Stuff You Should Know

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Latest Episodes:

The Appalachian Trail: A Heckuva Hike Jun 21, 2022

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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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