Stuff You Should Know

What's the deal with dowsing?

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. See omnystudio.com/listenerListen/Read More

Short Stuff: Theme Park Cremations

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.See omnystudio.co

The First Road Trip

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. See omnystudio.com/listener for p

Selects: Is The Uncanny Valley Real?

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 ye

An Interesting, Vastly Incomplete Look at Baseball Cards

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 e

Short Stuff: Semantic Satiation

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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Tragic Tale of Floyd Collins

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.

Selects: Do People Really Run Off to Join the French Foreign Legion?

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 Jo

Arcades: Nostalgia Abounds

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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Short Stuff: John Cage's 639 Year Concert

John Cage was a unique artist to say the least. Learn all about this avant-garde composer today.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

That's Amaro!

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. See omnystudio.com/listenerListen/Read More

Selects: The Time Nazis Invaded Florida

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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy infor

Woodstock: The Festival for Stardust, Golden Hippies

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.

Short Stuff: Paprika

Paprika is more than a smoky Hungarian spice. Actually, that's not true, that's exactly what it is. But it sure is delicious!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Noncompete Agreements, Come On

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 noncompete

Selects: Live From San Francisco: How Malls Work

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

Crosswords episode, perhaps?

Crossword puzzles have an interesting history and are a lot of fun to do. Dive in today to learn about Chuck's latest obsession.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Short Stuff: La Pascualita

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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy infor

The Awe-Inspiring, Absolutely Crucial Amazon

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 o

Selects: Who Committed the 1912 Villisca Ax Murders?

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

Naps: Chuck's Secret Talent

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. See omnystud

Short Stuff: Sleeping On It

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.See Listen/Read More

The Mystery of the Lost Amber Room

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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inf

Selects: The Max Headroom Affair

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

The Beverly Hills Supper Club Fire

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.See omnystudio.com/li

Short Stuff: Beulah Mae Donald

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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informatio

The Glorious Flamingo

Flamingos are much more than just pretty pink birds. They are in fact, quite remarkable! Listen and learn…See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Selects: Cave Diving: Totally Nuts

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 prett

How (O)possums Work

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!See omnystudio.com

Short Stuff: No Shirt, No Shoes, WTF

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.See omnystudio.com/lis

Honey: Nature's Wonder Sugar

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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Selects: How Easy Bake Ovens Work

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.See Listen/Read More

The Largely Equine History of Veterinary Medicine

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!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Short Stuff: Bird Migration

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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informat

Must We Suffer Emotional Pain?

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 t

Selects: Elephants: The Best Animals?

Elephants are pretty much the best. Why? Josh and Chuck will let you know in great detail in this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How Attachment Theory Works

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 c

Short Stuff: Adam's Apples and Throat Lumps

This week's short stuff is all about throat lumps and Adam's apples.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Let's Talk About John DeLorean

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.See omnyst

Selects: How Game Shows Work

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?See <

Toast: As in browned bread

Toast is bread that has been browned by heat. It's delicious. This is our ode to toast.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Short Stuff: Women Pirates

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.See omnystudio.com/listener for priva

The Louisiana Purchase: Not a Purchase

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!See

Selects: How Therapeutic Hypothermia Works

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 t

How Tarot Works?

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 b

Short Stuff: Forest Lawn Memorial Park

Forest Lawn is no ordinary cemetery. Why? Listen in and find out.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How Enron Fooled the World

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 worke

Selects: How Perfume Works

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 cl

When Mount St. Helens Blew Its Top

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!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inf

Short Stuff: Dangers of Nose Picking

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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informati

The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald (not the song)

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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informati

Selects: Could There Be A Loch Ness Monster?

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?

The Rocky Horror Picture Show Podcast Episode

This one goes out to the SYSK Army as a special request. Let's do the time warp again!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Short Stuff: Mesas: Flat

Mesas, buttes and plateaus are all very similar. We'll break down the differences in each one just to be sure.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Juicy: The Fried Chicken Story

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!See om

2022 Holiday Spectacular!

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!See omnyst

Short Stuff: Snow Globes

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Who was Dorothy Parker, really?

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."See omnystudio.com/listener for pri

Selects: Nostradamus: Predictor of the future? Not so much.

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 wan

Interesting Origins of Everyday Phrases

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! See omnystudio.com/listenerListen/Read More

Short Stuff: The Atlanta Washer Woman Strike

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.See omnystudio.

How the Nintendo Entertainment System Changed Gaming Forever

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.See

Selects: How Polar Bears Work

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

True Crime: The Phantom of Heilbronn

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 Heilbr

Short Stuff: Birthday Paradox

The Birthday Paradox involves math, so you know this one will go perfectly.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How Face Blindness Works

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.See Listen/Read More

Selects: The Rubik's Cube Episode

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.See omnystudio.com/listener for p

How Down Syndrome Works

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 skyroc

Short Stuff: Goosebumps

Goosebumps are a pretty cool evolutionary holdover from our earlier days as furry beasts. Don't believe us? Listen in. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Peripersonal Space: Humans’ Got Talent

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

Selects: How Umami Works!

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.See Listen/Read More

Roller Skating: Fun and Cool

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

Short Stuff: Liquid Paper

Correction fluid goes by many names, but the OG was Liquid Paper. And it has a pretty cool origin story. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Typewriters: Mechanical Brilliance

Chuck loves typewriters because he loves mechanical brilliance. Dive into the cool history of these amazing machines today. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Selects: How Dark Money Works

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

Did Shakespeare really write all that stuff?

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.See omnystudio.com/listener for priva

Short Stuff: Incomplete Yawns

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?!See Listen/Read More

The Sordid History of Bachelor/Bachelorette Parties

When it comes to pre-wedding festivities, bachelor and bachelorette parties take the penis-shaped cake. Learn all about these sordid affairs today. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy infor

Selects: Finders Keepers: Real Law

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 rin

How Owls Work

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.See Listen/Read More

Short Stuff: Dodleston Messages

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!See Listen/Read More

What's so important about legal precedent?

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. See omnystudio.com/listener for pri

Selects: What is an invasive species?

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 man

Vaudeville: Step Right Up!

In today's episode, you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about vaudeville, whether you like it or not. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Short Stuff: Birth Certificate Access

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 wor

The Harvey's Casino Bombing of 1980

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.Se

Selects: How Vampires Work

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 psy

The 13th Annual Halloween Spooktacular!

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. See omnystudio.com/listene

Short Stuff: Robert the Doll

Robert the Doll is decidedly creepy. So is his story. Listen in to this spooky tale right now!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Tale of the Bloody Benders

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!See omnystudio.com/list

Selects: 10ish Cases of Really Bad Luck

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

Fundamentalism: Menace II Society

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.See Listen/Read More

Short Stuff: Water Towers

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.See Listen/Read More

The History of Fake Towns.

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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information

Selects: How Pompeii Worked

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

10 Cases of Mistaken Identity

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

Short Stuff: Blaschko's Lines

Did you know you have stripes? It’s true, you just can’t see them. Learn all about these little-known lines today!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Doppelgängers: Hey you, you're me!

Seeing your near twin is probably pretty weird. But could there be a genetic commonality as well? You bet there could! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Selects: Josh and Chuck's List of Horror Movies that Changed the Genre

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 classi

How License Plates Work

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 wa

Short Stuff: Scratching

Listen in today as we salute turntablism, aka, record scratching.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Vinyl Records: Black Magic at Work

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.See omnystudio.com/listener for p

Selects: How Clowns Work

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.See Listen/Read More

How The Rosenhan Experiment Worked

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.See Listen/Read More

Short Stuff: Curse Tablets

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!See omnystudi

Vasectomies: Stop Being A Wimp

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).

Selects: How LSD Works

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.

Sitcoms Part II

Listen in now for part II of our homage to sitcoms. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Short Stuff: Laugh Tracks

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.See Listen/Read More

Sitcoms Part I

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.See Listen/Read More

Selects: Frida Kahlo: Painter, Icon, Genius

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.See omnystudio.com/listener for priv

Pearls: Second Best Thing About Oysters

Pearls are super cool. And humans figuring out how to make them is even cooler. Learn all about the most interesting gemstone today!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Short Stuff: Hangry?

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.See Listen/Read More

The Georgia Guidestones: The Elite Have a Laugh

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

Selects: What Happened to the Neanderthals?

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 somethin

Everything We Know About Squids

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. See omnystudio.com

Short Stuff: RIP Man of the Hole

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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Did Mallory Make it to the Top of Everest First?

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 s

Selects: How the Pony Express Worked

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 g

Rolling Stone Magazine

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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Short Stuff: Mason-Dixon Line

The dividing line between the North and South is purely political. But the story of its creation is pretty interesting.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We Need More Sustainable Packaging, Like, Yesterday

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.Listen/Read More

Selects: Knife Throwing: Super Cool

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

Kissing Cousins: A History of Marrying Family

Despite the overall creepiness of it, marrying family members is way more common than you might think, both historically and today. Ewwww!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Short Stuff: Marrying Up

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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Introvert or Extravert: Which are you? (Probably both)

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 bot

Selects: How Gossip Works

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.See Listen/Read More

How Enemas Work

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.Listen/Read More

Short Stuff: Selling the Brooklyn Bridge

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?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mariachi: The Rodney Dangerfield of Music

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!See Listen/Read More

Selects: Desert Survival: Josh and Chuck Save Your Tookus

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. See Listen/Read More

The Origins of Breakfast Foods

Who doesn't love breakfast? But do you know where most of the typical breakfast foods come from? Well listen in to find out.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Short Stuff: The Berners Street Hoax

A full 200 years on, we're still talking about one of the most sweeping hoaxes of all time. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What's the deal with energy drinks?

Chuck hates them, Josh has flirted with them. Energy drinks. Listen in to learn all about this canned speed. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Selects: How Droughts Work

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.See Listen/Read More

Thrill to the Stunning Bicameral Mind Hypothesis

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 t

Short Stuff: Divorcing Your Parents

It really happens! But most people call it emancipation of a minor. Either way, there's some interesting legal stuff in here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Silly String: Disaster in a Can

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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Selects: Some Movies That Changed Filmmaking

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

How Menstruation Works

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.See Listen/Read More

Short Stuff: The Mars Rock with Signs of Life?

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?

Where Did Human Intelligence Come From?

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.See Listen/Read More

Selects: What's the misery index?

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

Googie: The Architecture of the Space Age

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.Listen/Read More

Short Stuff: Death from Astral Projection

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?Listen/Read More

Supernovae: Best Around, Case Closed

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?Listen/Read More

Selects: What Happens When the Government Thinks You're Dead?

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 a

Why Bowling is Awesome

Bowling is awesome. It just is. And if you don't think so, maybe take a listen to today's episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Short Stuff: Catatumbo Lightning

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.See omnys

Mangroves: Nature's Best Tree?

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.See Listen/Read More

Selects: How Ayahuasca Works

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. L

The Maya Civilization

After inspiration from Chuck's recent trip to the Yucatan, the fellas dive into the Maya Civilization. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Short Stuff: Alligator Gar

The alligator gar is one scary looking fish. Learn all about these monsters in today's episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How Ultraprocessed Foods Work

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 t

Selects: How Freak Shows Worked

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 the

A Dispassionate Review of Roe v Wade

Given the landmark undoing of Roe v Wade, Chuck and Josh lay out all the relevant facts of the 1973 case.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Short Stuff: What did we use before infant formula?

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!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informati

How Alien Contact Might Work

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.See om

Selects: Chiggers: The Phantom Menace

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 pes

What's up with bariatric surgery?

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.See Listen/Read More

Short Stuff: Do Fish Get Thirsty?

One of the greatest questions we’ve ever heard, answered (in a roundabout way).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Appalachian Trail: A Heckuva Hike

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

Selects: How Steadicams Work

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

What were the IRA hunger strikes?

In the early 1980s, imprisoned IRA members went on a prolonged hunger strike, leading to the death of ten men. This is their story.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Short Stuff: HR8 Gun Legislation

Today we dive into HR8, a gun bill supported by 90% of Americans that will likely never get through the Senate.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How Wind Works

Beloved egghead Buckminster Fuller said the wind doesnt 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.See Listen/Read More

Selects: How Drowning Works

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 a

The 4-minute Mile: Greatest Sports Story?

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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information

Short Stuff: Cleveland’s Infamous 10-Cent Beer Night

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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informa

How Freedom of the Press Works

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 mat

Selects: How Satanism Works

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 ev

Kidney Donation: You Could Be A Saint!

Kidneys are one of the few organs that you can donate while youre 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

Short Stuff: Happy Foods!

Some foods make you happy. But they aren't necessarily comfort foods. You know what they call that? SCIENCE!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Scintillating World of Interest Rates

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!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy infor

Selects: Waterbeds: The Sexiest Bed?

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.See Listen/Read More

The Myth of Absinthe

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.See om

Short Stuff: Do people move in predictable directions?

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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.Listen/Read More

Cats: Invasive Species?

Josh and Chuck wade into dangerous waters with the debate over just how destructive cats are for local ecosystems (turns out its pretty bad) and some ideas on what to do about that (you may not want to know). Tune in and tense up!See

Selects: The Disappearance of the Yuba County Five

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 w

What's in a surname?

Surnames are way more interesting that you think, trust us. Just hit play and prepare to be wowed.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Short Stuff: Artificial Banana Flavor

In the Watermelon episode, Chuck and Josh stumbled into a bit of little-known history about why artificial banana flavor doesnt taste like bananas. Turns out it does; it just tastes like a banana youve probably never eaten.See

Squirrels, Ahoy!

Squirrels are rodents, sure, but theyre 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.

Selects: How Lizzie Borden Worked

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 clas

Rhinoplasty, aka Nose Jobs

Nose jobs have been around a lot longer than you think. And the process is pretty interesting. Tune in for all things rhinoplasty.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Short Stuff: Fainting At The Sight Of Blood

As many as 15% of people faint when they see blood! And its not just blood that gets them. It can be an injury or even a needle. Learn about this fascinating phobia in this episode.See omnyst

What are land acknowledgments?

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.See omnystudi

Selects: How Champagne Works

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.See omnys

Marcus Garvey: Black Moses

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

Short Stuff: Shar Pei

Today we dive into the lovable folds of the Shar Pei.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Mystery of Coal

Theres 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?Listen/Read More

Selects: How Rodney Dangerfield Worked, Live From LA

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.See Listen/Read More

Understudies: Hardest Workers on Broadway?

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.See omnystudio.com/listener

Short Stuff: Smelly Homes

Does your house smell? No? What if we told you its impossible for you to know whether it does or not?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Postmodernism:”

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Selects: The Baffling Case of the Body On Somerton Beach

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 epi

Just Say No to... Bottled Water

Bottled water is huge business, and terrible for the environment. But where did this all start? Listen in and learn.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Short Stuff: Salute the Grilled Cheese

Today we pay tribute to the comfiest of comfort food, the grilled cheese sandwich.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Christine Collins Story

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.See omnystudio.com/liste

Selects: What happens to abandoned mines?

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

How Mensa Works

Most of us know Mensas 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 UKs most intelligent minds? And that the Kansas City chapter staged

Short Stuff: Animal Politicians

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.See Listen/Read More

The Mystery of the Toynbee Tiles

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.See Listen/Read More

Selects: A Partial History of Action Figures

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 fi

The Delightful History of Pubs

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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Short Stuff: The Church Choir That Didn't Explode

Perhaps the most amazing coincidence ever documented took place when a church in a tiny town in Nebraska exploded in 1950.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Watermelons: Nature's Gift to the World

Turns out most people love watermelons. Why? Because they're delicious. And they also have a pretty interesting history. Check it out.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Selects: How No-fly Zones Work

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

What’s NATO All About?

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 Russias back to business as usual and NATO has found its purpose again, protecting peace in Euro

Short Stuff: Greenbrier Bunker

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!See omnystudio

How Light Pollution Works

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

Selects: The Tylenol Murders, Part II

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 o

Selects: The Tylenol Murders, Part I

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.

The Truth Behind Cage-Free and Free-Range

Youd 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 youd be so, so wrong. Cage-free is a huge improvement but free-range is lacking and both have

Short Stuff: Magnet Fishing

Magnet fishing has nothing to do with fish. It's more like metal detecting in waterways. Please enjoy our take!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why was Titicut Follies banned?

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.See omnystudio.c

Selects: How Hate Works

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.See Listen/Read More

How Rewilding Works

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.See omnystudio.com/listener for

Short Stuff: Nose Breathing

Nose breathing mouth breathing for many reasons. Listen and learn!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Operation Northwoods: The False Flag Op That Never Was

There is presumably some very dark, very depressing stuff in the annals of Americas 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

Selects: A Brief Overview of Punk Rock

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.

Aleister Crowley: Blowhard Narcissist?

Aleister Crowley was known as the "wickedest man in the world." But was he really just a blowhard narcissist? You decide! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwo

Short Stuff: Great Smog of London

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.

Behold, National Parks!

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. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.

Selects: How Tabloids Work

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 J

How Effective Altruism Works

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

Short Stuff: Friends of Dorothy

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?

What's the deal with phantom pain?

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. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheart

Selects: Is the Pied Piper About a Real Historic Tragedy?

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

How Mindfulness Works

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 wi

Short Stuff: Commensalism

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.

The Improbable Story of Martin Guerre

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.<

Selects: How Moss Works

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.

The Ins and Outs of Albinism

Today we dive into the science behind the genetic condition albinism, which is not pronounced how you think it is. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

Short Stuff: Cassowary

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!

Leeches: Oh Hell No!

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. Learn more about your ad-choices at https:/

Selects: The Ins and Outs of Beekeeping

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

Littering: Not Cool

The history of litter is in lock step with the history of disposable packaging. Learn all about this nasty habit today. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork

Short Stuff: Schmidt Stinging Pain Index

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.

The Chowchilla Bus Kidnapping

The largest ever kidnapping case in the United States went down in the small town of Chowchilla, CA. Learn all about it today. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcas

Selects: What's the Deal With Staring?

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

How the Nobel Peace Prize Works

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?Listen/Read More

Short Stuff: Firewalking

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.

How Tacos Work

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.<

Selects: How Sloths Work

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

How Forgiveness Works

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

Short Stuff: Arctic Fox

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!

Tug of War

Tug of War is a simple display of strength, but is there more to it than that? Listen in to find out. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee Listen/Read More

Selects: How SETI Works

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

How Classified Information Works

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. Learn more about your ad-choices at Listen/Read More

Short Stuff: Jaywalking

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

Rock Paper Scissors: Decider of Things

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. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodca

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

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.

What were the black codes?

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.

Short Stuff: Fortune Cookies

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

The Circleville Poison Pen Letters Mystery

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

Selects: Carl Sagan: American Hero

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 clas

Ants! Part 2!

The exciting conclusion of Ants Part 2!

Short Stuff: The Casket Racket

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

Ants! Part 1!

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

Selects: Horoscopes: Written in the Stars?

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.

Cookies! Cookies! Cookies!

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!

Short Stuff: Traffic Signals

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

Unsung Heroes of the Court

Attorneys and judges get all the press. What about bailiffs, court reporters and sketch artists? Yeah, let's give them their due.

Selects: How Tipping Works

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 con

SYSK’s 2021 Glad Tidings Bonanza Holiday Special

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

Short Stuff: Christmas Cards

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

How Snowmen (And Snowwomen) Work

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 to

Selects: Star Wars Holiday Spectacular

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

Kidney Stones: No! Please, NO!

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 epis

Short Stuff: Charity Tips

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.

Palm Trees: Technically, Giant Plants

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.

Selects: How the Terracotta Army Works

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.

What's the deal with blue people?

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

Short Stuff: Funny Bone

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.

Why Do Great Flood Myths Seem To Be Universal?

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?

Selects: What Is Collective Hysteria?

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 t

Your Gut Is Also A Brain

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.

Short Stuff: SINA

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.

The Twisted History of Dentistry

If you think going to the dentist now is not fun, just wait until you hear about what they did in the Middle Ages.

Selects: Why Do Lefties Exist?

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 my

Python-a-palooza!

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.

Short Stuff: Mayday!

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

The Apache Wars

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.

Selects: How Hoarding Works

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

Why Is DC Not A State?

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 chan

Short Stuff: The Paper Dress Fad

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!

Hot Dog!(s)

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.

Selects: How Feng Shui Works

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 fe

The Flannan Isles Mystery

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.

Short Stuff: Your Dirty Bed

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

What are blue laws?

Blue laws are laws that restrict certain activities on certain days. Are they antiquated? Yes! Are they still around? In some places, yes!

Selects: The Stories Behind A Few Food Fads

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.

The Rock Ampersand Roll Hall of Fame

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.

Short Stuff: Friendly Floatees

In 1992 more than 28,000 rubber ducks got loose in the ocean and began a decades-long experiment in oceanography.

How mRNA Vaccines Work

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.

Selects: What is folklore?

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 i

2021 Halloween Spooktacular!

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

Short Stuff: Most Haunted House in England

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

Salem Witchcraft Trials: More Bonkers Than You Know

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.

Selects: Will We Find Evidence of Aliens by Their Engineering Projects?

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 o

Harry Houdini: More than Magic

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.

Short Stuff: Bloody Mary

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

Heat Waves!

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.

Selects: Why is Venice so wet?

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.

Noise Pollution: Arrrgh!

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!

Short Stuff: Jack O'Lanterns and Sleepy Hollow

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

Venus Flytraps: Plant or Monster?

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? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://w

Selects: How X-Rays Work

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.

The Tale of the Church of the SubGenius

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. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://w

Short Stuff: Dingoes!

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

Research Bias: Sort It Out, Science

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.

Selects: How Empathy Works

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 som

All About Alligators

Here at SYSK, we love alligators? Why? Because they're basically living dinosaurs. Dive in (metaphorically) and swim with these beasts today!

Short Stuff: Exploring Irish Monk

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?

How Numerology Works

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.

Selects: Planned Obsolescence: Engine of the Consumer Economy

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

The Statue of Liberty

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.

Short Stuff: Lake Erie's Rights

The good people of Toledo, OH are leading the environmental pack by giving legal rights to Lake Erie to fight off polluters.

How Mail Order Marriages Work

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 histo

Selects: How Free Speech Works

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 epis

What's the deal with crash testing?

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.

Short Stuff: The Javelina

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

How Embalming Works

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. Learn more about your ad-c

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

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.

How the Magna Carta Worked

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 li

Short Stuff: Chameleons

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

The Creepy Legacy of the Hotel Cecil

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.

Selects: How Temper Tantrums Work

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 clas

Criminal Records: No Thanks!

And you thought our crime and punishment suite was finished. Not yet it isn't! Not before we cover criminal records. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.co

Short Stuff: Handwashing vs Dishwashers

Josh and Chuck finally put to rest the age old debate over which is better – and learn a little about themselves along the way.

How Trepanation Worked

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.

Selects: Composting: Nature's Most Interesting Process

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 with Josh and Chuck in

Les Paul & Leo Fender Part II

Today we continue the story of Les Paul and Leo Fender, inventors, innovators and rivals. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee Listen/Read More

Short Stuff: Jackalope

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

Les Paul & Leo Fender Part I

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.

Selects: How Pet Psychics Work

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

Y2K: Much Ado About Something

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.

Short Stuff: 5 Lazarus Species

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

How MRI Works

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. Learn more about your ad-choices at Listen/Read More

Selects: How Animal Domestication Works

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 abo

How Fireflies and Lightning Bugs Work

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

Short Stuff: Humpty Dumpty

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

Child Labor: Not Funny

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! Learn more about your ad-choices at https

Selects: How Landslides Work

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.

How Transcendentalism Works

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 w

Short Stuff: Calamity Jane

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.

The Three Christs of Ypsilanti Experiment

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

Selects: How Police Interrogation Works

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

How Sarcasm Works

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. Learn more about your ad-choices at Listen/Read More

Short Stuff: Space Hurricanes

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

Conservatorships: #freebritney

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!

Selects: How Mars Works

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

The Origins of Some Everyday Superstitions

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

Short Stuff: RICO Act

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.

Stranger Danger!

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.

Selects: How Ketchup Works

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.

How Reverse Osmosis Will Save the World

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

Short Stuff: Hanged, Drawn and Quartered

The words "hanged, drawn and quartered" are an accurate description of the grizzly execution process. They're just not in the right order.

The Radium Girls

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.

Selects: How Historic Districts Work

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? L

SYSK Live: Koko, the Gorilla Who Talked

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.

Short Stuff: Sulfanilamide Disaster

In the 1920s, before the era of consumer protection, a poison entered the medicine supply and killed more than 100 people before the public health disaster could be stopped.

The Sad Story of William James Sidis

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

Selects: Are good samaritan laws effective?

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!

The Grand Ole Opry Cast

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

Short Stuff: Beast of Gevaudan

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?

Poison Control Centers: A Good Thing

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

Selects: How Royalty Works

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.

How Faraday Cages Work

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 he

Short Stuff: Chastity Belts

Were chastity belts real? Sort of. But not in the way you might think. Tune in to hear the real story.

The Mystery of Damascus Steel

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.

Selects: Operation Mincemeat: How A Corpse Fooled the Nazis

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.

How Venus Works

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.

Short Stuff: Mojave Megaphone

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

Seven - No, Wait, Five - Mysteries of the Art World

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 Hi

Selects: How Sea Monsters Work

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.

POGs: The 90s in a Bottle Cap

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.

Short Stuff: Chinatowns

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.

Slime Mold: 0% Mold, 100% Amazing

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.

Selects: Who was America's first murderer?

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 episo

John Muir: Outdoor Enthusiast

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!

Short Stuff: Runner's High

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

What Causes Inflation?

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.

Selects: How Nitrous Oxide Works

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 classi

Night Trap: The Video Game Failure that Changed the Industry

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. Learn more about your ad-choices at Listen/Read More

Short Stuff: Parachute Emergency!

Your parachute won’t open – now what?! Listen up to Josh and Chuck and you may make it out of this in one piece.

How Cleft Lips and Palates Work

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 diffe

Selects: How Hot Wheels Work

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.

Girl Scouts: More than cookie sellers

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

Short Stuff: Speed Reading

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

The Cleveland Torso Murders

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.

Selects: How Limousines Work

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.

How Monster Trucks Work

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. Learn more about your ad-choices at Listen/Read More

Short Stuff: Garter Snakes

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

The Ivy League

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.

Selects: How Snake Handlers Work

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.

How Uranium Mining Works

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.

Short Stuff: Squarer Than Wombat Poop

One of the cutest animals on the planet is also the only one that squeezes out cube-shaped poop. Find out why today.

The Appendix: No Respect