Short Stuff: Scratching Oct 05, 2022

Listen in today as we salute turntablism, aka, record scratching.

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Vinyl Records: Black Magic at Work Oct 04, 2022

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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Selects: How Clowns Work Oct 01, 2022

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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How The Rosenhan Experiment Worked Sep 29, 2022

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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Short Stuff: Curse Tablets Sep 28, 2022

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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Vasectomies: Stop Being A Wimp Sep 27, 2022

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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Selects: How LSD Works Sep 24, 2022

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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Sitcoms Part II Sep 22, 2022

Listen in now for part II of our homage to sitcoms.

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Short Stuff: Laugh Tracks Sep 21, 2022

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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Sitcoms Part I Sep 20, 2022

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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Selects: Frida Kahlo: Painter, Icon, Genius Sep 17, 2022

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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Pearls: Second Best Thing About Oysters Sep 15, 2022

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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Short Stuff: Hangry? Sep 14, 2022

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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The Georgia Guidestones: The Elite Have a Laugh Sep 13, 2022

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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Selects: What Happened to the Neanderthals? Sep 10, 2022

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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Everything We Know About Squids Sep 08, 2022

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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Short Stuff: RIP Man of the Hole Sep 07, 2022

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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Did Mallory Make it to the Top of Everest First? Sep 06, 2022

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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Selects: How the Pony Express Worked Sep 03, 2022

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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Rolling Stone Magazine Sep 01, 2022

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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Short Stuff: Mason-Dixon Line Aug 31, 2022

The dividing line between the North and South is purely political. But the story of its creation is pretty interesting.

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We Need More Sustainable Packaging, Like, Yesterday Aug 30, 2022

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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Selects: Knife Throwing: Super Cool Aug 27, 2022

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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Kissing Cousins: A History of Marrying Family Aug 25, 2022

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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Short Stuff: Marrying Up Aug 24, 2022

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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Introvert or Extravert: Which are you? (Probably both) Aug 23, 2022

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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Selects: How Gossip Works Aug 20, 2022

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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How Enemas Work Aug 18, 2022

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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Short Stuff: Selling the Brooklyn Bridge Aug 17, 2022

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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Mariachi: The Rodney Dangerfield of Music Aug 16, 2022

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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Selects: Desert Survival: Josh and Chuck Save Your Tookus Aug 13, 2022

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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The Origins of Breakfast Foods Aug 11, 2022

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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Short Stuff: The Berners Street Hoax Aug 10, 2022

A full 200 years on, we're still talking about one of the most sweeping hoaxes of all time.

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What's the deal with energy drinks? Aug 09, 2022

Chuck hates them, Josh has flirted with them. Energy drinks. Listen in to learn all about this canned speed.

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Selects: How Droughts Work Aug 06, 2022

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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Thrill to the Stunning Bicameral Mind Hypothesis Aug 04, 2022

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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Short Stuff: Divorcing Your Parents Aug 03, 2022

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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Silly String: Disaster in a Can Aug 02, 2022

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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Selects: Some Movies That Changed Filmmaking Jul 30, 2022

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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How Menstruation Works Jul 28, 2022

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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Short Stuff: The Mars Rock with Signs of Life? Jul 27, 2022

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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Where Did Human Intelligence Come From? Jul 26, 2022

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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Selects: What's the misery index? Jul 23, 2022

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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Googie: The Architecture of the Space Age Jul 21, 2022

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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Short Stuff: Death from Astral Projection Jul 20, 2022

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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Supernovae: Best Around, Case Closed Jul 19, 2022

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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Selects: What Happens When the Government Thinks You're Dead? Jul 16, 2022

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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Why Bowling is Awesome Jul 14, 2022

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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Short Stuff: Catatumbo Lightning Jul 13, 2022

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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Mangroves: Nature's Best Tree? Jul 12, 2022

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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Selects: How Ayahuasca Works Jul 09, 2022

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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The Maya Civilization Jul 07, 2022

After inspiration from Chuck's recent trip to the Yucatan, the fellas dive into the Maya Civilization.

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Short Stuff: Alligator Gar Jul 06, 2022

The alligator gar is one scary looking fish. Learn all about these monsters in today's episode.

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How Ultraprocessed Foods Work Jul 05, 2022

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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Selects: How Freak Shows Worked Jul 02, 2022

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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A Dispassionate Review of Roe v Wade Jun 30, 2022

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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Short Stuff: What did we use before infant formula? Jun 29, 2022

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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How Alien Contact Might Work Jun 28, 2022

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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Selects: Chiggers: The Phantom Menace Jun 25, 2022

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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What's up with bariatric surgery? Jun 23, 2022

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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Short Stuff: Do Fish Get Thirsty? Jun 22, 2022

One of the greatest questions we’ve ever heard, answered (in a roundabout way).

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The Appalachian Trail: A Heckuva Hike Jun 21, 2022

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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Selects: How Steadicams Work Jun 18, 2022

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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What were the IRA hunger strikes? Jun 16, 2022

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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Short Stuff: HR8 Gun Legislation Jun 15, 2022

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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How Wind Works Jun 14, 2022

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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Selects: How Drowning Works Jun 11, 2022

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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The 4-minute Mile: Greatest Sports Story? Jun 09, 2022

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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Short Stuff: Cleveland’s Infamous 10-Cent Beer Night Jun 08, 2022

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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How Freedom of the Press Works Jun 07, 2022

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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Selects: How Satanism Works Jun 04, 2022

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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Kidney Donation: You Could Be A Saint! Jun 02, 2022

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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Short Stuff: Happy Foods! Jun 01, 2022

Some foods make you happy. But they aren't necessarily comfort foods. You know what they call that? SCIENCE!

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The Scintillating World of Interest Rates May 31, 2022

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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Selects: Waterbeds: The Sexiest Bed? May 28, 2022

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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The Myth of Absinthe May 26, 2022

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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Short Stuff: Do people move in predictable directions? May 25, 2022

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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Cats: Invasive Species? May 24, 2022

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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Selects: The Disappearance of the Yuba County Five May 21, 2022

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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What's in a surname? May 19, 2022

Surnames are way more interesting that you think, trust us. Just hit play and prepare to be wowed.

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Short Stuff: Artificial Banana Flavor May 18, 2022

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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Squirrels, Ahoy! May 17, 2022

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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Selects: How Lizzie Borden Worked May 14, 2022

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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Rhinoplasty, aka Nose Jobs May 12, 2022

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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Short Stuff: Fainting At The Sight Of Blood May 11, 2022

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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What are land acknowledgments? May 10, 2022

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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Selects: How Champagne Works May 07, 2022

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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Marcus Garvey: Black Moses May 05, 2022

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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Short Stuff: Shar Pei May 04, 2022

Today we dive into the lovable folds of the Shar Pei.

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The Mystery of Coal May 03, 2022

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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Selects: How Rodney Dangerfield Worked, Live From LA Apr 30, 2022

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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Understudies: Hardest Workers on Broadway? Apr 28, 2022

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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Short Stuff: Smelly Homes Apr 27, 2022

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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“Postmodernism:” Apr 26, 2022

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Selects: The Baffling Case of the Body On Somerton Beach Apr 23, 2022

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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Just Say No to... Bottled Water Apr 21, 2022

Bottled water is huge business, and terrible for the environment. But where did this all start? Listen in and learn.

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Short Stuff: Salute the Grilled Cheese Apr 20, 2022

Today we pay tribute to the comfiest of comfort food, the grilled cheese sandwich.

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The Christine Collins Story Apr 19, 2022

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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Selects: What happens to abandoned mines? Apr 16, 2022

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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How Mensa Works Apr 14, 2022

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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Short Stuff: Animal Politicians Apr 13, 2022

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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The Mystery of the Toynbee Tiles Apr 12, 2022

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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Selects: A Partial History of Action Figures Apr 09, 2022

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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The Delightful History of Pubs Apr 07, 2022

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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Short Stuff: The Church Choir That Didn't Explode Apr 06, 2022

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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Watermelons: Nature's Gift to the World Apr 05, 2022

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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Selects: How No-fly Zones Work Apr 02, 2022

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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What’s NATO All About? Mar 31, 2022

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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Short Stuff: Greenbrier Bunker Mar 30, 2022

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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How Light Pollution Works Mar 29, 2022

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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Selects: The Tylenol Murders, Part II Mar 26, 2022

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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Selects: The Tylenol Murders, Part I Mar 26, 2022

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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The Truth Behind Cage-Free and Free-Range Mar 25, 2022

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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Short Stuff: Magnet Fishing Mar 23, 2022

Magnet fishing has nothing to do with fish. It's more like metal detecting in waterways. Please enjoy our take!

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Why was Titicut Follies banned? Mar 22, 2022

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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Selects: How Hate Works Mar 19, 2022

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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How Rewilding Works Mar 17, 2022

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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Short Stuff: Nose Breathing Mar 16, 2022

Nose breathing > mouth breathing for many reasons. Listen and learn!

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Operation Northwoods: The False Flag Op That Never Was Mar 15, 2022

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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Selects: A Brief Overview of Punk Rock Mar 12, 2022

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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Aleister Crowley: Blowhard Narcissist? Mar 10, 2022

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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Short Stuff: Great Smog of London Mar 09, 2022

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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Behold, National Parks! Mar 08, 2022

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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Selects: How Tabloids Work Mar 05, 2022

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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How Effective Altruism Works Mar 03, 2022

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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Short Stuff: Friends of Dorothy Mar 02, 2022

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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What's the deal with phantom pain? Mar 01, 2022

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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Selects: Is the Pied Piper About a Real Historic Tragedy? Feb 26, 2022

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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How Mindfulness Works Feb 24, 2022

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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Short Stuff: Commensalism Feb 23, 2022

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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The Improbable Story of Martin Guerre Feb 22, 2022

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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Selects: How Moss Works Feb 19, 2022

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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The Ins and Outs of Albinism Feb 17, 2022

Today we dive into the science behind the genetic condition albinism, which is not pronounced how you think it is.

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Short Stuff: Cassowary Feb 16, 2022

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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Leeches: Oh Hell No! Feb 15, 2022

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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Selects: The Ins and Outs of Beekeeping Feb 12, 2022

Who wants fresh honey? We do! Learn all about the ancient art of beekeeping today in this classic episode.

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Littering: Not Cool Feb 10, 2022

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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Short Stuff: Schmidt Stinging Pain Index Feb 09, 2022

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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The Chowchilla Bus Kidnapping Feb 08, 2022

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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Selects: What's the Deal With Staring? Feb 05, 2022

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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How the Nobel Peace Prize Works Feb 03, 2022

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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Short Stuff: Firewalking Feb 02, 2022

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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How Tacos Work Feb 01, 2022

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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Selects: How Sloths Work Jan 29, 2022

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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How Forgiveness Works Jan 27, 2022

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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Short Stuff: Arctic Fox Jan 26, 2022

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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Tug of War Jan 25, 2022

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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Selects: How SETI Works Jan 22, 2022

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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How Classified Information Works Jan 20, 2022

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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Short Stuff: Jaywalking Jan 19, 2022

Jaywalking is a crime. Sort of. But why? Learn all about this weird law today.

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Rock Paper Scissors: Decider of Things Jan 18, 2022

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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Selects: Project Azorian: The CIA's Super 70s Mission To Steal A Sunken Soviet Sub Jan 15, 2022

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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What were the black codes? Jan 13, 2022

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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Short Stuff: Fortune Cookies Jan 12, 2022

Everything you thought you knew about fortune cookies is wrong. Learn all the right stuff in this episode.

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The Circleville Poison Pen Letters Mystery Jan 11, 2022

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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Selects: Carl Sagan: American Hero Jan 08, 2022

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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Ants! Part 2! Jan 06, 2022

The exciting conclusion of Ants Part 2!

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Short Stuff: The Casket Racket Jan 05, 2022

And you thought we were done with talking about funeral homes. Well guess again!

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Ants! Part 1! Jan 04, 2022

Ants are pretty much amazing. So we're gonna spend two episodes talking all about them. Please enjoy!

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Selects: Horoscopes: Written in the Stars? Jan 01, 2022

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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Cookies! Cookies! Cookies! Dec 30, 2021

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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Short Stuff: Traffic Signals Dec 29, 2021

The history of traffic signals is way more interesting than you might think. Trust us.

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Unsung Heroes of the Court Dec 28, 2021

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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Selects: How Tipping Works Dec 25, 2021

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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SYSK’s 2021 Glad Tidings Bonanza Holiday Special Dec 23, 2021

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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Short Stuff: Christmas Cards Dec 22, 2021

You ever thought about where those cards you send out during the holidays came from? Prepare to do just that!

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How Snowmen (And Snowwomen) Work Dec 21, 2021

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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Selects: Star Wars Holiday Spectacular Dec 18, 2021

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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Kidney Stones: No! Please, NO! Dec 16, 2021

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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Short Stuff: Charity Tips Dec 15, 2021

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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Palm Trees: Technically, Giant Plants Dec 14, 2021

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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Selects: How the Terracotta Army Works Dec 11, 2021

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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What's the deal with blue people? Dec 09, 2021

The famous blue people of Kentucky are no longer blue. But why were they like that in the first place?

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Short Stuff: Funny Bone Dec 08, 2021

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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Why Do Great Flood Myths Seem To Be Universal? Dec 07, 2021

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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Selects: What Is Collective Hysteria? Dec 04, 2021

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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Your Gut Is Also A Brain Dec 02, 2021

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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Short Stuff: SINA Dec 01, 2021

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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The Twisted History of Dentistry Nov 30, 2021

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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Selects: Why Do Lefties Exist? Nov 27, 2021

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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Python-a-palooza! Nov 25, 2021

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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Short Stuff: Mayday! Nov 24, 2021

Say it three times and help may arrive. But where did "Mayday!" come from? Listen in to find out.

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The Apache Wars Nov 23, 2021

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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Selects: How Hoarding Works Nov 20, 2021

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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Why Is DC Not A State? Nov 18, 2021

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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Short Stuff: The Paper Dress Fad Nov 17, 2021

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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Hot Dog!(s) Nov 16, 2021

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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Selects: How Feng Shui Works Nov 13, 2021

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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The Flannan Isles Mystery Nov 11, 2021

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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Short Stuff: Your Dirty Bed Nov 10, 2021

Is your bed dirty? You bet it is. Are chimpanzee beds dirty? Not as dirty as yours!

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What are blue laws? Nov 09, 2021

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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Selects: The Stories Behind A Few Food Fads Nov 06, 2021

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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The Rock Ampersand Roll Hall of Fame Nov 04, 2021

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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Short Stuff: Friendly Floatees Nov 03, 2021

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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How mRNA Vaccines Work Nov 02, 2021

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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Selects: What is folklore? Oct 30, 2021

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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2021 Halloween Spooktacular! Oct 28, 2021

Dim the lights and join Josh and Chuck for their annual spooky Halloween story reading.

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Short Stuff: Most Haunted House in England Oct 27, 2021

In the 1930s paranormal investigator declared Borley Rectory the “most haunted house in England” – and with good cause!

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Salem Witchcraft Trials: More Bonkers Than You Know Oct 26, 2021

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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Selects: Will We Find Evidence of Aliens by Their Engineering Projects? Oct 23, 2021

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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Harry Houdini: More than Magic Oct 21, 2021

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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Short Stuff: Bloody Mary Oct 20, 2021

In this edition of Short Stuff we may accidentally conjure a deadly spirt, so look out!

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Heat Waves! Oct 19, 2021

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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Selects: Why is Venice so wet? Oct 16, 2021

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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Noise Pollution: Arrrgh! Oct 14, 2021

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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Short Stuff: Jack O'Lanterns and Sleepy Hollow Oct 13, 2021

We launch our spooky October episodes with a little bit on Jack O' Lanterns and Sleepy Hollow.

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Venus Flytraps: Plant or Monster? Oct 12, 2021

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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Selects: How X-Rays Work Oct 09, 2021

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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The Tale of the Church of the SubGenius Oct 07, 2021

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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Short Stuff: Dingoes! Oct 06, 2021

Are dingoes dogs? Not really? Then what are they? Listen in to find out.

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Research Bias: Sort It Out, Science Oct 05, 2021

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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Selects: How Empathy Works Oct 02, 2021

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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All About Alligators Sep 30, 2021

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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Short Stuff: Exploring Irish Monk Sep 29, 2021

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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How Numerology Works Sep 28, 2021

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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Selects: Planned Obsolescence: Engine of the Consumer Economy Sep 25, 2021

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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The Statue of Liberty Sep 23, 2021

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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Short Stuff: Lake Erie's Rights Sep 22, 2021

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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How Mail Order Marriages Work Sep 21, 2021

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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Selects: How Free Speech Works Sep 18, 2021

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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What's the deal with crash testing? Sep 16, 2021

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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Short Stuff: The Javelina Sep 15, 2021

Pigs, hogs, boars and javelinas. What's the difference? Tune in to find out.

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How Embalming Works Sep 14, 2021

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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Selects: Southerners Aren't Lazy and Dumb, They Just Had Hookworm Sep 11, 2021

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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How the Magna Carta Worked Sep 09, 2021

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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Short Stuff: Chameleons Sep 08, 2021

In today's short stuff, we bust a few myths about cute little chameleons.

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The Creepy Legacy of the Hotel Cecil Sep 07, 2021

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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Selects: How Temper Tantrums Work Sep 04, 2021

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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Criminal Records: No Thanks! Sep 02, 2021

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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Short Stuff: Handwashing vs Dishwashers Sep 01, 2021

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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How Trepanation Worked Aug 31, 2021

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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Selects: Composting: Nature's Most Interesting Process Aug 28, 2021

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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Les Paul & Leo Fender Part II Aug 26, 2021

Today we continue the story of Les Paul and Leo Fender, inventors, innovators and rivals.

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Short Stuff: Jackalope Aug 25, 2021

Jackalopes aren’t real, right? Wouldn’t you like to know, city slicker.

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Les Paul & Leo Fender Part I Aug 24, 2021

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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Selects: How Pet Psychics Work Aug 21, 2021

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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Y2K: Much Ado About Something Aug 19, 2021

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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Short Stuff: 5 Lazarus Species Aug 18, 2021

Lazarus species were thought to be gone, but had something else in mind. Today we talk about 5 of them.

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How MRI Works Aug 17, 2021

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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Selects: How Animal Domestication Works Aug 14, 2021

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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How Fireflies and Lightning Bugs Work Aug 12, 2021

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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Short Stuff: Humpty Dumpty Aug 11, 2021

Humpty Dumpty is not a good nursery rhyme. And what was Humpty anyway? Listen in to find out.

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Child Labor: Not Funny Aug 10, 2021

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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Selects: How Landslides Work Aug 07, 2021

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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How Transcendentalism Works Aug 05, 2021

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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Short Stuff: Calamity Jane Aug 04, 2021

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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The Three Christs of Ypsilanti Experiment Aug 03, 2021

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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Selects: How Police Interrogation Works Jul 31, 2021

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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How Sarcasm Works Jul 29, 2021

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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Short Stuff: Space Hurricanes Jul 28, 2021

Space hurricanes are officially a thing. What does that mean for us here on Earth? Probably not much.

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Conservatorships: #freebritney Jul 27, 2021

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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Selects: How Mars Works Jul 24, 2021

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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The Origins of Some Everyday Superstitions Jul 22, 2021

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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Short Stuff: RICO Act Jul 21, 2021

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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Stranger Danger! Jul 20, 2021

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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Selects: How Ketchup Works Jul 17, 2021

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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How Reverse Osmosis Will Save the World Jul 15, 2021

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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Short Stuff: Hanged, Drawn and Quartered Jul 14, 2021

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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The Radium Girls Jul 13, 2021

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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Selects: How Historic Districts Work Jul 10, 2021

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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SYSK Live: Koko, the Gorilla Who Talked Jul 08, 2021

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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Short Stuff: Sulfanilamide Disaster Jul 07, 2021

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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The Sad Story of William James Sidis Jul 06, 2021

Are geniuses made or born? Listen in today to the story of child prodigy William James Sidis.

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Selects: Are good samaritan laws effective? Jul 03, 2021

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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The Grand Ole Opry Cast Jul 01, 2021

Josh and Chuck take a virtual walk through country music's legendary music venue.

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Short Stuff: Beast of Gevaudan Jun 30, 2021

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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Poison Control Centers: A Good Thing Jun 29, 2021

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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Selects: How Royalty Works Jun 26, 2021

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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How Faraday Cages Work Jun 24, 2021

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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Short Stuff: Chastity Belts Jun 23, 2021

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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The Mystery of Damascus Steel Jun 22, 2021

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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Selects: Operation Mincemeat: How A Corpse Fooled the Nazis Jun 19, 2021

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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How Venus Works Jun 17, 2021

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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Short Stuff: Mojave Megaphone Jun 16, 2021

What is the Mojave Megaphone? Well, nobody really knows. Listen in today to learn about this desert mystery.

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Seven - No, Wait, Five - Mysteries of the Art World Jun 15, 2021

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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Selects: How Sea Monsters Work Jun 12, 2021

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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POGs: The 90s in a Bottle Cap Jun 10, 2021

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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Short Stuff: Chinatowns Jun 09, 2021

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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Slime Mold: 0% Mold, 100% Amazing Jun 08, 2021

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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Selects: Who was America's first murderer? Jun 05, 2021

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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John Muir: Outdoor Enthusiast Jun 03, 2021

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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Short Stuff: Runner's High Jun 02, 2021

Listen in to today's short stuff to learn if a runner's high is really a thing.

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What Causes Inflation? Jun 01, 2021

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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Selects: How Nitrous Oxide Works May 29, 2021

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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Night Trap: The Video Game Failure that Changed the Industry May 27, 2021

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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Short Stuff: Parachute Emergency! May 26, 2021

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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How Cleft Lips and Palates Work May 25, 2021

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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Selects: How Hot Wheels Work May 22, 2021

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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Girl Scouts: More than cookie sellers May 20, 2021

We put our research to the test and it turns out the Girl Scouts is a great organization.

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Short Stuff: Speed Reading May 19, 2021

Back in the 60s and 70s, a speed reading craze broke out. Tough luck that speed reading is bunk.

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The Cleveland Torso Murders May 18, 2021

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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Selects: How Limousines Work May 15, 2021

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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How Monster Trucks Work May 13, 2021

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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Short Stuff: Garter Snakes May 12, 2021

Garter snakes aren’t scary, they’re pretty great! Learn all the reasons why in this episode!

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The Ivy League May 11, 2021

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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Selects: How Snake Handlers Work May 08, 2021

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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How Uranium Mining Works May 06, 2021

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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Short Stuff: Squarer Than Wombat Poop May 05, 2021

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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The Appendix: No Respect May 04, 2021

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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Selects: How Cave Dwellers Work May 01, 2021

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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How Corporate Taxes Work Apr 29, 2021

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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Short Stuff: Ivar The Boneless Apr 28, 2021

Was Ivar the Boneless a real Viking warrior? Probably. Did he really have no bones? Probably not.

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Truffles: Underground Treasures Apr 27, 2021

Truffles are rare, expensive and apparently delicious. Learn all about these earthy fungi today.

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Selects: How Profiling Works Apr 24, 2021

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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How Stamp Collecting Works Apr 22, 2021

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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Short Stuff: Madam C.J. Walker Apr 21, 2021

Join us today as we dive into the story of the first female self-made millionaire, Madam C.J. Walker.

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Mechanical Bulls! Apr 20, 2021

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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Selects: How Tupperware Works Apr 17, 2021

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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Hair Loss: The Pits Apr 15, 2021

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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Short Stuff: Palindromes Apr 14, 2021

Chuck loves palindromes. So much that his very name is one. Oh wait...

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How the Electrical Grid Works Apr 13, 2021

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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Selects: The Unsolved Mystery Disappearance of the Sodder Children Apr 10, 2021

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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Muzak: Easy Listening Goodness Apr 08, 2021

Muzak got a bad reputation as bland garbage music. We aim to set the record straight.

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Short Stuff: Venus de Milo Apr 07, 2021

Step into today's short stuff to learn all about the armless wonder!

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Havana Syndrome: ¿Qué Diablos? Apr 06, 2021

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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Selects: How Circus Families Work Apr 03, 2021

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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How the Titanic Worked: Part Two Apr 01, 2021

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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Short Stuff: What's the oldest book? Mar 31, 2021

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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How the Titanic Worked: Part One Mar 30, 2021

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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Selects: What was the Philadelphia Experiment? Mar 27, 2021

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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Space Junk, Ahoy! Mar 25, 2021

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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Short Stuff: Cellphones on Airplanes Mar 24, 2021

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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What is biophilic design? Mar 23, 2021

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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Selects: How Lighthouses Work Mar 20, 2021

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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The Texas City Disaster of 1947 Mar 18, 2021

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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Short Stuff: Brazilian Jars Mar 17, 2021

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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The Parrot Episode Mar 16, 2021

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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Selects: Please Listen to How Plasma Waste Convertors Work Mar 13, 2021

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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Karaoke: Tuesday Night Fever Mar 11, 2021

Listen in and learn all about the fascinating history of everybody's favorite pastime... karaoke!

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Short Stuff: Tooth Fairy: Not Real Mar 10, 2021

Today we break down the history of everyone's favorite home invader, the tooth fairy.

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Dragons: As Real as Mermaids Mar 09, 2021

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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Selects: Mermaids: Not a real thing Mar 06, 2021

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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Why is the Equal Rights Amendment still not ratified? Mar 04, 2021

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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Short Stuff: Dog Suicide Bridge Mar 03, 2021

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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Is the Free Radical Theory of Aging Wrong? Mar 02, 2021

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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Selects: Bridges: Nature Abhors Them Feb 27, 2021

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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How Bruce Lee Worked Feb 25, 2021

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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Short Stuff: The Body in the Cylinder Feb 24, 2021

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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What Will Farming 4.0 Look Like? Feb 23, 2021

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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Selects: How Chili Peppers Work Feb 20, 2021

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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How Blue Holes Work Feb 18, 2021

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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Short Stuff: Freedom House Ambulance Services Feb 17, 2021

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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The Disappearance of Lars Mittank Feb 16, 2021

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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Selects: Why Are So Many Disembodied Feet Washing Ashore In British Columbia? Feb 13, 2021

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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How Housing Discrimination Works Feb 11, 2021

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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Short Stuff: How California Got Its Name Feb 10, 2021

California is a pretty cool name. And the story about where it came from is even cooler.

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Sacagawea: Impressive Teen Feb 09, 2021

Sacagawea was only 16 when she joined the Corps of Discovery. That is one seriously impressive teenager.

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Selects: Earwax: Live With It Feb 06, 2021

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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The NAACP Feb 04, 2021

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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Short Stuff: Balloonfest Feb 03, 2021

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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How Groundhog Day Works Feb 02, 2021

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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Selects: Maggots: Good For Healing Wounds, Turns Out Jan 30, 2021

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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How Hydropower Works Jan 28, 2021

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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Short Stuff: Vantablack Jan 27, 2021

How black is vantablack? About as black as you could imagine.

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The KKK: Loathsome Cosplay Rednecks Jan 26, 2021

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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Selects: How Blimps Work Jan 23, 2021

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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Finding the Fenn Treasure Jan 21, 2021

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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Short Stuff: Necco Jan 20, 2021

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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What does a tire company know about food? Jan 19, 2021

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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Selects: What Was the Deal With the Hatfields and McCoys? Jan 16, 2021

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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The Science of Cute Jan 14, 2021

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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Short Stuff: Silverfish Jan 13, 2021

Should you be afraid of these creepy little creatures you find in your basement? Only one way to find out.

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Hell! Hell! Hell! Jan 12, 2021

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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Selects: How Skateboarding Works Jan 09, 2021

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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The Wright Brothers Jan 07, 2021

Orville and Wilbur Wright were not trained professionals, but they were rigorous experimenters who ended up changing the world.

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Short Stuff: Is It Theater or Theatre? Jan 06, 2021

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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Space Weather - What's That?! Jan 05, 2021

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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Selects: How Auto-Tune Works Jan 02, 2021

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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La Dame de Fer (Eiffel Tower) Dec 31, 2020

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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Short Stuff: Ig-pay Atin-lay (Sorry) Dec 30, 2020

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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Theremins: World's First Electronic Music Dec 29, 2020

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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SYSK Selects: Sugar: It Powers the Earth Dec 26, 2020

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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The SYSK 2020 Holly Jolly Extravaganza! Dec 24, 2020

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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Short Stuff: Chinese Food on Christmas Dec 23, 2020

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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How Buffets Work Dec 22, 2020

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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SYSK Selects: The Star Wars Holiday Special of 1978 Dec 19, 2020

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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Aspirin: The Wonder Drug Dec 17, 2020

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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Short Stuff: Modern Funerals Dec 16, 2020

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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Joseph Merrick, aka "The Elephant Man" Dec 15, 2020

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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SYSK Selects: What is a hangover, really? Dec 12, 2020

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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The Taliesin Massacre Dec 10, 2020

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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Short Stuff: Cramming Dec 09, 2020

Cramming is no way to study. Learn why in today's short stuff.

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How Class Action Lawsuits Work Dec 08, 2020

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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SYSK Selects: How Chaos Theory Changed the Universe Dec 05, 2020

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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John Lennon and the FBI Dec 03, 2020

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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Short Stuff: Pimento Cheese! Dec 02, 2020

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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Cabbage Patch Kids: Must-Have Toy of the Century Dec 01, 2020

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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SYSK Selects: How Tea Works Nov 28, 2020

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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Gobble Gobble: Turkeys! Nov 26, 2020

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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Short Stuff: How Eyes In a Painting Follow You Nov 25, 2020

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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Patty Hearst: Brainwashed or Bandit? Nov 24, 2020

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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SYSK Selects: Whatever happened to acid rain? Nov 21, 2020

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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The Great War of the Worlds Panic Myth Nov 19, 2020

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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Short Stuff: Squirrel Nuts Nov 18, 2020

We know squirrels hide nuts. But it's actually more complex a system than you think.

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How Pain Works Nov 17, 2020

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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SYSK Selects: Who Gets to Name Continents? Nov 14, 2020

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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How Macy's Thanksgiving Parade Works Nov 12, 2020

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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Short Stuff: Plastic Pink Flamingos Nov 11, 2020

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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The Bay of Pigs Disaster Nov 10, 2020

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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SYSK Selects: Geysers: Nature's Innuendo Nov 08, 2020

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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All the Gold In Fort Knox: Meh Nov 05, 2020

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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Short Stuff: Fruit Flies, Why? Nov 04, 2020

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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The Amazing Roberto Clemente Nov 03, 2020

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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SYSK Selects: How Ghosts Work Oct 31, 2020

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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SYSK’s Scare Your Pants Off (and Back On) Halloween Spooktacular Oct 29, 2020

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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Short Stuff: Poe Toaster Oct 28, 2020

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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A History of Nursing Homes Oct 27, 2020

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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Chuck Bryant On The Why I’m Voting Podcast Oct 25, 2020

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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SYSK Selects: How Book Banning Works Oct 24, 2020

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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Beavers: Tail Slapping Fun Oct 22, 2020

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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Short Stuff: Haunted Real Estate Oct 21, 2020

Do you have to disclose the notion that your house may be haunted upon sale? Listen in to find out.

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10 Voter Suppression Methods Oct 20, 2020

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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SYSK Selects: How Sushi Works Oct 17, 2020

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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Porcupines: Little Stabby Cutie Pies Oct 15, 2020

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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Short Stuff: What is Latinx anyway? Oct 14, 2020

We love to keep up with the current terminology for groups of people. Learn about the origin of Latinx today.

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Wind Tunnels: More Important Than You Realize Oct 13, 2020

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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SYSK Selects: How Bigfoot Works Oct 10, 2020

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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Printing press? Big deal! Oct 08, 2020

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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Short Stuff: Lying in State Oct 07, 2020

After RBG passed away she had the honor of lying in state. Who decides this? Listen and you'll know.

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What's the deal with swing states? Oct 06, 2020

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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SYSK Selects: How the Electoral College Works Oct 03, 2020

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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Origami: Folding Goodness Sep 15, 2020

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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SYSK Selects: How Porta-Potties Work Sep 12, 2020

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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