Stuff You Should Know

If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

Society & Culture
151
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.
12 min
152
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.
36 min
153
Selects: Operation Mincemeat: How A Corpse Fool...
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.
44 min
154
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.
41 min
155
Short Stuff: Mojave Megaphone
What is the Mojave Megaphone? Well, nobody really knows. Listen in today to learn about this desert mystery.
12 min
156
Seven - No, Wait, Five - Mysteries of the Art W...
When you get a bunch of artistic types together into a community – aka, the art world – some intrigue and mystery are bound to arise. Listen in as Chuck and Josh cover strangeness around Van Gogh, Caravaggio, Raphael, and Vermeer – plus don’t miss Hilter!
46 min
157
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.
37 min
158
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.
48 min
159
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.
13 min
160
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.
48 min
161
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 episode to find out.
29 min
162
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!
42 min
163
Short Stuff: Runner's High
Listen in to today's short stuff to learn if a runner's high is really a thing.
12 min
164
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. 
47 min
165
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 classic episode.
53 min
166
Night Trap: The Video Game Failure that Changed...
40 min
167
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.
12 min
168
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 different.
40 min
169
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.
41 min
170
Girl Scouts: More than cookie sellers
We put our research to the test and it turns out the Girl Scouts is a great organization.
50 min
171
Short Stuff: Speed Reading
Back in the 60s and 70s, a speed reading craze broke out. Tough luck that speed reading is bunk.
13 min
172
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.
48 min
173
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.
36 min
174
How Monster Trucks Work
46 min
175
Short Stuff: Garter Snakes
Garter snakes aren’t scary, they’re pretty great! Learn all the reasons why in this episode!
11 min