Stuff You Should Know

This episode of Stuff You Should Know explores the evolution of stand-up comedy, beginning with the 1990s alt-comedy movement and its rejection of traditional club norms.

Hosts Josh and Chuck discuss a Northwestern University study confirming that fashion follows a 20-year cycle, based on an analysis of 37,000 clothing images.

This two-part episode explores the history of stand-up comedy, tracing its evolution from vaudeville and the Borscht Belt to the rise of "sick" comedians in the 1950s.

In this episode, Josh and Chuck explore the history of the bra, from ancient Greek cloth wraps to the 1914 patent by Mary Phelps Jacob.

This episode explores the history of Universal Studios' iconic monster films, tracing their origins from the Lamley family's early theaters to the 1931 releases of Dracula and Frankenstein.

Hosts Josh, Chuck, Jerry, and Dave explore the "retirement curse," a phenomenon where Americans experience significant declines in mental health and physical activity after leaving the workforce.

Hosts Chuck and Livia discuss the history of golf, tracing its origins from Dutch roots and 15th-century Scotland to its spread in England and the US.

Hosts Chuck and Josh explore the diverse ecosystems of wetlands, detailing types like marshes, swamps, bogs, and mangroves.

Chuck Bryan and Adam Pranica introduce their new golf comedy podcast, Three Putt Bogey, which releases every Friday.

This episode explores the life and legacy of Emily Post, the pioneering etiquette expert who revolutionized social conduct by emphasizing ethics over wealth.

This episode explores the autumnal equinox and the pagan sabbath of Mabon, noting that the term is a modern invention derived from Welsh mythology rather than ancient Celtic tradition.

Josh, Chuck, and Jerry explore the science and psychology of dreaming, covering REM sleep stages, the activation-synthesis hypothesis, and why dream recall is difficult.

Hosts Josh Clark, Charles Bryant, and Jerry Rollins revisit their 2020 episode on fallout shelters, discussing the Cold War-era panic that drove Americans to build private and public bunkers.

Hosts Josh Clark and Chuck Bryant explore collective hysteria, or mass psychogenic disorder, explaining how psychological stress can manifest as real physical symptoms without a toxic cause.

Josh Clark and Chuck Bryant explore the Philadelphia Experiment, a conspiracy theory claiming the USS Eldridge was teleported in 1943.

Hosts Josh Clark and Charles Bryant explore the history and mythology of mermaids, debunking modern sightings as manatees or hoaxes.

Hosts Josh Clark and Chuck Bryant explore the Dyson Sphere, a theoretical megastructure proposed by physicist Freeman Dyson to capture a star's total energy output.

Hosts Josh Clark and Chuck Bryant discuss the mystery of the Mary Celeste, a famous ghost ship found adrift in 1872 with no crew aboard.

This episode investigates the unsolved 1987 "Max Headroom Incident," where a masked individual hijacked Chicago TV stations WGN and WTTW for a disturbing broadcast.

Hosts Josh and Chuck explore the origins of dragons, arguing that the mythical creatures likely evolved from ancient fears of snakes, big cats, and…

This episode of Stuff You Should Know explores the dark history of the Hotel Cecil in Los Angeles, a building notorious for numerous unnatural deaths and its proximity to Skid Row.

Hosts Josh Clark and Chuck Bryan explore the history of the Fugate family in Kentucky, whose blue skin resulted from a rare genetic mutation causing methemoglobinemia.

Hosts Josh and Chuck explore the phenomenon of doppelgangers, discussing the term's origins, historical folklore, and the work of photographer François Brunel.

This episode details the true story of David Hahn, a Michigan teenager who built a nuclear reactor in his mother's potting shed during the 1990s.

Hosts Josh, Chuck, and Jerry explore cancer as an umbrella term for over 200 diseases driven by uncontrolled cell growth and genetic mutations.

In this "Short Stuff" episode, hosts Josh, Chuck, and Jerry explore the history of the 1970s leisure suit.

This episode explores the science and philosophy of boredom, examining how it drives humans to seek novel stimuli and take risks.

Hosts Josh Clark and Chuck Bryant explore the biology and ecology of wasps, covering their evolution, complex social structures, and the potent chemistry of their venom.

Hosts Chuck and Josh explore Christopher Nolan's 2026 film adaptation of Homer's *The Odyssey*, discussing its historical context, the "Homeric…

This episode explores the rise and fall of the flapper, a rebellious young woman who emerged in the 1920s after World War I and the flu pandemic shifted gender norms.

This episode explores the complete history of Nickelodeon, from its 1977 origins in Columbus, Ohio, to its rise as a cultural juggernaut.

Josh Clark and Charles Bryan explore the history of blacksmithing, tracing its evolution from the Bronze Age to the Industrial Revolution.

In this episode, hosts John and Chuck explore Social Identity Theory, which posits that individuals derive self-esteem and identity from group membership.

This episode details the 1999 Tokaimura nuclear accident in Japan, where worker Hisashi Ouchi suffered a massive radiation dose after his company, JCO, ignored safety protocols.

Hosts Josh and Chuck discuss Terry Fox, the Canadian athlete who ran the Marathon of Hope to raise cancer research funds after losing a leg to cancer.

Hosts Josh Clark and Charles Bryant explore the bizarre 1920s fad of flagpole sitting, sparked by Alvin "Shipwreck" Kelly.

In this episode, hosts Chuck and Josh conclude their two-part series on the fall of the Soviet Union, focusing on the chaotic aftermath in Russia.

Hosts Josh and Chuck revisit their 2023 episode to honor Dolly Parton following her recent passing.

Josh and Chuck discuss the historic cyclosporiasis outbreak linked to Taylor Farms, noting it as the largest in human history with over 28,000 cases.

In this two-part episode, hosts Josh and Chuck explore the rapid dissolution of the Soviet Union between 1990 and 1992.

Hosts Josh and Chuck explore narcolepsy, detailing symptoms like excessive daytime sleepiness, cataplexy, and sleep paralysis.

Josh and Chuck explore the history, construction, and cultural impact of rope, highlighting its role in sailing, whaling, and the Industrial Revolution.

In this Short Stuff episode, hosts Josh and Chuck discuss an article by former colleague Kristen Conger about the 1784 shipwreck of the El Cazador.

Hosts John and Chuck explore the elusive definition of irony, tracing its roots from Greek drama to modern pop culture.

Hosts Josh Clark and Charles Bryant explore the history of Manhattan’s street grid, focusing on the 1811 Commissioner’s Plan.

Hosts Josh and Chuck examine the life of Robert Maxwell, a controversial media tycoon and father of Ghislaine Maxwell.

Josh and Chuck debunk the myth that Nero fiddled while Rome burned, noting fiddles didn't exist then.

Hosts Josh and Chuck, joined by guest Machine Gun Jerry, explore the true story of Bonnie and Clyde, examining their rise from Depression-era poverty to infamy.

In this episode of Stuff You Should Know, hosts Josh Clark and Chuck Bryant conclude their series on the Iran-Contra affair.

Hosts Josh and Chuck explore the Iran-Contra affair, detailing how the Reagan administration secretly funded Nicaraguan Contras despite congressional bans.