• The Humble and Deadly Cigarette
    Jul 29 2025

    This is not about smoking or lawsuits or lung cancer. This is about the cigarette itself, a truly unique and destructive invention.

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    48 mins
  • Selects: The Tale of the Church of the SubGenius
    Jul 26 2025

    The Church of the SubGenius is a religion, but really a parody of religion. Learn all about this group of weirdo outsiders in this classic episode.

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    53 mins
  • AQ Khan: How to Live Dangerously
    Jul 24 2025

    He’s been called the father of Pakistan’s nuclear bomb and a real-life Bond villain and depending on where you’re from, he’s a national hero or was the world’s most dangerous arms dealer - who made a career of selling his knowledge of nuclear weapons.

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    41 mins
  • Short Stuff: Paperclips
    Jul 23 2025

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    15 mins
  • How Boycotts Work (Or Do They?)
    Jul 22 2025

    We have boycotts coming out of our ears these days, but did you know they go back a couple centuries? And that it’s named after the first poor sap to be boycotted? We follow the history of boycotts up today’s boycott superstars and ask how well they work.

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    45 mins
  • Selects: What exactly is stoicism?
    Jul 19 2025

    The word stoic has taken on its own meaning apart from the philosophical movement which gave it life. In this classic episode, learn all about the early stoics, what the philosophy is all about and where the movement stands today.

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    56 mins
  • How Alchemy Worked
    Jul 17 2025

    Alchemy evokes sorcerers working by candlelight combining potions to create magical items, real Dungeons & Dragons stuff. But alchemy gets a bad rap. Alchemists had lofty goals like curing poverty and their work laid the foundation for science to come.

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    43 mins
  • Short Stuff: Bengal Cats
    Jul 16 2025

    Bengal cats are gorgeous animals, but they are bought and sold on the designer pet market, so booo. Learn about these hybrid kitties today.

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    13 mins