Stuff You Should Know

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 these performers became rich folks as a result. Exploitive? You decide, after taking in this classic episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.

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 information.

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 omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 pests in this classic episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

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 year. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 history behind this amazing technology, in this classic episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.

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.

Beloved egghead Buckminster Fuller said the wind doesn’t 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 omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 all about it in this classic episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.

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 information.

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 matters in this episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 evil humans who perform ritual blood sacrifice and worship a cloven-hoofed devil. Learn all about Satanism in this classic episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kidneys are one of the few organs that you can donate while you’re 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 kidney. Why? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.

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 information.