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.
This episode of "Stuff You Should Know" explores the history of telephone switchboards in the United States. The hosts discuss the invention of the telephone, the subsequent need for switchboards to connect calls, and the evolution of switchboard technology, including the roles of switchboard operators (mostly women)....
This podcast episode discusses the potential of cricket farming as a sustainable and efficient protein source. The hosts explore the environmental impact of traditional meat production, contrasting it with the resource efficiency of crickets. They delve into the history of cricket consumption, the rise of commercial c...
This episode of Stuff You Should Know pays tribute to HowStuffWorks founder Marshall Brain, then explores the workings of GPS. The hosts discuss the history of GPS development, its three main components (satellites, ground control, and user receivers), and the process of trilateration used to determine location. They...
This podcast episode of "The Short Stuff" explores the history of Fanta soda, revealing its origins in Nazi Germany during World War II. Hosts Josh and Chuck discuss how Max Keith, head of Coca-Cola GmbH, created Fanta as a substitute for Coca-Cola when ingredients became scarce due to wartime rationing. The episode ...
This episode of Stuff You Should Know explores the true crime case of "Bella in the Wych Elm," a murder mystery from World War II Britain. The hosts discuss the initial discovery of the body, the subsequent investigation, and the various conflicting theories and misinformation that have surrounded the case over the de...
This podcast episode of "Stuff You Should Know" explores the history of the Negro Leagues in baseball. The hosts discuss the leagues' origins in the face of segregation, their rise to prominence featuring legendary players like Satchel Paige, and their eventual decline following the integration of Major League Basebal...
This podcast episode explores the nature of inner speech, the internal dialogue we have with ourselves. The hosts discuss various research studies categorizing inner speech types (dialogic, condensed, etc.) and its functions (motivation, self-regulation). They also examine the development of inner speech in children, ...
This podcast episode of "Stuff You Should Know" discusses the Waffle House Index, a system used by FEMA to assess the severity of damage in disaster-stricken areas based on the operational status of Waffle House restaurants. The hosts explain how Waffle House's disaster preparedness, including backup generators, limit...
This episode of "Stuff You Should Know" is a biographical discussion of Harry Belafonte's life and career. The hosts cover his humble beginnings, rise to fame as a calypso singer, and significant contributions to the Civil Rights Movement. They detail his refusal of stereotypical roles, highlighting his commitment to...
This podcast episode delves into the bizarre and unsolved aspects of the 2003 "collar bomb heist" in Erie, Pennsylvania, where pizza delivery driver Brian Wells was killed by a bomb strapped to his neck after robbing a bank. The hosts discuss the convoluted events, including a scavenger hunt leading to the bomb's comp...
This podcast episode discusses the U.S. Marshals Service's unusually creative and humorous sting operations in the 1980s, focusing on "Operation Flagship." The hosts detail several operations, including using fake lotteries, job offers, and even a Culture Club concert giveaway to apprehend fugitives. Operation Flagsh...
This podcast episode discusses ancient Persian refrigerators called yakchals. The hosts explore their construction (using a unique mortar of sand, clay, egg whites, lime, goat hair, and ash), functionality (utilizing shade, convection currents, and the freezing of water in layers), and uses (storing food and making i...
This episode of "Stuff You Should Know" explores the history and impact of refrigeration. The hosts discuss the evolution of cooling techniques, from ancient methods like using saltpeter and evaporative cooling to the invention of mechanical refrigeration and the development of the cold chain. They highlight the sign...
This podcast episode delves into the history and legacy of American "robber barons" during the Gilded Age (late 19th century). The hosts discuss the rapid economic growth, lack of regulation, and the ruthless business tactics employed by figures like Cornelius Vanderbilt and John D. Rockefeller. They compare the Gilde...
This podcast episode discusses the "Tragedy of the Commons," a concept describing how shared resources are depleted when individuals prioritize self-interest. The hosts trace the theory's evolution, highlighting its initial use to critique unregulated markets and its later adoption to justify privatization. They cont...
This podcast episode investigates the unsolved 1977 death of Charles Morgan, an escrow agent suspected of laundering money for the Mafia. The hosts discuss the bizarre circumstances surrounding his death, including his disappearance, reappearance with zip ties on his wrists and ankles, and eventual discovery with a gu...
This podcast episode of "Stuff You Should Know" focuses on the Paris Catacombs, exploring their history from ancient limestone quarries to their current use as an ossuary and tourist attraction. The hosts discuss the catacombs' evolution, including the relocation of millions of bodies from Parisian cemeteries, the cre...
This co-hosted podcast delves into the science of itching, exploring its evolutionary origins and neurological mechanisms. The hosts discuss the history of itch research, highlighting the groundbreaking work of Handwerker in the 1980s that debunked the idea that itching is simply low-grade pain. They then explain the ...
This comedy/entertainment podcast, "Stuff You Should Know," presents a top-ten list of events driven by spite. The episode begins with a gruesome historical anecdote about nuns mutilating themselves to avoid Viking attack, transitioning into stories of business rivalries fueled by spite (Henry Clay Frick vs. Andrew Ca...
This co-hosted podcast episode delves into the history and mechanics of the Guinness widget, a small plastic sphere inside cans of Guinness beer. The hosts discuss the widget's role in replicating the creamy texture of cask-poured Guinness, explaining how it works by releasing nitrogen to create a smoother, less carbo...
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