
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.
Latest episodes

Jan 2, 2024 • 1h 7min
SYSK Live in Nashville: The Biosphere II Experiment
Hello, friends! Join us today for our annual live show release, recorded in beautiful Nashville. On the docket? The Biosphere II Experiment!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dec 30, 2023 • 54min
Selects: Nuclear Semiotics: How to Talk to Future Humans
The nuclear waste we produce will be dangerous for a very long time. We’ve figured out how to safely store it in the earth until it’s no longer a biohazard. Now we just have to figure out how to warn humans 10,000 years in the future to stay away from it. Find out about our best ideas in this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dec 28, 2023 • 52min
How Primitive Will Our Descendants Find Us?
It’s all fun and games to think about how backwards and misguided some things people did in the past were until you realize we’ll be “the past” one day. What do we do now that will seem primitive then and how will they be better in the future?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dec 27, 2023 • 13min
Short Stuff: Scheele's Green
Can you imagine a color so alluring that even though you know it’s toxic you’d still use it to your heart’s content? The Victorians certainly could.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dec 26, 2023 • 54min
How Snails Work
They seem gross and bothersome at first, but once you get down to ground level and get to know snails, we’ll bet you’ll grow quite fond of them. They are living in a whole world we’re largely unaware of. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dec 23, 2023 • 57min
Selects: How Fireplaces Work
They are dirty, harmful to your health, bad for the environment and utterly charming. Wood-burning fireplaces have been with us for centuries and, despite their many drawbacks, are sticking around. Learn more than you thought possible about the fireplace, in this classic episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dec 21, 2023 • 53min
The 2023 SYSK Ho-Ho-Holiday Spectacular!
Happy Holidays, friends! Tune in today to listen to our annual ad-free holiday extravaganza. There will be talk of merriment and joy!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dec 20, 2023 • 13min
Short Stuff: Christmas Lights
Just three years after the lightbulb was invented a compadre of Thomas Edison thought to use them to decorate his Christmas tree. It set off a sensation that’s gotten more popular each year since.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dec 19, 2023 • 50min
Beanie Babies: Reigning Toy Craze Champion
The world has seen a lot of weird investment bubbles in its time, but few of them rival the fever that gripped the world in the 90s after Beanie Babies took off. Let’s visit this strange chapter in toy history together.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dec 16, 2023 • 54min
Selects: Star Wars Holiday Spectacular
Long ago, in a galaxy not so far away, George Lucas allowed the Star Wars Holiday Special to be made. What happened on the night of November 17, 1978 can never be fully explained, but we make our best effort in our annual special edition of SYSK. May the force be with us all.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.