Stuff You Should Know
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Episodes
Can Nuclear Fusion Reactors Save The World?
Hosts Josh and Chuck explore nuclear fusion, focusing on the massive ITER project in France aimed at creating clean, abundant energy.
The Stuff You Should Know Doin’ Science Playlist: How Big Bang Theory Works, with Neil deGrasse Tyson
Hosts Josh and Chuck explore the Big Bang theory, clarifying it as a rapid expansion of space rather than an explosion.
Elastics: Where God and Science Smooch
Hosts Josh and Chuck discuss the history and science of elastic, covering its origins in indigenous rubber use, Charles Goodyear’s vulcanization breakthrough, and the invention of spandex.
The Stuff You Should Know Doin’ Science Playlist: How Occam's Razor Works
Josh and Chuck explore Occam’s Razor, a philosophical principle attributed to medieval monk William of Ockham, which suggests that simpler explanations are often preferable.
The Stuff You Should Know Doin’ Science Playlist: How the Scientific Method Works
Hosts Josh and Chuck explore historical scientific beliefs that predated the modern scientific method, examining why these ideas seemed plausible at the time.
Legs! Legs! Legs! (The Periodic Table)
Hosts Josh and Chuck demystify the periodic table, tracing its history from early atomic theories to Dmitri Mendeleev’s predictive layout.
M*A*S*H: The Story of the 4077th
Josh and Chuck discuss the history of MASH, from its origins as a novel and Robert Altman’s 1970 film to the beloved 11-season TV series.
Short Stuff: Does singing make you happy?
Josh and Chuck discuss the physical and mental health benefits of singing, particularly in choral groups.
Did 24-Hour Cable News Kill America?
Josh and Chuck examine how 24-hour cable news eroded America’s shared reality, tracing the shift from the Fairness Doctrine to the rise of opinion-driven programming.
Selects: How the Fairness Doctrine Worked
Josh and Chuck revisit their 2022 episode on the Fairness Doctrine, exploring its history from the 1920s radio boom to its 1987 repeal.
The NY Subway Vigilante
Hosts Josh and Chuck examine the 1984 shooting of four teenagers by Bernard Goetz on a New York City subway, known as the "Subway Vigilante" case.
Short Stuff: Rain Barrels!
Josh and Jerry discuss rain barrels, covering their history, benefits for plants, and environmental impact.
Smile
Hosts Josh and Chuck explore the science and history of smiling, debunking myths like the muscle count difference between smiles and frowns.
Selects: 911 Is Not a Joke
Hosts Chuck and Josh explore the history and mechanics of the 9-1-1 emergency system, tracing its origins from Haleyville, Alabama, to its current nationwide implementation.
Three Mile Island
Josh and Chuck examine the 1979 Three Mile Island nuclear accident, detailing how a stuck valve, poor instrumentation, and human error nearly caused a catastrophic meltdown.
Short Stuff: 1955 Le Mans Disaster
Josh and Chuck discuss the 1955 Le Mans disaster, a catastrophic crash during the 24-hour endurance race that killed 83 spectators and driver Pierre Levegue.
The Tragic Life of Vincent Van Gogh
Josh and Chuck discuss Vincent van Gogh’s life, debunking myths about his lack of fame and single sale.
Selects: Did Shakespeare really write all that stuff?
Josh and Chuck explore the Shakespeare authorship question, debating whether William Shakespeare wrote his works or if nobles like Francis Bacon or Edward de Vere did.
Howard Hughes in Las Vegas
Josh and Chuck explore the bizarre life of Howard Hughes, focusing on his reclusive years in Las Vegas.
Short Stuff: Knuckle Cracking
In this episode of The Short Stuff, hosts Josh, Chuck, and Jerry explain that cracking knuckles is caused by gas bubbles popping in synovial fluid, not bones grinding.
The Story of Starvation Heights
Josh, Chuck, and Jerry discuss Linda Hazard, a notorious early 20th-century quack who killed patients through extreme fasting and enemas.
Selects: How Flight Attendants Work
Hosts Josh Clark and Chuck Bryant explore the history, rigorous training, and daily realities of being a flight attendant.
The 1993 Waco Siege
Hosts Josh and Chuck examine the 1993 Waco siege, detailing the Branch Davidians' history under David Koresh and the ATF’s botched raid that sparked a 51-day standoff.
Short Stuff: All about BPAs
Josh and guest host Chuck discuss the health risks of Bisphenol A (BPA), an endocrine disruptor found in plastics and thermal receipts.
Eels Alive!
Josh and Chuck explore the biology of eels, covering their unique swimming, metamorphosis, and the long-standing mystery of their reproduction in the Sargasso Sea.
Selects: Did Mallory Make it to the Top of Everest First?
Hosts Josh and Chuck explore the enduring mystery of whether George Mallory and Sandy Irvine summited Everest in 1924, decades before Edmund Hillary.
The Hindenburg Disaster
Hosts Josh and Chuck explore the history of the Hindenburg, detailing its construction as a rigid airship and its role in 1930s luxury travel.
Short Stuff: Did Tippi Hedron start the Vietnamese manicure industry?
This episode explains why Vietnamese Americans dominate the US nail salon industry, tracing its origins to 1975 when actress Tippi Hedren helped train refugees at Camp Hope.
Humanists, the Happy Heathens
Josh and Chuck explore the history and principles of humanism, a philosophy that affirms ethical living without supernatural beliefs.
Selects: Can movies be cursed?
Hosts Josh and Chuck explore the myth of cursed movies, debunking supernatural claims by examining real tragedies behind films like *Poltergeist*, *The Wizard of Oz*, and *The Omen*.
Let's Go to Camp... David!
Hosts Josh and Chuck explore the history and operations of Camp David, the US presidential retreat in Maryland.
Short Stuff: Why do kangaroos hop?
In this episode of The Short Stuff, hosts Josh and Chuck explore the biology and mechanics of kangaroo hopping.
Boeing's Nosedive: The 737-MAX
Hosts Josh and Chuck discuss the Boeing 737 MAX disasters, tracing the company’s cultural shift from engineering excellence to profit-driven cost-cutting.
Selects: Thrill to the Stunning Bicameral Mind Hypothesis
Josh and Chuck explore Julian Jaynes’ controversial bicameral mind theory, which posits that humans only developed modern consciousness around 3,000 years ago.
How to Drink a Tree's Blood
Josh and Chuck explore the science and history of maple syrup, detailing how sugar maples produce sap during specific temperature fluctuations.
Short Stuff: Wisdom Teeth
In this Short Stuff episode, Josh and Chuck discuss wisdom teeth, covering their evolutionary origins and why modern diets often lead to impaction.
Save the Whales!
Hosts Josh and Chuck explore the history of the "Save the Whales" movement, tracing its roots from early 20th-century conservation efforts to its 1970s cultural peak.
Selects: How Fever Dreams Work
Hosts Josh and Chuck explore the science behind fever dreams, explaining how pyrogens trigger fevers to fight infection and how the brain processes emotions during sleep.
UNESCO World Heritage: Preserving the Best of Humanity
Josh and Chuck explore the history and mechanics of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, tracing their origins from post-WWII preservation efforts to the 1972 Convention.
Short Stuff: Brown-Headed Cowbird
Josh and Chuck discuss the brown-headed cowbird, a brood parasite that lays eggs in other birds' nests instead of raising its own young.
Some Silly Inventions That Became Wildly Popular
Josh and Chuck explore popular "As Seen on TV" inventions, starting with the George Foreman Grill and Suzanne Somers' ThighMaster.
Selects: Sammy Davis Jr: National Treasure
In this episode of Stuff You Should Know, hosts Josh Clark and Chuck Bryant explore the complex life of entertainer Sammy Davis Jr.
The Sewol Ferry Disaster
Josh and Chuck discuss the 2014 Sewol ferry disaster, detailing how human error, overloading, and government negligence led to the deaths of 304 people, mostly high school students.
Short Stuff: Cherry Blossoms
Josh and Chuck explore the cultural significance of Japanese cherry blossoms, discussing concepts like hanami and the bittersweet symbolism of sakura.
Are Generations Even a Thing?
Hosts Josh, Chuck, and guest Noel explore the history and validity of generational labels, from the Lost Generation to Gen Alpha.